Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
Are efficient, fair elections important to you? You can help protect voters' rights, serve your community, and be paid to do it. The City of Minneapolis is seeking election judges to assist with the
November 5 elections.
Click here for more info or to apply online.
Brenda Langton of Spoonriver and licensed nutritionist, Carolyn Denton, will be joined by additional Center for Spirituality & Healing faculty to teach "Healthy Eating, Healthy Living". Register online.
Celebrate with your favorite gals at neighborhood bars and restaurants this year at the first annual NE Ladies Night Out! Great specials, group photos available, and fabulous “sneak-peek” ideas for the upcoming holiday season.
Special offers available starting 5pm at the following participating neighborhood businesses:
Bone Adventure - Bring your dog and drop while you shop! Complimentary playcare at Bone Adventure from 5:00 to 8:00pm with any $40 purchase at a participating merchant, otherwise just $5 an hour.
Parc Boutique - Featuring a Fall Trunk Show featuring a local clothing designer. Everything in store will be 20% off and we’ll also have drinks & appz.
Look & See Total Eyecare & Stylish Eyewear - Offering $100 off Rx glasses or sunglasses during the event.
Mona Williams – Choose a handmade Ross Sveback soap as our gift with any $100 purchase.
Surdyk’s Liquor and Cheese Shop – 4 for $40 from 5:00pm- 9:00pm so jumpstart your weekend with four (4) bottles of wine from a special selection for just $40. Also, 20% Off ALL Sparkling Wines so come and enjoy Free Chair Massages and complimentary cheese and wine tasting.
The Bibelot – 20% off entire store as a special preview for our “NE customers.” The Anniversary sale at all Bibelot locations will be September 20, 21.(This includes all regular priced merchandise). Don’t forget to stop by for a hibiscus flower tasting and their special drawing for merchandise
Keegan’s – $2.00 any drink.
Pacifier – 20% off Regular Priced Fall Clothing.
The Mill City Running - Offering 15% off of Women’s apparel.
Red Stag – 2 for 1′s on select wine & taps, and rail cocktails, available 5pm-close.
Whitey’s World Famous Saloon – Stop in for a Cosmos for only $2.00
;)
Via a Sept. 17 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:
MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller and newly sworn in Park Police Chief Jason Ohotto
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) recently appointed Jason Ohotto as the new Park Police Chief and was sworn in by Superintendent Jayne Miller in front of full crowd in the Board Room at the MPRB Headquarters on September 11.
In this new position, Chief Ohotto will be responsible for the overall management and direction of all services, functions and operations of the Park Police Department. Additionally he will plan, coordinate and direct year-round, citywide Park Police activities and services to ensure that the mission, goals, policies and priorities of the MPRB are incorporated into the department activities and services.
“As a decorated member of the Minneapolis Park Police Department, Jason has over 17 years of committed experience to protecting our communities and keeping our parks safe,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller. “Jason is a proven leader with a clear vision and a high-level of understanding of what it takes to ensure safe parks, facilities and recreation programs throughout Minneapolis. It is through his hard work and tireless efforts that Jason has been able to establish authentic relationships with park staff, elected officials and community members to solve – and prevent – crime and safety issues in our parks.”
Ohotto first joined the Minneapolis Police Department as a Park Patrol Agent in 1995, serving in that role through 1998. From 1998 through 2004 he served as a Minneapolis Park Police Officer and as a Park Police Sergeant from 2004-2012. In 2012, Ohotto was promoted to Park Police Lieutenant and has served as Captain of the Minneapolis Park Police department since February of this year. Ohotto holds a Master of Public and Non-Profit Administration Degree with a concentration in Law Enforcement Organizations from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. During Ohotto’s career with the Minneapolis Park Police Department he has received the Award of Merit, the Lifesaving Award and twice has received the Medal of Commendation from the Minneapolis Police Department.
“It is my great honor to accept this position and continue my work for the greatest park system in the country. In my view, people are what make Minneapolis parks so special,” said Chief Ohotto. “I truly appreciate all the support I have felt from staff, Commissioners and residents over my career and especially the last six months. Please know that I believe my job is to support the work being done in the field and I am thankful each day that I am able to serve alongside this dedicated staff!”
