29th Annual Minneapolis Earth Day Cleanup Will be Hosted at 40+ Park Locations on April 22

Join the Minneapolis Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 22! Drop in anytime between 9:30am and 12pm at any of 40+ park locations throughout Minneapolis and help clean up our beautiful city.

The Earth Day Cleanup has become the largest community service project in Minneapolis over the last 29 years. Since 2008, more than 23,000 people have removed more than 165,000 pounds of garbage.

It’s free to participate, no registration needed, just choose a site from our list and show up. We will provide bags and gloves, you help pick up junk that accumulated over the winter, and our partner City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling will process the collected bags. 

You can also get into the spirit by participating in the annual Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk at Boom Island Park! The event features a family- and dog-friendly fun run/walk (bee costumes encouraged!), river cleanup and Earth Day festivities.

Find a detailed list of clean-up sites and more information at minneapolisearthday.com, or view the flyer below:

“How to Become an American” Book Talk with Daniel Wolff at Mill City Museum

Wolff will discuss themes and topics from his latest non-fiction book

Thursday, April 27, 6:30–8:00 pm

The themes of history, immigration, and loneliness will be part of a discussion presented by Mill City Museum and The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest. Author Daniel Wolff will host a book talk around his non-fiction book How to Become an American which examines immigration into the United States.

How to Become an American features one anonymous family of Jewish immigrants and their journey which led them to Minneapolis in the early 20th century. Attendees will hear real stories of the city’s Jewish community, and the challenges it faced during the time period. These stories are deeply personal, yet reflective of America as a whole.

Museum guests can join Wolff for this free lecture at 7 pm on April 27. Doors open at 6:30 pm. He invites the audience to contemplate the hurdles immigrants face in America and the experiences of their own families. Kate Dietrick, archivist of the Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives, will moderate the discussion.

This is a free event.

Great River Coalition Shares Tips on How to Have a Positive Impact on Pollinators

Summer at Peavey Plaza Corporate Sponsorship Opportunity 2023

Green Minneapolis is excited to announce their second year of presenting free performing arts events, Summer at Peavey Plaza! A five month series of over 100 diverse events, from live music to dance performances, including their new artist in residence, Kawai-endorsed touring pianist and vocalist Phil Thompson.

From May through September, Peavey Plaza will be the place to go Downtown for free music, dance and theater performances. Join them every Wednesday and Thursday lunch hour for performances by MNspin artists and every Saturday morning for Music in Motion with the Children’s Theatre Company, perfect for families with children. And don’t miss the Peavey Plaza Piano Bar brought to you by Phil Thompson every Tuesday afternoon, along with his Tribute Concerts every last Thursday of the month.

Call for Sponsors!

As a sponsor of this program your brand will be thanked prominently with the 10,000+ expected summer attendees for the 2023 season in addition to placements across print and social media campaigns. Promoting partners include mpls Downtown Council, Meet Minneapolis, City of Minneapolis and local tv, radio and print communications. 

Sponsorship Levels:

$1,000 Friend Sponsor

Includes:

● Company name listed on Green Minneapolis website and program

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$2,500 Partner Sponsor

Includes:

● Company name listed on Green Minneapolis website and program

● Recognition as partner at every event

.

$5,000 Lead Sponsor

Includes:

● Company name listed on Green Minneapolis website and program

● Recognition as partner at every event

● Logo placement on event signage and press communications 

My Very Own Bed Announces the 3rd Annual Steps for Sleep Event, April 29

 Walk & Wellness Fundraising Event on April 29th

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For the third consecutive year, Minneapolis nonprofit My Very Own Bed will host its annual Steps for Sleep – a walk and wellness fundraising event highlighting the connection between physical activity and healthy sleep while raising awareness and funds for its work providing new beds and Dream Kits to kids.

Members of the public are invited to:

• Walk 1.5 miles around Boom Island on April 29th at 9:30 a.m., starting at DeLaSalle High School.

• Or walk anywhere, April 22–29.

• Explore the Wellness Fair whether walking in-person or anywhere. Learn about healthy sleep, fitness, healing, nutrition, and more!

• Donate to support 1600 kids in the community with new beds this year.

• Start their own fundraiser to support kids’ healthy sleep.

Since its founding in 2014, My Very Own Bed has had one goal: to provide new beds and Dream Kits (bedding, books, and stuffed animals) to children moving into stable housing.

While working in social services, founder Michael Allen saw beds as a great need as he helped families move out of shelters and into homes. What struck him most was seeing children sleeping on the floor because a bed was out of reach for many families.

With support from a broad base of sponsors, volunteers, donors, and referral partners (social service organizations that connect My Very Own Bed with families), My Very Own Bed has grown to impact more kids and their families each year. In 2022 alone, My Very Own Bed provided 1637 beds to kids in 684 families.

The impact of receiving a new bed is immediate for a child and their family. Improving where and how children sleep improves their overall health and well-being, performance in school, behavior at home, physical health, and much more.

