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.
We're counting down the days to fresh produce, cheese, meat, bakery, honey, preserves, grains, etc. I can't wait to start sampling the fantastic food, enjoying the live music, and watching our grandson interact with the animals. And then there's the local artists, unique clothing and special events - so much packed into each weekly 5-hour Mill City Farmers Market!
See you there! :)
The Sanctuary has the most passionate, engaged fans I can think of. Every time Naomi tweets or makes a Facebook post mentioning Mill City Times, the article she links to becomes the most popular on our site. Seriously, every time.
I think I know why - she and her restaurant are always giving. Seems she is holding a charity event every week. She is constantly promoting other neighborhood businesses on social networks without expecting anything in return. When Kim and I stopped by 2 weeks ago for a drink and appetizers, she took the time to sit and chat in the middle of dinner hour. And energy? Wow, I don't know where it comes from. Well, some of her energy must come from totally loving what she does, because it's obvious.
Thanks for everything you do for our neighborhood, and Mill City Times Naomi. If there's such a thing as Karma, you have a lot of good things coming your way!
A second public meeting regarding development of the new Historic District Design Guidelines for the St. Anthony Falls Historic District was held April 25 at City Hall. This workshop was a follow up to the initial April 6 meeting held at the Mill City Museum. Brian Schaffer, Senior City Planner, provided background on the process:
Noel Winter (below) of Winter & Company introduced the three professional teams who will consider the input gathered during these two public meetings as they work developing the Design Guidelines.
During the April 25 workshop, attendees worked in groups to help shape Design Guidelines in the following areas:
- Refine and define character areas within the district.
- Identify key views.
- Define the vision and guiding principals of the design guidelines.
- Identify design issues.
Below, each group used maps and other materials to accomplish the above tasks.
Historic district design guidelines are a local policy and regulatory tool used in decision-making to evaluate alterations and new development within the historic district. The new design guidelines will include guidance on the following:
- Archaeological sites and sites of specific cultural/historical significance.
- Existing and new infrastructure; sites of specific engineering and transportation significance.
- Natural features and open space.
- Existing buildings and the construction of new buildings; sites of specific architectural significance.
Below, Steve Minn and Marcy Schulte explained the overall vision of their group:
Followed by Judith Martin and Laura Salveson's group:
The workshop wrapped up with a lively debate of very different visions and concerns - all valuable feedback for consideration while developing the new St. Anthony Falls Historic District Design Guidelines.
More information on the project can be found online or by contacting:
Brian Schaffer, AICP, Senior City Planner
Minneapolis Department of Community Planning & Economic Development
Planning Division, Preservation & Design
250 South 4th Street, Room 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-673-2670 Fax: 612-673-2526
brian.schaffer@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Days to Go - Countdown to 2011 Mill City Farmers Market
We're counting down the days to fresh produce, cheese, meat, bakery, honey, preserves, grains, etc. I can't wait to start sampling the fantastic food, enjoying the live music, and watching our grandson interact with the animals. And then there's the local artists, unique clothing and special events - so much packed into each weekly 5-hour Mill City Farmers Market!
See you there! :)
We're counting down the days to fresh produce, cheese, meat, bakery, honey, preserves, grains, etc. I can't wait to start sampling the fantastic food, enjoying the live music, and watching our grandson interact with the animals. And then there's the local artists, unique clothing and special events - so much packed into each weekly 5-hour Mill City Farmers Market!
See you there! :)
It's almost time! Next Saturday we'll be enjoying Opening Day at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market.
See you there! :)
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From the April 28 Hennepin County Greennotes E-news:
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Rechargeable batteries are found in many products we use every day, including cell phones, laptop computers, cordless power tools, camcorders, digital cameras and more. Hundreds of millions of rechargeable batteries and cell phones are retired each year, and they often end up in the “junk” drawer or worse – in the trash – because consumers are unsure how to dispose of them.
Since 1990, Hennepin County has partnered with the Call2Recycleprogram to provide an easy solution that keeps rechargeable batteries out of landfills and protects natural resources. By doing so, the county has recycled more than 550,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries.
You can do your part by dropping off your rechargeable batteries and used cell phones for recycling at a Hennepin County drop-off facilityor at many convenient retail locations, including The Home Depot, Interstate All Battery Centers, Lowe’s, RadioShack and Staples nationwide.
In our neighborhood, it's the Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall. I noticed the recepitals near the elevators (inside the library itself, not in the main corridor).
