Annual STEP-UP Mock Interviews to Provide Job Interview Experience to Over 1,500 Minneapolis Youth

Via a March 26 News Release from Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED):

Over 400 Twin Cities business professionals and community volunteers will conduct one-on-one interviews and provide feedback to young people at Minneapolis Convention Center March 26-29

Today through Thursday, March 26-29, over 1,500 Minneapolis youth and 400 Twin Cities business professionals and community volunteers will descend on the Minneapolis Convention Center for four nights for the 15th annual STEP-UP youth employment program mock interviews. These practice interviews match young people (age 14-21) who are preparing for summer internships at top Twin Cities companies, public agencies and nonprofits with experienced volunteers who are eager to share their skills and expertise with our region’s future workforce.

“Minneapolis is a young city—by 2020, a majority of our workforce will be millennials. Youth employment programs like STEP-UP help future leaders develop the skills and gain the experience they need to succeed in the workplace and keep our local economy strong for generations,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.

The mock interviews are scheduled from 4:45 - 6:15 p.m. each night at the Minneapolis Convention Center (Room 200, 1301 Second Avenue South).  The 400-plus volunteers will include employees from over 130 Twin Cities businesses and organizations. 

Prior to the interviews, each STEP-UP program applicant will have completed over 10 hours of work readiness training. The trainings, led by AchieveMpls and certified by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, focus on workplace conduct, professional communication, problem solving, interview skills, resume writing and other skills.

“Hosting a STEP-UP intern was a great experience,” said Julia Eagles, a STEP-UP supervisor at Xcel Energy. “It provided an opportunity for our staff to supervise and mentor young people, and introduced our whole team to the workforce of the future!”

The mock interviews allow STEP-UP interns to put their new skills to the test in what is for many their first professional job interview. The interviews last about 10 minutes, after which volunteers coach the interns and provide respectful, candid feedback to help them strengthen their skills and confidence. 

“I benefited from participating in the STEP-UP program in many ways,” said Samuel, a STEP-UP intern at TCF National Bank. “I learned how to interview and be in a corporate setting, and how to properly dress and have a schedule for when to arrive at work and when to complete work. I also gained the experience I needed to find another job in a field I’m interested in.”

About STEP-UP

STEP-UP prepares Minneapolis youth for tomorrow’s careers. As one of the country’s leading youth employment programs, STEP-UP recruits, trains and places more than 1,600 young people (ages 14-21) in paid internships at more than 200 employers each year. With a collective of partners spanning 15 industries and multiple sectors, STEP-UP is the largest and most enduring program of its kind in our region. It’s a backbone of support that unites businesses, schools, nonprofits and the city together in a common goal: to build and strengthen our future economy and the talented youth who will power it. STEP-UP is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, AchieveMpls, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Project for Pride in Living.

Learn more about STEP-UP by visiting the program’s website or follow STEP-UP activities and events all year long via @STEPUPMpls on Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat or with hashtag #STEPUPMpls. 

Minneapolis 2040 — Add Your Voice to the City's Draft Comprehensive Plan

Minneapolis 2040 is a draft Comprehensive Plan that shapes how the city will grow and change, including topics such as housing, job access, the design of new buildings, and how we use our streets.

The City is currently reaching out to the Minneapolis community to discuss this draft plan and to encourage review and feedback. Sign up for updates and follow on Twitter to learn about specific opportunities to engage. Please provide your feedback on the draft plan via this website — click here to learn how to comment.

Public input will continue through July 22, 2018, after which City staff will make revisions to the plan and present a final draft to the City Planning Commission and City Council in Fall 2018.

Draft Comprehensive Plan Policies - All Draft Comprehensive Plan Policies

 

2018 Minnesota Brewery Running Schedule

2018 Minnesota Brewery Running Schedule

All events include 5k-ish fun run, free beer, free swag and more! Additional details may vary by event. Cheers to beers!

(See Facebook for links to these events.)

APR 7 Headflyer Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

APR 14 Lakes & Legends Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

APR 21 Utepils Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

APR 27 Arbor Day 5k w/ Brewing A Better Forest Fri 6 PM

MAY 5 Pryes Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

MAY 6 56 Brewing BEER RUN! Sun 11 AM

MAY 12 Beaver Island Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

MAY 13 Root Beer Run - 2nd Annual Sun 12 PM

MAY 19 Omni Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

MAY 20 Indeed Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sun 10 AM

MAY 26 Finnegans Brew Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUN 21 0k Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUN 7 Fulton Brewing BEER RUN! Thu 6 PM

JUN 16 Bald Man Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUN 23 Excelsior Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 10 AM

JUN 23 Wayzata Brew Works BEER RUN! Sat 2 PM

JUN 30 Inbound BrewCo BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUL 7 Chapel Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUL 7 Imminent Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 2 PM

JUL 28 Summit Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 9 AM

AUG 46 12Brew BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

AUG 11 Bent Paddle Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

AUG 11 Blacklist Artisan Ales BEER RUN! Sat 2 PM

AUG 19 Dangerous Man Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sun 11 AM

AUG 26 Surly Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sun 10 AM

SEP 8 Insight Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

SEP 15 Bauhaus Brew Labs BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

SEP 22 Lupulin Brewing Co BEER RUN Sat 11 AM

SEP 23 Birch's on the Lake BEER RUN! Sun 11 AM

SEP 29 Badger Hill Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

OCT 6 Sociable Cider Werks (CIDER) BEER RUN Sat 11 AM

OCT 13 Modist Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

OCT 20 Wicked Wort Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

OCT 27 Fulton Brewery Spooktacular BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

NOV 17 Bad Weather Brewing Co Pre Turkey Trot! Sat 11 AM

DEC 1 0.5k Winter Beer Dash! Sat 11 AM

Road Closures for March 24 Hot Dash 5K & 10 Mile

The following roads will be temporarily closed from 7:30am-1:00pm on Saturday, March 24, for the Hot Dash 5K & 10 Mile:

- Stone Arch Bridge
- NE Main Street - from 6th Ave SE to Hennepin Ave
- West River Parkway - from Plymouth Ave to E 27th Ave

Course map and more info.

