Tap, Transcending: The 7th Annual Twin Cities Tap Festival Expands Notions of the Dance Form

Via a recent e-announcement:

Jumaane Taylor by Christopher Duggan

The Twin Cities Tap Festival  is co-presented by The Cowles Center and Northrop

The Twin Cities Tap Festival (TCTF) returns to The Cowles Center from October 21 – 23 to shine a spotlight on the ever-changing art of tap dance. This year’s Showcase (October 21) and Concerts (October 22 & 23) bring the best local and national tap artists to stage. The TCTF Concerts feature Jumaane Taylor and Max Pollak who each explore narratives led by music—the former with John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme and the latter combining percussive dance, singing and Afro-Cuban body percussion. In-person and livestream tickets range from $20-$35.

“It’s an honor to be able to share the Twin Cities Tap Festival from the Goodale Stage again this year,” shares Joseph Bingham, Co-director of The Cowles Center, “Not only are we excited to showcase the festival’s talent and a fresh partnership with Northrop, but it feels like a hopeful return to something even better than ‘normal.’”

The TCTF Showcase kicks off the festival on Thursday, October 21 from 7:30 – 9:30 PM. It will feature phenomenal local emerging tap artists, including this year’s Elite Tap Feet (a troupe of teen dancers). 

The TCTF Concerts take place on Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23, also from 7:30 – 9:30 PM. Artists featured include national artists Jumaane Taylor, Max Pollak, Ian Berg, Star Dixon, and Donnetta “LilBit” Jackson along with local tap artists. Jumaane Taylor’s work, Supreme Love, honors the John Coltrane album “A Love Supreme” and displays the spiritual, artistic and historical values that infuse human life, using a symbol of nature to transcend hope. Max Pollak will perform unaccompanied for his solo work All in One that outlines his artistic evolution and creates music only using the artist’s body. 

The Showcase and Concerts are available in-person and via livestream. Learn more and purchase tickets at thecowlescenter.org/TCTF21.

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 TWIN CITIES TAP FESTIVAL

The Twin Cities Tap Festival celebrates the incredible breadth, depth, and artistry of the ever-evolving American art of tap dance. The Festival provides opportunities for dancers of all ages and abilities to participate in classes, workshops, and performances all centered around enhancing technique, expanding creativity, and experiencing this uniquely American art form. We aim to foster learning, inspiration, and innovation as well as provide a venue to showcase tap artists, companies, and choreographers.

ABOUT NORTHROP

Rooted in the belief that the arts are essential to the human experience, Northop is committed to cultivating intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.

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.

September 2021 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Overview

Via an October 1 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department will be 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 in Summer of 2023.

The new tunnel will be 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 will be 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

• The east lane of 4th Ave S between 3rd St S and Washington Ave will be temporarily closed starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, October 4. This closure is needed to install a temporary dewatering well. This work is anticipated to take 2-3 weeks to complete.
  • The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S will be temporarily closed while the well is being installed. 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 will remain open. 
  • Access to driveways off 4th Ave S will remain open. There may be short-term delays while crews move equipment and materials around the area. 
    
    
• There will be an overnight closure of 2nd Ave S between Washington Ave and 2nd St from 7 p.m. Thursday, October 7 to 6 a.m. Friday, October 8. This closure is needed to lay pipe across the road. Access to properties off 2nd Ave S will be maintained. 
  • The week of October 11, traffic on 2nd Ave S will switch to a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Avenue and 1st St S. 
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S will remain open. There may be short-term access delays while switching traffic.
    
    
• Work will soon begin near the Washington Ave and Hennepin Ave intersection. Starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, October 4, the north sidewalk along Washington Ave will be closed between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall. The contractor will be utilizing an existing shaft to perform work for connecting the existing tunnel to the new tunnel. This sidewalk will reopen in spring 2022. 
  • During this work, pedestrians will share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave will remain open.
    
