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.

Zen Box's "Meat and Potato" Recipe on KARE 11 [Video]

Co-Owner/Chef John of Zen Box Izakaya, 602 Washington Avenue South, was recently featured on KARE 11.  He demonstrated a traditional Japanese winter meat and potato dish called Nikujaga.

If you haven't yet had a chance to experience this new Zen Box location, consider treating yourself to a reprieve from the Holiday madness.  Not only is their food delicious, it's simply a welcoming, feel good environment.

The Week Ahead in Mill City / November 28 - December 4

Each Monday morning we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Mill City neighborhood.  Submit your events here...

Monday, November 28

Leo Kottke at the Guthrie

Tuesday, November 29

Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Public Meeting

Upper River Forum

Wednesday, November 30

Elegant Entertaining with Local Flavors Class at Local D'Lish

Thursday, December 1

Members Double Discount Holiday Shopping Weekend at Mill City Museum

Friday, December 2

Live Music at Crooked Pint Ale House

Live Music at Aster Cafe

An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill at Mill City Museum

Members Double Discount Holiday Shopping Weekend at Mill City Museum

Minneapolis Beard & Moustache Club Meeting at Grumpy's

Winter Wonderland Cocktails Class at Local D'Lish

Saturday, December 3

The Royal Guard at Central Library

Members Double Discount Holiday Shopping Weekend at Mill City Museum

Marbled Paper, Holiday Cards and Ornaments at MCBA

Live Music at Crooked Pint Ale House

Live Music at Aster Cafe

Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest Winners at Mill City Museum

Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Guthrie's How'd They do That Workshop: A Christmas Carol

EQ Spoken Word: Remi Kanazi and Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio at The Loft

Sunday, December 4

Talk & Taste: Urban Gardens at Central Library

Members Double Discount Holiday Shopping Weekend at Mill City Museum

Vikings and Denver Broncos at the Dome

Quick Weeknight Meals Class at Local D'Lish

1850s Holiday Party at Ard Godfrey House

Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Posts Winter-Spring Activities Guide

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) new Winter-Spring Guide (November 2011 - April 2012) is available online and at recreation centers and libraries citywide.

The Guide highlights popular recreational opportunities available at parks, lakes and recreation centers throughout Minneapolis, and features activities, amenities, events and sports for youth, teens and adults at recreation centers.

Once winter weather conditions allow, the park system’s award-winning outdoor recreation facilities become available, including ice skating, skiing, snowboarding and tubing. The Guide lists hours for ice rink warming houses, ski chalets, tubing and snowboarding areas and recreation centers.

For updates on your favorite winter activities, sign up for paperless, electronic emails specific to your choice of topics.

HUGE Turn Out for 2011 Turkey Day 5K

It was a perfect Thanksgiving morning for the 2011 Turkey Day 5K (unlike last year's single digit temps and blowing snow), with over 12,000 runners, walkers, wheelers and pets participating.

Giving Thanks for a Great Place to Live [Video]

We originally posted this video in the Spring of 2011 - enjoy!

From Seven & Sixty Productions:

With all the possibilities around the world, what is the “it” that keeps people here in the Twin Cities? We suspected the answer to the question "Why We're Here" was both simple and incredibly nuanced -- worthy of art. We took our camera to the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul to find people willing to talk, unscripted, on film. The result is our collective love poem to the Twin Cities.

Why We're Here: Twin Cities is a six-minute film that explores what unites us, and unites us here, in the Twin Cities. Filmed on location the spring and summer of 2010 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, the film features an original score by John Munson of the New Standards, the Twilight Hours, Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare, camerawork by Adam Olson and editing by Sam Heyn.

Visit http://www.sevenandsixty.com/ to post your response and tell us, with all the possibilities that exist in the world, why you’re living where you do.

Produced in association with the Minnesota Culture Club. Visit them at http://mncultureclub.com/

Reminder - West River Parkway Closed Tomorrow Morning 8:00am-10:00am

The annual Turkey Day 5K will kick off the Thanksgving Holiday again this year, which will close a few local streets for a few hours in the morning, including 2nd Street South and West River Parkway.

