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.
Nistler Farms was back this week with sweet corn. Elderberries and sand plums were new at Prairie Hollow Farm. We picked up another seedless watermelon from Svihel Farms - super sweet!
They've asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for another extension to show why their license to build a hydroelectric plant in Mill Ruins Parks should not be terminated. Read the letter to FERC here...
Chef Heather from Spoonriver and the Mill City Farmers Market with the Stone Arch Bridge and Mississippi River in the background. They could not have picked a better location to shoot this video.
Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis and across the Stone Arch Bridge in Old St. Anthony.
Friday, August 26
Real Ghost Tour (2 Nights) at St. Anthony Main
MacPhail's Hip Hop Camp Final Performance
Saturday, August 27
Taste Twin Cities Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour (Starts at Gold Medal Park)
Historic Main Street Tour at Mill City Museum
Vikings and Dallas Cowboys at the Dome
Guo Gai, Meng Tang, Slinko Opening Reception at Soap Factory
Mississippi River Gorge Half-Day Canoe Trip
Last Saturday to tour Godfrey House
Sunday, August 28
Engineering the Falls at Mill City Museum
Last Sunday to tour Godfrey House
Sanctuary's 4th Anniversary Party
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
Saturday & Sunday
Brunch at the Aster Cafe
St. Anthony Main
125 SE Main Street
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3138
Until 2pm.
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.
Congratulations to the 18 winners below whose work will be displayed in the Mill City Museum’s Mill Commons from August 25, 2011 through January 2, 2012.
Join us on Wednesday, September 14th from 6:00-8:00pm for a free public reception celebrating the exhibit and photographers. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available.
Photo contest jurors were looking for striking images of the Mississippi River and the Minneapolis Riverfront that show the relationship between people and the environment past and present, what that relationship has meant to different people in different times, and the positive and negative consequences of our use of the land and waters. Ideal photographs convey a sense of place of the Minneapolis Riverfront and address the way people use the riverfront and its resources.
Below, a sampling of the works:
This morning on TwinCities.com, Pioneer Press restaurant critic Kathie Jenkins noted the upcoming opening of Crooked Pint Ale House at 501 Washington Avenue South (formerly occupied by 501 Club).
The Crooked Pint Ale House website content isn't published yet, but you can follow them on Facebookin the meantime. According to the Info page, "The menu features classic pub faire with nearly 50 choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as kids’ menu selections. Dishes include Washington Avenue Pot Roast, Pork Porterhouse with Cherry Glaze, Kansas City Bone-In Strip, Chorizo Corn Dogs, Ale House Deviled Eggs, Ale-Braised Pull Pork Sandwich and a Crooked Caprese Salad". YUM!
The Torchlight 5k festivities have been rescheduled for 8:00pm tonight, August 25. You may recall the July 20 event was cancelled due to excessive heat.
The rescheduled Torchlight has a one year, exclusive course change. The race starts and finishes at St. Anthony Main, and the course will be a loop running along scenic Mississippi River and Crossing the Stone Arch Bridge. Click here for the new course map.
There will be an amped up post race party on Nicollet Island.
;)
Real Ghost Tours, 125 Main Street SE, recently announced the addition of two overnight investigations, September 10 and 24, 1:00am-5:00am. These two events are limited to 10 people each - call 952-888-9200 for reservations.
Real Ghost Tours is not a gory haunted house experience - it's a history-packed tour during which you'll learn about (and maybe encounter the spirits of) people who shaped this area. Visit the website and Facebook for more information.
During the tour you'll explore areas of the building that are otherwise off limits, using an EMF meter (a scientific instrument for measuring electromagnetic fields, and the prime sensory instrument of any ghost investigation).
Since launching Mill City Times last summer, we’ve met a number of local business owners for the Mill District Spotlight series. We connected with Naomi Williamson of Sanctuary the restaurant through her social networking efforts. Our initial intent was to do a Spotlight on Naomi as a neighborhood champion, but during our conversations some interesting history emerged. It became apparent that her “giving back” philosophy didn’t start at Sanctuary – it’s just part of her DNA.
Recent transplants to the area may have a hard time imaging our beautiful neighborhood was once part of the notorious Skid Row of Minneapolis. But that’s exactly where Naomi, a preachers daughter and youngest of eight, spent the early years of her childhood. It’s been quite a journey from her father’s Mission to being a partner in Sanctuary.
Naomi’s father, Rev. Stanley L. Williamson, was an ordained minister with the Shiloh Temple Pentecostal church, back before the church was segregated. While her older siblings sang in the streets for vagrants, the younger kids worked in the soup kitchen and food shelf at the Mission, located at 807 4th Avenue South. Naomi related, “I remember being there and hearing the singing. My 5 sisters and 2 brothers sang the traditional old hymns such as The Old Rugged Cross, In the Garden, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus, in harmony - both in the Mission and on a Skid Row, then near some RR tracks on Washington between Hennepin and Nicollet”.
