Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
The September 24th Mill City Farmers Market was bursting with produce and other fresh items. We're trying out some new things for this first time this week, including the Pancake & Waffle Mix from Baker's Field Flour & Bread, Fruit Syrup from Twin Cities Berry Co., and Soap Rocks from Blugirl Soapworks. I love those little miniature gourds available this time of year - cute for decorating! :)
This young man is a vulnerable adult and hasn't been seen since 3pm yesterday in the 500 block of 2nd Street S. If you have any information at all, please call the number below.
Communal bathing and spa location is first of its kind in the Twin Cities
Watershed – the first-to-market bathing and spa destination in the Twin Cities - is set to open. Spa services are already available, and construction of the baths is complete. Communal bathing, steam rooms, and sauna will be offered in the very near future, pending final permits.
The Watershed team is co-hosting a joint celebration and open house with next-door neighbor, Spoke & Weal Salon, on September 29th from 6-8 pm. Guests are invited to roam about both spaces and enjoy live music, complimentary food and beverage offerings, and chances to win giveaways. This event is free and open to the public, RSVP’s are requested. Watershed and Spoke & Weal are located in Switch House (the former Soap Factory building), 514 2nd Street SE. Switch House is also a party co-host.
Taking inspiration from the timeless tradition of communal bathing, Watershed has a mission to provide restorative healing in a communal setting. The spa and bathhouse embrace an inclusive, whole-systems approach designed to infuse every step of the bathing ritual and spa experience with clean, positive energy to optimize healing and promote vibrancy.
Honoring its historic location in southeast Minneapolis in the Switch House, Watershed taps into the energy of the riverfront. Founder Nell Rueckl explains the inspiration behind the name, ”A watershed moment is a turning point, a time when important change happens,” she says. “We are at a moment in history when we need deep healing for ourselves, our communities, and our planet.”
The spa consists of 11,000 square feet on two levels. At 4,500 square feet, the main floor is devoted to comprehensive holistic spa treatments, including bodywork (prenatal, cupping and shiatsu, Thai, craniosacral, reflexology, energy work + reiki, chakra balancing), facials, acupuncture, and vibrational sound therapy.
The bathhouse adds 6,500 square feet, which includes communal bathing with a soaking pool, a cold plunge, a steam room, and a cedar sauna. The space also includes a “Recharge Garden” area specifically designated for reflection and relaxation. In short, Watershed is a holistic healing environment unparalleled in the Upper Midwest.
Watershed is the realization of founder Nell Rueckl’s long-held dream to bring communal bathing to the Twin Cities. A true pioneer and leader in the healing community, Rueckl is the founder of Spot Spas in Minneapolis, creator of Nell’s Remedies, and the visionary behind Watershed Spa. After years of research, she is thrilled to welcome people to participate in the bathing ritual and experience the expansive services. Rueckl designed an urban wellness center, offering a robust menu of various modalities, many of which are not typically found in traditional spa settings.
Nell Rueckl forged her career at Horst’s renowned Aveda Destination Spa in Osceola, Wisconsin, and Kabuki Springs in San Francisco and is recognized within the Minnesota spa industry as having attained the highest level of mastery. She brings her years of experience and team of expert practitioners to this unique new location.
Wonder Valley Face Oil is one of the products you'll find among Watershed's retail offerings.“I have been very intentional in my work to create a space where every human can feel safe, calm, and welcomed so that they may heal and be rejuvenated through the bathing ritual,“ she says. The communal experience is central to her vision: “Participating in community allows us to become more whole as individuals. This experience is magnetic and creates a continually regenerative source of energy. It’s transformational at every level.”
Watershed also has a designated retail area and carries a carefully curated selection of the cleanest, greenest, most sustainably-packaged skincare, wellness, and beauty products, including Arcona, Botnia, Wonder Valley, and Watershed’s own line of salt scrubs, body butters, and a bespoke Watershed Spa scent, available as a fragrance or luxe body oil. Guests will also find artwork by community-based artists and makers.
Membership options and passes areavailable on the Watershed website. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
- - - - - Spoke & Weal - - - - -
Founded in 2013 by Jon Reyman and Christine Thompson with a mission to build and maintain a culture that promotes wellness, strives for excellence, and fosters creativity, Spoke & Weal is a full-service salon known for dry cutting, custom dimensional hair color, keratin, extension, and styling services.
