Scenes from the June 18 Mill City Farmers Market

In honor of the Father's Day weekend, it was Brews & BBQ day at the June 18 Market. Surly Brewing was on the plaza serving up samples for their tasty beers. Next to them was Mighty Axe Hops Farm, a supplier to local breweries. Chef Beth Jones added a can of Surly to a batch of Beth's Baked Money Beans during the Mill City Cooks demo (now THAT smelled fantastic!)

Dan "Squeeze Daddy" Newton

If you're serious about your flour, you might be interested in this Mockmill attachment for KitchenAid stand mixers, demonstrated by Darold from Sunrise Flour Mill at the June 18 Market. Stop by their booth to watch it turn wheat berries into flour!

One of many Market visitors to enjoy a Zula Juice during their visit.

Dragon soap from Denise of Olsen Naturals - it's magical!

The goat!

Mill City Museum Exhibit ‘Up and Down: The H.H.H. Metrodome Portfolio’ Opens July 26

Photographer Mark E. Jensen’s Work Chronicles the Metrodome From Construction to Demolition

As the Minnesota Vikings and football fans alike eagerly await the opening of U.S. Bank Stadium this summer, visitors at Mill City Museum can view an exhibit exploring the history of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

Exhibit: “Up and Down: The H.H.H. Metrodome Portfolio”

Date: July 26-Nov. 6, 2016

Place: Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Cost: Free, does not include museum admission of $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 5-17, free for MNHS members

Hours: Tues-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun noon-5 pm

Home to the Vikings from 1982 to 2013, photographer Mark E. Jensen documented the Metrodome’s construction from 1980-1982 using a large format field camera patented in 1898. Then in 2014, he photographed the stadium’s demolition.The resulting pairs of black and white photographs chronicle not only the Metrodome’s life, but more than 30 years of change in downtown Minneapolis.

Mill City Museum will celebrate the exhibit’s opening with a public reception and remarks from Jensen on July 26 at 7 p.m. "Up and Down: The H.H.H. Metrodome Portfolio" is located in the museum’s Mill Commons, and is free and open to the public during regular museum hours. It will be on view July 26-Nov. 6, 2016.

Football fans can also mark their calendars for  “Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame” at the Minnesota History Center, Sept. 24, 2016-Jan.15, 2017, and the MNHS Press book “U.S. Bank Stadium: The New Home of the Minnesota Vikings,” coming out November 15.

ABOUT MILL CITY MUSEUM

Built within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, a National Historic Landmark, the award-winning Mill City Museum chronicles the flour milling industry that fueled the growth of Minneapolis. The story comes to life through the eight-story Flour Tower, Water Lab, Baking Lab and other hands-on exhibits.

The museum is located at 704 S. Second St. in Minneapolis. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 pm Sundays. The site is also open Mondays 10 am to 5 pm in July and August. For more information, call 612-341-7555 or visit www.millcitymuseum.org.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partners: Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism.

2016 Northern Spark by the Numbers

Census by Annicha Arts, Northern Spark 2016; Image by Max Haynes

Number of attendees: More than 34,000
Number of projects: 43
Individual minutes spent in the Night Library: 36,000
NorthernSpark.org page views: 113,579
#nspk16 and #northernspark images on Instagram: 1,784
Length of thunderstorm: 2:26 AM - 2:53 AM
Food vendors: 24
Colors in the sunrise: See above picture!

The producers of Northern Spark would like to know, "How was your night?"
Here's a link to their anonymous audience survey.

Parkway Closures for June 17 - 19

The following parkways will be temporarily closed June 17 - 19 for Stone Arch Bridge Festival:

Stone Arch Bridge; Historic Main Street; Father Hennepin Bluff Trails

Times: June 17 4-9pm;  June 18 11am-8pm;  June 19 11am-6pm

A complete list of current and upcoming parkway closures is available online.

Start of Construction on New Mississippi East Bank Trail Pushed Back to July

Via an June 15 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

Start of construction delayed, but trail still scheduled to open by the end of October

A number of issues have delayed the start of construction on the new Mississippi East Bank Trail. Most notably, contraction execution took longer than anticipated and several upcoming major events are using the Scherer site for parking, which would interfere with construction.

The trail is still scheduled to be complete by the end of October. The pavement will be in place in early fall, followed by landscaping improvements and lighting installation. Construction was originally scheduled to begin in May.

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About the project

The Mississippi East Bank Trail is a two-way, off-street trail along the Northeast Minneapolis riverfront that will serve both pedestrians and bicyclists.

