Help Out a Mechanic or Auto Body Specialist in Training - Donate Your Old Vehicle to Newgate School!

Editor's Note - This is a follow up to an article we posted in late 2021.

Blythe from Newgate School recently shared some concerning news with us. Per Blythe, "Right now, we’re very, very short on inventory for both our students and the Wheels for Women program. Since COVID and the supply chain issues with new cars, we’re down more than 50% on donated vehicles. We just can’t provide vehicles in the way we have done in the past." 

So, my request to Mill City Times readers is this: If you or anyone you know is planning to purchase a new vehicle, and the one you're replacing is in need of body work and/or mechanical repairs, please consider donating it to Newgate. An organization that offers tuition-free training to underserved young adults, and then gifts those fixed vehicles to single mothers, is a true asset to our community!

Thank you! Kim :)

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Below is Becky Fillinger's November 2021 interview with Blythe:

Blythe SeversonHave you heard of Newgate School? I recently learned of this a marvelous nonprofit which trains young adults for careers in the automotive industry. We spoke to Blythe Severson, Executive Director, about the origins of the school and the many levels of generosity they provide to the community.

Q:  Please tell us the history and mission of the Newgate School.

 A:  Newgate School was founded in 1975 as a nonprofit, tuition-free automotive training facility for underserved young adults in the Twin Cities. Many of our students could not afford post-secondary training or were not successful in traditional classroom style settings. They were struggling to find good paying jobs to support themselves and their families. Students who enroll at Newgate learn through hands-on training on donated vehicles. The students learn auto body and collision repair and general auto mechanics from highly professional and experienced instructors. Within 12 to 18 months, they graduate and join the automotive workforce, earning a good wage and are on their way to a successful and satisfying career.

Q:  How do car donations help the school and the donor?

A:  Newgate depends almost entirely on vehicle donations from the community. People really appreciate the program because it's such a win-win for everyone. Donors provide us with their vehicles and receive a tax deduction on that year's tax return. Students get vehicles they can work on to learn the skills they need to become entry level automotive technicians. The vehicles can get a second life as Newgate sells the repaired and refurbished cars at a local dealer auction and 100% of the proceeds are used at the school to run its operations. Even those vehicles we can't use in training are sold or used for parts so every car donation benefits the school. The local community wins because our students are on their way to better paying jobs that allow them economic independence. The best cars for our students are 15 years old or newer with minimal rust, but we take pretty much any vehicle because they all help the school in one way or another. We love any mechanical or body issue since that's what we need to teach our students. Even cars with blown engines work for us! 

Q:  How many students have graduated from your programs? Do you have information on where they’ve found employment?

A:  Newgate trains up to 28 students at a time in our programs. The training works because it's geared specifically to each individual student. Some students who have experience working on cars with their family members may only take 10 months to graduate. Others with English as a second language or with little to no experience working on cars may take 15 months to graduate. Newgate meets them where they are and as long as they have a genuine desire for an automotive career and are committed to the training, our job is to get them through the curriculum and ready for employment on graduation.

Our average placement rate ranges between 95%-100%. We partner with dealerships, national brands and local, individually-owned shops to match our students’ skills and aspirations with companies and environments that will continue to support their success. Newgate's reputation in the local industry is well-known and shops seek out and appreciate our graduates. We set up our training to run like a real shop, and students can work on as many as 50 projects during training, which is invaluable "on-the-job" training that many other automotive programs can't match. The ability to provide that kind of training is completely due to the community donations we gratefully receive.

Q:  Please tell us about the Wheels for Women program.

A:  Newgate's founder started the Wheels program in the mid-90's. Through working in the industry, he became aware of the significant number of young moms struggling to meet the needs of their children in part because they had no access to reliable transportation. Imagine raising your family, working full-time, bringing kids to daycare, managing errands, school activities and health appointments without a vehicle. So Newgate students began repairing 1-2 cars per month to give to single moms who are working or going to school full-time. There are some pretty strict requirements for which cars are selected for the program, and they must pass a rigorous maintenance check. Students get the satisfaction of paying it forward and the school has now provided close to 800 vehicles for single, working moms. We know that the program makes an incredible difference in their lives. Kids make it to school on a regular basis and are able to participate in sports and other activities, moms can keep a job because they can get there reliably each day and no longer have to depend on friends or family to get groceries or keep appointments. Some moms are even able to plan for additional schooling for themselves, all because they have reliable transportation.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

 A:  You can find Newgate on our website, on Facebook, Instagram and nextdoor.

