MPRB's 2012 Picture a Park Photo Contest Award Winners Announced

Via an October 4 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Picture a Park Photo Contest Award Winners Announced
Images selected from more than 300 entries

Sixteen images that capture the unique sights and scenes of Minneapolis parks were announced as winners of the third annual Picture a Park Photo Contestduring the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) Wednesday meeting. Sponsored by the MPRB, People for Parks and National Camera Exchange, the contest aims to highlight the beauty, events and fun throughout Minneapolis parks.

Award-winning images are currently on display at www.minneapolisparks.org and will soon be featured on a poster, which will be displayed in recreation centers throughout Minneapolis in 2013. Judges selected the winners from more than 300 entries.

Winning images include “Evening at the Lake” (left) taken by Larry Risser of Minneapolis, who received the Gold Best of Show award in the Adult Division.

The contest, open to amateurs of all ages, encourages photographers to take photos for submission to the categories of beauty, fun and events in Minneapolis parks. Contest prizes include photo enlargements, calendars featuring winning images, MPRB Annual Parking Permits and passes to the Wirth Winter Recreation Area or Jim Lupient Water Park.

Photographers are urged to keep taking photos for submission to the 2013 photo contest, with entries accepted beginning this spring. More information about the contest will be available at www.minneapolisparks.org after January 1, 2013.

Minneapolis Elections Office Reminds You: Pre-register by October 16 for the November 6 General Election

New to the neighborhood? The Minneapolis Elections Office reminds you to plan ahead and pre-register for the November 6 General Election.

Pre-register to vote by 5:00pm October 16:

·   Print, complete and sign a Voter Registration Application.
·   Deliver or mail it to your local election office.
·   You will receive a postcard telling you where to vote.
·   You will save time at the polls.
 
Use these tools at the MN Secretary of State website to:
·   Check Your Registration.
·   Check Your Absentee Ballot.
·   Find Your Polling Place – map and photo, Sample Ballot, information on candidates & ballot questions.
 
Questions?

In Minneapolis, email judy.schwartau@minneapolismn.gov
Judy Schwartau, CERA, Election Specialist, City of Minneapolis Elections

Minneapolis Rated 'Gold' as a Walk Friendly Community

Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program developed to encourage towns and cities across the U.S. to establish or recommit to a high priority for supporting safer walking environments.

The WFC program will recognize communities that are working to improve a wide range of conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access, and comfort.

They designated Minneapolis as a Gold-level community due to the city's excellent planning policies, high level of staff commitment to pedestrian safety, and pedestrian campaigns and events.

Week 21 at the Mill City Farmers Market

September 29 was a picture perfect day for Oktoberfest.  :)

Volunteers Needed for October 10 Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST

From a September 26 Third Ward e-newsletter:

Greetings!  We need volunteers to help with the 2012 Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST.

We are searching for people that are willing to help and be a part of this great event!  Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST is on Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 at Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St, Minneapolis from 5:30-9:00 PM.

We are looking for volunteers to help at the sign-in tables.  Vendor Set up from 1:00-5:00pm.  General Public Sign-In from 4:00pm-8:00pm.  

If you would like to volunteer at the Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST, please contact Diane Hofstede's office at 612-673-2203 or email diane.hofstede@minneapolismn.gov with your name and contact information.

Please let us know if you are able to help, we cannot do this without you!

Thank you, 

Diane Hofstede
Minneapolis City Council-3rd Ward
350 South 5th StreetRoom 307Minneapolis, MN 55415-1383
Diane.Hofstede@minneapolismn.gov
612-673-2203

Tonight - 2012 Twin Cities Black Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theater (4 days)

Now celebrating its 10th year, the 2012 Twin Cities Black Film Festival promises to bring the excitement of independent film to a whole new level.

This year the Twin Cities Black Film Festival is hosted and sponsored by The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul and will showcase cinemas' most provocative work at the St. Anthony Main Theater, September 27-30.

For the full lineup click on the Press Release link below, or visit the web page link below:

Twin Cities Black Film Festival Press Release

Twin Cities Black Film Festival web page

Twin Cities Black Film Festival official site

Final Free 'Boot Camp in the City' is Saturday, September 29, at Gold Medal Park

The FORTÉ staff would like to remind you that their final complimentary 'Boot Camp in the City' this coming Saturday morning, September 29, at 9:30am.  It's an outdoor class at Gold Medal Park, and open to anyone - so please feel free to being as many guests as you want.

