Some Downtown Streets Closing Saturday for Paving and Zombie Pub Crawl

Two separate events on Saturday, October 17, are prompting some streets to close in downtown Minneapolis.

LaSalle Avenue paving – Crews reconstructed the street this season and are now ready to put down the final layer of asphalt. From Eighth to 12th streets, LaSalle will close to traffic starting at 6 a.m. Crews will work from north to south, opening sections of the street after they’re paved and the asphalt has cooled enough for driving. The intersections of 10th and 11th streets will also be paved and closed to traffic. The intersections at Eighth and Ninth streets will remain open to traffic, and the 12th Street intersection will close at noon for paving. LaSalle and all affected cross streets should be open to traffic by evening, and access to businesses on cross streets will be maintained throughout construction.

And of course...BRAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINS!

Zombie Pub Crawl –  Although the block party runs from 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday in the Warehouse District, the following streets will be closed from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday to allow organizers time to prepare for and clean up after the event.
• First Avenue North from Sixth Street North to Third Street North (full closure, no vehicles allowed).
• First Avenue North from Sixth Street North to Seventh Street North (local access will be maintained).
• Sixth Street North from Hennepin Avenue to Second Avenue North.
• Fifth Street North from Hennepin Avenue to Second Avenue North.
• Fourth Street North from Hennepin Avenue to Second Avenue North.

In addition, all sidewalks along these streets will be closed from building face to building face in the event area. Access will be limited to people who pay the entry fee. Anyone who lives or works within the closure will be allowed access with proper identification.
Although a section of Fifth Street North will close to traffic the Metro Green and Blue line trains will continue to operate on this street during the event.

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A number of construction projects are affecting traffic in Downtown this season. To help drivers know about all of the current and upcoming work, the City has mapped these projects.

Two Downtown Streets to Close Today for Lynx Victory Parade

Via an October 16 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

To celebrate the team’s third WNBA championship, the Minnesota Lynx is hosting a parade and celebration today, Friday, Oct. 16. Sections of Hennepin Avenue and Seventh Street will close for approximately 90 minutes for the victory parade. 

The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. at 12th Street and Hennepin Avenue. It will head north on Hennepin then take a left on Seventh Street before finishing at Target Center.

Hennepin Avenue, from Seventh Street to 13th Street, will close to traffic from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Seventh Street will close from Hennepin Avenue to First Avenue during this same time. Cross streets will remain open during the parade.

Following the parade, a championship celebration will be held inside Target Center beginning at 12:15 p.m. Both the parade and the Target Center celebration are free and open to the public. For more information visit the Minnesota Lynx website.

Parkway Closures for October 17

The following parkways will be temporarily closed from 8:00am-Noon October 17 for The Big Gay Race:

Main Street - From Hennepin Ave to 6th Ave SE
West River Parkway - From Plymouth Ave to S 4th Street
Plymouth Bridge and Stone Arch Bridge

Event Details

Please note that the duration of the closures is subject to change based on the event's start and finish times.

A complete list of current and upcoming parkway closures is available online.

Job Fair Will Connect Job-Seekers and Employers with Positions to Fill

Via a October 12 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

The Hennepin County Work and Economic Resource Center will sponsor a career fair on Monday, October 19, from 9am to 2pm, at the ‭Hennepin County Library -- ‭Minneapolis Central, ‭300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

This is part of a series of events to pair employers looking for workers with employees looking for job opportunities. ‭All participating businesses are actively ‭recruiting for multiple openings, from ‭entry-level to management.

The event is free and open to the public.

People looking for employment can connect with recruiters from these companies:

• Accessible Space
• Advantage Sales & Marketing
• Atlas Staffing
• Best Buy
• Building Resources Corporation
• Coborn’s Delivers
• Comcast
• ConAgra Foods
• CSM Corporation
• CVS (New Hope & Plymouth)
• Delta Global Services
• Doherty Staffing
• Dominos
• DoubleTree by Hilton ‭Minneapolis - Park ‭Place
• Family Dollar
• FedEx Ground
• Hennepin County HR
• HMS Host
• Home Depot
• Hy-Vee
• Knutson Construction
• Labor Ready
• Macy’s
• Minco
• Options Residential ‭Inc. ‭and Options Family & ‭Behavior Services, Inc.
• PICA Headstart
• Pizza Hut
• Satin Touch
• Sheraton Minneapolis ‭West
• St. Louis Park ‭Transportation
• Super America
• Target (West Metro)
• ‭The Hilton Minneapolis
• ‭The Marquette Hotel
• ‭Walgreens

This location is served by several bus routes. ‭To find the best one, visit ‭www.metrotransit.org or call 612-373-3333.

