New Job Opening: Preserve Minneapolis

We're looking for a Summer Waking Tours coordinator!

Preserve Minneapolis plans and executes a series of summer walking tours that explore some of the city’s most unique historic places. The Tour Coordinator will be responsible for developing and executing the 2016 program, consisting of 25-27 tours (typically a mix of returning tours and new ones).

For the job description and more details, please click here: 2016 PM Tour Coordinator posting [PDF]

Compensation: This is a contract position, with pay of $6,000

How to apply: Please send resume, letter of interest (maximum 400 words), and list three references to the email address listed below. Include one brief article (maximum 400 words) that you have written; this article shall best represent your written communication skills. Please list past projects that you have executed or supervised, and describe the scope of work and skill needed for these projects.

Send your application to: Peter Sussman, Preserve Minneapolis Tour Committee Chair psussman@preserveminneapolis.org

Open until January 29th, 2016.

The full list of last year's tours is on our website. 

United Properties Submits New Design for 30 Story (At Least) Nicollet Mall Tower

United Properties and partner Greystar submitted a new design yesterday for a mixed-use project on the city-owned site in downtown Minneapolis known as the Nicollet Hotel Block.

The project is on the agenda of the City Council's Community Development and Regulatory Services committee scheduled to meet Jan. 5:

- Purchase price: $10.4 million.

- A mixed use tower with at least 30 stories to include a hotel, residential, commercial and/or office uses with a façade, a portion of which includes a mullion pattern reflecting the topography of the Mississippi River.

- Active street-level retail space.

- All parking shall be underground.

- A design to accommodate a skyway crossing Third Street South to connect the Tower to the Hennepin County Central Library (the “Third Street Skyway Bridge”).

- A public plaza including a staircase connecting the plaza to the skyway level and lobby, interactive feature, sidewalk café seating, and an activated year round common space.

- Public artwork in the plaza area mutually acceptable to the City and Developer.

- LEED certification or equivalent for building shell and core and incorporation
of sustainable design features.

2015: Whew, what a year!

We've been looking through our 2015 website and Facebook posts and are overwhelmed with everything that happened in our downtown and riverfront neighborhoods.  Construction, new businesses, goodbyes, the river...

Grab a cup of coffee, and let's take a stroll down memory lane!

January

Commuters will lose 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis to Vikings stadium

[Video] Minneapolis After the Lock - Unlocking New Opportunities

Depot hotel owners plan to lose waterpark for more rooms

Check out 60 years of downtown changes in a matter of seconds.

Competition heats up for water power at St. Anthony Falls

Duval's 80-story tower proposal off the table

Spiff up unsightly lots in downtown Minneapolis

Should the Minnesota Vikings install bird safe glass at their new stadium? Mill City Times Reader Poll

George Henry Hotel Project - 300 Washington Avenue North / From January 6 HPC Meeting

Sanctuary Is Now Chef Co-Owned

Charter high school may open downtown

Letter to the Editor / Endorse the St. Anthony Falls Regional Park Master Plan

Minneapolis Parks Foundation Names R.T. Rybak and Liz Hawn to 20-member Board of Directors

Washington Avenue project paves the way for future roads

February

BREAKING: With Riverfront Bike & Ped Trails at Stake, Graco Must Live Up to Its Agreement

Why it's critical to resolve Park Board-Graco dispute

Heavy Hitter Joins Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Move Bodes Well for Riverfront Projects

[Video] Park Board Votes to Take Action Against Graco

Trader Joe's Gets Closer, Thresher Square Plans Unveiled

[Video] MPRB Approves Public "Woonerf" Connecting to the Downtown Riverfront

Mill City Quarter housing project leads the way to a 'woonerf'

The future of Nye's hangs in the balance between preservation and density

Opinion - Downtown East Commons Off to Good Start

VIDEO: Tour the transforming Pillsbury "A" Mill

Residents eye roads as Downtown East Commons takes shape

New Luxury Condo Development, The Portland Tower, now Taking Reservations

Exploring Northeast Minneapolis’ Central Avenue

[Photos] Gold Medal Park to Host Walker Sculptures

Minneapolis riverfront reveals relics of our subterranean history

[Video] Met Council, Feds Agree with Mill City Times Poll - MPRB Is Not Obstructing Southwest LRT

