Washington Avenue North Loop Restriping Update

Via an August 5 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Work set to begin on Monday, August 10

We are ready to move forward with modifying and repainting (restriping) the lane lines on Washington Avenue in the North Loop. You will notice crews on the avenue working from North 3rd Avenue to Plymouth Avenue starting next week.

Upcoming work schedule

• Monday, August 10: Begin testing of lane drop area between north 3rd and 5th Avenues; remove striping and place temporary tab striping.
• Tuesday, August 11-Sunday, August 16: Observe traffic operations and adjust temporary striping as necessary.
• Tuesday, August 18: Remove striping on corridor (Washington Avenue from Hennepin to Plymouth Avenues).
• Wednesday, August 19: Resurface and restripe corridor.

This schedule is subject to change.

What you will notice during the work

One key item you will notice is that first we will be placing temporary striping down in the drop area between 3rd and 5th avenues. This is the transition area where the configuration will change between a 4-lane and a 3-lane roadway. The tab striping allows us to move the stripes as we observe how traffic moves through the area. We will be monitoring and adjusting the striping (as needed) over the course of several days, which will include some days when we expect high traffic volume.

Once we have completed this testing, we will place permanent striping in this area, as well as through the remainder of the corridor.

There may be some temporary parking restrictions during the work, but parking should otherwise remain the same in the area.

About the project

Hennepin County, in coordination with the City of Minneapolis, is restriping Washington Avenue (County Road 152) from Hennepin Avenue to Plymouth Avenue in the North Loop area. The goal of this reconfiguration is to increase the safety and well-being for all road users (drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists).

The scope of the project includes changing a portion of the road north of North 5th Avenue from its current 4-lane design (two lanes in each direction) to a 3-lane design (one lane each direction with a center continuous left turn lane). Bike lanes will also be added.

Intended benefits of the project include increased comfort and safety for bike riders; slower speeds; smoother operations for all transportation modes (vehicles, buses, bikes, pedestrians); likely reduction in all crashes due to removal of conflicts and better lane definitions.

More information

See active projects on our interactive road construction map.

Learn more about how transportation is connecting people to places.

For more information go to www.hennepin.us.

For questions about this bulletin contact Bob Byers at robert.byers@hennepin.us or 62-596-0354.

James I. Rice Parkway Resurfacing Begins Next Week

Via an August 5 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

Pavement resurfacing work is scheduled to begin on James I. Rice Parkway between Plymouth Avenue and Hennepin Avenue on August 12.

 The parkway will be closed between Plymouth Avenue and Portland Avenue for a total of about five days while crews remove and replace a portion of the parkway asphalt surface. The parkway will reopen over the weekend beginning Friday evening, August 14, and close again Monday, August 17 to finish the paving.

In preparation of the pavement resurfacing, small segments of the concrete curb and gutter located along the edge of the parkway will be removed and replaced starting August 6. This work will be completed without closing the parkway to vehicle traffic.

Visit project page.

City of Minneapolis to Host August 10 Public Meeting to Discuss Downtown Public Realm Framework Plan

On Monday, August 10, the City of Minneapolis department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) will be hosting a public meeting to discuss the Downtown Public Realm Framework Plan. The Downtown Public Realm Framework will establish a framework, goals and policies for enhancing the pedestrian experience downtown, with a focus on priority streets and public spaces.

The public meeting will begin with welcome and brief comments by Council Member Jacob Frey and Downtown Council President Steve Cramer followed by a short presentation by City staff. Attendees will be invited to participate in an interactive exercise and to provide feedback.

The Downtown Public Realm Framework is the City’s plan to provide unified guidance to inform and coordinate the work of public and private entities that shape the public realm. The Downtown Public Realm Framework includes an inventory of existing policies, practices, and elements in the public realm. It is intended to inform and guide outcomes in capital planning, site plan review, and public/private partnership toward the coordinated enhancement of the public realm. A Public Realm Framework is a guiding policy document for the management of the Right-of-Way. The purpose of Public Realm Frameworks is the creation of a unified document for the public realm within a certain geographic area. The document will address connections, networks, assets and conditions.

You can learn more about the Downtown Public Realm Framework including access to the project description, meeting minutes, and presentations on the City’s website.

Minneapolis Parks Leads Way in Regional Park Visits

The number of annual visits to regional parks and trails in the seven-county metro area grew to 48.7 million in 2014, according to newly released estimates from the Metropolitan Council.

That’s about 1.5 million more visits than 2013, an increase of 3.3%. Since 2005, annual visits have increased by more than 15 million.

The five most frequently visited parks in the regional system include:
• Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park – 5,476,400 visits
• Como Regional Park, Zoo, and Conservatory Special Recreation Feature – 4,311,000
• Mississippi Gorge Regional Park – 2,692,700
• Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park – 2,275,800
• Minnehaha Regional Park – 1,686,600

Overall, 27% of all visits in 2014 were to regional trails, and 73% were visits to regional parks, park reserves and special recreation features. But many visits to regional parks are for trail use. For example, although Anoka County Riverfront, Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, and Mississippi Gorge are regional parks, the majority of visits to these parks are for trail use. If the trail visits to these parks are included in the trail totals, about 40% of all visits were to regional trails. For The full report, view Metropolitan Council’s 2014 Annual Estimated Use. 

This Wednesday and Thursday at Piazza on the Mall

Weekly Wednesday Concerts Continues with Greg Byers
August 5th, 5:30-6:30pm, FREE Concert with Greg Byers

Throughout his lifelong pursuit of music, Greg Byers has overcome countless obstacles in order to become an idiosyncratic performer, composer, educator, and producer. Greg started playing cello at The Family Suzuki School of Rochester, NY at the uncharacteristically young age of 2 1/2. By age sixteen, he was a talented cellist, but was frustrated with the lack of personal expression found in youth orchestras.

Thanks to several mentors, Greg began to explore the possibilities of the cello in a jazz context.  After working in the Miami music scene, Greg decided to explore opportunities in Los Angeles. LA taught the importance of viewing music from the perspective of not only the performer, but also the composer, music engineer, and business person, so he applied these skills to his debut EP Some Dark, Beautiful Morning. In order to fulfill his aspirations of teaching at the collegiate level, Greg decided to continue his higher learning at McNally Smith College of Music, where he recently graduated with a Master of Music in Performance. 

Now it's your chance to come hear Greg Byers perform at the Piazza for an enjoyable outdoor concert! 

Thursday Social Jam Session
August 6th, 7:00-9:00pm

All are welcome!  Join Ross Hackenmiller Music for the fifth summer Social Jam Session. These sessions are a fun way to do some outdoor improvised music-making at the Piazza!  We'll have a stack of random percussion and noisemakers waiting to be played. Please feel free to bring your own too.

Have your Next Event at the Piazza on the Mall
Event planning services also available. For more information contact:
Max Musicant
max@musicantgroup.com
612-584-9442

Residents invited to help plan the future of NE/SE Minneapolis Parks

Multiple projects underway to shape award-winning park system for next 20 years – and beyond!

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is undergoing what may be the most comprehensive planning effort in its 130 year history. Minneapolis residents are encouraged to get involved and help the MPRB with three distinct, yet deeply intertwined projects: Closing the Gap-Investing in our Neighborhood Parks, RecQuest, and Service Area Master Plans. Residents can get involved by attending a public meeting or subscribing to receive timely emails about the projects.

Public Meetings

From June through September, multiple public meetings will be held in each quadrant of the city to share information about the projects. Meetings will be scheduled 15-30 days in advance. A full schedule is at www.minneapolisparks.org/closingthegap. 

