It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Finally - The Utility Lines are Gone!

The last of the utility poles on South 2nd Street between Portland and Chicago came down December 6.

Residents on the river-facing side of the Mill District City Apartments can now enjoy a view free of power lines.

This stretch of 2nd Street South will come alive in the Spring with trees and neighborhood appropriate lamp posts.

Leaving the Past Behind to Get Healthy Now

This is the third in an ongoing series of personal health and fitness success stories, brought to us by Mill City Times Fitness Expert, Andrea Austin.

A lot of us can relate to Brad's story.  If you're pushed to do something that doesn't interest you as a child, chances are you will not continue that activity as an adult.  In Brads case it was sports - but as he discovered, the metabolism of youth is fleeting and weight is going to pack on if unchecked.

Below,  Brad demonstrates how the RealRyder cycle used in the 5pm Friday Happy Hour spin class at 501SP1N allows you to move from side to side.  It's a feature that makes this class a more challenging workout. 

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

Winter Pet Care Tips - An Ongoing Series from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM

This is the fifth installment of Pet Tips from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM.

Toxic Plants and Holiday/Winter Products:
Plants and other items associated with the winter and the Holiday season can be toxic to your pets. What follows is a general guide. Please consult your veterinarian, animal poison control, and the manufacturer for specifics. Remember, the earlier you seek treatment, the better for your pet!

Low toxicity-- Poinsettia leaves/stems; balsam/pine/cedar/fir; angel hair (spun glass); Christmas tree preservatives; snow sprays/snow flock; tree ornaments; super glue; Styrofoam; icicles (tinsel); and crayons/paints.

Moderate toxicity-- Fireplace colors/salts; plastic model cement Moderate to high toxicity holly berries and leaves; bubbling lights (methylene chloride); snow scenes (may contain salmonella); aftershaves/perfumes/alcoholic beverages; and chocolate (dark is more toxic than milk).

Highly toxic-- mistletoe (especially berries); epoxy adhesives; and antifreeze. Please note that some items have special problems. For example, whereas angel hair is usually considered to be of low toxicity, it can irritate eyes, skin, and the gastrointestinal tract; the content of Christmas tree preservatives varies and often effects depend upon the amount ingested; Styrofoam, small parts from Christmas tree ornaments and toys, as well as tinsel, can cause mechanical obstructions in the gastrointestinal tract; snow flock can cause problems if sprayed into the mouth and inhaled; and chocolate, of any type, should never be given to a pet. Antifreeze deserves special mention because even a very small amount can be rapidly fatal to pets.

Other Holiday Concerns:
If you plan to take your pet with you during holiday visits, make sure that your pet is welcome first (with all the activity, it may be better to board your pet or hire a pet sitter).  Holiday treats, such as rich, fatty food scraps, bones from fish, pork and poultry, alcoholic beverages, and chocolate, can be harmful or toxic to pets. Do not allow friends and relatives to give your pet special treats - it could ruin everyone's holiday (including your veterinarian's). Do not allow pets to play with ribbons, yarn, or six-pack beverage holders and don't put ribbons or yarn around your pets neck. If you want to decorate your pet, invest in a holiday collar. These last for many years, are more attractive, and are a lot safer! Cover or tack down electrical cords.

Dr. Sanford is a Veterinarian and Owner/Founder of Minneapolis Veterinary Hospital in the Mill District.   He can be contacted at 612-746-0300 or mplsvet@live.com.

Join Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation for a Guided Walk

No plans for 10:00am to 11:00am on Saturday, December 4?  How about some fresh air and exercise!

Experts are studying whether a waterfall may be restored to St. Anthony Falls’ East Channel, just below Main Street.  Join the Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation for a walk and information on this topic.

Restoring the East Channel Falls: Shaping our Riverfront Future

Guides:
David Wiggins, Park Ranger National Park Service
Cordelia Pierson, Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation

On this walk, we will look closely at the limestone faces proposed for restoring a waterfall to the East Channel of the Mississippi River.  We will review historical photographs and maps to understand the channel’s natural and industrial past and its possible future.

Meeting Place:
300 Main Street Southeast, by the “Lower Trail” sign on Main Street, across from the Pillsbury A Mill, a National Landmark.  Off-trail shoes are required.

Registration:
Please register today: Email Cordelia.pierson@gmail.com with your name and number of people with you to receive confirmation by email.  Program is free; donations are welcome to the Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation, a charitable organization.

This walk will help orient you for a public meeting:
December 9, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at Mill City Museum, you can learn about the proposal from Barr Engineering, and learn about other current riverfront projects.  All are welcome.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation: A Great River for a Great City.

Convenient Toys for Tots Drop off Sites in the Mill District

According to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Minneapolis website, the 2009 local Toys for Tots campaign distributed over 350,000 toys to children in the community.

The need is still great in 2010, and it's easy to contribute a toy or two at one of the convenient drop off sites here in our neighborhood, such as:

Ticket King, 212 Chicago Avenue South, 651-298-8100
Aloft,  900 Washington Avenue South, 612-455-8414
Bridgewater Lofts, 215 10th Avenue South, 952-292-7235 or 612-341-4000

Click here for a full list of drop off sites in Minnesota (listed in alphabetical order by city name). 

Annual Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association Meeting December 14

Location:  Central Library, Pohlad Hall

In addition to a line up of interesting speakers, elections will be held for the Board of Directors of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).   There are four seats up for election, and currently three incumbents are running.  The terms are two years.  If you know of anyone who might have an interest in running, please contact Christie Rock at 612-659-1279.

Agenda 

6:00pm  Welcome and DMNA Update by Board Chair Carletta Sweet
              * Presentation of the DMNA Phase II NRP Plan for community approval
 
6:15pm  7th Ward Update by Council Member Lisa Goodman and reports from other elected officials

6:30pm  Presentation on efforts to end homelessness in Downtown Minneapolis.  How DMNA NRP funds
              are helping address the problem in the Downtown community.  Guest presenters include:
              * Cathy tenBroeke from Heading Home Hennepin
              * Monica Nilsson from St. Stephen’s Human Services
 
6:55pm  Presentation by Sarah Harris regarding the Downtown Improvement District

7:10pm  DMNA Board Directors Elections Facilitated by the League of Women Voters
              To be eligible to vote you must live, work or own property in either the Downtown
              East or Downtown West neighborhoods.

7:20pm  Crime and Safety Update by the Minneapolis Police Department First Precinct 

7:40pm  Announcement of new DMNA Board Directors by the League of Women Voters

7:45pm  Adjournment

Enhancing Communities - It's a Family Thing

As mentioned in previous posts, we live at the Bridgewater Lofts.  When residents bring up requests or concerns during Association meetings, developer Jim Stanton has always responded positively.

It was not surprising, then, to read about his daughter Debbie Woodward in "The queen of Northrup King" article from the November 22-December 5 issue of the Journal.

Artists at the Mill City Farmer's Market had mentioned the Northrup King Building, but we haven't had a chance to visit it.  It is now on our Must See list.

MacPhail Center for Music Presents Two Performances of Handel’s “Messiah”

MacPhail Center for Music presents Sonomento in concert with the MacPhail Baroque Players, performing Handel’s “Messiah.”

Two concert dates and locations:

December 11, 7:30pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis

December 13, 7:30pm at St. Catherine University, Our Lady of Victory Chapel, 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul

Musical director, Craig Fields, with featured soloists: Sally Clayburn, mezzo-soprano; Gerry Schmidt, bass; Colyn Tvete, tenor; Amy Wolf, soprano; and Gail Olszewski, harpsichordist.

Sonomento is one of MacPhail’s finest choir ensembles, performing vocal music from the Renaissance to the present in a small ensemble setting.

Suggested donations: $15 for adults and $5 for students and children.

For more information call 612-321-0100.

Agenda for December 6 Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Board Meeting

The public is invited to attend the December 6 Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Board Meeting. It is scheduled for 3:30pm-5:00pm at Mill City Museum.

Please RSVP to Pat Naidl at patrick.naidl@mnhs.org to confirm your attendance.

Meeting Agenda:

I.   Welcome and Call to Order   
II.  *Approval of the June 28, 2010 minutes (Addendum I)
III. Report on Minneapolis Riverfront Design Competition
IV.  Presentation of East Bank Energy Center Documentation Project
V.   Brief updates on projects
      a. Greening the Riverfront Series
      b. East Bank Coordination
         1. East Bank Falls
         2. Dakota Conference and Consultation
      c. Timeline for Historic District Design Guidelines
VI.  Farewell to Nina Archabal
VII. Adjourn

A note of interest: This will be the final meeting for Chair Nina Archabal. She will be honored for her 22 years of exceptional service to, and accomplishments for, the Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Board.

Turkey Day 5K!

Happy Thanksgiving, Mill District neighbors!

It was a beautiful, sunny single-digit morning, and the Turkey Day 5K participants were out in full force:

 

Another Unique Story from MacPhail Center for Music

I recently signed up to be on MacPhail's email list, and received my first e-newsletter earlier this week.  The following story is an excerpt from that newsletter, and is a great example of the unique things happening at MacPhail:

MICHAEL SAYS STOP!

Michael is an excitable toddler who receives Early Childhood Music Classes through a partnership between his pre-school and MacPhail.  

Before learning music with MacPhail, Michael had few language skills.  He did not speak, but communicated through expressive grunts and gestures.  When his friends at school could not understand him, he became frustrated and would push them and make an expression indicating that he wanted them to "stop". 

Michael was very motivated by music and loved a large African drum in his classroom.  In class, his MacPhail Early Childhood Music teacher started to sing a song that encouraged impulse control.  They sang, "We tap and we tap and we STOP."  Michael quickly caught on and after singing the song three to four times, he said his first word: "STOP". 

Michael now has a large vocabulary.  MacPhail's teaching artist who works with Michael tells us that his vocabulary has flourished.  In fact, last time she saw him he shared a story about butterflies and caterpillars with great articulation.

Click here if you'd like to sign up for future MacPhail e-newsletters.

Mill District Residents Create Their Own Green Space

I'm sharing this story because it's such a neat example of Mill District residents taking the initiative to improve their surroundings.

We live at the Bridgewater Lofts, a large development of roughly 280 residential units with retail on the ground floor.  The building is U-shaped, and many residents overlook an interior courtyard.  The courtyard, which is not visible from the street, had become an eyesore for residents whose balconies offer a view of it.

Bridgewater resident Ann Napp took the initiative to start a Garden Club, with an initial goal of transforming that area.  The first meeting took place in August of 2009.

To assist with the project, Garden Club member Mark Zimmerman contacted the graduate studies coordinator in both the Landscape Architecture program and the Horticulture Department at the U of M. Sandy Meulners and Sarah Ash, grads in the Landscape Architecture program, met with the Garden Club and developed a very thorough and creative plan.

Several Garden Club committees were formed to handle different stages of the courtyard project. Bricks were purchased from Menards and delivered in the spring of 2010.  Jim Stanton (Shamrock Development) generously agreed to cover the cost of installing an irrigation system.  Mickman Brothers delivered dirt for the new raised beds, and they also installed the irrigation system.

Some of the large trees and shrubs were delivered from Gertens. Subsequent smaller orders of shrubs, bulbs and some perennials from several garden centers were hauled by Garden Club members.  All of the plant material was installed by the Club. Most of the tools were purchased with either budgeted funds or funds raised by the Garden Club from donations, and a few hand tools were donated.

In addition to the courtyard project, the Garden Club also took on care of the main entrance planters, as well as planters in the pool area and the patio off the community room.  This actually saved the Association money over having an outside contractor take care of these seasonal plantings. Equally beneficial to the cost savings was how beautiful the planters turned out.

Peter Zenner, Bridgewater resident and Garden Club member, put together this video of phase one of the courtyard project, which was completed this year.

I asked Mark if he had any advice for members of other Associations who might be considering a Garden Club.  Here are his thoughts:

• Start small, and pick a project with high visibility to Association members.
• Plan well, and raise as much money as you can to have the most impact.
• Make it a social event.
• Go for the big display. If you make a great impression early on, you'll have much better luck raising money and expanding your projects later on.
• Get people to take ownership and pride in the project, and they're more likely to stick it out.

If you have a story about a positive effort being made by your condo or apartment building residents, please let us know - we'd love to share it on Mill City Times!

You Don't Have to be Overweight to be Out of Shape

This is the second in an ongoing series of personal health and fitness success stories, brought to us by Mill City Times Fitness Expert, Andrea Austin.

I met Caroline Friday night after her RealRyder spin class led by Andrea at 501SP1N.  She explained how working long hours led her away from her previous atheletic lifestyle, and how she turned that around. 

Below, Caroline shows off her lean physique while perched on a RealRyder bike.  The 5pm Friday Happy Hour RealRyder spin class is just one of the cardio activities Caroline uses to stay fit without getting into a rut.

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

Behind the Scenes of A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie

In case you missed the article by Rohan Preston in todays Star Tribune, here is the link. 

Curious George Visits the Library Today

Time: 10:30am–11:30am

Location: Central Children's Library

Curious George Visits the Minneapolis Central Library

Preschool-Grade 2. Join Curious George and "The Man in the Yellow Hat" for monkeyshines and shenanigans. Enjoy stories, activities and games!

Minnesota Vikings / Green Bay Packers Fan Challenge November 19

I noticed this Event on the Red Cross web site:

The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are known for their rivalry on the football field. To kick-off their second showdown this season, both teams are encouraging their fans to also support patients in need by donating blood or platelets through the American Red Cross on Friday, November 19, 2010.  The team that has the most people turn out to donate earns extra bragging rights on and off the field.

All blood and platelet donations made at American Red Cross blood drives and donor centers in Minnesota on Friday, November 19 will count for the Minnesota Vikings. Donations in Wisconsin will count for the Green Bay Packers.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to find a blood drive near you in Minnesota on November 19. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.  Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good general health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

“The best part about this rivalry is that no matter which team triumphs on the field, patients in need of lifesaving blood transfusions are the ultimate winners,” said Geoff Kaufmann, CEO of the local American Red Cross Blood Services Region. “By giving blood on November 19, donors can support their hometown team while helping to ensure a stable blood supply.”

“Many of our terrific fans say they ‘bleed purple.’ Well, now’s their chance to prove it,” said Brad Madson, Minnesota Vikings executive director of community relations. “This is a terrific way to enjoy our Packers rivalry while helping a very important cause.”

The American Red Cross partners with 129 hospitals in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and more than 3,000 nationwide, providing lifesaving blood products and specialized laboratory services.

There is an American Red Cross Donor Center in our neighborhood at 1201 West River Parkway.

First Mill City Snowman of the Season

Saturday morning was a beautiful winter wonderland (at least for those of us who didn't have to drive or shovel snow).   Around 9am we trudged down to Dunn Bros. for beans, and got a few shots along the way: 

And finally, a diehard worker washes windows on the newly leasing Mill District City Apartments:

Mill District City Apartments Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Tour

Mill District City Apartments - already 35% leased - held it's official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on November 10.

Wielding the scissors in the below video are (left to right) Elliot Jaffee, President, US Bank, Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Jonathan Holtzman, CEO, Village Green. 

A tour of several furnished models followed the ribbon cutting.  We started at the living green wall just off the lobby.

From there we continued on to the 2-story model:

 

And the first floor model:

At the end of the tour, Dan waives farewell from the private 2nd Street South entry of the first floor model.  

Dan mentioned the underground garage has 300+ bike racks, 2 car wash bays and a Pet Spa.  

For apartment leasing information, contact Diane Tidwell at 612-886-3780, or millpropmgr@villagegreen.com.  Click here for Floor plans, rates, etc.

Pet Park Safety Tips - An Ongoing Series from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM

Our neighborhood is a haven for dog owners, and we thought it would be beneficial to have an ongoing series specifically for them.  This is the fourth installment of Pet Park Safety Tips from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM.

All dogs can benefit from training classes, which are offered by Canine Coach in South Minneapolis (42nd Avenue & 54th Street), Twin Cities Obedience Training Club on Broadway in Minneapolis, and Bark Busters (John Pilati-Warner: 612-360-3492).

Dogs "in heat" should never be brought to a dog park because the female dog could cause male dogs to fight.  However, other dogs can benefit from visiting dog parks.  The positive effects include exercise, less pent-up energy, social contact, and mental stimulation.  Dog owners also socialize and exercise at these parks.

Dr. Sanford is a Veterinarian and Owner/Founder of Minneapolis Veterinary Hospital in the Mill District.   He can be contacted at 612-746-0300 or mplsvet@live.com.