Week 5 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

June 9th's Market theme was Brain Food.  Market shoppers swarmed The American Academy of Neurology tent for complimentary bike helmets and water bottles.

American Academy of Neurology Bike Helmet Giveaway at June 9 Mill City Farmers Market

Look for our newest Mill District neighbor, the American Academy of Neurology, at Saturday's Mill City Farmers Market.

Minneapolis Marathon in and Around Our Neighborhood

The 2012 Minneapolis Marathon runners took off from The Depot at 6:30a Sunday, and finished up at the gorgeous riverside setting of Bohemian Flats.  Know someone who ran? Visit the website for race results.

Also see Amelia Rayno's Star Trib online article regarding the growing popularity of races in the Twin Cities. 

Week 4 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

After last week's rain out, things were back to normal at the June 2 market.  Brenda Langton shared the exciting news that Discovery Channel Canada was at the market shooting footage for a special featuring the highlights Minneapolis.  In addition to MCFM, Spoonriver will be the only Minneapolis restaurant included in the special.  We'll share details as they become available.

Below, Darrold from Sunrise Flour Mill demonstrated how to toss their new pizza dough.

Free Summer Programs From Hennepin County Library

Looking to learn and grow while having fun this summer? Hennepin County Library is collaborating with many community organizations and businesses, including The Guthrie, Institute for Arts, MacPhail Center for Music, Bakken Museum, Three Rivers Park District and many others, to present hundreds of free, enriching arts and cultural programs for kids, teens, and adults that begin in June.

Here are a few examples:

The Guthrie Theater will present more than two dozen workshops for children, teens, and adults as part of the Library’s “Act Out” series. Teen arts educators trained by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts will teach two dozen “Art Out of the Box” workshops for kids.
 
MacPhail Center for Music early childhood music specialists will lead hands-on music activities for young children at seven libraries.

I learned about this program through the Hennepin County Library's newsroom.  Click here for the full article.

Summer Camps at MacPhail Center for Music Begin June 11

Join MacPhail Center for Music this summer at one of the many camps being offered for ages 3 – adult.  It’s not too late to sign up for the following camps:

 • Early Childhood Music Camps: Animals on Parade for ages 4-6, June 11-15;  Music Around the World (Minneapolis and Apple Valley) for ages kindergarten – first grade, June 11-15, Apple Valley and June 18-22, Minneapolis; Make and Play Those Instruments (NEW) for ages 4-6, June 18-21, Silverwood Park, June 25-28, Apple Valley and July 16-19, White Bear Lake. 

• Mallet Keyboard Camp for ages 14-18, June 18-22

• Percussion Camp for ages 11-14, July 9-13

• Composing for Video Games for ages 13-18, June 25-20

For more information or to register go to: http://www.macphail.org/ or call 612-321-0100.

Starting Friday, June 1: The Plaza on Nicollet

Starting this Friday, June 1, The Musicant Group brings us another way to enjoy downtown life: The Plaza on Nicollet.

Twin Cities River Rats First Show of 2012 Season is Thursday, May 31

The 2012 Twin Cities River Rats season kicks off Thursday, May 31.  Shows are scheduled for 7pm Thursday nights through August 30, and take place at 1628 West River Road (between the Plymouth and Broadway).

The Twin Cities Rivers Rats describe their show as an aquatic Broadway musical featuring multiple water ski acts choreographed to music and built around a theme.

If you haven't already enjoyed a River Rats show, their website is loaded with fun videos to give you an idea of what to expect.  These are free events.

President Obama to Attend Fundraiser at The Bachelor Farmer on Friday

Via a May 26 article in the Star Tribune, President Obama will be in the Cities this Friday, and The Bachelor Farmer is on his itinerary:

Obama is also scheduled to attend a fundraising lunch Friday at the Bachelor Farmer, a Minneapolis restaurant owned by Gov. Mark Dayton's sons Eric and Andrew. The brothers said they couldn't offer additional information but that they're looking forward to "welcoming the president to Minneapolis."

Week 3 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

Part of the fun of the Market is the cooking demo and entertainment, which Mother Nature interfered with for the May 26 Market.  Luckily the rain held off long enough to allow us time to get our shopping done.

Register for the 2012 Mississippi River Challenge Before June 1st and Receive a $10 Hoigaard’s Gift Card!

 This year, the Mississippi River Challenge will take paddlers on a new route, spending the first day on the Minnesota River and the second on the Mississippi River!

We’re very excited about the new route this year! On the first day, paddlers will head 17 miles downstream on the Minnesota River from Bloomington Ferry in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Fort Snelling. After staying overnight at the Fort, paddlers will continue 22 miles on the Mississippi River from Fort Snelling to Grey Cloud Island.

