Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Summer Highlights Guide Now Available

Via a May 24 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter:

Never have a dull moment this summer

Plan your summer fun with the help of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's (MPRB) latest Park Highlights brochure.

The publication features a sampling of MPRB activities, programs and events, destination and excursion ideas, upcoming park improvements and long-term projects underway, registration dates for upcoming sports leagues, volunteer opportunities, and everything else the parks have to offer between June and August.

You can find the brochures at MPRB buildings (including recreation centers), Minneapolis libraries, coffee shops near parks and other Minneapolis locations. The brochure is also available on our website for online viewing and downloading.

Downtown Real Estate: Nitty-Gritty Night with Cynthia Froid Group, June 1

In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

TOP STORIES LAST WEEK

New tailgating plan for Vikings games moves forward
A new smaller tailgating zone for Vikings has cleared a City Council committee. The zone includes eight surface parking lots near the new Vikings stadium. The Vikings have been working with neighborhood groups and the city for more than two years to craft a plan for tailgating — a challenging task given that new development has reduced the supply of parking lots available for pre-game festivities.

Smaller tailgating zone near U.S. Bank Stadium wins preliminary approval at City Hall
A revamped, smaller zone for tailgating in downtown Minneapolis near U.S. Bank Stadium won preliminary approval Tuesday at City Hall.

Pollution agency moves to stop operations at Minneapolis metal shredder
A long-running environmental battle in Minneapolis took a new twist Thursday when a state regulator announced legal and administrative action to halt operation of a north Minneapolis metal shredder that it blames for repeated violations of air-quality standards.

Mpls. City Council should approve proposed 40-story condo tower
History and modernity can coexist to the city's benefit.

When a church, developer and nonprofit meet, an apartment project comes together
The rates will be affordable, the views good and there's a mystery partner, too.

Work on Minnesota Vikings' new home drawing to conclusion ahead of equity hiring goals
U.S. Bank Stadium project has hired many women, minorities, workers from poorer neighborhoods.

Housing for low-income artists predominantly serves white people, study says
Fancy rentals go mostly to whites, U researchers find.

The Artist Loft: Affordable Housing (for White People)
Do these tax-subsidized apartments perpetuate segregation by excluding some low-income households?

Sneak peek: Stem Wine Bar brings elegant vino and snacks to Northeast
Since Northeast has become ground zero for breweries, things can seem that much more dire for the oenophile. Where's a wine lover to go north of the Hennepin Avenue bridge?

Drone footage set to Atmosphere is a very Minneapolis video [VIDEO]
We might think of drone operators as renegades, living just on the edge of the law, or in its absence, soaring quietly out of the view of authority and society. But this wholesome video tour of Minneapolis could probably get unanimous approval by the City Council.

Scenes from the May 21 Mill City Farmers Market

Phil Nusbaum interviewed Ariel Pressman of Seed to Seed Farm and Mike Noreen of Burning River Farm during a live broadcast of Bluegrass Saturday Morning.

Jenny Breen prepared Spring Greens with Risotto during the Mill City Cooks demo. Look for a separate Mill City Cooks article later this week under our Farmers Market blog.

History Hound from the Minnesota Historical Society hammed it up with visitors and vendors. 

Sign your kids up for the Power Of Produce (POP) Club.  It's free, it will introduce them to a new veggie or fruit each week, and they'll receive a $2 token to spend on produce at the Market. Look for POP at the Info Booth.

Talk about addicting - these cheese curds from Cosmic Wheel Creamery are top shelf.  Hint for maximum flavor:  spread them on a plate (trying to not let them touch) and zap them in the microwave for 15 - 20 seconds. Unless you have more willpower than me, you won't be able to stop until the plate is empty.

Above, shoppers enjoyed wine samples from Saint Croix Vineyards; and below, the sweet smells of custom blended teas from Mrs. Kelly's Teas.

