Week 18 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

Elpis Enterprises was the September 5 Community Booth. Elpis is a nonprofit organization that provides job training, work experience and placement for homeless youth.  Check our Farmers Market blog later this week for information on this organization.

There's more to the Market than meets the eye.  For all the time I've spent talking with staff and vendors, I only just learned about their Greens for Good program, which is a partnership with Campus Kitchen and sponsored by Delta Dental. Each week Market vendors donate to a program that helps feed low-income residents of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.

A unique melon from Women's Environmental Institute (WEI).

Urban Roots returned to the Market - look for them weekly in September and most of October.  More pictures and information will be included in a separate post on our Farmers Market blog later this week.

Pam from Prairie Hollow Farm brings several varieties of grapes to the Market. They've been nurtured by family members for generations.

Check our Farmers Market blog later this week for information on the September 19 bread festival.

Micro greens make an ordinary sandwich something special.

Snickerdoodle Cookie ice cream from Sonny's.  September 12 is their last weekend at the 2015 Market, so be sure to enjoy a scoop or take come a pint.

Salsa verde baskets from Swede Lake Farms.  I added juice from one lime, sea salt and a pile of cilantro - delish!

A little vegetable humor.

The goat!

“Fashioning a Future” Runway Show to Raise Funds for Earthquake Victims in Nepal on Sept. 11

Minneapolis retailers Key North Boutique and T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry are collaborating on a fashion show fundraiser to help earthquake victims in Nepal rebuild their lives. Proceeds will be donated to AmeriCares’ Nepal Relief Fund which is providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid for families in crisis.

Last year, T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry raised $4000 for the Shree Saraswoti Kunja primary school in central Nepal. This year, Key North Boutique and T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry are collaborating in the hopes of raising more money for the long-term recovery of the Nepali people.

Savvy style expert Grant Whitaker of Whitaker Style will emcee the runway show, with models wearing fashions from Key North Boutique and jewelry from T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry. Key North will feature exclusive women's clothing and accessory collections from American and International (Paris, London, Brussels, Munich) designers. Key North has created a local marketplace for organic, sustainable, fair-trade fashions that supports global designers, artisans and workers who are paid a fair wage. T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry will debut new one of a kind pieces and also a new collection of fine jewelry woven in 24kt and palladium. All materials used in T Lee designs are ethically sourced and mined.

VIP tickets are available for $100, which includes a reserved seat for the runway show, two $50 gift cards (one each from Key North and T Lee), and food and drink. Food will be donated by Gorhka Palace and beverages will be donated by North Loop Wine & Spirits. General admission tickets are available for $10.

For every $1 donated, AmeriCares provides $20 in aid. Because they deliver donated medicines and medical supplies to a trusted network of locally-based providers, the impact is multiplied many times over to save more lives in Nepal. AmeriCares has been aiding survivors of natural disasters, political conflict and extreme poverty around the world for more than 30 years, saving lives and restoring health and hope.

“Fashioning a Future” is sponsored by The Journal and the Southwest Journal.

WHAT: “Fashioning a Future” fundraiser for Earthquake Victims in Nepal

WHEN: Sept 11, 5-9pm

5-6pm: VIP preview

6-6:30pm: runway show

6:30-6:45pm: Q&A with Grant Whitaker

6:45-9pm: socializing and shopping

WHERE: Boardwalk in front of the Key North Boutique and T Lee Designer Jewelry, 515 and 509 1/2 First Ave NE in Old Town Minneapolis (next door to the Red Stag)

COST: $10 general admission; $100 VIP

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fashioning-a-future-tickets-17809464588

CONTACT: 612-455-6666 or 612-789-2656

About Key North Boutique

Key North Boutique a specialty shop owned by Katie Greene and Gwen Engelbert in Minneapolis. Featuring exclusive women’s clothing, jewelry, and accessory collections from local and international designers, the fabrics are luxe, the designers are among the finest, and it’s all fair trade and sustainable. Learn more at keynorthboutique.com.

