Call for Contributions: Putting Down Roots Fiber Arts Project at MWMO

Call for Contributions: Putting Down Roots Fiber Arts Project

You are invited to participate in developing Putting Down Roots, a new eco-art exhibit to be on display at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) and Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. Use any fiber medium to create a life-sized, 3-dimensional representation of plants for clean water and habitat and/or species that benefit from these plants.

Exhibition Dates: May 23, 2016 - Fall 2016
Location: Mississippi Watershed Management Organization and Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, 2522 Marshall Street NE

Putting Down Roots is an evolving exhibit of artistic fiber representation of plants that are beneficial for a healthy environment. These plants have extensive root structures, provide beautiful habitat and contribute to the diversity of our landscapes.

More information: http://www.mwmo.org/PuttingDownRoots.html

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation Grants $4.6 Million for New Dental Clinic at HCMC

Via a March 1 Press Release from Delta Dental:

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation Grants $4.6 Million for New Dental Clinic at Hennepin County Medical Center

New Clinic Will Increase Patient Access to Oral Health Care by 60%

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (March 1, 2016)—Today, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement between the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation and the Hennepin Healthcare System to create a new dental clinic funded by a $4.6 million grant from the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. In recognition of the leadership grant, the clinic will be named the Delta Dental Oral Health Center at HCMC.

The Delta Dental Oral Health Center at HCMC will be located in the new $220.8 million clinic and specialty building, which will consolidate HCMC’s existing downtown clinics in one state of the art, six-story facility. The grant will also fund in-clinic dental services for the highly complex patients who receive care in the HCMC Coordinated Care Clinic.

HCMC and the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation share a long-standing commitment and partnership to improve oral health, as well as the overall health for those individuals and families most in need. A few good examples of the partnership to improve oral health are the collective effort to add preventive dental services to HCMC’s Brooklyn Park Clinic, and the coordinated dental referrals in the emergency department to help patients find regular, less expensive dental care.

“We are extremely excited to partner with such an outstanding organization committed to delivering greater access to oral health care.  We believe the development of the Delta Dental Oral Health Center at HCMC will be an important step to help address unmet needs,” said Rodney Young, Chief Executive Officer and President at Delta Dental of Minnesota and Chair, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation.

The Delta Dental Oral Health Center at HCMC will see and treat the 85% of HCMC’s dental patients who are covered by public programs, are uninsured, or qualify as low income residents. In addition, the clinic will provide enhanced patient-centered care for all patients, especially children and people with special needs. The Delta Dental Oral Health Center at HCMC will increase oral health care access by approximately 60%, or an estimated additional 11,000 visits annually, for a total of 27,500 patient visits per year.

The Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation grant provides approximately one-half of the capital investment to create the clinic, improve infrastructure, equipment and provide some operational funding. The grant enables HCMC to expand capacity in the center to a total of 30 treatment rooms and two consult rooms with teledentistry capabilities. It will also support creating a state-of-the-art lab, expanded space for advanced dental education, improve accessibility for patients with special needs and the latest technology for video interpreters. The satellite dental room in the Coordinated Care Clinic will be used for an estimated 1,100 annual dental visits per year.

“This grant makes it possible to greatly expand access for the most underserved patients,” said Mary Seieroe, DDS, HCMC Chief of Dentistry. “The support from the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation enables us to create an oral healthcare center of excellence in our new medical clinic and specialty center. This partnership will help HCMC lead in establishing best practices for integration of dental and medical care.”

Delta Dental’s involvement with HCMC is part of several other strategic community investments to improve oral health across the state. Recognizing the statewide needs for better dental access, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports and partners with over 100 communities throughout the Twin Cities and in greater Minnesota to tackle barriers to quality dental care access.

About HCMC: 
Hennepin County Medical Center is a nationally recognized Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center with the largest emergency department in Minnesota. It is operated by Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., a subsidiary corporation of Hennepin County. The comprehensive academic medical center and public teaching hospital and clinic system includes a 484-bed acute care hospital and primary care and specialty clinics located downtown and South Minneapolis and surrounding suburban communities. More at www.hcmc.org.

About Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation:
Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports Delta Dental of Minnesota's mission of improving the health of Minnesotans and advancing oral health in Minnesota. Established in 2009 with the proceeds from the sale of a company, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports initiatives that promote access to oral health and, in turn, improve the overall health and vitality of our community. To learn more, visit www.DeltaDentalMN.org.

FINNEGANS Brew Co to Partner with Minnesota Foodshare in the FINNEGANS Chef Food Fight

Via a March 1 Press Release from FINNEGANS:

FINNEGANS BREW CO. TO PARTNER WITH MINNESOTA FOODSHARE IN THE FINNEGANS CHEF FOOD FIGHT

WHO: FINNEGANS Brew Co. and Minnesota FoodShare are bringing together local restaurants and chefs from around the Twin Cities for a friendly cooking competition. Participants include:
● Bennett's Chop and Railhouse - Chef Joe Bennett
● The Local - Chef Vincent Francoual
● Green Mill (Uptown, Lakeville, Eagan and Albert Lee)- Chefs Eric Heidelberger, Sammy Gonzalez, Danielle Puhle, Derek Oakland
● Le Town Talk Diner - Chef Ozzy Amelotti
● Pat’s Tap and the Red Stag- David Robinson (Pat’s Tap), Chefs Brian Krouch & Andrew Erenst (Red Stag)
● The Minneapolis Club - Chef Hakan Lundberg
● FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar (MOA and Downtown Mpls) Chefs Dinesh Jayawardena and Jim Kyndberg
● Jake O’Connors and O’Donovan’s- Chris Oxley

WHAT: Together, FINNEGANS and Minnesota FoodShare aim to raise funds and awareness around hunger in Minnesota during the MN FoodShare March Campaign and to drive traffic to participating restaurants via social media and food blog engagement.

Chefs are invited to develop a menu item using FINNEGANS beer (the Irish Amber, Dead Irish Poet Stout, or the Hoppy Shepherd) and sell it on their menus for the month of March. Each establishment will decide the donation amount per menu item sold and customers will be asked to vote via social media for their favorite dish.

Jason DeRusha is the honorary chair of the MN FoodShare March Campaign and he will be supporting this promo with social media and TV. The winning chef will be announced by Jason DeRusha on WCCO Midmorning and receive a weekend stay at the Chase Hotel in Walker, MN. All participating chefs will receive a FINNEGANS prize pack and case of beer.

WHEN: Online voting will open to the public on March 1st and the four dishes with the most likes by March 7th will be invited to appear on the March 11th WCCO Midmorning show with Jason DeRusha. Voting will continue through the entire month of March. The Chef/dish with the most votes along with our total donation raised from all locations will be announced on WCCO in April.

Let's Caucus!

If you want to be part of the process, gather with your neighbors Tuesday night, March 1, and caucus! Not sure where to participate?  Use this handy locater by simply entering your zip code and street number: http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/. It gives both the Republican and Democratic location associated with your home address.

A caucus is a local gathering where voters decide which candidate in their party to support for the ticket (Hillary or Bernie; Trump or Cruz, for example). The caucus format favors candidates who have a dedicated and organized following because those devoted volunteers can exert influence in the open setting of a caucus.

MinnPost helps us understand the process in this recent article: The 5 things you'll want to know if you're thinking about caucusing in Minnesota.

Now Showing & Coming Soon to the Film Society’s St. Anthony Main Theatre

Here's what's on tap from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul:

 

February 26 thru March 10 - SON OF SAUL (New Releases, #OscarWatch)

 

February 27 at 1PM - LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES (Stage on Screen, National Theatre Live)

**March 3 at 7PM - WE ROCK LONG DISTANCE (First Thursday Films @ the Capri, $5 Tickets)

 

March 4-6 at 4PM - RABIN THE LAST DAY (Special Screenings, New Releases)

 

March 11-17 - MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART (New Releases)

March 14 at 7PM + March 19 at 1PM - AS YOU LIKE IT (Stage on Screen, National Theatre Live) 

March 22 at 7PM - THE BIRDS (Science on Screen) Featuring an introductory presentation by F. Keith Barker, PhD. on the topic of “Bird Brains”!

