Today at the Mill City Farmers Market

It's Backyard Farmyard Day at the Mill City Farmers Market:

The Depot Introduces New Friday Burger Bar

Introducing: the Friday Burger Bar all summer long on the patio

11am - 2pm / $9.95 for the burger of your choice, one side (fries, chips or onion rings) and a scoop of Häagen Dazs ice cream!

Choose your burger - Beef, chicken, turkey or veggie, then select one of the options below or create your own!

BURGER OPTIONS
Muffaletta Burger: Ham, salami, mortadella, provolone and olive relish

Italian Burger: Prosciutto, pepperoni, capicola, mozzarella and marinara

The Bacon Buster: Sausage wrapped in bacon and onions with cheddar cheese

The South Westerner: Pico de Gallo, pepper jack, chipotle mayo and butter lettuce

Big Fat Greek Burger: Cucumber, red onion, avacado, feta and yogurt

The Cheese Head: Swiss, cheddar and American

Tonight - Riverfront Revealed! at Stone Arch Roof Deck

Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Location: Stone Arch Lofts, 600 2nd Street South (Reservation Required, Exclusively for Riverfront Residents)

Get the scoop on what's happening today, what's coming up, share with your neighbors, and enjoy an unprecedented evening out on the beautiful Stone Arch Lofts Deck!  This is your chance to speak one-on-one with our local riverfront vision leaders.

RSVP to info@minneapolisriverfrontpartnership.org

Refreshments provided by the Cynthia Froid Group.

Tonight - Twin Cities River Rats First Show of 2012 Season

The 2012 Twin Cities River Rats season kicks off Thursday, May 31.  Shows are scheduled for 7pm Thursday nights through August 30, and take place at 1628 West River Road (between the Plymouth and Broadway).

The Twin Cities Rivers Rats describe their show as an aquatic Broadway musical featuring multiple water ski acts choreographed to music and built around a theme.

If you haven't already enjoyed a River Rats show, their website is loaded with fun videos to give you an idea of what to expect.  These are free events.

Summer Camps at MacPhail Center for Music Begin June 11

Join MacPhail Center for Music this summer at one of the many camps being offered for ages 3 – adult.  It’s not too late to sign up for the following camps:

 • Early Childhood Music Camps: Animals on Parade for ages 4-6, June 11-15;  Music Around the World (Minneapolis and Apple Valley) for ages kindergarten – first grade, June 11-15, Apple Valley and June 18-22, Minneapolis; Make and Play Those Instruments (NEW) for ages 4-6, June 18-21, Silverwood Park, June 25-28, Apple Valley and July 16-19, White Bear Lake. 

• Mallet Keyboard Camp for ages 14-18, June 18-22

• Percussion Camp for ages 11-14, July 9-13

• Composing for Video Games for ages 13-18, June 25-20

For more information or to register go to: http://www.macphail.org/ or call 612-321-0100.

Starting Friday, June 1: The Plaza on Nicollet

Starting this Friday, June 1, The Musicant Group brings us another way to enjoy downtown life: The Plaza on Nicollet.

Tonight - What's Up with Downtown Parks? At the Central Library

Topics will include the Water Works / Fuji Ya project, Gateway Park, and even touch on Gold Medal Park.

Tonight - Music in the Park at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (East Bank of the Stone Arch Bridge)

Tonights entertainment:  Tim Casey & the Martyrs - Rock'n roll/power pop hitmakers

What to bring:  Blanket or chair, sunblock and bugspray, picnic basket. 

Reminders:    Watch our facebook or twitter page for weather cancellations of the evening festivities.  Post photos on our facebook page of you enjoying the concerts. Support the artists by picking up a CD or other merchandise.

Enjoy Music and Movie combo nights: 
Tuesdays at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park
Fridays at the Lake Harriet Bandshell (beginning June 9th).

Questions or comments? Email us at concerts@minneapolisparks.org 

Music & Movies in The Parks is produced by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.  Enjoy more than 250 FREE concerts and movies in Minneapolis parks this summer!