About T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry

Owned by jewelry designer T Lee and managed by Nathaniel Smith, T Lee Designer Jewelry is committed to ethical and sustainable practices in jewelry making. Focusing on custom design for 32 years, T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry is the Twin Cities premier design team, owning the phrase “There’s nothing we can’t customize.” Learn more at tleegold.com.

CenterPoint Energy's 4th Street Project Begins Tuesday, September 8

Crews from Michels Corporation, an authorized CenterPoint contractor, will begin installing natural gas distribution pipe along 4th Street on Tuesday, September 8.

Two crews will be working on the project, with one crew starting near the intersection of 4th Street N. and 2nd Avenue N. and working east and a second crew starting near the intersection of 4th Street S. and Marquette Avenue S. and working west.

Crews from Q3 Corporation, an authorized CenterPoint Energy contractor, will begin relining the roads and setting up lane closures along 4th Street S., from 2nd Avenue N. to Marquette Avenue S. on Tuesday, September 8.

The northern and southern parking lanes along 4th Street S. between 2nd Avenue N. and 1st Avenue N. will be closed.

Three lanes of traffic on 4th Street will remain open during rush hour and reducing to two lanes between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

CenterPoint Energy’s 4th Street project is anticipated to continue for the next seven weeks.

Please note that businesses will be open during construction. For more information, please visit our website. Thank you.​​​​

Minneapolis Idea Exchange (MiX) Brings Creative and Innovative Leaders to Minneapolis to Inspire Ideas that Power Community

Minneapolis Idea Exchange (MiX) Brings Creative and Innovative Leaders to Minneapolis to Inspire Ideas that Power Community

MINNEAPOLIS (September 3, 2015) — The Minneapolis Idea Exchange (MiX), an initiative of the Minneapolis Downtown Council’s Intersections: Downtown 2025 Plan, will host MiX 2015 on September 28, October 1 and October 2. With three days of speakers and events, MiX will partner with the 35^th annual Westminster Town Hall Forum to inspire attendees to think about creativity and community in innovative ways.

Nationally-recognized creators and advocates for empowered communities will build on the momentum created at MiX 2014. MiX 2015 will feature:

• Pete Docter: Minnesota native
• Tavis Smiley: author, publisher, social justice advocate
• Dan Buettner: Minnesota native, founder of Blue Zones, an organization helping Americans live longer, healthier, and happier lives

“We’re thrilled to have three dynamic speakers discussing topics of significance at this year’s MiX event,” said Tim Hart-Andersen and Mary Shaffer, co-chairs of the 2025 Plan MiX Committee. “Minneapolis has been highly-ranked at the national level on many lifestyle indicators ranging from innovation to overall vitality, and we want to continue to see that expand and support a thriving world-class downtown.”

MiX is the venue that makes it possible for ideas to come together from national inspiration to local talent and a community of doers. During MiX 2015, attendees will be inspired to tap into their creativity, learn from communities of justice and take a cue from the world’s healthiest people. In addition to thought-provoking speakers, MiX will transform the corner of Nicollet Mall and 12^th Street to create an outdoor experience complete with music, good eats, local drinks, interactive activities and social events. The events are free and open to the public.

MiX Speaker Schedule

Pete Docter

Monday, September 28, 7:00 PM

Inside the Creative Community: The Power and Process of Animated Film

Pete Docter is a film director, animator, and screenwriter at Pixar Animation Studios. He contributed to the story and characters of Toy Story, Pixar’s first full-length animated feature film, and served as the supervising animator for the film. He wrote story treatments for Toy Story 2 and Wall-E and directed Monsters, Inc., Up, and his latest release, Inside Out. He has been nominated for six Academy Awards and won Best Animated Feature Film for Up. Born and raised in Bloomington, Minn., he graduated from the California Institute of the Arts where he received a Student Academy Award. In 1990, he was hired as Pixar’s third animator and began work the day after his college graduation. Website: pixartalk.com/pixarians/pete-docter/