It will extend north from Boom Island Park through the Scherer site, the Graco property and Sheridan Memorial Park. Its alignment curves east at the BNSF railroad tracks near 16th Avenue NE and terminates at Marshall Street NE. Bicyclists and pedestrians will share the southern half of the trail until Sheridan Memorial Park, where a separate pedestrian trail will break out and run next to the bike trail until it reaches the BNSF tracks.

The Mississippi East Bank Trail project page contains an aerial map of the trail’s alignment through Above the Falls Regional Park. This new trail is one segment in a series of Upper Riverfront trail loops envisioned in the RiverFirst initiative.

Scenes from the June 11 Mill City Farmers Market

I'm going to start the June 11 Market recap with a sweet picture of Loon Organics' Adam Cullip and Laura Frerichs and their two adorable sons.  It's rare to see this hard-working couple taking a much deserved few moments of rest at the Market.

SOLD OUT! Peones are super popular - I walked by at 11:30a and the guys were packing up their empty buckets.

There's a special story behind this rug. Look for a separate post about it later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

Serious Jam debuted at the June 11 Market.  Look for a separate post about them later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

With morning temps in the 80's, it was the perfect day for a cool Sonny's. 

YogaFit Studios Northeast held a class on the lawn across West River Road from the Market. 

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Minnesota Food Association (MFA) trains and educates immigrants and other under served populations about sustainable agriculture.

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Market Sponsor Mill City Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative benefiting our community through financial education, savvy advice, active involvement, and charitable giving.  They treated shoppers to $5 Market Tokens, recipe cards, pens and other items.

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Heritage Breads is doing gang busters.  Every week Jonathan surprises us with a new creation or two. This week it was Asiago Parmesan bread (that last loaf got snapped up within seconds of taking the picture) and biscuits.

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The goat would like to remind everyone to stay hydrated. :)

Design Team of Damon Farber Landscape Architects & HGA Recommended for Water Works Mezzanine Phase

Via a June 10 News Release from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation:

Design Team of Damon Farber Landscape Architects & HGA Recommended for Water Works Mezzanine Phase

Selection Committee of MPRB, Minneapolis Parks Foundation and community representatives recommends design team to Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board of Commissioners, June 15

Minneapolis, Minn. – On Wednesday, June 15, the Board of Commissioners of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) will consider a recommendation to select a design team led by Minneapolis-based Damon Farber Landscape Architects (Damon Farber) and HGA, along with 106 Group, to lead final design and cultural resource consulting services for the “Mezzanine Phase” of Water Works. The Damon Farber team was selected from a pool of eight respondents to a March 2016 joint Minneapolis Parks Foundation-MPRB Request for Proposals; the 106 Group was selected via a second cultural resources-specific RFP and will be incorporated into the Damon Farber-led team.

Water Works is a dramatic park development project that will artfully stitch downtown Minneapolis to the Mississippi River. The project will create a cultural and recreational destination that builds on the site’s rich milling history, dramatic setting, and urban riverfront milieu to provide a one-of-a-kind experience at St. Anthony Falls. Water Works is a signature project of RiverFirst, a cooperative initiative to transform the Minneapolis Riverfront with connected riverfront parks and miles of new trails.

“It is very gratifying for the Minneapolis Park Board to be on the cusp of realizing a 30-year vision for the Mill Ruins Park area and its magnetic features of St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge,” says Jayne Miller, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. “The active partnership between the Park Board and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, through nearly five years of intensive design work and comprehensive community engagement, has made this tremendous milestone possible. We’re very excited about what the future holds for the Central Riverfront.”

Land acquisition and development of regional park initiatives, such as RiverFirst and Water Works, is primarily funded through generous philanthropic partner donations, close agency partnerships such as the one with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, and allocations from the State of Minnesota and Federal Government.

“The visionary investment by the Twin Cities philanthropic community, made through the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, has made it possible for the Minneapolis Park Board to take this significant step,” says Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. “The team of Damon Farber, HGA and partners has a track record of artfully harmonizing historic and modern features with the natural landscape that’s truly worthy of Minneapolis parks and this historic place.”  

Mezzanine Phase Schematic Design and Construction Administration

The Damon Farber team will complete schematic design through construction administration of the $10.87 million Mezzanine Phase of Water Works, which encompasses about 2.5 acres of the six-acre project area, from West River Parkway to 1^St Street South, and Third Avenue to Portland Avenue.