Geo:Code 2018 is Happening March 24-25 at Central Library

People of all backgrounds and skills will use open data to develop solutions to community challenges at Geo:Code 2018, being held March 24 and 25 at Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall.

During the annual event, civic-minded residents, geographers, technology developers and Hennepin County officials will come together for hands-on presentations, discussions and working sessions. Participants will brainstorm solutions to make county government more transparent and accessible. The event is free and open to people of all backgrounds and interests.

Topics for Saturday, March 24, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Delighting your customer: What does creating a great customer experience look like? Learn service approaches and behaviors to power moments and create experiences.

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Introduction to Usability Testing: See examples of successful usability projects, view a live demo, and learn tips and techniques to start talking with your users.

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Innovation by Design – Rapid Prototyping: Start with user research, create a low fidelity prototype, test the prototype, iterate and create an interactive prototype.

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Story Maps – Visual Storytelling with Maps: Go through the process of telling stories with maps using the ESRI Story Map platform. Bring a computer or tablet to create your own Story Maps in this workshop.

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Crowdsourcing Spatial Data Collection: Learn how to harness the crowdsourcing data collection capabilities of Esri’s online mapping platform, ArcGIS Online.

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Topics for Sunday, March 25, 10:00am – 3:00pm

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Digital Government Listening Session: Help us design a new virtual “doorway” to Hennepin County! Tells us your thoughts and ideas on dealing with usernames, passwords, security questions, and profiles.

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Data and Statutes and Laws, Oh My!: Learn about the laws we have to follow to protect data, and how to request it. In addition, we’ll be discussing what you (the citizens) want from us.

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Data!: Learn about free and open data sources that are available, where they come from and how to use them well.

Book Launch Open House Event for Bill Sullivan's Lemon Jail: On the Road with the Replacements set for April 18 at The Loon Cafe

Via a March 31 Press Release from University of Minnesota Press:

Book launch open house event for Bill Sullivan's Lemon Jail: On the Road with the Replacements scheduled for 6:00 PM, Wednesday, April 18 at The Loon Cafe, 500 N 1st Avenue

 ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Don’t bore us, get to the chorus” is Bill Sullivan’s motto, which will come as no surprise to anyone who opens Lemon Jail. A raucous tour diary of rock ’n’ roll in the 1980s, Sullivan’s book puts us in the van with the Replacements in the early years. Barreling down the highway to the next show through quiet nights and hightailing it out of scandalized college towns, Sullivan—the young and reckless roadie—is in the middle of the joy and chaos, trying to get the band on stage and the crowd off it and knowing when to jump in and cover Alice Cooper. Lemon Jail shows what it’s like to keep the band on the road and the wheels on the van—and when to just close your eyes and hit the gas.

That first van, dubbed the Lemon Jail by Bill, takes the now legendary Replacements from a south Minneapolis basement to dive bars and iconic rock clubs to college parties and eventually an international stage. It’s not a straight shot or a smooth ride, and there’s never a dull moment, whether Bob Stinson is setting a record for the quickest ejection from CBGB in NYC or hiding White Castle sliders around a hotel room or whether Paul Westerberg is sneaking gear out of a hostile venue or saving Bill’s life at a brothel in New Jersey. With growing fame (and new vans) come tours with REM and X (what happens when the audience isn’t allowed to stand?), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Violent Femmes (against their will), and Saturday Night Live, where the band’s televised antics earn the edict You’ll never play on NBC again. Fast forward: You’ll never play Washington, D.C., again. Or Moorhead.

Hiding in fans’ backyards while the police search the streets and pelted with canned goods at a Kent State food drive, the Replacements hit rough patches along with sweet spots, and Lemon Jail reveals the grit and glory both onstage and off, all told in the irrepressible, full-throttle style that makes Bill Sullivan an irresistible guide on this once-in-a-lifetime road trip with a band on the make.

Bill Sullivan has been on tour since the early 1980s. After the Replacements and stints with the Del Fuegos and the Cherrybomz, he was tour manager for Soul Asylum, Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst’s Monsters of Folk, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, The New Pornographers featuring Neko Case, Spoon, Syl Johnson, Teenie Hodges, and blues legend Jimmie Vaughan. He was co-owner of the 400 Bar on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota.

Art Classes and Workshops at the Northrup King Building

Did you know that some of the artists of the Northrup King Building also offer classes and workshops?

Multiple classes are available in drawing, painting, photography, calligraphy, woodworking & upholstery and more.  

Check out the list of classes available and sign up today.

Minneapolis Music History Project Captures Important Places, Structures, and Buildings in the City to Fully Understand the History of Music in Minneapolis

Engagement Event to Take Place Tuesday, March 20 at Capri Theater

Community members are invited to participate in the new Minneapolis Music Project, an initiative by the City of Minneapolis department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) to capture the important places, structures, and buildings that represent the history of music in Minneapolis. The project explores the locations where music shaped the city’s culture starting from 1850 through the 20th century. 

