Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines Release Moved to February 28

Via an e-announcement from David Rubedor, Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations for the City of Minneapolis:

Dear neighborhood and community leaders,

In order to further define the recommendations, the City has postponed the release by a few days of the Neighborhoods 2020 guidelines for public comment. We anticipate releasing the guidelines by next Friday afternoon, February 28. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Steven Gallagher, policy specialist, at steven.gallagher@minneapolismn.gov

Thank you for your time and patience.

Best,

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

Destruction & The Book: Minnesota Center for Book Arts Hosts 3-Part Lecture Series with Hill Museum & Manuscript Library; First Event is Tonight, February 20

Via a February 19 News Release:

Destruction & the Book: Minnesota Center for Book Arts Hosts 3-Part Lecture Series with Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

Attendees will have the opportunity to handle rare books from HMML's special collections

You can’t judge a book by its cover, unless the cover is 300 years old, worm-devoured, or from a remote archive in the Mediterranean Sea. Then, an archival expert can conclude a lot—not just about the individual book, but about the culture and society that produced it.

The public will have the opportunity to learn about this and more from HMML archival experts at three lectures taking place this spring at Minnesota Center for Book Arts:

Malta, Slavery & Archives: The Legacy of 
Human Trafficking in Early Modern Documents
Thursday, February 20; 7-9pm

Cut, Eaten, Burnt, Stained: The Perilous Life of Old Books
Thursday, March 26; 7-9pm

Books Ripped Away: Secularization and the 
Removal of Monastic Books to State Libraries 
Thursday, April 16; 7-9pm

Before and after the presentations, attendees will have the chance to handle rare books, some close to 350 years old.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with HMML for the third year, and to offer audiences the chance to learn from HMML’s vast collections of digitized and physical rare books and manuscripts from cultures across the world. Our partnership reflects each organization’s commitment to preserving the material culture of the book in the 21st century,” says Elysa Voshell, Executive Director of MCBA.

The first lecture in the series features Dr. Daniel K. Gullo, the Joseph S. Micallef Curator of the Malta Study Center and Coordinator of Digital Humanities. He will look at the role of small archives in Malta to discuss the nature of slavery and what it tells us about human trafficking, law, and international communication in the 18th century.

In the second lecture, HMML’s Assistant Director for Strategic Development, Dr. Melissa Moreton, will explore the world of damaged medieval books and demonstrate the resilience of these carriers of knowledge. The manuscripts and early printed books that have survived across the centuries have endured use by many hands and abuse in many forms. Manuscripts have been cut up, their illuminations sold and dispersed, eaten by book worms and rodents, damaged in floods and fires—but often survive these ravages to carry forward the messages held within their covers.

In the third lecture, Dr. Matthew Heintzelman, Curator of Western Collections and Rare Books at HMML, will look at the history of monastic collections that were built over centuries and their removal to the Bavarian State Library, state libraries and archives in Austria.

Free and open to the public, the lectures will take place in the Target Performance Hall at Open Book, with wine receptions to follow.

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts Announces Winter Art Show Opening, February 23

Opening Reception Sunday, Feb 23  5:00-7:00PM

Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street

Show runs February 23 – June 1, 2020

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You're invited to The Mill Yard opening reception for wine, beverages, snacks and beautiful art. Local popular food truck, Taqueria Victor Hugo, will be out front selling a variety of Mexican cuisine.

About The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts

The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence. The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community.

ARTIST DETAILS:

Laura Donovan

Laura Donovan: E Marooned

Laura describes her oil paintings as “suggestive of landscapes in a world just beyond this one. The moods can be dark while the colors vivid and provocative.” Elements in her work are inspired by her surroundings and her travels. A Twin Cities native, her education focused on International Relations at the University of Minnesota but she has pursued art throughout her life.  Her paintings have been displayed around the Twin Cities and she is currently an exhibitor at Gustaf’s Up North Gallery in Lindstrom, MN.

Tim Harding

Tim Harding: Koi Cloud Reflections

After working in painting and photography Tim became intrigued with the intimacy of fiber/textiles, their textural, tactile richness, the pliable plane, and the inherent grid of the weave, as well as the complex cultural roles of this medium. Inspiration for his work emerges from historical references, world cultures, modern art and artists with a key influence being the profound connection between modern painting and primitive ethnographic artifacts. Tim uses a unique, self-developed physical technique (a complex, free-reverse applique) that creates a compelling interplay of surface and structure. He has received numerous prestigious awards and Tim’s pieces are in museums and corporate collections across the country.

Steve Hemingway

Steve Hemingway: Tree Vase

Steve explains the material that best suits his work is clay. “Clay, especially wet clay, allows for sensuous immediacy. The clay responds immediately to your touch and in return you respond back and a dialog is created. It immerses you into the present moment. I find this a wellspring for creative thought and process.”  A native of Flint Michigan, and where he trained as an artist, Steve taught part time which allowed him to develop as an artist. In 1992 Steve moved to Minneapolis and in 1996 moved to Minnetonka where he built another studio and soon after devoted himself full-time to his art.  Steve creates tablets, tiles, vessels and sculpture. Most of his work is Raku fired.

