The Twin Cities River Rats' 2023 Season Kicks Off June 1

The Twin Cities River Rats Water Ski Show Team provides action-packed themed water ski shows all summer long on the Mississippi River, between the Plymouth Avenue and Broadway Avenue bridges. The team began in the 1970s and has grown into a 100+ member, nationally ranked team. Skiers range in age from 5-55, from beginners to professionals, and bring all kind of talent to the water.

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Grab your chairs or blankets and experience a show - five tow boats, 100 costumed skiers, award winning sound crew and concessions. The shows are free, but this is an all-volunteer operation, so please bring cash for concessions and the tip bucket!

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Here's the 2023 schedule:

Minneapolis Elevated to 3rd Place in the 2023 Trust for Public Land ParkScore Index

Trust for Public Land announced today, May 24, that Saint Paul repeated its second-place finish on the annual ParkScore index. Minneapolis climbed to third, two spots ahead of 2022’s fifth place ranking. Minneapolis’ rise was based largely on improvements to park amenities.

Both cities finished just behind defending ParkScore champion Washington, DC, which retains the ParkScore title for the third consecutive year. The ParkScore index evaluates park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities.

Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul received strong marks on all ParkScore rating factors. Ninety-nine percent of Saint Paul residents, and 98 percent of Minneapolis residents, live within a 10-minute walk of a park, far above the national ParkScore city average of 76 percent. Both cities also far exceeded the national average for Park Investment, spending more than twice the national ParkScore average per capita. Both cities also improved their park amenities scores this year, with the addition of dog parks in Saint Paul and new park openings in Minneapolis.

Park equity remains an area for improvement in the Twin Cities. According to The Trust for Public Land, Saint Paul neighborhoods where most residents identify as people of color have access to an average of 32 percent less park space than predominantly white neighborhoods. Residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 34 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods. In Minneapolis, the differences are 59 percent, and 65 percent, respectively. Among all U.S. ParkScore cities, the average disparity is 43 percent less park space in neighborhoods where most residents identify as people of color, and 42 percent less park space in low-income neighborhoods.

“Minneapolis is honored once again to rank among the very best city park systems in the United States. We are especially proud of our equity-based investments in park improvements and programming, and that more than 98 percent of Minneapolis residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park,” said Al Bangoura, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “We are committed to increasing access to parks and are actively focusing on low-income neighborhoods and areas where residents identify as people of color.”

Accompanying the annual ratings list, Trust for Public Land published new research reporting that cities with high ParkScore rankings are healthier places to live. Residents of cities rated 1-25 on the ParkScore index are nine percent less likely to report poor mental health than are residents of lower ranking cities. Residents of higher-ranking cities are also 21 percent less likely to be physically inactive. This correlation, based on PLACES data produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, holds true even after controlling for race/ethnicity, income, age, and population density.

The new research, The Power of Parks to Promote Health, also reported an increasing focus on community health solutions at park departments nationwide, with surging interest in mental health and wellness. The research is based on nearly 800 examples of park-based health-focused activities shared with Trust for Public Land researchers, including innovative partnerships with health care providers, such as writing “prescriptions” for spending time in nature and funding fitness classes at parks and community centers. 

Minneapolis and Saint Paul are among the national leaders working to promote community health at local parks. For example, Minneapolis waived youth fees at 17 recreation centers and increased investment in youth programming and services by $2.6 million last year. Saint Paul used funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to waive fees for youth sports programs, doubling participation in popular soccer and basketball leagues.

“Health professionals have long understood that physical play and exercise is essential for childhood development, but we’re just starting to grasp the mental health benefits. Simply being in a quiet natural place promotes stress reduction and attention restoration, and evidence suggests that local green space serves as a gathering point that fosters community cohesion, allowing for people to know their neighbors and form social bonds that promote health and safety,” says Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.

Most cities included in the ParkScore index have launched programs welcoming beginners and other residents who might feel uncomfortable in traditional sports-oriented fitness settings. Park leaders rate these among their most successful health promotion efforts. For example, 39 park systems describe wellness-oriented classes, such as yoga or dance, as “most effective,” and 31 have redesigned parks to support non-competitive physical activity. Design changes include the installation of walking loops, inclusive play equipment for visitors with disabilities, and community garden plots.

“Innovation is the key to future success. Today, parks departments across the country are writing a new playbook to ensure that all residents can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of their neighborhood park. As an organization dedicated to connecting everyone to the outdoors, Trust for Public Land is excited by what we’ve seen this year and will continue working with city leaders throughout the United States to support park access for all,” says Diane Regas, President and CEO of Trust for Public Land. 

PARKSCORE RANKINGS FOR 2023

Washington, DC, was rated the best big-city park system in the country for the third consecutive year. The city scored well on all ParkScore rating factors. Twenty-four percent of land in the District of Columbia is reserved for parks, among the highest in the United States. The District also outperformed on ParkScore’s park access and park equity metrics. Residents of Washington, DC, who identify as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, or Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are equally likely to live within a 10-minute-walk of a park as are residents of neighborhoods where a majority of the population identifies as white. Park space per capita is also distributed nearly equally in Washington.

By contrast, among all ParkScore cities, neighborhoods where most residents identify as people of color have access to an average of 43 percent less park space than predominately white neighborhoods. Residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 42 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods.

Irvine climbed significantly in the ParkScore rankings, rising from eighth position last year to fourth in 2023. Irvine’s rise was driven by significant increases in publicly accessible park space. The city now offers 94 percent of residents access to a park or open green space within a 10-minute walk of their home. Last year, 89 percent of Irvine residents enjoyed 10-minute access. San Francisco (seventh place) and Boston (tenth) remain the only ParkScore cities to provide 10-minute walk access to 100 percent of local residents. The national average for park access among ParkScore cities is 76 percent.

Other major ParkScore movers this year include Boise, Idaho (+15 to twenty-second), North Las Vegas, Nevada (+17 to thirty-seventh) and Memphis, Tennessee (+14 to seventy-ninth).

Boise defended its title as the best park system for dogs, with a nation-leading 7.5 dog parks per 100,000 residents, outscoring Portland, Oregon, and Norfolk, Virginia. St. Paul received top marks for basketball hoops, Las Vegas scored best for playgrounds, and Boston earned top marks for splashpads and other water features.

PARKSCORE METHODOLOGY AND RANKINGS

The annual ParkScore^® index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation. ParkScore rankings are based equally on five factors: 

• Park access measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.
• Park equity compares per capita park space and 10-minute-walk park access in communities of color vs. white communities and in low-income neighborhoods versus high-income neighborhoods. Park systems score higher if disparities are minimal or non-existent.
• Park acreage is based on a city’s median park size and the percentage of city area dedicated to parks.
• Park investment measures park spending per resident.
• Park amenities assesses the availability of six popular park features: basketball hoops, off-leash dog parks, playgrounds, splashpads and other water-play structures, recreation and senior centers, and restrooms. 