Register or donate at https://runsignup.com/Race/MN/Minneapolis/StepsforSleep

Minneapolis Convention Center 2023 Q2 Event Calendar

It's wonderful to see Downtown continually coming back to life. One example is the growing list of events scheduled for the Minneapolis Convention Center. The facility hosts numerous meetings, conventions and trade shows, helping to support the hospitality industry in the Minneapolis community.

Highlights of the Q2 event calendar include several shows open to the public, including the Twin Cities Auto Show, GeekCraft Expo, the People of Color Career Fair, MagicCon Minneapolis, Oddities & Curiosities Expo, Minnesota Con and the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships. Here's the current Q2 list:

APRIL

• Twin Cities Auto Show – March 31-April 8 – estimated attendance: 40,000
• Minnesota Craft Beer Festival – April 1 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Expo – April 7 – estimated attendance: 6,500
• PEAK 2023, Midwest Poultry Federation – April 11-13 – estimated attendance: 2,500
• International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Conference – April 12-15 – estimated attendance: 1,200
• Kids Artistic Revue Regional Dance Competition – April 14-16 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• International Association of Operative Millers Annual Conference & Expo – April 17-21 – estimated attendance: 850
• Mantle Conference – April 19-22 – estimated attendance: 5,000
• Upper Midwest Electrical Expo – April 19-20 – estimated attendance: 4,000
• Region 4 Xcel Championships, Classic Gymnastics – April 21-23 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• GeekCraft Expo – April 22-23 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Mobility Conference & International Bus Roadeo, American Public Transportation Association – April 23-26 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Tax Executives Institute – MN Chapter Annual President’s Seminar – April 26-27 – estimated attendance: 550
• People of Color Career Fair – April 27 – estimated attendance: 500
• Starpower National Talent Competition – April 28-30 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Twin Cities River Rumble, North Country Region Volleyball – April 29-30 – estimated attendance: 6,000

MAY

• Music Matters Luncheon, MacPhail Center for Music – May 4 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Showbiz Regional Dance Competition – May 4-7 – estimated attendance: 2,700
• MagicCon Minneapolis – May 5-7 – estimated attendance: 8,500
• Humphrey-Mondale Dinner, Minnesota DFL– May 19 – estimated attendance: 1,800
• Metropolitan State University Commencement – May 6 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• North Hennepin Community College Commencement – May 11 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Minneapolis Community & Technical College Commencement – May 12 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Hennepin Technical College Commencement – May 17 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Talent on Parade Dance Competition – May 19-21 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Dunwoody College of Technology Commencement – May 20 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Oddities & Curiosities Expo – May 20 – estimated attendance: 8,000
• Richfield High School Prom – May 20 – estimated attendance: 250
• University of St. Thomas School of Law Commencement – May 20 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• An Evening with Dr. Zahi Hawass – May 22 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• NAMICon 2023, National Alliance on Mental Illness – May 24-27 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Bloomington Kennedy High School Graduation – May 30 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Bloomington Jefferson High School Graduation – May 31 – estimated attendance: 3,000

JUNE

• Northern Lights Junior Volleyball Banquet – June 1 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• IASA Xchange and OnPOINT, Insurance Accounting and Systems Association – June 5-7 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Minnesota Con, NerdinOut – June 2-4 – estimated attendance: 8,000
• Minnesota Music Teachers Association Honors Concert – June 3 – estimated attendance: 3,400
• Robbinsdale Area Schools Graduation – June 5 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• Community Connections Conference – June 10 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Minnesota Connections Academy Graduation – June 10 – estimated attendance: 1,300
• Minnesota Virtual High School Graduation – June 10 – estimated attendance: 600
• Minneapolis Public Schools Graduation – June 10-12 – estimated attendance: 15,000
• Clinical Gait Analysis: A Focus on Interpretation, Gillette Children’s – June 12-14 – estimated attendance: 150
• USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships (11-13) – June 14-17 – estimated attendance: 20,200
• His Holiness the Sakya Trichen, Minnesota Sakya Center – June 17-18 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Kiwanis International Convention – June 21-24 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute, Solution Tree – June 26-28 – estimated attendance: 2,500
• Best Buy Charity Classic – June 27 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Bollywood Concert – June 30 – estimated attendance: 1,500

2023 MacPhail Spotlight Series Final Performance, April 22: The Space Where Words Fail

The Space Where Words Fail

The MacPhail Spotlight Series: Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors comes to a spell bounding, collaborative crescendo as Twin Cities photographer

Asha Belk creates a visual landscape to join the eclectic sounds of MacPhail’s EMRA (Electronic Music and Recording Arts) Faculty. With Belk’s highly narrative photographic style, she will curate a selection of relevant photographs from the Twin Cities and beyond, that speak to the essence of family, individuals, and her passion as a social worker.

MacPhail’s EMRA faculty, led by Grammy nominated pianist Michael Cain, and joined by Isaac Rohr, Kenichi ‘DJ Just Nine’ Thomas, and Barbara Cohen will feature a wide variety of musical pieces featuring voice, keys, and electronic music of all sorts.