March 25-31 - REMEMBER (New Releases)

March 28 at 7PM + April 2 at 1PM - HANGMEN (Stage on Screen, National Theatre Live) 

April 7-23 - 35th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival

**Screening at the Capri Theater - 2027 West Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: mspfilm.org or at the box office before each show.

There's a National Park in Our Backyard - Use the River Trip Planner to Take Advantage of it!

The National Park Service - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is very excited to announce their long awaited "River Trip Planner" is now availalble.

Use www.rivertripplanner.org to help you plan a route anywhere in the park, identify bus, rail lines and the best points of access popular river destinations. It's an easy-to-use Google-based map with embedded park destination and alternative transportation (bus, rail, bike, boat, and walking) information that builds on existing regional transit, recreational trails and river access.

Have fun, stay fit and reduce environmental impacts while exploring your national park!

Annual North Loop Candy Grab Scheduled for March 26

Time: 10:00 am - 10:30 am

Annual North Loop Candy Grab

It’s time for the wildly successful annual North Loop Candy Grab!  There will be age specific hunts, prize eggs, parent eggs, pre-hunt games along with cookies and hot chocolate!

Those wishing to donate candy can leave individually wrapped candy at Corner Coffee.  Anyone looking to help stuff eggs can come to Corner Coffee on March 19th at noon.

Detour of Westbound Washington Avenue Starting March 1

Via a February 24 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Starting Tuesday, March 1, westbound lanes of Washington Avenue (County Road 152) in downtown Minneapolis will be closed from Second Avenue South to Hennepin Avenue to begin upfront utility relocation work associated with Hennepin County’s road reconstruction project.

Utility crews will be working in this area with a detour in place until later this summer, when they will move further east on Washington Avenue to complete their work. This utility relocation work is to be completed in 2016.

Following immediately behind the utility crews, Hennepin County will be reconstructing Washington Avenue between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South.

This detour for motorists and bicyclists will follow Second Avenue South, Third Street South, Hennepin Avenue and then return to Washington Avenue. There is no detour for pedestrians or eastbound Washington Avenue. A map of the detour is available on the Washington Avenue reconstruction project webpage, www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue.

Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and Xcel Energy developed a traffic plan to mitigate impacts and maximize traffic flow around the closure. Signs to direct road users will be posted and traffic control agents will assist at key intersections during peak traffic hours.

Upcoming reconstruction project overview

The county is reconstructing Washington Avenue between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South. The reconstruction will improve the driving surface, but also improve safety and better accommodate those who travel through the area. When complete, the project will:

• Add dedicated turn lanes at key intersections
• Provide more space for pedestrians and shorten crossing distances at intersections
• Provide one-way cycle tracks, or protected bike lanes

Additional background and the project layout are available for download on the project webpage, www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue.
The county currently anticipates its active construction will begin later this summer. The project is slated to be complete in 2017.

More information:

Visit the project webpage: http://www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue

Contact:
Nathan Ellingson, project engineer
nathan.ellingson@hennepin.us
612-596-0375

East River Parkway closure February 29 - March 2

Via a February 24 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

East River Parkway closure February 29 - March 2

Crane work at U of M Medical Center closes section of East River Parkway for three days East River Parkway will be closed to vehicle traffic near the University of Minnesota Medical Center at 500 SE Harvard St. beginning Monday, Feb. 29 at 7 am and continuing until work is completed Wednesday, March 2.

The closure is necessary to hoist three new cooling towers onto the roof of the University of Minnesota Medical Center. This project has been delayed several times this winter due to high winds.