According to Trust for Public Land, the 10 highest-ranking park systems in the United States are:

Rank	City	ParkScore (Max 100)
1.	Washington, DC	84.9
2.	St. Paul, MN	80.8
3.	Minneapolis, MN	80.4
4.	Irvine, CA	80.0
5.	Arlington, VA	78.9
6.	Cincinnati, OH	76.9
7.	San Francisco, CA	76.4
8.	Seattle, WA	74.7
9.	Portland, OR	73.7
T10.	New York, NY	72.7
T10.	Boston, MA	72.7

The ParkScore index uses advanced GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and spatial analysis to evaluate park accessibility. Instead of measuring distance to a local park, the rating system’s GIS technology considers the location of park entrances and physical obstacles to access. For example, if residents are separated from a nearby park by a major highway, the ParkScore index does not count the park as accessible to those residents, unless there is a bridge, underpass, or easy access point across the highway.

Municipal leaders use ParkScore information to guide park improvement efforts, studying park access on a block-by-block basis and pinpointing the areas where new parks are needed most. The ParkScore website, www.tpl.org/parkscore, is free and available to the public, empowering residents to hold their elected leaders accountable for achieving equitable access to quality parks for all.

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $93 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors.

Nonprofit Leader: Roger Cummings, Chief Cultural Producer and Co-Founder, Juxtaposition Arts

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Roger CummingsJuxtaposition Arts (JXTA) has been an inspirational Minneapolis nonprofit for nearly 30 years. We spoke to Roger Cummings, Chief Cultural Producer and Co-Founder, on the history of the organization, amazingly creative opportunities for youth, expansion plans and the many ways you can engage with JXTA.

Q:  You’re the Chief Cultural Producer and Co-Founder of Juxtaposition Arts, a successful Minneapolis nonprofit founded in 1995. Could you please give our readers a brief history of Juxtaposition Arts? 

A:  Yes, my JXTA origin story is, JXTA started and was influenced by what myself and the other two founders were practicing in high school. DeAnna Cummings and I were at South High and Peyton Scott Russell at North High. DeAnna and I were making custom textiles with airbrushed shirts/graffiti jean jackets; we also created logos and flyers for parties and KMOJ Radio program TravITrons Hip Hop Shop. Lastly, we were aerosol writers painting large scale public art pieces, with and without permission, around the cities. Pre-JXTA in our early 20s we taught these skills to people at the Urban League, YMCA and Summer Splash, as well as PSL (Professional Sports Linkage, now The Link) in the Sumner-Olsen public housing projects. Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed provided an opportunity to teach youth after school. This was 93-94. What classes looked like then were painting on large canvas, stone sculpture, shoebox photography, visiting artists and exhibitions of the youths’ work and the young people making money from the sales. We decided to formalize this program after our program at PSL was not funded for a session. We (DeAnna, Peyton and I) came up with a name, found a fiscal agent, registered with the State and began programming out of Peyton’s art studio at 2500 N Washington with the same kids from PSL and new kids from North High – this was in 1995. You can read a more extensive history here, which will cover the beginnings to where we are today.

Q:  I have a couple of questions about some of your programs. Could you please tell us more about your JTXALabs apprenticeship program? 

A:  JXTALabs are Micro businesses - we just call them Labs:

- Environmental design/Tactical Urbanism

- Graphic Design

- Contemporary Art

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In JXTALabs, we take an apprentice mentorship approach. Apprentices ranging in age from 14-21 years old are trained as they work alongside professionals in graphic design, screen-printing, apparel construction, public art, urban design, and community engagement. Each Lab generates income, as each Lab works with real world clients. Clients have included 3M, Target, Red Wing Shoes, NCAA, etc. The Labs have the additional benefit of providing support for the organization’s broader operations so that JXTA can continue being an anchor asset for the arts and culture in many communities. Our Labs collectively generate a little more than $500K a year.

Visual Arts Literacy Training

Q:  Wow – that is very impressive. Let me move to another program - what is Visual Arts Literacy? Can you tell us about Juxtaposition Arts’ Visual Arts Literacy Training (VALT) program? 

A:  VALT functions like a college-level 2D design class, but with the opportunity to learn alongside professional artists to build a base of skills to use in future educational and professional endeavors. Students participate in VALT over multiple years, or use the training program as a pathway to employment in one of our apprenticeship studios. VALT is a required introductory program that youth must complete in order to be eligible to be hired for a paid apprentice position at JXTA. So think still life, artist studies, critiques, portraiture, line balance, rhythm, etc. - design principals.

Red Wing Collaboration

Q:  Juxtaposition Arts’ collaborations are legendary – Red Wing Heritage Collection (shoes, hoodies, aprons!), Minnesota Orchestra, etc. Could you tell us more about how collaborations are put together? What other collaborations might we see this year? 

A:  Yes, organizations sometimes reach out to us and sometimes we reach out to them and propose a project that we both vet to see if there is alignment and mutual benefit. There is a difference between, let’s say, an entity hiring us for a job and a collaboration. Hiring JXTA for a job is not a collaboration or a partnership. A collaboration is the coming together of two or more organizations or partners and figuring out how we might all mutually benefit by working together on a project. Collaborations upcoming? I can’t say just yet. I like to play opportunities close to the vest until they're in the pipeline and all entities are happy with said prototype. Otherwise, it’s just a big experiment with working together with no tangible outcome, which is fine, but I don’t want to start promoting that and saying it’s a thing when it’s really not a thing yet.

Q:  You have a new headquarters building opening this year in North Minneapolis. Are grand opening events planned?

A:  We do! Friday, June 2 is our Open House at 2007 W Broadway from 5-7pm. Come and see our new facility and talk to us about our programs. Reserve here.

Q:  Your new facility will provide, as you stated in an earlier interview, a “robust manufacturing and talent hub right here on Emerson and Broadway." You have hopes of possibly replicating the JXTA process in other states and countries. Bravo for your vision! Are you in talks with other arts organizations to share your success stories and processes?  

A:  Thank you! And yes, we would love to replicate. We’re in conversation with groups across the country with help of the Kresge Foundation and LISC - as well as for the past few years with an arts center out of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil that does theater as workforce development. We’re bringing a JXTA group out for a feasibility study/artist residency/cultural exchange in May. We have, since high school days, had the gift of being able to show and train youth and young adults on how to produce and monetize their practice. I feel that what we (JXTA) can do that globally. We know how to train and assist young people in places with struggling economies - leveraging local assets, building culture and connections.

Q:  Your LinkedIn profile as Chief Cultural Producer/Co-Founder for JTXA includes ‘fun development.' Talk to us about why fun is important in production choices.

A:  We at JXTA think it’s important to have joy in what you do and where you do it. JXTA employs lots of people and we have the ability to make a culture of work, mentoring, fundraising, development and learning fun. We are always thinking of ways to creatively incentivize the process so it's engaging and fun. JXTA has a team called the “Sunshine Committee." Their job is to organize retreats, outings, team building activities, acknowledge and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, going aways, etc.

Q:  You and JXTA are involved in so many newsworthy projects. How may we follow your news? 

A:  So many ways! Please sign up for our newsletters and follow us on social media, come to Gallery openings and open houses, come to FLOW: Northside Arts Crawl or Open Streets Broadway, or just pull up to our Skate Plaza on the corner of Emerson and Broadway and bring your skateboard! Have a lunch or a meeting at our Parklet (named HEXTRA) that was a collaboration between JXTA and Charlie Lazor of Lazor/Office.

Father Hennepin Bluff Park Update: Restroom Building Open, Park Expected to Reopen in June

New restrooms are open, fencing scheduled to come down in June, concerts return July 11

Father Hennepin Bluff Park is on track to fully reopen in June after a major renovation project. 