Belk had this to say about bringing her work to the stage at MacPhail, “This a selection of work I’ve done over the past ten years and I’m excited to see it coexist with the power of music! This curation of photos is about celebrating and authentically capturing Black Culture and showcasing those beautiful spaces that we create. I want the audience to leave with a greater sense of humanity and to bring them into someone else’s world. The title of this performance is ‘The Space Where Words Fail’ because I want the art to speak for itself."

The Space Where Words Fail will take place on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in MacPhail’s Antonello Hall. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Be The Change MN to Present the Follow Your Dreams College & Career Fair at Orchestra Hall, April 26

Wednesday, April 26, 9AM - 3PM at Orchestra Hall 

Be The Change MN presents the Follow Your Dreams College & Career Fair (FYD), a day-long event with a mission of providing education and employment equity to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in the Minneapolis Public School District. 

FYD offers a wide range of opportunities including exhibitor booths, aspirational speakers, job opportunities & internships, breakout sessions, career path guidance, financial aid assistance and great giveaways throughout the day. All students will be provided bus transportation and lunch at the event. 

Some of the highlights of FYD are: keynote speaker, Donyea Cooley-White (Senior VP at Mojang Studios Minecraft, previously Xbox Live), Dream Boarding with Jasmine Brett-Stringer (WCCO), Dress to Impress with Keith Dorsett (Heimie’s Haberdashery), Social Media Best Practices with Joelle Allen (Interaction Traction) and Simplify the Resume with Ellen Walthour (Cufflink).

Be The Change MN founder John Baker is excited to bring to life his vision of offering underserved, immigrant and first generation college students a welcoming, engaging and one-stop shop for post-secondary options. “When we talk about ‘being the change’ in our communities, it’s about community philanthropy; leveraging volunteers, young people, professionals and family donors, businesses and corporations to all connect to support real people who truly need it.”

The event offers a myriad of ways for Twin Cities corporations, educational institutions, local businesses & non-profit organizations to participate:

- Join as a booth sponsor and interact with enthusiastic students at the start of their career path

- Fund cool and fun essential event elements like the Dream Boarding creation station, Lunch & Learn Sessions, the Social Media Photo Booth or hourly giveaways (AirPods, Swag Bags, etc)

- Recruit students for summer jobs and internships

- Contribute to the Friends of Be The Change MN Scholarship Fund

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Launches "Our Parks, Our Stories" Initiative to Commemorate 140th year

New storytelling initiative will build community archive full of park stories over the next year

April 4th marked the 140th anniversary of the Minneapolis Park Board. To commemorate, they launched a new storytelling initiative and year-long project called 140 Years: Our Parks, Our Stories.

They are collecting personal stories of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff, park users, and community members from across Minneapolis parks to build a community archive. Everyone is encouraged to share their story of a memory, person, place, event, or experience to help us shape the next chapter and legacy of the MPRB.

Share Your Story

• Submit your story using an online form
  • English
  • Español
  • Soomaali
  • Hmoob 
• Email a story and related photographs to ourstories@minneapolisparks.org. You can also email that account to ask for additional translation services. 
• Participate in upcoming storytelling programs this summer. More information coming soon on those events.

Submitted stories will be archived and may be featured on MPRB social media with your consent.

Featured Stories

The MPRB will periodically publish stories from its own staff and archives in addition to stories collected from community. The first two stories feature Reggie Jarrett, a MPRB parkkeeper for the last 30 years who has special connection to Farview Park; and Alice Dietz, an early recreation professional who oversaw a vast expansion in recreation opportunities in Minneapolis parks during her 40-year career spanning 1916-1957.

Apply for a City Boards and Commissions Opening - Advise City Leaders on Topics Important to You

The City of Minneapolis boards and commissions have openings for appointments this spring. The City seeks applicants with a diverse backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. City boards and commissions offer a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. Translation and interpreting is available so all residents can participate.

Applications will be accepted through April 30.

The following City boards and commissions seek applicants:

• Bicycle Advisory Committee
• Charter Commission
• Minneapolis Workforce Development Board
• Pedestrian Advisory Committee
• Southside Green Zone Council

The City has more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and advisory committees that help shape key policy decisions, represent their community in the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights. Appointments to boards and commissions are made twice a year, in the spring and fall.

Potential applicants can find more info on the website, call 612-673-2216 or email OpenAppointments@minneapolismn.gov.

MCAD Announces Artist List for 10th Annual Art Auction

Annual Art Auction Benefits Students Scholarships

As one of the creative pillars in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) hosts an annual art auction to raise funds for students in need of financial support. Every year the event showcases established artists from across the country, who donate their artwork, and gives attendees the chance to add paintings, photographs, sculptures, or ceramics to their own personal art collection. Because of the generosity of past Auction attendees, hundreds of students have received scholarships, ensuring that young creatives, artists, and designers have access to a college education. With more than 97% of MCAD scholars receiving some form of aid, this event is critical to ensuring that students from all backgrounds are financially supported as they pursue their degrees.

