Mill District Business Spotlight: Bierbrauer Chiropractic

I recently met with Dr. Chris Bierbrauer of Bierbrauer Chiropractic, located at 221 10th Avenue South in the Bridgewater Lofts building.   The soothing spa aroma puts you into relaxation mode as soon as you enter the office.  His website states it's "a new kind of Chiropractic care", and I quickly learned exactly what that meant. 

After earning his degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1995, Dr. Bierbrauer practiced in Green Bay, Chicago and Platteville.   All the while, he knew there was a better way to treat patients, and about 10 years ago he started looking at soft tissue work.   Since establishing his own practice here in the Mill District in November 2008, he now concentrates on two soft tissue methods - the Active Release Technique and the Graston Technique.  This is what sets Bierbrauer Chiropractic apart from other practices.

Below, Dr. Bierbrauer demonstrates how he uses specific tools to manipulate nerves at the muscle level.  This allows him to zero in on issues ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome to tennis elbow.  He cited an example of a patient suffering from "calf contracture" - her calf muscles were so tight they felt like bone, and she was unable to stand flat-footed.  Soft tissue treatments were the effective treatment for her.

Patients range from newborns to seniors, although a large percentage are athletes - runners, iron men, triathletes, skiers and weight lifters.  In fact, Dr. Bierbrauer's first patient was a pitcher from an AL Central Team in town for a game against the Twins.  Although his office wasn't officially open yet, he was sought out because of his ability to perform the tissue treatment needed for this professional athlete.

A colicky baby may be in need of a single adjustment to provide relief.  The birthing process can be tramatic - all the manipulating can cause immobility in the neck from the cranial nerve that comes off the brain stem. 

Dr. Bierbrauer explained the efficiency of soft tissue treatments.   He does not subscribe to the old ways of scheduling X visits per week for X number of weeks.  Rather, he spends more time with a patient during a visit, and only schedules a follow up if it's needed.  (So this old joke does not apply here: "How many chiropractors does it take to screw in a light bulb?  Only 1, but it takes 36 visits.")

Dr. Bierbrauer lives in North East with his wife, Missy Wilson, a Graphic Designer for Duffy & Partners (another Mill District business).

Pedestrian Advisory Committee Seeking Members - Application Review Process Begins April 4

Minneapolis' Pedestrian Advisory Committee, created 5 years ago, is charged with advising the Mayor and City Council on policies, programs and actions for improving pedestrian safety, mobility, accessibility and comfort; for promoting walking for transportation, recreation and health purposes; and for strengthening the linkage between the pedestrian environment and public transportation.

The committee is composed of 15 voting members who reside or own a business in the City and who have an interest in promoting walking and improving the pedestrian environment in Minneapolis.

There are eight Council-appointed vacancies for a term beginning July 1, 2011, and expiring June 30, 2013. These positions will remain open until filled, with the application review process to begin on Monday, April 4.

The committee also includes non-voting members from City Departments and partner agencies with an interest in and impact on pedestrian issues to provide expertise on pedestrian issues and to serve as a liaison between the committee and City departments and partner agencies.

Click here for more information, including the application process.

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

Dave and I became members of Mill City Commons in January.  We joined for a number of reasons, including the ability to attend interesting member-only events, meet fascinating people, and to have more of a hands on role in helping with their various fundraising activities. 

The next fundraising event to be hosted by Mill City Commons is coming up in a few weeks: Chefs for Change.  It takes place Monday night, March 21, at People Serving People, 614 South 3rd Street.

This special Chefs for Change dinner will be created by Brenda Langton of Spoonriverand feature bountiful garden hors d'œuvres, wine and discussion. The focus of discussion will be on urban gardening and the development of a rooftop garden at People Serving People. Attendees will experience the unique flavor of Spoonriver, as well as learn about issues affecting the local community.  You don't have to be a member of Mill City Commons to attend, but reservations are required.  In addition to doing something good for the community, this would be a great chance to meet current Mill City Commons members.

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

Countdown to May 7 Opening Day at the Mill City Farmers Market!

The 10-day weather forecast screams winter, but we're only 9 short weeks away from Opening Day at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market!

Every Saturday until opening day, we'll be posting pictures from the 2010 MCFM to help get you in the mood...

 

 

See you there!  :D

Today - Kitchen Harvests: World War I Tips for Getting the Most from Your Food at Mill City Museum

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street

Times: Noon and 2:00pm

Featured tips in this demonstration include clever ways to pack more nutrition into food, how to turn seemingly useless scraps into meals and ways to get more from your food dollar.