Tavis Smiley

Thursday, October 1, 7:00 PM         

No One Left Out: Creating Communities of Justice

Tavis Smiley is an author, publisher, social justice advocate, and host and managing editor of the late-night PBS television talk show, Tavis Smiley, and the public radio program, The Tavis Smiley Show. He has written or edited 18 books, including The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, co-authored with Cornel West; My Journey with Maya, a memoir of his friendship with Maya Angelou; Death of a King, an account of the final year in the life Dr. Martin Luther King; and Covenant with Black America, a collection of essays addressing economic and social disparities. He is the founder of a nonprofit foundation committed to empowering young people and to alleviating poverty across all sectors of society. Website: pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/

Dan Buettner

Friday, October 2, Noon

A Blue Zones City: Living Like the World’s Healthiest People

Dan Buettner is the founder of Blue Zones, an organization committed to helping Americans live longer, healthier lives. He teamed with National Geographic and the world’s best longevity researchers to identify lifestyle choices in specific parts of the globe where people live measurably longer lives. Their research has been published in his bestselling book The Blue Zones: Nine Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest and his recent book, Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World’s Healthiest People. In 2009, he brought his nine principles for longevity to the town of Albert Lea, Minn., where participants in his program added an estimated 2.9 years to their average lifespan. Website: bluezones.com

All keynote events will be hosted at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 S. Marquette Avenue in Minneapolis. Additional activities that are free and open to the public will happen near 12^th Street and Nicollet Mall on Monday, September 28, Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2.

About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:

Founded in 1955, and one of the oldest central business associations in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The MDC’s collaborative developments of Intersections: Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit http://www.downtownmpls.com/.

About the 2025 Plan: 

The Downtown 2025 Plan is a vehicle to help leaders and citizens build on Downtown’s assets and guide its development in ways that reflect the community’s aspirations for a Downtown Minneapolis that is thriving, livable, green, connected and welcoming in the decades ahead. This includes initiatives to double downtown’s residential population, transform Nicollet Mall into a must-see destination, implement a Gateway area and other green elements throughout downtown, create a compelling and walkable environment around the clock, lead the nation in transportation options, end street homelessness, forge connections with the University of Minnesota and more. The 2025 Plan is a Minneapolis Downtown Council initiative established in 2010.

About the Minneapolis Idea eXchange:

MiX is a community-powered event that encourages discourse on the topics impacting our city and celebrates the nationally recognized ingenuity and talent rooted in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Idea eXchange is an initiative of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and supported through community leaders, or MiX Luminaries including Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges.  For more information, visit http://www.minneapolisideaexchange.com/ or follow along @MiXMpls on Facebook and Twitter.

Day Block Brewing to Host PorktoberFest Block Party on Sunday, September 6

On Sunday September 6th, Day Block Brewing will host PorktoberFest, an end-of-summer block party, from 11am - 10pm. The all-day event will emphasize local food - namely pork selections - as well as several vegetarian options. Enjoy craft beer and a full schedule of live music beginning at 2:00pm. This event will be held in the shared Day Block Brewing/Grumpy’s Bar lot located on the South side of the Day Block Building. Limited free parking will also be available.

Tickets: $10 (includes a $5 food and beverage voucher)

Live Music featuring:
• Hustle Rose
• The Lone Crows
• Moon Grass Trio
• Fairfax, AK
• Frankie Teardrop
• Basement Brew 

Week 17 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

The August 29 Market showed definite signs of autumn.  Mmmmmmmm.  :)

Fingerling potatoes - so cute.

I look forward to sweet corn ice cream from Sonny's every year, and I always have them pack a pint for me to take home.  :)

We got a kick out of this vintage mobile phone at the Tech Dump booth.