Event Details:

Date: Friday, May 19, 2023
Location: MCAD Main Gallery, 2501 Stevens Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Time: (VIP Preview Reception 6:00pm) 7:00–9:30pm
Tickets start at $150
All proceeds go to the MCAD Scholarship Fund.

Starting prices for artwork range from $480 to $9,600.

More infor, artist list and tickets: mcad.edu/artauction.

Sample pieces:

Clarence Holbrook Carter: Mining,1952, Painting, 19” x 17”

Jenny Monick: Peregrine, 2020, Oil on linen, 14” x 11"

CL Martin: El, 2022, Charcoal, pencil, acrylic on paper, 21” x 27”

"In the Company of Grace: A Veterinarian's Memoir of Trauma and Healing" Book Launch, April 13 at Open Book

Launch of Jody Lulich's debut memoir, In the Company of Grace: A Veterinarian's Memoir of Trauma and Healing, Thursday, April 13, 7:00p, Open Book Performance Hall

In the Company of Grace is Jody Lulich’s moving memoir about finding courage in compassion and strength in healing—and power in finally confronting the darkness of his youth to become a world-renowned veterinarian. He explains his path to veterinary medicine and how caring for helpless, voiceless animals amidst his own shame and pain provided a lifeline, and a chance to heal himself as well.

Dr. Lulich will give a short presentation along with a reading from the book with fellow reader Rose Klass, followed by a moderated conversation with Dr. Lindsay Merkel.

Book signing will follow, and books will be available for purchase at the event through Magers & Quinn.

Minneapolis Invites Travelers to “See What All the Fuss Is About”

Meet Minneapolis launches a new tourism campaign to boldly (re)introduce the city and entice visitors by challenging existing perceptions

Perhaps you’ve heard or read somewhere that Minneapolis is “a ghost town” or that “it’s overrun.” Either way, there has been a lot of fussing about Minneapolis. Starting today, Meet Minneapolis invites travelers to “See What All the Fuss Is About” through its new tourism campaign.

Meet Minneapolis, in partnership with the Minneapolis-based agency Periscope, is setting out to address those misperceptions head-on with a tourism campaign to reclaim the city’s narrative through “See What All the Fuss Is About.” Minneapolis natives embrace the diverse variety of world-class experiences people can have in the state’s largest city. However, negative perceptions have overshadowed the abundance of positive experiences visitors can enjoy.

The result is a campaign designed to boldly and confidently tell the city’s story to people who used to travel to Minneapolis often – as well as those who are new to the destination – by highlighting the remarkable things that the city has to offer.

“People are talking about Minneapolis. Some of them have it wrong, but they are talking,” said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis. “This campaign will invite those people to re-experience Minneapolis by authentically telling the city’s story as a place that has evolved over the past several years and continues to be a buzzing hub of culture, cuisine, and natural beauty. We’re excited to welcome new and returning visitors to come see what all the fuss is about in Minneapolis.”

The “See What All the Fuss Is About” tagline will be accompanied by print, broadcast and digital advertising, billboards along highways, a dedicated web presence, and a social media influencer program. The campaign will utilize a blend of highly visual and engaging tactics to reach various audiences and turn the dial on their perceptions of Minneapolis. This year’s media spend will be approximately $500,000.

“Minneapolis is a world-class destination at the forefront of creating change. People from all over the world have put down roots in Minneapolis, contributing to an active, dynamic, and diverse culture that has something for everyone,” said Courtney S. Ries, SVP of Destination Branding and Strategy at Meet Minneapolis.

“This campaign will highlight the city’s award-winning food and beverage scene, premier arts programming, world-class museums, elite performance venues, unique independent businesses, glorious park system, numerous options for sports fans and exciting public art,” said Ries. “We invite both new and returning visitors to celebrate and savor these offerings by exploring Minneapolis events, businesses, and attractions throughout the year.”

Doors Open Minneapolis Returns May 13-14, Volunteers Needed

Doors Open Minneapolis provides a unique chance to explore the buildings that tell a city’s story. From theaters to business hubs, sacred spaces to private clubs, sports complexes to engineering wonders, historical gems to not-even-open-yet buildings, Doors Open Minneapolis offers participants a FREE behind-the-scenes look at over 100 exciting venues. Building owners and caretakers will provide unique perspectives that illustrate why these venues, people, and businesses, are central to Minneapolis’ identity.

Venues will include The Dayton’s Project, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Peavey Plaza, Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, Xcel Energy Nicollet Island Power Plant, and so many more special places.

Doors Open Minneapolis invites the public to explore venues that show off the historical, architectural, and cultural elements that make up our amazing city. Sign up to volunteer and receive a VIP pass to skip the lines and get a behind-the-scenes look at buildings you’ve been dying to explore! You can view and register for volunteer opportunities at this link. 

