11th Annual Share the River Gorge Canoe Paddle and Ice Cream Social Scheduled for July 29

Looking for something fun to do on a beautiful Minneapolis summer evening? How about this!

(Photo by Robert Ball courtesy of Longfellow Community Council.) 

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 35th Street and West River Parkway

11th Annual Share the River Gorge Canoe Paddle and Ice Cream Social

Enjoy the River Gorge Committee's 11th Annual Ice Cream social at our beautiful river gorge! There will be free ice cream, free family canoe rides with the National Park Service and Wilderness Inquiry, and guided tours of the oak savanna restoration area, led by Friends of the Mississippi River Gorge Stewards.

In addition to tours, ice cream and canoe rides, learn about some organizations that do wonderful work on and around the river. You'll have a chance to discuss the projects they have going on and how you can get involved. These organizations include Friends of the Mississippi River, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board, and Minneapolis Recycling and Compost.

The event is free, but donations are happily accepted to defray event costs.

MPRB is Seeking Volunteers to Raise Adult Butterflies for the 7th Annual Minneapolis Monarch Festival

Via a July 20 e-newsletters from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Raise a Monarch that will go to Mexico!

Volunteers are needed to raise adult butterflies for the 7th annual Minneapolis Monarch Festival – Festival de la Monarca™ on September 12, 2015.

At the Festival, the University of Minnesota Monarch Lab will release over 100 butterflies marked with a small, weatherproof identification sticker (tag). The tagged adult monarchs, raised from eggs by volunteers, will be part of a large-scale study of the monarch’s migration. Monarchs tagged and released at the Festival are raised in small numbers from eggs collected in the wild. These individuals will be physiologically programmed for migration.  Also since wild monarch populations are now perilously small, they are particularly vulnerable to disease or genetic adaptations, which can be introduced from large rearing operations.

A one-hour training teaches volunteers about monarch biology and best rearing practices for each stage of the monarch life cycle. Each person will receive three monarch eggs and all equipment needed to raise an adult from an egg and bring it to the Festival. Two trainings will be held, both at Nokomis Community Center in Minneapolis:
 
•Training session 1: Saturday, August 15, 2015 from 11:30am-12:30pm.
•Training session 2: Monday, August 17, 2015 from 6pm-7pm.

Training costs $5 per person to cover staff time, rearing supplies, and eggs. Class sizes are limited so register soon!  Spanish speakers are welcome.  Classes will be conducted in English and training materials are available in both languages.  

Registration and information can be found at: www.minneapolisparks.org

And also here:
August 15: http://goo.gl/forms/zJmwyb53QC
August 17: http://goo.gl/forms/aVDsHl1E3e

“Anyone can sign up for a session. We welcome those with zero experience wishing to learn, as well as those with years of experience wishing to ask specific questions or just hone their skills”, says Dane Elmquist of the Monarch Lab. Kids are especially welcome to participate. However, one requirement for successful rearing is access to a consistent source of non-treated milkweed.

Most tagged butterflies are recovered in Mexico, where local residents are hired to find them. However, many more monarchs are tagged than found. Data about these butterflies is collected by Monarch Watch and used to learn about monarch orientation and navigation, and estimate their populations.

The Minneapolis Monarch Festival – Festival de la Monarca™ celebrates the 2,300 mile monarch migration from Minnesota to Mexico and will take place at Lake Nokomis on September 12, 2015 from 10 am to 4 pm.  This bilingual, family-oriented event features hands-on learning, art activities with local artists, and a musical lineup with Salsa del Sol and The Brass Messengers. The monarch and habitat exhibits offer many ideas for actions that will help preserve the iconic monarch butterfly and its migration. 

Contact (for rearing monarchs):
Dane Elmquist, University of Minnesota Monarch Lab
elmqu059@umn.edu
2003 Upper Buford Circle, 135 Skok Hall, St Paul, MN 55108
612-625-8304

Contact (about the Festival)
MaryLynn Pulscher, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
mpulscher@minneapolisparks.org
3800 Bryant Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408 

Minneapolis Aquatennial Kicks Off on Wednesday, July 22

MINNEAPOLIS (July 20, 2015) — The Minneapolis Aquatennial kicks off on Wednesday through Saturday, July 25 and includes headlining events such as the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade and Target Fireworks—one of the top five annual fireworks shows in the country.

Download the full schedule...

The event, which unveiled its new look in early July, will include a jam-packed four-day lineup of events with a focus on proximity near the Mississippi River—the origins of the City of Minneapolis and historically the city’s first tie to its water-related identity.

Other events highlighting this year’s Aquatennial include the Twin Cities River Rats Aquatennial Water Ski Show on the Mississippi River between Plymouth and Broadway bridges, the Aquatennial Tennis Classic and The Salvation Army’s MOST Amazing Race presented by CenterPoint Energy beginning and ending at the Stone Arch Bridge.

