Rewire Segment Delves into the Recycling Dilemma and Possible Solutions

This Rewire video looks at how China's discontinuation of processing US recyclable materials (due to too many contaminants) has forced changes in the recycling industry. Recycling contamination has been an issue for years, and we should all be concerned about it. It makes it difficult for sorting facilities to make a profit, and results in more trash going to landfills.

In this video, experts across the country discuss ideas on how to fix this difficult situation, and explore the solutions that were piloted at the 2018 Super Bowl in Minneapolis.

2017 Statistics from St. Stephen's Human Services

Excerpt from February 8 e-newsletter from St. Stephen's Human Services:

Mission Statement:

The mission of St. Stephen’s Human Services is ending homelessness. We progress toward this goal through a range of effective emergency services, shelter and housing programs for individuals and families. We envision a community in which housing instability is rare, brief and non-recurring, ending homelessness as we know it.

A Moment of Zen on a Cold Winter Day

I came across this video on someone's Facebook feed and thought others would enjoy it. It was posted on Vimeo by Kurtis Jackson. (The roughly 3 minute downhill journey and music start at about the 18 second mark.) The beauty of being one with nature in the winter! :)

MPRB to Honor Commissioner Young with Community Comments and Resolution Renaming Park

Via a February 2 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Public invited to share remarks honoring Young’s contributions to city and park system at February 7 meeting

At its Feb. 7, 2018 meeting, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners will consider a resolution authorizing Riverside Park to be renamed Annie Young Riverside Park in honor of the recent passing of Annie Young, a dedicated environmental and riverfront advocate during her 28-year tenure on the Park Board. The resolution also calls for the area within the park along West River Parkway, called Lower Riverside Park, to be renamed Annie Young Memorial Meadow. 

A celebration of Young’s legacy is scheduled at 6 pm during the Feb. 7 Board meeting. Board meetings are held at MPRB headquarters, 2117 West River Road. Following comments by public officials and Young’s family, the community is invited to share their thoughts and memories from Young’s career.

Young served seven consecutive terms as an At Large Commissioner, from January 1990 until December 2017, making her one of the two longest-serving commissioners in the MPRB’s 134-year history. She passed away last month at the age of 75.

Young was a lifelong environmentalist who spearheaded solar energy use in parks, clean water initiatives and a 95% reduction in chemical pesticide application on Minneapolis park land. She was also a powerful Mississippi River advocate, instrumental in the creation, development and stewardship of riverfront park land, which includes Riverside Park.

Riverside Park was one of the first parks established in Minneapolis. It is located at 2820 S Eighth St. and encompasses 28 acres of riverfront land on the west bank of the Mississippi River in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. In 2005, MPRB Commissioner John Erwin nominated that an area within Riverside Park called Lower Riverside Park be renamed after Young. According to current Board President Brad Bourn, there has been strong support among past and current Board members for renaming the park in honor of Young and discussions were underway to do so after she retired from the Board.

Those who would like to give public testimony on the resolution to rename Riverside Park in Young’s honor may do so during the regularly scheduled 5:30 pm Open Time at the Feb. 7 Board meeting. Please sign up to speak in person before Open Time begins or call ahead at 612-230-6400.

My North Series - Last Episodes of the 52 Minnesota Stories Leading up to the 2018 Super Bowl

The count down to Super Bowl 52 is complete! We've reached the end of the weekly video series of 52 love letters to Minnesota from notable Minnesotans. My North is an editorial video series created by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and presented by Explore Minnesota. With their odes to the state they love, we heard from tastemakers and stylemakers; artists and athletes; authors and entertainers. Below are final two episodes, 51 and 52 - click here to see more!

MCBA Announces Dirty Works Classes for Kids!

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) Announces Dirty Works Classes for Kids!

This new series of second-Saturday classes welcomes kids ages 7-12 to get their hands dirty and create their own projects! Inspired by the popular class series for adults, Dirty Works for Kids offers a fun and inspiring lineup of classes that will push kids’ creative boundaries and expand their notions of what a book can be. Classes are held from 1-3 pm monthly, and topics range from making edible books and miniatures to pop-up dragons and paper ornaments. Check out all of our offerings:

Dirty Works for Kids: Edible Books
with Cindy Gipple
Saturday, March 10; class 1-3pm

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Dirty Works for Kids: Miniature Books
with Cindy Gipple
Saturday, April 14; class 1-3pm

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Dirty Works for Kids: Superhero Pop-up
with Erin Holt
Saturday, May 12; class 1-3pm

Dirty Works for Kids: Faux Leather Journal

with Erin Holt
Saturday, June 9; class 1-3pm

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Dirty Works for Kids: Zines
with Jill Weese
Saturday, July 14; class 1-3pm

.