Southbound traffic will be detoured beginning at Arlington Street and northbound traffic at Harvard Street. Please follow all posted detour signage. The bike and pedestrian trails on the west side of the parkway will remain open.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience while the project is completed.

North Loop Neighborhood Association Feb 24 Board Meeting Agenda

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Heritage Landing, 415 1st Steet N

The North Loop Neighborhood Association welcomes you to the February 24 Board Meeting.

AGENDA
I.    CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS
II.   APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES
IV.   COUNCIL MEMBER PRESENTATION Jacob Frey
V.    FINANCE REPORT
VI.   NEIGHBOR COMMENTS
      - 1 Mississippi campaign update Maria Lee
      - Voting precincts update Tim Schwarz
VII.  COMMITTEE REPORTS
      - Marketing and Promotions Scott Woller
      - North Loop Businesses Scott Woller
          Warehouse District Business Association update
      - Website Diane Merrifield
      - Planning & Zoning DJ Heinle
          Pedestrian and Bicycle update – DJ
      - Livability Fritz Kroll
          Greening & lighting update
          NL park update – Katie
      - Safety & Livability Phil Ailiff
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
      - Sustainability / community garden – Bryan
      - NRP funding update - J.R.
      - Farmers Market Advisory Group update
      - 2020 Partners update
      - DNG update - DJ
IX.   NEW BUSINESS
      - Bylaws review – DJ and Bryan
      - Board officer election and committee chair selection - David
X.    ADJOURNMENT

People Serving People Annual Gala is Scheduled for April 16

The People Serving People Annual Gala is scheduled for April 16 at the Hyatt Regency. This year's theme is Unmasking Homelessness, and attendees are encouraged to don a festive mask for the party.

There are 85 volunteer positions available for this Gala. Please click on this link to learn more. 

The Soap Factory and Northern Lights Present: Art(ists) on the Verge 7, Exhibition Opening Reception is March 12

The Soap Factory and Northern Lights Present: Art(ists) on the Verge 7, Exhibition Opening Reception

An exhibition opening reception in celebration of Art(ists) on the Verge 7 will take place March 12 at the The Soap Factory, 514 2nd Street SE.  The exhibition runs March 12 - April 17.

This exhibition features new work from four Minnesota-based artists. AOV7 is an intensive, year-long, mentor-based fellowship program for emerging artists working experimentally at the intersection of art, technology, and digital culture.

Visit Northern.Lights.mn to learn more about their organization, AOV, and their other programs.

Restaurant Week Winter 2016: Feb 21-26

Celebrate the best of Twin Cities dining with a week's worth of great deals in the Twin Cities trendiest and best restaurants from February 21-26. Participating restaurants will serve two course lunches for $10-$25 and three-course dinners for $15- $35 (beverage, tax and gratuity not included).

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Restaurant Week started in 2007 in an effort to connect Twin Cities food enthusiasts with the best in Twin Cities dining. Since then, Restaurant Week has become a tradition embraced by Minnesotans.

Visit restaurants such as Sanctuary, Ginger Hop and Haute Dish. View full list at: http://mspmag.com/Contests-And-Promotions/Restaurant-Week/.

Open Window Theatre Presents Everyman in Urban Jungle

Open Window Theatre Presents Everyman in Urban Jungle

The newest production at Open Window Theatre brings a classic piece of theatre literature to the stage with an urban setting, live music and a diverse cast.  In his contemporary take on Everyman, director Jeremy Stanbary (Artistic Director, Open Window Theatre) pulls from his own roots of Catholicism to bring out the universality of this medieval morality play as well as the rich symbolism within.  “The play mixes poetry with no-holds-barred imagery,” Stanbary says, “and deals with problems of wealth, power and self-indulgence which can be destructive to humans and the common good.”

