A Big List - Local Businesses We Patronized in 2011

When we have the option to frequent a local business, we do.  Always.  We love walking the neighborhood, leaving our car in the garage, and supporting the small businesses that help make the Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront such a great place to live.

We spent the past week looking back on our activities throughout 2011 and came up with an 'A to Z' list of businesses we patronized in 2011 - all within walking distance of our Mill District home.  They're all worth checking out, so give them a try and support our community!

501 Fit / 501 Spin - http://www.501fit.com/

Aloft - http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/overview/contact.html?propertyID=3074

Aster Cafe - http://aster-cafe.com/

Bibelot - http://www.bibelotshops.com/index.php?view=store_locations&store_id=3

Bierbrauer Chiropractic - http://www.bierbrauerchiropractic.com/

Bobby & Steve's - http://www.bobbyandstevesautoworld.com/minneapolis.html

Bulldog, The - http://www.thebulldognortheast.com/

Caribou - http://www.cariboucoffee.com/page/1/our-locations.jsp

City Garden Flower Mill - http://www.citygardensflowermill.com/

Core Power Yoga - http://www.corepoweryoga.com/locations/minnesota/minneapolis.aspx

Crooked Pint Ale House - http://crookedpint.com/

D'Amico & Sons / Mill City Museum - http://www.damicoandsons.com/frame.asp?s=location&ss=minnesota&ft=i&sss=mp

Depot, The - http://www.thedepotminneapolis.com/

Dunn Bros - http://freighthouse.dunnbros.com/

Grumpy's - http://www.grumpys-bar.com/downtown/index.html

Guthrie Theater - http://www.guthrietheater.org/

Keegans Irish Pub - http://keeganspub.com/

Kindee - http://www.kindeethairestaurant.com/

Level Salon - http://www.level-salon.com/

Look + See - http://lookandseeeyecare.com/

MacPhail Center for Music - http://www.macphail.org/

Maxwell's - http://www.maxwellsbar.net/

Men's Dept. - http://www.mensdept.com/

Mill City Commons - http://www.millcitycommons.org/homepage

Mill City Farmers Market - http://millcityfarmersmarket.org/

Mill City Market Grocery & Deli - http://millcitygrocery.com/

Mill City Museum - http://www.millcitymuseum.org/

Open Book Coffee Gallery - http://www.openbookmn.org/coffee_gallery.aspx

Pacifier - http://store.pacifieronline.com/

Real Ghost Tours - http://www.realghosttours.com/

Sarpinos - http://www.gosarpinos.com/pizza-delivery/downtown-minneapolis/?r=2

Sanctuary - http://www.sanctuaryminneapolis.com/

Sawatdee - http://www.sawatdee.com/locations.htm

Sorellas - http://www.sorellawines.com/

Spill the Wine - http://www.spillthewinerestaurant.com/

Spoonriver - http://spoonriver.com/

Wasabi - http://wasabimn.com/

Wilde Roast Cafe - http://www.wilderoastcafe.com/

Zen Box Izakaya - http://zenboxizakaya.com/

Mill City Commons Seeks Part Time Program Coordinator

Do you know a flexible, hard working person looking for a part time opportunity? 

Mill City Commons is in the process of hiring a part time Program Coordinator.   You'll find position details on the Ecumen website.  Note - although the website states the application deadline is December 31, the closing date is actually January 6.

Periscope Featured in Star Trib Article

Periscope, a Mill District business located on Washington Avenue South across from Aloft, was featured in the December 26 print edition of the Star Trib.  Click here for the story.

With the relentless economic bad news and negative spins we are fed a daily basis, this positive article was a much needed breath of fresh air.

West River Parkway Near Washington Avenue Bridge Closed December 22-23

West River Parkway, from 22nd Avenue South to 4th Street South, will be closed from 7am-6pm Thursday, December 22, and Friday, December 23.

The closure is needed to safely remove the north side of the Washington Avenue Bridge deck as part of the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project.  Traffic will be detoured to 19th Avenue South during the closure.

Last Minute Holiday Items? Check out the Dec 23-24 Clearance Sale at The Shop at MCBA

On December 23 and 24, The Shop at Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) will be holding a two-day CLEARANCE SALE: 30% off select Holiday items including wrapping paper, holiday cards and ornaments! (Non-consignment goods only.)

Hours: Dec 23 (10am-5pm) and Dec 24 (10am-2pm).

NOTE: MCBA will close at 2:00pm on December 24, and remain closed through January 2, 2012.   The Open Book building will undergo floor refinishing and  maintenance during this time, so MCBA, Open Book and the Coffee Shop will all be closed to the public. They will reopen at 10:00am on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Make a Difference and Have Fun this Season

Thanks to some wonderful community partnerships, December is a great month to have fun, complete your holiday giving, clean out your linen closets, and meet others ALL WHILE MAKING A DIFFERENCE in the lives of homeless families.

