Day Block Brewing to Host PorktoberFest Block Party on Sunday, September 6

On Sunday September 6th, Day Block Brewing will host PorktoberFest, an end-of-summer block party, from 11am - 10pm. The all-day event will emphasize local food - namely pork selections - as well as several vegetarian options. Enjoy craft beer and a full schedule of live music beginning at 2:00pm. This event will be held in the shared Day Block Brewing/Grumpy’s Bar lot located on the South side of the Day Block Building. Limited free parking will also be available.

Tickets: $10 (includes a $5 food and beverage voucher)

Live Music featuring:
• Hustle Rose
• The Lone Crows
• Moon Grass Trio
• Fairfax, AK
• Frankie Teardrop
• Basement Brew 

Week 17 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

The August 29 Market showed definite signs of autumn.  Mmmmmmmm.  :)

Fingerling potatoes - so cute.

I look forward to sweet corn ice cream from Sonny's every year, and I always have them pack a pint for me to take home.  :)

We got a kick out of this vintage mobile phone at the Tech Dump booth.

Fun kids shirt from Sassy Knitwear.

You know the season is changing when these beauties show up at the Market.

Ginger is really popular!  Dave took this picture at the Stone's Throw Urban Farm booth when the Market opened, and I came by about an hour later and was lucky to get one of the last pieces.

A rainbow of cherry tomatoes.

This watermelon juice from Zula is refreshing straight up, or with a shot of gin. ;)

The goat!

Congratulations to Singing Hills Goat Dairy on taking 1st place for their Goat Farmer cheese in the "Semi-hard, fresh, pressed Goat cheese" category at The Minnesota State Fair. There's some fierce competition out there!

People Serving People Needs Volunteers for the October 10 MN Beer Run

77 Volunteers Needed!    People Serving People is the charitable partner for first annual MN Beer Run, and they need volunteers to help make this fun event a success!   Please sign up for one of 77 volunteer positions available. Come as an individual or as a group!   They have several positions available on Saturday, October 10. Please click on the link below to see the available shifts and positions.   Click Here to learn more about volunteering for the annual MN Beer Run. All volunteers must be 18 years or older. Children 10-17 can volunteer with their parent. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Any questions, contact Mallory Haugen Mallory Haugen | Volunteer & Events Manager mhaugen@peopleservingpeople.org | 612.277.0256   Thank you!

Volunteer for Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts September 15–17

Via an August 28 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Minneapolis Public Works is gearing up to conduct its 9th annual bicyclist and pedestrian count and you can help! Volunteers are needed to count the number of bicyclists and pedestrians at over 100 locations throughout the city. Volunteering means people-watching with a purpose on a beautiful September afternoon from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on one of the count days of your choosing:

•Tuesday, September 15th
•Wednesday, September 16th
•Thursday, September 17th

Minneapolis Public Works conducts bicyclist and pedestrian counts in order to understand the impact of non-motorized traffic on streets, sidewalks and trails. Accurate counts help the City to evaluate existing conditions and inform future plans.

If you’re interested in volunteering please complete the online form which provides more details about volunteer duties.

To learn more about bicyclist and pedestrian counts check out our traffic count page where you will find traffic flow maps, past count reports and other fascinating and useful volunteer-powered data!

Thanks to all of our volunteers. We could not do this without you!

Congratulations to the 6th Annual MDID Greening & Public Realm Awards Winners

MINNEAPOLIS (August 26, 2015) — The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District announced its 6^th Annual Greening & Public Realm Award winners today, a group that includes seven new winners among the 12 categories decided by a public online vote.

Included in the 12 award recipients [full list below] in this year’s categories are first-time winners Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant (Outdoor Café), Spoon & Stable (Streetscape Green Infrastructure), Central Lutheran Church (Streetscape Greening), Kenosha Building (Façade Greening), Aloft Minneapolis (Entryway Greening), 5^th Avenue Lofts & Security Warehouse Lofts (Public Realm Improvement) and Loring Park (Neighborhood).

Also among the winners is Loring Greenway in the Large Green Space category. Loring Greenway has now won in each of the six years the Greening Awards have been presented.

