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.
Plenty of hats, scarves and gloves at the October 8 Market.
Even the guitar picker had gloves on...
Okay, that is man-made ice - but it wasn't melting very fast!
Popcorn and peanuts from the Bean Market.
Can't wait to try this Black Garlic Puree!
Milly the goat!
If you're looking to boost your workout repertoire, be sure to check out ZeSa Fitness during their October 14 Grand Opening Celebration. I've been taking a weekly ZeSa Power class with the lovely Cindy Vavra since late August and love it!
I've done weight training for years, and incorporating these "Activator" platforms has taken me to a new level. Grace and balance have never been my strong suit, so doing everything from curls to planks while keeping steady on an unstable, rotating surface is a welcome challenge. And it's fantastic how such small movements can get the heart rate up in mere seconds.
Shanti Rainey, creator of ZeSa, with Cindy Vavra, Partner and Studio Manager
The following parkways will be closed from 7:30am-2:00pm** for the Twin Cities Marathon:
Lake of the Isles Parkway (Left side of Lake)
Dean Parkway
W Lake Calhoun Parkway
William Berry Parkway
E Lake Harriet Parkway (Bandshell to Minnehaha Pkwy)
Minnehaha Parkway (Harriet to Godfrey Parkway)
Lake Nokomis Parkway
Godfrey Parkway
West River Parkway (Godfrey to Franklin Ave)
West River Parkway (Portland to 22nd Ave)
East River Parkway (14th Ave to Lake Street)
Route Map - CLICK HERE to review a detailed detour list of each intersection impacted by the Marathon on October 9. ** All street closings by the Stadium for the marathon will end by 9:00am.
Minneapolis closing streets near US Bank Stadium for Vikings game and the Twin Cities Marathon
The City of Minneapolis will close streets around U.S. Bank Stadium for Sunday’s Minnesota Vikings game, which starts at noon, and the start of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and Medtronic TC 10 Mile race, which happen at 8 a.m. and 7 a.m. respectively.
Street closings near the stadium for the marathon and 10-mile race
• Beginning at 5:00am Sunday:
◦ Sixth Street, from 11th Avenue to Hennepin Avenue.
◦ Portland Avenue, from Seventh Street South to Second Street South.
◦ Fourth Street, from Norm McGrew to Fifth Avenue South.
◦ Third Street South, from Chicago Avenue South to Fifth Avenue South.
◦ Park Avenue South, from Seventh Street South to Third Street South.
Street closings near the stadium for the Vikings game
• Beginning at 5:00am Sunday:
◦ Chicago Avenue, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.
• Beginning at 9:00am Sunday:
◦ Fourth Street, from Park Avenue to Interstate 35W.
◦ Norm McGrew Place, from Third Street to Fourth Street.
These street closings are for traffic safety and security needs related to a large event. Chicago Avenue, Fourth Street and Norm McGrew Place will reopen about one hour after the completion of the Vikings game.
Via an October e-newsletter from Hennepin County:
Crews began pouring new sidewalks on the north side of Washington Avenue this week between Hennepin and Second avenues. The new sidewalks will remain closed to pedestrian traffic as crews continue with other work behind the curb. The crosswalks at Hennepin and Marquette avenues have reopened.
These sidewalks are the first piece of what will be a greatly improved environment for pedestrians and bicyclists along Washington Avenue. Some other new features will include:
• Curb-separated bicycle lanes (also known as cycle tracks)
• Shorter pedestrian crossing distances at intersections
• Lantern-style lighting for pedestrians
• Street greening and landscaping
• New colored pavers between the cycle track and sidewalk
• Reprogrammed signals that give pedestrians and bicyclists a head start at intersections
In the coming week, crews will be busy:
• Digging tree pits and trenches for new enhanced landscaping
• Installing storm sewer, sanitary and watermain pipes at the intersection of Fifth Avenue
• Pouring the first portion of cycle track
• Installing curbs and gutters between Second and Third avenues
• Installing bases for new lighting fixtures
As work continues to progress, there are a few ongoing and upcoming traffic changes to consider when traveling in the area.
