East River Parkway closure February 29 - March 2

Via a February 24 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

East River Parkway closure February 29 - March 2

Crane work at U of M Medical Center closes section of East River Parkway for three days East River Parkway will be closed to vehicle traffic near the University of Minnesota Medical Center at 500 SE Harvard St. beginning Monday, Feb. 29 at 7 am and continuing until work is completed Wednesday, March 2.

The closure is necessary to hoist three new cooling towers onto the roof of the University of Minnesota Medical Center. This project has been delayed several times this winter due to high winds.

Southbound traffic will be detoured beginning at Arlington Street and northbound traffic at Harvard Street. Please follow all posted detour signage. The bike and pedestrian trails on the west side of the parkway will remain open.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience while the project is completed.

North Loop Neighborhood Association Feb 24 Board Meeting Agenda

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Heritage Landing, 415 1st Steet N

The North Loop Neighborhood Association welcomes you to the February 24 Board Meeting.

AGENDA
I.    CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS
II.   APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES
IV.   COUNCIL MEMBER PRESENTATION Jacob Frey
V.    FINANCE REPORT
VI.   NEIGHBOR COMMENTS
      - 1 Mississippi campaign update Maria Lee
      - Voting precincts update Tim Schwarz
VII.  COMMITTEE REPORTS
      - Marketing and Promotions Scott Woller
      - North Loop Businesses Scott Woller
          Warehouse District Business Association update
      - Website Diane Merrifield
      - Planning & Zoning DJ Heinle
          Pedestrian and Bicycle update – DJ
      - Livability Fritz Kroll
          Greening & lighting update
          NL park update – Katie
      - Safety & Livability Phil Ailiff
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
      - Sustainability / community garden – Bryan
      - NRP funding update - J.R.
      - Farmers Market Advisory Group update
      - 2020 Partners update
      - DNG update - DJ
IX.   NEW BUSINESS
      - Bylaws review – DJ and Bryan
      - Board officer election and committee chair selection - David
X.    ADJOURNMENT

In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

The top stories from last week:

SoFa, East Town, Nordic Village among options for Downtown East district name

Vikings line up zones for tailgating expansion but now must hit up City Hall

Closing Time: Peter Duc on What Makes Nye's Unique

Can you tell the difference between the new and old Nicollet Mall redesigns?

Pavers or concrete? Making streets lively is arguably more important than what's underfoot

Council gives municipal consent for Blue Line Extension

Vikings scramble for tailgating space around new stadium

Downtown East light-rail station to be renamed U.S. Bank Stadium Station

Meet the architect of the Twin Cities’ park systems: Horace W. S. Cleveland

'Guthrie Liner Parcel' hotel project moves forward

What's cooking: Cooks of Crocus Hill comes to Minneapolis North Loop

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15, 2016

150 Years of General Mills: A Look Back

10 Facts You Might Not Know About Pillsbury

Shamrock Condo Plan Near River Gets First Review

Meet The Man Who’s Betting Big on The Minneapolis Armory

Downtown East Park's Architect is Designing Under Bankruptcy Protection

Local D'lish Closes After 8 Years

Cooks Of Crocus Hill Heads to North Loop

Leblanc House: A Stawno-Style Bed And Breakfast

MSP International Film Festival is Expanding

Revamped Design for Nicollet Mall Swaps Pavers For Concrete

North Loop's Martin Patrick 3 sets standard for shopping experience

Downtown's recent growth driven by less-than-household-name companies

Profile of Architect Damaris Hollingsworth: Hothouse transplant

Photo credit: Susan Schaefer

The soaring atrium at the heart of architectural firm DLR Group’s downtown Minneapolis office is the perfect setting for the firm’s newest addition – architect and client leader, Damaris Hollingsworth, AIA, LEED AP, who exudes the energy and warmth of her native Brazil. But in spite of her tropical background, Hollingsworth is no shrinking violet.

She proudly tells how she has made a demanding journey as a black girl growing up in the inner city of Sao Paulo, with limited educational opportunities, through the rigors and ranks to become an accomplished architect in the United States. In a field predominantly populated with white male leaders, this is no small feat.

Anyone familiar with the architecture field understands its exacting academics and strict industry licensing requirements, with countless professional exams required to advance. And there’s the infamous tempered (itals mine) glass ceiling. More than many professions, architecture has been a traditionally boys game. Nevertheless, Hollingsworth has her sharp eye firmly on the prize of earning leadership status.

As co-chair for the AIA (American Institute of Architects) MN Women in Architecture Committee, she has plenty of opportunity not only to discuss the gender leadership gap, but also to lead the charge to close it. “In my profession women and men enter at about the same rate – men at 52% and women at 48%,” she explains. “But as the path toward leadership and the C-suite progresses, the rate for women drops drastically.” Many of the biases entail “lots of after hour’s events and old boy style networking.” Yet, even with an active and engaged two-year-old, she is not going to let those obstacles stand in the way to her path to the top.

