City of Minneapolis Celebrates Grand Opening of The Commons with Community Today

Via a July 21 Press Release from the City of Minneapolis:

Thursday, July 21, 2016 (Minneapolis, MN) – Elected officials, partners, and community members gathered today to celebrate the grand opening of The Commons, a 4.2 acre, dynamic green space located in the heart of downtown that aims to engage all of Minneapolis’ diverse communities.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges; Council Member Jacob Frey; Pat Ryan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ryan Companies US, Inc.; Mark Wilf Owner/President of the Vikings, and Mary Margaret Jones, President of Hargreaves Associates kicked off the opening ceremony. Event attendees forwent a traditional ribbon cutting and tossed blue and green Frisbees into the air to officially commemorate the opening. The event featured food trucks, dance performances by Asian Dance Team, free yoga by CorePower Yoga, and a variety of lawn games in a program designed to exemplify the many activities that will take place in The Commons.

“The Commons is a vital new extension of the city’s footprint, a new space downtown to connect diverse communities from across the city,” said Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. “As the anchor for the ongoing transformation of Downtown East, the Commons is a green space for all residents, visitors and communities. It will connect the city and its people together and provide new opportunities for healthy outdoor activities as Minneapolis continues to grow.”

“Every great city has a world class downtown park, and today we deliver the first block of our very own,” said Council Member Jacob Frey.  “The Commons is the kitchen table for our city – the place where everyone can gather and connect. Bring on the picnic blankets, soccer balls, and Frisbees because this downtown park is primed for action.”

The Commons is a key part of the broader, five-block Downtown East development project that has brought over $400 million of investment in new office towers for Wells Fargo, housing, retail, parking, and a hotel to an area that resisted development for decades. The East Block officially opened today and includes: a great lawn, promenades, areas for play, and plantings.  The West Block will open next month.

“The Commons is the “crown jewel” of the $2 billion Downtown East development,” said Pat Ryan, Ryan Companies US, Inc. CEO and co-chair of The Commons fundraising committee.  “This largely neglected area of Downtown East has been transformed by Wells Fargo, US Bank Stadium, Radisson Red, and the Edition Apartments.  The Commons is a gathering place for all of Minneapolis to celebrate this live-work-play city.  I am proud of the public-private partnership that has brought The Commons to life.  Great cities have great people who work together to create a great environment.  It is a privilege to lead the fundraising efforts with Mayor Betsy Hodges.”

In early 2015, the City hired a team lead by the internationally recognized landscape architecture firm, Hargreaves Associates, to design The Commons beyond a flat, grassy field as was originally negotiated.  After a year of intensive community engagement including four community meetings and feedback from over 2,500 survey responses, the design was finalized and construction began by Ryan Companies in the fall of 2015.

“Today is just the beginning!  We have been honored to guide the design process for this transformative, destination open space for the City of Minneapolis – a welcoming and inclusive public landscape, which we are eager to watch emerge and evolve over the coming years.  The participation of the public and stakeholders has been exceptional, resulting in a vision for The Commons that truly incorporates the needs of all users,” said Mary Margaret Jones, President of Hargreaves Associates.

The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID) will operate The Commons through 2016. Green Minneapolis, a nonprofit public-private conservancy is working with the City on an operating agreement for 2017 and beyond.  To date, Green Minneapolis has raised over 14 million in supporting the fundraising effort for The Commons. The City has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) to transfer fee title of the property to MPRB and lease it back and be responsible for its operations.

“The City of Minneapolis, in partnership with many philanthropic businesses and individuals, has invested, designed, and built a first-of-its-kind green space for the City and the State—a tremendous accomplishment,” said David Wilson, Chairman of the Green Minneapolis Board. “Now comes the most important part— bringing the park’s potential to life for everyone in our community.  For this we will need continued support and investment to ensure the park is well maintained, programmed, and cared for.” 

Donors to the green space thus far include Wells Fargo, Ryan Companies, The Minnesota Vikings, Valspar, U.S. Bank, The Pohlad Family Foundation, Julia Dayton, Jay and Page Cowles, The Edward J. Phillips Family Foundation, Piper Jaffray, CenturyLink, The David Wilson and Michael Peterman Family, Target Corporation, Carlson and the Carlson Family Foundation, Land O’Lakes, Thrivent Financial, Veit USA and Xcel Energy.