The set design, with its multi-level metal piping, provides an urban jungle playground for the cast in a prison-like structure, giving a sense of Everyman’s entrapment to his/her material world.  The costumes supply a “high impact look,” according to designer Josette Elstad, which plays out with various textures and layers, echoing both Greek chorus and gothic-inspirations.  Original music performed live during the show will blend medieval with modern influences, intermixing digital music and sounds.  Guest artists SPARK Theater + Dance (Corey and Betsy Mills) will add stunning visual imagery to the story through movement and choreography.

The cast features an eight-person ensemble, with five diverse actors (including women) rotating into the role of Everyman for a portion of the performance.  With each actor rotation, a prop piece of what Everyman has acquired will be removed except for a common shroud that symbolically defines the spiritual element of the fateful journey.  According to Stanbary, the play is “not afraid to pull punches,” even calling out corrupt members of the clergy.

The cast of Everyman includes Corey Mills (Everyman #1 & #6/Confession), Nicole Goeden (Everyman #2/Beauty/Angel), Kiara Jackson (Everyman #3/Strength), Elohim Pena (Everyman #4/Fellowship/Five Wits), Joann Oudekerk (Everyman #5/Kindred), Sharayah Bunce (Death/Good-Deeds), Siddeqah Shabazz (Messenger/Knowledge) and Nathan Gebhard (Cousin/Goods/Discretion).

FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20
Thursdays-Saturdays @ 7:45pm
Sundays @ 1:30pm
Special matinees:  Wednesdays, March 2 & 9 @ 10:30am, and Saturday, March 19 @ 1:30pm

TICKETS:  $16-30.  Box Office:  612/615-1515, or website.
Thursdays are “Pay-As-You’re-Able” for a $1 minimum at the door for any unsold tickets.

LOCATION:
Open Window Theatre
(Metropolis Minneapolis Building)
1313 Chestnut Avenue, Ste #102 - Free Parking
Minneapolis MN  55403

The Second Sex // Guerrilla Girls Takeover Event at Gamut Gallery

 

THE SECOND SEX // GUERRILLA GIRLS TAKEOVER EVENT

The first invitational of Gamut Gallery's 2016 programming, The Second Sex is a group exhibition curated by Genie Castro, Juleana Enright and Jade Patrick which explores the imbalance imposed by the secondary designation that patriarchy places on women. Through paintings, photography, printmaking, video, performance and sculpture, artists will examine the injustices brought on by patriarchy and visualize how to manifest balance in society.

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 5th, 3-7pm
Exhibition runs Tuesday, March 1st - Saturday, March 19th

Featured Artists: Judy Chicago, Shanna Allyn, Jennifer Bong, Genie Castro, Perci Chester, Sue Cranston, Justine Di Fiore, Juleana Enright, Caila Darling, Nadia Honary, Nicole Houff, Allison Johnson, Allea Lovely, Kate Renee, Amy Sands, Heidi Sime, Carla Alexandra Rodriguez

For The Second Sex, the curators sought pieces which had active synergy and were representative of the diversity amongst the ever-evolving feminist movement. With intersectionality in mind, the exhibition seeks to unite the social identities of an oppressed gender and act as a safe place to explore individual struggles and demand attention. Made up solely of women artists from different walks of life, a variety ages, sexual orientations and mediums, The Second Sex creates respect and equality for a gender historically overlooked and underrepresented in the art world. In addition to bringing visibility to local and locally-bred female artists, the exhibit makes a statement and seeks a continual discussion on how to balance the distribution of art produced by artists whose gender and sexual designations have rendered them “lesser” by patriarchal standards.

Judy Chicago’s, “Birth Tear/Tear” serigraph circa 1985 was chosen as a cornerstone of the show. A pioneer of the Feminist Artist Movement, Chicago addresses the power and importance of the women who participated in earlier feminist movements and who have sought change and fought for recognition. Her career, which spans over five decades, endeavors to “reflect on women’s lives, call attention to their roles as artists and alter the conditions under which contemporary art was produced and received.” A co-founder of CalArts Feminist Art Program, Chicago has articulated her vision through, not just her art, but her work as an educator and organizer. Her vision of change was an inspiration for The Second Sex initial concept.
 