Originally launched in San Francisco, the brand now has award-winning salons in Los Angeles, New York City, Palo Alto, Chicago, Boston, and Nashville. The Spoke & Weal team is thrilled to introduce its new location in the historic Switch House building in SE Minneapolis. Instagram: @spokeandweal
In Divided We Fall, a solo piece choreographed by Hille, acclaimed dancer Martin Gore brings an intensity to the physically investigative and daring work. Hille said, “This work is about not accepting one’s circumstance, and remembering the battle is not one that must be confronted alone.”
Lise Houlton, Artistic Director, said, “We are grateful to have such immense talent in Minnesota. And we’re honored to present the artistry of two such thoughtful and rich choreographers who offer nuanced depth and meaning to their work, bringing an added dimension to the dance experience.”
Delivering multifamily, retail, restaurant, office, and more along Washington Avenue
Sherman Associates has acquired a full city block at the southwest corner of South Washington Avenue and 3rd Avenue South (kitty-corner to Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot) for its next development project named Harmonia, located at 255 2nd Avenue South. Sherman’s concept includes three buildings that deliver a 10-story, mixed-income mid-rise apartment; a 20+ story, market-rate high-rise apartment; and a 25+ story, mixed-use high-rise building on the site.
Sherman’s vision for investing $400 million on the 2.43-acre block will provide further connection of the Mill District and the North Loop to the Central Business District. The Harmonia development will provide multifamily, retail, restaurant, and the potential for office, condominiums, or hotel to the block. The concept includes a feature restaurant plaza and amenity courtyard at the center of the three proposed buildings.
A vacant 550,000-square-foot office building currently on the site will be demolished to position the block for redevelopment. This represents approximately 10% of the vacant office space in the Central Business District.
Sherman plans to repurpose the existing underground foundation walls for the Harmonia development, reducing the environmental impact of site excavation for the new development’s underground parking requirements and providing almost 1,000 parking stalls.
“The Harmonia project will create a dynamic and interactive hub for people of all incomes to experience the vibrant center of downtown Minneapolis,” said Chris Sherman, president of Sherman Associates. “Between this project and our proposed Northstar East project, we are removing close to 1 million square feet of excess and underutilized office space.”
Construction on the three buildings is estimated to start in the fall of 2023, with estimated completion in early 2026. ESG Architecture & Design is the architect on the project. Sherman is renowned for transforming communities with its mixed-use developments, which deliver a variety of housing types along with retail, office, and hospitality amenities that stimulate healthy neighborhoods, and plans to do just that on this full city block.
The name Harmonia pays tribute to Harmonia Hall, a Victorian Gothic building that stood on a portion of the site from 1884 to 1962. Harmonia Hall was designed and occupied as an auditorium by the Harmonia Singing Society, an organization formed by Minneapolis’ German community, which hosted concerts, charity benefits, and cultural events until 1899. Over time, the building housed a theater, a business college, a state bank, a printer, a book bindery, a hotel, and other various commercial businesses before its demolition in 1962.
Vibrant and delicious pretty much sums up the food we get every Saturday at the Mill City Farmers Market. This week's non-food items were candles from Kobi Co. :)
Via a September 19 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:
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.
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
Get an inside look of tunnel mining
The Star Tribune recently released a story on the Minneapolis Central City Tunnel project. Check out the Star Tribune story to get an inside look of what tunnel mining looks like underground.
* * Latest Project News * *
Eastern sidewalk along Nicollet Mall between Washington Ave and 3rd St N
2nd Ave
Portland Ave
* * Long-term closures/restrictions * *
* * What to expect * *
* * Suspended sites through summer 2022 * *
Hennepin Ave
Mississippi River Portal
* * Stay connected * *
Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/
Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com
Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418
Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!
YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza
James Sewell Ballet
Wednesday, September 21 at 6-7:30pm
James Sewell Ballet transforms dance, artists, and audiences through rich collaboration, education, and equitable opportunities. The company’s innovations in expanding the boundaries of ballet and its playful-elegant aesthetic have earned it consistent accolades over its 33 year history.
MNspin Musician of the Week: TWAIN
Thursday, September 22 from 12-1pm
For a complete calendar of Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.
