Sunday
Mar082020
February 2020 by the Numbers
Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 12:42PMDowntown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:
Minneapolis Riverfront News
Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
Sunday
Mar082020
In the News - Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods
Our weekly digest of stories about Downtown Minneapolis and the Central Riverfront neighborhoods:
WEEK OF MARCH 9, 2020
Minneapolis City Council committee nixes applying for federal grant for more cops
A Minneapolis City Council committee voted against applying for a $1.3 million federal grant that would have allowed the hiring of 10 new officers to beef up traffic enforcement citywide.
Downtown Minneapolis restaurant tightens security after shooting inside wounds worker
The gunfire occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Breakfast Bar of Minnesota at 319 N. 1st Av. during what police said was a physical confrontation between a customer and the staff member.
Storage containers are a lifeline for homeless in Minneapolis
People can leave their things in the containers and go about their day.
Transit ridership in Twin Cities metro area declined slightly last year
Local bus usage continues to dip, but light-rail use up.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wants to keep Mark Ruff as city coordinator
The city coordinator is the highest ranking nonelected position in city government, advising elected officials and managing seven departments.
Construction Update: The Dayton's Project
The 1.2 million square foot project has made significant progress since we last visited. While the office space has been largely ready for tenants to begin building out, the retail and amenity space is where we saw the most progress.
14 Developments to Watch
Executive vice president of AIA Minnesota Mary-Margaret Zindern and editor of AIA Minnesota’s Architecture MN Chris Hudson cued us in on some projects and key takeaways the Metro should be keeping on eyes for the next 10 years.
Game-Changing Commercial Real Estate Developments
The luxury condos, hotels, and office towers elevating the Twin Cities skyline.
North Loop company doubles in size, attracts big banks as customers
Minneapolis company attracts bigger banks with its system for signing up customers.
Bells will ring across Minneapolis for Minnesota Orchestra's new summer festival
Goodbye, Sommerfest. Hello, Summer at Orchestra Hall.
Art Exhibitions Coming to the Twin Cities This Spring
Find all the inspiration you need locally to bring renewed creative energy to your life (even if the snow sticks around).
The Loneliest Office in Minneapolis
What’s it like to work 10 hours a day in a glass cube 235 feet above downtown?
Restaurant Roll Call - The latest openings and closings
What's open, what's closed and what's still to come in the Twin Cities and beyond.
Billy Sushi to Open in May in the North Loop
Billy Sushi will be the name of the new restaurant that will be located at 116 N 1st Avenue. The name comes from the man behind the project, Chef Billy Tserenbat.
The Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in the Twin Cities
Let's go to breakfast, people. In the mood for a three-hour mimosa fest? Classic hash browns? Something with a little kick? A morning sugar rush? We've got it all. Rise and shine!
Now open: Stilheart delivers quality cocktails (en masse) to the North Loop
When news arrived late in 2019 that a new effort from the folks at Lawless Distilling Co. and Bittercube Bitters was destined for the North Loop, our spirits warmed just thinking about what Stilheart Distillery and Cocktail Lounge might hold in store when its doors finally opened.
Sunday
Mar082020
The Week Ahead in Mill City
Each week we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Historic Mill District and Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods. Have an event to share? Submit your events here...
Monday, March 9
- March 9, 2020, Monday - BikeMS Night at Surly
- March 9, 2020, Monday - Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Assoc Land Use + Development Committee Public Meeting
- March 9, 2020, Monday - NT Live: Cyrano De Bergerac at St. Anthony Main Theatre (thru March 11)
Tuesday, March 10
- March 10, 2020, Tuesday - Women's History Month Networking Event at US Bank Bancorp
- March 10, 2020, Tuesday - Perpich Arts High Literary Arts presents "out of the blue" at Open Book
- March 10, 2020, Tuesday - Tour the Xcel Energy Plant
Wednesday, March 11
- March 11, 2020, Wednesday - Vegan Taco Party! at Cooks of Crocus Hill
- March 11, 2020, Wednesday - St. Anthony Fall Laboratory Tour
- March 11, 2020, Wednesday - Transportation Action Plan Open House at Central Library
Thursday, March 12
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Women Run the Cities X Mill City Running Event
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Firefighters for Healing 2020 Chili Cook Off at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Minnesota Cuban Film Festival at St. Anthony Main
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Legacy Speaker Series: Why the 2020 Census Matters to Minnesota
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Jennifer Glaws' Jagged Moves presents Touch Code at The Southern Theater (thru March 14)
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Women with Vision: Then and Now at Walker Art Center (thru March 15)
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Meet the Makers: Charcuterie & Beer Pairing at Inbound BrewCo
- March 12, 2020, Thursday - Paint Your Own Pet at Aloft Minneapolis
Friday, March 13
- March 13, 2020, Friday - Latin Night at Sauce By Dulono's
- March 13, 2020, Friday - WeRunMPLS Pop Doc Night at
- March 13, 2020, Friday - Dinner Date at Cooks of Crocus Hill
- March 13, 2020, Friday - SIP 'N BLOOM - St Patty's Celebration Workshop at Graze Provisions + Libations
Saturday, March 14
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - Hike: Eagles of the Mississippi at Kroening Interpretive Center
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - Doing Good Together Pop-Up at Lakes & Legends Brewing Company
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - LepreCon St Patrick's Crawl Minneapolis
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - March Madness Triathlon at The Firm MPLS
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - Taste Twin Cities Downtown Minneapolis Skyway Tour
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - Logging & Lumber Family Day at the Mill City Museum
- March 14, 2020, Saturday - Hurray for Fish! with Ellen Ferrari at MCBA
Sunday, March 15
Sunday
Mar082020
River Hub: News from the Minneapolis Riverfront
Our weekly digest of news relating to the Minneapolis Riverfront, in collaboration with The Great River Coalition:
WEEK OF MARCH 9, 2020
Park commissioners push back on idea for ‘promenade’ over St. Anthony Falls
A Hennepin County official has a dramatic plan to elevate the region’s status for architecture: a wishbone-shaped walkway above the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis.