“The variety and quality of downtown green spaces is increasingly evident through our annual Greening Awards initiative,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District. “As we continue to see more new nominees and winners, it shows the level of commitment our community is putting into adding and enhancing green space. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists for helping advance this important goal.”

MDID also announced it received a record-number of online participants in the voting process. Greening Award winners are selected exclusively by the public through an online vote, and this year’s final tally of 1,312 responses eclipsed last year’s number by 400 voters.

The Greening Awards, an MDID initiative since 2010, celebrate outstanding examples of private greening and placemaking happening in Downtown Minneapolis. They are intended to inspire all to work toward making downtown a greener and more vibrant place. MDID’s mission through the Greening Awards is to encourage all downtown businesses to participate in the greening effort.

MDID accepted nominations through an open social media and email submissions campaign throughout July leading up to a July 20 deadline, yielding 35 unique finalists. Submissions were divided into 12 categories based on the nature of the project. Finalist voting began August 10 and concluded August 24.

Winners will receive a commemorative Greening Award created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued.

Here are this year’s results:

Best Large Green Space Activation

·        Target Field Station — 34.4%

·        Government Center Plaza — 30.3%

·        Convention Center Plaza — 27.1%

·        Peavey Plaza — 8.2%

Best Small Green Space Activation

·        Piazza on the Mall – 57.6%

·        IDS Center PARKLOT presented by Bank of America – 42.4%

Best Large Green Space

·        Loring Greenway — 41.9%

·        Loring Park — 31.7%

·        Triangle Park — 19.7%

·        Elliot Park — 6.7%

Best Small Green Space

·        Assisi on 9^th Park — 67.0%

·        Target Plaza – South Entry — 33.0%

Best Outdoor Café

·        Dakota Jazz Club —  52.6%

·        Red Cow — 25.3%

·        8^th Street Grill — 22.1%

Best Streetscape Green Infrastructure

·        Spoon & Stable — 34.5%

·        5^th Avenue Lofts/Security Warehouse Lofts — 29.0%

·        RiverStation Condos — 19.8%

·        American Academy of Neurology — 16.7%

Best Streetscape Greening

·        Central Lutheran Church — 72.3%

·        222 Hennepin — 14.8%

·        The Foundry Home Goods — 12.9%

Best Façade Greening

·        Kenosha Building — 39.6%

·        Fifth Street Towers — 36.2%

·        Seven Event Destination — 14.4%

·        500 S. Washington — 9.8%

Best Entryway Greening

·        Aloft Minneapolis — 47.3%

·        Martin Patrick 3 — 34.7%

·        Cynthia Froid Group — 10.2%

·        Goldberg Bail Bonds — 7.8%

Best Public Realm Improvement

·        5^th Avenue Lofts/Warehouse Lofts — 25.3%

·        Central Lutheran Church —  24.2%

·        IDS Center PARKLOT presented by Bank of America — 16.9%

·        Soccer field at Elliot Park — 14.4%

·        Convention Center Plaza —  8.6%

·        Spoon & Stable — 7.5%

·        The Foundry House Goods — 3.1%

Best Neighborhood Overall

·        Loring Park — 45.4%

·        North Loop — 24.1%

·        Mill District — 22.1%

·        Elliot Park — 8.4%

Best Open Space Green Infrastructure

·        Target Field Station – 56.0%

·        MCTC – 44.0%

For more information on downtown greening, visit www.minneapolisdid.com or follow @MinneapolisDID on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:

Founded in 1955, and one of the oldest central business districts in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership-based entity that works to create, preserve, and enhance a vital and engaging experience for the people who visit, work, shop and live in Downtown Minneapolis. 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 www.downtownmpls.com.

About the Downtown Improvement District:

Founded in early 2009, after more than five years of formative planning and advocacy by the downtown business community, the Minneapolis DID delivers higher levels of service to make downtown cleaner, greener, safer and more vibrant throughout a 120-block area, as is the case with most Business Improvement Districts. For more information, visit www.minneapolisdid.com.