Symphony Hydro Permit for St. Anthony Falls Lock Denied

Streetcars: Are they worth it? Met Council wades in

[Photos] Nicollet Hotel Block to be Developed by United Properties

Developers propose 18-story downtown high-rise

Retracing Kate Noonan's path up and down Nicollet on a fateful day in 1877

Guthrie's new director is lauded as 'huge player on national scene'

Opinion - Defending Minneapolis Parks

March

22 Reasons You Should Never Visit Minneapolis

23 Years of Transformation - Watch the Mill District of Minneapolis transform between 1991 and 2014

New Development Coming to the Mill District at 800 South Washington Avenue

As riverfront booms, officials seek long view at historic mill complex

‘A’ Mill will soon be home to artist community

Graco Inc: Keep your word, don't stop the Minneapolis Riverfront trail

Dreaming of a food marketplace in downtown Minneapolis

Gold Medal Market & Deli is Now Open!

Nicollet Mall makeover must honor street's past and present

Donizetti Opera to be Mill City Summer Opera’s Fourth Season Production

Neighborhood concerns become obstacle to Nye's redevelopment

Goodbye to All That: “A Trip through Newspaperland” at 425 Portland Avenue

Downtown East betting on stadium momentum

Fortune’s been friendly to Shamrock’s Jim Stanton

Mill City Commons Gives Seniors A Reliable Community

Creative City Challenge Winner Announced

[Video] A New Cable TV Option for Downtown Minneapolis?

15-story complex with 400 condos planned for Mill District

Northeast Minneapolis Named Best Art District

Another Top 10 for Downtown Minneapolis!

Friday Declared Tony Hofstede Day

[Download] More Details on Ritz Block Proposal

April

Insider's Guide to North Loop

Poll - Downtown Soccer Stadium: What Should the Minneapolis City Council Do?

Dreams and hopes for the Guthrie as it enters its next stage

[Video] Water Works: A Gateway Park to the Mississippi River

Kudos to Izzy's Ice Cream on being named Best Ice Cream Mpls 2015

MPRB Receives $500,000 Grant for Sheridan Memorial Park

On the east side of downtown Minneapolis, a new wave of development begins

[Video] Major Changes Planned for Pedestrians, Bikes in Downtown East

Think of the Mississippi River as a national park, too

[Video] Why the Lock at St. Anthony Falls is Closing - Rowers Attacked By Flying Asian Carp

Hennepin County Board Adopts Updated Bicycle Plan

David Frank Named New Director of City of Minneapolis Economic Policy and Development

May

City of Minneapolis Receives Three Proposals for 800 South Washington Avenue

Guthrie's Joe Dowling takes a final curtain call at theater he reinvented

Opening Day at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

Detailed plans for new downtown park unveiled

In Search of Lost Time

Mortenson eyes key parcel next to Surdyk's in northeast Minneapolis for mixed-use project

Downtown Commons: An Extraordinary Opportunity

There’s a pirate ship on the Mississippi River heading for the Twin Cities

Pillsbury Sign Restoration Complete, to be Re-installed this Summer

Developer Ryan Cos. considers condos and vertical, automated parking system next to Vikings stadium ramp

Northern Spark 2015 Partner Projects Spotlight: Mill City Museum

Ground Is Broken and Construction Begins on Ecumen’s Abiitan Mill City in Downtown Minneapolis

Between Whole Foods and the Fed, a plan for homes on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis

Minneapolis and Saint Paul Tie for First Place on The Trust for Public Land’s 2015 ParkScore® Index

Streetscapes: Ghost signs reveal past almost imperceptibly

8 Geniuses We Can Be Proud To Call Minnesotan

Greening Downtown Minneapolis names director to raise money for The Commons park near Vikings Stadium

Vertical villages are changing the concept of neighborhood

Ryan Companies propose Radisson Red hotel near Vikings stadium

Evolving plans for the 'Commons' park in Minneapolis aren't commonplace

137 years ago - Washburn A Mill Explosion

June

Before the Mill District / Native American History on the Riverfront

Downtown East's new park has a design; still needs money

American Academy of Neurology Bike Helmet Giveaway at the Mill City Farmers Market

You can say this for ‘The Commons’ downtown park: It has a lot going on

Design unveiled for Downtown East Commons park; $22 million must be raised

No martinis here: An alligator lunch with Minneapolis Council Member Jacob Frey

The unlocking of Upper St. Anthony Falls. Will a view restaurant or whitewater park come next?