Solution for a scourge? University of Minnesota scientist is progressing with carp-killer tool
DNA-altering project is gaining attention as potential advance against invasive carp.
My internship highlight: Planting hundreds of native trees on a tiny metro river island
Being an intern at FMR comes with many perks. One is being able to participate in volunteer habitat restoration outings.
Volunteers-In-Park: Sue
Meet Sue, a volunteer at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Sunday Deadline: Job Openings at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Applications for summer internships are due by March 15.
Saturday
Mar072020
Great River Coalition Shares Notes on Recent Pollinator Research and 5th Annual Earth Day Bee Run/Walk & River Cleanup
Article by Rick Margl, Board VP with the Great River Coalition
Impact of Climate Change on Pollinators
One of the most daunting challenges of our time is to understand society’s impact on the earth’s climate and to develop means to mitigate and, eventually, reverse the damage we’ve collectively imposed on our environment. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the five warmest years recorded since 1880 have all occurred since 2015. The two-degree increase in surface temperature experienced since 1880 represents an immense amount of additional heat in our oceans and atmosphere. That extra heat is driving regional and seasonal temperature extremes, reducing snow cover and sea ice, intensifying heavy rainfall, and changing habitat ranges for plants and animals—expanding some and shrinking others.
Credit: NASA/NOAA
Some people struggle to understand how climate change is impacting their daily lives. Unfortunately, for farmers who rely on native bees for pollination of food crops, the impact is already sadly apparent. In a recent issue of ScienceDaily magazine, Peter Soroye and other researchers at the University of Ottawa in Ontario describe how their research has confirmed that bumblebees are declining at a rate “consistent with a mass extinction” and that declines show a direct correlation with warming temperatures in North America and Europe. Analyzing data on 66 bumblebee species over a 115-year period, they were able to identify population declines by locality and compare to warming trends over the time period. They found that in the course of a single human generation, the likelihood of a bumblebee population surviving in a specific locale has declined by an average of over 30% globally and 46% for North America. Climate change is affecting pollinators and all of us who depend on them - we all have a part to play in reversing it.
Genetically Engineered Bacteria Protecting Honeybees
Credit: Stephen Ausmus, USDA Agriculture Research ServiceA significant threat to honeybees across the globe is a phenomenon referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder, in which the majority of worker bees abandon a colony, leaving the queen and a small number of nurse bees to care for the immature bees. A number of factors are suspected to play a part in collapse disorder, including Varroa mites (seen in the photo), pesticide pollution, viral infections, poor management practices, lack of quality forage and other stressors. Given the global importance of honeybees in food production, many researchers are working on developing solutions to the disorder. Scientists at the University of Texas-Austin recently announced a promising approach that employs genetically engineered bacteria that live in the guts of bees. The bacteria act as biological factories producing medicines that protect the honeybees from Varroa mites and deformed-wing virus. Way to go science!
How You Can Help Pollinators
One great way to support healthy and sustainable pollinator populations is to minimize the use of pesticides. Check bee toxicity before use and avoid application near food or nesting sites.
In an effort to curtail the use of pollinator-toxic pesticides, Minnesota State Representative Jean Wagenius recently submitted a bill (HF1255) that would allow cities to ban a group of pesticides that the MN Department of Agriculture has labeled as lethal to pollinators. Issues regarding the proposed legislation are further described in a recent Star Tribune article. As citizen advocates, research the issue and then make your opinions known by contacting your state representative to voice your support! Spread the word about threats to pollinators!
Another way to help pollinators is to join us for the 5th Annual Earth Day Bee Run/Walk & River Cleanup on April 18th at Boom Island Park. Family-friendly (bring those strollers!) and dogs are welcome on a course that travels through one of the city's most historic and naturally beautiful areas. Before and following the 5K learn about efforts to protect pollinators, and enjoy live music, entertainment, and 50th anniversary Earth Day festivities. Take part in an organized river cleanup.
The Great River Coalition is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that advocates for preserving, protecting and promoting the historic, commercial and environmental significance of the Mississippi River, the City of Minneapolis and its relationship to the people and their communities.
Friday
Mar062020
Refined Performance + Rehabilitation Opens in Former Key North Space
Via a March News Release:
Old Town Minneapolis got a brand new fitness facility in November 2019 when Refined Performance + Rehabilitation opened in the former Key North boutique space at 515 First Avenue Northeast.
Owner Chad Scheitel found Old Town to be the perfect location for their fitness facility, as it complements the nearby massage and yoga studios and will serve the many residents currently residing in and moving into the area.
