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.
The City of Minneapolis has been softening our drinking water since the 1940s. This means you don’t need to install your own water softener at home. Take a moment to watch this video to see how water from the Mississippi is treated and delivered to us.
Minnesotans showed their support for the museum in an online contest
Mill City Museum has won the honor of being named among the best history museums in the nation. Online voters chose the Minneapolis museum as the fifth place finisher.
The recent contest included 21 sites from around the country, which were nominated by an expert panel for USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. Results were announced February 23rd.
“It is an honor to be ranked as one of the five best history museums in the nation for the second consecutive year,” said Site Manager David Stevens. “We’re thankful for all those who took the time to vote and support Mill City Museum.”
The following museums placed in the top five:
More information about the contest and results are available here. You can learn more about Mill City Museum and its upcoming events at mnhs.org/millcity.
Via a February 23 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:
The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis.
The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures.
Project Map
Latest Project News
Mississippi River Portal
2nd Ave
Portland Ave
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Lining progress
Since December, crews have continued to work on the concrete tunnel lining, pouring about 750 cubic yards of concrete. To date 13500 cubic yards of concrete have been poured. As noted in the infographic above, this is just over four times the volume of an Olympic swimming pool. This process is approximately 93% complete.
What to expect
Stay Connected
Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/
Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com
Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418
Looking ahead to spring and Great River Coalition's annual event!
Family-friendly, dogs welcome, Music & Booths. Costumes are welcome. Prizes for the best! Name your Team!
Organized river cleanup at 9:30 am.
A fun, family friendly event hosted by:
• Great River Coalition
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
• The National Park Service
• Mill City Running/St. City Running
Minneapolis Institute of Art Explores complex array of Contemporary Korean Art in New Exhibition
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) has announced a new exhibition of contemporary Korean Art. The Shape of Time: Korean Art after 1989, organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, covers five themes: Dissonance, Reinvention, Coexistence, Being Seen, and Portraying Anxiety. The exhibition will be on view in the museum’s Target Galleries from March 23 to June 23, 2024. Tickets are $20, with additional discounts for Mia members.
The year 1989 marked a major shift in the world order, with Eastern European countries breaking away from the Soviet Union even as pro-democracy protests were crushed in China. It’s also the year the World Wide Web was invented, jumpstarting the modern era of interconnectivity. South Korea, in the wake of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, transitioned from a long-standing military dictatorship to a legitimate democracy. An international travel ban was lifted, creating opportunities for global engagement, powerful economic growth, and cultural exchange. South Korean artists began to connect in earnest to the global art scene.
“The works in this serve as a snapshot of an important moment in Korean history, and global history,” said Katie Luber, Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director and President of Mia. “The diversity of feelings and experiences shared by these artists is profound. I hope that visitors will leave the exhibition with new insights into the ways this historical moment echoes today.”
Using a variety of mediums, including ceramics, painting, fiber, photography, lacquer, installation, metalwork, mixed media, embroidery, and video, these artists explore themes like conformity, displacement, gender and sexuality, coexistence, and dissonance, making universal connections that offer a deeper understanding of South Korea, its history, and its culture.
Dissonance
Ongoing tensions with North Korea and the effects of unprecedented economic growth have long been a part of daily life for South Koreans. The artists in this section reflect on South Korea’s past and present, the foundations of Korean society, and the paradoxes of a divided Korea. Dissonance abounds in works such as Hayoun Kwon’s single-channel video 489 years (2016). The viewer occupies the role of a soldier undertaking a daylong patrol of the demilitarized zone (DMZ), a strip of land separating North and South Korea along the 38th parallel. The work’s title, 489 Years, references the amount of time experts anticipate it would take to clear the one million mines in the area. Yet in the 11-minute single-channel video, the DMZ appears lush and filled with wildlife, the destructive potential of the area hidden.