Dirty Works for Kids: Making Books with Found Materials
with Olli Johnson
Saturday, August 11; class 1-3pm

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Dirty Works for Kids: Stamps for Mail Art
with Olli Johnson
Saturday, September 8; class 1-3pm

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Dirty Works for Kids: Pop-up Dragons

with Olli Johnson
Saturday, October 13; class 1-3pm

.

Dirty Works for Kids: Silly "WANTED" Posters
with Erin Holt
Saturday, November 10; class 1-3pm 

7 ½ Foot Brain Ice Sculpture at the American Academy of Neurology

Photos submitted

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 201 Chicago Avenue, is currently home to a 7 ½ foot brain ice sculpture (located at the corner of 2nd Street S and Chicago Avenue, across from the Guthrie). Rob Graham, winner of the 2014 St. Paul Winter Carnival ice sculpture contest, carved the sculpture onsite. Additionaly, 28 windows on the building’s first floor are wrapped with dynamic images representing athletes of all sports, ages, and gender.

Here is a video of how it all came together:

AAN, headquartered in the heart of the Mill District, represents 34,000 neurologists and neuroscientists worldwide. They are the world’s most trusted authority for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines that help neurologists make decisions related to the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic diseases such as sports concussion, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, among many others.

A concussion does not occur only on the football field—it can affect athletes of all sports at any age, gender, or level of sport played. AAN's goal is to educate the public on the importance of “When in Doubt, Check it Out” if someone suspects a concussion. Their AAN guideline summaries serve as educational tools for patients, families, coaches, and the public. In 2015, the AAN released an updated Sports Concussion Guideline to help people recognize the signs of concussion and help doctors manage and treat concussion. For more information, visit AAN.com/concussion.

Spring 2018 Westminster Town Hall Forums Announced

Since 1980, the Westminster Town Hall Forum (free and open to all) has provided unique opportunities to explore the key issues of our day from an ethical perspective. In just an hour, guest speakers will expand your mind and maybe even change your perspective. Forums are always aired at noon on MPR News Presents, 91.1 FM in the Twin Cities. Noon forums are broadcast live, and evening forums are recorded for later broadcast, usually within a day or two of the event.

The Spring 2018 dates are:

SUZY HANSEN  March 22

Topic: An American Abroad in a Post-American World 

Suzy Hansen is an American journalist and editor. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she has lived in Istanbul since 2007 after receiving a journalism fellowship from the Institute of Current World Affairs to write on Turkish politics and foreign affairs. Since then, she has traveled for her work to Libya, Greece, Egypt, Afghanistan, Kuwait, India, Kenya, and beyond. She is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, London Review of Books, Vogue, GQ, Bloomberg, and Businessweek. Her first book, Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World, is a geopolitical memoir, challenging her assumptions about American beneficence abroad, America's role in the Middle East, and our country’s place in the world.

NADINE BURKE HARRIS April 10

Topic: Healing the Effects of Childhood Adversity and Trauma

Nadine Burke Harris is a pediatrician and advocate for children’s health. She is the founder of the Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco, which researches the impact of adverse childhood experiences, affecting children at all socio-economic levels and putting them at higher risk for health, behavioral, and learning problems. She has shared her research and insights at the Mayo Clinic, American Academy of Pediatrics, Google Zeitgeist, and Dreamforce. She is the recipient of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Humanism in Medicine award and the Heinz Award for the Human Condition. She is an advisor to the Too Small to Fail initiative, which promotes the importance of early brain and language development in children, and the author of the new book The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity.