In addition to Damon Farber, HGA, and 106 Group the team includes: BARR Engineering (stormwater management); Kimley Horn & Associates (civil/transportation engineering); MacDonald & Mack Architects (historic structures, cultural resources); Toole Design(wayfinding & signage); The Musicant Group (programming and activation); KidZibits (creative play); Water in Motion (irrigation design); Kvernstoen, Ronnholm & Associates (acoustics); Commercial Aquatic Engineering (aquatics); Robert Rippe (food service); Mortenson Construction (cost estimating); and Christine Baeumler with Mona Smith (public art).

“Water Works is poised to become an extraordinary addition to the Mississippi Riverfront,” says Tom Whitlock, President of Damon Farber Landscape Architects. “Our team is thrilled by the opportunity to help vision and guide its transformation.”

Damon Farber is known for substantial public projects, such as the Minnesota Zoo and the University of Minnesota Biomedical Discovery District, that create a healthy and well-balanced interface between cultural and natural systems. Similarly, HGA is an award-winning firm known internationally for exquisite detailing on culturally significant projects, including the Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum and the forthcoming Walker Art Center Entry and Landscape Expansion.

Water Works Mezzanine Phase construction is slated to begin in 2017 and finalize in 2019. Construction of the later Riverside Phase of Water Works is anticipated 2021-2023. The design work of the Damon Farber team will refine construction timing and staging of details such as temporary street closures should they be necessary.

Upholding the site’s cultural and historical integrity

The Water Works concept calls for unearthing and protecting the site’s historic mill ruins, while establishing a harmonious blend of natural and cultural features. Planned parkway and trail realignment will improve mobility throughout the site, which already sees nearly 2.5 million visits annually. A park pavilion will provide needed year-round amenities for the district, which encompasses popular attractions, including St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge.

The Minneapolis Park Board approved the Water Works concept in 2015, from a design created by New York-based SCAPE Landscape Architects in 2014. Also in 2015, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation launched the $15 million RiverFirst Capital Campaign, through which the philanthropic community is playing a significant role in bringing RiverFirst projects, including Water Works, to life.

About the Minneapolis Parks Foundation

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit that brings visionary leadership, philanthropic investment and private sector expertise to support innovation and equity throughout the Minneapolis park system. It co-leads theRiverFirst Initiative with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and is responsible for private fundraising and implementation of the Water Works and 26^th Ave N to Ole Olson projects. MPF supports innovative Minneapolis parks projects through equity funding and champions world-class design through its Next Generation of Parks™ Lecture Series. Get involved at MplsParksFoundation.org.

About the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independent, semi-autonomous body responsible for the Minneapolis park system.  With 179 park properties totaling 6,801 acres of land and water, the Park Board provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and engage in activities that promote health, wellbeing, community and the environment.  More than 21 million annual visits are made to the nationally acclaimed park system. Its Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play and work. Visit www.minneapolisparks.org for details. 

CPED Seeks Feedback on the Downtown Public Realm Framework Plan

From the City of Minneapolis: 

CPED is seeking comments on all portions of the Downtown Public Realm Framework draft policy plan. Comments will be accepted through July 17, 2016 and can be provided in writing via:

• Email comments to publicrealm@minneapolismn.gov 
• Mail: Lacy Shelby, CPED 105 5th Ave South, Ste 200 Minneapolis, MN 55401

Once the comment period is completed CPED will evaluate the comments and submit a final staff report that will be forwarded to the City Planning Commission and then full City Council for adoption.

Explanation:

The City of Minneapolis has launched a planning process for the development of the Downtown Public Realm Framework Plan. The Downtown Public Realm Framework Plan is a thematic plan, led by the City’s Department of Community Planning and Economic Development. It is a guiding policy document for the management of the pedestrian experience in key areas of the city, and is focused on guiding the enhancement of priority streets and urban spaces. This plan will be developed during the same time as the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) develops their Downtown Service Area Master Plan

Boom Island Brewing Company to Host 3rd Annual Boom Days Blowout July 15-17

BOOM ISLAND TO HOST 3RD ANNUAL BOOM DAYS BLOWOUT JULY 15-17

A Summer Celebration of Cuvée de Boom, Music, Food and the Home Brewer

(JUNE 2016) Boom Island Brewing Company is pleased to announce the 3nd Annual Boom Days celebration in honor of Belgian National Day July 15-17th.  Back by popular demand, Boom Days 2016 will be highlighted by the release of increased numbers of the much-anticipated Cuvée de Boom on tap and in bottles.  The weekend will also feature music from a Belgian rapper, a 5K running event, a Home Brew competition, and outdoor games like rolle bolle.

Cuvée de Boom is oak aged and unhopped.  Cuvée consists of 45% Pinot Grigio grapes and 55% Belgian style blond ale.  Cuvée de Boom ages beautifully in its corked and caged 750ml bottle, and is perfect for any occasion.  A larger number of bottles will be made available to the public, but will only be sold on site during Boom Days while supplies last. More details:

Cuvée de Boom – 12.5%ABV

Appearance - Fluffy white head, which quickly dissipates into a light champagne-like effervescent beverage.
Aroma - Light malt that interplays with white plum & grape aroma.
Flavor - Smooth mouth feel from the wine morphs into a collage of champagne, a hint of plum, which lingers into an assertively dry finish.

Schedule of events for Friday, July 15th:

4:00pm:  Boom Room opens/My Burger Food truck on site.  Parking lot reserved for outdoor Belgian themed games, including Rolle Bolle, Sjoelbak, etc.
6:00pm:  Cuvée de Boom release party and 750ml bottle blowout.  Celebratory fanfare provided by the Twin Cities French Horn Club. This fact makes perfect sense when you realize that Boom Island owners Kevin and Qiuxia Welch played French horn professionally in Minneapolis and St. Paul before the brewery became a reality.
7:00pm:  Music by Belgium’s Original Hip-hop rapper Too Tuff, who will drop rhymes in the Antwerp dialect and in English.  Too Tuff and collaborator Halve Neuro had a hit single last year in Belgium called Doedizziet (ft. Too Tuff)
8:00pm:  Jazz by local luminaries Brad Bellows and Friends, featuring Larry Hillman on saxophone

Schedule of events for Saturday, July 16th:

11:00am:  MN Brewery Running Series begins and ends at Boom Island Brewing Company.  For information and to sign up, go to http://www.breweryrunningseries.com/
1:00pm:   Boom Room opens/ Nate Dogs and Betty Dangers Truck Food Truck on site. Parking lot open for outdoor games, including Rolle Bolle, Sjoelbak, etc.

Full slate of bands will perform on outdoor stage, including:
1:30pm:  The Above Average Tuba Quartet
3:00pm:  Crossing Guards, featuring Martin Devaney
5:00pm:  The Bill Patten Trio
6:30pm:  Phantom Tails
8:00pm:  Eleganza!

In addition to the availability of the Cuvée de Boom, on Saturday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, there will be a special beer release every hour. 

The following beers will made available for a one-hour window only, while the very limited supply lasts:
1:00pm:  Last year’s Home Brew Competition winner, JD Park, will be pouring his prize winning Saison.
2:00pm: Triple Brett, a 7% ABV American Wild Ale, fermented with 3 different strains of Brettanomyces yeast.
3:00pm:  Oude Funk:  A rare, funky and complex ale consisting of a blend of 3-year, 2-year and 1-year old vintages of barrel aged and spontaneously fermented beer.
4:00pm: Oude Funk with Cherries:  An extremely limited supply of the wildly popular marriage of the Oude Funk and locally grown cherries.

Schedule of events for Sunday, July 17th:

Noon:     Boom Room opens with Louisiana Purchase Cajun food on site.
1:00pm: Jason McCann from Cargill will discuss the varieties of malts available to the home brewer.
2:00pm: Taylor Quill from Quill Bros. Hop Farm:  All Things Hop Related.
3:00pm: Touring the Great Breweries of Belgium with Brewer Kevin Welch of Boom Island as Your Guide – Sponsored by Book It Travel.
4:00pm: Jeff Merriman of Northern Brewer will discuss the role of Belgian yeast and fermentation in the brewing process.
5:00pm: Boom Days Home Brew Competition Awards Ceremony

Portions of 3rd Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis Closed June 10-12

Portions of Third Avenue in downtown Minneapolis closedFriday, June 10-12

Via a June 9 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

Starting tomorrow, sections of Third Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis will close for construction. These sections are expected to reopen to traffic in time for Monday morning rush hour. All cross streets will remain open during the work. Drivers should follow the marked detours (see “detour routes map”).

Beginning at 7 a.m., Friday, June 10, northbound traffic will be detoured as crews will begin removing the median on Third Avenue South between 10^th Street and 11^th Street. One southbound lane will remain open Friday during this work.

From 7 a.m., Saturday, June 11, to 7 a.m., Sunday, June 12, all southbound lanes of Third Avenue between Fourth Street and 11^th Street will be detoured so crews can work on underground water service connections. The northbound lanes of Third Avenue between Third Street South and Washington Avenue will be detoured for this work, and the northbound lanes between 10^th Street and 11^th Street will be detoured as the median removal continues.

Continuing Sunday, June 12, through 7 a.m., Monday, June 13, the northbound lanes between 10^th Street and 11^th Street will be detoured for the median removal work.

