Scenery, Serenity and Dinner: the Nicollet Island Inn River Cruise Experience

Via a May 3rd press release:

The historic Nicollet Island Inn today announced an exclusive and limited-time opportunity to experience the legendary Mississippi River like never before. In partnership with the Minneapolis Water Taxi, the Inn’s Twilight River Cruise and Dinner is available on Friday and Saturday nights from May 14 through October 9 for cruising along the Mississippi River followed by dinner at the Inn.

“There’s something extra special about the Mississippi River in the evening,” said Larry Abdo, Nicollet Island in owner/innkeeper. “In good company with friends or for a special romantic occasion - with a glass of wine, appetizers and dinner – the cruise experience is the perfect way to spend an evening taking in the scenery, serenity and the Minneapolis skyline from a new vantage point.”

The excursion begins at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis, where guests will board a solar-powered electric cruise boat for an hour-long tour of the upper Mississippi above St. Anthony Falls. Picnic baskets containing a pre-selected choice of wine or champagne and hor d’ovures will be provided. Following the cruise, guests will return to the Nicollet Island Inn where an elegant dinner will be served.

Participants can extend the evening’s festivities with an overnight stay in one of the Inn’s boutique hotel rooms, which boast European charm with modern amenities.

The cost for the cruise and dinner varies based on the size of the group, beginning at $275 for a group of 2 (packages available for groups of up to 6). Reservations

Situated for more than a century on the Mississippi River's storied shores, the Nicollet Island Inn is one of the few remaining historic buildings on Minneapolis' Nicollet Island. Recent renovations add beautiful upgrades and conveniences. Today’s historic Nicollet Island Inn evokes old-world charm with new world comfort. For reservations or for more information on the Nicollet Island Inn, call (612) 331-1800 or visit www.nicolletislandinn.com.

Gamut Gallery announces Setting the Groundwork Exhibition by Reggie LeFlore

Via a recent e-announcement from Gamut Gallery

May 28 - June 26, 2021

Setting the Groundwork– a solo exhibition by Reggie LeFlore exploring his take on the multidimensional elements of creating, storytelling, and relationships with space and time.

A city is constructed for utilitarian purposes but for many artists, it is an eternal canvas or stage that, when used correctly, has the ability to stimulate dialogue within communities and abroad. Reggie LeFlore’s solo exhibition, Setting the Groundwork, incorporates his awareness of and appreciation for the multifaceted perspectives and practices of art in the public sphere to interrogate the power of space in the built environment and its connections to the natural world.

Informed by his everyday interactions and collaborations with folks in the community, organizers, graffiti writers, curators, and fellow artists, LeFlore’s work embraces the nuances and complexities of street art, guiding him throughout his creative projects. While Reggie primarily uses spray paint and hand-cut stencils to create vivid, large-scale portraits and imagery, intentionality and subjectivity, unconditional to medium, provide him the space to examine the various layers of identity and legacy of cultural abdundence. Boundless to the constraints and aesthetic expectations, Setting the Groundwork showcases LeFlore’s exploration of storytelling and the strength and healing that comes from sharing our ancestry and honoring it. 

Setting the Groundwork is Reggie LeFlore’s visual autobiography. Through the use of six portraits, each representing a different chapter of creativity in his life, viewers will have the opportunity to get a look into his inspirations as a child and to his collaborations across his life, highlighting his connections to community and the environments that surround it. Each foundational portrait represents a piece of LeFlore’s methodology, supported with elements containing his past, future and his current bookmark resounding on identity, afrocentricity and purpose. These experiences and influences create a larger than life, bold, vibrant story; a mural per se of his life, from his roots in Omaha to his life in Minneapolis.

ABOUT REGGIE LEFLORE

Reggie LeFlore is a visual artist who creates to praise individual and collective stories through human portraiture.  His inspirations are drawn from the concepts and philosophies of Street Art culture and Illustration – using aerosol, acrylic paint and various graphic design techniques to construct pieces in varying styles, scales and surfaces. Reggie uses visual arts to amplify both his surrounding environments and the narratives contained within them.

MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT: Friday, May 28th //  6-8pm

Reserve your spot or become a member today!

• 1 hour reserved tour sessions • Pre-sale tickets required, book your pre-sale today • 15 visitors per tour • Masks required • Please stay home if you are feeling unwell

PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Saturday, May 29th // 6-10pm • $7

• 45 minute reserved tour sessions • Pre-sale tickets required, book your pre-sale • 15 visitors per tour • Masks required • Please stay home if you are feeling unwell

ARTIST TALK: Thursday, June 24th // 6-8pm • $10

A multifaceted conversation and a look into the mind of Artist Reggie LeFlore, hosted at Gamut Gallery.  • Limited tickets available - pre-sales available soon • Masks required • Please stay home if you are feeling unwell

GALLERY & GIFT SHOP OPEN HOURS 

FREE open hours: Wednesday - Friday, 11am - 6pm; Saturday 11am - 4pm

Gamut Gallery is open with capacity restrictions for in-person viewing of the exhibition. We are available by appointment, please request an appointment 48 hours in advance.

Cynthia Froid Group Potted Herb Giveaway at the May 1 Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market's 2021 Season kicks off this Saturday, May 1, 8a-1p.

Market sponsor Cynthia Froid Group will be on hand from 10a-Noon handing out complimentary potted herbs from Green Earth Growers for their annual opening day neighborhood appreciation day.  Thank you, Cindy and Team! :D

Here is a link to the list of vendors you'll see at the May 1 Market.

FINNOVATION Lab Seeking Fourth Cohort, Tackling Social Issues Affecting Minnesotans Today

Via a recent News Release:

FINNOVATION LAB SEEKS FOURTH COHORT TO JOIN THEIR GROWING COMMUNITY OF SOCIAL IMPACT ENTREPRENEURS

Nine individuals will receive a $50,000 living stipend, curriculum tailored to building an impact enterprise, and an ecosystem of support

FINNOVATION Lab announced a fourth cohort of their Fellowship Program which aims to support and empower social entrepreneurs who have bold ideas for sustainable, positive impact. The Program is accepting applications April 15 - May 15, seeking nine new individuals ready to address the biggest issues affecting Minnesotans. The nine-month program will start in September and provide early-stage social entrepreneurs with a $50,000 living stipend, $3,000 health care stipend, tailored curriculum, access to an ecosystem of advisors and mentors, and dedicated workspace.

Applicants should have a strong tie to Minnesota, a deep understanding of a social or environmental issue they want to solve and an idea for how to tackle the issue through entrepreneurship. All areas of impact are welcome. The Fellowship Program will provide tools and guidance as the entrepreneurs develop innovative social business models. Entrepreneurs who are already operating their businesses are invited to apply if they have not been working full-time on the venture for one year or more, or if they are pursuing a major change to the service or product offered.

The Fellowship Program will continue to use a hybrid model, originally put into effect as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting a portion of education online with key in-person touchpoints. Curriculum focuses on leadership development, business planning and modeling, and systems-level analysis for social change using design thinking methodology. Fellows are expected to dedicate 35 hours each week to the program, allowing participants, often for the first time, to focus their energy on diving deeper into exploring a problem and a potential solution. The group will learn, experiment, and turn their ideas into reality.

"This past year presented new and unexpected challenges to communities across the entire nation,” said Connie Rutledge, CEO at FINNOVATION Lab. “We know there are entrepreneurs who have ideas to solve the challenges facing Minnesotans today. We invite them to join our community to gain invaluable experience and guidance to turn those ideas into impact businesses."

Since launching in 2018, the Fellowship Program has fostered the next generation of social impact leaders, guiding them to create sustainable social enterprise models. Alumni of the program have amassed great accomplishments both during and following their time in the Fellowship Program. A few highlights include:

• Nick Alm (Cohort 1 Fellow): Co-Founder and Executive Director of Mossier, launched an LGBTQ-focused online learning platform to encourage more inclusive workplaces.
• Mohamed Malim (Cohort 2 Fellow): Founder of Epimonia, partnered with a Somali youth basketball league to create apparel that was featured at New York Fashion Week.
• La’Shante (Shaunie) Grigsby (Cohort 2 Fellow): Founder of Flava Café, signed a lease on a location in Frogtown that will open for business in Fall 2021.

Cohort 3 wraps programming in June 2021. This group was pushed to work and think differently due to headwinds from the pandemic and social unrest in the Twin Cities.

“Running a social impact business is extremely important yet challenging work, especially when life as we know it is disrupted and resources become even more limited,” said Jacquie Berglund, Founder of FINNOVATION Lab. “The Fellowship Program has been successful at pushing social entrepreneurs to harness their passions, while teaching the practical skills and logistics to turn those passions into functioning businesses. Our community needs these types of ventures to thrive now more than ever.”

The fourth Cohort will be selected by a group of community leaders and alumni of the Fellowship Program. The Program is made possible through generous support from the Bush Foundation, known for its commitment to innovation and creative problem solving. Dedicated workspace and business resources are available to fellows in the FINNOVATION Lab space within the FINNEGANS House at 817 5^th Ave S. Minneapolis 55404.

More details about FINNOVATION Lab and the Fellowship Program, including application information and eligibility requirements, is available at Finn-Lab.com.

Gentleman Forager Launches EATS: A Wildly Unique Outdoor Kitchen Catering Service

Via an April 26 News Release: 

Gentleman Forager is pleased to announce its new catering service aimed at accommodating large events. Gentleman Forager EATS is a new crave-worthy outdoor kitchen run by veteran Twin Cities Chef Taylor O’Brien, and an impressive multitude of weekly guest chef pop-ups. The ever-changing menu—from mouth watering meats and vegetarian shawarma to morel mushrooms on a stick—is all expertly prepared using wild and wildly delicious ingredients.

Mike Kempenich“Running a kitchen, especially a workspace as complicated as a pop-up outdoor grill, is incredibly hard. There are so many additional tasks and a mountain of challenges that a chef must overcome,” said Gentleman Forager President Mike Kempenich. “And that’s exactly why we hired Chef Taylor. The guy is confident, creative and extremely dedicated to his craft. He is hardworking with an upbeat vibe, and we are excited to have him command this ship.”

“I am humbled and thankful about starting this new chapter in my culinary escapades,” said O’Brien. “The style of the kitchen, the freedom of the menu, the outdoor environment, the challenging non-traditional equipment, the unique foods—all of it—Is very exciting.”

O’Brien has many years of experience in the culinary arts working for iconic restaurants such as Manny’s Steakhouse, Barbette, Butcher and the Boar, The Sample Room, Oxcart Alehouse and more. Along his journey, he has picked up a lot of knowledge, so much that he has created a journal containing more than 400 delectable, lip-smacking, satisfying recipes. O’Brien is now eager to deliver his food creations to hungry crowds via Gentleman Forager EATS. Such recipes could include: Porcini Crusted Filet Mignon, a premium steak cut rolled in a kosher salt, cracked pepper and porcini mushroom spice blend; Morels on a Stick, professionally skewered morel mushrooms grilled tender; and much more.

“I love being a chef because excellent food makes people happy and comfortable. Big smiles from blissful guests intoxicates me with feelings of contentment I've never experienced elsewhere.” said Taylor. “This is going to be a lot of fun. Wild ingredients breed wild ideas to meld into my recipes. The delicious food we dish out is sure to impress. Please come check us out, we’d love to serve you.”

Gentleman Forager EATS will debut its new catering service at Hook & Ladder Theater’s 2021 urban outdoors summer concert series called Under The Canopy. The outdoor kitchen will cater every concert in the series. The food stand will be easily and conveniently accessible for those looking for a full meal, appetizer or snack while attending any of the shows which will run weekends from May 1st through early October in downtown Minneapolis. Learn more at: www.thehookmpls.com.

ABOUT GENTLEMAN FORAGER

For more than a decade, Gentleman Forager (GF) has been building a recognized, and respected brand in the wild food industry. Their mission is to revolutionize the way mushrooms, and other wild foods, are integrated into consumers' lifestyles. Foraging for wild mushrooms in remote forests, as well as cultivating exotic, specialty mushrooms is how the business got its start. The company also focuses on guiding wild mushroom-hunt outings and teaching wild mushroom identification courses. GF often collaborates with food-industry businesses to develop delicious creations and menu items using wild and wildly unique ingredients. They enjoy endorsing fun and interesting people, places, things and activities by creating and sharing engaging articles, videos and social media content. Hosting fun events, running an outdoor catering service, and selling their unique products and services with a smile is what they do.

Mike Kempenich—also known as “The Gentleman Forager”—is the company owner and President. He is an exotic mushroom cultivator, forager, instructor and wild foods distributor from Minneapolis Minnesota, sometimes described as a leader in the locavore dining, wild foraging, and vertical urban-farming movements. Kempenich is also the founder and Chief Marketing Officer of a retail company called Forest To Fork, which specializes in specialty mushroom cultivation and retail sales of mushrooms and other wild food products. His companies are dedicated to propagating top-quality specialty products; delivering excellent customer service; practicing sustainable and organic production techniques; and supporting commercial foragers, farmers and cultivators. Learn more at: www.gentlemanforager.com and www.forest-fork.com. 

FINNEGANS Brew Co. Celebrating Grand Re-Opening with May Day Festivities, as it Returns to Taproom Programming and Extended Hours

Via a News Release from FINNEGANS Brew Co.

May 1 Celebration to Include New Beers, Popular Favorites, Good Food, Music, and Social Entrepreneur Pop ups

Shake off cabin fever and join FINNEGANS Brew Co. for our May Day celebration as we welcome back our community of fans of local craft beer and doing good.

Enjoy pints of your favorite FINNEGANS brews and our latest releases, live music from Irish Diplomacy, social entrepreneur pop ups, Chicks on Wheels food truck, entertainment from Wild Rose Cloggers, and bagpipers from Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band. 

As a special opportunity, FINNEGANS Tap Room and Courtyard will host Breathe99 as it demonstrates the latest in facial mask technology and offers special deals on the B2 Mask named one of Time Magazines Top 100 Inventions of 2020. Similar to FINNEGANS mission of turning beer into food, Breathe99 works with non-profits and community-based organizations to better serve older populations, people with pre-existing conditions and those at higher risk due to health disparities. 

"We are excited to partner with FINNEGANS to make the re-opening event as safe and fun as possible for staff and patrons. Vaccines should give us all a reason to be hopeful; however, we still don't know about the long-term impacts of the variants, which is why our protective B2 Mask is one of the best methods to help ensure social businesses like FINNEGANS stay open today and in the future." Says Max Bock-Aronson, Co-Founder and Designer Engineer at Breathe99.

FINNEGANS will also be accepting food and other household donations for the House of Charity and St. Stephen’s Human Services. See the full list of accepted supply donations here. 

Learn more about the FINNOVATION Lab through connecting with the CEO, Connie Rutledge, and members of the FINNOVATION Fellowship Program and their mission to prepare changemakers to lead and launch sustainable social enterprises.

“We are so excited to be re-opening our doors officially – we are expanding our days and hours of operation and starting up taproom programming with hopes that we will not be forced to close again. Our Grand Re-opening will be a festive and joyous day in true FINNEGANS style, giving back to our community, connecting with social impact entrepreneurs, and of course our new summer beers and food from local favorite, Chicks on Wheels food truck.” Says Jacquie Berglund, Rambunctious Social Entrepreneur & CEO of FINNEGANS Brew Co, FINNEGANS Community Fund, and FINNOVATION Lab.

The lineup of summer favorites is varied and aims to please the palates of beer connoisseurs and casual sippers alike. Those taking center stage on May 1 include: 

• Tile Factory: A Citrus forward Mosaic IPA with just the right amount of bitterness
• Tipped Cow: A refreshing Belgian-inspired Saison
• Bella Pilz: An Italian-style Pilsner, perfect for summer.
• Blood Orange Pilsner: A dry Pilsner brewed with blood orange puree and notes of grapefruit and orange.
• Kicked To The Herb: A Pale Ale brewed with hemp seeds and Citra, MN grown Zeus and Chinook hops to push the aromas of the hemp seed.

  * * * * * Schedule of Events * * * * *

1–9pm  Tap Room and Patio Open

2–4pm  Music from Irish Diplomacy

3–5pm  Social Entrepreneur Showcase

    4pm  Brian Boru Irish Band

2–5pm  Paint a Planter or May Day Basket

5–6pm  Wild Rose Cloggers

.

FINNEGANS Brew Co. Tap Room and Brewery will continue its commitment to the safety and well-being of its customers, ensure all COVID-19 precautions are met, and will now equip all team members with Breath99 face masks. 

About FINNEGANS Brew Co.  

FINNEGANS – Founded in 2000 in Minneapolis, FINNEGANS is a self-sustaining and inspirational social business with a mission of turning beer into food. Through sales of its ever-expanding roster of beers, FINNEGANS has created an innovative business model driving the company to create community wealth through FINNEGANS branded products, events, promotions, and strategic partnerships, FINNEGANS Brew Co. sponsors the FINNEGANS Community Fund, a (501(c)3) non-profit. The Fund supports hunger alleviation programs in every market where FINNEGANS is sold, which includes MN, WI, ND, and SD. Now, is there a better reason to raise a pint of FINNEGANS? 

About Breathe99 

Breathe99 is the Minneapolis startup behind the B2 Mask - one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020. Their impact-oriented business model strives to empower people to lead full, healthy lives through access to innovative and sustainable health products and services. For more, visit breathe99.com. 

Fiery Sky Over Minneapolis by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow: 

This photograph is from a photo shoot the week of April 18th. As the sun was setting the clouds began turning bright orange with a golden hue. I have edited several photographs from that evening. In this image my purpose was to feature the fiery sky. I fully edited the image at least three times, thinking that for a balanced photograph I should not only feature the sky but bring out detail in the buildings in the foreground. Finally I realized that the foreground was not what drew me to the image. It was the sky that was the main attraction. The dark foreground focused my eye on the sky. That said, I also liked the sun’s reflection in the windows on the buildings. So while keeping the exposure down on the buildings, I worked to reveal the reflection of the sun's rays in the building windows on the left and right. I hope you enjoy this photograph as much as I do. You can see more of my work at:  www.traveltheglobephotography.com.

Update on West River Parkway Closures

Via an April 21 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Sections of West River Parkway have been impacted throughout the last two years due to numerous construction projects. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's understanding and patience while these critical projects to repair and improve public infrastructure are performed. Please stay away from areas where work is taking place and follow all posted detours and signage.

* * * * * Bridge Projects * * * * *

3rd Avenue Bridge Reconstruction

4th Avenue N-Portland Avenue; May 3-17

The parkway and adjacent trails will be closed to all traffic between 4th Avenue N and Portland Avenue from May 3 to May 17, 2021. The closure is necessary for the reconstruction of the 3rd Avenue Bridge by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This section is also tentatively scheduled to close again for the 3rd Avenue Bridge project from July 5 to July 19, 2021.

Please visit the Hwy 65/3rd Avenue Bridge Reconstruction website for more details.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -

10th Avenue SE Bridge and Bridge #9 Repairs

13th-22nd Avenues S; Reopens April 30, closes again last week of July - September 1, 2021

The parkway is closed to motor vehicle traffic between 13th Avenue S and 22nd Avenue S until April 30, 2021 for the rehabilitation of 10th Avenue SE Bridge by the City of Minneapolis and repairs to Bridge #9 (the bike/pedestrian bridge serving the Dinkytown Greenway) by the University of Minnesota. Trail traffic is rerouted onto the parkway while bridge work continues above the trails.

That section of parkway is tentatively scheduled to close again beginning the last week of July until September 1, 2021 for Bridge #9 repairs and site restoration.

Many of Approximately 20 Farmers' Markets in Minneapolis to Begin Opening Spring Markets May 1

Approximately 20 Markets in “Farmers Markets of MPLS” Collaborative to Open Spring Markets, Offering Shoppers Fresh, Seasonal Foods While Also Supporting Local Farmers and Small Food Businesses

Many of the approximately 20 farmers’ markets in the Farmers Markets of MPLS collaborative will open their spring markets May 1, with others opening later in the month and in June. Four of those markets held Winter Markets from November through later this month. The Spring Markets opening will bring many favorite growers and other vendors back, as well as introduce shoppers to new vendors and their products.

Some of the new vendors include Wild Sorrel (body products made with Horner’s Corner maple syrup); Perennial Pantry (Kernza flour); BIPOC-owned farmers’ brands Ever Wild Herbal Company (apothecary products), Pure Ginger for You (raw, cold-press juices made with local, organic produce), and Live Organically (certified organic vegetables). The nonprofit Urban Roots youth farm and conservation program will also introduce its new collection of native perennial plants.

Spring Market Locations:

Audubon Mini Farmers Market, Thursdays, 4-7pm, June 10 through September 30

Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church parking lot, 2654 Johnson Street NE at 27th Ave NE, Minneapolis,  https://sites.google.com/audubonneighborhood.org/audubon-neighborhood/farmers-market

. . . . .

Camden Farmers Market, Saturdays, 10am-2pm, June 5 through August 28th

Salem Lutheran Evangelical Church, 4150 Dupont Ave N, Minneapolis, https://www.thenewmpls.info/farmers-market

. . . . .

East Isles Farmers Market, Thursdays, 4-8pm, June 24 through September 23

1420 The Mall, Minneapolis, https://www.eastislesfarmersmarket.com/

. . . . . 

Farmers Market Annex, Saturdays and Sundays, 7am-1pm, April 24 through October 31

200 E Lyndale Ave North, Minneapolis, http://www.farmersmarketannex.com/

. . . . . 

Four Sisters Farmers Market, Thursdays, 11am-3pm, June 3 through October 28

1414 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, https://www.facebook.com/foursistersmarket

. . . . . 

Fulton Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm, May 15 through October 23

4901 Chowen Ave South, Minneapolis, http://neighborhoodrootsmn.org/about/fulton/

. . . . . 

Kingfield Farmers Market, Sundays, 8:30am-1pm, May 16 through October 24

4055 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, http://neighborhoodrootsmn.org/about/kingfield/

. . . . . 

Linden Hills Farmers Market, (schedule is TBD and whether it will be online curbside only)

2813 W 43rd St, Minneapolis, https://www.lindenhillsfarmersmarket.org/

. . . . . 

Midtown Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8am-1pm, May 1 through October 30

Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, http://midtownfarmersmarket.org/

. . . . . 

Mill City Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8am-1pm, May 1 through October 30

750 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, https://millcityfarmersmarket.org/

. . . . . 

Municipal Minneapolis Farmers Market, Daily, 6am-1pm, May 1 through October 31

312 E. Lyndale Ave. North, Minneapolis, www.mplsfarmersmarket.com

. . . . . 

Nicollet Mall Farmers Market, Thursdays, (time is TBD), June 4 through October 29

Nicollet Mall, 9th Street through 6th Street, Minneapolis, https://farmersmarketsofmpls.org/nicollet-mall-farmers-market/

. . . . . 

Nokomis Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 4:30-7pm, June 16 through September 29

5167 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, http://neighborhoodrootsmn.org/about/nokomis/

. . . . . 

Northeast Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9am-1pm, May 15 through October 16

629 2^nd Street NE, Minneapolis, www.northeastfarmersmarket.com

. . . . . 

Plant Based Farmers Market, Sundays, 11am-3pm, May 1, 2021 through April 30

1729 North 2nd Street, Minneapolis, https://www.facebook.com/plantbasedpopupmarket/

. . . . . 

Stevens Square Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 2-6pm, June 30 through October 13

Nicollet Ave & E Franklin Ave (SE corner of church parking lot), Minneapolis

. . . . . 

Tiny Diner Farmers’ Market, Thursdays, (time and schedule are TBD)

1024 E 38th St, Minneapolis

. . . . . 

