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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.
With the exterior of the ELEVEN almost complete, the last of two construction cranes on site is being removed. It is a harrowing task as construction workers labor more than 35 stories up to take down sections of the crane. Yes, the workers are tethered to a safety harness. Nevertheless, to walk across that beam takes a lot of skill, fortitude and courage. Oh did I mention, the wind was so strong this day that my telephoto lens shook even with the camera clamped into a stable tripod. To avoid ending up with blurred images, I switched to a shorter lens so that it was not so severely shaken by the wind. I can’t imagine how strong the wind blew through that crane. You can see more of my work at www.ricrosowphotography.com.
Owámni Falling Water Festival will be held on Saturday, October 9 from 1 to 5 pm
Join us on Saturday, October 9, from 1 – 5 p.m. at Father Hennepin Bluff Park (420 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN) and at the NEW Water Works Park (333 1st Street S., Minneapolis 55401) for the Owámni: Falling Water Festival, a celebration of indigenous Minnesota cultures, Owámni is what the Dakota called the area at St. Anthony Falls. It means, “whirling or falling water” in the Dakota language, making it an appropriate name for this festival along the Mississippi River.
This free, family-friendly event, co-presented by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the St Anthony Falls Heritage Board, celebrates indigenous Minnesota culture with music, art, food, and more! Enjoy the many event offerings with the opportunity to learn more about artifacts from the Minnesota History Center’s collection; picnic in the park with Native foods from Owamni by the Sioux Chef and other food vendors.
Art
An arts area focused on Native contemporary traditional and fine arts will showcase the talents of indigenous visual artists. Jewelry and native art will be available for purchase. Hands on art opportunities will also be available.
Music and Entertainment
The Owámni Falling Water Festival will celebrate indigenous voices, connecting both locally and nationally through music featuring Tufawon, Buffalo Weavers, and comedian Rez Reporter.
Food
Pow-Wow Grounds and Owamni by the Sioux Chef will be making and selling local indigenous foods. NATIFS- North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems will be providing Native Food Education and information.
This event is made possible by a grant from the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board. Event partners include the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Minnesota Historical Society.
James Sewell Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Retrospectivedelights in past company favorites while bringing new contemporary ballet work by Resident Choreographer Da’Rius Malone to The Cowles Center on October 16 and 17. The production celebrates James Sewell Ballet’s (JSB) 30th anniversary a year and a half after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered the company’s commemorative tour. Audiences can see the magic during an in-person or livestreamed performance from the Goodale Stage. Tickets range $20 - $35, fees included.
Eve Schulte, JSB’s Executive Director, shares: “We made it to six of our planned 2020 tour locations before lockdown. Our final performance before entering the void of COVID was March 13, 2020, in St. Cloud, with a cheerful and immediately distanced audience in the beautiful Paramount Center for the Arts. The past 18-plus months have changed us in so many ways, and the program has evolved to highlight both joy and catharsis, including an exciting new premiere from company member Da’Rius Malone.”
The company is known for its distinct and compelling choreographic voice capable of producing cutting-edge productions which combine theatricality with grace and expanding notions of what ballet could or should be.
James Sewell Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Retrospective will be anchored with Made in America, a work from 2000 that pays homage to some of the vast history of American music and musical culture, a fitting end for an evening whose themes explore reflection, remembrance, and the passage of time. Da’Rius Malone’s work, /kənˈsəm(p)SH(ə)n/, explores the “anger and frustration” which came with the combined grief from the pandemic and police brutality in the recent past. Malone was recently announced as JSB’s inaugural Resident Choreographer, a promotion you can read about on jsballet.org/press. Live music will accompany select works throughout the evening.
JSB will offer a Meet the Artist Q&A for all attendees after the Sunday, October 17 matinee performance. Other community engagements are pending. Learn more and purchase tickets.
HEALTH & SAFETY AT THE COWLES CENTER
Masks are required at all times in The Cowles Center’s hallways, common/shared spaces, and theaters. Anyone attending an event or performance in our theaters (the Goodale Theater & TEK BOX) will need to show proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to entry. We respectfully ask that anyone who is feeling ill or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to please stay home. Please visit thecowlescenter.org/visit to review our full health & safety information.
ABOUT JAMES SEWELL BALLET
James Sewell Ballet was founded in New York City by James Sewell and Sally Rousse and brought to Minnesota in 1993. Combining their expertise, vision, and chutzpah, James and Sally envisioned a close-knit company of dance artists willing to challenge their physical limits and expand their notions about ballet. Decades later, the embodiment of the original vision is a professional company of dancers performing innovative work that explores the technical boundaries of ballet.
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 Third Avenue Bridge project team is hosting a resident connection event from 1-3 pm on Saturday,October 9 at 30 Main Street SE between Central Ave. and Hennepin Ave. This family-friendly event will include games, activities, live music and local treats. Project team members will be there to provide bridge construction updates and answer questions.
The historic Third Ave. Bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls opened in 1918 and needs significant repairs. The bridge carries Third and Central avenues, which are part of Hwy 65.
Construction began in May 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in August 2023. The bridge is fully closed to traffic through November 2022. Motorists, transit riders, and people walking and bicycling will need to use alternate routes across the river during this time.
For more information, visit the project webpage. To contact the project team email connect@thirdavebridgeclosure.com or call the project hotline at 612-547-7968.
Gophers welcome back fans with a newly branded club—the result of a 10-year agreement between Cambria and Gopher Athletics
Last month it was announced that University of Minnesota Gopher fans will enjoy special amenities and the best views in Huntington Bank Stadium in a newly designed Club Cambria for the 2021 season. A new energetic and modern Club Cambria will be completed in two phases as a result of a 10-year agreement between Le Sueur–based Cambria, the leading American-made producer of quartz surfaces, and the University of Minnesota.
Cambria and the University of Minnesota have partnered to create a unique, innovative, and advanced-design club space at the newly branded Huntington Bank Stadium, ensuring a high-end, elevated, luxury lounge experience unlike any other seating area in the stadium. The renovations will take place over two phases — the first phase being completed for the start of the 2021 season, including an updated look and feel with new floors, Cambria designs in maroon and gold, and bold Gopher football graphics throughout the space. Phase two will include more extensive renovations, to be completed before the start of the 2022 football season.
Club Cambria will be the central location for premium seat holders, becoming Huntington Bank Stadium’s own “College Game Day” experience for Gopher fans. The club is 20,000 sq. ft. and can hold over 1,000 guests. The space includes two bars, concessions with expanded menu offerings, multiple fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, and access to the outdoor club level. In addition, Club Cambria will be the site of numerous events and non-football-related functions throughout the calendar year, hosting approximately 100 events annually.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cambria and its entire team on the development of Club Cambria at Huntington Bank Stadium,” said Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. “Club Cambria will provide our fans a tremendous experience at home football games and will also have a dramatic and positive impact on Gopher Athletics. We are grateful for the generous support from Cambria and are proud to have an internationally recognized, Minnesota-based company prominently featured at Huntington Bank Stadium.”
Highlighted by nearly 1,300 seats all located between the 25-yard lines with theater-style, padded seating, Club Cambria will feature premium amenities along with an exclusive private entrance. The climate-controlled Club Cambria will offer direct access to the club seating area on the south side of Huntington Bank Stadium and feature newly renovated Cambria quartz surfaces and amenities throughout, making it one of the premier clubs in the Big Ten Conference.
“We’ve been longtime enthusiasts of the University of Minnesota, partnering with the U in various ways for many years now,” said Marty Davis, President and CEO of Cambria. “This partnership is compelling for our company, our employees, and our Cambria brand throughout the region. Sports are an excellent platform to share our brand with consumers, support local communities, and in particular, we are greatly enthused with the Gopher Football program and its future under the elite leadership of AD Mark Coyle and Head Coach PJ Fleck. Winning programs are a key and most critical ingredient to successful marketing and branding efforts. We are very excited about this opportunity. Go Gophers, RTB, SkiUMah!”
Cambria has been a supporter of Gopher Athletics venue development over the last 20 years with projects that include TCF Bank Stadium - developing custom maroon and gold quartz surfaces for many of the luxury areas; renovations to Bierman Athletic Building and the new Gophers Athlete Village - including Cambria surfaces featured throughout state-of-the-art training facilities, dining areas, and offices; and ongoing collaboration with projects to keep historic buildings sleek and modern such as Williams Arena, 3M Arena at Mariucci, and other University-owned-and-operated facilities on campus.
At around 6:30 this morning I saw the moon over the stadium moving toward downtown. I had planned to go to the Arboretum last night to photograph the moon, but cancelled because of the rain and heavy cloud cover. At 6:30 the moon was mostly below the cloud cover. As the minutes passed the clouds would cover and then reveal the moon. I did not have time to determine if the moon would land on top of the Campbell Mithun Tower, but figured it would be close. I set the camera to take a photo every ten seconds and then as it came close to the tower I manually increased the frequency. When the moon moved behind the SPS Tower it formed a halo behind the peak of the building. I plan to process that photo as well.
Via a September 20 e-announcement from CenterPoint Energy:
Pollinator gardens to grow where gas was once produced from coal (and where gas will soon be made from water)
CenterPoint Energy traces its history more than 150 years ago to the founding of the Minneapolis Gas Light Company in 1870. In those early days, gas was produced from coal at a facility near the Mississippi Riverfront and then delivered through hollow wood logs to provide the first artificial nighttime light on the downtown streets of Minneapolis.
Today, the coal is long gone, the soil has been cleaned up and the once-industrial riverfront is now a vibrant downtown neighborhood and recreational destination. Soon, it will be home to a pollinator habitat on CenterPoint Energy property, where a demonstration project is also in the works to produce zero-carbon “green hydrogen” from water to blend with the utility’s natural gas supply.
On Thursday morning, Sept. 23, about 75 CenterPoint Energy employees and volunteers from the Great River Coalitionwill plant three downtown pollinator gardens featuring native flowers, plants and grasses that offer a critical habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinator insects. Great River Greeningis CenterPoint Energy’s nonprofit partner in creating and managing the pollinator gardens.
Event schedule:
Thursday, September 23
8:15 am – Welcome/kick-off program
8:45 am - Planting begins and continues through the morning
CenterPoint Energy, Corner of West River Parkway and 13th Avenue S (map)
The pollinator gardens and the green hydrogen project reflect CenterPoint Energy’s ongoing environmental stewardship as Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, serving 890,000 residential and business customers in more than 260 communities. Information about the pollinator gardens is available at www.CenterPointEnergy.com/MNpollinators
As part of their 55+ MacPhail Music for Life™ program, MacPhail Center for Music has scheduled a special Lunchtime Listening Club event, The Thrilling Three, on September 21 at 12:15pm.
Vicky MountainJoin this new listening club to discuss music with others who share your passion for music. MacPhail voice faculty member Vicky Mountain will explore music performed by the Thrilling Three: Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Vicky will provide interesting background information about the performers and their art, as well as musical examples from a shared playlist to help spark discussion about these three thrilling female vocalists.
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The event will take place under the tent on MacPhail's lawn for a COVID-friendly atmosphere. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch. Sign up ahead of time online, by calling Student Services at 612-321-0100, or stop by the front desk that day!
The Mill City Farmers Market recently published an article by freelance food writer Mecca Bos entitled Therapy out of Abundance at Mhonpaj's Garden. Enjoy this indepth and uplifting article about Mhonpaj Lee and her mother May, and you'll come to really appreciate this valued MCFM vendor (if you don't already!).
Mhonpaj's Garden launched a new product at the September 4 Market - "Rollz2Go" spring rolls - both fresh and fried. Look for the spring roll stand by the train shed (near the side entry to the Mill City Museum where the food demos used to take place pre-pandemic).
You can follow Mhonpaj's Garden on Facebook and learn more on their website.
Via a September 14 Press Release from Hennepin County:
On Tuesday, Hennepin County Administrator David Hough proposed a 2022 budget of $2.4 billion to the Hennepin County Board. The proposed net property tax levy is $899.6 million – an increase of 3.5% after holding the budget flat for 2021.
The operating portion of this budget totals $2.1 billion, an increase of $6.5 million dollars from the adjusted 2021 budget. The capital portion totals $333 million, which is $142 million more than the 2021 approved capital budget of $191 million.
Property tax covers approximately 36% of the overall county budget. Federal and state sources, fees and services, and other revenues fund the remainder of the budget.
“We must be responsible with property tax increases for 2022 given the challenges faced by our residents and businesses,” said Hennepin County Administrator David Hough. “While the county’s residential real estate market remains strong, the commercial and industrial market continues to be challenged by the impacts of COVID-19.”
Hough’s proposed budget focuses on pandemic response, pandemic recovery, disparity reduction, climate action and the organization’s future. It includes strategies like minimizing requests for new positions, introducing additional strategies and activities to reduce disparities and supporting the county’s Climate Action Plan.
“Community need has never been clearer than during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Hough. “Intentionally using federal pandemic funds to support the work in disparity reduction domains is critical to ensure that we are not allowing COVID to continue to widen the gap between white residents and residents of color.”
This budget leverages unprecedented funding from the federal government by way of CARES and the American Rescue Plan and balances a number of additional challenges, including:
Uncertainty about federal and state government funding levels
Flat to declining property tax revenues
Declines in other expected revenues
Transformational change in how Hennepin County does business
A rapidly changing environment that may require different services and service levels
“Responding to crises is what we do,” said Hough. “The county’s pandemic response has been a catalyst for change and innovation. Since the onset of the pandemic, our focus has been on maintaining critical services and supporting those most in need. Our innovations were possible because of county board support over the years and our commitment to growing and supporting operational infrastructure.”
Capital budget
One of the key factors in the budget increase is the proposed 2022 capital budget. The capital budget is where the county’s long-term assets are financed – including roads, bridges, transit and other key infrastructure. Some key items in the capital budget include:
$72 million in investment toward road, bridge, light rail and trail infrastructure
$52 million for environment and energy infrastructure, including an anaerobic digester
$42 million in investment for law, safety and justice facilities and infrastructure
$95 million toward facilities supporting the Health and Human Services lines of business including a parking ramp expansion for Hennepin Healthcare (Hennepin County Medical Center)
$72 million toward other county operations
Budget hearing schedule
The Hennepin County Board will set its maximum tax levy at its September 21 meeting, which will be followed by a series of budget hearings before a final budget is adopted in December. View the schedule of public meetings at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.
Property values
Property tax valuations impact the property tax portion of the budget. The Hennepin County Assessor's Office assesses your property and estimates the value it would likely sell for on the open market, which is one factor used in determining your property tax. Other factors include property tax levies set by the school districts, city, county or special taxing districts that the property is in.
Via a September 13 e-announcement from Gamut Gallery
Balancing Act / Oct 22 - Nov 20
A solo exhibition by Barret Lee exploring distinctions of chaos and harmony in the world around us to create balance amidst our reality.
Balancing Act showcases an unreleased body of work from Minneapolis painter, Barret Lee, encompassing the characters he has been illustrating since childhood and subject matters he has expanded upon since graduating from MCAD in 2016. Drawing from his biggest inspirations: surrealism, graffiti and cartoons, Lee utilizes a combination of acrylics, spray paint and occasional collage, expressing a whimsical theme throughout his work, personifying fantastical worlds that encourage the viewer to escape from the chaos of reality.
Barret sees painting as a form of communicating unrestrained thoughts and softening the discord of everyday experience. His unique approach to surrealism stimulates the audience's imagination and emotions. Naturally, this exhibition reveals that when we maximize our creative capacity, chaos and balance do not merely coexist but can actually live in harmony with one another.
“Those three worlds I look to mold into one of modern escapism. I create fantastical characters and floating landscapes in search of a utopian outlook on life,” says Barret. Like many of his previous bodies of work, Balancing Act features constructs of paradisal wonderlands, however this solo exhibition focuses on satirizing the state of the world and how it affects our mental wellbeing and existence. His use of poppy, saturated colors will draw viewers in as they are given an opportunity to explore the macro- and microcosms that Lee has unleashed from his mind.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Barret Lee is a Minnesota based fine artist and illustrator with a BA in drawing and painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 2016. Barret is a multidisciplinary artist who works in a range of mediums. He paints a wide variety of subjects, including wide-eyed characters, playful landscapes, and pop culture.
Since graduating, Barret has participated in countless art fairs and exhibitions around the Midwest, and has been featured at Gamut Gallery since 2017. Barret has permanent collections on view at Rafter Lofts Minneapolis, Saluté Dental in Woodbury Minnesota, and Arete Lacrosse at the TCF performance center in Eagan. He currently works as a freelance fine artist and you may find him at his studio #385 in the historic Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis.
MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT: Thursday, October 21 / 6-8pm
$7, FREE for members • Michaelton, formerly known as DJ BAARD • Pre-sales available and recommended
ARTIST TALK: Wednesday, November 4 / 7pm
Moderated by Russ White of MPLSART $5 pre-sales, $7door, FREE for members • Pre-sales available and recommended • Entry will be available at the door if pre-sales do not sell out • Masks required indoors
ANNUAL MEMBERS GALA: Saturday, November 13 / 7 - 11pm
Our Black Tie event is returning after a year long hiatus. This special evening is in celebration of our Gamut Gallery Membership Community. The evening will be filled with libations, dancing, art & live music. • Floral Backdrop by Pansy Floral • Photography by Caleb Timmerman • Music TBA • Admittance with Gallery Membership, become a Member today!
Discover a nature topic through exploration outside - build up nature identification skills as a naturalist teaches you the basics. Practice your wilderness skills during our Wild Nature Challenge program!
Explore park paths with a naturalist guide in search of nature’s treasures! Use tools like binoculars and magnifying glasses to get a closer look at what’s hidden outside. *This is a therapeutic recreation designed program
Party animals welcome to the animal costume party! It may not be so spooky, but you can disguise your identity in natural style by making a nature mask to bring home.
Let nature be your classroom with experiential learning! Second Thursdays each month 1-3pm for ages 5-15 October: Soil Significance November: Winged Wonders
Spend an evening at your neighborhood nature center! Enjoy a bonfire, nature inspired arts & crafts, guided nature walk, snack kits, and safe socializing. *This is a therapeutic recreation designed program.
Get outside for a night of fun and games in the park! Explore a nature topic, play games in the woods and hang out around the campfire in nature’s backyard.
Every other Sunday 11:30am-12:30pm Discover seasonal themes, cultivate curiosity, and encourage exploration while we look at some of our favorite nature topics!
Enjoy an active literary adventure while discovering nature themes during interactive nature exploration activities in the park. Wednesday Sept. 15 - Oct. 13 from 9:30-10:30
MEA is just around the corner... Get kids ages 6-12 into outdoor adventure programs to explore, play, and use their imaginations in nature from 8am-4pm on no school days!
If you like the creepy, the crawly and the slimy, then join us for some gross, spooky fun. We'll explore outdoors, play games and make art. Nature is full of freaky things that will make your skin crawl, if you dare to find them!
Follow tracks, scat and other wild signs. Use tools such as binoculars and magnifying glasses to learn how to become the ultimate nature sleuth! Test your skills off trail and solve creature sign investigations while taking a closer look at wildlife in the park.
Examine the survival needs of living things and the ways animals and plants are designed to live in the specific environments. Explore natural building materials and get creative with nature engineering to design and build a protective shelter. Practice fire building and cook a treat over the campfire.
Explore the parks in fresh ways with free supplies and materials for a range of self-guided activities: nature discovery trails, orienteering, fort building, outdoor art, and nature observing skills such as bird watching or animal tracking.
The critically-acclaimed film noir fairytale returns after a 19-month hiatus in a newly expanded version.
Open Eye announces the return of THE RED SHOES, an expanded remount of the wildly-popular 2017 production that was abruptly put on pause after one preview performance in March 2020. Conceived, designed, and directed by Joel Sass, and featuring an extraordinary tour-de-force performance by Kimberly Richardson, THE RED SHOES takes its title from a classic Hans Christian Anderson story of a young girl and a pair of red shoes, and thrillingly re-imagines it as a retro-urban fairytale. This revised version further explores elements of detective fiction, multiple personality, and psychological mystery. THE RED SHOES runs October 14 - 31 at Open Eye Theatre. Tickets are available at openeyetheatre.org.
“Kimberly and I are incredibly excited to revisit this material and invite new audiences to experience this live-action film-noir adventure!” — Joel Sass, Open Eye’s Producing Artistic Director
Joel Sass created and directed his inventive and visually rich THE BELDENVILLE TROLL in 2019, a companion production to THE RED SHOES. With both THE RED SHOES and BELDENVILLE TROLL, Sass employed a visually- and aurally-focused method of story development, focusing on conceiving characters, physical and sound environments, and myths as opposed to writing a standard script.
THE RED SHOES features performer Kimberly Richardson, a McKnight Theatre Artist Fellow who has been seen at Open Eye in TO THE MOON, THE CLUMSY MAN, and MY LIFE AS A FAIRYTALE. The creative team also includes performers Lizz Windnagel, Kalen rainbow Kier, and Noah Sommers Haas, with designers Sean Healey (sound), Bill Healey (lighting), and Morgan Lee Potter (costumes).
ABOUT THE STORY
Somewhere in the heart of the Big City, our heroine is hiding in a tiny apartment, fearful of venturing out, or of letting anyone (or anything) in. But she’s not alone. A pair of haunted red shoes is delivered to her doorstep, and they propel her into a harrowing film noir adventure through the labyrinths and spiral staircases of her own mind, where she must face down her fears of what lurks in the subway tunnel, and discover what fate has in store for her up on the rooftop!
Equally humorous and hair-raising, THE RED SHOES draws inspiration and influences from vintage detective novels, black and white film noir movies of the 1930s and ’40s, and case studies of amnesia and multiple personality. The inventive use of manipulated objects, dolls, and masks provide a dream-like quality to the unfolding adventure.
REVIEWS FROM THE 2017 PRODUCTION
"Richardson has a ball, posing like Dietrich, clowning like Chaplin and dancing like Shearer herself." — Graydon Royce, Star Tribune
"The Red Shoes is something so curious and unique, odd and chilling, inventive and charming, it's thoroughly captivating from start to finish." — Jill Schafer, Cherry and Spoon
"Probably the best adjective to describe 'The Red Shoes' is 'intricate.' It’s a pleasing puzzlement with lots of moving parts, a story that constantly morphs in scale and a staging that keeps you guessing." — Dominic Papatola, Pioneer Press
"The dark, quirky fun of this play is akin to the fun of playing with mechanical toys instead of digital/virtual ones. So visceral!" — Janet Preus, How Was the Show
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 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, and a wildly successful Driveway Tour 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.
About Open Eye Theatre
Open Eye Theatre is nationally recognized as a vibrant home for artists who create imaginative and profound experiences that open eyes, hearts, and minds through the power of amazing stories and unforgettable performances. Experience a thrilling array of original theatre, inventive puppetry, live music, and world-class storytelling from local, national, and international artists year-round in our cozy 90-seat theater in South Minneapolis, or find us in neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities with our summer Driveway Tour!
Tickets $26 — General Admission $24 — Seniors $18 — Students
A limited number of $10 Economic Accessibility tickets are available online for all performances. If not sold out, a limited number of pay-as-able tickets will be available at the door. Tickets available at openeyetheatre.org.
Accessibility - Contact Open Eye at boxoffice@openeyetheatre.org or 612-874-6338 for accessibility information and requests.
Location and Parking Open Eye Figure Theatre 506 East 24th St., Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-874-6338 Open Eye is located 2 blocks south of Franklin Ave between Portland Ave and 35W. Park for free in the Lutheran Social Services lot at 24th and Portland.
COVID-19 Policy For the safety and peace of mind of our audience members, artists, and staff, Open Eye Theatre is requiring proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for anyone entering the theatre. For anyone unable to be vaccinated, we will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the performance. As an added precaution, all audience members and staff are required to wear a face mask in the theatre. If you forget your mask, we will have a limited number of masks available. All artists are fully vaccinated and will perform unmasked with a minimum of 10 feet between artists and audience. We greatly appreciate your compliance with this policy and thank you for helping to ensure that the show will go on!
Minnesota’s premier trauma, wellness, and safety net health system seeking community input
Hennepin Healthcare is conducting a community engagement and planning process that will lead to a bold new strategy for a more just and equitable healthcare experience in Hennepin County and beyond.
“We are inviting our community of patients, team members, and neighbors to help us create the future of Hennepin Healthcare,” said CEO Jennifer DeCubellis. “Health care is at a crossroads right now and Hennepin Healthcare faces decisions about its physical facilities that can no longer be deferred. We’ve been here for more than 130 years and now is the right time for our community to help us reimagine how we can provide care to improve outcomes and address inequities, and provide better value, access, and community benefit for the next 100 years.”
Community wisdom means that the lived experiences of patients, team members, families, neighbors, and community-at-large will inform how Hennepin Healthcare continues to care for people in the ways they need and want to seek and receive care.
“It is important for us to partner on developing health care services and facilities that are not only ‘for us’ but also ‘by us’. Working together will get us to the goal of eliminating health inequities in our community,” said Chief Health Equity Officer Nneka Sederstrom, PhD, MPH, MA, FCCP, FCCM.
To bring the voices of the community into the planning process, patients, team members, neighbors, and the broader community have been participating in interviews, visioning sessions, creative conversations, community pop ups and a survey.
A virtual community forum is scheduled for Sept. 16, from 11:30 – 1 PM. This event is open to all - register here.
The healthcare system is actively listening to the voices of the community to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive and responsive plan. Partners with deep local trust and Minnesota roots are working alongside the system to build the vision for the future. Imagine Deliver, a highly respected local design firm, is working with Hennepin Healthcare on the community engagement phase and the results will inform development of a business strategy and an integrated vision of how the system’s presence will be a transformative anchoring point for health equity in our community.
To learn more and stay informed, visit the Our Future website at www.hennepinhealthcare.org/ourfuture/
About Hennepin Healthcare
Hennepin Healthcare is an integrated system of care that includes HCMC, a nationally recognized Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and acute care hospital, as well as a clinic system with primary care clinics located in Minneapolis and across Hennepin County. The comprehensive healthcare system includes the hospital and outpatient Clinic & Specialty Center downtown and a network of clinics in several Minneapolis neighborhoods and the suburban communities of Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, Richfield, and St. Anthony Village. The system includes the Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute and Hennepin Healthcare Foundation. It is operated by Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., a subsidiary corporation of Hennepin County.
Explore Minnesota and Minnesota State Parks and Trails start weekly foliage reports today
To mark the arrival of autumn, Explore Minnesota, the state's tourism office, and Minnesota State Parks and Trails will begin their weekly fall color reporting starting today. From scenic drives to hiking and biking trails, apple orchards, seasonal festivals, flavors and more, Explore Minnesota and Minnesota State Parks and Trails offer weekly color reports and trip-planning tips to encourage travelers to get outside and enjoy the state this season.
Minnesota's fall foliage season typically progresses from north to south from mid-September through mid-October, but according to Minnesota State Parks and Trails, 2021 color activity and peak timeframes are more unpredictable this year due to statewide drought conditions.
To subscribe to weekly email updates on fall color, including the state's popular fall color finder, visit exploreminnesota.com/fallcolor (888-VISITMN) or mndnr.gov/fallcolor (888-646-6367). The season is short and sweet, and Explore Minnesota is sharing some ideas to make the most of it this year.
Take a Road Trip From Lake of the Woods to the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley, Minnesota makes a great road trip destination. The state's scenic drives meander through diverse landscapes: the lake-splashed north woods, grand bluffs towering above winding rivers, ribbons of prairie, and many parks and trails along the way. Take a road trip on one of the state's rainbow routes. Road trippers can play car bingo along the way by downloading a free card at exploreminnesota.com/bingo.
Explore the Trails Explore Minnesota's Hike MN initiative encourages residents and travelers to be active by trying a new hiking route. Each year, Hike MN highlights 10 of the state's lesser-known trails with varied terrain, lengths, and includes a sweepstakes. Enter by Oct. 26 for a chance to win Minnesota getaways and gift cards for Minnesota State Parks and Trails, Mall of America and Scheels.