After nearly ten years at a previous firm, she is pleased with the flexibility and opportunities presented by DLR. Her direct supervisor is a female senior associate and she notes that many female managers surround her. But Hollingsworth believes in co-equity. “I know this isn’t an either or game,” she states. “For women to rise in the ranks of any field, men have to support them. For people of color to thrive, white people have to support them. I believe in making allies.”

She has made quite a few already. Not only is she co-chairing the Women in Architecture Committee, she is an active member of its Diversity Task Force, and co-author of that group’s 2015 Diversity Task Force Report. Most recently, she has been asked to join the Strategic Resource Team for AIA MN, and she is competing to be named one of the top 40 under 40 in Building Design + Construction’sprestigious industry magazine. Damaris Hollingsworth is a tour de force.

What is most striking is the pure joy she exudes for her work. She loves the gamut of what it takes to be a great architect – not wanting to be narrow cast as a project manager or designer, she revels in the field’s entire lifecycle. “Master architects did it all – listened to the clients, responded to their needs, designed the right solutions, and oversaw the process. This is what I love to do.” And she’s thrilled to ply her trade in Downtown Minneapolis.

Having joined DLR’s Nicollet Mall location in January, Hollingsworth is exploring the downtown via what she calls, the veins of city – the skyway.  “I come from a vibrant metropolis where everyone walks and takes public transportation everywhere. At first, I wondered, ‘Where is everyone?’ and then I discovered the thriving skyway society. I love it. Everyone walking with purpose and determination!” She’s eager to see the cityscape come alive as well, once warm weather brings people to the streets. “I want to take the trains, explore the library, all that this city has to offer.”

Be sure to watch for this vibrant young professional as she lights up our downtown with the pure power of her personality.

Susan Schaefer can be reached at susan@millcitymedia.org.

Let the People Decide on the Future of Minneapolis Parks

I am asking the Mill City community for your support on an issue that is important both to me personally and to our city.  Our neighborhood parks are a big part of what makes Minneapolis a special place to live.  Unfortunately, they currently face a $15 million per year budget shortfall and, if we do not take action, Minneapolis residents will see a major decline in our beloved park infrastructure and our quality of life. Read more...

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board launches park dedication mapping tool

New tool provides monthly updates on park dedication fee collections, allocations and expenditures

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is proud to announce the successful launch of a new mapping tool that tracks park dedication fee collections, allocations and expenditures.

The park dedication map will be updated monthly. Blue dots represent fees collected, red dots indicate fees have been allocated toward a park project and green dots show where fees have been spent and the project is completed. Click within any of Minneapolis’ 81 neighborhoods for an overview of total fees collected, allocated and spent in a specific neighborhood.

The park dedication fee assesses all new developments in Minneapolis to help pay for park expansion or enhancement, akin to other development fees that support increased strain on infrastructure like sewer, water and roads. Park dedication fees are used by cities across Minnesota and the United States to enhance park systems for new residents or employees moving into the city.

The MPRB, City of Minneapolis and Minnesota Legislature approved the park dedication ordinance. It went into effect in Minneapolis on Jan. 1, 2014. Additional park dedication facts:

- Fees must be spent in the same neighborhood as the development assessed.

- Available funds vary widely across the city and are dependent on new development.

- Fees must be spent on park system expansions or enhancements. This includes land acquisition, new recreation facilities or expanded amenities—not rehabilitation or maintenance.

- Fund expenditures must be approved through the MPRB’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

- Affordable housing units are the only type of development exempt from fees. This was determined by the state legislature.

- The MPRB may consider receiving land in lieu of fees. Land-in-lieu must meet the plans and goals of the MPRB and be approved by the Board of Commissioners. This has happened once so far, for a public connection between Second Street and the Mississippi River, also known as a “woonerf.”

- The first allocations were made during the 2016-2021 CIP process in four neighborhoods: Near North, Folwell, Seward and Bryant. The former three will expand playground facilities; the latter will enhance a wading pool.

For more information visit the Park Dedication page on minneapolisparks.org.

People Serving People Annual Gala is Scheduled for April 16

The People Serving People Annual Gala is scheduled for April 16 at the Hyatt Regency. This year's theme is Unmasking Homelessness, and attendees are encouraged to don a festive mask for the party.

There are 85 volunteer positions available for this Gala. Please click on this link to learn more. 

The Soap Factory and Northern Lights Present: Art(ists) on the Verge 7, Exhibition Opening Reception is March 12

The Soap Factory and Northern Lights Present: Art(ists) on the Verge 7, Exhibition Opening Reception

An exhibition opening reception in celebration of Art(ists) on the Verge 7 will take place March 12 at the The Soap Factory, 514 2nd Street SE.  The exhibition runs March 12 - April 17.