Untiedt’s Garden Market, Mondays – Saturdays, 11am – 6:30pm and Sundays, 11am – 6pm, (dates are TBD)

3711 W 44th St and 6024 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis  https://www.untiedts.com/

. . . . . 

West Broadway Farmers Market, Fridays, 3-7pm, June 18 through October 1

2034 West Broadway Ave N, Minneapolis  https://westbroadway.org/farmersmarket/

. . . . . 

Many of the markets accept EBT and Market Bucks. To view an interactive map, visit https://farmersmarketsofmpls.org/find-a-market/interactive-map/. All markets practice stringent COVID-19 protocols to ensure a safe experience for shoppers, growers and staff, and some offer online pre-ordering and pre-payment for a contact-free shopping experience. Farmers Markets of MPLS continues to work gathering surveys and statistics for vendors and markets through the Farmers Market Metrics Project. Some 2019 statistics gathered by the organization relating to its Minneapolis markets include:

• 78 percent of vendor businesses are owned or operated by women.
• 71 percent of vendors donated leftover produce to hunger relief programs.
• 11,200 agricultural acres are owned, leased, or managed by Farmers Markets of MPLS vendors.
• 3,720 kids spent Power of Produce tokens.

About Farmers Markets of MPLS

The Farmers Markets of MPLS collaborative was formed in 2017 as a means to build a more connected, accessible and effective market systems, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, University of Minnesota, Homegrown Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other market supporters. All the nearly 30 farmers’ markets operating in the City of Minneapolis are members of Farmers Markets of MPLS, a collaborative that works together on marketing, data collection, advocacy, and general support for member markets. For more information about the organization and markets, visit https://farmersmarketsofmpls.org/.

About the Farmers Market Metrics Project

The Farmers Market Metrics Project is a three-way partnership between farmers markets, local government, and the University of Minnesota. The project is designed to improve the capacity of the markets in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro region help market managers quantify their contribution to the regional food system. FM 360 provides scalable, adaptable data collection tools and data that allow market managers to customize metrics and reports for existing partners and prospective funders.

Northern Lights.mn Announces Spring Howl Telethon

Via an April 16 Press Release from Northern Lights.mn:

The annual fundraiser to benefit Northern Lights.mn goes virtual on May 21, 2021 showcasing artists and sharing memories

Northern Lights.mn announces a new date for the Spring Howl Telethon, a live televised variety show produced by Northern Lights.mn partner Minnesota Community Network Channel 6 (MCN6) to support the Northern Spark festival and Northern Lights.mn artistic programming.

In light of the Derek Chauvin trial and possible verdict in late April, Northern Lights.mn is moving its Spring Howl Telethon to May 21. Spring Howl is a free virtual community event for all to attend and will be broadcast live on May 21, 2021, 7:30 - 9 pm on MCN6 and the Northern Lights.mn Facebook page.

Spring Howl Telethon will dazzle with improv performances, musical interludes, stories of long nights at Northern Spark from festival artists over the years, green-screen shenanigans, suspenseful prize drawings, kazoos, and a performative telephone operator. It is a Telethon, after all. Starring: 

• Host John Gebratatose from HUGE Theater and Black Out Improv!
• A house band!
• The Northern Spark Kazoo band led by Scotty Reynolds!
• Ifrah Mansour as Spring Howl Commissioned Poet!
• Sami Pfeffer as Telephone Operator! 
• Prizes! 

Spring Howl Telethon supports the artistic programming of Northern Lights.mn, the producers of the beloved Northern Spark festival, Illuminate the Lock and Art(ists) on the Verge fellowship among other projects. RSVP to our FaceBook event to get frequent updates on the line up!

Spring Howl Telethon - May 21, 2021, 7:30 - 9 pm
Register for FREE - FREE to watch live on MCN6 or Facebook
Register now and make an early donation to be eligible for door prizes drawn throughout the event. Including: 

• A selection of spirits from Crooked Waters distillery
• A $100 gift certificate to Solo Vino in St. Paul
• A year of beer from Fulton Brewery
• More to come!

Northern Spark Background

Northern Spark is a late-night, participatory arts festival that lights up the Twin Cities in early summer. In 2021, the festival takes new forms: in the mail, online, and in person in St. Paul, MN during a two week span of time. 

In past years during Northern Spark, tens of thousands of people gathered throughout the city on one night to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets, and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces. 

From dusk to dawn the city surprised you: friendly crowds, glowing groups of cyclists, an unexpected path through the urban landscape, the magic of sunrise after a night of amazing art and experiences. In 2018 we introduced a two-night model, so people could experience the artful magic of Northern Spark for two nights until 2 am.

As our city still grapples with the effects of COVID-19, the 2021 festival will support artist projects that encourage our communities to safely connect and inspire the kind of experimental, surprising experiences we love at Northern Spark.

Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a Twin Cities non-profit arts organization whose work ranges from large-scale public art platforms like Northern Spark to Art(ists) On the Verge, a year-­long mentorship program for 4 emerging artists working experimentally in public space. We support artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere, such as at St. Paul's Union Depot (Amateur Intelligence Radio), "choir karaoke" at the Minnesota State Fair (Giant Sing Along) and Illuminate the Lock, artist installations inside and around the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam on the Mississippi River. Our work helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.

Open Eye Theatre Announces the 2021 Summer Driveway Tour

Via an April 13 News Release from Open Eye Theatre:

THE AMAZING COWBOAT returns with a revised story and an all new cast

Open Eye Theatre announces the return of its award-winning summer Driveway Tour, the perfect outdoor neighborhood get-together. Since 2002, Open Eye has been building grassroots community with fun-filled, all-ages traveling puppet shows performing outdoors throughout the Twin Cities. Learn more at openeyetheatre.org/driveway-tour.

THE AMAZING COWBOAT, one of most popular shows in the Driveway Tour repertory, has an exciting revised storyline and cast for 2021, guaranteed to delight kids and grownups alike.

It’s time for Binh to take a bath! Binh’s imagination comes alive as he pretends he is the captain of a boat that is part cow, part boat, and totally amazing! Together Binh and his Cow Boat set sail on a high seas adventure to search for the lost crown of Lac Long Quân, the Dragon Lord of Vietnam, making friends as they go, all before sailing home to his bathtub before bed time!

Earlier this year, with generous support from the Jim Henson Foundation, puppetry artists Liz Howls and Oanh Vu redeveloped the script and the design of the main puppet character to reflect the image and experience of a young Vietnamese-American child. Puppeteers Tri Vo and Ty Chapman will perform in THE AMAZING COWBOAT.

The Driveway Tour features hand-crafted puppets, two performers and a live musician. Members of the community are invited to host a Driveway Tour show in their own backyard, garden, or driveway. Open Eye offers private shows and public performances for festivals, parties, and other events. The traveling production can set up almost anywhere! Learn more at openeyetheatre.org/host.

“The kids loved meeting the puppets after the show! We had a great mix of people — neighbors, family, kids, adults... And I have to say how absolutely special it was to have an accordion player on my driveway!” — 2019 Driveway Tour host

All performances of THE AMAZING COWBOAT will be outside and Open Eye will follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety.

Visit openeyetheatre.org/driveway-tour for more information and to learn about hosting a show this summer.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Liz Howls Schachterle (she/her) is a puppeteer, performer, teacher, and artistic director of the Full Moon Puppet Show, a popular adult puppetry slam. Her work has been recognized with two Ivey Awards, and grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Jim Henson Foundation. She has worked as a mentor, teacher and consultant for Monkeybear’s Harmolodic Workshop, and most recently designed video animations for Kevin Kling’s Best Summer Ever at the Children’s Theatre Company.

Oanh Vu (she/her) is an educator, artist, and community organizer. She has a long history in film but has recently found a home in puppetry. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, she uses humor and the playfulness of puppetry to tell stories of healing for her community. She was a 2020 Puppet Lab Artist and her work has been shared through the Full Moon Puppet Show and Monkeybear's New Puppet Works.

Tri Vo (he/she/they) is really into punk music. Tri brings punk energy into everything they do, from music, improv, and theater, to puppets and podcasting. Tri would really love to play with more punk rock musicians, especially those who are melanated and have strong working class politics. You can listen to Tri share their thoughts on the podcast that they make called GLAMMUMP. You can learn more about the podcast by visiting facebook.com/GLAMMUMP, and listening to it wherever you listen to podcasts.

Ty Chapman (he/him) is a Twin Cities based author, poet, puppeteer, and playwright of Nigerian and European descent. He has been creating art with social justice themes for many years, and is passionate about creating art that speaks to the Black experience in America. His recent accomplishments include writing four children’s books through the Loft’s Mirrors and Windows program, creating a one-man shadow puppet and marionette show for Puppet Lab, and publishing poems through SOFTBLOW and Oyster River Pages. Check out Ty's other work at TyChapman.org.

New Driveway Tour photos featuring this year’s cast will be available soon.

Here are some photos from previous shows:

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! More information is available at openeyetheatre.org. 

MSP Int'l Film Festival Announces Minnesota Made Films and Outdoor Screenings

Via a recent e-announcement from MSP Film Society:

MSP Film Society is thrilled to announce the first slate of films for the 40th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF40): the Minnesota Made films! Representing the abundance of talent and diversity of vision in local filmmaking, the Minnesota Made program is always a highlight at MSPIFF, and this year offers another exciting mix of fiction and documentary films from Minnesota-based and Minnesota-native filmmakers.

“MSPIFF has an impressive track record of lifting up Minnesota filmmakers by presenting their films alongside some of the greatest filmmakers from around the world,” said Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director of the MSP Film Society, parent organization of MSPIFF. “We are honored to be able to continue to offer Minnesota filmmakers our full support, including compensation for their participation in MSPIFF again this year, when filmmakers are facing even more financial challenges than ever before.”

MSP Film Society continues our commitment of year-round support to Minnesota filmmakers in multiple ways, from waiving submission fees to MSPIFF, to highlighting the selected films in MSPIFF’s publicity efforts, and offering weeklong theatrical runs and one-off screening opportunities at St. Anthony Main Theatre for festival favorites. Most recently, we have begun to offer our virtual platform so filmmakers can securely screen their films to audiences throughout Minnesota.

MSPIFF is Minnesota’s largest film festival and, at 40 years running, a Minnesota cultural institution. MSPIFF40 will present 150+ films from both veteran and emerging filmmakers from around the world.

MSPIFF40 will take place Thursday, May 13 through Sunday, May 23, 2021 as a hybrid festival, with most of the films screening virtually to audiences throughout Minnesota, panels and filmmaker Q&As available for free throughout the US, and special in-person outdoor screenings in both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

MSPIFF Opening Weekend – May 13/14/15 – will take place at the Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Parkway North in St. Paul.

MSPIFF Closing Weekend – May 21/22 – will take place at a pop-up drive-in at Bohemian Flats Park, 2150 West River Parkway in Minneapolis.

The complete MSPIFF40 lineup, along with info on how to purchase tickets to the outdoor screenings, will be announced on Thursday, April 22, 2021.

MINNESOTA MADE FEATURE FILMS AT MSPIFF40

After America - Directed by Jake Yunza, USA, 2020, Fiction In 2019, director Jake Yuzna put out an open call in Minneapolis to criminal justice de-escalators to explore, through performance, the failures they saw in their work and in daily life. The result is an unconventional and eye-opening look at policing in America.

After Antarctica - Directed by Tasha Van Zandt, USA, 2021, Documentary In 1989 Will Steger travelled across Antarctica, the longest and most treacherous crossing of the continent in history. Now, over 30 years later, director Tasha Van Zandt follows him again across the continent, which is slowly coming apart due to the global warming crisis.

The Co-Op Wars - Directed by Deacon Warner, USA, 2020, Documentary Today, Co-ops are multi-million dollar businesses, so successful they’ve prompted mainstream grocery stores to stock organic food. But in the 1970s, it almost ended before it began, as internecine battles and even hostile takeovers threatened this burgeoning movement.