The new restroom building next to the Stone Arch Bridge is open, along with a new drinking fountain and water dish for dogs. Park Forestry staff will remove storm-damaged tree branches in the park as soon as spring tree planting is finished.

New grass that was seeded throughout the park this spring still needs more time to establish before fencing can come down and the park can fully reopen, likely sometime in June. Please stay off these areas and respect signage and fencing. An update will be sent as soon as an opening date is decided.

Minneapolis Music and Movies in the Parks returns to Father Hennepin on July 11 with a 7 pm concert from local R&B artist Barlow followed by a special movie screening from the Twin Cities Black Film Festival. Free weekly concerts will take place on the new stage next to Stone Arch Bridge throughout July and August. Use the link below to view the lineup.

Father Hennepin Bluff Music in the Parks Schedule

Project Details

This Father Hennepin Bluff Park Improvements project includes:

• A new performance stage with seasonal restrooms
• New park entry plaza spaces
• Upgraded lights, path connections, wayfinding signage and trail markings
• Landscape and stormwater management improvements

The improvements are focused on the upper part of the park, not the lower paths closer to the Mississippi River.

Project Page

May 20 at the Mill City Farmers Market

In this week's Mill City Farmers Market shopping basket: Hmong Chicken Herb Mix, seedlings and rhubarb from Mhonpaj's Garden, aspargus from Bean Market, black walnuts and spring onions from Prairie Hollow Farm, natural peanut butter from Tare Market, cucumbers from GVY, ice pops from Saint Pops, Skyr from Shepherd's Way, spinich and arugula from WEI, eggs from Sunshine Harvest Farm, cilantro salsa from Atacama and juice from Pure Ginger for You.

Meet a New Vendor!

Charles Lodges' "simple quest for exercise and morels" lead him to start Forest Gold Botanicals. The tinctures he created for his own health benefit are now available for you! His products are produced in small batches, following a best practice procedure ensuring purity and highest quality. Charles' next MCFM date is  June 17th. 

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See more photos from the May 20th Mill City Farmers Market here (once there, you can drill down further by clicking on "Back to albums list" and then "Photostream" to view more).

Catching up with Ward 3 Council Member, Michael Rainville

Article and photo by Becky Fillinger

Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainville at Farmers Kitchen + Bar

Michael Rainville was elected Council Member of Ward 3 in the 2021 general election. We asked him to reflect on his time in office. We learned that he is energized by the job, he is available to talk and listen to constituents and provided means to contact his office or to subscribe to his news. Rainville also enthusiastically recommended restaurants and events in Ward 3.

Q:  You’ve been a Council Member for 18 months. Would you look back at your time in office and give our readers a sense of your observations and accomplishments?

A:  When I first took office, the City Council was still not meeting in person. The corridors of City Hall were empty - there was very little connection between Council Members. Then, Minneapolis started to awaken. I’m so proud of the City Staff members who resurrected Minneapolis. We have incredible leaders in the City government –  Heather Johnson, City Coordinator; Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Director of Public Works; Kristyn Anderson, Minneapolis City Attorney; Cedric Alexander, Minneapolis’ first Community Safety Commissioner and Saray Garnett-Hochuli, Director of Regulatory Services. Obviously, there are many more people who led us out of the pandemic, but these leaders come to mind.

On the City Council, we’ve been busy and have made some good solid decisions on housing programs, public safety and climate change. As a Council, we are seeing the value of working broadly with other interested groups in accomplishing the changes we all want. When U.S. Attorney Andy Luger announced the indictment of 45 gang members earlier this month, it made me proud too. We are working for Minneapolis, a city government, but we are collaborating with federal agencies, county governments and many other groups – we have admitted that we can’t do it alone, but can accomplish great things when we work together.

Q:  You’re a lifelong resident of Minneapolis. What do you want your constituents to know about you?

A:  I did grow up here. We live in a great city and I want to help it thrive. I want my constituents to know that I work every day. Some days I wear a suit and tie and work out of the office. On the weekend, I’m meeting with businesses or nonprofits or talking one on one with constituents. I am accessible; I listen. If you have questions or concerns, call my staff – Henry and Ryan – at 612-673-2203. I have more energy than I’ve ever had in my life, and I’m totally invested in the job.

Q:  Let’s shift gears a bit. What about some recommendations about great restaurants in your Ward?

A:  I’d love to make recommendations. For breakfast, I’d choose the daily omelet at Elsie’s. For lunch, I would recommend four spots, depending upon my mood – Northeast Yacht Club for cheeseburgers, Kramarczyk’s for pierogies and sausages, Dusty’s Bar for the Dago Burger or Emily’s Lebanese Deli for all the wonderful Lebanese foods. For dinner, here are my favorites: Monte Carlo, Nicollet Island Inn, Sidebar at Surdyk's or All Saints. I’m always looking for new dining out ideas – readers, send me your choices!

Q:  Ward 3 has fabulous events throughout the year. Does any one special event stand out as your favorite?

A:  Yes, the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, held on Father’s Day weekend this year. I go every year and can’t wait for it to return next month. The art, live music, food and venues are just great fun. 

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I have a Ward 3 Facebook page and Twitter. You may contact me here or by calling the office at 612-673-2203. Also, please do subscribe to my newsletter.

Downtown to Feature 1,800+ Events and Activities Thru September

Summer is kicking off in downtown Minneapolis with a jam-packed schedule that includes more than 1,800 events now through September.

More employees are spending time in the office. That, coupled with a dynamic and full event schedule, will make Downtown a busy and vibrant destination this summer.

As a kickoff to summer downtown, all workers, residents, and visitors are invited to participate in Downtown Field Day on June 1 at The Commons. Come to work, stay to play! Activities, games, friendly competitions, food trucks, celebrity appearances, live music, and happy hour will take place throughout the day between 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Downtown Field Day 

• Thursday, June 1
• The Commons, 425 Portland Avenue S
• 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

“This is a great time to be downtown Minneapolis, and we invite you to join us this summer,” said Leah Wong, Vice President External Relations of the mpls downtown council. “With more than 1,800 events and activities, there is something for everyone. Come to the office, plan a dinner outing, see an outdoor movie, or take in a major concert. There are limitless options for you to explore downtown.”

Tuesdays through Thursdays are the busiest in-office workdays, and we are bookending those days with weekly opportunities to connect downtown, including: 

• Tuesdays: Nicollet xChange. Sustainability marketplace with themed weeks. Includes Street Eats/food trucks, giveaways, exchanges (fashion, home goods, sporting goods, media, books), music, and more. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Nicollet between 8th & 9th Streets
• Wednesdays: Go Outside with Hennepin County summer sessions over lunch hours, outdoor movies/music and the Mpls Park Market at The Commons, and Beyond the Box performances at 5th and Nicollet
• Thursdays: Downtown Thursdays: Click here for a full list of 24 Downtown Thursdays promotions, including:

• Food: Come Pho Soup, Dairy Queen, EaTo, Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis, Hell’s Kitchen, Jolliet House, Lutunji’s Palate Bakery & Café, Sawatdee Thai Restaurant, The Burger Place 
• Beverages: Brit’s Pub, Fulton Brewing, Modist Brewing Co., O’Donovan’s Irish Pub, On the Rox
• Work/Parking: Life Time Work, Expansive Workspace, 910 LaSalle Ramp
• Retail: B’YOUtique, Bonobos, ChiroWay Chiropractic, FedEx, Hotel Indigo, Lontis Spa and Salon, Tropictrends

Last year, downtown welcomed more than 8.6 million patrons for major events. This summer, with 57 days of 15+ events, 27 days of 20+ events, and 3 days of 30+ events, it is anticipated that these converging events and activities will help those attendance numbers exceed 2022.