Starting at 7 a.m., Monday, June 13, crews will begin restoring the pavement where the median was removed. Third Avenue South between 10^th Street and 11^th Street will have one lane of traffic in each direction. This work is scheduled to be completed by 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 15.

Highlights of the Third Avenue redesign

The median removal work is part of a redesign of Third Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis. The completed project will:

• Install a protected bicycle lane, creating a north-south bicycle connection through Downtown.
• Modify the existing vehicle traffic lanes and turn lanes.
• Provide new greenery and an improved streetscape.

The City is coordinating with numerous development and street construction projects in the downtown area to minimize traffic backups as much as possible. Crews will continue to move north on Third Avenue removing the medians and paving throughout the 2016 construction season. Drivers should follow signed detours and expect changing detours as the project moves north on Third Avenue.

For additional information, visit the project website.

Parkway Closures for June 11 - 12

The following parkways will be temporarily closed June 11 – 12 (9:00pm to 9:00am) for Northern Spark:

West River Parkway - Portland Avenue to 11th Avenue S

A complete list of current and upcoming parkway closures is available online.

Holidazzle Announces Lighting Design Competition, Proposals Due June 24

Via a June 6 Press Release from the Minneapolis Downtown Council:

MINNEAPOLIS (June 6, 2016) — The Minneapolis Downtown Council, along with the Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan Downtown Experience Committee, announced today a Request for Creativity (RFC) design competition for a creative lighting experience at the 2016 Holidazzle. 

The Creative Lighting Experience aims to become a signature addition to the 2016 Holidazzle event in Loring Park—which will run Thursdays through Sundays from November 25 to December 23—through the creation of a one-of-a-kind spectacle that will create a sense of wonder unique to the City of Minneapolis. 

The goal of the RFC is to entice creative teams with specific experience in the creation of lighting installations to apply. Creative teams could include students, designers, lighting specialists, architects, artists, urban designers or agencies with these capabilities. The RFC overview can be viewed here and proposals must be submitted to jblair@downtownminneapolis.com by Friday, June 24 at 5 pm. 

“Holidazzle’s first year in Loring Park was a success, and our goal is to continue adding ways to make the experience even more special and memorable for those who attend,” said Leah Wong, Vice President of Events and Marketing, Minneapolis Downtown Council. “One way we want to do that in 2016 is to add spectacular lighting to Holidazzle, which will add to the vibrancy and enhance the Minneapolis-centric focus around local people, places, products and activities we highlight during our city’s annual holiday celebration.”

For the Request for Creativity submissions, 3-4 finalists will be selected and invited to interview and discuss their concept with the review committee. From those design submissions and interviews, one winner will be awarded a contract to build their design. 

Submissions for the RFC must include a statement describing your lighting concept, team member biographies, concept illustrations and examples of previous creative work. 

“The Downtown Experience Committee’s goal is to enhance the vibrancy of downtown through events and programming,” said Tom Whitlock, chair of the 2025 Plan Downtown Experience Committee. “Holidazzle is such an important Minneapolis holiday tradition, and we are excited to help enrich people’s experience through facilitating the addition of dazzling lighting this year.” 

Finalists will be announced on July 5, with final presentations to take place the week of July 25 and a winner selected the week of August 1. Design refinements will take place August through September, installation will take place in October and unveiling occurs in November. A budget provided by Holidazzle and sponsors will be allocated for this project. 

For more information on Holidazzle, visit Holidazzle.com or follow along on social media via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #Holidazzle.  

About Holidazzle:

The 2015 and 2016 Holidazzle is managed and produced by the Minneapolis Downtown Council in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The 2015 Holidazzle was sponsored by Minneapolis Building & Construction Trades Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 292, North Central States Region Council of Carpenters, Painters and Allied Trades International Union, Laborer’s Union Local 563, Egan, Fraser-Morris Electrical Co., Swanson & Youngdale, Hirschfield’s, North Memorial Health Care, CenterPoint Energy, Xcel Energy, Fulton Brewery, NELSON, RipBang Studios—a division of NELSON, DigitalParc, Comcast Business, Indulge & Bloom, dotcom.printing.inc., Warning Lites, Minneapolis Recycles, Premium Waters, Inc., Metro Transit, Star Tribune and Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine. The Downtown Skating Rink was a collaborative effort by the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Minneapolis SafeZone Collaborative and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, and is sponsored by VEIT, Kraus-Anderson, Minneapolis Building & Construction Trades Council, Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, U.S. Bank and Love Your Melon.