Second Avenue
There will continue to be some short-term lane reductions at Second Avenue while crews complete curbs and other work at the corners of the intersection. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction. This work is expected to be complete the week of October 17.
Third Avenue
There will be a minor lane adjustment at Third Avenue, as crews begin work in the northwest corner of the intersection. Two lanes of through traffic in each direction will be maintained for this portion of the work. This reduction is tentatively scheduled to occur the week of October 17, or once a northbound lane is opened at the Fifth Avenue intersection.
Fifth Avenue
Crews expect to open one northbound lane at the Fifth Avenue intersection by the end of next week, as they continue to work in the northwest portion of the intersection. They plan to fully reopen the intersection by the end of the month. However, this schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change. Motorists should continue to use the marked detour following Washington Avenue, Portland Avenue and Second Street. Please look for pedestrians crossing Washington on the east side of the intersection.
Showing October 14-27, the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul presents the 2016 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival Award Winner - Best MN Made Narrative Feature, Musa Syeed’s (Valley of Saints) moving locally made drama A STRAY. Starring Barkhad Abdirahman (Captain Phillips) in a commanding lead performance, A STRAY brings the streets of Riverside Minneapolis and the struggles of a young Muslim immigrant to the big screen in this vivid and moving drama. Desperate to outrun his bad luck, a young Muslim refugee seems like he just might make it until he crosses paths with a stray dog.
Director Musa Syeed and members of the cast and crew will be attending screenings on Saturday, October 14 at 4:20 and 9:45pm — check the film’s webpage on mspfilm.org for additional updates.
The MacPhail Spotlight Series showcases the exceptional talents of MacPhail teaching artists and special guests, providing an intimate listening experience in MacPhail’s state-of-the-art Antonello Hall.
Under the artistic direction of Mischa Santora, this premier performance event is brought to life with collaborations from some of the Twin Cities’ finest artists.
Voting is now open for the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership's Mississippi Minute Film Festival People's Choice Award. A panel of judges will rate most of the films and award honors in several categories, but the winner of the People’s Choice Award is determined by the general public. The film receiving the most votes by Noon on Friday, October 21, wins.
Using the below link, play each video, and if you like it, click the Like icon. It’s that simple! (If you prefer to Like, Love, Wow or Haha the post on Facebook itself, those will be counted, too.)
The winners will be announced during the annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival, October 24, at the Mill City Museum. Minneapolis City Council member Jacob Frey, a member of the board of the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership, will be the keynote speaker. Doors open at 5:30pm and program begins at 6:00pm. Come hear how the Mississippi River is an engine for change in our city.
Crews are preparing for the fall street sweeping across Minneapolis. Drivers will need to park out of their way so they can do a thorough job cleaning our roadways.
Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city Tuesday, Oct. 18. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean up about 1,100 miles of city streets. To make sure the sweepers can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 17, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow street sweeping parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.
Making it easy to follow parking rules:
Clean streets mean a healthier environment
Minneapolis is known for its sparkling lakes and waterways, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City’s top priorities. Street sweeping is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves and debris from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers. It also helps keep our neighborhoods clean and livable.
Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb once in the spring and once in the fall. Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings, or other debris into City streets – it’s bad for our lakes and waterways, can cause safety hazards, and is against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.
Via an October 3 Hennepin County e-newsletter:
The Hennepin County Work and Economic Resource Center will sponsor a career fair on Monday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, 2nd Floor, Minneapolis.
This is part of a series of events to pair employers looking for workers with employees looking for job opportunities. All participating businesses are actively recruiting for multiple openings.
The event is free and open to the public. Click here for more information
This location is served by several bus routes. To find the best one, visit www.metrotransit.org or call 612-373-3333.
Marty and Darrold Glanville of Sunrise Flour Mill and Jonathan Kaye of Heritage Breads hosted the annual Bread Festival at the October 1 Market.
Guest speaker Chris Boles of Fire & Flour demonstrated his "Slap and Fold" method of working bread dough.
While there wasn't a baking contest this year, local bakers were encouraged to bring in loaves of their bread to sample, and to share the stories behind the recipes. We live in a community of talented bakers!