New art vendor, Brenda Johnson of Billboard Bags, debuted at the May 21 Market.  Look for a separate article on Billboard Bags later this week under our Farmers Market blog.

Below, The Eddies perform.

The goat! :)

Top Five Reasons to Go to Brasa Premium Rotisserie

Story and Photos by Julie Craven

Before you even walk onto the patio at Brasa Rotisserie there are the smells. From specialties inspired by the traditional flavors of the southern U.S., Caribbean and Mexico, the aromas alone make you think about two things: a local beer and a menu. Chef Alex Roberts, with his Brasa locations and Restaurant Alma, is on the exclusive list of Minneapolis chefs doing amazing things with casual cuisine.

Here are five more great reasons to visit Brasa:

1. The menu has changed a lot in the last two years. Brasa was, and still is, known for shareable, family-style portions and now they've added a plate category. Individual options of their menu favorites. The family option is still on the menu, items that feature their signature, locally sourced and organic ingredients and fair trade coffee and tea.

2. The great outdoors! Patio dining plus stunning weather equals instant amnesia for a Minnesota winter. May 1st is typically when the big doors open, but as the natives know, some years winter tends to hang around, so that date has been subject to change.

3. There are daily specials as well, and the weekend specials sound particularly appealing - ribs and wings! Brasa’s Facebook page is the place to go for live music updates, and the music is oftentimes a month-long residency.

4. The chicken! We ordered chicken two ways: a Rotisserie Chicken Plate, roasted whole with a Creole-style dry rub, and the Pulled Chicken Plate, smothered with a saucy combination of light cream pepper gravy. Both were delicious.

5. Brittany! Our server was a delight, so knowledgable about the menu and enthusiastic with our questions. Brittany's personal favorite entrees are the Rotisserie Chicken and the Slow Roasted Pork. Her favorite sides? Collard greens, rice, and one a bit more unexpected - yucca, thick cut and like French fries with a dipping sauce. She solemnly declared that Brasa, “is the best place to work because everything is so delicious.”

Brittany's advice for first time guests at Brasa? The Rotisserie Chicken with collard greens and the Spicy Masa Corn Cakes. Next time, I'm going for one of the bowl items. The Gumbo Fried Rice with Okra, Shrimp, Peppers Andouille & Scrambled Egg looks absolutely terrific!

Location: 600 E Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55414

Website: www.brasa.us

Julie Craven can be reached at julie@millcitymedia.org

The Sounds and Scenes of Summer - Free Music and Movies in Minneapolis Parks

More than 250 free outdoor concerts and movies, sponsored by Comcast, will be hosted in Minneapolis parks this summer as part of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) Music and Movies in the Parks program.

Music in the Parks
Lake Harriet Band Shell (Monday–Saturday at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2 pm and 5:30 pm)
Nicollet Island Park (Mondays at 7 pm)
Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (Tuesdays at 7 pm)
Minnehaha Park (Wednesday–Friday at 7 pm)
Bryant Square Park (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 pm)
Theodore Wirth Park (June 14, July 12, August 16 at 7 pm)

Movies in the Parks
Monday through Saturday evenings at more than 45 neighborhood parks throughout the summer. Movies start 15 minutes after sunset.  2016 Movie Themes are:  New Releases - Family Favorites - Minnesota Connection - Movies That Inspire - The Classics - Action Adventure

Concerts and movies are free, and everyone is welcome to attend. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, pack a picnic, and don’t forget bug spray! For the most up-to-date schedules and weather related information, visit www.mplsmusicandmovies.com. You can also get these updates by following Music and Movies on Twitter and Facebook.

Franklin Avenue Bridge Construction Update

 

Crews are working extended hours to meet the aggressive schedule of
removing and replacing the bridge deck before Labor Day.

Large sections of concrete have been sawed and removed from nearly
half of the bridge deck. The typical size of each concrete section
being removed measures 12 feet by 28 feet and weighs more than 25
tons.

As panels are removed, they are lowered onto barges in the river
below and transported by trucks to a crushing yard. They then
separate the concrete from the steel and recycle.