For more information on upcoming events or to learn how to reserve The Commons for activities visit www.CommonsMpls.com.

Well done Minneapolis: 2017 & 2018 X Games to be held in the Mill City

It was just announced that Minneapolis will host the ESPN X Games 2 consecutive years. The event, which includes BMX, Moto X and skateboarding competitions, is especially popular with millennials.

Councilmember Jacob Frey thinks the games will add to the cool factor of Minneapolis: "The X Games brings nearly unparalleled media attention that could highlight our city. We're hip and we know it, but not everyone does. That's now gonna change" he said.

Sports Minneapolis, an arm of the city’s convention bureau, was instrumental in bringing the event to town.

READ MORE COVERAGE

ESPN Selects Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Host X Games in the U.S.
Minnesota Sports Facility Authority, U.S. Bank Stadium, Meet Minneapolis and ESPN to Collaborate on Summer Events for Two Years; 2017 & 2018 Event Dates Announced

Minneapolis is getting the X Games (twice!)
Welcome to that weird moment when a bunch of tattooed, pierced rebellious types are brought to town by a company owned by Disney, where they'll perform at a publicly funded sports stadium named after a bank. Such is life in America, circa 2016.

The Official X Games Site
For 2017 and 2018, X Games has a new home. Welcome to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

New Vikings stadium to host X Games in 2017, '18
ESPN's X Games will be held in Minneapolis in 2017 and 2018, with many of the events being held in the Minnesota Vikings' glittering new stadium, the network announced Wednesday.

ESPN’s X Games are coming to U.S. Bank Stadium
The new home of the Minnesota Vikings will see the competition the next two summers.

ESPN's X Games are coming to Minneapolis
U.S. Bank Stadium will host the ESPN extreme sports competition during the next two summers.

X Games Minneapolis: Five reasons to get excited about the event
Like the Red Bull Crashed Ice event in St. Paul or closing time after a grandstand show at the State Fair, the people watching figures to be fantastic at an event like this one.

Parkway Closures for July 20 Torchlight 5K

Via a July 19 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter: 

July 20 - Life Time Torchlight 5K - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
West River Parkway - From N 4th Ave to Portland Ave
Stone Arch Bridge
SE Main St - From SE 3rd St to 6th St SE

*Please note that the duration of the closures is subject to change based on the event's start and finish times.  A complete list of current and upcoming parkway closures is available online.

Additionally, Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis will be closed July 20 from 7 p.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m. for both the Torrchlight 5K and the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade.

Hennepin Avenue will close from Dunwoody Boulevard to Third Street South. Traffic will be able to cross Hennepin Avenue at Fourth Street, Fifth Street, 10^th Street, 11^th Street, Maple Street/16^th Street and southbound on Lyndale Avenue. Also Dunwoody Boulevard will close to traffic, along with the Interstate 394 exit onto Dunwoody Boulevard. These streets will reopen after the parade is finished at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Also - the following streets will be closed from 7 to 8:30 p.m.:

• Third Street South, from First Avenue North to Second Avenue South.
• First Street North, from Hennepin to Fourth Avenue North.
• Fourth Avenue North, from First Street North to West River Parkway.
• West River Parkway, from Fourth Avenue North to Portland Avenue.
• Main Street, from Third Avenue SE. to Sixth Avenue SE.

Interactive Map Can Help People Stay Cool and Safe During this Week's Heat Wave

Via a July 18 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch which will be effective through the end of the week.

The heat index is expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees during afternoon hours.

Hennepin County Public Health has created an interactive map to help residents who don't have air conditioning at home or work to find public places to escape the summer heat. Young children, senior citizens and people who are sick or overweight are most vulnerable.

Maps are available for desktop and mobile devices.

The project is a collaboration between Hennepin County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Hennepin County Public Health.

Find a way to keep cool

To assist in escaping the heat, a link to our mobile mapping application shows cool options throughout Hennepin County including locations to Salvation Army buildings, libraries, recreation centers, movie theaters, and shopping malls.

People can make the map close and personal by zooming in on a specific neighborhood; users then can click on individual cooling locations for an address, days and hours of operation, contact information and a website link, when possible.

Dig into mapping data

The application is only one part of a larger initiative to make public information more usable for Hennepin County residents. Other projects include park maps, public health information, construction, property values and taxation. Applications are scattered throughout the county website, but several additional maps can be found at www.hennepin.us/gis. Users familiar with GIS software can also download data directly.

Update from Friends of the Mill District

By Claudia Kittock

The Mill District’s Mill City Emanuel singers joined more than 1000 members of the community on Thursday, July 14th at Westminster Presbyterian Church. It was organized by Brian Newhouse, managing director of MPR Classical. Choirs from all over Minneapolis and St. Paul were invited to participate in an evening of song and reflection after recent violence in the Twin Cities, Dallas, Baton Rouge and other communities.

A similar group gathered in Dallas and with the help of a video and audio connection, the two communities were able to sing the first song together, "Bridge of Song". Via a streamed connection to Texas, assembled choirs in Dallas and the gathering in Minneapolis joined in a synchronized sing of Greg Gilpin's "Why We Sing" across the distance. The connection was seamless.

Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Classical MPR manager of choral initiatives, and G. Phillip Shoultz III, associate conductor of VocalEssence, led local choirs in a program that featured spiritual and secular songs of peace and community. The choirs were joined by special guests Fred Steele and JD Steele, director and accompanist of the Mill City Emanuel Singers

Supplementing the music were reflections from various traditions. Imam Makram El-Amin, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman and Pastor David Allen Keaton read passages from the Koran, the Jewish Prayer Book and from the New Testament, respectively. Dessa, in addition to her song performances, read poems by Gary Snyder and Pablo Neruda. Classical MPR's Brian Newhouse read passages from Swiss philosopher Henri-Fréderic Amiel.

Scenes from the July 16 Mill City Farmers Market

July 16 was Mississippi River Day at the Market. Community booths included The University of Minnesota Raptor Center, Mississippi Park Connection, Friends of the Mississippi, Great River Coalition, and Big River Magazine.

Mill City Farmers Market Founder Brenda Langton wore eagle earrings in honor of the live eagle visiting with the Raptor Center. Thank you to the McKnight Foundation for sponsoring the Raptor Center booth.

Stangler Works debuted with beautifully crafted wood skateboards, ping pong paddles, household items, jewelry and more.  Look for a separate post later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

Freshly harvested garlic, snap peas and three colors of beans from Swede Lake Farms.

Guitarist Ben Glaros provided background music for shoppers taking a break on the steps.

It's officially blueberry season - yay!

Occasionally the Market staff conducts shopper surveys. If you see these boards set up, take a minute to participate.

This little guy is contemplating a honeycomb from Ames Farm.

Baker's Field Flour & Bread, the newest addition to the FOOD BUILDING, joined The Lone Grazer and Red Table Meats at the Market.  Look for a future separate post about Baker's Field on our Farmers Market blog.

The okra and peppers are in - you can add gumbo to the menu now!

Celina Kane of Hat Make had a lovely display of her summer hats at the July 14 Market.  (Look for a separate post later this week on our Farmers Market blog.)  Melanie Ebertz of ArtAndes is a Hat Make customer. Her new hat was a perfect match for the display of rugs.

Milly the goat!

 

In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

TOP STORIES LAST WEEK

9 crazy facts you never knew about the Minneapolis City Hall building
Monday marked the official 125th anniversary of Minneapolis’ City Hall building, which also serves as the Hennepin County Courthouse.

Neighbors worry dogs will leave their mark on Downtown East Commons park
As officials prepare to partially open the Downtown East Commons park in the next few weeks, neighborhood leaders are asking if the fresh, green grass will quickly become yellowed from dogs on walks.

CBRE report ranks Minneapolis highly as a lure of tech talent
Minneapolis is getting a few steps closer to becoming a true tech hub, according to a new report by commercial real estate company CBRE.

Boosters want to build buzz for the Commons
Chicago has Millennium Park. New York City has Central Park. In Houston, it’s Discovery Green, and in Detroit it’s Campus Martius Park. So what’s Minneapolis’ iconic urban green space, that place that’s both a must-see tourist draw and a daily refuge for locals? Someday, maybe, it could be Downtown East Commons.

'Sweeney Todd' collects powerful moments at Mill City Opera
REVIEW: A bit less restraint would have released a bit more evil.

On-street parking returning to curb on 1st Avenue in downtown Minneapolis
You may have noticed that city crews have started scraping off pavement markings on 1st Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. The reason is the street is being reconfigured to return on-street parking to the curb.

Ryan reveals images for new office tower next to Vikings stadium
The building is one of the final steps in Ryan's makeover of five blocks next to the stadium.

U.S. Bank Stadium officials plan three-year, $300,000 bird fatality study
Panel expected to approve proposal to work with the National Audubon Society and its Minnesota chapter.

An inside look at U.S. Bank Stadium (Photos)
At $1.1 billion, the downtown Minneapolis project showcases what could be a new trend in sports — instead of retractable roofs, the Minnesota Vikings stadium uses a transparent plastic material that makes people feel like they’re sitting outside.

Rojo Mexican Grill closes North Loop Minneapolis restaurant
The concept was a second swing by restaurateur Michael McDermott.

Community Keg House closes, looks for buyer
The beer community-focused taproom, which featured a rotating selection of craft beers from around the state, opened in January in the Grain Belt complex’s Keg House Arts Building off Broadway Street.

Now open: Lu’s Sandwiches in Red 20
Lu’s Sandwiches is the first of a wave of Whittier-based restaurants to open in a growing corner of Northeast Minneapolis.

PREVIOUS WEEK

Downtown Mpls. 'hostile to the arts,' says dance company founder
Zenon Dance fundraising letter cites crime, parking and construction as factors in tough times.

Baker’s Field gets baking in the Food Building
Baker’s Field will begin selling flour and bread at the Mill City Farmers Market, the Northeast Farmers Market and the Riverplace Market beginning Saturday, July 16.

Butcher Block opens expansion into Pacifier space
The Butcher Block is opening a new bar in the former Pacifier space. The Northeast Minneapolis Italian restaurant has added a bar and more seating thanks to an expansion into the into the former flagship space of the baby gift and clothing boutique.

Vikings traffic plan aims to ease gridiron gridlock
Getting 64,000 Vikings fans in and out of downtown on game days is no easy task. But Vikings officials have a plan. If fans listen.

Loose exterior panels plague U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
Several black zinc panels on U.S. Bank Stadium came loose amid a severe evening storm and stadium officials were at a loss to explain the cause.

Gardens of Salonica: New Greek Cafe and Deli

Story and photos by Julie Craven

It's always a pleasure, and always informative, to catch Chef Heather Hartman’s cooking demos at the Mill City Farmer’s Market. After a recent demo we had a chance to visit and I asked about some of her favorite restaurants. “Have you been to see Anna at Gardens of Salonica?” she asked. Word of mouth truly is the best advertising!

Anna is Anna Christoforides. She and husband Lazaros are founders and owners of Gardens of Salonica located in the heart of the Northeast. Known for their traditional and modern Greek cuisine since opening in 1991, the emphasis is on local, all-natural and organic. The restaurant boasts a large appetizer section, a varied wine list and an easy going vibe.

We were on the early side and staff asked the next three groups who came in if they wanted their usual tables. A line started to form for takeout orders. Clearly lots of regulars, lots of familiar faces.

“All the entrees are amazing,” our server Brandon explained.  Tonight's special was lamb riblets on jasmine rice with a Greek yogurt dipping sauce. “Think lollipop lamb chops,”  Brandon advised. His other tip was on the other side of the menu, “it's popular for folks to order from the appetizer section and chose three items for the combination plate.”

According to Brandon, two of the most popular entrees are the Mousakas and the Pastitsio. Doug went with the Mousakas with meat sauce, layered with grilled eggplant and topped with bechamel. I had the Pastitsio, seasoned meat sauce on layers of imported pasta, also topped with bechamel and oven baked. Big hearty servings. Definitely shareable.

Chicken Angel Hair Pasta and Fava Bean soups were on the menu tonight - we both got the chicken soup, which is totally against our rule of not duplicating our orders when we try a new place! Yummy Greek-style chicken noodle soup, full of lemon flavor.

Greek sandwiches, including Gyros, Chicken Souvlaki, Pork Souvlaki and Soutzoukaki, are all wrapped in Greek pita with fresh tomatoes, onions, parsley, tzatziki and a side of hand-cut Greek fries. Gluten free wraps are also available.

Small and large platters that include a variety of the sandwich menu items are great options for family style dining.

Saganaki is a standard (the flambé show is always fun!) but Brandon claimed the Minnesota mushroom version of their saganaki, a frequent special menu addition, is even better. “I didn't even like mushrooms when I started working here, now it's my favorite.”

Dessert is all about the baklava. And in case that rich and flaky dessert isn’t enough, you can have it served with a scoop of ice cream on top. One of the Boughatsa desserts, hand-wrapped fillo pastries with lemon cream, chocolate hazelnut or apricot cream, are another sweet ending.

Anna is herself a noted Minneapolis food influencer. The table tent described an upcoming food tour of Greece she will lead and a recent post on her kitchen blog revealed the secret that beer and bread have in common (fermentation by yeast!)  The Symposia Dinners, held on the third Wednesday of the month, are four-course, chef driven, wine-paired dinners with a guest presenter. The topics change, everything from accordion masters to beekeepers to nutritionists.

I forgot one thing though. I have a jar of tahini in my pantry that I meant to ask them about. What am I supposed to do with it?!  Well, next time!

Location:  19 5th Street NE  Minneapolis, MN 55413

Website: gardensofsalonica.com 

Julie Craven can be reached at julie@millcitymedia.org.

Mississippi Park Connection and Mia Offer Masterpieces of Nature

Via a July 14 Press Release from Mississippi Park Connection:

19 museum-worthy views celebrate the Mississippi River’s only national park during the National Park Service Centennial year

SAINT PAUL, MN, July 14, 2016 – As part of the festivities surrounding the National Park Service Centennial year, Mississippi Park Connection and Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) are bringing art to the national park in the heart of the Twin Cities. The partnership is in conjunction with “Seeing Nature: Landscape Masterworks from the Paul G. Allen Family Collection,” a wide-ranging exhibition of 39 spectacular landscape paintings spanning five centuries, which will be on display at Mia through September 18, 2016. 

From July through September, museum-style frames in various sizes will appear at 19 scenic locations throughout the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area to highlight the stunning artistry that exists within these natural landscapes. Each location in the park connects visitors back to one of the thrilling vistas on display at Mia.

“We wanted to engage everyday park visitors in the National Park Service Centennial celebration. By creating visual frames for people to look through, we aim to reveal the grandeur of our river and nurture a greater appreciation for our national park," said Katie Nyberg, executive director, Mississippi Park Connection.

Park visitors are invited to take a picture and to share in social media with the tags #parkconnection and #seeingnature, and images will be available online alongside photos from other park enthusiasts at artsmia.org/seeing-nature/mia-national-park-service, where a map of all locations is available.

“The exhibition reveals the power of landscape to locate the viewer in time and place”, said Kim Huskinson, senior manager, marketing & insights at Mia. “We hope museum goers and park visitors will enjoy the opportunity to record, explore, and understand the natural and manmade world.”

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI PARK CONNECTION 
Mississippi Park Connection is the proud nonprofit partner of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a national park in the Twin Cities. Its mission is to build and strengthen connections between people and the Mississippi River, and build community support for this national treasure. Through education, stewardship and community engagement, Mississippi Park Connection provides opportunities for people to have a national park experience right in the Twin Cities.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL RIVER AND RECREATION AREA
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area was established as a national park in 1988 to protect, preserve, and enhance the nationally significant resources of the Mississippi River. Starting in the Dayton-Ramsey area and ending just south of Hastings, the Mississippi River changes character more within this 72-mile park boundary than in its entire 2,350-mile course to the Gulf of Mexico.

ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
Home to more than 89,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest wide-ranging art collections in the country – Rembrandt to Van Gogh, Monet to Matisse, Asian to African, Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration.

General admission to Mia is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee. General admission for “Seeing Nature” is $20. 

City of Minneapolis Invites Public to Attend the Grand Opening of The Commons on Thursday, July 21

On Thursday, July 21, the City of Minneapolis will host a grand opening of The Commons, 424 4th Street S  from 11:30am-1:00pm.

The event will take place on the East Block of the park and feature food trucks, a free yoga class by Core Power Yoga, dance performances by Asian Dance Team, and additional activities.  A brief program with comments provided by Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges; Council Member Jacob Frey; Pat Ryan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ryan Companies US, Inc.; and Mary Margaret Jones, Senior Principal of Hargreaves Associates will take place at 12:00pm.  Following the remarks all event attendees will be invited to participate in a commemorative Frisbee toss.

The Commons is a 4.2 acre, new public green space downtown bounded by Park Avenue and 4th and 5th Streets.  The Commons was designed as a place for respite, everyday activities, and events large and small for residents, workers, and visitors.

Everyone is invited to attend the grand opening celebration.  For more information on The Commons visit http://www.commonsmpls.com/.

Schedule of Grand Opening Events:

11:30am
Asian Dance Team
Food Trucks

12:00pm
Program with brief comments by Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, Council Member Jacob Frey, Pat Ryan and Mary Margaret Jones

12:20pm
Commemorative Frisbee Toss

12:20-1:00pm
Asian Dance Team
Food Trucks
Core Power Yoga free class
Free play activities

July 19 is Pre-registration Deadline for Primary Election

Via a July14 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Contact: Ginny Gelms, Hennepin County elections manager, 612-348-9289
Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

July 19 is pre-registration deadline for primary election

Absentee vote today at Hennepin County Government Center

Hennepin County eligible voters have until Tuesday, July 19, to pre-register for the state primary, which will occur August 9. Save time on election day. Register to vote or check your voter registration status at www.mnvotes.org.

Voters who register to vote after July 19 will be included in the registered voters log for the general election on November 8.

Absentee voting

All eligible voters may now vote using an absentee ballot for the state primary, instead of voting in-person at the polling place on primary day.

All eligible voters in Hennepin County may cast their absentee ballot in person at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. Sixth Street, Minneapolis. Hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with extra hours on Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Absentee in-person voting is also available at most city halls across Hennepin County and at the Early Vote Center in downtown Minneapolis at 217 S. Third Street. Each city location can accommodate voters who live in that particular city.

For information about voting and elections in Hennepin County, visit www.hennepin.us/elections.

Community Keg House is Closing

Via a July 12 e-newsletter from the Community Keg House:

 

Community Keg House is Closing

We wish to announce Community Keg House is closing as of today (Tuesday 7/12). We have loved building Community and all the people who have worked and occupied this space. It saddens us to close the Keg House greatly. We live and work in Northeast. We love Northeast. It meant a great deal to see so many support our efforts.

It is our goal to transfer ownership to another party who can carry on where we have left off. Pass along the message that Community Keg House is looking to sell to the right buyers. We are now actively looking to transfer this space to new ownership. We have a turnkey operation here and we feel confident another party could make this space awesome.

All for now. Thanks for your patronage and we hope to be open again soon!

Please direct all inquiries here: nate@communitykeghouse.com

- - -

Editor's Note:

Their location is 34 13 Avenue NE, in the Grain Belt building complex.

In the Works: People Serving People's Center of Excellence for Resilience (CoE)

People Serving People (PSP) recently announced an expansion. To complement their current shelter at 614 3rd Street S, they are developing a Center of Excellence for Resilience (CoE) at 2400 Park Avenue S. This program will combine early childhood education, school age support, and parental engagement direct services to homeless and at-risk children and their families with research, development, and training to improve the field of family resilience and trauma-informed education and service.

The new Center of Excellence for Resilience will not only advance PSP's work preventing homelessness in the community, it will strengthen their programming and operations at the current shelter.

Get to Know Them! Riverfront Yoga Instructors

By Claudia Kittock

If you happen to walk by Gold Medal Park on Saturday mornings on your way to the Farmers Market, you may have noticed a group of people practicing yoga. It began last summer with a 6-week pilot project, sponsored by the DMNA. This summer the program has expanded to every Saturday through Labor Day and is now sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District.

We are fortunate to have a group of instructors who are working cooperatively to help teach yoga to anyone who is in Gold Medal Park on Saturdays at 9 a.m. The practitioners are a diverse group, attendance averages around 30 each week, with over 100 individuals who have practiced at least once.

Libbie Brand is the leader of the instructors. She does yoga to renew the lease of her body and maintain health of her muscles, to engage and connect with her spirit and mind on a daily basis, and to take a pause in her day for meditation and reflection. Her favorite poses are Eagle Pose and the Dancing Warrior sequence. A quote that guides her practices is “Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul creates the symphony of life,” by BKS Iyengar.

Laurie TeBrake, another of our instructors, does yoga because she desires to go on more adventures, be around good energy, connect with people, learn new things, and grow. Her favorite poses are Warrior II and Camel. Yoga has taught Laurie to honor her body, let go of things that no longer serve her, breathe, to be present and okay with it, and that she can achieve more than she thinks.

Instructor Nicole Simmons does yoga because it allows her time to check in with herself mentally and physically. It provides her mind with peace and calm, and teaches her ways to cope when things get overwhelming. She also loves yoga for the community of friends she’s made. Her favorite pose is Pigeon. A quote that guides her practice is “Nothing to prove, everything to share.”

Angela Bounds does yoga to connect to herself, others, and to remember to let go of what no longer serves her. Her favorite poses are Dancer and Warrior II. Two quotes that guide her practice are “Be compassionate. Not just to your friends, but to everyone,” and “Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively,” both by the Dalai Lama XIV.

Instructor Elena Machlica does yoga to find gratitude in the everyday, foster self-love, maintain and tune into a healthy body-mind connection, and to connect to something much greater than herself. Her favorite poses are Garland and Reclined Bound Angle. A quote that guide her practice is “A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.”

Join us!  All that is required is a mat or a towel and your presence.  We welcome everyone who is interested for one session, or for every session.

3rd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival is Scheduled for Oct 24; Entry Deadline for 60-Second Films is Sept 15

In the midst of the Twin Cities is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world: the Mississippi River and the National Park Service’s only park focused on the river: the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. In celebration of the National Park Service’s Centennial, this year the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership is expanding the Mississippi Minute Film Festival to include the entire 72 miles of this unique riverfront park.

Create and enter your One Minute Film/DVD visual essay about the river. Make a film showing your own vision and appreciation for the Mississippi River; choose your location(s) from anywhere in the entire 72 miles of this unique riverfront park. Do your best to make us laugh, make us cry, astound us - all in 60 seconds!

For the competition, the 72 mile Mississippi River National Park has been divided into four categories:

• Upper Mississippi: Dayton and Ramsey to Minneapolis City Limits

• Minneapolis Riverfront: Minneapolis northern city limits to Ford Dam

• St. Paul Riverfront: Ford Dam to St. Paul southern city limits

• Lower Mississippi: St. Paul southern city limits to Hastings/Point Douglas

The purpose of the Mississippi Minute Film Festival is to inform, energize and inspire how and why the river enlivens our city. Films will be judged by a selected judging panel of experts.  Awards premiered and announced at the Partnership’s annual event, the Minneapolis Riverfront Summit, on Monday, October 24, at the Mill City Museum at 6:00pm. Minneapolis City Council Member Jacob Frey will be the main speaker.

Originality applauded! For full terms and conditions, file formats and “How to Submit,” see www.mississippiminute.org

All entries must be received ONLINE by end of day, 9/15/16.

Awards will be given in each Category/Best of Category and Runner up; plus a Viewer’s Choice Award and Best of Show Award. Judges to be announced. 

Scenes from the July 9 Mill City Farmers Market

Some shoppers started their July 9 trip to the Market in a yoga class with Emma of YogaFit Studios Northeast. It's a donation-based class on the lawn down the stairs from the Market. Monitor the Mill City Farmers Market Calendar page to see when the next yoga class will be.

Others rolled in after competing in the #TourDeNice.  The Minneapolis Foundation and Nice Ride Minnesota teamed up to host #TourDeNice, encouraging people all over Minneapolis-Saint Paul to support local charities simply by hopping on a Nice Ride bike. According to a post-event e-newsletter from The Minneapolis Foundation, local cyclists logged 4,505 bike sharing trips on this Saturday, triggering donations to support community needs.

Following the Mill City Cooks demo was a debut of the Nutrition Corner, a discussion led by the market’s Nutrition Liaison, Mallory (below, left). The July 9 topic was about avoiding food waste, examples of which included blanching, pickling and drying.

Zelda Curti and Susan Griak of me&Z introduced their high quality, small batch almond milks at the July 9 Market. Look for a separate post about this new vendor later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

Nice Market basket!

The lovely Talin Spring of Spring, Finn & Co. - you will never see her without a welcoming smile on her face.

The Harvest Social is September 11. You can play the $5 raffle for a chance to win two tickets - see the staff at the Info Booth.

Below, a masterfully crafted bench by Old World Cabinet.

Always love to see parents taking advance of the Power of Produce program with their children. Each week kids get introduced to a new fruit or vegetable, and receive their own $2 token to spend at the Market.

Milly the goat!

Downtown Early Voting Center is Open at 217 South Third Street

Early voting is now open for the primary election in a new location downtown, the Early Vote Center at 217 S. Third St. In-person absentee voting is no longer at City Hall. The new site allows more privacy and easier access for voters than the City Hall Rotunda did.

Early in-person voting is convenient. It especially helps voters who need special accommodations, such as language support, that the extra time, attention and onsite resources of early in-person votingafford more readily than the polls might on Election Day.

Standard hours throughout the absentee voting period are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. During the final two weeks before each election, these hours will be extended and include weekend times. These hours will be posted on the website (vote.minneapolismn.gov) once they have been set.

People can vote early (by absentee ballot) by mail or in person.

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact Elections at and Voter Services at 612-673-3870 or elections@minneapolismn.gov. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700
Rau kev pab 612-673-2800
Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500

5 to 10 on Hennepin / 5 to 10 Artist Market - Thursdays, August 18 thru December

Hennepin Theatre Trust, Southwest Airlines Co. and Project for Public Spaces (PPS) are joining together to create and activate public spaces in the WeDo™ MPLS Cultural District. Southwest Airlines’ Heart of the Community program awarded the Trust with a $200,000 grant to bring the 5 to 10 on Hennepin project to life. PPS, a nonprofit pioneer in the global placemaking movement, will provide technical assistance.  The 5 to 10 on Hennepin project will re-imagine a five-block stretch of Hennepin Avenue between 5th and 10th streets as a vibrant destination for everyone to enjoy.

The 5 to 10 Artist Market is a series of weekly pop-up night markets, open to the public from 5:00pm - 10:00pm each Thursday evening from August 18 through December, featuring Minnesota-made fine art and goods. Activating one city block at a time along Hennepin Avenue between 5th and 10th Streets, this Artist Market is part of 5 to 10 on Hennepin. Thousands of people are expected to visit the 5 to 10 Artist Market and enjoy the many placemaking activities along Hennepin Avenue. The market will feature live music, food, games and local beverages.

Between 25-45 Minnesota vendors are planned for each week, positioned along the sidewalk, on surface parking lots and in adjacent alleys.

Do you know an artist who would be interested in participating? Direct them to this link: https://hennepintheatretrust.submittable.com/submit/60514.

Traffic Alert - Open Streets Downtown Update

First Avenue North from Washington Avenue North to Eight Street South, and Washington Avenue North from Eighth Avenue North to First Avenue North will be closed to motorized traffic from 11:00am - 5:00pm on Sunday, July 10 to accommodate Downtown Open Street events.

This is a free event, open to everyone.  It gives people the opportunity to enjoy biking, walking, skating, playing and using wheelchairs on their neighborhood streets without the presence of motorized traffic. For more information on this year’s events, visit the Open Streets Minneapolis website.

To learn more about bicycling in Minneapolis, visit the City’s bicycling website.

Southbound lanes of 3rd Avenue in downtown closed this weekend

Via a July 8 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Southbound lanes of Third Avenue in downtown Minneapolis closed this weekend

Starting Saturday, July 9, the northbound lanes of Third Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis will close for one block as crews continue to work on the street’s redesign. These lanes are expected to reopen to traffic Sunday morning. All cross streets will remain open during the construction. Drivers should follow the marked detours (see “detour routes map”).

From 7 a.m. Saturday July 9 through 6 a.m. Sunday July 10 crews will remove the median on Third Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. During this time, northbound traffic will be detoured and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane. 

Starting at 7 a.m. Monday July 11, crews will pave where the median was removed. Third Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction. This work is scheduled to be completed by 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 12.

Southbound Third Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street will continue to have one lane closed for the remainder of the week.

For additional information, visit the project website.