    
• Work continues at the Mississippi River portal site. Crews are working on removing a retaining wall in preparation of the excavation work that will begin in mid-October.
  • The parking lot off Portland Ave east of the Stone Arch Bridge, near the Mill Ruins Park, is temporarily closed for 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

Canopy by Hilton and Out of the Box Opera present Hello Italy!, October 14-16

Canopy and Out of the Box Opera present “Hello Italy!“

Out of the Box Opera will present HELLO ITALY, the third in its series of unique interactive entertainments at the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District Hotel, 708 Third Street S, on October 14, 15 and 16 (shows at 6:00p, 7:00p and 8:00p). The three-night stand will include an immersive opera experience featuring Italian classics presented by Out of the Box and a specially curated Italian menu from Umbra.

Out of the Box Artistic Director David Lefkowich says: “Italian opera is the heart and soul of what opera is all about. It features big emotions – love, loss, jealousy, and hate – all expressed through rich, evocative music. You don’t need subtitles to know what is going on in the classic operas. Just listen to the singing and it is all right there.” The show will feature pieces from the great composers – Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini – and great shows – La Traviata, La Boheme, Lucia and Barber of Seville. Lefkowich adds: “The music in this show is what puts the “grand” in “grand opera.”

Umbra’s award-winning Executive Chef, Kevin Aho, has curated a menu of delectable Italian favorites exclusively for the three nights of Hello Italy performances. Each of the four entrees including Osso Buco, Frutti de Mare, Gnocchi and Braised Ragu, and Pasta Arrabiata are served with warm bread, choice of salad, House Panna Cotta dessert and a glass of wine. Visit their website to reserve your table, Umbrampls.com.

Musical Director and accompanist Carson Rose Schneider says, “Our cast features singers who have performed locally and nationally and are all alumni of Out of The Box productions.” Soprano Siena Forest has sung everything with Out of The Box from a contestant in Diva Cage Match to the lead in The Amazing Adventures of Acis and Galatea the Wonder Nymph and will star as Mimi in the upcoming production of La Boheme at Theater Latte Da. Tenor David Walton has performed with Out of The Box in Acis and Galatea and appeared locally with Minnesota Opera and Minnesota Bach Ensemble and nationally with Virginia Opera, Opera Carolina and Glimmerglass Festival. Rounding out the cast is tenor Brian Wallin who sang in the very first Out of The Box show at the Weisman Art Museum in 2017 and has performed with Minnesota Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Atlanta Opera, and Opera National de Bordeaux.

The show is a non-ticketed event. A dinner reservation at Canopy’s Umbra restaurant will guarantee reserved seating. But the show can also be seen and heard from the hotel’s lounge and lobby (and even from balconies in the hotel’s atrium if you have a room).

Out of The Box will wrap up its 2021 series at the Canopy on December 17 and 18, when an all male cast presents a holiday themed “tenor extravaganza.” Lefkowich says, “This show will both fill you with cheer and knock your socks off!”

17th Annual Historic Riverfront 5K Run/Walk to Benefit Neighborhood Parks and Activities in the St Anthony West Neighborhood

The 17th Annual Historic Riverfront 5K Run/Walk will take you through historic Northeast Minneapolis, along the Mississippi River and over the Stone Arch Bridge. This is the perfect time of year to see the fall colors and the beauty of the tree canopy, river, and cityscape. The race starts/ends at Boom Island Park (700 Sibley Street NE). Let Kramarczuk's treat you to their famous brats and enjoy some snacks at the finish line!

Whether you participate as a timed chip runner or take a casual walk with your dog or baby stroller, this is a route that everyone enjoys!

Proceeds benefit neighborhood parks and activities in the St. Anthony West Neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Minneapolis, which includes the beautiful Boom Island, BF Nelson, and Dickman parks. Learn more at stawno.org.

Event details and schedule:
- Start/End at Boom Island - 700 Sibley Street NE, Minneapolis
- Start time at 9am, Saturday, Oct 9th (check-in starts at 7:30am)
- Early check-in available on Friday, Oct 8th, 4-6pm at Mill City Running
- Historic Riverfront 5k Stocking Cap included in registration
- Prizes for top winners in male/female, 65+, and 18 and under and drawings for all participants
- Enjoy Kramarczuk's brats hot off the grill at the end of the race.
- Chip timed for accuracy and running enjoyment. Limited parking in parking lot w/in Boom Island, additional parking available on side streets.

Pricing:
Now to October 5 - $30
October 9 Race Day Registration - $40

Register Here: https://www.active.com/minneapolis-mn/running/distance-running-races/historic-riverfront-5k-run-walk-2021

Volunteer Here: https://signup.com/go/hanMyue

Raising Ollie: How My Nonbinary Art-Nerd Kid Changed (Nearly) Everything I Know, Open House Book Launch with Minnesota Author Tom Rademacher

Via a recent press release from University of Minnesota Press

826 MSP, Transforming Families Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Press will host an open house meet-and-greet book launch event for Raising Ollie: How My Non-Binary Art-Nerd Kid Changed (Nearly) Everything I Know by Minnesota author Tom Rademacher on Tuesday, October 12 at 826 MSP, 1915 E 22nd Street. Raising Ollie, the newest book from author of It Won't Be Easy, is the account of one radically new school year for a Teacher of the Year and for his nonbinary, art-obsessed, brilliant child.

Seven-year-old Ollie was researching local advanced school programs—because every second grader does that, right? Ollie, who used to hate weekends because they meant no school, was crying on the way to school almost every day. Sure, there were the slings and arrows of bullies and bad teachers, but, maybe worse, Ollie, a funny, anxious, smart kid with a thing for choir and an eye for graphic art, was gravely underchallenged and also struggling with identity and how to live totally as themselves. Ollie begged to switch to a new school with “kids like me,” where they wouldn’t feel so alone, or so bored, and so they made the change.

Tom RademacherRaising Ollie is dad Tom Rademacher’s story (really, many stories) of that eventful and sometimes painful school year, parenting Ollie and relearning every day what it means to be a father and teacher. As Ollie—who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, and prefers art to athletics, vegetables to cake, and animals to most humans—flourishes in their new school, Rademacher is making an eye-opening adjustment to a new school of his own, one that’s whiter and more suburban than anywhere he has previously taught, with a history of racial tension that he tries to address and navigate.

While Ollie is learning to code, 3D model, animate, speak Japanese, and finally feel comfortable at school, Rademacher increasingly sees how his own educational struggles, anxieties, and childhood upbringing are reflected in his teaching, writing, and parenting, as well as in Ollie’s experience. And with this story of one anything-but-academic year of inquiry and wonder, doubt and revelation, he shows us how raising a kid changes everything—and how much raising a kid like Ollie can teach us about who we are and what we’re doing in the world.

Tom Rademacher is an eighth grade English teacher in the Minneapolis area. His book It Won’t Be Easy: An Exceedingly Honest (and Slightly Unprofessional) Love Letter to Teaching (Minnesota, 2017) was a finalist for a Minnesota Book Award. His writing has been published in Education Post, City Pages, MinnPost, and Huffington Post. In 2014 he was honored as Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year.

The event is free and open to the public. Masks are required for entry. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. 

Sherman Associates hosts Downtown Advocate Service Saturday, October 2nd

Via a September 24 e-announcement from Sherman Associates:

Join us to support your unsheltered neighbors at the Downtown Advocate Service Saturday on October 2nd from 1pm to 4pm at 205 Bark, the public dog park located next to The Vicinity, 205 Park Avenue.

Service Saturday will be a day for residents in the East Town and Mill District neighborhoods to gather together to help the homeless community and lend a hand in cleaning up the neighborhood.

Listen or join in the conversation with guest speakers on topics of awareness, volunteerism, and experiences centered around homelessness. Volunteers will assemble care packages and make fleece tie blankets for residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness within the community. Additionally, volunteers will receive garbage pick-up supplies to clean up around the neighborhood.

Guest speakers include Emily Bastian from Avivo Village, a volunteer from Supply Depot, and a person with lived experience of unsheltered homelessness.

All volunteers will receive a discounted drink ticket to W XYZ Bar in the Aloft Minneapolis Hotel and a $5 off voucher to Bacon Social House.

Please register here to volunteer: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-advocate-service-saturday-tickets-178824507917.

CenterPoint Energy Pollinator Gardens

On September 23rd CenterPoint Energy employees and volunteers from the Great River Coalition planted downtown pollinator gardens featuring native flowers, plants and grasses that offer a critical habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinator insects. Great River Greening is CenterPoint Energy’s nonprofit partner in creating and managing the pollinator gardens. Information about the pollinator gardens is available at www.CenterPointEnergy.com/MNpollinators.

Mill District resident Rick Kittock captured the following photos from the event:

* Thank you to everyone involved with the project! *

Walking the Beam at the ELEVEN

Submitted by Mill District Resident Ric Rosow

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 - October 9, 1-5 pm

Via a September 24 e-announcement from Minnepolis Park and Rec Board:

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.

Celebrating James Sewell Ballet’s 30th Anniversary - One Year Later - at The Cowles Center

Via a September 23 Press Release:

James Sewell Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Retrospective delights 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.

Third Avenue Bridge Project - Resident Connection Event Scheduled for October 9

Via a September 22 e-announcment from MnDOT:

Join us in-person for an afternoon of fun!

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.

Behind-the-Scenes Construction Tour 

A behind-the-scenes construction tour narrated by construction manager Tim Nelson is online! Check out the video on the project webpage under About this project.

More About the Project

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.

Students, Staff and Fans Return to More Than a New Name at Former TCF Stadium

Via a recent e-announcement:

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.

Moon On Top Campbell Mithun Building

Submitted by Mill District Resident Ric Rosow:

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.

I hope you enjoy the image. See more of my work at www.ricrosowphotography.com.

CenterPoint Energy Plants a Green Future on Minneapolis Downtown Riverfront

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 Coalition will 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 Greening is 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 

MacPhail Announces September 21 Lunchtime Listening Club: The Thrilling Three

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.

.

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!

Mhonpaj's Garden Now Serving Rollz2Go Spring Rolls at the Mill City Farmers Market

Photo credit: Mill City Farmers Market

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.

Hennepin County Administrator Proposes 3.5% Levy Increase in 2022 Budget

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.

Find out more about property values.

Gamut Gallery Announces Balancing Act - A Solo Exhibition by Barret Lee, Opening October 22

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

Meet & Greet with Barret Lee

• RSVP Required
• Memberships required, become a member today!

PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Friday, October 22 / 6-9pm

$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!

Gamut Gallery is located at 717 S 10th Street.

Fall Adventures Await All at North Mississippi Regional Park

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

Find your Fall Adventure!

Noticing Nature Bird Watching Join a park naturalist on the trails in search of our feathered friends while learning about birds and the skill of bird watching. Outdoor Observation 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! Hikes Explore park paths with a naturalist guide that will highlight natural finds and inform along the way. Fun for the Family Hip Herp Hooray Learn about reptiles and amphibians while you visit with live education animals, enjoy activities and games, then go on a herp hunt in the park. Family Trail Treasures 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 Animal Masquerade Party 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. Clues from Nature Investigate animal tracks, scat, other markings and materials to understand animal  behaviors and decipher the story they tell. Opt Outside Black Friday Fun  Enjoy self-guided nature exploration with outdoor fun and adventure pack checkout, nature play, arts and crafts, plus stop by the campfire to warm up. Nature Art Let nature act as an inspiration and medium while you express your creativity! Upcoming: Seed Mosaics, Gourd Time, and Cornucopias Homeschool Classes Let nature be your classroom with experiential learning! Second Thursdays each month 1-3pm for ages 5-15 October: Soil Significance   November: Winged Wonders Campfire Evenings Bonfire Bunch 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. Campfire Game Night 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. Nature Nuts-Early Childhood Tots Themes 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!  Storybook Stroll 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 Nature Playtime Bring your little one outside for imaginative play activities guided by a naturalist. 9:30-10:30 on Wednesdays starting Oct. 20 Registration is REQUIRED for all participants there are a limited number of spots available for each program Release Day Programs for Kids 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! Creepy Crawly Creatures WED - FRI    OCTOBER 20-22 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! Animal Detectives FRIDAY    NOVEMBER 5 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. Wild Survival FRIDAY    NOVEMBER 12 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. Scholarships are available for qualifying Minneapolis residents Adventure Hubs Find FREE fun in the parks Kids, teens, families, adults – everyone’s welcome! 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. Nearby Nature Free self-guided activities add to outdoor fun Look for signs with nature quests, challenges and activities displayed at local parks across Minneapolis!