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.
More of the silly photo series - The Adventures of Rocky and Troy. Recently they were checking out the sites from the Endless Bridge of the Guthrie Theater, including the Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls.
During the holiday season each year, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) gathers to remember the victims and survivors of impaired driving crashes. You are invited to attend the ceremony.
Please remind friends and family to plan ahead for a safe and sober ride this holiday season and every day of the year.
Event: MADD Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance & Hope
Date: Sunday, November 22, 2015
Time: Program begins at 3p.m.
Location: The Woman's Club, 410 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
More: If you have lost a loved one due to impaired driving and would like them to be recognized during the memorial, please contact Amee at 651-523-0802 or amee.krogfus@madd.org
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Via a November 19 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:
West River Parkway to reopen by January 1 for winter season
The continued warm and relatively dry weather has benefited construction progress to repair the mudslide which occurred along West River Parkway on June 19, 2014.
Five walls are needed to repair the hillside. Wall three near the hospital and Wall two near the parkway are the most critical to the stability of the slope and are the most challenging to construct.
Eight-four micro-piles, the foundation for Wall three, are drilled and grouted and Veit & Company has begun to pour the concrete cap. Earthwork below the cap and construction of the vertical face of the wall will follow.
The drilling of vertical footings for Wall two has also begun.
As a result, Veit & Company is on track to re-open the parkway and trails at the end of December 2015. Some construction items will remain for the 2016 construction season and will require an additional four to eight weeks of parkway closure in late spring and early summer.
West River Parkway is also affected by the reconstruction of the Franklin Avenue Bridge by Hennepin County. The parkway under the west pier of the bridge will be closed from April-October of 2016 for the bridge deck replacement. Parkway and trail traffic will be detoured.
The MPRB appreciates the public’s patience during this complicated and challenging project.
Via a November 19 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:
New Downtown park designs go on display in December
Please visit one of three open houses scheduled Dec. 3, 8 and 10 to view and comment on designs
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) invites the public to examine and comment on designs for parks and open spaces in downtown Minneapolis at one of the three open houses scheduled in December. These concepts were created after months of listening, careful planning and creative design work.
Stop by any time 6-8 pm to view the concepts created and chat with project staff. The designs for every downtown park will be available at every meeting.
North Area Open House
Thursday, Dec. 3, 6-8 pm
MPRB Headquarters—2117 W. River Road
East Area Open House
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6-8 pm
Elliot Recreation Center—1000 E 14th St.
South Area Open House
Thursday, December 10, 6-8 pm
Loring Community Arts Center—1382 Willow St.
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About this project
The MPRB's Downtown Service Area Master Plan will set the vision for future park and recreation development and improvements in the downtown area. It will establish a new, urban model for service delivery, maintenance, funding and operation of parks in downtown Minneapolis.
This project is part of a joint effort between the MPRB and City of Minneapolis to improve parks and public spaces downtown. The cooperative work done on the MPRB's Downtown Service Area Master Plan and the City of Minneapolis' Downtown Public Realm Framework is known collectively as Pathways To Places: Shaping Downtown Together.
November 18 is GIS Day. GIS Day provides an international forum for users of geographic information systems (GIS) technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.
At a local level, Hennepin County offers many maps and tools for residents and businesses made possible through GIS technology. As part of international GIS Day, Hennepin County invites you to explore maps and applications that can help you access data and information from across Hennepin County.
Natural resources interactive map
Allows users to locate detailed information on vegetative cover, natural resource corridors, soils, wetlands, floodplains, geology, topography and the ecological significance of an area. View the natural resources interactive map.
Transportation map
This map provides county residents and visitors an up-to-date comprehensive picture of what is taking place on roads within its borders. View the transportation map.
GIS open data
The county GIS open data site hosts over forty spatial datasets that are available to residents free of charge and without license agreement. View the GIS open data webpage.
You can also sign-up for email or text message notifications about maps, services and open data from our GIS team. Click here to subscribe.
Via a November 16 Hennepin County e-newsletter:
Hello bike friends —
The League of American Bicyclists has named Hennepin County a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community, the first such distinction for a Minnesota county!
Thank you for your support, advocacy and for biking — you are responsible for much of the activity that earned us Silver status. The League of American Bicyclists takes a holistic approach to evaluate the cycling environment as a whole, not just miles of bikeway (though our 651 miles helps).
Previously, Hennepin County’s highest designation was honorable mention. We're now in elite company — no standalone county in the nation has higher status. Levels from the League of American Bicyclists are bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond and are valid for four years.
Of course, being named Silver does not mean our work is done. Besides adding 20 miles a year to the network, we have a lot of work ahead of us to make biking in the county safe, comfortable and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Today, though, take a moment to pat yourselves on the back for helping to make great progress.
