Week 16 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

Every visit to the Market is a new learning experience.  Take these beautiful specimens, for example.  We thought they were tomatoes, but found out they are Turkish Eggplants:

Cast your vote for the Mill City Farmers Market in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest by clicking here.  The Eagan and St. Paul Markets are currently in the lead, with MCFM a (very) distant third.

Don't forget - the 2nd Annual MCFM Baking Contest is September 22.

Road Closures for August 26 Minneapolis Duathlon

Time: 5:00am - Noon

The following parkways will be temporarily closed on Sunday, August 26, for the Minneapolis Duathlon:

West River Parkway, Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, Stone Arch Bridge, and Main Street

A complete list of parkway closures through December 2012 is available online.

Mark Your Calendars for Sanctuary's 5th Anniversary Party this Sunday, August 26

Naomi, Roger, Michael and the staff at Sanctuary the restaurant, 903 Washington Avenue South, invite you to celebrate their 5th Anniversary!

Drop by any time between 4:00pm-9:00pm to mix, mingle, dance, eat and drink with the staff, neighbors and friends of Sanctuary.  Food and beverages are complimentary, but cold beer, wine and some special cocktails will be available to enjoy at Happy Hour prices.  DJ Shannon Blowtorch will be back spinning the music.

Check out these pics from last year's party:

Best viewed in full screen mode.

Izzy's Ice Cream Breaks Ground in the Mill District

Construction started yesterday on the new Izzy's Ice Cream Parlor & Headquarters.  Works is scheduled to be completed next summer.  Follow the progress on Mill City Times.

Tonight - Music in the Park at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (East Bank of the Stone Arch Bridge)

Tonights entertainment:  Mankato Symphony Orchestra - With the Maza Kute drum group

What to bring: Blanket or chair, sunblock and bugspray, picnic basket.

Reminders: Watch our facebook or twitter page for weather cancellations of the evening festivities. Post photos on our facebook page of you enjoying the concerts. Support the artists by picking up a CD or other merchandise.

Enjoy Music and Movie combo nights:
Tuesdays at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park
Fridays at the Lake Harriet Bandshell (beginning June 9th).

Questions or comments? Email us at concerts@minneapolisparks.org

Music & Movies in The Parks is produced by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. Enjoy more than 250 FREE concerts and movies in Minneapolis parks this summer!

Week 15 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

Oh glorious day - Sonny's abfab sweet corn ice cream appeared at the August 18 Market.  :)

Cast your vote for the Mill City Farmers Market in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest by clicking here.  The Eagan and St. Paul Markets are currently in the lead, with MCFM a (very) distant 3rd.

Don't forget - the 2nd Annual MCFM Baking Contest is September 22.  I'm going to start testing possible entries this week, with a goal of incorporating as many Market ingredients as possible.

Personal Safety Workshops Offered to the Entire Downtown Community

The 1st Precinct and DID have teamed up to offer these free classes. 

Tonight - Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills (Preseason Game)

Time:   7:00pm (CST) at the Dome

• TV: NBC KARE - 11
• Radio: KFAN (FM 100.3)

Additional information is available at vikings.com.

Mark Your Calendar / Unmasking Homelessness Gala - September 22, 2012

Join host Jason DeRusha of WCCO for an unforgettable evening, topped off by enchanting jazz from The French 75 Band led by Maud Hixson and Tony Balluff.

Tonight - THE ULTIMATE MASTER OF WORDS! at The Loft

Time: 
6:30pm  Doors open — grab a drink at the bar and a good seat.
7:00pm  The tournament of literary destiny commences.

Location: The Loft at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Join The Loft for this epic tournament of wits and words.

12 contestants concoct fake definitions to bizarre words, 3 judges prognosticate, but YOU decide who is truly THE ULTIMATE MASTER OF WORDS!

Featuring

Emcee: Jeff Kamin

Judges: 
Marianne Combs, Lorna Landvik, and Anatoly Liberman

Contestants: 
Peter Bognanni, Dennis Cass, Chris Cloud, Sierra DeMulder, Sally Franson, Jay Gabler, Martin Kihn, John Munson, Maggie Ryan Sandford, Hersi Shirwa of Poet Nation, Andy Sturdevant, and Emily Weiss

Tickets: $10 ($5 discount for Loft members)

Tickets are available for purchase at the door or online at loft.org/ultimatemaster or by calling Hannah at 612-215-2582.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the literary programs of The Loft Literary Center.

Tonight - Stone Arch Patio Party at The Depot

Party on in the Mill District:

Tonight - Mill City Live: Melismatics at the Mill City Museum

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location:  Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street

Mill City Live: Melismatics

Fee: $5, includes museum admission from 4:00 to 9:00pm

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four evenings of outdoor music every Wednesday night from August 8 through 29.