Rays of sun work their way thru the train shed, spotlighting shoppers and vendors:
Kids!
Thank you for being a MCFM Sponsor, Mill City Credit Union!
One of life's simple pleasures - a hot breakfast on a cool morning at the Market. :)
Bagels and breads from Baker's Field Flour & Bread:
Milly the Goat!
Remember - in October the Market hours are 9:00am - 1:00pm. :)
From a September 30 Hennepin County Sheriff's Office e-newsletter:
This past Thursday we announced the results of a major study regarding mental illness in our jail. The study showed that approximately half of the inmates would benefit from or are in need of mental health services while incarcerated in the Hennepin County Jail.
On July 27, we conducted a One-Day Snapshot Study of all inmates in the jail. Study partners also reviewed other verifiable information for the 680 inmates, including medical histories, public court records, incidents during previous incarcerations, and county records from County Departments.
The study showed that 52% of the inmates had confirmed indicators or met other criteria associated with mental illness. 36% of the inmates had a confirmed mental health diagnosis or concern in the jail’s intake health assessment, or had confirmed prescriptions for neuroleptic medications. An additional 16% of the inmates displayed behaviors associated with serious mental illness or had a significant history connected to mental illness.
We conducted this study to better understand the issues our inmates deal with while in our custody, and how we can provide the best possible services. The Sheriff’s Office and other Hennepin County agencies have partnered to identify several innovations that we hope will provide enhanced services for inmates who are mentally ill, including the following new initiatives:
Want to partner with us to fight crime? All four of the methods below allow you to submit a crime tip anonymously to the Sheriff's Office. We need your tips about drug activity, cold cases, suspicious activity, or general crime.
Do NOT use these tip services if you need an urgent response. In case of emergencies, call 911.
Do you buy or sell online items from sites like Craig's List? If so, try our Swap Spots for a safe place to conduct in-person transactions.
Swap Spots are designated public places where residents may exchange items that they have purchased/sold online. This allows people to have a public location to make legal transactions.
Swap Spots are located in the lobby of three Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office facilities.
Swap Spots are available during regular business hours of operation: 8am-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.
Article by Bob Ingram, photos by Susan Schaefer
Riverview Tower is a Minneapolis condominium high rise overlooking the mighty Mississippi, T.S. Eliot’s “strong brown god,” Huck Finn’s magic carpet into the American soul, and a visual preoccupation of mine each time I visit the upper floor unit of Mill City Times’ reporter and photographer, Susan Schaefer.
Long ago and far away, she and I were married, and only since then have I learned so much more about her, each stay in that welkin aerie and the now unarmed flow of our voices at table and at rest adding leaves of insight and wonder to the book of a life I had only glimpsed through the blinkered eyes of the rude boy I was then, married or no. It is a big life, and fool that I was, I let it pass through me.
But enough of that. Let us talk now of radiance and visibility coaxed from the invisible, to use Susan Schaefer’s very words, that is all taking place in the Lobby Gallery of that same Mississippi-marked Riverview Tower in an exhibition of the photographic art of this same Susan Schaefer, whom I had known only as a writer – albeit talented and lucid – in my green and stumbling years with her.
There are women from whom festive events – parties, weddings, and the like – provoke a visible radiance, always there, slightly subsumed, but streamlined by the heightened interaction inherent in these social mixes.
So it was at the opening of Susan’s one-woman Riverview Tower show this past Saturday, September 24th. She flowed among the throng of neighbors and friends, totally into each moment and person: a touch here, a laugh there, a quick discussion of this or that piece. Dance time to inner music. Wonderful to watch.
Which is as it should be because the many photo portraits on the lobby walls partake of this same radiance. She finds it and gently grasps it in her subjects with a simple click of the shutter (not that simple, truth to tell; she studies this art with the quiet dedication of a medieval scholar).
One series of photos I’ve been especially taken with and always thought was a telling concept of Susan’s involves getting everyday people to pose in the Namaste position, hands clasped, fingers pointed up, at chest level. It is Sanskrit-derived and still used as a greeting in India.