Hollywood Fringe - Directed by Megan Huber & Wyatt McDill, USA, 2020, Fiction Samantha and Travis have been trying to break into movies for years. When their dream project is finally green-lit, the producers want Travis for the male lead, but a younger actress for the female lead. What is Samantha to do but resurrect her “Alien Play” for the Fringe Festival?

Wet House - Directed by Benjamin May, USA. 2021, Documentary Benjamin May’s compassionate documentary pulls no punches nor casts any aspersions as he explores a residential facility for aging alcoholics, where they’re allowed to drink and ride out this last refuge in an unending storm of neglect, self-abuse and despair.

...and over 30 Minnesota Made Short Films, including:

Say His Name, Five Days for George Floyd - Directed by Cy Dodson, USA, 2021, Short Documentary The incomprehensible police killing of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020, sparked a global uprising. Director Cy Dodson captures an immersive observation of unrest in the days between the police killing of George Floyd and the charges filed against police officer Derek Chauvin.

Festival Passes are on sale now at mspfilm.org. All-Access Passes for MSP Film Society Members are $200. All-Access Passes for Non-Members are $250 and include a 1-year MSP Film Society core membership. Film Industry and Student Passes are available for $99.

MSPIFF40 is presented by the MSP Film Society, 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. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Dandelion Day at Historic Ard Godfrey House set for May 16

32nd Annual Dandelion Day Celebration

at the historic Ard Godfrey House

Minneapolis’ Oldest Surviving Wood Frame House

Sunday, May 16, 2021  1:00 - 4:00 pm

Masks are Required

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The Woman's Club of Minneapolis invites you to the 32nd Annual Dandelion Day Celebration at the The Ard Godfrey House. Built in 1849, it is located at the corner of University and Central Avenues SE in Chute Square. Here are the details:

 Dandelion Day celebrates Harriet Godfrey’s introduction of dandelion seeds to the St. Anthony Falls area.

 Learn how to make dandelion necklaces, bracelets and crowns, just as Helen Godfrey did as a child.

 Take home a complimentary recipe booklet which includes recipes for dandelion coffee, tea, salad, etc.

 Free Godfrey buttons for the kids.

 Enjoy a guided tour of the charming Ard Godfrey House with docents dressed in 1850s period costume.

 Admission is FREE, donations are welcome, Reservations necessary.

 Reservations available at Eventbrite. For more info, call Kevin at 612-813-5324. 

 Restored by The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, the House has been open to the public since 1979. Dandelion Day marks the beginning of the summer tour season at the Ard Godfrey House.  

 The Ard Godfrey House is partially wheelchair accessible on the main floor, but has the restrictions of a historic home. Please call Muriel (612-781-8791) two weeks in advance to make arrangement for guests with special needs.

 Private group tours may be arranged year-round for a fee by calling 612-781-8791.

Metered street parking available. Off-street parking in River Place Ramp, with entrance on 2nd Street SE, off East Hennepin Avenue, or at St. Anthony Falls Public Ramp, on 2nd Street SE off Central Avenue.

Please note: the Third Avenue Bridge will be closed when this event takes place.

Last Chance to Check out the Virtual Minneapolis International Festival!

The virtual International Festival will be coming to a close next week. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate the many different cultures in the City of Minneapolis and surrounding communities with music, dance, art, food demos AND MORE. All activities accessed through the event website.  

This event has typically taken place the first Saturday in December at Central Park Gym. The event has grown in popularity with more than 2,000 people in attendance in 2019. 

Art
We have artists representing Latin American cultures, African cultures and Native American cultures as well. 

Music
Talented musicians and performers from Brazil and Thailand are on display. 

Food
The Sioux Chef will be offering demonstrations of local indigenous foods. 

Learning Opportunities
There are chances to learn about Ethiopian Culture, learn Origami or visit the beautiful country of Croatia are all available to you! 

For additional information, visit the website.

April 17 Nature's Way Artist Reception at Kolman & Pryor Gallery

Via a recent e-announcement from Kolman & Pryor Gallery:

Work by Kolman & Pryor Gallery Artists

Inspired by Nature

April 10 – June 19, 2021

Artist Reception: Saturday, April 17, 7:00–9:00pm

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Over the past year we've found solace in the outdoors and in the natural world. To celebrate the balm and calm of Nature and the sense of discovery and refreshment that it gives us, Kolman & Pryor Gallery announces its Spring exhibition, Nature’s Way. Curated by gallery co-founder, Patrick Pryor, with works by gallery artists, Betsy Ruth Byers, Kate Casanova, Jil Evans, Kelly Jean Ohl, Jodi Reeb, Julie Snidle, and Cameron Zebrun; and guest artist, Abby Mouw, the exhibition begins April 10 and runs through June 19, 2021. An artist reception will be held on April 17, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. during Northrup King Nights (6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.), the Northrup King Building’s quarterly open studio evening. Nature’s Way is available now to view online  as well as in person in the gallery.

Becoming II by Betsy Ruth Byers

Nature is a theme and a passion shared by Pryor and gallery co-founder, Anita Sue Kolman. “Every few years we revisit this theme,” Pryor says, “as it brought Anita and I together. Through our shared passion for nature-inspired work, we selected the gallery artists we’ve worked with for the past 10 years. We’re thrilled to show fresh work by our artists through the lens of nature.”

Jil Evans’s new abstract works, Kolman says, “are infused with found light, whether the light has streamed in through her windows or she’s experienced light and shadow shifting while on a walk. The work is bright and light-infused.” In contrast, Kelly Jean Ohl’s sculptures, made with such natural elements as clay, water, and fire, “resemble something you might pick up on a beach, or in a forest like pinecones, seedpods, or sticks.” 

The small conceptual sculptures assembled by Kate Casanova “express our connection to nature and our physical bodies, with a combination of synthetic and biological materials,” Pryor explains. Teetering between the abstract and the representational, with shapes bulging and flowing with color, the work of Betsy Ruth Byers may be “rooted in the tradition of landscape painting,” he continues, “but addresses the materiality of paint to examine how our relationship with water and ice is changing.” 

Gold Beach by Julie Snidle

Other gallery artists in the exhibition include Cameron Zebrun, who infuses layers of carved wood with images of northern Minnesota woods and water; and Julie Snidle and Jodi Reeb who work with beeswax.

