Sherman Associates Acquires Full City Block for $400 Million Redevelopment

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. 

Shopping Basket from the September 17 Mill City Farmers Market

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. :)

September 19 Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

Via a September 19 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis.

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

• Crews have finished removing the scaffolding and extra equipment in the area and the site has been cleaned up.
  • This sidewalk has reopened to pedestrians, but a portion of it will be narrowed around the dewatering well and pumps. This will remain in place until the project is completed.

 2nd Ave

• Crews continue tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S, just north of the Washington Ave intersection.
  • Additional sound dampening equipment/materials were installed
  • The sidewalks remain open on both sides of the road.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 2nd Ave S intersection remains open.
  • 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Ave and 1st St S.
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

 Portland Ave

• Tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave continues from the existing tunnel access shaft at the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Portland Ave intersection.
  • Pedestrian access is being maintained during this work. Please follow any posted detour routes.
  • There may be short, periodic traffic delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

* * Long-term closures/restrictions * * 

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

• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains restricted between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall. The contractor will resume tunneling from the existing tunnel to the new tunnel in fall 2022.
  • During these restrictions, pedestrians share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remains open.

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

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

* * What to expect * * 

• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.
• Schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

* * Suspended sites through summer 2022 * * 

Hennepin Ave

• Tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave will resume fall 2022 at this site.

Mississippi River Portal

• Minor activities will periodically occur at the Mississippi River portal site through Summer 2022. Work will resume fall 2022.

* * 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

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza Sept. 19-24

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, September 20 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended.

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 

TWAIN is a hip-hop recording artist from Minneapolis, by way of Chicago. A seasoned music maker, songwriter and lyricist, his sound strikes a balance of timeless and contemporary hip-hop energy, autobiographic tales, and wordplay purists can appreciate. He founded and curated the indie concert series A NIGHT OVER SOUTH in 2016, and TWIN CITIES MUSIC LOUNGE in 2018. His latest music project Midwest Mayor released near the end 2021.

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For a complete calendar of Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

Gamut Gallery Announces COACTION, October 22-November 19

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

•  4-6 PM Low volume for those with auditory sensitivities
•  6-9 PM DJ Set by Buddah Jankey

Follow Gamut on Facebook and Instagram for further details and information regarding the event. 

City Announces New Neighborhood Traffic Calming Process

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:

• Details about the new process
• An application form
• An updated toolbox
• Information about how we rank the applications, and
• A timeline for the annual process

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:

• Fill out the online traffic calming application. 
• Fill out and print the Traffic Calming Application, and send it by email or US Mail.

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.

Construction Begins on New Graco Park Along Northeast Minneapolis Riverfront

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:

• A multiuse building with public restrooms, community space and a Spark’d Studios location
• Native habitat restoration and stormwater management features
• The Mississippi East Bank Trail realigned through the park, with safety upgrades at the intersection of Plymouth/8th Avenue NE and Sibley Street NE
• Gathering spaces, walkways and river access

Graco Park Final Concept

Future phases could include additional park elements as funding becomes available:

• Picnic shelters
• Watercraft rental
• Additional park or future vendor building
• A trail under the Plymouth Avenue Bridge that connects to Boom Island Park
• Hall’s Island river overlook

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 Graco Foundation donated more than $3 million to the MPRB to fund a new park named “Graco Park.”
• Graco gave an easement for the Mississippi East Bank Trail to the MPRB for free and the parties ended legal proceedings related to the easement.
• The MPRB sold 2.2 acres located next to Graco’s Riverside production facility to Graco at a fair market value of $1.1 million.
  • This land is part of a 3.55-acre section of the 11-acre site, dubbed “Parcel D,” which was purchased by the MPRB without state regional park funding.
  • When the site was acquired in 2010, the MPRB, City of Minneapolis and Metropolitan Council all agreed that Parcel D would not become parkland and planned to instead use Parcel D for a public-private partnership of some kind.
• Graco funded flood protection constructed on Parcel D and prepaid park dedication fees for Parcel D.

