May 15, 2015, Friday - Art-A-Whirl!

2015 Dates and Hours:
Friday, May 15th -  5:00-10:00 p.m.
Saturday,  May 16th -  Noon-8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 17th -   Noon-5:00 p.m.

NEMAA Presents the 20th Annual Art-A-Whirl

Presented by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), Art-A-Whirl is an open studio tour in Northeast Minneapolis. It’s a great opportunity to tour private artist studios and galleries, connect with the artists, and purchase original artwork. Over the last 20 years, it has become the largest open studio tour in the country.

Art-A-Whirl takes place annually throughout Northeast Minneapolis, the third weekend of May. This event is free and open to the public.

Pick up an Artist Directory and Guide or download the 2015 Art-A-Whirl map.

View Art-A-Whirl FAQ's and "How to Whirl" articles with suggestions on how to navigate the event.

May 15, 2015, Friday - Minneapolis Bike to Work Day

Minneapolis Bike Week 2015

Ride your bike to work on Bike to Work Day, and stop by one of the commuter pit stops for free giveaways! As an added bonus, a number of elected officials will be hosting rides from all over the city starting from these pit stops:

8:00 AM: Meet at your closest Pit Stop and ride into downtown with your Elected Officials!
8:30 AM: Arrive at the Hennepin County Government Center
8:45 AM: Program Starts with featured Speakers

Stick around Downtown for our Bike Expo on the North Plaza of the Hennepin County Government Center from 11:30-1:30!

See all the events on Bike to Work Day.

May 14, 2015, Thursday - Wild River Academy Fundraiser at Mississippi Watershed Management Org

RSVP: http://wildriveracademy.com/

May 13, 2015, Wednesday - Mill City High Open House

Time: 4:30pm – 7:00pm

Location: Mill City High School, 810 S. 7th Street

New Downtown Minneapolis charter school, Mill City High School, is now enrolling 9th and 10th graders.

The school will be holding two Open House information events this month at their new location:
•Wednesday, May 13, 4:30 – 7 pm
•Saturday, May 16, 11 am – 1 pm

Come visit with Mill City High School staff and board members, and learn more about a free, high-quality public education designed to:
•Close the achievement gap
•Prepare students for college and career
•Develop critical thinking skills

Learn more at www.millcityhigh.org | millcityhigh@gmail.com

May 13, 2015, Wednesday - East Downtown Placemaking Residency

Exploring Portland Avenue as a residential corridor that connects people and supports active transportation for the Downtown East, Elliott Park, and Phillips neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

Hosted By
Minneapolis Downtown Council, Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, East Downtown Council

Presentations and Participants to Include

Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association, Elliot Park Neighborhood Association, Community Planning & Economic Development, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, Aeon, Hennepin County, Metropolitan Design Center, ESG Architects, Shamrock Development, Inc., Thrivent Financial, People Serving People, Wells Fargo, Ryan Companies, Kraus Anderson, House of Charity, Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club

Cost
All events are free and open to the public.

Registration
Click here to register for any or all of the May 13 East Downtown activities.

Schedule

7:15 am – 8:30 am: Designing Healthy Communities
Hosted by City of Lakes Rotary Club
Presentation by Dr. Richard Jackson.
The Minneapolis Club, 3rd Floor Main Dining Room, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis

9:00 am – 10:50 am Combination Walking and Bike Tour of Portland Avenue from the Riverfront to Franklin Avenue
This combination walking and biking tour will be a comprehensive look at land use opportunities that are currently being developed and new potential sites yet to be envisioned on Portland Avenue from the Riverfront to Franklin Avenue. It will be an exciting adventure to experience the public realm and hear from development specialists, land owners, city planners, affordable housing advocates, and market specialists as we move from site to site. Note: If you are unable to bike, you will be able to drive for the bike portion of the tour.
Beginning at the Riverfront and Portland Avenue (Mill Ruins Park), 103 Portland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

11:00 am – 12:00 p.m Discussion of Workshop and Focused Discussion about Assets and Opportunities on Portland Avenue
Presented by Minneapolis Downtown Council – Downtown Improvement District- East Downtown Council
This one-hour workshop will feature Gehl Studio interacting with those who experienced the Portland Avenue walking and bike tour. Through facilitation of key questions, we will explore key themes and possibilities for maximizing health and the built environment for each site and the ways they are connected on the Portland Avenue Corridor.
Kraus Anderson Construction, 525 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, 612-332-7281

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch and Conversation at Pocket Park on the Commons site
Presented by Minneapolis Downtown Council-Downtown Improvement District, East Downtown Council
Participants will be able to purchase a lunch and experience an improvised “pocket park” located next to the new Commons Park that is in design phase. Gehl Studio will speak about aspects of curb and street design that enhance the pedestrian and biking experience.
Location TBD

