Another Great Outing at Todays Mill City Farmers Market

A little rain wasn't about to stop us from filling our bag with goodies at the Mill City Farmers Market this morning!

 

 

Pillsbury A Mill on 2011 Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Most Endangered Historic Places List

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota(PMA) announced its 2011 10 Most Endangered Historic Places List at the May 12 (Anti) Wrecking Ball event at the Soap Factory.    The Pillbury A Mill was included in this years list.

Since 1995, the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota has compiled an annual list of the state’s threatened historic buildings, sites, and structures. While the endangering circumstances vary, PAM’s response remains the same—to shine a spotlight on these important places, to equip local advocates to rally for preservation, and to focus public attention on favorable outcomes that can be achieved through a preservation approach.

About two-thirds of the 150 sites listed by the alliance have been saved.

Washington Avenue Closes This Weekend (East Bank and Stadium Village Area)

In case you have plans to visit the East Bank / Stadium Village areas this weekend (or use an MTC route that passes through this area) please read the following Light Rail construction update:

A general overview of construction for the East Bank and Stadium Village is now available via this link. This four page document is an outline only created to give those visiting the area a general idea of how to get to Stadium Village and East Bank and travel within the area. Weekly construction updates will continue to be sent out every Friday with details on closures and detours.
 
Please pass this information along to ensure people are prepared for the closure of Washington Avenue from Pleasant Street to Oak Street. This major road closure will occur this weekend and affect bus routes starting on Saturday.

Saturday, May 14th
Metro Transit bus detours begin for East Bank and West Bank. Bus stops on Washington Avenue are relocated to 4th Street or University Avenue for construction. Buses will return to Washington Avenue once the majority of construction is complete in 2-3 years. Watch for bus stop improvements at these locations; University & Pleasant, University & 17th, University & 19th, 4th & 17th, and Washington & 19th. For full information on bus stop changes and bus detours, go to www.metrotransit.org/construction or call the Transit Information Center at (612) 373-3333 for the most current information.

12:00 AM Monday, May 16th
I-35W Ramp: Westbound 3rd Street to south I-35W, east HWY 55, west I-94 closes.
Between Downtown Minneapolis and East Bank of Campus: Washington Avenue/3rd & 4th Street closes.
West Bank: North Cedar Avenue ramps closing, all traffic detoured to south ramps.
East Bank: Washington Avenue from Pleasant Street to Oak Street closes.
University of Minnesota Campus Connector and Campus Circulato Bus detours begin; no stops on Washington.

Here's Your Chance to Win Sanctuary's Spring Celebration Package!

Sanctuary the restaurant, 903 Washington Avenue South, is currently offering a great opportunity to win a dinner, lodging and a show package for Friday, May 20.  Click here for details on how to win.

This Spring Celebration package includes dinner for two at Sanctuary ($80 gift card), two tickets to Avenue Q at the Mixed Blood Theater, one night stay at the Holiday Inn Metrodome and a one-year subscription to Exploring TOSCA.

In addition to their website, your can follow Sanctuary on Twitter and Facebook.

MacPhail Center for Music Announces 2011 Summer Camp Schedule

MacPhail Center for Music has 46 summer camp offerings for students 3 years to adult.  These camps are held at their three locations, as well as at parks, museums and even the Minnesota Zoo.    

Early Childhood Music classes like "Pop, Sizzle, Bang" are a great way to discover the fun of music. MacPhail's camps for school aged kids - from Allegro Orchestra Camp to Rock Week, provide high-quality experiences to deepen musical skills over the summer. Unique ensemble opportunities are available in through piano camps, jazz camp and Suzuki Institute for piano, flute and guitar. 

MacPhail's chamber music camps for adults are a fun, low-key, way to make music and socialize with others with similar musical interests.

Click here for a full list of summer camps.

501SP1N Featured on National RealRyder Website

Dawn Doll, founder of 501SP1N, and her client were recently featured on RealRyder.com.  501SP1N is located at 501 Washington Avenue South, and shares space with 501F1T.

From now until May 31, 501SP1N is offering a Summer Special (June 1 to August 31) of Unlimited Cycling for only $125. This special is for RealRyder and Krankcycle classes only. Class Schedule.

Click here to request additional info.

Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative Update

The Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative launched with an intensive four-day, seven-meeting spree, April 27-30, featuring the MR|DI design team TLS/KVA presenting their RiverFIRST proposal. These meetings were the first in a series of three multi-day information exchange sessions, running April - July, during which the public and Steering, Technical and Advisory committee members are invited to participate in the MR|DI's "iterative design process." (And what is that, exactly? See this blog post.)

The next public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25, 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, 2117 West River Road.

Voices of Experience Spring Concert 2011 at MacPhail Center for Music

From Brahms to Berlin to the Beatles - Voices of Experience is a choir for adults ages 55 and older, directed by Dr. Mary Kay Geston, associate professor of music at Northwestern College. The choir is a collaboration of MacPhail Center for Music and The Minnesota Chorale.

The Benefits of Being a Mill City Commons Member - An Ongoing Series

Earlier this year Dave and I became members of Mill City Commons.  We joined for a number of reasons, including the interesting member-only events, meeting fascinating people, and having more of a hands on role in helping with various fundraising activities. 

Here are some examples of exclusive MCC May events:

The Minnesota Genealogical Society will host a class on how to research family history through the use of their library.  Members will have access to over 50,000 items including books, microfilm, microfiche, journals and paper family history records.

A private wine tasting hosted by Sorella Wine & Spirits.  Wine buyer Darrin Minehan led a guided tour of Spains most important wine region, and special pricing on a variety of Spanish wines was available.

MCC members Scott Parkin and Amy Sperling hosted a fabulous menu sampling at the Riverfront's newest restaurant, Masu Sushi & Robata:

On the 16th, MCC members will join I Wish You Love playwright, Dominic Taylor, for an intimate and informal dialogue about the play.  Mr. Taylor will provide context for the play that runs now through May 22 at Penumbra. Education Director Sarah Bellamy has scheduled "Bookends" on the Mondays before and after the May 19 performance exclusively for MCC.

Finally, a Guthrie play reading of God of Carnage.  Play readings are hosted by a member of the Guthrie staff or an Artist affiliated with the play.  Participants are assigned parts for reading and may rotate parts as necessary.

To learn more about Mill City Commons, please visit the website, or contact Linnea at 612-455-3329 or linneatweed@millcitycommons.org.

New at St. Anthony Main: Real Ghost Tours!

There's always something new going on around here.  We popped into the Segway Tours office (125 Main Street SE) this past weekend to check on tour times, and found a new activity:  Real Ghost Tours.  

Bill Neuenschwander, who also leads Segway Tours, filled me in on the details.  Real Ghost Tours is not a gory haunted house experience - it's a history-packed 90 minute 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.

Real Ghost Tours launched in April.  Public tours are 9:00pm Friday and Saturday nights, with a 10:30pm tour to handle overflow from the 9:30pm show.  Private tours can be arranged for groups of 15 or more.  The $25 per person fee includes parking, plus a voucher for 25% off at your choice of Pracna, Vic's or Tuggs.

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).

Dave and I have devoted countless hours researching the history of the Mill District - and we also enjoy shows on ghosts, hauntings and the paranormal - so we can't wait to take this tour!  For reservations, call 952-888-9200.

People Serving People Residents Featured on Kare 11

People Serving People (PSP), located at 614 South 3rd Street, provides emergency housing and community services that assist families experiencing homelessness in becoming self-sufficient and reconnected with the community. 

There are no guarantees in life, and circumstances beyond our control could put any one of us in this situation.

Kare 11 recently interviewed Joey and Tina Sletten and their children, who were residents at PSP at the time of the interview:

As you can see from the video, PSP does an incredible job of providing stability for children experiencing the trauma of homelessness.

If you would like to help, PSP has volunteer opportunities and an ongoing Donation Needs List:
 
• Alarm Clocks
• Blankets, Quilts, Comforters, Bedspreads
• Feminine hygiene products
• Sleeping bags
• Inflatable mattresses
• Children's books (new or gently used)
• Formula (powdered)
• Strollers
• Diapers (sizes 3 through 6)
• Wipes
• Pull Ups

Create a Film for the Attention-Challenged

The Ten Second Film Festival will take place at The Soap Factory directly following the fireworks at St. Anthony Main on July 4.   This free event is an outdoor screening of 100 of the most surprising, inventive, disturbing, hilarious movies you'll ever see.  