• Volunteer shifts are four hours long (9:30 – 1:30 & 1:30 – 5:30). You are allowed to sign up for more than one shift, and you’re encouraged to sign up with a friend!
• You will receive a free Doors Open t-shirt and a “first priority” sticker that allows you to skip lines to visit other venues during the event!
• You will be required to attend a 90-minute training to prep you for volunteering at Doors Open Minneapolis. There will be five different opportunities to attend this training.

You can sign up now at this Hands-On Twin Cities link. Once you’ve signed up for a volunteer slot, please register for one volunteer training at this Rethos link.

For a list and description of some available venues to volunteer at, check out the Venues 2023 webpage on the Doors Open Minneapolis website. Rethos is still rounding up venues, so more will join this list soon! Some venues have limited accessibility, so be sure to check the volunteer description on the HandsOn Twin Cities website for the venue you’re interested in.

If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Fischer at kelly@rethos.org.

Theatre in the Round Players Presents Sam Shepard’s Masterwork, True West, April 21 - May 14

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues its 71st season with Sam Shepard’s masterwork, True West, running weekends April 21 to May 14 with a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on May 1.

Skirting the line between violently tragic and darkly funny, this classic American play tells the story of brothers clashing over a chance to leave a legacy with a Hollywood movie. Austin, the sensitive screenwriter, is working on a script he has sold to producer Sal Kimmer when his brother, Lee drops in. He pitches his own idea for a movie to Kimmer, who then wants Austin to junk his bleak, modern love story and write Lee’s trashy Western tale. Duck Washington directs the four-member cast with sets designed by Michael Haas, costumes by Colleen O’Dell, lighting by Shannon Elliott, props by Terri Ristow, and sound by Anita Kelling.

True West runs April 21 to May 14. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm.

Tickets are $25. For information, call the theatre’s box office at 612-333-3010 or visit the website.

Modist Brewing Company Begins $2 Million Renovation in North Loop

Construction expected to be completed in mid-July 2023

Kraus-Anderson Construction has begun a $2 million renovation of Modist Brewing Company located at 505 North 3rd Street in the Minneapolis warehouse district. 

Designed by Perkins&Will, the 7,000-square-foot renovation of Modist’s existing North Loop building features a buildout of its event space and adds new offices and a brewing lab for staff.

The spirited atmosphere of the new event space reflects Modist’s commitment to community and equity, while displaying the creativity and innovation of the Minneapolis brewer.  Detached from the existing tap room, the renovation of the existing brick industrial building features a flexible, two-story event space.  The renovation also includes a pre-function bar and waiting area. 

Modist’s focus on staff wellness sets a new standard for team members by refreshing the back of house with natural light, attractive views and an abundant open space to foster creativity and push the boundaries of brewing innovation.  The new immersive event space visually opens to the existing state-of-the-art brew house through full-height glass, spanning the entire length of the space. 

The brewer’s playful design language expresses a bold and experimental material pallet that aligns with Modist’s philosophy.  The glitter concrete floor, large murals, dichroic glass, and mirrored ceilings with mounted neon fixtures help to provide the warehouse district community with a unique celebration space. 

“Our team intentionally involved various user groups to build a North Loop modern, tricked-out, punk rock- and chic-designed event space to be welcoming and inclusive of many communities and uses,” said Daniel Paul Willendorf, owner of Modist Brewing Company.  “Group gatherings of all kinds are back, and this will be a community space perfectly suited for a corporate presentation, happy hour, a wedding party or to take your dog's birthday party to the next level.” 

The design and construction processes are also rooted in a commitment to equity with both the access and enjoyment of the space.  

“Contractor Kraus-Anderson (KA) is working in partnership with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) contractor J. Benson as part of KA’s multi-year mentoring relationship with the certified BIPOC-owned firm, recently named Minnesota Associated General Contractors’ Diverse Business of the Year,” said Angelique Lisboa, Modist’s HR and DEI facilitator.  “The partnership allows Modist to bring local minority builders to the project.” 

KA has been working with Modist for more than a year of preconstruction planning to prevent the disruption of ongoing business in the existing building during construction.

Puttshack's Tech-infused Mini Golf Experience Coming to the North Loop in 2024

Puttshack, a tech-infused mini golf experience has signed a lease at 246 7th Avenue N inside CEDARst’s newest North Loop development, a 360-unit apartment community, and will occupy more than 20,000 square feet. Puttshack Minneapolis is slated to open in late 2024 and will feature craft cocktails and dishes inspired by flavors from around the world.

This new location will feature three highly engaging and competitive nine-hole mini golf courses, accentuated by a high-energy, upscale nightclub vibe featuring local DJs. The space will feature two bars and a main dining area. Like each Puttshack location, Minneapolis’s menus will be deliberately constructed through hands-on research to represent the city’s unique tastes and styles. A private event space with capacity for up to 70 guests will also be available for those in search of an exclusive space for a variety of gatherings from company outings to birthday parties and more.

“The North Loop neighborhood is a vibrant, trendy warehouse district with several exciting entertainment concepts. Puttshack will soon be a top attraction in the area for locals and visitors alike to experience our one-of-a-kind game and unrivaled food and beverage program,” said Puttshack President, Dave Diamond. “We’re excited to be a crucial part of CEDARst’s development strategy and to work with our partners at CEDARst to develop the second phase of this project.”