Twin Cities River Rats First Show of 2012 Season is Thursday, May 31

The 2012 Twin Cities River Rats season kicks off Thursday, May 31.  Shows are scheduled for 7pm Thursday nights through August 30, and take place at 1628 West River Road (between the Plymouth and Broadway).

The Twin Cities Rivers Rats describe their show as an aquatic Broadway musical featuring multiple water ski acts choreographed to music and built around a theme.

If you haven't already enjoyed a River Rats show, their website is loaded with fun videos to give you an idea of what to expect.  These are free events.

President Obama to Attend Fundraiser at The Bachelor Farmer on Friday

Via a May 26 article in the Star Tribune, President Obama will be in the Cities this Friday, and The Bachelor Farmer is on his itinerary:

Obama is also scheduled to attend a fundraising lunch Friday at the Bachelor Farmer, a Minneapolis restaurant owned by Gov. Mark Dayton's sons Eric and Andrew. The brothers said they couldn't offer additional information but that they're looking forward to "welcoming the president to Minneapolis."

Week 3 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

Part of the fun of the Market is the cooking demo and entertainment, which Mother Nature interfered with for the May 26 Market.  Luckily the rain held off long enough to allow us time to get our shopping done.

Register for the 2012 Mississippi River Challenge Before June 1st and Receive a $10 Hoigaard’s Gift Card!

 This year, the Mississippi River Challenge will take paddlers on a new route, spending the first day on the Minnesota River and the second on the Mississippi River!

We’re very excited about the new route this year! On the first day, paddlers will head 17 miles downstream on the Minnesota River from Bloomington Ferry in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Fort Snelling. After staying overnight at the Fort, paddlers will continue 22 miles on the Mississippi River from Fort Snelling to Grey Cloud Island.

Also new this year, the Mississippi River Challenge offers three route options – a half day, a one day, and a two day paddle. With any of the three options, you will enjoy a beautiful stretch of river paddling as well as festivities and music by the Roe Family Singers at Historic Fort Snelling!

We hope you can join us as we Paddle it! Protect it! in 2012!

Four Minneapolis Parks Among Top Five Most-Visited Regional Parks

Via a May 23 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Four Minneapolis regional parks and trails were among the five most-visited regional parks in 2011, according to the Metropolitan Council’s "Annual Use Estimate of the Metropolitan Regional Parks System for 2011" report released Tuesday.

The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park was the most-visited regional park with 5.1 million visits in 2011. Mississippi River Gorge Regional Park was No. 3 with 2.3 million visits, Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park was No. 4 with 1.6 million visits and the Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail came in at No. 5 with 1.5 million visits. The second most-visited regional park was St. Paul’s Como Regional Park, Zoo and Conservatory with 4 million visits.

Other Minneapolis regional parks and trails ranked on the list include Minnehaha Regional Park at No. 7 with 1.4 million visits, Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park at No. 8 with 1.4 million visits, Cedar Lake Regional Trail at No. 11 with 881,000 visits, Kenilworth Regional Trail at No. 17 with 624,000 visits and Victory Memorial Parkway Regional Trail at No. 18 with 614,000 visits.

Walking and biking rank as the top activities in the regional parks system, followed by swimming, jogging, picnicking and relaxing.

Nearly 44 million visits were made to the Metropolitan Regional Parks System in 2011, which is an increase of 7.5 percent from 2010. Minneapolis regional parks saw an increase of more than 330,000 visits, or 2.2 percent, from 2010.

More than 40 percent of visits to regional parks were made in the summer, followed by spring (21.9 percent), fall (21.9 percent) and winter (8.9 percent), while 6 percent of visits were for special events or camping.

The Metropolitan Regional Parks System includes approximately 54,631 acres of parkland and features 38 regional parks, 12 park reserves, 7 special recreation features and 308 miles of regional trails. The park units are owned and operated by the following 10 agencies: Anoka County, City of Bloomington, Carver County, Dakota County, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Ramsey County, City of St. Paul, Scott County, Three Rivers Park District, and Washington County.