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011
The festival, which drew nearly 4000 eager movie-goers last year, is the film festival for both the amateur and immature; the talented and the unfortunate; the virtuoso and the accidental artist. Anyone can submit a 10 second film!

SUBMITTING A FILM
Click here for instructions on submitting a film.

Film makers will be notified of acceptance by June 20th.  Accepted films will be screened on July 4 at The Soap Factory.

Need inspiration? Check out films from previous years on YouTube

Best of Fest: May 6 - 12 Encore Showings from 2011 Mpls St. Paul International Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theatre

20 Films Get One Final Screening - giving you one last chance to see films you missed and a second chance to see your favorites!

Opening Day at Mill City Farmers Market!

At last! I can't imagine a better way to celebrate Spring than attending Opening Day at the Mill City Farmers Market - and look Mom - no coats!

COMING SOON to Mill City Times:  the Mill City Farmers Market Blog with scads of pictues posted daily.

City Gardens Flower Mill is Open on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 8!

City Gardens Flower Mill, 231 10th Avenue South (retail level of the Bridgewater Lofts), will be open 9:00am to 5:00pm on Mother's Day to accommodate last minutes floral arrangement requests. 

Here are some examples of super fresh flowers - including peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and sunflowers - that Dan and Kaia incorporate into each unique arrangement:   

 

 

Dan is a master at taking these individual elements and combining them into something special.

 

European Gardens are an alternative to cut flowers: 

  

 

Don't forget - there's free indoor parking!  Enter on the 11th Avenue South side. City Gardens Flower Mill also delivers.  You can reach them at 612-332-7377.

2011 Mill City Farmers Market Opens Tomorrow at 8am!

We're finally done counting down the days to the Mill City Farmers Market! See you there tomorrow!

Enjoy! :)

Call for Donations: MCBA Book Arts Rummage Sale

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), 1011 Washington Avenue South, is seeking donations of gently used, saleable book arts-related items for its first annual Book Arts Rummage Sale, to be held Saturday, June 11, 10am-5pm. Accepted items may include:

- Hand tools (bone folders, awls, brushes and needles)
- Bookmaking materials including text-weight, cover-weight and decorative papers, thread, and bookboard
- Art supplies (brushes, inks and paints)
- Artwork
- Trade books -- no encyclopedia sets or non-art related books please

All donations must be dropped off Friday, June 10 between 10am and 5pm. Donations to MCBA may be tax deductible. If you have equipment or materials you'd like to donate, we ask that you please send a brief summary of the items to Sara Parr, Studio and Artist Co-op Manager ( sparr@mnbookarts.org). This will help us in advertising big-ticket "For Sale" items, as well as help us manage space in the studios the day of the sale. Please email the following by Friday, June 3:

- Donor name(s)
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Email address (Please place “Rummage Sale” in the subject line of your email.)
- Description of items to be donated
- Optional:  Digital images of the equipment/items

Questions? Contact Sara Parr at sparr@mnbookarts.org.

2 Days to Go - Countdown to 2011 Mill City Farmers Market

We're counting down the days to fresh produce, cheese, meat, bakery, honey, preserves, grains, etc.   I can't wait to start sampling the fantastic food, enjoying the live music, and watching our grandson interact with the animals.  And then there's the local artists, unique clothing and special events - so much packed into each weekly 5-hour Mill City Farmers Market!

See you there! :)

Only 2 More Nights to Enjoy the 2011 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theatre

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF INTERNATIONAL AND INDEPENDENT FILM!
 
The Film Society of Minneapolis-St. Paul 2011 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival ends Thursday night, May 5.  During this years festival over 170 films from some 50 countries were presented at the five-screen St. Anthony Main Theatre.  Only two nights remain to enjoy the best of international and independent filmmaking in the region.

Click here for daily list of films. 

3 Days to Go - Countdown to 2011 Mill City Farmers Market

We're counting down the days to fresh produce, cheese, meat, bakery, honey, preserves, grains, etc.   I can't wait to start sampling the fantastic food, enjoying the live music, and watching our grandson interact with the animals.  And then there's the local artists, unique clothing and special events - so much packed into each weekly 5-hour Mill City Farmers Market!

See you there! :)