New events, such as: Aquatennial CorePower Yoga presented by Go Outside with Hennepin County, Historic Aquatennial presented by Cambria, Aquatennial Ambassador Organization’s Rockin’ the Waves Dance Party and New Belgium Brewing’s Tour De Fat were all added this year to welcome all ages and abilities to take part in celebrating Minneapolis’ longstanding summer tradition.

The Minneapolis Aquatennial is free and open to the public. The two events listed below do require registration either individually or as a team.

·       Life Time Torchlight 5k: Starting at the Basilica of St. Mary and ending with a legendary post-race party, this 5k is a fun run for everyone! Registration is available online, in-person at participating retailers, and on the day of the event.

·       The Salvation Army’s MOST Amazing Race presented by CenterPoint Energy: Modeled after the famous TV show, teams race around Minneapolis and participate in a series of mental and physical challenges. Find a teammate and register today because only 100 teams can participate in the qualifying competition. The earlier you register, the more time you have to raise cash – and top fundraisers get a competitive advantage the day of the race!

Start planning your own agenda to enjoy the Minneapolis Aquatennial with this comprehensive list of events:

Wednesday, July 22

8 a.m. – 6 p.m.                     *NEW* Historic Aquatennial Presented by Cambria

Cambria Gallery on 7^th, 625 2^nd Ave. S.

Commissioned by the Hennepin History Museum, this iconic display showcases photos, costumes and documents of historical Aquatennial events.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.                     Aquatennial Tennis Classic

Canadian Pacific Plaza, 2^nd Ave. S. & S. 5^th St.

One of the premier outdoor, urban tennis tournaments, this event features some of the best players in the area competing for a cash prize of $6,500.

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.                  Aquatennial Ambassador Organization (AAO), Meet the Queen of the Lakes Candidates

Downtown Minneapolis, City Center Atrium, 40 S. 7^th St.

Come meet the young women from across Minnesota vying to become the next Queen of the Lakes.

5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.             Loring Park Family Fun Night

Loring Park

Loring Park Family Fun Night is a family-focused event held just blocks from the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade. Activities include food trucks, pony rides, inflatables, canoe rides, a kids’ dance, carnival games, and more.

5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.             *NEW* Wilderness Inquiry Voyageur Canoe Rides at Loring Park Family Fun Night

Loring Park

Free voyageur canoeing and paddling instruction open to people of all abilities, including people with disabilities. Experienced Wilderness Inquiry guides will provide all equipment needed, ensuring a safe and fun experience for all.

7:30 p.m.                                Life Time Torchlight 5k

Hennepin Ave. from Basilica of St. Mary to Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Grab your friends, family and running shoes and join the Life Time Torchlight 5k. It doesn’t matter if you are a dedicated runner or just a beginner because this is the party of the year that just happens to start with a run! Open to all ages and abilities. Stick around for live music, food and beverages at the post-race party.

8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.   FLAGSHIP EVENT: CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade

Hennepin Ave. between Dunwoody College of Technology & 5^th St.

Brighten up your summer with the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade. This one-of-a-kind parade will illuminate downtown with bands, floats and fun for all ages.

Thursday, July 22

8 a.m. – 9 p.m.                     *NEW* Historic Aquatennial Presented by Cambria

Cambria Gallery on 7^th, 625 2^nd Ave. S.

(See July 22 for details)

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.                     Aquatennial Tennis Classic

Canadian Pacific Plaza, 2^nd Ave. S & S 5^th St.

(See July 22 for details)

10 a.m.                               Aquatennial Senior Alumni Association (SAA), 500 Card Tournament

James Ballentine VFW Post 246, 2916 Lyndale Ave. S.

Fun is in the cards at this annual tourney open to adults

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 pm.       *NEW* Aquatennial CorePower Yoga presented by Go Outside with Hennepin County

Target Field Station, 5^th St. N. & 5^th Ave. N.

Go Outside with Hennepin County and enjoy a great day of exercise during the Minneapolis Aquatennial through CorePower Yoga. Join us at Target Field Station on a July afternoon to take in the weather and the atmosphere that comes with the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m.—come early to get a spot as high attendance is expected!

6 p.m. & 8 p.m.                   Twin Cities River Rats Aquatennial Water Ski Show (Two Shows)

Mississippi River, West Bank along W. River Rd. between Broadway & Plymouth bridges

Join Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael as they battle the forces of evil for control of the Mississippi River—and eat some pizza, too! Bring a beach towel or lawn chair and enjoy this free show for the whole family!

Friday, July 24

8 a.m. – 6 p.m.                     *NEW* Historic Aquatennial Presented by Cambria

Cambria Gallery on 7^th, 625 2^nd Ave. S.

