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.
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:
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:
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You can also follow them on Twitter.
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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 (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.
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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).
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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.
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.
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
Tuesday, November 29
Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Public Meeting
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
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
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
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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.
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.
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/
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.
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.
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
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
NOTE - Mention this article in Mill City Times and receive a discounted ticket rate of $7.50!
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CELEBRATING THE BEST OF LATIN FILM FROM AROUND THE WORLD
The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul is hosting the the Twin Cities’ first-ever major Latin Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theatre tomorrow, November 3, thru Sunday, November 13. View the 30+ film titles from Central and South America, Mexico, and Spain on mspfilmsociety.org.
The Opening Night Gala will be held at El Bonito Café Aster November 3 at 9:00pm. After the credits have rolled on our Opening Night Film, join the Film Society and your fellow filmgoers for the Opening Night Party at the Aster Café - right down the hall from the theatre - for a night of Latin-themed food, drink, dance, and entertainment!
Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are available at the St. Anthony Main Theatre Box Office, and include one complimentary Estrella Damm beer, or other beverage option, and complimentary snacks and food provided by Chowgirls Catering.
During the Fest’s ten-day run, audiences can celebrate the diverse world of Spanish language cinema, and enjoy Opening and Closing Night parties. Visiting filmmakers include Gabriel Figueroa Flores (Mexico), photographer son of the celebrated Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa, here for a retrospective of his father’s work, Trisha Ziff (Mexico), director of the acclaimed documentary THE MEXICAN SUITCASE, and Viviana García Besné (Mexico), director of the festival darling PERDIDA.
The Latin Film Festival is produced by The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul. The Film Society also presents a diverse slate of international, independent, and art-house films year-round on Screen 3 at St. Anthony Main Theatre, as well as the annual Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Film Festival each April. The Latin Film Festival is part of a series of geographically focused film festivals, the Asian Film Festival in 2010, the Latin Festival in 2011, and the Trans-African Film Festival in 2012, all made possible in part by funding from the Legacy Amendment.
For more information about the Latin Film Festival and other Film Society programming, contact Jesse Bishop at 612.331.7563, or visit The Film Society website.
And don't forget, mention this article in Mill City Times and receive a discounted ticket rate of $7.50!
We've posted a number of articles regarding how enriching our membership to Mill City Commons has been, mainly for the interesting people we've met. One fellow MCC member is Lou Burdick, who made us aware of a Chute Square Park revitalization project she's involved with. Located across from Lund's, Chute Park Square is home to the Ard Godfrey House - the oldest existing wood-frame house in Minneapolis. Lou recently provided us with the following information regarding this project:
Download - Chute Square Park Design
Download - Chute Square Park Press Release 102711
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 7:26AM