The City has already identified 100 buildings that are related to music history in Minneapolis. Music is such an integral part of Minneapolis’ history and what the city is known for, both nationally and internationally.  This is why the City is turning to the public to share stories and photographs of places where music was performed, purchased, and recorded in Minneapolis.

A series of community engagement activities will take place as part of the project with the next event occurring on Tuesday, March 20 from 6:00pm – 8:00 pm at the Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis. The event will feature an overview of the Minneapolis Music History Study, a history of the Capri Theater, rarely before scene music related visual images and an opportunity for the public to provide thoughts on the important places in Minneapolis music history and their musical experiences. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided by Breaking Bread Café and Catering and a local music soundtrack will be featured. We will have an Adam Turman print for kids to color their own First Avenue.

People interested are encouraged to share information using the hashtag #mplsmusichistory.

The Minneapolis Music History project is made possible by a grant from the National Park Service. Follow @Growingmpls on Twitter to stay updated on the “Artist of the Week,” presented by the Minneapolis Music History project. The artists that are featured reflect the city’s music history. There is also a must-listen-to song featured from the artist. For complete project details visit the Minneapolis Music History website.

Experience Thai Massage - Now Available at Bierbrauer Chiropractic

Bierbrauer Chiropractic, located at 221 10th Avenue S in the retail level of the Bridgewater Lofts, recently welcomed Certified Massage Therapist Devin Harwood.

Devin Harwood

With over five years of experience in the industry, Devin's work includes Swedish massage, Thai Yoga Stretching, Tui Na, Relaxation and Deep Tissue. However, his primary work is grounded in Thai and Thai oil massage.

While traditional Thai yoga massage is done on the floor on a mat, Devin prefers to work on a table, otherwise known as “Thai Table Massage,” because it allows the option of getting up onto the table to perform compressions, direct pressure, trigger point therapy, easier application of oils, plus it's less strain on the body being directly over what’s being worked on (similar to the way a chiropractor may work to adjust the back, hips, etc.).

Doing Thai oil massage also offers the options of doing anything from relaxing Swedish massage to deep tissue and all styles in between. Where Thai is traditionally done clothed, Thai oil massage is done in the same way you would get a Swedish or deep tissue massage; allowing you to undress to your level of comfort whilst incorporating various modalities and techniques to let you fully relax and become immersed in relaxation.

A graduate of Aveda Institute, Devin has explored different styles and approaches to bodywork and draws inspiration from Traditional Chinese Medicine, not only with massage but as a life style. He is Registered Yoga Teacher and practices Qi Gong and Tai Chi regularly. His knowledge of posture and alignment enables him to recommend useful stretches that will enhance and lengthen your results. He believes that first and foremost, massage does not have to be painful in order to be effective. In fact, he believes the best work that can be done is to relax and relieve - not just the body, but most importantly, the mind.

Massage services are available Fridays 1p-6p and Saturdays 12p-6p. Book appointments online. Grant yourself the gift of self healing!

St. Patrick's Day Pre-parade Face Painting and Discounts at Minneapolis Visitor Information

Join Minneapolis Visitor Information (505 Nicollet, Suite 100) on St. Patrick's Day! 

Love from Minneapolis is offering 17% of retail items. 

From 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. we are offering free face painting before the parade. 

We also have free green beads while supplies last.

Free Rides to Get You Home Safely March 17 from 6pm - 3am

If your St. Patrick's Day plans include green beer and whiskey - this one's for you!

Miller Free Rides on March 17

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day responsibly and get a free ride on Metro Transit on Friday, March 17. 

On St. Patrick’s Day, customers can ride free from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. on all Metro Transit routes – buses, METRO lines and Northstar. Simply hop on and take a seat for free. 

If you’re celebrating that night – or want to avoid driving alongside those who are – riding the bus or train is a worry-free and safe alternative. 

Watch for Metro Transit in the St. Patrick’s Day parades in downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul on March 17. 

Free rides will also be available on Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, SouthWest Transit and Anoka Transit routes.

Check which routes go late here.

Miller Lite Free Rides is a community service program made possible through a partnership with Metro Transit and MillerCoors. 

Call 1-800-FREE-RIDES 
Text “FREE RIDES” to 90464 
Visit millerlitefreerides.com

Annie Young Meadow in Riverside Park Dedication Scheduled for March 17

Via a March 13 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will celebrate the life of longtime Commissioner Annie Young during a special event to dedicate Annie Young Meadow in Riverside Park on Saturday, March 17, 2018, beginning at 10 am.

In February, the MPRB voted to rename a portion of Riverside Park, formerly called Lower Riverside Park, to Annie Young Meadow in honor of Young, a seven-term commissioner who passed away in January.

All Minneapolis park users and members of the public are invited to attend.

State-of-the-art Clinic & Specialty Center to Open in Late March in Downtown Minneapolis

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Thursday, March 15 at 8am in the Clinic & Specialty Center’s lobby. Speakers included Hennepin County Board Chair Jan Callison and Board Member Peter McLaughlin, Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman and Mayor Jacob Frey, along with others. 

When the doors of the Hennepin Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center open on March 26, 2018, patients will find their familiar caregivers in an inviting, convenient new building located on the campus in downtown Minneapolis. What they won’t find are multiple entrances, long skyways, and three block walks from the parking ramp their clinic. The new Clinic & Specialty Center has eliminated complicated wayfinding and created a seamless, patient-friendly experience – beginning with something simple as parking.

“Parking and convenient access are fundamental needs, which can be hard to accommodate downtown,” said Jon L. Pryor, MD, MBA, CEO. “So we built two levels of parking below the building with elevators that bring patients directly to the floor of their appointment. No more long walks from parking ramps and bus stops to get to our clinics.”   

Parking is important, but access to quality healthcare is what really matters, and Hennepin Healthcare has designed a clinic experience that brings care teams together to provide care that is centered on the needs of the patient. Those patients had a voice in the design of the six-story, 377,000 sq. ft. Clinic & Specialty Center.

“We started by asking our patients what they were looking for in a clinic, and we were not going to miss this opportunity to build it right – which meant listening closely to their suggestions and working them into the plan,” said Pryor. “From design workshops to an experiential mock-up clinic, our patients, staff, and community members provided input every step of the way.”

More than 25 primary care and specialty clinics, including Allergy, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Oncology, Pediatrics, Pulmonary, and more, as well as same-day surgery, imaging, rehabilitation and other services that were once scattered throughout the five-block campus are now under one roof in the Clinic & Specialty Center. Dental services have expanded thanks to a $4.6 million grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. It’s the largest non-governmental grant that HCMC has ever received.

A skyway across 8^th St. connects the new building to rest of the campus and the welcoming atmosphere in the new center includes large windows and open areas that offer ample natural lighting, an education and community center, comfortable seating areas, and commissioned artwork placed throughout the building create a healing environment for patients, visitors and employees.

Other strategic design features may not be as noticeable, but are built-in essentials to patient flow and convenience. The building’s team centers support collaborative care by having primary care providers and specialists in close proximity to quickly consult with each other when necessary. Clinic design separates the patient areas from the work areas to maintain a calm, healing environment. 

On the sixth floor outpatient surgical area, patients flow in one direction from check-in to pre-induction, to surgery, to post-op. After they are discharged they exit through a separate elevator to the lower level parking ramp – without needing to move through public areas. Likewise, imaging services are strategically located near those clinics that use them most (Orthopedics, Comprehensive Cancer Center). These are only a few examples of the many thoughtful placements of innovative design features that make the Clinic & Specialty Center a special place.

HCMC was Minnesota’s first Level I Trauma Center, and as part of its comprehensive care for adult and pediatric trauma patients, the full spectrum of care and services are offered, often meaning multiple follow-up outpatient visits.

“It’s no secret that our critical care expertise naturally translate into outstanding primary care,” said Kelly Spratt, Chief of Ambulatory Care. “It’s something that our patients already know – and that’s one reason why the clinics on our campus have seen year-over-year volume growth.”

Aligned with the opening of the new center is a new name for the system – Hennepin Healthcare – to better tell the story of the all of the care, services, and points of access available across the system.

More than 110,000 people (including trauma patients) access Hennepin Healthcare clinics for routine and specialty healthcare services every year. In 2017 this represented a total of 630,000 clinic visits. After the Clinic & Specialty Center opens in March, an estimated 530,000 clinic visits will be scheduled before the end of December at the new building alone.  

Reflecting on the journey it’s taken to arrive at this point, Pryor says that “It was time for a new building to keep pace with the growing healthcare trend from inpatient to outpatient care. To see the Clinic & Specialty Center finally come together from ‘concept’ to state-of-the-art center is not just exciting – it fulfills our mission as an organization to provide access to outstanding care for all. Now our patients and their families can experience care in a state-of-the-art facility and our valued staff has the newest, most advanced facilities in which to do what they do best.” 

CenterPoint Energy's 2018 Project List Includes East Hennepin Avenue

Via a recent e-newsletter from CenterPoint Energy, and additional information from the related Project pageon their website:

In 2017, CenterPoint Energy worked hard to improve and modernize natural gas pipelines throughout several neighborhoods in its service territory. We would like thank everyone for their patience while this construction activity was taking place. 

For this new construction year, the new piping segments and upgrades will continue to be installed with the most current construction standards and requirements, ensuring safety and reliability of the pipelines for many years to come.

As CenterPoint Energy's crews begin the 2018 construction season in approximately April, please continue to visit our Construction Zone website as 2018 projects have been added to the website. Any changes on the 2018 projects will be added closer to the projects' start dates.

What is CenterPoint Energy doing on East Hennepin?

In conjunction with construction from Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis, CenterPoint Energy will be replacing existing natural gas pipeline in Minneapolis along the following streets:

• East Hennepin Avenue from 5th Street NE to Main Street

• 5th Street NE from East Hennepin Avenue to the 5th Street NE bridge over the Northstar Line

• A short s​ection of pipe replacement on Nicollet Island

CenterPoint Energy’s contractor Michels Corporation will begin the work in April or May 2018 and will finish the work in at least twelve weeks. Further construction will be done by road contractors from Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis.

Frequent updates will be posted on CenterPoint Energy’s website closer to the project’s start date. Lane restrictions are anticipated in areas where active construction is occurring. The lane restrictions are necessary to keep both the public and construction personnel safe.

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Construction will happen in three phases:

• Phase 1 is installing the natural gas distribution main.
• Phase 2 is connecting the natural gas service lines to the new main along the same construction route. (A gas service line is a small-diameter pipe connecting the customer's gas service to the main line in the street.)
• Phase 3 is restoring the areas affected by construction--typically the utility easement, the street, and the customer's yard.

Map of construction area

How may construction affect customers?