(See July 22 for details)

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.                     Aquatennial Tennis Classic

Canadian Pacific Plaza, 2^nd Ave. S & S 5^th St.

(See July 22 for details)

7 p.m.                                        *NEW* AAO Rockin’ the Waves Dance Party

Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, 225 3^rd Ave. S.

The Rockin' the Waves Aqua Dance Party will feature the band "Rhino" and is a semi-formal event brought to you by the Aquatennial Ambassador Organization. The event includes interacting with visiting dignitaries from major U.S. festival friends of the Aquatennial and much more.

7:10 p.m.                                Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

Target Field

Come support the Minnesota Twins as they take on the New York Yankees.

Saturday, July 25

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.                  Aquatennial Community Event: Tour de Camden

Starting at Creekview Park, 5001 Humboldt Ave. N.

Enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the seven neighborhoods of Camden. Food will be available after the event with historical stops along the route. The tour is presented by the Shingle Creek Neighborhood Association.  Registration begins at 9 a.m. Tour kicks off at 10 a.m.

9 a.m. – 8 p.m.                     The Salvation Army’s MOST Amazing Race presented by CenterPoint Energy

Various locations throughout Minneapolis

Modeled after the famous TV show and celebrating its 10^th year, teams race around Minneapolis and participate in a series of mental and physical challenges. Teams finish at the Stone Arch Bridge and the winning team receives a $5,000 grand prize!

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.                                    *NEW* New Belgium Brewing’s Tour De Fat

Loring Park

Tour De Fat is New Belgium Brewing’s traveling celebration of all-things bicycles. Enjoy a costumed bike parade, bike ride, on-stage entertainment, food, beverages and more. It also features a celebration of the inspirational car-for-bike swapper series in which brave souls hand over their car keys as a commitment to commute by bike.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.                                    *NEW* Historic Aquatennial Presented by Cambria

Cambria Gallery on 7^th, 625 2^nd Ave. S.

(See July 22 for details)

11 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.       *NEW*Aquatennial Pre-Fireworks Activities

West River Parkway along the Mississippi River

Enjoy a day of fun leading up to the annual Target Fireworks festivities. Some of the events include: Kites, Butterflies & Mary Poppins with Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (11 a.m.-1 p.m.), donate to the Aquatennial Blood Drive with Memorial Blood Centers (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), meet local heroes, try on gear and see an air boat, fire truck and smokehouse up close with the Minneapolis Fire Department (3 p.m.-10 p.m.), live music (6 p.m.-10 p.m.), food trucks, treats and more.

11 a.m. – 10 p.m.               Twin Cities Carifest

West River Parkway between Plymouth Ave. & Broadway bridges

For 22 years, Twin Cities Carifest has been the premier Caribbean Festival featuring Caribbean food, music, arts, crafts, and a traditional carnival parade (4 p.m.) with colorful costumes and dance. Held along the banks of the Mississippi River, you can see the Minneapolis Aquatennial Target Fireworks!  

12 p.m. – 8 p.m.                  Aquatennial Community Event: Midtown Phillips Festival

Stewart Park, 2700 block of 12^th Ave. S.

A free, family and multicultural event showcasing local talent and food, featuring free carnival games, pony rides, storytelling, puppet shows, two stages with live music and a soccer exhibition.

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.                     AAO, Queen of the Lakes Coronation

Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota West Bank

The Coronation of the Aquatennial Ambassadors will be held at the Ted Mann Concert Hall on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota where the 2016 Queen of the Lakes, Aquatennial Princesses, Commodore and Captains will be announced.

6:10 p.m.                                Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

Target Field

Come support the Minnesota Twins as they take on the New York Yankees.

10 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.       FLAGSHIP EVENT: Target Fireworks

West River Parkway along the Mississippi River

One of the largest annual firework shows in the country. The Target Fireworks will light up the Minneapolis sky with a spectacular pyrotechnic display.

About the Minneapolis Aquatennial

The Official Civic Celebration of the City of Minneapolis offers outstanding entertainment and activities in the City of Lakes for all ages. It is managed and produced by the Minneapolis Downtown Council. The festival is sponsored by Target, CenterPoint Energy, U.S. Bank, Zeus Jones, Life Time Fitness, Xcel Energy, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minnesota Twins, Minneapolis Recycles, City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, K102 and Go 96.3. For more information, please visit www.Aquatennial.com or call (612) 376-7669.

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

Via a July 17 Press Release from University of Minnesota Press:

Author Thom Henninger will read and sign copies of his new biography Tony Oliva: The Life and Times of a Minnesota Twins Legend from 2:00-4:00pm on Saturday, August 1st, at Barnes & Noble Downtown (801 Nicollet Mall).