Also new this year, the Mississippi River Challenge offers three route options – a half day, a one day, and a two day paddle. With any of the three options, you will enjoy a beautiful stretch of river paddling as well as festivities and music by the Roe Family Singers at Historic Fort Snelling!

We hope you can join us as we Paddle it! Protect it! in 2012!

Four Minneapolis Parks Among Top Five Most-Visited Regional Parks

Via a May 23 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Four Minneapolis regional parks and trails were among the five most-visited regional parks in 2011, according to the Metropolitan Council’s "Annual Use Estimate of the Metropolitan Regional Parks System for 2011" report released Tuesday.

The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park was the most-visited regional park with 5.1 million visits in 2011. Mississippi River Gorge Regional Park was No. 3 with 2.3 million visits, Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park was No. 4 with 1.6 million visits and the Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail came in at No. 5 with 1.5 million visits. The second most-visited regional park was St. Paul’s Como Regional Park, Zoo and Conservatory with 4 million visits.

Other Minneapolis regional parks and trails ranked on the list include Minnehaha Regional Park at No. 7 with 1.4 million visits, Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park at No. 8 with 1.4 million visits, Cedar Lake Regional Trail at No. 11 with 881,000 visits, Kenilworth Regional Trail at No. 17 with 624,000 visits and Victory Memorial Parkway Regional Trail at No. 18 with 614,000 visits.

Walking and biking rank as the top activities in the regional parks system, followed by swimming, jogging, picnicking and relaxing.

Nearly 44 million visits were made to the Metropolitan Regional Parks System in 2011, which is an increase of 7.5 percent from 2010. Minneapolis regional parks saw an increase of more than 330,000 visits, or 2.2 percent, from 2010.

More than 40 percent of visits to regional parks were made in the summer, followed by spring (21.9 percent), fall (21.9 percent) and winter (8.9 percent), while 6 percent of visits were for special events or camping.

The Metropolitan Regional Parks System includes approximately 54,631 acres of parkland and features 38 regional parks, 12 park reserves, 7 special recreation features and 308 miles of regional trails. The park units are owned and operated by the following 10 agencies: Anoka County, City of Bloomington, Carver County, Dakota County, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Ramsey County, City of St. Paul, Scott County, Three Rivers Park District, and Washington County.

For more information about the Minneapolis Park System, visit www.minneapolisparks.org. To learn more about the Metropolitan Regional Parks System, visit www.metrocouncil.org.

Local Bakery Cupcake Competes on Food Network Cupcake Wars May 27

Our Friends at Cupcake have asked us to share their exciting news:

Kevin VanDeraa of Cupcake bakery Minneapolis competes with fifteen previous winning bakers in first ever Cupcake Wars Championship series airing throughout the month of May on the Food Network!  

After winning Cupcake Wars’ Yo Gabba Gabba- themed episode on April 15th, local café and bakery Cupcake, was invited back to compete on the national Cupcake Wars’ Cupcake Champions series.

The top sixteen winning bakers from previous episodes compete, four baking teams at a time, all vying to be the first Cupcake Champion, and take home the $50,000 prize.  The series finale is scheduled to air on June 10th.  Our championship episode has a Glee theme, and the cupcakes will be available for sale in the bakery following the air date.

This will mark Cupcake’s third appearance on Cupcake Wars.  Last summer was Kevin’s first opportunity to represent Cupcake on the show, which had a Bollywood theme, and placed second.  Second time’s the charm, and Cupcake took home first place on the most recent Yo Gabba Gabba episode.

Cupcake has been serving gourmet cupcakes and café food since 2004.

For more information or interviews, contact Kevin VanDeraa kevin@cup-cake.com or Jeanne Lundell at 612-378-4818. 

Follow Cupcake's Food Network progress on their Facebook and Twitter.  Watch Cupcake compete on Cupcake Wars Sunday, May 27, at 7:00pm on Food Network.

Week 2 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

Thanks to Bossy Acres, I discovered pea shoots at the May 19 market.  They taste like the peas we shelled by the bucket as kids for my mom to can.  In addition to filling our market basket, we picked up an herb garden from Paul at Schultz Farm Organics.  I'm looking forward to having fresh basil, rosemary, thyme, chives and other herbs on hand.

3rd Annual Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Photo Contest

Attention photography enthusiasts - the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board(MPRB) announced their 3rd annual 'Picture A Park' photo contest, sponsored in conjunction with People for Parks(PFP) and National Camera.  