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

Breaking: Pillsbury Sign Installation to Begin Next Monday

Mill City Times has learned through a trusted source that installation of the refurbished Pillsbury Best Flour sign will begin next Monday, October 19. No word yet on when re-lighting will happen.

Sitting atop the A-Mill complex, newly converted into artist lofts by developer Dominium, the sign represents one of only a few national historic landmarks in Minneapolis; in 2014 Lawrence Sign was selected to rehabilitate the iconic Pillsbury’s Best Flour rooftop sign.

In efforts to preserve and revitalize the significant landmark, restoration of the Pillsbury’s Best Flour rooftop sign was a collaborative effort between Lawrence Sign and the City of Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission.

The Pillsbury Company’s 30-foot sign has stood atop the Pillsbury “A” Mill Complex since about 1940, according to city records. It replaced a similar sign that stood since 1920, which featured a large flour bag. The sign remained lit until 2010.

Over the course of 75 years the sign deteriorated. Upon inspection and consultation from the Preservation Commission, Lawrence Sign determined that the letter faces and returns could be rehabilitated instead of replaced. The sign exhibited some degradation and compromise to the structure as a result of rust and weathering, but damage was mitigated with newly fabricated aluminum.

Lawrence also replaced the nonfunctioning neon lighting system with LED lights intended to replicate the original look. Lawrence Sign is an expert at LED lighting applications, utilizing the technology because of energy savings and minimal maintenance requirements.

View the slideshow:

Next Week | Design Week for Downtown Parks

Week 23 at the Mill City Farmers Market

Tim Page and Cherry Flowers of Page & Flowers had a "Mini-Hooper" on display at the October 10 Market.  In addition to selling produce, Infused Vinegars and other items, Tim and Cherry educate and empower people to grow food to eat and sell.

As part of Apple Harvest Day at the Market, there were book signings with Joan Donatelle, author of Astonishing Apples, and Sue Doeden, author of Homemade with Honey.

Frank Jackman and Mike Stalebaum of Local Crate introduced shoppers to their company, which features fresh, local ingredients and chef-designed recipes delivered weekly to your home or office.  Look for a separate post on Local Crate later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

Every time I think I've seen the prettiest pumpkin, an even prettier one presents itself.

The goat!

Why? What did they do?

Evening Benefit for the Downtown Library November 5

Maria Jette will perform, along with pianist Dan Chouinard, Nov. 5th, at Minneapolis Central Library. The event - from 5:30-8:00 - is part of a fundraiser to support historic collections and programs unique to the Central Library, presented by the Friends of the Minneapolis Central Library. 

Jette and Chouinard will perform works from the Central Library's extensive music collection. Examples from the library's Preservation Department, including significant historic works, will also be on display. 

Cost is $50 per person. Light hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served. For more information and to register, please email minneapoliscentral@suppporthclib.org.

Celebrate the Future of HCMC on Thursday, November 12

Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) invites you to join them in celebrating the opening of a new helistop for helicopter ambulance service, and groundbreaking for their new Ambulatory Outpatient Specialty Center (AOSC).  The event takes place November 12 - look for the big tent across the street from the 730 S. 8th Street entrance.

Activities start with a program at 1:00pm and continue with a reception and tours until 4:00pm The new helistop will make the region’s best trauma center even better by reducing transport time to HCMC for critically injured patients. The new clinic and surgery specialty center will make HCMC's primary and specialty care clinics and same day surgery center the most convenient and contemporary in the Twin Cities. 

According to Jane Lieberman, HCMC Community Events Manager, one of the special events (weather permitting) will be the inaugural landing on the new helistop. A LifeLinkIII helicopter is scheduled to arrive with this little patient: http://www.startribune.com/alexandria-girl-recovers-after-traumatic-facial-injury/322898741/.

Whole Foods Market to Donate 5% of October 20 Sales to University of Minnesota Press

Via an October 7 Press Release from University of Minnesota Press:

On Tuesday, October 20, 2015, Whole Foods Market will donate 5% of its daily sales from six Twin Cities locations to the University of Minnesota Press.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (October 7, 2015) — The University of Minnesota Press has been selected as a beneficiary of Whole Foods Market’s 5% Community Support Day this quarter. On Tuesday, October 20, 2015, all six Twin Cities-area Whole Foods stores will donate 5% of their sales to the University of Minnesota Press in support of its forthcoming publication, Fresh from the Garden: An Organic Guide to Growing Vegetables, Berries, and Herbs in Cold Climates by John Whitman. Publication is planned in fall of 2016.

"The University of Minnesota Press’ Fresh From the Garden aligns with our commitment to sustainable, organic farming and environmental stewardship," says Rachelle Petersen, Whole Foods Market Marketing. "This organic guide to growing vegetables, berries and herbs in cold climates will surely pique the interests of those seeking knowledge on successfully growing organics right here in Minnesota."

"In his new book, John shares knowledge rooted in years of experience growing organic food in Minnesota," says University of Minnesota Press outreach and development manager Caitlin Newman. "The Press is honored to work with an organization that values his experience and is invested in passing it on to our community. Support from Whole Foods Market and its shoppers will help the Press enhance the design and production of Fresh from the Garden while also keeping its price affordable for readers."

University of Minnesota Press staff will be at Twin Cities-area stores from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to share information about the book and about the Press’s publishing activities.

The University of Minnesota Press is a self-supporting unit of the University of Minnesota. Ninety-five percent of its operating funds come from sales and from the generosity of those who share our passion for connecting readers to the Upper Midwest and to groundbreaking writing and scholarship. More information about our donation program can be found at http://z.umn.edu/givetoump.

About the University of Minnesota Press: Founded in 1925, the University of Minnesota Press is widely considered one of the most innovative U.S. university presses. Minnesota publishes a diverse list of books on the cultural and natural heritage of the state and the upper Midwest region, and is also known as the publisher of groundbreaking social and cultural thought, critical theory, race and ethnic studies, urbanism, feminist criticism, and digital media studies. The Test Division of the Press publishes highly regarded personality assessment instruments, including the MMPI-2-RF.

For more information, visit www.upress.umn.edu.

Twin Cities-area Whole Foods Market stores are located at:

Maple Grove: 12201 Elm Creek Boulevard North, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Hennepin: 222 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Edina: 7401 France Avenue South, Edina, MN 55435
St. Paul: 30 South Fairview Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105
Minnetonka: 1001 Plymouth Road, Minnetonka, MN 55305
Lake Calhoun: 3060 Excelsior Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55416

New Green Disposal Guide from Hennepin County Available Online

New Green Disposal Guide tells you the best way to get rid of your stuff

Fall clean up can be frustrating unless you know how to get rid of your unwanted stuff. Hennepin County has done the heavy lifting with the new online resource, Green Disposal Guide.

Yard waste, mattresses, paint or fluorescent light bulbs—some stuff just needs to go. The Green Disposal Guide offers a range of disposal options—from recycling to donation to disposal—while also giving tips on shopping smarter, living greener and creating less waste.

With a click on a computer or smart phone, Hennepin County residents can easily learn more from the Green Disposal Guide.

"Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding" Looks at Neighborhood Park Funding

Via an October 6 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter:

   (L to R) Panel moderator Linda Mack, New York City Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Liam Kavanagh, Portland Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Warren Jimenez, Former Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Director Joe Wynns and Seattle Parks Foundation Executive Director Thatcher Bailey

How did other cities address neighborhood park funding shortfalls?

Park advocates from across the country share their experiences

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff hosted more than 30 public meetings throughout Minneapolis this summer to discuss how insufficient funding has impacted its highly-used, aging network of neighborhood parks.

While MPRB processes feedback received from the community, four distinguished park and recreation advocates from large urban park agencies across the country were invited to Minneapolis on September 29 to share how their cities tackled similar funding challenges.
 
“Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding” featured representatives from Indianapolis, New York City, Portland and Seattle participating in a 90-minute panel discussion on creative park funding strategies, followed by a question and answer session with the audience. Each city’s park agency deals with its own unique challenges, complicated by vastly different methods of governance, but common themes still emerged.

For a full recap of the fascinating discussion please see the full news release.

Electronic Upcycle Fest, a FREE Electronic Recycling Event, at Target Field Station October 9

The Twins Community Fund is teaming up with America Upcycles to host a free electronic recycling event on Friday, October 9, at Target Field Station. Help keep electronics out of landfills, and reduce carbon emissions all while helping to support youth baseball and softball.

Date: Friday, October 9
Time: 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Target Field Station

Stop by Target Field Station and drop off your electronics into designated containers to begin the upcycling process. This sustainable solution to the buildup of old electronics helps to decrease the negative global impact that throwing out devices has on our environment. Upcycling gets rid of electronic clutter without adding to landfills. It also re-purposes your gently used electronics for the secondary market.
•100% Tax Deductible
•Free (for qualified devices)
•Data Destruction is guaranteed
•Proceeds support the Twins Community Fund

Details, including list of items accepted: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/community/events/electronic-upcycle-fest/

Do you have a story about the Red River Oxcart Trail?

 Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership wants to hear from you!

The Red River Oxcart Trail was an important route in the fur trade in the mid-1800s. Traders moved furs and buffalo hides from Pembina, near the Canadian border, to St. Paul, where they were shipped east.  The children of European traders and American Indian women were central to this trade, thanks to their language skills, social ties and knowledge of the land.  Others used the trail too, including statesmen, soldiers and eventually settlers seeking homesteads to the north.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership is developing an audio bike tour for a portion of the trail that followed the Mississippi River from Anoka to St. Anthony Falls. We are learning about local connections to the trail, and we’d like to hear from you.  Are you descended from someone who traveled the trail?  Have you heard stories about family members who worked in the fur trade?  Do your neighbors still talk about the days when oxcarts caravans came through town?  Please tell us about it.  Contact us at oxcart@minneapolisriverfront.org

J. D. Steele to Lead New Downtown Choir

By Joan Bennett:

A free Downtown community choir, with J.D. Steele at the helm, launches this fall. The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA), MacPhail Center for Music and Emanuel Housing have partnered to bring this new choir to life. Singers of all abilities (or inabilities) are welcome. If you enjoy singing in the shower or at karaoke bars, then you are fully qualified to join.

In this choir, building relationships between neighbors will matter just as much as the music. The DMNA seeks to foster a range of free opportunities for neighbors to connect. Initially proposed by a resident of Emanuel Housing, the DMNA Board unanimously agreed to fund the administrative costs of the choir as well as allocate staff time to coordination. A member of the DMNA community, who wishes to remain anonymous, came forward with a donation to cover the cost of rehearsal space.

When the DMNA and Emanuel Housing approached MacPhail with the idea for a downtown community choir, staff were enthusiastic. MacPhail then upped the ante by securing J.D Steele, a nationally recognized musician and producer, to direct the group. Though he has spent much of his career working with highly decorated musicians, J.D. Steele is known for his ability to bring the best out of novices and currently leads MacPhail Community Youth Choir.

Rehearsals are scheduled for 2:00-3:30 on Saturdays on October 24^th, 31^st, November 7^th, 14^th, December 5^th, and 12^th at First Covenant Church (810 S. 7th Street).  Contact Joan.Bennett@thedmna.org to pre-register. All are welcome. Registration is free. 

Opinion: East Downtown Council Has Concerns re: Working Families Proposal

Published today on the Opinion Page:

Dear Members of the East Downtown Council,

We are writing to you today (a PDF of this letter is attached to this email) - at the request of the full board - to bring to your attention two city regulation changes that the Minneapolis City Council are beginning to consider. While neither proposed regulation has been put into final text and content, there are talking points the city staff have created to discuss these issues and council members have been speaking publically about these ideas, so the intended reach of these regulations has been clearly articulated. A city website containing more information is atwww.minneapolismn.gov/workingfamiliesagenda where you can access the information released by city staff and the working group formed in April 2015.

Read the full opinion...

The Jewel of Minneapolis - Mississippi River Gorge

David C. Smith, from a presentation at the Minneapolis Central Library on October 3, 2015.

Many people overlook what a spectacular asset has been preserved for our health and enjoyment. So often the emphasis on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis is on reclaiming the river at and above St. Anthony Falls -- and that is an exciting development that is overdue -- but I think we take for granted the truly unique resource that was preserved for us below the falls. I don't know that a similar riverfront exists in an urban environment anywhere else in the world. Come and say "thanks!" with me to some people with extraordinary vision and persistence more than 100 years ago.

2nd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival - Entries in; Vote for Your Favorite!

Mississippi Minute Film Festival

Entries in; Vote for Your Favorite!

Winners Screened October 26 at Riverfront Summit, Mill City Museum

October 4, 2015: Minneapolis, MN: All films are in for the 2^nd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival, an event of the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership (MRP.) Judging is now underway; MRP is asking people to vote for their favorite film to win the Festival’s People’s Choice Award. Voting is online at www.mississippiminute.org. A one minute trailer showing some of the entries for this year’s Festival is available on You Tube at: Mississippi Minute Trailer.

“We have an exciting and creative batch of new films entered in this year’s Festival,” notes Kathleen Boe, executive director of MRP. “We are encouraging folks to watch this year’s films online and vote for their favorite!” she said.

All category winners and runners-up, plus a Best of Show and a People’s Choice Award, will be screened October 26, 2015 at MRP’s Riverfront Summit, 5:30 p.m. at the Mill City Museum. The Summit is free and open to the public.  Guest speaker is John Anfinson, Superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.  Learn more about the National Park Service’s upcoming 100 year celebration and this one-of-a-kind park in the midst of our city.

            Judges for this year’s Mississippi Minute Film Festival are:

• Whitney Clark, Executive Director, Friends of the Mississippi River
• Lisa Goodman, Council Member, Minneapolis City Council
• Brenda Langton, owner/founder of Spoonriver Restaurant; founder of the Mill City Farmer’s Market,
• Tom Meyer, Founding Principal, Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd
• Dean Otto, Program Manager, Moving Image, Walker Art Center
• Blong Yang, Council Member, Minneapolis City Council

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Community Quote of the Week