Namaste Izzy’s
And my favorite in the Namaste series was taken of workers at the iconic Izzy’s ice cream parlor in Mill City. The red-haired young woman between two of her co-workers moves me in a sweet, complete way: she is her own version of an unconsciously, slyly, shyly modern-day beatific – a budding double-dip saint, if you will.
Namaste Kieran
Namaste Worker
Fate favors the prepared, and the mailman in the Namaste pictures was actually completing his last day before retirement, and might have been giving prayerful thanks for a career well spent for the public good. Another telling photo in this series has a construction worker posing naturally in front of a heavy-duty machine whose brand name, Vermeer, becomes both part of the image and, of course, a reminder that art is afoot here.
The Director
The woman in a photo titled simply “The Director” makes me wish I worked where she directs. There is a responsible kindness and strength in that face that says more about what we call work in all its elements than a shelf of books in the business section. Sign me up, direct me, we’ll get it done together. I trust you, ma’am.
Chester
On an easel, separate and apart, as he was in real life, sits the portrait of Chester, bearded, top-hatted, the local nomad – alcoholic and grubby – whose jury-rigged lean-to sits behind Riverview Tower’s parking lot, still occupied by his woman. Chester is dead now, and the Riverview receptionist, a pleasant, well-spoken man, said that during the day of the evening opening, he had to inform passing residents who commented on Chester’s portrait, that he had indeed passed away. He said it with a sad, slow shake of his head.
Karla’s Wash
Besides the portraits in the show, there is a photo called “Karla’s Wash,” taken in Plum City, Wisconsin. It is wildly popular each time she has shown it, Susan says, and I think this disarmingly simple shot of drying, flapping wash on a clothesline evokes to those of a certain age memories of when laundry was hung out to absorb the freshness and subtle smells of the clean, fresh air that is part and parcel of the blue-drenched sky overhead in that picture. If I were a marketer at, say, Oxydol, I would grab that photo and build a campaign around it.
Crushed Cans
The happiest, brightest piece at the Riverview is a 2014 photo called “Crushed Cans.” (All the photos were taken beginning in 2014 and most in the last two years, an amazing progress.) In it the local artist Brant Kingman stands before a dazzling panoply of the crushed cans with which he has made part of his wide range of art, a riotous whirligig mosaic of color and texture. His arms are outstretched and the blue of his patterned shirt blends into his kingdom of cans. He is very somber-faced and wearing a beige vest and a light tan, straw pork pie hat. The whole effect is simultaneously one of the seriousness with which he takes his work and the playful, hi res color that is its basis. You want to reach out and shake his hand and wait for him to break down and laugh with you.
Red Door
“Red Door” is just that, yet it could be a magic door: the textures of the worn wood and faded color bring to mind the Walker Evans Appalachian cabin walls of “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.” What lies behind that red door? Enter and see.
My Lost Yiddish Civilization
Finally, Susan Schaefer has recently been working in collage and the result in the Riverview Tower show is a deeply religious work entitled, “My Lost Yiddish Civilization”, of two parallel strips of her collaged poetry, faded photos of her ancestors, and excerpts from the Kabbalah. It is a thoughtful and thought-provoking work of achieved reverence and respect.
Riverview Tower Lobby Gallery is located at 1920 S. 1stStreet, Minneapolis, MN. The phone number is 612-338-1920. Hopefully, a call ahead will admit you to see this memorable exhibit that runs until November 25, 2016. Her next one-woman show opens March 21, 2017 at the Birchwood Café in the Seward Neighborhood.
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Editor’s Note: Bob Ingram is a writer/journalist/editor/filmmaker whose work has appeared in Philadelphia Magazine, Atlantic City Magazine, South Jersey Magazine, the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Weekly, Atlantic City Weekly, the Drummer, and the South Street Star, among others. A recipient of the Philadelphia Bar Association Scales of Justice Award for a story on Juvenile Court, and an award from Sigma Delta Chi, the national journalism fraternity, for a story on Vietnamese refugees, Ingram has also co-written, co-produced and narrated a documentary film about the Boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ, called Boardwalk: Greetings from Wildwood By-The-Sea that airs regularly on local PBS stations.