Photos and completed entry forms will be accepted between May 1 and September 3, 2012.  Photos from any time of the year may be submitted. The name or location of the Minneapolis park, parkway or lake property is required with each submission.

Click here to view previous year's winners, and check back frequently for contest updates.

The 2012 Mill City Farmers Market Season is Off and Running!

It was an action packed season opener at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market this morning.  We had fun meeting new vendors, and re-connecting with our vendor friends from previous seasons.  Gotta love that MCFM vibe!

Check out the Mill City Times Farmers Market blog for daily posts highlighting vendors, beautiful food, products, art, sponsors, cooking demonstrations, music, and our weekly "market meal"!  Or, Like us on Facebook and the daily posts will come to you.  :)

New Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Online Meeting Portal is More User Friendly

Via a May 11 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Launches New Online Meeting Portal
 
As part of its commitment to sustainable practices, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is launching a new Online Meeting Portal, which can be easily accessed from the MPRB homepage http://www.minneapolisparks.org/ (under Commissioner Meetings).

The user-friendly portal will allow MPRB commissioners, staff, and interested community members to easily search, access and retrieve Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner meeting agendas, minutes and related meeting materials on laptops, tablets or other electronic devices.

"The new portal provides MPRB staff and Commissioners with newly streamlined processes and will eliminate the need to print board packets, which oftentimes exceed 150 pages," said Superintendent, Jayne Miller. "As Commissioners and staff learn how to use the new portal during 2012, we will migrate to a paperless board packet. Since we meet more than 25 times a year, this will significantly reduce the amount of paper used by Park Board Commissioners and staff."

Wireless internet is available and meeting attendees are encouraged to access the meeting portal on their electronic device. Commissioner meetings are broadcast live from 5-9 p.m. on the City of Minneapolis Government Meeting Channel 79 on Comcast cable, and online for real-time viewing. Recent meeting webcasts are available for on-demand viewing on the new meeting portal.

Only bi-weekly commissioner meetings are moving to the new portal. MPRB Planning and other department meeting information and materials will remain on the Park Board's website.

For more information about MPRB board meetings or to subscribe to emails about board meetings or other areas of interest, visit http://www.minneapolisparks.org/.
 
CONTACT: Dawn Sommers
Communications and Marketing Manager
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
612-230-6407, dsommers@minneapolisparks.org

CorePower Yoga’s 'Yoga in the Park' Returns to Father Hennepin Park June 3rd

Looking for a way to take your sun salutations outside so you can truly salute the sun? The Downtown Minneapolis CorePower Yoga invites you to join them each Sunday for CorePower Yoga’s, “Yoga in the Park.” CorePower encourages yoga practioners to open their minds and join their breath and movements to the sound of music and nature all around us. All levels of yoga students are welcome and their hope is that you take this opportunity to not only practice yoga, but to find even deeper connections within your community!

These free classes will be held every Sunday starting June 3rd and running through August 26th.  All classes are 10:00am – 11:00am at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (intersection of SE Main and SE 6th Avenue, on the East Bank of the Stone Arch Bridge).

Please call CorePower Yoga Downtown Minneapolis at 612-375-9642 with questions.
 
Items of note:
- Attendees should arrive 15-30 minutes prior to class starting for sign in purposes.
- Students are asked to bring their own mat, towel, water and SUNSCREEN! There is limited shade at the park.
- Classes will be lead by certified yoga instructors from downtown Minneapolis’ CorePower Yoga.

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Announces New Brewery Tour

Rebecca Pfeiffer recently announced the Twin Cities Brewery Tour, the newest Taste Twin Cities Food Tours offering.

Taste Twin Cities invites you to hop on their bus for a guided beer adventure as they tour 3 local breweries: Flat Earth Brewing, Harriet Brewing, Lift Bridge Brewery.  Whether you're by yourself, with a significant other, or with a group of friends; this Brewery Tour is a great way to safely enjoy an afternoon of beer sampling. 
 
On this tour you will receive VIP brewery tours, beer tastings, learn how beer is made and get an insiders look at the Twin Cities beer culture.  You'll have plenty of time to purchase your favorite beer growler.

Coach bus pick ups are located at Mall of America or Hilton Downtown Minneapolis.  All Taste Twin Cities tours are offered at pre-scheduled days and times, and are also available for private bookings. 

To learn more, visit their website and Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.

Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Releases 2012 Summer-Fall Guide

If you’re looking for great ideas for fun in the sun in Minneapolis, check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) 2012 Summer–Fall Guide.

The guide will be mailed to annual patron parking permit holders, and will be available at MPRB recreation centers, Hennepin County Libraries in Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center mid-May. For more information about the park system or to request a copy of the guide, call 612-230-6400.