Tickets go on Sale Monday, May 19, for the Mill City Summer Opera presentation of TOSCA!

Mill City Summer Opera returns for its third season in the Mill City Museum’s dramatic Ruin Courtyard with Puccini’s tragic and spellbinding masterpiece, Tosca.  Scheduled for 7:30pm on July 12, 13, 16, 18, 20, and 22.

Artistic Director David Lefkowich and music director Brian DeMaris return to lead another first-rate design team and cast, featuring Mill City favorites Jill Gardner as Tosca and her husband Jake Gardner as the villainous Scarpia. This summer’s production will reunite Ms. Gardner with the exciting tenor Dinyar Vania, reprising the role of Cavaradossi. The two first played the ill-fated lovers opposite one another in an acclaimed 2013 production with Lyric Opera Baltimore.

Ticket information:  http://www.millcitymuseum.org/opera

Northern Spark 2014 - Update #8

Balancing Ground Shares Wisdom in Whispered Voices

Balance is rest
Balance is accomplishment
Balance is a point of departure
Balance is equality between knowing why and knowing how
-Artist Bill Cottman, in an interview with Project Lead Amanda Lovelee for Balancing Ground, 2014.

These words from Bill Cottman (whose project beyond the LOOP will also premier at Northern Spark) and many others speaking about balance will be part of the gently-immersive auditory experience of Balancing Ground, winner of the 2014 Creative City Challenge.

Balancing Ground will be unveiled on June 14 as part of the Opening Ceremony for Northern Spark. The installation's prismatic light and sound elements create a space for contemplating balance, that state of equilibrium that eludes so many of us caught up in the "culture of busy."

The project's large, open structure, suggestive of both a forest and a church, will hold a set of specially-developed seesaws and reclaimed wood benches.  Words and phrases related to balance are triggered as participants play with the physical act of finding balance on the seesaws, while specialized directional speakers play longer fragments of conversations and interviews about balance in tight, narrow beams of sound that can be heard only in specific areas. Balancing Ground is presented by the Minneapolis Convention Center and the Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Program of the City of Minneapolis in collaboration with Northern Lights.mn.

American Craft Council Pays Homage to Kubler and Considers Art and Craft

The American Craft Council celebrates the connection between the makers, the materials, and the enthusiasts whose lives are enriched by unique, handmade works of art. This year ACC is presenting a participatory textile work by Chicago-based artist Andy Hall at Northern Spark.

In Outdoor Activity for George Kubler, Hall invites participants to dye silk fabric with him as he playfully examines Kubler’s notion of useful inventions vs. artistic inventions using the ubiquitous form of the plastic shopping bag.

Over the duration of Northern Spark a large bolt of raw Habotai Silk will be transformed into an array of vibrantly colored painted textiles. The textiles will be steam set, sewn into a series of iconic tote bags, and strung up above the site for display and dispersal.

Hall will collaborate with festival participants to apply dye to the silk using methods that stimulate an awareness of bodily possibility, the physical nature of the materials, the temporal dimensions of process, and the perception of the maker. The assembly line-like installation, beginning with raw material and dispensing vividly colored silk totes, help asks questions about process, material quality, and product.

Tomorrow, May 17: Target Field Station Grand Opening

Join the Target Field Station grand opening celebration Saturday, May 17, from 1 p.m. until game time. Target Field Station a bustling urban park, transit station and neighborhood gathering space. This one-of-a-kind destination will connect approximately 500 trains arriving and departing daily via the METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha LRT), METRO Green Line (Central Corridor LRT) and Northstar Commuter Rail, as well as more than 1,900 daily bus trips, and miles of bike and walking trails.

There will be a ribbon cutting at the station platform followed by a short program emceed by Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin.

