NEW: Great River Road Plan Your Trip App

The Plan Your Trip interactive map application (be patient, it takes a minute to fully load) features the Great River Road and Mississippi River (bicycle) Trail routes in Minnesota, over 700 points of interest, over 200 local food providers and more. It also includes expanded interactive travel guides for each of six distinct regions from the headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Bluffs Region in the southeastern area of the state. Each region has unique features and histories, towns and recreational opportunities. This information is also the most updated that Great River Road Minnesota has available.

Follow the Great River Road to find unique places to explore along the Mississippi River in the Metro Region. Statewide, Minnesota’s Great River Road offers 565 miles of byway with over 700 places to experience this great river.

Plan for Final Four Road Closures

Certain roads in downtown Minneapolis will be impacted leading up to and through Final Four weekend. These road closures and lane restrictions will be located around the Final Four Venue and on Nicollet between 8th Street and 12th Street. This phased process will begin on March 25 and be completed by April 12. See the maps below for full impact timelines.

Road Closures:

• Norm McGrew Place (March 25 – April 12)
• Chicago Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets (March 25 – April 12)
• 4th Street between Park and 11th Avenues (April 3-8)
• Park Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets (April 3-8)
• 5th Street between Park and Portland Avenues (April 3-8)
• 5th Street between 11th and 13th Avenues (April 3-8)
• 13th Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets

Lane Restrictions:

• Park Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets (April 3-8)
• 4th Street between Park and Portland Avenues (April 3-8)
• 11th Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets (March 29 – April 9)

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Road Closures:

• Nicollet from 4th to 5th Streets (April 3-9)
• Nicollet from 8th to 12th Streets (April 1-9)
• 10th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 2-10)
• 11th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)

Lane Restrictions:

• 8th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)
• 9th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)
• 11th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 2-9)
• 12th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)

The Minneapolis City Hall

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Standing four blocks from the Mississippi riverfront is one of the city’s most historically, culturally, and politically important buildings, the Minneapolis City Hall. It has been one of the few constants in this ever-evolving city, and it holds many amazing facts and stories. While it may just be another stop on the light rail for some, many have made a name for themselves within city hall’s walls. Let’s take a look at this praiseworthy building.

The first City Hall, 1870

Back before the current city hall officially opened its doors, Minneapolis’ court house and city hall were in separate buildings. The first official courthouse was located on 8th Avenue S and 4th Street while the first city hall was on Hennepin and Nicollet where Gateway Park currently sits. During the first two decades of Minnesota’s statehood Minneapolis grew at a very rapid rate. Because of this, the need for a larger courthouse and city hall quickly became apparent. In 1887 the state legislature assigned a commission to work with the city and Hennepin county to jointly construct a new courthouse and city hall.

The firm that was tasked with creating this new municipal center of the city was Long and Kees, who also designed the Lumber Exchange Building, the Flour Exchange Building, and the Masonic Temple, now the Hennepin Center for the Arts. The firm’s signature style was Richardsonian Romanesque as it was one of the most popular styles in America in the late 1800s. This style can be seen in almost every city that saw success during that time. Cincinnati, Toronto, Salt Lake City and Fort Wayne all have Richardsonian Romanesque style city halls. 

The Minneapolis City Hall began construction in 1888 and it took three years for the first “cornerstone” to be laid. Since this ceremony happened three years after construction started, the cornerstone is actually thirty feet above ground level. To make the timeline of construction even more confusing, the building was officially competed in 1906, although the county and city had been using it for about a decade already. During that time serious court cases were being conducted in the building, and the last execution in Hennepin County happened in the 5th floor attic in March of 1898. Some say John Moshik still roams the halls.

The building itself was not intended to be made completely out of granite, but once the citizens of Minneapolis saw the beauty of the Ortonville red granite, they petitioned for the entire building to be made out of it instead of just its foundations. This contributed to the lengthy construction time, as some of the stones weigh more than 20 tonnes. The final price tag for the new city hall was over $3.5 million, or almost $99 million in today’s dollars.

City Hall, 1904

The expense was worth it. The Minneapolis City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, and its most noticeable aspect is its clocktower. At its time of completion not only was it the tallest building in the state, the clock face was also the largest in the world, beating out Big Ben in London by 18 inches. The building’s interior is also something the marvel. Its five-story rotunda features 41 unique grotesques, or faces, carved into the capitals of the marble columns. My favorite feature of the rotunda lies right in the middle. The “Father of Waters” sculpture depicts a reclining Poseidon-like figure with various iconographic objects of the Mississippi River around him. Sculpted by the American artist Larkin G. Mead during his time in Florence, Italy, he used the largest block of marble ever to come out of Italy’s Carrara quarries to create his masterpiece. Those same quarries were also used by Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo. Rumor has it, if you rub the sculpture’s big toe, good luck will find its way into your life.

The "Father of Waters" sculpture

While the Minneapolis City Hall is now dwarfed by its neighbors, it is still an amazing example of American architecture that is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike.

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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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Water Works Update: Mezzanine Phase

First proposed in 2011, the Water Works project has seen several design concepts, finally settling on something fairly close to the original from December 2011 (watch video below):

The first phase of the project goes before the City Planning Commission on Monday, March 25.

Download staff report & site plan...

View full size images...

Project description below, excerpted from the staff report & site plan:

SITE DESCRIPTION AND PRESENT USE. The site was once occupied by the Bassett s Second Sawmill, the Columbia Flour Mill and the Occidental Feed Mill. Portions of each of these mills remain on the site. In 1961, Reiko Weston purchased the property. In 1967-68, she built the Fuji Ya Restaurant incorporating portions of the Bassett s Second Sawmill and Columbia Flour Mill into the design of the restaurant structure. The Fuji Ya Restaurant operated in this location until 1990. In 1990, the applicant acquired the property and the site has been vacant ever since. In 2017, the applicant selectively demolished portions of the Fuji Ya Restaurant and stabilized the remaining mill ruins in order to incorporate them into the design of a new park building that will be built on the site called Water Works.

SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD. The site is surrounded by residential developments of varying densities, office buildings, a variety of commercial establishments and the Mississippi River. The site is located in the Downtown West Neighborhood.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The Water Works project is designed around providing a mix of indoor and outdoor public spaces and will be broken into two phases: The Mezzanine phase and the Riverside phase. The Mezzanine includes a pavilion with indoor amenities, an outdoor plaza with seating, lawn and outdoor terraces, a small hillside performance venue, and a picnicking and play area. The future Riverside phase (date TBD) will complete the link between downtown and the riverfront with reconfigured trails, public river access, a sunken performance venue, and another plaza area with water features. The two phases are not mutually dependent on the other and will develop on separate timelines as funding is procured.

The entire Water Works project area encompasses approximately 6.33 acres within the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-listed and locally-designated St. Anthony Falls Historic District (SAFHD) and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) Critical Area Corridor. The milling era infrastructure, extant buildings, and structural remnants located within the Mezzanine Phase project boundaries are listed as contributing archaeological features to the SAFHD.

Pavilion

The design for the Water Works park pavilion is a two-story brick building built into the Basset Engine House and Boiler Room, as well as the void left in the southern portion of the Columbia Flour Mill ruin after demolition for a Fuji Ya addition in the 1970s. The pavilion contains the public park program, including restrooms, lobby, meeting room and a small lounge, as well as a restaurant and kitchen. The majority of park programming and some back-of-house spaces are located on the first floor; careful consideration was given to expose as much of the existing mill ruins in these areas as possible, including the foundation walls of the Columbia Flour Mill in the lobby, the historic walls and ceilings of Bassett Boiler Room in the lounge, and historic walls and barrel-vault ceilings of Bassett Engine House in the meeting room. The second floor is entirely new construction, which contains an upper lobby for circulating between South 1st Street and the West River Parkway and a restaurant comprised of a small dining area and the kitchen.

The applicant has indicated that they are treating the Bassett Engine House, Bassett Boiler Room, and Columbia Flour Mill ruin as found objects in a fundamental way - doing as little as possible to obscure the historic mills, while leaving traces of the Fuji Ya construction in certain places to illustrate the evolving uses of the structure. The existing ruins are an amalgam of many different constructions, both within the period of historic significance and outside of it, and they are preserving and exposing all of these moments within the project whenever possible.

The only modifications to the historic mills consist of four widened and/or new openings between the mills existing rooms to connect existing spaces for circulation and code-compliant egress. Everything else will remain as is.

The Bassett Engine House, Bassett Boiler Room, and Columbia Flour Mill contain a mixture of different materials in significant variation as they are currently found; there are at least three different bricks, two different hues of limestone, rusted steel, several different colors of stucco, and scars created by years of appendages, connections, and alterations. To create a clear delineation between the historic architecture and the new, and to keep the new architecture simple in its expression, the team has chosen an extremely pared-down palette of a neutral monochromatic brick and glass on the exterior, and glass, wood, brick and concrete on the interior. The neutrality of the exterior brick is to provide clarity between old and new, and not muddle distinctions between what is historic and what is contemporary through the introduction of extraneous materials. It also relates to the new
upper terrace through use of a neutral color palette and horizontal emphasis (brick coursing and exposed horizontal concrete formwork).

Landscape

The Water Works landscape plan serves to reconnect South 1^st Street with the riverfront, much in the same way the historic mills and infrastructure once did, through accessible pedestrian and bicycle circulation improvements. It also provides much-needed outdoor park amenities such as seating, terraces, a lawn, performance area, and play zones within the context of the historic mills and infrastructure.

Landscape Highlights:

- South Transition Space: At the south end of the Water Works site where 5th Avenue South and South 1st Street intersect, the south transition space provides a strong ADA compliant pedestrian route between downtown and the lower West River Parkway, a difference of more than 15 feet.

- Upper Terrace: On the north side of the pavilion, the exterior Columbia Flour Mill ruins are no longer part of the pavilion construction and will remain filled. This area of the mill will become an Upper Terrace accessible from the South 1st Street public sidewalk. It will function as outdoor dining and private event space.

- Main Plaza: A Main Plaza in front of the pavilion at West River Parkway level provides flexible outdoor seating for public use as well as overflow for the pavilion restaurant. The main plaza design has moderate changes which include more green space and surface paving of modular pavers in lieu of concrete.

- Columbia Elevator: This historic milling remnant originally was part of the pavilion but has since been integrated into the site design. A portion of it will be excavated to house a remote trash storage area accessible from the Main Plaza. Along its north wall, an exterior stairway will link South 1st Street to the Main Plaza.

- City Steps: North of the Columbia Elevator, the City Steps nestle into the Occidental Feed Mill footprint and provide additional flexible seating for gathering, picnicking, and performances.

- Mezzanine Lawn: In front of the City Steps and wooded slope, the Mezzanine Lawn allows for flexible park uses. Performances may happen at the edge of the Main Plaza or on the lawn in front of the City Steps.
Wooded Slope and Play Area: Further north of the City Steps, an existing steep Wooded Slope predating the district s period of significance will be largely restored. A two- to five-year childrens play area is embedded into the lower portion of the hill.

- South 1st Street: South 1st Street bounds the western, downtown edge of the Water Works site. It also includes a short metal bridge with cantilevered sidewalk on the west side of the street. The bridge dates to the period of significance spans over the Woonerf.

- Woonerf and Rail Terrace: At the far northern end of the site, the South 1st Street and Third Avenue Bridge intersection is about 33 feet higher than West River Parkway. The Woonerf (shared travel way) connection is a former railroad bed that links South 2nd Street (a block away) with the park under a small metal bridge on South 1st Street.

Visit the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) and many other venues during Doors Open Minneapolis

Did you know Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) converts Minneapolis’ trash into energy? That energy provides electricity to 25,000 homes, plus heat to Target Field and downtown buildings. HERC is just one of the many buildings that will be open during Doors Open Minneapolis (Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19), and visitors will learn how HERC works, see the waste pit and trash trucks on a live video feed in the visitor center, and discover strategies to reduce waste.

Doors Open Minneapolis is a weekend-long event that allows the public free, behind-the-scenes access to buildings in the City of Minneapolis that are architecturally, culturally, or socially significant.