 

Below are four ways that you can make a difference this December. 

 

SHOP.

Need to do some last minute shopping?  Find unique and affordable home goods from WildHearts Collection in Hopkins, and 20% of your purchase in December will be donated to People Serving People. Any Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30am to 3:30pm WildHearts is open and full of gifts that are one-of-a-kind.  Visit their website for location and inventory.

ROCK.

With the help of local musicians, Rock the Cause is partnering with People Serving People to put on a concert series – each concert collecting donations of socks, warm coats, books for children, and volunteers to help us help homeless families.  Concerts begin Thursday.   1-- Silver Back Colony, Matt Latterell, and Dirty Horse are playing at the Nomad World Pub on December 15 at 9pm.   2-- Maudlin's 3rd Annual Worst Christmas Pageant Ever at the Triple Rock Social Club on December 17 at 9pm. Artists include Little Man, Barb Abney, Pictures of Then, and more!   3-- Alison Scott’s Holiday Show on December 21 and 22 at Lyric Arts Anoka.   Go out, have fun, hear local music, and bring socks!

DECLUTTER.

Clean out your linen closets and bring us your twin and double sized sheets, pillow cases, and clean, warm blankets. Our blanket supply is low - and we have never seen this many families at our shelter  over the holiday season before.  So if you have too many blankets, bring a couple to our shelter so the families and children here can stay warm at night. Blankets can be brought to People Serving People at 614 3rd Street South.  Click here for more details.

DONATE A GIFT.

Still having trouble deciding what to give people for the holidays?  Show them how much you care about the families and children at  People Serving People with a gift in honor of someone you know.  If you donate online, you can tell us who to send a holiday card to (even if it's YOU so you can hand the card to the recipient personally).  This card will let them know you gave a gift in their name to help homeless children and families.   Go here to make a gift in someones honor.

Only a Few Days Left to Make a Tax Deductible Contribution to MCC's "Turkey, Dressings and Extra Helpings" Drive

Join Mill City Commons (MCC) members and friends for the fourth annual Turkey, Dressings, and Extra Helpings drive.  This is a wonderful opportunity to do good this Holiday season and throughout the winter!

Ways to Help:

TURKEY:  Tax-deductible financial donations ($10-15, or more if you wish) to provide Holiday dinners for 50 families in North Minneapolis.  Any additional funds will be used to stock a local food shelf. 

Financial donations accepted December 1-15.  Mail checks payable to Mill City Commons to: 117 Portland Avenue #213, Minneapolis, MN 55401.

DRESSINGS: Donate cold weather clothing (hats, scarves, mittens) for all ages, and job interview clothing for adults, to benefit our neighbors at People Serving People. 

Clothing donations accepted December 9 -16.  Drop off clothing items at:  MCC Office, 17 4th Street or North Star Lofts, 117 Portland Avenue.

EXTRA HELPINGS: Donate small new or gently used gift items like books, jewelry, and cologne/aftershave, for individuals and families at Exodus Residence and Mary’s Place. These are the only gifts some residents receive.  

Gift donations accepted December 9 - 16.  Drop off gift items at:  MCC Office, 17 4th Street or North Star Lofts, 117 Portland Avenue.

Call Linnea (612-455-3329) or email info@millcitycommons.org at Mill City Commons if you have questions. 

Sanctuary Staff on Air!

Sanctuary's Chef Patrick Atanalian demonstrated the easy way to disassemble a pomegranate December 11 on FOX 9.

Later, Barkeep Patrick appeared on KSTC-TV Channel 45's debut episode of Beer Geeks TV.

One trip to Sanctuary and you'll see why they're such attention-getters.

Holiday Gift Ideas from A Woman’s Paris™

A Woman’s Paris™ is a local business offering great gifts for the holidays, including iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch cases from $24, as well as stunning paintings of sites in Paris.  Friends and family receive discounted prices for a limited time on art prints of the paintings. Prints will be sold at a cost of $50 for large prints and $30 for smaller figure prints. These last minute-gifts are perfect for family and friends.

Prints will be available for a Minneapolis pick up or shipped for a small additional delivery fee.

Click here to order cases.  Click here to view the print collection.  (Discounts for purchases made directly on the website do not apply.)

To order prints by December 17th contact A Woman’s Paris™ at Barbara@awomansparis.com

Subscribe for FREE to A Woman’s Paris™ blog, follow on Twitter, like on Facebook.

Reuniting With the Vendors at the First Ever Indoor Mill City Farmers Market

It was great to see neighbors and vendors converge at the Mill City Museum yesterday morning for the first ever indoor Mill City Farmers Market.

Added bonus - members from Light of the Moon Band provided festive background music.