Minnesota has one of the nation's greatest state park and trail systems, including 75 state parks and recreation areas, and is home to Voyageurs National Park. Minnesota also is considered one of the country's top states for biking, with 4,000 miles of trails. Some of the longest paved trails include the Root River, Central Lakes, Lake Wobegon, Heartland, Paul Bunyan and Mesabi. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area offers an abundance of award-winning urban parks, trails and lakes, too.
Find a Fall Festival Pumpkin weigh-offs, scarecrow contests, craft fairs, hayrides and fall flavors are some of the many ways Minnesota celebrates harvest season. Explore Minnesota's event database highlights hundreds of seasonal festivities this fall.
Savor Fall Flavors Minnesota's fall harvest promises delicious food, but also tasty things to drink. The state's craft beverage scene flourishes, and fall is the perfect time to sample the flavors. Breweries create special Oktoberfest, pumpkin and other seasonal varieties, available in taprooms or growlers to go. Wineries celebrate with grape stomps and tasting events, and distilleries serve up local spirits. Visit the Land of 10,000 Drinks map to plan a "brewcation."
Pumpkin Patches, Orchards and Mazes Minnesota Grown lists around 140 pumpkin patches in every nook and cranny of the state, some of which have rides, corn mazes, and enough activities to fill a whole day. Home to the Honeycrisp, Minnesota is one of the best places to get apples ripe for the picking at orchards throughout the state. And thanks to an extensive, statewide bicycle trail network, it's easy to plan a pedal-powered orchard adventure in Minnesota.
See the State's Spooky Side From kid-friendly to frightening, Halloween celebrations of all types can be found in Minnesota. Anoka, the self-proclaimed Halloween Capital of the World, celebrates the entire month of October. Other options include Valleyscare in Shakopee and the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Discover Minnesota's mystical side with this statewide guide to haunted happenings.
"Fall color timing may be unpredictable this year, but the season always happens fast, and the main thing is getting out to discover new sights across the state. Hopefully Mother Nature delivers mild weather with pleasant pops of color. From lesser-known hiking and biking trails to beautiful drives, charming towns, family-friendly festivities and weekly reports, Explore Minnesota has endless trip-planning resources," said Explore Minnesota interim tourism director, Leann Kispert.
Know Before You Go Many scenic routes, parks and trails across the state are popular in the fall, and travelers should consider midweek trips and lesser-known options to avoid crowds. Due to the current COVID-19 and Delta variant situation, check official event or attraction websites for potential alterations. Prior to making travel plans, visit Explore Minnesota's COVID-19 Information page.
Burning restrictions across central and northern Minnesota continue to cover several counties. Travelers should be aware of local restrictions by visiting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wildfire information hub for details.
"It continues to be an unusual time for Minnesota's tourism industry, and businesses across the state appreciate visitor support and patience," added Kispert.
Share the Season on Social Tag fall photos and tune into social media to get real-time inspiration using Explore Minnesota's popular statewide travel hashtag #OnlyinMN and Minnesota State Parks and Trails' hashtag #JustAddNature.
Bring family and friends to this FREE OUTDOOR-ONLY event! Explore, discover and celebrate Ukrainian culture and its unique traditions in the Twin Cities. Be entertained, enjoy delicious homemade Ukrainian food like varenyky, holubtsi and borsch, and simply have fun!
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New this year - VYSHYVANKA FASHION SHOW! Vyshyvanka is a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt worn by all family members - from kids to elders.
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Enjoy a demonstration of PYSANKY (hand painted Ukrainian eggs).
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Waltz and polka with the UKRAINIAN VILLAGE BAND, a Ukrainian roots band playing folk and modern music. One can always find people dancing wherever they play.
Parking will be available on the street. You can also park at the St. Anthony Falls Ramp at 201 2nd Street SE - it's just a 5 minute walk from the Ukrainian Community Center.
Please note - most vendors are unable to accept credit cards.
MSP Film Society is thrilled to announce the 9th Annual CINE LATINO Film Festival returns October 8 – 14, 2021 to present another exciting selection of films from the world’s most acclaimed and up-and-coming filmmakers from U.S. LatinX, Latin American, and Iberian communities and regions. CINE LATINO proudly spotlights this vast cultural, linguistic, social, and historical wealth in the following festival sections: Bright New Voices, Cinema with a Conscience, We the People, The Art of Living, Masters, Women & Film, and Cine en Familia.
“Per the mission of the MSP Film Society to unite, inform and transform through the art and power of cinema, the theme of this year’s hybrid CINE LATINO is CINE JUNTOS = CINE LATINO!” said Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director of MSP Film Society. “Which is to say, CINE LATINO is about coming together - whether in person or from the comfort of home - through film.”