As part of this main project, the crews will also be replacing several natural gas service lines that connect from the main to the customer's property. Customers will experience a short disruption of gas service as the crews are installing the gas service line. 

Crews may have to dig in the ground on your property in the utility easement to complete the task of service and main distribution line replacement. If a customer’s property is disturbed, CenterPoint Energy will restore the hard and soft surfaces affected by construction at no cost to you.

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How can I contact CenterPoint Energy?

For questions about the project, please call our Information Hotline at 612-321-5369 or our Communication Specialist at 612-321-5546. For questions about restoration (hard or soft surfaces) please call our Restoration Department at 612-321-5042.

City Employees are Eligible for CSA Deliveries and Discounts

City employees can sign up for the workplace CSA and receive weekly deliveries of fresh produce

Are you employed by the City of Minneapolis? Does your busy schedule keep you from shopping at local Farmers Markets? If so, you can get fresh, locally grown produce delivered weekly to a City worksite by joining the workplace community supported agriculture (CSA) program. When you become a member, you purchase a “share” of vegetables in advance from a local farmer, and during the summer your farmer will deliver your weekly share of produce to a convenient drop-off location.

Learn more about this program between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in the City Hall Rotunda. You’ll have a chance to talk to the farmers, ask questions and get information on their produce and pricing. In addition, you’ll get a coupon for an additional $10 off your membership and a free insulated tote when you pledge to register for a CSA share at the fair.

The Wellness Committee is offering City employees who participate in the CSA program a subsidy. Employees can receive 25 percent off the cost of a summer share up to a maximum of $100 off a half share and $150 off a full share. To apply the discount, you must sign up on the farm’s website and enter the coupon code in the discount code box when you check out.

The farms participating in this year’s City CSA program are the Hmong American Farmers Association and Shared Ground Farmers’ Cooperative. Each farm offers half and full shares. Both farms will deliver Wednesdays to the Public Service Center in downtown, and Shared Ground will deliver Wednesdays to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters in north Minneapolis. You can receive 25 percent off the cost with a discount from the Wellness Committee.

More Info

2018 Open Streets Minneapolis Dates Announced

Via a March 9 e-newsletter from Our Streets Minneapolis:

Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to announce the Open Streets Minneapolis 2018 summer events! We can't wait to walk, bike, roll, dance, and play with our neighbors all across Minneapolis. We hope to see you at all the 2018 summer events: 

Open Streets Lyndale - Sunday, June 10, 11 AM - 5 PM

Open Streets Lake + Minnehaha - Sunday July 22, 11 AM - 5 PM

Open Streets Northeast - Sunday, August 5, time TBD

Open Streets Franklin - Sunday, August 26, 11 AM - 5 PM

Open Streets West Broadway - Saturday, September 15, 11 AM - 5 PM 

Open Streets Nicollet - Sunday, September 23, 11 AM - 5 PM

Open Streets University of Minnesota - Sunday, September 30, 11 AM - 5 PM

Visit openstreetsmpls.org for more information, and to learn how you can sponsor Open Streets Minneapolis or get a spot along the route for any of the events. 

World Premiere of Beck Lee's Dark Comedy “Subprime” Debuts at Mixed Blood in May

Via a March 8 News Release:

 

Minneapolis will host the world premiere of Beck Lee’s Subprime, a new dark comedy with Minneapolis roots that was developed in New York. Lee’s play, about two couples from Minneapolis who travel to New York on a bargain vacation none of them can afford, debuts at the Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S 4th Street, beginning Friday May 4 at 7:30pm, with an opening on Sunday May 6 at 3pm. Produced by Media Blitz Entertainment, the show’s four-week engagement plays through Sunday May 27 at 3pm. Tickets are now on sale at www.subprimetheplay.com.

 

A prominent New York publicist, Lee conceived the play with Andrea Iten when he was living part-time in Minneapolis. “I have wanted this play to launch in Minneapolis,” says Lee. “The city means a lot to me and premiering it with a homegrown cast and creative team drawn from the city’s extraordinary talent pool, is exactly what this play calls for.”  The Carbonelle Award-nominated director and actor Peter Moore who directed the play’s first developmental readings in Minneapolis - at The Jungle and the Hennepin Theatre Trust -- directs and is the production’s fight and intimacy choreographer.

Featured in the cast of five are Bonni Allen, Jen Burleigh-Bentz, Charles Fraser and Dan Hopman.  (Allen’s notable Mixed Blood credits include “Avenue Q” and “Barbecue.”  Fraser’s many local credits include “Driving Miss Daisy” at The Jungle for which he shared an Ivey Award for ensemble acting. He was recently in Yellow Tree Theatre’s knockout hit “The Royale.”)  The production design team includes several of Minneapolis’s top, award-winning designers: Joe Stanley(scenic design), Anita Kelling (sound design), Mike Wangen (lighting design), and Sara Wilcox (costumes). Toni Solie is the production stage manager.

Set in the summer of 2008 when sharp hints of an impending financial meltdown were being studiously ignored by many Americans - “Subprime” introduces us to the Kellys and the Swensons, two couples from the well-to-do Linden Hills neighborhood in Minneapolis. The scope of their denial about the state of their finances, their marriages and even their identities comes into focus in the course of an evening of progressively debauched relaxation in their Midtown Manhattan hotel.