###

Highlights from the Mayor's Proposed 2016 Budget

 

Via an August 26, 2015, e-newsletter from Mayor Betsy Hodges:

Dear Friend,

   Two weeks ago today, I proposed my 2016 budget to the City Council. Last year, during my first budget address, I reflected upon a quote from Vice President Joe Biden that I have used as a guiding principle for many years, “show me your budget and I’ll show you what you value.”

I followed that good advice again. We put together a budget that both reflects and harnesses our values so they guide our growth into the future.

We have entered a time when we are being asked to face and meet the changes of the 21st century. We must not only match, not only meet, but we must precede the challenges these changes create with innovation, vision, and the bone-deep knowledge that to become the city of the future we must be a city that leads and weathers the transition and is in it for the long haul.

Being a 21st-century city means we transform our work to meet the needs of the people and economy of the new century. So, I presented a budget with significant investments in public safety, affordable housing, sustainability, better basics from the city and economic growth.

And we did this all while making significant cuts, strategic budget decisions, and transformative investments which will cause the City portion of taxes to go down for two-thirds of Minneapolis homeowners.

Here are some highlights from my proposed budget:

• $13 million in investments in affordable housing largely spurred by the Mayor’s Cradle to K cabinet’s proposal to focus on housing as a strategy to ensure a healthy start for kids. This includes investments in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $1 million flexible dollars to help create affordable housing options for large families, and targeted rental assistance for families leaving shelters.
• $10 million for the City’s portion of the 10th Avenue bridge rehabilitation.
• $400,000 to accelerate Minneapolis’ conversation of City-owned streetlights to LED technology. The funding will implement approximately 900 LED fixtures which will save about $113,400 a year over their life cycle and pay for itself in three and a half years.
• Raising the sworn compliment of police officers to 862 while funding a recruit class and ongoing community service officer classes.
• Funding for 30 TechHire Initiative scholarships that will provide women and people of color with job training to meet employers growing demand for a workforce educated in technology skills.

More spending investments are listed below if you have the time to read on. You can also read my full speech here.

I cannot conclude without offering my deepest thanks to you. Thanks to your vision. Thanks to your support. Thanks to your desire, like me, to transform Minneapolis into one of the leading global cities of the 21st century.

Sincerely,
 
Mayor Betsy Hodges
City of Minneapolis

Week 16 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

August 22 was Pollinator Day at the Market. The UMN Bee Squad/Bee Lab and Pollinate MN were on hand to share info on their work with interested shoppers.  Regular vendors who can also answer your bee-related questions include Worker B and Ames Farm.

Below, Worker B offers an array of honeys, candles, bees wax, clothing and personal products.  You can also find them in the Northrup King Building.

The Loft Literary Center turns 40 this year and brought their party to the Market. Look for a separate post on The Loft later this week on our Farmers Market blog. 

Valspar has been a super supporter of not only the Market, but other nonprofit organizations in the neighborhood. They brought a lot of fun on Saturday with a booth featuring energetic staff, giveaways for kids and adults, face painting and shopping bags. Look for a separate post on Valspar later this week on our Farmers Market blog. 

The Zestars from Ames Farm arrived this week.

Seven Songs Organic Farm returned with their wonderful ginger.

Wild Run Salmon is back from what I hear was a wild fishing adventure.

I just had to get a picture of this mom - she struck me as the quintessential Market shopper.  Carrying both a MFMC Membership tote and market basket, wearing a pollinator T-shirt and including her son in the shopping experience.  Love it!  :)

Of course Market founder Brenda Langton shops here, too.  Below, we ran into her toting around a watermelon the size of a baby hippo for her Spoonriver restaurant. 

Every wonder what hazel nuts look like when they're growing on the plant?  Well - here you go.

The goat!

