Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
MCFM vendors set up shop at the MN Landscape Arboretum yesterday, introducing a whole new crowd of shoppers to the products we regularly enjoy at the Market in our neighborhood.
Hi Martha! :)
;)
Via a March 8 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:
West River Parkway Closure - March 16
A segment of West River Parkway from Plymouth Avenue to just south of the Stone Arch Bridge will be temporarily closed Saturday, March 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Get Lucky 7K. Sections of Main Street and 2nd Street South will also be temporarily closed for this event. Please note that the duration of the closures are subject to change based on the event's start and finish times.
Via The City of Minneapolis website:
The City of Minneapolis Art in Public Places program announced a unique opportunity for local artists to submit designs for utility box wraps.
From Minneapolis to California to New Zealand, artists and neighborhoods have been painting and wrapping utility boxes in an effort to reduce graffiti and beautify their communities. In recent years these projects have been piloted locally in downtown, in the Kingfield and Corcoran neighborhoods and along the American Indian Cultural Corridor.
The process for undertaking this type of project can be time consuming for neighborhoods--both for organizing the artist designs, and also for obtaining the necessary approvals. Minneapolis Art Wraps is an effort to assist interested groups in developing these projects, with the goal of creating a vibrant city-wide gallery that celebrates the range and talent of creative artists living and working here. A total of twelve artists’ designs will be selected by the City for participating neighborhoods to choose from.
The City has released a Call for Artists that details the process for applying. The call is open to professional artists who live or work in Minneapolis in any media that can be translated into a digital image and wrapped onto a utility box. This includes painting, photography, collage, mosaic quilt making, etc. Selected artists will be paid an honorarium of $1,000. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 17, at 4 p.m. There will be an informational meeting for interested artists on Tuesday, March 26, 5:30 p.m. at Reverend Martin Luther King Park, 4055 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis.
Neighborhood and non-profit organizations who are interested in developing their own artistic utility box projects, can apply for permission to place their designs on City-owned utility boxes.
For more information visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/dca/index.htm or contact Mary Altman at mary.altman@minneapolismn.gov.
Moms On The Run Minneapolis is a new fitness option coming to the downtown riverfront, with one hour classes scheduled for April 24 - August 21.
Owner/Certified Run Instructor, Colleen Brooks, filled us in in the details. The new Moms On The Run Minneapolis location will be based downtown near the Mill District. Moms On The Run is a coached women’s running program with a motto of Fitness, Friendship, and Fun. Don't let the name fool you - you don’t have to be a mom to join.
Per Colleen, "This program is for all fitness levels. For many women in our program, this will be their first attempt at running; while others will be getting back into it after a long hiatus. Our intermediate group will focus on increased speed and endurance. Best of all, we will be meeting twice a week on Mondays and Wednesday at 6:00 PM to run along the beautiful Mississippi River.
What sets aside this program from other fitness options is the friendship and accountability component. It’s an excellent way to make new friends or something you can do with your existing friends. We have a lot of fun."
Moms On The Run Minneapolis is offering a $20 off registration special for Mill City Times readers - enter promo code 20millcity when registering.
Click here more information. You can reach Colleen at 612-850-5799, email her at Minneapolis@MomsOnTheRun.com.
Minnesota’s own shamrock-stamped beer company, FINNEGANS, gives 100% of its profits to hunger relief charities.
A little Irish luck goes a long way, but sometimes it needs a little push. Add entrepreneurial vision, hard work, delicious beer and a great cause, and you’ve got what Jacquie Berglund, co-founder and CEO of FINNEGANS, likes to call an “earned halo”.
Through the sale of its Irish Amber and Blonde Ales, FINNEGANS gives its profits to local food charities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and now Florida. Beyond just donating food, FINNEGANS partners with local farmers so that those in need have access to fresh produce.
For St. Patrick’s Day 2013, FINNEGANS will be spreading Irish cheer throughout the Midwest with race events and “Earn Your Halo” pub crawls leading up to Sunday, March 17. This year, you can even create your own pub crawl in a location near you.
Signing up for a pub crawl includes an exclusive FINNEGANS St. Paddy’s T-shirt, an automatic $5 donation to the FINNEGANS Community Fund directed towards your local food shelf, a literal halo accessory to accompany your invisible one, a complimentary pint and appetizers to share at one of the stops. More information.
Enjoy FINNEGANS at neighborhood spots such as The Depot, Aloft Hotel and Grumpy's - or pick some up at Sorella Wine & Spirits.
In addition to filling our shoppting basket, at the March 9 Winter Market we met Monica and Dan Irwin of Budding Farmers. Look for a posting about Budding Farmers on our Farmers Market blog in the near future.