Lee’s contemporary farce, which he co-conceived with Iten, a Minneapolis-based marketing and brand placement specialist, had several developmental readings in New York, and was first seen publicly in a workshop in June of last year, at the Jersey City Theater Center. Thomas Burns Scully, writing in onstageblog.com described the play as “the next ‘God of Carnage,’” calling it “staggering…a show that’s going to be talked about.”  Lee is also developing a new play, “God Save the Human Cannonball,” with the celebrated actress Laila Robins in the lead. Robins, a St. Paul native, starred at The Guthrie in “Lion in Winter” in 2016.

37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival is April 12-18

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul recently announced the Opening Night film and selected Women & Film and Spotlight on the World: Chasms and Bridges titles.

This is a sample preview of the 250+ cinematic works from emerging and veteran filmmakers from around the world to be included in the 37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF). The Festival returns April 12-28, 2018, bringing over 150 new feature films and 100 shorts representing 70+ countries to audiences throughout the Upper Midwest.

This year, MSPIFF maintains its hub at the St. Anthony Main Theatre, expanding to include select screenings at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, with additional screenings at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, the Uptown Theatre, Metropolitan State University's Film Space in St. Paul and the Marcus Wehrenberg 14 Theatre in Rochester.

OPENING NIGHT FILM

The 37th MSPIFF opens with RBG, the acclaimed documentary celebrating the life and lasting influence of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Director Betsy West will be in attendance, and director Julie Cohen and other special guests have been invited to attend. The film and opening night reception and party will take place at St. Anthony Main on Thursday, April 12.

WOMEN & FILM

MSPIFF’s showcase of female directors from around the globe continues to grow every year, and 2018 is no different, featuring a wide variety of outstanding narratives and documentaries from around the world. MSPIFF programmers have brought in women-directed films that are in the vanguard of global contemporary cinema. A short list of the many titles includes: Sofia Djama’s The Blessed (from Algeria; Ms. Djama will be in attendance), Vivian Qu’s Angels Wear White (China) and Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not A Witch (Zambia).

“The #MeToo movement has underscored the inequalities in the film industry like never before,” says Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director of the Film Society. “Our Women & Film and Chasms and Bridges programs examine the chaotic and divisive world we live in today, as well as the resistance movements that seek to affect change, and we have sought out films that invite discourse and understanding.”

CHASMS AND BRIDGES: CINEMA AND THE SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND

With this in mind, the 2018 MSPIFF Spotlight on the World is Chasms and Bridges: Cinema and the Search for Common Ground. Tackling the lines that divide us and the dramatic potential for reconciliation and compassion, this special series of titles and related panel discussions and workshops, are designed to open up conversations on the social and ideological divides and shifting social order shaping our world today.

Such stories can be found in fiction: A Syrian outsider finds both love and bigotry in Finland (A Moment in the Reeds); a powerful business woman comes face-to-face with the glass ceiling (Number One); upper and middle classes collide in Iran as a minor accident turns into major tragedy (No Date, No Signature). And non-fiction: Delve into the day-to-day life of radical Islamist family (Of Father and Sons); see the 2016 US election from the Russian perspective (Our New President); take a frustrating look at the corruption inside the NYPD (Crime + Punishment).

Highlighting the distinct identities of and commonalities among diverse cultures, these films will take us on a journey across geography, history, age, gender, social and political issues and the complexities of human relationships, bridging differences to find common ground.

Screeners will be provided upon request (if available), as well as more in-depth summaries, director bios, images, etc. The full lineup will be announced in early March. Please contact Publicity Manager Peter Schilling (peter@mspfilm.org) or Festival Publicist Connie Shaver (connieshaver@outlook.com).

RBG                                  

Charting Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life through growing up in Brooklyn, RBG shows Ginsburg pursuing her education, falling in love, her friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia and eventual appointment as Justice of the Supreme Court. A fighting force, Ginsburg’s determination throughout her life and career has earned her the title of “notorious” both in politics and the wider public discourse. As a history-making public figure, Ginsburg has become “notorious” through her championing of women, her ever-persistent work ethic, and her commitment to democracy. Program: Special Presentation, Women & Film. Directed by Julie Cohen, Betsy West. USA. 2018. English. 97 min. Documentary Feature.

ANGELS WEAR WHITE (JIA NIAN HUA)                

Xiaomi, a motel cleaner, watches as a district-commissioner checks in alongside two girls, Xiaowen and Xin Xin. On the surveillance monitor, Xiaomi sees the commissioner push his way into the girls’ room, and she decides to record the event with her smartphone. In the wake of the assault, Xiaomi’s story does little good for the girls as they face their unconcerned families and a society that would rather put the blame on them than offend their attacker. Program: Asian Frontiers, Women & Film. Directed by Vivian Qu. China, France. 2018. Chinese (Mandarin) w/English subtitles. 107 min. Narrative Feature.

THE BLESSED (LES BIENHEUREUX)                        

In postwar Algiers, Amal and Samir are a middle-aged couple hoping to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. Drifting through their day, they eventually find themselves at a restaurant. Here, they confront their differences and disillusionment, threaded with the unsettled atmosphere of postwar society. Outside, their teenaged son Fahim and his friends, Feriel and Reda, spend their day on the streets of Algiers. They too reveal ideological differences among them, their banter soon leading to the reveal of hidden wounds left by the Algerian Civil War that shaped their current world. Program: Images of Africa, Women & Film. Directed by Sofia Djama. Algeria, Belgium, France. 2018. Arabic, French w/English subtitles. 102 min. Narrative Feature.