A full schedule of downtown events is available at mplsdowntown.com. Don’t miss out on the fun festivities this summer, including major events such as: 

• Pianos on Parade presented by PNC Bank—June 1 – 30
• Music in the Park—June through September
  • At The Commons (Wednesdays at 12 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m.)
  • At Water Works Park & Pavilion (Mondays at 7 p.m. and Fridays at 12 p.m.)
  • At Loring Park (Tuesdays at 12 p.m. and Fridays at 7 p.m.)
• Movies in the Park through August at the Commons on Wednesday nights at dusk
• Go Outside with Hennepin County: Movie Nights and Fitness Classes at Target Field Station, and lunchtime activities at Government Center South Plaza
• 15 major concerts including 6 at downtown’s major stadiums:
  • Taylor Swift (June 23 & 24) and Ed Sheeran (August 12) at U.S. Bank Stadium
  • Twin Cities Summer Fest at Target Field (July 14 & 15)
  • P!NK at Target Field (August 10)
  • 9 concerts at Target Center
• 16 total days of festivals including:
  • Stone Arch Festival (June 17 – 18)
  • Twin Cities Pride (June 23 – 25)
  • Taste of Minnesota (July 2 – 3)
  • International Day of Music (July 15)
  • Aquatennial (July 19 – 22)
  • Loring Park Art Festival (July 29 – 30)
  • Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival (August 12 – 13)
• 53 Twins games at Target Field
• 18 Lynx games at Target Center
• 4 Vikings games at U.S. Bank Stadium
• 16 performances of Broadway shows at The Orpheum:
  • Tootsie (June 20 – 25)
  • Jagged Little Pill (August 8 – 13)
• 24 performances of “It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Stupidity” at Brave New Workshop (June 1 – August 5)
• 164 performances of shows at The Guthrie:
  • Murder on the Orient Express (May 13 – July 2)
  • Into The Woods (June 17 – August 13)
  • Shane (July 15 – August 27)
• 240+ live concerts at First Avenue, The Armory, The Fillmore, Dakota, and more
• 44 Minnesota Orchestra concerts at Orchestra Hall
• Patio happy hour specials
• 185 Street Show performances
• 100+ activities and performances at Peavey Plaza

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome our fans downtown as we celebrate the 25th season of Lynx basketball,” said Carley Knox, President of Business Operations for the Minnesota Lynx. “Downtown offers Lynx fans a full game-day experience before and after games, and we are excited to tip-off our season.”

Overall, there are more than 430 restaurants and retail shops open downtown, and each week there are new ways to enjoy all that downtown has to offer.

“Downtown Minneapolis is critically important to the vitality of our city, state and, region,” said Ben Hawn, President & Chief Operating Office, Pohlad Companies. “We believe in downtown, we continue to be committed to bringing our employees to our downtown office space, and we are excited to help connect people together in our city’s core this summer.”

There is a wide variety of markets and places to stroll and browse each week in downtown including: 

• Daily: Minneapolis Farmers Market – Lyndale Avenue, open 6 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Tuesdays: Nicollet xChange (food, giveaways, exchanges, music, and more), 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
• Wednesdays: Mpls Park Market featuring The Black Market Events at The Commons, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Thursdays: Downtown Thursdays (food, music, giveaways, and more), 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Fridays: Mpls Park Market featuring indigenous makers at Water Works, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Saturdays: Mill City Farmers Market, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.  

“For Target, Minneapolis is not only home to our headquarters, it’s also a community where so many of our team members live,” says Amanda Nusz, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and President of the Target Foundation. “We have immense pride in our city and are proud to partner with the Minneapolis Downtown Council on this initiative to celebrate and support the things that make it a great place to live, work and shop.”

The mpls downtown calendar includes upcoming events and can help you plan your next visit. Find the calendar, and enjoy interactive guides, patio/happy hour ideas, and more at www.mplsdowntown.com/events.

Plus, share your experiences on social media tagging #mymplsdt, and look for downtown giveaways including tickets, gift cards, and experiences on the @mplsdowntown Instagram account.

Downtown Minneapolis will be busy with a jam-packed summer events schedule. Now through September 30, there are more than 1,800 events taking place downtown including professional sports, theatre, concerts, performances, outdoor movies, markets and more. The mpls downtown summer campaign is supported in partnership with Pohlad Family Foundation, Target, U.S. Bank, Thrivent, mpls downtown council, Delta Dental, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sleep Number, Meet Minneapolis, the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and many more. For more information, visit www.mplsdowntown.com.

Mill City Museum Exhibit Celebrates the History of LGBTQIA+ Communities and Community Spaces Across Minneapolis

In celebration of Pride Month 2023, the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is proud to celebrate LGBTQIA+ history with its new exhibit, Going Out, Coming In: LGBTQ+ Spaces at Mill City Museum.

Going Out, Coming In brings to life the sights, heart, and energy of Downtown Minneapolis’s LGBTQIA+ community spaces in their first decades. The exhibit immerses visitors in queer resistance, love, and community as it tracks the neighborhood’s evolution from the 1940s to 2000.

The exhibit features information and visual elements of various sites where queer Minnesotans organized or created community while addressing the systemic challenges of legal and extralegal discrimination, urban renewal, and the HIV/AIDS crisis.

“One of the key goals of Going Out, Coming In is to deepen understanding of the people who lived, visited, and worked in downtown Minneapolis,” said Gale Research Fellow Noah Barth. “We hope visitors leave with an understanding of the importance of community spaces, a sense of empathy and solidarity with LGBTQIA+ people, and a feeling of belonging and empowerment in seeing queer history woven into the landscape of the city.”

The grand opening will take place on Thursday, June 1 from 7:00p–9:00p. The evening event will exude the vibe of “going out,” as reflected in the exhibit’s stories of Downtown LGBTQIA+ spaces. The Mill Commons will provide a space for visitors to mingle, snack on hors d’oeuvres, enjoy refreshments, dance to curated music by DJ Michel.Be, and explore the exhibit at their own pace. The event is free, and registration is encouraged, although not required. 

Going Out, Coming In is part of an ongoing partnership between the Minnesota Historical Society and Twin Cities Pride. It is inspired by the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ History Tours developed by MNHS and TC Pride in 2022.This exhibit is made possible through funding provided by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Get To Know the Mill City Farmers Market Team, Part 1

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Stayci Bell, Member of the Charitable Fund Board of Directors

Stayci BellWe go every week (or you should) to the Mill City Farmers Market. What goes on behind the scenes to pull our amazing market together, week after week? What about the market programs that support our local farmers and food producers? We will focus on a few key personnel to help you get to know them, and market programs, even better.

Meet Stayci Bell, a member of MCFM's Charitable Fund Board of Directors. Her zest for community involvement and support for the farmer is unparalleled. We talked to her about all of the hats she wears, being involved at the ground level and how to support the Charitable Fund.

Q:  You describe yourself as a daughter, mother, grandmother, gardener, photographer, actress, puppeteer, healer, leader, and storyteller, which you sum up as an EVERYTHINGist! Wow! For the purposes of our interview, you’re also a member of the Board of Directors of the Mill City Farmers Market Charitable Fund. Please tell us about the Charitable Fund and why it is important to you. 