Puttshack is the latest leading concept in the emerging and growing market of competitive socializing. Founded by the creators of TopGolf, Flight Club, and AceBounce, Puttshack combines its patented Trackaball™ technology with a first-class, immersive social environment to elevate the game of mini golf into a cutting-edge, high-energy experience that is unlike anything currently on the market. Surrounded at every turn by colorful and eclectic décor, the brand’s ground-breaking technology is integrated throughout the game experience ensuring the gameplay experience is elevated by seamless automated scoring, bonus points opportunities, interactive games at each hole, and more.

Since opening its first location in 2018, Puttshack now has five locations in the United States - Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and St. Louis - and four in the U.K. Minneapolis is one of 13 new locations that have already been announced to open through 2023 and beyond, with Denver, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Scottsdale projected to open in the coming months.

Children’s Theatre Company Announces 2023-2024 Season

2023-2024 Season Includes Two World Premieres, an International Sensation, a Holiday Smash Hit and a 3-Time Tony Award®-Nominated Musical

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is excited to announce the 2023-2024 Season of seven productions featuring two world premieres, Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress and Babble Lab,  the international sensation Cookin’ from South Korea, the only Minnesota stop of the national tour of The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories from Honolulu Theatre for Youth, the return of last year’s sold out production of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the 3-time Tony Award®-nominated musical A Year With Frog and Toad, and the wildly inventive Alice in Wonderland.

 

CTC Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius is directing three productions in the 2023-2024 Season. It was recently announced that Mr. Brosius has decided to depart CTC on June 30, 2024, at the end of the 2023-2024 Season. His artistic vision has transformed the theatre into the nation’s leading theatre that serves a multi-generational audience.

 

“We are thrilled to announce this season of imaginative and inventive world premieres, as well as touring productions, that have dazzled audiences across this country and around the world,” said Peter C. Brosius. “In addition we will be bringing you our very own Tony Award®-nominated musical and our wholly original reimagining of a hilarious classic tale, and of course the most beloved holiday show we know. We can’t wait for you to see all of these shows. It is a joy to share brand new works and productions that have never been to Minnesota and productions we just had to bring back to delight, surprise, and carry you away.”

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The season kicks off with knife-juggling, food-flying fun with a production from South Korea! With a crazy deadline looming, the four frenzied chefs of Cookin’ turn their kitchen into a dynamic, veggies-flying-everywhere performance as Korean samulnori drumming and martial arts take center stage. During this outlandish cooking competition, the chefs put on a masterful display of food chopping, knife throwing, pot banging and fire-blowing wizardry that will make you laugh, scream in delight, and even beg for a chance to sample their food. Get ready to stomp your feet and clap your hands for a show that’s truly Cookin’! Directed by Seung-Whan Song, Cookin’ comes to CTC from PMC Production Co. and Broadway Asia. Best for all ages, this production runs September 12-October 22, 2023 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage.

 

"I can’t wait to meet the audience in Minnesota at a prestigious theatre like Children’s Theatre Company,” said Director Seung-Whan Song. “I hope you will feel the freedom from the unique rhythm of Korea and, through the comedy on stage, also feel the great pleasure of getting away from your daily life."

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Next comes Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, by juliany taveras, based on the book by Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant, with direction by Heidi Stillman. Morris likes lots of things: doing puzzles, painting pictures, pretending to be an astronaut, and wearing a tangerine dress from his school’s dress-up box because it “reminds him of tigers, the sun, and his mother’s hair.” But some of his classmates think boys can’t wear dresses because … well, because they’re boys. With his vivid imagination and space-animal friends, Morris travels the galaxy in search of an answer to the all-important question: “Do astronauts wear dresses?” Running October 10-November 19, 2023 on the Cargill Stage, Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress is recommended for everyone aged 4 and up.

 

“It’s been an absolute delight to get to write this play,” said playwright juliany taveras. “Diving into the expansive, resilient imagination of Morris Micklewhite has nourished me in a way I hope our audiences will experience too, because this story is a salve. Amidst the (often fear-fueled) rules and binaries of the world around us, Morris reminds us of the power of authentic, loving self-expression—even (or at times, especially) when it ruffles the feathers of the status quo. CTC has been such a wonderful dream-maker and co-conspirator, and I’m thrilled that this tale we love so much will soon premiere on their stage!”

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He’s back by popular demand! CTC’s smash-hit crowd-pleaser Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! returns for the holiday season. Featuring a book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin, the production will once again be directed by CTC’s Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius with choreography by Linda Talcott Lee. A miserly and miserable, ever-so-cantankerous Grinch has observed the despicable Christmas joy of the Whos with disdain, from a distance, for decades. Enough! In this beloved holiday favorite, filled with music and Seussian rhymes, he plots the greatest heist imaginable—stealing the very thing they love the most!. Until, that is, the smallest of the Whos, tiny Cindy Lou, extends a hand. Through the combination of kindness and community, we witness not only a change in the course of Who-History, but the size and capacity of the old green guy’s heart. Best for all ages, this musical extravaganza runs November 7, 2023-January 7, 2024 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage.