Reinvention
In the 1990s, South Korean artists began re-engaging with traditional arts and culture, infusing long-established aesthetics with a contemporary sensibility. Some of them employ centuries-old hand processes, materials, and narratives. All of them re-examine the past, addressing notions of resilience and transformation that are at once specific to their experiences and transcend geographical boundaries. Suki Seokyeong KANG’s vibrantly woven mats from 2018 and 2019, made to be used in the Chunaengmu royal dance, are inspired by Hwamunseok, a handcrafted straw mat tradition dating to the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). These large-scale, abstracted weavings—made with Hwanmunseok thread, painted steel, and leather scraps—feature vibrant colors and abstract patterns that bridge contemporary practice with historic craft traditions.
Coexistence
As Korea participated in a new level of exchange, artists embraced the coexistence of new ideas and existing Korean values and artistic traditions, imbuing them with new meaning. Yoo Eui-jeong’s Treasures of Daily Life (2018) expresses this fusion of ideas in his series of recognizable corporate logos for companies including McDonald’s, Louis Vuitton, and Hello Kitty. Created in valuable materials such as ceramic, gold, and porcelain and presented as dishes served at a banquet, these cultural icons of today are presented as valuable treasures for the future.
Being Seen
The artworks on view in this section reflect the reality of the present and express hope for the future. Challenging patriarchal power structures and cultural standards, the artists center experiences that are often marginalized, silenced, or erased. Ultimately, they celebrate their resilience and that of their communities. An Attack by Green Horns, by Sang-hee Yun, is a pair of lacquered and gold dagger-like spikes worn on the front torso and back shoulder, protruding like horns. Drawing on experiences from her childhood, Yun created these spikes as a form of protection for the wearer, simultaneously ornate and ominous.
Portraying Anxiety
Responding to the tensions of being part of a collective and expressing individual identities, artists have turned to alternative ways of approaching, discussing, and challenging social mores. The works in this section raise questions about group participation and the acts of looking and being looked at, while touching on larger societal challenges in Korea and elsewhere. In Let’s do National Gymnastics, Oh Jaewoo fuses nostalgia and the messaging of collectivity and its continued impact on South Korean society. In this ten-minute, single-channel video, Oh evokes the compulsory exercise program prevalent in Korean schools between 1977 and 1999. The video is set to the militaristic beat of the Korean National Stretch Anthem in a commentary on the ubiquitous pressure to conform and the associated anxiety pervasive across Korean culture.
Works from Mia’s permanent collection will be added to the exhibition in Minneapolis, including Do Ho Suh’s Some/One, a 2005 sculpture based on a coat of traditional armor. Composed from thousands of polished military dog tags, the work juxtaposes the collective (represented by the armored sculpture) with the individual (symbolized by the dog tags, each representing a single soldier). Also featured is a selection from Byron Kim’s ongoing Synecdoche portraiture project, currently comprised of more than 400 panels, each approximating the skin color of a person Kim has met.
“The artworks in this exhibition respond to South Korea’s complex history and culture, which have been marked by the division of a country, political upheaval, and economic growth, all within a few short decades,” said Leslie Ureña, Associate Curator of Global Contemporary Art. “The exhibition has gathered artists who have made dynamic works that are deeply imbued with their shared artistic and social contexts. They invite us to consider the experience of exploring the past, present, and potential future.”
“The Shape of Time: Korean Art after 1989” is organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with major sponsorship from Wells Fargo and media sponsorship from the Star Tribune. Major support for this exhibition is provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
The weekend-long event takes place in conjunction with Art-A-Whirl, an annual artist studio tour throughout NE Minneapolis.
Indeed Brewing Company is excited to announce the music lineup for Whirlygig, a music, beer, and art festival on May 17-19, 2024.
“It’s always an exciting time to be looking ahead to Whirlygig. Despite being an insane amount of work for our entire team, it’s one of the coolest things we do each year. In my opinion, Whirlygig has become one of the coolest events that happens in Minneapolis every year. This year will be no different. We’re lucky to have the larger Art-a-Whirl encompassing our party, and we’re always looking to add and build on that energy,” says Ryan Bandy, Chief Business Officer, Indeed Brewing Company.
