Help Cut and Bag Buckthorn at BF Nelson Park, November 13

 Cut and bag buckthorn at BF Nelson Park

Join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) for a morning of buckthorn removal at BF Nelson Park. This park, across the river from Nicollet Island, offers scenic walkways and views of the Mississippi River that will be much improved after dense buckthorn is removed from the shoreline.

In partnership with the Minnesota Opera, FMR has made a significant dent in the buckthorn at this site. But, the work isn't done. On November 13 from 9a to 11a they will continue to clear the way for native plants to return to the shoreline of this park, and to make room for future volunteers to plant shrubs and wildflowers to help diversify this ecosystem.

Seeking Volunteers

All are welcome and no experience is necessary. Tools, gloves and training will be provided, and volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace. Work includes cutting back buckthorn, stacking the brush and bagging stems - all to prevent the same plants from resprouting next year. The bags serve to block light and "cook" the stems, providing a herbicide-free buckthorn control solution. The bags will be removed as the restoration process continues at this site.

Ready to Register?

To sign up and receive directions to the meeting spot, contact FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey at sdowney@fmr.org, 651-222-2193 x27. Please include the name of the event, your name, address, phone number and the number in your party.

To receive notices of future events, contact FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey at sdowney@fmr.org. Or, visit our Events Calendar for our most up-to-date listing of upcoming events. To receive a twice-a-month e-newsletter including all FMR activities and news, sign up for Mississippi Messages.

Local Artists Showcase Their Work in Digital Hennepin Gallery Exhibit

"Make Space" will feature artwork from Kprecia Ambers, Philipo Dyauli and Connor Rice 

Forecast Public Art and Hennepin County will host an online gallery exhibit highlighting the work of Twin Cities artists Kprecia Ambers, Philipo Dyauli and Connor Rice. 

Visit the online gallery starting November 1. (Due to COVID-19 closings, gallery exhibitions at the Hennepin County Government Center have shifted to a digital format.) 

The three artists previously participated in a Hennepin Theatre Trust project with Clear Channel Outdoor. Art Connects Us featured their artwork on 60 digital billboards across the region. The project shared messages of hope and gratitude to people working on the front lines of COVID-19.  

While their work was seen in highly visible public spaces across the city, “Make Space” gets closer to the details. The artists share what they’ve been working on and how the pandemic has impacted their artistic practice.

About the Artists

Kprecia Ambers is a full-time digital illustrator and owner of Kp Inspires. Illustration is her voice and tool to support and celebrate others. Her biggest inspiration is people. Her dream as an illustrator is to reach and fill homes around the world with art, products and designs that aim to encourage self-love.

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Connor Rice is a multi-media artist from Southside Minneapolis. His work is heavily inspired by hip-hop, street art and ancient propaganda. He uses art to document the issues and motifs of pan-Africanist realities throughout time and space. Connor is a recent recipient of the Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant and the Jerome Fellowship at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking. Connor was commissioned to direct and execute murals for the City of Minneapolis Public Service Building and in 2019 for Make on Lake, a public art initiative on Lake Street.

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Philipo Dyauli is a self-taught painter, illustrator and draftsman from Tanzania. His work primarily consists of acrylic paintings on canvas inspired by favorite painters, music, films and the natural world. His childhood consisted of road trips, family reunions and visiting National Parks in Tanzania. Dyauli incorporates his Tanzanian roots and personal experiences to create artwork that reflects life in the United States and East Africa. This often involves depictions of favorite family traditions, friends and personal heroes.

Project partners 

Hennepin County Multicultural Arts Committee (MAC) Created by the county board in 1995 as part of the organization’s response to the Minneapolis Initiative Against Racism. MAC sponsors art displays, performances, discussions and exhibits representing Hennepin County’s diverse cultural canvas.

Forecast Public Art A non-profit arts organization that activates, inspires, and advocates for public art that advances justice, health, and human dignity. 

Van Gogh Hot Air Balloon

Photo: FOX 9

Did you happen to see the Vincent van Gogh hot air balloon Saturday, October 30? It was launched from Boom Island to celebrate the extension of the Immersive Van Gogh Minneapolis exhibit (now running to February 2022).

The Van Gogh hot air balloon is a reproduction of Van Gogh’s 1887 painting Self Portrait with Grey Felt Hat. The balloon was created by a European specialty hot air balloon company with brush strokes depicting a precise copy of the artist’s iconic piece. It has been launched in numerous cities.

You can view 100's of photos from the event here. They are spectacular!

Art Attack! is Back - November 5 - 7

Art Attack returns to the Northrup King Building November 5, 6 and 7. Enjoy live music by Mwago Kuria and Ben Abrahamson; treats and refreshments will be available for purchase from Potter's Pasties, Sandy's Grill & Italian Ice, and Thirsty Dragon Drinks. Look for special gallery openings, receptions and exhibitions. Click here for the list of artists.

Friday, November 5, 5 - 10pm
Saturday, November 6, Noon - 8pm
Sunday, November 7, Noon - 5pm

Halloween Moon by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

Are you ready for Halloween? This eerie looking image is a combination of seven images of the moon rising over Lake Superior in the evening, which were combined and blended back into the first moon image. I then blended that combined moon image into two photos of Minneapolis, one of downtown and the other of the river. Finally I blended in a photo of Puerto Vallarta. The blending process selects portions of each image based on lightness, darkness, hue, saturation or luminosity in the images being blended together. Sometimes the blending process produces very subtle effects, and other times much more dramatic, as with this image.

You can see more of my photography @ricrosowphotography, @treslechesartgallery and @nemaa.

Mill District History Video from the DMNA

This video is part of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) Historic Signage Project. 

Gamut's 10th Annual Holiday Sale, Raging Art On, Opens December 2nd

Gamut Gallery’s annual holiday pop-up, Raging Art On, will feature floor-to-ceiling artwork, handcrafted gifts and more from over 50 Minnesota artists. Since the inception of Raging Art On in 2011, Gamut Gallery has hand selected the artists, but left the rest up to them. In doing so, they choose their “best of the best” artworks spanning all sizes and price points creating the full Gamut of work. The gallery will feature 25 new artists alongside familiar names they've shown throughout the years.

*  *  *  *  *  FEATURED ARTISTS  *  *  *  *  *

Third Daughter Restless Daughter, Astralchemy, Alexis Politz, allison anne, Anton Horishnyk, Amit Michael, Ashley Nichole, Bekah Worley, Benja Wuest, Biafra, Black Daze, Cassie Garner, Carter Casmaer, Destiny Davison, Eli Libson, Emily Forbes, Emily Quandahl, Evan Weselmann, Flahn Manly, Heather Renaux, Jamie Owens, Jenna Richardson, Jordan Wiebe, Jorie Kosel, Juliana Ferguson, Kathryn Flora, Lauren Storm, Linnea Maas, Liza Ferrari, Lora Hlavsa, Lucy Comer, Manthra Studio, Martzia, Marne Skusa, Nichole Showalter, Pompa Goods, Olivia Kor, Phaedra Odelle, Philipo Duyali, Rachel Schroder, Roland & Darwin Patrick, Russ White, Sara Kahn, Scott Seekins, Sherstin Schwartz, stace of spades, Suyao Tian, Tierney Houdek, Tiffany Lange, Tom Jay, Trace, Zach Julen

Gamut Gallery Members are invited to get a preview of the festivities on Wednesday, December 1, from 5pm–9pm, followed by three weeks of in person shopping open to the public, plus a bonus day for those last minute gift grabs. Gamut's holiday sale will also be online December 2, 2021 - January 10, 2022.

2021 - 2022 Snow Emergency Info

This is Minnesota, so winter can strike at any time. Being prepared might save you a few headaches, inconvenience and money.

By now you should have received the Snow Emergency Information mailer from the City of Minneapolis, but if you didn't (or it accidentally got thrown out with all the political flyers), there are a number of ways to keep up to date on weather-related restrictions, etc.

Go to http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow/ and you'll find it all: If a Snow Emergency is in effect, the Snow Emergency hotline 612-348-SNOW (7669), towed vehicle info, instructions for downloading the Snow Emergency app and more. You can also follow them on Facebook.

October 30 Halloween Party in the North Loop

The North Loop Neighborhood Association is hosting a Halloween Party this weekend. Come for the candy and stay for the movie!

The event will take place at Nordic Plaza, 729 Washington Avenue N (the outdoor plaza shared by The Freehouse, FRGMNT Coffee, Fuzzy's Taco Shop Taqueria).

There will be prizes for the best costumes. Kids, adults and pets will be rewarded!

Stay for the showing of Hocus Pocus at 6:15 pm. 

Theatre in the Round Players Names New Managing Director

Via a recent Press Release:

Larisa NetterlundTheatre in the Round Players (TRP), the oldest theatre in Minneapolis and one of the oldest community theatres in the nation, today announced that Larisa Netterlund will join the organization as managing director.

In her role, Netterlund will be at the center of the crosscurrents of information, communication and day-to-day decision making. Her duties will include managing daily operations, staff and volunteer experience, financial oversight, facility management, community engagement and fundraising, and programming and productions.

Netterlund comes to TRP with over a decade of arts administration and higher education administration experience.  She served as executive director of The Moving Company in Minneapolis, and as advising supervisor and academic advisor in Arts and Humanities at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

As managing director, Netterlund will ensure the values of TRP: community, volunteerism, artistic integrity and fiscal responsibility, as well as equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). She also will build upon the successful history of TRP as a place of self-reliance, creativity and ingenuity, and where volunteers, artists, and audience members feel at home.

“Theatre created for an arena stage is a beautiful metaphor for community. There is a shared experience, but every person has a slightly different perspective from their particular seat,” said Netterlund. “I am thrilled to be at an organization where this practice of theatre-making is – quite literally – at the center of its mission.  As TRP’s managing director, I am excited to be a champion for this practice of theatre-making and philosophy of community-building at all levels of the organization.”

She succeeds longtime executive director of TRP, Steven Antenucci, who retired in 2020. Her arrival comes at a pivotal time for TRP, which like other performance venues, is making a cautious return to live audiences after more than 18 months of darkness due to COVID-19. The theater launched its 70th season Oct. 1 and is implementing an abbreviated five-show season for this year.

“Theatre in the Round has such a long and important history in the Twin Cities’ theatre ecosystem. I am so honored to be a part of it and excited to play a role in envisioning the next chapter,” said Netterlund.

Netterlund holds a Master of Arts in Theatre from the University of North Dakota.

“We are thrilled that Larisa will be joining TRP, bringing her experience and passion for theatre, community and developing people,” said David Stevens, president of TRP’s board of directors. “She will be a strong partner as we build on TRP’s 70 years of history in the Twin Cities community and position it to grow and develop into the future.”

Theatre in the Round is located at 245 Cedar Avenue S

The Dayton’s Project Announces Second Round of Maker’s Market Brands

Via an October 25 Press Release:

Another ten vendors announced for The Departments at Dayton’s

Today, The Dayton’s Project announced the second round of brands to be hosted in its inaugural maker’s market, The Departments at Dayton’s. The building and the maker’s market will open to the public on November 18, 2021, after undergoing a $350 million historic redevelopment.

“This collection of makers really demonstrates the breadth and quality of brands that will be available at The Departments at Dayton’s, and only at The Departments at Dayton’s,” said Tricia Pitchford, Principal of Mid-America Real Estate. “We are incredibly excited for The Dayton’s Project to be a platform for these incredible makers.”

Brands that are part of the inaugural cohort include: Grass Lake Furniture, craftsman style furniture and cutting boards; Wewerka Photography, Atmospheric landscape photography; Handmod, Handmade art with personality; Seventeen Birch, Upscale lifestyle clothing and products; Herbal Alchemy, Nature-based advanced skincare; Molly Pepper, LA-based sleep-lounge-lifestyle brand; Minnesota Awesome, MN-made MN pride clothing and accessories; SJC Body Love, Handcrafted health-focused skincare products; Shop in the City, Specialty lifestyle gifts and clothing (including Dayton’s gear); Hacienda San Jose, Mission-driven high quality chocolate. 

For the first time since 2001, shoppers will be able to purchase Dayton’s-branded clothing items, including shirts and hoodies featuring the Dayton’s logo. 

“This holiday season is all about quality goods that reflect the community. The Departments at Dayton’s brings a retail experience you simply can’t get anywhere else,” remarked Mich Berthiaume, the curator of The Departments at Dayton’s. “Shopping local not only allows you to support your local economy, it also helps to bypass the issues we’re seeing with the global supply chain.”

The Departments at Dayton’s is the newest addition to The Dayton’s Project, a landmark historic restoration development in downtown Minneapolis. The Dayton’s Project offers 1.2 million square feet of Minneapolis history transformed for modern city life. Global professional services firm, Ernst & Young Global Limited, signed a 30,000 SF lease at The Dayton’s Project earlier this year. They will have access to The Dayton’s Project’s best-in-class amenities, including a 10,000 SF fitness center, library, rooftop deck and tenant lounge.

The building is set to announce the final set of the 30 total vendors in early November. Follow @thedepartmentsatdaytons on social media or visit thedepartmentsatdaytons.com for more information.

Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

Via an October 22 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

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

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

Latest Project News

• Work will soon begin at the southwest corner of the Washington Avenue and Portland Avenue intersection. The right lane of Portland is temporarily closed to install a temporary dewatering well on the southwest corner of the intersection.
  • During this closure, bicyclists will share the open traffic lane and pedestrians should use the eastern sidewalk.
  • This closure is anticipated to remain in place for three weeks, or until crews finish installing the temporary dewatering well. 
    
    
• There will be an overnight closure of 2nd Ave S between Washington Ave and 2nd St from 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 27 to 6 a.m. Thursday, October 28. This closure is needed to lay additional pipe across the road. Access to properties off 2nd Ave S will be maintained.
  • 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Avenue 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.
    
    
• The east lane of 4th Ave S between 3rd St S and Washington Ave remains temporarily closed. This closure is needed to complete installation of the dewatering well and pump setup. This work is anticipated to be completed in approximately two weeks.
  • The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S remains temporarily closed until the temporary well is setup. Pedestrians will be able to 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 remain open. There may be short-term delays while crews move equipment and materials around the area. 
    
    
• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains closed between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall through spring 2022. The contractor will be utilizing an existing shaft to perform work for connecting the existing tunnel to the new tunnel. 
  • During this closure, pedestrians will share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remain open.
    
    
• Work continues at the Mississippi River portal site. Crews are completing soil testing and investigation work in preparation for the excavation work that will begin soon.
  • The parking lot off Portland Ave east of the Stone Arch Bridge, near the Mill Ruins Park, remains temporarily closed for the winter and will reopen Spring 2022. This closure is necessary to complete the work in this area safely and efficiently.
  • The parking lot near Portland Ave and W River Pkwy remains open.
    
    
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.
  
  
• Schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Stay Connected

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

https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418

MPRB Approves New Comprehensive Plan - an Operational Guide Thru 2036

Via an October e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board: 

Plan will guide organizational policy, programs and services, annual budget, and park improvements through 2036

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) completed a new Comprehensive Plan that will guide the organization’s policy and priorities through the year 2036! At its Oct. 20, 2021 meeting, MPRB Commissioners approved the plan, called “Parks for All.”

Parks for All is based on the shared values of communities the MPRB serves, organizations and agencies the MPRB works with, and MPRB Commissioners and staff. It was created, revised and finalized through three years of research and feedback.

Parks for All will provide guidance in developing policy, establishing or changing programs and services, setting the annual MPRB budget and creating park improvements over the next decade and a half.

“The work that went into creating the Park for All Comprehensive Plan was phenomenal,” said MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura. “It truly reflects the values of this agency and I am excited to bring the Parks for All vision to life over the next 15 years.”

At the Oct. 20 meeting, Park Commissioners made several minor amendments before passing the plan. The amendments are posted under “Attachments” on Resolution 2021-309, Resolution Approving Parks for All, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board 2021 Comprehensive Plan.

The amended text has been redlined into the full plan is linked below. The graphic design team will work the amended text into an updated plan and post to the MPRB website soon.

View entire announcement here.

Explore the Intersections of Ancestry and Memory in Ashwini Ramaswamy’s Let the Crows Come at The Cowles Center

Via an October 21 e-announcement from Artspace:

Ashwini Ramaswamy’s Let the Crows Come features local powerhouse dance talents Ashwini Ramaswamy, Berit Ahlgren, and Alanna Morris-Van Tassel for two in-person and livestream performances from The Cowles Center’s Goodale Stage on November 20 and 21. Tickets range from $20-$25, learn more at thecowlescenter.org/let-the-crows-come.

This is Ramaswamy’s second tour of Let the Crows come after the production reached acclaim in 2019, earning ‘Best of the Year’ recognition in the Star Tribune, Minnpost, and City Pages - who named Ramaswamy one of its Artists of the Year. “The Cowles is so pleased to be presenting this production,” shares Jessi Fett, Co-director at The Cowles Center. “Not only is it stunning in every sense, but we are proud of our deepened relationships with the three dance artists – Ramaswamy, Ahlgren, and Morris-Van Tassel – who we’ve engaged on our stages and through our programs.”

Ashwini Ramaswamy’s Let the Crows Come is a multi-dimensional work that invokes the metaphor of crows as messengers for the living and guides for the departed to channel memory and homeland, guidance and dislocation. The work evolved from a simple idea; when a DJ remixes a song, its essence is maintained while its trajectory is changed; through dance, music, and stunning visuals it explores the ways in which memories are both shared and individual.

Ramaswamy, Ahlgren, and Morris-Van Tassel deconstruct and recontextualize the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam against their own movement specialties (Bharatanatyam, Gaga, and contemporary/African Diasporic, respectively) through and with an original recorded score from

dj/rupture aka Jace Clayton, electro-acoustic cellist Brent Arnold, and featuring Carnatic musicians Roopa Mahadevan (vocals); Rohan Krishnamurthy (percussion); and Arun Ramamurthy (violin).

“I could not be more thrilled to bring Let the Crows Come back to Minneapolis, in a format where it can be experienced live around the world,” said Ramaswamy. “I have performed at the Cowles Center since it opened in 2012, and the organization is incredibly supportive of my choreographic vision. I look forward to continuing our relationship well into the future.”

Learn more and purchase in-person and livestream tickets at thecowlescenter.org/let-the-crows-come.

FUNDING CREDITS

Let the Crows Come is commissioned by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series and is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project and the MAP Fund (both supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation). The development of Let the Crows Come was made possible in part by residencies at the Baryshnikov Arts Center (New York, NY) and the National Center for Choreography at The University of Akron (NCCAkron).

ABOUT ASHWINI RAMASWAMY

The foundation of Ashwini’s work and aesthetic begins with decades of Bharatanatyam training with her gurus - her mother Ranee Ramaswamy, sister Aparna Ramaswamy (Directors of Ragamala Dance Company) and the legendary Smt. Alarmel Valli of Chennai, India. As a founding member of Ragamala, she has toured extensively, performing throughout the U.S. and in Russia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, the U.K, and India. Ashwini has received commissions from the SPCO’s Liquid Music Series, American Dance Platform, and the Great Northern Festival, residencies at the Baryshnikov Arts Center (NYC), UNC Chapel Hill (North Carolina), and the National Center for Choreography (Akron, OH), and support from the National Dance Project, the MAP Fund, US Artists International, the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund, a Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship and McKnight Foundation Artist Fellowships for Dance and Choreography. She is currently a Visiting Professor at Macalester College and will bring Let the Crows Come to several national venues in the 2021-22 season. www.ashwiniramaswamy.com

ABOUT THE COWLES CENTER

The Cowles Center is a dance and performing arts hub that promotes movement and growth for artists through supportive programs and spaces; engages audiences through dynamic performances; and educates learners of all ages through robust and inclusive education initiatives. The Cowles Center is owned and operated by Artspace.

Redistricting: Making Sure Everyone is Fairly Represented in Minneapolis

Exerpt from an October 20 e-news from the City of Minneapolis:

After every census, Minneapolis updates the boundaries of its 13 City Council wards and six Park Board districts to reflect new population counts. The Redistricting Group, made up of 24 Minneapolis volunteers, builds the new maps with input from their communities. The Redistricting Group needs your help with the redistricting project to make sure all voices are heard. The 2021 municipal election is based on the 2010 census maps, but City Council members elected in November will serve a term of two years rather than four. Another City Council election in 2023 will be based on the new maps from the 2020 census. Participate in the redistricting project Explore the redistricting webpages. Draw and submit draft maps. Register for redistricting meetings presenting draft maps for public discussion. 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17. 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15. 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Sign up to get notices for all redistricting meetings. Email comments or questions.

IDA Awards Top Industry Honor to Mpls Downtown Improvement District

Via an October 18 Press Release from mpls downtown council:

The International Downtown Association (IDA) has recognized the Mpls Downtown Improvement District with the Downtown Achievement Pinnacle Award for its work and initiatives related to its Street Show Artists Unite for Justice Initiative.

Each year, IDA recognizes outstanding projects as winners of the Downtown Achievement Awards which identify advances to urban centers by organizations world-wide. The industry’s highest recognition, the Pinnacle Award, represents the most inspiring innovations in urban place management. This year’s projects were awarded by a jury of IDA members in the following categories: leadership development; organizational management; economic development; marketing, communications and events; planning, design and infrastructure; policy and advocacy; and public space management and operations. Street Show Artists Unite for Justice won in the category of marketing, communications and events. This is the second time in the past three years that the Mpls DID’s has been recognized with the top award; the first time for their efforts to reactivate the newly redesigned Nicollet Mall.

”Digital programming in the time of COVID-19 was obvious. But when you have a world-wide social justice movement erupt in your own back yard, you must go beyond performative allyship,” said Lisa Middag, Mpls Downtown Improvement District Director of Nicollet Activation. “We had the opportunity to provide artists the platforms they have earned, and their resilience and radical joy is helping to heal our city.”

Beginning as a virtual expansion of the Street Show performance program (streetshowmpls.org), Street Show Artists Unite for Justice produced live streaming shows from the regular slate of street performers as curated by Minneapolis-based non-profit performance presenter the Warming House. Specially recorded and edited “Street Show Gems” were later taped at quintessential locations throughout downtown Minneapolis. Payments to performers were matched 1:1 with donations to local social justice organizations selected by the artists. Street Show virtual programs featured 56 unique performances and performers that streamed on Facebook Live and YouTube from May through December 2020 gaining more than 26,000 views.

The program highlighted eight premier locations from across downtown Minneapolis. Venues were thrilled to see positive activity downtown and their unique places featured, including several rooftops, U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field, IDS Center Crystal Court, Brit’s Pub and more. The program reached 12,000,000 viewers through these and other social media platforms, including a promotional partnership with Hennepin Theatre Trust. Viewers and artists alike learned more about the Street Show program and the artist selected social justice organizations.

In 2021, Street Show Artists Unite for Justice continued matching tips that Street Show performers received during dozens of in-person performances along Nicollet in the downtown core, aligning with activations like the Nicollet Farmers Market and Makers Market. The Street Show Artist Unite for Justice initiative has allowed artists to direct investment to the organizations they felt were most productively advancing the cause, and even though many artists were facing extraordinary economic hardships already due to the pandemic, they had the opportunity to support important social change efforts in the city. More than $16,000 has been donated to these social justice organizations to date in 2020 and 2021. From 2017 through 2021—not including digital performances in 2020—Street Show has provided more than 2,000 hours of performances on Hennepin and Nicollet.

“Street Show Artists Unite for Justice helps ensure the promise of an inclusive downtown is not an empty one, and showcases our vibrant artist communities, the resiliency of our people and places, and all of our efforts toward equity,” said Middag.

“Mpls Downtown Improvement District’s innovative project received the IDA Pinnacle Award for setting the new standard for improving cities around the world,” said David Downey, IDA President and CEO. “The Street Show Artists Unite for Justice initiative has made an impact on its community and the people who live, work and play there, and is evidence of the continued commitment to champion livable, vital and thriving urban centers.”

Washington, DC-based IDA is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. Mpls Downtown Improvement District is the urban place management organization representing the interests of property owners in Minneapolis.

IDA will convene this October for a three-day conference themed Modern Momentum to discuss topics facing downtowns and city centers. The Mpls DID will be recognized for their award-winning project during the Downtown Achievement Awards ceremony at the 67th Annual Conference & Marketplace, October 20-22, 2021. For more information about the session and conference, please visit the event webpage. IDA’s Annual Conference & Marketplace is the premier gathering for professional placemakers and urban champions creating vibrant and healthy cities around the world. The conference features educational sessions, Master Talks (short keynotes from industry leaders), marketplace exhibitors and networking opportunities.

IDA’s members have a proven track record of creating collaborative public-private partnerships to tackle weighty issues. More than 2,500 downtown management districts exist in cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Place management organizations affect significant change in every major metropolitan area throughout North America in an industry that is growing rapidly around the globe. Place management work touches every discipline of city building, including economic development, leadership, marketing, events, public space management, policy, planning and infrastructure.

Additional information on the Pinnacle award winners can be found online at downtown.org.

About the Mpls Downtown Improvement District

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) is a business funded non-profit focused on creating a more vibrant downtown. DID leads and collaborates on programs that make downtown safer, cleaner, and greener. DID convenes people across sectors and jurisdictions to work on issues of mutual interest; develop innovative solutions to complex public space challenges/opportunities including strategic activation and seeks continuous improvement of ongoing programs including the ambassadors.

About IDA

IDA is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. Our members are city builders and downtown champions who bring urban centers to life, bridging the gap between the public and private sectors. We represent an industry of more than 2,500 place management organizations, employing 100,000 people throughout North America and growing rapidly around the world. Founded in 1954, IDA is a resource center for ideas and innovative best practices in urban place management. For more information, visit www.downtown.org.

North Loop Neighborhood Association's Parks Committee Seeks Community Feedback on Future Third Street Park

The North Loop Neighborhood Association has formed a parks committee to gather community feedback on the future Third Street Park. The first community listening session took place October 6 - click here for the slide deck from that meeting. Over the next several months they'll be developing a recommendation report to submit to the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board, based on community engagement and feedback.

The next listening session for the new park will be Wednesday, November 3 at 7 p.m. at the Colonial Warehouse Tenant Lounge. Please contact Quentin Misiag at quentinmisiag@gmail.com or 319-541-8216 for more information, or if you'd like to get involved.

Pivotal Park Board Race Determines Future of Minneapolis Parks

Submitted by Jean Deatrick, Editor, Hill & Lake Press

We have seen dramatic change in Minneapolis over the past four years since our last municipal election in 2017. This is especially true in our beloved park system, which has experienced unprecedented challenges due to increased recreational demand as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Park Board’s permitted use of housing encampments in public parks in 2020, and a surge in crime in many parks and throughout the city, which is especially challenging for Park Board police after current Park Board Commissioners temporarily severed ties with the Minneapolis Police Department for park events as political statement in the aftermath of George Floyd.

Despite these challenges, the Park Board is claiming to make progress on issues affecting Minneapolis such as racial equity and climate. Prior to the current administration, Superintendent Jayne Miller was the first to launch a nationally acclaimed Racial Equity Matrix in the Park Board’s planning and policy making decisions. In 2016, Park Board and the City of Minneapolis approved ordinances to reverse years of underfunding in neighborhood parks. The 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan (NPP20) is a long-term initiative that will protect current levels of MPRB funding and dedicate an additional $11 million annually, through 2036, in NPP20 funds for increased maintenance, rehabilitation and capital investments in neighborhood parks. The allocation of NPP20 funds is specifically tasked with using a data-driven, criteria-based system to help address racial and economic equity. Now the current Park Board is furthering these efforts with a “Parks for All” initiative to make their own mark. In an age when many politicians are vying to signal their commitment to pursuing issues of the day, what tangible policies can be implemented to create more equitable parks? What types of park uses should be permitted in public parks? How should the Park Board live up to its own mission and charter? What are its core competencies and what should be left to other agencies? What is political theater versus sound governance?

Elizabeth ShafferThe League of Women Voters Minneapolis presented some of these questions to District 4 candidates Jono Cowgill, the current incumbent Commissioner and Park Board President, and Elizabeth Shaffer, a community volunteer and teacher who decided to run after leading an effort to “Save the Seven Pools” in Thomas Lowry Park, which successfully reopened last month. Responses to the questionnaire can be read in full at https://lwvmpls.org. The attempt here is to bring much needed attention to the fact Mr. Cowgill and Ms. Shaffer are two very different candidates who will likely play a pivotal role in future of Minneapolis Parks, as District 4 has historically played a leading role on the Park Board. The comments are based on the League of Women Voter’s questionnaire and recent candidate interviews.

Jono CowgillMr. Cowgill, a self-described progressive, would like an opportunity to continue his initiatives over the past four years including prioritizing an additional $2.6M tax levy to support youth initiatives and promoting climate friendly policies and programs. An early supporter of encampments who later changed his position on the issue, Mr. Cowgill has been critical of the police, even State Troopers using Park Board bathroom facilities. In a recent interview Mr. Cowgill condemned the Seven Pools renovation effort as elitist, a community-driven grassroots public-private partnership in his own district that raised $650,000 in private funds to restore the historic fountain prior to its 100th birthday. He is leery of public-private partnerships bringing disproportional influence to parks, even if they bring outside funding streams and community volunteers and energy. It appears as if Mr. Cowgill is more committed to his ideological positions than to his constituents’ desires. It should be noted that Mr. Cowgill was hired for public engagement after his election by SRF Consulting, the consultant to the Park Board on their Southwest Service Area Master Plan and Bryn Mawr Meadows Park Improvements, both located in his district.

Ms. Shaffer, in contrast, describes herself as a nonpartisan pragmatist and would like to see the Park Board operate according to its mission and bylaws, not politics. Ms. Shaffer is keen on promoting equity through initiatives such as improving park maintenance throughout the park system, creating safer parks by investing in Park Police and Street Reach initiatives, building community around local parks through supporting “friends” groups, and making all decisions focused on data and the core competencies and mission of the Park Board, which includes equity at its core. When asked about the Seven Pools, she replied that the Seven Pools brought a community together during a tumultuous time and that it should be celebrated, not scorned, especially by its representative on the Park Board who failed to attend its opening after being invited. She supports establishing more public-private partnerships through friends’ groups to further leverage fiscal and volunteer resources so that tax dollars can stretch further into supporting communities where it’s needed most. In her advertising, Ms. Shaffer commits to actively listen to her constituents and represent their voices.  She finds the current Park Board’s “growing political posturing alarming, which distracts from its charter and good governance” and she has volunteered all of her time on park initiatives to date.

Who do you think will be a better leader for our parks? Please remember to vote on November 2 at your local polling precinct. You can get more information at www.vote.minneapolismn.gov.

The Hill & Lake Press has published for the East Isles, Lowry Hill, Kenwood, Cedar Isles Dean neighborhoods of Minneapolis since 1976.

Discover the Art of Painting on Silk at Northeast Tea House

Try something new in this easy, relaxing introduction to the art of silk painting! 

Silk Painting Class

Thursday, October 28th, 6:30-8:30pm

Northeast Tea House, 224 E Hennepin Ave

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During this experience, you will learn a brief history, the complete process, and the different techniques of this art form with instructor Kristen Weller - all while enjoying tea and snacks provided by Northeast Tea House. You will leave with your very own 9” hand-painted silk hoop that you created during class to display in your home, and the skills to continue practicing on future projects, such as silk scarves, wall-hangings, or hand-painted clothing.

Kristen Weller is the Costume Crafts Head and Milliner at Minnesota Opera. Her most recent silk commission was a 12’x15’ hand-painted silk banner chandelier for St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, MN. You can view her work at www.KristenWeller.com. She finds the art form calming, and thinks it’s the perfect activity to accompany tea in such a tranquil space as the Northeast Tea House.

Registration required. The $40 fee includes class supplies, tea and snacks. Additional tea and gifts are available for purchase. Limited to 30 participants. It’s recommended that participants wear clothes they feel comfortable painting in, and/or bring a liquid-resistant apron.

All participants are required to show proof of full vaccination status. Please bring the original, a copy, or a photo of your vaccine card with you. Click here to learn about COVID-19 precautions at the Northeast Tea House.

Jagged Moves' TOUCH CODE: (Re) Claiming Space coming to The Southern Theater in November

Via an October 14 e-announcement:

Jennifer Glaws’ Jagged Moves returns to The Southern Theater, 1420 S Washington Avenue, with a reimagined version of their performance that was canceled March 2020. TOUCH CODE: (Re) Claiming Space is their first live performance in over a year merging dance, sculpture, video, and live music while exploring the central themes of boundaries and reclamation, November 3-7, 2021. Tickets

About Jagged Moves and the Artistic Director, Jennifer Glaws

“Jagged Moves has created a fresh dance experience in the Twin Cities! In the land of 10,000 dances, they have a unique voice. Their vision and execution keep you entranced. The movement and environment are navigated masterfully by the dancers,” (Audience Member, March 2018).

Jennifer GlawsJagged Moves was founded in 2016 by accomplished interdisciplinary artist, choreographer, and director Jennifer Glaws. The mission of Jagged Moves is to create dance experiences that explore athleticism and conceptual depth, that engage, open dialogue, and challenge perspective, while genuinely supporting dancers, technicians, and designers at all career stages with the advancement of our work. We aim to produce immersive, interactive, performance experiences that push notions of space, time, and human connection. Our research topics are driven by the activating belief of the social and developmental rewards of the arts evident in our pursuits in performance, audience engagement, and arts education. At the forefront of their work is a commitment to creating art that projects the voices of women and brings attention to and addresses issues of equity in the dance field and throughout the United States.

Jagged Moves has experienced a robust four seasons, which included the premiere of three original productions, and three national tours. We have successfully been able to produce multimedia rich productions that engage participants through different mediums, and our audiences are growing because of it. We have been able to offer sustained work to our collaborating artists throughout the four seasons.

A message from Rebekah Cook, Executive Director, The Southern Theater

"One of our value statements at The Southern Theater - that feels more relevant now than ever - is that we believe that art has the power to make a difference in the world, to transcend and overcome the differences between peoples lives and that the nature of artistic perception allows new awarenesses, new insights, new experiences. We return after being dark for nearly 18 months due to the pandemic, stronger and more focused than ever on our mission. We look forward to sharing our historic theater once again with our partners and guests, continuing our work building and sustaining a vibrant artistic community. We’re so glad to have you back!"