Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
The Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Minneapolis takes place Saturday, April 13, at Boom Island Park, with start times of 8:10am for the 5K and 8:55am for the 15K.
The following roads will be closed from approximately 7:30am-12pm:
Via an e-announcement from Meet Minneapolis:
The biggest championship series in college basketball lit up Minneapolis this past weekend, and Sports Minneapolis still has ‘plenty of game’ to come for the region. From volleyball to Taekwondo, events in the coming months will bring an estimated 32,000* people into the greater Minneapolis region, more than 26,000 of them from out of town. Those visitors are expected to fill more than 32,000 hotel room nights throughout the second quarter of 2019, all of which adds to the economic vitality of the community.
The Minneapolis Convention Center will be the headquarters for these amateur sports events, and the economic impact will spread far beyond, to people providing transportation, food and beverage, technical expertise, event planners, and other businesses that are part of the thriving tourism and hospitality industry in Minneapolis that employs 36,000 people.
“Part of the mission of Sports Minneapolis is to successfully bid on and help execute sporting events in the region for the benefit of our community,” explained Sports Minneapolis Executive Director Melvin Tennant, “And while we work hard to bring in national events like this summer’s X Games or the just-concluded NCAA Final Four, smaller events are also part of the backbone of what we do. In addition, the flexibility of space in the Minneapolis Convention Center allows us to attract a wide variety of sports events.”
The largest of the upcoming sports events at the convention center is the 2019 USA Taekwondo National Championships that run from June 28 through July 4.
“We expect more than 10,000 out of town visitors to be in the Minneapolis region for that event,” said Sports Minneapolis Director Matt Meunier. “That’s thousands of people who will be spending money on hotel rooms, dining, shopping and entertainment during weekends and holidays when business travelers and convention attendees are typically scarce.”
Upcoming sporting events at the Minneapolis Convention Center include:
The successful work of Sports Minneapolis to bring both amateur and professional sports to the community is reflected in the growth of sports tourism hotel room nights. In 2018, nearly 29% of the hotel room nights actualized through the booking of conventions, meetings and events were attributed to the work of Sports Minneapolis – in 2015 it was 14%.
*Attendance numbers are provided by partner organizations and are subject to adjustment based on meeting planner and event rights holders’ projections.
ABOUT SPORTS MINNEAPOLIS
Sports Minneapolis leads the region in bidding, winning and executing major professional and amateur sporting events that impact the city of Minneapolis and beyond. Sports Minneapolis, a division within Meet Minneapolis, has played a major role in securing events such as the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Final Four, Major League Baseball All-Star Game, USA Girls’ Jr. Volleyball, CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer, X Games and more. Amateur and professional sports events increase visitor spending and tax revenue that benefits the local community.
In addition to securing upcoming NCAA championships and major events, such as the 2020 Division I Wrestling Championships, 2021 Division I Men’s Gymnastics Championships, and the 2021 Division I Men’s Basketball Regional, Sports Minneapolis and its partners will be the local organizing committee for the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Final Four. For more information on Sports Minneapolis, visit www.sportsminneapolis.org.
From the company that brought sopranos to a boxing ring for its Diva Cage Match comes a whole new theatrical experience. Out of the Box Opera presents The Amazing Adventures of Acis and Galatea, the Wonder Nymph with three performances only (5pm, 7pm and 9pm) on Saturday, May 11 at the A-Mill Artist Lofts, 315 Main Street SE.
Members of the audience won’t just be watching the show; they’ll be in it. Immersed in the action of this passionate, roaming opera, they’ll move to four locations inside the historic 1881 Pillsbury A Mill – from the crypt-like hydro power tunnels that predate the Civil War to the Mill’s dramatic rooftop overlooking the Mississippi River and downtown skyline. The last act performed on the rooftop will segue into an after-party for the audience.
Out of the Box Artistic Director David Lefkowich describes the show as “an intimate retelling of an epic story.” He explains, “It is our biggest production to date with more performers, musicians and theatrical elements than any previous show we have created. But due to the intimacy of the spaces in the A-Mill (each show is limited to 60 people), the audience will be participating in the drama as the story unfolds.”