Featuring: Ashlea Karkula, Bill Crane, Derek Meier, HML, Janice Essick, Jeremy Jones, Joli Grostephan, Jonas Specktor, Kramer Hegenbarth, Lucy Picasso, Michael Engebretson, Nora Rickey, Phoebe Mol, Presley Martin, Simone Needles, W. S. Norton
COACTION / October 22nd – November 19th
Coaction is a group exhibition curated by Derek Meier of Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, showcasing creative dialogues and accessibility within the arts. Manifesting themes of collaboration and material exchange, Gamut Gallery partners with Interact Center to host this event. The group exhibition features work from eight multidisciplinary Interact artists alongside eight artist instructors. Together, the collective exhibits individual pieces and joint works, showcasing creative dialogues and accessibility within the arts. Through paintings, sculpture, drawing, fiber arts, and written word, Coaction offers the viewer a glimpse into Interact Center’s artist community and its combined energies. One collaborative pairing features the work of artists W. S. Norton and Jonas Specktor as they individually respond through painting to the other’s poetry. The collection of paintings and written word will be bound in an artist book on display for Coaction.
"Interact artists selected for this exhibition have a longstanding, dedicated studio practice within our organization. The curation of each collaborative pairing was centered on selecting artists who engage in similar mediums or subject matter utilizing different approaches, creating a visual conversation that extends through the process," states Derek. "Coaction continues Interact’s mission to have the work of these artists shown in the same light as other professional artists within the same market."
Since opening their doors a decade ago, Gamut’s mission has been to foster a community that spans all disciplines, lifestyles, and backgrounds.
PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Saturday, October 22nd, 4-9 PM
$10 day of the event - $7 pre-sale / FREE for Members
Follow Gamut on Facebook and Instagram for further details and information regarding the event.
Now available: A new way to request traffic calming and the new Neighborhood Traffic Calming process.
The City has a new process for considering community requests for neighborhood traffic calming. Our goal is to maintain a fair, transparent, and equitable process.
In the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Report September 2022 you will find:
Anyone can apply for neighborhood traffic calming, including residents, property owners, business owners, and neighborhood or business organizations. To have a traffic calming request considered for installation in 2023, you need to submit an application by November 1, 2022. There are two ways to submit an application:
You can call 311 if you need any help filling out the application or email traffic.calming@minneapolismn.gov with any questions.
Note that we anticipate many more requests than the City will be able to fund in 2023, but this process will help us fairly and effectively use the funding we do have available to make streets safer. We plan to continue the process each year so we can address more and more requests over time.
Additional information is available on the City's traffic calming webpage.
A view of a gravel beach across from Hall's Island and an open field that will become Graco Park. Taken from the Plymouth Avenue Bridge in October 2019.
Mississippi East Bank Trail will be temporarily rerouted along Sibley Street NE and the former 10th Avenue NE while site is graded and prepared for park construction next year
Construction just began on Graco Park, a new Northeast Minneapolis riverfront park across from Hall's Island, just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge!
The first phase of work to build the new park involves building a flood barrier and grading the site to prepare it for park construction next year. Some of the soil used for this work will be repurposed from the Upper Harbor Terminal site, where another new riverfront park is under construction in North Minneapolis.
Mississippi East Bank Trail will be rerouted along Sibley Street NE and the former 10th Avenue NE through at least the end of the year. Please stay away from areas under construction. Trail users and truck and vehicle drivers are advised to slow down and look out for each other while the trail reroute is in place.
An agreement that allows part of the trail to be temporarily rerouted on Graco Inc. property, located next to the future Graco Park, was approved on Sept. 7, 2022. In 2018, Graco Inc., a leading manufacturer of fluid handling equipment, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) reached a series of agreements that will result in this new park. Read the “2018 Agreements” section below for details.
Graco Park Details
Graco Park is expected to open in 2024. When it’s complete, it will feature:
Future phases could include additional park elements as funding becomes available:
2018 Agreements
On Oct. 17, 2018, the MPRB and Graco Inc. reached several agreements on the development of a riverfront park adjacent to Hall’s Island in northeast Minneapolis.
Included in the agreements:
The contributions from Graco will allow the new riverfront park to be constructed much earlier than it could have through traditional park funding mechanisms.
Event to feature remarks from community officials and performances from local music groups, special giveaways and more
IDS Center, the iconic centerpiece of downtown Minneapolis, today announced that, in partnership with mpls downtown council (mdc), it is hosting a special ceremony on Thursday, September 22, in celebration of the IDS Center’s 50th anniversary.