Nanci Yermakoff

Nanci Yermakoff: Series 14 #21

Nanci’s luminous watercolors majestically radiate color, space and emotion. She currently lives and works in St Paul and has a studio in the Northrup King Building. In addition, she has a studio in north-central Minnesota where the lakes of the north woods inspire her work. Nanci has been a featured artist in American Artist Watercolor magazine as well as Watercolor Artist magazine. She taught watercolor at the Botanical and Zoological Art and Illustration Program at the Como Conservatory in St Paul from 2004-2009.

Doug Verdier Shares Early February Photos of the Water Works Project

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.

Construction continues on the Water Works Park Pavilion as workers erect the steel framework for the restaurant level of the building.

Steel beam being positioned on the building.

Pavilion as seen from West River Parkway showing framework for the restaurant level of the park pavilion.

Interior of the former Columbia Mill building showing concrete reinforcing wall under construction inside the original mill walls.

Another view of the interior of former Columbia Mill building showing reinforcing wall under construction.

When You Get Tangled Up, Go to Tango

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

Thanks to Al Pacino for our title. Why does he recommend it? 

Tango is the one of the most popular partner dances worldwide. It is 140+ years old, originating in the Argentine and Uruguayan port areas along the Rio de la Plata, where native urban dwellers mixed with slaves and European immigrants. In 2009, UNESCO included tango in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. Tango is now known to offer therapeutic healing – benefits were recognized in 1980, and numerous scientific studies have shown that tango dance improves quality of life, cognition, endurance, balance, social satisfaction, and emotional health. Tango is recognized by the Veteran’s Administration to assist in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease – it improves balance and walking, and is a safe psychological touching environment that can help in rebuilding trust. The combined mental and physical aspects of Tango, practiced consistently, make a big difference in veterans’ wellbeing. Tango can also help build empathetic communities. There’s a Tango Society of Minnesota. Pope Francis danced the tango in his younger years. 

Wow – it’s a dance powerhouse! What can it do for our hyper-local Mill City community? A lot. Tango’s cultural heritage, along with its physical and mental benefits, are celebrated weekly in the Mill District.

James Schmit and Nancy Arnison   

James Schmit founded Mill City Tango in 2019. He came to tango as a remedy for serious back pain caused by a sedentary IT career. “I was spending many hours on the floor at work every day just trying to manage my back pain. My job as an IT person, sitting all day at a desk, was clearly aggravating my condition, but doctors continued to avoid naming the real problem, prescribing palliative care again and again.” James determined that moving his body would be key to recovery and that dancing would be his way to a better lifestyle.

He retired from the desk job and started dancing. His early dancing adventures in Minnesota led him to Country Two Step, West Coast Swing, and then after moving to Florida, to Salsa. He noticed that the pain was diminishing week by week. The Salsa dancing he witnessed in Miami involved unbelievable sensuality and gusto, causing James to realize that the world “just didn’t need one more aging white guy attempting Salsa.” Enter the Tango. “I found I enjoyed Tango music. I liked sensing the kinetic movements of my partner and I began feeling the flow of the dance. As challenging as the dance was, I began to realize I was stronger and felt much better for doing it. My core had to be engaged to survive practice, and the mental challenge was significant. I have tried to quit Tango many times in complete frustration, but I keep coming back to it.” When he moved back to Minnesota, James founded Mill City Tango to continue his practice and healing and to meet new people.

Instructor Rebecca Abas (red shirt) instructs on the connected tango embrace, or abrazo. 

Rebecca Abas is the instructor for Mill City Tango. She teaches at her studio, Four Seasons Dance Studio in Loring Park (where she has taught for over 20 years), and at the U of M. Rebecca has taught dance coast to coast at corporate events, and has choreographed many theatrical productions. She is an enthusiastic promoter of tango’s social aspects and ability to build community. “Couples enjoy it because they can each contribute to the partnering fun. Singles like it because they can meet people in a safe happy environment. I think Argentine Tango has more connection than most dances because of the close physical contact and intense music - it is very social.

The Mill District is a fairly new community that has been thrown together by all the nearby development. We know people seek others with similar interests to have a social network. Dance is wonderful for the physical and mental exercise, and social dance brings people together unlike anything else. It's a little risky (to be vulnerable) for someone, but if they stick with it they soon have a group of people they can trust, and when they live in the same building or neighborhood that connection will extend to other aspects of living in the Mill District.”

When I visited the Mill City Tango, they were dancing to Cristal by Francisco Canaro. The music is beautiful and melancholy - worth a visit to hear new music!

Other students’ reactions were enthusiastic as well. Beth Lee noted, “Tango is a nice way to meet people outside of your wheelhouse. It is something I totally would not do before Mill City Tango.” Cindy and Darrell Randle “wanted to take dance classes forever – the steps and little pivots are fun to learn.” 

Mill City Tango meets every Tuesday at 6:15p at The Legacy, 1240 S 2nd Street. What do you need? A sturdy shoe with a smooth bottom and a willingness to learn and trust. Dancing lasts about an hour and then the group socializes for another hour. There is a suggested donation of $15 per class, and all are welcome to the social after class. For those in the Mill District interested in improving their physical and mental health – i.e. untangling - for a brief interlude, please get in touch with James via jschmitr@msn.com. (No registration is needed, but you can request to be added to the email notification list.)

The shoes are important - you need to be able to glide and pivot to tango.

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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. 

Friends of the Hennepin County Library Invites you to Share Your Library Love this Valentine's Day!