This exhibition features new work from four Minnesota-based artists. AOV7 is an intensive, year-long, mentor-based fellowship program for emerging artists working experimentally at the intersection of art, technology, and digital culture.

Visit Northern.Lights.mn to learn more about their organization, AOV, and their other programs.

Restaurant Week Winter 2016: Feb 21-26

Celebrate the best of Twin Cities dining with a week's worth of great deals in the Twin Cities trendiest and best restaurants from February 21-26. Participating restaurants will serve two course lunches for $10-$25 and three-course dinners for $15- $35 (beverage, tax and gratuity not included).

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Restaurant Week started in 2007 in an effort to connect Twin Cities food enthusiasts with the best in Twin Cities dining. Since then, Restaurant Week has become a tradition embraced by Minnesotans.

Visit restaurants such as Sanctuary, Ginger Hop and Haute Dish. View full list at: http://mspmag.com/Contests-And-Promotions/Restaurant-Week/.

In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

150 Years of General Mills: A Look Back

10 Facts You Might Not Know About Pillsbury

Shamrock Condo Plan Near River Gets First Review

Meet The Man Who’s Betting Big on The Minneapolis Armory

Downtown East Park's Architect is Designing Under Bankruptcy Protection

Local D'lish Closes After 8 Years

Cooks Of Crocus Hill Heads to North Loop

Leblanc House: A Stawno-Style Bed And Breakfast

MSP International Film Festival is Expanding

Revamped Design for Nicollet Mall Swaps Pavers For Concrete

North Loop's Martin Patrick 3 sets standard for shopping experience

Downtown's recent growth driven by less-than-household-name companies

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8, 2016

Minneapolis’ downtown population rose 25 percent in 10 years

Building on downtown's successes

In downtown Minneapolis, growth comes with roadblocks

Hodges vetoes $15M park tax plan, urges rewrite

Beer-and-fitness building on Washington Avenue sells for $6.1M

Minneapolis' Grain Belt sign to be re-lit in 2017

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Why is the Downtown East Commons park such a tough sell?

Nicollet Mall redo won't include any brick-like pavers

Where can we go with 1st Avenue?

Inside Mill City Museum: A Review

Minnesota legacies: Remembering Stuart MacPhail

Who Is Ned Abdul? And how did he buy one of the best redevelopment spots in town?

Wells Fargo wins first round against Vikings in U.S. Bank Stadium photo-bomb fight

Minnesota DNR tags cost of refilling White Bear Lake at $100 million plus

Enterprising homeowners start lining up renters for Super Bowl and Ryder Cup

3 base jumpers leap from River Towers in Minneapolis

Coming soon: City Works in Mayo Clinic Square

Northeast Farmers Market Update

Mill City Valentine: A Greeting

By Susan Schaefer, Reporter

I’m delighted to join Mill City Times as a veteran contributor to the Minneapolis Riverfront. Coming onboard this week is a fitting valentine.

Twenty years ago today, on February 14, 1996, I scored triple hearts when I married my heartthrob, the Dutch philosopher and gentleman, Martijn Hermse, on Valentine’s Day in the then-Whitney Hotel in what is now known as Mill City, the heart of the Central Riverfront.

                                     Our iconic honeymoon shot shows us gazing lovingly at St. Anthony Falls                      from our penthouse balcony of the Whitney Hotel.

The Minneapolis Riverfront has been central to my life, love and work. Twenty years ago marks another anniversary, when as an independent consultant I developed the concept for The Minneapolis Riverfront: Vision and Implementation project and book for my architectural client, Cuningham Group, whose office is still located on St. Anthony Main’s East Bank. This public affairs and urban planning project won local, regional, national and international acclaim with many local leaders heralding it as the inspiration for what has become today’s successful riverfront revitalization. Our work brought welcome attention to the then neglected central riverfront.

For this project, I toured multiple Dutch riverfront developments considered by the Urban Land Institute as some of the most successful in the world. While consulting with Dutch officials and architects on behalf of our project, I met my husband. Not only were we wed on the Minneapolis Riverfront, we later moved blocks from it to the Seward Neighborhood, where Martijn served on the Seward Coop’s Board of Directors while I served on the Neighborhood’s Executive Board. Everyday we walked, ran, biked or drove the river’s riparian paths in a state of constant enchantment.

Seven years ago, while on an educational sabbatical in my husband’s hometown of Maastricht, living alongside another mythical river, the Meuse, Martijn died from cancer. Gradually, I made my way back to my adopted city and the river that flows in my veins.

Now I live directly atop historic Bohemian Flats with an enthralling view of the Mississippi and the Minneapolis Riverfront I cherish. On favorable days you’ll find me loping north, past the Whitney, glancing lovingly at the balcony where our gaze on river reflected our united dreams.

So, I am very pleased to join Kim and David in their united dream to provide comprehensive coverage to the central riverfront as a reporter and photographer for Mill City Times. I have city reporting in my blood as a long time journalist and former publisher and editor of center city Philadelphia’s South Street Star newspaper. I plan to bring thoughtful, original writing, commentary and images to our readers. If you want to know more about me please click here.

I welcome emails: susan@millcitymedia.org.  Thank you. And remember, be well, be wise and laugh a lot.

Open Window Theatre Presents Everyman in Urban Jungle

Open Window Theatre Presents Everyman in Urban Jungle

The newest production at Open Window Theatre brings a classic piece of theatre literature to the stage with an urban setting, live music and a diverse cast.  In his contemporary take on Everyman, director Jeremy Stanbary (Artistic Director, Open Window Theatre) pulls from his own roots of Catholicism to bring out the universality of this medieval morality play as well as the rich symbolism within.  “The play mixes poetry with no-holds-barred imagery,” Stanbary says, “and deals with problems of wealth, power and self-indulgence which can be destructive to humans and the common good.”

The set design, with its multi-level metal piping, provides an urban jungle playground for the cast in a prison-like structure, giving a sense of Everyman’s entrapment to his/her material world.  The costumes supply a “high impact look,” according to designer Josette Elstad, which plays out with various textures and layers, echoing both Greek chorus and gothic-inspirations.  Original music performed live during the show will blend medieval with modern influences, intermixing digital music and sounds.  Guest artists SPARK Theater + Dance (Corey and Betsy Mills) will add stunning visual imagery to the story through movement and choreography.

The cast features an eight-person ensemble, with five diverse actors (including women) rotating into the role of Everyman for a portion of the performance.  With each actor rotation, a prop piece of what Everyman has acquired will be removed except for a common shroud that symbolically defines the spiritual element of the fateful journey.  According to Stanbary, the play is “not afraid to pull punches,” even calling out corrupt members of the clergy.

The cast of Everyman includes Corey Mills (Everyman #1 & #6/Confession), Nicole Goeden (Everyman #2/Beauty/Angel), Kiara Jackson (Everyman #3/Strength), Elohim Pena (Everyman #4/Fellowship/Five Wits), Joann Oudekerk (Everyman #5/Kindred), Sharayah Bunce (Death/Good-Deeds), Siddeqah Shabazz (Messenger/Knowledge) and Nathan Gebhard (Cousin/Goods/Discretion).

FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20
Thursdays-Saturdays @ 7:45pm
Sundays @ 1:30pm
Special matinees:  Wednesdays, March 2 & 9 @ 10:30am, and Saturday, March 19 @ 1:30pm

TICKETS:  $16-30.  Box Office:  612/615-1515, or website.
Thursdays are “Pay-As-You’re-Able” for a $1 minimum at the door for any unsold tickets.

LOCATION:
Open Window Theatre
(Metropolis Minneapolis Building)
1313 Chestnut Avenue, Ste #102 - Free Parking
Minneapolis MN  55403

The Second Sex // Guerrilla Girls Takeover Event at Gamut Gallery

 

THE SECOND SEX // GUERRILLA GIRLS TAKEOVER EVENT

The first invitational of Gamut Gallery's 2016 programming, The Second Sex is a group exhibition curated by Genie Castro, Juleana Enright and Jade Patrick which explores the imbalance imposed by the secondary designation that patriarchy places on women. Through paintings, photography, printmaking, video, performance and sculpture, artists will examine the injustices brought on by patriarchy and visualize how to manifest balance in society.

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 5th, 3-7pm
Exhibition runs Tuesday, March 1st - Saturday, March 19th

Featured Artists: Judy Chicago, Shanna Allyn, Jennifer Bong, Genie Castro, Perci Chester, Sue Cranston, Justine Di Fiore, Juleana Enright, Caila Darling, Nadia Honary, Nicole Houff, Allison Johnson, Allea Lovely, Kate Renee, Amy Sands, Heidi Sime, Carla Alexandra Rodriguez

For The Second Sex, the curators sought pieces which had active synergy and were representative of the diversity amongst the ever-evolving feminist movement. With intersectionality in mind, the exhibition seeks to unite the social identities of an oppressed gender and act as a safe place to explore individual struggles and demand attention. Made up solely of women artists from different walks of life, a variety ages, sexual orientations and mediums, The Second Sex creates respect and equality for a gender historically overlooked and underrepresented in the art world. In addition to bringing visibility to local and locally-bred female artists, the exhibit makes a statement and seeks a continual discussion on how to balance the distribution of art produced by artists whose gender and sexual designations have rendered them “lesser” by patriarchal standards.

