Chef Yia Vang Announces Vinai Restaurant Will Open in the Space Being Vacated by Dangerous Man's Taproom

1300 2nd Street NE

Vinai is expected to open in Spring 2024 at 1300 2nd Sreet NE, in the Northeast Bank Building 

Chef Yia Vang has announced that his restaurant, Vinai, will move into the space at 1300 2nd Street NE in Minneapolis’ Northeast Bank Building. The announcement comes after Yia Vang first publicized the restaurant’s plans back in early 2020, prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The restaurant is expected to begin construction on the space in late 2023/early 2024 and is aiming for a Spring 2024 opening. 

Vinai gets its namesake from the refugee camp in Thailand where Vang’s parents met and where he was born. The restaurant is meant to serve as an homage to the heritage of Vang’s family while also continuing to share Hmong culture, traditions, and stories with the Twin Cities community and beyond. 

“The road to opening Vinai has been a much longer one than we expected, but we are finally at a point where we have a home,” said Vang. “It was a roller coaster of a process but we’ve learned so much in that time and we’ve been so thankful for the patience and support that we’ve been shown over the years.” 

While Vinai will be a tenant of the space, founder and owner, Yia Vang will also be partial owner of the building itself. 

Chef Yia Vang, Photo credit: Lauren Cutshall Over the last decade, the space has been the home of the Dangerous Man Brewing Company taproom, which has announced its closure. The brewery will continue producing and distributing its well-known brews through its production brewery location. 

“This restaurant is about carrying on my parent’s legacy. But it’s also about carrying on a piece of Dangerous Man’s legacy, and the legacy of the community here.”    Chef Vang

In the Sheridan neighborhood, Vinai will be joining a well regarded team of restaurants in the area. Ann Kim’s Young Joni is down the block, Gustavo Romero’s Oro is across the street, and Christina Nguyen’s Hai Hai is less than a mile away. “We love the neighborhood, and we feel so lucky to join the strong community that these restaurants and Dangerous Man have cultivated over the years,” said Vang. 

While navigating the funding hurdles of Vinai’s opening, Vang has been operating Union Hmong Kitchen for over 7 years. Union Hmong Kitchen has two locations in Minneapolis – one in the North Loop and one on West Lake Street – and has expanded the brand to serve Hmong food at the Minnesota State Fair, Target Field, and US Bank Stadium. Union Hmong Kitchen was nominated for a James Beard in 2022 for Best New Restaurant and Vang has received multiple James Beard nominations for Best Chef Midwest. 

Food Waste Reduction App, Too Good To Go, Launches in Minneapolis, Promoting Savings and Sustainability

Too Good To Go is available in 19 cities across the U.S. and has saved more than 6.8 million meals from waste 

A popular food-saving and money-saving app, Too Good To Go, is launching in Minneapolis on September 20.

Too Good To Go partners with local food businesses to reduce food waste by rescuing unsold food from being thrown out and selling it for a reduced price. The app a win-win-win as it allows local businesses to recoup food costs, and consumers can access great food at affordable prices, and it helps with the massive food waste problem that our planet faces. 

Minneapolis Launch Partners Include:

Mama Sheila's House of Soul

• Black-owned, family-owned & operated business in the heart of Minneapolis. 

• A museum styled restaurant in Minneapolis where you'll find great down-home soul food and more in an elegant environment.

• Sheila, who also serves as the main cook, grew up in Chicago. Starting off in the kitchen at 15 years old, she developed a love for cooking and the skills to cook.  

T-Rex Cookie Kitchen

• Women-owned & operated business.

• Dinosaur-themed hangout with jumbo cookies in creative flavors, locally roasted coffee & light fare.

• Baking nationally recognized 1/2 pound and 5 pound cookies in 200+ Flavors. Small but mighty company with big cookies! 

The Buttered Tin

• Women-owned & operated business. Founded by James Beard-recognized chef and Cupcake Wars winner Alicia Hinze. Fun fact: she competed on The Food Network’s hit show Cupcake Wars several times with competition-winning results!

• Serves up house-made sweets and scratch-made breakfast, brunch, and lunch in St. Paul and Minneapolis. All items are made with simple, clean ingredients and love. 

Backstory Coffee

• A specialty coffee roaster that sources from relationship-focused producers and importers.

• Very rooted in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul community–many local coffee shops roast Backstory coffee. The company’s mission is to cultivate deeper connections between people by sharing their love of delicious coffee. 

Butter Bakery Cafe

• Locally owned, independent business rooted in Southwest Minneapolis since 2006 and deeply committed to producing not only good food, but also good community.

• They partner with Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, a local non-profit working to end homelessness, in giving youth living at Nicollet Square supportive work experience. 

• As a Social Benefit Corporation, they’re focused on being a business for good, modeling sustainable practices, advocating for improvements to worker rights, and bringing positive change to our food service industry. 

With approximately 10% of greenhouse gas emissions stemming from discarded food, reducing food waste is key to solving the world’s climate problem. Too Good To Go forges a direct connection between conscientious consumers and forward-thinking food businesses. Through the free mobile app, consumers gain access to high-quality, surplus food at an average discount of ⅓ the full retail price, while businesses can recoup otherwise lost revenue  from selling fresh surplus food.