An open invitation from Friends of the Hennepin County Library:

Dear Friend,

As Valentine's Day approaches, we want to say thank you for loving our library! Your generosity and support show just how much you care about our library and the thousands of your neighbors who depend on its programs and resources.

To celebrate this Valentine's Day, we're inviting you to write a special message to your local library! Your kind words will mean so much to our librarians and staff who make the promise of our library come to life. Click the link below to submit your Valentine's Day message online by February 21.

Send your Valentine now!

Whether you share a personal story, write a quirky poem, or simply say "thank you," please know that your kindness will truly be appreciated. After receiving your Valentine's Day messages last year, one librarian said, "Thank you so much for sharing this heartwarming message...it made my day!"

Thank you again for supporting our library, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Condo Sales at Eleven Hit Half-Way Point

Via a February 11 News Release:

Sudler Property Management Hired to Provide Concierge Services to Resident Owners

Ryan Companies and Luigi Bernardi announce today that Eleven has sold over half of the residences in the 550-foot, 41-story tower that will be Minneapolis’ tallest residential building. In addition, Chicago-based Sudler Property Management has agreed to terms with the project team to offer resident owners a new-to-market level of customized services and amenities. 

“We knew there was a severe lack of inventory in the luxury condo market in the Twin Cities area and the pace at which these homes have sold bears that out,” said John Wanninger of WMG Partners at Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty, which is selling homes at Eleven. “What has been extremely gratifying is that this project defies the norms of a typical winter project. December and January felt like a spring market, and we are very happy with our sales for the project overall.”

Sudler Property Management, Chicago’s premier property management firm, is known for providing concierge support at prominent residential addresses in Chicago including No. 9 Walton, Park Hyatt Residences, and the Palmolive Building.

“After searching nationwide, the team at Eleven is thrilled to announce Sudler as our partner to provide the residents of Eleven with all the benefits, experiences and amenities of a five-star hotel,” said Luigi Bernardi, CEO of Arcadia, LLC, and co-developer of Eleven. “Sudler’s vast resources in its management team, innovative technology and legendary reputation for service will provide the residents of Eleven with stellar 24/7 attention from the moment they enter the building.”

The Eleven team toured more than 30 projects in North America seeking the best-in-class for every facet of Eleven. Sudler Property Management stood out for its attention to detail. Eleven will be Sudler’s first property in Minnesota.

“Our Sudler team will provide the residents of Eleven with calm, attentive expertise, from the 24/7 greeting as they arrive in the building’s motor court, to concierge-level support for parcel and grocery delivery, to floral arrangements effortlessly refreshed daily and much more,” said Steven Levy, President of Sudler.  “Eleven owner-residents can expect true service and everyday luxuries provided with Midwestern charm, hospitality, and care.  Our goal is to establish ‘Sudler-managed’ as a mark of excellence in Minneapolis. We are proud to set that standard at Eleven.”

At Eleven, residents will enjoy a level of amenities above and beyond those offered elsewhere in Minneapolis. The building's revierfront location, convenience to Gold Medal Park, music venues, theaters, and museums, is as unique as it is inviting. Situated near the Stone Arch Bridge, set back from the chaotic busyness of the urban center, Eleven's resident owners will appreciate a green setting with stunning views of the city. Eleven will foster a true sense of community among its owners.

“Eleven’s design is magnificent and unparalleled in the marketplace,” said Bernardi. “As a future resident of Eleven, I am looking forward to raising the bar on the standard of living and personal service for each homeowner; and Sudler provides a critical part of delivering that experience.”

About Eleven

The 550-foot, 41-story Eleven tower will be Minneapolis’ tallest residential building and first designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), based in New York City.  Luigi Bernardi of Arcadia LLC is serving as the project sponsor and co-developer and Ryan Companies is serving as co-developer, builder, and is partnering with RAMSA as the architect. RAMSA, Ryan, and local firms Peterssen/Keller Architects, Martha Dayton Design and Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty have ensured the building interior is as thoughtful as its exterior. Amenities include a large landscaped terrace that will be unlike any other in the city including a 25-yard lap pool, a private motor court,  a 24/7 doorman, an expansive fitness suite, a multi-sport court, a library, a golf simulator, a children’s splash pad, retail space (ideally for a restaurant), a demonstration kitchen with dining, residential and guest parking, storage, and more.  For reservation inquiries, contact Lake Sotheby’s International Realty at (612) 340-9000.

Cuddle a Puppy this Valentine’s Day at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center

100% of Proceeds benefit Midwest Animal Rescue & Services

Get ready to cuddle up with cuteness on Valentine’s Day at the 5th annual Meet Minneapolis Puppy Cuddle on Friday, February 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, located at 505 Nicollet Mall, Suite 100, directly across from the METRO Nicollet station. A $5 donation will provide three minutes of cute, snuggle time with a plethora of puppies while also supporting Midwest Animal Rescue and Services™ (MARS).  Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted at the event.

MARS is committed to finding homes for animals that were once lost, left behind and forgotten. Once in their care, companion animals are vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. Special attention is provided for those animals that need additional time and medical care before going to a new home. For more information, visit www.midwestanimalrescue.org. 

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS VISITOR CENTER

As part of Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitor Association, the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center is the official visitor center for Minneapolis, located in the CenterPoint Energy building on Nicollet and 5th Street. Staff is available to answer questions, share visitor maps and resources about things to do in Minneapolis and the surrounding area. The Visitor Information Center in the Minneapolis Convention Center also is available to provide similar information to visitors and convention attendees.