Fun kids shirt from Sassy Knitwear.

You know the season is changing when these beauties show up at the Market.

Ginger is really popular!  Dave took this picture at the Stone's Throw Urban Farm booth when the Market opened, and I came by about an hour later and was lucky to get one of the last pieces.

A rainbow of cherry tomatoes.

This watermelon juice from Zula is refreshing straight up, or with a shot of gin. ;)

The goat!

Congratulations to Singing Hills Goat Dairy on taking 1st place for their Goat Farmer cheese in the "Semi-hard, fresh, pressed Goat cheese" category at The Minnesota State Fair. There's some fierce competition out there!

In the News

August 30, 2015

PROPOSAL FOR TURBINES AT ST. ANTHONY FALLS IS ALREADY GENERATING PLENTY OF OPPOSITION

PAY-BY-PHONE PARKING COMES TO MPLS. DOWNTOWN, NORTH LOOP

WHEN THEY PAINT HIS MASTERPIECE: DYLAN PORTRAIT TO FILL A DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS WALL

KNEAD HELP: BAKER HOPES NEW MILL SPARKS MINNEAPOLIS FLOUR POWER

CITY CLEARS GAS STATION'S DEMOLITION OF 123-YEAR-OLD BUILDING

U.S. BANK PROVIDES FINANCING FOR TURNING PLYMOUTH BUILDING INTO HOTEL

NORTH LOOP'S LUMBERSEXUAL VIBE GETS BOOST WITH CONVERSION OF JACKSON BUILDING INTO HEWING HOTEL

DEVELOPER PLANS 'BREWTEL,' HEADQUARTERS IN ELLIOT PARK

BACK FROM THE DRAWING BOARD, KRAUS-ANDERSON HAS A MUCH BIGGER PLAN FOR ITS DOWNTOWN BLOCK

HERBIVOROUS BUTCHER WILL OPEN IN NORTHEAST THIS FALL

PANDORA OPENS DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS OFFICE TO PULL LOCAL ADVERTISERS TO STREAMING MUSIC SERVICE

MINNEAPOLIS PARK FUNDING MEETING PLANNED

THE LINE AND CREATIVE EXCHANGE PRESENT "CREATING COMMUNITY" ON SEPTEMBER 16

U.S. BANK STADIUM CONSTRUCTION WORKER KILLED, ANOTHER INJURED IN FALL

SPORTS SOUVENIR SHOP NEXT TO METRODOME IS MOVING ST. LOUIS PARK

TIME NEARLY UP FOR MINNEAPOLIS SOCCER STADIUM LAND

DOWNTOWN EAST COMMONS CLEARS ANOTHER HURDLE

People Serving People Needs Volunteers for the October 10 MN Beer Run

77 Volunteers Needed!    People Serving People is the charitable partner for first annual MN Beer Run, and they need volunteers to help make this fun event a success!   Please sign up for one of 77 volunteer positions available. Come as an individual or as a group!   They have several positions available on Saturday, October 10. Please click on the link below to see the available shifts and positions.   Click Here to learn more about volunteering for the annual MN Beer Run. All volunteers must be 18 years or older. Children 10-17 can volunteer with their parent. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Any questions, contact Mallory Haugen Mallory Haugen | Volunteer & Events Manager mhaugen@peopleservingpeople.org | 612.277.0256   Thank you!

Volunteer for Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts September 15–17

Via an August 28 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Minneapolis Public Works is gearing up to conduct its 9th annual bicyclist and pedestrian count and you can help! Volunteers are needed to count the number of bicyclists and pedestrians at over 100 locations throughout the city. Volunteering means people-watching with a purpose on a beautiful September afternoon from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on one of the count days of your choosing:

•Tuesday, September 15th
•Wednesday, September 16th
•Thursday, September 17th

Minneapolis Public Works conducts bicyclist and pedestrian counts in order to understand the impact of non-motorized traffic on streets, sidewalks and trails. Accurate counts help the City to evaluate existing conditions and inform future plans.