IDS Center and mdc invite the Minneapolis community to partake in the ceremony and enjoy the thoughtfully crafted schedule of events in celebration of the property’s golden anniversary. The event will take place in the Crystal Court, Minneapolis’ central gathering place, from noon – 2:00 p.m., and will feature:
Over the last 50 years, the IDS Center has played host to many high-profile events, including the 2021 NCAA Men’s Final Four, where ESPN’s Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps broadcasted live from the Crystal Court; the 2008 Republican National Convention, where the property served as the official VIP media hub for local and national media networks; and the 1992 and 2018 Super Bowl kickoffs, where national broadcast networks conducted interviews in the lead-up to the game. What’s more, the property has served as a filming site for several blockbuster television shows and movies, such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Mighty Ducks, Purple Rain, Young Adult, Joe Somebody and Fooling Around.
“I have been with this property for 30 years now, and I haven’t gone a single day without someone from the community telling me how much the IDS Center means to them,” said Kolar. “It is truly an honor to represent this building and all that it signifies, and we are excited to pay homage to the history of the IDS Center with our event on September 22. We greatly look forward to celebrating with many familiar faces and welcoming back those men and women who played critical roles in bringing this property to life.”
IDS Center is owned by Accesso, a fully integrated investment manager and operator of multi-tenant office buildings and multifamily properties.
zAmya Theater Project has announced a theater-based community project, Neighbors Beings Neighbors in the North Loop. Community partners include North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo.
The North Loop is a unique neighborhood, home to both upscale condos and rentals and high-income residents, and several organizations sheltering low-income residents in need of housing. In light of recent conflict over a homeless encampment in North Loop, this project seeks to establish a shared vision for what needs to happen for all community members to feel safe, have shelter, and ensure support for the most vulnerable.
The project kicked off last month with a jointly hosted performance of zAmya’s play, Second Chance, at the Target Field Station Amphitheater. With the performance as a springboard for conversation, community members are invited to three “listening sessions” this fall. The interactive workshops will promote deep dialogue and listening between North Loop residents, housed and homeless. The conversations will inform the development of a new play about the North Loop, and shared back to the community in a play reading next February.
Second Chance performed at the Target Field Station Amphitheater in August. Photo: Bruce Silcox
Avivo Village in the North Loop Photo: Avivo Village
Emily Bastian, Vice President of Avivo, says, "We hope to find a way for people with lived experience of homelessness and housed neighbors to see each other as peers with equal strength, investment, and knowledge, and recognize each other's humanity. I want them to have dialogue and take creative action.”
Excerpt from the September 15 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:
The Early Vote Center at 980 E Hennepin Avenue opens at 8 a.m. Sept. 23 for voters who wish to cast their ballot early and in person. Also Sept. 23, Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services begins mailing ballots to voters who have requested to vote early by mail.
Early voting is easy
In-person early voting is convenient. Any voter can vote early; no reason is needed. It especially helps voters who need special accommodations when voting by allowing for extra time, attention and onsite resources than polling places might on a busy Election Day.
You can also vote early by mail. Please allow enough time to complete the process by mail; it can take longer than seven days depending on where your ballot is sent. You can find mail ballot applications on the City website and submit your ballot any time before an election.
Plan ahead
Find out which offices are on the ballot for this election at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.
The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) announced its Greening & Public Realm Award winners, a group decided by an interactive public vote that includes three first-time winners among the seven categories.
The Greening & Public Realm Awards aim to showcase the greening efforts by local organizations and companies that help beautify downtown and its surrounding areas through enhancing our urban landscape.
This year’s first-time award winners include the Prince Mural by Hiero Veiga, The Freehouse (Best Entryway/Outdoor Café) and Water Works Park (Best Public Realm Improvement).
Loring Greenway won a Greening & Public Realm Award for a record 11th straight year – including winning Best Large Green Space for the sixth year in a row. The Loring Park Neighborhood also took home the prize for Best Neighborhood Greening for the sixth year in a row as well. Peavey Plaza won its second straight Greening & Public Realm Award (Best Activated Space) and Gateway Park took home the award for Best Small Green Space for the second year in a row.
“After a two-year hiatus, we’re excited to celebrate this year’s Greening and Public Realm Award winners and especially excited to add two new winners to our past award recipients,” says Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Mpls Downtown Improvement District. “We value all efforts to enhance downtown’s beauty and vibrancy. Congratulations to this year’s winners—your contributions to our city’s core are greatly appreciated.”
Greening & Public Realm Award winners will receive a commemorative plaque created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued and the category that was won. Winning locations will also receive a Greening & Public Realm Awards winner sign to designate their award-winning greenery.
Finalists for the Greening & Public Realm Awards were announced on July 25. Public voting for finalists remained open through August 15.
