Sanctuary Announces Chef Patrick's "End of Hibernation" Menu

Sanctuary, which we consider a Mill District treasure, recently posted their new menu.   Click here for photos.

On a recent visit, we enjoyed the Daydream - a refreshing concoction similar to a mojito. 

The Sanctuary has a fantastic staff - including Kerrie (below) who created our drinks.

Follow Sanctuary on Twitter and Facebook

Mill District City Apartments included in the April 30-May 1 Minneapolis & St. Paul Home Tour

Mill District City Apartments is #9 on the 2011 Minneaplis and St. Paul Home Tour.

Homes on the free, self-guided 2011 tour will be open Saturday, April 30, 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, May 1, 1:00-5:00pm. It will be held April 30 & May 1, 2011 regardless of weather conditions.

The Minneapolis & St. Paul Home Tour is coordinated by Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) and the City of Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development department, with other corporate and non-profit sponsors. They encourage people to stay in the neighborhoods they love, and to maintain and improve the cities’ housing stock. For information, call 612-673-5103. 

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

Just 2 weeks until the May 7 Opening Day at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market!  Here's more pictures from the 2010 MCFM to help get you in the mood...

See you there!  :D

Dr. Jon Hallberg and Mill City Clinic in The Line

In case you don't subscribe to The Line, here's a link to an article titled "Human-centric" Design Makes Health Care Friendlier that posted today.  It mentions Dr. Jon Hallberg and Mill City Clinic(scroll down to the The "iPod of Clinics" portion of the article).

Coming to the Mill District - Twin City Trolleys

We recently learned that Twin City Trolleys will have a downtown route on Sundays, 10a-5pm, Memorial Day weekend through October.

Per Tony Jones, Twin City Tolleys General Manager, stops along the route will include (but are not limited to) St. Anthony Main, Stone Arch Bridge, Mill City Museum, Nicollet Mall, Hennepin Avenue, Loring Park and the Sculpture Gardens.

For over 15 years, Twin City Trolley Tours have been providing sightseeing tours, which they refer to as "Transportainment", highlighting the best of Minneapolis.   It's a fun, relaxing way to spend a lazy Sunday enjoying more of the area that would normally be too far to walk, or inconvenient for parking.  You can board, ride for a while, hop off for lunch or to visit an attraction, and reboard for more sights.

Tickets ($25 Adult, $23 Children 2-12 and Seniors 65+) can be purchased direct from the driver, or from miscellaneous outlets.  Please call their office for more information, 612-876-4489, or email info@twincitytrolleys.com.

Near Perfect Conditions for 9th Annual Race For Justice

Aside from a brisk breeze, participants in the 9th Annual Race For Justice this past Sunday had great weather - cool and sunny.  We caught some of the pack as they crossed the Stone Arch Bridge:

Race for Justice benefits law graduates through the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) of Minnesota. By subsidizing education debts for dedicated, low-paid public interest attorneys, LRAP helps meet the legal needs of low-income Minnesotans across the state.

More pictures and videos:

Race for Justice 2011 YouTube Playlist    

Race for Justice 2011 Photos on Flickr

Check out City Gardens' Flower Mill for Easter Arrangements and Gifts, Decor, Spring Plants, Local Art

Spring has arrived at City Gardens' Flower Mill, 231 10th Avenue South (ground level of the Bridgewater Lofts).  Dan and Kaia have filled their shop with a fun variety of Spring and Easter gifts and decor, and will of course create a most special Easter floral arrangement for you.

You can pick up an Easter Lily anywhere - from the supermarket to a gas station.  City Gardens' Flower Mill isn't about common, discounted plants and flowers.   Dan creates colorful and unique arrangements - the kind that say "I really wanted to show you how much I care".   One of Dans favorite flowers to incorporate into Spring and Easter arrangements is the Hydrangea.

Someone was going to get a nice surprise - here is an order that was ready for pick up:

If the little ones are begging for a bunny for Easter, there are options that won't require feeding and clean up:

 

Fun decorating ideas:

 

Also new at City Gardens' Flower Mill are beautiful floral watercolors by Vicki Underland-Rosow, a Mill District resident.

Mother's Day is May 8!  A one-of-a-kind arrangement from City Garden's Flower Mill will really wow her.  Don't forget, there's free indoor parking - enter on 11th Avenue South.

Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) to be featured on the History Channel tonight, April 17

The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) will be featured on the premier episode of the History Channel's newest show, America's Wake-Up Call.  Tune in tonight, April 17 at 9:00pm (CST) to the one-hour show that looks at America's infrastructure and the toll that time has taken on it.  Host Timothy Galarnyk, a safety inspector with more than 35 years of experience, sets out to explore the condition of infrastructure in cities throughout the U.S. – uncovering projects and structures that are deteriorating and finding examples that are working.
 
HERC and several other Hennepin County projects, including the construction of the Lowry Avenue bridge and the Hennepin County Transportation Department's use of technology for projects such as snowplowing and traffic signal timing, are featured as examples of how proactive decisions and well-maintained facilities can ensure the safety and efficient operation of our infrastructure.

Turmoil at the Southern Theater

Financial troubles at the Southern Theater were recently reported in the Star Tribune and on MPR.  The McKnight Foundation asked for the return of $300,000 due to concerns of mismanagement.

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

Hurray! Only 3 weeks until the May 7 Opening Day at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market!

Each Saturday until opening day, we'll continue to post pictures and videos from the 2010 MCFM to help get you in the mood...

 

See you there! :) 

Signs of Spring in the Mill District

Aaaaaaaah - take a deep breath in, and slowly let it out.  Feel the warm sun on your face.  These past few days have been heaven, and we had a chance to catch some welcome signs of Spring in the neighborhood:

 

The 10-day forecast isn't quite as pretty a picture, but at least the long winter is now just a bad dream that we finally woke up from.

Aloft Senior Sales Manager Featured in Minnesota Meeting + Events Spring 2011 Issue

Gina Kilchenman, Aloft's Senior Sales Manager, is featured in the Spring 2011 Edition of Minnesota Meetings + Events.  Click here to read Rebecca Felix's article.

Next Step in the New Design Guidelines for the St. Anthony Falls Historic District

A number of concerns and suggestions were voiced at the April 6 'Development of New Design Guidelines for the St. Anthony Falls Historic District' public meeting held at the Mill City Museum.

Below, Brian Schaffer, Senior City Planner for the City of Minneapolis Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED), conducted the meeting. 

Historic District Design Guidelines are a local policy and regulatory tool used in decision-making to evaluate alterations and new development within the historic district.  The current Design Guidelines for the district were adopted by the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission in 1980.  In the three decades since the existing guidelines were adopted, the district has seen dramatic change.  Access to and interaction with the falls and the river has evolved, infrastructure has been added, project plans have been developed and realized, and the understanding and knowledge of the historic resources in the district have increased.

Brian compiled the feedback given during the meeting, which he'll present at the April 25 Public Workshop (location TBD).   During the April 25 meeting, attendees will define and discuss topics and issues that the new Guidelines should address.   Anyone who would like to voice their opinions regarding development of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District is encouraged to attend the April 25 Workshop.

An added bonus (but unrelated) to attending the April 6 meeting was this unique view from the Mill City Museum's 6th Floor Conference Room:

Nicollet Mall Closed for Repaving Approximately 4 Weeks

Beginning at 9:00am on Monday, April 11, Nicollet Mall will close for repaving.  This project is expected to last four weeks.

During the project, buses will be detoured as follows:
 
Buses will travel on Hennepin Avenue between Washington Avenue and 11th/12th Streets, using Lasalle and 11th/12th Streets between Grant and Hennepin. Board northbound buses on Grant at LaSalle or at any stop on Hennepin.
 
Board southbound buses on Nicollet at Grant or at any stop on Hennepin.
 
Note: On the North end of their trips, Route 18 buses will travel on Washington to Marquette to 1st Street North to Hennepin. They will not serve 3rd Street.
 
For questions, contact:
Renee Allen, Crime Prevention Specialist
Minneapolis Police Department, First Precinct
renee.allen@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
612-673-5163

Spoonriver Chefs Show "The Human Do.ing" How to Cook Healthy

By now most people have heard about Blue Cross Blue Shield's campaign with Scott, “The Human Do.ing”, who has been getting in shape while being on display at the Mall of America. 

Recently, Brenda Langton and Sarah Jean of Spoonriver visited Scott and showed him how to incorporate a variety of healthy foods into his diet.

It's Wine Week at Sanctuary!

Through April 16, buy one glass of wine and get a second glass for 10¢!

Sanctuary, 903 Washington Avenue South, is featuring two outstanding wines you will not want to miss!  The Ferrari Carano story is a classic tale where an Italian Ferrari fell in love with an American Carano and settled in California.  Their babies?  Truly outstanding wines!  We're featuring these two: 

Ferrari Carano Cabernet Sauvignon ~ rich and jammy $12
Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc ~ crisp, balanced and refreshing $9

Sanctuary serves these wines at excellent prices normally, but during wine week, you can enjoy these two at a steal!

Update on Pillsbury A Mill Complex

Here's a linkin case you missed Jennifer Bjorhus' April 7 Star Trib article regarding possible new life for the Pillsbury A Mill Complex (plus the interesting reader comments).

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

Finally - Spring is really here, and we're only 4 weeks away from the May 7 Opening Day at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market!

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

See you there! :D

Water Power Park Opens Today, April 7

Experience the power of the mighty Mississippi River as it flows over St. Anthony Falls!

Water Power Park is accessible from Main Street just across from St. Anthony Main, and provides the closest possible approaches to the falls.

 

West River Parkway Will be Closed April 7 - 8 Between 22nd Avenue and Fourth Street.

The Central Corridor Project Office has changed the format of the construction updates for West Bank and East Bank in Minneapolis.  These two updates are now combined into one update for the area to provide information in a more complete format.  Construction on one can affect travel to the other bank.

Updates are sent out every Friday. Schedules subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances! Check here frequently for updates. 

West Bank Overview
Click here for an overview of 2011 work planned on the West Bank, including the Washington Avenue Bridge.

Minneapolis Animation                   
Click hereto view an animation of LRT along Washington Avenue to Stadium Village.