Judge grants condemnation for Graco easement

Minneapolis park board approves Graco easement for trail access

Northern Spark 2015 Celebrates Creativity with All-Night Art Party [Video]

Video: Backyard on the Mississippi

Under the Franklin Ave Bridge - Our History to Be Demolished Yet Again?

June: Someone sneaked into new Vikings stadium at night for photos

Lennar Multifamily plans 20-story tower on Superior Plating site

How about a wilder river? Imagine this Mississippi

Mill District real-estate agent Cynthia Froid is rolling on the river

Mpls. 'tied houses' fought for local beer long before taprooms

Woonerfs: rethinking a public realm for bicyclists, pedestrians and cars

Artists chosen for Nicollet Mall public art commissions

Sale of downtown Mpls. condo fetches a record $1,200 per square foot

[Video] Upper St. Anthony lock closing after half a century; blame the carp

Buyer emerges for Hubert's, the sports bar neighbor of the Metrodome

[Photos] Ground breaking ceremony for the Encore Apartments in the Mill District across from Gold Medal Park

Mortenson closes on Hennepin site for AC Hotel by Marriott

Under the Franklin Ave Bridge - Our History to Be Demolished Yet Again?

July

Funny Money! Theater of Public Policy to Enlighten-up the Conversation About Funding for Parks

"Tony Oliva: The Life and Times of a Minnesota Twins Legend" Book Reading and Signing at Barnes & Noble Downtown August 1

Cynthia Froid Group Treats the Neighborhood to an Izzy's Ice Cream Social

Iconic North Star Blankets Signs Taken Down July 8

Valspar Foundation Provides $65,000 to Support Minneapolis Mill District

Chapter Two of the Crown Roller Mill Story

Update on the A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project

West River Parkway Mudslide and Franklin Avenue Bridge Repair Update

Latitude 45 restaurant will open Sept. 22

National Park Service explores canoe-sharing service along Mississippi

American Public Media Cancels Wits

Neon no more: Minneapolis looks at redo for City Hall clocks

North Loop's historic Jackson Building to become Hewing Hotel

Minneapolis ordinance change clears way for boutique hotel over Restaurant Alma

[Video] North Star signs get facelifts

A river’s story, in sixty seconds or less

Nicollet Mall Project begins today

Slave earned her freedom in a fledgling Minnesota

August

A Champion of the Mill District

[Video] Huge crowd for 2015 Mill District National Night Out Party

Giant Bob Dylan mural takes shape in Minneapolis

Minneapolis' emerging Bob Dylan mural: the back story

Pay-by-phone parking comes to Mpls. downtown, North Loop

Congratulations to the 6th Annual MDID Greening & Public Realm Awards Winners

Proposal for turbines at St. Anthony Falls is already generating plenty of opposition

Latitude 45 restaurant will open Sept. 22

Zen Box Izakaya Ramen Attack! Returns September 27

Minneapolis city staff recommends selling highly visible Mill District site to Mortenson

[Photo] Mill District 1907

Minneapolis Parks Leads Way in Regional Park Visits

Start the Weekend With a DMNA-sponsored Yoga Classes at Gold Medal Park

Opening Saturday: Askov Finlayson's flagship North Loop store (Photos)