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit to the greater Minneapolis area. Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International.

CONNECT WITH MEET MINNEAPOLIS!
Online: www.minneapolis.org
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis
On Instagram: www.instagram.com/meetminneapolis
Watch: You’ve never met a place quite like this

Catch the Academy Award Winning Movie Parasite at St. Anthony Main Theatre!

On the heels of last night's 92nd Academy Awards, MSP Film has extended their run of the Oscar-Winning PARASITE on Screen #3 at St. Anthony Main Theatre. Bong Joon Ho's modern fairytale won Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, Best Director, AND Best Picture.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks.

Census Offices in Minnesota Launch “You Count” Kickoffs and Recruiting Blitzes for 2020 Census at Open House Events - Minneapolis is February 11

The U.S. Census Bureau Chicago Region is hosting open house events at Minnesota’s three Area Census Offices, in Minneapolis, Rochester and Duluth, to launch “You Count” kickoffs and recruiting blitzes for the 2020 Census.  

Minneapolis Open House and Recruiting Blitz Location:

Minneapolis Area Census Office
Open house:   Tuesday, February 11 – 10 a.m. 
250 South Marquette Ave, Suite 560, Minneapolis

The open houses are an invitation for state and local officials, organizations that are 2020 Census Partners across Minnesota, and census job seekers to visit the Area Census Offices (ACOs). The role of ACOs is to recruit, hire and manage ACO staff and field positions across the state.

The open house events are being held one month from when the Census Bureau will begin mailing letters in mid-March to households across Minnesota inviting everyone to respond to the 2020 Census. 

The public will be able to apply onsite for census jobs, to meet and greet local leaders, and to learn more about the importance of the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau is still seeking over 8,400 applicants for field and office Census positions across the state. Census taker positions offer flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. In Minnesota, Census job pay rates range from $16.50 to $27.50 per hour. 

For more information, please visit 2020Census.gov.
Census jobs:  2020Census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020 (1-855-562-2020) 
For TTY/ASCII, applicants may contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

January 2020 by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

goPuff Delivery Service Expands to Minneapolis

Via a February 5 News Release:

goPuff, a digital convenience retailer, has expanded service in Minneapolis, offering its superfast deliveries in the Midway area from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., seven days a week. goPuff, which launched in the state of Minnesota with the opening of its St. Paul facility in June 2018, also operates in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.

goPuff stocks more than 2,500 products in centrally located facilities in Minneapolis (and each market in which it operates) to bring products directly to the customer in those moments they need them most. From snacktime favorites such as ice cream, candy and beverages to household essentials ranging from cleaning products, diapers, and even pet goods, the unique delivery concept answers the call for consumers in need day or night with solutions spanning more than eight categories.

“goPuff’s mission is to create more time in the day for our customer by consistently redefining the very meaning of convenience to provide a high-quality experience at an exceptional value,” said Yakir Gola, goPuff co-founder and co-CEO. “Every day, we work tirelessly to further this mission by bringing the exceptional goPuff experience to more customers across the country. Since launching in Minneapolis in 2019, goPuff has delivered thousands of orders to customers in the city and today we’re excited to expand our service and deliver the moments that matter most to even more customers in the area.”

In celebration of the launch, goPuff also announced  Minnesota customers’ most-ordered items in popular product categories:

• Snacks: Gushers Flavor Mixer and Funyuns

• Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked and Ben & Jerry’s Milk & Cookies

• Alcohol: White Claw Seltzer Variety Pack and Truly Hard Seltzer Berry Pack

• Home Essentials: Scott Toilet Paper and Bounty Paper Towels

• Frozen Food: Pepperoni Hot Pockets and Three Cheese Bagel Bites

Co-founded in 2013 by Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, two Drexel University undergraduates, goPuff began by delivering 50 basic products before pivoting the company to a full convenience store and alcohol delivery service in 2014. Today, the brand operates in more than 150 U.S. locations, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and many more. goPuff, originally embraced by digital natives and Millennials who responded to the intuitive mobile app and entertaining social brand voice, has built a loyal following across demographics, catering to anyone who needs more convenience in their lives.   

All orders are accessible through the goPuff mobile app (iOS and Android) or goPuff.com. Users simply enter their address and scroll through a wide range of products across numerous categories including snacks, beverages, groceries, household goods, OTC, personal care, school supplies, pet supplies and more. Any order can be delivered for a flat $1.95 delivery fee.

goPuff currently serves customers in the following zip codes: 55114, 55116, 55401, 55402, 55403, 55404, 55405, 55406, 55407, 55108, 55413, 55414, 55415, 55454, 55455, 55479, 55487, 55411, 55417, 55116, 55102, 55455, 55408, 55409, 55415, 55108, 55407, 55406, 55413, 55403, 55117, 55405, 55418, 55414, 55401, 55104, 55419, 55105, 55114, 55402, 55113, 55103, 55454, 55404

For more information, please visit www.gopuff.com or check us out on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

City of Minneapolis Art in Public Places Call for Artists

Excerpts from the latest City of Minneapolis Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy newsletter.

Sign up for these newsletters at http://www.minneapolismn.gov/coordinator/arts/index.htm.

Art in Public Places: Call for Artists

The City of Minneapolis Art in Public Places Program is launching a new Call for Artists. The City is seeking an artist/artist team to design and fabricate an approximately 325 square foot, public artwork for the new park building at Currie Park.

The chosen public artists will work with residents of the Cedar Riverside area to create a new two-dimensional public artwork.

Artist Info Session: February 6th, 2020
Where: Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55454

For more information on how to apply, visit the City Webpage.

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Art Force at Nordhaus: Call for Art

Art Force is requesting submissions for the first exhibit of 2020 at the gallery at NordHaus.
NordHaus is a collection of custom designed apartment homes on First Avenue NE in Minneapolis.

The theme of the show is “Bold North.” The work should depict or respond to this theme, and each artist may submit up to six images for consideration.

Art Force is seeking:

• Art by artists living and/or working in Minneapolis
• Art of professional quality and presented as such. Pieces should be ready to hang.
• This is a 2 Foot x 2 Foot show. Submitted work must not be larger than 30” x 30” including framing.

The exhibition will be installed the first week of March, 2020 and will remain installed until the end of August, 2020. Artwork will be available for sale and Art Force will manage those transactions.

Submission Deadline: Received by 5 PM on Monday February 17, 2020.

Submissions should include:

• Images of artwork labeled with:     Title of Work     Size 
• Retail Price
• Media
• Artist Name
• Artist phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address
• Artist Statement (optional)

Please submit to lpr@artforce.org using www.wetransfer.com. It is free. Please indicate that your submission is for the NordHaus show.

If you have questions, please contact Leslie Palmer-Ross lpr@artforce.org.

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Threads Dance Project: Audition Notice

Threads Dance Project is seeking an ethnically diverse group of dancers ages 21 and older, that are quick learners and are fluent in a variety of dance forms.  Rehearsals begin on August 3, 2020 and the opportunity to perform in a new Ordway Theater commission next November, and other events.

Auditions will be held: Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Registration and warm up time: 9:00am-9:30am
Audition: 9:30am-11:30am

Location: Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts. 1617 N. 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55411 FREE Parking available.

• Dancers must bring a headshot and resume.
• Looking for both men and women

Please visit the Threads Dance Project website for further information.

Heart Month Activities Begin Today, February 5, at Hennepin Healthcare

Via a February 5 e-newsletter from Hennepin Healthcare:

All around the world you’ll find people with unique personalities, passions and talents – each of them with a heart that they could not live without. Hennepin Healthcare has a month full of free, heart-healthy activities planned to celebrate these multi-chambered organs responsible for love – and life itself! Check out our exciting schedule and discover a way to treat your heart – and mind – this February.

Learn Hands-Only CPR and Save Lives
Wednesday, February 5
12pm to 1pm | HCMC Red Building, 2nd-floor skyway, public seating area

No mouth-to-mouth assisted breathing needed for this type of CPR! Learn this simple, life-saving technique from our Hennepin EMS team. Every second counts!

National Wear Red Day
Friday, February 7
Hennepin Healthcare is going red! Wear red on the first Friday in February to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and save lives. Email photos of your group wearing red to events@hcmed.org.

Two Daves with Heart: David Fine, MD on Healthy Matters with David Hilden, MD
Sunday, February 9
7am to 8 am | WCCO-AM Radio (Listen LIVE)

Tune in to hear cardiologist David Fine, MD kick off National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week and hear how this essential intervention following a heart attack, cardiac surgery or other heart issue helps patients regain strength and confidence.

Quigong with Acupuncturist Steve Compton
Wednesday, February 12
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
Qigong is a mind-body-spirit practice with origins in China that improves mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage, sound, and focused intent. Join Steve Compton as he leads a Shibashi (18 Harmonizing Movements) Qigong class – great for beginners! Register early - class may fill up. RSVP

Zumba with Patient Services Coordinator Deanne Flomo
Thursday, February 13
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
Zumba, developed in Colombia, is a fitness program that combines Latin music with dance moves. Join Deanne Flomo for this “dance party” and get your heart moving! Register early - class may fill up. RSVP

Food is Medicine with Certified Executive Chef Antonio Sanchez and Registered Dietitian Elizabeth Rosenstein
Thursday, February 20
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center

Eating heart-healthy can be flavorful! Learn how to prepare heart-healthy meals and get cooking tips from Certified Executive Chef Antonio Sanchez and Registered Dietitian Elizabeth Rosenstein. RSVP

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with Physician Assistant Natalie Ikeman
Friday, February 21
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a form of timed cardiovascular high-intensity exercises with short periods of active recovery. Natalie Ikeman will teach this HIIT class using bodyweight only and modifications will be provided for all fitness levels. RSVP

Yoga with Cardiology Physician Assistant Jill Jordan
Wednesday, February 26
12pm – 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
Yoga is a mind and body practice with origins in India more than 5,000 years ago. Join Jill Jordan as she leads a yoga class combining physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. No mat required. Register early - class may fill up. RSVP

The Hennepin Heart Center provides comprehensive care for your heart by specialists in all areas of cardiovascular medicine. Caring for common cardiovascular problems such as blocked arteries and abnormal rhythms, we also evaluate and manage heart failure as well as complex heart and arterial disease.

"Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder: Celebrating 85 Years" in Hennepin Gallery through February 28

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder: Celebrating 85 years in Hennepin Gallery through February 28

Hennepin Gallery joins in celebrating the 85th anniversary of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) with a month-long exhibit. MSR is the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and one of the longest running, family-owned newspapers in the country.

The Hennepin Gallery exhibit features items of historical significance from the paper’s long and storied past. This includes a large collection of photographs that evoke a rich and vivid display of Black life in the Twin Cities that spans decades.

Many of the photos feature unknown individuals; members of the community may share any information about people they might recognize.

About the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Established in 1934 by local civil rights icon and business leader Cecil Newman, the MSR has long been revered as a trusted news source and voice of the African American community. Years later, the paper and its staff remain committed to the credo that can be found on the wall of their historic office building in South Minneapolis:

“The Negro Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every man, regardless of race, color, or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man, the Negro Press strives to help every man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.”

Now under the direction of Newman’s granddaughter Tracey Williams-Dillard, the MSR continues to thrive, championing perspectives and stories that may otherwise go unheard.

The exhibit is part of a series of events coordinated by the Minneapolis Black Employee Network in celebration of Black History Month.

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 Street.

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.

Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.

2020 MN Brewery Running Series Schedule

The 2020 Minnesota Brewery Running Series line up is complete. Check out our upcoming season of events below and join in the fun! 

• 41 events
• 7 NEW brewery destinations
• 10, 10k course options
• 10,000 reasons to join in the fun!

Ryan Companies: Building A Better Workplace

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

What company was ranked #9 in the Star Tribune's Top Workplaces for 2019? Here’s a visual clue for you:

Photo credit Legacy resident, Tabitha Mays

If you live in the Mill District, you’re probably aware that the Ryan Cos. US Inc. (and Edina developer Luigi Bernardi) are building The Eleven. But did you know that Ryan Companies headquarters are located in the Mill District at 533 S 3rd Street in the Millwright Building? I visited their offices in January and was impressed with the handsomeness and functionality of the LEED Platinum certified building.

Lamp with rebar baseI know that Ryan is a construction company, but was nonetheless delighted by the wide-open workspaces, ample areas for private meetings, visibility and accessibility of company executives and creative incorporation of construction materials into the interior design and decoration.

Rebar and cranes are repurposed as lighting features and private meeting rooms are built from construction gang boxes. I loved a 3D model of the Minneapolis cityscape in the front lobby. The Downtown Building Model was constructed by Rolly Stephens, Director of Virtual Design, whose hobby is, not surprisingly, wood crafting.

Ryan Companies welcomes the public to view the model from either outside or drop in to take a closer look.    

3D cityscape model with The Eleven condo project in yellow

Broader view of the cityscape

Ryan has been in business for 83 years, employs 1300 people in 16 offices in 8 regions, with the Minneapolis office being the largest office. It is certainly a Minnesota business success, but what makes it a top Minnesota workplace? Employee surveys – but what makes an employee admire their employer? Glassdoor reviews are very positive – 90% of anonymous respondents would recommend Ryan to a friend and 97% approve of the CEO. Quotes include: “A great culture that actually practices their morals and values” and “Great leadership and company culture make it a place that you enjoy going to work every day.”  I found many quotes about great benefits and honesty in all interactions with clients and employees.

Company motto displayed above a gang box meeting area

“Our company motto is ‘Do The Right Thing’ and you’ll see it reflected year-round at Ryan,” said Public Relations Manager Kathy Jalivay. "Examples of living the motto are played out in our philanthropic programs and helping with regional disasters. The monumental Cedar Rapids flooding of 2008 impacted 5,390 houses, dislocated more than 18,000 residents and damaged 310 City facilities. Ryan helped with pre-flood preparations and put a dedicated team in place to handle flood recovery construction. Ryan was pivotal in restoring Cedar Rapids, including rebuilding the city hall, public library, fire station, Veterans Memorial Building and the historic Paramount Theater." Jalivay added, “The Cedar Rapids story is a great testament to how we operate as a company. We don’t just build buildings. We build communities where people can thrive. Why did we do it? We had an office and employees there, we knew how to do it and it was the right thing to do.”

Light fixture made from a crane componentEvery Ryan employee is encouraged to use up to 20 hours of worktime each year to volunteer in their communities. The corporate goal is to contribute 3% of Ryan’s pre-tax earnings to local communities through volunteering. With 1300 employees, that’s over 3200 work days devoted to volunteering. The North Region spent almost 1,500 hours in 2019 at Ryan's Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity house, building a home for their partner family in South Minneapolis. The North Region builds a Habitat for Humanity house each year. Employees who typically do an indoor desk job might be found doing a dry wall installation – it ties the employee to the actual business of the company and to its charitable endeavors.

Another impressive goal is donating cash and sponsorships equal to 2% of pre-tax earnings each year. This is with a stated revenue of 2 billion dollars in 2018! Ryan matches 100% of employee charitable contributions to qualifying non-profit charities, up to $500 per charity per year. RyanGivesBack efforts raised $838,130 in 2019, including employee donations, corporate matching funds and direct contributions. The North Region’s RyanGivesBack 2019 campaign raised over $301,000 in employee donations, pledges and corporate matches.

Tom RehwaldtOne amenity jumped out at me as praiseworthy – a shared bicycle program. Employees may use corporate bicycles for quick trips around town for business or to take a work break.