Now, it's pretty much impossible to see all the available properties in those two days, so check out the full list of buildings to plan your weekend!

There are also volunteer opportunities, which will entitle you to a free Doors Open Minneapolis t-shirt and 'front of the line’ VIP access at all other venues. (The first 100 volunteers to sign up will also receive a free book: AIA Guide to the Twin Cities.) 

Registration Now Open for Summer Camps at MacPhail

MacPhail Center for Music offers camps for ages 3-Adult in a variety of styles and genres. This year they have a new all-day camp for kids who want to sample a couple instruments during the week - no experience necessary! MacPhail also has two unique Korean music camps - one in Korean Drumming and another featuring the zither instrument, Gayageum. Instruments are provided in each of these camps and kids will perform on the last day.

They also have many camps for early childhood age, jazz, piano, rock, composition, chamber music and more. Be sure to check out the at-a-glance chart to plan for multiple siblings. 

 

Visit the camps page to learn more about camps at MacPhail. 

Retiring Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Canine Officer Jake Hosting Dog Adoption Event on Friday, March 29th

Via a March 20 Press Release from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office:

After nine years in the K9 unit and 563 deployments, canine officer Jake is retiring from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. But before he leaves the force to live as a family pet, Officer Jake is taking on one final assignment: To help other local dogs find loving “forever homes!”

Jake and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office are partnering with Minneapolis Animal Care and Control and the Municipal Building Commission for “Jake’s Last Assignment,” an adoptable dog event in the rotunda at Minneapolis City Hall/Courthouse, 350 S 5th Street, on Friday, March 29. From 11 am to 1 pm, the public is invited to visit approximately 25 adoptable dogs from various animal rescue agencies. Jake and other (human) members of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to greet visitors and answer questions about the HCSO K9 unit.

Participating animal rescue partners include:

• Minneapolis Animal Care and Control
• Aussie Rescue of Minnesota
• Upper Midwest Great Dane Rescue
• Ruff Start Rescue
• 4 Pits Sake Rescue
• The Rescue Crew
• Underdog Rescue
• Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM)
• Northwoods Humane Society
• Save-A-Bull Rescue

“Jake has been the best partner I could have ever have, and I’m excited for him to spend his retirement years with my family and me,” said Jake’s partner and handler, Deputy Jason Majeski. “Jake has dedicated his life to serving Hennepin County, and I’m proud that his last official act with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office will be to help some local dogs find new homes.”

“Jake’s Last Assignment” Dog Adoption Event will be held in the Minneapolis City Hall/Courthouse rotunda on Friday, March 29, 11 am – 1 pm. A media preview of the event will be held from 10 – 11 am.

Officer Jake Quick Facts

• Age: 9 years
• Breed: German Shepard
• Weight: Approximately 85 lbs.
• Joined HCSO: March 2012
• Deployments: 563
• Apprehensions: 10
• Training Hours: 1,300+
• Biggest narcotics find: 5.51 lbs. of heroin hidden inside an air vent in a laundry room
• Accolades: HCSO Medal of Merit, 10 Medallions for outstanding deployments through the USCPCA Region 12

Saturday, March 23, Parkway Closures for Hot Dash Races

The following parkways will be temporarily closed on Saturday, March 23 for the Hot Dash 5K & 10 Mile from approximately 7am-1pm:

Stone Arch Bridge, NE Main Street - 6th Avenue SE to Hennepin Avenue, West River Parkway - Plymouth Avenue to E 27th Avenue

Course map and info.

This September - The Red Bull Flugtag Returns to the Mississippi

Via a March 19 News Release:

Red Bull Flugtag Soars Back To St. Paul for the Second Time in Event

Teams can apply until June 26 to launch their human-powered, flying crafts as far as possible into the Mississippi River on September 7 at Harriet Island Regional Park

Red Bull Flugtag, the world's one-of-a-kind, human-powered flying craft competition, will triumphantly return to St. Paul, Minn. for the second time in event history on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Harriet Island Regional Park.

At this year’s Red Bull Flugtag, which means “flying day” in German, 50 teams will launch their homemade aircrafts as far as possible into the Mississippi River from a 30-foot-high platform, vying to earn their wings in this unique and exhilarating event. Each team of five will be scored by a panel of celebrity judges on how far their flying craft glides, their creativity and their showmanship. The sky’s the limit on flying craft design submissions, and past applicants have drawn inspiration from their favorite superheroes, music, movies, food and more.

Interested teams of adventurous aviators and creative makers can apply by visiting the event website for their chance to coast into the Mighty Mississippi. There is no cost to request an application, and the deadline to submit a completed application is June 26. All team members must be at least 18 years of age to compete in Red Bull Flugtag St. Paul.

The first time St. Paul hosted Red Bull Flugtag was in 2010, when the then world-record was set at 207 feet by ‘Major Trouble and the Dirty Dixies’ in front of tens of thousands of people. This year’s event marks the second time in history that the competition will be held at Minnesota’s capital.

“Red Bull and Saint Paul have teamed up for nearly a decade to create unique, family-friendly events in our city,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “I am thrilled to continue this partnership by hosting Flugtag in Saint Paul this summer.”

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter skydived into Harriet Island Regional Park on March 19 to make the announcement. Photo credit: Ryan Taylor / Red Bull

Since 1991, Red Bull Flugtag has made 162 stops around the world, entertaining millions of spectators per year. The current Red Bull Flugtag World Record of 258 feet (78.64 meters) was set in 2013 in Long Beach, Calif. by ‘The Chicken Whisperers’.

For more information, including applications, rules, photos and video footage, visit the Red Bull Flugtag website at https://win.gs/flugtagSTP. Red Bull Flugtag St. Paul is supported by Visit St. Paul, BFGoodrich, Discount Tire, RED HYDROGEN and proud local partners Holiday Stationstores and Cub.

March Newsletter from 7th Ward Council Member Goodman

Winter parking restrictions in effect to improve access for emergency vehicles

Minneapolis officials have implemented Winter Parking Restrictions to ensure city streets are passable for emergency vehicles, buses and other travelers in the face of heavy snow accumulation this winter.