I wish you could smell this lavender - so soothing! Fred and Laurie Golchin of French Nugget grow hundreds of lavender plants for these sachets, as well as their Almond Heaven Lavender bars.
Excerpt from a March 8 Metropolitan Council e-newsletter:
This is the first construction update for 2013. The construction update will focus on the entire alignment and will be sent out as needed. Construction continues to occur throughout the entire alignment, including installing traction power substations, overhead power system, communication systems and train control system. As the systems installation continues, there may be intermittent lane closures; watch for signage.
Click here for the recap of 2012 construction and look ahead for what to expect in 2013.
Construction Highlights for March:
- Westbound Washington Avenue closed under Cedar Avenue on Monday, March 18 from 11:00 pm to Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00 pm (see page 2 for more details). NEW
- Overnight closures of portions of Washington Avenue and Huron Boulevard will occur on Sunday, March 17 from 11:00 pm to Monday, March 18 at 5:00 am and on Monday, March 18 from 11:00 pm to Tuesday, March 19 at 5:00 am (see page 3 for more details). NEW
Westbound Washington Avenue Closure under Cedar Avenue Bridge
Monday, March 18 at 11:00 pm - Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 pm
Minneapolis - West Bank
Traffic Details
- Westbound Washington Avenue closed under Cedar Avenue from Monday, March 18 at 11:00 pm to Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00 pm. NEW
- Westbound traffic from East Bank to downtown Minneapolis detour via right on northeast Cedar Avenue Ramp and through to the northwest Cedar Avenue Ramp. NEW
Sidewalk and Crosswalk Details: No closures/detours.
Bus Details: No changes to bus stops.
Overnight Closures of Washington Avenue and Huron Boulevard:
- Sunday, March 17, 11:00pm to Monday, March 18, 5:00am
- Monday, March 18, 11:00pm to Monday, March 19, 5:00am
Minneapolis - Stadium Village
Traffic and Bicycle Details:
- Work to install overhead wires for the operation of light rail will occur overnight on Sunday, March 17 from 11:00 pm to Monday, March 18 at 5:00 am and on Monday, March 18 from 11:00 pm to Tuesday, March 19 at 5:00 am. NEW
- Huron Boulevard closed from University Avenue to just south of Washington; all traffic detour via Delaware Street and 25th Avenue. NEW
- Eastbound Washington Avenue closed from Oak Street to University Avenue; intersections of Oak Street and Ontario Street will remain open to north/south traffic throughout this work. NEW
- Westbound traffic on Washington Avenue will remain open throughout this work. NEW
- These night closures will minimize access to businesses, as closures are being scheduled to occur outside of business hours. NEW
Sidewalk and Crosswalk Details: No sidewalk or crosswalk closures required for this work.
Bus Details: No changes to bus stops.
Questions, Comments, or Concerns?
Call the 24 hour Construction Hotline so we know there is an issue! (651) 602-1404
Learn more about the project on the Central Corridor LRT Project Website.
Join us this Saturday for our next Indoor Winter Farmers Market celebrating a surprising abundance of local and seasonal produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and cheeses, and more!
From 10 am to 1 pm, shop from nearly 40 vendors for everything from spinach, tomatoes, beets, and cabbage, to artisan chocolates and local honey, maple syrup, hand-milled flour, locally harvested wild rice, specialty cheeses, baked goods, kimchi, preserves, and hand-made artisan ceramics, kitchen utensils, and jewelry.
See you at the Market - don't forget your grocery list!
Here's what The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul has playing at (and coming soon to) the St. Anthony Main Theatre.
Opening this Friday is the haunting Gothic-drama, The Monk, starring Vincent Cassel! Thursday is the third installment in the ongoing Cuban Film Festival. Plus, the Oscar winning doc Searching For Sugar Man will receive a special extended run through Thursday, March 14. And make sure you check out upcoming films in the month of March: the inspirational documentary Girl Rising, Kenya's first ever Oscar submission, Nairobi Half Life, and the Oscar nominated War Witch!
Opening Friday, March 8: The Monk. A supernatural thriller adapted from Matthew G. Lewis' 1796 gothic novel, The Monk traces the corruption of Brother Ambrosio (Vincent Cassel), a 16th Century, pious Capuchin Monk. Ambrosio is feared for his righteousness and believes he is immune from temptation - until the arrival of a mysterious apprentice undermines his convictions and leads him down a dangerous path of sin, corruption and murder...more info here
Now thru Thursday, March 14: Searching for Sugar Man. 2013 Academy Award® Winner for Best Documentary Feature! In the early 1970s, A&M released two albums by a singer-songwriter known only as Rodriquez, who dropped out of sight and was rumored to have died after the records failed to sell. When two of his most ardent fans decided to track down the truth behind his disappearance from the music scene, they discover a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths... more info here
Thursday, February 28, 7:00 pm: Irremediablemente Juntos (Hopelessly Together).From the director of El Beny, comes a musical drama, based on the theatrical piece Pogolotti-Miramar, by Alexis Vázquez. In it, Sánchez presents a frank take on race, class divisions and corruption.... more info here
6-7:15 p.m.