Tom Rehwaldt, a Civil Engineer and Mill District resident, is an avid user. “The shared bicycles are a great amenity for our office. I often use them to grab lunch with friends on the other side of downtown. Biking instead of walking is much more enjoyable and saves me about 20 minutes.” 

Ryan Companies is evidently ‘doing the right thing’. It’s wonderful to learn that our Mill District corporate neighbor is doing well, taking care of employees and being recognized for it.

Original company truck on display in the lobby

Constuction-themed decor 

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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. 

A Fort in Paradise: Part II

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Part I of this three-part series delved into the early history of Bdote, the land where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers meet. The most important land to many Dakota was left untouched for thousands of years and was considered by many to be the exact spot where the Dakota people came to be, their Garden of Eden, paradise. However, as it is uniformly seen throughout early American history, the westward expansion of the United States meant the continent’s Native populations were forced from their own land. The Dakota were no exception.

During Lieutenant Zebulon Pike’s exploration of the northern Mississippi River in the early 1800s, he negotiated treaties with the Dakota to acquire land for the U.S. Government even though he never had the authority to do so. Once things settled down after the War of 1812 against the British, the U.S. Military began their plans to build a fort at Bdote.

Bdote - Fort Snelling by John Casper Wild - 1844

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Leavenworth lead troops to Bdote in 1819 and settled just up the Mississippi River at Mni Sni, or as they named it, Camp Coldwater, a freshwater spring. Construction of the stone military fort started a year later when Colonel Josiah Snelling arrived, and under his supervision, Fort St. Anthony was completed in 1825. That same year, the U.S. Military renamed the fort to Fort Snelling after the fort’s commander and architect. The first task for the fort and its troops was not to protect incoming pioneers and settlers, but to stop them from going into Dakota and Ojibwe land in order to make sure the fur trade continued unimpeded. A major reason for U.S. westward expansion was to acquire resources and make money, and fur trading was a major moneymaker.

Fort Snelling did its job of protecting the fur trade, and when more forts were being constructed further west and St. Paul, St. Anthony, and Minneapolis were being established, the need for a military fort in the area diminished. In 1858, the same year Minnesota became a state, the fort was closed. A former Fort Snelling sutler, or civilian merchant, and entrepreneur Franklin Steele purchased the fort from the government and intended to establish there the City of Fort Snelling. This vision never came to fruition, but Steele did turn the parade grounds into a pasture for his sheep.

Bdote - Fort Snelling - 1865

Fort Snelling would be reopened in April of 1861 when Governor Alexander Ramsey was the first to offer President Abraham Lincoln troops for the Union’s cause in the Civil War. The fort now served as a training center for Minnesota’s troops in the Civil War, and two years later in 1863, the fort expanded beyond its stone walls. By the time the Civil War ended, almost 25,000 troops passed through Fort Snelling. Two of those 25,000 troops were Rainvilles. My great great great grandfather Edward and his brother Louis were trained at the fort and became a trumpeter and sergeant respectively.

In 1862, Minnesota’s Civil War effort was lessened as the U.S.-Dakota War began. Fort Snelling provided U.S. troops to handle the violence in western Minnesota between settlers and the Dakota. Once that war ended, 392 Dakota men were tried and 303 were sentenced to death. President Lincoln ended up commuting the death sentences of 265 of the men, and in December of 1862 thirty-eight Dakota men became the victims of the largest mass execution in U.S. history in Mankato. The U.S. victory in the U.S.-Dakota War also saw over 1,600 non-combative Dakota interned at a two-acre concentration camp just beneath the bluff from Fort Snelling.

Bdote - Dakota Concentration Camp

Bdote - Mother with children inside the Dakota concentration campThroughout that winter, between 130 and 300 Dakota died from the cold conditions and disease. Of the 1,600+ Dakota at the camp, twenty-nine of them were Renvilles; direct descendants of Joseph Renville, my first cousin nine times removed, who was a translator for the Dakota and Zebulon Pike treaty discussions on that very land only fifty-seven years before. Never did Joseph Renville imagine his family would be interned at Bdote, and never did Edward and Louis Rainville imagine that twenty-nine of their second cousins would be interned at a fort where they were trained and stationed.

Fort Snelling, a fort that protected the fur trade between Native Americans and the United States, a fort that occupies one of the most sacred places to many Dakota, became a focal point for the darkest period in Dakota history. Once the Civil War ended, Fort Snelling became the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Department of the Dakota and provided supplies for the campaigns against Native Americans in the west. It is important to remember this grim chapter in Fort Snelling and Twin Cities history, as ignoring it would do us more harm than good. Knowing the atrocious behavior Minnesota and United States officials displayed towards the Dakota and many more nations, and understanding everyone’s story, will hopefully help the many peoples of the Twin Cities work together, learn from each other, and continue to build up this welcoming community that we all call home.

Fort Snelling’s history did not stop in the late 1800s. Stay tuned for Part III where I look into the fort’s involvement in both World Wars, and the Minnesota Historical Society’s continuous role in educating everyone from school groups to tourists at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote.

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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 a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote 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.

Enter the Meet Minneapolis Winter Sweepstakes and You Might Drive Off in an All-New Chevy Equinox!