The 9th edition of CINE LATINO will present 20+ award-winning narrative and documentary films hybrid festival to MSP Film Society Members and our greater community of global cinephiles, with exuberant in-person events and screenings, engaging filmmaker conversations, and we will also continue to present Cine Latino at Home/en Casa via our virtual cinema platform to the growing Spanish-speaking populations throughout Minnesota.
This year’s CINE LATINO will also highlight and honor the African impact on and contributions to Latin American and Ibero history, communities, and cultures through a special focus on Afro-Latino films.
“Between 1525 and 1866, approximately 12.5 million Africans were brought to the Americas against their will as slaves. Besides providing the labor that built nations, this population and their descendants have contributed to the artistic and social wealth of the continent and have shaped the cultural heritage both past and present,” said Hebe Tabachnik, Artistic Director of CINE LATINO. “Recent films from all over the region are richly portraying the history, the struggles, and the lives of Black Latino Americans through fresh and powerful cinematic voices. The 9th Annual CINE LATINO pays tribute to this cultural legacy by presenting a collection of films that provide fresh perspectives and reclaim lost or forgotten histories as well as present strong counter-narratives that question, and build upon, older forms of representation.”
Some of the films that will be included in the 9th Annual CINE LATINO’s Afro-Latino program include:
An introvert geek and fan of the Black Panther Movement – is on a mission to promote changes in his school and neighborhood. But during a classroom quarrel, Saulo reacts to a racial insult from a classmate and is expelled. Outraged, he refuses to leave the school until justice is done. His solitary occupation ends up challenging the school’s board & mobilizes the entire community. The students did not anticipate, however, the director’s extreme reaction.
Leo Brouwer, the outstanding Cuban and world-renowned composer, opens the doors to his creative space allowing the viewer to explore his daily life and work. A die-hard iconoclast, he defies us to question art, Cuba, and even the purpose of this documentary, in a way that is quintessential to his private & artistic persona after eight decades of existence. OFFICIAL TRAILER
In Brazil’s near future, two roommates become unwitting symbols of resistance when a voluntary ‘back-to-Africa’ program for ‘high melanin’ citizens quickly becomes a violent round-up of all Black citizens in this powerful debut feature from writer/director Lazaro Ramos.
Liborio disappears in a hurricane. One day he returns speaking as a prophet, curing the sick and congregates many followers deep in the mountains. The local powers confront him only to see him vanish, until he decides to confront his deepest fears and battles the invading US Marines.
Oneida was still a child when she learned the Afro-Colombian tradition of singing “alabados” to accompany the dead on their journey to purgatory. With one leg devoured by a snake, and a war without truce, she became the composer of new songs and made her wounds a source of inspiration. Today, Oneida’s compositions unite to the voice of millions in the reconciliation process of a country with one of the longest wars in history.
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The complete line-up of films and special events for the 9th CINE LATINO Film Festival will be announced September 15, 2021. All-Access passes to CINE LATINO are on sale now at MSPfilm.org/cine-latino/ and cost $60 for MSP Film Society Members, $100 for General Public.
Tickets to Individual CINE LATINO Screenings will go on sale September 23 and will cost $5 for MSP Film Society Members, $10 for General Public, and $5 for Community Partners.
CINE LATINO is an annual event presented by the MSP Film Society, Minnesota’s leading non-profit exhibitor of international independent cinema. MSP Film Society is a dynamic 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to fostering a knowledgeable and vibrant appreciation of the art of film and its power to inform and transform individuals and communities.
Experience unique, interactive entertainment with Out of the Box Opera! They will be performing three shows per night - 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 pm - on both September 10 and 11. Performances take place in and around Umbra, and Canopy Minneapolis' lounge and lobby.
The Great River Coalition, along with CenterPoint Energy and Great River Greening, are converting an acre of turf grass to pollinator plants located on West River Parkway along the Minneapolis riverfront (by the CenterPoint building, across the Parkway from the Red Cross). This is an acre of land that currently provides little nourishment for our pollinators. We will be planting on September 23 from 7:45am to 12:00pm.
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All tools, gloves, PLANTS, pastries, coffee, water, lunch and snacks will be provided. Photo opportunities as well!
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Please invite your friends and family to volunteer and participate in helping pollinators along our Minneapolis Riverfront. Please encourage folks to join us in helping our pollinators along our great river and restore the land our Native Americans valued as they lived along the shores.
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Volunteers send an email to: diane@greatrivercoalition.com by September 14. Social distancing will be practiced at the event. Join us!
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Sincerely,
Diane Hofstede, President
Phyllis Kahn, Vice President
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Great River Coalition Mission Statement: Advocates for preserving, protecting and promoting the historic, commercial and environmental significance of the Mississippi River, the City of Minneapolis and its relationship to the people and their communities.
Friday, September 24, 2021 at 7:49AM