We welcome Mill City Times readers to come for a tour. Drop by 2900 Hennepin Avenue E or call 612-378-0177.

 

Mill City Museum Wins Fourth Place in Best History Museum Contest

Via a February 24 press release from Mill City Museum

Mill City Museum has won the honor of being named among the best history museums in the nation. Online voters chose the Minneapolis museum as the fourth place finisher.

The recent contest included 20 sites from around the country, which were nominated by an expert panel for USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. Results were announced this morning at 11 am CST.

“Throughout this contest, we’ve been honored to hear the stories of what Mill City Museum means to our visitors,” said Site Manager David Stevens. “Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote us into the top five.”

The following museums placed in the top five:

1. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio
2. Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3. National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia
4. Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
5. Cincinnati History Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio

More information about the contest and results are available here.

You can learn more about Mill City Museum and its upcoming events, including tomorrow’s STEM Family Day!

Welcome Back the Herons Event - March 18 at Marshall Terrace Park

Saturday March 18 / 11:00am – 1:00pm

Great blue herons start returning to their rookery on the Mississippi River toward the end of March. Join Mississippi Park Connection and Ranger Will at Marshall Terrace Park, 2740 Marshall Street NE in Minneapolis to watch them rebuild nests and do a little flirting. If you're lucky, you might see the resident peregrine falcons fly over, as well as migrating ducks like buffleheads and goldeneye.

• The even takes place on the banks of the Mississippi River, weather permitting. Prepare for some mud or ice.
• Binoculars and cameras are encouraged - there will be a few spotting scopes to aid viewing the birds.
• This event is free, but registration is required to help with crowd control.
• A ranger or volunteer will greet you on the walking path near the trail that leads to the river bank.
• The walking path is fully accessible, but the trail that leads down to the river bank is not. The heron rookery is still visible from the walking path. Please ask a park ranger or volunteer for assistance.
• Free parking can be reliably found on the street adjacent to the park, Marshall Street SE. Please allow heron-viewers with mobility needs to use the park's smaller parking lot.

Registration  *  Facebook Event

Local Food and Culture Luminaries Launch Nonprofit, BIPOC Foodways Alliance

Chef / Writer Mecca Bos and Chef Sean Sherman recently founded BIPOC Foodways Alliance with a mission to document and share underrepresented food stories.

Launch event / fundraiser slated for Feb 28 at Glass House

Mecca Bos has been a food writer and chef for the past 25 years, working extensively around Black Foodways specifically, but also with BIPOC communities in the Twin Cities and beyond. Her partner, Sean Sherman, is the co-owner of award-winning restaurant Owamni, and nonprofit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS). Together they have launched BIPOC Foodways Alliance, with a diverse group of board members who are hosting a ticketed launch event and fundraiser on February 28th.

While everyone has a food story, not everyone has a restaurant. The group’s main focus will be convening small events built around a community member and their story. The series is called the BIPOC Foodways Alliance Table (BFAT). The Table will provide a platform for those stories, intentionally inviting a diverse group of guests to have a seat at the table, to promote cross-cultural understanding and sharing through the universally spoken language of food. The organization intends to share stories across the Table itself, but also with the broader community using multiple forms of media: print, video, audio, and beyond. The Tables serve as both the core program of the organization and as a place to preserve, uplift, and protect the stories of BIPOC communities.

With the generous pro bono support of law firm Faegre Drinker, the organization is slated to reach 501c3 status by the end of 2023, and the fundraiser seeks to keep the project alive and well until that time.

The launch party will take place Tuesday, February 28 at Glass House, 145 Holden Street N, from 6pm to 10pm. It will feature entertainment by Cornbread Harris, DJ Tricky Miki, food by Sean Sherman, plus a presentation by Mecca Bos and members of the board, including Chef Yia Vang. A cash bar will feature BIPOC-created cocktails.