About the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independent, semi-autonomous body responsible for the Minneapolis park system.  With 179 park properties totaling 6,801 acres of land and water, the Park Board provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the environment.  Its Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play and work.  More than 21 million annual visits are made to the nationally acclaimed park system, which was named the number one park system in the nation in 2013, 2014,  2015 and 2016 by The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore® Index.

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: The 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 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. 

Scenes from the June 4 Mill City Farmers Market

June 4 was Urban Farming Day at the Market. Shoppers had the opportunity to learn how urban farmers grow sustainable food in city lots and gardens thru exhibits from Spark-Y Youth Action Labs, Frogtown Farm and The Good Acre.

I was in the right place at the right time - with Annabella Sardelis of INDIGO & SNOW. As the temperature rose, I shed my sweater and walked away wearing one of her beautiful hand-dyed tops.  I'll feel her hug every time I wear it. :)

What's new at French Nugget? Sea Salt & Coffee Chocolate and a Lavender Mist spritz - they'll make you feel good, both inside and out. 

Happy to see the Wedge Community Co-op now has a pop-up market booth next to the cooking demo area. Stop there for butter, milk and other items previously not available at the Market. Look for a separate Wedge post this week on our Farmers Market blog.

You can sign up online or at the Info Booth to receive a weekly email update on what to look for at the Market.

Our neighbor got a yummy breakfast sandwich from Black Cat Natural Foods.

Chef Jenny Breen prepared Pea & Mint Croquettes with Yogurt Sauce at the Mill City Cooks demo.  Look for a separate post this week on our Farmers Market blog for the delicious pictures.

Story time!

Looks like "the goat" has some competition:  Cosmic Wheel Creamery!  It's on.

Plan Your Night! Northern Spark is June 11, 2016

Northern Spark, presented by Northern Lights.mn, returns for a 6th year on June 11 from 9:00pm - 5:26am.

For the 2016 and 2017 festivals, the theme Climate Chaos | Climate Rising will explore the interconnected, evolving, long-term consequences from climate change, giving local and national artists a platform to help turn a sense of overwhelmment into concrete actions anchored in a realistic and hopeful map for the future.

Here are a few more things to consider as you plan your night!

Seed Saving Bingo. Photo: NorthernLights.mn

Join artists Rachel Breen and Koby Jeschkeit-Hagen for Seed Saving Bingo. Come play bingo and learn about what you can do in your own yard to save seeds and protect biodiversity! The practice of saving and passing down seeds allows humans to play a critical role in fighting climate change. The world’s heirloom seed heritage is irreplaceable and threatened by the rise of monoculture farming, the patenting of seeds, and the endangering of heirloom varieties by genetically modified crops.

Take a seat in the Guthrie Theater for some fast paced education at Nerd vs. Nerd, present by the U of MN's Institute for Advanced Study. It’s scholars vs. artists in a fast and furious throwdown of ideas and inspiration. Thirty scholars deliver five-minute presentations of their work, immediately followed by an on-the-spot creative response by community artists, with the audience voting on which interpretation – scholar or artist – helped them learn the most about the topic.

Future Drawing Near: Future Drawing Here enlists your creativity to imagine and draw alternate futures for our world. Artist Janet Lobberecht invites you to participate in four future designing stations: Rapid Futuring, Reflective Futuring, Systematic Futuring, and Shared Futuring and draw the future where everyone is an agent for change.

FINNEGANS Driving to $1 Million in Donations Back to Community Since Company’s Inception

FINNEGANS Driving to $1 Million in Donations Back to Community

Since Company’s Inception

                                                                   

FINNEGANS Brew Co. to Celebrate 16th Birthday with Largest Giving Campaign to Date Turning Beer Into Food

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (June 1, 2016) -- FINNEGANS Brew Co. is launching a new summer campaign to help drive one million in total donations back to the community since the company’s opening in September 2000. The FINNEGANS Million Dollar Drive will be supported by its beer sales, the Reverse Food Truck fleet, a FINNEGANS MS150 cycling team and a Sweet 16 Birthday Registry with gifts for local food shelves. The campaign will run through the summer with the goal of hitting $1 Million by September.

FINNEGANS has a longstanding tradition of helping out the community. The first of its kind social enterprise has an extensive network of food partners: farms & food shelves through food bank partners, volunteers and a fleet of Reverse Food Trucks that make it all happen. Since 2012, FINNEGANS has funded nearly 394,000 lbs. of food in a five state area (MN, WI, SD, ND and IA). In Minnesota last year alone the fresh produce provided to those in need was funded from 34 farms and went to 78 different food shelves via The Food Group’s Harvest for the Hungry program. Since the launch of the Reverse Food Truck in 2014, an additional $68,037 worth of food has gone back to the community.