For more information about the Minneapolis Park System, visit www.minneapolisparks.org. To learn more about the Metropolitan Regional Parks System, visit www.metrocouncil.org.

2012 Out Twin Cities Film Festival

On the East Bank of the Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront:

Local Bakery Cupcake Competes on Food Network Cupcake Wars May 27

Our Friends at Cupcake have asked us to share their exciting news:

Kevin VanDeraa of Cupcake bakery Minneapolis competes with fifteen previous winning bakers in first ever Cupcake Wars Championship series airing throughout the month of May on the Food Network!  

After winning Cupcake Wars’ Yo Gabba Gabba- themed episode on April 15th, local café and bakery Cupcake, was invited back to compete on the national Cupcake Wars’ Cupcake Champions series.

The top sixteen winning bakers from previous episodes compete, four baking teams at a time, all vying to be the first Cupcake Champion, and take home the $50,000 prize.  The series finale is scheduled to air on June 10th.  Our championship episode has a Glee theme, and the cupcakes will be available for sale in the bakery following the air date.

This will mark Cupcake’s third appearance on Cupcake Wars.  Last summer was Kevin’s first opportunity to represent Cupcake on the show, which had a Bollywood theme, and placed second.  Second time’s the charm, and Cupcake took home first place on the most recent Yo Gabba Gabba episode.

Cupcake has been serving gourmet cupcakes and café food since 2004.

For more information or interviews, contact Kevin VanDeraa kevin@cup-cake.com or Jeanne Lundell at 612-378-4818. 

Follow Cupcake's Food Network progress on their Facebook and Twitter.  Watch Cupcake compete on Cupcake Wars Sunday, May 27, at 7:00pm on Food Network.

Week 2 at the 2012 Mill City Farmers Market

Thanks to Bossy Acres, I discovered pea shoots at the May 19 market.  They taste like the peas we shelled by the bucket as kids for my mom to can.  In addition to filling our market basket, we picked up an herb garden from Paul at Schultz Farm Organics.  I'm looking forward to having fresh basil, rosemary, thyme, chives and other herbs on hand.

3rd Annual Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Photo Contest

Attention photography enthusiasts - the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board(MPRB) announced their 3rd annual 'Picture A Park' photo contest, sponsored in conjunction with People for Parks(PFP) and National Camera.  

Photos and completed entry forms will be accepted between May 1 and September 3, 2012.  Photos from any time of the year may be submitted. The name or location of the Minneapolis park, parkway or lake property is required with each submission.

Click here to view previous year's winners, and check back frequently for contest updates.

Downtown Journal Hacked

Just caught this when visiting http://www.downtownjournal.com/ -

Update on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 8:17AM by David Tinjum

They seemed to have fixed this already

Tonight - "Truck Food Cookbook" with John T. Edge at the Mill City Museum

Time:   7:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street

"Truck Food Cookbook" with John T. Edge

Food writer John T. Edge will be your guide to the best American street food at this presentation and book signing. "Truck Food Cookbook" features the best of street food: bold, delicious, surprising, over-the-top goodness to eat on the run. Obsessively researched, the "Truck Food Cookbook" delivers 150 recipes from America’s best restaurants on wheels, from L.A., New York, Portland, Austin, Minneapolis and more. After his talk Mr. Edge will sign copies of the book which can be purchased in the Mill City Museum store. Audience members can purchase street food before and after the talk from Chef Shack, one of the truck food vendors featured in the book.

John T. Edge, a six-time James Beard Award nominee, writes the monthly “United Tastes” for "The New York Times."

Fee: Free

Tonight - "Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask," with Anton Treuer at the Mill City Museum

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street

Fee: Free

Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist Anton Treuer will give a presentation based on his new book from the Minnesota Historical Society Press. White/Indian relations are often characterized by guilt and anger. "Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask" cuts through the emotion and builds a foundation for true understanding and positive action.

After the presentation Dr. Treuer will sign copies of the book which can be purchased in the Mill City Museum store.

Anton Treuer is the author of "The Assassination of Hole in the Day" and many other books on Ojibwe history and language.