Mortenson releases images of 28-story high-rise in Northeast

Minneapolis is taking welcome steps toward greener downtown streets

Be Heard: Weigh In on Downtown Parks & Public Spaces

City, companies pledge $7 million to make Commons more than a plot of grass

Action Alert / Save the Falls - Stop Crown Hydro

Activists bare their chests for annual 'Go Topless' event in Minneapolis park

[Photo] 1857 - Minneapolis from the Corner of 2nd Avenue S & Washington Avenue

Developer plans 'brewtel,' headquarters in Elliot Park

'Iconic' tower proposed for northeast Minneapolis

Streetscapes: Great design part of the Minneapolis landscape

September

[Video] Lisa Goodman - City Council Sept 11 2015 - Downtown East Commons

Go-To cards can now be used for both transit and car sharing

Built in 1941 for $5,000, the Grain Belt Beer bottle cap sign is one of the largest freestanding neon signs in the region.

Movie Night at Gold Medal Park

1st Look - First sculpture installed at Gold Medal Park

Arctic Cat relocating corporate headquarters to Minneapolis' North Loop

Gold Medal Park to Host Walker Sculptures

1st Sculpture installed at Gold Medal Park "Prophecy of the Ancients" by Brower Hatcher

New plan emerges for Nye's Polonaise site, with a smaller apartment complex

The Drive: Safety is behind Washington Avenue redo

[Photo] 1936 - Luce Line Railroad Depot

After 130 years, Gardner Hardware closes

[Video] Frey Calls for Action on Downtown Violence

[Photo] 1920-1930 the Stone Arch Bridge Seen From Water Level on the Upstream Side

Crown Hydro seeks new site for Minneapolis hydro project

Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Adopts Water Works Concept Design

[Photo] 1880-90 St. Anthony Falls and Mississippi River with Exposition Building in Background

3rd Avenue Bridge: Built (in 1918) not to be seen but to showcase the Falls of St. Anthony

Mill City High charter school in Minneapolis shuts down due to low enrollment

October

Our West Bank Human Landmark Has Left Us

[Video] The Jewel of Minneapolis - Mississippi River Gorge

[Photo] 1886 - Artist rendering of the Minneapolis Riverfront

East Downtown Council Has Concerns re: Working Families Proposal

Opinion | Working Families Agenda: Dumb Proposal, Good Decision

[Photo] 1970 – Kids on the Stone Arch Bridge

[Photo] 1874 - Artist rendering. Minneapolis Riverfront, looking toward West Bank, Downtown, and Nicollet Island

[Photo] Pillsbury A Mill Clouds at Sunset

New Photography Exhibit, ‘Downtown: Minneapolis in the 1970s,’ Opens at Mill City Museum

Breaking: Pillsbury Sign Installation to Begin Next Monday

[Photo] Pillsbury Sign Installation from Reader Tom Carrier

Photos from the Mississippi Minute Film Festival

New FMR Film About Our Local National Park — Watch the Trailer and Sign Up for the Premiere!

J. D. Steele to Lead New Downtown Choir

Signs of the time: Why we spend big bucks to save old ads

Alatus offers glimpse of 40-story tower

"Living Room Station - Your Home Before You Get Home" a new kind of bus stop at 6th St. and Nicollet Mall

Restaurant, retailer planned for revamped Sex World building

It's Official - Trader Joe's coming to Downtown! First reported by Mill City Times

Minneapolis shifts downtown plan from Avenue of Arts to green corridor

Hewing Hotel in historic Jackson Building gets financed by U.S. Bank

[Photo] 1958 - Minnesota Centennial Train

November

Soap Factory to go on hiatus at end of December

Ryan unveils plans for new corporate office building in Downtown East

Park commissioners take step to demolish Fuji-Ya building

Mississippi East Bank Trail Update from MPRB

New Hotel Will Help Reverse "Urban Renewal" on Washington Ave.

Downtown Minneapolis neighborhood has hot, new hangout at Eastside

GQ Names North Loop Clothier One Of America's Best Independent Stores

In parks, photogs need license to click

Poll - Taking Photos on the Stone Arch Bridge

[Photo] Pillsbury Sign Re-Lit for 1st Time

[Photo] 1857 Minneapolis from 2nd Avenue S Looking Toward Bridge Square

Group of North Loop residents opposes new 10-story building

Holidazzle Unveils Schedule, New Look for Upcoming Season, And More

[Photo] 1854 – Rare Photo, Hennepin Island from Main Street St Anthony

10-level hotel planned near U.S. Bank Stadium

Poll - What do you think of the Vikings "Legacy Ship"

3 Reasons to Love the Mill District

Shag Sushi is out, Rojo is in

Food Building Tours

[Photo] 1908 | Minneapolis Post Office

[Photo] 1860's | East Channel, St. Anthony Falls

Let there be light! The Pillsbury sign lights up the Minneapolis Riverfront again.

A quick 15 second video | Let there be light! The Pillsbury sign lights up the Minneapolis Riverfront again

December

Ryan to Build New HQ Building in the Mill District/Downtown East Neighborhood

Minneapolis Can Call Itself the Mill City Again

Rustica founder proofs mill, bakery concept for Food Building

Vikings will help pay for park near new stadium

West River Parkway Will Remain Closed Until Fall 2016

North Loop's Origami will close after 26 years

Water Works Update: Architectural Firm Hired to Help Guide Selective Demolition of Fuji-Ya building

Nye’s site developer ponders next step after HPC attaches strings

United Properties announces new apartment development partner for Nicollet Hotel block

The 278 Story Parking Ramp Downtown Minneapolis Would Need Without Transit

Consultant issues recommendations to improve vibrancy, safety of Warehouse District

Rebuilding an island in Minneapolis proves expensive, complex

Minneapolis again asks state to help repair bridge

3rd Avenue Redesign Project

After a century, Gardner Hardware building could get facelift

Streetscapes: A new year's wish list for downtown Minneapolis

Wilde Roast Café to offer livable wage, paid safe and sick time

North Loop loft brings the farm to the city

The Draft Horse opens this weekend in Northeast

The Sheridan Room opens in former Modern Cafe space

Misfit Coffee Co. is moving in with Izzy's this winter

Near the new Vikings stadium, another hotel is being planned

Is Minneapolis doing enough to make the city pedestrian friendly?

United Properties taps big partner for Nicollet Hotel Block project

[Photos] Historic North Star Signs Re-Lit

Fast Eddie's - The Place for Shoe Repair

I'm sure a lot of people can relate to this - you buy a spendy pair of shoes or boots that quickly become a favorite, only to have the heels wear down quickly (or some other issue that makes you put them on the shelf). 

That recently happened to me, so I did a Google search for "shoe repair Minneapolis" and found Fast Eddie's, 1316 SE 4th Street in Dinkytown.

The owner is Jim, who apprenticed under Fast Eddie for 15 years prior to Eddie's retirement at age 85.  Jim is a genuinely sweet guy who does excellent work. 

If you have footwear collecting dust because they've lost their luster, but you don't want to part with them, I highly recommend taking them to Fast Eddie's.   :)

Snowplowing on Hennepin County Roads

Via a December 28 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

During winter storms, you may have see one of our big orange trucks with the blue H on the door. Hennepin County plow drivers responsible for more than 2,200 lane miles we are responsible for maintaining. Keeping Hennepin County roads safe during the winter is our priority.

Here's a little more background on our snow and ice removal work:

Plowing and de-icing

Crews head out from five stations across the county -- in Medina, Bloomington, Minnetonka, Orono and Osseo. There are 66 routes.

•The first shift may start as early as 2 a.m. This allows the drivers to plow and treat with de-icing materials before traffic gets heavy.

•The primary goal is to make all travel lanes passable.
•Routes take approximately five hours to complete. Drivers continue their work until their shift is complete.

Keep in mind that traffic volume affects snow plowing operations. When traffic congestion exists, plowing takes longer. When traffic volume is high, melting/removal may take longer.

Post storm clean up

Post storm clean up begins on the first regularly scheduled shift after a storm.

Clean up includes:

•Deicing and removing compacted snow and ice from the pavement.
•"Winging” on roadsides to create additional space for snow storage.
•Removing snow from bridge sidewalks and approaches, as well as from obstacles (e.g. guardrails and bollards).