Below is a photo in front of the Mission (Naomi is the baby). The building no longer stands.
Our conversations with Naomi evolved into a retrospective of her life’s journey. She stated, “Certainly my parents' commitment to helping the poor and destitute - and being exposed to lots of needy people - gave me a strong sympathy for those in need, and an appreciation for those who share their own good fortune. We ourselves also were poor. Dad not only redistributed surplus food to the poor - in later years after the Mission was closed, he was called "the vegetable man" by those who became used to him driving his route to drop off the food - our family also ate that surplus food ourselves. Surplus food is basically food past its 'expiration' date. To this day, I have a very difficult time watching food being wasted. I am pleased that Sanctuary's Chef puts together balanced plates where everything on the plate is intended to be eaten as a part of his carefully balanced design. Most portions are the size that people can eat without throwing away excess. I also gained an appreciation for fresh, wonderful food!”
The library was a means of escaping the reality of poverty, and reading lead to college. After working her way through law school, Naomi went on to a successful career as a corporate attorney with Honeywell in Arizona. While at Honeywell, Naomi ran the community service volunteer group assisting Hmong refugees. Starting a family was the motivating factor in moving back to Minnesota, and oddly enough she and her husband, Roger Kubicki, bought a home within a few blocks of the house she lived in as a baby.
Fast forward to the present, and Sanctuary is now Naomi’s vehicle for helping others. Using the talents of Chef Patrick, Sanctuary holds special events - like their creative Tasting Menu - to benefit causes such as March of Dimes, Dining Out for Life and Youth Farms. Additionally, you’ll always find a local artist promoted at the restaurant, and if you follow Twitter and Facebook you’ll find Naomi tirelessly creating a buzz to help promote neighborhood businesses. For these reasons, we named Naomi our choice for Neighborhood Champion in our June 21 article recapping the first year covering the Mill District through Mill City Times.
;)
Sanctuary is celebrating its 4th Birthday this Sunday, August 28, with food, drink and music. As for the name, the intent was to suggest a haven/escape. As Naomi puts it, “We don't preach in this Sanctuary, but we do provide an escape from your daily troubles and food to salve your soul!”
In addition to following Sanctuary on Facebook and Twitter, check their website frequently for upcoming promotions and events.
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Check out MNopedia, a new Minnesota history website recently launched by the Minnesota Historical Society. It's currently in Beta, so the bones are there with only limited content. Based on what's there so far it promises to be a fun and interesting site to follow.
Read more about it in Kristin Tillotson's StarTrib article, "MNopedia Site Makes History Fun".
;)
Minnesota State Fair history is now at your fingertips with a new cell phone tour developed by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society.
Fairgoers can use their own phones to dial up the voice of Tim Russell from “A Prairie Home Companion” and listen while he guides them to 12 historically significant spots at the fair.
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Find out how State Fair mascot Fairchild got his name, which famous folks appeared at the Grandstand and what Marjorie Johnson’s secret is to winning so many blue ribbons for baking!
Also hear fun facts, fair sounds and personal memories.
“The cell phone tour takes fairgoers to places they may have passed many times, but this time they’ll learn fascinating stories related to those places,” said Wendy Jones, Head of Minnesota History Center Museum and Education Programs.
Smart phone users can scan a QR code on the sign at each stop to connect to the tour.
Brochures for the cell phone tour are free and can be found at fair information booths, the J.V. Bailey House and at the Minnesota Historical Society Booth #79 in the lower level of the Grandstand. Fairgoers who finish the walking tour get a free prize (while supplies last).
If you can't make it to the Fair, you can still enjoy the cell phone tour. Call 1-877-411-4123 and follow the prompts.
If 2nd Street South towards 3rd Avenue is part of your walking, jogging, biking or driving route, you've probably noticed new parking pay stations were recently installed between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue.
Raya Zimmerman's "Smarter Parking" article in the August 15-28 Journal sheds light on why they're being installed, how they work, how to use them and how to avoid mistakes that will most likely result in a ticket.
It's actually a pretty straight forward system to use, but until parkers get comfortable with it you can count on seeing people frozen in front of the pay station with squinting eyes and furrowed brows.
Bright and early each Monday morning we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Mill City neighborhood. Submit your events here...
