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. 

Funny Money! Theater of Public Policy to Enlighten-up the Conversation About Funding for Parks

Join us for the next Riverfront Vitality Forum - Finding the Green for Parks, 6:30pm, July 23, 2015, at Open Book - Sponsored in part by Mill City Times

Minneapolis, Minn. – Even for America’s number one park system, money doesn’t grow on trees. The  Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board has ambitious plans to expand parkland, especially along the Upper Riverfront, where new opportunities to connect North and Northeast Minneapolis the Mississippi River are being created. Through an info-taining blend of interview and improve, Finding the Green for Parks: A Conversation with Park Board Superintendent Jayne Miller and the Theater of Public Policy, aims to enlighten the audience about the range of funding models for capital investment and long-term maintenance and operations.

Seating is limited, register here...

One of MRP’s ongoing Riverfront Vitality Forums, Finding the Green for Parks will take place at 6:30pm, July 23, 2015, at Open Book in Minneapolis. Tickets are $5 and pre-registration via Eventbrite is encouraged. The event is co-sponsored by CenterPoint Energy, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Mill City Times and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation.

The Theater of Public Policy has earned a national reputation for bringing intelligent humor to droll-up otherwise dour, and sometimes divisive, issues. Their work has included six months embedded at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, using humor, surprise, and participation to adapt the culture to a changing audience. They’ve also performed for the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, and numerous state and local agencies.

“In Minneapolis, our parks define who we are as a people and as a city. With RiverFirst and the Above the Falls Master Plan, we have prioritized new parks on the Upper Riverfront as the leading edge for economic and ecological revitalization,” says Kathleen Boe, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership, MRP hosts quarterly Riverfront Vitality Forums to daylight dialogue about vital riverfront issues.

Superintendent Jayne Miller took the helm of the Minneapolis Park Board in 2010, shortly after the Park Board’s purchase of the 12-acre Scherer property and when early visioning for Upper Riverfront parks development was already underway. During her tenure, the Park Board has continued to expand its land acquisition along the Upper Riverfront.

The Park Board has also sustained the RiverFirst vision, by making progress on four priority projects, including restoration of Hall’s Island on the Scherer property and investment in riverfront trail development. In partnership with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, the Park Board is also advancing the Water Works project along with planning for the 26^th Avenue North overlook and connector.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership is a state-chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates and supports coordinated revitalization of the Mississippi Riverfront in the City of Minneapolis. MRP brings diverse community partners together to shape a vital role for the Mississippi River in enhancing the economic, social and natural life of the City of Minneapolis and to ensure that this development benefits all segments of the community.

Seating is limited, register here...

Today at City Hall

Planning Commission Meeting

4:30PM - Room 317

The 3 projects below are on the agenda, download site plans:

Thresher Square Project (36MB)

Superior Plating Project (56MB)

316 6^th Ave N Apartment Project (25MB)

Harsh Words for Graco by MPRB

The development proposal from Graco for the commercial portion of the future Sherer/Halls Island Park was met with a fair amount of scorn last week at the July 1 Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board meeting.  See the video above.

Download the Site Plan, will illustrations... (9MB)

NEWS COVERAGE OF THE ONGOING GRACO MPRB SQUABBLE

PARK BOARD DUMPS ON GRACO PROPOSAL, KEEPS IT ALIVE FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS

PROPOSAL AT PARK BOARD MAY AUTHORIZE PARK DEVELOPMENT BY GRACO

JUDGE GRANTS CONDEMNATION FOR GRACO EASEMENT

MINNEAPOLIS PARK BOARD APPROVES GRACO EASEMENT FOR TRAIL ACCESS

GRACO EASEMENT PROPOSAL HEADS TO MINNEAPOLIS PARK BOARD

PARK BOARD VOTES TO CONDEMN NORTHEAST LAND IF GRACO DEAL CAN'T BE REACHED

GRACO IS UNFAIRLY HOLDING TRAIL HOSTAGE

West River Parkway Mudslide and Franklin Avenue Bridge Repair Update

Via a July 5 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter: 

Veit and Companies, a Minnesota contractor, will begin work on the permanent repairs of the failed slope (mudslide) on July 6, 2015. Initially, they will be working six days each week. The construction area, between 4th Street S and the Franklin Avenue bridge will remain closed until repairs are complete, currently estimated to be around October 31, 2015. Please use the posted detours.

The slope repair consists of constructing five retaining walls located both on MPRB property and on Fairview – University of Minnesota Medical Center property.  Please see the project webpage for further details (or go to www.minneapolisparks.org/currentprojects and select "West River Parkway Slope Repair").  

Concurrent with the repair of the failed slope, the Franklin Avenue Bridge is also undergoing reconstruction.  Hennepin County is funding and managing this project. The work on the west pier of this bridge this fall and replacement of the bridge decking (summer 2016) will affect West River Parkway. The contractor, Kraemer NA is using the south portion of Bohemian Flats to prepare the pre-cast concrete decking.  For more information on the Franklin Ave Bridge reconstruction, or to sign up for updates, please see Hennepin County's website. 

Franklin Avenue Bridge construction updates

West River Parkway closure extends south of Franklin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis
 
West River Parkway has been closed north of the Franklin Avenue Bridge since June 2014 due to mudslide repair work that will be completed by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. 　

The closure extension is needed for construction crews to restore the bridge and apply new concrete. Hennepin County is doing this work earlier in the project so that W. River Parkway can open over the winter months once this season’s bridge and mudslide repair work are complete. 　　　　

To summarize the detours:
•North on West River Parkway to east on Franklin Avenue: No change.
•North on West River Parkway to west on Franklin Avenue: Follow E. 25th Street to S. 31st Avenue. Then take a left on Franklin Avenue.
•East on Franklin Avenue to south on W. River Parkway: No change.
•West on Franklin Avenue to south on W. River Parkway: Follow S. 31st Avenue to E. 25th Street and take a right on W. River Parkway

Alternating bike and pedestrian lane closures begin June 29
 
Starting June 29, contractors will be installing a platform underneath the Franklin Avenue Bridge. During platform installation, bike and pedestrian lanes will only be open on one side of the bridge; lane closures will alternate every few days. All pedestrians and bicyclists should watch for signs and use the correct side of the bridge each day.

Once the platform is installed under the bridge, crews will continue concrete restoration. Work on the platform installation will occur over the next three weeks.
 
Crews are manufacturing 366 concrete bridge deck panels at the Bohemian Flats site. These panels will be installed in 2016 and become the new Franklin Avenue Bridge deck.
 
Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Hennepin County Commissioner McLaughlin, Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner Vreeland, and Minnesota State Representative Kahn joined project staff for a river tour of the remnant piers.

During the tour, the elected officials accepted the concept of salvaging the 1889 remnant pier blocks and re-locating to the "Bohemian Flats" area within Minneapolis Park Board property on the western bank of the river. The salvaging process of the pier blocks was completed on June 24, 2015.
 
Hotline: 888-474-8929
Email: franklinbridge@hennepin.us
Project website

Mpls.St.Pa​ul Magazine'​s Restaurant Week is July 12-17

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Restaurant Week started in 2007 in an effort to connect Twin Cities food enthusiasts with the best in Twin Cities dining. Participating restaurants will serve two course lunches for $10-$20 and three-course dinners for $15-$30 (beverage, tax and gratuity not included).

Click here for more info and to view the list of restaurants in our riverfront neighborhoods.

Week 9 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

"Parade of Vegetables" was the theme of the July 4 Market. Indeed, a parade of vegetables marched thru the Market, led by the talented H. Adam Harris who conducts the 'Storytelling Hour with the Guthrie Theater' program every first Saturday of the month.

UCare sponsored a free yoga session with instructor Ben Lee on the Guthrie terrace.

The world's tiniest potato?

New treat for your pet from Barkley's Bistro - "Doggy Snausages" made with pork and rice.

The tomato was having a hard time getting the broccoli to smile.

It's been a good growing season for cabbage!

The goat. :)

Note - For the first time since moving downtown in August 2009, we will miss an outdoor Market. We won't have a recap of the July 11 MCFM.

Things to do at Peavy Plaza

Free Yoga at Peavey Plaza, every Tuesday & Friday, begins Tuesday, July 7

Class from 12 pm - 1 pm, with registration at 11:30 am

Grab your friends, bring a mat and join us for an all ages & abilities yoga class on the plaza, taught by CorePower Yoga Minneapolis! Use this time to get fit, meditate or to take a break from your desk in Peavey Plaza’s unique urban setting. Mats are available on-site, and check-in begins at 11:30 am. 

WomenVenture Small Business Showcase presented by Wells Fargo, every Wednesday, July 8 - July 29

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Shop small and celebrate local, women-owned businesses this summer each Wednesday in July at Peavey Plaza. WomenFenture clients like The Beez Kneez, Favorable Treats, Kisa Boutique, Seven Sunday Muesli, Steller Handcrafted Goods, Wind & Willow Home and others will showcase and sell their products on the corner of 11th Street and Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis.

Up Next: Wednesday, July 8: Enjoy performances by Twin Cities Trapeze and eat at Sandy's Grill & Chef Shack food trucks, all located at Peavey Plaza.

Fitness at Peavey Plaza: Insanity Class, every Thursday thru July 30

12:10 pm – 1:00 pm

FREE and open to the public INSANITY classes taught by Gianna from YWCA. Forget everything you know about high-intensity workouts, because INSANITY will redefine your body and mind! The class incorporates 3 to 5 minute blocks of all-out exercise, with breaks in between long enough to catch your breath, grab some water and get right back to work. It’s called Max Interval Training. We keep your body working at maximum capacity throughout the entire workout, while you keep pushing your body’s limits, requiring it to adapt.

Peavey Plaza Music, August 3 - August 28

11 am - 12 pm | 5 pm - 8 pm

As summer winds down, take time to enjoy great music at Peavey Plaza. We'll have live bands and performers playing for your enjoyment. Take in some great tunes in the heart of downtown!

This year, Peavey Plaza will be home to a PARKLOT throughout the summer! PARKLOTs are urban pop-up parks aimed at helping create a consistently compelling experience downtown. It's an initiative of the Minneapolis Downtown Council's Intersections: Downtown 2025 Plan's Downtown Experience Committee with support from Hennepin Theatre Trust and presented by Bank of America. After having great success last year at the inaugural PARKLOT next to the Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue, this year Peavey Plaza and IDS Center will be host to pop-up parks during Summer 2015. 

Other things happening...

Bean Bag Toss, every week day thru August 28

Want a break from the work day? Grab your coworkers or friends and stop by Peavey Plaza to enjoy some yard games in Downtown Minneapolis! Bean Bag Toss will be available to play throughout the work day, so swing by any time and see who will have bragging rights for the rest of the day!

Play a song or two on our Pianos, every week day thry August 28

We know there are some talented people in our downtown area—stop by Peavey Plaza and put your piano playing on display! We’ll have pianos on site throughout the summer, which are free to use and open to all ages and abilities. Take some time to stop by and play, or listen to others who are sharing their talents.

Borrow, Contribute, Add or Replace games and books, every week day thru August 28

Want to enjoy some literature outside this summer? Stop by Peavey Plaza and take a look at our collection! We’ll have books available to take and leave, and various games that will be available for use. Come by and spend some time taking part in some free games and reading.

See Something, Say Something

Via a July 2 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

See Something, Say Something

Good morning! In light of recent news of heightened national alerts due to the July 4^th Holiday and ongoing threats to the United States from terrorist organizations, I thought it might be a good time to send out a link to the terrorism prevention video we recently filmed, "How you can recognize the 8 indicators leading up to acts of crime and terrorism".  Please take a few moments of your day to check out this video. 

The message is an important one and one in which we hope to have the community, as a whole, knowledgeable of.  It focuses on specific behaviors of crime and terrorism and the best way(s) to report such activity to the proper officials.  If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Please feel free to send this out to your community contacts as they are our eyes and ears out there. We encourage our citizens to let us know of  anything that seems out of place or seems suspicious. With everyone’s help, we can help assure our community stays safe.

Also as a reminder, if you have community or business organizations who are interested in a more extensive Community Awareness Training program, the MPD can facilitate this at no cost. Just contact myself or Lt. Dean Christiansen for more information on that program.

Thank you and have a safe holiday weekend!!

STAY SAFE!

Best Regards,

John A. Elder

Office of Public Information

350 S. 5^th Street, Room 130

Minneapolis, MN 55415

612-673-3829 Office

612-578-4322 Mobile

612-673-2613 Fax

@MPD_PIO

Minnesota Twins 2B Brian Dozier and Pentair Volunteers to Clean Mississippi Riverfront

Via a July 1 Press Release from Pentair:

Minnesota Twins 2B Brian Dozier and Pentair Volunteers to Clean Mississippi Riverfront
Group supporting Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s Water Works project

The Minnesota Twins (represented by second baseman Brian Dozier) and Pentair volunteers will partner with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation to clean the Mississippi riverfront at Mill Ruins Park near the Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday, July 9th at 10 a.m.

Pentair, which helps customers around the world reduce, recover and reuse water, provides the technology that cleans water from the Mississippi River for more than 500,000 residents in the Twin Cities. The area surrounding the river near the Stone Arch Bridge is being developed as an innovative public space that will help protect the river, provide recreation opportunities and reveal historic features.

WHO: Twins Second Baseman Brian Dozier
          75+ Pentair volunteers
          Minneapolis Parks Foundation
          Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
          Mill City Museum

WHERE: Mill Ruins Park near the Mill City Museum

WHAT: Riverfront clean-up

WHEN: July 9, 2015, 10:00 -11:30 a.m.

Pentair’s innovation in water reuse is evident at Target Field, where the Minnesota Twins turn to Pentair technology to capture and clean rainwater that’s then used primarily to clean stadium seats, saving approximately 2 million gallons of water each year.

As a growing global population puts increasing demands on resources, Pentair helps customers produce more food, energy and efficiencies from each drop of water. The company delivers industry-leading products, services and solutions for its customers' diverse needs in water and other fluids, thermal management and equipment protection. With 2014 revenues of $7 billion, Pentair employs more than 30,000 people worldwide.

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation, which partners with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is an independent 501c3 dedicated to community investment in the nation’s top park system. It’s the private-sector leader of the RiverFirst initiative and Water Works, two design-based adaptive reuse parks projects on “America’s fourth coast,” the Mississippi River.

Red, White and Boom, Hot Dam 5K & Road Closure info

Celebrate the 4th of July during Minneapolis Red, White and Boom, a two-day celebration hosted by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The event, held along the downtown Minneapolis Riverfront, features live music, great food, fun activities for the whole family, and the grand finale – fireworks!

On July 4, Father Hennepin Park will offer FREE family activities in the Family Fun Zone from 6 pm to 9:30 pm. Activities include balloon twisters, caricature artists, hair painters and face painters. Live music will be playing at Mill Ruins Park and Father Hennepin Park from 6 pm to 10 pm. The Red, White and Boom Celebration closes with a spectacular fireworks display along the Riverfront at 10 pm.

Important Road Closure Information

These streets will be closed to vehicles during the dates and times provided.