A:  The Mill City Farmers Market Charitable Fund is important to me as it allows for the market to support not only the farmers and the makers at the market, but beyond. The Charitable Fund makes it possible for the market to reach out and support and build relationships with the community using Market Bucks, Greens for Good, and the Next Stage Grant. It also helps with providing access to learning opportunities and food that is healthy and local.

Q:  How may our readers participate in or contribute to the Charitable Fund?

A:  People can participate or contribute to the Charitable Fund by becoming a Friend of the Market by making a personal donation, by attending the market’s Annual Fundraiser, or by underwriting or sponsoring a program or activity.

Stayci with Pam Benike at Prairie Hollow Farm

Q:  You help out at local farms. Why is being involved at the ground level important to you?

A:  Being involved at the ground level of the Mill City Farmers Market reminds me, (as usual), of a garden; its soil and ecosystem. All of the little things happening all at once or behind the scenes to make it all happen each and every market; rain or shine. From setting up the market, assisting, supporting, and loving the farmers and the makers, and all that it takes for them to get themselves and their things there so early in the morning, to interacting with all of the people; children, babies, doggies, there is simply something about the market that makes me forget that I am even at work (after setting up all of the tents and tables, that is). Helping out at local farms and being a day staff member at the market helps me be a better board member.

Q:  Your poem, To Eat To Live, contains this line several times: "To eat to live is different for me than it is for you." Please talk to us about this line and its meanings for you.

A:  The line in my poem, To Eat To Live, “To Eat To Live is different for me than it is for you” describes my belief in the fact that eating is easier for some than it is for others. Every year there seems to be a new word surrounding food and its access; regenerative, sustainable. What were the others I am sure we have spent years talking about? But, what can we DO? I had remembered hearing the phrase To Eat To Live some place, some year before, and one day all of a sudden I had a response to it. It was about how the stresses of life can cause a person’s appetite to change. How the thought of eating can make me personally nauseous. And how there have been days when I have found it hard to simply chew and swallow. How eating simply turns into a chore…one more thing you have to do…to live! How do you eat to live if you cannot afford it? If you can afford it, how can you access all that is whole and good for you?

Q:  How can we follow your news? 

A:  I don’t know how anyone can follow my news. I have removed myself from Facebook so that I can continue to grow as a natural human being, meeting people naturally in my community garden called life. Since then, I have seen more people in person than I did when I was on social media. The best way to follow my news would be to come down to the market and see me. You could catch me working for the market and sometimes for a vendor and we could say hello and welcome to all of the new vendors we have joining the market this year. I am so down for growing my own community garden. A community just for me, that consists of humans who love and care for me. We grow and bloom together. That is what it feels like at every market! From the day staff to the Mill City Museum staff, to the visitors of the market, (two legged and four), to the vendors, to the people simply walking and driving by…we are growing and blooming together. May we keep being able to harvest the fruits; acceptance, abundance, and LOVE.

Cardigan Donuts is Celebrating 6 Years With Tasty Deals!

You're Invited to Cardigan Donuts' 6th Birthday Celebration!

NEW: Brownie Batter Birthday Bismark! Who needs a cake when this donut has it all? It's filled with edible brownie batter, topped with white & blue buttercream, dressed with cosmic sprinkles, and finished with a house made brownie bite in the center. Available through May 24th.

Win Free Donuts for a Year! Enter the Sweet Life Raffle for a chance to win a free dozen every week for a year. Every in-store purchase made from May 17th-24th earns a ticket. Enter as many times as you can! Follow Instagram for raffle updates.

What's cake without ice cream?

Stop by Cardigan's IDS location this Friday, May 19th to grab an ice cream scoop for $1 - your flavor of choice: Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Irish Cream Brownie, or Birthday Cake.

Visit the City Center or IDS location on Monday, May 22nd to order your $1 Old Fashioneds. First come, first serve, while supplies last.

Theatre in the Round Players Present Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood

Sherwood runs June 9 to July 2. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm.

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues its 71st season with Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, running weekends June 9 to July 2, 2023 with a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on June 19.  10% of all opening night ticket sales will be donated to the Afghan Cultural Society, a neighboring nonprofit that provides support for the mental and social health, economic self-sufficiency, and cultural well-being of newly arriving refugees and established immigrant communities. Opportunities to support this organization will be available to patrons throughout the run.

Packed with thrills, romance, laughter, and immortal characters like Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian, Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood tells the enduring story of a hero of the people who takes on the ruthless powers that be. To compliment this joyful and immersive play, Saturday night performances are designated as “Dress up nights;” audiences are welcome (but not required) to show off their best Ren-Fest costumes.

Stephanie Long directs the fourteen-member cast with sets designed by Sadie Ward, costumes by Colleen O’Dell and Carolann Winther, lighting by Mark Kieffer, props by Vicky Erickson, and sound by Robert Hoffman.

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

MacPhail Center for Music Announces McKnight Fellowship Recipients 2023-24

MacPhail Center for Music proudly announces the four recipients of the 2023-24 McKnight Fellowship for Musicians: Shaiwna Adams aka The Lioness, Rascal Miles, Evelyn Speers aka EVV and Ann DuHamel.

The process for the recipients began in January, with 59 solo musician applications consisting of recording samples, artist statements, and resumes. Nine finalists were chosen by a four-member panel of experienced and well-respected music professionals. The four previously mentioned recipients were selected to receive the $25,000 McKnight Fellowship for Musicians at the finals on Friday, May 5, 2023.

MacPhail Center for Music administered the McKnight Fellowship for Musicians, a component of the McKnight Artists Fellowships Program, for the 27th year. Founded on the belief that Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive, the McKnight Foundation’s arts and culture program is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. Support for individual working Minnesota artists has been a cornerstone of the program since it began in 1982. The McKnight Artist Fellowships Program provides annual, unrestricted cash awards to outstanding mid-career Minnesota artists in 14 different creative disciplines. Program partner organizations administer the fellowships and structure them to respond to the unique challenges of different disciplines. Currently the foundation contributes about $2.8 million per year to its statewide fellowships.

The 2023-2024 McKnight Musician Fellows

Shaiwna Adams aka The Lioness, Vocalist – Hip Hop, Minneapolis

The Lioness is a native of North Minneapolis, Minnesota. Having started her hip-hop career 19 years ago, she has inevitably become one of the Twin Cities’ premier homegrown artists'. The conscious lyricist speaks to the souls of marginalized populations by addressing issues of racial inequalities and social justice, in efforts to encourage and empower Black bodies, bodies of culture, queer bodies, and women across the country.

The Lioness’s solo projects include: The Most Anticipated (2011); Lost Tapes (2012); Queen (2013); Growing Pains (2016); Greater Vision (2018) and her latest, gemINI (2021).

Taking her passion and skills to a broader audience, The Lioness has completed six national and two international tours. With her rapidly growing fanbase and mission to encourage and inspire, it is only a matter of time before she becomes a global headliner.