• June:  North Minneapolis
• June/July:  Southwest Minneapolis
• July/August:  South Minneapolis
• August/September:  Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis
  • Wednesday, August 12, 6:30-8:30 pm, Bottineau Recreation Center, 2000 Second St. NE
  • Thursday, August 13, 6:30-8:30 pm, Van Cleve Recreation Center, 901 15th Ave. SE
  • Tuesday, August 25, 6:30-8:30 pm, Luxton Recreation Center, 112 Williams Ave. SE
  • Thursday, August 27, 6:30-8:30 pm, Windom Recreation Center, 2251 NE Hayes St. (Also discussed: Waite Park and Audubon Park)
  • Thursday, September 17, 6:30-8:30 pm, Logan  Recreation Center, 690 13th Ave. NE (Also discussed: Northeast Park)
• September:  Citywide

Anyone requiring meeting modification in order to participate should contact Emily Wolfe at ewolfe@minneapolisparks.org or 612-230-6415 in advance of the meeting.

Subscribe to Receive Email Updates

Details about each project are available at www.minneapolisparks.org. To subscribe to receive timely emails about one or more of the initiatives, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/subscribe, enter your email, then select the project(s) you are interested in under the “Planning” section.

Closing the Gap – a look at the impacts deferred maintenance has had on neighborhood parks

Closing the Gap: Investing in Our Neighborhood Parks looks at the impacts that deferred maintenance – or delaying regular upkeep past the point of repair – has had on the 157 neighborhood parks in Minneapolis.

Neighborhood parks have greatest number of physical assets that require greater resources to operate, maintain and replace. These assets range from outdoor amenities such as wading pools and playgrounds to structural and property infrastructure including roofs, windows, parking lots and much more.  To sustain the current level of physical assets in the park system the MPRB would need $14 million plus inflation each year. The MPRB is currently has $5 million per year to invest in these assets, which means that from 2000 to 2015, the funding gap for neighborhood parks has grown to $111 million.

Unless the replacement and preventative maintenance costs associated with the park system’s infrastructure are addressed, the backlog and costs will continue to increase, and funding gap will grow additional $46 million from 2016-2020 (based on current funding levels).

RecQuest – an in-depth look at recreation centers

RecQuest is the MPRB’s in-depth assessment of its 47 community recreation centers. RecQuest not only considers the physical spaces within the recreation centers themselves, but also the programs, services and activities provided at the centers. The project’s goal to see if the centers are meeting our community’s current needs as well as projected needs 20-30 years into the future. It will also help identify any areas of Minneapolis where programming is not currently offered but needed.

Recognizing that both the demographics and recreation preferences of Minneapolis residents are changing, RecQuest seeks to capture not only the community’s current needs, but also their recreation needs of the future.

Master Plans – a look at the outdoor facilities within the parks

While RecQuest focuses on recreation centers, the MPRB also needs to look at the outdoor parts of a park: playgrounds, athletic fields, wading pools, sports courts and much more. The Park Board most often uses a master planning process for these large projects that span multiple neighborhoods.  Master plans are documents that use community input to create both a long-term vision and key elements of an area. The master plan typically addresses how the area will be managed and operated, and sets priorities and budget estimates for realistically setting the plan in motion.

In the next five years, Service Area Master Plans will be prepared for all five service areas (South, Downtown, Southwest, North, and Northeast). The first master plans to be initiated are the Downtown Service Area Master Plan and the South Service Area Master Plan, which is bounded by the southern and eastern city limits, I-35W, and the I-35W/I-94 downtown loop.

Week 13 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

August 1 at the Market.  :)

Above, the Cynthia Froid Group blueberry giveaway.  Below, Mother Nature having a little fun...

Shoppers gave blood at the Memorial Blood Center Mobile Unit.

Representatives from the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) gathered feedback on a collaborative project with the Parks Board and the City: Pathways to Places, which will guide future improvements to downtown streets, pathways and parks.