Monday, August 22
Music in The Park - Nicollet Island Park
Tuesday, August 23
Let's Go to the Junkyard! Workshop at MCBA
Music in The Park - Father Hennepin Bluffs
Wednesday, August 24
Breakfast with a Preservationist at Mill City Museum
Thursday, August 25
5 Course Wine Dinner at Spill the Wine
Chad Hoopes Recital at MacPhail
Baby Storytime at Central Library
Rhythmically Speaking at Southern Theater (3 nights)
Friday, August 26
Real Ghost Tour (2 Nights) at St. Anthony Main
MacPhail's Hip Hop Camp Final Performance
Saturday, August 27
Taste Twin Cities Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour (Starts at Gold Medal Park)
Historic Main Street Tour at Mill City Museum
Vikings and Dallas Cowboys at the Dome
Guo Gai, Meng Tang, Slinko Opening Reception at Soap Factory
Mississippi River Gorge Half-Day Canoe Trip
Sunday, August 28
Engineering the Falls at Mill City Museum
Sanctuary's 4th Anniversary Party
Laurie Hertzel's "Punching up a New Literary Collaboration" article in the August 21 Star Trib (click here for the August 20 online edition) mentions Milkweed Editions, 1011 Washington Avenue South. According to the article, Milkweed and two other local presses, along with select Twin Cities book sellers, have created the Literary Punch Card as a means to increase book signing traffic, book sales, etc.
The launch party for the Literary Punch Card is scheduled for September 14, 5:00pm-7:00pm, at Club Jager, 923 Washington Avenue North.
;)
Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Postcard Contest.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is sponsoring a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) postcard competition, with all entries to be displayed in the Open Book Lobby Gallery from September 16 to November 6, 2011. A $250 "best of show" prize will be awarded.
Entering is super easy: Create your entry - a 4"x6" postcard - using any media: collage, paint, drawing, printing, sewing, photography, digital imagery or any other artistic method. Then mail it to MCBA by September 12, 2011.
More details are available on the Artist Opportunities page.
The St. Paul and Eagan Markets are still the Minnesota leaders in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest. Cast your vote for the Mill City Farmers Market by Clicking here. Only 10 days left to vote!
Salty Tart Bakery debuted at the Market this week, as did Sweetland Orchard. YUM!
Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis and across the Stone Arch Bridge in Old St. Anthony.
Friday, August 19
August 19, 2011, Friday - Real Ghost Tour (2 Nights) at St. Anthony Main
August 19, 2011, Friday - MacPhail's Rock Week Summer Camp Final Performances
Saturday, August 20
Taste Twin Cities Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour (Starts at Gold Medal Park)
Bird Watching at Nicollet Island and Boom Island
Riverfront Quest Family Tour at Mill City Museum
Metrodome Open House: First 3,000 People Get Piece of Old Roof
Central Library Summer Atrium Sale
Sunday, August 21
13.1® Minneapolis Half Marathon
The Homegrown Experience at Nicollet Island Pavilion
Railroad History Tour at Mill City Museum
An Architect’s View of Mill City Museum
Complimentary Tai Chi Workshop at Open Book
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
Saturday & Sunday
Brunch at the Aster Cafe
St. Anthony Main
125 SE Main Street
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3138
Until 2pm.
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.
Am I really the last person to "discover" Minneapolis? Until recently, I probably knew more about the religious capital of Kandy, in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, than I knew about Minneapolis. Turns out that this bike-friendly metropolis has a lot to offer visitors beyond Grain Belt Beer, long winters, and Mary Tyler Moore reruns. Here are just a few of the activities I tried during my recent visit.
All of the featured activities highlighted were from riverfront neighborhoods near downtown.
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South
Performers: Curtiss A and the Jerks of Fate
Fee: $5 per person; includes admission to Mill City Museum. Free for MHS members.
The Twin Cities’ most explosive outdoor concert series is back for an eighth season with a slate of bands curated by music writer Jim Walsh. Featuring legendary performers from the heyday of the Minneapolis sound, these concerts will riff on American music in a gorgeous riverfront setting every Thursday from July 7 through Aug. 18. Admission includes the concert and entrance to the museum from 4 to 9 p.m. Food and drink by D’Amico Catering available for purchase.
Eat Local All Year Long
One great way to keep eating local food all year long is to preserve it! Ferment it, freeze it, dry it, can it... and now's the time to do it! Check out the canning class and the cooking demo this Saturday and learn how (details below)!
Produce Planner
We've got sweet corn, mustard greens, long beans, squash blossoms, okra, WI-grown artichokes, beets, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, greens, and so much more!
Meet Your Vegetables / 9 am - 1 pm
(while supplies last)
Get after school snack ideas for young locavores from the experts - UMN Public Health Nutrition grad students!
Discover You Can!
Show off your to local food flare in the State Fair Style Canning Contest, coming up August 27th! Find out how to enter here.
Mill City Cooks, 10am - Local Lunch for Kids
Chef (and Mom) Heather Hartman knows all about this task! She'll demo two simple meals for young locavores with ingredients from our sponsor, Nash Brothers Trading Company: Black Bean Soup and - a classic - Hummus.
Art Market, All Day
Featuring The Ink Orchard, Matthew Krousey, Chris Chookiastirichai, and Woodsport.
Live Music, 11 am - 1 pm
The maverick chamber music of the Orange Mighty Trio.
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 12:26PM