A Sip of Science returns to the Aster Café's River Room on Thursday, October 20, with the topic Invasive Mammals vs Endemics: Who will be voted off the island?
Invasive species are the leading cause of bird extinctions on islands worldwide. Eradication of these animals is an increasingly used conservation tool to protect endemic island species. Protecting biodiversity through conservation actions can be an inexact science and a dirty proposition in a race against time — a high stakes contest to save species, protect populations and preserve biodiversity. Join us as Dr. Julia Ponder talks about the challenges and rewards in the effort to eradicate invasive rodent populations and protect endemic species in the Galapagos Islands.
ABOUT THIS MONTH'S SPEAKER
Julia Ponder is Executive Director of The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her degree in veterinary medicine from Texas A&M University and has a Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Ponder has presented around the world on avian and raptor medicine. In addition to her clinical work, she is currently focused on the wildlife health component of Ecosystem Health, raptors as sentinels for infectious disease and environmental contaminants, and identifying emerging issues related to raptor health and populations. She has worked with endangered and threatened raptor populations, and consulted globally on raptor health issues.
Please note - Due to the increased popularity of the Sip of Science program, RSVPs and tickets will be required at the door. Please be sure to RSVP early and bring your ticket to the event!
A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum that puts science in context through storytelling. This science happy hour is sponsored by the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED) and is a chance to hear about new and exciting research over beer, in a cool bar. Come talk with the experts about their efforts to address some of the Earth's most pressing problems. NCED's A SIP OF SCIENCE brings the wonder of science to happy hour.
MINNEAPOLIS (September 27, 2016) — The Minneapolis Idea Exchange (MiX), an initiative of the Minneapolis Downtown Council’s Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan, will host its third annual gathering on Wednesday, October 12 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at Brave New Workshop in downtown Minneapolis. Networking begins at 4:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 5:00 p.m.
MiX, a free event that is open to the public, aims to bring all different groups from within our community together to discuss major topics affecting our city in an interactive, engaging and entertaining way.
This year’s event includes insight into the improvisational mindset and exercises by John Sweeney, owner of the Brave New Workshop, as well as interactive questions, networking, food and beverages and a panel focused on discussing the thesis of University of Minnesota’s Metropolitan Design Center director Tom Fisher’s new book, “Designing Our way To A Better World.” Sign up for free online through October 10 at www.minneapolisideaexchange.com.
“Minneapolis has always been an innovative city, and through the 2025 Plan this MiX event will provide an opportunity to bring our community together to engage in thought-provoking dialogue while taking part in an entertaining program,” Minneapolis Downtown Council President & CEO Steve Cramer said. “The end goal is to walk away having discussed opportunities to help create a thriving and more vibrant community for all of us who live, work, play and explore here.”
Those who attend MiX will enjoy a thought-provoking conversation about design thinking—during the event, Fisher will outline the design thinking process leading into audience breakout sessions focused on answering a pointed question while creating one key action. The topics will be centered around transportation, education, economy, the environment and healthcare.
A panel comprised of Dan Collison (East Town Business Partnership), Peter Frosch (Greater MSP) and Sondra Samuels (Northside Achievement Zone) will share stories and foster the discussion. Brave New Workshop will support the conversation through improvisational performances that provide humor and entertainment while moving the conversation forward.
“This year, with the broader vision of an ideas festival in the making, we’re focusing on the process of design thinking,” MiX co-chairs Eric Caugh and Jennifer Gilhoi said. “Design thinking is a way for people to share challenges and their experiences in a conversation that focuses on an open-minded process, not a predetermined outcome. That’s where you get the really collaborative, inclusive and innovative ideas.”
The key to MiX is initiating a compelling dialogue between people of all different backgrounds within our community in an effort to create positive change for the future. To ensure diversity and inclusivity in our conversations, MiX will again tap into our Luminaries. The MiX Luminaries are Minneapolis leaders in areas from government and culinary to manufacturing and the arts.