CRIME + PUNISHMENT                

Shocking and true, Crime + Punishment explores the internal corruption of the New York City Police Department and the undeniably racist system that has persisted well past early revelations. Back in 2013, a group of 12 police officers had dared to take the NYPD to court for the corruption, but the case’s federal hearing did not lead to reform. Cut to 2017, and director Stephen Maing reconnects with the police officers who first took a stand, to find them more determined than ever to speak out against the continued injustice. Program: New American Visions, Spotlight. Directed by Stephen Maing. USA. 2018. English. 112 min. Documentary Feature.

I AM NOT A WITCH                     

Shula is young woman accused by an older woman of being a witch. Adorned with a spindle to “tether” her to the ground and carted off to a camp for witches that bares little difference to your standard zoo, Shula is then forced to perform her “magic” for a corrupt official. Rungano Nyoni’s debut feature-film renders Shula’s journey by exploring themes of femininity, superstition and acceptance, while also keeping Shula herself a mystery to all the spectators that attempt to control her world. Program: Images of Africa, Women & Film. Directed by Rungano Nyoni. Zambia, UK, France. 2017. English. 90 min. Narrative Feature.

A MOMENT IN THE REEDS (TÄMÄ HETKI KAISLIKOSSA)               

After moving to Paris for university, handsome literature student Leevi returns to his native Finland for the summer to help his estranged father renovate the family lake house so it can be sold. Tareq, a recent asylum seeker from Syria, has been hired to help with the work, and when Leevi’s father has to return to town on business, the two young men establish a connection and spend a few days discovering one another during the Finnish midsummer. Program: Midnight Sun, LGBTQ Currents, Spotlight. Directed byMikko Makela. Finland, UK. 2017. English, Finnish w/English subtitles. 108 min. Narrative Feature.

NO DATE NO SIGNATURE (BEDOONE TARIKH, BEDOONE EMZA)                             

While on his way home from work, forensics doctor Dr. Kaveh Nariman is nearly hit by a reckless driver and in the chaos hits a motorcycle carrying Moosa, Leila, and their children. Moosa and Leila are uninjured, along with their daughter, but their young son, Amir Ali, appears to have a concussion. Brushing off a hospital visit, Kaveh and the family go their separate ways, only for the latter to discover the next day that one of the incoming bodies at the morgue where he works is Amir. Fellow colleague Dr. Sayeh Behbahnani deduces that the boy’s death was due to botulism caused by eating cheap chicken, but Nariman remains convinced that it was the motorcycle accident that ultimately caused it. Program: World Cinema, Spotlight. Directed by Vahid Jalilvand. Iran. 2017. Farsi w/English subtitles. 100 min. Narrative Feature.

NUMBER ONE (NUMÉRO UNE)               

When Emmanuelle, an executive in a French energy firm, reaches the glass ceiling, but refuses to recognize her limited options. For years she has refused to acknowledge the sexism inherent in her workplace, but when chauvinistic male colleagues work to undermine her rise in the ranks, Emmanuelle pulls out all the stops in an attempt to capture what is rightly hers.  Program: World Cinema, Women & Film, Spotlight. Directed by Tonie Marshall. France. 2017. French w/English subtitles. 110 min. Narrative Feature.

OF FATHERS AND SONS                            

The roots of home run deep in Talal Derki’s latest eye-opening feature. Returning to his homeland of Syria, documentary filmmaker Derki encounters Abu Osama and his family. Masqurading as a jihadist sympathizer, Derki integrates himself into the household of Osama, an Al-Nusra Front member. Program: World Cinema, Spotlight. Directed by Talal Derki. Germany, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar. 2018. Arabic w/English subtitles. 99 min. Documentary Feature.

OUR NEW PRESIDENT                 

In this era of fake news v. real news, acclaimed documentarian Maxim Pozdorovkin has crafted a startling cine-essay, pulling together footage from the 2016 election from YouTube, Russian-government run RT, and other sources to dig deep into the propaganda machine that may ultimately have altered the U.S. Presidential election. Program: World Cinema, Spotlight. Directed by Maxim Pozdorovkin. Russia, USA. 2017. English, Russian w/English subtitles. 77 min. Documentary Feature.

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, Mora Global, Knock, Inc., KBEM Jazz88, Indeed Brewing Company, Best Buy, Alamo Drafthouse, Depot Renaissance Hotel, Fox Rothschild, Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, numerous local businesses, consulates from around the world, our Masters and Auteurs Member Circle and the 2,300+ Members and Donors of the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul.

March Programs & Kids Day Camps at the North Mississippi Regional Park

Hike: Birds of Prey - Eagles - Saturday, Mar. 10th 1:30-2:30pm

Raptors, the predatory birds of the sky. Though usually solitary, in winter eagles congregate by the hundreds around areas of open water on the Mississippi River. Learn more about our national bird and look for these majestic predators along the river. Activity #81541

Outdoors: Leprechaun Secrets - Saturday, Mar. 17th 1:30-3pm

Learn the ways of the woods by following leprechaun clues. Discover tricks that plants and animals use to thrive in the wild, decipher messages left by animals, and identify helpful and harmful plants. Follow the leprechaun's path to uncover the secret. Activity #81511

Family Funday: Spring Arts & Animals - Sunday, Mar. 25th 1-3pm

Come meet our new baby false map turtle and learn about our neighborhood native species. Meet MN animals up-close, then let nature inspire your creation of spring themed artwork to take home. Activity #81595

Nature Art: Earthen Art - Saturday, Mar. 31st 2-3pm

Get down in the dirt to make sensational soil-based art. Wet, dry or somewhere in between, the earth beneath your feet is a fun medium to create a piece of art. Activity #81551