Though separate artists, Heidi Sime and Amy Sands share a similar mindset by visually exploring the conventional feminine roles at the dinner table. Sime’s “Dinner Party” is a two-dimensional, patinaed steel-cut table in metallic blue. While employing a medium traditionally thought of as masculine, Sime reclaims it as a tool to define her interpretation of the feminine mystique. Sands’ “Gathering at the Dinner Table” is a mixed media piece highlighting the artist’s mastery of printmaking and drawing. Using the lace tablecloth as symbolism, Sands’ work provides the perfect delicate juxtaposition to Sime’s andric piece.

Photographer Shanna Allyn’s work examines women’s personas through portraits that are awkwardly edgy and surreally provocative, while Carla Alexandra Rodriguez explores analog photography with black and white portraits. Intimate and emotional, Rodriguez expels a peaceful drama such as the one displayed in her piece, “A Metaphor,” which embodies the curator’s emphasis on manifesting balance with a feminine form embracing darkness.

As part of the Guerrilla Girls Twin Cities Takeover, this exhibit exists to challenge the negative designations patriarchy has placed on women with emphasis on the female artist. Through their artwork and through the show’s curative process, The Second Sex sets out to refine the contemporary Feminist Art Movement, its goals and the role art can have in restoring the equality.

Follow Gamut on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for sneak peeks and special announcements leading up to these events.

THE SECOND SEX OPEN HOURS
Special hours opening week:
3-7pm / Tuesday, March 1st - Saturday, March 5th

Regular hours resume through end of exhibit March 19th:
3-7pm / Thursdays & Fridays
1-7pm / Saturdays

http://www.gamutgallerympls.com/
612-293-6497 

Register Now for Free Open Data Code-a-thon Event, Geo:Code 2.0

Via a February 10 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

Register Now for Free Open Data Code-a-thon Event, Geo:Code 2.0

Geo:Code 2.0 will connect civic-minded community members with geographers and technologists to create solutions that improve public services, give residents better access to government data and make a difference in Twin Cities communities. The event is free and open to people with all backgrounds, skills and ideas.

Event details: 

• Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• University of Minnesota Robert H. Bruininks Hall, Room 412
• 222 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis

“Geo:Code 2.0 will provide community members with the opportunity to collaborate on existing projects or jumpstart new ideas that improve the places we live, work and play,” said Hennepin County District 3 Commissioner Marion Greene. “We are excited to partner with organizations from all over the metro.” 

Event organizers want to generate a cross section of coders, cartographers, data visualizers, designers, developers, dreamers, makers, mappers, students and technologists.

“You never know where a project will take you or what skills will be needed,” said event organizer Kelly Clausen. “It does not matter what you do, you have something vital to contribute.”

Come for a few hours or the entire event 

Participants may stop in for a single workshop or stay for the entire two-day event. Space is limited, so organizers ask all attendees to register in advance.

At the end of the event, teams will present their projects. Possible projects include:

• Code an open source project
• Design visuals for public data sets
• Help out with research
• Test a website or solution

At the first code-a-thon event in 2015, participants worked on eight projects, including:

• Guidelines for creating accessible maps online
• App for bikers based on Open Street maps
• Tool to identify vacant lots that would be good candidates for urban farming

Learn more and register for Geo:Code 2.0 at www.hennepin.us/geocode.

This year’s event is hosted by Open Twin Cities, Anoka County, Carver County, the Citizen’s League, city of Minneapolis, city of St. Paul, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs—University of Minnesota, Dakota County, Hennepin County, Metro GIS, MnGeo, Ramsey County, Scott County and Washington County. 