Cranes are positioned along the bridge to assist in deck panel removal.
In total, there are five cranes onsite - each focusing on a different
section.

Crew members assist as a crane is used to remove a deck panel.

To support the new deck, new deck beams have been fabricated. They
are made offsite and transported to the bridge site.

With the deck panels removed, crews can place the new deck beam using
a crane.

In the context of constructing bridges, ABC stands for "Accelerated
Bridge Construction." The ABC period on the Franklin Avenue bridge
began after crews closed the bridge to traffic on May 8.

A growing trend across the United States, ABC aims at reducing the
duration of traffic impacts. For example, this bridge should only be
closed to traffic for 17 weeks rather than up-to-two years that it
might otherwise take.

To achieve the goal of being complete by Labor Day, 366 deck panels
were manufactured ahead of time. They are ready to be floated down
the river on barges and lifted into place by cranes.

Celebrate National Historic Preservation Month by Entering the #Mplspreservation Photo Contest

May is National Historic Preservation Month! The City of Minneapolis department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) is calling all photographers to participate in a photo contest to celebrate the historic resources that make our city a special place to live.

Minneapolis has 170 locally designated landmarks and 15 historic districts. Capture the characteristics of these places for a chance to be featured in the City of Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission’s annual report, the City’s Heritage Preservation website and other CPED websites.

Rule alert: all photos should not contain identifiable people. To enter the contest, post your photo on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #MPLSpresevation by Tuesday, May 31. By entering, submissions may be used by the City of Minneapolis in future prints and digital publications, with proper credit to the photographer. Winners will be announced in early June. View map of Minneapolis Landmarks and Districts. 

Sunday, May 22: 2-for-1 Admission at Mill City Museum and other MN Historical Society locations

Governor Mark Dayton has declared today, Wednesday, May 18, Minnesota Museum Day. In honor of this day, the Minnesota Historical Society announced new opportunities for guests to visit historic sites and museums for free, including:

This Sunday, May 22, a 2-for-1 deal at the Minnesota History Center, James J. Hill House, Mill City Museum and Split Rock Lighthouse. Just mention #mnmuseumday where you buy tickets.

Minnesota Museum Day is offered in conjunction with International Museum Day, a time to celebrate the role museums play in building strong communities.

Northrup King Artists Featured on MN Original

Maggie Thompson and Leslie Barlow have their art making studios in the Northrup King Building.  

Both women were recently featured on public TPT's MN Original.

Maggie Thompson uses textiles to create cozy knitwear and fine art projects exploring themes of identity and grief.  View the MN Original segment on Maggie.

Oil Painter Leslie Barlow explores multiculturalism, identity and the idea of "otherness" through the uses of figure and narrative elements.  View the MN Original segment on Leslie.

Streetscapes Walking Tour: Skid Row Minneapolis: A tour of the old Gateway District

Take a trip into the historic heart of Minneapolis. Today it’s center of a revitalizing downtown, but once it was home to the largest Skid Row in the upper Midwest. Urban redevelopment swept away nearly 200 buildings in the early 1960s, but enough remains of the old city to enable a journey of imagination into a streetscape of cheap bars, flophouses and rescue missions. Your guide is James Eli Shiffer, a Star Tribune editor and columnist, and the author of the new book, “The King of Skid Row: John Bacich and the Twilight Years of Old Minneapolis.”

More info and Tickets

Teddy Bear Clinic Invites Children to Explore HCMC’s Pediatric Emergency Department - May 21

Teddy Bear Clinic invites children and their friends to explore HCMC’s pediatric emergency department

Visiting an emergency department for the first time can be scary – but not on Saturday, May 21 from 8-10 AM when kids are invited to bring their Teddy Bears to Hennepin County Medical Center’s (HCMC) Emergency Department for a special Teddy Bear Clinic.