Vikings and "The Purple Path" Both Rack Up a Big Win

The Vikings weren't the only success story this past Sunday.  Mayor Rybak's 'railgating" idea for a game day food truck line up along 5th Street  - a.k.a. The Purple Path - turned out to be a big winner, too.

We walked over around 11:00am, and the sidewalks were packed with both fans on their way to the game, as well as downtown residents looking for a tasty snack on a gorgeous Sunday morning.  (We ran into neighbors from The Bridgewater, Zenith and Stone Arch Lofts.)  Several vendors said it was so busy they ran out of product, and I was lucky enough to get the last Lobster Roll from the Smack Shack.

Week 20 at the Mill City Farmers Market

There was an impressive turnout for MCFM's 2nd Annual Bread Contest, which took place during the September 22 Market.  Sadly, my Garden Harvest Bread was not a winner, but it sure was fun checking out all the entries. There's a lot of talented bakers out there! :)

MCFM's Second Annual Bread Festival is This Saturday!

Here's a fun opportunity to show off your favorite bread creation :)

Mill City Farmers Market, Mill City Museum, and Gold Medal® Flour are teaming up again to create an exciting celebration of bread-baking in America! This event will be the second annual event spotlighting the healthy goodness and nourishment of bread-baking.   

2012 Bread Contest

sponsored by Gold Medal® Flour

Enter your home-baked bread

Second annual bread-baking contest!

Enter in the Quick Bread or Yeast Bread categories
and have your goodies judged by a panel of experts.

To pre-register and get more info follow this link.

Living Social Offer for Local D'Lish Cooking Classes

Have you been thinking about how fun it would be to take a cooking class at Local D'Lish, 208 North 1st Street, but just haven't gotten around to registering?  Well, here's a little nudge to get you going!  Per a recent e-newsletter, they'll be running a promotional offer through Living Social on September 24, 25, and 26.  Buy coupons on the Living Social website, and then choose the class(es) on Local D'Lish's website. 

So many classes to choose from, and it's a nice gift idea, too.  Yum :)

Audition September 22 for the October 10 NeighborhoodFest on Nicollet Island

The Third Ward Neighborhood Fest! takes place October 10 from 5:30pm-9:30pm at the  Nicollet Island Pavilion. 

There will be exhibits featuring businesses, restaurants, services, neighborhood groups, local talent, city and county projects, and new developments in the community.

You can earn a spot in the talent show by auditioning on September 22 at the MPRB headquarters.

Week 19 at the Mill City Farmers Market

Kare 11 joined a throng of happy shoppers at the September 15 Market.

Fall Fashions Have Arrived at Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes recently held a Fall Fashion event at their 1026 Washington Avenue South location, complete with models, wine, music, jewelry and of course a lovely array of fun styles just in time for the new season.

West River Parkway Closure for September 16 Minneapolis Bike Tour

Time: 7:00am - 2:00pm

According to the MPRB's site, West River Parkway will be closed on Sunday, September 16, for the Minneapolis Bike Tour.

Parkways will open up after the last rider has finished riding the parkway - for more information about the route, please visit www.minneapolisbiketour.com.

A complete list of parkway closures through December 2012 is available online.

Tonight - Open House at Blast Blow Dry Bar

Time:  5:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Blast Blow Dry Bar, 940 Washington Avenue South

We are thrilled to join your community! Please gather in celebration at our new Aloft Minneapolis location for cocktails and appetizers.

There will be blowout looks to view and drawings for amazing blast products.

Deadline to Complete Survey for Downtown 2025 Plan is September 17

As part of the Downtown Council’s Downtown 2025 Plan, significant improvements in downtown’s public realm are envisioned.   The Downtown Council is seeking input from those of us who live, work and play downtown about the future of its public spaces.

A group of civic and business leaders want your input on what the priorities should be for Downtown's public spaces.   If you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes to complete this survey to make your voice heard.   The link will be live until Tuesday, September 18. 

Week 18 at the Mill City Farmers Market

The first thing that jumped out at me at the September 8 Market was a huge wicker basket of edamame at Swede Lake Farms.  Another new item at the Market this week was a mini Gherkin from Page & Flowers.  Here's a YouTube video about them (or something extremely similar - Cherry didn't specifically refer to them as Mexican Gherkins).

