The Week Ahead in Mill City / April 23-29

Above: The latest update to the Mill City Photo Pool...

Each Monday morning we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Mill City neighborhood.  Submit your events here...

Monday, April 23

NT Live Filmed Presentation of She Stoops to Conquer at the Guthrie

Tuesday, April 24

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour

Wednesday, April 25

Range of Motion 'Tough Enough Bootcamp' at Mill Ruins Park

Stone Arch Patio Party at The Depot

Breakfast with a Preservationist at the Mill City Museum

Laurel Poetry Collective Reading at The Loft

Thursday, April 26

2012 Miller Lite Vikings Draft Party

Dining Out For Life at Neighborhood Restaurants

East Downtown Council Annual Meeting

DNA Day at Central Library

Midwest Photo Safari: "Minneapolis Nights" Mill Ruins Park and the Stone Arch Bridge (Thursdays and Fridays)

Friday, April 27

Book Arts Roundtable: Daniel Kelm at MCBA

Spotlight Series at MacPhail

Live Music at Crooked Pint

Saturday, April 28

Beauty and Brains Event at Behind the Scenes

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Heart of Minneapolis Tour

Andrew Bird: Fever Year Afterparty at Aster Cafe

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour

FLO(we){u}R Opens at The Soap Factory

DNA Day at Central Library

'Eco-Papermaking: Handmade Recycled Paper' Family Workshop at MCBA

'Eco-Upcycled Books: Repurposing Everyday Objects for an Original Book' Family Workshop at MCBA

Guest Chef: Rhubarb Renaissance with Kim Ode at Mill City Museum at Mill City Museum

Midwest Photo Safari: "Minneapolis Nights" St. Anthony Main

Prohibition and Organized Crime in Minneapolis at Central Library

Latin Dance Night at Crooked Pint

Village Green 21st Annual Splash Day Benefit for Ronald McDonald House at Mill District City Apartments

Sunday, April 29

Scratch vs. Mix: Which Brownie is Better? at Mill City Museum

Park Board Invites Applications for Three Positions on the Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is seeking community members to serve two-year appointments on the Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC). Those interested in serving on this committee should submit an application before 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2012. Applications are available at http://www.minneapolisparks.org/ in the volunteer section or by calling customer service at 612-230-6400.

The MBAC functions as an advisory committee to the Mayor and City Council as well as the Park Board, and serves as a liaison to bicyclists, businesses, neighborhoods, and other communities and agencies. It promotes commuter as well as recreational bicycling, advocates for bicycling infrastructure improvements, encourages safe riding, and works to involve city residents interested in bicycling issues.

The Park Board will appoint three at-large members from the Minneapolis Bicycling community. The term will be from June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2014. The MBAC currently meets the last Wednesday of every month from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. There is no compensation for serving on the committee.

Originally formed in 1990, the MBAC’s initial membership represented the Mayor’s Office, Public Works, City Planning, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, City Graphics, Meter Monitors, City Council, the State Legislative Liaison, the City Public Information Office, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minneapolis Park Police and a local liaison. Over time, the membership has evolved to include additional staff and community members.
 
Related File: 2012 BAC Application
 
Questions:
Jennifer Ringold, Manager Public Engagement and Citywide Planning
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
612-230-6464
jringold@minneapolisparks.org 

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Hosts Screening of The Interrupters on April 23

Via an April 20 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Award-Winning Film Tackles Subject of Violence in Urban Areas

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will host a screening of The Interrupters on Monday, April 23. Minneapolis joins Chicago, Milwaukee, New York and other urban cities who have screened the film.

The Interrupters tells the moving and surprising story of three dedicated individuals who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they themselves once employed. These “violence interrupters” (their job title) – who have credibility on the street because of their own personal histories – intervene in conflicts before the incidents explode into violence.

Minneapolis community leaders, youth workers and any adult who wants to help reduce violence in their community is invited to this special showing. Immediately following, Chicago Interrupter and cast member Ricardo "Cobe" Williams will lead a discussion about interrupting violence in our community.

The movie is free and open to the public (note: the movie contains strong language). Please RSVP to attend by emailing ygriffeagray@minneapolisparks.org.

The screening is sponsored by the MPRB’s Community Outreach Department as part of the Park Board’s goal to provide safe places to play, recreate, contemplate and celebrate.