When Winter Parking Restrictions begin tomorrow, parking will be banned on the EVEN numbered side of non-Snow-Emergency routes until April 1, unless conditions allow the City to lift the ban earlier. Parking is allowed on Snow Emergency routes, parkways, and the ODD numbered side of non-Snow Emergency routes, unless otherwise posted. Drivers parking in Minneapolis must follow these Winter Parking Restrictions, or they could be ticketed and towed. Winter parking restrictions include critical permit parking areas as well.

Minneapolis had more than 53 inches of snow as of late February and a record 36.2 inches for the month of February. The heavy accumulation has narrowed streets, which pose a safety hazard when emergency vehicles cannot navigate these streets to reach people who need assistance.

It is possible that Snow Emergencies can be declared while Winter Parking Restrictions are in place. When it snows, people should take advantage of the many tools the City offers to stay informed of parking rules.

Stay informed about Winter Parking Restrictions and Snow Emergencies

• Hotline: By calling the automated 612-348-SNOW hotline, you can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared and how that affects the Winter Parking Restrictions. If a Snow Emergency is in effect, the hotline will have information on that day’s parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
• The City’s website: Go to minneapolismn.gov/snow to find out whether a Snow Emergency has been declared and for a wealth of information on Snow Emergencies and Winter Parking Restrictions in many languages. Also, check out the street lookup, which lets you put in an address or a neighborhood to see where you can park during a Snow Emergency.
• Phone calls to residents: Minneapolis uses automated phone calls to notify residents when Snow Emergencies are declared and Winter Parking Restrictions implemented. The system can place thousands of calls per hour. You can add your cellphone or unlisted landline number to the alert system by signing up at minneapolismn.gov/snow.
• Email alerts: You can sign up to get Snow Emergency alerts automatically emailed or text messaged to you. Go to minneapolismn.gov/snow/snow_esubscribe for more details.
• App for Android devices and iPhones: Drivers who have Android devices or iPhones can download the Snow Emergency app. During a Snow Emergency, the app will tell them the parking rules for that day. It will also have Winter Parking Restrictions information. It also has a street lookup, which allows users to see the parking rules in detail by entering an address or using the device’s location services features.
• The news media: News releases are sent to the media so TV, radio stations and other news outlets can inform their viewers and listeners that a Snow Emergency is in effect or Winter Parking Restrictions have been implemented.
• Cable TV: Tune in to Minneapolis City TV (Comcast channel 859 or CenturyLink channel 8502). These channels will have information in several languages when a Snow Emergency is declared or Winter Parking Restrictions have been instituted.
• Facebook: Like Minneapolis Snow Emergency on Facebook. Go to facebook.com/MinneapolisSnowEmergency.
• Twitter: twitter.com/minneapolissnow. If you have a Twitter account, just follow us. Both the Twitter and Facebook pages will tell fans and followers when a Snow Emergency is declared.
• Videos: Informative videos are available online in multiple languages to help explain Winter Parking Restrictions:

Winter Parking Restrictions (English)

Watch your mailboxes for property value notices

Minneapolis homeowners will soon begin receiving their property value notices in the mail. The estimated market values of homes in these notices are used to calculate 2020 property taxes.

Property owners can review the values of their homes with an appraiser, ask questions and, if so desired, appeal their value at the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. Each notice includes the name and phone number of the appraiser assigned to the property in question. Contacting the appraiser is the fastest and most efficient way for homeowners to get answers to questions or to start the appeals process.

The local board convenes April 23 and begins hearing cases May 7, 2019. More information about the appeals process is available on the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization’s webpage at minneapolismn.gov/assessor/marketvalues/LBAE.

For more information, visit minneapolismn.gov/assessor.

‘Radical Playground’ wins 2019 Creative City Challenge

The participatory art installation “Radical Playground” by Candida Gonzalez and MaryAnne Quiroz has won the 2019 Creative City Challenge under this year’s Northern Spark theme of “We Are Here: Resilience, Renewal & Regeneration.” During the summer of 2019 on The Commons, participants will be invited to heal through play with whimsical interactive “alebrije”: animal sculptures inspired by dream creatures from the Caribbean, Mexico, the Pacific Islands and the indigenous cultures of Minnesota. “Radical Playground” will debut on The Commons June 14 as part of Northern Spark, an annual nighttime arts festival in Minneapolis with tens of thousands of participants. The art will remain on The Commons through August 2019 for a summer of everyday interaction and special programming.

The artists intend “Radical Playground” to invite indigenous communities and communities of color to a space where they feel free to gather, to play, to heal. They want their project to bring a feeling of play, of free joy, of giving people’s bodies a break from stress and worry.

The installation shape follows eight posts circling a large center post. The center post is topped by a large, striking alebrije and has a pyramid-shaped base that will serve as an ofrenda (altar) during programming. The outer posts are topped alternately by alebrijes and flowers representing the four directions. Four interactive panels anchor the four direction posts at the bottom and invite people to become alebrijes themselves as they put their faces in the panel cutouts. The color palette is bright and tropical for exciting, colorful viewing from long distances. Solar lights will create a magical nighttime experience.

More about the Creative City Challenge The Creative City Challenge is a competition for Minnesota-resident architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, engineers, scientists, artists, students and individuals of all backgrounds. The challenge: create and install a temporary, destination artwork that acts as a sociable and participatory platform for two months of onsite programming and encourages a sense of connectedness to the city and its rich cultural and natural offerings. The Creative City Challenge is conceived as a showcase for local creative talent, Minneapolis community identities and a tangible symbol of the complex narratives that make up the many stories within our urban landscape.

Past competition winners were Carry-on Homes in 2018, Orbacles in 2017, Wolf and Moose in 2016, mini_polis in 2015, Balancing Ground in 2014 and the Minneapolis Interactive Macro Mood Installation (MIMMI) in 2013.

The seventh annual Creative City Challenge is a program of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy of the City of Minneapolis created in in collaboration with The Commons, Northern Lights.mn and the Northern Spark festival.

Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy The Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy program leverages the creative sector toward social and economic growth in the City of Minneapolis; coordinates arts and creative economy activities; works with the Minneapolis Arts Commission; collaborates with City departments on eliminating racial disparities; and develops arts, culture and creative industry policies and programs for the City of Minneapolis.

The Commons The Commons is a 4.2-acre public green space and an anchor in the Downtown East area’s transformation. Spanning two city blocks, the park is an active space for the public to relax and play. More than 150 free public programs have been offered at The Commons since its opening in 2016 including a weekly farmers market, music performances, film screenings, poetry readings, fitness classes and children’s activities. In the summer of 2019 it will also be the venue for Northern Spark June 14 and 15. Learn more at commonsmpls.com.

Northern Lights.MN and Northern Spark Northern Spark is a late night participatory arts festival taking place from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. each night Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15, 2019. During Northern Spark, tens of thousands of people gather throughout the city to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets, and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces and under bridges. Late into the night, the city surprises with friendly crowds, glowing groups of cyclists, unexpected paths through the urban landscape, and the magic of sunrise after a night of amazing art and experiences. See more at northernspark.org.

Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to artists working innovatively in the public sphere, exploring expanded possibilities for civic engagement.

Meet the artists behind the new Nicollet Mall signature artworks

Three new City-produced videos highlight the artists behind three new signature art pieces for Nicollet Mall.

Tristan Al-Haddad discusses the story behind “Nimbus,” a large sculptural piece in front of the Minneapolis Central Library. Constructed like an airplane wing, “Nimbus” is cantilevered over the Theater in the Round seating area.

Ned Kahn reflects on his “Prairie Tree” sculpture – a kinetic piece at 11th and Nicollet. The sculpture is inspired by the local typography of the area and the meeting of the prairies and the forests.

Blessing Hancock talks about her project “Nicollet Lanterns,” 12 illuminated sculptural lanterns featuring poems by local writers: Junauda Petrus, Vincent Moniz, Sagirah Shahid and Moheb Soliman.

Nicollet Mall features the largest collection of public and private artworks in Minneapolis. For more information on Nicollet Mall Public Art, visit nicolletmall.org.

$15 workshops: creating resilient yards

Unseasonable warmth, droughts and flooding rains are the new normal in Minnesota. A resilient yard meets these challenges head-on and protects the local ecosystem.

Workshops

Planning Your Resilient Yard builds an understanding of resilience and how to support it in your yard using site planning, intentional plantings and more. The workshop includes one-on-one design assistance from Blue Thumb landscape designers and UMN Extension Master Gardeners — Hennepin County.

Turf Alternatives focuses on converting traditional lawns to low-input turf alternatives that support pollinators and clean water.

Healthy Soil digs into the world beneath our feet and reveals specific practices to build resilience from the ground up.

Scholarships are available on request. Space is limited.

The City of Minneapolis sponsors these workshops as part of its focus on the well-being of people and our environment.

For more information, dates and to register, go to metroblooms.org/workshops or call 651-699-2426.

City Council approves Renter-First Housing Policy prioritizing renter protections

The City Council has approved a Renter-First Housing Policy — a framework that affirms the City’s commitment to advancing renter protections and developing new tools to support affordability and stability in rental housing.

The policy prioritizes the safety, stability, health and dignity of people who rent their homes in City decision-making. It directs departments to view their work through a renter-centric lens to minimize impacts on the housing stability of renters. Regulating rental housing has been one of the City’s core functions since 1956 when it established some of the first housing maintenance ordinances in the country.

The implementation of the Renter-First Housing Policy will include both early intervention and safety-net strategies. Highlights include strengthening enforcement measures to ensure repair issues are addressed quickly while minimizing negative impacts on the renter; targeting inspections efforts toward properties in disrepair or with a high volume of renter complaints; and creating financial opportunities for property owners to maintain housing conditions and affordable housing without increasing rents. 

The City’s Regulatory Services Department has already been involved in renter-centric projects, including Hearing Tenants Voices, a three-year initiative that brings together community artists, housing inspectors and renters to build relationships and discuss the inspection process from all perspectives. The department also has new tenant navigators who work to ensure renters are partners in the inspection process and understand the City’s regulatory process.

The Renter-First Housing Policy builds on a growing body of work City leaders have advanced to address the challenges facing renters, such as the recent advance notice of sale ordinance that provides more protections for tenants when an affordable rental building is sold, and the amendments to the City’s Conduct on Licensed Premises ordinance that provide more tenant protections and resources for landlords to solve problem. In 2019, the City will expand legal services for low-income renters living in housing that needs repair and/or renters facing eviction.

A majority of residents rent their housing in Minneapolis. People of color and indigenous people are more likely to be renters than white people in the city. Renters are vulnerable to challenging market conditions, including low vacancy rates and limited affordable housing options.

City participating in Earth Hour March 30

The City of Minneapolis is planning on participating in Earth Hour again this year and encourages its residents and businesses to show their commitment to burning less fossil fuels by turning off their lights for an hour 8:30-9:30 p.m. March 30.

Earth Hour began as a single-city initiative in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has grown into a global movement.

When we burn fossil fuels such as coal and gas, we pump more and more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This buildup creates a blanket effect, trapping in heat around the world. If nothing is done to halt this process, the planet we leave our children will be hotter with more violent weather, fewer species and disrupted systems such as food chains.

In 2015, 38 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Minneapolis came from electricity. The City has set targets of reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2025 (using 2006 as a baseline) and 80 percent by 2050. Emissions from citywide activities decreased 17.8 percent in 2015 from the 2006 baseline, exceeding the first reduction goal of 15 percent by 2015.

Reduce fossil fuel energy use every hour of the year

Residents and businesses are invited to join the City of Minneapolis in this important global initiative and encourage their families and friends to switch off their lights for Earth Hour at 8:30 p.m. Saturday March 30. Check out the actions people can take to benefit the planet beyond the hour.

The Minneapolis Climate Action Plan, adopted in June 2013, provides a roadmap for reducing citywide carbon dioxide pollution. To learn more about Minneapolis’ sustainable policies and practices, visit www.minneapolismn.gov/sustainability.

Open Streets 2019 calendar set

The Open Streets calendar is set for 2019 with seven events scheduled around the city beginning Sunday, June 2 on Lyndale Avenue South. Mark your calendar for one or all seven.

Open Streets Minneapolis is a free event series that opens city streets to folks biking, walking, rolling and playing. At each Open Streets Minneapolis event, local businesses, artists, community groups and institutions come out into the street to play.

Residents and visitors explore their neighborhoods in a safe, fun, family-friendly environment. Open Streets gets folks out of their cars so neighbors can explore their communities in a whole new way.

Open Streets Minneapolis invites people to be curious about their city as they:

• See live performances.
• Create art.
• Discover local businesses.
• Use active transportation.
• Make connections with those around them.
• Rethink our streets as public space.

Open Streets Minneapolis is a City of Minneapolis event, hosted by Our Streets Minneapolis and presented by the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Find more information at www.openstreetsmpls.org.

“Movies Under the Domes” offers free movie nights at Minneapolis Convention Center

One night a month through May, the Minneapolis Convention Center will show a complimentary feature film in one of its auditoriums. Seating is limited; moviegoers must RSVP through Eventbrite for general admission tickets. If you’ve never been to an event at the Minneapolis Convention Center, now’s your chance.

Date night, family night or a hang-out-with-friends night, each Movies Under the Domes evening is free to the public. The first 100 people through the door at all movies will receive a free, two-pack set of Pepsi stainless steel straws.

Doors open at 5 p.m. All movies start at 6:30 p.m.:

• March 21 – “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (PG-13).
• April 25 – “Moana” (PG).
• May 16 – “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (PG).

In addition to free feature films, guests can relax in the Minneapolis Convention Center’s Craft Bar and Lounge, which will have Minnesota craft brews and light snacks available for purchase. Those under age 21 can purchase snacks and beverages outside the Craft Bar and Lounge including ice cream sandwiches hand-crafted with fresh-baked, made-from-scratch cookies.

The Minneapolis Convention Center is owned by the City of Minneapolis and marketed through Meet Minneapolis.

Jobs with the City

Ever considered working for the City of Minneapolis? Opportunity is knocking. The City of Minneapolis has more than 900 different job types. Find your dream job today.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs.

Block 1: Ryan Companies Downtown East Project

UPDATE: The City Planning Commission approved this project on a unanimous vote on Monday, March 11.

Ryan Companies is proposing a 25 story, 342 unit apartment building as part of the Vikings stadium driven redevelopment of a major portion of the Downtown East neighborhood. The project goes before the Planning Commission today, meeting starts at 4:40 pm. From the staff report (download complete report below):

SITE DESCRIPTION AND PRESENT USE. The site is located on South 4^th Street between Park Avenue and Chicago Avenue. The site is currently vacant.

SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD. The site is surrounded by office and commercial buildings, residential developments of varying densities, The Commons, US Bank Stadium and structured and surface parking lots. The site is located in the Downtown East neighborhood

PROJECT DESCRIPTION. Ryan Companies has redeveloped the majority of five blocks on the east side of Downtown Minneapolis over the course of the last six years in four phases. Three of the blocks are bounded by South 3^rd Street, 5^th Avenue South, South 4^th Street and Chicago Avenue South and the two additional blocks are bounded by South 4^th Street, 5^th Avenue South, South 5^th Street and Park Avenue. The entire development has been reviewed as a multi-phased Planned Unit Development (PUD).

PHASE V - Current proposal: The fifth phase of the PUD will be a 342-unit residential building located on the southern half of the block bounded by South 3rd Street, Park Avenue, South 4th Street and Chicago Avenue. The building will be approximately 320,000 square feet in size and 25 stories tall. There will be ground floor lobby and residential amenity space and rooftop amenity space provided in the building. Some of the ground floor amenity space could also be used as commercial tenant space depending on the market. There will also be a ground floor parking and loading area. Access to this space will be from South 4th Street. There will be 120 parking spaces in the building. Access to the parking will be from South 4th Street, Park Avenue and the adjacent parking garage. The building will connect to the city’s skyway system. 

Download staff report, images (49MB)...

Submissions for Izzy's 2019 People's Flavor Awards are due by April 21

Enter the Flavor Contest for your chance to win a $100 Izzy’s gift card!

Four finalists will be chosen in five categories: Kids, Chocolate, Mix-Ins, Fruit and Specialties Plus new this year: six Non-Dairy flavor finalists. Customers vote at the contest on June 16 (Father’s Day), at the Minneapolis Izzy’s location. Ballots will be counted and winners announced in each ice cream category.

New this year - two BEST IN SHOWS (one Ice Cream winner and one Non-Dairy winner). Tasting Event tickets go on sale April 2.

DOWNTOWN LIVING: HUMBOLDT LOFTS

This is the one you’ve been waiting for at Humboldt Lofts. Award winning Julie Snow architecture blended with simple sophistication, this one bedroom corner floorplan is perfectly perched above the Mississippi River with the world famous Guthrie Theater as your neighbor Industrial chic, gritty and sophisticated, perfect for those who desire privacy within the most historic niche of the city. Twelve foot window walls capture uninterrupted views of the Mississippi River, and historic Gold Medal Flour elevators and Mill City Museum outdoor amphitheater. Two parking stalls and two adjacent private storage units included. Extra bonus includes Mill City Farmers Market and Spoonriver restaurant right downstairs. Easy to show. Open House on Sun. 3/24.

1 bed | 2 bath | 2 parking | 1,296 sf | $650,000

Visit this listing online for more details...

March Newsletter from 3rd Ward City Council Member Steve Fletcher

Join Me Next Wednesday for Good Morning Ward 3

Our guest speaker will be Micah Intermill, Budget Director for the City of Minneapolis. He will discuss how City staff build our budget every year, share how YOU can help shape the budget, and outline a proposal to shift from an annual to a biennial (two-year) budget.

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Good Morning Ward 3

Wednesday, March 20 - 7:30a-9:00a

Kramarczuk's Sausage Company, 215 E Hennepin Avenue

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Ward 3 Youth Meeting with the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board

The Minneapolis Youth Congress and I are co-hosting a Ward 3 youth meeting on Tuesday, March 26 from 5:30 - 7:00 P.M. at the Downtown Central Library in the Doty Board Room to gather recommendations for the Youth Master Plan.