Sliding scale tickets are available via Eventbrite.

Great River Coalition Announces Annual Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk/River Cleanup at Boom Island Park, April 22

The Great River Coalition has announced their annual Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk/River Cleanup at Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley Street NE, will take place Saturday, April 22 from 9am to 12pm. The event features a family and dog-friendly fun run/walk, river cleanup, and Earth Day festivities to protect pollinators and their habitat. Learn more and register at greatrivercoalition.com/2023-beerunwalkcleanup.

Since 2017, the Great River Coalition has been raising funds for pollinator plantings along the Mississippi River and building awareness about the importance of protecting and saving our pollinators due to climate and environmental changes. Native pollinators, including the federally endangered Rusty-patched bumble bee and other wild bees, need our help more than ever.

The Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk/River Cleanup is hosted by the Great River Coalition, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the National Park Service, St. Catherine University, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and Mill City Running/St. City Running.

The 5K course traverses through the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - the only national park offering scenic views of the Mississippi River. Following the 5K, participants will be able to take part in an organized river cleanup and enjoy festivities including live music and entertainment, prizes, games for kids, demonstrations, and more. Photo ops will include a bee-themed selfie station, notable appearances, and mascots. Bee and pollinator themed costumes are highly encouraged! All are encouraged to participate in the event to help save our bees and other pollinators.

Rusty-patched bumble bee“Great River Coalition is working to expand the habitat for our pollinators,” said Board President Diane Hofstede. “If you walk along our Minneapolis riverfront, or travel around the state, you’ll see the limited food resources that sustain our pollinators as they travel along the Mississippi River. The erosion created by the lack of grasslands contributes to soil and water pollution, and encourages invasive species. The Rusty-patched bumble bee, Minnesota’s state bumble bee, is now listed as critically endangered. They have lost 95% of their range, and experienced a 90% decrease in abundance. We aim to bring awareness to the vital role pollinators play in the health of our riverfront communities.”

Event Details:

The cost is $40 in advance, $45 on Race Day. Free for kids race (ages 6 and under) and River Clean Up. Includes family-friendly activities and a celebration of Earth Day.

The 5K will start promptly at 9am. A free kids race, with goodie bags, will be held at 8:30am - children must be age 6 or under and must be registered before the event, either online or in-person.

River Clean Up volunteers should also register online before the event. This activity is free.

Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update - February 17

Via a February 17 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis. This project is anticipated to be completed summer 2023.

The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures.

Project Map

Latest Project News

Mississippi River Portal

• Crews continue enlarging the existing storm tunnel at the Mississippi River and have begun lining the tunnel with concrete.

 2nd Ave

• Crews continue tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S, just north of the Washington Ave intersection and have begun lining the tunnel with concrete.

 Portland Ave

• Crews continue tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the existing tunnel access shaft at the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Portland Ave intersection and have begun lining the tunnel with concrete.

Tunneling Progress

In February, the project reached 77% completion with excavation. Crews have removed approximately 55,500 tons of material to date. As noted in the infographic above, 55,500 tons is equal to the weight of more than five Eiffel Towers.

Lining Progress

In February, crews continued to work on the concrete tunnel lining. To date,1,400 cubic yards of concrete have been poured. As noted in the infographic above, 1,400 cubic yards is equal to about two fifths the volume of an Olympic swimming pool. This process is approximately 10.5% complete.

Long-term closures/restrictions

• The north westbound lane, bike lane, and parking lane remains closed on Washington Ave between Portland Ave and Park Ave. These closures will remain in place until the project is completed. This is necessary for the contractor to utilize the existing shaft to connect the existing tunnel to the new tunnel.
  • During this closure, pedestrians can still use the sidewalks along Washington Ave.
  • Crosswalks across Washington Ave and Portland Ave will remain open.
  • Bicyclists will share the traffic lane.
  • The existing left turn lane on Washington Ave at the Portland Ave intersection will temporarily become a left turn and through lane.

• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains restricted between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall. The contractor will resume tunneling from the existing tunnel to the new tunnel at a later date.
  • During these restrictions, pedestrians share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remains open.

• The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S remains restricted through the end of the project. The dewatering well and pumps are installed in this area.
  • Pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the west side of 4th Ave S.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 4th Ave intersection remains open.
  • Access to driveways off 4th Ave S remains open.

• The west sidewalk of Portland Ave south of Washington Ave will remain restricted to pedestrians around the dewatering well and pumps until the project is completed.

• The parking lot and trail near Mill Runs Park will remain closed until spring 2023.

• 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Ave and 1st St S. Access will be restricted until the project is completed.
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

Stay Connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates.

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418

The Beauty & The Beast Immersive Cocktail Experience is Coming to Stilheart Distillery & Cocktail Lounge

An immersive cocktail adventure is coming to Stilheart Distillery & Cocktail Lounge, 124 N 3rd Avenue! It will  run from February 22nd until May 21st. This enchanting experience is brought to you by the interactive team behind The Wizard’s Den, Neverland Bar and The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience. Come along on a 90-minute journey (based on the Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont fairytale) and step into the enchanted and cursed world of Beauty & The Beast.

Partake in an elegant, Victorian cocktail party (dress-ups encouraged!). You’ll be invited to dance, sample from the Castle’s finest delights (of the alcoholic and edible variety), but be careful not to overstay your welcome to take anything that’s not yours - or you may not get home at all! Will you be able to lift the curse that has been put upon Beast and his servants so they can live happily ever after?

You can look forward to a theatrical, alternate reality experience that will take you into a world of madness and talking clocks! Across 90 minutes you will create two bespoke-themed cocktails, solve riddles and challenges to lift the curse, and more! Tickets are $47 per person, including entry, theatrics and two bespoke cocktails included.

Theatre in the Round's Eurydice Opens March 10

Theatre in the Round Presents Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl

March 10 to April 2, 2023

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues its 71st season with a visually stunning retelling of the classic myth of Orpheus.

Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story.

Sophie Peyton directs the 10-member cast with movement direction by Kelly Nelson, sets designed by Crist Ballas, costumes by Sarah Christenson, lighting by Dietrich Poppen, props by Holly Kottke, and sound by Robert Hoffman.

Eurydice runs March 10 to April 2. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm with a Pay What you Can Performance on Monday, March 20 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25. For information, call the theatre’s box office at 612-333-3010 or purchase online.

The City of Minneapolis Requests Your Feedback on Proposed Land Use Rezoning

Minneapolis 2040 went into effect on January 1, 2020, following over two years of engagement with the people of Minneapolis. The plan guides growth and change with fourteen goals in mind, including eliminating racial disparities, slowing climate change, and increasing access to jobs and housing.

As required by state law, the City is updating its zoning rules to match the development guidelines that the City Council already approved with Minneapolis 2040. Since 2020, the City has worked to meet this requirement by adopting inclusionary zoning, eliminating single-family exclusive zoning, adopting new built form districts and regulations, and eliminating minimum parking requirements. The Land Use Rezoning Study is the next major update to zoning regulations that will create consistency between the zoning code and the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan’s 12 Future Land Use categories will guide the development of new land use regulations, governing issues such as:

• Uses allowed in each zoning district
• Development standards that apply to uses allowed by zoning district (size of individual uses, where retail mixed-use is required, etc.)
• Creation and mapping of new zoning districts to be consistent with the Future Land Use Map in Minneapolis 2040

This amendment also provides the opportunity to make the zoning ordinance easier for users to navigate, and easier for staff to administer. Special attention will be paid to the structure of the ordinance with an eye toward making it a more user-friendly tool.

The City wants your feedback on the proposed changes to the code! You can do this by clicking on the survey link.

June 4th Amazing Urban Adventure to support Hennepin Healthcare

Teams of Two Solve Clues, Complete Challenges, Capture Photos, and Create Memories. Come Join the Fun! Sunday, June 4

Hennepin Healthcare Foundation introduces Adventurama, an urban experience in downtown Minneapolis. This fundraiser invites teams of two adults to complete challenges within a three-mile radius of Hennepin Healthcare. Starting at The Commons (across from US Bank Stadium), teams will earn points by solving clues and completing challenges at 12 pit stops while creating memories, capturing photos, and updating their perception of downtown.