The museum hosts a day of free family activities featuring guest presentations
Science, technology, engineering, and math aren’t confined to the classroom. This Saturday, families will have a chance to learn how the STEM fields are intertwined with history and how they continue to have an important impact today.
On February 24, Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street, will hold a free STEM Family Day to showcase how science is all around us in the Twin Cities. The day’s program features fun activities that focus on the role STEM has played in the past and present history of the Minneapolis Riverfront.
Event highlights include:
Cost: Free, baking lab activity requires museum admission. For more information and a full list of guests, click here.
Aviva Gefler-Mundl
A first-of-its-kind celebration of ballet
The World Ballet Company recently announced their World Ballet Festival, a first-of-its-kind touring festival celebrating all that ballet has to offer. The Festival will showcase an array of ballet programming from beloved classics to today's most exciting new works. In its debut year, World Ballet Festival will present a performance at the Pantages Theatre, June 7 – 9. Tickets
The Festival program will feature ballet blockbusters and encompass a range of ballets from romantic to comic. Among the performers scheduled to appear are Tiler Peck and Roman Meija of New York City Ballet; Aviva Gefler-Mundl, Marcos Hernandez, and Kate Inoue of Los Angeles Ballet; Rasmus Ahlgren of Boston Ballet; and Ekaterina Malkovich, Constantine Geronik, and Andrea Lassakova of World Ballet Company. Additionally, a local ballet company will be featured in each city giving local dancers the opportunity to share the stage with seasoned professionals. Full programming details will be announced in the coming months.
World Ballet Festival is produced by Sasha Gorskaya and Gulya Hartwick, with programming director Adrian Blake Mitchell, a graduate of the Vaganova Academy and former member of the Mikhailovsky Ballet Company. World Ballet Festival will be presented in new cities each year with a goal to bring ballet to every corner of the country.
The company’s signature program, World Ballet Series presents the most beloved and iconic ballets of our time in cities across the country. The company attracts many international artists and is composed of renowned professional dancers representing over ten countries. The family-friendly productions feature timeless scores, rich storytelling, vivid hand-painted sets, and stunning hand-crafted costumes. To date, World Ballet Series has travelled to more than 280 cities reaching an audience of more than 250,000, many of whom are first time attendees to a ballet.
Eva Gemlo as Henrietta Leavitt, Photo by Aaron Thuen
Silent Sky runs February 23 thru March 10, Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm, Sundays 2pm
Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) is observing the start of Women’s History Month by celebrating unsung women in STEM fields, the highlight of which is a production of the historical drama Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson, running weekends February 23 through March 10.
Silent Sky tells the true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt who began work at the Harvard College Observatory in the early 1900s as a part of a group of women “computers,” charting the stars using glass plates. Although not allowed to use a telescope, these women made discoveries foundational to modern astronomy. An inspirational, uplifting story, Silent Sky is appropriate for ages 10+. Gretchen Weinrich directs the five-member cast with sets designed by Sadie Ward, costumes by Colleen O’Dell, lighting by Peter Mitchell, props by Mark Steffer, and sound design by Warren Sampson.
Additional programming includes:
Women in Astronomy Panel, Saturday, February 24. This event, immediately following the performance if Silent Sky, will feature a panel of women in various career stages from the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy: Catherine Slaughter (Graduate Student, Astrophysics), Alexandra La Reste (Post-doctoral Researcher, Physics), and Claudia Scarlata (Professor, Director of the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysicists), moderated by Prisca Cushman (Professor, Physics).
Audience Discussion with the Cast & Dr. Roberta Humphreys, Sunday, March 10. Audience members will be able to participate in a question-and-answer time with the cast and director of Silent Sky as well as stellar astrophysicist, Dr. Roberta Humphreys. Dr. Humphreys is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She led the Minnesota Automated Plate Scanner research group for over twenty years, creating a digitized, searchable catalog of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey.