This will be the third MiX event since officially launching in 2014. It has continued to evolve to provide a forum for the community to come together. Building off the momentum of previous years, MiX is primed as the vehicle to bring Minneapolis’ vision of ideas to a national and global audience—especially as the Twin Cities prepares itself for 10-day festival surrounding the February 2018 Super Bowl, currently titled Bold North.
MiX is supported by The Minneapolis Downtown Council, The Brave New Workshop, Ryan Companies and media partner The Line Media. The evening’s entertainment and beverage sponsors include MacPhail Center for Music and FINNEGANS. FINNEGANS will be providing beer sampling throughout the event, and food will be on-site for participants to enjoy. Attendees may purchase books prior to and during the event including Tom Fisher’s Designing Our Way to a Better World and John Sweeney of Brave New Workshop and Elena Imaretska, co-authors of The Innovative Mindset. All three authors will be available for book signing after the program’s main portion.
About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:
Founded in 1955, and one of the oldest central business associations in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The MDC’s collaborative developments of Intersections: Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit http://www.downtownmpls.com/.
About the 2025 Plan:
The Downtown 2025 Plan is a vehicle to help leaders and citizens build on Downtown’s assets and guide its development in ways that reflect the community’s aspirations for a Downtown Minneapolis that is thriving, livable, green, connected and welcoming in the decades ahead. This includes initiatives to double downtown’s residential population, transform Nicollet Mall into a must-see destination, implement a Gateway area and other green elements throughout downtown, create a compelling and walkable environment around the clock, lead the nation in transportation options, end street homelessness, forge connections with the University of Minnesota and more. The 2025 Plan is a Minneapolis Downtown Council initiative established in 2010.
About the Minneapolis Idea eXchange:
MiX is a community-powered event that encourages discourse on the topics impacting our city and celebrates the nationally recognized ingenuity and talent rooted in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Idea eXchange is an initiative of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and supported through community leaders, our MiX Luminaries, including Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. For more information, visit http://www.minneapolisideaexchange.com/ or follow along @MiXMpls on Facebook and Twitter.
September 24 was Oktoberfest at the Mill City Farmers Market (in conjunction with the Mill City Museum) which included beer samples from Day Block Brewing, Hops ice cream from Sweet Science Ice Cream, information from local hops grower Mighty Axe Hops, and of course polka music from the Elk River German Band.
Silly boys - they called this a bobble head cabbage...
A group of kids from Phillips Elementary made a stop at the MCFM the highlight of their bike excursion.
Don't forget - next Saturday (October 1) is the annual Bread Festival!
My first encounter with watermelon radishes was at the Sanctuary restaraunt - Chef Patrick had shaved them into delicate spirals for a salad. They can be eaten raw or cooked - I'm going to experiment with grilling some this week.
The meat artisans at Red Table Meats Co let nothing go to waste. For example, pig ears and tails become dog treats at Barkley's Bistro.
You know cooler weather is on the way when you see Ruth of The Abbey Alpacas at the market. Her alpaca wool items are soft and super warm.
Milly the goat! :)
The following roads will be closed 8:30am-1:00pm on Saturday, September 24, for Dave Ryan’s Special Olympics 5K and 10K:
- Main Street - From Hennepin Ave to 6th Ave SE
- West River Parkway - From Plymouth Ave to S 4th Street
- Plymouth Bridge and Stone Arch Bridge
The library party of the decade! On a bright spring day in 2006, the new Minneapolis Central Library opened its doors to an awe-inspired public. A decade later, it's become a beacon of culture, hope, and learning, enjoying over 1.2 million visits per year.
MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 21, 2016) — Over forty years after the passage of the Clean Water Act, a new report on the health of the Mississippi River shows that while progress has been made we must maintain our vigilance and explore new solutions to preserve the health of the river.
The State of the River Report, which was just released by Friends of the Mississippi River and the National Park Service Mississippi National River and Recreation Area unit examines the status and trends of 14 key indicators of the river’s health, including bacteria, phosphorus, nitrate and sediment levels, as well as the river’s viability for recreation and wildlife. It also addresses new or emerging contaminants of concern, such as microplastic fibers and chloride.