 

“When composer Mel Marvin and I were writing this musical adaptation of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas nearly 30 years ago, we were aware that we’d been entrusted with the genius of Dr. Seuss and his irrepressible spirit,” said bookwriter and lyricist Timothy Mason. “We wanted the Seuss to shine through. It’s one of the great joys of our lives to know that children who saw the Grinch at Children’s Theater Company all those years ago are now bringing their own kids to see this show, and that for them and many others his spirit does indeed live on right here on this stage.”

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Winter magic continues at CTC with The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories, by Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) Ensemble. Reiko Ho also directs the production. See a heroic carp climb up a waterfall (and so much more) in this energetic retelling of traditional fables from Japan and Okinawa. Through artful puppetry, masks, and three imaginative actors, you’ll also meet a grateful crane, a mouse who shares, and an industrious rabbit who teaches everyone to do the mochi dance! During this invigorating show from Hawaii, live music played on the koto and taiko drum will accompany young audiences as they dance, clap, and sing along. Running January 16-February 18, 2024 on the Cargill Stage, this production is best for everyone aged 4 and up.

 

“Sharing our cultural stories is one of the most important things I do as Asian American theatre maker,” said creator/director Reiko Ho. “I’m delighted to adapt a few of my own favorite childhood stories for the stage and introduce some of the beautiful performance traditions and aesthetics of Japanese and Okinawan culture to a new generation of young people and families.”

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Up next, prepare to take a tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice in Alice in Wonderland … and you’ll land in a wonderfully wacky world of rhymes and ridiculousness, checkerboards and cheeky cats, Mad Hatters and mayhem. In this head-spinning version of Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic, adapted for the stage by Sharon Holland with music by Victor Zupanc, Alice chases the White Rabbit through the audience, attends the most absurd tea party in history, and faces off with the ragingly red Queen of Hearts, all amidst a melee of teeny tiny songs. Humpty Dumpty on a ladder — what could possibly go wrong? Curiouser and curiouser. Directed by CTC’s Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius, Alice in Wonderland is recommended for everyone aged 6 and up and runs February 13-March 31, 2024 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage.

 

“Our Alice in Wonderland features an extraordinary scenic and costume design by the remarkable Skip Mercier,” said director Peter C. Brosius. “Skip created a world of illusion, surprise, mystery, and hilarity. We are thrilled to bring this wonderfully quirky and joyfully theatrical production to our stage. It is a magical tale of discovery, of standing your ground and following your curiosity. Alice is a musical and visual feast, a wild journey down the rabbit hole and into incredible new worlds.”

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 Strap on your safety goggles and clean out your ears! When an experiment unexpectedly goes awry, a concoction of sneaky, sprightly L E T T E R S takes over a weird and wondrous science lab in Babble Lab. Watch them jump into jars, spring from drawers, bounce around the room, and even play hide-and-seek as our scientist makes her surprising findings: Bluku terullala blaulala loooo! Rakete bee bee? Rekate bee zee! Enjoy the exploration of spoken blurbbles as they spring forth in this one-of-a-kind, gee-gaw-filled laboratory. Written by CTC Company Member Autumn Ness and directed by Sarah Agnew, Babble Lab runs March 9-April 14, 2024 on the Cargill Stage. Babble Lab was created with early learners in mind and is best enjoyed by audiences aged 0 to 105!

 

“I am so excited that with the world premiere of Babble Lab, I get to return to performing for my favorite audience, the pre-schoolers,” said playwright Autumn Ness. “This play is about discovering the power of your own voice, and learning to be fearless in using it. I want every preschooler that sees our show to find their own magical, musical, courageous, EPIC voice!”

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Returning for the first time since 2017, the cherished CTC original musical A Year With Frog and Toad will conclude the 2023-2024 Season. In the only show from Minnesota ever to be nominated for three Tony Awards® (including Best Musical), you’ll meet Frog and Toad: best friends who embark upon a year’s worth of adventures with great merriment, comedic agility, and joyful song-singing. A Year with Frog and Toad is based on Arnold Lobel’s Newbery and Caldecott Honor books, and features music by Robert Reale with lyrics and book by Willie Reale. The 2024 production will be directed by CTC’s Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius. Best enjoyed by audiences of all ages, this production runs April 23-June 16, 2024 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage.

 

“We are super stoked that A Year With Frog and Toad is returning to its birthplace at Children's Theatre Company to celebrate its 21st year," said Bookwriter & Lyricist Willie Reale and Composer Robert Reale. "Despite the fact that it is old enough to be welcomed in a saloon, we trust that the innocence and fun of the show will be on full display once again at CTC.”