Enjoy a beer and a bratwurst, delicious side salads and dessert at the wxyz bar at aloft Minneapolis, located at 900 Washington Street South.
7:30 p.m.
Head to the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage to see Propeller's Twelfth Night (performed March 12) or The Taming of the Shrew (performed March 26).
Tickets: $40
*Offer not available with other offers or on previously purchased tickets. There is a $5 handling fee per order. Soda, wine or rail drinks may be substituted for beer. Veggie options will be available. No other food substitutions.
Visit the Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew show pages to learn more about these productions.
As part of a national search, 300 women recently converged at Blast Blow Dry Bar's ALoft location for Round 1 auditions in the Love and Life Architects’ Worldwide Billionaire Bachelor Search.
Below, Kailen Rosenberg of Love and Life Architects, Dez from KS95, and Kristen Neafus of Blast Blow Dry Bar conduct an interview.
The Bachelor is described as "32 years old, an extreme sports enthusiast who loves the ocean and the mountains, a world traveler, a trained culinary hobby chef and a philanthropist from one of the most prominent and respected families in the world."
This event was co-sponsored by KS95, who raised $10K for their KS95 For Kids fund, helping children in this community who are living with cancer or a complex disability.
During the Round 2 auditions, scheduled for March 6 at Blast's West End location, 50 women chosen from Round 1 will compete for 5 Finalist spots. Then, on March 9, the finalists will meet at Love and Life Architects Wayzata. Finalists selected to meet the Bachelor will receive complimentary blowouts and makeup touch ups from Blast Blow Dry Bar.
Via a March 4 Minnesota Center for Book Arts e-newsletter:
MCBA is hiring a full-time Membership and Giving Manager who will be responsible for MCBA's membership and development programs. The position includes managing membership benefits, levels, events and programs to increase member participation and enhance membership experiences, among other responsibilities.
Do you know the perfect person for this position? Send them our way! Read the full description, skills/experience requirements and salary/benefits on our Employment Opportunities page. The deadline to apply is March 29, 2013.
Via a March 1 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:
Park Board Hosts Seasonal Job Fairs in March
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will host job application fairs on March 6 at the Minneapolis Urban League and March 13 at Phillips Community Center for seasonal positions as Park Maintenance Workers and Mobile Equipment Operators.
Anyone interested in learning about and applying for these positions is invited to attend a job fair on March 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Minneapolis Urban League (2000 Plymouth Ave. N) or March 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Phillips Community Center (2323 11th Ave. S). Candidates who meet the required qualifications will be invited for interviews.
The McKnight Foundation invites nominations for the 2013 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. Click here to submit your nomination.
Each year The McKnight Foundation recognizes up to six Minnesotans who have demonstrated an exceptional personal commitment to helping others in their communities but who have received little or no public recognition.
In alignment with McKnight's mission, the Foundation seeks individuals who attend, unite, and empower others in communities throughout Minnesota. Here, we define individuals who "attend" as those who serve people or organizations directly; who "unite" as those who bring people together around a shared goal; and who "empower" as those who enable people to help themselves and others.
Each awardee receives $10,000 and is honored at a ceremony in late summer.
The awards, which were first presented in 1985, are named for Virginia McKnight Binger, the Foundation's first board chair and the daughter of the founders. Although she passed away in December 2002, these awards help us remember Virginia's enduring spirit of compassion, humility, and generosity.
Last year’s recipients include community activists, youth mentors, healers, and advocates for the immigrant population.
ELIGIBILITY
The Foundation invites nominations recognizing anyone directly involved in providing human services, especially those working to make their communities more responsive to the needs of poor or disadvantaged people in Minnesota.
REVIEW PROCESS
A committee, composed of human service professionals and volunteers from throughout Minnesota, reviews nominations, checks references, and recommends candidates to the Foundation's Board of Directors. Award recipients are notified in June and honored in August.
You may submit your nomination online at any time for the 2013 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. Please call 612-333-4220 if you have any questions.From a recent StarTrib article by Tim Harlow:
The contractor that retrofitted the iconic Washington Avenue Bridge to accomodate light rail trains has won an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota.
AECOM, the international engineering and design firm selected by the Metropolitan Counci for the job, earned a 2013 Engineerint Excellence Grand Award for the $21 million makeover of the double decker bridge that spans the Mississippi River on the University of Minnesota.