Judy Chicago’s, “Birth Tear/Tear” serigraph circa 1985 was chosen as a cornerstone of the show. A pioneer of the Feminist Artist Movement, Chicago addresses the power and importance of the women who participated in earlier feminist movements and who have sought change and fought for recognition. Her career, which spans over five decades, endeavors to “reflect on women’s lives, call attention to their roles as artists and alter the conditions under which contemporary art was produced and received.” A co-founder of CalArts Feminist Art Program, Chicago has articulated her vision through, not just her art, but her work as an educator and organizer. Her vision of change was an inspiration for The Second Sex initial concept.
 
Though separate artists, Heidi Sime and Amy Sands share a similar mindset by visually exploring the conventional feminine roles at the dinner table. Sime’s “Dinner Party” is a two-dimensional, patinaed steel-cut table in metallic blue. While employing a medium traditionally thought of as masculine, Sime reclaims it as a tool to define her interpretation of the feminine mystique. Sands’ “Gathering at the Dinner Table” is a mixed media piece highlighting the artist’s mastery of printmaking and drawing. Using the lace tablecloth as symbolism, Sands’ work provides the perfect delicate juxtaposition to Sime’s andric piece.

Photographer Shanna Allyn’s work examines women’s personas through portraits that are awkwardly edgy and surreally provocative, while Carla Alexandra Rodriguez explores analog photography with black and white portraits. Intimate and emotional, Rodriguez expels a peaceful drama such as the one displayed in her piece, “A Metaphor,” which embodies the curator’s emphasis on manifesting balance with a feminine form embracing darkness.

As part of the Guerrilla Girls Twin Cities Takeover, this exhibit exists to challenge the negative designations patriarchy has placed on women with emphasis on the female artist. Through their artwork and through the show’s curative process, The Second Sex sets out to refine the contemporary Feminist Art Movement, its goals and the role art can have in restoring the equality.

Follow Gamut on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for sneak peeks and special announcements leading up to these events.

THE SECOND SEX OPEN HOURS
Special hours opening week:
3-7pm / Tuesday, March 1st - Saturday, March 5th

Regular hours resume through end of exhibit March 19th:
3-7pm / Thursdays & Fridays
1-7pm / Saturdays

http://www.gamutgallerympls.com/
612-293-6497 

Register Now for Free Open Data Code-a-thon Event, Geo:Code 2.0

Via a February 10 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

Register Now for Free Open Data Code-a-thon Event, Geo:Code 2.0

Geo:Code 2.0 will connect civic-minded community members with geographers and technologists to create solutions that improve public services, give residents better access to government data and make a difference in Twin Cities communities. The event is free and open to people with all backgrounds, skills and ideas.

Event details: 

• Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• University of Minnesota Robert H. Bruininks Hall, Room 412
• 222 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis

“Geo:Code 2.0 will provide community members with the opportunity to collaborate on existing projects or jumpstart new ideas that improve the places we live, work and play,” said Hennepin County District 3 Commissioner Marion Greene. “We are excited to partner with organizations from all over the metro.” 

Event organizers want to generate a cross section of coders, cartographers, data visualizers, designers, developers, dreamers, makers, mappers, students and technologists.

“You never know where a project will take you or what skills will be needed,” said event organizer Kelly Clausen. “It does not matter what you do, you have something vital to contribute.”

Come for a few hours or the entire event 

Participants may stop in for a single workshop or stay for the entire two-day event. Space is limited, so organizers ask all attendees to register in advance.

At the end of the event, teams will present their projects. Possible projects include:

• Code an open source project
• Design visuals for public data sets
• Help out with research
• Test a website or solution

At the first code-a-thon event in 2015, participants worked on eight projects, including:

• Guidelines for creating accessible maps online
• App for bikers based on Open Street maps
• Tool to identify vacant lots that would be good candidates for urban farming

Learn more and register for Geo:Code 2.0 at www.hennepin.us/geocode.

This year’s event is hosted by Open Twin Cities, Anoka County, Carver County, the Citizen’s League, city of Minneapolis, city of St. Paul, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs—University of Minnesota, Dakota County, Hennepin County, Metro GIS, MnGeo, Ramsey County, Scott County and Washington County. 

Take Advantage of Free Access to Magna's Gym February 15-20

Here's the perfect opportunity to check out what Magna, 616 S 3rd Street, has to offer. During the week of February 15-20 they are offering free access to their gym, featuring:

• 1200 square feet of open, clean space
• Squat racks
• Battle ropes
• Dumbbells up to 100 lbs.
• Tires
• Plyo boxes
• Bumper plates
• TRX straps
• Rowers, treadmills, ellipticals
• Prowler sled, and more!

To sign up, contact Ali Palm at apalm@magnausa.com or 612-424-6840, or drop in.  They're open Monday-Friday 5am-8pm and Saturdays 8am-1pm.

February 13 - Escape the Cold at the Mill City Farmers Market Inside the Mill City Museum

The Mill City Farmers Market returns to the Mill City Museum February 13 from 10am - 1pm.  Use this handy Vendor Map to help plan your trip.

While you're there, stop by the information booth and ask about renewing your membership or becoming a new member. Memberships are $40 and include $10 in MCFM tokens, weekly market specials, a package of coupons from vendors and sponsors, and a donation to the Market.

What's new in 2016? This year MCFM is offering even more valuable member specials, including MCFM token deals, member appreciation events, and continued dedication to popular programs. Sign up for the MFCM e-newsletters to receive updates on vendor specials, events, and more.

Exclusive Member Specials at the February 13 Market:
 - Ames Farm: Purchase 6 beeswax votives and receive 2 free glass candle - holders
- Bliss Granola: $1 off any gourmet granola or muesli
- Braucher's Sunshine Harvest Farm: $1 off a dozen eggs
- Horner's Corner: $1 off any $10 maple syrup purchase
- Kiss My Cabbage: $1 off select sauerkraut and kimchi
- Martha's Joy: $1 off select pickled vegetables
- Olsen Naturals: $1 off any $10 body care purchase
- Singing Hills Goat Dairy: $1 off when you purchase 2 feta
- Zula Juice: 10% off all organic cold-press juice and juice cleanse purchases
- Sassy Knitwear: 10% off organic and up-cycled women's clothing
- 1 bonus $5 token with the purchase of $40 or more in tokens at the MCFM Info Booth
Just show your 2016 Member Key Tag for all these deals and more!

MCFM welcomes Spark-Y Youth Action Labs to the February 13 Market.  They'll be demonstrating their aquaponic and vermicomposting systems. Find them on the lower level and learn about their organization.

In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

Minneapolis’ downtown population rose 25 percent in 10 years

Building on downtown's successes

In downtown Minneapolis, growth comes with roadblocks

Hodges vetoes $15M park tax plan, urges rewrite

Beer-and-fitness building on Washington Avenue sells for $6.1M

Minneapolis' Grain Belt sign to be re-lit in 2017

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Why is the Downtown East Commons park such a tough sell?

Nicollet Mall redo won't include any brick-like pavers

Where can we go with 1st Avenue?

Inside Mill City Museum: A Review

Minnesota legacies: Remembering Stuart MacPhail

Who Is Ned Abdul? And how did he buy one of the best redevelopment spots in town?

Wells Fargo wins first round against Vikings in U.S. Bank Stadium photo-bomb fight

Minnesota DNR tags cost of refilling White Bear Lake at $100 million plus

Enterprising homeowners start lining up renters for Super Bowl and Ryder Cup

3 base jumpers leap from River Towers in Minneapolis

Coming soon: City Works in Mayo Clinic Square

Northeast Farmers Market Update

WEEK OF JANUARY 25, 2016

MILL CITY HISTORY

Minneapolis, 1913: A new cornerstone, a visiting celebrity and the joys of 'pedestrianism'

Modest innovator helped make Minneapolis a milling mecca

Gallery: Minneapolis, one corner at a time

PUBLIC REALM/TRANSIT UPDATE

How the Walker's Sculpture Garden will grow

Business donations help new Downtown Park get halfway to $22 M goal

Several Commons’ features put on hold for park’s debut

Parts of park near Vikings stadium now likely to be phased in

If we all pitch in a dollar, we can name it Hoi Polloi Park

Minneapolis park superintendent seeks $300 million via November referendum

Minneapolis skyway system is biggest in the world – and about to get bigger

Target Center renovation could bring a new skyway link

Mpls. officials scramble to redesign Nicollet Mall overhaul after project hits snag

First Avenue Freeze-Out

Where can we go with 1st Avenue?

How frozen Minneapolis became a biking mecca

ON THE RIVERFRONT

Ramsey Excavating Company Parcel: Set for Park Board acquisition

Minneapolis parks set to purchase key riverfront land

Introducing Our New Digital Journal Open Rivers: Rethinking the Mississippi

Minneapolis start-up wants to install small-scale hydropower without the need for dams

Minnehaha Falls January 2016 [Video]

DEVELOPMENT DIGEST

Minneapolis seeks to protect Armory as overhaul heats up

General Mills mulls sale of Minneapolis R&D center

Into the wood: America's first modern tall timber building rises in Minneapolis

City could get condo comeback with 40-story Alatus tower

Lux decides 40-story tower at Washburn-McReavy site should be condos

Streetscapes review: Block E gets a welcome redo

For sale: Hotel development site next to Minneapolis Convention Center

Three high-profile Minneapolis projects advance

124-unit apartment building proposed for North Loop

City Council approves land sale of Nicollet Hotel Block

10 Redevelopment Projects Transforming MSP in 2016

LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

No more wiggle room: Nye's set to close April 3

The Daytons create a North Loop trifecta with new café

The country's first vegan butcher shop prepares to open in Northeast

Vintage veteran opens retro clothing boutique in Northeast

Aster Cafe owner plans Mexican restaurant on Main Street

FROZEN PANTS

Frozen jeans put up for display in Northeast prove to be pretty cool

NE Mpls. finds frigid fun in frozen pants [Video]