Founder and CEO, Jacquie Berglund, noted: "I set out 15 years ago to leave the world a better place than when I got here and our FINNEGANS model has been a great way to do that. I'm thrilled at the prospect of reaching the million dollar mark in donations. Giving our profits away to help those in need and working with an amazing team of staff and volunteers who all enjoy doing good in the community feeds me every day!"

FINNEGANS is calling on community members, businesses and organizations to take part in the Million Dollar Drive by first drinking FINNEGANS beer - the beer that does good. The new Freckled Rooster and Hoppy Shepherd, along with the flagship Irish Amber, will be available in a new Summer Saintly Sampler which includes an exclusive cocktail card featuring all three brews. The profit from all beer sales goes back to fighting hunger in local communities. Another way people can get involved is by participating in the Sweet 16 Birthday Registry. Everything on the registry is something a food shelf or people facing food insecurity needs but budgets often do not cover.

The goal of this campaign is to honor FINNEGANS’ mission of turning beer into food as proclaimed in their manifesto: “We believe in barstool philanthropy. In social innovation building strong communities. And that doing good and having fun play nicely together. We believe in the sweet alchemy of turning beer into food. In lining food shelves with fresh produce from local growers. And that it takes a village to raise a more purposeful pint.”

Check out finnegans.org/onemillion to see progress throughout the campaign and join us in helping turn beer into food for those in need!

FINNEGANS (www.FINNEGANS.org)

FINNEGANS – Turning beer into food. Founded in 2000 in Minneapolis, FINNEGANS is a self-sustaining and inspirational social business. Through the sale of its Amber Ale, Hoppy Shepherd Ale, Dead Irish Poet Extra Stout and now the new Freckled Rooster, FINNEGANS has created an innovative business model that allows the company to create community wealth. How? One hundred percent of the profits are donated to the FINNEGANS Community Fund (501c3) to support hunger alleviation programs in every market where FINNEGANS is sold. FINNEGANS has scaled its giving program to MN, WI, ND, SD and IA. Now, is there a better reason to raise a pint of FINNEGANS?

For the latest information, find FINNEGANS on Twitter and Facebook or visit finnegans.org.

Franklin Avenue Bridge Construction Update

Franklin Avenue Bridge construction update from Hennepin County

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Placing deck panels

Crews continue to work through all of the various weather conditions to recondition the Franklin Avenue bridge. Last week, the first pre-cast deck panel was placed. By the end of the week, 24 of the 350 panels were secured to the new bridge deck. Twenty of the 45 cap beams have been placed to support the new bridge deck. Crews will continue their aggressive schedule - including working over weekends - to place more beams and panels over the next several weeks.

The crane hoists the first new deck panel to the bridge deck.

Crews assist in guiding the deck panel into the correct position.

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Getting a closer look at the new bridge deck

Crew members carefully secure the deck panel to the newly placed cap beams (the cap beams were mentioned in last week's update). 

At this point, two panels have been placed and a third is being moved into position.

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For more information

Hotline: 888-474-8929

Email: franklinbridge@hennepin.us

Website: www.hennepin.us/franklinbridge 

Helping Paws Demonstration at the June 7 Music & Movies in the Park Event at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Helping Paws is an organization that trains and places service dogs with individuals with disabilities.  They are sponsoring the June 7 showing of Finding Nemo at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, part of the Music & Movies in The Parks series. 

There will be an 8:30pm demonstration by Helping Paws service dogs.  Be sure to stop by their information table. Donations are welcome! Helping Paws is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so any contribution you make is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Music starts at 7:00pm (Brianna Lane plays June 7), and the movie starts after the Helping Paws demonstration. For full enjoyment of the night, bring a blanket or chair, sunblock and bugspray.  Music & Movies in The Parks is produced by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.

Way Above the Beer and Bratwurst - THANK YOU to our Vets

THANK YOU to all have, currently are, and will in the future serve this country. (Yes, I realize Memorial Day is not the same as Veterans Day. But while we honor those who gave their lives, it's always appropriate to say Thank You to those who are alive to hear it.)  

MCBA Announces Kickstarter Campaign to Finalize Establishment of the World’s Most Comprehensive Working Rubber Stamp Archive

70,000 individual rubber stamps. 300 sign and educations stamp sets. A collection spanning 120 years. Accessible to all artists in their creative practice.

The mission of the H/G Archive is to preserve historical, rare and unique tools of artistic expression while maintaining their accessibility to artists wishing to incorporate them into their creative practice. It is a living archive where use by artists and researchers is encouraged.