“The goal of this free event is to expose children to the medical environment before a traumatic situation occurs,” explains HCMC emergency physician Dr. Ashley Strobel. “In addition to preventing trauma, we hope to help children feel more comfortable in this setting and with the procedures that occur during a typical emergency department visit. Allowing Teddy – or any other stuffed animal – to participate demonstrates the friendly nature and loving goal of a visit.”

Teddy Bears visiting the emergency department on May 21 will be “admitted” and may have a variety of procedures performed including blood pressure and heart rate checks, injections, stitches, x-rays, or a splint or bandage placed on their paws.

The Teddy Bear Clinic may be a special occasion, but Teddy Bears are welcome in the emergency department anytime. In fact, parents are encouraged to have their child bring their Teddy Bear or any item that will add to their comfort (electronic games, favorite toys, blanket or doll).

While these familiar items can be helpful, Dr. Strobel reminds parents that they are their child’s source of strength and security during an emergency visit. “Being honest about what might happen and reducing anxiety are important. If a procedure is required in the emergency department, parents can help ease the anxiety by talking to them, calming and supporting their child. They can also remind their child that the doctor or nurse is doing something to make them feel better.”

This is especially true for a child’s biggest fear – the needle. HCMC is implementing a poke plan to minimize injection anxiety with the goal of becoming an “ouch-less” emergency department. This is accomplished with the use of creams, sprays, medications, and even laughing gas.  HCMC’s Child Life Specialists also play a key role in providing activities to help distract children from painful procedures.

“As a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center we have a duty to our community to provide the highest level of pediatric emergency and surgical care,” says Dr. Strobel. “And part of the healing experience is to reduce anxiety for the child and family during traumatizing and stressful situations in an unfamiliar hospital environment. Knowing what may happen and having a special friend like Teddy navigate those experiences can minimize these fears.”

In addition to the Teddy Bear examinations, the Teddy Bear Clinic will feature Teddy bear repairs and sew-ups, trauma prevention activities, ambulance and fire truck tours, and free bike helmet give-ways (while supplies last). For more information go to hcmc.org/teddy.

For more than 120 years, Hennepin County Medical Center has successfully taken care of critically injured and ill children. That experience makes a huge difference when a child’s life is at risk. HCMC is a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center with the right people and equipment in place, ready to care for critically injured children from the time of injury through rehabilitation.

Fourth Annual Foodie 4 Mile Run Benefiting the Northeast Farmers Market Saturday, May 21

Fourth Annual Foodie Four Mile Run Benefiting the Northeast Farmers Market Saturday, May 21, 2016 Opening Day of the Market
Registration Now Open

[MINNEAPOLIS – May 16, 2016] The Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market announces The Foodie Four Mile: Race to the Market. It will be a fun run held Saturday, May 21, starting at 8:00 a.m., one hour before the Market opens the season.

Organizers say that the event's purpose is threefold, encompassing a fun run, a fundraiser, and celebration of the 2016 season Market opening. Costumes, dogs and strollers are welcome. This is a zero waste event.

The four mile course will be an excellent opportunity for runners and walkers of every skill level to enjoy a run or walk in Minneapolis' most historic and beautiful areas. The run starts in Northeast at B. F. Nelson Park (400 Marshall Street NE), winds along the Mississippi River through the St. Anthony West, Nicollet Island, and St. Anthony Main districts. After crossing the Stone Arch Bridge, the second half of the run will go through the wooded west side riverfront parks and Boom Island Park.

A portion of the event proceeds will also go to The Food Group's Harvest for the Hungry program. Harvest for the Hungry purchases fresh, locally-grown produce from Minnesota and Wisconsin farms to provide to Minnesota households facing hunger.

As a “Foodie Rally,” the run is a unique opportunity for fitness-conscious foodies to celebrate the Market's seventeenth season, enjoy awesome post-race treats, receive unique dish towel and market bucks to spend at the market during the 2016 season. Runners are encouraged to make it a “Foodie Four and a Quarter” by jogging to the Market to spend their bucks at the market after enjoying refreshments at the finish line.