STEVE SCHMIDT May 1

Topic: A Candid Look at Today's Headlines

Steve Schmidt is a political strategist, public relations executive, and an on-air political analyst at MSNBC. He was an advisor in the George W. Bush administration and served as the top strategist for the president’s 2004 re-election campaign. In 2008, he was the senior advisor to John McCain’s presidential campaign. He is a vice president at Edelman, a global communications marketing firm, where he advises politicians and business executives on a wide range of issues, including technology and telecommunications, financial services, energy, health care, and more. He serves on the board of the nonprofit research organization JUST Capital, which ranks companies on their commitment to fair pay, equal treatment of all workers, community-building, and sustainability. With David Plouffe, he founded the Center for Political Communication at the University of Delaware. 

RICHARD STENGEL May 22

Topic: Mandela's Way: Lessons for an Uncertain Age

Richard Stengel is a journalist, author, and a former managing editor of Time. He has written for numerous publications, including The New Yorker, The New Republic, Spy and The New York Times, and he appears regularly on television as a commentator. In 2013, he accepted the position of Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Obama administration. He has served as the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, established by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution. He collaborated with Nelson Mandela on his autobiography, The Long Walk to Freedom, and he was a producer on the documentary film Mandela. He is the author of Mandela’s Way: Lessons for an Uncertain Age. A graduate of Princeton University, he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied English and history.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is located at 1200 Marquette Avenue. 

Town Hall Forum Website

2018 Italian Film Festival scheduled for February 22 - 25

Celebrating its 10th year, the Italian Film Festival returns to the St. Anthony Main Theatre, hosted by the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul. Organized by the Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis-St. Paul (ICC), a nonprofit committed to sharing Italian art, culture, and language in the Twin Cities, the festival screens the best contemporary Italian movies, from quirky “Italian-style” comedies to socially-relevant documentaries.

Alongside Minnesota premieres, the festival showcases Italy’s cinematic history with a newly-restored Italian classic each year–this year, we celebrate the work of Vittorio De Sica with a digitally restored screening of his timely comedy Il Boom (1963) starring Alberto Sordi.

To commemorate the IFF’s 10 years in Minnesota, the Film Society has created something new this year, the “Building Bridges: Emerging Filmmaker Awards.” Their talented jurors have selected two short films by new filmmakers living in Italy and Minnesota and you’ll have a chance to see the winners at the closing night film.

Join the Film Society Thursday, February 22 through Sunday, February 25 for an amazing mix of documentaries, dramas, and comedies that will take viewers on a spectacular journey through the landscapes and stories of Italy and its people.

Izzy’s Ice Cream 5th Annual 13 Days of Giving, February 15 - 27

Izzy’s Ice Cream, 1100 Second Street S, is again hosting Izzy’s 13 Days of Giving, February 15 - 27.

As a local, family-owned business in the Twin Cities, Izzy’s Ice Cream appreciates the great fortune of being in a supportive community that allows them to be successful year after year. Each February they attempt to give a little back (something other than just ice cream!), and this year they are hosting their 5th Annual 13 Days of Giving. For 13 days in February, they show their love for different non-profits by featuring a different organization each of the 13 days of February around Valentine’s Day. Izzy’s will donate $2 from every cone sold to a different non-profit each day. Customers also are welcomed to make additional donations beyond the ice cream purchase as well.

- The Three Angels Fund

- Walking Shadow Theater Company

- United Way

- Minnesota Youth Symphonies

- Ruff Start Rescue

- Minnesota Communities Caring for Children

- Autism Society of Minnesota

- Walk-In Counseling Center

- Partnership Resources Inc.

- Adopt a Classroom

- Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative

- Land Stewardship Project

- Minneapolis Youth Baseball Association

- The Morton Cure Paralysis Fund

- Central High School

- The St. Luke Foundation for Haiti

- Science Museum of Minnesota 

Spoonriver Announces Wednesday Night Trivia Mafia

America’s best trivia is coming to one of Minnesota’s most acclaimed farm-to table restaurants. Starting February 7th, play trivia every Wednesday night at Spoonriver in Downtown Minneapolis’ Mill District.

The trivia events are designed for teams of 1-6 people - so get together a crew of your brainiest friends and win some great prizes: 1st Place Team wins a $30 Spoonriver Gift Card, 2nd Place Team wins a $20 Spoonriver Gift Card, along with other prizes and discounts every week.

There’s no cost to play, it’s totally free!

More info

Starting Today - Streets Closing Near US Bank Stadium for Super Bowl

Several streets near U.S. Bank Stadium will close Saturday, Jan. 27 and Monday, Jan. 29 to prepare for Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Feb. 4.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, the following will close:

• Fourth Street between Park Avenue and Interstate 35W (detour via Washington Avenue).