The Melismatics have been winning fans with their live shows since they released their debut album "Postmodern Rock" nearly a decade ago. Their 2012 release "MANIA!" was produced by Jon Auer of The Posies and Big Star, along with Ed Ackerson (Motion City Soundtrack, Golden Smog, The Replacements) and was mixed by John Fields (Jimmy Eat World, Rooney, Har Mar Superstar, etc). Grammy-winning songwriter Dan Wilson co-wrote one of the tracks.Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 to 9 p.m. Food and drink is available for purchase by D’Amico Catering.

Media Sponsors: 98.3 The Current and Vita.mn

Tonight - The Soap Factory Common Room Tour

Time:  Tour will depart from the Common Room sign at The Soap Factory’s front dock at precisely 6:30pm.

Location: Soap Factory, 514 Second Street SE

For the fourth year, Sergio Vucci and Andy Sturdevant will be leading Common Room, a series of artist-led tours originating at The Soap Factory and heading by foot, bicycle and mass transit into Minneapolis, seeking to activate public spaces and redefining our relationship with our surroundings.

Common Room began as a month-long series of interactive art events, out of a refurbished art deco office at The Soap Factory. Since 2011, Vucci and Sturdevant have taken the Common Room concept outside the four walls of the Soap Factory and into the city.

Tonight - Music in the Park at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (East Bank of the Stone Arch Bridge)

Tonights entertainment:  Johnny Smith & Friends - Country music and more!

What to bring: Blanket or chair, sunblock and bugspray, picnic basket.

Reminders: Watch our facebook or twitter page for weather cancellations of the evening festivities. Post photos on our facebook page of you enjoying the concerts. Support the artists by picking up a CD or other merchandise.

Enjoy Music and Movie combo nights:
Tuesdays at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park
Fridays at the Lake Harriet Bandshell (beginning June 9th).

Questions or comments? Email us at concerts@minneapolisparks.org

Music & Movies in The Parks is produced by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. Enjoy more than 250 FREE concerts and movies in Minneapolis parks this summer!

Tonight - Books & Bars Series at Aster Cafe

Times:

Social - 6:00pm dinner/drink specials
Discussion - 7:00pm-8:30pm

Location: Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main Street

Book: Ready Player One, Author Ernest Cline

Books & Bars isn’t your mother’s book club. We provide a unique atmosphere for a lively discussion of interesting authors, fun people, good food and drinks.

Reservations - 612-379-3138

Tonight - TC River Rats Minnesota's Military Appreciation Show

All proceeds from this special Twin Cities River Rats show go to Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF).

Location: 1628 West River Road (between the Plymouth and Broadway).

Time: 6:30pm

 

More Info

Week 14 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

The first apples of the 2012 season appeared at the August 11 Market - and they disappeared in a flash.  Very Prairie debuted Market Mustard and Lucille's offered the first Apple Butter.  Really, just too many good things to list...

Cast your vote for the Mill City Farmers Market in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest by clicking here.  The Eagan and St. Paul Markets are currently in the lead.

Don't forget - the 2nd Annual MCFM Baking Contest is September 22!

Date Night in the Mill District

Our idea of a perfect date night in the Mill District is a leisurely stroll, checking out the ever-changing scenery and a few drinks at some favorite spots.

We love the drinks at Sanctuary.  Kicking off the night with Cherry Twizzlers and Bloody Sidecars gives the rest of the evening a nice glow.

Unfortunately, no one was playing the piano in front of MacPhail Center for Music when we walked by.  It will be there into September.

Zen Box will soon be celebrating their 1 year anniversary in the Mill District!

Haven't crossed the Stone Arch Bridge to see what those white rings in the water are?  It's the public art installation, “Project 35W”, which will be on view through August 31.   Find more details about this project and the unveiling on Facebook.

Aaaaaah - another relaxing Friday night in the Mill District draws to a close.

Fantastic 2012 National Night Out in the Mill District

The Mill District threw one heckuva 2012 National Night Out party!

Special thanks to the planning committee, lead by Cynthia Kriha, and the local businesses and organizations who contributed funds, food, drink and gift certificates.  Thank You to the Mill City Farmers Market and Mill City Museum for providing tables, chairs, grilling equipment, message boards, electrical, etc., and to everyone who helped with set up and clean up.  

What a treat - The Orange Mighty Trio invited an out-of-town musician friend to join them. 

Click here for more pictures and a full list of contributors.

Tonight - Meet the Candidates at the Mill City Museum

With the primaries taking place next week, the timing is perfect: