July 23, 2015, Thursday - Twin Cities River Rats Ski Show (2 shows tonight!)

Times: 6:00pm and 8:00pm

Location: West River Road between Plymouth and Broadway

The Twin Cities River Rats have been a mainstay of Aquatennial entertainment, and they're back this year to provide another big splash! The River Rats perform hour-long shows combining various water skiing acts and skits with music. The acts include barefooting, pyramids, doubles and more. All shows are free, and concessions are available. The home site is located just north of downtown Minneapolis on the Mississippi River. The hillside along the river provides excellent viewing for the best show in the Twin Cities. Grab a blanket or a chair and come on down! For more information and the full 2015 schedule –http://www.tcriverrats.com.

July 23, 2015, Thursday - CorePower Yoga 'Take it Outside' at Target Field Station

Time: 5:30pm

Location:  TARGET FIELD STATION, 417 5th Sreet North

2015 CorePower Yoga 'Take it Outside' Series 

Enjoy class in open air.  Bring your own mat. Free.

Future events:

ASTER CAFE
Sunday, July 26, 9:00am
Join us at the cafe and enjoy coffee or mimosas with brunch afterward! Bring your own mat. Free.

ASTER CAFE
Sunday, August 9, 9:00am
Join us at the cafe and enjoy coffee or mimosas with brunch afterward! Bring your own mat. Free.

July 23, 2015, Thursday - Riverfront Vitality Forum: Finding the Green for Parks at Open Book

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Riverfront Vitality Forum: Finding the Green for Parks
with Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Superintendent Jayne Miller and the Theater of Public Policy

In Minneapolis, our parks define who we are as people and as a city. So it’s not surprising that we’ve prioritized bringing waterfront parks to the few areas where they don’t yet reach – particularly along the riverfront of North and Northeast Minneapolis.

Those new parks may be a good idea, but how are we going to find the money to fund them? Can we afford to expand our park system — or would we be crazy not to?

Explore this timely topic with us at a fun evening event. Join Jayne Miller, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, for what we expect will be an insightful and enjoyable interview with the always-entertaining Theater of Public Policy.

Sponsored by Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership

Tickets

July 22, 2015, Wednesday - WomenVenture Small Business Showcase on Peavy Plaza

July 22, 2015, Wednesday - Aquatennial Pre-Parade Party

Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm

Location: Loring Park 

Music, carnival games, pony rides, inflatable bouncers, balloon animals and face painting! All ages welcome, bring money for games and treats.

https://www.minneapolisparks.org/events/2014/10/26/446/aquatennial_pre-parade_party

July 22, 2015, Wednesday - Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5K

Time: 7:30 pm

Route:  Basilica of St. Mary, 88 North Seventh Street, to Father Hennepin Bluffs Park. The Torchlight 5k starts near the historic Basilica of Saint Mary and follows the Aquatennial’s CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade route. The course offers up close views of the Guthrie, Gold Medal Park, the Mighty Mississippi, Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Main.

Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5K

Whether you are a dedicated runner or just someone who jogs from the couch to the fridge, the Life Time Torchlight 5k in Minneapolis is the fun run for everyone! Grab your family, friends and running shoes because the Torchlight 5k starts with a bang and ends with a brew. That’s right, the legendary post-race party features musical entertainment and complimentary refreshments. It’s the party of the year that just happens to start with a run!

To register: http://www.torchlight5k.com/page/show/502309-registration.

July 22, 2015, Wednesday - Aquatennial CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade

Time: 8:30pm - 10:30pm

Route: Hennepin Avenue from Dunwoody College of Technology to 5th Street.

Join us for the Aquatennial's CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade, set to take place Wednesday, July 22 at 8:30 p.m. Join the community as they gather and watch great floats, displays and bands march through the heart of Downtown.

July 22, 2015, Wednesday - NIEBNA Meeting at De La Salle High School

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Casanova Room, De La Salle High School (on Nicollet Island)

Nicollet Island East Bank Neighborhood Association

Agenda: See Website

July 21, 2015, Tuesday - Mill City Summer Opera Presents The Daughter of the Regiment at Mill City Museum

Mill City Summer Opera (MCSO) is excited to present Gaetano Donizetti’s brilliant comedy The Daughter of the Regiment, directed by David Lefkowich, July 11-21, 2015.

Time 8:00pm

Mill City Museum’s dramatic Ruin Courtyard will again be the venue for all performances.

This two act opera centers on Marie, the “daughter” of a regiment of soldiers who adopted her when she was a young girl and raised her as one of their own. Marie meets a local boy, Tonio, who joins the regiment in order to marry her. They soon fall in love. But the Marquise of Birkenfeld declares she is Marie’s aunt, and that Marie must leave the regiment to become a proper lady. Ultimately true love wins and Marie and Tonio are allowed to marry. The first act is set in the mountains of Tyrol, and the second takes place within the chateau of the Marquise de Birkenfeld.