Public programs are FREE for all ages - Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult

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Spring Break Day Camps for Kids

Neighborhood Nature - March 26th - 30th   8am-4pm

You don't have to go out into the wilderness to find nature, it's right here in your neighborhood! Discover more about the animals that live alongside us as we explore the park, play games, make art and meet some local animals. Ages 6-12. Registration Fee $150.  Activity #81727

Animal Scientists - April 2nd - 6th   8am-4pm

Many animals utilize incredible science in their bodies and behaviors. Come find out more about these animal scientists and conduct some amazing science experiments for yourself. Make concoctions that ooze or explode, use extraordinary methods to create art and play games. Ages 6-12. Registration Fee $150. Activity #81728

Day camp is based out of Kroening Interpretive Center. Every day please bring a lunch, snack and water bottle. Dress for the weather and a mess.

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Nature Nuts Play Group Fridays

Come with your little one to play and have fun in nature with other children and parents/guardians. Each day is different, but will have nature themes about animals, plants, and seasons. Enjoy the outdoors together all winter! Ages: For kids 5 and under with an adult.

This is an Adult/Child interactive program. Registration Fee $15

Spring weather is always changing! Wear clothes and shoes for playing outside.

April 13th - May 4th  10:45-11:45am   Activity #81731

May 18th - June 8th  10:45-11:45am   Activity #81732

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Summer Day Camp Registration Now Open

Monday through Friday 8am-4pm all Summer! Summer Day Camp Registration Now Open Monday through Friday 8am-4pm all Summer!

Register kids ages 6-12 for week long, naturalist-led summer camps. Explore outdoors, get messy and learn by doing. Spend a summer of fun playing in the park at North Mississippi. Registration Fees: Full Day $150. Half Day (am or pm) $80. Find programs to start planning your summer today!

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Like North Mississippi on Facebook to stay in the loop
about what’s happening in our park.
Learn more about North Mississippi Regional Park at our website.

Reminder: Upcoming Closures on I-35W

Via a March 1 e-newsletter from the MN Department of Transportation: 

Metro - 35W@94Downtown to Crosstown in Minneapolis: 2017-2021 construction

We want to remind you of upcoming closures along I-35W between I-94 and Hwy 62, including a full weekend closure of I-35W, the five-month closure of the 38th St. bridge and the long-term closure of the 36th St. ramp to southbound I-35W.

Upcoming nighttime work will result in road and lane closures on I-35W the week of March 5. These closures are required to set the beams on the Franklin Ave. bridge.

 * * * * * * * I-35W full weekend closure * * * * * * *

Reconstruction of the 38th St. bridge starts Fri, March 2 and crews will begin demolition of the bridge, which requires a full weekend closure of I-35W in both directions. The weekend closure is from 10 p.m. Fri, March 2 and will reopen by 5 a.m. Mon, March 5.

Northbound I-35W will close from Hwy 62 to I-94 and southbound will close from I-94 to 46th St. Crews will work 24-hours-a-day during the weekend closure. Motorists will detour to I-394, Hwy 100 and Hwy 62. 

* * * * * * * 38th St. bridge closes Fri, March 2 * * * * * * *

The 38th St. bridge is scheduled to close 6 a.m. Fri, March 2, The bridge will remain closed to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists through early August. There will be a detour in place.

* * * * 36th St. ramp to southbound I-35W closes Fri, March 2 * * * *

To allow for the reconstruction activities near the 38th St. bridge, the ramp from 36th St. to southbound I-35W will close 2 a.m. Fri, March 2. Motorists will be detoured to Portland Ave. to 46th St. back to southbound I-35W. The ramp will remain closed through fall 2021.

This ramp needs to remain closed through fall 2021 for a number of reasons:

• During the 38th St. bridge reconstruction, there is not enough room for vehicles to safely merge from the ramp onto southbound I-35W
• Once I-35W freeway reconstruction work begins this summer, the number of southbound lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times while crews work for the three years after the 38th St. bridge reopens. This will make it difficult for vehicles entering from 36th St. to safely merge onto southbound I-35W.

* * * * Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S access closes early March * * * *

The intersections of Stevens Ave/38th St. and 2nd Ave. S/38th St. will also close from early March to early August during the 38th St. bridge closure. Reference the access map to navigate around the closure.

Note: Residents will be able to access Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S from 37th St. or 39th St.

During the closure, two-way traffic on Stevens Ave. between 37th St. and 38th St. will be allowed.

* * * * * Additional closures begin week of March 5 * * * * *

As crews continue to make progress on the Franklin Ave. bridge, some nighttime road and lane closures are going to be necessary to set beams. The following closures are scheduled to begin the week of March 5 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily:

• On Mon, March 5 and Tue, March 6, an overnight closure of the access out of downtown (from 12th St/4th Ave) to southbound I-35W, and of the ramp from eastbound I-94 to southbound I-35W
• On Wed, March 7 and Thu, March 8, an overnight closure of southbound I-35W between I-94 and Hwy 62
• And on Fri, March 9, an overnight closure of northbound I-35W between Hwy 62 and I-94

To learn more, including all current traffic impacts and detour routes, visit the project website at: www.mndot.gov/35w94. 

Metro Transit bus routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, and to sign up for Rider Alerts, visit www.metrotransit.org/35W.

• Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/mndot and Twitter: @mndotnews
• Email the project team at: info@35w94.com
• Call the project hotline at: 612-284-6125 

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit http://www.511mn.org/ or dial 5-1-1.