 

Full season subscriptions and renewals for the 2023-2024 Season are now on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400. CTC’s 2023-2024 Season of artistic and educational programming is supported by The Shubert Foundation, Inc. and the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Mill City Museum to Premiere Fulbright Photo Exhibit, Ukraine: War and Resistance

Exhibit showcases photographs documenting the realities of contemporary life in Ukraine

A photo exhibit depicting life in Ukraine during the Russian invasion is coming to Mill City Museum this spring.

The exhibit, Ukraine: War and Resistance, will be on view from March 23 to May 14 in the Mill Commons area of the museum, which is free to visitors. Images, captured by Fulbright Scholars in the country, present the harsh consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resolve of Ukrainian people.

“I wish we didn't have a reason to organize this exhibit,” said Roman Tyshchenko, a Ukrainian Fulbright Scholar who worked with Mill City Museum to display the exhibit in Minneapolis. “But the least I can do is support my fellow Fulbrighters in Ukraine. They are routinely risking their lives, working under missile attacks, so people in the rest of the world can see what Ukraine is going through.”

This will be the North American premiere of these large-scale photographs, first exhibited last fall in Vinnytsia, a city under Russian missile attacks for the past year. Most were taken in the past 12 months, but some date back to 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and invaded the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The exhibit is sponsored by Fulbright Ukraine and the Fulbright Association Minnesota Chapter. The Fulbright Association Minnesota Chapter paid for printing and mounting the photographs because the exhibit furthers the Fulbright goals of international understanding and peacemaking, according to Michael Dorsher, Ph.D., the chapter’s president.

The Minnesota Fulbrighters sought out the Mill City Museum for this premiere because they visited a similarly striking exhibit there a year ago, displaying the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis. And recently, USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards recognized Mill City among the Top-5 history museums in the U.S.

Starting March 23, the exhibit will be open to the public during regular museum hours, 10 am–4 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 am–5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. 

New Art Exhibit, Reawakening of Color, Opens at The Mill Yard April 2

 

Reawakening of Color

Opening Reception Sunday, April 2, 4:00 - 6:00PM

Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street

Join us at The Mill Yard opening reception to meet the featured artists and engage with beautiful art. Wine, beverages and snacks are served.

Artists featured at this show: 

Tracy Frizzell, Painter

Growing up in a family of artists, Tracy began her artistic career early. Raised in northern Minnesota, her inspiration was always water and nature. Tracy graduated with degrees from North Dakota State University in landscape architecture, environmental design and art. With each piece she “strives not only to accurately portray a scene but also capture that elusive ‘something’.” Tracy paints in oil or watercolor utilizing a style that adds action to the scenes. Her favorite subjects are Minnesota and Canadian wilderness, but also urban and industrial landscapes that characterize much of Minneapolis.

Eddie Hamilton, Painter

Eddie is a painter living and working in Minnesota. A native of Los Angeles, his palette is inspired by his childhood in the sun and surf. His paintings use a gestural feel with attention to line and form to reflect childhood joys. Eddie has painted urban surreal and naïve scenes full of color and energy. Currently his work has evolved to bring that energy to paintings of nature and wildlife. Eddie’s work has been shown around the country.

Peder Hegland, Studio Potter

Peter has been a full time Studio Potter since 1976. He is grateful to have studied with masters: Dean Schwarz, Peter Deneen, David Stewart and Marguerite Wildenhain. Ancient pottery from around the world has also been his teacher. Making pots that are useful and beautiful to look at and touch has always been his goal and pleasure. For the past 30 years Peder has worked and lived on Pine Point, a little peninsula north of Sartell, MN surrounded on two sides by the Mississippi River. The river, it’s trees and animals, always provide daily lessons.  

Andy Ness, Painter

Andy earned his BFA from Pratt Institute and his MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. His artist residencies have included the prestigious Vermont Studio Center, MacDowell Colony, Denniston Hill, and he was a two-year Fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA. Andy has taught at RISD, Studio in a School in New York City, and the Grand Marais Art Colony. Andy’s work has shown both nationally and internationally. He currently has shows in Texas, Tennessee and in Trento, Italy.

Dean Seaton, Photographer

Dean has been using photography as art for over a dozen years. He perfects capturing a moment in time that “tells a story and evokes emotions through the use of line, shape, color, lack of color, shadow, texture, subject matter and composition.” He has learned the big difference between taking a picture and making a picture. He explains, “making a picture takes patience, thought, timing and sometimes a bit of luck.” All his images are Limited Editions that include a Certificate of Authenticity. Dean’s studio is in the Northrup King Building.

Anne Waddell Toohey, Jewelry Opening Reception Only

Anne has always been an artist. After graduating with a BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design she enjoyed a successful career selling high-end jewelry, always creating her own in a garage studio. For over five years Anne has focused exclusively on her own brand, drawing inspiration from her life experiences and nature. She works with gold, silver and precious and semi-precious gemstones. She has numerous successful collections and curated partnerships which allowed her to open a new studio in Deephaven, MN.

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts

Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence. The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community. Contact: TheMillYard.Stonebridge@gmail.com