Take Advantage of Free Access to Magna's Gym February 15-20

Here's the perfect opportunity to check out what Magna, 616 S 3rd Street, has to offer. During the week of February 15-20 they are offering free access to their gym, featuring:

• 1200 square feet of open, clean space
• Squat racks
• Battle ropes
• Dumbbells up to 100 lbs.
• Tires
• Plyo boxes
• Bumper plates
• TRX straps
• Rowers, treadmills, ellipticals
• Prowler sled, and more!

To sign up, contact Ali Palm at apalm@magnausa.com or 612-424-6840, or drop in.  They're open Monday-Friday 5am-8pm and Saturdays 8am-1pm.

February 13 - Escape the Cold at the Mill City Farmers Market Inside the Mill City Museum

The Mill City Farmers Market returns to the Mill City Museum February 13 from 10am - 1pm.  Use this handy Vendor Map to help plan your trip.

While you're there, stop by the information booth and ask about renewing your membership or becoming a new member. Memberships are $40 and include $10 in MCFM tokens, weekly market specials, a package of coupons from vendors and sponsors, and a donation to the Market.

What's new in 2016? This year MCFM is offering even more valuable member specials, including MCFM token deals, member appreciation events, and continued dedication to popular programs. Sign up for the MFCM e-newsletters to receive updates on vendor specials, events, and more.

Exclusive Member Specials at the February 13 Market:
 - Ames Farm: Purchase 6 beeswax votives and receive 2 free glass candle - holders
- Bliss Granola: $1 off any gourmet granola or muesli
- Braucher's Sunshine Harvest Farm: $1 off a dozen eggs
- Horner's Corner: $1 off any $10 maple syrup purchase
- Kiss My Cabbage: $1 off select sauerkraut and kimchi
- Martha's Joy: $1 off select pickled vegetables
- Olsen Naturals: $1 off any $10 body care purchase
- Singing Hills Goat Dairy: $1 off when you purchase 2 feta
- Zula Juice: 10% off all organic cold-press juice and juice cleanse purchases
- Sassy Knitwear: 10% off organic and up-cycled women's clothing
- 1 bonus $5 token with the purchase of $40 or more in tokens at the MCFM Info Booth
Just show your 2016 Member Key Tag for all these deals and more!

MCFM welcomes Spark-Y Youth Action Labs to the February 13 Market.  They'll be demonstrating their aquaponic and vermicomposting systems. Find them on the lower level and learn about their organization.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Traditional Minnesota Winters

Article submitted by Robert Crane, Acupuncturist & Herbalist, MAGNA

Here we are, Minneapolitans; it’s that time of year again! The time when the general population is divided into two distinct groups. The first, a veritable petri dish of contagions, struggling to find the time between coughs and sneezes to utter a three-word sentence. The second, protecting themselves from the first, is living life in a near-literal bubble of sterilization with hands coated in a layer of hand sanitizer so thick the it damages the touchscreen on their smartphones. We all know about hand washing and vitamin C, but for many of us that doesn’t seem to be enough. Fortunately, we can turn to other forms of understanding about the body to help protect us from these viruses.

As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), part of my job is to view the body as a contiguous and integrated system. What happens on the outside is directly connected with what happens on the inside, and everything works together keep the body in relative health. That is why, when someone catches one of these seasonally ubiquitous bugs, we look not only for an unwanted external agent, but also for an underlying deficiency that has impaired the body’s ability to protect itself. The two organ systems that are primarily responsible for keeping you healthy year-round are the Spleen and the Lung systems. Sparing you the technical details (which, in TCM terms, sounds decidedly untechnical), the Spleen and Stomach, which are the primary digestive organs from our paradigm, are in charge turning the good food you eat into various essential substances that are responsible for both sustaining and protecting the body. The defensive energy is propelled outward by the Lungs to the outer surface of the body, where external pathogens are said to invade the body. We use acupuncture and TCM to both clear that virus as well as support the internal organs responsible for maintaining healthy immunity.

Between visits to your local acupuncturist, however, there are many options to help your body support its defenses and fend off unwanted bugs. Here’s a short list of Midwestern-mom tips to help you avoid catching one of these tenacious viruses.