Also, take a moment to read Laura Frerichs' sweet "My Love Letter to the Mill City Farmers Market", which received Honorable Mention in the Farmers Market Coalition 2012 Farmers Market Inspiration Awards. Laura and her husband Adam Cullip own Loon Organics.

Central Library's Special Collection​s Documentar​y to Premiere on TPT

From a September 6 Hennepin County Library News Release:

HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY’S JAMES K. HOSMER SPECIAL COLLECTIONSTO BE EXPLORED IN TPT DOCUMENTARY PREMIERING SEPTEMBER 16

Hennepin County Library’s James K. Hosmer Special Collections may be a hidden gem to many library patrons, but its wealth of information has been discovered by many authors and other serious researchers at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. You can learn all about the Library’s Special Collections when tpt premieres a new documentary, “Treasures Collected, Treasures Shared” at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16 on tpt MN. The 27-minute documentary will be rebroadcast on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on tpt MN, and at noon on tpt LIFE.  

The documentary is a collaboration between Hennepin County Library and tpt and was funded by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Interviews with staff and five local researchers offer a glimpse of the tens of thousands of resources available in the Library’s Special Collections, which is located on the fourth floor of Minneapolis Central Library. They include books, photographs, videos, DVDs, sound recordings, oral histories, news clippings, annual reports, yearbooks, pamphlets, government documents, programs, catalogs, postcards, flyers, advertisements, maps, posters, and drawings. 

Because of the huge scope of the collection, librarian Ted Hathaway, Special Collections manager, said it’s difficult to describe it in just a few words. “We have so many different kinds of resources here that people use for many different reasons,” he said. Librarians are available to help patrons find what they need.

Penny Petersen, historian and researcher at Hess Roise Historical Consultants; Dan Chouinard, musician and storyteller, Minnesota Public Radio; Joyce Wisdom, executive director of the Lake Street Council; Linda James, librarian, researcher, and producer of tpt’s “Lost Twin Cities” series; and Chris and Rushika Hage, authors of “Nicollet Island: History and Architecture,” discuss how using the Library’s Special Collections has enhanced their knowledge and understanding of history to share with others — in books, on the radio and on television, and when creating historic walking tours.

“My first trip to Special Collections was two years ago as I was writing a show for the Minnesota Historical Society about the construction of I-94 between the downtowns and the impact it had on neighborhoods and land along the route,” Chouinard said. “I was guided to boxes of newspaper articles from the 1950s and 1960s and cartoon brochures selling the freeway idea to Twin Cities residents — ‘The Automobile Is Here to Stay. What’s the Answer? FREEWAYS!’ It was a fascinating look at what regular folk were reading in the daily papers and getting in their mailboxes, and much of what I found wound up in my script and on the screen.”

“I’ve made use of Special Collections for three writing projects now, with at least another two on deck,” he continued. “I know I’ve barely scratched the surface and I’m looking forward to making use of the tremendous staff expertise and the vast content, especially the World War II collections which I’ll be using in a show for MPR in January.”

Hathaway invites the public to visit the Library’s Special Collections to pursue their interests, whether researching World War II, writing Wikipedia articles, or undertaking any of the many other types of research that patrons do.

DVD copies of the documentary will be added to Hennepin County Library’s collection and will be available for checkout at Minneapolis Central Library and other libraries after the documentary airs on tpt.

Additional short videos produced by tpt about the Library’s Special Collections, including the Kittleson World War II Collection and house history resources, will be posted on Hennepin County Library’s YouTube and Vimeo channels. 

For more information about the Library’s Special Collections, contact librarian Ted Hathaway at 612-543-8200 or go to http://www.hclib.org/pub/search/specialcollections/.

Check the website for updates.

"Possible" Road Closures for September 8 Mill City Suds Run 5K

Time: 6:00am - Noon (check website, these times can change)

According to the MPRB's site, the following parkways will be temporarily closed on Saturday, September 8, for the 10:00am Mill City Suds Run 5K:  West River Parkway and Stone Arch Bridge.

HOWEVER, I checked the course info, and it shows the route as being on the East bank - Starting at Father Hennepin Park, utilizing Main Street, looping around and returning thru Boom Island and Nicollet Island, then back to Father Hennepin Park via Main Street.

Either way - just be aware there's a race Saturday morning that may affect what route you take to get where you need to go! (Like the Mill City Farmers Market, for example.)

A complete list of parkway closures through December 2012 is available online.