NCED's Sip of Science Series Returns September 9

Great news! National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics (NCED) will resume their monthly Sip of Science series on Wednesday, September 9, at the Aster Cafe.  :)

September Sip of Science - Ask me about my mussels! The relationship between sediment and native river mussels in Minnesota

Kelly MacGregor, Macalester College
September 9 5:30 pm
River Room, Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main Street

RSVP for Sip of Science

Native freshwater mussels are an important part of river ecosystems. Individuals can live for more than 50 years, filtering water for nutrients and stabilizing riverbed sediment in some places. However, widespread Kelly MacGregor collecting mussels during a snorkel survey. Photo credit: Macalester Collegehabitat Kelly MacGregor collecting mussels during a snorkel survey. Photo credit: Macalester Collegedestruction, pollution, land-use change and deteriorating water quality can impact mussel populations. Join us as Macalester College professor Kelly MacGregor describes a current collaborative study between Macalester College, the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, and River Life that investigates the impacts of riverbed and suspended sediment on mussel diversity, health and happiness. The most recent portion of the research involved snorkeling four rivers (the Snake River, the Chippewa River, the Cottonwood River, and Le Sueur Rivers) this past summer. Mussel shells and stories will be shared!  

Kelly MacGregor collecting mussels during a snorkel survey. Photo credit: Macalester College 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Kelly MacGregor is a professor and chair of the Geology Department at Macalester College in St. Paul. She has a B.A. in Geology from Williams College, and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from UC Santa Cruz.  She is a geomorphologist with a focus on glacial erosion in alpine landscapes, and has done both numerical modeling of glacial erosion and field work on alpine glaciers in Alaska, British Columbia and Montana. Professor MacGregor is currently working on several projects, including environmental and climate change since the Last Glacial Maximum in Glacier National Park using lake sediments, and the dynamics of sediment transport on the St. Croix and Minnesota Rivers in Minnesota. She and her husband, also a geologist, live in St. Paul with their two kids and a motley crew of pets.

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly.  Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum that puts science in context through storytelling.

No cover; food and drink available for purchase.

RSVP for The Encore August 26 Open House

You're invited to The Encore Open House for an opportunity to preview Penthouse and Townhome layouts, customizable finish packages, as well as learn about the ability to reserve these exclusive units. Light appetizers and drinks will be provided, along with exclusive access to The Encore development and marketing team.  The event is being held from 4:30pm – 6:30pm at The Aloft Hotel – W XYZ Bar. Please RSVP to Leasing@MPLSEncore.com, attendance is limited.

      

MPRB has a Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council Position Opening

Via an August 20 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter:

The MPRB is seeking to fill a vacant community position on the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council. The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council brings together key partners from local government, area businesses, community organizations, non-profits, and residents to build a healthy, local food system.

Learn more

Zen Box Izakaya Ramen Attack! Returns September 27

Zen Box Izakaya's popular Ramen Attack! returns to the Mill City Museum trainshed on Sunday, September 27, 1:00pm - 6:00pm.

Mill City Museum is partnering with Zen Box to celebrate the restaurant’s fourth year anniversary and benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. The event includes ramen tasting featuring Zen Box Chef John Ng and world-renowned ramen chefs, beer, cooking demos by local chefs, music and Japanese cultural performances. Net proceeds from food and beverage sales will benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

CenterPoint Energy to hold an Informational Meeting August 19 at Pizza Luce

Project Status Update            Minneapolis - 4th Street

On Tuesday, September 8th, 2015, CenterPoint Energy is scheduled                             to begin a ten week long natural gas pipeline project from 2nd Avenue N.                       to Marquette Avenue S. along 4th Street in Downtown Minneapolis. For details on how CenterPoint Energy plans to coordinate this                             project, please attend our informational meeting tomorrow,                          Wednesday, August 19 at 3:00 p.m. at Pizza Luce located at                                  119 North 4th Street. Please come with questions to learn more about this upcoming project.               Refreshments will be served!

Week 15 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

August 15 was Immigrant Farmer Day at the Market.  I picked up a beautiful variety of peppers at the Minnesota Food Association/Big River Farms booth.  Big River Farms is a program of Minnesota Food Association (MFA), whose mission is to build a sustainable food system based on social, economic and environmental justice through education, training and partnerships. Currently 13 farms are enrolled in the Big River Farms training program, representing 8 different cultures.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promotes environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world's forests by setting standards for responsible forest management. You can choose responsibly-grown forest products by looking for the FSC logo on wood and paper products. Visitors to their booth got to spin the wheel for a free product, and add their thoughts to the message board on what they love about forests.