Lefkowich drew some of the inspiration for the show from comic books. He sees the story of Acis, the mortal, and Galatea, the nymph, as a kind of superhero adventure: “Girl meets boy; boy meets cyclops; cyclops kills boy and the girl brings him back to life. What could be more comic book than that?” The show also drew some of its inspiration from the New York underground sensation Sleep No More, where audience members explore an abandoned hotel interacting as they go with scenes based loosely on MacBeth. Lefkowich wants to work the same kind of theatrical magic: “We’ll create an environment where all five senses come alive and the audience experiences opera in a completely new way.”
Out of the Box is proud to be showcasing local Minnesota talent: Galatea is played by Siena Forest, a soaring soprano who won over the crowd at the first-ever Diva Cage Match by jumping on the ropes in stiletto heels. Tenor David Walton sings the role of Acis. He earned rave reviews for his recent performance in Glimmerglass Festival’s The Barber of Seville. And Andrew Witzkowski plays the role of the Cyclops, Polyphemus. He is no stranger to taking opera “out of the box,” having created his own show, Guns N' Rosenkavalier, as a mash up of art song and rock concert. The cast is rounded out by a “Greek chorus” of five ensemble singers. Lara Bolton serves as the music director.
The 1718 opera with music by George Handel, and a libretto by John Gay, with Alexander Pope and John Hughes, is based on Ovid's Metamorphoses. It was Handel's most performed opera during his lifetime.
Tickets are $60 for the 5pm and 7pm performances and $50 for the 9pm show. VIP tickets, which include two drinks of your choice from the full bar can be purchased for an additional $15 ($75 for the 5pm and 7pm shows and $65 for the 9pm show). Tickets
Article by Claudia Kittock
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to perform at Orchestra Hall? The Mill City Singers have been incredibly blessed to have done it twice, and it's better than you can imagine. The latest performance was on Thursday, April 4.
Mill City Singers at Orchestra Hall, April 2019. Photo credit: Ann Eilbracht
Singing with J.D. Steele is a unique experience. We set up and get ready to sing by talking with each other, laughing, and hugging. When it is time to sing, we gather and warm up...onstage. As J.D. warms us up, he warms up the audience. They sing along, and soon, everyone is smiling and singing. His warm-ups are silly and get everyone laughing and vocally warm!
After singing a few songs, J.D. decides it's time to get the audience involved again, so he sets to work teaching them the song he wants all of us to sing. J.D. teaches in a unique way. First, he recites the lyrics, and has everyone repeat them. After going through the lyrics several times, he moves on to each part, singing the part and having each section repeat what he sang. It only takes about 5-6 minutes to have the whole group singing a new song in four-part harmony. At Orchestra Hall, that includes the audience. If that isn’t lively enough, J.D. will start dancing with someone in the audience, urging all of the Singers to do the same...and we do.
J.D. chooses songs of hope and songs about community. We sing and are filled with joy. The songs range from Gospel to Motown to folk, but each and every song reminds us there is hope. We leave every rehearsal feeling better than when we walked in.
The Singers have a roster of 297 people, all of whom love to sing. None of us are professional singers and some struggle to sing at all, but everyone loves to sing. J.D. has that magical ability to take all of our very ordinary voices and put them together into something that sounds quite special.
As Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” We come together to remember what community is, what joy there is in the simple act of singing, and to find hope, leaving every rehearsal buoyed to go out and face the world for one more week.
The only thing better than reading about this is doing it. Join us! No auditions, no fees. Just contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com. We rehearse on Saturdays from 2:00-3:30p on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. Come!
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About Claudia Kittock
ACES TO HOST 24TH ANNUAL ALL-STAR EVENING WITH VIKINGS COO KEVIN WARREN AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professional Athletes and Community Come Together to Celebrate Student Success and Honor Mark Rosen
Athletes Committed to Educating Students (ACES), a local non-profit offering after-school learning programs, will host its 24th Annual All-Star Evening Thursday, May 9 at the Hyundai Club in US Bank Stadium with Minnesota Viking Chief Operating Officer Kevin Warren as the keynote speaker.