You can read more about Bicycle Friendly Community status and the other communities selected at www.bikeleague.org/community.
Share your stories: #ridehennepin and www.hennepin.us/ridehennepin
For questions about biking in Hennepin County contact:
Kelley Yemen, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
kelley.yemen@hennepin.us or 612-543-1963
Last week we kicked off a silly photo series - The Adventures of Rocky and Troy. Recently they were checking out the sites from the Endless Bridge of the Guthrie Theater. To the West they marveled at the Gold Medal Flour sign.
November 14 was the first indoor Mill City Farmers Market of the 2015-2016 Winter season, and it was packed with very happy people.
I was blown away by the spectacular array of produce available - it was like an autumn market.
Nistler Farms is again taking orders for Christmas trees, which will be available for pick up at the December 12th Market.
Local author B.J. Carpenter signed copies of her cookbook, Come, You Taste, featuring traditional dishes from the Iron Range.
The MCFM continues to promote the Power of Produce program during the winter markets, encouraging kids to try new fruits and vegetables, and get involved with making healthy food shopping choices.
I wonder what this little cutie spent her token on...
Cherry Flowers of Page & Flowers is now offering coffee bag wall art. Those burlap bags are great weed barriers in the garden, but the graphics on some of them just beg to be made into art. Cherry does all the work for you - they're ready to hang.
Jeremy from Cherry Tree House Mushrooms debuted Reishi and Dark Chocolate brownies, along with Smoked Shiitake mushrooms (I used them in a batch of sweet potato soup - yum!)
The goat!
The next indoor Market is Saturday, November 21, 10am - 1pm.
On December 31, 2015 The Piazza on the Mall will officially be decommissioned, making way for the redevelopment of the space for the expansion of Westminster Presbyterian Church and the construction of a new, enhanced plaza, based in large part on the lessons and successes of the Piazza. The Piazza came into being three years ago because of this redevelopment initiative and we are indebted to Westminster for their vision and generosity to the public realm.
Over the last three years its been our privilege to pioneer a number of public space concepts at the Piazza, and to now see these spreading to other spaces in the region, including:
As we close out this 3-year project, The Musicant Group would just like to say: Thank you!
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The Minneapolis Downtown Council in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board recently announced the schedule of events and new look for the 2015 Holidazzle, which will include a downtown Minneapolis skating rink located in Loring Park.
This year’s Holidazzle is free and open to the public, and will take place in Loring Park. Holidazzle will begin the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27 and run Thursdays through Sundays, concluding on Sunday, December 20. Operating hours will be 5-9pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 11am-9pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
The 2015-2016 MacPhail Spotlight Series premiers this Saturday, November 14, with the performance of “Caffeinated Bach”. If you've never attended a Spotlight Series event, you might want to add it to your list of must-sees. Here's a glimpse at what to expect:
Via a November 9 Hennepin County e-newsletter:
Washington Avenue (County Road 152) preliminary work related to reconstruction between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South
Preliminary field investigations
Prior to next year's work on Washington Avenue, crews will be doing preliminary exploratory work. One of the activities, related to utility location identification, will occur this week.
Lane closures this week and weekend
Because of this utility related work, there will be lane closures on Washington Avenue between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South during the week of Monday, November 9.
Crews will be on site starting Tuesday, November 10, and may need to use brief closures to access key areas.
In addition, there will be extended lane closures for more extensive work. These are anticipated to occur:
• Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, November 13
• Between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 14
• Between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 15
This timeline is subject to change due to weather conditions.
Project overview
Hennepin County, in coordination with the City of Minneapolis, is reconstructing Washington Avenue South (County Road 152) between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South.
The project received approval of the preliminary layout from the Minneapolis City Council in 2014. Detail design is in progress and is anticipated to be completed in late 2015. Utility work is anticipated to begin in early 2016 in preparation for full roadway reconstruction later in 2016 and 2017.
For more information:
Nathan Ellingson, project engineer
nathan.ellingson@hennepin.us
612-596-0375
www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/washington-ave-mpls
I was introduced to this line of crazy ceramic critters - Primordials - via Facebook posts by one of our favorite local artists, Alison Price. They're the creation of ceramic artist, Jennifer A Murphy. (You can find Alison's and Jennifer's work at the Tres Leches Art Gallery in the Northrup King Building.)
Initially they didn't appeal to me - I found them to be a bit off-putting. But they slowly grew on me, and I kept thinking of how fun it would be to photograph them around our neighborhood. We picked these two guys up during Art Attack! this weekend. Jenny's Primordials are all one-of-a-kind, with their name etched into a leg. The orange and yellow fellow is Rockea (which doesn't quite roll off the tongue, so we call him Rocky), and the little guy is Troy.