A lot of people in the neighborhood recognize Michael "MJ" Johnson from Sorella Wine & Spirits. But what you might not know is that he's the Founder of The Minneapolis Beard and Moustache Club.
MJ and a fellow member recently won Gold Medals at The National Beard and Moustache Championships in New Orleans. He won in the Imperial Partial Beard category and Marc McShane won Gold in the Amish Beard category.
MJ also made the top 4 for Best in Show. Check out this video!
September 14 was Sweet Corn Day at the Market. It was celebrated with piles of sweet corn at vendor stands, and corn recipes at the Mill City Cooks demo and Meet Your Veggies booth. Time to start filling the freezer with those sweet little yellow kernels for savoring this winter.
Simply amazing - still no rain, yet the farmers continue to out do themselves each week.
Yoda the squash! :)
Braucher's Sunshine Harvest Farm was one of the Mill City Farmers Market vendors featured in the Minnesota Cooks calendar.
Darrold from Sunrise Flour Mill demonstrates the pizza dough toss:
The Loft and Minnesota Premiere Publications (Southwest Journal, The Journal, and Minnesota Good Age) have teamed up to offer the Loft's Fall Writing Contest.
Last year's winner, Sally Franson, will judge the entries and one winner will receive a $150 Loft gift certificate, $100 in gift certificates to Parasole restaurants, and publication in the Southwest Journal, The Journal, and Minnesota Good Age. Deadline is Thursday, October 3 at 11:59 p.m.
Contest Details: Eclipse
A good portion of the world will experience a total solar eclipse on November 3, 2013. Write a story, 800 words or less, that incorporates an eclipse.
The following parkways will be temporarily closed September 14-15, for these events and designated times:
September 14 – Mill City Suds Run: Historic Main Street Parkway, West River Parkway Plymouth Avenue North to Portland Avenue 10:00am to 2:00pm
September 15 – Minneapolis Bike Tour: Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. All Lake Harriet Parkway All Lake Calhoun Parkway, All Lake Nokomis, All Theodore Wirth Parkway, Webber-Victory Memorial, All West River Parkway/Road, All Lake of the Isles Parkway 7:00am to 2:00pm
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.
The 2013 Minnesota Cheese Festival takes place September 14 and 15 at the MN State Fair Grounds. It is one of the country's largest celebrations of regionally produced cheese and cheese-related products. Look for the following three MCFM Vendors, along with Market Sponsor Organic Valley at this years Festival.
Rochdale Farms was named in honor of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, home to the original consumer cooperative launched in 1844 in England. Rochdale Farms thinks that the pioneers had the right idea, which is why all Rochdale Farms products support local farmers and help local food cooperatives - all part of the effort to grow local communities.
The folks at Shepherd's Way Farms believe in hard work, creativity, respect for the land and animals, and a focus on family and friends. The small, family farm is located 7 miles outside of Northfield, across from the Big Woods State Park. They have a small flock of approximately 200 dairy ewes and is an active part of the local food community.
Singing Hills Goat Dairy is a small artisan goat cheese dairy farm near Nerstrand that produces fresh chevre, feta, curds and yogurt from its on-farm certified cheese plant. Their goat herd can be found on 25 acres of rolling grassland that border Big Woods State Park.
Organic Valley Co-op was created 25 years ago by a handful of farmers from southwestern Wisconsin who shared the belief that a new, sustainable approach to agriculture could help family farms and rural communities survive. Once pioneers of organic agriculture, Organic Valley Co-op is now an established leader, producing only organic products and building a future for sustainable family farming across the country.
NOTE: Tickets are limited - advanced sales only. You can save $2 on an Adult Session ticket by entering code ILOVECHEESE when buying tickets online.
Magna Health and Fitness announced yesterday that construction is complete and their location at 616 South 3rd Street (in the American Trio building) is now open.
With more than 7,400 square feet, their full-service facility is equipped with six treatment rooms, an industrial fitness center, group training, private fitness, meditation and an expansive yoga studio. For more information, call 612-424-6840 or visit the website.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Magna! :)
The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul presents Girl Rising on September 18.
Girl Rising spotlights the stories of nine unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances. Girls like Sokha, an orphan who rises from a life in the garbage dump in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to become a star student and an accomplished dancer; Suma, who writes songs that help her endure forced servitude in Nepal and today crusades to free others; and Ruksana, an Indian “pavement-dweller” whose father sacrifices his own basic needs for his daughter’s dreams.
Event: Mill City Museum's 10th Birthday Party
Date: Saturday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 15
Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Place: Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis MN 55401
Phone: 612-341-7555
Email: mcm@mnhs.org
Website: http://www.millcitymuseum.org/
Mill City Museum Celebrates 10 Years with Free Admission and Programming, Sept. 14 and 15
In 1971, the Washburn A Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places, in 1983 it was designated a National Historic Landmark, and in September 2003 it opened as the newest addition to the Minnesota Historical Society's network of historic sites and museums.
On Sept. 14 and 15, come celebrate Mill City Museum's 10th anniversary and find out why visitors say it's a "must-see" cultural attraction. Admission will be free the entire weekend.
Mill City Museum's 10th Birthday Party runs Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Throughout the weekend families can explore the museum. Mill City Museum describes in compelling, multi-sensory and hands-on ways how industry, nature and people came together to make Minneapolis the "Flour Milling Capital of the World" from 1880 to 1930. The story comes to life through the Water Lab, Baking Lab and Flour Tower, an eight-story elevator ride that enables visitors to experience the powerful, noisy, industrial process that turned wheat into flour. A rooftop observation deck offers sweeping views of the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls, the Stone Arch Bridge and Mill Ruins Park. Mill City Museum also includes a gift shop and café.
Brief history of Mill City Museum
Originally designed by Austrian engineer William de la Barre and declared the world's largest flour mill after its completion in 1880, the structure housing Mill City Museum was nearly destroyed by fire in 1991.
After the City of Minneapolis, working through the Minneapolis Community Development Agency, cleaned up the rubble and fortified the mill's charred walls, the Minnesota Historical Society announced its intention to construct a milling museum and education center within the ruins.
Faced with how to preserve the ruins of this historically significant site while building a modern museum, the Society turned to Thomas Meyer, principal of Minneapolis architectural firm Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. Construction on the museum began in March 2001.
Meyer's design left intact many features of the original mill, including flour bins, milling machinery, the engine house, rail corridor and a wheat house. Ruins of the historic mill are showcased in the 100-by-100 foot open-air courtyard. And limestone, brick, concrete and steel were used within the museum to emphasize its industrial origins.
About the Minnesota Historical Society
This summer explore more than 500 museums statewide with the free Minnesota Museums app, brought to you by the Minnesota Association of Museums and the Minnesota Historical Society. Browse Minnesota museums by name, category or location; create an itinerary, check off museums you've visited and upload favorite museum photos; plus the app will also suggest museums based on geographic location. The Minnesota Museums app is made possible by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008.
The Society’s calendar of events is posted online at events.mnhs.org/calendar. The website also has information about all of the Society’s programs, museums and historic sites.
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history.
There's a drought going on, but you'd never know it when strolling through the September 7 Market, which was overflowing with abundance.
Swede Lake Farm's answer to the "Izzy Scoop"?
A rainbow of purchases from the Market :)
A Mill District neighbor asked us to share this information on an event taking place September 23 at Open Book:
Dear friends,
I want to share a very special event with you.
The Lucas family is a special family and friends of ours. Brian Lucas wrote a book called Here Comes the Sun. This is a true story about a family's journey with leukemia. The story takes place in Minneapolis. Come meet the Lucas family and attend the release and book signing at Open Book on Monday September 23. This is an event you won't want to miss. Pass the word if you know someone who would want to attend.
Monday, September 23
Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm (short program at 7:00pm)
Please use this link to make your reservation, and learn more on this website.
If you can't attend this event, here are future dates:
Birchbark Books
Saturday, September 28
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
2115 W 21st Street
Minneapolis, MN
Common Good Books
Wednesday, October 9
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
65 Western Ave N
St Paul, MN
The August 31 Market was bursting at the seams, and it was a challenge to keep from going completely overboard...again. We were introduced to a new baby food company, Petit Organics, and Triple Crown BBQ Sauce (look for separate posts on the Farmers Market blog later this week). I started stocking up on ingredients that will go into test quick breads for the September 21 Bread Festival. Fun! :)
View our full set of pictures from the August 31 Market on Flickr.
New varieties of dried beans from Yee Xiong:
A discerning little Market shopper. :)
This is what we love to see... Thanks for supporting the Mill City Farmers Market!