ABOUT THE BOOK:
If not for the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, Minnesota might never have known one of its most popular baseball players, Twins three-time batting champion and eight-time All-Star Tony Oliva. In April 1961, the twenty-two-year-old Cuban prospect failed to impress the Twins in a tryout, but the sudden rupture in U.S.–Cuba relations made a return visa all but impossible. The story of how Oliva’s unexpected stay led to a second chance and success with the Twins—as well as decades of personal and cultural isolation—is told for the first time in this full-scale biography of the man the fans affectionately call “Tony O.”

With unprecedented access to the very private Oliva, baseball writer Thom Henninger captures what life was like for the Cuban newcomer as he adjusted to major league play and American culture—and at the same time managed to earn Rookie of the Year honors and win the American League batting title in his first two seasons, all while playing with a knuckle injury. Packed with never-before-published photographs, the book follows Oliva through the 1965 season, all the way to the World Series, and then, with repaired knuckle and knee, into one of the most dramatic pennant races in baseball history in 1967. Through the voices of Oliva, his family, and his teammates—including the Cuban players who shared his cultural challenges and the future Hall of Famers he mentored, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett—the personal and professional highs and lows of the years come alive: the Gold Glove Award in 1966, a third batting title in 1971, the devastating injury that curtailed his career, and, through it all, the struggle to build a family and recover the large and close-knit home he had left behind in Cuba.

Nearly forty years after Oliva’s retirement, the debate continues over whether his injury-shortened career was Hall of Fame caliber—a question that gets a measured and resounding answer here.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Thom Henninger, a St. Paul native and lifelong Twins fan, is associate editor at Baseball Digest. His work has appeared in ESPN Insider, and for more than seventeen years he wrote for STATS LLC, where his column “Thom’s Take” ran weekly. He has authored player profiles for Baseball America and contributed to Play It Again: Baseball Experts on What Might Have Been.

Patrick Reusse is a sportswriter and radio personality in the Twin Cities. He writes weekly columns for the Minneapolis–St. Paul Star Tribune.

PRAISE FOR TONY OLIVA:
"Thom Henninger did a marvelous job telling Tony’s story. It will remind readers what a special person he is and how he had to deal with so much adversity to find his way to the major leagues. I am so proud to have been his teammate and be his friend. All of us who played with Tony know he is a Hall of Famer and the best hitter of his era." —Jim Kaat

 "There wasn't a better hitter for average, power and driving in BIG runs than Tony throughout his baseball career. His career numbers speak for themselves. There is also no one more loved and respected in the Twins organization. " —Bert Blyleven

"The value of this book resides in the portrait Henninger paints of the man himself: a ceaselessly positive and selfless person who adapted admirably to his adopted country while never forgetting the needs of family members left behind in Castro-ravaged Cuba." —Spitball Magazine

Chapter Two of the Crown Roller Mill Story

Above - 1985 - West Front, Looking East - Crown Roller Mill

The redevelopment of the Crown Roller Mill block was a major accomplishment and one of many important turning points in the redevelopment of the Mill District.

By Ann Calvert, Principal Project Coordinator, City of Minneapolis

By the time of the October 1983 Crown Roller Mill fire, the City’s redevelopment agency, the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA), had started its work to redevelop the riverfront and thus played an active role in the post-fire redevelopment of the Crown. (The MCDA was later folded into the City’s Community Planning and Economic Development Department.) As groundwork, the geographic area that includes the Crown had been included in the Industry Square Redevelopment Project when it was created in 1973, and the original Mills District Plan had been approved in January of 1983.

After participating in the effort to save the Crown Roller Mill from demolition after the fire, the MCDA selected a firm called Hayber (Howard Bergerud and Greg Hayes) to develop the Crown and the rest of the block. MCDA acquired the Crown property along with the other portions of the block not already owned by Hayber and then sold the assembled property to the developer in 1985. The assistance provided to the project included revenue bond financing, a federal grant and tax increment financing.

The entire block was dubbed the “Whitney Mill Quarter,” the components of which included the conversion of the former Standard Mill into the Whitney Hotel (now the Whitney Historic Residences), the conversion of the Ceresota grain elevator into the Ceresota offices and the rebuilding of the fire-damaged Crown Roller Mill into the office building you see today. The development also included the underground service facility shared by the block and both the upper and lower plazas. The various components were completed between 1985 and 1988.

If you look closely at the outside of the Crown, you can see the faint line where new replacement brick was added above the lower parts of the walls that had survived the fire. The mansard roof is entirely new, but replicates a mansard roof that had originally existed on the building. The interior of the building (including the lower parking levels) is basically a new building that was constructed within the rebuilt exterior walls.

The other components of the block also presented major rehabilitation challenges. The Standard Mill had spent some time during its years of decline as an animal rendering plant and “stunk to high heaven.” The Ceresota project required the removal of the interior dividing walls that created the vertical grain silos (without the outside walls collapsing), the insertion of floors and the use of an interior skylit atrium and carefully placed windows to get some light into the windowless structure.

Above: Second Street South looking downriver from just upriver of Portland; General Mills elevators to left in distance, c. mid-1980s

At the time the block was developed, the area around it was still extremely rough and had little infrastructure. Second Street was filled with rail lines and wasn’t a true street at all, so the MCDA worked with Public Works to start creating a street grid for the Mill District. By that time, the last area property that was still served by rail was a pair of General Mills grain elevators at Second Street and Tenth Avenue. At the end of the harvest season, the line of rail cars that came to fill the elevators with oats extended all the way down Second to in front of the planned Whitney Hotel. Another way the MCDA assisted the Whitney Mill Quarter development was to invest almost $9 million to acquire those grain elevators so that the rail service could be stopped and Second Street could be built by the time the hotel opened.

The MCDA once again stepped in to save the Crown Roller Mill in 1991. The Crown had opened as offices at a low point in the real estate economy, and the area around it, while improving, was still considered questionable. The building had not been able to secure tenants and was sinking under the burden of real estate taxes and debt payments. The MCDA’s lease was expiring, so it agreed to move its offices to the Crown in exchange for advantageous rent terms and has remained an anchor tenant since then.

Ann Calvert, is Principal Project Coordinator with the City of Minneapolis and has been a key player in the redevelopment of the Mill District.

Week 11 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

Each year I look forward to so many things at the Market - and blueberries are high on the list. These beauties are from HeathGlen Farm.

Below, Susan Dietrich of Very Prairie with one of her happy customers.

I picked up a basket of these lovely squash with a batch of baked chips in mind. Look for the recipe and pictures later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

At the Sunrise Flour Mill booth, Darrold and Marty Glanville demonstrated turning wheat berries into flour and oats into flaked oats.

Don't fear the kohlrabi!  It's a tasty, wonderful vegetable that was featured at the July 18 Meet Your Vegetables demo.  Look for a post later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

Chef Jenny Breen demonstrated Beet and Feta Burgers at the Mill City Cooks demo.

Friends of the Mississippi River was the Community Booth at the July 18 Market.  Look for a separate post on this organization later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

Apricots from Swede Lake Farms.

The goat!

MPRB RecQuest Community Advisory Committee Applications now Being Accepted

Via a July 17 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter: 

The City of Minneapolis’ demographics are changing rapidly, and it is more important than ever to ensure that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is meeting the needs of its diverse stakeholders. Therefore, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has embarked on a critical effort to develop a plan – RecQuest – for the next generation of recreation centers in Minneapolis.  And you can be a part of it!
Applications are now being accepted for potential members of the RecQuest Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to be appointed by the MPRB Board of Commissioners. 

The charge of this CAC is to:
• Work collaboratively and provide input toward final project recommendations for approval by the Board of Commissioners.
• Become knowledgeable about the project and its scope and advise MPRB staff and consultants throughout the planning process.
• Contribute to broad community outreach and engagement by enhancing the project’s interaction with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Understand and represent the needs of all community members.
• Apply equity principles in decision-making based on training provided by staff and project consultants
• Report back to appointers or appointing bodies, as requested, on the plan process, information presented, and possible recommendations.
• Evaluate potential scenarios and deliver a preferred, actionable alternative for recreation centers and programs to the Board of Commissioners.

Application deadline is Friday, July 31 at 4pm. Online application can be found here.

Intersection of Sixth Street and Portland Avenue Closed to Traffic This Weekend

Via a July 17 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Beginning at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, July 17, the intersection of Sixth Street South and Portland Avenue will be closed for utility work. This closure will be in place until 5 a.m. Monday, July 20 so the energy company NRG can install chilled water lines that will supply the new stadium.

Southbound Portland Avenue traffic will be detoured west onto Third Street, then south on Fourth Avenue and then east onto Eighth Street. Eastbound traffic on Sixth Street will be detoured south onto Fourth Avenue, then east onto Eighth Street and then north onto Park Avenue. 

A number of construction projects will affect traffic in Downtown this season. To help drivers know about all of the current and upcoming work, the City has mapped these projects. Links to the maps are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/traffic.

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

A huge Thank You to the Cynthia Froid Group for bringing neighbors together on a balmy July afternoon for an ice cream social in Gold Medal Park featuring Izzy's. This is the second year they've hosted this event, and we hope it becomes an annual mid-summer tradition.

Above, the Cynthia Froid Group team from left to right - Pam, Cynthia, Kyle, Holly and Sarah.

Below, Cynthia and Izzy's co-owner, Jeff Sommers.

Metro Transit Rider Alert for July 17-19

Buses will replace Green Line trains this weekend

Due to scheduled maintenance, buses will replace Green Line trains from 7:00pm on Friday, July 17 until 11:30am Saturday, July 18, and again from 3am to 11:30am on Sunday, July 19 at these stations:

Stadium Village
East Bank
West Bank
Downtown East
Government Plaza
Nicollet Mall
Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue
Target Field

During the disruption, customers can board replacement buses near each affected station. See maps for boarding locations. Buses will operate on a similar schedule as trains but may take more time. Customers are encouraged to plan accordingly.

See maps for boarding locations.

2015 Minnesota Fringe Festival - July 30 thru August 9

Get ready for the 2015 Minnesota Fringe Festival!

Minnesota Fringe is one of many fringe festivals across the nation and around the world. All the shows you'll see at Fringe were selected randomly. (Would you believe it's done by placing numbered ping-pong balls into a bingo cage and pulling them out, one by one?)

From stage veterans to people who are brand new to theater, Minnesota Fringe is a forum for anyone with a story to tell and provides the support to make producing a show as easy as possible.

Very generally speaking, Fringes are:
   • Focused on the performing arts: Theater, dance, puppetry, spoken word and the like make up the Fringe core, but festivals often may include film and visual arts elements. Fringes don't have a focus on a single discipline or genre, but are a performing-arts smörgåsbord.
   • Uncensored: No one gets too fussy about swears or nudity but squeaky-clean content isn't marginal or discouraged, either.
   • Easy to participate in: Ticket prices are low for audiences and production fees are low for artists. Show selection varies from festival to festival but is generally quite open to participation by the gamut of amateurs to professionals.
   • Festivals: They last from just a few days to a few weeks and involve lots of people at multiple venues.
   • Original: Fringes feature a huge array of original material—sometimes by design, but usually because that’s what Fringes naturally do well.
   • Rapid-fire: Typically, tech is minimal and time is a factor at our festivals. Shows are often kept brief (Fringes most frequently have shows right around 60 minutes in length) and technical requirements kept simple (minor sets, streamlined cues, nothing elaborate).

Subscribe to their email list to receive updates, and/or follow them on Facebook.

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:

Hennepin Avenue, from Washington Avenue N. to 2nd Street N.:
•Construction is temporarily complete along Hennepin Avenue.
•Crews will return to this location in early August.

At the intersection of 1st Avenue N. and 2nd Street N.:
•Crews will be replacing two service lines this week in this area.

2nd Street N., from 2nd Avenue N. to 3rd Avenue N.:
•For approximately one week, southbound 2nd Avenue N. at 2nd Street N. will be closed. Northbound 2nd Avenue N. will be reduced to one lane.
•For the next three weeks, there will be no thru traffic along 2nd Street N. between 2nd Avenue N. and 3rd Avenue N. Please follow the posted detour.

At the intersection of 2nd Street N. and 3rd Avenue N.:
•Crews continue crossing this intersection eastwards. Please anticipate crews working approximately one more week to finish this intersection crossing.

At the intersection of 2nd Street S. and Portland Avenue S.:
•Beginning today, Monday, July 13, crews will be working at this intersection.
•Two-way traffic will be maintained in all directions.

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

Iconic North Star Blankets Signs Taken Down July 8

The rehabilitation project of the two iconic North Star Blankets signs began last week when a giant crane appeared at the North Star Lofts on the Minneapolis Riverfront to lower the signs into the upper parking lot, where they will be disassembled for transport off-site for rehabilitation.

The three-dimensional stars and letters, fabricated of sheet metal, will be revitalized and painted. Originally outlined in neon, these signs will also be re-lit with efficient LED lighting. The Homeowners Association will be repointing masonry and repairing/replacing bricks on facades adjacent to the signage as part of scheduled maintenance. The project will be finished and signs will be reinstalled in the fall of 2015.

Originally built in 1925 as part of an earlier woolen mill, the building is in a historic district that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The district is also locally designated, so plans for renovating the signs have been reviewed and approved by the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission to ensure the work is consistent with the district’s design guidelines. The Guidelines state: Historic signs within the historic district have become character defining elements of the district's city's identity Historic signs should be maintained and preserved.

The entire scope of the sign renovation and related masonry work amounts to $350,000. This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund in the amount of $248,000, showing the support of maintaining and preserving historic signage on a historic building in a historic district. The remainder is being financed by the North Star Lofts Homeowners Association.

The Homeowners Association is ensuring the prevailing value of the North Star Blankets signs on the character of the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District by completing the rehabilitation and allowing them to remain in place on the exterior of the building. In addition, the Homeowners Association anticipates that the work on the North Star Blankets signs will catalyze interest in rehabilitating the nearby Grain Belt Beer sign, which has stood unlit and deteriorating for many years. Finally, the project will serve as a model and inspiration for the rehabilitation of other historic signs that could once again become icons in downtowns, industrial areas, and neighborhoods across Minnesota.