More Info

MacPhail's February 25 Spotlight Series: Translucent Beauty

MacPhail Center for Music's Spotlight Series explores diverse musical themes performed by MacPhail Center for Music faculty and special guests – showcasing some of the finest musicians and artists in the Twin Cities. The next concert of the Spotlight Series is Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors, Translucent Beauty.

Eyenga Bokamba

In this multi-sensory artistic feast of sorts, Twin Cities visual artist and designer Eyenga Bokamba will use illumination, projection and short films to engage the audience. Her esteemed musical colleagues from MacPhail will create a musical landscape from Bach to improvisations and electronic soundscapes on keyboard, providing a variety of sounds within genre and time period. This performance will feature MacPhail’s own Mike Alexander on Horn with Miryana Moteva on piano, Rebecca Merblum on cello, and Michael Cain on piano. Together, these talented Twin Cities artists are sure to lure the community out of hibernation and into the warm glow of Antonello Hall.

Translucent Beauty takes place Saturday, February 25 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for seniors (ages 55 and older) and youth (ages 6 through 18).

Free Talk of Stacks with Charlayne Hunter-Gault, February 16, at Central Library

Talk of the Stacks with Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Free in-person + virtual event, February 16, 6:30p (Doors open 6p)

On Thursday, February 16, Emmy Award-winning journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault kicks off the return to in-person Talk of the Stacks events at Minneapolis Central Library in Pohlad Hall. Join at the library or online to experience an enthralling conversation between Hunter-Gault and seasoned radio and podcast host Lissa Jones. 

Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and school desegregation pioneer. For more than five decades, this dedicated reporter has charted a course through some of the world’s most respected journalistic institutions, including The New Yorker and The New York Times, where she was often the only Black woman in the newsroom. Throughout her storied career, Charlayne has chronicled the lives of Black people in America—shining a light on their experiences and giving a glimpse into their community as never before.

Throughout her storied career, Charlayne has chronicled the lives of Black people in America—shining a light on their experiences and giving a glimpse into their community as never before. My People: Five Decades of Writing about Black Lives is a collection of ground-breaking reportage highlighting her experiences from across fifty years. 

In Person Registration  Virtual Registration

History and Science Come Together for STEM Day at Mill City Museum, Feb 25

The museum hosts a day of family activities featuring guest presentations

Science, technology, engineering, and math aren’t confined to the classroom. Families will have a chance to learn how the STEM fields are intertwined with history and how they continue to have an important impact today.

On February 25, 11 am–3 pm, Mill City Museum will hold STEM Family Day to showcase how science is all around us in the Twin Cities. The day’s program features interactive power and hydroelectricity tables, a flour dust explosion demonstration, and a free concert at 11:30 am with Petite Concerts, who will help make small instruments to demonstrate the science of music afterward.

Other highlights include:

• Live animals from the U of M Raptor Center and the MN Herpetological Society
• Fire safety from the Minneapolis Fire Department
• Wheat’s journey from Farm to Table by the General Mills Grain and Flour Quality Lab (in the baking lab, requires museum admission)
• Interacting with scientists and engineers from the U of M St. Anthony Falls Laboratory
• Inventing a boat with the National Park Service
• Learning about electricity with the Bakken Museum

Cost: Free, baking lab activity requires museum admission

For more information and a complete list of guest presenters, click here.

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Winter Restaurant Week is Feb 20-26

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Winter Restaurant Week is happening February 20 - 26. Some of the Twin Cities finest chefs will be dishing out mouth-watering two and three course prix fixe meals at prices ranging from $15 to $45.