We met representitives from Abiitan (an Ecumen Community) our future neighbors at 2nd Street South and 5th Avenue (kitty-corner to MacPhail Center for Music). Their new community will have 103 apartment homes and 48 memory care apartment homes, and is slated to open Fall 2016.

The steps leading down to West River Parkway are a perfect spot for relaxing with a Mango Lassi from Gorkha Palace.

CSA pick up!

A shopper decides on a necklace from Birchberry Native Arts and Food. I recently bought an unique beaded hummingbird hair clip from them that I love, love, love.

Northern Waters Smokehaus is a very popular vendor.

The goat!

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

(Minneapolis, MN) July 29, 2015 — 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: September 11, 5:00pm-9:00pm
5:00pm-6:00pm: VIP preview
6:00pm-6:30pm: Runway show
6:30pm-6:45pm: Q&A with Grant Whitaker
6:45pm-9:00pm: 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 www.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 www.tleegold.com.

Franklin Avenue Bridge Construction Update

CONTINUED ACTIVITIES

•Crews are constructing a cofferdam under the bridge in the Mississippi River. As a reminder, a cofferdam is a watertight construction barrier designed for construction in areas that are normally submerged, such as bridge piers. Crews will continue concrete restoration to the bridge piers below the water level once the cofferdam is complete. All boaters and recreational users of the river should be mindful of the construction area and steer clear of the site.

•The contractor is working on a platform for restoring concrete below the bridge deck.

•In the photo above, a crew member is in action applying new concrete to the bridge structure with a technique called shotcrete. Shotcrete is concrete conveyed through a hose at high velocity onto a surface. Shotcrete is placed and compacted at the same time, due to the force with which it leaves the nozzle.

•West River Parkway remains closed at Franklin Avenue Bridge through October 2015. View detour map.

•The Lower East River Parkway trail is closed between the East River Flats (University of Minnesota Boathouse) and Cecil Street while crews restore concrete below the bridge deck.

Hotline: 888-474-8929

Email: franklinbridge@hennepin.us

Project website.

See active projects on our interactive road construction map.

Learn more about how transportation is connecting people to places.

CenterPoint Energy Project Status Update for Downtown Minneapolis

MN Limited, LLC. and Michels Corporation, two authorized CenterPoint Energy contractors, will continue installing natural gas pipeline in the following locations:

2nd Avenue N., between 2nd Street N. and Washington Avenue N.:
•Crews are currently installing natural gas pipe.
•2nd Avenue N. is open for southbound traffic only.
•2nd Avenue N. will be paved on August 6.

At the intersection of 1st Street N. and Hennepin Avenue:
•Permanent restoration of Hennepin Avenue will occur August 3-7
•The road will remain open during restoration.

Crews anticipate completing all construction by the end of next week, weather permitting.

For further information, please visit our website or contact Ashley Osteraas at 612-321-5546 or Ashley.Osteraas@centerpointenergy.com. Thank you.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Reconstruction Schedule Update

Via a July 31 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter: 

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Reconstruction Schedule Update

Sculptures to be removed beginning August 3, 2015.

In preparation for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Reconstruction project, the majority of the sculptures will be removed from the garden beginning Monday, August 3, 2015. Among the few to remain in place throughout construction will be Spoonbridge and Cherry. Construction of the project is planned to start early spring 2016.

Project page

Contact
Dana Murdoch
Project Manager, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Phone: 612-230-6446
Email: dmurdoch@minneapolisparks.org

Lane Closures on Eastbound I-394 in Minneapolis and Golden Valley Begin July 31

Via a July 30 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Lane closures on eastbound I-394 in Minneapolis and Golden Valley begin July 31

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, July 31, Minnesota Department of Transportation construction crews will close the mainline lanes on eastbound I-394 between Highway 100 and I-94 for approximately two weeks. During this time, all eastbound I-394 traffic between Highway 100 and I-94 will shift to the two HOV/Reversible Lanes.  Motorists should expect significant delays during the morning and evening rush hours and plan accordingly.
 