The Homeowners Association has been advised on this project by architects Denita Lemmon and Chuck Liddy, of Miller Dunwiddie Architects; and historical preservation consultant Charlene Roise, of Hess Roise and Company; and Kate Grutzmacher of FirstService Residential. The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association has been the fiscal agent for the project.

Brief history of signs

The two signs atop the original North Star Woolen Mill were installed in the early1930's. Both signs feature the company’s iconic upside-down five-pointed star and the words North Star Blankets were once outlined in neon. The company folded in the mid-twentieth century and the neon tubes and most components of the system were removed.

In 2012 the North Star Lofts Homeowners Association discovered that deteriorated sections of the signs were falling to the ground. After inspecting the signs, Encompass, an engineering consultant, concluded that corroded connections on the rooftop support structure needed immediate repairs, while the wall signs frame was stable but needed maintenance. The stars and letters contained significant levels of corrosion, varying from surface corrosion, to a 100% loss of the substrate.

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

Via a July 9 News Release from Valspar:

MINNEAPOLIS – July 9, 2015– To commemorate the return of Valspar Corporation’s headquarters to the historic Mill District area in Minneapolis, the Valspar Foundation today announced $65,000 in grants to five non-profit organizations: MacPhail Center for Music, Mill City Museum, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, the Mill City Farmers Market and the Guthrie Theater. 

 Posing with the replica “big check” were: Laura Roller, Minnesota Historical Society / Mill City Museum (far left); Jeff Rathermel, Minnesota Center for Book Arts; Emily Dehn, Guthrie Theater; Gary Hendrickson, Chairman and CEO, Valspar; Laura Halcrow, MacPhail Center for Music; and Brenda Langton, Mill City Farmers Market.

“As Minneapolis is Valspar’s global headquarters community, we are pleased to support the Mill District neighborhood and the organizations that help make this a vibrant community,” said Gary E. Hendrickson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Valspar. “These organizations contribute to our local and regional culture in many ways and help make Minneapolis a great place to live and work.”

The Valspar Foundation grants will help fund the non-profit organizations’ ongoing programs and enable more people to enjoy their activities and offerings.

· MacPhail Center for Music: One of the nation’s largest community music schools, MacPhail provides music education to more than 13,000 students of all backgrounds and abilities with the mission of transforming lives and communities.

· Mill City Museum: Once the world’s largest flour mill, the museum helps visitors learn about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the Mississippi River and the city of Minneapolis.

· Minnesota Center for Book Arts: The Center’s mission is to lead the advancement of the book as an evolving art form, achieved through programs that support creators, learners and admirers.

· Mill City Farmers Market: Located in the Mill City Museum, the Market inspires and nurtures a healthy community by building a local, sustainable and organic food economy in a vibrant, educational marketplace.

· Guthrie Theater: Founded in 1963, the Guthrie is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training, presenting both classical literature and new work from diverse cultures.

Valspar’s headquarters were moved back to the Mill District neighborhood in January 2015 after an extensive historic renovation was completed of its building at 1101 South 3^rd Street in Minneapolis. The building, built in the early 1900s, is part of a four-building campus and serves as a global hub for product development and performance testing to support customers around the world.

Above, Kim Welch, president of the Valspar Foundation, giving opening remarks to the audience of about 120 employees and guests in the Valspar Headquarters. Below, Gary Hendrickson, Valspar Chairman and CEO, addresses the audience.

(L to R) Jennifer Halcrow (MacPhail), Amanda Kaler (Minnesota Center for Book Arts), Jeff Rathermel (Minnesota Center for Book Arts).

Jennifer Halcrow gives an overview of MacPhail.

Linda Roller provides a description of the Mill City Museum.

Brenda Langton describes the Mill City Farmers Market. 

Emily Dehn explains all that the Guthrie Theater has to offer.

Valspar: If it matters, we’re on it.®
Valspar is a global leader in the coatings industry providing customers with innovative, high-quality products and value-added services.  Our 10,500 employees worldwide deliver advanced coatings solutions with best-in-class appearance, performance, protection and sustainability to customers in more than 100 countries. Valspar offers a broad range of superior coatings products for the consumer market, and highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets. Founded in 1806, Valspar is headquartered in Minneapolis. Valspar’s reported net sales in fiscal 2014 were $4.5 billion and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:VAL). For more information, visit http://www.valspar.com/and follow @valsparCo on Twitter.

Great River Road Online Survey

Help prioritize strategies for the future of Minnesota's Great River Road Scenic Byway.

This online survey provides the opportunity to rank areas of focus for the corridor, help set short, medium, and long-term goals, and identify important river views and necessary improvements to multimodal facilities along the corridor.  

The survey is open until July 20. 