Be safe

You have a role to play, too.
•Plan ahead for snow days – give yourself extra time.
•Know the road.
•Be patient – slow down and give plows room to work.
•Never use cruise control.

Remember, just because a road is plowed, doesn’t mean it’s okay to speed up. The de-icing materials crews on the road need time to work.

This information and additional detail can be found at www.hennepin.us/plowing.

Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Snow Removal Procedures

From a December 28 Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board e-newsletter:

MPRB’s snow removal procedures

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) crews have been working to remove the snow that fell throughout the park system this weekend.
 
After each accumulating snowfall of at least two inches, MPRB maintenance crews work to safely remove snow from parkway trails, parking lots and countless sidewalks.
 
The MPRB will clear snow in the following order of priority:
1. Parking lots
2. Perimeter sidewalks
3. Interior pathways (51 miles of Grand Rounds bike trails are cleared for shared use by cyclists and pedestrians)
4. Ice rinks (when open – visit www.minneapolisparks.org/rinks for rink statuses)
Parkways will be cleared of snow by the City of Minneapolis. For information about snow emergency parking rules and routes for city streets and parkways, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow.
 
Every effort is made to have snow removed throughout the Minneapolis Park System within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall. Please note that in the event of blizzard conditions, snow removal timelines may be delayed. Patience and understanding in these circumstances is appreciated.
 
To report an area within the Minneapolis Park System that needs snow removal attention, please email maintenance@minneapolisparks.org or call Customer Service at 612-230-6400 between 8 am¬–4:30 pm, Monday–Friday.

3rd Avenue Redesign Project

Details on the project that will transform 3^rd Ave S in Downtown Minneapolis

Project Type:

Protected bikeway and landscaping improvements

3rd Avenue S Redesign Info Sheet

3rd Avenue S Streetscape Opportunity Plan

Project Location:

3rd Avenue S from 1st Street S to 16th Street E

Construction Start Date:

2016

Duration of Construction:

One to two construction seasons

Traffic Impact:

TBD

Contact: Matthew Dyrdahl 612-673-3642

Project Updates:

Updates on the project will be posted here.

New Years Eve at Spoonriver

Join Brenda, Tim and the staff at Spoonriver to celebrate the New Year!

Coming in January from the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul - Wim Wenders: Portraits Along the Road

Wim Wenders: Portraits Along the Road

Wim Wenders is cinema’s preeminent poet of the open road, soulfully following the journeys of people as they search for themselves. During his over-forty-year career, Wenders has directed films in his native Germany and around the globe, making dramas both intense and whimsical, mysteries, fantasies, and documentaries. With this abbreviated retrospective of seven of his films—from early works of the New German Cinema (Alice in the Cities, Kings of the Road) to one of the art-house 1980s blockbuster that made him a household name (Paris, Texas) to the inquisitive nonfiction look at world culture (Buena Vista Social Club) — audiences can rediscover Wenders’s vast cinematic world.

Also, see Wim Wenders’ newest narrative feature Every Thing Will Be Fine, starring James Franco and Charlotte Gainsbourg, screening January 8-14.

Schedule:

December 17
 7:00pm – Buena Vista Social Club
January 15
 7:30pm – Paris, Texas
January 16
 1:30pm – Alice in the Cities
 4:30pm – Wrong Move
 7:30pm – Kings of the Road
January 17
 1:30pm – Until the End of the World (Director’s Cut)
 7:30pm – The American Friend

See full scheduled thru January 24

Nominations Sought for Third aWards

Join Council Member Frey for his 2nd annual State of the Ward Address and Third aWards. Awards of the year will be given for Leader, Local Business, Neighborhood Project/Initiative, and Youth Leader.

“The Third aWards are a chance to acknowledge our amazing residents and small business owners that help make the Third Ward a dynamic place,” said Council Member Jacob Frey.

Individuals interested in making a nomination should write a brief description of the accomplishments that deserve recognition. Please submit Third aWards nominations to heidi.ritchie@minneapolismn.gov, fax (612-673-3940) or by mail to Council Member Jacob Frey, 350 South 5th Street, Room 307, Minneapolis, MN  55415 by Wednesday, January 27, 2016.