This Morning - Mill City Farmers Market's Holiday Market at Mill City Museum

Saturday, December 10

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum

Mill City hosts it’s first indoor Holiday Farmers Market at the Mill City Museum! Enjoy a smorgasbord of local fares for holiday gifts and meals, including local produce, pasture-raised meats, wild caught Alaskan salmon, eggs and cheeses, whole grains, and artisan preserves, pickles and pasta.

Visit with some of your favorite Mill City Farmers Market vendors, including:

■Ames Farm
■Goldfinch Flowers
■Swede Lake Farm and Global Garlic
■Prairie Hollow Farm
■Burning River Farm
■Braucher’s Sunshine Harvest Farm
■MN Valley Organics
■Wild Run Salmon
■Northern Lakes Wild Rice
■Singing Hills Goat Dairy
■Shepherd’s Way Farm
■Solomon’s Snacks and Bakery
■Bliss Granola
■Cafe Palmira
■Martha’s Joy
■Birchberry Native Arts and Foods
■Very Prairie
■Lucille’s Kitchen Garden
■Olsen’s Naturals

MacPhail Community Youth Choir, Under the Direction of J.D. Steele, to Hold Free CD Release Party Concert December 17

The MacPhail Community Youth Choir (MCYC) under the direction of J.D. Steele, will hold their first CD release party concert on Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. at MacPhail Center for Music, 501 South Second St., Minneapolis.  The concert is free and everyone who attends will receive a download card of the choir’s first CD, “Love as One.” The CD features 10 original songs, 8 by Steele and 2 student-written songs.

J.D. Steele (of the Steele family singers)  and  MacPhail Center for Music have brought together youth in grades 7-12, from all corners of the Twin Cities, all walks of life, to join hands and voices in a new youth choir now in its second year.  The MCYC is free and open to students of all skill levels and abilities.  Rehearsals are every Saturday at the historic Capri Theater in north Minneapolis. Steele said this is a great opportunity for the students to learn music techniques they won’t get anywhere else, covering all genres of music, including jazz, gospel, pop and East African.

“The MCYC allows the kids to experience something different in fellowship as well as music,” Steele said. “It raises their self-esteem when they have to perform professionally. It’s amazing to see how they change and develop. When kids have the opportunity to shine, they reflect it back bright and shiny!”

The MCYC Music Release Party:  December 17, 7:30 p.m. MacPhail Center for Music – free

Support our Neighborhood While Checking Off Your Holiday Gift List

Our neighborhood offers a wealth of opportunities when it comes to fun, unique and appreciated Holiday gifts.  Here are a few examples to get you started:

Who wouldn't enjoy a restaurant gift card?  We have an award-winning selection to choose from!  Some are offering the popular Holiday deal of purchasing x amount in cards to receive a free gift card for yourself.  Check out the Directory section of Mill City Times for a quick reference of restaurant options.

How about tickets to a show?  Maybe the Guthrie, St. Anthony Main Theatre, or perhaps Triple Espresso at the Southern Theater?

Sorella Wine & Spirits has a massive selection from which to choose a hostess gift.  Or, for the hard-to-buy for person, a gift card will allow them to pick out something special - wine, spirits, beer.  And don't forget, Sorella has a great sake section.

Everyone needs groceries - Mill City Market Grocery & Deli offers gift certificates.

The Mill City Museum Store is a treasure.  From a wall of books, to special cake mixes, unique toys, clothing, jewelry and so much more.

The best pedi in town is with Mishon at Level Salon - you'll score some major brownie points by treating someone to this special foot pampering.  Want to rack up triple brownie points?  Include a massage from The Doorway for Massage Therapy, Bodywork & Better Health.

Consider a gift card from City Gardens' Flower Mill, or have them prepare a lovely Holiday bouquet for a hostess gift, to add cheer to a co-workers office, etc.

Treat an out-of-town guest to a night at Aloft, Depot Renaissance or the Residence Inn by Marriott.  How about a few hours of skating at The Depot?

For the health conscious people on your list - a package of Spin classes at 501SPIN? Yoga package from CorePower Yoga?

How about a tank of gas or car wash package from Bobby and Steve's?

I hope you'll join us in supporting our neighborhood businesses while filling Holiday shopping needs!

Put Your Bike Away for the Winter? Try the New Power and Performance Training at 501SPIN

Dawn Doll, founder of 501SPIN, recently introduced the newest member of 501SPIN's Team, Leah Prudhomme.  Leah is a pro elite female road racer/triathlete and Ironman finisher who holds the course record and won the State Championship Time Trial in 2010 and 2011. 

Leah will be teaching 501SPIN's new Power and Performance 8-Week Endurance Edition Class beginning January 7, 2012.

Highlights of this new class are:

Endurance  Maintain Speed and build energy to go the distance on the bike

Power  Pedal through the pain, interval training, peak power and increased stamina, gain speed in every training session, increase power and passion towards next years racing season

Education  Learn to train smarter not harder, by power, (THR) Threshold Heart Rate training, speed, (RPE) Rate of Perceived Exertion and recovery. 

501SP1N is located at 501 Washington Avenue South, and shares space with 501F1T.

Minneapolis Beard & Moustache Club Meeting at Grumpy's

The first-ever open meeting of the Minneapolis Beard & Moustache Club took place December 2 at Grumpy’s, 1111 Washington Avenue South.  Michael Johnson, who you may recognize from Sorella Wine and Spirits, hosted the event.  We popped in for a few pictures:

Interesting Pieces of History Emerge during The Soap Factory Renovations

With the help of a recent $70,000 grant from Partners in Preservation, The Soap Factory is currently closed for renovations.  According to their website, they plan to re-open in March 2012 with Art(ists) on the Verge 3.

However, if you follow them on Facebook you'll see they've been posting some cool pictures of items being discovered as they work on the building, like this one: 

You can also follow them on Twitter.

Hennepin County Now Accepting Applications for Citizen Advisory Board Volunteers

Hennepin County is now accepting applications for Citizen Advisory Board volunteers.  Click here for more information on the current openings and the application process.

The purpose of the Open Appointments process is to promote citizen involvement through volunteer service. The process allows Hennepin County commissioners an opportunity to tap into and select from the broad base of talent, diversity, knowledge and skills of its citizens to benefit county government.

Join Mill City Commons' Annual "Turkey, Dressings and Extra Helpings" Drive, December 1-19

Join Mill City Commons (MCC) members and friends for the fourth annual Turkey, Dressings, and Extra Helpings drive.  This is a wonderful opportunity to do good this Holiday season and throughout the winter!

Ways to Help:

TURKEY:  Tax-deductible financial donations ($10-15, or more if you wish) to provide Holiday dinners for 50 families in North Minneapolis.  Any additional funds will be used to stock a local food shelf. 

Financial donations accepted December 1-15.  Mail checks payable to Mill City Commons to: 117 Portland Avenue #213, Minneapolis, MN 55401.

10 - 12 volunteers are needed Monday, December 19, to help pick up, pack and deliver groceries to Ascension School.  Volunteers will meet in the North Star Lofts parking lot at 10:00am.  Call (612-455-3329) or email Linnea (info@millcitycommons.org) at Mill City Commons to volunteer!

DRESSINGS: Donate cold weather clothing (hats, scarves, mittens) for all ages, and job interview clothing for adults, to benefit our neighbors at People Serving People. 

Clothing donations accepted December 9 -16.  Drop off clothing items at:  MCC Office, 17 4th Street or North Star Lofts, 117 Portland Avenue.

EXTRA HELPINGS: Donate small new or gently used gift items like books, jewelry, and cologne/aftershave, for individuals and families at Exodus Residence and Mary’s Place. These are the only gifts some residents receive.  

Gift donations accepted December 9 - 16.  Drop off gift items at:  MCC Office, 17 4th Street or North Star Lofts, 117 Portland Avenue.

Volunteers needed Saturday, December 17, to sort and deliver the clothing and gift items to People Serving People, Exodus Residence and Mary’s Place.  Volunteers will meet at 10:00am at North Star Lofts. 

Call Linnea (612-455-3329) or email info@millcitycommons.org at Mill City Commons to volunteer, or if you have questions. 

Toys for Tots Drop off Site in the Mill District

According to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Minneapolis website, the 2010 local Toys for Tots campaign distributed over 300,000 toys to children in the community.

The need is still great in 2011, and it's easy to contribute a toy or two at a convenient drop off site here in our neighborhood:  Bridgewater Lofts Sales Office at the corner of 11th Avenue South and Washington Avenue South.  Call 612-341-4000 for office hours.  There is metered street parking or free indoor retail parking (entry on 11th Avenue South side).

Click here for a full list of drop off sites in Minnesota (listed in alphabetical order by city name). 

Tonight - Leo Kottke at the Guthrie Theater

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Guthrie, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 801 2nd Street South

For the past three decades, Leo Kottke has pursued a unique musical vision that has placed him among the foremost acoustic guitar stylists of our time. Kottke's ability to embrace folk idioms and pop melodies as readily as he assimilates jazz and classical influences makes him unique among guitar virtuosi.

Over the years, Kottke has worked in the studio and shared concert stages with everyone from Lyle Lovett, Mike Gordon, John Fahey, T-Bone Burnett and Rickie Lee Jones, to Paco de Lucia, Pepe Romero, John Williams, John McLaughlin and Joe Pass. Since the guitarist's 1969 debut, 12 String Blues, recorded live at a Minneapolis folk club, Kottke went on to release over 30 studio albums, consistently winning over new fans while continuing to surprise and delight longtime aficionados.