Kim Eslinger
Editor
612-321-8040
kim@millcitymedia.org

Brianna Ojard
Associate Editor

David Tinjum
Publisher
612-321-8020
dave@millcitymedia.org

Claudia Kittock
Columnist / Non-Profits
Email Claudia...

Becky Fillinger
Small Business Reporter
Producer / Milling About
Email Becky...

Michael Rainville Jr.
History Columnist
Email Michael...

Doug Verdier
River Matters

Mill City Times is a not-for-profit community service. We do not sell advertising on this site.

Community Partners

Thanks to our community partners, whose support makes Mill City Times possible:

MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET

With over 100 local farmers, food makers and artists, MCFM strives to build a local, sustainable and organic food economy in a vibrant, educational marketplace.

Visit their website...

HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM

Hennepin History Museum is your history, your museum. We preserve and share the diverse stories of Hennepin County, MN. Come visit!

Visit their website...

MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Maximizing the visitor experience of Minneapolis for the economic benefit of our community, making Minneapolis the destination of choice among travelers.

Visit their website...

MSP FILM SOCIETY

Promoting the art of film as a medium that fosters cross-cultural understanding, education, entertainment, and exploration.

Visit their website...

GREAT RIVER COALITION

Enhancing the Minneapolis riverfront environment—for people and pollinators.

Visit their website...

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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.

Entries by Kim Eslinger (4183)

Monday
Aug292011

Park Board Joins WCCO to Sell Metrodome Roof Squares at State Fair

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is joining WCCO Friday at the Minnesota State Fair to sell 12x12 inch Metrodome roof squares at the WCCO Radio booth, located on Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood Street.  Roof squares will be sold during the John Williams Show from 9:00am to Noon.

Proceeds will go toward providing equipment, such as uniforms and gloves, for MPRB youth baseball teams of North Minneapolis parks impacted by the May 22 tornado.

Click here to the news release.

Saturday
Aug272011

Week 17 at the Mill City Farmers Market

Nistler Farms was back this week with sweet corn.  Elderberries and sand plums were new at Prairie Hollow Farm.  We picked up another seedless watermelon from Svihel Farms - super sweet!

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011 

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

August 27, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

August 27, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

August 27, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 27, 2011

Thursday
Aug252011

Crooked Pint Ale House Opening Soon in Former 501 Club Space

This morning on TwinCities.com, Pioneer Press restaurant critic Kathie Jenkins noted the upcoming opening of Crooked Pint Ale House at 501 Washington Avenue South (formerly occupied by 501 Club).

Crooked Pint

The Crooked Pint Ale House website content isn't published yet, but you can follow them on Facebookin the meantime.  According to the Info page, "The menu features classic pub faire with nearly 50 choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as kids’ menu selections. Dishes include Washington Avenue Pot Roast, Pork Porterhouse with Cherry Glaze, Kansas City Bone-In Strip, Chorizo Corn Dogs, Ale House Deviled Eggs, Ale-Braised Pull Pork Sandwich and a Crooked Caprese Salad".  YUM!

Thursday
Aug252011

Torchlight 5K Rescheduled for 8:00pm Tonight at St. Anthony Main

The Torchlight 5k festivities have been rescheduled for 8:00pm tonight, August 25.  You may recall the July 20 event was cancelled due to excessive heat.

The rescheduled Torchlight has a one year, exclusive course change.  The race starts and finishes at St. Anthony Main, and the course will be a loop running along scenic Mississippi River and Crossing the Stone Arch Bridge.  Click here for the new course map.

There will be an amped up post race party on Nicollet Island.

Thursday
Aug252011

New from Real Ghost Tours: 2 Overnight Investigations in September

Real Ghost Tours, 125 Main Street SE, recently announced the addition of two overnight investigations, September 10 and 24, 1:00am-5:00am.  These two events are limited to 10 people each - call 952-888-9200 for reservations.

Real Ghost Tours is not a gory haunted house experience - it's a history-packed tour during which you'll learn about (and maybe encounter the spirits of) people who shaped this area.  Visit the website and Facebook for more information.

During the tour you'll explore areas of the building that are otherwise off limits, using an EMF meter (a scientific instrument for measuring electromagnetic fields, and the prime sensory instrument of any ghost investigation). 

Wednesday
Aug242011

From Skid Row Soup Kitchen to Restaurateur - Mill District Spotlight on Naomi Williamson of Sanctuary

Since launching Mill City Times last summer, we’ve met a number of local business owners for the Mill District Spotlight series.   We connected with Naomi Williamson of Sanctuary the restaurant through her social networking efforts.  Our initial intent was to do a Spotlight on Naomi as a neighborhood champion, but during our conversations some interesting history emerged. It became apparent that her “giving back” philosophy didn’t start at Sanctuary – it’s just part of her DNA.