By partnering with Too Good To Go, local businesses gain a powerful platform to showcase their commitment to sustainability. By reducing their surplus food inventory, they also lower disposal costs and play a pivotal role in creating a more sustainable food system. With more partners added weekly, consumers are encouraged to check back often to see what new stores and categories have joined.

According to MPCA’s recent report on the state of waste, food makes up 18% of landfills in Minnesota, where it breaks down and produces methane, a greenhouse gas with heat-trapping potential 25 times greater than carbon dioxide. Minnesotans throw out approximately 62% of food that could have been eaten or donated. A family of four in Minnesota could save $1,200 a year by reducing their wasted food. Since launching in the US, Too Good To Go has saved more than 6.5 million meals from more than 14,000 partners, resulting in over $50M in savings for consumers to-date.

“We are excited to bring Too Good To Go to Minneapolis, a city that shares our values of sustainability and community engagement,” said Chris MacAulay, Too Good To Go US Country Director. “Our app empowers individuals to make a positive impact on both the environment and their wallets, while supporting local businesses."

The Too Good To Go app is available for iOS download in the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android.

Too Good To Go is a certified B Corp social impact company, on a mission to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste together. Through its marketplace, Too Good To Go’s community connects to save unsold food from a variety of business partners, including retailers, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and manufacturers. In 7 years of operation, Too Good To Go has helped to save over 220 million meals from going to waste - the equivalent of 550,000 tonnes of CO2e avoided. Since its launch in 2016, Too Good To Go has grown to over 80 million registered users and 140,000 active business partners across 17 countries in Europe and North America, making it the leading company in the fight against food waste. To learn more about Too Good To Go and its impact, visit toogoodtogo.com and follow on Instagram.

Ric Rosow's Downtown Skyscrapers

Submitted by Ric Rosow

On August 29th a group of 20+ Mill City Commons (MCC) members took a 2-hour sidewalk tour of downtown Minneapolis buildings, led by MCC member David Evelo. David provided excellent commentary as we walked, and provided to each of us a multipage document describing each building.

On the walk I took the opportunity to experiment with taking vertical panoramas. Normally I take horizontal panoramic photos of the city from a vantage point giving me a view of all that lies below the horizon. In this instance I was of course on street level. Normally for a panoramic I would use a tripod to make sure the stitching of the images went smoothly. In this case I hand held the camera as I did not bring a tripod. For each series of photos that would go into making the panoramic I turned the camera to a “portrait” orientation. Taking anywhere from five to ten photos of each building, I started composing at the street level of the building and with each subsequent photo I raised the camera lens higher, taking care to overlap each image with the prior image. Photoshop then did its job of seamlessly stitching together the series of photos of each building into one image. I love the way surrounding buildings are reflected on the buildings that have a glass exterior.

150 S 5th Street

AT&T

Capella Tower

Foshey Tower

Four Seasons

Marquette Plaza

US Bank Plaza

Well Fargo Center

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I also took time to take a photograph (below) of the beautiful chandelier that hangs from the high ceiling of the first level of the Star Tribune Building. That is a building I worked in for about 20 years when it was known as the IBM Building. To highlight the beauty of the chandelier, in processing the image I masked out the surrounding ceiling and walls so that all one sees is the chandelier.

Downtown is a short walk from the Mill District, so anyone can easily take their own tour. Be sure to stop at each building and LOOK UP!

Riders in the Sky are Coming to Dakota, September 28

America's favorite two-time Grammy Award-winning comedy cowboys, Riders In The Sky, are performing at Dakota on September 28. Ranger Doug, Too Slim, Woody Paul and Joey the Cowpolka King believe in preserving the heritage of Western music and presenting it to a new generation, and have been doing so for 40 years. Their list of accomplishments include 7,200+ appearances, 35 years on the Grand Ole Opry, 40+ records, and tours of all 50 states and all over the world.

This is what we love about Dakota - performances in every genre imaginable. And the food, drinks and service is pretty darn good, too!

September 2023 Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

Via an September 8 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis.

The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures.

Project Map

Latest Project News

Mississippi River Portal

• Crews continue to work on lining the existing storm tunnel at the Mississippi River with concrete. Excavation will resume later this fall when they can access the storm flow again.

2nd Ave

• Crews continue to work on lining the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S, just north of the Washington Ave intersection.

Portland Ave

• Crews continue to work on lining the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the existing tunnel access shaft at the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Portland Ave intersection.

Lining progress

In August, crews continued to work on the concrete tunnel lining pouring about 1,400 cubic yards of concrete. To date 8,200 cubic yards of concrete have been poured. As noted in the infographic above, this is just over two and a half times the volume of an Olympic swimming pool. This process is approximately 52.6% complete.

Long-term closures/restrictions

• The north westbound lane, bike lane, and parking lane remains closed on Washington Ave between Portland Ave and Park Ave. These closures will remain in place until the project is completed.
  • During this closure, pedestrians can still use the sidewalks along Washington Ave.
  • Crosswalks across Washington Ave and Portland Ave will remain open.
  • Bicyclists will share the traffic lane.
  • The existing left turn lane on Washington Ave at the Portland Ave intersection will temporarily become a left turn and through lane.