We recently attended the sold out "Minneapolis Madams Pub Crawl", a Mill City Museum tour narrated by Penny Petersen, author of Minneapolis Madams: The Lost History of Prostitution on the Riverfront. Hard to imagine it now, but our riverfront neighborhoods were home to three distinct red-light districts from the 1870's to 1910.
The book was about a decade in the making, and once you start taking in all the facts Penny has amassed, you'll understand why. Filled with fascinating details of the city, politics and people from that time period - you'll learn much more than the title suggests. If you can't get enough Minneapolis history, this book is a must for your collection! (There's also a Kindle version available on Amazon.)
Our tour took us to the First Street Red-Light District (on First Street South between Hennepin and Third Avenue South ), the Main Street Red-Light District (on Main Street SE between First Avenue NE and current day Central Avenue), and the Eleventh Avenue Red-Light District (on Second Street South between 10th Avenue South and 12th Avenue South).
Below, nestled within the U shape of the Bridgewater Lofts, this three-story brick building at 212 11th Avenue South is the only standing bordello from the Eleventh Avenue Red-Light District.
You can meet Penny and learn more about her book on September 10 at the Central Library (7:00pm). Registration is required - either online or by calling 612-543-8000. More info.
Via an August 29 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:
The New MPRB ActiveNet Layout
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is excited to announce that the newly redesigned ActiveNet registration and reservation system launched for public use on Thursday, August 29.
Through the input of MPRB staff and ActiveNet users, and the technical talent of the web developers at ActiveNet, you’ll see a new layout that offers:
Click here to search and register for seasonal programs, activities and events, to reserve the perfect Minneapolis park facility for your upcoming picnic, ceremony or gathering, to buy a golf pass, gift cards, and more.
Also, please update your ActiveNet bookmarks to point to this new link: https://minneapolisparks.apm.activecommunities.com/
Questions?
If you have questions or feedback about ActiveNet, please call 612-230-6400 or email active@minneapolisparks.org.
Congratulations to Naomi, Roger, Michael, Chef Patrick and the staff of Sanctuary on the anniversary of their sixth year in the Mill District! It's been our go-to spot for romantic dinners since moving to this neighborhood nearly 4 years ago.
To celebrate, you're invited to enjoy a complimentary refreshing Spritz Capacitor cocktail tonight, August 29, after 7:30pm - no purchase necessary! :)
Via an August 27 e-newsletter from Hennepin Country Library:
“Hidden in Plain View: A Touring Photo Exhibit” will open Sept. 8 and run through Oct. 26 in Cargill Hall Gallery at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall.
The exhibit features work by award-winning local photographers Amy Anderson, Michael Dvorak, Peter Latner and Tom Wik. It captures the beauty, humor and poignancy of our everyday lives in the Midwest and asks viewers to consider what lies behind façades, hidden in plain view.
Cargill Hall Gallery hours are the same as the library’s: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
“Hidden in Plain View: A Touring Photo Exhibit” is organized by MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency) and supported by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
The exhibit is free and stopping at more metro-area libraries November 2013-June 2014. For the tour schedule, see www.melsa.org.
About the artists:
Amy Anderson is an award-winning portrait photographer striving to create truly respectful images of people in the Twin Cities and around the world. Her project “At Risk, With Promise” has been featured in solo and group shows nationwide.
Michael Dvorak is an award-winning photographer based in Minneapolis. He focuses on social documentary, found portraiture and freelance editorial projects. Assignments have taken him across the country and around the world.
Peter Latner is a Minneapolis-based photographer with a longstanding interest in the American landscape. His pictures are in a number of museum and private collections, and he is the recipient of fellowships and grants from the McKnight and Jerome foundations, and the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Tom Wik, a Minneapolis photographer, has spent much of his photographic career recording his native city’s neighborhoods. The recipient of a McKnight Fellowship and Artist Initiative Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, he also works as a building contractor.
Grapes, apples, pears and new varieties of melons arrived at the August 24 Market. We learned about fermented foods and the benefits of probiotics during the Mill City Cooks demo, and shoppers were treated to massages at the Allina Health/Penny George Institute for Health and Healing booth. View our full set of pictures from the August 24 Market on Flickr.
Whoa - you could stuff a pound of hamburger in that pepper!
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 12:15AM