“The Mississippi River is a complex natural system, with many factors affecting its overall health and vitality,” said Whitney Clark, executive director of the Friends of the Mississippi River. “‘State of the River’ serves as a report card, helping us determine how the river is doing compared to the past, and which efforts have been effective at improving its health. In short, this report reveals that there has been a great deal of progress, but we must maintain our vigilance and push for new solutions — particularly in regard to agricultural pollution — to adequately conserve and protect the river for generations to come.”
Among the positive trends, bald eagle, mussel and fish populations are increasing, which are signs of a restored river that is home to healthy and abundant wildlife. However, there are also disturbing trends in lead levels for eaglets, and fish consumption advisories are in place throughout the river due to elevated levels of contaminants like PFOS and mercury.
Recreation and aquatic habitat on the river is being increasingly degraded by excess sediments and phosphorus, and some portions of the river are impaired with excess bacteria. Much of this can be attributed to agricultural sources.
Several indicators show disturbing trends and are causes for serious concern moving forward, according to the scientific advisors who helped compile the report:
1. River flows have multiplied to worrisome levels (24% increase since 1976). This leads to destabilization and also flushes large amounts of pollution into the river.
2. Nitrate concentrations have increased substantially (44% increase since 1976), potentially expanding the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
3. Invasive Asian carp continue to move upstream, threatening aquatic life and recreation throughout much of the state.
4. A number of additional contaminants, such as triclosan, pharmaceuticals and microplastics — tiny pieces of plastic shed from everything from car tires to washing our polyester and synthetic clothing — present risks to the river that, while not yet fully understood, are cause for concern due to their potential impacts on human and aquatic health.
“To solve these problems, we need to better understand their causes and consequences,” said John Anfinson, Superintendent, National Park Service, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. “This report provides a solid base from which to spur a public conversation about how to preserve and improve the river, and develop strategies for doing so.”
Three companion guides have been published with the report, 1) a Stewardship Guide that provides practical steps for individuals to take in their homes, yards and communities to improve the health of the Mississippi River, 2) a brand-new Teacher’s Guide to help teachers and students carry the lessons of the report into the classroom, and 3) Friends of the Mississippi River’s Policy Guide that offers priority actions that federal, state and local leaders can take for the river. The State of the River Report and companion guides are available at www.stateoftheriver.com.
The "State of the River Report" was funded by the McKnight Foundation, the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation, the Mortenson Family Foundation, the Capitol Region Watershed District, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and Mississippi Park Connection.
Full report and all guides available to download at www.stateoftheriver.com
About Friends of the Mississippi River: www.fmr.org
About the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area: www.nps.gov.miss
Carol Hancuh traded paints for fabric five years ago and hasn’t looked back. She uses no kits or patterns; her quilts are original in design, piecing and quilting. Hancuh’s work is influenced by Esterita Austin, who introduced her to the art of fusing. “My first fused quilt was a wall hanging – a face named ‘Bruce’.” The next, “Feed My People,” was of the homeless hungry in America. It won the President's Award at the Minnesota Quilters 2015 show, was shown at the Houston Festival of Quilts 2015 and published in Quilters Newsletter Magazine in 2016. In September of 2014, she made the 50th anniversary quilt for her church. “Helping Hands” portrays three priests who have served at Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville, where the quilt hangs in the sanctuary.
Hancuh, a member of Minnesota Quilters, has done abstracts, one original patterned quilt and several landscapes. Some quilts went to her church's Prayer Shawl ministry, others to silent auctions for non-profit organizations, visiting nurses, safe houses, and dignity quilts for a nursing home. Her quilts can be seen at http://chancuhquilts.com/.
This collection is presented by Minnesota Quilters, Inc. Minnesota Quilters celebrates the art of quilting in all its forms, educates about this time-honored craft, and promotes the work of newly emerging quilt artists at its annual show and other events each year.
The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A Level, 300. S. Sixth St., Minneapolis. The exhibit is sponsored by Hennepin County Communications.
The Gallery is a project of Hennepin County Communications.