If you’re interested in volunteering please complete the online form which provides more details about volunteer duties.

To learn more about bicyclist and pedestrian counts check out our traffic count page where you will find traffic flow maps, past count reports and other fascinating and useful volunteer-powered data!

Thanks to all of our volunteers. We could not do this without you!

September 14 at Gold Medal Park - Movies In the Park: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

From the Film Society of MSP:

The Film Society is excited to announce an all new program of outdoor screenings! Join us September 14 at dusk for the inaugural presentation at Gold Medal Park, featuring a 40th anniversary screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the iconic comedy gem by Minneapolis native Terry Gilliam. See it for the first time, or see it again and introduce it to a new generation with this gloriously remastered HD restoration. We'll provide the coconuts.

Co-hosted by Cynthia Froid Group.

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

MINNEAPOLIS (August 26, 2015) — The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District announced its 6^th Annual Greening & Public Realm Award winners today, a group that includes seven new winners among the 12 categories decided by a public online vote.

Included in the 12 award recipients [full list below] in this year’s categories are first-time winners Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant (Outdoor Café), Spoon & Stable (Streetscape Green Infrastructure), Central Lutheran Church (Streetscape Greening), Kenosha Building (Façade Greening), Aloft Minneapolis (Entryway Greening), 5^th Avenue Lofts & Security Warehouse Lofts (Public Realm Improvement) and Loring Park (Neighborhood).

Also among the winners is Loring Greenway in the Large Green Space category. Loring Greenway has now won in each of the six years the Greening Awards have been presented.

“The variety and quality of downtown green spaces is increasingly evident through our annual Greening Awards initiative,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District. “As we continue to see more new nominees and winners, it shows the level of commitment our community is putting into adding and enhancing green space. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists for helping advance this important goal.”

MDID also announced it received a record-number of online participants in the voting process. Greening Award winners are selected exclusively by the public through an online vote, and this year’s final tally of 1,312 responses eclipsed last year’s number by 400 voters.

The Greening Awards, an MDID initiative since 2010, celebrate outstanding examples of private greening and placemaking happening in Downtown Minneapolis. They are intended to inspire all to work toward making downtown a greener and more vibrant place. MDID’s mission through the Greening Awards is to encourage all downtown businesses to participate in the greening effort.

MDID accepted nominations through an open social media and email submissions campaign throughout July leading up to a July 20 deadline, yielding 35 unique finalists. Submissions were divided into 12 categories based on the nature of the project. Finalist voting began August 10 and concluded August 24.

Winners will receive a commemorative Greening Award created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued.

Here are this year’s results:

Best Large Green Space Activation

·        Target Field Station — 34.4%

·        Government Center Plaza — 30.3%

·        Convention Center Plaza — 27.1%

·        Peavey Plaza — 8.2%

Best Small Green Space Activation

·        Piazza on the Mall – 57.6%

·        IDS Center PARKLOT presented by Bank of America – 42.4%

Best Large Green Space

·        Loring Greenway — 41.9%

·        Loring Park — 31.7%

·        Triangle Park — 19.7%

·        Elliot Park — 6.7%

Best Small Green Space

·        Assisi on 9^th Park — 67.0%

·        Target Plaza – South Entry — 33.0%

Best Outdoor Café

·        Dakota Jazz Club —  52.6%

·        Red Cow — 25.3%

·        8^th Street Grill — 22.1%

Best Streetscape Green Infrastructure

·        Spoon & Stable — 34.5%

·        5^th Avenue Lofts/Security Warehouse Lofts — 29.0%

·        RiverStation Condos — 19.8%

·        American Academy of Neurology — 16.7%

Best Streetscape Greening

·        Central Lutheran Church — 72.3%

·        222 Hennepin — 14.8%

·        The Foundry Home Goods — 12.9%

Best Façade Greening

·        Kenosha Building — 39.6%

·        Fifth Street Towers — 36.2%

·        Seven Event Destination — 14.4%

·        500 S. Washington — 9.8%

Best Entryway Greening

·        Aloft Minneapolis — 47.3%

·        Martin Patrick 3 — 34.7%

·        Cynthia Froid Group — 10.2%

·        Goldberg Bail Bonds — 7.8%

Best Public Realm Improvement

·        5^th Avenue Lofts/Warehouse Lofts — 25.3%

·        Central Lutheran Church —  24.2%

·        IDS Center PARKLOT presented by Bank of America — 16.9%

·        Soccer field at Elliot Park — 14.4%

·        Convention Center Plaza —  8.6%

·        Spoon & Stable — 7.5%

·        The Foundry House Goods — 3.1%

Best Neighborhood Overall

·        Loring Park — 45.4%

·        North Loop — 24.1%

·        Mill District — 22.1%

·        Elliot Park — 8.4%

Best Open Space Green Infrastructure

·        Target Field Station – 56.0%

·        MCTC – 44.0%

For more information on downtown greening, visit www.minneapolisdid.com or follow @MinneapolisDID on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:

Founded in 1955, and one of the oldest central business districts in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership-based entity that works to create, preserve, and enhance a vital and engaging experience for the people who visit, work, shop and live in Downtown Minneapolis. The MDC’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit www.downtownmpls.com.

About the Downtown Improvement District:

Founded in early 2009, after more than five years of formative planning and advocacy by the downtown business community, the Minneapolis DID delivers higher levels of service to make downtown cleaner, greener, safer and more vibrant throughout a 120-block area, as is the case with most Business Improvement Districts. For more information, visit www.minneapolisdid.com.

###

Highlights from the Mayor's Proposed 2016 Budget

 

Via an August 26, 2015, e-newsletter from Mayor Betsy Hodges:

Dear Friend,

   Two weeks ago today, I proposed my 2016 budget to the City Council. Last year, during my first budget address, I reflected upon a quote from Vice President Joe Biden that I have used as a guiding principle for many years, “show me your budget and I’ll show you what you value.”

I followed that good advice again. We put together a budget that both reflects and harnesses our values so they guide our growth into the future.

We have entered a time when we are being asked to face and meet the changes of the 21st century. We must not only match, not only meet, but we must precede the challenges these changes create with innovation, vision, and the bone-deep knowledge that to become the city of the future we must be a city that leads and weathers the transition and is in it for the long haul.

Being a 21st-century city means we transform our work to meet the needs of the people and economy of the new century. So, I presented a budget with significant investments in public safety, affordable housing, sustainability, better basics from the city and economic growth.

And we did this all while making significant cuts, strategic budget decisions, and transformative investments which will cause the City portion of taxes to go down for two-thirds of Minneapolis homeowners.

Here are some highlights from my proposed budget:

• $13 million in investments in affordable housing largely spurred by the Mayor’s Cradle to K cabinet’s proposal to focus on housing as a strategy to ensure a healthy start for kids. This includes investments in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $1 million flexible dollars to help create affordable housing options for large families, and targeted rental assistance for families leaving shelters.
• $10 million for the City’s portion of the 10th Avenue bridge rehabilitation.
• $400,000 to accelerate Minneapolis’ conversation of City-owned streetlights to LED technology. The funding will implement approximately 900 LED fixtures which will save about $113,400 a year over their life cycle and pay for itself in three and a half years.
• Raising the sworn compliment of police officers to 862 while funding a recruit class and ongoing community service officer classes.
• Funding for 30 TechHire Initiative scholarships that will provide women and people of color with job training to meet employers growing demand for a workforce educated in technology skills.

More spending investments are listed below if you have the time to read on. You can also read my full speech here.

I cannot conclude without offering my deepest thanks to you. Thanks to your vision. Thanks to your support. Thanks to your desire, like me, to transform Minneapolis into one of the leading global cities of the 21st century.

Sincerely,
 
Mayor Betsy Hodges
City of Minneapolis

Mississippi Minute Film Festival Entries Open Until September 15th, Film Contest Judges Named

Call for additional entries to the Mississippi Minute Film Festival; entries are open online until September 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM.

“Imagination and creativity are what’s most important for your film or video entry; much more important than film-making skills. Entries are welcome at all levels; no one should be afraid to enter!” notes Kathleen Boe, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership (MRP), sponsor of the Festival.

Entries are made online, and all entry information, forms and formats are accessible at www.mississippiminute.org.

Judges for the Film Festival have also been named; they 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

Films will be shown at MRPs Riverfront Summit, October 26th at the Mill City Museum at 6:00 PM. Film winners and awards will be announced at that time as well.

Guest speaker John Anfinson, PhD and Superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area for the National Park Service, will talk about the upcoming 100-Year Anniversary of the National Park Service.

More info at MississippiMinute.org

Week 16 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

August 22 was Pollinator Day at the Market. The UMN Bee Squad/Bee Lab and Pollinate MN were on hand to share info on their work with interested shoppers.  Regular vendors who can also answer your bee-related questions include Worker B and Ames Farm.

Below, Worker B offers an array of honeys, candles, bees wax, clothing and personal products.  You can also find them in the Northrup King Building.

The Loft Literary Center turns 40 this year and brought their party to the Market. Look for a separate post on The Loft later this week on our Farmers Market blog. 

Valspar has been a super supporter of not only the Market, but other nonprofit organizations in the neighborhood. They brought a lot of fun on Saturday with a booth featuring energetic staff, giveaways for kids and adults, face painting and shopping bags. Look for a separate post on Valspar later this week on our Farmers Market blog. 

The Zestars from Ames Farm arrived this week.

Seven Songs Organic Farm returned with their wonderful ginger.

Wild Run Salmon is back from what I hear was a wild fishing adventure.

I just had to get a picture of this mom - she struck me as the quintessential Market shopper.  Carrying both a MFMC Membership tote and market basket, wearing a pollinator T-shirt and including her son in the shopping experience.  Love it!  :)

Of course Market founder Brenda Langton shops here, too.  Below, we ran into her toting around a watermelon the size of a baby hippo for her Spoonriver restaurant. 

Every wonder what hazel nuts look like when they're growing on the plant?  Well - here you go.

The goat!

NCED's Sip of Science Series Returns September 9

Great news! National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics (NCED) will resume their monthly Sip of Science series on Wednesday, September 9, at the Aster Cafe.  :)

September Sip of Science - Ask me about my mussels! The relationship between sediment and native river mussels in Minnesota

Kelly MacGregor, Macalester College
September 9 5:30 pm
River Room, Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main Street

RSVP for Sip of Science

Native freshwater mussels are an important part of river ecosystems. Individuals can live for more than 50 years, filtering water for nutrients and stabilizing riverbed sediment in some places. However, widespread Kelly MacGregor collecting mussels during a snorkel survey. Photo credit: Macalester Collegehabitat Kelly MacGregor collecting mussels during a snorkel survey. Photo credit: Macalester Collegedestruction, pollution, land-use change and deteriorating water quality can impact mussel populations. Join us as Macalester College professor Kelly MacGregor describes a current collaborative study between Macalester College, the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, and River Life that investigates the impacts of riverbed and suspended sediment on mussel diversity, health and happiness. The most recent portion of the research involved snorkeling four rivers (the Snake River, the Chippewa River, the Cottonwood River, and Le Sueur Rivers) this past summer. Mussel shells and stories will be shared!  

Kelly MacGregor collecting mussels during a snorkel survey. Photo credit: Macalester College 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Kelly MacGregor is a professor and chair of the Geology Department at Macalester College in St. Paul. She has a B.A. in Geology from Williams College, and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from UC Santa Cruz.  She is a geomorphologist with a focus on glacial erosion in alpine landscapes, and has done both numerical modeling of glacial erosion and field work on alpine glaciers in Alaska, British Columbia and Montana. Professor MacGregor is currently working on several projects, including environmental and climate change since the Last Glacial Maximum in Glacier National Park using lake sediments, and the dynamics of sediment transport on the St. Croix and Minnesota Rivers in Minnesota. She and her husband, also a geologist, live in St. Paul with their two kids and a motley crew of pets.

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly.  Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum that puts science in context through storytelling.

No cover; food and drink available for purchase.

RSVP for The Encore August 26 Open House

You're invited to The Encore Open House for an opportunity to preview Penthouse and Townhome layouts, customizable finish packages, as well as learn about the ability to reserve these exclusive units. Light appetizers and drinks will be provided, along with exclusive access to The Encore development and marketing team.  The event is being held from 4:30pm – 6:30pm at The Aloft Hotel – W XYZ Bar. Please RSVP to Leasing@MPLSEncore.com, attendance is limited.

      

MPRB has a Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council Position Opening

Via an August 20 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter:

The MPRB is seeking to fill a vacant community position on the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council. The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council brings together key partners from local government, area businesses, community organizations, non-profits, and residents to build a healthy, local food system.

Learn more

Zen Box Izakaya Ramen Attack! Returns September 27

Zen Box Izakaya's popular Ramen Attack! returns to the Mill City Museum trainshed on Sunday, September 27, 1:00pm - 6:00pm.

Mill City Museum is partnering with Zen Box to celebrate the restaurant’s fourth year anniversary and benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. The event includes ramen tasting featuring Zen Box Chef John Ng and world-renowned ramen chefs, beer, cooking demos by local chefs, music and Japanese cultural performances. Net proceeds from food and beverage sales will benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

CenterPoint Energy to hold an Informational Meeting August 19 at Pizza Luce

Project Status Update            Minneapolis - 4th Street

On Tuesday, September 8th, 2015, CenterPoint Energy is scheduled                             to begin a ten week long natural gas pipeline project from 2nd Avenue N.                       to Marquette Avenue S. along 4th Street in Downtown Minneapolis. For details on how CenterPoint Energy plans to coordinate this                             project, please attend our informational meeting tomorrow,                          Wednesday, August 19 at 3:00 p.m. at Pizza Luce located at                                  119 North 4th Street. Please come with questions to learn more about this upcoming project.               Refreshments will be served!

Week 15 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

August 15 was Immigrant Farmer Day at the Market.  I picked up a beautiful variety of peppers at the Minnesota Food Association/Big River Farms booth.  Big River Farms is a program of Minnesota Food Association (MFA), whose mission is to build a sustainable food system based on social, economic and environmental justice through education, training and partnerships. Currently 13 farms are enrolled in the Big River Farms training program, representing 8 different cultures.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promotes environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world's forests by setting standards for responsible forest management. You can choose responsibly-grown forest products by looking for the FSC logo on wood and paper products. Visitors to their booth got to spin the wheel for a free product, and add their thoughts to the message board on what they love about forests.

Love these new salt bowls from Christy Wetzig Ceramics.

Below, rolling pins from Crookedwood - the tiger maple is my favorite.

A budding photographer - love it! :)

The first pears of the season from Ames Farm - so good!

When you need to get around the Market quickly...

Sameh Wadi of Saffron Restaurant was the guest chef for the Mill City Cooks demo. He prepared an Heirloom Tomato and Melon Salad and also signed copies of his book The New Mediterranean Table.

You might recognize Zero Waste volunteer and MCFM Board Member Kathy Klink. Kathy discussed composting with the cooking demo audience.

Fun soap shapes from Olsen Naturals.

The goat!