Rascal Miles, Voice, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass Guitar, Drum Set, Mandolin, Cello, Banjo, Percussion, Glockenspiel, Piano, Keyboards, Synths, Trombone, Soundscapes, Digital Audio Workstations - Indie Art Rock Minneapolis

Rascal Miles (he/they) is a songwriter, one-man-band and multi- disciplinary artist based in Minneapolis whose work always revolves around three things: sound, storytelling, and emotion. To talk about Miles’ music, think Radiohead’s creativity meets Andrew Bird’s curiosity, but with a healthy dose of tender authenticity that only an underdog could know. Originally from a small town in Florida, Miles spent over a decade growing roots in the indie, folk & DIY punk scenes in the Pacific Northwest, recording in friends’ living rooms and touring the West Coast, both solo and in other bands.

When the pandemic hit, Miles was 6-months-sober, had recently come out as trans and had top surgery, lost his job, and was living alone in a tiny basement studio, events which together became the perfect storm for Miles to dive headfirst into audio engineering and write his self-recorded (including full instrumentation), debut full-length album Tailor-Made. Fueled by the fundamental truth that representation in art and media create the change we want to see in the world, each song on the record is a chronological chapter of his trans experience throughout his life. His story has gone on to earn the stamp of approval from NPR Music, including a special feature by indie icon Phoebe Bridgers, to award him two Make|Learn|Build grants from the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and to provide performance opportunities with queer musical heroes such as Chris Pureka and Esmé Patterson. Miles continues to craft his songs from the perspective of misunderstood characters, like the monsters in his 80’s New Wave-inspired Halloween EP Songs for the Graveyard, as well as the robot surviving the human apocalypse in his upcoming dystopian (more-electronically-focused) concept album.

As a highly sensitive, neurodiverse sound nerd with ADHD, Miles is always exploring new ways to manipulate sounds and build worlds for his characters, often blurring lines between genres, learning new techniques for sound design and production, adventuring on nature trips to collect textural field recordings, designing plugins to use while recording, implementing the element of chance into his writing process, searching for what is lingering in the air but isn’t being said, and then saying it with his distinctive musical voice.

Ann DuHamel, Piano – Classical, Morris 

Praised as poetic and “… a delight for the ears and the soul” (Encuentro Universitario Internacional de Saxofón, Mexico City), pianist Ann DuHamel delights in a multi- dimensional and eclectic musical career. Her performances have spanned 18 countries and 37 of the United States, including Carnegie Weill Recital Hall.

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Hailed as a “forward thinking classical pianist” (Midwest Record) and applauded for “the depth of programming and playing” (Piano Magazine) for her debut album Rückblick (Furious Artisans, 2020), Ann actively champions contemporary composers, commissioning all of the works for this release. She can also be heard on Tyler Kline: Orchard (Neuma Records, 2022); Fanfare Magazine praised her performance as “alive … [played with] aching expression.” Tracks from Rückblick and Orchard have been featured on radio stations across the U.S.

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Ann’s project “Prayers for a Feverish Planet” responds to the climate crisis with 60+ new works from composers around the world. In the spirit of eco-artivism, the program asks urgent questions of the listener: How can we live more mindfully as global citizens? How can we use our artistic talents to make a difference?

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Featured in interviews on Modern Notebook Radio (WSMR) and Minnesota Public Radio’s All Things Considered with Tom Crann, Ann has been awarded artist residencies at Tofte Lake Center (MN) and Everwood Farmstead Foundation (WI), in addition to grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Lake Region Arts Council, and the University of Minnesota. She currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota Morris, where she devotes herself to the mission of sharing high quality traditional and contemporary classical music with students and the greater community.

She is Immediate Past President of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association.

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Evelyn Speers aka EVV, Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar – Blues, Metal, Indie, Jazz, Rock, Minneapolis

EVV is a Minneapolis-based musician that refuses to claim a genre. Drawing influences from blues, jazz, metal, and rock, the solo project of Ev Speers is one that is years in the making. With each song, EVV sings about heartbreak and their experiences as a black femme in today's society. EVV hopes to inspire young black folks to pursue the art that inspires them, and to let their voices be heard.

In addition, five solo artists were named finalists and will receive $1,000: Ben Noble of Minneapolis (guitar, keys, voice – Indie Folk), Nyttu Chongo of Fridley (kora, mbira, timbila, inanga, guitar, xipendani, xizambi - World Music/jazz Bantu), Tonia Hughes of Minneapolis (Vocalist – Contemporary), Gregory Byers of Minneapolis (cello, bass, voice – Jazz, Latin, Fusion) and Tearra Rosario (voice, percussion - Afro Boricua).

The Dayton’s Project Announces Buyers Support Group as Newest Tenant

Retail Services company, Buyers Support Group, leases 13,000 SF downtown

The Dayton’s Project announced a new lease, welcoming Buyers Support Group (bsg) to the historic redevelopment. Buyers Support Group is set to occupy 13,444 SF of the building. Like other tenants of The Dayton’s Project, Buyers Support Group works closely with companies headquartered downtown Minneapolis, like Target. As bsg approaches their 40th year in business, they – like The Dayton’s Project – are looking to the future, and see the move as part of their commitment to providing engaging, inspiring and energizing spaces for their employees and business partners.

A sign of momentum for both downtown Minneapolis and The Dayton’s Project, Buyers Support Group is the latest in an exciting list of new tenants, including Unilever, Prudential, EY, and Uncommon.

“Our team is thrilled to have Buyers Support Group as part of The Dayton’s Project,” said Kristin Longhenry of Transwestern. “This new lease continues to illustrate a renewed vibrancy in downtown Minneapolis. The Dayton’s project is the perfect place for companies to office, providing tenants with rare outdoor space, a luxury gym, and flexible places to work and meet within the building.”

The Dayton’s Project was built in 1902 and originally was used as the Dayton’s Department Store, which later became Target. In 2017, ownership group 601 W. Companies bought the property with the goal of taking the 1.2 million square foot project into retail and modern office space. The Dayton’s Project now boasts exclusive amenities for tenants, including a rooftop deck, private lounge, high-end fitness center, and library.

A retail services group, Buyers Support Group helps their manufacturing and retail partners grow their business using sales intellect, performance analysis, guest inspiration, and strategic business insights.

Nathan Arnold of Lee and Associates represented Buyers Support Group in the deal. Jim Montez and Alex Baron of Transwestern represented ownership.

Sherman Associates Closes on Financing of Multifamily Housing in Northstar Center East Conversion

Final phases of $250 million in financing secured to reposition office towers in downtown Minneapolis

Sherman Associates closed on the $91 million purchase and adaptive reuse for Northstar East, its historic conversion of the 13-story office tower to 216 apartment homes in Minneapolis’ central business district.

The 329,000-square-foot office tower is currently vacant, having spent the past several years being strategically positioned for conversion. The office-to-housing conversion will provide new, amenity-rich, high-quality housing in the downtown core and remove outdated office space from the oversaturated Twin Cities office market. The building’s unique design allows for over 10,000 square feet of amenity space including a media lounge, sports simulator, and virtual reality rooms as well as a maker space, coworking lounge, expansive fitness center, and rooftop club room.

Each unit will be equipped with smart home technology as well as high-end appliances and solid surface countertops. Unit sizes will average over 900 square feet.

“Our investment in this historic conversion indicates our commitment to downtown Minneapolis. We see this project as a catalyst that will pave the way for creative redevelopment in both Minneapolis and cities across the country, as we reimagine our downtown communities,” said Chris Sherman, President of Sherman Associates. “This project will have positive environmental and social impacts on the local community through its historic preservation, creation of hundreds of jobs for the construction and management of the project, and in expanding high-quality living options for downtown.”

Financing partners include First National Bank of Omaha for the first mortgage, American National Bank as the bridge lender, National Bank of Commerce as the tax increment financing lender, Stonehenge Capital as the federal historic tax credit investor, and Enhanced Historic Credit Partners as the state historic tax credit investor. Financing for this project was provided in part by the Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund and the City of Minneapolis.

“Projects of this magnitude and innovation are rare. This project has been years in the making. There is no precedent for a historic, functionally related complex being simultaneously redeveloped by at least three separate organizations,” said Trevor Martinez, Senior Developer at Sherman Associates. “This project was comprised of a new residential financing tool, physical reinvention, and change of use which made it highly complex. We are excited to pioneer this unique approach to redevelopment.”

The financing for Northstar East closes in conjunction with the financing of Northstar Center West which together with the recently completed Hotel Indigo at the Northstar Center complex secures more than $250 million in collective investment into the overall Northstar Center redevelopment to reposition over one and a half million square feet of office, hotel, and parking ramp space in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

Polaris Properties Group and Taconic Capital Advisors, who have master planned Northstar Center’s redevelopment since 2019, also closed this week on its financing to redevelop, reposition, and lease the West office tower. Northstar Center West’s renovation will introduce not only repositioned office space, but also a unique large-scale public-facing meetings and events facility, several food and beverage concepts, and hospitality staff that will service the building’s office suites.

“The intention of our project is not just to introduce more office space into the Minneapolis CBD, but rather to introduce a new type of workplace product that’s integrated with its surrounding uses, including the residential use. We think that the reinvented Northstar Center complex will offer compelling reasons for people to choose to work downtown,” said Matt Legge, Principal of Polaris Properties. “We believe in downtown Minneapolis, and it was important to us that whoever stepped in as the steward of Northstar East was a group who was equally committed to investing in the downtown core and helping Northstar Center reach its highest potential. We’ve certainly found that in Sherman Associates.”

The boutique-style Hotel Indigo opened earlier this year in the south Northstar Center building after renovation by Wilson Street Hotel Group. The fully renovated Hotel Indigo has 218 re-designed rooms with unique modern amenities including Nespresso coffee, 50” televisions, and clothing steamers. The hotel restaurant, Star Bar & Bistro, will open June 5th and features a dramatic 35’ diameter rotunda bar with a recently uncovered star constellation ceiling from the original Northstar historic complex. 

Once all phases are complete, the Northstar building will be a large-scale example of a complex that was repositioned to its highest and best use. With housing, office, hotel, and restaurants/retail, it will serve downtown Minneapolis as a destination to live, work, play, and stay. All components of the project will be connected to the skyway system.

Construction is expected to start immediately on Northstar East, with completion planned for September 2024. Kraus Anderson is the general contractor and RSP Architects is the architect.

Green Minneapolis Presents Summer at Peavey Plaza!

Green Minneapolis is excited to announce our second year of free performing arts events, Summer at Peavey Plaza! - an outdoor series of over 100 free performances, from live music to dance, including our 2023 artist in residence, Phil Thompson. Phil is an internationally recognized singer and piano player known for his performances of everything from Billy Joel and Elton John to country western and 80’s hits.   

From May through September, Peavey Plaza will be the Twin Cities’ best place to go for free music, dance and theater performances in a beautiful outdoor setting. Join us every Wednesday and Thursday lunch hour for performances by MNspin artists and every Saturday morning for Music in Motion with the Children’s Theatre Company, perfect for young audiences. And don’t miss the Peavey Plaza Piano Bar brought to you by Phil Thompson every Tuesday afternoon and his Tribute Concerts the last Thursday of the month.

Additional performing partners include the Minnesota Orchestra, Cantus, ARENA DANCES, MIRAGE Performing Arts, Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora, The Minnesota Horn Quartet, Enzyrose, with new partners including James Sewell Ballet, Threads Dance Project and the Pan Asian Arts Alliance. Funding for this programming is made possible by charitable contributions to Green Minneapolis.

For those who want to break a sweat at Peavey Plaza this summer, you can join the YWCA Minneapolis every Wednesday evening for free Yoga in the Plaza from May 24 to October 11 and the James Sewell Ballet for improv jams and movement classes in September.

For a complete listing of performances and activities, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup - A Discussion With Co-chair Gabrielle Grier

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Gabrielle GrierIn December, 2022 a task force was formed to figure out how to revive retail in downtown Minneapolis, both at the street and skyway levels. We talked to co-chair Gabrielle Grier about the work being done by the task force, how input is gathered and when to expect a report on their findings.

Q:  You’re co-chair of the Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup, along with Steve Cramer, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. Please tell us more about the Workgroup – how often will you meet, is the public invited to attend and how you’ll solicit input from additional stakeholders.

A:  The purpose of this Work Group is to develop pragmatic, implementable recommendations for a more vibrant downtown Minneapolis. It is Mayor Frey facilitated and yes, chaired by myself and Steve Cramer, President and CEO of the Downtown Council.

Press event introducing the Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup

We see this work as a guide that will help reduce storefront vacancy and increase pedestrian life and vitality at the street and skyway levels in downtown Minneapolis. This Workgroup will consider the market realities of Downtown retail and office space, the experiences and approaches of other U.S. cities, the important role of the creative/entrepreneurial industry, and the deep knowledge of Downtown residents, all with the goal of identifying realistic options and next steps for moving Downtown Minneapolis towards a vibrant, 24/7 mixed-use neighborhood in the coming years and decades.

A Workgroup session

We meet monthly with roughly 40 workgroup members across creative and design industries, property owners, city, and council members. We also conducted a series of listening sessions in March which spanned residents, workers in creative and design industries, and the general community.

Q:  Other cities have worked to expose secret retail – putting businesses at pedestrian level - to help maintain downtown vibrancy. Will that be a topic for the Minneapolis Workgroup? 

A:  I think there are a number of really exciting ways that other cities are thinking about vibrancy and innovation that Minneapolis can learn from. Most importantly, the concept of retail has shifted significantly in the last several years, being driven and informed significantly by digital marketing and selling of goods; I mean you can get your groceries delivered in a matter of minutes, that wasn’t true 5 years ago. So - I think it will be important for us to spice up the definition of retail, consider it in the intersection of other experiential opportunities like food, arts, and culture…that to me is the next wave of in-person retail! Can people have an experience and meet artists, and culinary masters during their Saturday morning shopping outing? I think so!

We want to get behind defining how to keep business thriving, how to ensure that people want to be downtown, that it becomes a part of our weekly lives, that can only happen when we are in conversations with diverse groups of people and are making spaces for everyone to benefit from the flavors of downtown Minneapolis. That to me is beyond retail.

Q:  You were the Managing Director of Juxtaposition Arts for 3 successful years - congratulations! Will you bring those sensibilities - fusing arts and culture - to the Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup project?

A:  Absolutely. Given the opportunity to be a part of how Roger Cummings and the team at JXTA considers that there are no mutually exclusive lines of thought - in art, in design, etc. - is now a part of my lived experience. It is not that those concepts are new to the arts world, but it is important to have been in a space that does not believe in stagnation and anchoring. In practice for me – it was essential and necessary to see the intersections of retail, space design, culture, and people.

Q:  How may we follow news of the Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup?

A:  We will be generating a report this summer that will be available on the City of Minneapolis website and the Downtown Council website, so any information regarding our findings will be available there. We will also be sharing the insights and action plans associated with the outcomes created by the Workgroup in June, 2023 press conference.

Pianos on Parade Program Returns to Downtown June 1-30

Photo credit Jim Olson, as seen on the That's So Minnesota Facebook Group

Spoiler alert - squirrels playing mini pianos are not part of the program! ;)

The 2023 Pianos on Parade program, presented by PNC Bank, is produced by the mpls downtown council in partnership with Keys 4/4 Kids.

25 pianos will be placed throughout downtown, all of which are painted by local artists. The beauty of the Pianos on Parade program is anyone can use the pianos to share their talents with the community.

During the month of June, scheduled piano performances will take place Thursdays at noon.

May 13 at the Mill City Farmers Market

New in the basket this week: Rosemary Salt from Heirloomista, Blackberry Bakery's cobblers, pound cake and cookies, sourdough bread from Atacama, Well Rooted Teas' "Spring" variety featuring lemony herbs and rhubarb, a beautiful olive wood spoon from Tugi Enterprises, pea shoots from Mhonpaj’s Garden, plus a Bookstore Roadmap courtesy of Babycake's Book Stack.

Meet Some New Vendors!

Kelley Love of Heirloomista utilizes her 5-acre plot to grow heirloom tomatoes and other produce. She also makes a variety of Herb Salts. Kelley will return once per month through October.

With her pound cake, cookies and jarred cobblers (all favorite Southern bakery items from her youth), Whitney Robinson of Blackberry Bakery will quickly become a new favorite for shoppers with a sweet tooth. Whitney returns to the Market on May 27.

Tugi Enterprises offers an enormous array of rich olive wood products, all of which are antibacterial and food safe. I wasn't familiar with olive wood, but a Google search revealed just how prized it is for cutting boards, bowls, plates, serving and eating utensils. I am now the proud owner of the perfect serving spoon. The next time you'll find Tugi at the Market is June 17.

For anyone with kids, Babycake's Book Stack is a super addition to the Market! You'll find Zsamé Morgan and her impressive bus parked in front of the Market every second Saturday through October (this ties in with the Market's Story Time and Power of Produce initiatives). There is so much going on inside and out - with books, activities, toys and more - geared to be inclusive and relatable for kids of all backgrounds.

Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ (Tara) of Blue Hummingbird Woman honors the traditional medicine teachings of her grandmothers and creates plant based balms, creams, soaps and more. Tara's next Market date is May 20.

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See more photos from the May 13th Mill City Farmers Market here (once there, you can drill down further by clicking on "Back to albums list" and then "Photostream" to view more).

Douglas Dayton YMCA at Gaviidae Announces June 15 Rooftop Opening Celebration / Member Appreciation Party

Douglas Dayton YMCA at Gaviidae - Thursday, June 15 

Schedule:

11:00a-1:00p: Health Fair

4:00p-6:00p: Games, Raffles, Refreshments, Live Entertainment by the Percolators and more!

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BRING A FRIEND! Visit the Service Desk for more information.

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This event is open to the public. Photo ID and completed information form are required for non-members.

You Can Contribute Materials For the Public Art Installation at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival

The Stone Arch Bridge Festival has announced a collaborative public art installation project that will be featured at the 2023 festival, made possible through a St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board grant.

The project is a collaboration between Stone Arch Bridge Festival, Mill City Museum (MCM), a local textile artist Jorie Ann Kosel and school age children who attend Mill City Museum and Mississippi Park Connection field trips during the months of April and May 2023. Mill City Museum facilitated the collaboration by inviting the students to create a piece of art that will become part of "Reflecting the River" installation. MCM provided the students with pieces of recycled outdoor banners to use as the “paper” to write, draw, color, paint, what they felt and thought when they saw the powerful waterfall and river during their visit. These submissions, as well as other donated recycled textiles, come together under the artistic directions of artist Jorie Ann Kosel to become an impactful and inclusive temporary public art pieces to be displayed during and after the Stone Arch Bridge Festival.

The art piece will be located just outside the Mill City Museum courtyard entrance on West River Parkway.

Jorie Ann Kosel

Description of Reflecting the River Art Installation by Jorie Ann Kosel

Reflecting the River is a piece of textile art. I wanted to use textiles to paint this picture for two reasons. To begin with, it is impossible to reflect upon this stretch of the Mississippi without considering the impact industrialization has had on these banks. A number of the mills that dot these shorelines were textile and wool mills. The power of this river was harvested to produce the very materials we’ll be weaving its portrait with. The second reason is impact. Modern textile production requires an enormous amount of water and leaves millions of gallons of polluted blackwater in its wake. My goal as an artist has always centered around bringing new life to something old. In this case, I get to use the donated clothes and old household textiles of my neighbors and community members to paint a reflection of the Mississippi along its banks.

Collection barrels will be at Pryes Brewing, La Dona Cerveseria and Mill City Museum for the next few weeks. Examples of Helpful Materials You Can Contribute:

Denim - Especially those jeans that are too worn to donate / Sheets, kitchen rags, towels, blankets / Tarps, Shower Curtains and Liners / Plastic shopping bags / Old IKEA bags / Tee shirts and pajamas / Any blue, purple, green, white or neutral colored clothing

Jorie Ann Kosel Artist Statement:

I have long been mesmerized by the inherent duality of water; the serenity of its stillness against the power of its motion, its ability to bring vitality and / or destruction to everything it touches. I grew up along a river on the other side of the state, most known for its incredibly rich topsoil and the catastrophic flooding that makes its valley so suited for farming. Much like the Mississippi, the power of the Red River drove the development of the community surrounding it.

In this piece, I aim to capture and honor the vitality of one of Minnesota’s most incredible natural resources. When you stand along this fence, you are standing atop the history of the twin cities. The power of the Mississippi fed these mills, the waterways allowed for transcontinental trade, the watershed fed the land and the swirling waters beneath the falls gathered the Dakota people for hundreds of years before colonization. The power of water is what has brought all of us to this place for generations, and it is my goal to capture and honor that power with this tapestry.

I am a textile artist. Textiles were always going to be my medium, but it feels particularly applicable to this piece because of the role water plays in modern textile production as well as our proximity to the former wool and textile mills of Minneapolis past.

Using community-sourced textiles (old clothes and household linens), organic materials (grasses, flowers and woven baskets) and recycled vinyl banners I will render a reflection of the Mississippi River onto the fence at the base of the Gold Medal Flour Grain Elevators. There will also be space for others to leave their own reflections: dotted along the shores will be clusters of artwork created by local students after their classroom visits to the Heritage Zone. Folks that visit during the Stone Arch Bridge Festival will have the opportunity to create and leave their own impressions behind as well. In the end, we will have a community-created tapestry, telling the story of what this river means to us now while honoring what it has meant to us for generations.

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2023 marks the 27th Stone Arch Bridge Festival. It is one of the Twin Cities largest and longest running festivals with a strong tradition of bringing art, music and community to the Minneapolis Riverfront on Father’s Day weekend. 

Stone Arch Bridge Festival Schedule:

Saturday, June 17, 10am - 7pm

Sunday, June 18, 10am - 5pm

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Location: Along West River Parkway from 4th Avenue N and 11th Avenue S

Admission: FREE!