Cub FOODS Distributes 2,000 Thanksgiving Meals for People Serving People families as Part of Unity in Community Campaign

The holidays are a time when families look to celebrate the joy of the season with a traditional turkey meal that includes all of the trimmings.  But for those living on the fringes of homelessness and hunger, it’s difficult to envision securing even the simplest of meals.

This Thanksgiving season, thanks to Cub FOODS, 2,000 free turkey meals will be distributed to formerly homeless families and clients of People Serving People (PSP), Simpson Housing Services, Project Pride for Living and St. Stephen’s Human Services at a special distribution event.

During a November 21 event at People Serving People, 150 families, many of whom used to stay at PSP, were invited to recieve frozen turkeys and dinner ingredients.  Hundreds more families who did not attend the event will receive gift certificates.

“Homeless families have a long journey to stability.  Through the “Unity in Community” effort, Cub is helping PSP and our partner organizations give these families hope for tomorrow and a good start on the road to recovery.  Indeed, Thanksgiving is the one day where everyone deserves a place at the table,” emphasized Daniel Gumnit, CEO, People Serving People.

Special Guests Included:                 
- Mr. Sherman Patterson, Policy Aide for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
- Cathy Ten Broeke, Coordinator, End Homelessness, Minneapolis/Hennepin County
- Mary Tingerthal, Commissioner, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

MinnPost posted a story yesterday on one of the families attending this event.  It's a great example of the difference PSP and events like Unity in Community make.

Unique Floral Arrangement from City Gardens' Flower Mill says 'You're Special'

We are fortunate to have City Gardens' Flower Mill in our neighborhood (231 10th Avenue South, in the Bridgewater Lofts building).  

Every arrangement I've received from Dave - Birthday, Valentine's, or most recently, Anniversary - has been unique and absolutely gorgeous.  He just asks Dan to create something special - and voila, a work of art comes together.

Dan and Kaia's shop is filled with super fresh flowers and lovely gifts.  If you want to show someone how special they are, give them a bouquet from City Gardens' Flower Mill.  612-332-7377 

Tonight - Publication Reading: Marge Barrett and Joanne Esser at The Loft

Publication Reading: Marge Barrett and Joanne Esser

Time: 7:00pm

Location:  The Loft, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Join two Finishing Line Press authors to help celebrate their new poetry books.

Marge Barrett will read selections from her recent chapbook My Memoir Dress. The poetry chapbook was a finalist in Finishing Line’s critically acclaimed New Women’s Voices Competition. Of the chapbook, acclaimed author Wang Ping says, “Each poem from Memoir Dress is a seed from the rich soil of Minnesota. It may appear small and quiet, but read it slowly, and it blossoms with the smell and color of the prairie, each as hot as the noon sun. Every Minnesotan deserves this book.

MacPhail to Receive Matching Dollars on all November 16 'Give to the Max Day' Contributions

Two great reasons to add MacPhail Center for Music to your Give to the Max Day list:  Your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to a matching gift from the Classics for Kids Foundation, and your gift will help purchase new instruments for students who cannot afford them.

Help put an instrument in every hand! Click here for MacPhail's Give to the Max Day link.

The Soap Factory and Mill Ruins Park Awarded Grants from Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation announced the 13 2011 award winners to receive a share of $1 million in preservation grants. Included on that list was The Soap Factory, receiving $70,000 towards the repair of the failing roof of the main building.

Twenty-five historic sites participated in the program, competing for votes on Facebook for a part of the $1 million.  The remaining 12 sites participating in the initiative, including Mill Ruins Park, were each granted $5,000 in funding.

Star Trib Article on Central Library's Treasures in the Special Collections Room

We were shown the grand entry to Central Library's Special Collections room during a tour last year.  With reservation-only access, I assumed it housed old and rare items of historical significance, but Father Hennepin's 1698 journal?  Now that's old and rare!

Kevin Duchschere's Star Trib article about the Minneapolis Athenaeum, a private subscription library founded in 1859 that gave birth to the Minneapolis Public Library, gives us an idea of what can be found in the Special Collections room.  Click here for the online version. 

Only two items from Minneapolis' original 1889 library were incorporated into the new Central Library.  One is this ornate doorway, which currently serves as the entrance to the Special Collections room on the 4th floor.  The other is a statue of Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, which stands at the base of the escalator on the ground floor.