In addition to enjoying individual artworks, visitors to the exhibition “can look forward to experiencing the ways in which these works will connect with each other,” Pryor says. Adds Kolman, “The works are in dialogue with each other, not overtly, but through a shared sensibility grounded in the artists’ gratitude and appreciation for nature.” 

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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Nature’s Way begins Saturday, April 10, 2021, and closes Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Artist Reception: Saturday, April 17, 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 or visit kolmanpryorgallery.com.

March 2021 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

The Loft Announces Wordplay 2021

The Loft Literary Center recently announced their 2021 edition of Wordplay, happening virtually, May 2 - 8. Thanks to generous sponsors, all Wordplay events are free of charge.

Wordplay 2021 Lineup

You can register for general admission tickets at any event page below. If you would like to purchase an enhanced ticket ($35) to Wordplay, which guarantees access to every event, plus facilitated post-event conversations by Zoom and signed bookplates from authors, you can do that via the registration link.

AxeBridge Wine Co. opens March 27 - Here's Everything You Need to Know!

Wow! There's a lot going on at Minneapolis' first urban winery - AxeBridge Wine Co., located at 411 Washington Avenue N in the North Loop. In this video, co-owner Aaron Schram provides background and what you can expect to experience, learn and enjoy.

Here's a link to Mill City Times' interview with Aaron and Ashley Schram from December 2020.

Third Avenue Bridge Renaissance by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

Lots of construction repair work being performed on the Third Avenue Bridge. The original photograph, before creation of this stylized version, appeared to me to resemble a Middle Ages fair on the side of the bridge. I decided to work with it to see what else I could turn this photograph into. I used a technique that increases the vibrance of colors along vertical and horizontal lines in the image. An additional surprise effect is how the reflection of the bridge is picked up in bright blue and gold in the water. My wife likes the photograph so much that we had it printed on aluminum with a matte finish at 30 x 20. We display it in our kitchen over the stove. You can view more of my work at www.traveltheglobephotography.com.

Northern Lights.mn Announces Northern Spark 2021: Alchemy

Via a March 22 e-announcment from Northern Lights.mn:

Design by Matthew Rezac

The annual festival returns in the summer of 2021 with two weeks of healing, transformative programming focused on the theme Alchemy .

Northern Lights.mn announces this year’s Northern Spark theme, projects and artists. Northern Spark will span two weeks (June 12-27) instead of one all-night festival or two late-nights.  The public will come together in creative, unconventional ways, engaging with artist projects online, through the mail, and in person in St. Paul. The Theme: Alchemy The theme for this year's Northern Spark was created by the 2021 Artist Council with Northern Lights.mn. Artists are the modern-day alchemists. We mix form, materials, and ideas to transform the collective emotional matter of this world into new shapes. If art were a universal elixir for healing, how do we hold space for grief and loss as well as concoct recipes to honor our hunger for joy? How do we transform isolation into intimacy? Orbits into intersections? What community wisdom might we mix together for recovery? In 2021 the festival supports artist projects that encourage our communities to safely connect and still inspire the kind of experimental, surprising experiences we love at Northern Spark. Bring your grief, your joy, yourself and be part of the elixir of magical transformation. New project forms for 2021 Mail Art has populist, anti-institutional and experimental roots, as artists looked to disrupt traditional gallery systems by sending handmade or printed postcards, letters, stickers, collages and even small objects through the postal service. Northern Spark loves to support artists who tap into systems such as the mail service to connect people, places and ideas in unconventional ways. For residents of St. Paul’s Eastside and Rondo/Frogtown neighborhoods. Mail Art Artists and their projects:  Seed Paper of Hope by Milkweed Collective (Kallie Melvin and Eva Adderley). Collaborative Blocking: a Community Map by Corinne Teed and Tia Simone-Gardner. Friends are Silver and Gold by L. Kling and The Support Local Hustle Collective. There is an opportunity for BIPOC, Eastsiders to be included in Friends are Silver and Gold. See the open call here. Virtual Connections is a platform that invites artists in many disciplines to create an art experience that connects people using online meeting technologies.  Virtual Connection Artists and their projects: Virtual Solstice Sound Garden by Dameun Strange. Vigil by Gabrielle Civil. The Wind Always Strikes the Highest Mountain by Yeej Moua. Title TBD by Lightning Rod. Braiding our Generations Together - A Virtual and Public Art Storytelling Project: In collaboration with Indigenous Roots, American Indian Family Center, Elder’s Lodge and Metro State University, led by Reyna Day and Ruti Mejia of International Indigenous Youth Council - Twin Cities.   More details about the project and artists will be announced soon.

Northern Spark Background Northern Spark is a late-night, participatory arts festival that lights up the Twin Cities in early summer. In 2021, the festival takes new forms: in the mail, online, and in person in St. Paul, MN during a two week span of time.  In past years during Northern Spark, tens of thousands of people gathered throughout the city on one night to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets, and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces. From dusk to dawn the city surprised you: friendly crowds, glowing groups of cyclists, an unexpected path through the urban landscape, the magic of sunrise after a night of amazing art and experiences. In 2018 we introduced a two-night model, so people could experience the artful magic of Northern Spark for two nights until 2 am. As our city still grapples with the effects of COVID-19, in 2021 festival still support artist projects that encourage our communities to safely connect and still inspire the kind of experimental, surprising experiences we love at Northern Spark. Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a Twin Cities non-profit arts organization whose work ranges from large-scale public art platforms like Northern Spark to Art(ists) On the Verge, a year­long mentorship program for 5 emerging artists working with digital culture. We support artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere, such as at St. Paul's Union Depot (Amateur Intelligence Radio), "choir karaoke" at the Minnesota State Fair (Giant Sing Along) and Illuminate South Loop, a mini outdoor festival of nine interactive projects in Bloomington, MN’s South Loop in the days leading up to the 2018 Super Bowl. Through projects such as Aquanesia, a location-­based environmental mystery game, and large scale festivals themed around social issues, our work helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.