Set to a French libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard, this opera is known for its lighthearted, catchy music that captures the story’s humor with its playful yet challenging vocals. The opera’s dialogue that will be in English and all music and arias are in French. Supertitles will translate the French into English.

Tickets

July 21, 2015, Tuesday - Live Show: Brodini at Central Library

Time: 2:00pm

Location:  Central Library, Children's Library, 300 Nicollet Mall

Live Show: Brodini 

For families. Magician Graylyn Morris will raise spirits and test kids' powers of concentration as he manipulates ropes, scarves, balls and other magician's props in a perplexing "now-you-see-it, now-you-don't" performance!

July 20, 2015, Monday - Celebrate Historic Aquatennial at City Hall

Time: Noon

Location: Minneapolis City Hall, 350 5th Street S

Join the Hennepin History Museum downtown in the City of Minneapolis City Hall/Hennepin County Courthouse Rotunda for a lunchtime celebration of Aquatennial's history!

The event will feature speakers from the City, County, Minneapolis Downtown Council, and the Aquatennial Ambassador Organization. Pam Albinson, 1962 Queen of the Lakes and author of “Seventy-five Years of the Minneapolis Aquatennial,” will introduce a screening of a newly-restored film highlighting the history of the Aquatennial. Food trucks will be in front of City Hall/Courthouse.

While you're there, check out HHM's temporary Historic Aquatennial exhibition, on display throughout the building until July 31.

July 20, 2015, Monday - Neighborhood Walking Group (Meets at Gold Medal Park)

This is simply an informal gathering of neighbors - the group decides the route.  :)

July 19, 2015, Sunday - Mill City Summer Opera Presents The Daughter of the Regiment at Mill City Museum

Mill City Summer Opera (MCSO) is excited to present Gaetano Donizetti’s brilliant comedy The Daughter of the Regiment, directed by David Lefkowich, July 11-21, 2015.

Final performances: July 21, 8:00pm. Mill City Museum’s dramatic Ruin Courtyard will again be the venue for all performances.

This two act opera centers on Marie, the “daughter” of a regiment of soldiers who adopted her when she was a young girl and raised her as one of their own. Marie meets a local boy, Tonio, who joins the regiment in order to marry her. They soon fall in love. But the Marquise of Birkenfeld declares she is Marie’s aunt, and that Marie must leave the regiment to become a proper lady. Ultimately true love wins and Marie and Tonio are allowed to marry. The first act is set in the mountains of Tyrol, and the second takes place within the chateau of the Marquise de Birkenfeld.

Set to a French libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard, this opera is known for its lighthearted, catchy music that captures the story’s humor with its playful yet challenging vocals. The opera’s dialogue that will be in English and all music and arias are in French. Supertitles will translate the French into English.

Tickets

July 19, 2015, Sunday - Disasters of the Riverfront Tour at the Mill City Museum

Time: 1:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street

Future date:  August 23

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission.

Reservations: recommended, call 612-341-7555 or register online 

The rise and fall of the St. Anthony Falls milling district led to some of the most tragic disasters in Minnesota history. On this tour, hear the stories of fires, floods, explosions, collapses and other calamities; explore the consequences for the people involved; and learn what these tales reveal about Minneapolis history. Stories include the Eastman Tunnel Collapse in 1869, the Great Conflagration of 1893, bridge collapses in 1859 and 2007, numerous fires and massive landscape changes.

The tour includes 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour begins and ends at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.

For more information visit http://www.millcitymuseum.org/tours.

July 19, 2015, Sunday - Yoga Camp at Marquette Plaza

Time:  Registration starts at 10:30, register ahead online at yogacampmpls.com to save time at the park. Yoga and live music start at 11am and class will end roughly around 12:15pm.

Location: Marquette Plaza, 250 S Marquette Avenue

7/19 is a FREE DAY compliments of LifePower Yoga!

Yoga led by Jan Johnson and Aleeah Sheehan. Live musiv by DJ Simone Steppa DuJour. Group photos directly afterwards with professional photographer. Danielle Jokinen and Mitchell Molloy of Minnesota Power Yoga will be demonstrating up in front during class.

Yoga Camp is a fun celebration of the summer and our rich yoga #commUNITY in the Twin Cities. We practice yoga without borders, rock out to live music and the kids can enjoy yoga each event too! After class we will take pictures, followed by Campfire Series - a workshop series made to feel like you were at Summer Camp!

Kids Yoga Camp will be led by Lil Breathers's Sarah Fischer during the adult class.