The Northeast Farmers Market is located on the corner of 7th Avenue NE and University Avenue NE in the St. Boniface Church parking lot.

For more information and to register go to: http://www.active.com/minneapolis-mn/running/distance-running-races/foodie-4-mile-2016?int

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Contact: info@northeastmarket.org

Foodie Four Mile
Saturday, May 21st 2016
8:00 am
Pioneers Statue, B.F. Nelson Park

Northeast Farmers Market
Saturday, May 21st – October 22nd
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
University and 7th Avenues NE Minneapolis

In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

TOP STORIES LAST WEEK

Say what? Minneapolis' Downtown East gets a new, unpronounceable name
The name that no one used for the stadium area of downtown Minneapolis is being replaced with a new name no one's likely to use.

Upper Falls lock observation deck to reopen for summer months
The visitor center deck at the lock and dam will open to the public on May 28 and remain open through Labor Day weekend. Hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Developers go own way after North Loop joint venture is nixed by neighbors
A recent North Loop land swap between United Properties and Greco LLC frees the two developers to pursue individual projects after their joint venture on a Washington Avenue site in Minneapolis failed.

Caught up in the whirl
Back in Northeast for the 21st annual Art-A-Whirl

City finalizing short-term operations plan for Commons park
Under the proposed agreement, the DID would oversee cleaning, maintenance, coordination of activities and the development of safety protocols, among other things, for the 4.2-acre park next to the new Vikings stadium.

A paddle on the urban Mississippi
There are many points within the Twin Cities for a great Mississippi river water adventure; both above and below St. Anthony Falls.

Franklin Avenue bridge makeover and detours expected to end by Labor Day weekend
With accelerated construction methods, Mpls. span set to reopen by Labor Day.

Nordstrom Rack coming to IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis
After nearly two years of looking for the right spot downtown, Nordstrom Inc. has zeroed in on the former Gap store space in IDS Center on Nicollet Mall.

Minnesota Vikings announce horn-like sculpture on the west plaza of new stadium
The sculpture, which likely won’t be completed until later in August, will be 107 feet long, 25 feet high, 30 feet wide and weigh more than 38 tons.

Field turf being installed at Vikings' new home
Vikings vice president Lester Bagley calls the turf "one of the last visible milestones" of construction.

Event center to open in former Pillsbury machine shop
For many soon-to-wed couples, the Stone Arch Bridge area is a hotspot for photos. Now an event center is breathing life into a nearby Pillsbury machine shop building just steps from the Marcy-Holmes riverfront.

Northeast Minneapolis studio offers yoga by candelight
Soothing music and soft lights make a traditional vinyasa yoga class even more relaxing.

Milkweed Editions to open new bookstore in downtown Minneapolis
Independent publishing house Milkweed Editions is planning to open a new bookstore in the Open Book building in downtown Minneapolis.

Milkweed Editions to Open Indie Bookstore
Milkweed Books will boast an 18-foot ceiling and shelving that goes from the floor almost up to the ceiling. There will be a street entrance, as well as access from Coffee Gallery. The brick back wall will have a felt covering, so that book-related art, including book jacket art, can be pinned there on a rotating basis.

Milkweed Editions to open new chapter, bookshop in Open Book building
The publishing house will open Milkweed Books in early July at 1011 Washington Av. S.

SUSAN SCHAEFER PHOTOGRAPHY at Grain Belt Bottling House for Art-A-Whirl

Minneapolis, MN, May 16, 2016 - Mill City Times reporter/photographer Susan Schaefer will be one of the artists showing in the historic Grain Belt Bottling House, 79 Thirteenth Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55413, balcony level. Hours are: Friday, May 20th, 5 - 10pm, Saturday, May 21st, 12 - 8pm, and Sunday, May 22nd, 12 – 5pm.