Get some sleep!  It’s no secret that your whole body functions better after a good night’s rest, but a healthy 8-hours is especially important during wintertime. One of the primary tenants of TCM is the idea of matching your life with the seasons. During this part of the year, the nights are longer, making 7:00am bear an unnerving resemblance to 2:00am. As such, it is crucial, for both your physical health and your state of mind, that you focus on getting as much sleep as possible right now, even if that means going to bed before the late-night shows air.

Eat your soup!  Research over the last few years continues to reaffirm something that holistic practitioners have understood for ages: The key component of a healthy immune system is a healthy digestive system. When the gut is taxed with overly heavy, sweet, and greasy foods, your body has to work over-time to process the food and little energy is left for the body’s defenses. Hearty broths and soups, with thoroughly cooked root veggies and aromatic spices like ginger, are a good way to give your stomach a break. A good probiotic is another way to support your digestive system and, subsequently, your immunity. If you do start to get sick, adding a little bit of spice to your diet will help to push things out at the surface. Don't go overboard though, too much heat isn’t Spleen-friendly either!

Wear your scarf!  According to Chinese medical theory, the neck and upper back is the area of the body that is most vulnerable to external invasion. This is why one of the first signs of a seasonal cold is stiff and achy shoulders. One of the most important things you can do for yourself during this season is keep this area covered. Whether it is with a scarf, a thick hooded coat, or a bulky sweater, protecting yourself will keep you healthier longer during the winter months. This is particularly important after you have developed any of the initial signs of achey muscles, sore throat, and sneezing. After drinking a big bowl of broth cooked with ginger and scallions, wrap a thick blanket around you, watch a documentary on Netflix, and let your body sweat and push out the illness.

In short, whether you’re a person that is developing sneeze-induced whiplash or you’re the kind that’s downing Emergen-C like you’re at 2-for-1 happy hour, natural remedies like acupuncture and herbal medicine are extremely effective options for the treatment and prevention of seasonal viruses. Most practitioners are willing to do a brief consult with you at no cost, so go find your local acupuncturist and set up an appointment! You’ll be happy you did while you’re handing your coworker a kleenex and turning your dry nose smugly in the air!

Robert Crane L.Ac., Dipl.OM, MAOM
Magna Health and Fitness
616 S 3rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415
rcrane@magnausa.com
www.magnausa.com/acupuncture

City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival - This Weekend!

From a February 4 Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board e-newsletter:

City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival takes place in Minneapolis Parks

Thousands expected to participate in events at the Chain of Lakes, Theodore Wirth Park and The Mall this weekend

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is proud to host the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival this weekend, February 5–7, 2016.

The Loppet events will take place on MPRB cross country ski trails throughout the Chain of Lakes, Theodore Wirth Regional Park, and The Mall in Uptown. These parks and surrounding areas will be buzzing with activity and may make parking and navigating through the area difficult.

Expect road closures on Theodore Wirth and Calhoun parkways from 8 am–4 pm, Friday–Sunday.

Saturday, February 6

Wirth Winter Recreation Area will be open under regular hours. Ski trails from Theodore Wirth Park to Lake of the Isles will be closed to the public during Loppet ski races from 9 am– 4 pm.  Columbia, Gross and Hiawatha golf courses will be open for skiing.

Sunday, February 7

Theodore Wirth Parkway will be closed to traffic from Olson Memorial Highway (Hwy. 55) to the Wirth Chalet from 8:30–10:30 am. Access from Plymouth Avenue and Golden Valley Road will be maintained during that time.
•Ski trails from Theodore Wirth Park to Lake of the Isles will be closed to the public during Loppet ski races from 9 am–4 pm. Columbia, Gross and Hiawatha golf courses will be open for skiing.
•The snowboarding area and tubing hill at Wirth Winter Recreation Area will open at noon instead of 10 am.

For detailed information and a schedule of events, visit The Loppet Foundation’s website at http://www.cityoflakesloppet.com/.