This is the beginning of what I hope will be a long-running silly series - The Adventures of Rocky and Troy. Below, they join us for brunch at Day Block Brewing. Let the fun begin!
The Northeast Farmers Market recently announced their Winter Market will be located in the Solar Arts Building, 711 15th Ave NE. Support local food vendors and artisans during the winter months and celebrate the community spirit of the Market. Expect music, children’s activities, and more. Facebook Event Page Vendor List
Open tours Mondays, 10:00am – Noon
The Food Building, located at 1401 Marshall Street NE in Northeast, started as a conversation about pigs.
Kieran Folliard and Mike Phillips were discussing the absurdity of shipping Minnesota pigs to California for processing and then shipping the salumi back to Minnesota to sell. What if salumi made from Minnesota pigs was made in Minnesota? So they found a building on a desirable corner in the working heart of Northeast Minneapolis, along the Mississippi. The building had more space than Mike needed to make delicious salumi, so Kieran decided to create a space where several expert makers could craft their food.
Enter cheesemaker Rueben Nilsson. Rueben is fired up about making cheese using milk from Minnesota grass-fed cows. So with Kieran’s help, Mike created Red Table Meat Co. and Rueben created The Lone Grazer Creamery. These brands are connected by a “Taste of Place.” Simply put, Minnesota’s distinct seasons and savory characters combine to make one-of-a-kind foods. Their motto is “Farmer Near, Made Here.” Everyone is invited to come see the process – “it’s like a brewery tour, only with food.”
A hopeful addition to Mike and Rueben is baker Steven Horton (former Rustica owner), who is working with the City of Minneapolis to get approval to start a small scale flour mill (using stone for grinding, not steel rollers).
If you didn't receive the 2015-2016 Minneapolis Snow Emergency Brochure in the mail, you can find the information online and subscribe to various update options:
Hotline - By calling the automated 612-348-SNOW hotline, folks can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared. If a Snow Emergency is in effect, the hotline will have information on that day’s parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
In November and December, bring in non-perishable items to the Wilde Roast Cafe and receive a 20% OFF coupon. They will have a big blue barrel to accept food goods for The Food Group (formerly the Emergency Foodshelf Network) and a separate barrel to accept donations for the pet food shelf.
The only thing scary about the final outdoor Market being on October 31 was the weather. The vendors, however, were having fun just the same - like Mother Earth at WEI:
Fred from French Nugget wanted everyone to know (in a Spanish accent) that his character was "Carlos". I have to say, that's the first time I've ever encountered anyone using a voice as their costume.
Kale-osaurus:
Susan Dietrich - the mastermind of Very Prairie treats.
I'll trade you a galette for your brain, how's that sound?
Even a few pets were decked out.
MCFM Executive Director, Martha Archer, and volunteers were fueling the vendors with treats.
October 31 marked the final Mill City Cooks demo for Chef Heather Hartman - aptly dressed as the Swedish Chef from the Muppets. Heather will be devoting her full attention to her personal chef service, Farm to Fork.
Sweet potatoes!
Don't let the name fool you - Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato is really a squash.
A Downton Abbey-style hat designed by Ruth Kinkade of The Abbey. She will have more available at the November 14 indoor Market.
It's never too early to start planning for a 2016 CSA membership!
The goat!
Starting in November, the Mill City Farmers Market moves indoors for their monthly Winter Markets - 10:00am to 1:00pm every second Saturday, November 14 thru April 9 inside the Mill City Museum. Plus there are 3 bonus dates as noted on the below schedule:
Via an October 31 Friends of the Mississippi (FMR) e-newsletter:
Ask most Twin Citians where our nearest national park is and they'll scratch their head and suggest Voyageurs or perhaps the Apostle Islands. But there is only one national park on the entire length of the Mississippi River whose focus is the great river, and that park is right here in the Twin Cities.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016, FMR is making a documentary about our very own national park, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
The film tells the story of the effort to get Congress to designate the park, explores the meaning of this legacy, and stresses the need for continued stewardship and advocacy on the park's behalf.
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"Hidden Grace: Our Mississippi River National Park" (working title) will air on Twin Cities Public Television in spring 2016 and public screenings are planned as well. If you enjoy the trailer above and would like to be invited to the premiere, just let us know!
Advance tickets are now on sale for the annual Sounds Like Home benefit for People Serving People, taking place November 12 at Triple Rock Social Club, 629 Cedar Avenue.
Come and listen to some great music and support homeless children and their families! 100% of your ticket price goes will go directly towards People Serving People’s programming for homeless children and their families, including early childhood education, one-on-one tutoring, employment services, advocacy, teen engagement programs and more. Tickets
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 7:10AM