Via a January 31 News Release from Meet Minneapolis:

Four weekly prize packages for a fun night in Minneapolis to also be awarded

The 2020 Twin Cities Auto Show is just around the corner and looks to be one of the best ever. Once again, Meet Minneapolis is excited to offer one lucky person the chance to drive off in a brand-new SUV now on display at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Four other weekly winners will get prize packages for a Minneapolis getaway. See details below.

Don’t let the snow and cold slow you down. Meet Minneapolis and Select Heartland Chevy Dealers are offering chances to get out and enjoy a winter adventure. The Chevy Equinox Sweepstakes* offers four weekly prize packages for a Minneapolis getaway and one grand prize of a two-year lease on an all-new Chevy Equinox. The winner of the brand-new SUV will be announced at the Twin Cities Auto Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Saturday, March 7.

One weekly prize package will be awarded every Friday from Feb. 7-28, and includes:
• A complimentary weekend night stay at the Hotel Emery, a downtown Minneapolis luxury hotel in the heart of the city (valid through March 31, 2021, and subject to availability). 
• A $50 gift card to Barbette, an award-winning French restaurant in the Uptown neighborhood featuring local and sustainably farmed ingredients.
• One escape room experience for two at Trapped Puzzle Rooms, a team-based puzzle experience with two locations in the Twin Cities.

Enter the sweepstakes at the Meet Minneapolis website or in-person at one of the various public shows leading up to the Auto Show (March 7-15) at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Sign up in person at the following times:
• Minneapolis Motorcycle Show – Feb. 1 (10 a.m.-7 p.m.), Feb. 2 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)
• Minneapolis/St. Paul RV, Vacation & Camping Show, Lake Home & Cabin Show and Healthy Life Expo – Feb. 8 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.), Feb. 9 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• Minnesota Golf Show – Feb. 22 (9 a.m.-7 p.m.), Feb. 23 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• Home & Garden Show – Feb. 29 (10 a.m.-9 p.m.), March 1 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

From don’t-miss dining experiences to suggestions for a perfect winter day, Minneapolis.org has you covered with hundreds of ideas, tips and itineraries to help you experience the ‘City by Nature’ to its fullest. 

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. Weekly prize drawings will be held Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Entries for the Chevy Equinox Sweepstakes must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on Feb. 29. 

The five randomly selected finalists eligible for the grand prize of a Chevy Equinox lease must be present for the live drawing at the Twin Cities Auto Show to win. The grand prize drawing will take place the morning of Saturday, March 7.

*For full sweepstakes information and rules, including eligibility, prize descriptions and other details, click here.

Minneapolis Region to Host 2022 Gay Softball World Series

Via a January 30 News Release:

Minnesota Twins become first MLB team to partner with event in its 46-year history

One of the largest annual gay sporting events in the world will return to Minnesota, as the Minneapolis region secured the 2022 Gay Softball World Series. The Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League, in partnership with Sports Minneapolis, won hosting rights after a presentation to delegates from the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) last weekend in Columbus, Ohio. The tournament will be held on Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2022.

The 2022 Gay Softball World Series will feature nearly 900 games taking place at softball complexes in Minneapolis, as well as Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul. Last year’s tournament in Kansas City, Mo., included 207 teams from 45 cities across the U.S. and Canada. The number of teams is expected to increase for the 2022 event.

In addition to a full schedule of games, events are planned every night of the tournament, including:

• Opening Ceremony
• NAGAAA Hall of Fame Induction
• Charity Night
• Pride Night at a Minnesota Twins game
• Closing Ceremony

“We are honored to bring the Gay Softball World Series back to the Twin Cities in 2022,” said Greg Fedio of the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League who will serve as Executive Director of the newly formed Twin Cities Gay Softball World Series Organizing Committee. “We have put together a dedicated committee that is devoted to creating an amazing player experience and is looking forward to hosting teams from the 46 member cities of NAGAAA.”

“Securing the 2022 Gay Softball World Series is a very nice win for the Minneapolis region. We are particularly excited to showcase our vibrant and welcoming community to the athletes, as well as their family and friends,” said Melvin Tennant, Executive Director of Sports Minneapolis. “We look forward to setting a new standard of excellence for this great event.”

The Minnesota Twins have also pledged their support, becoming the first Major League Baseball team to partner with the Gay Softball World Series.

“The Twin Cities have played host to many of the country’s top athletic events. We’re a vibrant and diverse community that celebrates how sports brings communities together. We’re excited to help bring the Gay Softball World Series to Minnesota,” said Miguel Ramos, Minnesota Twins Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, who traveled to Columbus to help present the bid.

The 2022 edition of the Gay Softball World Series will be the 46th consecutive year of the event. It is the largest annual, LGBT, single-sport, week-long athletic competition in the world. According to the Twin Cities Gay Softball World Series Organizing Committee, it is expected to bring 5,000 visitors and approximately $7 million to the local economy. The Minneapolis region previously hosted the tournament in 1996 and 2012.

The Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League was founded in 1979 when a group of gay men challenged the Minneapolis Police Department to a charity game. Since then, it has grown to the third-largest LGBT league in North America with 35 teams and nearly 600 players. In 2017, the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League was named “Best Softball League in Minnesota” by CBS affiliate WCCO. Members of this league will form the local organizing committee for the 2022 Gay Softball World Series.

NAGAAA was founded in 1977 and is an international sports organization comprised of men and women dedicated to providing opportunity and access for the LGBT community to participate in organized softball competitions in safe environments.