On Monday, Jan. 29, the following will close:

• Sixth Street between Chicago and 11th avenues (detour via Eighth Street).
• 11th Avenue between Third and Sixth streets
• Hiawatha Trail between 15th Avenue in the Cedar-Riverside Neighborhood and 11th Avenue in downtown Minneapolis (detour: use Washington Avenue, or ride Metro Blue Line LRT between Cedar Riverside and U.S. Bank Stadium stations.

The closures will be in place until after the Super Bowl.

Additionally, streets, sidewalks and bikeways may see intermittent closures near U.S. Bank Stadium and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Over the past several months, the City of Minneapolis has worked closely with stakeholders, including the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, NFL, their vendors and several other local partners to craft a traffic management plan that will enhance the Super Bowl LII experience while providing the minimum disruption to traffic and parking possible.

Stay up-to-date on the latest information related to Super Bowl LII street closures by signing up for City traffic alerts at minneapolismn.gov/traffic. For more City-related Super Bowl LII information, go to minneapolismn.gov/SuperBowl. For additional travel tips for the 10-day Super Bowl festival, visit mnsuperbowl.com/transportation.

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul announces dates for the 37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF)

Via a January 25 e-newsletter from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul:

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul today announced dates for the 37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF). This year’s lineup will feature an exciting, bold and moving lineup of contemporary films from local, national and international filmmakers, as well as tributes for master directors with retrospectives of their work. The festival returns April 12-28, 2018 to cinemas throughout the Twin Cities.

This year, the festival—one of the longest-running in the nation—will expand to include select screenings at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The St. Anthony Main Theatre will host screenings during the entire run of the festival, and there will be select shows at The Capri and Uptown Theatres in Minneapolis, Metropolitan State University’s Film Space in St. Paul and the Marcus Wehrenberg Galaxy 16 Theater in Rochester, Minn.

The staff of the Film Society has scoured international film festivals—from Sundance and Toronto to Berlin, Palm Springs, Guadalajara and San Sebastian—and received over a thousand submissions from around the world to bring its characteristically unique slate of international films to Minnesota, cinema that would otherwise never be experienced in Twin Cities theaters. Last year’s nearly 50,000 attendees from around the Midwest explored films from 72 countries.

“For 37 years, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival has helped to cultivate this region’s appreciation of international cinema, delivering audiences to remote and renowned locations around the globe, building bridges between cultures, geographies, people, and communities,” said Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director of the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, MSPIFF’s non-profit parent organization.

Chasms and Bridges, the Spotlight Program of the 2018 MSPIFF, is a special selection of films and conversations highlighting the divisions and the unity apparent in the world’s myriad populations. These narratives and documentaries serve not only to entertain, but to examine our differences, and in doing so highlight the many ways in which we are similar.

This year the festival will have a focus on Chinese cinema and is pleased to be partnering with the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s forthcoming "Power & Beauty" exhibition, featuring acclaimed Chinese artist and filmmaker Xu Bing's experimental first feature Dragonfly Eyes, as well as other films from China throughout the festival.

The complete festival schedule will be announced March 22. Festival Passes and 6-packs are on sale now at mspfilm.org, with individual ticket sales opening on March 22 to Film Society Members and to the public on March 29.

MSPIFF is presented by the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, a dynamic 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to fostering a knowledgeable and vibrant appreciation of the art of film and its power to inform and transform individuals and communities.

The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival is generously supported by The Star Tribune, Cedarwoods Foundation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Minnesota State Arts Board Legacy Amendment Funding, National Endowment for the Arts, McKnight Foundation, US Bank, The Minneapolis Foundation, Knock, Inc., Indeed Brewing Company, Canon, Cinequipt, Fox Rothschild, Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, numerous local businesses, consulates from around the world, our Master and Auteur Member Circle and the 2,000+ Members and Donors of the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul.

MacPhail Community Youth Choir in Action!

I can sum this up in one word: WOW! Several of the actors from the Mill City Youth Players now sing with JD Steele's MacPhail Community Youth Choir. The Mill City Youth Players perform tonight and tomorrow night at the Guthrie Theater.