Several ramps will also close:
• Eastbound I-394 to Penn Avenue
• Penn Avenue to eastbound I-394
• Northbound Highway 100 to eastbound I-394
 o Southbound Highway 100 to eastbound I-394 will use the HOV ramps

Construction crews will continue working on south Wayzata Boulevard between Penn Avenue and France Avenue. The boulevard will remain open for traffic, but motorists should plan for slow moving traffic and periodic traffic stops.
 
Motorists are reminder that Lyndale Avenue over Dunwoody Boulevard/Hennepin Avenue will remain closed until the fall. Motorists are detoured to Dunwoody Boulevard to access westbound I-394 and to Hennepin Avenue, 11th Street and Linden Avenue to bypass the closure and continue traveling on Lyndale Avenue.
 
For more information about the project or to sign up to receive email projects updates, visit the project website.

YogaFit Northeast to Host a Donation-based Class August 1 to Benefit Safe Hands Rescue

On Saturday, August 1, YogaFit Northeast Minneapolis, 520 First Avenue NE, will be hosting a donation-based yoga class at 1:00pm, with all proceeds going to benefit Safe Hands Rescue (Facebook). Safe Hands is dedicated to saving lives and finding forever homes for stray, abandoned and surrendered dogs in high kill shelters. 

From 12:30pm – 2:30pm, students will also have the opportunity to meet some of the dogs available for adoption.

Above, Lucy is one of the many dogs Safe Hands helped give a second chance by finding her a forever home.

Update on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 11:00AM by Kim Eslinger

Additionally, YogaFit has an Instagram challenge that runs all August long.  The #YogaFitLife challenge starts August 1st, and participants receive great prizes from YogaFit Northeast Minneapolis, Agra Culture, Athleta and Prana.  The more poses you do, the more you expand your practice … and the more chances you have to win! Visit YogaFit Northeast Minneapolis’s Facebook page for details.

Wednesday Night at Piazza on the Mall

Wednesday July 29 from 5:30-6:30pm FREE concert with Detroit Don King, followed by FREE Tango Dance Lessons with Lois Donnay.

Join us to see Detroit Don King perform at the Piazza for an enjoyable outside summer concert! 

Guitarist and vocalist Detroit Don King leads a five-piece band that plays sophisticated urban blues, R&B, jazz and a little rock and country. DKB has been performing regularly at nightclubs, restaurants and festivals around the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Wisconsin since 2000.

6:30pm, FREE Tango Dance Lessons with Lois Donnay

Come out on Wednesday evening and join us for beautiful Argentine tango music, food and performances. Enjoy the sultry dance of tango and watch as both traditional and modern tango are presented, as well as traditional Argentine food and artwork.  During and following the dance and performance, dancers will be providing group tango lessons for the audience so be sure to bring your dance shoes!

Update on the A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project

Via a July 27 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter: 

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board would like to notify you about upcoming work in your neighborhood this fall. Dominium (developer of the A-Mill) is installing their hydro-power system near Historic Main St. This project will require Dominium to cross sections of parkland to access their project sites. Areas affected by the work include Father Hennepin Park in front of the A-Mill and an area owned by Xcel Energy across from Tuggs and Aster Café on the river side of Main St. Much of the work will be done on non-parkland areas. Work will start in late July or early August and is projected to continue through the end of the year.
 
The developer has asked us to share this information with the community regarding the project:
 
“The A-Mill Artist Lofts Hydroelectric Project is an exciting renewable energy initiative bringing back hydroelectricity to the historic Pillsbury A-Mill. The Project will utilize an existing concrete and stone masonry intake structure; a new 616-foot-long, 5-foot diameter steel penstock would be installed within the existing head race tunnel with a 50-foot-long penstock segment installed vertically in an existing drop shaft and appurtenant facilities. The powerhouse consists of a modern turbine with a generating capacity of 600 kilowatts, enough to power 50% of the A-Mill Artist Lofts complex under peak demand. The project operates as run-or-river with a maximum hydraulic capacity of 200 cubic feet per second.”
 