The firm shared the award with the Met Council, according to a news release updating progress on the construction of the Central Corridor Light Rail Line. Known as the Green Line, trains will cross the bridge when the line between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul opens in mid-2014.
Construction is 89 percent, according to a Met Council spokeswoman.
The retrofitted bridge includes two tracks in the center of the lower level of the bridge along with one traffic lane in each direction. The upper level is still open to pedestrians.
Preserving the existing 1,131-foot bridge, which was built in 1965, saved an estimated $80 to $100 from the Green Line's cost since a new bridge did not have to be built. It also kept construction on schedule since complete bridge replacement could have taken up to 2 years.
Photo credit: Metropolitan Council
On February 21, the Fourth Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival opens at Saint Anthony Main Theatre in Minneapolis. Presented by the Minnesota Cuban Committee in partnership with The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, the festival includes a mix of new feature films and documentaries, along with two vintage classics. The films will all be accompanied by short features from Cuba's International Film School and other sources.
Shop for Jams, Pickles, Artisan Cheeses, Natural Soaps & More!
Chanhassen, MN (March 16th, 2013) - On Saturday, March 16, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will host the Mill City Farmers Market and its popular vendors in a bustling marketplace full of quality, locally produced, home grown products. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors can purchase everything from pickles to freshly milled grains and flours to honey and artisan cheeses.
Here's a glimpse at participating vendors for the March 16 event: Ames Farm (honey, beeswax candles), Bliss Granola, Cafe Palmira (coffee beans), French Nugget (chocolate nougat), Gorkha Palace (chutneys), Natura Farms (hydroponic tomatoes), Kiss My Cabbage (sauerkraut, kimchi), Lucille's Kitchen Garden (jams), Jeanne Beatrice (handmade baskets), Martha's Joy (pickled vegetables), Olsen Naturals (natural body care), Spring Finn and Co (leather handbags and handmade jewelry), Singing Hills Goat Dairy (goat cheese) and Sunrise Flour Mill (freshly milled whole grains and flours). A full list of participating vendors can be found at http://millcityfarmersmarket.org/events/03162013-winter-market-at-the-arboretum/.
Founded in 2006 by local acclaimed chef and restaurateur Brenda Langton, the Mill City Farmers Market has earned a reputation for its promotion and support of local, sustainable and organic agriculture. Typically located next to the Guthrie Theater and Langton's Spoonriver restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, the market is making its second annual appearance at the Arboretum! As a special treat at the March 16 event, Langton will make a guest appearance to greet attendees and sign copies of her popular Spoonriver Cookbook at the Arboretum. Mill City Farmers Markets own chef, Heather Hartman, will also be on-site doing a cooking demonstration and sampling a delicious wild rice salad. Need another reason to visit the Arboretum on March 16?
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest, is part of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences & located 9 miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen. The Arboretum is disability accessible and smoke free. Admission: $12 adults; free for members & ages 12 and under.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recently announced the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the Academy’s new headquarters at 201 Chicago Avenue with the coveted Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Click here for the Press Release.
Marcy Twete, Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network, notified us about this upcoming networking and health & fitness event.
Per Marcy, "We empower women to excel in their careers through information, resources, and networking. We've launched a nationwide event series in 2013 and our first event in Minneapolis is on February 28th. It's a "Sweatworking" event – we're combining the incredible power of a workout class with the professional connection of a networking event giving busy and ambitious women a change to get fit and enhance their careers at the same time."
Their first event is at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 28, at Ivy Fitness Club in the Ivy Hotel. The event is sponsored by LUNA and benefits local Minneapolis nonprofit organization Girls on the Run.
More information can be found at http://www.sweatnetworking.com/.
From a February 15 Hennepin County Sheriff's Office e-newsletter:
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is releasing statistics that provide an estimate of the county’s violent crime in 2012. The statistics show that violent crime has decreased countywide by 37% from 2006 to 2012.
2012 had one of the lowest levels of violent crime countywide in more than two decades.
Violent crime is defined as: murder and manslaughter--non negligent, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The definition is from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Year-to-date, from 2011-2012, there was an estimated 3% increase in violent crime countywide. Despite the slight increase year-to-date, last year’s overall violent crime numbers are historically low.
Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek credits several areas of law enforcement with contributing to the effective fight against violent crime: the expansion of partnerships among law enforcement agencies, enhanced criminal information sharing and analysis, and improved use of technology by law enforcement.
Sheriff Stanek encourages residents to help law enforcement in the continued effort to fight crime. If you see suspicious activity, call 911. Or, if you prefer to send an anonymous tip, text HCSOtip to 847 411.
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 3:57PM