Susan will show recent work from: her Portraits of Empowerment: Women’s Wellbeing book and exhibition, the Minneapolis Photo Center “Portraits” exhibit, the University of Minnesota Fine Arts student photography show, select Miksang Contemplative prints, and her new Mississippi River Bridges series. Fine arts prints, books, watercolor cards, and a lush tropical 2017 Contemplative Calendar will be available for purchase.

The artists of the historic Grain Belt Bottling House will kick off with a festive food, wine and  beer event at Friday evening’s opening. Be sure to begin your art adventure at the historic Grain Belt Bottling House.

Art-A-Whirl has been named one of the United States’ premiere art events, attracting up to 30,000 art seekers during its weekend long extravaganza.

Scenes from the May 14 Mill City Farmers Market

In case you missed the May 14 Mill City Farmers Market - here's a few pics to give you an idea of what you missed. 

Asparagus units are referred to as "spears", but this one from Sweed Lake Farms is more like a javelin!

The goat! :)

The Mill District Milliner: Celina Kane

Story by Julie Craven

This story started with a dilemma, and the dilemma was my big head.

I have the unfortunate combination of a large head and Irish skin. Graduation mortar boards popped off my head. Hard hats for plant tours had to be adjusted and cute sun hats looked ridiculous on me. So after another failed attempt to find a hat for some summer sun protection, Maggie said, “Mom, you're just going to have to see if Celina can make you a hat that fits.”

Celina Kane is Hat Make. The milliner lives and works in the A-Mill Artist Lofts. Celina’s creative and entrepreneurial leanings come naturally - her mother Brenda Langton of Spoonriver restaurant is a Mill District icon. But after a triple major at the University of Minnesota in Art History, Political Science and French Studies, Celina found herself drawn to how the elements of design connected with the historical and cultural significance of hats.

“There’s a myth that I studied millinery in Paris, which isn't quite the case," Celina shared. "I did study in Paris, but the interest in hat making came after graduation.” One of her first classes was with Duluth milliner Emily Moe. Since then, she has studied with couture milliners, artists who create totally handmade hats. Anya Caliendo is one of her mentors. The New York based milliner has created hats for celebrities including Lady Gaga. Closer to home, Karen Morris, a St. Paul milliner, known for her occasion and Derby hats, has helped Celina continue to develop her craft.

The shelves that line the studio wall are filled with carved wooden hat blocks. There are piles and baskets of fabrics, ribbon and trim sheets of sinamay, a woven straw hat material. A steamer and a sewing machine take up the center of the room and it was fascinating to hear Celina describe the variety of processes involved - steaming, blocking, trimming - for a variety of hats; cloches, turbans, fedoras, boaters.

So what's on trend in the hat world? Her first collection included 17 hat styles and the new collection has 15. Her personal favorite is the Ojo Crow, a wide floppy brimmed hat that was the most popular item in her winter collection. The Quadratto is another favorite, her own block design, with color and fabric variations that make it a year round choice.

Hat Make will be among over 100 artists at the A-Mill Artist Lofts open during Art-A-Whirl this year (May 20-22). Trolleys will run from the heart of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District to the A-Mill location. Artist demonstrations, live entertainment, book signings and food offerings will make it a riverfront destination for the annual arts celebration.

Since restaurants are my regular beat, I asked her about her favorite (I actually asked her for her two favorite restaurants!) “Spoonriver, of course, and my other favorite is Shuang Chengin Dinkytown. It's amazing!”

And my new hat? Like all of Celina’s designs, it has a name and this one is called The Fold.  There’s a vertical fold, shaped with a hat pin created by concrete artist Beau Sinchai of Koonyai Studio. Bring on the sunshine!

Website: hatmake.com

Julie Craven can be reached at julie@millcitymedia.org

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Editor's note - The A-Mill building has been transformed into a work of art.  If you haven't yet had a chance to experience it, Art-A-Whirl is the perfect opportunity to do so!