What:   The Interrupters screening and conversation
Where:  Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis 55411
When:   Monday, April 23, 6:00-9:00pm.

This Weekend in Mill City / April 20-22

Above: A recent photo from the Mill City Photo Pool

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District and Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.  Have an event to share?  Contact us...

Friday, April 20

Honors Recital at MacPhail

WomenVenture Pathways to Success Conference at The Depot

Mentor Series: Leslie Adrienne Miller at The Loft

Live Music at Crooked Pint

Spring Wine Sale and Tastings 2012 at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Saturday, April 21

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Heart of Minneapolis Tour

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour

2012 Earth Day Clean Up

Live Music at Crooked Pint

Farmers Market at Local D'lish

Guthrie's How'd They do That Workshop: Time Stands Still

'Seeds For Sprouts' Family Workshop at MCBA

Children's Book Sale at Central Library Book Store

Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Midwest Photo Safari: "Minneapolis Nights" St. Anthony Main

Childish Films at Central Library

11th Annual Marcy Arts Gala at The Soap Factory

Second Story Reading Series at The Loft

Sunday, April 22

Complimentary Workshop: An Introduction to Tai Chi at Open Book

Gorilla Yoga at Boom Island Park

Rock Bottom 5K for Hunger

West River Parkway Closed From 12:01am until 3:30pm Friday, April 20

To accommodate the crane mobilization for the Washburn Crosby Elevator No. 1 project, West River Parkway (from 11th Avenue South to Portland Avenue) will be closed from just after midnight Friday morning until 3:30pm Friday afternoon, April 20th.   It will also be closed Monday-Friday, April 23rd-27th from 7:00am-3:30pm each day. 

Readers Write - Say No to Parking Variance for Pillsbury A Mill Project

From neighbors on the East Bank:

We're long time residents of Minneapolis and currently live in the MHNA. We also love the Central Riverfront District. We urge you to vote no on the parking variance being sought for the A Mill project. The historic parking ratio for the A Mill requires 290 spaces. If the variance is granted, the number of on-site parking spaces will be reduced to 204 or 70% of what's required under historic guidelines. If the buildings are important enough to save, shouldn't we honor the parking guidelines put in place to protect the historic neighborhood? Furthermore, this variance could have been avoided under a comprehensive development plan for the entire site. Please consider that when the bank foreclosed and took possession of the entire A Mill site, there was plenty of land available to avoid a parking variance. Because the bank decided to split the property in two (either to maximize their profit or to minimize their loss), it created an on-site parking shortage for the A Mill piece. Please take the long-term view in keeping with the historic preservation of the neighborhood - even if it means waiting for the next development proposal on this parcel.

- Melanie and Rob Stanek

Here's a link to the meeting agenda for the Zoning and Planning Committee hearing scheduled for this morning:

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/zp/WCMS1P-091187

Get Together With Your Neighbors at the April 25 Stone Arch Patio Party!

Mark your calendar for a little unwind time at the Stone Arch Patio Party on Wednesday, April 25.

Bountiful Trip to the April 14 Mill City Farmer Market

Mill City Farmers Market vendors set up shop in the Mill City Museum on April 14.   We filled our basket with a weeks worth of heaven...

Don't forget - the first outdoor Market is May 12!

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Announces New Winery Tours

Rebecca Pfeiffer recently announced Drink Tours, the newest Taste Twin Cities Food Tours offerings.

Join Taste Twin Cities on a tour of three of the premier wineries located along the St. Croix River Valley in our River Road Winery Tour or views of the country side on our Country Side Winery Tour.
 
Start the afternoon on a luxury coach bus learning about the mysteries of wine and the wondrous tales of the area you're traveling through.  You will also enjoy three wineries that include a personal vineyard tour, learning how wine is made, food pairing or box lunch, sample wine at every winery and a souvenir wine glass. You will have time to purchase your favorite bottles of wine for your enjoyment on our coach or save it for a special occasion.
 
Coach bus pick ups are located at Mall of America or Hilton Downtown Minneapolis.  Scheduled tours available Saturdays May - October, or you can book a private tour.  (Up to 25 people per tour.)

The Country Side Wine Tour
Visits three wineries to the west of the Twin Cities: Woodland Hill Winery, Sovereign Estate Vineyard & Winery and Parley Lake Winery.

The River Road Wine Tour
Features Cannon River Winery, Northern Vineyards Winery and Valley Vineyard on the east side of the metro area.

The $75 five to six hour winery tours include fascinating histories of the wineries and geographies, a private tour of the vineyard, a chance to see first-hand how wine is made, tastings at each winery stop as well as one food pairing, and a souvenir wine glass.

All Taste Twin Cities tours are offered at pre-scheduled days and times, and are also available for private bookings. Each one of the tours is perfect for any number of activities, including corporate outings, wedding events (grooms’ dinners, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, etc.), girls’ days out, an adventurous date and almost any other occasion you can think of.

 To learn more, visit their website and Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.

Neighborhood Volunteer Opportunities at People Serving People

People Serving People, located at 614 South 3rd Street, provides emergency housing and community services that assist families experiencing homelessness in becoming self-sufficient and reconnected with the community. 

This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week, and PSP extends their appreciation to everyone who contributed to the 30,000 hours of volunteer time last year.

As they celebrate their volunteers this week, they would also like to share a couple of fun volunteer opportunities at the shelter.  They have a need for babysitters to watch children of parents who are using the Technology Center.  There is also have a need for meal servers for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week in their cafeteria, helping to serve nearly 1,000 meals each day.  Email Mallory at mhaugen@peopleservingpeople.org to find out more.

Click here to fill out an online volunteer application. 

The Week Ahead in Mill City / April 16-22

Above: The latest update to the Mill City Photo Pool...

Each Monday morning we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Mill City neighborhood.  Submit your events here...

Monday, April 16

Ingrid Michaelson at the Guthrie

Tuesday, April 17

Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Public Meeting

Chefs for Change at People Serving People

Wednesday, April 18

Range of Motion 'Tough Enough Bootcamp' at Mill Ruins Park

Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Meeting

Farmers Market Dinner at Spill the Wine

Graywolf Press Publication Reading: D.A. Powell at The Loft

Thursday, April 19

DADA STRIKES BACK: A Cabaret at Open Book

Everybody's a Critic: Twin Cities Food Writers at Central Library

Midwest Photo Safari: "Minneapolis Nights" Mill Ruins Park and the Stone Arch Bridge (Thursdays and Fridays)

Opening Exhibit at Mill City Museum: Growing Strong: How Farmers Markets Nourish People, Communities and the Planet

Friday, April 20

Honors Recital at MacPhail

WomenVenture Pathways to Success Conference at The Depot

Mentor Series: Leslie Adrienne Miller at The Loft

Spring Wine Sale and Tastings 2012 at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Saturday, April 21

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Heart of Minneapolis Tour

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour

2012 Earth Day Clean Up

Farmers Market at Local D'lish

Guthrie's How'd They do That Workshop: Time Stands Still

'Seeds For Sprouts' Family Workshop at MCBA

Children's Book Sale at Central Library Book Store

Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Midwest Photo Safari: "Minneapolis Nights" St. Anthony Main

Childish Films at Central Library

11th Annual Marcy Arts Gala at The Soap Factory

Second Story Reading Series at The Loft

Sunday, April 22

Complimentary Workshop: An Introduction to Tai Chi at Open Book

Gorilla Yoga at Boom Island Park

Rock Bottom 5K for Hunger

This Saturday - Indoor Farmers Market at the Mill City Museum

Above: scenes from the previous indoor market at the Mill City Museum

Come on down to Mill City Museum this Saturday, April 14th, where the Mill Commons will be transformed into a bustling marketplace of locally produced quality food and gift items. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. visitors can shop for everything from CSA shares to maple syrup to freshly milled grains and flours, spinach, tulips, and artisan cheeses.

Tonight Kicks Off 2012 Minnesota Monthly Wine Week at Sanctuary

April 13 - 22 is Minnesota Monthly Wine Week, with participating restaurants offering select Wine Week wines by the glass — the first glass is full price, the second is just a dime.

In our neighborhood - head to Sanctuary, where they'll be featuring the following wines:

Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc - "Aromas of lime, kiwi, citrus, melon and a touch of grass are complemented by flavors of grapefruit, lemon, mango, and guava...."  
 