If you would like more information on the project please contact Tyler Pederson at tpederson@minneapolisparks.org or 612-499-9084.

Fundraiser to Enable Free Dog Training for Disabled Dog Owners in Need

A dog-friendly fundraiser will help provide free dog obedience training classes to low-income disabled residents of the Minneapolis area. The “Make It Pawsible” event is slated for Thursday, Aug. 6, from 6-8 p.m. in the Waterbury Building, Room 107, 1121 Van Buren St. NE in Northeast Minneapolis.

Donations will be used to create scholarships to pay for basic dog obedience training classes at the Animal Humane Society’s Golden Valley office.  (Note: The Animal Humane Society does not offer specialized assistance-dog training. However, basic obedience training does provide a foundation for that next step.) Since a four-month weekly training series costs $285, the number of scholarships will depend on the amount of funds raised. Applications for the scholarships will be available at the fundraising event and by email (see below).

The Make It Pawsible event will feature free pizza (while supplies last), door prizes, dog treat samples, a “photo with your dog” booth and more. Raffle items will include everything from a “Shed Happens” T-shirt and pet-product gift baskets to a free dog dermatology exam.

The event has been organized by a Thrivent Action Team of volunteers led by Minneapolis resident Melinda Weir. Sponsors and raffle prize donors include Thrivent Financial, the Animal Humane Society and more than 10 local businesses and organizations that provide pet-related products and services.

For more information, email Weir at MakeItPawsible@gmail.com or call 414-232-5660. Also, visit the Facebook event page at http://bit.ly/MakeItPawsibleFB. Purchase raffle tickets in advance at http://makeitpawsible.eventbrite.com. Donate directly on the GoFundMe page at http://bit.ly/MakeItPawsible.

Executive Director Position Open at Mill City Commons

Mill City Commons (MCC) is seeking an Executive Director to partner with our board of directors in ensuring continued success for our welcoming and inclusive “village within the city”. 

Mill City Commons (MCC) was launched in 2009 as a non-profit dues-based membership organization that has since evolved into a strong, welcoming and inclusive community within a changing and non-traditional neighborhood.  MCC brings together neighbors 55+ from both sides of the downtown Minneapolis riverfront.  Its 175 curious, engaged, warm and welcoming members connect with each as they choose from a rich calendar of member-driven social, cultural, educational and health & fitness programs that help them to thrive in the homes they love.   Community engagement projects that support others in our urban neighborhoods further strengthen member connections with each other.

Learn more about us at www.millcitycommons.org … and click on the Executive Director Position Profile and Job Description link on our home page to learn more about the job and details on How to Apply.  Interested applicants should email cover letter and resume to MCCExecDirSearch@millcitycommons.org no later than August 13.

Week 12 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

July 25 was Bike to the Market Day, and there were three community booths to assist bikers and share info - pretty much anything you wanted to know about biking in the Twin Cities - Minneapolis Bike Coalition, Nice Ride MN, and Commuter Connection! Look for a separate post later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

The first SWEET CORN of the season arrived!  :D

SOLD OUT - that didn't take long!  Don't worry, Nistler Farm will have plenty more next week, plus melons.

Chef Heather Hartman shows off a bouquet of edible squash blossoms.

The beautiful work of Julie Timm - Fresh Mud Pottery.

Create Laser Arts shares a booth with Buffalo by Bike. They create laser-engraved items from high quality wood, reclaimed leather, paper and other materials, and are a recent Top of the Pantry Awards winner.

Below, Tricia Cornell, author of Minnesota Farmers Market Cookbook, was guest chef at the Mill City Cooks demo. 

Chipotle Mexican Grill treated shoppers to $5 market vouchers to spend on produce, meats, cheeses and other fresh products at the market.

The goat!