NEW this year = Campfire Series!
This is to be reminiscent of Summer Camp Arts and Crafts.
7/19 Campfire Series will be led by YogaSlackers Minnesota, Dan Norgard + Rachel Phipps

July 19, 2015, Sunday - Open Mic at Mattie's on Main

Time:  9:00pm

Location: Mattie's on Main, 43 Main Street SE

Do you like to sing Show Tunes?  How about listen to other people with amazing voices sing Show Tunes?  Then this is your night - Open Mic hosted by Cast Party’s Maria Stukey.  Songs, Games, Prizes.

July 19, 2015, Sunday - Home Street Home Minneapolis at the Guthrie

Time:  7:00pm

Location:  The Guthrie, Dowling Studio, 818 S 2nd Street

St. Stephen's Human Services and the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association present
Home Street Home Minneapolis
written by the zAmya Theater Troupe with playwright Josef Evans
directed by Maren Ward

Discussion to follow performance

Downtown 2025 is a plan to increase livability in Downtown Minneapolis including goals to add 35,000 more residential units, redesign Nicollet Mall, build a new Vikings stadium and end street homelessness. In service of this goal, zAmya Theater Project of St. Stephen's Human Services partnered with the Downtown 2025 Committee to End Street Homelessness to interview people who live, work, play and pray downtown about how homelessness affects their lives. These interviews inspired Home Street Home Minneapolis -- a play about home and homelessness downtown.

Meet street musician Zeke Cooper at the Done (being homeless) Brothers Coffee Shop for a tour around the heart of the city, eavesdropping on Security Guards in the Skyway, church-goers at a downtown church, residents in family shelters, people who live on the street and in luxury condos and Mayor Linda Carter. Listen in as characters share experiences and change each other's lives. Presented in zAmya's signature style blending original music, comedy and ... the truth!

The zAmya Theater Project is a program of St. Stephen's Human Services and is in its 11th year as a company devoted to ending homelessness through the tools of community-based theater making. Our productions are created and performed by a troupe of actors who've experienced homelessness including a professional comedian, a jazz singer, and an award-winning visual artist. Led by Maren Ward, co-founder of Bedlam Theatre, zAmya has produced over a dozen full-length and many short productions -- enlightening, educating and entertaining audiences all over the Twin Cities and beyond.

This presentation is sponsored by the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association. DMNA supports programs working to end people's homelessness in downtown Minneapolis.

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

The tickets are free and available at the Guthrie Box Office.  Please join us!  There are only 200 tickets available and we hope they go quickly.  Please tell your friends and neighbors!

July 19, 2015, Sunday - Sister Cities Day at Nicollet Island Pavillion

Time: 1:00pm-5:00pm

Location: Nicollet Island Pavilion

Minneapolis has twelve sister cities – from the first one established in 1961 in Santiago, Chile to the most recent one established last year in Bosaso, Somalia. Each chapter, such as the Minneapolis-Uppsala Friendship Committee, is an independent, volunteer run organization. Duties can include being an ambassador for Minneapolis when visitors arrive from the partnering city and celebrating a shared heritage that helps break down language barriers.

To wrap up this celebration of friendship, you can also attend Sister Cities Day on Sunday, July 19 from 1-5 p.m. at the Nicollet Island Pavilion. Now in its eighth year, this free event includes ethnic entertainment and cultural displays from Minneapolis’s sister cities as well as complimentary refreshments.

July 18, 2015, Saturday - Stage Kiss opens at The Guthrie

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Guthrie Theater, McGuire Proscenium Stage, 818 Second Street South

Stage Kiss
by Sarah Ruhl
directed by Casey Stangl

A charming new romantic comedy

Does art imitate life? Or does life imitate art? From Pulitzer finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Dead Man’s Cell Phone, In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)) is this wickedly clever and charming tale about what happens when lovers share a stage kiss — or when actors share a real one. When two actors with a history are thrown together as romantic leads in a forgotten 1930s melodrama, they quickly lose touch with reality as the story onstage follows them offstage. The New York Times hailed Ruhl’s new play a “daffy comedy about the emotional pitfalls of the acting life.” The New York Post said it “aims for big laughs and hits its target.” Vulture raved “Stage Kiss itself is a gift and a rarity: a superb new romantic comedy that does justice to both sides of the genre equation. It’s moving, smart, and flat-out hilarious.” Make a date night for one of the hottest new plays to hit the stage.

July 18, 2015, Saturday - 2 River Rats Water Ski Shows!

The Twin Cities River Rats show takes place at 1758 West River Road N (between the Plymouth and Broadway bridges).

2 Shows! Times: 2:20p - 4:30p and 6:20pm - 8:30pm

The Regional Champion Water Ski Team is back with a new theme this summer featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! During this humorous, family-friendly show, watch high-flying stunts, fast-paced barefooting, graceful swivel-skiing and even human pyramids on water as the good guys save the day... and eat a little pizza!

Bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy this free waterski show for the whole family along the banks of the Mississippi River.