Love these new salt bowls from Christy Wetzig Ceramics.

Below, rolling pins from Crookedwood - the tiger maple is my favorite.

A budding photographer - love it! :)

The first pears of the season from Ames Farm - so good!

When you need to get around the Market quickly...

Sameh Wadi of Saffron Restaurant was the guest chef for the Mill City Cooks demo. He prepared an Heirloom Tomato and Melon Salad and also signed copies of his book The New Mediterranean Table.

You might recognize Zero Waste volunteer and MCFM Board Member Kathy Klink. Kathy discussed composting with the cooking demo audience.

Fun soap shapes from Olsen Naturals.

The goat!

Start the Weekend With a DMNA-sponsored Yoga Classes at Gold Medal Park

Week 2 of Yoga at Gold Medal Park saw participation almost double, with 48 neighbors attending. Kudos to Claudia Kittock and Joan Bennett for launching this program.

As I was heading over the Farmers Market Saturday morning I crossed paths with a number of men and women carrying yoga mats and towels and I knew exactly where they heading - to the second of six free yoga classes sponsored by the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) at Gold Medal Park. Attendance doubled over the first week!

While geared towards beginners, all yogis are welcome to these weekly 8:00a Saturday sessions. Please join us next Saturday morning! Plan to arrive 5 - 10 minutes before class to sign in, meet the instructor and get settled in for an hour of "you" time.  :) 

An added bonus to this class is that there's plenty of room to spread out.  Anyone who's been in an overpacked, confined class knows how distracting and uncomfortable it is to worry about touching the person next to you.

CenterPoint Energy Project Status Update for Downtown Minneapolis

MN Limited, LLC. and Michels Corporation, two authorized CenterPoint Energy contractors, will continue installing natural gas pipeline in the following locations:

2nd Street N., from 2nd Avenue N. to 1st Avenue N.:
• Please anticipate intermittent driving lane closures along 2nd Street N. in the areas of construction.
• The parking lane is closed at the southeast corner of 2nd Avenue N. and 2nd Street N.
• The right turn lane is closed from 2nd Avenue N. to 2nd Street N.
• The right turn lane is closed from 2nd Street N. to 1st Avenue N.
• Construction is anticipated to continue through Labor Day, weather permitting.

Near the intersection of 2nd Street N. and Hennepin Avenue:
• One northbound Hennepin Avenue lane is closed at the intersection.
• The east sidewalk and bike lane along Hennepin Avenue is closed.
• Construction is anticipated to continue through Labor Day, weather permitting.

Please visit our website often to receive project updates, traffic alerts and any anticipated road or lane closures.  For further information, please contact Ashley Osteraas at 612-321-5546 or Ashley.Osteraas@centerpointenergy.com. Thank you.

Northern Lights.mn presents Alma Lights Events in August and September at Restaurant Alma

These events are brought to us by Northern Lights.mn, a roving, collaborative, interactive media-oriented arts agency from the Twin Cities for the world. It presents innovative art in the public sphere, both physical and virtual, focusing on artists creatively using technology, both old and new, to engender new relations between audience and artwork and more broadly between citizenry and their built environment.

Aaron Dysart, Alma Lights project proposal. 

Join us on Wednesday, August 19, 6:00 - 7:30pm, for an update of 12 artists' in process work on Alma Lights: Laura Bigger, Aaron Dysart, James Garrett Junior, Jess Hirsch, Ifrah Mansour, Wil Natzel, Molly Reichert + Sean Higgins, Robin Schwartzman, Piotr Szyhalski, Peter Haakon Thompson, JoAnn Verburg

Alma Lights is a temporary arts hub in partnership with Restaurant Alma that will support a range of artist installations at the Alma building (528-530 University Ave SE, Minneapolis) throughout the summer, prior to Alma’s upcoming expansion. Read more about the project, including artists' concepts, here.

Alma lights opens Wednesday, September 16th, 7-11pm with a ticketed pre-opening reception with Restaurant Alma at 5pm. Food and drink will be available for ticket holders.