The evening will bring together professional athletes, media personalities and community stakeholders for silent and live auctions and an opportunity to learn more about ACES commitment to caring for Twin Cities youth. ACES will also honor the career of media personality and ACES supporter Mark Rosen, who has been involved with the organization for over a decade. Rosen served on ACES Advisory Board of Directors, where he was instrumental to the organization's success over the years.
The annual All-Star Evening has continued to grow, providing valuable resources. In 2017, the event raised $203,000, while in 2018, the event raised $240,000. That funding increase allowed ACES to shift the program’s model and more than doubled the amount of time youth spent in ACES throughout 2018. ACES hopes to continue this trend, raising $310,000 in 2019 to sustain and grow after-school programs.
Founded in 1994, ACES has provided after-school programming to over 6,000 youth throughout the Twin Cities by preparing students for school and their future careers through an innovative, sports-themed curriculum. In 2017-2018, ACES provided 300 hours of programming per student and conducted 20 experiential learning field trips. In 2019, ACES will serve an estimated total of 500 students. ACES also has an e-mentoring program, connecting athletes and sports staff with mentees in the ACES program, building relationships and talking about life beyond middle school.
The achievement gap is especially prevalent in the Twin Cities area, and carries major implications for the future economic and social health of Minnesota. Research shows the transition from middle school to high school exacerbates this gap, so ACES is working to change this trajectory, preparing students with the skills needed to successfully navigate the transition. Data from the 2018 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments shows math proficiency still remains a challenge in Minnesota, especially for youth of color.
During the 2017-2018 program year, ACES saw significant growth in students' academic and social-emotional skills, thanks in part to new initiatives — including dramatically increasing the amount of time students spent in academic programming, increasing the opportunities for "a-ha" moments. “Our frequent attendees had 20 percent higher math scores than those who came less frequently,” said ACES Executive Director Christina Saunders. “This proves what we already know: consistent and quality instruction is key.”
A large component of ACES’ success has been its valued partnerships with professional athletes who have a passion for student education. The Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba has played a large role, visiting multiple sites in 2018 and speaking at the 2018 All-Star Evening, where he was awarded the ACES Locke’d In award for his outstanding volunteerism and commitment to after-school programming. Dumba and former teammate Nino Niederreiter also bought out luxury suites at 11 Minnesota Wild home games to provide ACES students with an NHL experience. ACES staff have seen an immense impact on student learning at after-school programs since putting an emphasis on athlete integration.
For more information on ACES 24th Annual All-Star Evening, visit www.aces4kids.org/all-star-evening and to donate to ACES, visit https://aces4kids.org/donate.
ABOUT ACES
Athletes Committed to Educating Students (ACES) is an academic after-school program that engages urban youth in learning and provides opportunities to build the skills necessary to succeed academically, develop personally, and become responsible, contributing members of the community. ACES was founded in 1994 by Dr. Rajiv Shah and has served over 6,000 youth across the Twin Cities. Follow ACES on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
4/10/19 UPDATE:
The National Weather Service is cancelling the tornado drill watch/warnings for Minnesota for Thursday, April 11. The NWS will not be issuing any test tornado watches/warnings for anywhere in Minnesota on Thursday, April 11. The cancellation is due to the very strong snow storm set to arrive later Wednesday. Blizzard warnings are already in effect for part of the state. It is also cancelled for Friday, April 12, as some areas of Minnesota will still be experiencing heavy snow and/or strong wind. We will *not* be issuing any test tornado watches/warnings for Minnesota on Friday. This decision has been made through many discussions with many of our public safety partners. We wish this decision didn't have to be made, but feel it is especially wise based on the expectations and timing of the incoming storm. (If local governments, businesses, schools, etc wish to continue with their own drill on Thursday, April 11, that is a local decision.)
Via an e-newsletter from Hennepin County:
As part of a statewide drill, the county will activate outdoor warning sirens on Thursday, April 11, at 1:45pm and 6:45pm.
The drills are part of Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 8-12. In Minnesota, more than half of federally declared-disasters are due to severe weather. This week serves as a reminder to create, update and practice emergency plans.
Sirens alert people who are outdoors of severe weather warnings and other situations when they should take shelter. People who are indoors may not hear them and should use another means to monitor the weather, such as an NOAA weather radio.