• Northbound lane of Portland Ave will be periodically closed between Washington Ave and 2nd Closures will happen during the workday only.
  • Closure is for the placement of concrete into the tunnel.
  • East crosswalk across Washington and north crosswalk across Portland will be closed.
  • Sidewalks will remain open to businesses and residences.

• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains restricted between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall.
  • During these restrictions, pedestrians share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remains open.

• The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S remains restricted through the end of the project. The dewatering well and pumps are installed in this area.
  • Pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the west side of 4th Ave S.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 4th Ave intersection remains open.
  • Access to driveways off 4th Ave S remains open.

• The west sidewalk of Portland Ave south of Washington Ave will remain restricted to pedestrians around the dewatering well and pumps until the project is completed.

• The parking lot and trail near Mill Runs Park has reopened.
  • During the summer, the trail will have flaggers to allow concrete trucks to pull into and out of the work site.

• 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Ave and 1st St S. Access will be restricted until the project is completed.
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

Stay Connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates.

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418

Wilderness Inquiry Announces 2023 Great River Race on the Mississippi River

The September 16 event marks the 13th anniversary of racing to close the opportunity gap for thousands of youth in the Twin Cities and beyond

Wilderness Inquiry, a nonprofit providing equitable access to the outdoors through guided trips and educational programs, has announced its annual fundraising event, the Great River Race, will take place September 16 at Hidden Falls Regional Park where more than 25 teams will race down the Mississippi River in 10-person canoes. The big race centers around closing the opportunity gap for thousands of youth across Minnesota and beyond by raising funds for Canoemobile, Wilderness Inquiry’s outdoor education program that engages youth and communities in environmental learning and water-based recreation close to where they live.

In 2023, Canoemobile will reach more than 20,000 youth in 50+ communities across the country, teaching them about science, history, geography, and culture while navigating local waterways in 10-person canoes. 

Great River Race partners include the National Park Service and Mississippi Park Connection. Past attendees include Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, who have paddled in the race. 2023 presenting sponsors are Nature Valley, Thomson Reuters, and Winnebago Industries. For a full list of sponsors and more details about the Great River Race, visit www.greatriverrace.org. 

“Our proud sponsors and strong partnerships are key to creating a successful event that champions equitable outdoor connections for all youth,” said Wilderness Inquiry’s Executive Director Erika Rivers. “The Great River Race is a day full of fun, purpose, and impact. This year, our goal is to raise $150,000 for programs that will engage more than 20,000 youth in life-changing outdoor educational and recreational opportunities.” 

Nonprofit News: World Savvy, Bridgemakers and Youthprise Awarded New Pluralists Grant

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Dana MortensonThree local non-profits were awarded a New Pluralists Healing Starts Here grant to co-create a set of youth-led, intergenerational listening sessions to understand what young people and other community leaders want to see in their schools. We spoke to Dana Mortenson, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of World Savvy to learn more about the unique collaboration, the grant and how it will be rolled out in the coming academic year.

Q:  Congratulations on the grant awarded to World Savvy, Bridgemakers and Youthprise to develop youth-led programs on civil discourse. How did the partnership of the three organizations come about? Did you jointly apply for the grant? 

A:  World Savvy, Youthprise, and Bridgemakers have a long history of collaboration and mutual support. With similar missions to empower students from all backgrounds to succeed, commitment to youth voice and leadership, and a strong belief that we are stronger when we work together, our organizations have been vocal advocates and thoughtful partners for each other. For example, we collaborated in January 2022 on an event in World Savvy’s Changemaker Series on Supporting Youth-Led Systems Change. In addition, all of our organizations are headquartered in Minnesota - a state of great prosperity and also a state that is rapidly shifting demographically and economically and has work to do in creating shared prosperity for all youth. We all have a deep interest in, and commitment to, expanding youth opportunities here locally. 

When the opportunity to seek financial support through a New Pluralists Healing Starts Here grant came about, we knew this could be a perfect fit for our organizations to work collectively. This grant at its core is about expanding “pluralism,” which New Pluralists really sees as people coming together to learn and discover breakthrough solutions to the common challenges we face. With so much division happening in conversations around education, and much of it drowning out the voices of those most impacted - our youth - we knew we wanted to submit an initiative that focused on youth facilitating this work across difference. 

We put together a collaborative team from across our three organizations in the summer of 2022, and developed the project vision and plan called Youth Reimagining Education. We were thrilled when our joint application was accepted in late 2022!

Q:  How will you recruit and train the youth leaders for the programs? 

A:  Fostering youth leadership is an expertise of each of our organizations. Bridgemakers was founded by youth, for youth—to build purpose, prosperity, and power for youth facing adversity. Youthprise has spent over ten years helping organizations across our community to build programs with and for youth and responsive to their needs. World Savvy works nationwide with districts and schools to create schools and classrooms that foster youth voice and leadership.

The facilitation of the work will be carried out by existing Bridgemakers youth leaders, with additional training and support from Youthprise and World Savvy in frameworks and facilitation practices relevant to the project.

Q:  I know these may be early days, but where and when will the programs be offered? 

A:  The Youth Reimagining Education project will host 5-8 youth-led listening sessions, with participants of all ages, across Minnesota in the fall and winter of 2023-24. Youth will then lead the consolidation and synthesis of themes, culminating in a Knowledge to Action Summit next spring, which will bring back together participants from the listening sessions into a day-long design workshop to co-create actionable solutions that can be actively advanced by Minnesota youth. 

Q:  News of your grant award is encouraging to everyone who envisions a more thoughtfully engaged population in Minnesota. I hope the grant will be renewed in future years. How will you measure the success of the programs?   

A: We hope the collaboration will result in changes at the local and state level that have a profound impact on the state of education in Minnesota, so that a great quality education that meets the needs of diverse individuals will be available to all students across the state, regardless of their address, income level, or racial or ethnic identity. However, we also have another equally important goal for the project, which is that youth and other members of the community are empowered by this process to lead inclusive dialogue and find solutions with those who may hold different beliefs in a way that yields returns for our community and democracy.

Q:  How may we follow progress and news of the program?   

A:  The best way is to follow World Savvy, Bridgemakers, and Youthprise on our social media channels - especially LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also check out World Savvy’s blog, or subscribe to our mailing lists on the World Savvy, Bridgemakers and Youthprise websites. 

Mark Your Calendars - Ward 3 and Ward 7 City Council Candidates Forums are Scheduled for September

This year all 13 City Council seats are on the ballot. Below is information on the Ward 3 and Ward 7 Candidate Forums - a chance to meet the candidates and learn about their ideas, positions, priorities, qualifications, etc. The below links include live streaming options and additional information.

Ward 3 City Council Candidates Forum Thursday, September 21, 6p-7:30p, Central Public Library

Ward 7 City Council Candidates Forum Thursday, September 28, at 6p-8p, The Woman's Club of Minneapolis

Voting for 2023 DID Greening and Public Realm Awards Opens Today

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) announced today that public voting for the 2023 Greening and Public Realm Awards is open.

The Greening and Public Realm Awards, a DID initiative since 2010, celebrates outstanding examples of greening and placemaking that improve public spaces in downtown Minneapolis. Winners will be selected by public vote at mplsdid.com/greeningawards. The public vote will be open September 5 through September 20.

Finalists were divided into eight categories based on project size and other characteristics. Among the finalists selected were 10 new nominees – a sign of continued growth in downtown greening efforts – as well as 12 past winners.

“Efforts to enhance our public greening and vibrancy are invaluable,” said Steve Cramer, Mpls Downtown Improvement District President & CEO. “Downtown is grateful for all the finalists and their efforts to improve vibrancy and greening in the city’s core.”

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

The Greening and Public Realm Awards were created to celebrate the outstanding examples of private greening and placemaking happening in downtown Minneapolis and are intended to inspire all to work towards making downtown a greener and more vibrant place.

Each category will showcase the finalists along with a photo of each location for easy viewing and identification. This year’s eight categories are: Small Green Space, Streetscape, Large Green Space, Entryway and Outdoor Café, Activated Space, Public Art, Public Realm Improvement and Best Neighborhood.

The public is not only encouraged to vote for a winner in each category, but also celebrate downtown greening year-long. Send your greening photos to @MplsDID on Facebook and/or Instagram using the hashtag #GreenAwardsMpls.

Here's a recap of the 2022 winners:

Rich Wagner Looks Back on a Successful Career at Dunwoody College of Technology

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Rich Wagner, President of Dunwoody College of Technology

Rich WagnerRich Wagner will retire this summer after 13 years at the helm of Dunwoody College of Technology. He led the college through the development and execution of strategic plans, raised $125 Million to fund scholarships and campus renovations and expansion, among many other accomplishments. Wagner started out as an electrical instructor in 1996 and rose to the position of President. We talked to him about the history of Dunwoody (a pioneering institution for technical education, founded in 1913!), innovative programs during his tenure and what’s next for him. 

Q:  During Your tenure as President of Dunwoody College of Technology there were some major unanticipated challenges – the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and the COVID-19 shutdown. How did you keep the College on track? 

A:  One of Dunwoody’s strengths is the people who work here and who believe so strongly in our mission and what we do. Staying focused on that mission during challenging times has been a crucial part of Dunwoody’s continued success – guiding our decisions during times of disruption.

I also believe in being transparent with employees, so they not only understood the challenges we were facing, but how we were addressing those challenges.

Finally, having discipline around our financials has been key to ensuring we lived within our means. As a private, non-profit institution of higher education, that has meant understanding enrollment trends and industry needs. For more than a century, Dunwoody has built a reputation as a leader in hands-on, technical education, educating students for great-paying, in-demand careers. Our graduates continue to be essential to keeping our community and economy thriving, especially during challenging times.

Dunwoody College of Technology is located at 818 Dunwoody Boulevard

Q:  You have always supported technical education for underserved, underrepresented and under-resourced student populations. Why is this important to you? 

A:  For many of our students, Dunwoody provides a pathway to a great-paying career and a secure future. If we are going to address the issues of equity in our communities, access to these pathways is an essential part of the solution. We are faced with a critical skills gap, one that if left unchecked, will prevent industries and the economy from growing. That means that we need to ensure that more people, from all backgrounds, have the option to pursue a technical degree, so we can continue to build the talent pipeline needed to keep industries and the Minnesota economy healthy. 

Q:  You started at Dunwoody as an Electrical Instructor in 1996, rising to the President of the College – congratulations! Did you always have an interest in the administrative aspects of higher education? 

A:  No, but I was always passionate about Career and Technical Education because of how it changed my life. What I saw as I took on the role of program director is I could have a bigger impact on Career and Tech Ed from an administrative side. I could work to create awareness around the pathways that a Dunwoody education provides – and to do that best I felt I would need to be outside the classroom. I love teaching, but I wanted to make this type of education available to as many people as possible.

Q:  You are instrumental in forming partnerships in the Twin Cities that further opportunities for Dunwoody students. Could you tell us more about your thinking around partnerships and how they’ve benefited students, the College, and the Twin Cities? 

A:  There is no organization that can go it alone. There is so much to be gained by reaching out and understanding all of the different partnerships available. From non-profits, to businesses, K-12 and higher education, we can do more together. Those organizations are eager to partner with us. If we capitalize on that, everyone benefits – students, agencies, and business. The industries in Minnesota and the Twin Cities have been wonderful to work with. They help inform our curriculum, they provide state-of-the-industry equipment and software for our labs, shops, and studios, and they employ our students when they graduate.

Q:  Dunwoody makes great use of social media – I love the Tik Tok channel. Are you involved in the social media messaging?

A:  Our social media presence has always been a reflection of the great things that are happening at Dunwoody. We are fortunate to have an internal team committed to sharing the Dunwoody story. 

Q:  What is Pathways to Careers?   

A:  The Pathways to Careers (P2C) Program is focused on preparing underserved and under-represented people for success at Dunwoody, immediate jobs, and great careers. The program works with community organizations and industry partners to support students through scholarships, mentoring, and academic support.

P2C works directly with community partners to create greater awareness and access to a Dunwoody education to meet the growing workforce needs of business and industry. This program is a critical part of our strategic plan as we work to interrupt disparity gaps in college retention, graduation, and job placement rates.

Q:  You’ve been instrumental in promoting Dunwoody as an educational option to women. Please tell us about Women in Technical Careers. 

A:  The Women in Technical Careers program is another essential part of our strategic plan. WITC works to raise awareness and break down barriers for more women to pursue careers typically considered non-traditional.

Similar to P2C, students enrolling in WITC receive tuition assistance, childcare support, intensive academic advising, access to internships and part-time employment; and, upon graduation, support in securing full-time work with family-supporting wages. They also benefit from a mentor program, monthly cohort meetings, field trips, and other professional development activities to promote their success in male-dominated education and work environments.

Both P2C and WITC are programs Dunwoody has implemented to address disparity gaps in our community, and we know more work needs to be done. This spring the College held a Community Summit with close to 100 representatives from industry, education, and non-profit organizations to discuss ways we as a community can tackle these issues.

Q:  Will you mentor your replacement?    

A:  Yes, and while that is up to the Board of Trustees, I plan on being available to help provide continuity in our relationships and our strategic initiatives, and to ensure the institutional memory is captured.

Q:  Congratulations on a meaningful and impactful career! What’s next for you in 2024?    

A: My wife and I are still trying to figure that out. There will certainly be some transitional work when the new President is hired, along with travel, golf, and time with grandkids - and then we’ll figure out what’s next.

September 2 at the Mill City Farmers Market

I filled our September 2nd shopping basket from the Mill City Farmers Market with the fixings for a gigantic pot of soup.

Chef Jenny Breen worked on a demo using a rainbow of produce.

Cine Latino Returns to The Main Cinema October 11-15

MSP Film Society celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with the 11th Annual Cine Latino Film Festival at The Main Cinema from October 11 – 15. As the upper Midwest’s largest celebration of the best new Latin American and Ibero Cinema, Cine Latino once again pays homage to the diversity and greatness of the inhabitants of this vast region, to the immensity and beauty of its geography, and fundamentally, to the richness and magic of its culture.

This year’s Cine Latino features five days of new award-winning films from Sundance, Berlin, Malag, a classic from master filmmaker Luis Buñuel, filmmaker conversations, and nightly parties at Pracna to engage the Twin Cities’ growing Spanish-speaking populations and vast community of global cinephiles.

Cine Latino kicks off Wednesday, October 11 with RADICAL, Christopher Zalla’s 2023 Sundance award-winning film about a teacher who takes radical steps to engage his underperforming students in new and creative ways.

Cine Latino’s Closing Film on Sunday, October 15 is the 2023 Berlinale and Malaga Film Festival award-winning film 20,000 SPECIES OF BEES, a delicate family drama centered around an 8 year old who ponders her gender identity and everything else while tending to her grandmother’s beehives.

All-Access Passes are on sale now for $75 – or just $50 for MSP Film Society Members! Tickets to individual screenings are $8 for MSP Film Society Members/$12 General Public/$6 for Students – or purchase a 4 Pack for just $24 for Members / $36 for General Public.

* * * * Pre-Festival Events! * * * * 

The Main Cinema and Mia are both getting an early jump on the festivities with these screenings in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month with ¡CINE LATINO APERITIVO! SCREENINGS:

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CASSANDRO - Opens September 15 at The Main Cinema

Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal), a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life. Based on a true story.

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CARLOS: THE SANTANA JOURNEY - GLOBAL PREMIERE!

Carlos Santana                                                Photo courtesy of MSP Film Society

Special Event Screenings September 23, 24 & 27 

A music industry legend for 50 years and a 10-time Grammy-winning global sensation, Carlos Santana continues to be one of the music world’s premiere artists, blending jazz, blues, and the Mariachi sound with a rock n’ roll spirituality and a sense of connection to music’s primal connection to our deepest emotions. Celebrate the life of one of music’s greatest icons in this special premiere event. Includes exclusive intro content with director Rudy Valdez and Carlos Santana.

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¡HOLA CINE! - October 8 | FREE at Mia!

A family-friendly collection of Spanish-language short films screening for free all day at Mia. Curated annually by the New York International Children’s Film Festival, ¡HOLA CINE! delivers the best Latinx short films from around the world, transporting audiences to the chilly mountains of Argentina and reminding them of the power of family, perseverance, and believing in magic. 

Red Lake Nation College Opens New Educational Site in Downtown Minneapolis

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Have you seen the new campus of the Red Lake Nation College at 900 S 3rd Street? We were curious about the opening date for the college, curriculum offered and if tours would be available. Kayla Duane, Communications Director, had the answers for us. "Boozhoo!" to our new neighbors!

Kayla DuaneQ:  Please tell us the history of Red Lake Nation College and the new location in downtown Minneapolis.

A:  Red Lake Nation College (RLNC) is a two-year tribal college located on the beautiful shores of Red Lake in Northern Minnesota. Its state-of-the-art facilities, combined with Ojibwe language and culture, and globally-relevant courses, offer a unique combination of Native innovation and tradition that prepares students of all backgrounds for the twenty-first century job market. RLNC is accredited with the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2021, RLNC took the step of securing a location in downtown Minneapolis for its distance education site, dedicated to serving the large and growing Indigenous population in the Twin Cities metro area. 

Q:  What courses of study and degrees will the college offer at the Minneapolis site?

A:  Our Minneapolis site offers an Associate of Liberal Arts degree, a two-year degree designed intentionally as an exploration of, and exposure to, many disciplines in order to develop a wide breadth of understanding of liberal education and to prepare for transfer to a four-year institution. This Degree Program is infused with culturally-relevant material with the intent of exposing students to the Ojibwe language and allowing them the opportunity to understand Anishinaabe values and how these values can provide a foundation for lifelong learning and community involvement. The credits earned at RLNC are designed to transfer for continuing education in a baccalaureate program.

Artist rendering of the aerial view of the building site

Q:  How do you incorporate Ojibwe culture into your curriculum?

A:  Red Lake Nation College utilizes the most effective learning methods available depending on the subject area and instructional activity. We develop course offerings that are grounded in Anishinaabe values and culture, and specifically use the seven Ojibwe Grandfather Teachings of Humility, Bravery, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth, Respect and Love to form the basis of our learning outcomes. All course offerings evolve from this cultural basis.

Q:  How will you pursue students to enroll in the new location? Do you have plans to do outreach to the local Native and non-Native communities?

A:  Red Lake Nation College looks to where students are. For example, we pursue students to enroll at our Minneapolis site by having a presence at a number of different events across the Twin Cities Metro, and are currently offering different modalities of learning. RLNC currently offers in-person classes, Hy-Flex classes and asynchronous classes to cater to different learning styles. Our typical students demand flexibility in their learning to accommodate busy lives, so we strive to provide opportunities that meet those needs to help our students achieve their educational goals and provide them with a great first start on their education journey.

Q:  May we tour the facility?

A:  Currently our educational space is under renovation. We anticipate opening our space to all guests for tours in February 2024 when we plan on having our grand opening. However, we are currently leasing a building at 1001 S Washington Avenue. If you would like a tour, you can reach out to Rachel King (rachel.king@rlnc.edu) who is the Director of Student Success at our Minneapolis Office.

Q:  How may we stay up to date with the college's plans and events?

A:  You can stay up to date with the college’s plans and events by visiting our website and on our Facebook page, where we upload all of our upcoming events. 

Green Minneapolis' Peavey Plaza Last Splash Fundraising Event, September 21

Celebrate Summer's Last Splash at Peavey Plaza!

You’re invited to celebrate the success of Summer at Peavey Plaza, co-hosted by Bond & Devick Wealth Partners. Enjoy food and drinks while watching artist in residence Phil Thompson and his band perform their acclaimed Billy Joel and Elton John Tribute Concert! Green Minneapolis will highlight the amazing music, dance and theater events that took place on the plaza this summer and share updates on the work they are doing to keep our community green and vibrant.

Thursday, September 21, 5:00-7:30PM, Target Atrium at Orchestra Hall

Please RSVP by September 14

If you aren't able to attend, but would like to support free future Peavey Plaza Programming, please consider a donation to Green Minneapolis here: Donate Now!

Waxing Crescent Moon Over Downtown East by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

Not yet the full Super Moon, but close to it - a Waxing Crescent Moon photograph taken on the evening of August 28th, two days before the Full Super Blue Moon. A moon is named a Blue Moon when there are two full moons in one month.

Last night when the moon was low in the horizon clouds covered it up, but I waited to see if the sky would clear. Eventually it did rise above the cloud layer. Setting the shutter speed to 1/200 of a second to keep the moon sharp (it’s always moving) meant the foreground and sky were dark. I took another photograph of the scene exposed for the foreground. This photograph then is a blend of two images, one a proper exposure for the moon and another a proper exposure for the foreground. I’ll be back out again tonight for my final tune up before the hopefully clear skies on August 30th for the Super Blue Moon. On August 30th there is only 12 minutes between the sun setting and the moon rising. I might be able to get good detail in the moon and a proper exposure of the foreground with one shot if there are no clouds at the horizon. The sky will still be light enough to set the shutter speed at 1/200 of a second while at the same time setting the exposure so the foreground is revealed. If there is a layer of clouds at the horizon or fire dust low in the sky, it will again require a blend.

You can see more of my work at ricrosowphotography.com.

Groundbreaking Event for Graco Park Rescheduled to Tuesday, August 29, 1 pm

A groundbreaking event for Graco Park is scheduled Tuesday, August 29, 1-2 pm. This event was originally scheduled August 14, but was postponed due to rain. MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura, MPRB President Meg Forney, MPRB District 1 Commissioner Billy Menz, Graco President and CEO Mark Sheahan, District 6 Met Council Member Robert Lilligren, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Executive Director Kevin Reich are scheduled to speak. 

Graco Park is a new 9-acre riverfront park in Northeast Minneapolis, across from Hall's Island and just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge. It is expected to initially open in fall 2024, with a new park building and trail underpass connection to Boom Island Park expected to open in fall 2025. Park features will include:

• A multiuse net-zero energy building with public restrooms, community space and a Spark’d Studios location.
• Native habitat restoration and stormwater management features, including a geothermal snowmelt system.
• A trail under the Plymouth Avenue Bridge that connects to Boom Island Park.
• The Mississippi East Bank Trail realigned through the park and safety upgrades at the intersection of Plymouth/8th Avenue NE and Sibley Street NE.
• Gathering spaces, walkways and river access.

A series of agreements reached in 2018 between the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Graco Inc., which is headquartered next to the park, led to the creation of Graco Park. Grants from the Metropolitan Council and Mississippi Watershed Management Organization also helped fund park construction.

Explore Minneapolis Ecology Via New Online Mapping Tool

A screenshot showing map layers for all parkland and stormwater pipe watersheds

Ecological System Plan online mapping tool illustrates relationship between park system and water, air, land, and life in Minneapolis

A new interactive mapping tool is available to explore maps included in the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Ecological System Plan. This customizable online resource can display more than 60 layers of information across four main topics: water, air, land, and life. 

People are encouraged to explore the map layers to learn about how Minneapolis' park system, public infrastructure and ecology interact!

Ecological System Plan Mapping Tool

About the Ecological System Plan

The Ecological System Plan was adopted in fall 2020. It outlines how and where to address environmental consideration in the work the MPRB does on its own and in partnership with other organizations. This plan is the first of its kind and one of many referenced and used in the development of park plans and implementation of park projects.

Creating this tool completes Goal M, Strategy 46 in the Ecological System Plan. Review the Recommendations and Next Steps chapter linked below, along with the rest of the plan, for more information about plan goals, strategies and recommendations.

Ecological System Plan

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Water
Chapter 3: Air
Chapter 4: Land
Chapter 5: Life
Chapter 6: Recommendations and Next Steps
Appendix: Maps 

X-Men Immersive X-Fandom Convention Coming to Minneapolis September 16 & 17

2-Day Immersive X-Fandom Convention - Enroll in the Xavier Institute Now!

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September 16 & 17, 2023

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The Uncanny Experience has revealed their programming of panels and classes for this inaugural event.  Highlights include an appearance by X-Men film actor Daniel Cudmore who famously portrayed the character Colossus in X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men: Days of Future Past. Previously announced guests such as Chris Claremont, the cast and creatives of X-Men: The Animated Series, Nathan Szerdy and more will give talks on their work in the X-Men Universe.

The event takes place at the Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Avenue S.

X-Men film actor Daniel Cudmore will appear at this inaugural event.

During the immersive classes, attendees can mold themselves into mutant students of Xavier Institute.  Classes include Intergalactic Social Studies of the Shi’ar Empire, Getting Hellfire Gala Ready, A History of X-Villainy, Mindful Meditation with Psylocke, Professor Logan’s Phys-Ed, and Mutant History 101 with Professor Claremont. See the official website for the full program

Stay up to date on news from The Uncanny Experience on their social media platforms: Instagram, Twitter, Discord, Facebook

Giant-Size Productions, LLC is a curated events company that creates unique in-person and virtual events that connect fandoms to the creative talent that make geek culture content. The company was founded in 2021 by Chandler Poling, Dylan Carter, and Chris Riley.

The Uncanny Experience and Giant-Size Productions are not endorsed, sanctioned, or in any way associated with Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios, or The Walt Disney Company. The X-Men characters, names, and related likenesses are trademarks and copyright of Marvel Entertainment.

Theatre in the Round Players Open 72nd Season with Arsenic & Old Lace on September 8

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) opens its 72nd season with the dark comedy classic, Arsenic & Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, running weekends September 8 to October 1, with a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on September 18.  

Every family has secrets, and the eccentric Brewster family is no exception. However, when Mortimer Brewster discovers his two sweet aunt’s macabre hobby of poisoning lonely old men, having skeletons in the closet takes on a whole new meaning. The mad-cap romp begins as Mortimer fights to keep his new-found knowledge from the police (and his fiancée)!  With witty dialogue and unforgettable characters, this hilariously twisted play will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

George M. Roesler directs the thirteen-member cast with sets designed by Lee Christensen, costumes by Rebecca Karstad, lighting by Mark Kieffer, props by Roxanne Miller, music composed by Donald Sweet, and sound by Robert Hoffman.

Arsenic & Old Lace runs September 8-October 1. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm. A post-show discussion with the cast and director will be held immediately following the performance on Sunday, September 24.

Tickets are $25. For information, call the theatre’s box office at 612-333-3010 or visit the website.

Small Business Spotlight: Jayded AF, a New Line of Ready-to-Serve Gin Martinis

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos providedAlexa Jayde Fitzpatrick

A Discussion with Alexa Jayde Fitzpatrick, CEO

August is Black Business Month, and before the month slips away, we wanted to highlight a local black female entrepreneur. Meet Alexa Jayde Fitzpatrick, the imaginative creator and CEO behind Jayded AF ready-to-serve gin martinis. The name Jayded AF came from Alexa’s middle name, Jayde; and the AF stands for Alexa Fitzpatrick. We talked to Alexa about the inspiration for her line of ready to serve, delicious and high-quality cocktails and where to find them.  

Q:  What was the inspiration that led you to create Jayded AF Cocktails?

A:  Anyone who knows me knows I am a Lemon Drop girl. No matter the entree: chicken, steak, fish, or tacos, I am having a lemon drop martini! I was at home one evening and my significant other asked me if I wanted something from the liquor store that he was on his way to. At that moment I realized it would be great to have a sophisticated cocktail from an upscale bar, in the comfort of home. Unfortunately, that did not exist. Nothing ready-to-drink on the shelf met the standards that the art of this cocktail demands (to my knowledge). I didn't have the skill to create one from scratch either. From that, a spark was lit, and I immediately felt that I had to rectify the situation and create a product not just for myself but others.

Q:  Your brand seeks to permanently reconfigure liquor sales. Talk to us about this very unique niche you’ve discovered.

A:  Honestly, I know there are numerous ready-to-drink options out there. However, I never felt personally marketed to. Trends come and go, be it ciders or the current craze of seltzers. Besides wine, I just have not seen a premium, cost-effective, effortless, and flavorful option that simply hits on all cylinders. I find that discovery is made more difficult by the bombardment of different variations of the same thing. I thought, rather than attempt to recreate the wheel, why not focus on a new spin of an old classic? Martinis are a staple - elegant and satisfying. The obvious limitation is access and know-how. I chose to solve it.

Q:  Was Jayded AF part of a local business incubator program?

A:  I launched 3 months ago and went full tilt with marketing. I created social media handles, promo videos on YouTube and Instagram, as well as displays on multiple buses and digital screens in Minneapolis. We have been picked up by a few magazines and have had segments on a couple of shows. If you have heard of us, I am truly glad our efforts are paying off. 

To answer your question, however, no. We are not part of an incubator program. This is simply my brainchild, two years in the making with the dividends of sweat equity hopefully paying off.

Lemon Drop

Laxly Cucumber

Q:  What products do you offer? Where will we find your products?

A:  A line of sinfully edgy, incredibly chic, and effortlessly cool ready-to-serve, gin-based martinis in 3 flavors and 2 sizes. Our flavors are Lemon Drop, Lavender, and Laxly Cucumber. 

We are at a handful of independents including: 

• Underground Leaf and Vine in the North Loop
• Zipps Liquor in the Seward neighborhood
• Central Avenue Liquors in NE and Princeton’s Liquor in Maple Grove
• We are also in the Maple Grove and Minnetonka Total Wine locations, and coming to all Kowalski’s Wine Shop locations.

We are working diligently to get to a location near you and have a big desire and initiative underway for consumers to find us at your local concert venues such as the Armory and First Avenue. Another goal is to enjoy the martinis while you attend your next sporting event. (Yes, we have an eager eye on our beautiful local stadiums.) So, fingers crossed!

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Check out our website jaydedaf.com. There you can enter your zip code in our interactive map to see the locations where we currently are on shelves and keep up to date as we add more. You can also find us on social media! Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.