Chad ScheitelThe gym offers state-of-the-art training equipment including cardio, free weights, TRX, Sorinex basecamp racks, kettlebells, and more.
Members use a key card to access the gym seven days per week from 5 AM – 11 PM, and may work out independently or hire one of the gym’s personal trainers. Staff hours are by appointment.
Chad Scheitel holds a Bachelors degree in Health Promotion Science from Augsburg University and an MA in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. He has 19 years of experience as a personal fitness trainer.
Breanne GrannChad’s wife, Breanne Grann, provides chiropractic services at the gym, and has 10 years of experience. Dr. Grann earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University.
Amara KamaraA third team member, Amara Kamara, holds a BA in Exercise Science from Tulane University, with 21 years of personal training experience.
Specials include a free one-week trial and $99 for three personal training sessions.
Visitors interested in touring Refined Performance + Rehabilitation should call 612-559-4923 or email info@refinedmpls.com to make an appointment.
Wednesday
Mar042020
Meet Minneapolis to Give Away a Chevy Equinox at Twin Cities Auto Show This Weekend
Via a March 4 News Release from Meet Minneapolis:
Meet Minneapolis and Select Heartland Chevy Dealers have teamed up to give away a two-year lease on a Chevy Equinox at the 2020 Twin Cities Auto Show. The Grand Prize will be awarded on the morning of Saturday, March 7 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Five finalists will be randomly selected and must be present for a chance to win the brand-new SUV.
Event Information
- Drawing will be held at 8:15 a.m., on Saturday, March 7 at the Minneapolis Convention Center
- March 7 is the opening day of the 2020 Twin Cities Auto Show with the doors opening at 10 a.m.
Sweepstakes Details:
Only one entry per person. No purchase necessary to win. Open only to legal residents of Minnesota, as well as Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Must be 21 years or older at the time of entry. Some residency restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. The five randomly selected finalists eligible for the grand prize must be present for the live drawing on Saturday, March 7 to win.
*For full sweepstakes information and rules, including eligibility, prize descriptions and other details, click here.
Wednesday
Mar042020
“Your Table is Ready: Dining Out in Hennepin County through the Decades” in Hennepin Gallery March 4 through May 26
Via a March 4 announcement from Hennepin County:
“Your Table is Ready: Dining Out in Hennepin County through the Decades” in Hennepin Gallery March 4 through May 26
Hennepin Gallery is celebrating our love of food and fine dining in the new exhibit, “Your Table is Ready: Dining Out in Hennepin County Through the Decades.”
Thanks to the Hennepin County Library Special Collections, the Hennepin Gallery exhibit features menus, photographs, postcards and more celebrating the restaurant scene from the 1880s through the 1970s. Do you remember the lavish Minneapolis restaurants like The Nankin or Charlie’s Cafe Exceptionale? Do you still visit the iconic Murray’s and the northeast favorite, Jax’s Café? How about the first drive thru or drive in?
Through times of prosperity and times of shortage -- World War I, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and World War II – Minnesotans continued to eat out. Even with the advent of fast food, fine dining continued to flourish because many of these restaurants served more than just food: They featured stimulating, opulent interiors and memorable live entertainment. Eating out was an experience.
We hope you are hungry because your table is ready. Come to the Hennepin Gallery and enjoy.
About the Hennepin County Library Special Collections
The Hennepin County Library Special Collections at the Minneapolis Central Library houses over 1,000 local menus from the 1880s to today. View more menus online in the Library’s Digital Collections www.hclib.org/digitalcollections.
Interested in donating menus to the collection? Contact specialcoll@hclib.org.
This exhibit is presented by Hennepin County Library Special Collections.
The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A-Level, 300 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis.
Wednesday
Mar042020
DMNA Approves Resolution to Fund Mill District Police Substation
At its February 24, 2020 meeting, the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) unanimously approved a resolution to fund a police substation on South Second Street in the Mill District. Working with Sherman Associates, owner and developer of the Vicinity, and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), Joe Tamburino, former chair of the DMNA, spent several years making the police substation a reality.
The DMNA will be signing a five-year license giving the MPD’s Homeless Initiative officers a base of operations. It is hoped that having the substation in the neighborhood will assist with local outreach and provide an enhanced police presence in the neighborhood. The substation will be available for use by any licensed Minnesota peace/police officer.
Pam McCrea, chair of the DMNA, applauded the work that went into making the substation happen with “special thanks to Joe Tamburino who took the leadership and never dropped the ball.” Steve Fletcher, city council member and neighborhood resident, when asked about the substation, noted that the anticipated use of the space would put eyes on the street without drawing resources away from higher priority tasks.
Tuesday
Mar032020
Meet Minneapolis Coronavirus Update
Via a March 3 e-announcement from Melvin Tennant of Meet Minneapolis:
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Tuesday
Mar032020
Helpful 2020 Census Information from the City of Minneapolis
The 2020 Census is almost here!
Ten Days Away:
- As of March 2nd, we are only ten days away from the 2020 Census going live and being able to complete the 2020 Census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, on March 12th, the community will be able to visit My2020Cenus.gov to complete the census questionnaire.
- Invitations to respond to the 2020 Census will arrive between March 12-20 with instructions for responding online.
- You can respond online or by phone.
Where can I get help completing the census?
- If you need assistance to complete the 2020 Census, we encourage you to visit one of our Trusted Spaces questionnaire assistance centers (QAC). Our QAC's are community spaces staffed by familiar faces available to assist you with completing the 2020 Census. For more information about locations and hours please click here.
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Click to watch a short video on how to complete your census questionnaire online. |
What questions will you be asked on the 2020 Census?
- The U.S. Census Bureau has provided the questions that they will ask here.
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Click to view the U.S. Census Bureau's "Why We Ask" factsheet |
How will people experiencing homelessness be counted?
- In 2020, the Census Bureau will devote three days to counting people who are experiencing homelessness across the country. These days follow months of outreach and coordination with local census offices, partners, shelter directors, service providers and others. The dates are as follows:
- March 30, 2020: Counting people who are in shelters.
- March 31, 2020: Counting people at soup kitchens and mobile food vans.
- April 1, 2020: Counting people in non-sheltered, outdoor locations, such as tent encampments and on the streets.
How to avoid census scams online:
Phishing is a criminal act in which someone tries to get your information by pretending to be an entity that you trust. Phishing emails often direct you to a website that looks real but is fake—and may be infected with malware.
It is important to know that the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Further, during the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:
- Your Social Security number.
- Your bank account or credit card numbers.
- Money or donations.
In addition, the Census Bureau will not contact you on behalf of a political party.
What’s at stake?
The responses to the 2020 Census will determine how the federal government will distribute billions of dollars to community. We invite you to view and share the following 2020 Census videos, featuring local community members speaking about what’s at stake for Minneapolis communities:
- VJ-African American Community
- Cassandra-Native American Community
- Ser Lee-Hmong Community
- Bihi-Somali Community
- Rico-Latinx Community
- Bosteya-Somali Community
- Nadia-Latinx Community
Census Events/News
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Learn about Census Statistics in Schools (SIS Week) |
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Click to view the "Getting an Accurate Count" video |
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Click to view "What Will you do After High School?" video |
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Click to view the Census 101 for students factsheet |
- March 2nd-March 6th is Census Statistics in the Schools
- March 12th – Don't forget to apply for $750 in Grant money from the State of MN via The Minneapolis Foundation for census engagement.
- Minneapolis Complete Count Committee Meeting, Tuesday March 17: Are we ready for the census?
- 6:00 – 8:00 PM
UROC
2001 Plymouth Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
*Dinner will be provided
- 6:00 – 8:00 PM
- Census on the radio
- La Raza (95.7 FM) March 3 and March 31, 3:00-4:00pm
- KALY (101.7 FM) March 12, 2:00-3:00pm
- KMOJ (89.9 FM) March 25th, 1:30-2:00pm
- The National League of Cities has just announced an open call for proposals.
- Grants of $2,500-$40,000 are available for cities, towns, villages, and their local partners to improve or increase Get Out The Count activities that target historically under-counted and hard-to-count communities.
Translated materials and resources
The City of Minneapolis has translated census outreach materials into additional languages not available on the Census Bureau website. Visit minneapolismn.gov/census/wecountresources for information in:
The resources page also includes existing translations on the US Census website in:
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More information about the City of Minneapolis We Count campaign:Read more about the Minneapolis We Count campaign, including materials, resources and door-knocking and volunteer opportunities at wecountminneapolis.org Follow the City of Minneapolis on our platforms and help us to spread the word about being counted by sharing our videos and resources:
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Monday
Mar022020
MSP Film Announces Wicked Women Screening Series
In celebration of the upcoming release of breakthrough filmmaker Rose Glass’s divine horror tale SAINT MAUD, MSP Film presents the Wicked Women Screening Series, including SUSPIRIA on 3/18, ROSEMARY'S BABY on 3/25, and a free advance screening of SAINT MAUD on 3/31. Admission for the retro titles are just $5. St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 Main Street SE.
SUSPIRIA - In Dario Argento's horror classic, an American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.
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ROSEMARY'S BABY - A young couple moves in to an apartment only to be surrounded by peculiar neighbors and occurrences. When the wife becomes mysteriously pregnant, paranoia over the safety of her unborn child begins to control her life.
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SAINT MAUD - The debut film from writer-director Rose Glass, Saint Maud is a chilling and boldly original vision of faith, madness, and salvation in a fallen world. Maud, a newly devout hospice nurse, becomes obsessed with saving her dying patient’s soul — but sinister forces, and her own sinful past, threaten to put an end to her holy calling.
Sunday
Mar012020
Soccer in the Twin Cities
Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.
The twenty-fifth season of Major League Soccer has officially begun. Our team, Minnesota United FC, is opening this milestone season on the road for two games, against the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes, before their home opener at Allianz Field against the New York Red Bulls. While there is a lot of hype and excitement around Minnesota United, the state’s history of professional soccer stems back to 1976 and beyond.
1925 photo of two local soccer clubs facing each otherBefore a professional team called Minnesota home, many immigrant communities started their own clubs dating back to the 1880s. Amateur teams like the Minnehaha Thistles and St. Paul F.C. played across the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest, and every year starting in 1888, they competed for the Shaw Cup, the state’s first prestigious soccer trophy.
In the 1900s, the sport continued to make strides and gain popularity. In 1952, the Minnesota Soccer Association, now the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League, was founded. The next decade saw the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association begin, who is now the host association of the Western Hemisphere’s largest youth soccer tournament at the National Sports Center in Blaine, the USA Cup. If you’re interested in learning more about the beginnings of soccer in Minnesota, check out this article by Brian Quarstad of FiftyFive.One, an online local soccer magazine.
Minnesota Kicks, 1977
The first professional soccer team in the state came in 1976, the Minnesota Kicks, when the Denver Dynamos moved to Metropolitan Stadium. During their six years in the North American Soccer League, the Kicks made the playoffs every year, and made it to the final of the Soccer Bowl in their first year. They even became the first team to win four straight NASL division titles. When stars like Pelé came to town, the Met was rocking and raucous with 45,000 fans in attendance. People would even go just to tailgate outside of the stadium, a tradition that Minnesota United fans are trying to continue on. Unfortunately, the team ran into financial problems and folded after the 1981 season even though they planned to move into the new Metrodome the next year.
In 1984, Minnesota once again fielded a team in the NASL when the Fort Lauderdale Strikers moved to the Metrodome. This would be the last season of the NASL, and the Minnesota Stickers would move to the Met Center and join the Major Indoor Soccer League for four seasons before folding.
Minneapolis City Soccer Club logo
A couple years later in 1990, the head coach of the St. Paul Academy boys soccer team, Buzz Lagos, rounded up the top amateur players in area and the Minnesota Thunder came to be. In 1994, the Thunder joined the U.S. Interregional Soccer League and a year later, the team turned pro. During this era, the Thunder helped the careers of future US Men’s National Team players, Tony Sanneh and Manny Lagos, the current chief soccer officer and sporting director for Minnesota United. The Thunder would go on to play in the United Soccer League, the second tier on the US soccer pyramid, and created great rivalries that have stuck around to this day against the Montreal Impact, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps.
The 2005 season was historic for the team. In that year’s iteration of the US Cup, a tournament with competitors from every tier of the US soccer pyramid, the Thunder defeated three MLS teams before getting knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals by the LA Galaxy. 2009 ended up being their final season, when financial problems once again became the final blow. That season, a ninth grade Michael attended a match against the Puerto Rico Islanders with his teammates and coaches of DeLaSalle High School’s ninth grade soccer team, also known as the Islanders. With the help of the Dark Clouds, the Thunder’s supporter group, we chanted throughout the match “our Islanders are better than yours.” Good times.
Thankfully, a few people decided that professional soccer in Minnesota should stick around, and the year after the Thunder folded, the National Sports Center in Blaine created the NSC Minnesota Stars. The stars would join the second iteration of the NASL, this time a second-tier league, in 2010 with former player and Minnesota soccer legend, Manny Lagos, as their head coach. A year later, the National Sports Center did not meet the financial criteria to be able to continue to own and operate the Stars, so the NASL stepped in and ran the team, which would be known as Minnesota Stars FC. The 2011 season saw the Stars become champions. In 2012, the team would play a few games in the Metrodome, and would eventually make it back to the final. The Stars couldn’t pull off a win this time around, but in attendance was Dr. Bill McGuire who would purchase the team very soon after.
Minnesota United inaugural home opener ticket from 2017Now rebranded as Minnesota United with the state bird, the loon, as a focal point in their marketing, professional soccer in Minnesota was here to stay. By uniting soccer fans from across the Twin Cities and state, Minnesota United grew at a quick pace. Fan favorites Christian Ramirez won the Golden Boot, most goals scored in a season, in 2014 and 2016, and Miguel Ibarra earned the Golden Ball, league MVP award, and a callup to the US Men’s National Team in 2014 after an amazing season. The success of Minnesota United saw their fanbase grow and new supporter groups popping up to join the Dark Clouds, such as True North Elite.
In 2017, Minnesota United made the jump to Major League Soccer, and are coming off a 2019 season that saw them make the playoffs for the first time and open a brand-new soccer specific stadium, Allianz Field. Because of the stadium’s high quality and the atmosphere the fans and supporter groups have created, Allianz has already hosted men’s and women’s national team matches. If you haven’t been to a Minnesota United match at Allianz Field yet, you won’t be disappointed and are guaranteed to have a blast. If smaller crowds are your thing, but still want to have a fun time, check out Minneapolis City SC, a local team that plays in the National Premier Soccer League, the fourth tier of the US soccer pyramid, with home matches at Augsburg’s Edor Nelson Field. They’re a club that is going above and beyond for the sport in Minneapolis and have developed local talent who have gone on to play professionally in MLS, Canada, and Sweden.
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About Michael Rainville, Jr.
A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.
Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net.
Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.
Saturday
Feb292020
The Mill City Times Interview: West Elm North Loop
Article and photos by Becky Fillinger
Ribbon cutting - photo: West ElmGlobal lifestyle and design brand West Elm will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, March 5 from 6-8 PM at its new location on the ground floor of the Second + Second development in the North Loop. The event is open to all and will feature local bites and specialty cocktails (for those over 21), the new spring line and shopping for a cause: shoppers will receive a 15% discount during the event and a portion of the proceeds will go to Urban Homeworks, a local nonprofit transforming vacant and distressed Twin Cities properties. Speed up your check-in by rsvp’ing ahead of time.
Ahead of the grand opening, Mill City Times sat down with Hannah Wickberg, spokeswoman for West Elm, to learn more about the company and its vision for the North Loop location.
Hemp beddingQ: Welcome to the North Loop! What kinds of challenges do you face when you open a new store?
Hannah: We always partner with a great, local development company to build out our space in new markets. Since no store is exactly the same—and the space footprints vary—we enjoy the challenge of working with our developer, construction partners, and store design team to create a showroom and space that is unique to the market and fits in seamlessly with the neighborhood. The North Loop location has over 11,000 square feet and is on the first floor of a mixed use building.
Decorator aesthetic
Q: What are you most excited about in this new location?
Hannah: We love the urban location in the North Loop. We’re excited to be part of a diverse mix of retail, dining and cultural opportunities for people to explore while they’re downtown. West Elm is a neighborhood brand with our roots in a neighborhood, so we’re thrilled to continue having a community around us.
Q: Is there an unmet market you are hoping to serve? And if so, what is it?
Hannah: We look forward to serving the growing community of city dwellers in Minneapolis, from young professionals to established urbanites. We also hope to offer a convenient location for the large community of college students in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Modern aesthetic
Q: How do you build an assortment that is relevant to the local market?
Hannah: Two examples of how we keep our retail locations relevant to local markets are our in-store Design Crew Services and our LOCAL assortment. Our Design Crew services offer customers free design consultations in store for everything ranging from floor plans to fabric swatch selections. Our West Elm LOCAL program was launched in 2013, and since its inception has introduced over 900 artisans and their unique pieces to customers across the country. The downtown Minneapolis location will carry a unique selection of locally crafted goods from local Minnesota makers Solid Manufacturing & Kate Arends of Wit + Delight.
Kaloh Stoneware Dinnerware SetsQ: What are your best-selling items?
Hannah: Our unique, modern designs are what we’re best known for. Each customer is coming to us with their own personal style, so that’s why we offer a variety of visual expressions in our assortment. Our three design aesthetics are on display in the store: Decorator, Pure and Modern. The styles range from playful, colorful, geometric (modern) to velvets, fur and gleaming (decorator) – with lots of choices in each to customize your home design.
Q: How are you thinking about sustainability?
Hannah: Sustainability is one of West Elm’s core values, and we like to say that each one of our products is consciously designed to make a positive impact. Our assortment features GOTS-certified organic cotton, goods that are Fair Trade Certified™, and furniture made with wood certified to the high industry Forest Stewardship Council standards. We just celebrated our 5 year partnership anniversary with the Fair Trade label last fall. This commitment makes a difference by ensuring safe working conditions and fair wages. A portion of the purchase goes back to the factory in the form of a premium. Each factory decides how to spend the premium. For example, our makers in Haiti purchased bicycles for employees who typically walk 2-4 hours daily to and from work. Another partner opened a health clinic, not just for employees, but for the entire community.
Many of our selections are also handcrafted, sourced from a network of 35+ artisan groups in 15 countries, employing nearly 5,000 makers.
Recently, we expanded our bedding assortment to include a new Fair Trade Certified™ collection of hemp bedding including sheets, duvets, and a coverlet. West Elm is the biggest retailer of hemp for bedroom products. Hemp is generally considered to have a low environmental impact because growing the hemp plant requires significantly less water and land than other conventional bedding materials and does not typically require the use of pesticides.
View more about West Elm’s commitments to responsible retail at westelm.com/commitments.
Q: Are you thinking about delivery/supply chain differently for this city location? Do consumers shop a downtown location differently than locations in suburbs?
Hannah: We thoughtfully plan each store’s assortment knowing what the community is shopping for. For example, the downtown Minneapolis store may feature more small-space solutions than a store in Dallas, Texas, which may have more large sectionals and expanded dining tables.
Q: How much autonomy is the individual store given?
Hannah: The local stores have a lot of freedom and are encouraged to exercise their creativity. They are empowered to plan and host pop-up events and workshops in the store and participate in community events outside of the store. The local shopkeepers and stylists know their communities best, so we trust them to serve and relate to their customer base as they see fit.
With our LOCAL program, we love supporting and teaming up with local artists and makers to provide them a store-front location to showcase their products and reach a diverse audience. We also empower small businesses to use our retail space as a footprint to host events and pop-ups.
We plan to also get involved in community and neighborhood events, especially in the North Loop. We enjoy being a good neighbor, and that means participating in neighborhood functions – whether it is hosting book clubs, wine nights or fundraising events in our retail footprint.
West Elm has unique social media accounts for every location. For the North loop, check out Instagram: @westelmmpls and Facebook: @westelmmpls.
Q: How often do you get new product?
Hannah: West Elm always has something new! We change our assortments with each season, three times per season. Our local makers also come out with new products several times a year.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for West Elm?
Hannah: I love working for a brand that values corporate social responsibility. From being the first home brand to offer Fair Trade certified home goods to innovating a new bedding material with a sustainable hemp option – West Elm is constantly evolving its approach to design and looking for ways to make a positive impact. Our tag line is that we make design accessible – I’m proud to be part of that as it is as it is played out in our stores and online.
Dapper animal salad plates - koala
Q: Does West Elm offer design services and will staff visit a customer's condo or apartment to assist with room layout and design?
Hannah: Yes! West Elm Design Crew offers complimentary, personalized styling and design services for our customers. Our Design Crew can advise you in the store or visit your home for a consultation. There is zero obligation to purchase. The design services can run the gamut of measuring and selecting furniture for a room to choosing appropriate dinnerware for a special occasion.
We also offer installation services for a small fee, from hanging curtains to mounting gallery walls or a TV! For those who prefer to keep things online, we also now offer a free Design Chat function on WestElm.com.
Q: Why did West Elm decide to not open a hotel location in Minneapolis?
Hannah: We don’t have any updates on the status of the hotel. When we have updates to share, we will inform the community.
Q: Any other information you’d like to share with our readers?
Hannah: Visit us! Our store hours are Monday - Saturday 10 AM -7 PM and Sunday 11 AM - 6 PM. The store telephone number is 612-445-9378.
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About Becky Fillinger
I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.
One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories.
Friday
Feb282020
Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines Available for Review and Comment
Via an e-announcement from David Rubedor, Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations for the City of Minneapolis:
Dear community leaders,
The draft Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines are now available for review and public comment. The official public comment period will be held from February 28 to April 17, 2020.
Since 2016, the NCR department has been holding conversations with community and neighborhood leaders and elected officials about the needs and goals of our growing and vibrant city and identifying the role that neighborhoods should play in meeting them. We are excited to bring forward this culmination of work.
There has been a tremendous amount of volunteer and staff time dedicated to Neighborhoods 2020 and the best ways to support and enhance the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations starting in 2020 and beyond. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of volunteers and community members that contributed their time, talent and energy into this initiative. The tremendous value neighborhoods play in our city was reflected in your commitment and dedication.
The draft Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines are centered on building equity in our community. The City has worked closely with neighborhoods, community members and the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) on the development of the guidelines. The guidelines align with the City’s adopted Strategic Racial Equity Plan and the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which states that “Minneapolis will have an equitable civic participation system that enfranchises everyone, recognizes the core and vital service neighborhood organizations provide to the City of Minneapolis, and builds people’s long-term capacity to organize and improve their lives and neighborhoods.”
To view the draft Neighborhoods 2020 Programs Guidelines, go to: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr/2020. NCR will be holding community informational meetings. All meetings will have interpreters available. These meetings provide a space where residents can submit public comments. Current meeting dates include:
- March 9: Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center (UROC) - 6:00-8:00p.m.- 2001 Plymouth Avenue N. Minneapolis, MN 55411
- April 2: Northeast Park and Recreation Center - 6:00-8:00p.m. - 1530 Johnson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
You may allow submit comments in the following ways:
Email - Neighborhoods2020@minneapolismn.gov
Phone - 612-673-3737
Text Messaging and Voicemail
Español: (612) 404-2978
Hmoob: (612) 367-6548
Soomaaliga: (612) 404-2978
English: (612) 518-8743
US Postal Service Mail
Neighborhood and Community Relations
105 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 425
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Comments must be received by 11:59p.m., April 17.
The NCR department plans to bring final Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines to the City Council’s Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement (PECE) Committee in May 2020.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your neighborhood or community specialist at NCR.
Thank you very much for your time and contributions.
Regards,
David Rubedor
Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations
ADA Title II Coordinator
City of Minneapolis – Neighborhood and Community Relations
Crown Roller Mill, Room 425
105 5th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Office: 612-673-3129 David.Rubedor@minneapolismn.gov www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr
Thursday
Feb272020
10th Avenue Bridge to Close March 2020 for Extensive Rehab
The 10th Avenue SE Bridge will close to all traffic (vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians) in March 2020 for repairs. The bridge will be closed and detours will be in effect for approximately 18 months, until Summer 2021. More info.
Wednesday
Feb262020
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Success Highlighted at Meet Minneapolis Annual Meeting
Via a recent e-announcement from Meet Minneapolis:
The organization provided information on its key performance goals which help support more than 37,000 tourism and hospitality workers in Minneapolis
Meet Minneapolis held its 2020 Annual Meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Februay 25th. The city’s convention and visitors’ bureau noted successes in 2019 and presented an insider’s look at the future of meetings, events and tourism in Minneapolis from the perspectives of meeting planners, sports events rights holders and leisure travelers. In addition, Meet Minneapolis announced the newest members of its Board of Directors and recognized several individuals and organizations with special awards.
In 2019, Meet Minneapolis exceeded its key performance indicators in hotel room nights, convention center revenue, and private revenue. The organization brought more than 700 events to the Minneapolis region, and helped support more than 37,000 tourism and hospitality workers.
Meet Minneapolis Key Performance Indicators for 2019*
• Group Room Nights: 556,700 nights (104% of the goal set for 2019)
• Minneapolis Convention Center Revenue: $21.1 million (103%)
• Private Revenue: $2.9 million (110%)
“We take great pride in promoting and selling Minneapolis as the destination of choice for meeting planners and their attendees, sports events rights holders and leisure travelers,” stated Meet Minneapolis President and CEO Melvin Tennant. “Tourism plays a critical role in the economic success of Minneapolis, and our goal is to continue to support our local businesses, neighborhoods and workers while also showing off our city’s assets and amenities.”
Minneapolis Convention Center
One of the roles of Meet Minneapolis is to attract events to the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC). Last year, the MCC:
• Hosted nearly 350 conferences, meetings and events
• Generated $21.1 million in revenue
• Helped to support more than 8,000 jobs in the community
• Was honored with a pair of awards from Exhibitor Media Group which recognized North America’s best convention centers for trade show and events. The MCC earned a Centers of Excellence Award and a Best Customer Service & On-Site Support Award.
“With hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, the Minneapolis Convention Center is a significant economic engine for the tourism and hospitality industry in the city and region,” said Minneapolis Convention Center Executive Director Jeff Johnson. “As we embark on our 30th anniversary of serving as Minneapolis’ meeting place, we’re proud of the role we play in welcoming visitors to our city and creating and supporting jobs in Minneapolis.”
Sports Minneapolis
Sports Minneapolis highlighted its major role in bringing key sports events to the region such as last year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four, CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, ESPN’s X Games and the USA Taekwondo National Championships.
Seventy-seven (77) future sporting events were secured by Sports Minneapolis in 2019, including the 2020 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials, the 2021 NHL Winter Classic and the 2022 Gay Softball World Series.
Additional Highlights
• Nearly 42,000 visitors from 59 countries and all 50 states stopped into the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, located in the Centerpoint Energy building at 5th and Nicollet.
• More than 2 million people visited the Meet Minneapolis website (www.minneapolis.org) in 2019, to learn more on where to visit, eat, drink, shop and be entertained, resulting in 4.5 million page views and over 719,000 outbound clicks to partner websites.
• Six (6) new neighborhood guides (for a total of 18) were added to www.minneapolis.org, introducing visitors to the unique areas of the city like West Broadway, the North Loop and Kingfield.
• Meet Minneapolis social media channels had nearly 6.9 million total impressions in 2019.
• In partnership with Great Streets and the West Broadway Business Association, Lake Street Council and West Bank Meet Minneapolis audited more than 3,000 businesses that are located within those boundaries and over 600 partner businesses, to see where our small businesses need help showcasing their offerings.
Board of Directors
• Six new members were welcomed to the Meet Minneapolis Board of Directors: Lester Bagley (Minnesota Vikings), Amol Dixit (Hot Indian Foods), Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou (Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO), Andrea Mokros (Weber Shandwick), Mark Nerenhausen (Hennepin Theatre Trust), Jennifer Ridgeway (Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx)
• A ceremonial passing of the gavel took place as Julie Batliner (Carmichael Lynch) became the new Chair, replacing Mark Andrew (Greenmark Enterprises).
Awards and Recognition
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Tricia Johnson, Brede Exposition Services
• Innovation in Tourism Award: Peavey Plaza for the renovation and redesign which restored the area to create a lively gathering space in the heart of downtown Minneapolis
• President’s Award: First Avenue for drawing musical artists and visitors from around the world to the city’s iconic landmark for 50 years
• Excellence in Meetings, Events & Conventions Award: Target, which has held more than 500 meetings and events at the Minneapolis Convention Center since 2000
To access the 2019 Meet Minneapolis Annual Report, please go here. To learn more about how tourism and hospitality impact our community, check out this video:
* Unaudited. Key performance indicators will be verified by an independent auditor.
Wednesday
Feb262020
MNspin Open for Submissions thru March 25
Via a February 25 e-newsletter from Friends of the Hennepin County Library:
Launched in 2017, MNspin is an online music streaming platform with a growing collection of Minnesota's own albums curated by local experts. The platform connects library card holders with Minnesota music, giving artists exposure to new audiences and listeners the opportunity to explore the rich local music scene.
From now until March 25, MNspin is looking for the next group of Minnesota artists to join the collection! Whether to browse the collection or submit your recording, click here to find out more!
From Atmosphere to Spider John Koerner, Bob Dylan to Prince, Cantus to Semisonic, Cloud Cult to Trampled by Turtles, the Minnesota Orchestra, Bobby Vee, the Replacements, Maria Jette, The Steeles, Robert Robinson, Owl City, and so many others - they all had their start in Minnesota.
Wednesday
Feb262020
Doug Verdier's February 25 Photos of the Water Works Project
Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.
These photos, taken February 25th, show wooden forms in place against the inside of the stone wall on the river side of the Columbia Mill building. Concrete will then be poured into the forms, which contain rebar, to reinforce the stone exterior walls of the Mill building.
The right side of the above photo shows steel construction underway for the Sioux Chef restaurant area on the top floor of the Pavilion. The vertical concrete structure is the elevator shaft.
Tuesday
Feb252020
One Lane of West River Parkway will be Closed Weekdays Near Bohemian Flats Park thru March
Via a February 25 e-announcement from Minneapolis Park and Rec:
A short section of West River Parkway between Bohemian Flats Park and the 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed down to one lane, 7 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday, beginning this week through March 30. Construction flaggers will guide traffic around the closure, but please plan for delays traveling through this area of the parkway.
The closure is necessary for the City of Minneapolis to perform repairs on Bridge #9. Bike/pedestrian trails will remain open through the area.
Please follow the posted detours and stay away from areas where work is being performed. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience during the closure.