Top of the Pantry Awards

Chad Gillard, Co-founder of Midwest Pantry, would like share the winners of the inaugural Top of the Pantry (TOPS) Awards, and shine a spotlight on these local food entrepreneurs.

Midwest Pantry's strategic partners at Foodservice News will also publish this list of winners in their August edition, ahead of the 2015 August Local Food & Gift Trade Show.

Rookies - awarded to a new company
 • Curly Girlz Candy (Medford, MN) – natural, preservative free fudge, toffee, old fashioned nut rolls, and more.

Shooting Stars - awarded to a new product, released within the last 12 months
 • Fierce Ferments (Northfield, MN) – locally made pro-biotic goodness in several varieties of kim chi & sauerkfraut.

Shelf Classics - awarded to an existing product that continues to impress
 • Smude Oil (Pierz, MN) – cold pressed sunflower oil in 6 flavors, soaps, lip balms, lotion and massage oils.

Zero Flour Power - awarded to a gluten-free product
 • Two Gelato Guys (St. Louis Park, MN) – foodservice sized gelato in a multitude of artisan flavors.

Good Enough to Eat, but Don’t - awarded to a premium non-consumable product
 • suds! Bath & Body (North Mankato, MN) – complete line of all natural, handmade bath and body products packaged with recyclable and/or compostable materials.
 • Create Laser Arts (Minneapolis, MN) – artist created laser-engraved coasters, ornaments, cabin wares from high quality wood, reclaimed leather, paper and other materials reflecting our connection to nature: trees and plants, vegetables and animals, bikes.  (You can find their work at the Mill City Farmers Market!)

Hey, Hey Good Lookin’ - awarded for outstanding packaging design
 • Mademoiselle Miel (St. Paul, MN) – award winning urban rooftop honey in luscious bon-bons and honey sticks.

The judging panel for the 2015 Top of the Pantry Awards included:
 •Amy Gasman (editor of FoodService News)
 •Amy Brown (co-founder/co-owner/Boss Lady of Chowgirls Killer Catering)
 •Angie Bastian (co-founder/co-owner/namesake of Angie's Boom-Chick-A-Pop)
 •Brenda Langton (owner/head chef at Spoonriver & founder of Mill City Farmer's Market)
 •Jason DeRusha (WCCO & MSP magazine)
 •Laurie Crowell (owner of Golden Fig Fine Foods)
 •Melissa Kjolsing (Executive Director of MN Cup)
 •Shelly Culver (specialty buyer at Valley Natural Foods)
 •Sue Doeden (syndicated food writer, blogger & author of 'Homemade with Honey')
 •Sue Zelickson (Minnesota Monthly magazine, WCCO Radio, founder of Women Who Really Cook and Kid's Cafe )

 

Public Hearing on Water Works Concept Design - August 5

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will hold a public hearing on the proposed concept design for Water Works as a subarea of Mill Ruins Park within the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 5 at 6:30 pm in the Board Room of MPRB at 2117 West River Road in Minneapolis.

Since 2013, the MPRB has been collaborating with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation to prepare a refined and expanded design for the upper portion of Mill Ruins Park, an area being called Water Works in honor of the location’s history. Preparation of the Water Works concept design was performed within the community engagement process conducted for the update to the Central Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan adopted by the Board of Commissioners on April 1, 2015. The key tenets of the Water Works design were recommended for approval by the appointed Central Riverfront Community Advisory Committee and adopted into the master plan by the Board. The Water Works concept plan builds largely from the 25-year old Mill Ruin Park plan but expands the plan to the west side of the parkway, infuses greater recreational interests, clarifies complex site circulation and restoration, and like other signature locations in the Minneapolis park system, establishes a clear point of arrival, place of shelter, and visitor services. 

All are welcome to attend and provide comment on the recommendations regarding the proposed concept design.

Download the proposed concept design...

Watch the design presentation, including a 3D animation flythrough at about the 4min, 40sec mark: