MacPhail Announces August 23-24 Twin Cities Scandinavian Family Festival

MacPhail Center for Music, 501 2nd Street South, will host The Twin Cities Scandinavian Family Festival August 23 and 24.

Discover your heritage, deepen your roots, learn with your family! Bring the whole family for this exciting weekend of Scandinavian Folk Arts. Featuring all-ages workshops in Norwegian Halling Dance, Folk Singing, Early Childhood Music, Wool Spinning and Nordic Roots Dance. All workshops are designed for parents, kids, grandparents and grandkids to attend together. Also featuring concerts, dance parties, and more.

Daily schedule:

Saturday, August 23, 2014
9:30am - 10:30am Scandinavian Early Childhood Music Class (birth - 8 years +caregiver(s))
11:00am - 1:00pm Halling Dance Workshop (all ages)
2:00pm - 4:00pm Kveding Workshop (8 and up)
2:00pm - 4:00pm Klippe Sauen (Shear the Sheep) Workshop (all ages)
7:00pm Artist's Showcase - A Minnesota Folk Crossover Experience
featuring Rachel Ulvin Jensen on Hardanger Fiddle, Amanda Underwood - Norwegian folk singing, and Julie Johnson and the No-Accounts playing French voyageur songs, Lumberjack songs, and other non-Scandinavian Minnesota folk music (all ages)

Sunday, August 24, 2014
11:00am - 2:00pm Nordic Roots Dance Workshop (break for lunch at noon) (all ages)
11:00am - 12:00pm Kveding for Performance Workshop (8 and up)
1:00pm - 2:00pm Halling for Performance Workshop (all ages)
3:00pm FREE Student Showcase - Festival Students and Teaching Artists
4:30pm - 6:30pm Festival Closing Party and Dance (all ages)

Registration and Tickets. Cost: $5-$75

Updates on the August 24 Minneapolis Duathlon

Team Ortho asked us to share this update on the upcoming August 24 Minneapolis Duathlon:

On Sunday, August 24, 2014, Team Ortho Foundation will be holding the Minneapolis Duathlon - a running and biking race in Minneapolis. The event will have approximately 1,700 participants. Our runners would love to have you come cheer them on! The Minneapolis Duathlon race will be a fun way to get active! Team Ortho Foundation is happy to be the organizers of this and six other races we hold each year.

Our mission is to keep people active and healthy by organizing well-run races for new and veteran runners alike.

We are working with the City of Minneapolis, their police and parks departments regarding all event details. We have also arranged temporary street closures and detours with the Minneapolis Police Department:

From 5:00 a.m.- 12 Noon
    S 2nd Street will be closed from 3rd Avenue S to 5th Avenue.
    S 5th Avenue will be closed from 1st Street to 2nd Street.

From 6:00 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.
    One north bound lane of 3rd Avenue/Central Avenue SE will be closed S 2nd Street to SE 2nd Street. The additional northbound lane along with the two south bound lanes will remain open for traffic.

From 6:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
    West River Parkway from River Street to 11th Avenue S.

From 6:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
    West River Parkway from 11th Avenue S to East 54th Street.
    13th Avenue from S 2nd Street to West River Parkway.
South 2nd Street from 5th to 13th Avenue.

The Minneapolis Police will reopen the roads after the last runner has passed.

During this time, cars and parking are also not allowed on these streets. Please take this into account when making plans in the morning of August 24th.

Please mark your calendar and share this information with others who may also be impacted in your neighborhood. You can see additional information on our website at http://www.minneapolisdu.org/.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Florilegiu​m Exhibit Opens August 14 at Central Library

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Florilegium Exhibit opens Thursday, Aug. 14, with a free welcome reception and tour, 6:30-8 p.m., and runs through Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Cargill Hall Gallery at the Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall.

The exhibit includes nearly 50 botanical paintings by students of the Minnesota School of Botanical Art. The paintings depict native plants found at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, which was established in 1907 and is the oldest public wildflower garden in America.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Gallery hours are the same as the library’s: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

The public is also invited to the welcome reception and related lectures during the exhibit run:
 
Welcome Reception and Tour
Thursday, Aug. 14, 6:30-8 p.m.
Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room
Welcome Reception with Artists
Exhibit and Athenaeum Special Collections Tour

All About Bees Lecture
Thursday, Aug. 21, Reception 6:30-7 p.m., Lecture 7-8 p.m.
Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room
Register at http://www.hclib.org/ or call 612-543-8000
Crystal Boyd, Bee Researcher, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Exhibit Tour and Botanical Painting Demonstration
History of Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Botanical Art Lecture
Saturday, Sept. 6, Lecture 1-2 p.m., Tour and Demonstration 2-3:30 p.m.
Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room
Register beginning Saturday, Aug. 9 at  http://www.hclib.org/ or call 612-543-8000

Susan Wilkins, Curator, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
Marilyn Garber, President, Minnesota School of Botanical Art

Exhibit Tour and Botanical Painting Demonstration
 
Exhibit and related lectures are presented in collaboration with the Minnesota School of Botanical Art, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, with support from the Friends of the Minneapolis Central Library.
 
Look for more news on the Hennepin County Library website: www.hclib.org/newsroom.

Nominations Accepted thru August 13 for the 2014 Downtown Greening Awards

Submit Your Nominations!

Summer nominations will be accepted through August 13, 2014. Nominees must be located in downtown Minneapolis and the greening project must be visable from the public sidewalk.

More info.

Tonight - National Night Out!

Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: Chicago Plaza (between the Guthrie and Spoonriver)

Join your Mill District neighbors for food, drink, prizes and music by Jack Klatt at the 2014 Mill District NNO!

Check out these pictures from our Mill District Neighborhood 2013 National Night Out:

Update from Eric Laska on the New Downtown/East Bank School

I wanted to let you know about one thing that Jacob Frey has secured with Clear Channel Communication - a free billboard advertising the new Webster School!  Here are a few more details about the Webster School:

-It is an existing Minneapolis Public School property that will start extensive renovation soon and open the fall of 2015.

-It will open as a Pre-Kindergarden to Grade 2 school, adding a new grade level each year after until it is Pre-K to Grade 5.

-It will be the default community school for the brand new attendance area 1G.  (1G has not been completely defined yet.  Please see the MPS flyer attached for their defined boundaries right now.)

I have attached photos of one of the billboards outside of the new Vikings Stadium.

Download the postcard...

Tuesday Night - Block Parties for Riverfront Neighborhoods

Tuesday August 5, times vary.  Here's a listing of the block parties being held in Central Riverfront neighborhoods:

Mill District

View online - http://milldistrict.org/party/2014-mill-district-block-party-national-night-out.html

Download flyer - https://app.box.com/shared/static/1orq3ue9owk4vkurisg4.pdf

Marcy Holmes

View online - http://marcy-holmes.org/news-events/national-night-out-aug-tuesday-5th-6-8-pm/

Download flyer - https://app.box.com/shared/static/bvx7woljr3zjrs1rg8cn.png

North Loop

Download flyer - https://app.box.com/shared/static/b9ni5aek0sa3m7fgt4il.jpe

Nicollet Island/East Bank

View online - http://niebna.com/

Wednesday Morning - Wake Up with Jacob

Congressman Keith Ellison will be Council Member Frey's special guest at August's Wake-up with Jacob! Ellison will bring news from Washington D.C. and talk about how his work impacts the Third Ward.

The event will be held at Mattie's on Main at 43 Main Street NE (just next door to Wilde Roast Cafe) on Wednesday, August 6th from 7:30 to 9:00 am. Bottomless coffee and a pastry item will be available for $4.00. RSVP to assure seating at: http://minneapolismn.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ab10caacad3986ae6780de874&id=18c193ee9c

Week 13 at the Mill City Farmers Market

Kids in the Kitchen was the theme of the August 2 Market.  Monica of Budding Farmers hosted a kids activity table and Market Chef Heather Hartman welcomed Kids in the Kitchen Cooking Contest winner Vanessa Reyes-Romero to the Mill City Cooks demo.  And, the sweet corn is in!  :)

New bicep excercise - rhutabega curls:

Market Sponsor UCare included this handy bowl with their other useful give-aways at the August 2 Market.  You can't tell by the picture, but there's a 1 Cup marker line stamped on the inside.

Love was in the air...

The goat!

The Film Society of Mpls St. Paul presents Masterpieces of Polish Cinema Aug 8-31

Famed Polish auteur Krzysztof Zanussi will make a special appearance at The Film Society's summer exhibition Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema. The notable retrospective series of restored classic Polish films is touring select venues throughout U.S. and Canada, and features films from some of Poland's most accomplished and lauded filmmakers.

On August 14, Krzysztof Zanussi will introduce and discuss three of his razor-sharp contemporary dramas The Illumination (1972), Camouflage (1976) and The Constant Factor (1980).

Tickets to this special series are $8 Film Society and PACIM Members, $10 General Admission, $9 students/seniors. Presented by PACIM, and screening in partnership with Twin Cities Polish Festival.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership Invites You to Enter the Mississippi Minute Film Festival Contest!

One River, One Minute, Your Vision – The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership invites you to share your vision of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in a 60-second long video that informs, energizes and inspires.

Sitting within blocks of thousands of Minneapolis downtown workers, residents and visitors is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, a national park, the Mississippi River. The trouble is, too many people don’t realize it’s there. While revitalization efforts have reclaimed portions of the Minneapolis riverfront, much of it is still inaccessible and in places virtually invisible. The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership seeks to make the invisible visible and will unveil the best submissions at their annual Riverfront Summit on October 20 via the engaging medium of video. Create a vision that tugs at heartstrings or makes people laugh, that showcases an appreciation for– or the future potential of – the urban riverfront in Minneapolis.

Submissions are due August 31, 2014, at 5:00pm!

Click here for more information, including the categories, jury list and how to submit an entry. 

Marcy-Holmes “Box Fresh” Utility Wraps Project

The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association (MHNA) commissioned six local artists to create original artwork to cover utility boxes throughout Marcy-Holmes.  These utility boxes, formerly covered with graffiti, are now permanently wrapped with original designs.

The “Box Fresh” Utility Wraps Project is a collaboration of the MHNA and The Soap Factory.  Images range from a city nightscape and vintage photo booth to contemporary and conceptual designs.

Friends of the Mississippi annual “Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River” set for October 1

Friends of the Mississippi has held their annual “Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River” since 2002.   This year’s location is the Weisman Art Museum, overlooking the beginning of the River Gorge, and a beautiful place to celebrate the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River.

This year’s event will feature playwright and storyteller Kevin Kling as the guest speaker. Kevin is perhaps best known for his popular commentaries on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” and his storytelling stage shows like “Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log”. He delivers hilarious, often tender autobiographical tales that are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are. His storytelling started when a friend from the now defunct Brass Tacks Theatre asked him to perform his stories. Since then, he has been awarded numerous arts grants and fellowships. The National Endowment for the Arts, The McKnight Foundation, The Minnesota State Arts Board, The Bush Foundation, The Jerome Foundation and others have recognized Kling’s artistry. On October 1, he will be highlighting the Mississippi River in his tales and stories.

The live auction will feature delicious food and beer experiences, outings, art, and far away destinations – all with a link to the Mississippi River! More details will follow in the coming months.  Expect fantastic hors d’oeuvres and beverages, the company of fellow river lovers, a testimonial or two, and more.

NOTE - The evening is invitation only, and invitations will be sent in August. Please contact John at jbriel@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x19 to receive an invite.

Public Invited to Attend Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Ecological System Plan Meetings August 7 & 27

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) are preparing the first-ever Ecological System Plan. This plan will set a vision for making parks and public lands more friendly to the environment.

The initial Public Meeting is August 7, 5:30-7:30pm, at the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board, 2117 West River Road.

The Ecological System Plan will seek to first understand the ecology of the city and watershed, then plan for parks and public lands management and improvements that benefit both humans and nature. It will address specific threats such as climate change, decreasing water quality, explosion of invasive species, increasing runoff, and fragmentation of habitat. It will envision a more environmentally sound way of managing the impacts of the city, so that the city can be cleaner, greener, cooler, and more efficient.

 Specifically, the ecological system plan will:

• Compile, create, and illustrate city-wide ecological data;
• Craft a vision for natural resources and public lands within the watershed and city;
• Outline guiding principles for management; and
• Challenge the community to rethink the city around them—from the local neighborhood park to the Grand Rounds to backyards—in terms of ecological function, benefit, and health

In addition to attending the first CAC meeting, the public may provide input and stay informed about the project in the following ways:  

• Visit the project website to stay up to date on the project and see some of the amazing maps and drawings we plan to create. Go to www.minneapolisparks.org/currentprojects and select “Ecological System Plan.”
• Attend the second CAC meeting scheduled for August 27 and another in October, the exact date of which is to be determined. All CAC meetings will take place from 5:30-7:30 pm at MPRB headquarters.
• Attend any of the planned community events that will take place in the parks over the next year and a half. More details will be made available on the project website as these events are scheduled and planned.
• Sign up to receive e-mail updates by subscribing on the project website or at www.minneapolisparks.org/subscribe or, if you are already a subscriber, by adding “Ecological System Plan” to your subscription preferences.

[Download] West Bank Interpretive Vision - Final Draft

Excerpt from the introduction to the West Bank Interpretive Vision:

The West Bank of St. Anthony Falls was once an internationally known industrial complex built on the only waterfall on one of the world’s great rivers. Today the waterfall and river are attracting millions of visitors each year, many of whom enjoy the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the area.

What draws people to St. Anthony Falls has changed through time. The powerful river that flows over the falls had once sustained native people; today the falls remain a spiritual place for the Dakota. When early tourists traveled far and wide to admire wonders of nature, the falls became a sought-after destination. When rivers powered the nation’s industry, the falls produced enough energy to run the greatest milling center the world had ever known. When only railroads linked western farms to manufacturing centers and international ports, the falls stood at a critical hub of the nation’s rail network. The falls have long sustained an enduring confluence of human and natural systems

As a center for industry, the West Bank reached its zenith between the 1880s and 1920s, when Minneapolis was known as the “flour milling capital of the world.” In the decades that followed much of the area’s waterpower, milling, and railroad complex was buried, removed, or lost to fire. What remains is an extraordinary archaeological resource that holds memorable stories and large-scale artifacts, that if revealed would astonish today’s visitors. The area also holds stories of the falls that transcend history—in relationships with people and animals that are as present today as they have been for millennia.

Stay tuned for when the download of the West Bank Interpretive Vision is available!  Sorry for the error.

Fireworks Finale Framed by the Guthrie Theater

A glass half empty view might be that the fireworks Saturday night on the riverfront were partially blocked while watching from our balcony. I thought the silhouette of the Guthrie provided an interesting frame for the video. You be the judge:

Health Through Chaos - New Book by Local Author

"Health Through Chaos" by Claudia Kittock, with Ryne & Tyler Kittock is available for a few days as a free Kindle download on Amazon.com before reverting to normal pricing.

"Health Through Chaos is a personal journey through cancer, and my eventual return to health. Shortly after I turned 53, I had my first colonoscopy as part of my yearly physical. Thirty seconds into the procedure, the doctor found colon cancer. I spent the next 2 years having multiple surgeries, radiation, and over a year of chemotherapy. I am happy and blessed to be cancer free, with the sincere hope of remaining so.

The most shocking part of the experience was to discover that once the treatments were over, my journey had just begun. Healing my body and soul was a long and arduous process with little guidance or help. I had to discover how to get well on my own, and after 3 years of daily effort, found myself well again.

My book is about that part of the journey, sharing what I discovered, my triumphs and my mistakes. It was not a journey of finding the one ‘right thing’ to do but rather discovering that there is no one thing. There are many facets of wellness and some are obvious and some very small, but each is vital. It’s a personal journey, but an empowering and life altering one.

This book is not intended for cancer patients only. It is intended for anyone hoping to regain their health and for people who have never been healthy."

Download for free in the next few days on Amazon...

2nd Annual Riverfront Fest is August 1 at Sheridan Memorial Park

Join neighbors and friends for the second annual Riverfront Fest at the new Sheridan Memorial Park!  6:00pm to Sunset.(click here for map)

- FOOD TRUCKS (Stanley's, Undead Franks, Scratch, Tin Fish, and El Taco Riendo)
- LIVE MUSIC
- CRAFT BEER
- KID'S ACTIVITIES
- WATER ACROBATICS FROM TWIN CITIES RIVER RATS
- BIKE TUNE UP CORRAL
 
Sponsored by the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership, the East Minneapolis Exchange Club, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Week 12 at the Mill City Farmers Market

July 26 was Bike to the Market Day, featuring a Community Partner line up including Minneapolis Bike Coalition, Nice Ride, Commuter Connection, and The Hub Bike Co-op.

Of course Nicholas from Buffalo by Bike embraced the day's theme.  :)

Yay - the long beans are back!

Yet another refreshing flavor combination from Sonny's.  Loved it!

These Zula juices are so good.  I drink them straight up, and also use them as a base for veggie smoothies.  The Cashew Dream makes a great healthy dessert smoothie - just add fresh fruit and ice. I've also done the 4-day Juice Cleanse twice, and can't even put into words how wonderful I feel both during and after.

Note to Dave - that's not how selfies work...

The goat. :)

July 26 West River Parkway Closure for Aquatennial Party and Fireworks

West River Parkway between 4th Ave and Portland Avenue will be closed Saturday, July 26, from approximately Noon to 11:30pm for the 75th Annual Aquatennial Celebration street party and Fireworks.

The Target Fireworks show is one of the largest in the country, and will light up the Minneapolis sky at 10:00pm with a spectacular pyrotechnic display.  In addition to the amazing firework show, enjoy pre-firework festivities starting at 6 pm.

Also note - the section of West River Parkway between 4th Street South to Franklin Avenue continues to be closed as a result of a mudslide earlier this summer.

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