May 20 - Bike to Work from Northeast with Council Members Frey and Reich (and after-work Whirlygig! with Indeed Brewing)

Bike to Work with Council Members Frey and Reich

Bike to work with Council Members Frey and Reich on Friday, May 20. The ride will leave from the Nice Ride Station at 22nd Avenue NE and Central Avenue NE at 7:45 and will end at Government Plaza in downtown Minneapolis. The route will wend through Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis neighborhoods and then across the Stone Arch Bridge.

Register

WHEN May 20 at 7:45am - 8:45am
WHERE Nice Ride Station,  2200 Central Ave NE Google map and directions

* * * *  A N D * * * * *

After Work Bike Ride to Indeed Brewing Company's Whirlygig 2016!

5:00pm: Meet at Gold Medal Park
5:30pm: Ride to Indeed Brewing (711 15th Ave NE) for Music, Food, and FUN!
$1 entry goes towards Indeed We Can

Details

WHEN May 20 at 5:00pm - 6:30pm
WHERE Gold Medal Park 

Mill City Summer Opera - Sweeney Todd - General Public Tickets go on Sale Monday, May 16

Mill City Summer Opera tickets for their fifth season, July 15-24, are going on sale to the general public on Monday, May 16th! The performance is Sweeney Todd and excitement is building with artistic director David Lefkowich and talent. See their Facebook page for Barber Seat features on performers.

Pre-sale tickets went on sale May 9th, and general tickets will go on sale Monday, May 16th. Ticket prices for all nights except opening night range from $35 through $125, based on location of seats.  Tickets typically sell out within five days, but please note about 35 $35 seats are held for rush for each show. First come first serve!

Ticket info.

Northern Spark Updates - Get Ready for June 11!

Experience new realities at Northern Spark View this email in your browser

Helado Negro sparks the night We're so excited to announce our headliner for this year's Opening Ceremony, Helado Negro. Coming on the heels of opening for a sold-out Devendra Banhart show at the Walker Art Center, Helado Negro will help you start your Northern Spark night off with a bang. Roberto Carlos Lange, the voice and mastermind behind the act, celebrates his Ecuadorian roots, performing futuristic tropical rhythms with bilingual English and Spanish lyrics. Join us at the Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza for family friendly pre-festival activities with the Creative City Challenge Winner Wolf and Moose. The fun begins at 5:30 pm on June 11th, followed by the Opening Ceremony with Helado Negro and Minneaolis Mayor Betsey Hodges beginning at 8:30pm! #interconnect Play all night at Game Bar Game Bar returns to Northern Spark for a second year, with an all-night celebration of video games about climate change from around the world, presented by Northern Lights.mn and GLITCH. Sponsored by Fulton Brewery, the Game Bar invites you to witness and engage with games across platforms and formats—enter alternate realities, projection installations, custom arcade cabinets; sit down for a board game; or pick up a deck of cards. Featuring a variety of games curated by Evva Kraikul and Tyler Stefanich, Game Bar hosts an interactive lounge inside the Mill City Museum. With games Minnesota, Italy, the Czech Republic, and China, a dozen oversized screens will allow visitors to watch and play, while a roving console backpack brings the games right out to the audience. GLITCH promotes the exploration of digital games as a culture, career, and creative practice. They work to educate, inspire, and equip emerging talent with the tools for success in the digital game and simulation fields. #perceive Step Into Another World Step into a new fully immersive medium when you visit Virtual Reality: The New Frontier, an international selection of independent virtual reality works. The lineup includes some of the most compelling narrative and documentary VR storytelling being independently created today, plus specially selected pieces simRvR, Let's Go Crazy, and Black Lives Matter MPLS by local Minnesota artists. Presented in collaboration with the Walker Art Center, Sundance Institute's New Frontier Program, and Northern Lights.mn. simRVR by Bill Gorcica, Mark Gill, Matt Julius, Kristian Twombly invites you to witness the growing toxicity of a river, and how the smallest changes impact the farthest reaches of our food web. Black Lives Matter MPLS by Chuck Olson allows you to experience one peaceful night at the Black Lives Matter protest in North Minneapolis this past winter. In Let's Go Crazy, also by Chuck Olson, witness Dem Atlas perform a tribute to Prince in front of thousands of fans who gathered in front of First Avenue after his death. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Sundance Institute's New Frontier program has provided the highest level of curation in this emerging field since 2007. Incorporating fiction, non-fiction and hybrid projects to showcase innovations in storytelling as it intesects with technology, performance, film, art and music, he works featured in Virtual Reality: The New Frontier will be available for viewing at Northern Spark on June 11 and at the Walker Art Center until Thursday, June 16, and for download at sundance.org/vr #move Be a part of the magic - volunteer! There are so many ways to volunteer for Northern Spark! Come join the team to help out with the thrilling project Virtual Reality: The New Frontier. This collaboration between the Walker Art Center, Sundance Institute's New Frontier Program and Northern Lights.mn will showcase compelling virtual reality works from local, national and international artists. Volunteers help out in 3-hour shifts, which means that you can both volunteer for Northern Spark and participate in it! Lots of roles and times are still available. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 11th and sign-up to volunteer at 2016.northernspark.org/about/volunteer.   Want to hear more? Watch this video to see why our Northern Spark volunteers keep coming back! #act Enjoy a Fulton at the Launch Party We are pleased to present Fulton Brewery as a sponsor for the 2016 Launch Party. Founded in 2009 and now a local staple, Fulton produces the vast majority of their beer at their Northeast brewery. Did you know they are Minneapolis' first taproom? Perhaps you'll find yourself there enjoying a pint during MN Craft Beer Week, and then you'll buy yourself a launch party ticket or two. What could be better than a Fulton enjoyed with friends under a Twin Cities sky before an all-night art festival? In this spirit, current and new subscribers of the Northern Lights.mn newsletter can enter to win Launch Party tickets here! Winner will be announced on May 24. Kick off Northern Spark's 6th year and start your adventure with artistic food curated by Marin Restaurant and Bar & Mill Valley Kitchen, Wise Acre, Black Sheep Pizza, The Third Bird, Al Vento, Eastside, Heyday, Alma, Forepaugh's and more. Enjoy beverages from Fulton Brewery and Lionheart Cider as you listen to music from jazz hip-hop group Doks Robotiks, along with K.Raydio and Bae Tigre! Golden Hour: 7-8 pm ($125 and $250) / Musical guest Doks Robotiks, an energetic, eight member jazz hip-hop group with special guests. Artistic hors d’oeuvres and a SPARKling beverage. VIP balcony seating available. Launch Party: 8-9 pm ($60) / Another set from Doks Robotiks and additional special guests. Artistic hors d’oeuvres and a delicious array of beverages. #act now and get your tickets to the Launch Party today! The Launch Party is presented by the Northern Spark 2016 Host Committee. Leah Gilliam: Artist Talk and Lesberation Game Play Test Saturday, May 21st at 2pm Juxtaposition Arts, 2007 Emerson Ave N, Minneapolis Free! Leah Gilliam talks about her art and tech careers followed by a play session of Lesberation: Trouble in Paradise, a story-telling game where players navigate the social and political complexities of a lesbian commune. Leah Gilliam’s long career of making media continues to expand the horizons of technology-based art in relationship to culture. An accomplished film/videomaker, new media artist, coder, strategist and game designer, Gilliam brings race, gender and sexual orientation into sharp conversation through interactive projects. Her interests range from the obsolescence of technology to the cultural and imaginative implications of human contact with Mars. More recently, her analog board games create a low-tech space for people to have real-world conversations through fantastical scenarios. RSVP on Facebook Now Hiring: Partnership and Outreach Coordinator Northern Lights.mn seeks a Partnership and Outreach Coordinator to support the partnership work of the Northern Spark festival. Apply by May 27th, 2016. Click here for more info!