Trailblazing Women Art Gallery Showing, February 23-March 10. Throughout the run of this production, Theatre in the Round will be showcasing portraits of women who have made significant contributions to STEM fields. These portraits, created by artist Sadie Ward, have been created from upcycled bras, which Ward calls Brart. “One of the ways to remove patriarchy in our society is to recreate faces that were actively erased by that patriarchal society,” says Ward,” Brart is a socially derived artform that requires the participation of community to fuel conversation, while actively repurposing textiles.”
Tickets are $25. For information, call the theatre’s box office at 612-333-3010 or visit its website at www.TheatreintheRound.org.
Francois Paradeise (right, pictured with Chef Vincent Francoual), completed his restaurant career as General Manager of Chloe by Vincent.
After five decades working with some of the most inventive restaurants companies in the Twin Cities, Francois Paradeise, 77, is retiring. Stop by to say good-bye and wish Francois well on his last two days of work, February 28-29, with a free glass of bubbles.
Known for his big personality, story-telling skills and irresistible French accent, Paradeise was a well-known force in the local hospitality industry.
He began his career as the front office shift manager at a five-star hotel and resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, after moving to the U.S. from Paris and culminates it as the opening GM for the new iteration of a Vincent Francoual restaurant, Chloe by Vincent.
“We were fortunate to be able to work with Francois before we opened to help us set up systems and hire good people and to share his showmanship style of making guests feel welcome and special,” said Matthew Monroe, CEO of Restore Restaurant Holdings, which owns the restaurant along with Erik Forsberg’s French Toast.
Paradeise and his wife of 44 years, Nancy, are moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be closer to grandchildren.
Over the years, Paradeise has worked with Parasole Restaurants, where he was the GM of a number of their iconic restaurants, including Manny’s, Figlio and Good Earth. He was hired as the director of operations for the first Buca di Beppo restaurant and opened seven additional stores, including in Milwaukee; Palo Alto, California; Seattle; and Chicago.
He also worked with Wayne Kostroski at Cuisine Concepts, at Tejas, Bar Abeline and Franklin Street Bakery.
“I am grateful for all my coworkers as well as the company officers and owners,” Paradeise said. “I cherish all the memories with my teams as we dealt with both challenges and successes.”
Minnesota will always have a place in his heart, but “now is as good a time as ever to spice up our lives.” And what better place to find that spice than in the southwest, where he started his culinary journey.
Submitted by Ric Rosow
The River Runs Red
I was photographing the city sky-scape of downtown Minneapolis two Friday nights ago from the Stone Arch Bridge with four other photographers as part of a night sky workshop. Shortly before we were scheduled to leave I turned around, looked east and down at the river. The river was glowing red, a reflection from the 35W Bridge. Even though we were leaving for another location I knew I had to take the time to photograph this scene.
You can see more of my work at ricrosowphotography.com and Price Krishnan Gallery.
Graco Park from above in January 2024
Construction progressed throughout winter on new Northeast Minneapolis riverfront park - on track to open in fall 2024
Lots of progress has been made over the winter on Graco Park, a new riverfront park just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge in Northeast Minneapolis.
Construction has been focused on the new park building, which is expected to be complete in 2024. The building's exterior shell and roof framing are complete, its concrete floor has been poured, and work on mechanical and electrical systems is underway. Windows are scheduled to be installed in March, then work on finishing the building exterior will resume.
Later this spring, work on the building will shift to its interior, and construction of the outdoor park elements, like landscaping and pathways, will pick up. The park is on track to open in fall 2024.
Photo credit: The Loppet Foundation
Loppet World Cup Watch Party Brunch at Mara
Join fellow fans and cheer for all the COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup skiers at Mara’s watch party brunch! Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, beginning at 10am.