3rd Ward Super Bowl Update from Council Member Steve Fletcher

Exceprt from Council Member Steve Fletcher's January 23 e-newsletter:

In addition to the game itself on Sunday, February 4, there are two other large events:

- Super Bowl LIVE is a free, public 10-day festival on Nicollet Mall from January 26 – February 4

- The Super Bowl Experience is a ticketed ($35) NFL-style theme park at the Convention Center from January 27 – February 3

For all of us in Ward 3 – especially downtown – we will see and feel its impact in the next few weeks, and I want to make sure we’re all as informed as we can be about what’s happening when:

- Visit this City home page for all information related to Super Bowl LII

- Check this page for road closure, parking restrictions, and other transportation information:

- Two areas in Ward 3 downtown will have road closures: U.S. Bank Stadium for the game itself and Nicollet Avenue for Super Bowl LIVE.

- On Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 4, SOME municipal parking facilities will require total use for event purposes, i.e. no contract parking will be available. There will be no change for monthly contract parking in municipal facilities until game day.

- The Commons park will also be affected. The East Block of The Commons will be closed to the public from January 6 - February 9, 2018. The West Block of The Commons will remain open and accessible for public use from January 6 - February 9, 2018. There will be no public restrooms available at The Commons until Feb 12.

- Regular light-rail service WILL NOT operate on Sunday, February 4.

Only those holding an official Super Bowl LII ticket, along with a Gameday Fan Express Pass, will be allowed to go through security checkpoints and board trains at either Mall of America (Blue Line) or Stadium Village (Green Line) stations. Green Line service will operate normally between Stadium Village and Union Depot stations.

- For anyone without a ticket, buses will replace light-rail trains on the entirety of the Blue Line throughout the day on February 4, 2018. Free replacement buses will operate between Target Field Station and Stadium Village Station on the Green Line. Buses run on similar schedules to trains but can take longer; please plan accordingly.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Mourns Loss of Former Commissioner Annie Young

Via a January 23 e-newsletter from Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Young remembered for environmental advocacy, river stewardship and commitment to teen and youth programs

It is with great sadness that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) learned of the passing of former Commissioner Annie Young.

Commissioner Young retired from the MPRB Board of Commissioners in December 2017, after serving as a Commissioner At Large since January 1990, making her one of the two longest-serving Commissioners in Board history.

“Annie’s passing is a huge loss to the Park Board and the City of Minneapolis,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller. “Her commitment to our park system, to the environment and to programs and services for children and young people helped us to become the number one park system in the country that we are today. She will be deeply missed.”

During her 28-year tenure, Commissioner Young was a champion of the environment. Young’s efforts to promote and develop environmentally beneficial approaches to operations and recreation activities throughout the park system included championing solar energy initiatives and the Clean Water Partnership, as well as an Integrated Pest Management Plan that led to a 95% reduction in the use of chemicals and pesticides in parks during her time as a commissioner.

She also championed stewardship of the Mississippi River, and the parkland along it, including supporting restoration of the historic Stone Arch Bridge and Mill Ruins Park, which today are among the most-visited gems within the park system.

Young was also committed to programs and services for children and young people and was one of the visionaries who helped create the Teen Teamworks youth employment program.

In 2017, Commissioner Young was honored by resolutions from both the Minneapolis Park Board and the City of Minneapolis acknowledging her contributions, commitment, hard work, initiative and creativity in service.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has lowered flags on park properties to half-mast until January 31 to honor Commissioner Young.

Young’s family has asked for privacy and time to grieve their loss. Memorial service arrangements are pending.

Full Press Release

Extended Skyway Hours During 10 Days Leading up to Super Bowl

Via a January 23 e-newsletter from mpls downtown council:

Skyways to have extended hours during 10 days leading up to Super Bowl in downtown Minneapolis

The mpls downtown council, Meet Minneapolis and BOMA Greater Minneapolis, in alignment with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, jointly announced today a plan to offer extended hours through key skyway corridors during the 10 days leading up to Super Bowl LII in downtown Minneapolis.

The skyway system will have distinct routes extending to the outer edges of the downtown Minneapolis area open from 6 am – 12 am daily from Friday, January 26 through Sunday, February 4. These paths with extended hours of operation will extend to U.S. Bank Stadium to the East, the Minneapolis Convention Center to the South, Target Field to the West and 3^rd Street to the North, giving visitors, residents and workers alike dependable skyway routes each day. The central point of these skyway corridors will intersect at the IDS Center Crystal Court on 8^th Street and Nicollet.