Outdoor warning sirens sound for weather when the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning and/or if there are reports of sustained straight-line winds in excess of 70 miles per hour. While the county activates sirens, the cities within Hennepin County purchase and maintain the equipment.
Real-time weather monitoring
View interactive weather forecasts, maps and more at hennepinwestmesonet.org.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news. Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.
The snow has melted, the birds are chirping, the mighty Mississippi is roaring. Spring is here, fingers crossed. The Minneapolis riverfront is alive and well, and I cannot think of a better way to enjoy it than going on a Segway tour. If you frequent the riverfront, you’ve seen us cruising around, but have you ever thought about being a tourist in your own backyard? Mobile Entertainment LLC offers not only Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront, but also of the Sculpture Garden and downtown, Summit Avenue and Capitol Hill in St. Paul, walking tours of the Minneapolis riverfront, and ghost tours of one of the oldest buildings in the heart of the old milling district along St. Anthony Main.
Michael (left, yellow shirt) provides local history during one of his tours while stopped on the Stone Arch Bridge with the Pillsbury A-Mill in the background.
Around the turn of the century Segways were supposed to be the next big thing, a way to commute short distances and just make life easier in general. However, like a lot of ambitious ideas, Segways were not selling like hotcakes as expected, but Bill Neuenschwander, a technology entrepreneur from Bloomington, saw an opportunity to bring Segways into the mainstream. In 2003 he bought 21 Segways and his new company, Mobile Entertainment LLC, got its first taste of success at the Minnesota State Fair where they had a booth. If you’re wondering how he came up with the “Human On a Stick” name, now you know. Everything is on a stick at the State Fair! Families and organizations were calling to see if they could have Segways at their events, and soon after Bill realized giving tours on Segways was going to create a fun and exciting experience for his customers. Once he found a storefront along St. Anthony Main, he became the first person to give Segway tours in the United States, and second in the world. It’s not ridiculous to think that he jumpstarted the Segway tour business that can now be found in every major city across the globe.
While it's not recommended to go hands free on a Segway, as a seasoned guide Micheal can fearlessly flex his muscles.130+ Segways and over 100,000 riders later, Mobile Entertainment LLC has the largest fleet of Segways outside of Segway itself, and is a staple of the Minneapolis riverfront and beyond. From the collapse of the 35W Bridge and the closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, to the successful growth of the riverfront that has seen the Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theater, and DeLaSalle’s athletic field become fixtures of the area, Segway tours have seen and helped the area transform into one of the most popular and beautiful places to visit in the state.
As for myself, this will be my 7th year with the company, and I too have been fortunate enough to witness the growth of the riverfront. Starting as a shy and quiet helper guide on Segway tours, Bill, the managers, and my many colleagues have helped me open up more and become very enthusiastic about the place I will always call home. Good luck getting me to shut up now! There’s no way I’d be where I am today, in graduate school, writing for the Mill City Times, if it wasn’t for Bill and Mobile Entertainment LLC. I absolutely love introducing tourists from around the country and world to Minneapolis and its history. Even locals who, like me, think they know everything about the riverfront learn something new on our tours.
The tours last roughly 3 hours, which includes extensive training, a snack and refreshment at our halfway stop at the Mill City Museum, a free pass to that museum, discounts for restaurants along the riverfront, and your very own Segway drivers license. Once customers feel confident on the Segway, we take them to the Pillsbury A-Mill, Stone Arch Bridge, Mill City Museum and Guthrie Theater, Hennepin Avenue Bridge, Boom Island, and Nicollet Island. Each stop lasts about 10-15 minutes, and the lead guides provide the history of the immediate area. However, fair warning, we love corny jokes.
So, if you ever find yourself with nothing to do on a beautiful day in the cities, come on down and experience the Mill City on a Segway. Tell them Michael sent you.
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About Michael Rainville, Jr.
A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.
Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.
He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.
New Programing Starts Monday April 15, 2019
The Southern Theater is launching a new program series on Monday April 15 at 7:30 that highlights new ideas, works in progress and previews. Good Night at the Southern is an opportunity for artists and companies to share their upcoming work, and for audiences to get a first glance into what’s coming up in the Twin Cities arts scene.