Speakers include:

■ U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
■ U.S. Representative Keith Ellison
■ Mike Opat, Hennepin County Board Chair
■ Jim Pohlad, United Properties and Minnesota Twins
■ Dan Griffis, vice president, Experiential Marketing and Alliances, Target
■ Derrell Turner, Federal Highway Administration
■ Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle
■ Minnesota Representative Alice Hausman
■ Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble and Minnesota Representative Frank Hornstein
■ Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh
■ Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges
■ Ed Hunter, Director of Interchange Project Office, Red Hawk Consulting

Peter Cavaluzzi FAIA, Principal at EE&K, a Perkins Eastman company, and lead design architect for Target Field Station, will be available for in-person interviews May 15-18.

Schedule

■ 1 – 1:45 p.m. -- Choo Choo Bob (Amphitheater)
■ 2 – 2:45 p.m. -- Alex Rossi and the Root City Band (Amphitheater)
■ 3 p.m. -- Ribbon cutting ceremony (east side of light rail platform)
■ 3:05 p.m. -- The first train departs from Target Field Station (light rail platform)
■ 3:15 – 4 p.m. -- Speakers – presentation (Amphitheater)
■ 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. -- Gear Daddies (Amphitheater)
■ 5:30 p.m. – game time -- Young Ry (Amphitheater)

Target will offer visitors a chance to take commemorative photos in an old-fashioned train cutout.

Tonight, May 15: Downtown East Redevelopment Project Update at Open Book

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Please join the East Downtown Council, along with the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA), the Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc (EPNi), and the Mill District Neighborhood Association (MDNA) to hear an update on the progress being made on Ryan Companies Downtown East Redevelopment Project.

Guest presenters will include Rick Collins, Mike Ryan, Tony Barranco and Jeremy Jacobs from Ryan Companies. The four-some will provide an update on the following items:

• Status of building demolition, along with future demolition activity;
• Status of preservation of historic "medallions" from Star Tribune 425 Portland Avenue building;
• Construction schedule;
• Status update on Air Rights Development project; and
• Where to look for updates on the project.

AGENDA

1. 6:30 pm - Welcome and introductions by EDC President Dan Collison
2. 6:45 pm - Downtown East redevelopment project update by Ryan Companies
3. 7:30 pm - Q&A moderated by EDC President Dan Collison
4. 8:00 pm - Announcements and Adjournment

*Note: This meeting will be the only Mill District Neighborhood meeting for May. The June meeting will be at the Mill City Museum on the 3rd Monday as usual.

2014 Mill City Live Schedule

Mill City Live returns for its eleventh season with four outdoor concerts on Wednesday evenings in August.

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, "Mill City Live" features four great evenings of outdoor music by top local artists. 

• Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
• Fee: $5 includes concert and museum admission from 4 to 9 p.m., an opportunity to visit Mill City Museum at a significant discount.  Free for Minnesota Historical Society members.  
• In case of rain, Mill City Live goes on indoors! 

August 6th, 6-8pm

Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders

Blues, roots

 

 

 Crankshaft (a.k.a. Alex Larson) has been forging his own brand of high-energy, low-brow, upper Mississippi blues, a new genre of music he likes to call "Pork Neck" since 2008.

 Performing and as the leader of his trio, Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders, fans of Mill City Live can expect a new breed of foot stompin' country blues that appeals to young and old alike.  Crankshaft writes great songs, and sings them with passion. The energy at his live shows is undeniable, and he won't rest until everyone in the room is rockin' and rollin' with him." - Page Burkum, The Cactus Blossums

 

August 13th, 6-8pm            

The Cloak Ox

Indie Rock

 

 

   The Cloak Ox is made up of indie rock vets Andrew Broder and longtime friends and sometimes bandmates Jeremy Ylvisaker, Mark Erickson and Martin Dosh. In 2011 the group topped City Pages new artist Picked to Click list and in 2013 their full length Shoot the Dog made top ten lists by the Star Tribune and City Pages.  “Shoot the Dog is loaded with the nervous, sensory-grinding energy of urban life…and the jaggedy frayed art-rock noodling of bands like Television and latter-day Wilco.”