There are over 55 participating restaurants, including some in our Downtown and riverfront neigborhoods: 

• All Saints, 222 E Hennepin Ave 
• The Freehouse, 701 Washington Ave N
• EaTo, 305 Washington Ave S 
• Cafe Lurcat, 1624 Harom Place 
• Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen, 2515 Nicollet Ave  

How to Contact 311

Excerpt from the February 2 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Need to report an issue? Can't find the right information? Minneapolis 311 can help. 311 coordinates with City departments and service providers to report your concerns, find you information and connect you with non-emergency City services. For example, if you report an icy sidewalk or have questions about winter parking restrictions, 311 connects with the experts in the right department to get to the bottom of it.

There are many ways to get in contact with 311 for non-emergency City information. Choose what's easiest for you.

• Call 311. Agents are here to answer your call 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 311 from within city limits or 612-673-3000.
• Email 311. You can email 311 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Agents will respond 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email Minneapolis 311.
• Text 311. You can text 311 a short question any time. Just text two or three keywords to 311TXT (311898) to receive an answer from the Minneapolis 311 information database on your mobile phone.
• Get the 311 mobile app. Report neighborhood issues on the 311 mobile app 24 hours a day.
  • Download for Android.
  • Download for iPhone.
• 311 agents use computer-based technology so hearing-impaired callers can easily communicate with the City using TDD/TTY devices. Call TTY 612-263-6850.

Use the contact form. You can send 311 your comments or questions on the website contact form.

Sensory Friendly Days at the Mill City Museum, Feb 12 and July 22

Visitors can explore modified exhibits and activities outside of regular museum hours

The Minnesota Historical Society welcomes visitors with sensory sensitivities, Autism, or developmental disabilities to Sensory Friendly Days at several metro area historic sites throughout the coming months.

Multiple MNHS sites will modify museum activities and exhibits with neurodiversity in mind. Considerations include low volume for all media shows, signs with explanations of activities, allergy signs, and take-a-break spaces. Pre-registration is required to attend Sensory Friendly Days.

Participants at these events can enjoy selected museum exhibits, short films when applicable, and hands-on activities. Sensory Friendly Days will begin one to two hours before sites open to the general public. Visitors are welcome to extend their visit into regular museum hours. Locations and dates for Sensory Friendly Days include:

Mill City Museum: Sunday, February 12, 9–10am, Theme: Valentines

Minnesota History Center: Saturday, March 25, 8:30–10am, Theme: Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition

James J. Hill House: Saturday, May 13, 9–10am, Theme: Train Day

Mill City Museum: Saturday, July 22, 9–10 am,Theme: Archaeology Day

Register and find more information about Sensory Friendly Days here.

Children’s Theatre Company's Locomotion Plays thru March 5th

The Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) production of Locomotion runs througth March 5th. Locomotion was a finalist for the National Book Award, and author Jacqueline Woodson has adapted her acclaimed work for the stage. CTC’s production is directed by Talvin Wilks, an award-winning playwright, director, and dramaturg.

 

Junie Edwards as Lonnie. Photo by Glen Stubbe PhotographyLocomotion takes the audience into the life of 11-year-old Lonnie Motion, as he finds new tools -  the result of a school poetry assignment – which help him to process the tumult of life in foster care. As Lonnie discovers the power of poetry, he experiences deeper connections to his new foster mother, his school friend Enrique, his teacher Ms. Marcus, and his beloved younger sister Lili.

 

Uprooted from his family, surrounded by the unfamiliar, Lonnie couldn’t feel more alone. But this year, his class is learning to write poetry. As Lonnie finds his voice, you’ll discover how poetry can bring you closer to others and to yourself.

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Ticket Information

 

Locomotion plays through March 5 at CTC’s Cargill Stage, 2400 3rd Avenue S. Tickets may be purchase online at childrenstheatre.org/locomotion or by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15. School groups interested in attending Locomotion can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org for more information. This production is best enjoyed by everyone age 9 and up. Due to the age recommendation, lap passes will not be available for this production.

Gamut Gallery Announces Astroturf, a Group Exhibit Featuring SoCal Architecture, Pop art and Post-painterly Abstraction Opening February 17th

Via a recent e-announcement:

Public Opening February 17, 6-9pm, $7 presale/$10 door

Gamut Gallery has announced Astroturf, their first exhibit of 2023. This group exhibit plays with the idea of appearances vs. authenticity through the iconic influence of SoCal architecture, pop art and post-painterly abstraction.