These special events include complimentary valet parking, live event feed on TVs throughout the restaurant, a glass of sparkling wine and the Mara Brunch - complete with a live-action station with eggs made to order, a luxe buffet spread of breakfast meats, cold appetizers, waffles and pancakes, and an Instagramable dessert display.
Reservations and tickets are available on Tock. $89 per person plus tax and gratuities, $45 for children 12 and under. A portion of the proceeds benefit The Loppet Foundation.
Loppet Cup Room Package with Shuttle Service to and from VIP Area
Cocoon inside Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis between Loppet Cup action. Your stay includes deluxe accommodations and VIP shuttle service to and from the Loppet World Cup VIP area.
Those who take advantage of this special offer receive a spectator’s guide to the world class trails at Theodore Wirth Park. A portion of the room package proceeds also go to Loppet Foundation. Optional enhancements include The Spa’s guided sauna experience and dining with fellow fans at Mara and Nordic Village. The Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis is located 245 Hennepin Avenue.
100% of donations benefit Healing Hearts Rescue
Get ready to cuddle up with cuteness on Valentine’s Day at the Meet Minneapolis Puppy Cuddle. This event takes place Wednesday, February 14, from 11:30a - 1p at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, 505 Nicollet Mall, Suite 100 (directly across from the METRO Nicollet Station).
Enjoy some snuggle time with a plethora of puppies. A $5 donation is suggested to support Healing Hearts Rescue. Healing Hearts Rescue is a volunteer-based nonprofit dog rescue dedicated to changing the lives of animals whom humans have failed by finding them safe and loving homes. For more information, visit https://healingheartsrescue.org.
In addition to cuddle time with the puppies, visitors will be encouraged to write a heartfelt letter to a local child battling illness at a local hospital. Meet Minneapolis partner Letters of Love will provide markers, pens and paper, and the messages will be distributed to the Children’s Minnesota.
Excerpt from the February 6 Mayor's Update e-newsletter
Recently, Mayor Frey, Interim Public Works Director Brette Hjelle, and Public Works staff announced a historic number of potholes filled in Minneapolis in 2023. Last year, the City filled 9,359 potholes – three times the amount in 2022 and nearly 4,000 more than ever recorded.
Minneapolis saw its third snowiest winter on record last year with close to 90 inches of snow. The City’s Public Works department worked around the clock to ensure streets and alleyways were plowed and safe for residents to travel on. Once the snow began to melt, they shifted their efforts to potholes.
In his 2024 budget, Mayor Frey invested $470,000 for new Public Works equipment to increase the lifespan of pothole repairs and continue efficient and effective snow clearance -- as well as $500,000 in investments for a permanent snow removal and storage site.
"Our incredible city crews managed to fill 9,359 potholes," says Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. "How many pothole complaints did we have alerting us of another pothole that we needed to fill? You guessed it, 9,359. Every single time that somebody called into the city of Minneapolis to have a pothole filled, our incredible team was out there making sure that it happened."
The Barrel House is located at 111 3rd Avenue S. Photo: Redline Property Partners
Following a sale to new ownership last year, real estate investment and management firm Redline Property Partners recently announced that it will remain on board as the asset manager and property manager for the Barrel House - a landmark fixture in the famed Minneapolis Mill District. Redline said it will build on the prior owners’ vision to continue transforming the historic property.
Situated at the 3rd Avenue Bridge entrance with stunning views of the waterfront, Barrel House enjoys a prestigious riverfront address, prominent visibility and convenient access to all major highways and to downtown’s housing, hotels, shopping, dining and entertainment.
“Barrel House meets the needs of today’s office tenants, providing an unrivaled location in downtown Minneapolis, unique amenities and an exceptional experience at great value,” said Andrew Webb, Redline’s president and managing partner. “The building’s new owner, along with Redline, will continue to invest in Barrel House to ensure its place as a top-tier creative office property in downtown Minneapolis for years to come.”