Naomi Williamson

Recent transplants to the area may have a hard time imaging our beautiful neighborhood was once part of the notorious Skid Row of Minneapolis.  But that’s exactly where Naomi, a preachers daughter and youngest of eight, spent the early years of her childhood.   It’s been quite a journey from her father’s Mission to being a partner in Sanctuary.

Naomi’s father, Rev. Stanley L. Williamson, was an ordained minister with the Shiloh Temple Pentecostal church, back before the church was segregated.  While her older siblings sang in the streets for vagrants, the younger kids worked in the soup kitchen and food shelf at the Mission, located at 807 4th Avenue South.    Naomi related, “I remember being there and hearing the singing.  My 5 sisters and 2 brothers sang the traditional old hymns such as The Old Rugged Cross, In the Garden, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus, in harmony - both in the Mission and on a Skid Row, then near some RR tracks on Washington between Hennepin and Nicollet”. 

Below is a photo in front of the Mission (Naomi is the baby). The building no longer stands.

k DSC01055 a

Our conversations with Naomi evolved into a retrospective of her life’s journey.   She stated, “Certainly my parents' commitment to helping the poor and destitute - and being exposed to lots of needy people - gave me a strong sympathy for those in need, and an appreciation for those who share their own good fortune. We ourselves also were poor.  Dad not only redistributed surplus food to the poor - in later years after the Mission was closed, he was called "the vegetable man" by those who became used to him driving his route to drop off the food - our family also ate that surplus food ourselves.  Surplus food is basically food past its 'expiration' date.  To this day, I have a very difficult time watching food being wasted.  I am pleased that Sanctuary's Chef puts together balanced plates where everything on the plate is intended to be eaten as a part of his carefully balanced design.  Most portions are the size that people can eat without throwing away excess.  I also gained an appreciation for fresh, wonderful food!”

The library was a means of escaping the reality of poverty, and reading lead to college.   After working her way through law school, Naomi went on to a successful career as a corporate attorney with Honeywell in Arizona.  While at Honeywell, Naomi ran the community service volunteer group assisting Hmong refugees.  Starting a family was the motivating factor in moving back to Minnesota, and oddly enough she and her husband, Roger Kubicki, bought a home within a few blocks of the house she lived in as a baby.

Fast forward to the present, and Sanctuary is now Naomi’s vehicle for helping others.  Using the talents of Chef Patrick, Sanctuary holds special events - like their creative Tasting Menu - to benefit causes such as March of Dimes, Dining Out for Life and Youth Farms.   Additionally, you’ll always find a local artist promoted at the restaurant, and if you follow Twitter and Facebook you’ll find Naomi tirelessly creating a buzz to help promote neighborhood businesses.  For these reasons, we named Naomi our choice for Neighborhood Champion in our June 21 article recapping the first year covering the Mill District through Mill City Times.

Sanctuary is celebrating its 4th Birthday this Sunday, August 28, with food, drink and music.   As for the name, the intent was to suggest a haven/escape.   As Naomi puts it, “We don't preach in this Sanctuary, but we do provide an escape from your daily troubles and food to salve your soul!” 

In addition to following Sanctuary on Facebook and Twitter, check their website frequently for upcoming promotions and events.

Tuesday
Aug232011

MNopedia - Fun New History Website

Check out MNopedia, a new Minnesota history website recently launched by the Minnesota Historical Society.  It's currently in Beta, so the bones are there with only limited content.  Based on what's there so far it promises to be a fun and interesting site to follow.

Read more about it in Kristin Tillotson's StarTrib article, "MNopedia Site Makes History Fun".

Tuesday
Aug232011

Heading to the State Fair? Try the New Cell Phone History Tour from the Minnesota Historical Society!

Minnesota State Fair history is now at your fingertips with a new cell phone tour developed by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society.

Fairgoers can use their own phones to dial up the voice of Tim Russell from “A Prairie Home Companion” and listen while he guides them to 12 historically significant spots at the fair.

Find out how State Fair mascot Fairchild got his name, which famous folks appeared at the Grandstand and what Marjorie Johnson’s secret is to winning so many blue ribbons for baking! 

Also hear fun facts, fair sounds and personal memories.

“The cell phone tour takes fairgoers to places they may have passed many times, but this time they’ll learn fascinating stories related to those places,” said Wendy Jones, Head of Minnesota History Center Museum and Education Programs.

Smart phone users can scan a QR code on the sign at each stop to connect to the tour.

Brochures for the cell phone tour are free and can be found at fair information booths, the J.V. Bailey House and at the Minnesota Historical Society Booth #79 in the lower level of the Grandstand.  Fairgoers who finish the walking tour get a free prize (while supplies last).

If you can't make it to the Fair, you can still enjoy the cell phone tour.  Call 1-877-411-4123 and follow the prompts.

Tuesday
Aug232011

New Meters Slowly Making Their Way into the Neighborhood

If 2nd Street South towards 3rd Avenue is part of your walking, jogging, biking or driving route, you've probably noticed new parking pay stations were recently installed between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue. 

Raya Zimmerman's "Smarter Parking" article in the August 15-28 Journal sheds light on why they're being installed, how they work, how to use them and how to avoid mistakes that will most likely result in a ticket.

k DSC03766 a

New Parking Meters

k DSC03776 a

It's actually a pretty straight forward system to use, but until parkers get comfortable with it you can count on seeing people frozen in front of the pay station with squinting eyes and furrowed brows.

Monday
Aug222011

Milkweed Editions to Participate in Literary Punch Card Program

Laurie Hertzel's "Punching up a New Literary Collaboration" article in the August 21 Star Trib (click here for the August 20 online edition) mentions Milkweed Editions, 1011 Washington Avenue South.  According to the article, Milkweed and two other local presses, along with select Twin Cities book sellers, have created the Literary Punch Card as a means to increase book signing traffic, book sales, etc.

The launch party for the Literary Punch Card is scheduled for September 14, 5:00pm-7:00pm, at Club Jager, 923 Washington Avenue North. 

Sunday
Aug212011

Minnesota Center for Book Arts Postcard Contest

Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Postcard Contest.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is sponsoring a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) postcard competition, with all entries to be displayed in the Open Book Lobby Gallery from September 16 to November 6, 2011. A $250 "best of show" prize will be awarded.

Entering is super easy:   Create your entry - a 4"x6" postcard - using any media: collage, paint, drawing, printing, sewing, photography, digital imagery or any other artistic method.  Then mail it to MCBA by September 12, 2011.

More details are available on the Artist Opportunities page.

Saturday
Aug202011

Week 16 at Mill City Farmers Market

The St. Paul and Eagan Markets are still the Minnesota leaders in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest.   Cast your vote for the Mill City Farmers Market by Clicking here.  Only 10 days left to vote!

Salty Tart Bakery debuted at the Market this week, as did Sweetland Orchard. YUM!

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

August 20, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

August 20, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

August 20, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

August 20, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 20, 2011

Thursday
Aug182011

Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods Featured in Travel & Leisure Mag

Travel & Leisure

Am I really the last person to "discover" Minneapolis? Until recently, I probably knew more about the religious capital of Kandy, in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, than I knew about Minneapolis. Turns out that this bike-friendly metropolis has a lot to offer visitors beyond Grain Belt Beer, long winters, and Mary Tyler Moore reruns. Here are just a few of the activities I tried during my recent visit.

All of the featured activities highlighted were from riverfront neighborhoods near downtown.

Read the full article...

Thursday
Aug182011

Minneapolis Parks and Rec Board Photo Contest Entry Deadline is September 5

There's still time to submit your photos in the Picture a Park Photo Contest!

The contest, sponsored by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board(MPRB), People for Parks(PFP) and National Camera, is designed to highlight the life and times in Minneapolis parks year round.

Entries can depict people, activities, nature and places in the Minneapolis parks system from any time of the year.  The contest is open to amateurs of all ages, Minneapolis residents and non-residents. Photos must be unpublished and taken in Minneapolis parks. Photographs from all seasons are encouraged. Photographers can submit up to four entries.

There is no entry fee. The deadline for submissions is September 5, 2011.   Rules and entry forms are available online at MPRB.  Information is also available at National Camera Exchange's website.

Photographer Categories:
- Youth (ages 17 and under)
- Adult (ages 18 and up)

Subject Categories:
- Beauty in the Parks
- Events in the Parks
- Fun in the Parks

All images will be judged on the basis of impact, image quality, composition and story telling. First, second and third place will be determined in each age and subject category.   Photos entered in the contest will also be open for vote by the public for a Peoples Choice Award.

First place winners in the three subject categories in both age divisions will receive a 2012 calendar including their winning photograph. Second and third place winners will receive certificates of merit and recognition. Photos will be posted on the MPRB and PFP Web sites, and on display at select parks.

In addition, of the six first place winners, Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition will be determined, with the winners receiving a National Camera gift card and up to a 16x20 enlargement of their winning entry.
Peoples Choice Award winners will receive a 5 x 11-inch individually engraved paver at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.

Thursday
Aug182011

State Fair Style Canning Contest at the Mill City Farmers Market

In the spirit of the MN State Fair, Mill City Farmers Market will host its own Canning Conteston Saturday, August 27.

Enter your home processed goods to a panel of judges in one (or all three!) of the categories listed below.  Your works of art will be evaluated based on the official MN State Fair criteria.

Rule #1: All produce ingredients must be LOCALLY GROWN!

Category: Sweet
Including jams, jellies, syrups, whole fruit preserves, butters...

Category: Tangy
Includes pickles, relishes, chutneys, salsa…

Category: Market Fresh
Show off your market dedication – how many Mill City Farmers Market vendors can you represent in one jar of home canned goods?!

Scorecard for all categories:

- Overall appearance
- Size and shape
- Color
- Texture
- Most creative recipe
- Best use of ingredients from the Market!

How to submit your goods:
Bring your Sweet, Tangy and/or Market Fresh goodies to the Market on August 27.  Volunteers will be collecting submissions in the Market Cafe from 8:00am – 9:00am.  A panel of judges will evaluate each submission and choose a winner from each category.  The winners will be announced after the Mill City Cooks cooking demo (around 11:00am), after which time contestants can pick up their submissions.

Please include the following with your submission:

- Name
- Phone number
- Submission name (i.e. Strawberry Rhubarb Jam)
- List of ingredients
- List of sources (i.e. name of farm/market vendor where strawberries and rhubarb were purchased)

Our Judges
Barbara Schaller is a canning connoisseur, steadily winning blue ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair since 1981. Visit her blog “I Can Can, Can You?” to take home some jammin’ cannin’ tips.

Liz McMann is a Master Food Preserver and natural foods educator at the Mississippi Market. She is an avid urban gardener, documenting her gardening, cooking and preserving project on her blog “Food Snobbery is my Hobbery“.

Wednesday
Aug172011

Tickets Now on Sale for Soap Factory's 2011 Haunted Basement

The Soap Factory's5th annual Haunted Basement is on the horizon.  Ticket are now available thru their website and Facebook.

Hundreds of volunteers keep the Haunted Basement screaming.  Click here if you'd like to assist with building, props, painting, cleaning, costumes, makeup, taking tickets or acting. 

Tuesday
Aug162011

Triple Espresso Coming to the Southern Theater this Fall

Triple Espresso is scheduled to play at the Southern Theater November 16, 2011 - January 8, 2012.

Triple Espressotells the story of three guys whose bid for showbiz fame and fortune ended in 4-minutes of magnificent failure on national television. Hugh Butternut, Buzz Maxwell, and Bobby Bean tell their rags-to-rags story earnestly, with hysterical results. Butternut is a musician, a vulnerable soul with a lounge lizard smile; Maxwell is an uncertain magician with an attitude; and Bean is an irrepressible, all-over-the-map entertainer with big dreams. This comedy appeals to young and old.                                            Box Office: 612-874-1100

Saturday
Aug132011

Week 15 at the Mill City Farmers Market

At long last, what I've been dreaming of all summer - Sonny's sweet corn ice cream!  It's heaven in a cup.

The St. Paul and Eagan Markets are still the Minnesota leaders in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest.   Cast your vote for the Mill City Farmers Market by Clicking here.  

August 13, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market on August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

August 13, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

Mill City Farmers Market August 13, 2011

August 13, 2011, Mill City Farmers Market

Friday
Aug122011

This Weekend in Mill City / August 12-14

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis and across the Stone Arch Bridge in Old St. Anthony.

Friday, August 11

Real Ghost Tour (2 Nights) at St. Anthony Main

Saturday, August 12

Mill City Farmers Market

Women’s Work: History Player Eva Valesh Tour at Mill City Museum

Twin Cities Polish Festival

Taste Twin Cities Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour (Starts at Gold Medal Park)

Sunday, August 13

CorePower Yoga in the Park

Twin Cities Polish Festival

Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Weekend Brunch

Saturday & Sunday

Brunch at Spoonriver
750 South 2nd St (at Chicago Ave S)
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-436-2236

Reservations recommended

10:00am - 2:00pm

See the menu...

Saturday & Sunday

Brunch at the Aster Cafe
St. Anthony Main
125 SE Main Street
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3138

Until 2pm.

See the menu...

Sunday

Brunch at Spill the Wine
1101 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415
612-339-3388

brunch buffet 10am- 2pm Sunday
$12/person (kids 3 and under eat free, 4-12 years are 1/2 price!)

includes: eggs, bacon, french toast, hash browns, fresh salad and fruit, pastries, build your own omlette bar and more...

featuring absolut bloody bar for $5.

also offering fair trade coffee and full bar.

Wednesday
Aug102011

August 31 is the Deadline to Enter East Downtown Council Creative Media Contest

The "East Downtown Minneapolis - Can You Picture It?" photo contest is seeking photos, videos and other presentations that, through its people, architecture and public space, make the East Downtown district vibrant. 

The contest is sponsored by the East Downtown Council, and is open to everyone.  The entry deadline is August 31, 2011.

Click here for information on rules, prizes and more.