3-5 companies or artists are selected for a different Monday night each month with performance genres ranging from theater, dance, music, spoken word, comedy and more. Each performer will have up to 20 minutes to showcase their work, followed by a post-show gathering where audiences can learn more about the company, hear more about upcoming shows, purchase tickets, buy merchandise, or mingle with the artists.
The April 15th inaugural show features performances by MixTape, urban and street dance that focuses on accountability to community, challenging tradition and artistic collaboration, Ballet Co. Laboratory, a company of professional artists presenting original and collaborative productions, and Corey Adam, Twin Cities comedian.
Future Monday nights are scheduled for May 13, June 10, July 22 and August 19. Tickets for the 7:30 performances are Pay What You Can and will be available at the door the evening of the performance (no advance purchases).
See our exciting and historic city by land and water
Twin Cities Sightseeing Tours recently announced a new offering for 2019: Two great experiences, one low price. They've combined the relaxing Sightseeing Tour with a spectacular river cruise to create a summer midday treat. It begins with a 90-minute city tour, incorporating the best of Minneapolis' past and present, before concluding with a thrilling 90-minute cruise down the mighty Mississippi River. This tour is excellent for visitors, locals and families alike!
TOUR OPERATES:
Fridays 10:45am-1:45pm (May-Oct)
SIGHTS:
Mississippi Riverfront - Sculpture Garden - Walker Art Museum - Stone Arch Bridge - St. Anthony Falls -
Basilica of St. Mary - Mary Tyler Moore Statue - Nicollet Island - Iconic buildings - IDS and Foshay - Guthrie Theater - Mill City Museum - Prince landmarks - Bob Dylan Mural - Sports Stadiums - US Bank, Target Field and Target Center
PRICING:
$55 per person
PICK UP:
Minneapolis Visitors Information Center, 505 Nicollet Mall
From caring for patients at NorthPoint Health & Wellness to reducing barriers for new employees in Human Resources, from managing key information technology initiatives to keeping at-risk children safe, Hennepin County employees perform a myriad of tasks.
For people who often work behind the scenes, the biennial Employee Art Show offers a spotlight to show talents that aren’t part of their daily work routines – painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, textiles and more.
The Hennepin Gallery at the Government Center will provide a venue for county employees’ artwork through June 20.
The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 6pm, at the Hennepin County Government Center, A-level, 300 S 6th Street.
The exhibit is sponsored by and is a project of Hennepin County Communications.
The following roads will be closed Sunday, April 7 from 7:30am-12pm for Goldy's Run 10 Mile:
Absolutely drop dead views from windows facing four exposures. Beautiful renovation by MSR Architects, RoehrSchmitt Architects and Streeter featuring modern open floor plan, exposed concrete ceiling, feature walls of frosted glass and concrete, custom kitchen, discreet storage solutions throughout and thoughtful window seats capturing panoramic views of downtown Minneapolis skyline, Mississippi River and Nicollet Island. Two bedroom suites, office nook and beautiful touches throughout. Sophisticated, modern and very efficient, a must see.
2 bed | 2 bath | 2 parking | 1,740 sf | $800,000
View listing details online...
Wonderful industrial loft in the heart of the North Loop. Concrete floors throughout, high ceilings, and large windows to bring in lots of natural light. The updated bathroom, bedroom, and light fixtures make this one not to be missed. Two indoor parking stalls are a unique bonus. Enjoy the community rooftop deck with over 5000 square feet with amazing downtown views. Open House: Saturday 4/13 from 11am-1pm
1 bed | 1 bath | 2 parking | $1,360 sf | $435,000
Via an April 4 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:
Vision Zero: Safe streets for everyone
The City of Minneapolis has joined the national Vision Zero movement to eliminate deaths and life-altering injuries on our streets. It is unacceptable that people die in traffic crashes on our streets. Together, we can prevent severe injuries and deaths caused by traffic crashes.
To reach this ambitious goal, we are working with people from across our community to develop a Minneapolis Vision Zero Action Plan. The Action Plan will set our path to achieve a safe transportation network for all people. We expect to release a draft plan in fall 2019.
The City of Minneapolis committed to Vision Zero in September 2017 through adoption of a City Council resolution. The Vision Zero Action Plan is being coordinated with the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan, which is a 10-year action plan to guide future planning, design, and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around.
Learn more about Vision Zero at: www.visionzerompls.com/
Sign up here to receive Vision Zero email updates.
Follow VisionZeroMpls on Twitter and Facebook and share your thoughts with #VisionZeroMpls.
Minneapolis is creating a Vision Zero Action Plan that will set our path to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on our streets by 2027.
Help us prioritize efforts in the Vision Zero Action Plan by completing this 10-minute Vision Zero survey.
Join us at upcoming community workshops
The City is hosting 5 community workshops and 1 online open house in April to collect public input on two transportation-related plans: the Vision Zero Action Plan and the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan.
Community Workshop (Southwest)
Tues. April 9
4–6pm
Richfield Lutheran Church
8 W 60th St
Community Workshop (South)
Thurs. April 11
5–7pm
Longfellow Recreation Center
3435 36th Ave S
Community Workshop (East)
Tues. April 16
4–6pm
Northeast Recreation Center
1530 Johnson St NE
Community Workshop (Downtown)
Mon. April 22
4–6pm
Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room
300 Nicollet Mall
Community Workshop (North)
Wed. April 24
5–7pm
Farview Recreation Center
621 N 29th Ave
Online Open House (Facebook Live)
Tue. April 30
6:30–7:30pm
City of Minneapolis Facebook page
Your participation is encouraged and welcomed. If you require assistance, reasonable accommodations, interpreting services or materials in alternative format please contact Millicent Flowers, Public Works, 612-673-3310 or email visionzero@minneapolismn.gov. People who are deaf and/or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-673-2157.
The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge was repaired last year.
Via an April 4 announcement from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:
Contractor returns next week to finish up work
The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge reopened last November after an extensive repair project revitalized the 118-year-old structure.
Beginning next week (the week of April 8, 2019) workers will be onsite to perform remaining work not completed in 2018. This includes site grading and turf establishment, concrete abutment work, paint touch-ups, and electrical work.
The follow-up work is not anticipated to close the bridge, but please use caution around construction areas.
A Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled this year and details will be publicized soon.
About the Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge
The current trail connection between Boom Island Park and Nicollet Island was originally built in 1901 as a railroad bridge. In the 1970s, the rail yard it served was cleared and the bridge was given to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, which converted it to a pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the 1980s.
In late 2013, the bridge was closed to emergency and maintenance vehicles after significant deterioration was discovered during an inspection. Emergency repairs were completed in July 2015 and permanent repairs were performed May-November 2018.
Two-year process will set vision for the next decade of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is excited to announce “Parks for All,” a new comprehensive planning process that will set its priorities and policy direction for the next decade.
Parks for All will engage Minneapolis residents and park users, along with MPRB staff and commissioners, over the next two years to shape the future direction of Minneapolis’ park and recreation system.
What is Parks for All?
The last MPRB Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2007 and set a vision through 2020. Parks for All is the next MPRB Comprehensive Plan, which will guide the Minneapolis park and recreation system for the next decade.
The MPRB Comprehensive Plan guides everything done by the MPRB. It articulates why the MPRB exists, identifies how the MPRB performs its work, and describes what the MPRB hopes to become.
Parks for All is separate from the recent City of Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It solely covers the Minneapolis park and recreation system. It will build off other recent MPRB plans including service area master plans for neighborhood parks, master plans for regional parks and other plans and policies that have been developed by MPRB in recent years with community input.
Get involved now
Community Collaborators
MPRB invites local grassroots, neighborhood and cultural organizations to convene their own conversations about the future of Minneapolis parks and recreation through the Community Collaborator program. Please consider submitting a project proposal designed to broaden community engagement for Parks for All.
Funding varies $500-$3,000 according to the project idea and proposed budget. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis with three rounds of submission and review in April, August and December 2019. First deadline is April 22.
Community Collaborator Application [PDF]
The MPRB is hosting two pre-proposal information sessions about the Community Collaborator program:
Both meetings are at MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road. They are not mandatory.