The frozen pants phenomenon has gone international

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Traditional Minnesota Winters

Article submitted by Robert Crane, Acupuncturist & Herbalist, MAGNA

Here we are, Minneapolitans; it’s that time of year again! The time when the general population is divided into two distinct groups. The first, a veritable petri dish of contagions, struggling to find the time between coughs and sneezes to utter a three-word sentence. The second, protecting themselves from the first, is living life in a near-literal bubble of sterilization with hands coated in a layer of hand sanitizer so thick the it damages the touchscreen on their smartphones. We all know about hand washing and vitamin C, but for many of us that doesn’t seem to be enough. Fortunately, we can turn to other forms of understanding about the body to help protect us from these viruses.

As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), part of my job is to view the body as a contiguous and integrated system. What happens on the outside is directly connected with what happens on the inside, and everything works together keep the body in relative health. That is why, when someone catches one of these seasonally ubiquitous bugs, we look not only for an unwanted external agent, but also for an underlying deficiency that has impaired the body’s ability to protect itself. The two organ systems that are primarily responsible for keeping you healthy year-round are the Spleen and the Lung systems. Sparing you the technical details (which, in TCM terms, sounds decidedly untechnical), the Spleen and Stomach, which are the primary digestive organs from our paradigm, are in charge turning the good food you eat into various essential substances that are responsible for both sustaining and protecting the body. The defensive energy is propelled outward by the Lungs to the outer surface of the body, where external pathogens are said to invade the body. We use acupuncture and TCM to both clear that virus as well as support the internal organs responsible for maintaining healthy immunity.

Between visits to your local acupuncturist, however, there are many options to help your body support its defenses and fend off unwanted bugs. Here’s a short list of Midwestern-mom tips to help you avoid catching one of these tenacious viruses.

Get some sleep!  It’s no secret that your whole body functions better after a good night’s rest, but a healthy 8-hours is especially important during wintertime. One of the primary tenants of TCM is the idea of matching your life with the seasons. During this part of the year, the nights are longer, making 7:00am bear an unnerving resemblance to 2:00am. As such, it is crucial, for both your physical health and your state of mind, that you focus on getting as much sleep as possible right now, even if that means going to bed before the late-night shows air.

Eat your soup!  Research over the last few years continues to reaffirm something that holistic practitioners have understood for ages: The key component of a healthy immune system is a healthy digestive system. When the gut is taxed with overly heavy, sweet, and greasy foods, your body has to work over-time to process the food and little energy is left for the body’s defenses. Hearty broths and soups, with thoroughly cooked root veggies and aromatic spices like ginger, are a good way to give your stomach a break. A good probiotic is another way to support your digestive system and, subsequently, your immunity. If you do start to get sick, adding a little bit of spice to your diet will help to push things out at the surface. Don't go overboard though, too much heat isn’t Spleen-friendly either!

Wear your scarf!  According to Chinese medical theory, the neck and upper back is the area of the body that is most vulnerable to external invasion. This is why one of the first signs of a seasonal cold is stiff and achy shoulders. One of the most important things you can do for yourself during this season is keep this area covered. Whether it is with a scarf, a thick hooded coat, or a bulky sweater, protecting yourself will keep you healthier longer during the winter months. This is particularly important after you have developed any of the initial signs of achey muscles, sore throat, and sneezing. After drinking a big bowl of broth cooked with ginger and scallions, wrap a thick blanket around you, watch a documentary on Netflix, and let your body sweat and push out the illness.

In short, whether you’re a person that is developing sneeze-induced whiplash or you’re the kind that’s downing Emergen-C like you’re at 2-for-1 happy hour, natural remedies like acupuncture and herbal medicine are extremely effective options for the treatment and prevention of seasonal viruses. Most practitioners are willing to do a brief consult with you at no cost, so go find your local acupuncturist and set up an appointment! You’ll be happy you did while you’re handing your coworker a kleenex and turning your dry nose smugly in the air!

Robert Crane L.Ac., Dipl.OM, MAOM
Magna Health and Fitness
616 S 3rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415
rcrane@magnausa.com
www.magnausa.com/acupuncture

374 Unit "Legacy" Condos Planned for Mill District

*PUBLIC MEETING AT OPEN BOOK*

DMNA Land Use Meeting - 6:00 PM at Open Book Target Hall

Agenda highlights:

- Legacy Condos presentation by developer

- Hennepin Ave Redesign project

- 11th Ave Protected Bike Lane

Project would add 700-800 new residents to the Mill District

Developer Jim Stanton will be going before the City Planning Commission next week to propose his latest condo project in the Mill District. City staff has a few issues with the project, outlined below from their staff report.