New amenities and upgrades planned for Barrel House include upgrading its rooftop deck, converting space for retail and entertainment use and creating spec suites and a podcast room. Improvements are planned for early 2024, with anticipated delivery mid-year.
Redline was part of the previous ownership group that purchased and restored the historic 90,000-square-foot mill building to its original “brick and timber” roots in 2016. The group also added significant modern-day amenities such as an outdoor roof-top deck overlooking the Mississippi River, an indoor atrium lounge and multiple meeting spaces throughout the building.
Built in 1880, the Barrel House was originally home to Hall & Dann Barrel Company, which made flour barrels for the booming Minneapolis milling industry.
To deliver the best service possible, Redline has engaged CBRE and Assembly as the property’s new leasing team. Team members include Ann Rinde and Joe Conzemius from CBRE and Nick Peterson and Merrie Sjogren from Assembly.
“Environments that foster connection and community are top priority for companies in the market right now, as organizational culture is more important than ever,” said the new primary leasing representative for Barrel House, Ann Rinde of CBRE. “Barrel House provides the perfect setting to achieve these goals with its inspiring onsite experience, collaboration-based amenities and prominent location along the riverfront. We look forward to welcoming new tenants to the Mill District and to Barrel House.”
Community Connections Conference
9a -4p Saturday, February 17
Minneapolis Convention Center, first floor, Hall E
Lunch is included. Metro Transit offers free rides to the conference.
Minneapolis residents can sign up now for the free 2024 Community Connections Conference on February 17. Join in for a fun day of learning and connecting. Get involved in your local community. Meet the people behind important City services, community groups and other institutions. The conference is free and open to everyone.
Program
This year program is built around the theme of “Open city, your Minneapolis.” This theme was chose to showcase how Minneapolis is a transparent, accessible city open to everyone, open to new ideas and open for business. It highlight the ways you can get involved in both government decision-making and your local community, as well as celebrate the many parts of the city reopening and recovering after the pandemic.
This year's conference will have workshops, music and dance, activities for the whole family, an exhibit hall, and a community dialogue on youth and community safety.
Exhibits
Among the 150 exhibits, you can find:
Learn about:
Breakout sessions
Join your choice of breakout sessions including:
Via a January 31 Press Release
One chapter concludes but hope and support for artists remain
The Cowles Center, a hub for the dance community on Hennepin Avenue since its establishment, announced it will end operations of its Goodale Theater and discontinue presenting dance as of March 31, 2024, effectively ending its planned season two months early. All staff will depart the organization by April, but are extremely committed to supporting the final performances and making them a positive experience. Despite a persistent commitment over the past 14 years to support local artists and efforts to forge a sustainable operational model, The Cowles Center has more recently faced financial challenges. These challenges were exacerbated by the economic impact of a global pandemic, leading to lower ticket sales, and funding. Furthermore, The Cowles Center's largest donor and administrative partner, Artspace is unable to provide the sustaining support it has given The Cowles Center in the past. Tremendous private fundraising efforts have taken place, which have allowed the preservation of the season through March. Furthermore, while there have been discussions with potential partners to step into the operations of the Goodale and Cowles programming, no solid agreements have yet come to fruition.
The Cowles Center and Artspace remain dedicated to the communities they serve. The McKnight Fellowships for Dancers and Choreographers will continue, though the administrative home of the program is still being discussed. The Cowles Center's renowned education programs that occur in schools and through distance learning, serving nearly 6,000 students annually will continue through the end of the school year. Our community engagement program serving early career artists in space residencies will run through May. Additionally, the Hennepin Center for the Arts, which is owned by Artspace, will continue to be a home to dance studio rentals, the TEK BOX Theater, an important rental theater for artists to present their own work, and commercial and creative leasing as it has been since 1978.
Impacts to the 2024 Spring Season:
Three dance productions slated for April and May by James Sewell Ballet, BRKFST Dance Company, and Ragamala Dance Company will be affected by the season ending March 31st. While Sewell Ballet and Ragamala face cancellations at the Goodale Theater, BRKFST Dance Company was set to be co-presented with Northrop. The Cowles Center, Northrop, and BRKFST are working together to determine if the production could be postponed or presented in a different format by Northrop alone. Ticket purchasers to the affected productions will be contacted with their options. In all three cases, Artspace and The Cowles Center remain committed to mitigating financial impacts to the artists and plan to still pay out the artist fees and box office splits as if the artists had completed their performances.
"This is a heartbreaking convergence of all circumstances, but our goal is to support these artists as equitably as possible. Nothing replaces their ability to showcase their live performance, but we hope that lessening the financial burden will help them look towards the future," said Cowles Center Co-Directors Joseph Bingham and Jessi Fett in a mutual statement.
The Goodale Theater will still operate in February and March and will celebrate the final four performances of the shortened spring season, including three dance productions and a community rental.
Background: The Cowles Center's Role and Partnership
The Cowles Center has played a pivotal role by:
In recent years, the Goodale Theater has hosted 11-14 dance productions annually, carefully curated to reflect artistic innovation and diversity. Since 2020, at least 50% of programming has featured BIPOC artists or BIPOC-led companies.
The Cowles Center’s legacy is built upon a decades-long partnership with Artspace, which originally developed the organization when it moved the historic Shubert Theater and connected it to the Hennepin Center for the Arts. In addition to raising millions of dollars for the move and renovation of the Shubert, and starting an impactful distance learning program, Artspace has invested on average $500,000 annually from its general operating funds to support The Cowles Center, along with staff and other in-kind support.
"Throughout the years, Artspace's investment in the arts on Hennepin Avenue has been an example of our commitment to the enduring power of creative community. Although The Cowles Center's current chapter on this historic avenue is drawing to a close earlier than we hoped, our belief in the arts as a cornerstone of our society remains unwavering. Artspace is prepared to assist in this transition and continues to be dedicated to nurturing the arts on Hennepin Avenue as operator of Hennepin Center for the Arts," said Kelley Lindquist, President of Artspace.
The pandemic's onset in 2020 was a catalyst for unprecedented challenges for the performing arts, an industry reliant on live, physical interaction. The Cowles Center, alongside many arts organizations, faced a critical loss in earned revenue and philanthropic support. A Dance/USA survey highlighted this sector-wide plight, noting a more than 75% loss in ticket revenues relative to pre-COVID seasons.
The Cowles Center encourages the community to join in celebrating the arts during this time of change by attending February and March performances in the Goodale Theater, supporting artists whose performances have been canceled, and continuing to attend performances in the TEK BOX in the Hennepin Center for the Arts.
Find Dario in the T3 building, 323 N Washington Avenue
Two Minneapolis Restaurant Veterans Open Their First Concept In The North Loop
First time restaurateurs Chef Joe Rolle and Bartender Stephen Rowe open the highly anticipated Dario, an Italian restaurant with global influences located in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Joe Rolle spent his career working in top kitchens in Minneapolis starting at the Dakota Jazz Club with his mentor, the late Jack Riebel, before moving onto the esteemed kitchens at Borough, Il Foro and Martina. Stephen Rowe, who also started his career at Dakota Jazz Club, made his way behind the bar and worked for a decade at the award-winning Marvel Bar, a pioneer in the craft cocktail scene in Minneapolis. Joe and Stephen’s experience working in the top places in Minneapolis positioned them to embark on their first solo project, Dario.
A true reflection of Joe’s family background, diverse cooking experience and travels, the menu at Dario is rooted in Italian yet influences are seen from France, Asia and other parts of the world.
The menu is separated into five sections with the idea that every section stands on its own. A section of Raw items includes Oysters Dario, a dish inspired by a local Thai spot Rolle used to frequent. In this dish, Rolle serves a half dozen East Coast oysters topped with a Thai-style beef tartare and a spherification of lime juice. Also in this section is the Hiramasa Crudo with Calamansi ponzu, gooseberry, Yuzu Kosho, and avocado.