   -Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

 

August 20th, 6-8pm

Bethany Larson & the Bees Knees

Country, rock

 

 

   Bethany Larson and The Bee's Knees, one of Twin Cities best kept secrets as declared by Twin Cities Metro, brings a preacher’s daughter from Austin, Minn. to the local music scene. In the process of recording her sophomore album she joined forces with the "Bee’s Knees" – her brother Chris Larson on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals, Sara Horishnyk on drums and Sam Johnson on bass.  “…Bethany’s voice has evolved beautifully: as much Ella Fitzgerald and Juliette Greco as Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams. Bethany’s lyrics about love and heartbreak have a worldly sophistication and the band has fleshed out unique and sweet arrangements that both swoon and rock.”  –Adam Levy, The Honeydogs

 

August 27th, 6-8pm      

Actual Wolf

Folk Rock

 

 

  Grand Rapids native Eric Pollard (a.k.a. Actual Wolf) has been the drummer for Retribution Gospel Choir and others. As a singer song-writer, his self-titled full-length debut made the top 10 local releases in the 2013 Star Tribune Critics Tally, and he was named Best Minneapolis Songwriter by City Pages in 2013.

   “Actual Wolf  packages his couplets into arrangements that recall Neil Young's sonic grit and Elton John's soaring glitz. Don't be surprised if experiencing Actual Wolf gets your own eyes a little misty." -City Pages

Public Hearing for Urban Agricultur​e Activity Plan at MPRB May 21

Via a May 12 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Planning Committee will hold a public hearing for the Urban Agriculture activity plan on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the MPRB Headquarters Building, 2117 W. River Rd., Minneapolis. If adopted by the Planning Committee that evening, the activity plan will be forwarded to the full MPRB Board of Commissioners for consideration.

All attending the public hearing will have an opportunity share comments about the plan. If you wish to speak at the hearing, there will be a sign-up sheet located directly outside the board room and you will have until 6:25 PM that evening to sign up to speak. If you require language translation or other accommodations, please call 612-230-6472 at least two business days before the hearing.

The Urban Agriculture activity plan was developed through an extensive community engagement process and contains recommendations related to policy, facility, program, and service improvements to better support urban agriculture activities within the park system.

Activity plans define the MPRB’s service delivery goals for a particular recreation activity city-wide. These plans determine the resources required to successfully achieve plan goals in service to residents and park visitors.

Community outreach and research, trend analysis, program analysis, and infrastructure assessment is used to develop service delivery goals for all MPRB’s Activity Plans. The development of the Urban Agriculture activity plan is supported by the Board of Commissioners and directly linked to the goals of the MPRB Comprehensive Plan.

For more information, please visit the Project Page on the MPRB website.

Week 1 at the 2014 Mill City Farmers Market

It was a glorious opening day at the 2014 Market - thank you Mother Nature!  In addition to reconnecting with our vendor friends from previous years, it was also fun meeting new vendors, including Driftless Organics, Seed to Seed Farm, Sunrise Creative Gourmet, Verdant Tea and Fresh Mud Pottery, and new Market Sponsor, The Wedge Community Co-op. 

Look for new Vendor and Sponsor spotlights in the coming weeks on our Farmers Market blog.

Happy to be back! :D

May 10 Market Album.

Northern Spark 2014 - Update #7

Insects Find a Temporary Home in Hotel Hotel

Hotel Hotel is a poetic exploration of the relationship between living organisms and architecture. This collaboration by Ben Moren, Kate Casanova and Daniel Dean reflects on the transience of life in the city, on temporary abodes, on sentient inhabitants, on occupying and moving through space, and on the interactions that occur in transit. Hotel Hotel’s occupants are species of insects, such as caterpillars, ants, and moths. They inhabit the intensely colored rooms that dramatically contrast their individual colors and movements. In Hotel Hotel, the insects are anthropomorphized yet remain alien. This project inserts these distinct species into the center of an imagined urban interior.

In Hotel Hotel, the projection functions architecturally as virtual space, allowing the viewer to experience scale in an unexpected way. Through the magic of projection, we see these insects populate a building, metaphorically embodying the complexity of peoples, customs, cultures, and individual traits that make up the citizens of contemporary cities.

Asia Ward's Electric Hopscotch Playfully Illuminates Convention Center Plaza

Electric Hopscotch is a glowing electronic twist on the classic jump and skip game. In Electric Hopscotch, the interaction between players is a physical dance of memory, ranging from simple steps to complicated jumps. Instead of chalked squares on the pavement, players position “jump-pads” in any order or direction they prefer. The jump-pads contain electronic memory sensors, outlined with glowing surface-mounted LEDs.  

To play Electric Hopscotch, a person completes a sequence of jumps and skips on the pads from start to finish. The pads remember the sequence of jumps and play back the order by lighting up in sequence. One player at a time—and then whoever wants to accept the challenge can try to replicate your rad jump and skip moves! 

Asia Ward is a Minnesota-based artist and educator whose work ranges from animatronic creatures to large-scale metal sculptures and aluminum dioramas. A past Art(ists) on the Verge fellow, Ward loves to show others how to work with basic circuitry, computer game programming, stop motion animation, and hacked sensors and toys, and has given workshops for all ages at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Murray State University in Kentucky, and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Tomorrow: Opening Day of the 2014 Mill City Farmers Market Season!

Join your neighbors for opening day at the 2014 Mill City Farmers Market!  Celebrate the much awaited spring season, farm-fresh foods, local fine arts and crafts, and honor moms with spring flowers and family friendly activities. 8:00am - 1:00pm

Produce Planner: At the Market this Saturday, you will find: sweet sugar pea shoots, micro greens, herbs, arugula, spinach, carrots, rhubarb, beets, mesclun mix, radishes, starter plants, hanging baskets and patio pots, lots of bedding plants, plenty of SEED STARTS: summer squash, melon/watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and more!

Mini-farm, all day: With furry creatures from Oliver H. Kelley Farm.

Mill City Cooks, 10am: Don’t miss this special kitchen demo with Market Chef Heather Hartman, who will be assisted by her daughter Josephine in honor of Mother’s Day!

Live Music, 11am – 1pm: Daddy Squeeze.

Art Market, All Day: Featuring Fresh Mud, Christy Wetzig, Larissa Loden, and Old World Cabinet.

Community Booth: Budding Farmers. This local nonprofit organization is an innovative enrichment program that connects children with the healthy food found at their local participating Farmers Market or participating Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm! Stop by and see their cool Budding Farmers Fun Books!

Sponsors: Thank you to today’s sponsor Wedge Community Co-op!

Plus, check out these new vendors for 2014:

Chisago Lakes Berry Basket will bring an ambrosial assortment of strawberry varieties come late-June, Driftless Organics adds sunflower and pumpkin seed oil to market's offerings, Seed to Seed Farm brings us locally harvested artichokes, ginger, lemongrass, and more, Seven Songs Organic Farm presents ginger, turmeric, and garlic varieties, Sunrise Creative Gourmet offers fresh, frozen, and dry pastas, Verdant Tea introduces locally brewed kombucha, chai tea, and specialty loose leaf teas, Zula Juice provides ready-to-drink organic cold-pressed juices and cleanses, and Red Table Meat Co. will bring dry-cured pork products to the Market in late-June!

We're also excited to welcome our Mill District neighbor, Julia Timm, of Fresh Mud Pottery as a new art vendor for the 2014 season.  :D

Minnesota Super Bowl Bid Committee Submits Final Bid For Super Bowl LII

Via the Minnesota Vikings' website:

Minneapolis, MN (May 7, 2014) – The Minnesota Super Bowl Bid Committee has submitted its final bid to host Super Bowl LII in 2018. Delivered to all 32 NFL owners on tablets containing a Super Bowl LII app, the bid provides a preview to the final May 20 presentation.

“We have a great story to tell about the state of Minnesota,” said Richard Davis, chief executive officer of U.S. Bank and bid committee co-chair. “Today we delivered that story to all 32 NFL owners and made our best case for bringing Super Bowl LII to our region in 2018. We appreciate the energy and effort that has gone into this process from our community and business leaders to ensure that we submitted an extremely comprehensive and competitive bid.”

The final bid submission follows last month’s preliminary submission and contains details on all aspects of Super Bowl Week – event venue options, transportation and parking, lodging, security procedures, team practice sites and more. Highlights from the bid include:

• More than 180 hotels from throughout the region accounting for over 19,000 hotel rooms.
• 48 different venue options throughout Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Paul identified for potential use during Super Bowl Week.
• Outstanding practice sites for the two competing teams.
• Strong connectivity through a variety of transportation options, including light rail, Park & Ride system, four airports, and eight miles of skyway.
• Integration of winter festivities into a branded celebration with a Super Bowl twist in 2018, including a flagship event at the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
• An NFL Legacy Program that will provide $2 million toward Minnesota charities that enhance the health, wellness and safety of children.

“We submitted a great bid that highlights all we have to offer,” said Doug Baker, chief executive officer of Ecolab and bid committee co-chair. “Our highly engaged community, great event venues, tremendous hospitality infrastructure, world-class transportation and airport facilities, unique skyway system and, of course, our new, best-in-class, iconic stadium are all strengths of our bid.”

“As the host community in 1992, we proposed to the NFL a legacy component that would live on beyond the game and since then has become a major component in Super Bowl bids,” said Marilyn Carlson-Nelson, former chairman and chief executive officer of Carlson Companies and bid committee co-chair. “It’s only fitting that 26 years later we will once again have an opportunity to work with the NFL to carry out a new community legacy that will have a positive impact on Minnesota children.”

NFL owners will vote on the final site for the February 2018 game on Tuesday, May 20. Details for media availability on May 19-20 will be forthcoming.

Watch video

May 15 Joint Community Meeting at Open Book: Downtown East Redevelopment Update

Ryan Companies Downtown East Redevelopment Project Update

Please join the East Downtown Council, along with the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA), the Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc (EPNi), and the Mill District Neighborhood Association (MDNA) to hear an update on the progress being made on Ryan Companies Downtown East Redevelopment Project.

May 15 at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue S, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
 
Guest presenters will include Rick Collins, Mike Ryan, Tony Barranco and Jeremy Jacobs from Ryan Companies. The four-some will provide an update on the following items:
•Status of building demolition, along with future demolition activity;
•Status of preservation of historic "medallions" from Star Tribune 425 Portland Avenue building;
•Construction schedule;
•Status update on Air Rights Development project; and
•Where to look for updates on the project.

AGENDA
6:30pm - Welcome and introductions by EDC President Dan Collison
6:45pm - Downtown East redevelopment project update by Ryan Companies
7:30pm - Q&A moderated by EDC President Dan Collison
8:00pm - Announcements and Adjournment

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a 3rd generation, family-owned national developer, designer, capital investment consultant, builder and real estate manager specializing in fully integrated solutions for 75 years. Key market sectors include: retail, distribution, and health care; and product experience includes work on office, retail, mixed use, hospitality, multi-housing, industrial, medical office building, senior housing, distribution center, public sector, and mission critical facilities.  Ryan serves customers throughout the United States with offices in the NorthCentral, Midwest, Great Lakes, SouthEast, SouthCentral and SouthWest regions. For more information, visit http://www.ryancompanies.com/. 

Godzilla! Minneapolis Exclusive from the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, May 9-15

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul brings you Godzilla: The Japanese Original - 60th Anniversary Restoration, Friday, May 9 - Thursday, May 15.

He's back! After six decades of countless spin-offs, knock-offs, homages, and legions of fans, the "King of the Monsters" returns to the big screen like you've never seen him before. The 60th Anniversary digital restoration is uncensored, uncut, and undubbed; featuring 40 minutes of footage never seen in the US and in the original Japanese language. Behold Godzilla!

Oh no! There goes Tokyo!

Marcy-Holmes Spring Fest

We happened upon the Marcy-Holmes Spring Fest while out for a walk on Saturday.

Today Kicks Off Minneapolis Bike Week: May 4 - 11

Minneapolis is the best bicycling city in the country. It’s time to celebrate – Minneapolis Bike Week, set for May 4 -11, 2014, will be a weeklong celebration dedicated to the joy of riding a bike in Minneapolis and encouraging new riders to ride – to school, to the grocery store, to work or just for fun. The week will be filled with great events and activities for anyone – families, kids, people whose bikes spend too much time in their garages – who wants to explore our beautiful city on their bicycle. Take a ride – the rest of the city will be riding with you!

Theme Days:

• Sunday, May 4: Bike to Parks Day
• Monday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo
• Tuesday, May 6: Nice Ride Day
• Wednesday, May 7: Bike to School Day
• Thursday, May 8: Bike to Work Day
• Friday, May 9: Bike and Ride Day
• Saturday, May 10: Bike to Local Businesses Day
• Sunday, May 11: Family Bike Day

Plus all week: Commuter Pit Stops

Minneapolis Bike Week is being organized by the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition and more than 50 partners, including the City of Minneapolis.

For updates about Minneapolis Bike Week, visit mplsbike.org

WHO BOMBED THE TRAIN? Book Launch Party - May 7 at Bridgewater Lofts

Forty Press is hosting a launch party for WHO BOMBED THE TRAIN?, the third Skeeter Hughes mystery by Mill District resident, Judy Borger.  The event is being held Wednesday, May 7, from 7:00-8:30pm in the Bridgewater Lofts community room, 215 10th Avenue South (metered street parking).

Meet Judy, enjoy a short reading, Q&A, book signing and refreshments.

Electronic copies of WHO BOMBED THE TRAIN? can be downloaded from Amazon.  If you don't use a Kindle, you can read books from Amazon on your iPad or computer by downloading the free Kindle app to your device, buy the book, and it will be delivered to you immediately.

Northern Spark 2014 - Update #6

HOTTEA Pays Homage in Large-Scale Installation

HOTTEA's new work for Northern Spark, La Maroma, is a site-specific installation about the Ayutla River in Mexico as told through stories by his mother. The stories are funny, tragic, and sometimes very sad. "I remember as a child listening to these words of my mother and feeling close to these people," recalls Eric Rieger, who works under the moniker he adopted in earlier years as a graffiti artist.

La Maroma is a temporary, expansive work that will be composed of many thousands of yards of brightly-colored yarn. The completed work will create an illusion of a footbridge spanning the underside of a section of Minneapolis' Third Avenue Bridge.

HOTTEA is a Minneapolis-based artist known locally and nationally for installation work that uses delicate materials to create the illusion of bulk and volume in space.

Just announced: Northern Lights.mn and 89.3 The Current to Host GRRL PRTY at Opening Ceremony

Northern Spark 2014 kicks off at the Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza with a festive Opening Ceremony free for everyone to celebrate. Witness the unveiling of the winner of the Creative City Challenge, Balancing Ground, and help Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges officially open Northern Spark at 9:01 pm. Mu Daiko will energize the crowd beforehand and Minneapolis hip-hop trio GRRL PRTY will carry the energy into the night with a special set as the sun goes down.

No matter where you are at the start of the festival you can help us power up Northern Spark with your limited edition NS2014 Sparker. When the clock rings 9:01 pm, lift your sparker in the air and generate some energy to help spark the night.

Nicollet Mall Concept Design Presentations May 14

Two Bike Plan Open Houses, May 7 and May 8

Via an April 28 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Bike plan open houses hosted by Hennepin County, Three Rivers Park District

Hennepin County and Three Rivers Park District are working together on updating a county-wide bicycle plan that reflects current and growing use of cycling in the region. The organizations have been working since June 2013 to gather input from the community, cities and other stakeholders to add to the draft plan.

The public is welcome to attend two open houses during bike week to learn more about the status of the current plan, help set the priorities for project implementation and the location of the enhanced network, and find out what trends were identified from the last fall’s community input.

Join county and park district staff from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7 at Minnetonka Community Center (at City Hall); or county and City of Minneapolis staff on Thursday, May 8 at Minneapolis Central Library (Doty Board Room).

For more information visit www.hennepin.us/bikeplan.  

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website.

National Park Service announces River Trip Planner

River Trip Planner

Now you can visit your national park without a car. The National Park Service - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is excited to share their long awaited River Trip Planner.

This online resource will help you plan a route anywhere in the park, identify bus, rail lines and the best points of access (river nodes) for 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.

Click here for more information about destinations in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

Get to know Minneapolis native James Hong, in town for Comic Con

Article by Rachel Kahn, MCT Contributor

James Hong is a true testament to the power of following dreams.  His heart of gold shines through his voice and, oh my goodness, he is funny. And guess what? He is returning to his hometown of Minneapolis to reconnect with his roots and make us all laugh at Comic Con, taking place May 2nd - 4th at the Convention Center.

You know James! He entertained you in Kung Fu Panda, Balls of Fury, Big Trouble in Little China, Blade Runner, Mulan, Seinfeld, and hundreds of others television and movie credits. Check out this impressive list.

Additionally, as one of the founding members of the East West Players, an organization created to lend a voice to Asian actors, he describes the vital goal of casting empowered roles to the American Asian acting community. James speaks with a kind humbleness when describing his dedication to the work and the steps yet to be taken.

The son of Chinese immigrants, James was born in Minneapolis in 1929 and describes growing up on 3rd Avenue in the then Chinatown of the Twin Cities. The area he remembers of his youth is long since gone, replaced by high-rise buildings and a parking ramp, yet his Minnesota spirit remains proudly in tact. James told me stories of the laundry men of his era that would join his family in camaraderie each weekend; allowing for connection in a native language far removed from their original homes.

James and his family attended Westminster Presbyterian, a stunning cathedral that still stands today on Marquette and 12^th. He speaks with gratitude about the lovely members of his childhood church. James’ parents built a proud life for their seven children, promoting education and hard work. One of his first jobs was as the self–proclaimed ‘pastry boy’ at the Minneapolis landmark Nankin. Or as I would suggest, pie and pastry cutter extraordinaire? He laughingly tells me about the crabby chefs. Of course, I ask him if that was inspiration for his many roles over the years. He cheerfully agrees and describes his fun with the director and cast when playing Bruce the maître d' on Seinfeld’s Chinese restaurant episode.

As life is full of the many turns that create our journey, James was attending the University of Minnesota studying Civil Engineering when he was called to serve in the Korean War. After returning to Minnesota, he resumed school and quite outside his “good boy engineer” reputation began taking steps towards his secret dream of becoming an actor and comedian. He joined forces with his long time friend Don Parker and named their new duo act, Hong and Parker. James and Don set out on a true adventure of driving to San Francisco and Los Angeles knocking on every door.  James’ dedication paid off and he landed his first job on the Groucho Marx show in 1954. He finished his education at USC and speaks a bit mournfully of having to not only transfer all his credits, but also having to give up the 50 yard line University of Minnesota seats given to Seniors during that time.

We, of course, before concluding had to speak of food! What would a Mill City Times LoveSelf article be without making mention of health and culinary delights? My, Minnesota obvious, first question was to ask James if he had tried Lutefisk. He had not! Although, the topic inspired the best Swedish accent I have ever heard and quite a story about the Minnesota version of Chow Mein. I laughed until tears ran down my face. For those heritage Minnesotans if you are going to convince James to try this Minnesota famous food, be sure to lower the salt for the healthy guy. And because James is a brilliant man after my own heart, he takes great care of himself. No MSG for us, we happily mention when chatting about future dinner options. 

James is continuing an adventure started many years ago; reaching new heights with his next film Kung Fu Panda III, a Big Trouble in Little China comic book, and several incredible new movie scripts (stay tuned!). I speak on behalf of Minnesota, when we warmly welcome this gentle scholar with a huge personality. Welcome Home James! We are happy to see you. 

You can find James on Facebook or at http://www.jameshongfilms.com/.

James Hong in Kung Foo Panda:

- - - - -

You can reach Rachel at rachel@loveself.org, www.loveselfmagazine.com