Download the report, includes artist renderings...

More coverage in the Journal  - Star Tribune - MSP Business

From the CPED Staff Report:

The applicant is proposing to construct a new 374-unit residential building. The building would be 14-stories in height and approximately 726,000 square feet in size. There will be amenity space within the building for the residents including a pet grooming area, community rooms, exercise space, a pool and roof terrace areas.

The site is over four acres in size. The applicant is proposing to construct one building on the site. The building is very large. The applicant has proposed to break up the mass of the building by stepping down the height of the building from 14 stories to 11 stories, by bumping out the 14-story portion of the building on the north side of the building and by incorporating both recessed and projecting balconies.

Staff has some concerns with the site and building design and would like to discuss them in more detail at the meeting:

• Overall massing of the building

• Length of building wall along 13th Avenue South

• The number of building materials and the amount of cement based material

• The ground level treatment of the underground parking levels

• The porte cochere along South 2nd Street

• The location of the building utilities

• The proposed stormwater treatment systems

APPLICATIONS

The site is currently zoned I1 Light Industrial District and is located in the IL Industrial Living Overlay District, the DP Downtown Parking Overlay District and the DH Downtown Height Overlay District. The applicant is proposing to rezone the property to the C3A Commercial Activity Center District. Through this rezoning the IL Overlay would also be removed.

The parking requirement is one space per dwelling unit. However, the site is located within a half-mile of the DT East Light Rail Transit Station and can take advantage of the 50 percent transit reduction. The DP Overlay sets a maximum parking allowance of 1.7 parking spaces per dwelling unit. The building also has to provide one guest parking space for every 50 dwelling units in the building. The DH Overlay allows building heights up to six stories or 84 feet. The DH Overlay also allows a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 4.0.

Staff has identified the following land use applications for the project:

• Rezoning to C3A Commercial Activity Center District and remove the Industrial Living Overlay District

• Conditional Use Permit to increase the height of the building from 6 stories/84 feet to 14 stories/approximately 255 feet

• Variance to increase the maximum amount of parking from 636 spaces to 697 spaces

• Site plan review

This could also be reviewed as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). If it were to be a PUD the following applications would be required:

• Rezoning to C3A Commercial Activity Center District and remove the Industrial Living Overlay District

• Conditional Use Permit for a PUD

• Site plan review

Park Board Overrides Mayor Hodges Veto of Parks Funding [Video]

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board overrides Mayor’s veto of recommended ballot language for referendum to close neighborhood park funding gap

Above: Video of discussion and vote to override veto

At its Feb. 3 meeting, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners overrode a veto by Mayor Hodges of the MPRB’s Jan. 20 resolution approving language for a 2016 ballot measure. The ballot measure will ask Minneapolis residents for a property tax levy to help maintain, rehabilitate and invest in its chronically underfunded network of 160 neighborhood parks.

Per the City Charter, the MPRB could only override the Mayor’s Jan. 27 veto if it took action at its Feb. 3 meeting by passing the resolution again by two-thirds vote.  The City Charter requirement of taking action on Feb. 3 didn’t allow time for any rewording of the resolution; however MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller and MPRB President Liz Wielinski will continue working with Mayor Hodges to discuss her concerns with the resolution.

The Feb. 3 action by MPRB Commissioners reflected the MPRB’s strong position to move forward with both the proposed ballot language and elements of an agreement with the Minneapolis City Council to address sustained current funding.

This year’s actions by MPRB Commissioners follow a year of public meetings about the current condition and maintenance service level of  neighborhood parks in the city during Closing the Gap: Investing in Neighborhood Parks (Closing the Gap)initiative.

Resolution 2016-112, passed Jan. 20 and again Feb. 4 by MPRB Commissioners, includes ballot language for a November 2016 referendum and elements of an agreement with the Minneapolis City Council to address sustained current funding. Superintendent Miller also provided an overarching implementation plan for a referendum. If approved by the residents of Minneapolis, the referendum will generate the additional resources needed to provide a long-term strategy to fund annual maintenance, repair and capital investments for neighborhood parks in Minneapolis, as long as other current funding sources are sustained.

The maximum annual amount of the proposed tax levy increase is limited to .0388 percent of the estimated market value by the city per year. It would begin in 2018 and continue to be collected for the next 20 years. If the levy had been in place in 2016, it would have generated approximately $15 million and added $65.68 to the property tax bill of an owner of a home valued at $190,000.

All expenditures related to the levy would be subject to full public examination. A one-page fact sheet gives an overview of how funding generated by the levy would be spent in the first five years; Superintendent Miller will provide specifics of the 2018-2022 implementation plan in April.