1:30 pm – 3:00pm Celebration of Portland Avenue Residential Corridor Celebration and Envisioning Event
Presented by: City of Minneapolis, ESG Architects, Ryan Construction, Minneapolis Downtown Council-Downtown Improvement District, East Downtown Council and the Metropolitan Design Center.
Arrive early to this event and take a look at a large scale model of housing in Elliot Park as designed by University of Minnesota Design students located in the open “rail” space in the Museum. This special event will feature esteemed panelists responding to all that is taking place on the Portland Avenue Corridor, and exploring all that could take place! Dr. Jackson and Gehl Studio will interact with the events of the day, City Staff will discuss long range planning, a Market housing specialist will speak to new opportunities, and ESG Architects will present a new vision for greater housing density.
Mill City Museum, Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Education Center “Classroom” on the lower level. 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

For more information
Email Dan Collison
Director of East Downtown Partnership for the Minneapolis Downtown Council
Executive Director for the East Downtown Council

May 12, 2015, Tuesday - Baseball: Preserving and Showcasing Collectibles at Central Library

Time: 7:00pm–8:00pm

Location:  Central Library, Doty Board Room, 300 Nicollet Mall

Baseball: Preserving and Showcasing Collectibles at Central Library

Minnesota Twins curator and life-long collector Clyde Doepner will highlight some of his favorite Minnesota Twins memorabilia and offer pointers on bargaining and buying, organizing and preserving, keeping a collection manageable, and gathering the stories to accompany artifacts and ephemera.

May 12, 2015, Tuesday - 1st Precinct Open House

May 12, 2015, Tuesday - Law Enforcement Memorial at City Hall

Time: 2:00pm

Location: This takes place outside on 4th Street South. It will be held in front of Minneapolis City Hall and the U.S. Courthouse (300 4th Street South).

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the Minneapolis Police Department will honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty during the annual Hennepin County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony. The public is encouraged to attend. 

The names of the fallen from throughout Hennepin County are announced and a bell is rung for each officer.
 
The ceremony is held every year during National Police Week.  The annual tradition honors all who have died in the line of duty throughout history; the record-keeping began in 1884.

(In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will move inside City Hall.)

May 11, 2015, Monday - Asian Americans: How We Talk (and Dance and Sing) About Ourselves at The Loft

Time: 7:00pm

Location: The Loft Literary Center, at Open Book (Performance Hall), 1011 Washington Ave

Tonight: Asian Americans: How We Talk (and Dance and Sing) About Ourselves

Asian Americans: How We Talk (and Dance and Sing) About Ourselves
Bao Phi, Ananya Chatterjee, and Linda Her with David Mura

May 9, 2015, Saturday - Cherry & Spoon Run with City Running Tours

Time: 8:00am

Start Location: Mary Tyler Moore Statue (700 Nicollet Mall)

Cherry & Spoon Run with City Running Tours

Join us for a guided running tour to the famous Cherry & Spoon sculpture in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. You will experience downtown Minneapolis, Nicollet Mall, a few of the many beautiful parks, the Downtown theatre district, and of course the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens - home of the Cherry & Spoon! 

DISTANCE: Approximately 5K (3.1 miles)
TERRAIN: Paved sidewalk & trail. One optional staircase
ELEVATION: 1 Moderate Hill
TOUR DURATION: 1 Hour

Register Cost $35

May 9, 2015, Saturday - River Gorge Bird Hike

Time: 7:00am – 10:00am

Location: When you RSVP, you will be provided with the meeting place and starting location for the hike.

River Gorge Bird Hike

Early birds arise! Let’s greet returning spring songsters and see who’s back! Join local birding experts Dave Zumeta and Lee Pfannmuller for an exploration of the world-class flyway along the Longfellow river gorge. Over 160 species have been observed in this area! Novice and experienced birders all welcome.

Bring your binoculars (or let us know you need a pair) and a water bottle. Wear sturdy shoes for exploring the river bluffs and forest and banks. Free! RSVP (to JoAnnaLund@longfellow.org) is required, as the number of participants is limited to 30.

Sponsored by the Longfellow Community Council’s River Gorge Committee. 

May 9, 2015, Saturday - Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Times: 1:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

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

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online.

Take an in-depth look at the historic Washburn A Mill complex and the award-winning Mill City Museum building. A museum interpreter will take visitors into the building’s many nooks and crannies, highlighting the lives of the men and women who worked there, how the building functioned during its peak flour milling years and the many changes to the building over time.

This is the only opportunity for a guided tour through the entire museum building and the only chance to see some of its non-public spaces. The tour includes admission to the museum gallery, Baking Lab, Water Lab and Flour Tower show.