July 3, 2015

◾6 pm: Main Street between Merriam and Sixth avenues
◾6:30 pm: West River Parkway, Eighth Avenue Bridge, East Island Avenue (Nicollet Island), Merriam Street, Main Street
◾All roads should be clear by 8 pm

July 4, 2015

◾2-10:30 pm: Main Street between Merriam and Sixth avenues, Third Avenue South between Main and Second streets
◾4:30-10:30 pm: West River Parkway between North Fourth and 11th avenues
◾9-10:30 pm: Third Avenue Bridge closed to pedestrians and vehicles
◾9:30-10:30 pm: Stone Arch Bridge closed to cyclists

Creative City Market: Thursday July 9, 4-10PM

Creative City Market: Thursday July 9, 4-10PM

On the second Thursday of July, August, and September the public is invited to the Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza to participate in evening under the setting sun, celebrating the act of making, surrounded by MN made art, wares, and performance, including:

• A beer garden featuring selections from the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild from the Craft Bar and Lounge at the Minneapolis Convention Center
• Filfillah Food truck serving traditional Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine
• The onsite creation of art installations through public-artist collaborations
• Live music and performances
• A central lawn to relax, play, and linger
• An outdoor evening market featuring local artists, artisans, and makers
• MN Made movie at sunset, presented by the Minneapolis St. Paul Film Society. July 9th will feature The Okee Dokee Brothers’ Through the Woods: An Appalachian Adventure

Creative City Market is a program of the Creative City Challenge, which is presented by the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC), the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Program of the City of Minneapolis and Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association, in collaboration with Northern Lights.mn. and is being produced by The Musicant Group in partnership with Pablo Jones.

Creative City Market: Call for Vendors for July, August and September Events

Excerpt from a June 25 Northern Lights.mn e-newsletter: 

Creative City Market: Call for Vendors

As part of the Creative City Challenge, Northern Lights.mn will be presenting the Creative City Market on the second Thursday evenings of July, August, and September from 4pm - sunset. We are looking for creators, makers, technologists, artists and art that reflect diverse communities and ways of thinking to participate. We’re looking for original work, simple to complex, large and small, including but not limited to, homemade objects-of-interest, engineering one-offs, artisan/cultural crafts, one-of-a-kind inventions, hand-crafted furniture and more. Find out more about the call here and submit your proposal here.

Submission deadlines:
7/2/15 for July 9th Market
8/6/15 for August 13th Market
9/3/15 for September 10th Market

We are also looking for survey seekers for these events. A small stipend will be available. If you are interested in being a survey seeker, please contact ady@northern.lights.mn for more information.

Mill City High Readying to Open Sept. 8

Mill City High School, the new public charter school located in downtown Minneapolis, has cleared two major
hurdles — enrollment and renovation funding — and is readying to open for the first day of school on Sept. 8.

Located in the education wing of the First Covenant Church, 810 South 7th Street, the school continues to accept ninth and tenth grade students and, on a limited basis, eleventh graders. "Now's the time to reserve your spot,” says John Miller, the school’s start-up director.

“The word's getting out and student numbers climb daily. An excellent, free high school option downtown is an attractive option for families—we have a diverse group enrolled from all over the metro."

Renovations begin in July with a completion date of mid-August. The school start date was pushed back to Sept. 8 to allow time for the City to do inspections and issue a certificate of occupancy.

Miller, who completes his role as start-up director on June 30, will assume the positions of Mill City High academic dean and social studies teacher. "We've hired a really fine group of educators—teachers and administrative staff—who are excited about implementing our program. We’re looking forward to working with the founding group of students to forge a school culture based on mastery, motivation, and joyful learning."

The school’s next information event is June 30, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the school. Students, families, and community members are invited to meet school board, faculty, and staff members.

The First Covenant Church facility is 70,000 square feet and situated on a city bus line and just one block from a light rail hub. Mill City will be located in a space separate from but connected to the church sanctuary. The
education building that will house the school includes a commercial kitchen, gymnasium, and proscenium stage.

Families are encouraged to apply online at www.millcityhigh.org.