Ferrari Carano Cabernet Sauvignon - "Ripe black cherry aromas delight along with
fresh boysenberry, spicy essences of clove, cedar and tea. Up-front flavors of juicy blackberry, vanilla and cola are complemented by lingering notes of dark chocolate."

Reservations.

This Weekend in Mill City / April 13-15

Above: A recent photo from the Mill City Photo Pool

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District and Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.  Have an event to share?  Contact us...

Friday, April 13

Live Music at Crooked Pint

Mentor Series: Marlon James at The Loft

The House on Mango Street Opens at The Southern Theater

Spring Wine Sale and Tastings 2012 at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Saturday, April 14

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Heart of Minneapolis Tour

Live Music at Crooked Pint

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour

Flavor of the Infinite: Food Poems at The Loft

Mill City Farmers Market Spring Preview at Mill City Museum

Goldy's Run (10 Mile, 5K and Kids Run)

International Cartoonist Conspiracy Meet-up at MCBA

Paint it Green: Full Circle at Central Library

Snow White: Old and New at Central Library

Guest Chef: Eat More Vegetables with Tricia Cornell at Mill City Museum

François Rabbath in Concert at MacPhail

Sunday, April 15

Race for Justice 5K Run/Walk

Spotlight Series at MacPhail

Spring Maintenance Scheduled for Stone Arch Bridge Next Week

Via an April 12 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Spring maintenance of the Stone Arch Bridge will begin the week of April 16 and is expected to continue at least through the week of April 30. Crews from the City of Minneapolis Bridge Department will wash the bridge, seal cracks, and tuck-point the stone masonry. The bridge will remain open to the public during this work.

Gold Medal Park Moment

From the top of the hill at Gold Medal Park in the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Next Week - Opening Exhibit at Mill City Museum: Growing Strong: How Farmers Markets Nourish People, Communities and the Planet

Time: Opening Reception - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Location:  Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street

Growing Strong: How Farmers Markets Nourish People, Communities and the Planet

Music by Light of the Moon, Cash bar

This exhibit celebrates the many ways that farmers markets serve Minnesota communities. While supporting renewed interest in sustainable farming and local food, this exhibit shows that farmers markets help fill a growing desire to make our communities more connected, livable and vibrant. Through a combination of photomurals and first-person storytelling, visitors will explore the importance of farmers markets both now and throughout history.

"Growing Strong" was created by North Node Consulting in partnership with Avant Garden Photography, Kidzibits, Renewing the Countryside, and Hello Industries.

The exhibit, which runs through July 22, 2012, is located in the museum’s central Mill Commons, and is free and open to the public during regular museum hours:  Tuesday-Saturday, 10am - 5pm; Sunday Noon - 5pm.  Also open Mondays in July and August: 10am - 5pm.  (Closed Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.)

Tonight - A Sip of Science at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main Street

A Sip of Science:  Geology and the Terroir of Wine Growing in Minnesota

Ever hear of Frontenac? La Crescent? Marquette?

These are Minnesota cold-hardy wine grapes, specially bred to bear full crops even after the vines experience the cold of Minnesota winters. The University of Minnesota has been in the grape-growing business since the late 1880s, and today, the University is recognized as having one of the top wine grape programs in the United States. Minnesota wines have won awards in both national and international competitions, and the Upper Mississippi Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is now is largest appellation (region for wine growing) in the world.
 
Join glacial geologist Dr. James Cotter as he illustrates how the challenges of wine growing in the Minnesota climate are met with the development of new grape species and innovative growing practices. He will also discuss how the geologic context for wine grape growing may provide insight on the future of wine making in Minnesota.

About Dr. Cotter:

Dr. James Cotter has been a professor in the Geology Department at the University of Minnesota-Morris since 1984.  He specializes in glacial geology, authoring over 25 papers on the subject.  In 1989 he was awarded the University of Minnesota, Morse - Alumni Award for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education and in 1997 he was named to the University of Minnesota Academy of Distinguished Faculty.  In 2000, Cotter received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mentoring (PAESMEM Award).  He speaks and leads field trips regularly on the geology of wine growing and terroir. 

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum in which researchers pair with musicians, artists and storytellers to put science in context through storytelling.

Repairs Have Started on Washburn Crosby Elevator No. 1

Photos taken this morning:

Tonight - Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association Board Meeting

Time: 6:00pm

Location:  Central Library, Room N-202, 300 Nicollet Mall

Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association