May 9, 2015, Saturday - Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour

Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Begins at Gold Medal Park (10th Avenue South & 2nd Street South), next to the Guthrie Theater - ends in Northeast Minneapolis

Hungry for an off-the-beaten path Minneapolis food experience? Join us as we explore one of the city's trendy and historical neighborhoods, Mill District and St. Anthony on Main in Northeast Minneapolis. You'll enjoy the afternoon sampling food at the first Thai restaurant in Minnesota, drinking local Minnesota brewed craft beer at the oldest restaurant in Minneapolis, and enjoy a local favorite - the cheese curds.  You'll also enjoy mouth-watering pasta located in the historical Chase building, home-made gelato, and nosh on savory European style baked bread as we stroll through the local Farmers Market.

Along with sampling food we will also visit the Mill City Museum, stroll by the Guthrie, and enjoy gorgeous views of St. Anthony Falls as we walk along the Stone Arch Bridge into historical St. Anthony on Main.  You'll learn about the history of both these neighborhoods including a stroll along the oldest street in Minneapolis.  You'll taste and chat with other food-loving guests, and leave the tour with an appreciation for these distinct neighborhoods that most tourist never see!

Reservations.

Follow Taste Twin Cities on Facebook and Twitter.

May 9, 2015, Saturday - WISE BLOOD Exhibit Opens at The Soap Factory

Location: The Soap Factory, 514 Second Street SE

WISE BLOOD Exhibition Runs: May 9 - June 14, 2015

“Where you come from is gone, where you thought you were going was never there...” – Flannery O’Connor, Wise Blood

Co-Presented and Co-Commissioned by The Walker Art Center.

The WISE BLOOD installation and sound design at The Soap Factory will be an on-going exhibit, open from May 9 to June 15, 2015 during regular exhibition hours. The exhibition is free.

Performances: Thursday - Sunday June 4 -7 and June 11 - 14, 8:00pm. CLICK HERE  to purchase performance tickets.

Composer Anthony Gatto and Visual Artist Chris Larson join forces to bring the darkly humorous world of Flannery O'Connor's WISE BLOOD to life.

Set in the post-industrial beauty of a 130-year-old-factory-space-turned art gallery, this immersive opera takes the audience on a journey alongside the eccentric and always captivating characters of this Southern Gothic Tale. The audience is brought directly into, around and through large scale installation pieces, kinetic sculptures and projections alongside live music. WISE BLOOD features an incredibly diverse cast of performers including Hüsker Dü founding member Grant Hart, celebrated opera tenor Martin Bakari, Zoo Animal's Holly Hansen, Twin Cities theater favorite Michael Sommers, members of the Adam Meckler Orchestra and more.

May 9, 2015, Saturday - Mill City Farmers Market Opening Day!

Time: 8:00am - 1:00pm

Location: 704 South 2nd Street

Today at Mill City Farmers Market: Opening Day!

Come kick off Mother’s Day weekend at Mill City Farmers Market on Saturday, May 9th! We will celebrate the much awaited spring season, farm-fresh foods, local fine arts and crafts, and honor moms with spring flowers and family friendly activities.

Produce Planner: Arugula, asparagus, baby beets, baby bok choi, carrots, chives, cilantro, kale, lettuce, mache, mesclun mix, mushrooms, mustard greens, nettles, oregano, pac choi, parsley, parsnips, radishes, ramps, salad mix, salad turnips, spinach, tarragon, watercress, and much more!

Mill City Cooks, 10 am: Featuring Market Chefs Heather Hartman and Jenny Breen with their daughters in honor of Mother's Day. These talented ladies will be demonstrating how to prepare Breakfast Wild Rice and Smoked Trout Croquettes!

Outreach and Education Coordinator Emily Larson of the Wedge Community Co-op will also be in the kitchen offering helpful tips about buying in bulk.

Sponsor: Thank you to today’s sponsor Wedge Community Co-op! Visit the Wedge Community Co-op booth to receive free High Mowing Organic Seeds to get your garden started! Plus, receive coupons to the Wedge Table, their new market and cafe on Eat Street.

Community Booth, all day: Bikeways for Everyone
Learn more about this collaborative campaign of community partners, businesses and individuals advocating for 30 new miles of protected bikeways by 2020.

Planting Activity, sponsored by Juut Salonspa:  Plant a seedling for a special gift for Mother's Day!

Mini-farm, all day: With furry friends from Oliver H. Kelley Farm.

Art Market, all Day: Featuring Indigo & Snow, Fresh Mud Pottery, Annika Kaplan, and Crookedwood.

Live Music, 11 am - 1 pm: MCFM is thrilled to welcome back the Roe Family Singers to the Market today! This local jug band sensation is a hit with the kids!

Become an MCFM Member! Here are just a few of the member specials available this Saturday:

Artisan MN:  $1 off any purchase of fermented "living" food;
Green Earth Growers: Buy 2 plants get 1 free!
Loon Organics: $1 off any $10 purchase;
Red Table Meat: $1 off salami;
The Bolt: $1 off any beverage;
Zula Juice: 10% off all juices and cleanses!

May 9, 2015, Saturday - Bubble Throwdown at 1010 Washington Wine & Spirits

Time: 6:00pm

Location: 1010 Washington Wine & Spirits, 1010 Washington Avenue South

Ann Altman, DWS, is coming in to lead a Bubble Throwdown! We will be tasting several sparkling wines from all over the world to compare and contrast. Ann will also be discussing the increasingly popular topic of "Grower Champagne": what it is, why it is becoming so trendy. Ann runs a fine wine portfolio in Northern California, and she has a lot of interesting things to say about her favorite topic. 

Please RSVP at info@1010wws.com.

May 9, 2015, Saturday - Youth Class: Fairy Tales Old and New at MCBA

Time: 9:00am - Noon

Location: Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Youth Class: Fairy Tales Old and New

Fairy tales exist in every culture, and in this class, we'll read and take home fairy tales from all over the world. We’ll talk about elements important in fairy tale writing, including the plot and theme of each tale read, and we’ll have fun as we rewrite them, using our own characters, situations and locations. For the second part of class, we’ll head down to MCBA where we’ll bring our fairy tales to life by making a book by hand to hold our stories of fantastical characters and creatures! For students ages 6-8. $58.50 ($52.65 MCBA or Loft members).

Register online or call 612-379-8999.

May 8, 2015, Friday - Reading with Michael Dennis Browne, John Hildebrand, and Madelon Sprengnether at The Loft

Time: 7:00pm

Location: The Loft Literary Center, at Open Book (Performance Hall), 1011 Washington Ave

Tonight: Reading with Michael Dennis Browne, John Hildebrand, and Madelon Sprengnether

Michael Dennis Browne's most recent collection of poems, The Voices, was recently published by Carnegie Mellon University Press. Other recent publications include poetry collection Things I Can’t Tell You, (Carnegie Mellon, 2005) and What the Poem Wants, essays on poetry (Carnegie Mellon, 2008). Browne’s poems have been published in many magazines and anthologies, and his awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Bush Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, and the McKnight Foundation. Two of his collections have won the Minnesota Book Award for poetry. As a librettist, he has written many texts for music, working principally with composer Stephen Paulus, and recently also with Craig Hella Johnson, Abbie Betinis, and Tim Takach. He is a professor emeritus of English at the University of Minnesota, where he taught for thirty-nine years and was a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. His website is michaeldennisbrowne.com.
 
John Hildebrand is the author of four books: Reading the River: A Voyage Down the Yukon, Mapping the Farm: The Chronicle of a Family, A Northern Front: New and Selected Essays, and most recently The Heart of Things: A Midwestern Almanac. His articles and essays have appeared in Harper's Magazine, Audubon, Sports Illustrated, and Outside. He is the recipient of a Minnesota Book Award, a Banta Award from the Wisconsin Library Association, a Bush Artist Fellowship, and a Wisconsin Arts Board Fellowship. He teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Madelon Sprengnether is a poet, memoirist and literary critic. She is the author of two books of poetry, The Normal Heart and The Angel of Duluth, two memoirs, Rivers, Stories, Houses, Dreams, and Crying at the Movies, and a co-edited collection of travel essays by women, The House on Via Gombito, in addition to numerous works of literary criticism. She has just published two new books: Great River Road: Memoir and Memory (New Rivers Press) and Near Solstice: Prose Poems (Holy Cow! Press).

May 7, 2015, Thursday - Food Chains - 5th Annual Sustainability Film Series at Bell Museum of Natural History

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church Street SE

Come enjoy the final installment of the 5th Annual Sustainability Film Series: Food Chains.

"In this exposé, an intrepid group of Florida farmworkers battle to defeat the $4 trillion global supermarket industry through their ingenious Fair Food program, which partners with growers and retailers to improve working conditions for farm laborers in the United States."

An agenda will be posted closer to the day of the event, but please note that the film will start at 7:00, with the time from 6:30-7:00 being engagement, food, and conversations.

Hosted by Sustainability Studies Minor - University of Minnesota

May 7, 2015, Thursday - Flying Foot Forum opens at The Guthrie

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Guthrie Theater, Dowling Studio, 818 Second Street South

The Guthrie presents Joe Chvala’s Flying Foot Forum in an evening of foot-stomping, heart-stopping percussive dance, both classic and new. This production will feature some of Flying Foot Forum's most popular and defining works, including "Soft Shoes," "All of One Size" and "Berserks," alongside three new pieces.

Visit flyingfootforum.com for more information about Flying Foot Forum.