This ward meeting is intended for a youth audience, and is a valuable opportunity for youth to share your ideas and experiences with local decision-makers and help shape the Youth Master Plan. More info on the Youth Master Plan available at www.ycb.org/youthmasterplan.

The Youth Master Plan is an effort to mobilize an agenda on the behalf of youth and children in Minneapolis to the Youth Coordinating Board (YCB)’s board, which is made up of elected officials from the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The Youth Master Plan will encourage collaboration across city, county, school, and parks systems and reflect the voices of youth in our city.

Coffee With Your Council Member

Council Member Fletcher holds regular open community office hours at 5:00 p.m., normally on Wednesdays, at a rotating neighborhood coffee shop in Ward 3 for constituents to drop by, ask questions, and raise any issues you see in the community.

All are welcome! RSVP on Facebook or just show up. If you want to discuss a specific issue or project, email tony.aarts@minneapolismn.gov and we'll add you to the agenda.

• March 20 - Five Watt Coffee, 861 E Hennepin Ave
• March 27 - Purple Onion Café, 1301 University Ave SE
• April 3 - In The Loop Coffee Co., 708 North First St
• April 10 - Purple Onion Cafe, 1301 University Ave SE

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for all the details on future scheduled events, or contact our office at 612-673-2203.

Northern Spark 2019 Artists Announced

Radical Playground concept sketch courtesy the artists.

Meet me at the Radical Playground

Visitors to The Commons this summer are invited to heal through play at the Radical Playground, the winner of the 2019 Creative City Challenge. This multi-part installation by lead artists Candida Gonzalez and Mary Anne Quiroz is centered around whimsical interactive “alebrijes”: animal sculptures inspired by dream creatures from the Caribbean, Mexico, the Pacific Islands and the indigenous cultures of Minnesota.

The artists intend Radical Playground to invite indigenous communities and communities of color to a space where they feel free to gather, to play, to heal. “In this time of fight–protest, politics, policy change: deeply important and often draining–it is essential to us that we create an experience that claims space and time for the BIPOC communities in the Twin Cities.”

Radical Playground will debut on June 14, the first night of Northern Spark, and will remain on view on The Commons through August 2019 for a summer of everyday interaction and special programming.

Jesse Buckner, Heart and Soul Academy, at Northern Spark 2017 in Rondo. Photo by Caleb Timmerm

Announcing Northern Spark 2019 Artists

Northern Lights.mn is proud to announce the roster of installation artists for the ninth annual Northern Spark festival. Roughly 30 artist projects will illuminate public spaces and explore the theme We Are Here: Resilience, Renewal, and Regeneration through a myriad of vibrant and thought-provoking projects located in three neighborhoods — the American Indian Cultural Corridor in Minneapolis, The Commons in downtown Minneapolis, and the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul.

In The Commons, grab a digital spray can and tag the Digital Graffiti Wall (presented by Walker Art Center), see the transformation and evolution of ancient Ethiopian string musical instruments (Yilma H Woldemedhen), and use your body in joyful protest by dancing in the streets (Don’t You Feel It Too?). Walking down Franklin Ave you’ll see a multimedia installation of animated Anishinaabe stories (Jonathan Thunder), power a moving cyclist sculpture by pedaling stationary bikes (Victor Yepez), and explore a re-imagined Franklin Library designed by and for the local Indigenous community (Marlena Myles with Hennepin County Library). In Rondo, experience a Visual Jazz Odyssey (Miko Simmons) and make solar peace poles that light up the community with regenerative solar energy (Illuminate and Regenerate Rondo Regiment).

View the full list of artists here. Full project descriptions and performing and video artists will be announced in April.

This year’s Northern Spark features two nights of art and connection with community—Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 — starting at dusk (9:00 pm) and ending at 2 am.

Creative City Challenge Launch and Opening Ceremony, The Commons, Northern Spark 2017. Photo: Dusty Hoskovec.

Partner Spotlight: The Commons and Green Minneapolis

With the success of our partnership over the past two years, we are excited to continue staging challenging and exploratory, temporary art in downtown Minneapolis at The Commons this summer.

Thanks to the partnership and sponsorship of Green Minneapolis and our joint support and collaboration with the City of Minneapolis Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy program for the Creative City Challenge, Northern Spark returns to this urban park for the third time this summer. Opened in 2016, The Commons provides some much needed green space in the rapidly developing East Town neighborhood.

Northern Spark is far from the only event that takes place in The Commons. Green Minneapolis – the non-profit conservancy that works to keep the park safe, active and beautiful – has hosted over 150 free public events since the park’s opening, from poetry readings and ping pong tournaments to a weekly farmers market and outdoor film screenings. Keep an eye on The Commons website for posting of the full 2019 Summer Season, including programming by Creative City Challenge winner Radical Playground.

We are thoroughly grateful to the staff of Green Minneapolis and The Commons for working with us to ensure that Northern Spark artists achieve their visions.

Michael Murnane, Under Ice, 2012, Northern Spark. Photo: Patrick Kelley

Under Ice at Spring Howl

Dial your mind back to Northern Spark 2012. You’re walking down the middle of SE Main Street, weaving in between cyclists and people playing body pong in the street. You look up to see images of ice fishing lighting up the entire facade of the Pillsbury A-Mill. Wonder ensues!

Witness an indoor reprise of this iconic Northern Spark project at Spring Howl. This one-night-only version comes with a recorded sound score by Evan Murnane on cello. Get your tickets in advance and save!

Spring Howl for Northern Spark

Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 - 8 pm, at The Holden Room, Tickets $25 in advance $30 at the door.

Hayes Carll Comes to The Cedar

Article by Brianna Ojard

Photo credit: David McClister

Acclaimed singer/song writer Hayes Carll brings his Americana sound to The Cedar Cultural Center March 29th in promotion of his new and highly anticipated album, What It Is. The new album, hailed as one of Carll’s best by NPR, Rolling Stone, and Associated Press, showcases his skill as a storyteller. From “I Will Stay”, a classic love song that sweetly closes the album, to more challenging topics like the current state of American society (“Times Like These”) and the changing view of masculinity (“Fragile Men”), Carll manages to write songs that touch on an array of topics in a way that’s both unassuming and eloquent. Beyond the deftly written lyrics, the album also delivers songs that will get your body swaying and your toes tapping, which is always a good thing. 

Tickets for this all ages show can be purchased both online and by phone through The Cedar.

Hayes Carll
with Ben Dickey
Friday, March 29, 2019
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
The Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN, 55454

UPDATE: Stone Arch Bridge will be closed 7a-5p, March 15, 18, and 19

Closure necessary for Xcel Energy to perform maintenance on overhead power lines

Weather permitting, the Stone Arch Bridge will be closed for power line repairs from 7 am to 5 pm on Friday, March 15, 2019, and potentially 7 am to 5 pm on March 18 and 19, depending on how long the repair project takes. Xcel Energy is performing maintenance on overhead power lines running between towers at Gold Medal Park and Boom Island Park.

This closure was originally scheduled March 13-15, but it was pushed back due to forecasted rain. 

Please follow posted detours and stay away from areas where work is being performed. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience while this project is completed.

Retro Minneapolis Promotional Video from 1965

Our friends at Meet Minneapolis shared this 3-minute promotional video from the 60s. I dare you NOT to smile as you watch it. (The actual music and footage will start about 10 seconds after you click play.) 

Washburn Fair Oaks

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Nestled right in the heart of a part of town that features some of Minneapolis’ oldest and most stunning architecture, Washburn Fair Oaks Park is a place of natural beauty that complements the historic and artistic beauty found in the museums around it.

A portrait of William D. Washburn from 1880The story of this park starts back in 1857 when a lawyer from Maine by the name of William D. Washburn moved to Minneapolis to help his brother Cadwallader run his mill, the Minneapolis Milling Company. During the next two decades, he and his brother would help establish the milling industry in Minneapolis while also perusing his passion for politics. In 1871 he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, in 1878 he was elected to the US House of Representatives where he served for six years, and in 1888 he was elected to the US Senate where he also served for six years.

Once the 1880s got started, Washburn had become one of the wealthiest people in the state. In 1883 he decided to build his home among his colleagues and friends in what is now the Washburn-Fair Oaks Mansion District. Designed by Edward Townsend Mix, who also designed the old Metropolitan Building that was demolished in 1961, William Washburn’s mansion was accompanied by gorgeous landscaping, an artificial pond and footbridge, a greenhouse, and a carriage house. His estate was spectacular to say the least. Washburn named his property the “Fair Oaks Estate” after the 10-acre oak grove that stood on the land before he purchased it.

Photo of the estate taken from 3rd Avenue facing west, Washburn's mansion is on the right.

The artificial pond, 1910

He was also very fond of the Minneapolis Park system and intended to give his property to the Minneapolis Park Board once he passed away. In 1911, the property immediately south of his estate, the Villa Rosa owned by Dorilus Morrison, the first mayor of Minneapolis, was donated by Morrison’s son to the city with the intention to build an art museum on the site. Eventually, the Villa Rosa made way for the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This gave William Washburn the idea to offer his land to the Park Board. The deal was that the city would only pay the appraised amount of the land, and not the land and its buildings. This was a huge deal because Washburn’s buildings were valued at roughly $400,000, or over $10.5 million in today’s dollars. He sold the land to the Park Board for $250,000, or $6.6 million today, with the condition that he and his wife could reside there for as long as they lived. The land officially changed hands in 1915 when his wife passed away.

Once the Park Board acquired the land, they tore down the greenhouse and stables but the left the mansion standing as it was used as a meeting place for local groups. During the next decade or so there were many ideas for the park. In 1917, Park Board President Theodore Wirth suggested installing a 1,100-seat amphitheater. Wirth also suggested to build a children’s playground on the site, but the neighbors were not fond of that idea. Meanwhile, the mansion was quickly falling into disrepair and becoming a hazard for the children who were playing in the park, so the neighbors offered to give the Park Board $25,000, or $368,000 today, to buy a new park where a playground and ball courts could be installed. They accepted this deal and in 1924 the Fair Oaks mansion was razed, and two years later, Clinton Field Park was created just a few blocks away.

After the mansion was brought down, the initial idea for the park was to make it into a landscaped plaza that lead up to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and it would also serve as the head of an esplanade that would extend a mile north to the Minneapolis Auditorium, which is now the Convention Center. Just think if that project happened. We would have our own version of the Tuileries Garden to lead up to our own version of the Louvre. How glorious would that be?

The park today

Nevertheless, this plan never got started, and instead the park turned into a peaceful place to take a break from the bustling city. If you’ve never visited this park, I highly recommend it. The next time you make a trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art or the Hennepin History Museum, take a stroll through Washburn Fair Oaks Park. Sit on a bench and imagine how life might have been like in this part of Minneapolis in the 1880s and 1890s with towering mansions and marvelous landscaping. This city’s passion for parks can be traced back to before the city even started, and it is because of patrons of the arts and parks like William Washburn that we have so many breathtaking parks spread throughout the Mill City.

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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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Miller Free Rides on March 16 (in conjunction with the Minneapolis and St. Paul parades)

Celebrate the luck of the Irish responsibly and get a free ride on Metro Transit on Saturday, March 16 – one day prior to St. Patrick’s Day – in conjunction with the Minneapolis and St. Paul parades.

Customers can ride free from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. on all Metro Transit routes on the day before St. Patrick’s Day– buses, METRO lines and Northstar. Simply hop on and take a seat for free. 

If you’re celebrating that night – or want to avoid driving alongside those who are – riding the bus or train is a worry-free and safe alternative.

Watch for Metro Transit in the St. Patrick’s Day parades in downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul on Saturday, March 16; not Sunday. 

Free rides will also be available on Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Anoka Transit routes.

Check which routes go late here.

Miller Lite Free Rides is a community service program made possible through a partnership with Metro Transit and MillerCoors. 

Call 1-800-FREE-RIDES 
Text “FREE RIDES” to 90464 
Visit millerlitefreerides.com

March 16, 2019, Saturday - Miller Free Rides (in conjunction with the Minneapolis and St. Paul parades)