Vegetables are celebrated at Dario and showcase the many different cuisines that influence Rolle. Examples include the Flowering Cauliflower, a Silician-inspired dish served with brown butter bagna cauda, capers and fried sourdough; a French-style salad of Red Endive with Roquefort cheese, candied walnuts, dates and poached Asian pear; and a Greek Cucumber Salad served with whipped feta tzatziki and covered with trout roe, sesame seeds and dill.
Rolle became known for his pasta and Dario’s menu has something for everyone. Short rib Agnolotti is a love letter to Northern Italy with red wine jus, bacon, and gorgonzola. Piccino Paccheri Verde is Rolle’s homage to bolognese served with spinach pasta and a 24-month parmesan fonduta and Doppio Ravioli is a double-sided stuffed pasta with ricotta on one side and caramelized sunchokes on the other, served with honey, hazelnuts and rosemary.
The Fish & Meat section includes favorites from the land and sea. Sauteed Trout is complemented with saffron mussel emulsion and a salsa verde while Brick Chicken is deboned and served with brown butter piccata sauce. The section's nod to Asia is the Skate Wing with honeynut squash curry as well as the Char Siu Belly with fermented black bean clam sauce. There also is a choice between two peppercorn crusted steaks, Prime Hanger Steak and a Niman Ranch Prime New York Strip, both with a veal peppercorn jus.
For sweets, opt for the Cake & Ice Cream, a chocolate ricotta cake with gianduja cremeux, vanilla ice cream, and a pizzelle, the Pineapple & Passionfruit, pineapple sorbet layered with macadamia nut brittle, passionfruit granita and whipped coconut cream or the Affogato with vanilla bean ice cream and butterscotch.
A robust beverage program includes craft cocktails created by Rowe. While there is a selection of classics or what he is calling house cocktails, Rowe’s goal with Dario’s original cocktails is to have the drinks be memorable with strong flavors that do not necessarily translate to high alcohol. Examples include Future Dancer made with Destilerias Acha Axtra Dry Vermouth, lime, and Maleza Hierbas bitters and Synclaire After Hours, a mix of Dimmi, Maify Aranciata, hibiscus tea, and sparkling water. Additionally, there is a large selection of non-alcoholic cocktails including Agatha 2.0 made with Shiitake tea, cherry, prune, cranberry and elderberry tea and Is It Juice with coconut, orange juice, pineapple juice, and rooibos chia. The wine list leans towards Italy but also includes bottles from Spain, France and America. The drink menu also features local and Italian beers.
Designed by Wittkamper Studio, the space has a feminine, punk rock feel with notes of pink, fuzzy iridescent teal velvet and an articulate lattice of white-washed millwork. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the space with banquette seating throughout the dining area. A glass-enclosed pasta room transitions from a work space by day to a dining area by night providing guests with an “eat-in-the-kitchen” vibe.
Dario is open for dinner Sunday to Thursday from 5pm-10pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm-11pm. It is located at 323 N Washington Avenue and reservations can be made at www.dariorestaurant.com.
To celebrate Black History Month, the City of Minneapolis is offering free, public events under the theme African Americans & the Arts.
Upcoming Black History Month Events:
The mayor and City Council passed a resolution honoring Black History Month. The resolution states that “the Mayor and City Council do hereby commemorate the achievements of Black Americans as history makers and legacy trailblazers and their role in the development of the region and the nation since its inception, and we join in recognizing the annual celebration of Black History Month and the anniversary of the Minneapolis Black Employee Network.”
The events for Black History Month are presented in partnership with the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County through the efforts of these employee resource groups: City of Minneapolis Black Employee Network, Hennepin County People of Color Employee Resource Group and Hennepin County African American Employee Resource Group. History Makers at Home is presented by the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights.
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 3:43AM