Author Rae Katherine Eighmey will feature food and facts from her new book"Food Will Win the War: Minnesota Cooks, Crops, and Conservation during World War I."  Eighmey will demonstrate the preparation of whole wheat chocolate cookies, cornmeal and rice waffles, and meatcakes. Samples will be available. After each demonstration, copies of Eighmey's book will be available for purchase, and she will be available to sign them.

Idris Goodwin -- These Are The Breaks at The Loft

Time: 7:00pm

Location: The Loft, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Equilibrium Spoken Word: Idris Goodwin -- These Are The Breaks

Book release performance and celebration with Lisa Brimmer, Guante and Ed Bok Lee. Idris Goodwin is an award-winning playwright, poet and essayist who uses hip hop arts to create original genre-defying performances. His widely produced works have been supported by the The National Endowment for the Arts, The Ford Foundation, The National New Plays Network, The Hip Hop Theater Festival and The Illinois Arts Council. 

Sonoma Wine Seminar at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm 

Location: Sorella Wine & Spirits, 1010 Washington Avenue South

Reservations Required - 612-339-4040
 
Sonoma Winemaking with a brief historical perspective by Kathy Jones of Heck Estates.

The talk will be illustrated with one dry rose and seven reds highlighting Sonoma's key varietals and distinct growing regions. We'll be tasting some special wines from Kenwood's Jack London Series along with some items from Valley of the Moon and finishing off with one very special surprise.

Tonight - Paula Poundstone at the Guthrie

Time: 7:30 pm

Location: Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage

Appearing on stage with a stool, a microphone, and a can of Diet Pepsi, Paula Poundstone is famous for her razor-sharp wit and spontaneity. Paula's commentaries can be heard on NPR's Morning Edition and read on the Huffington Post, and she is one of the most popular panelists on NPR's hilarious weekly news quiz show, Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me. It's impossible to attend a Paula Poundstone performance without marveling at her ability to interact spontaneously with audience members, who leave her live shows often leave complaining that their cheeks hurt from laughter.

Tweaking Exercise Routine to Enhance Marathon Training

This week I met Deb, who was already in great shape prior to seeking out a personal trainer.

As you'll learn in the video, Deb is now training for her first marathon.  Working with Andrea Austin will help assure her success.

Email Andrea at andrea@tweakmyworkout.com if you'd like to try a complimentary RealRyder spin class at 501SP1N, or if you have a fitness or nutrition question. 

Tonight - MacPhail Spotlight Series: Keys of Love and Death

Time: 7:00pm
Location:  MacPhail Center for Music, Antonello Hall, 501 South 2nd Street

This collection of pieces thoughtfully weaves together the composers’ own stories of love and loss. Experience this unique piano concert that dramatically conveys the complex emotions of love and death through intricate and tender music.

More info...

Today - Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Time: 1:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum

Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 children ages 6-17 and MHS members. Tour includes museum admission.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555

Get an in-depth look at the historic Washburn A Mill complex and the award-winning Mill City Museum building. A museum interpreter will take visitors into the building's many nooks and crannies, highlighting the lives of the men and women who worked there, how the building functioned during its peak flour milling years and the many changes to the building over time. Also covered will be the challenges of preserving the 120-year-old, fire-damaged building; its art, architecture and interior design; and the St. Anthony Falls Historic District.

Although many parts of the mill can be explored during regular museum visits, this is the public's only opportunity for a guided tour through the entire museum building.

Washington Avenue Bridge Delays Start Saturday, February 26

This Central Corridor Light Rail Transit News Advisory was recently issued:

MINNEAPOLIS - Feb. 23, 2011 - People headed Saturday to University of Minnesota men's basketball and hockey games and other East Bank events can expect delays on the Washington Avenue Bridge due to work on the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project. 

Drivers should use either the Tenth Avenue or Interstate 35W bridges as alternate routes to reach Williams and Mariucci arenas and other campus destinations via University Avenue.

Weather permitting, crews on Saturday will close the bridge's inner lanes to traffic to remove a median at the east end of the Washington Avenue Bridge.  Traffic will be restricted to one lane each way on the outer lanes. Drivers can expect continued delays next week as crews remove the median on the west end of the bridge.

Drivers will see more lane shifts beginning in early March, when traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction on the north side of the bridge. This change is needed to make room on the south side of the bridge to erect equipment so construction can begin in late March to replace the bridge's vehicle deck and add double tracks for Central Corridor trains.

In 2012, traffic will be shifted to the newly built south side while the vehicle deck is removed on the north side.

Cyclists and pedestrians on the upper deck of the bridge will continue using the north side this year and be shifted to the south side in 2012.

Crews have been working on the piers under the bridge off of West River Parkway in Minneapolis since late 2010. There are no anticipated impacts from this work to pedestrian and bike paths along the parkway nor are there anticipated impacts to those traveling on the bridge or under it via the parkway. Work in 2011 and 2012 will include adding girders and other design elements to strengthen the bridge.

Heavy construction on Washington Avenue on the East Bank will begin after classes end in mid-May. At that time, vehicles will be removed from the avenue between Pleasant and Oak streets during construction. The avenue will be converted into a transit-pedestrian mall from Pleasant to Walnut streets with two tracks in the middle and one lane on each side for emergency vehicles and cyclists. This work will continue through 2012.

More detailed information will be made available online at www.centralcorridor.org and distributed via a weekly electronic construction update. The public can sign up for those updates online.

For answers to frequently asked questions about the bridge and how LRT will change Washington Avenue through the University of Minnesota, see: http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/ccWABfaq.htm

Hennepin County Libraries Update

I recently received a notice that the newly renovated Hennepin County Library-Northeast (2200 Central Avenue NE - artist's rendering below) will reopen on Saturday, April 2.

Also mentioned in the notice: "Hennepin County Libraries are nationally recognized as one of the top library systems in the United States. The 41-libraries serve 1.2 million residents in Hennepin County and offer about 5 million books, CDs, DVDs, electronic resources and other items in more than 40 languages, as well as over 1,775 public computers."
 
We of course have the incredible Central Library close by on Nicollet, with it's seemingly endless array of programs for both children and adults. 

If an onsite visit isn't feasible, there's 24/7 online access to items such as the Hennepin County Library catalog, electronic databases and other online resources, the program calendar, information about the Library Foundation of Hennepin County, and other library information. 

Tonight - Free Restorative Yoga Class

Time: 6:30PM

Location: The Zenith, 901 South 2nd Street

Victoria Rico is hosting a Restorative yoga class in penthouse #904 at the Zenith.  Space is limited - the first 15 folks to call text or email Victoria will enjoy a yoga class with beverages and snacks after class.  To make a reservation for a free yoga class at the Zenith Condominiums contact Victoria at 612.554.7755 or victoria@victoriarico.com

More info...

Show Off Your Vocal Talents at Grumpy's

In case you missed it, Grumpy's (1111 Washington Avenue South) was featured in Alex Gaterud's February 21 Star Trib articleregarding the resurgence of karaoke. 

Tonight - 'Telling True Stories Panel' at The Loft

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Admission:  $10 admission/$5 for Loft members, ASJA members and students. (Tickets available at the door. No advance ticket sales.)

Telling True Stories: 

Three Award-Winning Writers Talk About Literary Journalism
Panel discussion with Deborah Blum, Michael Perry and J.C. Hallman

The future of publishing may be in flux, but one thing remains constant:  There will always be a need for writers who can tell a good story.  This panel brings together three master storytellers to discuss their craft and to examine the role of narrative journalism in the 21st century.

More info...

Today - Anime Showcase at the Central Library

Time: 4:30pm–6:30pm

Location: Pohlad Hall, Central Library

Anime Showcase:  Hayate the Combat Butler
 
Grade 7 and up. Don’t miss this chance to watch an amazing line-up of Japanese animation on the big screen! Anime Twin Cities and Teen Central have teamed up to offer something for everyone. Cosplay encouraged.

Sponsored by the Anime Twin Cities.

Tonight - Randy Newman at the Guthrie Theater

Witness an American-music legend as he performs favorites including Louisiana, Leave Your Hat On, Feels Like Home, I Love to See You Smile and You've Got a Friend in Me live at the Guthrie Theater.

More info...

Only 4 Days Left for CorAzoN's Consolidation Sale

CorAzoN's Consolidation Sale, with savings of up to 70% off, ends February 24.

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

Dave and I became members of Mill City Commons(MCC) in January.  We joined for a number of reasons, including the ability to attend interesting member-only events, meet fascinating people, and to have more of a hands on role in helping with their various fundraising activities. 

Unfortunately, time constraints keep us from attending all the events we'd like to.   Linnea Tweed, Executive Director at MCC, filled us in on an event we missed this past week:

"We had no idea how timely our February Compleat Scholar topic on the Egyptian civilization would be when we scheduled it last summer. Our speaker, Professor Steven Derfler, Ph.d., was in Egypt in January and returned to the USA one day before the political protests started. He included recent events in his presentation on the history of Egyptology and shared some amazing pictures. Our partnership with the University of Minnesota makes these exclusive classes available to members right here in our neighborhood."

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