Stone Arch Bridge During Northern Spark

June 4, 2011 shortly before sunset.  The Stone Arch Bridge is located in the Historic Mill Diistrict of Minneapolis.

Bad Behavior: Bikers, Motorists, Pedestrians from @bslotterback

Great video of an intersection in New York City.  This could have been taken almost anywhere I think.  Maybe we could all do better in sharing our roadways and sidewalks.

Found by @bslotterback on Twitter.

Tonight - A SIP OF SCIENCE: Agricultural Crossroads: Food, Fuel and the Future at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm

Location: The Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main Street, St. Anthony Main

The rhetoric surrounding agriculture in the state of Minnesota almost invariably invokes a future of sacrifice. Some fear that maintaining the status quo will damage our ecosystems, while others are concerned that alternative approaches to agriculture will lead to economic woe and inadequate food supplies.

Nick Jordan, professor of agronomy and plant genetics at the University of Minnesota, wants to change the terms of the dialog from sacrifice to shared opportunity. Jordan wants to facilitate the adoption of land-use practices that take local agriculture in a new, multifunctional direction. Join Jordan, local farmer Tony Thompson, Warren Formo from the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Coalition, and Jim Kleinschmit and Anna Clausen from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy for a discussion of a new vision for local farmland use, and how we might get there from here.

It will be an evening of science, policy, music, and art. Nick Jordan, featuring images by Anna Clausen and music from Mother Banjo

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum that offers the opportunity to talk with researchers about their current work, its implications, and its fascinations.

Behind the Scenes Nice Ride Article in the Journal

For some insight on what keeps Nice Ride running smoothly, click here for Jeremy Zoss' Journal article on the program, "Behind the Bikes -  A look at what it takes to run the bike-sharing program Nice Ride".

Nominate Mill City Farmers Market for 'America's Favorite Farmers Markets'

I noticed this link to vote for the 2011 America's Favorite Farmers Market on the Mill City Farmers Market website, and of course I cast a vote for them.

American Farmland Trust holds the annual America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™  contest to raise national awareness about the importance of buying fresh food from local farms and saving the farmland where it's grown.

From June 1 thru August 31, 2011, market shoppers can vote to support their favorite farmers market. 

At the end of the contest, one small, medium, large, and boutique, farmers market will win the title of “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2011. The reward for the winning market in each category will be a feature article on the award winning foodsite Epicurious.com, plus other prizes from American Farmland Trust partners and sponsors.

Sanctuary Freshens Up Patio for Outdoor Dining @SanctuaryRest

Just in time for the summer season, the Sanctuary patio, the coziest outdoor hangout in the Mill District, is getting a fresh coat of paint for it's fence.

http://www.sanctuaryminneapolis.com/

Tonight - Music in the Park: Folk Singer Bob Frey at Nicollet Island Park

Come watch Bob Frey, a regular in Twin Cities folk scene at Nicollet Island Park.

Time: 7:00 PM

Visit his website...

Runners Start/Finish the Minneapolis Marathon in the Mill District

According to the announcers at the 2011 Minneapolis MarathonFinish Line, 4,800 runners participated in yesterday's race.  (According to Team Ortho's website, there were 3,576 finishers.)  500 volunteers were on hand to keep things running smoothly.  The race started at the Depot and ended at the Guthrie.

The Guthrie's Endless Bridge provided a birds eye view of the finish line:

Below, coming up on the finish line - runners pass the 35W Memorial construction site. 

Above, the vertical flags list each state represented by participating runners.

Spectacular Week 5 at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market

GrazeFest was the theme of this Saturday's Mill City Farmers Market.

More produce is appearing each week.

The  Blackberry Sorbet from Sonnys hit the spot after meandering around in the sun for an hour...

The animal babies are back!

See you there next week - rain or shine (but hopefully shine)!  :)

This Weekend in Mill City / June 3 - June 5

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis and across the Stone Arch Bridge in Old St. Anthony.

Friday, June 3

Writers with Disabilities Reading at The Loft

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Saturday, June 4

Mill City Farmers Market

Northern Sparks Festival

All Night Square Dance and Book Making Marathon at MCBA

Ard Godfrey House Opens for the 2011 Season

Lucia Watson, 'Eating Local' At Mill City Museum

Author Talk: Kevin Kling at Central Library

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Sunday, June 5

Minneapolis Marathon

Accordo at Southern Theater (2 nights)

Literary Death Match at Aster Cafe

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Weekend Brunch

Saturday & Sunday

Brunch at Spoonriver
750 South 2nd St (at Chicago Ave S)
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-436-2236

Reservations recommended

10:00am - 2:00pm

See the menu...

Saturday & Sunday

Brunch at the Aster Cafe
St. Anthony Main
125 SE Main Street
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3138

Until 2pm.

See the menu...

Sunday

Brunch at Spill the Wine
1101 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415
612-339-3388

brunch buffet 10am- 2pm Sunday
$12/person (kids 3 and under eat free, 4-12 years are 1/2 price!)

includes: eggs, bacon, french toast, hash browns, fresh salad and fruit, pastries, build your own omlette bar and more...

featuring absolut bloody bar for $5.

also offering fair trade coffee and full bar.

Tonight - The Pillsburys of Minnesota at Mill City Museum

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704  2nd Street South

Fee: Free

Mill City Museum will host a conversation between authors Lori Sturdevant and George Pillsbury to celebrate the publication of their new book, “The Pillsburys of Minnesota,” which chronicles the family’s role as local pioneers in the milling and lumbering industries, and the part they played in Minnesota politics, the growth of the University of Minnesota, and other civic developments in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Sturdivant recounts how succeeding generations of Pillsburys blended private enterprise with public service, and probes the enduring effect the family has had on the civic culture of a state.

After the discussion Sturdevant and Pillsbury will sign copies of the book, which will be for sale in the museum store.

People Serving People Provides Shelter, Food and Other Necessities to North Minneapolis Tornado Victims

People Serving People (PSP) located at 614 South 3rd Street, provides emergency housing and community services that assist families experiencing homelessness in becoming self-sufficient and reconnected with the community. 

Though often near capacity, PSP is providing shelter to a few families with special needs who were displaced when a tornado tore through North Minneapolis on May 22.

They also delivered clothing and diapers to the Francis Drake Hotel, where the majority of families are sheltered.

Additionally, PSP has supplied pallets of food to the Salvation Army where families are able to go for assistance.

Parking Meter Out of Service? You'll Still Get a Ticket, but...

Scenario:  You find an open parking spot and absentmindedly start feeding quarters into the meter, only to discover the meter is out of service.  Do you:

A) Curse, kick the meter, and then drive off in search of another parking spot.

B) Park there anyway, with the assumption that if the meter is broken, you won't get a ticket (and besides, you already put money in, so you're entitled, right?).

If you've been in this situation and chose "B", chances are you're $42 poorer thanks to Minneapolis' extremely diligent parking enforcement.

You can dispute this type of ticket by contacting the City of Minneapolis Parking Services to report the issue.  During business hours (8A-4P, Monday-Friday), call 612-348-2040, Option 4 for Defective Meters, and follow the directions.  Make sure you have the Parking Meter ID (which should also be listed on the citation).

Get Ready for the Northern Spark!

The Northern Spark gets under way at 8:55pm this coming Saturday night (June 4) with two simultaneous world premiere fanfares:

In Minneapolis, Chris Kallmyer's commissioned composition, for dawn or dusk // homeward for 100+ local musicians playing trumpet, trombone/baritone, percussion and piccolo along the Stone Arch Bridge will kick things off.  Afterwards, there are numerous projects to experience in Zone A of the Festival.

Car Horn Fanfareby Philip Blackburn in collaboration with ArtCars of Minnesota will take place in Saint Paul along the Upper Landing Park across from Harriet Island. Immediately following the fanfare, Jim Campbell's Scattered Light will illuminate, Andrea Stanislav's Nightmare will gallop past, the Jonathan Paddleford will have already left with its Mississippi Megalops – A Floating Chautauqua organized by Works Progress, and, if all goes according to plan, the searchlights along Wabasha Bridge will be switched on for the second time in a decade.

At first the notion of trying to take in this Minneapolis to St. Paul riverfront festival seemed a little daunting. However, a thorough review of the website brought things into perspective.

For example, there are 5 Zones - our neighborhood is Zone A: Minneapolis Riverfront Central Avenue and Stone Arch Bridge.  The website shows events, food vendors, etc., for each Zone.   There's also a Getting Aroundpage from which you can download a pdf of the guide book prior to the event.  There will also be guide books available at the festival.  For those who want to take in both Minneapolis and St. Paul projects, free buses will be running a continuous loop between the two cities.

FERC Begins Process of Terminating Crown Hydro License

With a letter dated May 25, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has begun the proccess of termintating the license of Crown Hydro to build a hydroelectric powerplant at Mill Ruins Park in the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Download the letter...

Other comments from the web:

FROM MINNEAPOLIS PARKWATCH -

FERC PULLS THE PLUG ON CROWN HYDRO

Park Watch has learned that in a letter dated May 25, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) informed Crown Mill Hydro President Tom Griffin that FERC staff consider the "Crown Mill Hydro Project to be abandoned."

In a discussion of the project, which was described as "unconstructed," it was pointed out that there has been no progress moving the Crown Mill Hydro Project forward and Crown's mandatory reporting on plans, activities and filings "are long overdue."

Crown Hydro has 30 days "to show cause why the Commission should not initiate proceedings for terminating the license."

It is interesting to note that FERC refers to the Crown Hydro Project by its proper name--the Crown Mill Hydro Project. That's because the FERC license that Crown holds is not for the Mill Ruins Park location.  The license that Crown holds was issued on March 19, 1999, and it was for the basement of the Crown Roller Mill Building--not for Mill Ruins Park. So, while Crown was attempting to pressure the Park Board to gain control of the Mill Ruins Park location for its proposed facility, Crown never held a license to construct its hydro facility on MPRB property.  In order to build on Mill Ruins Park, it would have had to get an amendment of the license it had for the obsolete Crown Roller Mill site.

FROM SHAWNE FITZGERALD on e-Democracy

In a letter dated May 25th, FERC notified CH that it has 30 days "to show cause why the Commission would not initiate proceedings for terminating the license...." FERC notes the project is unconstructed and lists four required plans never submitted:

-Schedule for submission of design documents and plans and specs for the project (Art. 301)

-Memorandum of Agreement with the Corps (Art. 303)

-Pedestrian Walkway and Bridge construction (Art. 402)

-Operation and Management Plan (Art. 406) These plans were due 90-365 days after CH received a FERC license on March 19, 1999.

FERC also enclosed information on surrendering a license. The letter is posted at the FERC Online e-library.

Search for docket number P-11175. http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp

FYI, Shawne FitzGerald

Update on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 9:55AM by David Tinjum

Nick Halter from The Journal just tweeted -  "Crown Hydro attny Todd Guerrero says the project will continue and plans to respond to FERC letter within 30-day requirement"

Update on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 6:15PM by David Tinjum

The Journal published an update here -

http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?&story=16957&page=65

Another Sign Summer is Coming - PedalPubs Are Back!

Although they have multiple routes in both St. Paul and Minneapolis, I first saw a PedalPub when we moved downtown.  It's the perfect invention for multi-taskers - happy hour and exercise rolled into one.   Now that warm weather has returned, you'll be seeing a lot of them in our neighborhood.  

These crazy revelers zoomed by so fast we barely got a picture (I've never seen one roll that fast, but they were heading down a long hill):

Check out Lori Storm's May 4 article about PedalPub in The Line - very informative.

Themed Bike Racks Pop up in the Mill District - Part 2: Open Book

Themed Bike Racks Pop up in the Mill District - Part 1: MacPhail Center for Music

Twin Cities River Rats First Show of 2011 Season is Thursday, June 2

The 2011 Twin Cities River Rats season kicks off Thursday, June 2.  Shows are scheduled for 7pm Thursday nights through August 25, and take place at 1628 West River Road (between the Plymouth and Broadway).

The Twin Cities Rivers Rats describe their show as an aquatic Broadway musical featuring multiple water ski acts choreographed to music and built around a theme.

If you haven't already enjoyed a River Rats show, their website is loaded with fun videos to give you an idea of what to expect.  These are free events.

Sunshine Returns for Week 4 at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market

After braving the wind and rain for the past two Saturdays, this mornings sunshine allowed us to enjoy a relaxing and prolonged trip to the Mill City Farmers Market.

 

 

Be sure to check out the Mill City Farmers Market Blog under the Quick Links section.  We post new pictures, vendors and videos daily.