Upcoming Events at Target Field Station

Target Field Station has more than 104,000 square feet of space, including a public plaza for year-round special events and activities, green space, a 1,000-seat amphitheater, office space, retail shops and a 286-car underground parking garage. The Minnesota Twins, Target and Hennepin County offer programming and special events in the public space.

Upcoming events include:

Sunday, July 12 - Armed Forces Appreciation Day
Monday, July 13 - Hennepin County Movie Night: Back To The Future (7pm)
Wednesday, July 15 - Hennepin County Movie Night: Top Gun (7pm)
Friday, July 17 Movie Night: The Sandlot (7pm)
Thursday, July 23 Minneapolis Aquatennial CorePower Yoga (5:30pm - 6:30pm--check-in at 5:00pm)
Friday, July 24 - Pregame concert
Wednesday, July 29 - Postgame concert
Sunday, August 2 - Fifteen's 5K presented by Glen Perkins and family
Tuesday, August 4 - National Night Out presented by North Loop Neighborhood Association
Saturday, August 8 - Skyline Music Festival
Saturday, September 5 - Green Line Ales & Rails
Sunday, September 6 - Vikings Season Opener Viewing Party
Saturday, September 12 - Brews & Bacon
Tuesday, September 22 - Choir Day
Saturday, October 3 - Blues N Brew Festival

Mark Your Calendars for the 2015 National Night Out Party - Tuesday, August 4!

Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID) Opens Call For Summer Greening Awards Nominations

Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District Opens Call For Summer Greening Awards Nominations

MINNEAPOLIS (July 7, 2014) — The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District today announced a call for nominations as it kicks off its 6th Annual Greening and Public Realm Awards.

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. The MDID’s mission through the Greening Awards is to encourage all downtown businesses to participate in the greening effort.

“The Greening Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate and showcase the continued growth and development of our green spaces in Downtown Minneapolis,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council & Downtown Improvement District. “Putting a continued focus on improving our greening and public realm will help us continue to foster a consistently compelling downtown experience as called for by the Intersections: Downtown 2025 Plan.”
 
During this year’s nominations, the general public will be able to let MDID know which greening projects throughout Downtown Minneapolis are their favorites. To participate, you can submit using the hashtag #GreenAwardsMpls on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or by emailing your nominations to coordinator@minneapolisdid.com. Photos are welcomed, but name and/or location will work for identifying your green space of choice. Individuals may nominate multiple locations.

Nominations will close July 20, and the finalists will be selected and categorized by MDID staff for an online vote in August. Winning locations in each category will receive a display prize to showcase their greening achievement. In past years, categories have included:

· Best Large Green Space Activation
· Best Small Green Space Activation
· Best Large Green Space
· Best Small Green Space
· Best Open Space Green Infrastructure
· Best Streetscape Green Infrastructure
· Best Outdoor Café
· Best Façade Greening
· Best Streetscape Greening
· Best Entryway Greening
· Best Public Realm Improvement
 
For more information, visit www.minneapolisdid.com/greeningawards or log onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagramsearching @MinneapolisDID.

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 http://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.

Meet Sheriff's Office K9s this Friday, July 10

From a July 7 Hennepin County Sheriff's Office e-newsletter:

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office invites you to a K9 demonstration. 

When: Friday, July 10, at Noon

Where: Hennepin County Government Center, outside on the Plaza (300 South 6th Street)

What: Two K9 teams will demonstrate their skills.

More: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office K9s work throughout the county.  They track down suspects, locate missing people, search for drugs, explosives, and evidence. In addition, our K9s are ambassadors to the community and they enjoy meeting children and families.

Keena Maher is our Neighborhood Condo Financing Expert

When we moved to the Mill District in 2009, Keena handled our mortgage paperwork.  When we recently refinanced to take advantage of a lower rate, she handled that too.

Now Keena and her team have moved into a convenient commercial space in the Bridgwater Lofts building, at the corner of Washington Avenue S and 11th Avenue S.  As the resident “Minneapolis Condo Queen,” Keena has been an integral part in financing the mortgages for many condo projects downtown, including Grant Park, Shamrocks’ 5th Avenue, Bridgewater Lofts, Stonebridge Lofts, and the upcoming Portland Tower.

Here's how Keena sums up her success at downtown condominium financing: “The reason people use me for condo financing is that condo financing has some bankers undies in a bunch! That only makes you walk funny!!  Mostly, you need to truly understand it and do it every day so that you are able to offer the best products and rates, and not have any surprises at the end.  I know exactly what I am talking about with condos.”

With over 16 years of mortgage loan origination experience, Keena is a perfect choice for financing needs. She adheres to high professional and technical standards, and eases the stress associated with complex and challenging mortgage and real estate transactions. 

“Our goal at the end of every transaction is that you’re going to say thank you and be so happy that you’ve worked with us.“

Visit the team in the Bridgewater office, or online at KeenaCondoQueen.com.