Gamut’s multimedia exhibit, in collaboration with Blu Dot, features local MN artists, Genie Castro and Nicole Mueller, along with returning SoCal artists, Human Shaped Animal and Neal Breton. Astroturf embraces bold and vivid colors, hard-edge lines and geometry, this selection of work celebrates the resurgence and influence of the mid-century movement and pop-culture Southern California suburbia.

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Installed in place of grass from as early as the 1950s, AstroTurf™ forgoes naturally growing grass for the carefree ease of owning an evergreen front lawn. In mid-century America, the synthetic material was marketed to homeowners as a means of signaling status to their neighbors through perfectly manicured landscaping year-round. Mirroring our current consumer culture of filtered images and branded content, Gamut Gallery’s first show of 2023, Astroturf, plays with the idea of appearances vs. authenticity through the iconic influence of SoCal architecture, pop art and post-painterly abstraction. Astroturf peers over the neighbor’s hedge to sneak a peek of how the Joneses really live. 

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Genie Castro’s renditions offer a nod to the midcentury design through her vibrant mono-prints and nine accompanying pieces from her 2022 collection, Lily. While Human Shape Animal incorporates tropical foliage with post-painterly abstraction to produce sculptural, yet functional, wall fixtures that incorporate living plants. Nicole Mueller’s potent images from her annual pilgrimages to Palm Springs highlight mid-century modernist architecture, with the quiet stillness of manicured lawns and majestic palms. Also lending a nod to the leisurely lifestyle, Neal Breton’s works from his Strange Paradise Collection reveal inviting pool scenes we all long for during these cold winter months. Blu Dot’s selection of locally designed and constructed furniture elevates the mid-century modern aesthetic, immersing the viewer in the movement's all-encompassing influence on art, design and culture. 

Mill City Museum Nominated for Best History Museum in the Nation

Via a January 27 e-announcement:

Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

Supporters of Minnesota history can vote for the museum daily in online contest

Mill City Museum was recently named one of the nation’s best history museums, and the downtown Minneapolis site needs the public’s support to earn the top prize.

The museum is among 20 nominated for a USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award in the category of best history museum. Minnesotans can vote online once per day until the contest concludes on February 13.

“This nomination is an incredible honor,” said Mill City Museum Site Manager David Stevens. “Mill City Museum brings people together by showcasing the history of Minneapolis, and we are grateful for this opportunity that will allow more people around the country to learn about this gem.”

Visitors at the museum can learn about Minneapolis’ growth through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities which tell the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the Mississippi River, and the city of Minneapolis. Curious patrons of all ages enjoy informative multimedia shows and programs exploring the story of Minneapolis.

Guests can admire both stunning modern architecture and components of the original Washburn A Mill, which was once the world’s largest flour mill. For its incorporation of contemporary design within a history-rich setting, the museum has won several awards, including the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Architecture and the AIA Minnesota Honor Award.

Paintings and sculptures from local artists are featured throughout the museum. Scenic views of St. Anthony Falls, Mill Ruins Park, and Stone Arch Bridge from atop the Koch Rooftop Observation Deck also provide unbeatable photo opportunities.

To vote for Mill City Museum as Best History Museum and learn more about USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards, click here. Individuals are encouraged to vote daily through February 13. 

The Next Guacaya Bistreaux’s Guest Chef Series Event is January 31

The next Guacaya Bistreaux’s Guest Chef Series is Tuesday, January 31. Chef Pedro Wolcott of Guacaya Bistreaux will welcome 2022 James Beard Award winner, Chef Sean Sherman of Owamni for the latest collaboration of the Series. The chefs will come together to serve a delicious 6-course menu, combining the flavors of Latin Caribbean and Indigenous cuisine.

Guests will need to make reservations through Tock. Diners can select either 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. seatings. Tickets are $90 per person, and optional beverage pairings can be added for an additional $50; otherwise, cocktails and mocktails created by Guacaya’s partners from Meteor Bar, plus beer, wine, and other non-alcoholic options, can be ordered à la carte.