Significant investments have already been made to support the H/G Archive, but for it to succeed they are raising $13,000 as a start-up initiative to cover the costs of cataloging, artist work stations, technology for access, and archival storage. With your help, these rare and unique tools of artistic expression will serve and inspire the arts community for years to come.

Visit the Kickstarter project page to pledge your support and earn unique and inspiring rewards!

Northern Spark Preview - Focus on the Mill City Museum

Northern Spark, presented by Northern Lights.mn, returns for a 6th year on June 11 at 9:00pm.

There's a LOT going on - here's some of what you'll find in and around the Mill City Museum:

Step inside the Mlll City Museum Train Shed, presented by Northern Lights.mn in partnership with Make It. MSP. Inside, #act, #interconnect, and #nourish with a wide variety of creative, interactive projects.

Afterglow Garden feelie boxes. Image: <jɑː↓>

At Christine Baeumler's Backyard Phenology: Tracking Nature’s Cycles in a Changing Climate see how art, science, and place-based observations can come together to catalyze awareness of and action on climate change.

Step into the light at the Afterglow Garden, created by <jɑː↓>, a botanical installation and sensory workshop that highlights a shifting global ecosystem by juxtaposing our climate-present with an imagined climate-future.

Make a wish for the future at Robin Garwood's Wishing Well. Dig for treasure: real coins, where every cent equals 350 tons of the carbon that will be burned worldwide during Northern Spark. And then make your choice. Will you extract the money? Or will you leave it in the ground, as a wish for a future free of catastrophic climate change?

Mill City Museum Train shed, Northern Spark 2015. Photo: Nathan Santos.

Visit Soil Laband, with the help of artists Monica Haller, Sebastian Muellauer, and Nic Jelinski, and U of MN scientists test the soil from your own backyard. Full instructions for how to bring your soil for testing are on our website.

Curve your path toward Gregory Fitz' A Bend in the River, a sculpture composed of cedar replicas of stream bank rehabilitation cribs. The arrangement matches their intended use as an engineered solution to rebuild eroded riverbanks, usually in cold-water trout streams.

Explore your energy at Roger Nieboer's Energeia. Part science ¬fair, part lab¬ practical, and part philosophical inquiry, Energeia will challenge you to reflect upon your own consumption of energy and your individual, ¬ increasingly important role as a human on the planet.

Activities in the Train Shed look to welcome all people to the festival; look for the Radical Welcomers from Make It. MSP. saying hello, and share a bite of food and climate conversation as guests break the Ramadan fast at sunset at the Interfaith Iftar, organized by Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light.

Minneapolis Riverfront, in Pare Lorentz’ “The River”. Movie still: Pare Lorentz

When you need to take a chill out break from all the excitement of Northern Spark's interactive projects, stop by the Mill City Museum and enjoy films old and new about our changing environment.

Instead of burning oil at the drive-in, enjoy outdoor film in the outdoor space adjacent to the Mill City Museum Ruin Courtyard. Curated by Tim Peterson, Latitudes: Artists from Six Continents Reflect on Earth’s Changing Environments will feature recent single channel works by a diverse lineup of six internationally-acclaimed artists, whose selected videos explore a range of topics addressing climate change.

At What Cost: The Films of Pare Lorentz is an all-night screenings of Pare Lorentz’s pioneering documentaries, considering environmental change from the historical perspective of the 1930s. Inside the West Engine House Theater at the Mill City Museum, watch The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936) and The River (1938) highlight the ecological and social catastrophes that culminated in the Dust Bowl and devastating flooding, and promote the New Deal’s solutions to these environmental problems.

Midiyanto, shadow puppeteer.

Sumunarwill present a wayang kulit at Northern Spark, inside the courtyard of the Mill City Museum. In Bimo Gugah (Bimo Prevails), a hero discovers that the volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and drought destroying his country are the result of corrupt leaders. Amidst the climate chaos, people are hungry for change—can Bimo save the day? Performed by master puppeteer Midiyanto, enjoy political commentary and social satire, along with fast action scenes, all to the accompaniment of a full gamelan orchestra. Join us under the stars for an Indonesian tradition you won’t want to miss! 

See more! Go to the Art & Events page, and browse events for Mill City Ruins, Mill City Museum and Mill City Train Shed.

During the Launch Party (7pm-9pm), the Mill City Museum Ruin Courtyard will be host to many ways of nourishing your imagination. This incredible, open-skies location positions you right in the middle of the art you are supporting when you buy a ticket.