May 2021 by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

A Message From the mpls downtown council on Downtown this Summer

Via a June 1 News Release from the mpls downtown council:

Mpls Downtown this summer: The best part is you.

Whether it is a return to play or return to office—or both—we’ll see you downtown.

Sunshine and summer are here, and mpls downtown is signaling a return to collective urban experiences. Whether you are returning to play, to work—or both—the downtown community is ready for you to take part in a dynamic lineup of events and programming.

The time is now to enjoy festivities in our city’s core. Approximately 24 percent of downtown’s workforce has returned to the office this spring, and three distinct return-to-office waves are being planned: After Memorial Day, after the 4^th of July, and after Labor Day.

Couple that with downtown’s 53,000 residents and many entertainment venues adding capacity and events, and we have the recipe for a vibrant summer downtown. The best part is you. See you Downtown.

“Across all industry sectors, our downtown community is collectively working together to create converging events that will add to your overall experience while you’re here this summer,” said Steve Cramer, president & ceo of the mpls downtown council. “We are ready to be together again, and there will be ample opportunities to enjoy multiple activities while you’re downtown this summer.”

A variety of events and activities await you, including: 

• Twins games at Target Field
• Lynx games at Target Center
• Live concerts at First Avenue, The Armory, Target Field and more
• Minnesota Orchestra concerts at Orchestra Hall
• Patio happy hour specials
• Downtown Thursdays including Nicollet Farmers Market + Makers Market
• Live MNSpin concerts, yoga and games at Peavey Plaza
• Pianos on Parade

“This is such an exciting time as we look ahead to audiences returning to Orchestra Hall,” said Michelle Miller Burns, President & CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra. “We are so excited to welcome our patrons back not only to experience live music with the Orchestra but to enjoy the full downtown experiences—a walk along Nicollet, a few moments enjoying the Peavey Plaza fountains, and perhaps a patio seat. These are the collective experiences we’ve missed and look forward to again this summer.”

While downtown, enjoy your favorite restaurants or try one of several new spots that opened this spring. More than 300 restaurant and retail locations are open for full or partial hours, and more are scheduled to open this summer. Some of the recently opened or re-opened stores include 112 Eatery, The Butcher’s Tale, Afro Deli, Bar La Grassa, Coconut Whisk, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Sistah Co-Op, Snack Bar, and Whiskey & Soda.

“Downtown’s vitality is critical to our fans’ experience coming to Lynx games this summer, so we know how important it is for us to work collaboratively with the business community to ensure a series of great experiences during their trip to Target Center,” said Ethan Casson, Chief Executive Officer for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. “We are all in with our partners on helping create fun and vibrant experiences each time our fans return.”

The mpls downtown calendar includes upcoming events and can help you plan your next visit. Check out the calendar, plus learn more about walking tours, green space, your long overdue staycation and more at www.mplsdowntown.com.

About the mpls downtown council

Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic central business associations in the nation, the mpls downtown council (mdc) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The mdc’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit mplsdowntown.com.

Ard Godfrey House Open for Summer Tours June - August

The historic Ard Godfrey House at Chute Square Park, 28 University Avenue Southeast at the corner of Central and University Avenues SE is now open weekends, Saturday and Sunday, from 1 to 4 pm, in June, July and August for tours led by guides dressed in period costume. Tours are FREE; no reservations are necessary.

See first-hand how the Godfrey family lived in the new community of St. Anthony in 1849. Owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Godfrey House is the oldest remaining wood frame residence in Minneapolis. Restored by The Woman's Club of Minneapolis to the 1850s period, Woman's Club volunteers have been giving public tours since 1979.

The Godfrey House is a one-and-a-half story Greek Revival structure, with the accessibility restrictions of a historic home. Partially wheelchair accessible on the main floor, call 612-781-8791 two weeks in advance to make arrangements for guests with special needs.

Due to COVID-19, masks are currently required inside the house.

Four brief video tours of the Godfrey house are available on YouTube: 

Restoration of the Godfrey House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84-1v_Y6E1s

Tour of Select Rooms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UonqQzphbU&ab_channel=TheWoman%27sClubofMinneapolisTheWoman%27sClubofMinneapolis

Story of the Godfrey Family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee8wCyOQvT4&ab_channel=TheWoman%27sClubofMinneapolisTheWoman%27sClubofMinneapolis

Annual Celebrations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auhrbH9Kjew&ab_channel=TheWoman%27sClubofMinneapolisTheWoman%27sClubofMinneapolis 

Kolman & Pryor Gallery announces Structure + Connection exhibit, opening June 26

Structure + Connection

Encaustic Artwork by Jodi Reeb and Dietlind Vander Schaaf

June 26 – September 4, 2021

Artist Reception: Saturday, June 26, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Practicing within the same natural medium, encaustic or beeswax, with a visual language inspired by nature’s forms, gallery artist, Jodi Reeb, and guest artist, Dietlind Vander Schaaf of Portland, Maine, depart from each other and the traditions of encaustic painting in new work presented in Structure + Connection at Kolman & Pryor Gallery. Curated by Reeb and gallery co-founder and curator, Patrick Pryor, the exhibition opens Saturday evening, June 26, 2021, with an artist reception from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The exhibition closes September 4, 2021.

Primavera by Dietlind Vander Schaaf

“Jodi is evolving into quite a force in the encaustic community as she’s bridging the gap between sculpture and painting in her new work,” Pryor says. “Dietland’s work is highly sought after and extremely popular with collectors. We’re thrilled to pair them in this show, in which each one’s work not only complements the other’s but together their artwork demonstrates the versatility and breadth of the encaustic medium.”

Vander Schaaf describes herself as “very much a painter. I paint in a sculptural way, in that I build up thick layers of encaustic, then carve into those layers, often with repetitive, distinctive mark making, to add further texture and sculptural dimension to the work."

A teacher and practitioner of such contemplative practices as yoga and meditation, Vander Schaaf says her paintings are “abstracted landscapes, as well as inner landscapes where the inner and outer world meet to describe a felt experience of the world.” She hopes viewers and collectors will find quietness and calm in her work.

Azure by Jodi Reeb

Reeb’s organic wall sculptures oscillate between painting and sculpture. Her circular pieces, referencing the spheres within nature, often overlap creating a negative space also found in many of her aluminum wall sculptures. In these sculptures, she paints with enamel and encaustic (beeswax and damar resin) on primed aluminum, then bends and twists the metal into dramatically textured organic forms. Reeb’s intention with her sculptural series is to investigate a folding, opening, and evolving as a reflection of her new approach to encaustic artwork.

“We’re both challenging the physical properties of translucence and structure using encaustic,” Reeb explains. “At the same time, we're drawn to ideas of layering inspired by natural forms where the paintings are deconstructed as well as abstracted to create structure and connection.”

The artists will be teaching an encaustic workshop at the gallery on Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26, 2021, 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $350. Please get in touch with Jodi Reeb at jodi@kolmanpryorgallery.com or at 612-247-1244 for more information.

For a preview of the show, please contact Anita Sue Kolman at anita@kolmanpryorgallery.com or 612-385-4239 or Patrick Pryor at patrick@kolmanpryorgallery.com or 612-280-7812.

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Structure + Connection begins Saturday, June 26, 2021, and closes Saturday, September 4, 2021.

Artist Reception: Saturday, June 26, 2021, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Kolman & Pryor Gallery is located in Studio 395, Northrup King Building at 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. For more information, please call: 612-385-4239 or 612-280-7812 or email: anita@kolmanpryorgallery.com or patrick@kolmanpryorgallery.com.

Minneapolis Parks Foundation now Accepting Artists for Posters For Parks 2021

The call for artists, designers, and illustrators for the 6th annual poster show is now open!

Posters for Parks is an annual show featuring limited-edition posters inspired by Minneapolis Parks. The event is a joint venture of LoveMplsParks and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation to benefit our award-winning park system.

This year’s show is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, at Royal Foundry Craft Spirits.

Proceeds from the Posters for Parks Show benefit the local community, with 50% designated for the Parks Foundation’s People for Parks Fund to protect and preserve the award-winning Minneapolis park system and 50% going directly to the artists. The event showcases the work of local artists and highlights the role of art in making the world a better place. Each year, anywhere from 100-150 local designers, artists, and illustrators apply to be in the show, while the event features some 40 artists who create beautiful, original posters for purchase.

Parkways Currently Closed to Motor Vehicles to Reopen on June 1

Via a May 29 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

All Minneapolis parkways closed to motor vehicle traffic and open to trail users will go back to allowing motor vehicle traffic by 10 am on Tuesday, June 1.

The parkways that will reopen are Lake Harriet Parkway between W Minnehaha Parkway and W 43rd Street and one lane of West River Parkway between 4th Avenue N and 11th Avenue S.

MPRB Announces Cycle the Summer: Season-long Event Series to Replace Annual Minneapolis Bike Tour

Via a May 28 e-announcement

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has replaced its annual one-day Minneapolis Bike Tour, typically scheduled for September, with biking events and activities throughout the warmer months. A new Cycle the Summer event series complements expanded bike programs to create options geared to people of all ages, backgrounds and riding abilities. Cycle the Summer, for instance, showcases the pleasures and benefits of bicycling with a range of activities. These include auto-free weekend rides on MPRB parkways; youth-focused bike rodeos with maintenance tutorials, BMX demos and more; and a Passport Program for touring the Minneapolis Grand Rounds bikeway. The series culminates with a festival at Boom Island Park in August. Details at minneapolisparks.org/cycle_the_summer.

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MPRB leaders made the change from the bike tour to Cycle the Summer for two reasons:

• Cycling programs are a focus area of a strategic initiative, announced in 2020, to provide accessible, innovative, quality programs for all Minneapolis residents, especially youth. (Other areas are Creation Spaces, community gardens, nature programming, youth employment and Intergenerational Centers of Excellence, currently in development).
  
  
• Several other daylong bike tours in the Twin Cities had resulted in more competition and fewer participants in MPRB’s Minneapolis Bike Tour.

Thanks to the thousands of people who participated in the Minneapolis Bike Tour over the years. We hope you’ll ride along on Cycle the Summer events and other MPRB bike offerings throughout the park system! 

Saint Paul is Ranked 2nd and Minneapolis is 3rd in the Trust for Public Land’s 2021 ParkScore® Index

Via a May 27 Press Release

Washington, DC, is the best city park system in the nation, reclaiming the ParkScore title it last held in 2019. Saint Paul ranked second on the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore index, and Minneapolis placed third. The Twin Cities have finished in the top three each year they have been ranked. 

The Twin Cities’ ParkScore rankings were lifted by strong marks for park access. Ninety-eight percent of Minneapolis residents, and 99 percent of Saint Paul residents, live within a 10-minute walk of a park, far exceeding the national ParkScore average of 75 percent. Both cities also scored extremely well for park investment and park amenities, ranking among the nation’s leaders for both rating factors. 

The ParkScore index added measures of park equity for the first time in 2021 and uncovered significant inequities in access to park space across the United States. 

Across all ParkScore cities, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as Black, Hispanic and Latinx, Indigenous and Native American, or Asian American and Pacific Islander have access to 44 percent less park space per capita than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. Residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 42 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods. 

In Saint Paul, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to 30 percent less park space per capita than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. Residents of low-income neighborhoods in Saint Paul have access to 35 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods.   

In Minneapolis, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to 58 percent less park space than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. Residents of low-income neighborhoods have access to 65 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods.

In Washington, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to about the same amount of park space as residents in neighborhoods that are predominately white. Residents in low-income neighborhoods also have access to about the same amount of park space as residents in high-income neighborhoods. 

“In a majority of ParkScore cities, white neighborhoods and high-income neighborhoods have a disproportionately higher share of park space,” says Linda Hwang, The Trust for Public Land’s Director of Innovation and Strategy. “That’s not right and it’s not fair. The Trust for Public Land believes there should be a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home of every person in America, and we are committed to centering equity as we advocate for parks and open space in cities throughout the United States.” 

Many urban park systems are actively addressing historical inequities. 

In Minneapolis, equity and access have been a priority for early and recent park leaders. More than a century ago, the park system was shaped by actions to preserve all land along the lakes, streams and rivers for public access and to build parks within six blocks of every resident. However, as the city grew and industrial areas transitioned to residential, gaps occurred. Since 2007, the Minneapolis Park Board has focused on park acquisition and investments to address access and service gaps. In 2016, it became the first park system in the country to pass an ordinance requiring equity criteria to guide its capital investments in parks.  

“Congratulations Washington DC and St. Paul! We are honored to be among the top ranked park systems and are proud that 98 percent of Minneapolis residents are within a 10-minute walk of a park,” said Al Bangoura, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “The equity rating reaffirms what we’ve known and are committed to doing, which is investing in areas of the city that have been underserved.”   

CITIES REPORT HIGH PARK POPULARITY AND CREATIVE USE DURING PANDEMIC

“Parks are always essential to our communities, and they are even more valuable in times of crisis. During this extraordinary pandemic year, people relied on close-to-home parks, trails, and open spaces to exercise and connect with nature more than ever. Parks also served as makeshift community centers for emergency services like food distribution, COVID testing, and vaccine super-sites,” says Diane Regas, President and CEO of The Trust for Public Land.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul were among the many ParkScore cities that used parks for emergency COVID response. 

To complement the annual ratings list, The Trust for Public Land today released a groundbreaking report describing how parks are working to improve equity and address other problems facing cities. The report, Parks and an Equitable Recovery, found that across the 100 largest cities, there is a significant disparity in who has access to available park space, and the disparity falls across racial and economic lines. The report also details how parks are critical components of our recovery from the pandemic, economic recession, climate crisis, and longstanding racial injustice.  

PARKSCORE RANKINGS FOR 2021 

The ParkScore^® index ranks park systems in the 100 largest U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation. The 2021 edition reported that 75 percent of residents across all ParkScore cities live within a 10-minute walk of a park, the highest access score in the index’s 10-year history.  

The addition of park equity as a rating factor affected the rankings of many cities. Baltimore rose 28 places on the ParkScore index, from 58th in 2020 to 30th this year. Toledo, OH, rose 27 places, from 77th in 2020 to 50th this year. Newark, NJ, also jumped 27 spots to 42nd.  

Twelfth-ranked Boston and sixth-place San Francisco remain the only ParkScore cities where 100 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park or other public open space. 

Boise defended its title as the best park system for dogs, with a nation-leading 6.3 dog parks per 100,000 residents, narrowly beating Portland, Ore. Irvine, Calif, received top marks for basketball hoops and Madison, Wis, scored best for playgrounds. Boston earned top marks for splash pads and other water features, beating out 2020-leader Cleveland. 

The number of playgrounds per capita in ParkScore cities increased by four percent since last year, largely because of “shared used” agreements that opened school playgrounds for neighborhood use after school hours and on weekends. The number of playgrounds in ParkScore cities has increased by 29 percent since 2012, when the ParkScore index began tracking this indicator.  

The number of dog parks increased by more than two percent, continuing the trend first reported by The Trust for Public Land five years ago.  

PARK ADVOCATES CALL FOR ACTION TO BOLSTER PARK BUDGETS 

The Trust for Public Land warns the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will strain municipal budgets and threaten progress on parks. Sixty-three of the hundred most populated cities’ park departments faced budget cuts last year, and the fiscal environment could worsen this year.     

“We need parks more than ever, and park advocates are gearing up for a fight,” said Bill Lee, Senior Vice President for Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations at The Trust for Public Land. “The Trust for Public Land is helping to lead a coalition of more than 300 organizations, businesses, and community groups supporting a major investment in park equity through the bipartisan Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act in Congress, and we are challenging the private sector to invest $50 million through the Equitable Communities Fund to create parks and open space in historically marginalized communities.”

PARKSCORE METHODOLOGY AND RANKINGS 

For the last 10 years, ParkScore rankings were based on four factors, and this year, a park equity measure was added. This new rating factor was added to help city leaders understand and prioritize equity when making decisions about parks.  

• Park equity 
• Park access measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park;  
• Park acreage is based on a city’s median park size and the percentage of city area dedicated to parks;  
• Park investment measures park spending per resident; and  
• Park amenities 

The 10 highest ranking park systems in the United States are: 

Rank	City	ParkScore (Max: 100)
1	Washington, DC	84.4
2	St. Paul, MN	80.0
3	Minneapolis, MN	79.7
4	Arlington, VA	79.6
5	Chicago, IL	77.2
6	San Francisco, CA	76.3
7	Irvine, CA	76.0
8	Cincinnati, OH	75.9
9	Seattle, WA	75.4
10	Portland, OR	75.0

The ParkScore index uses advanced GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and spatial analysis to evaluate park accessibility. Instead of measuring distance to a local park, the rating system’s GIS technology considers the location of park entrances and physical obstacles to access. For example, if residents are separated from a nearby park by a major highway, the ParkScore index does not count the park as accessible to those residents, unless there is a bridge, underpass, or easy access point across the highway.  

Municipal leaders use ParkScore information to guide park improvement efforts, studying park access on a block-by-block basis and pinpointing the areas where new parks are needed most. The ParkScore website, www.tpl.org/parkscore, is free and available to the public, enabling residents to hold their elected leaders accountable for achieving equitable access to quality parks for all.  

About the Trust for Public Land 

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

Super Moon Photos by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow 

May 26th was the 2nd and final Super Moon for 2021. I attempted a similar shot for the Super Full Moon in April up in Grand Marais. I consulted with Dr. Mike Shaw (https://www.mikeshawphotography.com/cvbio), an award winning astrophotographer, author, speaker, and teacher on finding just the right location in Grand Marais where the moon would rise up over the lighthouse. Clouds in Grand Marais prevented me from photographing the Super Moon in April on the day it was full. I did capture a nearly full moon early in the morning two days later. My wife was awakened at 3:30 a.m. by the light from the moon shining into our hotel room. She woke me from a deep sleep and I spent the next several hours photographing the moon in several locations. This was a waning gibbous moon The moon over a downtown building turned out to be the best and closest to what I had hoped for. By the time I reached that location, some clouds had moved in, giving the moon a soft and pink hue.

Waning Gibbous Moon Over Grand Marais - April 28, 2021

But in the early morning of May 26th the skies were totally clear of clouds. I planned the shot ahead of time using photo planning tools “PlanIt Pro” and “Photo Pills.” To become more familiar with PlanIt Pro I took a live webinar tutorial on using the app from Mike. I’ve taken a number of live in the field photo workshops from him as well, as online webinars and several one-on-one online tutoring sessions. With Mike’s assistance I was able to confirm that the location I picked out would indeed lend itself to the type of moon photograph I wanted.

Above and below - Super Full Moon next to the North Star Blankets sign, May 26, 2021

For this photo shoot I left home around 12:45 a.m. with my wife and set up my tripod and camera at the location I had picked out on the Stone Arch Bridge. You might think that at that time of night I would be alone. That was not the case. There were people sitting at the park benches as I approached the bridge and then a fairly constant stream of people walking both directions on the bridge. I greeted most of them in between taking photos. One group of young women suggested I take a photograph of the colorful 35W Bridge. When I described what I was setting up to take they thought that was neat. Since a full moon is so bright and the sky so dark at that time of night, you don’t see the buildings in a photograph exposed to capture detail in the moon. Mike had warned me that I would get only the bright moon against a black sky and no foreground detail. Mike is from St. Paul. He may not have known that the North Star sign is illuminated at night. So I got the moon and the illuminated sign. It turned out as well as I could have expected.

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You can see more of my work at www.ricrosowphotography.com. 

Minneapolis Parks Foundation Announces Monthly Self-Guided Tours for Summer 2021

Minneapolis Parks Foundation recently announced the return of their popular summer series, Walk & Talks, with new online and download-and-go tours monthly through August.

NEW! Water Works at Mill Ruins Park

This year's self-guided tours will be both online StoryMaps and download-and-go printables so you can enjoy them at a time and pace that's right for you. A new Walk & Talk will be introduced every month through August, starting with the most exciting new destination in Minneapolis: Water Works at Mill Ruins Park.

Access Water Works self-guides here.

Lilacs in Full Bloom on Nicollet Island!

Thank you to Doug Verdier for sharing photos of these lovely lilac bushes gracing Nicollet Island. 

Firefighters For Healing partners with Sherman Associates to Provide Housing for Burn Trauma Survivors & Injured Firefighters, May 19 Groundbreaking Announced

Via a recent news release from Hennepin Healthcare:

Firefighters For Healing and Sherman Associates Development host groundbreaking at The Moment, a one-of-a-kind project that mixes residential, commercial and nonprofit housing 

On Wednesday, May 19, there will be an 11am groundbreaking ceremony for The Moment Apartments and Firefighters For Healing Transitional Healing Center, located at 500 S 7th Street (next to Thrivent HQ). 

Schedule of Speakers:

11:10 Intro & Welcome

11:12 Chris Dunker, Firefighters For Healing

11:17 Jennifer DeCubellis, Hennepin Healthcare

11:20 Lisa Goodman, City of Minneapolis

11:30 George Sherman

11:40 Dig into our Cause/Shovel Shot

The Firefighters For Healing Transitional Healing Center will provide “home-away-from-home” suites for the families of burn survivors or injured first responders being cared for at Hennepin Healthcare and other metro hospitals. It will be a beautiful environment where a family member can rest and recharge. This Transitional Healing Center will also accommodate patients who have been discharged so they have a comfortable and safe place to transition to before heading home.

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“When a child or adult has sustained burn trauma, the family is forced into weeks or months of unique challenges. In addition, there our firefighters and first responders injured in the line of duty or facing health challenges like PTSD, cancer and more. In both scenarios, our Transitional Healing Center will provide 24/7 relief for families by providing emergency housing and a wide range of support,” said Founder & Executive Director Jake LaFerriere.   

Theresa Pesch, President, Hennepin Healthcare Foundation shared, “We consider Firefighters For Healing an extension of our Hennepin Healthcare family. They have stepped up to help our families when they have needed them with social, emotional, and financial support. We are thrilled to stand alongside them today, and honored to raise support for this much needed resource for our patient families & first responder community.” 

George Sherman, CEO of Sherman Associates pursues projects that make a positive impact on the community and looks forward to the partnership.  According to Sherman, “Firefighters For Healing is a passionate organization.  We are inspired by their commitment to supporting the healing process. It will be a wonderful oasis for children and families to live in The Moment.”

About these organizations:

Sherman Associates is a growing commercial real estate development and management firm based in Minneapolis with properties throughout Midwest and Colorado. Sherman has developed over 8,000 multifamily units, 600,000 sf of commercial, 4 hotels, 2 solar gardens, and has 2 Starbucks locations. Sherman develops, holds and operates its assets with a long term vision to build neighborhoods, enrich communities, and empower people. 

Firefighters For Healing supports burn survivors and helps firefighters and first responders pivot after a line of duty injury by providing their families with meals, no cost emergency housing, support and resources while they are receiving medical care in the Twin Cities. We meet and serve families 24/7 and 365 days a year from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. This non-profit 501(C)(3) charitable organization thrives on community partnerships, volunteer support and fundraising events.

Dan Collison announces May 18 premier of “HOSPITALITY. EMBODIED.” featuring the DID Ambassador Program

Submitted by Dan Collison, Director of Downtown Partnerships for the mpls downtown council

I am pleased to share a new short documentary that I have filmed and produced on the Downtown Improvement District Ambassador Program called “HOSPITALITY. EMBODIED.” The mpls downtown council will be premiering this 35 minute feature on the DID YouTube Channel Tuesday, May 18, at 12pm CST. It will be on demand after that time period.

I believe this will be of great encouragement to downtown residents and those who visit downtown.

Here is a preview:

Mississippi River Paddle Share Season Opens Memorial Day Weekend

The Mississippi River Paddle Share reservation system is open for Memorial Day weekend booking and beyond. Paddle Share is a self-serve kayak sharing system on the Mississippi River (and one lake station at Lilydale Regional Park in Saint Paul). Rent a kayak online, pick up from lockers at your starting destination, paddle down river while exploring the shorelines and nearby restaurants, then return your kayak to the locker at your end destination.

NEW THIS YEAR: The Gorge route from Bohemian Flats Park to the Lake Street Bridge. This calm stretch was formed thousands of years ago, when a cascading waterfall slowly making its way upriver carved out a deep channel. Reservations can be made up to 21 days in advance. Learn more and book your adventure at paddleshare.org

Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

MSPIFF to Light Up Local Bridges for Opening and Closing Weekends

Via a recent e-announcement from MSP Film Society:

The MSP Film Society is thrilled to announce both Minneapolis and St. Paul will be lit up in our festival colors of PINK & ORANGE to celebrate Opening and Closing Weekends. PINK & ORANGE were the official festival colors of the inaugural Minneapolis Film Festival in 1981. MSPIFF decided to return to these colors to celebrate our 40th Festival!

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The 35W Bridge over the Mississippi in Minneapolis and Allianz Field in St. Paul with both be lit up PINK & ORANGE as MSPIFF40 kicks off this Thursday, May 13th with an array of outdoor screenings all weekend at Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul. The Crown of Capella Tower will be lit up in PINK & ORANGE over Closing Weekend May as MSPIFF hosts a pop-up Drive-In Closing Weekend, May 21-22, at Bohemian Flats Park in Minneapolis.

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In the past 40 years MSPIFF has grown to become Minnesota’s largest film festival and one of the longest running festivals in the country –and a Minnesota cultural institution. MSPIFF40 will run May 13-23 as a hybrid festival this year, with in-person outdoor screenings happening over Opening Weekend, May 13, 14, and 15 at Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul; and Closing Weekend, May 21 and 22, at a pop-up Drive-In at Bohemian Flats Park in Minneapolis. MSPIFF40 will also present 180+ films by both veteran and emerging filmmakers from around the world virtually to audiences throughout Minnesota at MSPfilm.org.

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Visit MSPfilm.org for more information and to reserve your tickets.

Connect: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube

Water Works May 20 Virtual Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Announced

Via a May 11 e-announcement:

You're invited to join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation for a virtual grand opening of Water Works at Mill Ruins Park.

Thursday, May 20, 11:00-11:30am

Everywhere on Zoom
RSVP via Eventbrite to receive the link

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Water Works is a Minneapolis Riverfront park project overlooking St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge that brings new historic, cultural, and recreational amenities to the downtown Minneapolis riverfront and one of the most popular destinations in the region. While the park will open, the Water Works Park Pavilion (and future site of Owamni by the Sioux Chef) will not yet be open to the public.

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Live speakers will include: Tom Evers and Dorothy Bridges from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation;

Superintendent Al Bangoura and President Jono Cowgill, of the Minneapolis Park Board.

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Additional videos and voices from: Kate Lamers, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Project Manager - The Sioux Chef - Mayor Frey - Council Member Fletcher - Senator Champion - Doug Snyder, MWMO Executive Director - General Mills - Bank of America - Paul Reyelts, Minneapolis Parks Foundation Board Member and RiverFirst Campaign Committee Chair.

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Featured opening and closing performances to be announced!

Minneapolis Parks Foundation and MPRB to host a May 11 RiverFirst Announcement

 

Tuesday, May 11, 10:00-10:30am

RSVP via Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board are hosting a virtual press conference on Tuesday, May 11 to announce the completion of the Great Northern Greenway Overlook at 26th Ave N.

This new destination is the first riverfront park in North Minneapolis in nearly a generation, and the first of two RiverFirst projects opening to community this spring. This is just the first phase of the River Link project and the beginning of our work connecting the Northside to the Mississippi River.

Press conference speakers include Tom Evers and Dorothy Bridges from the Parks Foundation; Supt. Al Bangoura, Jono Cowgill, and Kale Severson of the Minneapolis Park Board; and Minneapolis Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison.

While in-person attendance to this event is limited to essential staff and media, there is optimism for a community celebration to commemorate this beautiful new space as limitations on group gatherings change this summer.

zAmya Theater Project announces Homeless Network Newz: Season 5

Via a May 5 e-announcement:

zAmya Theater Project announces the fifth season of Homeless Network Newz — virtual creative performances every other week in May and June, starting May 13. HNN highlights stories, experiences and the creative contributions of people who have experienced homelessness.

zAmya Theater uses creativity, collaboration and stories to build understanding and connection between people who’ve experienced homelessness and people who have not. zAmya aims to inspire people to advocate for short and long term solutions to the housing crisis in Minnesota.  zAmya began creating Homeless Network Newz episodes about zAmya troupe members as a way of using storytelling to build understanding and connection during COVID-19. Learn more at zamyatheater.org/homeless-network-newz.

Episodes are directed by Esther Ouray and edited by Flo Razowsky. Hosted by Corey Walton, featuring troupe members Robert Blood, Marcia Barnes, Annette Bryant, Marvin Howard, Shannon Kemp, Caroline Mannheimer, Ken Moore, Christina Sayers, Sol Moran Sepulveda, and Tahiti Robinson.

In the first four seasons, zAmya Troupe members and guests shared poems, reflections, interviews with community leaders, heartfelt stories, hilarious sketches, current events and not-so-recent news, the impact of COVID-19 on the community, and much more. 

zAmya’s three-year residency on Nicollet Mall sponsored by Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis D.I.D. moved online in early 2020, with HNN expanding into virtual workshops and performances, taking the place of in-person workshops and performances that would normally happen at the Minneapolis Central Library.

Homeless Network Newz — Live Broadcasts

Thursdays at 4pm Facebook Live and YouTube

Episode 1: May 13 — “Mama Mia” 

Episode 2: May 27 — “Rise Up” 

Episode 3: June 10 — “Summer (en)Camp(ment)”

Episode 4: June 24 — “Our Fathers”

Episodes are archived and available for viewing on Facebook, YouTube, and zamyatheater.org.

zAmJam! Virtual Creative Workshops

Those interested in participating in the making of HNN episodes are invited to zAmya workshops. zAmya Theater hosts zAmJam! with Zamya in partnership with Hennepin County Library. This series of online workshops is for people who are unhoused, temporarily sheltered and allies who are ready to play! All are invited to participate.

Tuesdays, 2:30pm-4pm
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6127604804
Contact Esther with questions at 612-720-4804 or esther@zamyatheater.org.

Sample HNN Segments

The Story of My Inner Child, a poem by Christina Sayers. Originally Aired: HNN S4 E6, April 15, 2021, "Break Free, Spring"

Advice from a Queen + Kids Say the Darndest Things. Originally Aired: HNN S4 E6, April 15, 2021, "Break Free, Spring"

In Focus with Robert Blood, interview with Christina Woodlee of Bridge for Youth. Originally Aired: HNN S4 E6, April 15, 2021, "Break Free, Spring"

Full Episode, HNN S4 E6 "Break Free, Spring" - In which we hear from the mouths of babes, learn about youth and LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness, assert the transformative impact of treating others as we wish to be treated and so much more. Originally Aired: HNN S4 E6, April 15, 2021.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

About zAmya Theater Project

Through captivating performances and creative collaboration workshops, zAmya Theater Project builds understanding and connection between individuals who have experienced homelessness and those who have not. From understanding and connection, hearts and minds are changed. Solutions are imagined and achieved. Since 2004 the zAmya Theater Project has been changing hearts and minds through performances and workshops in hundreds of Minnesota locations and with many partners including: Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, Hennepin Theater Trust, Southwest Minnesota Housing Project, The Guthrie Theater, Edina Reality, Salvation Army, Thrivent Financial, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Annual Conference, Basilica of St. Mary, Augsburg College, and more.

zAmya Theatre Project believes theater can change the narrative of homelessness. Our performances grow from stories lived by participants and crafted by our core artistic members. We share them because we know that if we want to unravel this crisis then we have to unravel the story. Informed by experienced advocates and direct service providers, zAmya is led by professional artists, and employs a core group of actors who’ve experienced homelessness to create the plays, co-facilitate workshops, and guide the direction of the company.

zAmya is a Sanskrit word that means “aiming at peace.” For zAmya, aiming at peace means aiming toward a community with safe, stable, affordable housing options for all. More info at zamyatheater.org.

Mill City Commons Seeks Part-time Program & Events Manager

Submitted by Mill City Commons:

Mill City Commons is a membership organization for neighbors 55+, most of whom choose to live in the Central Riverfront District of Minneapolis. We are a welcoming neighborhood “village” that builds community through an exciting array of programs that connect us with each other, and the resources needed to maintain and support vibrant lives as we age.

Mill City Commons is hiring a part-time Program & Events Manager. The job works with our member-led program committee to coordinate and facilitate the robust calendar of events we offer each month. Approximately 24 hours per week with some flexibility of work schedule and the opportunity to work from home when not managing meetings or events. Click here to see the job description. 

Interested candidates can apply here on Indeed.com or send their resume and cover letter to info@millcitycommons.org. 

Golden Hues of Gold Medal Park by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

Spring is arriving in fits and spurts. May 2nd was a lovely spring morning. I had been meaning to go out early on such a day to photograph sunrise. Normally I point the camera in the direction of the sun. I work with both exposure and composition to capture the wonderful colors in the sky that sunrise produces. That works well until the sun rises above the horizon. A sun above the horizon presents challenges. The brightness of the sun blows out all detail in the image in the area of sun. Multiple shots with different levels of exposure are then necessary and used to create one image that preserves what one sees during sunrise.  

At the time this photo was taken I had already shot multiple images in the direction of the sunrise. The screen on back of the camera was blinking with black, indicating those were areas of no detail. Perhaps for the first time during a sunrise shoot, I turned away from the sun. In doing so I saw the beautiful colors, highlights, and shadows that sunrise created in Gold Medal Park. Although the sun was above the horizon, it was below and behind the top of the River Place Office Building. As with almost all of the photographs I take I used luminosity masks to edit specific areas of this image based on the luminosity (brightness). of the image. A luminosity mask is like an old-fashioned stencil but more refined. A digital luminosity mask has areas of black which conceal the image, areas of white which reveal the image and shades of gray that only partially conceal and reveal. With a luminosity mask in place, I can selectively edit a specific area of an image without effecting areas to which I do not want to make that particular edit. For instance, I can lower the exposure in an area that is too bright without darkening the other areas of the photo. In this image I used several luminosity masks to adjust contrast and brightness of specific areas.

You can see more of my work at www.ricrosowphotography.com.