Coming Soon
Article and photos by Merle Minda
Lunds & Byerlys Northeast has spruced up its 12-year old store with a new look, new fixtures, a more open traffic pattern and hundreds of new items. It is now ‘on-trend’, one might say – and in the swing with the newest popular products and opportunities for shoppers.
But in actuality, it is more than that. The remodeled grocery store has a cross marketing perspective. So if you are buying grapes, for example, several cheeses are right there as well. You no longer have to go halfway across the store to get them. Also, hamburger buns are in the meat department, and mini angel food cakes sit next to fresh strawberries. It’s handy and it gives shoppers ideas.
Store Manager Katie Swenson is rightfully proud of the remodeled store.
As Store Manager Katie Swenson notes “It was time for a redo; our first in the 12 years we have been here.” Amazingly the store never closed throughout this renovation, even among some of the more aggressive construction.
Ike Wagner, cheese guru, has been with this store since it opened.
The new, wider aisles for fruits and vegetables are unbelievably tempting. The fresh or “wet” racks are easier to reach and not stacked so high with product. This makes everything incredibly good to look at, almost like a country market stand or a sidewalk veggie store in New York City or even Paris. Smaller amounts of stock on the racks mean they are refilled more often making products fresher too.
Produce Manager Chris Dehart takes in fresh deliveries daily.
Ripe avocado stand takes the guesswork out of when to use them.
There are over 800 new grocery products which add a boon to any shopping experience. For example, the new Kombucha station has been installed. Fill up your “Growler” mug and take off. Coffee now comes in cold brew cans for a quick buzz – cold brew coffee is another hot new product line. And hey, how about the new vintage soda section, with interesting sodas I have never seen before. Lots to try and taste.
Cold brew coffee is a new “thing.”
Vintage sodas are fun to try.
You will find heaps of new Lunds & Byerlys branded products throughout the store – they are so appealing, from cook-it-yourself, ‘Hello Fresh’ style, to fresh pizzas or pop-in-the-oven quiches. Yet to be installed on my walk-through is a new food bar with the makings of tacos and salad options and all the hot food. One of the new installations I love is the Poke Bar, with its sushi-like fixings that you put together yourself, a first in grocery stores in our market. Bachman’s flower and plant bar installation is now like a real flower shop, expanded to twice the size and beautifully laid out. I see the Bachman’s people there daily, watering, trimming and adding fresh stock. And how many kinds of yogurt? Mind-boggling.
Pop in the microwave shrimp steamer is a delicious new product.
The Poke Bar makes for a delicious choice.
Bachman’s flower stand bigger and better than before.
With the newly installed flooring and LED lighting, the whole atmosphere is improved, making it quieter to walk through with your new smooth-moving cart. Seems like more staff on the floor to help customers as well. Or shop on your Lunds & Byerlys phone app with free drive-through pick-up. Do-it-yourself checkouts too, if you wish. Very handy, 26% of customers are using them so far!
Shoppers Kathy and David Cooper were away for a few months and returned to a totally revised store.
Plus lots of small touches, a revised product layout, with all the cold and frozen stuff behind big easy-to-open doors, keeping them much colder and the store warmer, says store manager Katie Swenson. And large new signage throughout – so you know where you are and can find things. There is clearly a lot of thought and marketing know-how behind these changes – and it all benefits the customer. The other handy installations at this location still there include Caribou Coffee, the very complete Pharmacy and drug store, the Wells Fargo ATM and St. Croix Cleaners.
At Lunds & Byerlys NE, you can do it all in just one stop! Open from 6am to midnight, just about every day of the year. (They close only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.) Get over here; it is beautiful.
Northeast Minneapolis, 25 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 LundsandByerlys.com
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About Merle Minda
Journalist and free-lance writer Merle Minda writes about travel, business, people profiles and other subjects for a number of national and regional publications, including Delta SKY, Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business, Star Tribune, Twin Cities Statement, Minnesota Monthly, and now Mill City Times. She can be reached at mminda@earthlink.net or TravelOverEasy.com on the web.
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Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Friday, April 12, 2019 at 12:05PM