Other viewing hours: Friday, September 18, 9pm – midnight; Saturday, September 20, noon – 7pm; Sunday, September 21, noon – 5pm.

Want to help out?
Want to be a part of this temporary art space? We need volunteers to help staff Alma Lights during its open viewing hours. Email ady@northern.lights.mn if you're interested.

Franklin Avenue Bridge Construction Update

Visit us at Open Streets this Sunday

The Franklin Avenue Bridge public information team will be at this Sunday's Open Streets Minneapolis event. This is your opportunity to learn more and ask any questions you might have about the project.

The event: Open Streets Minneapolis on Franklin Avenue
The day and time: From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 16
Where we will be: The Franklin Avenue Bridge project will be near 27th Avenue. Look for the big orange Hennepin County public works truck.

More information about the event is available on the Open Streets Minneapolis website.

Project information updates

Cofferdams sealed last weekend
Last Saturday a number of concrete trucks rolled into the construction area, allowing for crews to seal the first two cofferdams in the river. Crews will now temporarily drain the water within the structure and conduct concrete repairs to areas of the bridge piers normally below water level.

Continuing work and ongoing closures
•The contractor is working on a platform to restore concrete below the bridge deck.
•West River Parkway road and trail remain closed at Franklin Avenue Bridge through October 2015. View detour map.
•The Lower East River Parkway trail is closed between the East River Flats (University of Minnesota Boathouse) and Cecil Street while crews restore concrete below the bridge deck.
 
Being safe around the work zone 

Thank you for slowing down and paying attention in work zones. Staying alert and dedicating your full attention to driving keeps you and our crews safe.
 
Contact information
Hotline: 888-474-8929
Email: franklinbridge@hennepin.us
Project website

Sign Up for a Short Volunteer Shift to Help Open Streets Roll into Downtown and Get a Free 2015 Open Streets Mpls T-shirt

Via an August 13 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

For first time in Downtown, Minneapolis residents will have the opportunity to explore and enjoy their neighborhood streets without the presence of motorized traffic. Join us in bringing together local businesses, families and neighbors to bike, walk, socialize, play and shop in a car-free environment on Washington and 1st Avenue, August 23, 2015 11:00am - 5:00pm.

Sign up for a short volunteer shift to help Open Streets roll into Downtown and get a free 2015 Open Streets Mpls t-shirt! At least 80 volunteers are needed to power the inaugural Downtown Open Streets. Volunteers are a crucial part of keeping these events safe and fun. So come be a part of the magic and help transform downtown into a biking and walking oasis! Learn more and sign up for one of the many great volunteer opportunities that support Downtown Open Streets here.

Thanks to all our volunteers that make Open Streets Mpls possible. See you on the Street!

Open Streets is an initiative of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, presented by the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and co-sponsored by the City of Minneapolis.

Open Streets events bring together local businesses, families, and neighbors to bike, walk, socialize, play and shop in their communities in a car-free environment.

Want to Volunteer?
http://www.openstreetsmpls.org/os_general_volunteer

A Successful 2015 Mill District National Night Out Party

Thanks to months of planning and the efforts of a hardworking group of volunteers led by Cynthia Kriha, last week's Mill District National Night Out (NNO) party was a huge success. This year's attendance was estimated at 525.

New this year was a kid's play area, which speaks to the growing number of young families in the neighborhood.

During the party, $438 was raised for People Serving People as part of the Dollar$ for Diaper$ drive.

The Rich Lewis Band provided perfect background music for the event.

And of course, plenty of tasty food and drinks!

Many thanks for all everyone who made the event a success. See you all at the next NNO - August 2, 2016!

Vote For Your Favorite Green Spaces To Win 2015 MDID Greening & Public Realm Awards

MINNEAPOLIS (August 10, 2015) — Help your favorite green spaces in Downtown Minneapolis get recognized through the 6th Annual Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (MDID) Greening & Public Realm Awards.

The Greening Awards, an MDID initiative since 2010, celebrate outstanding examples of greening and placemaking that improve public space in Downtown Minneapolis. Winners are selected by public vote at MinneapolisDID.com/GreeningAwards. The vote will be open Aug. 10 through Aug. 24.
 