The contributions from Graco will allow the new riverfront park to be constructed much earlier than it could have through traditional park funding mechanisms.

Minneapolis’ Iconic IDS Center to Host 50th Anniversary Ceremony on September 22

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:  

• Remarks from Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Member Lisa Goodman and IDS Center General Manager Deb Kolar on the building’s significance and the important role it plays in the Minneapolis community and defining the city’s skyline.

• Performances by Nunnabove, Sounds of Blackness and legendary graffiti artist Alex Smith.

• Giveaways from some of the building’s popular dining concepts, including noa, which is creating a signature mocktail, and Cardigan Donuts, which is designing a donut cake.

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 Announces Neighbors Being Neighbors In the North Loop

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.” 

Dates and Locations:

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● Monday, October 3, 7:00-9:00pm

● Location: Avivo Village, 1251 Washington Ave N

● Who’s invited: Avivo Village residents (Masks required)

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● Monday, October 24, 7:00-9:00pm

● Location: Element Minneapolis Downtown, 501 N 6th Ave

● Who’s invited: anyone housed, who lives and/or works, in North Loop (Masks encouraged)

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● Monday, November 14, 7:00-9:00pm

● Location: Avivo Village, 1251 Washington Ave N

● Who’s invited: everyone who lives, works, or stays in North Loop (Masks required)

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Registration is encouraged, but not required. To register, go to https://zamyatheater.org/northloop, scroll down to the "Sign me up!" button.

Early Voting Opens September 23; Candidates Set for November 8 Election

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

• Make sure you’re registered to vote. Voters can register or check the status of their registrations on the City website. Register to vote ahead of the Oct. 18 pre-registration deadline to save time when voting. Voters who need to register or update their existing registration should plan to bring proof of residence when they vote.
• Look at a sample ballot ahead of time; even bring it to refer to when you go to vote in person. Beginning at least 45 days before Election Day (Sept. 24), you can find sample ballots for all 137 Minneapolis precincts on the City website. State law allows you to bring materials into the poll to help complete your ballots, and the sample ballot is the best tool available for this purpose.

Find out which offices are on the ballot for this election at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.

Mpls Downtown Improvement District Announces 2022 Greening & Public Realm Award Winners

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:

Small Green Space Winner:  Gateway Park

Large Green Space:  Loring Greenway

Public Art Winners:  Prince Mural, Bob Dylan Mural

Activated Space Winner:  Peavey Plaza

Entryway and Outdoor Cafe Greening Winner:  The Freehouse

Public Realm Improvement Winner:  Water Works Park

Best Neighborhood Winner:  Loring Park

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More information and list of finalists can be found here: www.mplsdid.com/greeningawards.

21st Annual Autumn Brew Review Festival Returns to Boom Island October 15th

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. 

In its 21st year, Autumn Brew Review is one of the state’s oldest beer festivals. This uniquely Minnesotan fest highlights the variety of styles brewed by local businesses from around the state. Like other MNCBG festivals, ABR exclusively showcases the talent of Minnesota breweries and brewpubs and features games and activities created and led by the breweries themselves.

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The 2022 Autumn Brew Review festival will feature:

● Unlimited samples from 95+ Minnesota breweries, brewpubs, and cideries

● Autumn games and activities led by MN brewers and brewery staff

● Live DJ set by The Current

● Bonfires and s’mores

● Food trucks and local artisans

● Best of Fest awards - voted on by attendees

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Regular tickets are $60, sober-driver tickets are $15, and VIP early-access tickets are available to members of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild MNthusiast program. Tickets, event details, participating breweries, and MNthusiast membership information can be found online at mncraftbrew.org/ABR.

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza September 12-17

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, September 13 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

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MNspin Musician of the Week: Ray Barnard

Thursday, September 15 from 12-1pm 

Ray Barnard and Clark Adams do original Roots & Soul music. And with the help of Blair Krivanek, Nick Salisbury, and, Greg Schutte, they do it as well as anybody. They meet at the intersection of smart, pretty, and groovy.

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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.

September 10th Trip to the Mill City Farmers Market

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 to Closes Between 4th Ave N and Portland Ave September 12-16 for Maintenance

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.

New Vincent Francoual Restaurant Coming to the Former Bacon Social House Location

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.”

MacPhail Center for Music Announces 2022-23 Spotlight Series

The September 24th concert will feature Jendayi Berry, and include a live painting on the stage as performances by Julia and Irina Elkina, Iris Shiraishi and Michael Cain take place.

MacPhail Center for Music has announced the 2022-23 Spotlight Series: Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors. This collaborative series of performances will build pathways in the artistic community by unifying the two captivating mediums of visual art and music.

Jendayi BerryPer Spotlight Artistic Director Mischa Santora, “I am so thrilled about the continuing journey with the Spotlight Concert Series, as we keep building new artistic connections in our community. With each new season, we have a unique opportunity to expand the scope of representation through our fantastic guest artists. Besides presenting wonderful performances, I feel we can learn so much about who we are as a community, and perhaps more importantly, where we want to go next.”

The season will showcase three important Twin Cities artists featuring Asha Belk with The Space Where Words Fail, Eyenga Bokamba with Translucent Beauty and to kick off the series Jendayi Berry will present In the Moment. Berry will put his extremely unique and alluring talents on display as he paints live on-stage rendering the musical performance into visual terms.

The first concert in the series will take place Saturday, September 24th at Antonello Hall in MacPhail’s Downtown Minneapolis location. Season subscribers will save 20% off the single ticket price and are guaranteed tickets to all three performances in September, February, and April. Season subscriptions are available for purchase up until the date of the first performance. Single tickets are also available for purchase on macphail.org.

Open Eye Theatre Announces Fall/Winter Season

Open Eye Theatre announces its Fall/Winter Season, featuring rowdy puppetry, a horrifying Halloween show on the roof at The Bakken Museum, a Mexican-American multimedia collaboration, masterful Indigenous storytelling, and a raucous musical version of A Christmas Carol! This season, audiences will see a thrilling array of original theatre, inventive puppetry, and world-class storytelling from local, national, and international artists. 

Producing Artistic Director Joel Sass officially took over the leadership helm at Open Eye in 2020 after Founder and Executive Director Susan Haas announced her departure from the organization. Since then he has successfully led Open Eye through the pandemic, commissioning and directing LOG JAM! A Paul Bunyan Musical Spectacular and HAIR BALL! A Bigfoot Musical Adventure on the roof of The Bakken Museum, and creating unique opportunities for audiences to engage with artists through outdoor spectacles, virtual performances, global online puppetry workshops, a wildly successful Driveway Tour, and PUPPET LAB residency and festival this year. In addition to creating new and exciting productions, his leadership focuses on supporting artists, fostering connections with community, and expanding the circle of those who call Open Eye a creative home.

FULL MOON PUPPET SHOW, October 21 – 23

A rowdy puppet cabaret during the full moon! Join us under the full moon for an adult, rowdy puppet cabaret. Featuring performances by some of the most innovative Twin Cities puppetry artists and live music between acts! Since 2008, FULL MOON PUPPET SHOW has been performing puppet slams throughout Minneapolis. This October, nominated artists will perform 10 minute original puppet shows to an audience encouraged to howl at the moon and cheer on each show!

HALLOWEEN @ The Bakken Museum, October 27 - 30

 Open Eye returns to The Bakken Museum for a third year of Halloween mayhem, this time with a multimedia spectacle conjured by Steve Ackerman and his team of puppet poltergeists. Ingredients in this witch’s cauldron include a gothic heavy metal band, puppet-animal sacrifice, arcane mystic rites, and comic demons summoned in a rock concert / seance / mockumentary that will delight fans of movies such as “This Is Spinal Tap” and “The Exorcist.”

SPEECHLESS | SIN PALABRAS, November 3 – 13

SPEECHLESS illuminates the extremes of both isolation and proximity between feuding neighbors who learn to overcome their conflicts and communicate across their divided community. The unique multimedia puppetry is performed without words to connect with audiences across language barriers and cultures.

Kling & Co Master Storyteller Series: BIRD BRAINED November 17 - 20

Beloved storyteller Dovie Thomason returns to Open Eye as part of Kevin Kling & Co’s Master Storyteller Series. One of the country’s most respected tale-tellers, Dovie Thomason combines her knowledge of Indigenous stories with contemporary observations in evenings of luminous storytelling, rich with tenderness and humor. Each performance is followed by an audience talk-back with the artist, hosted by Kevin Kling.

SCROOGE IN ROUGE, December 1 - 23

The Royal Music Hall Variety Players' production of A Christmas Carol is in a pickle after seventeen members of the company suddenly fall ill. This leaves the three remaining members to plow on (so to speak) through a musical performance of the Dickens classic. Expect missed cues, unfamiliar characters, and costume mishaps aplenty. With cheeky puns and bawdy songs, this quick-change, cross-dressing version of the Christmas tale is a hilarious holiday treat!

The return of PUPPET LAB this fall

Following a sold out relaunch during the PUPPET LAB Festival this year, and continuing under the leadership of co-artistic directors Oanh Vu and Rebekah Crisanta de Ybarra, we will soon announce a call for applications for our fall PUPPET LAB cohort of emerging artists. More info will be available soon at openeyetheatre.org/about-puppet-lab.

Tickets

Visit openeyetheatre.org for showtimes and tickets. A limited number of $10 Economic Accessibility tickets are available online for each performance. Patrons may also pay what they can at the door.

Location and Parking

Open Eye Figure Theatre. 506 East 24th St., Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Map) Open Eye is located 2 blocks south of Franklin Ave between Portland Ave and 35W. Park for free in the Lutheran Social Service lot at 24th and Portland.

Shopping Basket from the September 3rd Mill City Farmers Market

New in this week's shopping basket from the Mill City Farmers Market are butternut squash from Dawn2Dusk and Kimchi from Mhonpaj’s Garden. The outdoor Market is open Saturdays, 8a-1p thru September, and October hours are 9a-1p.

Minneapolis Monarch Festival/Festival de la Monarca is Saturday, September 10

Saturday, September 10
10 am to 4 pm 
Lake Nokomis Park

Free and for everyone!

Butterfly, music and art lovers from the Twin Cities and beyond come together on Saturday September 10 for the free 2022 Minneapolis Monarch Festival / Festival de la Monarca. 

Scheduled from 10am to 4pm, the festival is filled with music, art activities, games, food, plants that monarchs love and more. 

The day offers a host of fun ways for people of all ages to learn about these amazing pollinators and their role in the ecosystem.

The festival takes place at Lake Nokomis Park, northeast of the lake and near the Nokomis Naturescape, a certified Monarch Waystation.

Read on for highlights, or visit the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) website or monarchfestival.org.

Festival Highlights:

Costume parade
Join in or cheer on this ever-popular monarch-themed march for children

Monarch encounters
Observe these insects up-close; learn about their 2,300-mile journey between Minnesota and the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico; find out simple things everyone can do to help restore their population

Monarch-friendly plants 
Purchase native flora to create a habitat in your yard for butterflies and other pollinators 

Performances galore 
Monarch-themed puppet shows, music from Salsa del Sol and Mariachi Mi Tierra performances and dance highlighting the Minnesota/Mexico connection 

Art activities 
Join in community mural and sculpture-making; make your own screen- or block print or paper from plants

Great tastes 
Minnesotan and Latin foods plus other eats and treats available for purchas

Volunteer at the Festival! Email monarch@nokomiseast.org for information.