Thursday Morning Artist Series Moves to MacPhail Center for Music

Thursday Musical Announces 2014-15 Concert Season

Thursday Musical recently announced its 123rd concert season, including the Thursday Morning Artist Series at MacPhail Center for Music and Mount Olive Luthern Church, and Home Programs hosted by select Thursday Musical members throughout the Twin Cities metro area.

To celebrate the start of Thursday Musical’s concert season, there will be free admittance for the Thursday Morning Artist Series opening concert Oct. 9, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. preceded by a reception at 9:30 a.m. The concert will feature two artists in their Thursday Musical debuts, Will Richardson, cello, and Meghann Schmidt, soprano, in addition to the Kennsonn Trio (Jennifer Kennard, flute, Teresa Richardson, cello, and Mary Jo Gothmann, piano). Also performing is Gabriel Quenneville-Belair, a 2014 Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition first place winner in the category of College Piano.

Once again, breaking from the traditional concert experience, the Thursday Morning Artist Series includes two programs that feature Living Concert Notes. MPR announcer Steve Staruch (Jan. 22) and composer Jan Gibert (March 5) will interview performers and offer in-depth commentary on the music being performed.

The Thursday Morning Artist Series also features eight artists in their Thursday Musical debuts.

Oct. 9 – Will Richardson, cello, is an active freelancer in the Twin Cities, and is a member of Il Dolce String Quartet. Mr. Richardson has performed with the Duluth-Superior Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Owensboro Symphony, Marion Philharmonic, and the Richmond Symphony, among others. He was assistant principal cellist of the National Orchestral Institute and attended the Indiana University Summer Music Festival. Richardson maintains a studio at St. Joseph's School of Music in Saint Paul, MN, in addition to previous teaching experience at the College of Saint Benedict and Ramsey International Fine Arts Center in Minneapolis.

Oct. 9 - Meghann Schmidt, soprano, has performed with opera and theater companies such as Theater Latte Da, Skylark Opera, Colorado Lyric Opera, CU Opera and Top Hat Theater, and as guest artist with regional orchestras and choirs. She also participated in several concert series performed throughout Graz and Vienna, Austria. She received a BA from the University of St. Thomas and a MA from the University of Colorado.

Nov. 6 – Peter Arnstein, piano, is a pianist and composer. He has appeared as a pianist and harpsichordist with the Minnesota Orchestra, and has accompanied many members of the Twin Cities’ two main orchestras and college music faculties. A winner of international competitions in both composition and piano, he has toured the Midwest as pianist and composer-in-residence for the Sylmar Chamber Ensemble and currently teaches at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music and the Evergreen School for the Arts in Edina. He has also performed several times at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.

Jan. 22 – Stephanie Thorpe, soprano, is currently a member of the voice faculty in the Department of Music at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Most recently, she performed full-time with the Carnevale di Venezia in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a winner of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Concerto Competition, and of the Nevada District National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards (NATSAA), and a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Stephanie received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Feb. 5 – Rolf Haas, violin, has been described as 'fearless' by the Star Tribune. Most recently, Rolf has appeared performing recitals in Germany, Poland, Spain, London, and Chicago. He has been a featured soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Georgian Ballet (GA), and in concerts with Meadowmount (NY), The International Summer String Academy (Czech Republic), and The Sommer-Akademie at the Mozarteum, (Austria). Haas is a prize winner in competitions held by the Music Teachers National Association and American String Teachers Association.

Feb. 19 – Carrie Ann Krause, soprano, is an educator and performer. Most recently, she has performed as a soprano soloist at Salem Convenant Church, New Brightson, and Roseville Lutheran Church. She is in her tenth year of service to Salem Covenant Church as the children's and youth choral director. She is also a board member for Kodaly Chapter of Minnesota and is actively involved in Kodaly workshops regionally and nationally.

March 5 – Susana Pinto & Pinar Basgoze Piano Duo has been receiving significant acclaims since their debut concert in 2009. Pianist and pedagogue Susana Pinto, a native of Portugal, has been on faculty at MacPhail Center for Music for more than 10 years. Pınar Başgőze, born and raised in Turkey, is currently on faculty at MacPhail Center for Music. She has appeared in the Balkan Music Festival at the University of St. Thomas, the Spotlight Series at MacPhail Center for Music, at Steinway Hall in New York City, and as a guest artist with the Bakken Trio and The Baroque Room ensembles.

March 5 – As a Fulbright scholar in Paris, coloratura soprano Laura Hynesspent six years abroad in France and Germany, performing repertoire ranging from baroque opera with Les Arts Florissants to "classical cabaret" on French television and radio. She has performed lead opera roles, solo recitals, and concerts throughout Europe and the US, including New York's Alice Tully Hall, the Barbican in London, and the Châtelet in Paris. Since moving back to the U.S. in 2010, Laura Hynes has performed as a soloist with the Oratorio Society, Vocal Essence, Skylark Opera, and for the Westminster Forum Series. In addition to performing, she is part of a collaborative direction team for a newly emerging baroque opera company in the Twin Cities and she maintains a private voice and coaching studio in St. Paul.

Among several other returning Thursday Musical performing members, select concerts will also feature winners from the 2014 Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition.

Thursday Musical members on October 30, 2014 and April 23, 2015 will open their homes for the Home Programs. Thursday Musical is unique in its tradition of presenting concerts in the home for an intimate “salon style” concert experience. Home Programs are only available with a season ticket and membership subscription purchase. For a complete listing, visit thursdaymusical.org.

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Individual Tickets and Membership

Annual Membership for the 2014-15 concert season are now available to renewing and new subscribers. Thursday Musical continues its legacy of providing outstanding concert programming at affordable prices. Subscribers can access 12 Thursday Morning Artist Series concerts and 4 Home Programs for under $5 each ($75 general\$65 seniors). (Note: Home Programs are only accessible to members.) Subscriptions can be purchased online, by phone or in person at any Thursday Morning Artist Series concert.

Individual tickets for the Thursday Morning Artist Series can be purchased at the door for $10. All concerts are open seating. For more information, call (612) 333-0313 or visit thursdaymusical.org/membership.

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More Information

Thursday Morning Artist Series Concert Locations:
All concerts at MacPhail Center for Music with the exception of the Dec. 4, 2014 concert date, which is at Mount Olive Lutheran Church. All concerts at 10:30 AM.

MacPhail Center for Music
501 S. 2^nd St, Minneapolis
macphail.org

Week 20 at the Mill City Farmers Market

September 20 at the Market - could it possibly get any better?

The goat!

Absentee Voting Opens September 19

Via a September 18 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09/18/2014

Absentee voting opens September 19

Absentee voting for the 2014 general election begins on Friday, September 19 and runs through Monday, November 3. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.

This year Minnesotans will elect a U.S. senator, U.S. representatives, the governor and a wide variety of state, county, city and school district offices. In Hennepin County, residents will elect three commissioners, the sheriff and the county attorney.

Any eligible voter may vote by absentee ballot for any reason, and absentee ballots can be cast by mail, in person, or by having someone you know pick up and deliver the ballot.

For more information about voting and elections, go to www.hennepin.us/elections or call the Hennepin County at 612-348-5151.

Dickman Park Playground Grand Opening September 25

Via a September 15 Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board e-newsletter:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and MPRB President Liz Wielinski invite you to the official grand opening of the new playground at Dickman Park on Thursday, September 25th. Join us for a brief program at 6:00pm followed by a ribbon cutting, light refreshments, and activities for kids.

The new playground equipment features swings, two play structures for children ages 2-5 and ages 5-12, a seesaw, and a spinning feature. Sand play is provided in a separate circular container formerly used for tether ball. Two benches and a picnic table have been added for parents. The playground is a full replacement of the former play equipment and meets current accessibility and safety guidelines. The MPRB plans to add several new trees around the playground other areas of the park in the spring of 2015.

The concept plan was developed with public input provided through three community meetings and an on-line survey. St Anthony West Neighborhood Organization (STAWNO) helped publicize the three public meetings to plan the playground improvements. This project is funded with $200,000 from the MPRB Neighborhood Park Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
 
Dickman Park is a 2.11 acre neighborhood park located at 636 2nd St. NE, in Minneapolis. Other amenities in the park include an open field, a wading pool, restrooms, basketball court, and a picnic area.
 
MPRB staff look forward to celebrating this new neighborhood play area with you!

Week 19 at the Mill City Farmers Market

September 13 was an eventful day at the Market.  In addition the overwhelming selection of produce, meats, cheeses, canned and dried items, etc., there was the 4th Annual Bread Festival and baking contest, crop art with OHK Grange, Oliver H. Kelley’s Farm introduced kids to farm animals, plus music by the Roe Family Singers and demonstrations by Compatible Technologies International.

A little veggie humor...

Pam from Prairie Hollow Farm continually introduces us to something new.  Saturday, it was this hen-of-the-woods mushroom:

And then she proceded to build a snowman with the puffball mushrooms...

Yes, it's getting to be that time of the year for hats and mittens.  I love my hat from Barn Swallow Garden.

By some odd coincidence, both Ames Farm and Swede Lake Farm had conjoined produce:

The goat!

MPRB “Rolls Out” New Recycling Program and Revamped Park Waste Management System

Via a September 12 Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board e-newsletter:

Beginning this week, visitors to Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board neighborhood and regional parks will notice new trash and recycling receptacles.
 
Gone are the decades-old round green (waste) and blue (recycling) cans. In their place, park patrons will see dark gray plastic carts for waste and blue carts for one-sort recycling. Minneapolis residents will be especially familiar with the new carts, as they are the same as are used by Minneapolis residents at home.

Old:

New:

 
"Sustainability is one of the Park Board's core values, and park patrons have always been good about recycling when the option was available," said Liz Wielinski Commissioner District 1 and Park Board of Commissioners President. "This just makes recycling an even easier choice."
 
All waste carts will be paired with a recycling cart. More carts will be placed in heavily used areas such as playgrounds, basketball courts, wading pools to accommodate higher usage. (The old metal waste and recycling containers are expected to be removed by mid-October.)
 
As part of the City of Minneapolis solid waste and recycling program, park staff will move neighborhood park waste and recycling carts to the curb on specified pick-up days. Just as for Minneapolis residents, most nonhazardous items except for clothes, food, waxed coated cups, Styrofoam and yard waste can go into the single-sort recycling bins. Everything else from plastic to metal to glass is recyclable.

Each year, more than 21 million visits are made to the nationally acclaimed Minneapolis park system, comprised of 251 park properties totaling nearly 6,800 acres of land and water.

Click here for the entire article.

Parkway Closures for September 13 - 14

The following parkways will be temporarily closed September 13 - 14 for these events:

September 13 – Mill City Suds Run 10:00am to 2:00pm  Main Street from 6th Ave to Hennepin Ave – West River Parkway from Portland to Plymouth Ave.
 
September 14 – Minneapolis Bike Tour7:30am to 2:00pm – Grand Rounds, including - West River Parkway –Nokomis Parkway – Minnehaha Parkway – Lake Harriet Parkway – Lake Calhoun Parkway –Cedar Lake Parkway – Theodore Wirth Parkway – Webber-Victory Memorial Parkway – St Anthony Parkway – William Berry Parkway. Each road section will open as the last biker rides through.
 
Please note that the duration of the closures is subject to change based on the event's start and finish times.

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

Hennepin County Board Sets Max Property Tax Levy; Publishes Public Meeting Dates

Via a September 11 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Hennepin County board sets max property tax levy, increase of 2.75 percent.
Increase to owner of median-value home will be $36.

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved a maximum property-tax levy for 2015 of $699.9 million – 2.75 percent higher than the 2014 levy.

“Setting the maximum levy is just the beginning of this process,” said Commissioner Jan Callison, chair of the capital budget and finance committee. “We will have a series of public meetings to hear our residents thoughts on this proposal and to look thoroughly at the budget proposal.”

The impact of the proposed maximum property tax levy, along with the proposed property tax levies for the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, is an approximate increase in property taxes of $36 or 3.8 percent for a median-valued home of $219,600.

Including 2015, Hennepin County’s property tax levy has increased by an average of just 0.19 percent per year over the past four years. Changes in state and federal funding have made the county more reliant on the property tax levy to fund programs.

The board is required by state law to adopt a maximum levy in September. It may later approve a levy that is lower than that maximum, but it cannot set the levy higher than the maximum adopted today.

In November, property owners will receive a notice that shows the impact of the county maximum levy on their property, as well as the impact of taxes proposed by other local units of government, such as cities and school districts.

The board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA), also set a maximum HCHRA property-tax levy of $7 million.

Acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), the board also set the maximum property-tax levy for the HCRRA at $27 million.

The board will conduct an official public meeting to gather public comment about the proposed budget and levies on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. The board also set a public hearing for the county’s 2014-2018 capital improvements budget followed by a hearing on proposed changes to fees for county services on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m.

The proposed Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority levy and budget will be discussed Tuesday, Nov. 4, and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority levy and budget will be discussed Tuesday, Oct. 14– both immediately following the board meeting (which starts at 1:30 p.m.)  and also at the budget meeting Dec. 2.

The final county, Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority budgets and tax levies will be adopted on Tuesday, Dec. 16, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

County Administrator David Hough presented the proposed 2014 Hennepin County budget to the board on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The board will launch a series of budget hearings beginning in October to discuss the budget and gather public input. The meetings can be viewed live on Metro Cable Network/Channel 6 or online at www.hennepin.us/boardmeetings.

All budget meetings are held in the Board Room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. Sixth St. in downtown Minneapolis and are open to the public.

Budget public hearings and meetings:

Thursday, Oct. 9
Public hearing for health budget from 9:30 a.m. to noon

Tuesday, Oct. 14
Public hearing on Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority levy and budge tbeginning at 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 21
Public hearing for operations and library budget from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 23
Public hearing for the county’s 2014-2018 capital improvements budget at 9:30 a.m.
Public hearing on proposed changes to fees for county services at 10 a.m.

Monday, Oct. 27
Public hearing on public works budget from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Upcoming Book Signings with Mill District Author, Judith Borger

Meet Mill District resident and author, Judith Borger, at one of these upcoming book signing events for her latest book, WHO BOMBED THE TRAIN?, the third Skeeter Hughes mystery:

September 27, Noon - 2:00pm at ONCE UPON A CRIME, 604 W 26th Street, Mpls
November 5, 4:30pm - 6:00pm at Totally Criminal Cocktail Hour, The Dock Café, Stillwater

Minneapolis Parks Foundation Names New Executive Director

Via a September 10 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park Foundation:
 
Minneapolis Parks Foundation Names New Executive Director and Director of Individual Giving

Incoming Executive Director Tom Evers brings 20 years of experience guiding philanthropy for parks and youth programs

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. - The Board of Directors of the Minneapolis Park Foundation has selected Tom Evers from Playworks Minnesota and formerly of The Trust for Public Land to lead the organization as its new Executive Director. The Minneapolis Parks Foundation (MPF) is an independent non-profit that seeks to enhance the community’s economic, environmental, civic and cultural health by helping to create the Next Generation of Parks™, including RiverFirst and Water Works.

Evers has focused his career on strategically guiding organizations dedicated to parks, land conservation, and youth development. He will take the helm October 1, from Peg Birk, who has served as Interim Executive Director since March 2014.

Jennifer Downham also joins MPF this month, in the newly created position of Director of Individual Giving.

Read the full release on our blog >>

Barr Engineerin​g Approved to Head West River Parkway Slope Repair

From a September 8 Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board e-newsletter:

At its September 3 meeting, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Board of Commissioners approved a professional services agreement with Barr Engineering to provide design, engineering, and construction oversight for the permanent repair of the landslide along West River Parkway area near 4th Street South.

The parkway and trails at the base of the river bluff were closed in late June after heavy rain caused soil, vegetation and debris from a 100-foot section of the hillside to slip, covering West River Parkway and sliding into the Mississippi River. The slide jeopardized Fairview-University Medical Center equipment and pavement at the top of the bluff, which have been relocated or temporarily stabilized.

As a temporary solution, MPRB and Fairview-University Medical Center contractors have covered the slide area with a fabric casing to minimize rainfall erosion. However, a permanent strategy to restore the bluff has yet to be determined. The section of West River Parkway between 4th St. S. and Franklin Ave. remains closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic because of the instability of the slide zone

Barr Engineering estimates their work will require three months of investigation and engineering. They also recommend avoiding construction in the cold weather months due to frozen ground water and winter temperature fluctuations. Accordingly, permanent slope repair construction is expected to begin in spring of 2015 and last three to four months.

For more information and to sign up for timely email updates visit the West River Parkway slope reconstruction project page.

Week 18 at the Mill City Farmers Market

September 6 brought the much anticipated ginger and a variety of squash to the Market, along with a new mascot - a bold squirrel!  :)

What's in the water at Seed to Seed Farm? That's a serious karalabe!

Jeremy of Cherry Tree House Mushrooms had this Turkey Tail Mushroom on display.  Apparently the Turkey Tail mushroom can help rebuild the immune system in people with a wide range of cancers.

The goat!

And a few more of the squirrel...

MPRB to Host Concert at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park Sat, Sept. 6

Via a September 5 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is hosting a FREE concert to wrap up the end of another successful summer!  Nationally known artist Goapele will be headlining a talented group of performers that will take the stage starting at 4 pm on Saturday, September 6 at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, 420 Main St. SE, Minneapolis. 

With this concert, the Recreation staff of the Park Board will be outreaching to community members and concert attendees, identifying the many wonderful volunteer opportunities within the park system.  We have a goal of growing our volunteer program and expanding programs to enhance the experiences of youth in Minneapolis. 

Do you have talents in mentoring kids on life skills?  Kids need adult mentors to achieve their potential and discover their strengths. 

Can you help provide academic tutoring?  Underachieving students need positive tutors to help get over their academic challenges.

Do you coach?  With more coaches each season, more kids can get individualized sports skill development and have a better overall chance to succeed in their sports endeavors. 

Do you enjoy helping at special events?  Almost all Park Board events could use more volunteers!

Do you have other skills that would benefit the community?  We are always looking to enhance the lives of others through new programs and opportunities.

Consider attending this concert to have a wonderful evening, but also sign up to give back to the city we all love.

September Lineup from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul

September offerings from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul.  :)

September 5 - 11: The One I Love

The highly anticipated debut feature from acclaimed author Charlie McDowell, The One I Love is an original tale that continues to showcase McDowell's keen observations of human relationships with a distinct and comedic voice. The One I Love, written by Justin Lader, was produced by Mel Eslyn and executive produced by Mark Duplass who stars opposite Elisabeth Moss.

September 5 - 11:  Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory

Alive Inside: Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory reveals a remarkable, music-based breakthrough in the therapy and treatment of dementia. Social worker Dan Cohen works with filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett to document the magical benefits of music for those who are left to languish in silence. Including conversations with renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks and musician Bobby McFerrin as well as powerful firsthand experiments, this inspiring film demonstrate how connecting the elderly to the music they love not only combats memory loss but also supplements a broken health-care system often indifferent to interpersonal connections.

September 11: MinnAnimate

 
MinnAnimate is a festival of animation made in Minnesota (and in other places just over the border). It will feature work made by animators ranging in age from second grade to seniors, from professional and student animators, and representing a broad range of animation styles. What all the pieces have in common is imagination.
This year's festival will also include scenes from animation created in public places around the twin cities during the spring and summer.

September 12 - 18: The Starfish Throwers

Worlds apart, a five-star chef, a twelve year-old girl, and a retired school teacher discover how their individual efforts to feed the poor ignite a movement in the fight against hunger. Award-winning chef Narayanan Krishnan, fighting against the caste system in India, quits his job to begin a life of cooking and hand-delivering fresh meals to hundreds of people in his hometown. Katie Stagliano’s planting of a single cabbage seedling when she was nine years old blossoms into Katie’s Krops, a non-profit with 73 gardens dedicated to ending hunger. Retired middle school teacher Mr. Law battles personal health issues as he hand delivers more than a thousand sandwiches nightly to the hungry in Minneapolis. This documentary tells tale of these remarkable individuals and the unexpected challenges they face. Despite being constantly reminded that hunger is far too big for one person to solve, they persevere and see their impact ripple further than their individual actions.

September 16 and 21: Opera on Screen

A unique series featuring recorded performances from some of the world's most spectacular opera companies.

September 19 - 25: THE ZERO THEOREM

 
Set in a future London, THE ZERO THEOREM stars double Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz as Qohen Leth, an eccentric and reclusive computer genius plagued with existential angst.
He lives in isolation in a burnt-out chapel, waiting for a phone call which he is convinced will provide him with answers he has long sought. Qohen works on a mysterious project, delegated to him by Management (Matt Damon), aimed at discovering the purpose of existence - or the lack thereof - once and for all.
But his solitary existence is disturbed by visits from the flirtatious Bainsley (Mélanie Thierry), and Bob (Lucas Hedges), Management’s wunderkind son.
Yet it is only once he experiences the power of love and desire that he is able to understand his very reason for being.

Downtown Families MPLS to Host September 27 Event

Downtown is becoming more family-oriented.  Find out more at this September 27 event hosted by Downtown Families MPLS.

 

Help Select The Winners of the Downtown Greening Awards!

This summer property owners, businesses, employees, residents, and visitors nominated dozens of different properties for the 2014 Summer categories. Each nominated location was evaluated by a panel of greening experts to select the finalists in each category.

Through this survey you will have the opportunity to help select the winners of the 2014 Summer categories by voting for your favorite location in 10 different categories. This survey takes about 5 minutes to complete and your answers are confidential.

Click here to vote.

Zen Box's 2014 Ramen "Massive" Attack! Coming to the Mill City Museum Train Shed September 28

Do you remember the Ramen Attack! block party Zen Box Izakaya held last year? It was an overwhelming success.  This year's event - Ramen "Massive" Attack! - will be held Sunday, September 28, Noon - 6pm.  However, to better accommodate the ramen-crazed crowd, it will be held at the Mill City Museum train shed.

Zen Box Chef John Ng will be joined by these world-class Ramen Chefs:

- Chef Jack Nakamura, Executive Chef at Sun Noodle 'Ramen Lab'
- Chef Mihoko Obunai, Chef at Southbound, Atlanta, GA, also former contestant on network show 'Top Chef'
- Chef Keizo Shimamoto, Chef/Owner at RAMEN.Co NYC & Berg'n, creator of world famous original 'Ramen Burger'

In addition to fantastic food, brews and sake, there will be performances by Crankshaft and The Gear Grinders, SOLID GOLD, Mu Performing Arts Daiko, and Seven Dragons Kempo Karate.

More exciting details coming soon.  We can't wait! :D

Week 17 at the Mill City Farmers Market

August 30 at the Market.  :)

Susan's first apple pie of the season. YUM

People leaving the Market with their arms full - a beautiful sight.

Bacon for the masses.

Now THAT'S a carrot!

This gorgeous wall hanging from ArtAndes will be auctioned at the (sold out) September 7 MCFM Sustainable Soiree.

Apparently there's more to life than fine artisan dark chocolate.  Fred also has a knack for animating driftwood.

Hops!

The goat!  (Nice horn extensions, Nancy.)

Minnesota Opera Residency at Hennepin County Library Kicks Off With September 11 Performance at Central Library

Via an August 26 Press Release from Hennepin County Library:

Minnesota Opera artists are presenting free Opera Viva! performances and educational events at five Hennepin County libraries this fall during a season-long Minnesota Opera Residency at the Library.

The residency begins in September with Opera Viva! Kick-Off Performances by Minnesota Opera Resident Artists at Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall, Thursday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m., and at Ridgedale Library, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m.
 
The residency continues in October with Opera Viva! Opera 101 events at Northeast Library, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m., and at Nokomis Library, Thursday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. Edina Library will host opera stars of tomorrow at Opera Viva! In Recital, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.
 
“Minnesota Opera is thrilled to bring our artists into Hennepin County libraries this season to share the joy, humor and drama of the operatic art form,” said Minnesota Opera Teaching Artist Angie Keeton. “It will be a great opportunity for community members to engage directly with our talented artists and artistic staff.”
 
Opera Viva! events throughout Minnesota Opera’s 2014-2015 season in residence at the Library will teach about opera through song, performance and conversation.
 
Register online at http://www.hclib.org/ or call the library.
 
Watch for more Opera Viva! events in 2015, including interactive children’s programs Through the Eyes and Ears of Mozart and a two-part series about the creation of The Manchurian Candidate, a New Works Initiative opera premiering this spring.
 
Events are funded with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

They are presented in collaboration with Minnesota Opera, one of the nation’s largest and most distinguished opera companies, known for its world-class artistry and innovative productions.
 
Thursday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
Opera Viva! Kick-Off Performance
Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall
Attend a concert of operatic proportions! Opera favorites will be performed by Minnesota Opera Artists and will be a feast for the eyes and ears!
 
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m.
Opera Viva! Kick-Off Performance
Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka
 
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.
Opera Viva! Opera 101
Northeast Library, 2200 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis
No experience necessary! Minnesota Opera teaching artists will present a brief history of opera and a special 2015-16 season preview, with live musical examples.
 
Thursday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m.
Opera Viva! Opera 101
Nokomis Library, 5100 34th Ave. S., Minneapolis
No experience necessary! Minnesota Opera teaching artists will present a brief history of opera and a special 2015-16 season preview, with live musical examples.
 
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Opera Viva! In Recital: Minnesota Opera Resident Artists
Edina Library, 5280 Grandview Square
Enjoy an evening of world-class singing from the opera stars of tomorrow! Members of the Minnesota Opera's Resident Artist Program will present an array of beautiful music from opera to art song.

Volunteer for Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts – September 9-11

Volunteer for Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts – September 9-11 

Minneapolis Public Works is gearing up to conduct its 8^th Annual Bicyclist and Pedestrian Count, and you can help! Volunteers are needed to count the number of bicyclists and pedestrians at several locations around the city. The main days for counting will be September 9-11. All count shifts are from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

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 enable the City to plan and build for bicyclists and pedestrians, while tracking what’s successful and what should be done differently.

If you’re interested in volunteering, register online or contact Simon Blenski at simon.blenski@minneapolismn.gov or 612-616-7345.

To learn more, visit the City's count page to view traffic flow maps and past count reports.