The State of the Ward and Third aWards will take place Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Event Center, 212 2nd Street SE. Please R.S.V.P early by calling 612-673-3126 or emailing zack.farley@minneapolismn.gov.

Ring in This New Year’s Eve with Miller Lite Free Rides®

Miller Lite is partnering with Metro Transit and J.J. Taylor Distributing to provide free and safe transportation for Twin Cities residents and visitors on New Year’s Eve. Free rides are available on all Metro Transit bus, light rail, and commuter rail routes beginning at 6:00pm December 31, until the end of regular service. This is the fifth year Miller Lite is providing the safe ride service for residents of the Twin Cities, in partnership with Metro Transit.

Riders can access specific route information by visiting MillerLiteFreeRides.com.

Scenes from the December 19 Mill City Farmers Market

Beth Dooley and Mette Nielsen signed copies of The Birchwood Cafe Cookbook and In Winter's Kitchen at the December 19 Mill City Farmers Market inside the Mill City Museum.

Spectacular eggs from Women's Environmental Institute (WEI).

The musical stylings of Michael Keyes and Nick Jordan.

The goat!

 

The 12 Days of Yoga - Unlimted Pass Today thru December 31 at YogaFit Northeast

Bring peace of mind to your busy holiday schedule while getting a great workout.  YogaFit Northeast Minneapolis is offering an Unlimited Holiday Pass - get 12 days of unlimited yoga for just $24.  The unlimited pass is valid from 12/19/15 - 12/31/15.

 

Rocky and Troy: PaintNite at The Depot

The Adventures of Rocky and Troy continue - this time it's PaintNite at The Depot, which I've been wanting to try for a long time.  PaintNite is fun and easy, and if you don't want your picture you can always give it to someone who paints - they'll be happy to reuse the canvas.

We started by checking out some of the cool statues positioned between The Depot and the Stone Arch Bar.

A gin and tonic for inspiration.

No one can resist Troy's happy little mug.  :)

West River Parkway Will Remain Closed Until Fall 2016

West River Parkway will not temporarily open this winter

After re-evaluation, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has decided to keep West River Parkway closed between Fourth Street and the Franklin Avenue Bridge through early fall 2016. This determination is based on several factors related to the MPRB’s slope repair project and Hennepin County’s Franklin Avenue Bridge project, including timelines of projects, safety of the public, site security and seasonal construction limitations.

Previously, the MPRB had announced plans to reopen the segment of parkway from January through March. The roadway had been expected to close again for several months starting in April for bridge deck replacement on the Hennepin County’s Franklin Avenue Bridge. The MPRB’s slope repair will also resume in the spring. The county is using the current closure to proceed with important construction activities near and above the parkway.

The June 2014 mudslide was an unprecedented, catastrophic event which uncovered many issues on the slope that the current stabilization project must address before the project is complete. Located in the Mississippi River gorge, the slope stabilization project has been designed to shore-up one of the last segments of very steep slopes along the river with a series of retaining walls. Complicating matters, the steep slope is made up of unstable soils over a limestone bed rock that continues to leach ground water into the steep sloped soils causing the surface of the embankment to slough off and be very difficult to work on safely.

The MPRB and Hennepin County will continue close coordination of their two projects, repair of the slope and rebuild of Franklin Avenue Bridge. For details or to subscribe to email updates, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/currentprojects and select West River Parkway Slope Repairs or visit www.hennepin.us/franklinbridge.

Winter Park Highlights is Your Guide to Fun in Minneapolis Parks

Via a December 15 e-newsletter from the Minneapolist Park and Rec Board:

Stay active and have fun all winter long

Plan a winter of fun with the help of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's (MPRB) latest Park Highlights brochure. Explore the outdoors on trails, snowshoes or ice skates. Prefer to stay indoors? Enroll in an art, craft or fitness class. The publication features a sampling of the programs, classes, events and activities in parks and recreation centers from January to April.

Winter Park Highlights will arrive at Minneapolis recreation centers and libraries this week and is available on the MPRB website.