This year, 35 unique finalists selected through an interactive public nomination process were divided into 12 categories based on the project’s characteristics and size. Among the finalists selected were 17 new nominees—a sign of the growing diversity of greening in the downtown area—as well as nine past winners. Eight of last year’s 11 winners are nominated again this year, including five-time winners Loring Greenway and Target Plaza South Entry.

“Greening in the public realm is essential to creating a vibrant and thriving downtown. We as a community have put a great emphasis on sustaining and building upon our green spaces in downtown Minneapolis,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District. “The Greening Awards help us celebrate these continued efforts, and we hope residents, employees and visitors alike will vote to help give acknowledgement to these deserving spaces—large and small.”

This year’s vote also includes a new category that focuses on downtown neighborhoods. Greening is an important aspect of every community, and this year’s Greening Awards will acknowledge the area of downtown that has produced the best greening according to the public.

Winners will receive a commemorative Greening Award created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued.

The MDID Greening Awards are intended to inspire all to work toward making downtown greener and more vibrant. The MDID’s mission through the Greening Awards is to encourage all downtown businesses and organizations to participate in the greening effort.

The public is encouraged to vote by visiting  www.MinneapolisDID.com/GreeningAwards and clicking on the interactive vote link. Each category will showcase the finalists along with a photo of each location for easy viewing and identification. This year’s 12 categories include the following finalists:

Small Green Space Activation
·        IDS Center PARKLOT presented by Bank of America*
·        Piazza on the Mall

Small Green Space
·        Assisi on 9th Park
·        Target Plaza South Entry

Large Green Space Activation
·        Convention Center Plaza
·        Government Plaza
·        Peavey Plaza
·        Target Field Station

Large Green Space
·        Elliot Park*
·        Loring Greenway
·        Loring Park*
·        Triangle Park

Façade Greening
·        500 S. Washington*
·        5th Street Towers
·        Kenosha Building
·        Seven Event Destination

Open Space Green Infrastructure
·        MCTC Plaza Rain Garden
·        Target Field Station

Outdoor Café
·        8th Street Grill
·        Dakota Jazz Club
·        Red Cow*

Streetscape Greening
·        222 Hennepin
·        Central Lutheran Church*
·        The Foundry Home Goods*

Streetscape Green Infrastructure
·        5th Avenue Lofts/Security Warehouse*
·        American Academy of Neurology
·        RiverStation Condos*
·        Spoon & Stable*

Entryway Greening
·        Aloft Minneapolis
·        Cynthia Froid Group*
·        Goldberg Bail Bonds*
·        Martin Patrick 3*

Public Realm Improvement
·        5th Avenue Lofts/Security Warehouse Lofts*
·        Central Lutheran Church*
·        Convention Center Plaza
·        IDS Center PARKLOT presented by Bank of America*
·        Soccer Field at Elliot Park*
·        Spoon & Stable*
·        The Foundry Home Goods*

Best Neighborhood
·        Elliot Park*
·        Loring Park*
·        Mill District*
·        North Loop*

*-New Nominee in this category

The public is encouraged to not only vote on a winner for each category but to also celebrate greening on social media year-round. Send your greening photos to @MinneapolisDID on Facebook, Twitter and  Instagram using the hashtag #GreenAwardsMpls.
 
For more information, visit www.minneapolisdid.com/greeningawards or log onto  Facebook, Twitter or  Instagram searching @MinneapolisDID.

About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:
Founded in 1955, and one of the oldest central business districts in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership-based entity that works to create, preserve, and enhance a vital and engaging experience for the people who visit, work, shop and live in Downtown Minneapolis. 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 http://www.downtownmpls.com/.

About the Downtown Improvement District:
Founded in early 2009, after more than five years of formative planning and advocacy by the downtown business community, the Minneapolis DID delivers higher levels of service to make downtown cleaner, greener, safer and more vibrant throughout a 120-block area, as is the case with most Business Improvement Districts. For more information, visit http://www.minneapolisdid.com/.