The routes will connect U.S. Bank Stadium with Super Bowl LIVE presented by Verizon along Nicollet as well as the Super Bowl Experience driven by Genesis at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Skyways that will open from 6 am to midnight for Super Bowl LII activities are displayed on the PDF map linked here. Michael McLaughlin, President of Urban Works, coordinated efforts to secure needed approvals from participating buildings.

In addition to the extended skyway hours, Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee volunteers will be deployed within the skyway system until 10 pm each day helping visitors with wayfinding. Special signage will be added to highlight these key corridors. Also, the Mpls Downtown Improvement District will be adding flags at street level to help direct people into the skyway system from several outdoor locations. DID Ambassadors will be provide guests with directions, including added Ambassadors along Hennepin and Marquette avenues on each side of Super Bowl LIVE presented by Verizon.

“We’re excited to showcase our downtown community as we host people from across the country and the world for the Big Game, and ensuring people can easily navigate our city at street level and in the skyways is important,” said Steve Cramer, president and CEO of the mpls downtown council and Downtown Improvement District, and chair of the Super Bowl Host Committee’s wayfinding committee. “Extending the skyway hours and providing extensive signage and resources are important elements in ensuring our guests efficiently get to their destinations during their stay.”

"We know that skyways are a unique attraction and novelty for visitors to Minneapolis, especially during the winter,” said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis.  “The collaboration between BOMA, the mpls downtown council, Minneapolis Convention Center and Meet Minneapolis has helped to ensure that our visitors will have a positive experience navigating around the city."

“Crucial to the success of the Super Bowl is featuring one of our most valuable amenities, the skyway system,” said Kevin Lewis, Executive Director of BOMA Minneapolis. “Property owners in downtown Minneapolis have displayed civic pride and a willingness to be flexible by extending skyway hours for Super Bowl attendees.”

With more than 75 participating buildings and encompassing two-thirds of the 9 1/2-mile system, the extended skyway hours program that will be in place for the Super Bowl is the largest coordinated program in the 56-year history of the Minneapolis skyway system,” McLaughlin said.

For more information on Super Bowl LII, visit the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee’s website at www.mnsuperbowl.com. For more information on downtown Minneapolis, visit www.mplsdowntown.com, and for more information on DID assistance visit www.mplsdid.com/superbowl.

Limited Tickets Available for the January 25 and 26 Mill City Youth Players performances at the Guthrie

The Mill City Youth Players will present The M.A.S.K. Project: Meet Us, Ask Us, See Us, Know Us, January 25th and 26th in the Guthrie's Dowling Studio, 7:30pm both nights.

The M.A.S.K. Project: Meet Us, Ask Us, See Us, Know Us, is a performance created by young adults from YouthLink and youth residents of Minneapolis’ Cedar Riverside neighborhood. The group grew their writing and acting skills with Guthrie artists over the past two months, and are ready to come together and share a performance inspired by their personal stories. Building upon last summer’s Be You, Be Seen, Belong event, this one hour performance will feature scenes, music, movement, spoken word and more.

Admission is free, but a tickets are required. 

Sponsored by The Friends of the Mill District in partnership with the Guthrie Theater.

My North Series - 52 Minnesota Stories Leading up to the 2018 Super Bowl (Episodes 46 - 50)

Count down to Super Bowl 52 with this weekly video series of 52 love letters to Minnesota from notable Minnesotans. My North is an editorial video series created by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and presented by Explore Minnesota. Hear from tastemakers and stylemakers. Artists and athletes. Authors and entertainers. These are their odes to the state they love. Below are episodes 46-50 - click here to see more!

Friends of the Mississippi River Seeks Input on Your Favorite River Views

Via Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) website:

Now through spring 2018, the 25 metro-area cities and towns in our local national park, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, are working to identify scenic river views worth protecting.

Once each city has determined its list, they must work to protect these views according to new state rules that protect the metro river corridor. Let's help our cities compile the best list possible!

Check out the views submitted so far, and then tell us about yours via this form. Views can be toward the river — from a public park, overlook or historic property — or toward the bluffs.