The finalists were selected and categorized by members of the Mpls DID staff based on criteria including overall year-over-year enhancements as well as continued excellence in their efforts to increase vibrancy in the public realm.
This year’s results include the following winners:
More information and list of finalists can be found here: www.mplsdid.com/greeningawards.
Enjoy fall releases and winter warmers at the 21st Annual Autumn Brew Review Festival
On October 15 brewers from across Minnesota will gather for one of the oldest and coziest annual celebrations of craft beer in the state.
Celebrate the autumn season with brewers and thousands of fellow beer lovers at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. Craft beer fans and attendees of this afternoon festival can enjoy s’mores, live music, and bonfires in the golden hour light as they sample unlimited special seasonal releases, classic favorites, non-alcoholic beverages, and gluten-free options from 95+ breweries and brewpubs, all with scenic views of the downtown Minneapolis skyline as a backdrop.
Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!
YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza
MNspin Musician of the Week: Ray Barnard
Thursday, September 15 from 12-1pm
Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora
Friday, September 16 at 6-7:30pm
Journeying through the sonically diverse realms of old school and new school hip hop, R&B, funk, and soul, Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora seamlessly blend melodic harmonies, smooth instrumentation, and raw, poetic energy to tell stories of struggle, resilience, and celebration. Formed in the heart of the Twin Cities, the collective is dedicated to crafting vibrant soundscapes around honest narratives that reflect their community’s sacred humanity. Each song is an ancestral echo, a battle cry calling for freedom, an unending dance for justice and joy, welcoming all of the diaspora home.
Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre
Saturday, September 17 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm
Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.
For a complete calendar of Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.
On our September 10th trip to the Mill City Farmers Market we were lucky enough to get one of the last watermelons from Nistler Farms, as well as the last of the season's sweet corn from Bean Market. Slow Burn had some very cool Día de los Muertos beeswax candles. The blended salsa from Atacama Catering is the perfect sauce to pour over a batch of roasted squash/peppers/onions/garlic (and their cookies and empanadas are to die for!). Mary Dirty Face Farm had an extensive array of apples. We picked up some Ginger Golds.
West River Parkway is scheduled to close between 4th Avenue N and Portland Avenue beginning Monday, Sept. 12 for catch basin repairs performed by City of Minneapolis Public Works. The closure is expected to last up to five days.
Trails and the Stone Arch Bridge parking lot will remain open. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience while public infrastructure is repaired.
Chef Vincent Francoual, Photo: Restore Restaurant HoldingsSherman Associates and Restore Restaurant Holdings (RRH) recently announced RRH has signed a lease for the 3,000 square foot ground floor restaurant space at 700 S 3rd Street, adjacent to the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District hotel. The space will be home to a new casual-dining concept being created by Chef Vincent Francoual in coordination with RRH.
Chef Vincent was the namesake and creative force behind Vincent, A Restaurant, which was frequently named the “the best French restaurant” in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area during its 14-year run. The new restaurant will not be a reboot of Vincent, A Restaurant, Chef Vincent emphasized, but rather a new take on a casual French restaurant featuring the foods Chef Vincent loves cooking for his own family.
The restaurant space is in the heart of Sherman Associates’ redevelopment of the Mill District which includes over 1,000 housing units completed or under construction, two hotels, and its new office headquarters.
“Over the past year, our vision has been to create a restaurant hub in the Mill District,” said Ben Kepple, director of commercial leasing at Sherman Associates. “We’re excited to welcome RRH and Chef Vincent as the first of many exciting new food and beverage concepts to the neighborhood.”
Restore Restaurant Holdings is a recently formed group pioneering a new way of running a restaurant company by collaborating with successful restaurateurs to rebuild the hospitality business in downtown Minneapolis and surrounding areas. RRH is headed by co-founders attorney Dennis Monroe and his son, Matthew Monroe, along with Francoual. Also, part of the team is restaurateur Erik Forsberg, owner of Devil’s Advocate, Dan Kelly’s Pub, Joseph’s Restaurant, and Erik the Red.
Additional details about the new Chef Vincent restaurant will be released as the date for the grand opening, expected later this fall, approaches.
Chef Vincent, who is now heading up the kitchen at EaTo, is excited to get back to his French roots: "I believe that French food and a French restaurant can be a casual concept, as is the case with other ethnic food, and can be served in a way that is more carefree and incorporates shareable dishes," Francoual said. “I look forward to bringing this idea to the people of Minnesota soon.”
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 9:52AM