MINNEAPOLIS (September 20, 2016) — The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID) announced today its 7th annual Greening & Public Realm Award winners, a group that included four new winners among the 12 categories decided by an interactive public vote.
The Greening Awards aim to showcase greening efforts by organizations and companies that help beautify the downtown area through enhancing the public realm. Among the 12 award winners [full list below] in this year’s categories are first-time winners The Living Bus Shelter (Small Green Space Activation), The Times They Are A-Changin’ — Mural by Eduardo Kobra (Public Art), Wells Fargo Towers (Streetscape Green Infrastructure) and The Commons (Public Realm Improvement).
This year’s winners also includes Loring Greenway in the Best Large Green Space category—its seventh consecutive year earning a Greening Award. Target Plaza South Entry (Small Green Space) won its sixth Greening Award, and The Local (Outdoor Café) won its fifth.
“Each year the Greening Awards offer a chance for us to recognize and showcase organizations that truly help take the vibrancy of our downtown to a new level,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council & Downtown Improvement District. “We congratulate all who were nominated and selected as finalists, and we look forward to seeing what enhanced green spaces will be part of next year’s vote.”
Winners will receive a commemorative Greening Award created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued.
The Minneapolis DID accepted public nominations for green spaces through the middle of August, and finalists were announced on August 25. Voting for finalists remained open from August 25 through September 14.
The finalists, nominated by the public, were selected by members of the Minneapolis DID staff based on criteria including overall year-over-year enhancements as well as continued excellence in adding vibrancy to the public realm.
This year’s results include the following winners:
Small Green Space Activation
• The Living Bus Shelter* — 30.78%
• The Loon Street Café* — 28.11%
• Parklet at 13th & Hennepin (Espresso Royale & Salon Rouge) * — 27.41%
• Living Room Station* —13.7%
Small Green Space
• Target Plaza South Entry — 41.28%
• Federal Courthouse Plaza — 36.58%
• American Academy of Neurology — 22.13%
Large Green Space Activation
• Target Field Station — 43.12%
• Hennepin County Government Center South Plaza — 28.94%
• Convention Center Plaza — 27.93%
Large Green Space
• Loring Greenway — 36.92%
• The Commons* — 34.99%
• Triangle Park — 28.09%
Façade Greening
• Kenosha Building — 40.73%
• JB Hudson — 26.88%
• MSFA Parking Ramp* — 19.72%
• 4Marq Apartments* — 12.68%
Public Art
• The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Mural by Eduardo Kobra* — 63.62%
• Gold Medal Park — 20.14%
• The Horn (Medtronic Plaza Sculpture)* —10.98%
• Greg Gossel Mural* — 5.26%
Outdoor Café
• The Local — 40.16%
• Bachelor Farmer* — 32.22%
• 8th Street Grill — 18.53%
• Mason’s Restaurant Barre — 9.09%
Streetscape Greening
• Target Plaza Commons — 49.14%
• Central Lutheran Church — 38.51%
• The Carlyle — 12.34%
Streetscape Green Infrastructure
• Wells Fargo Towers* — 42.84%
• 1st Street North Streetscape Improvements — 37.99%
• Boulevard Gardens at 4th & Hennepin* — 19.17%
Entryway Greening
• City Hall — 60.84%
• Textile Building* — 23.33%
• Lindsay Lofts* — 15.83%
Public Realm Improvement
• The Commons* — 41.37%
• The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Mural by Eduardo Kobra* — 29.2%
• Bachelor Farmer Outdoor Café* — 7.92%
• Wells Fargo Towers Streetscapes* — 7.09%
• The Horn (Medtronic Plaza Sculpture)* — 4.26%
• Boulevard Gardens at 4th & Hennepin* — 4.02%
• 4Marq Apartments Façade Greening* — 3.43%
• Greg Gossel Mural* — 1.89%
• MSFA Parking Ramp* — 0.83%
Best Neighborhood
• Loring Park — 33.18%
• Mill District — 32.83%
• North Loop — 16.99%
• Elliot Park — 16.99%
* = New Nominee in this category
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Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 5:12AM