December 17 and 18 - Spring Finn & Co Open Studio at the Foundry Building

Visit Talin Spring of Spring Finn & Co  at her studio in the Foundry Building, 125 N 1st Street.  Open December 17 and 18, 11:00am - 6:00pm both days.  Talin is an art vendor at the Mill City Farmers Market.

Wilde Roast Café to offer livable wage, paid safe and sick time (PTO)

Stating that their staff is their restaurant’s most valuable asset, the owners of the Wilde Roast Café in Minneapolis today announce livable wage increases and paid safe and sick time for its workers.

The owners know that their staff’s work is what determines the success or failure of the business – and that too often workers across the state are left exhausted at the end of the day. The owners want to encourage the staff to have quality family time, time to recover from an illness, or take time to care of a family member when needed.

Wage increases for all non-tipped employees will start in mid-December and will rise incrementally until April 18 . These wage increases will amount to $14/hour for hosts and dishwashers and $15/hour for all cooks.

Safe and sick time will be implemented starting in the first full pay period in January. Employees will be able to take time off for sickness or to take care of a family member that is ill or take a mental health day.

“We are family here. We care for these people as much or even more than our own families,” said co-owner Dean Schlaak. “We are a team, and we appreciate each one of them.”

As restaurants strive to keep ahead in their highly competitive business, maintaining employees has never been issue at Wilde Roast Café. Some employees have been with the business for four and five years. Ensuring staff have time to recover from an illness and not worry about paying the bills just seems like the right thing to do for the Wilde Roast’s owners – especially when it comes to food safety and employee illness.

This March, the Wilde Roast Café will celebrate 12 years serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, wine, beer and desserts in the Northeast neighborhood. 

In the News Last Week

Update: Progress on the Downtown 2025 Plan from the Downtown Council

Toro switches local ad agencies to Mill District Based Periscope

Unique gifts from Wilson & Willy's in the North Loop

Now open: The Pint Minneapolis

Minneapolis now owns more than half its upper river shoreline

Minneapolis shredder operator proposes move if MPCA backs off regulations

Downtown Minneapolis park ideas bubbling in planning for next 25 years

North Loop makes another Top List

CPM plans five-story apartment complex in Marcy-Holmes

The Sheridan Room opens in former Modern Cafe space

Bourbon, cigars and lingerie: Newly expanded Flirt Boutique plans guys' night out, more

Streetscapes: No tears for teardown of forgettable TCF Bank building

NICOLLET HOTEL BLOCK PROJECT BACK ON TRACK

United Properties announces new partner for Nicollet Hotel Block project

United Properties taps big partner for Nicollet Hotel Block project

United Properties announces new apartment development partner for Nicollet Hotel block

NYE’S PROJECT IN DOUBT

Heritage panel OKs shorter Nye's plan, but will developer go along?

Nye’s site developer ponders next step after HPC attaches strings

Scenes from the December 12 Mill City Farmers Market - Christmas is Coming!

A throng of shoppers kept the vendors on their toes during a wild December 12 Mill City Farmers Market inside the Mill City Museum.  If you missed it, be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday the 19th - the Market will be open 10:00am to 1:00pm. You'll find all kinds of Holiday treats!  :D

Below, the Tamburinos head out with a beautiful fresh tree from Jeff Nistler.

A chocolate Santa from St. Croix Chocolate Company.

Adorable - kids having special gifts wrapped right at the Market.  This is a free service, so be sure to take advantage of it December 19!

Cherry Flowers of Page & Flowers has gift boxes of Infused Vinegars and coffee bag wall art. 

Sunrise Creative Gourmet has Divinity, a Holiday favorite.

An exquisite box of cookies (including melt-in-your-mouth meringue mushrooms) from Susan of Very Prairie tells the recipient just how special they are!

This versatile bench from wood craftsman Joel Nichols can hold a lot of weight, but is surprisingly easy to lift and move around.

Tree ornaments from Create Laser Arts. 

Paper products from Red Cruiser.

Jewelry from Larissa Loden.

And groceries!

The loaves from Heritage Breads are like edible art.

The goat! (Nancy - the goat is naked - what's up with that?)