Visit www.call2recycle.org for more information on this program.
Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis and across the Stone Arch Bridge in Old St. Anthony.
Friday, April 29
Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative Public Meeting
MacPhail Spotlight Series: Musical Folklore
Ten Thousand Things Theatre "Man of La Mancha" at Open Book
Voices of Experience Concert at MacPhail
Saturday, April 30
The Southern Theater’s 7th Annual Benefit Gala
Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative Public Meeting
Bird Walk at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park
Children's & Young Adult Literature Conference at The Loft
Northeast Icebreaker Shop Crawl
Lucia Watson, 'Eating Local' at Mill City Museum
Sunday, May 1
Children's & Young Adult Literature Conference at The Loft
Weekend Brunch
Saturday & Sunday
Brunch at Spoonriver
750 South 2nd St (at Chicago Ave S)
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-436-2236
Reservations recommended
10:00am - 2:00pm
Saturday & Sunday
Brunch at the Aster Cafe
St. Anthony Main
125 SE Main Street
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3138
Until 2pm.
Sunday
Brunch at Spill the Wine
1101 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415
612-339-3388
brunch buffet 10am- 2pm Sunday
$12/person (kids 3 and under eat free, 4-12 years are 1/2 price!)
includes: eggs, bacon, french toast, hash browns, fresh salad and fruit, pastries, build your own omlette bar and more...
featuring absolut bloody bar for $5.
also offering fair trade coffee and full bar.
Our neighbor, Rachel, recently introduced us to Alli Jagoda, owner of Sweet Light Studio and Alli Jagoda Photography, 500 Washington Avenue South. Rachel and her husband, Wade, hired Alli for a portrait session with their newborn son. The result was a collection of treasured pictures.
Alli (above) and her husband moved to Minneapolis about 11 years ago. She's been doing commercial photography (under Alli Jagoda Photography) for 10 years, and has amassed an impressive portfolio of clients, including Target, Best Buy and Creative Kidstuff.
She mentioned her most unique engagement was with The Mall of America when they promoted the newly opened Nickelodeon Universe. The work took place both onsite and in studio, and featured kids having fun playing with their food (something normally frowned upon at the dinner table).
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After becoming a parent, she discovered how fun it was to photograph kids - and Sweet Light Studio was born. Below are some samples of her portrait work. View more on her blog.
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She also does work with Adsoka, another neighborhood business.
Alli moved her studio to the Mill District in 2007. She explained that while this area is a magnet for photographers (she considers it to be the best neighborhood in Minneapolis for photographers) it is cost prohibitive for most to have a studio here. By sharing a studio with 2 other photographers and a videographer, the foursome is able to have the best of both worlds. With different specialities and schedules, and large space and individual offices allows them both privacy and flexibility.
While Alli has a supply of props, she encourages clients to bring items with personal meaning for their shoot. Sessions can be held at the studio, or clients can opt to shoot around the neighborhood landmarks.
Alli can be reached at 612-460-1212 or info@sweetlight-studio.com.
Sweet Light Studio is offering an incredible deal on Groupon TODAY and TOMORROW only (April 29 and 30) for a 1-hour studio photo session and a CD of 10 high resolution images for only $69.
Dave and I immediately became fans of MacPhail while attending our first event there.
We were fortunate to have been guests at the April 20 MacPhail Center for Music "Music Matters" Luncheon held at the Convention Center. It's an annual fundraising event in which attendees experience first hand what an incredible institution MacPhail. We enjoyed numerous live performances, heard from students and staff, and watched videos of how music through MacPhail has transformed lives in very different ways.
Below, some scenes and videos from the event:
MacPhail was established over 100 years ago - that it continues to thrive is no accident. An example of using technology to meet student needs is internet real-time training. And while not obvious by the below video, what we are witnessing here is cutting edge technology. As Nathan Hotchkiss, piano student of Irina Elkina, played piano live from San Francisco, he was actually controlling the piano on the stage at the Convention Center.
Meg Gehlen Nodzon, Director of Development, commented, "It was amazing to see over 1,000 people at the luncheon in support of MacPhail and its programs. Music DOES indeed matter to this community.”
Yesterday we learned that over $400K was raised in support of MacPhail’s programs. If you'd like to make a contribution, please click here or call Amanda Schroder at 612-767-5343.
Over half of the 8,400 students experience MacPhail free or at a greatly reduced cost. In 2010, $306K in financial aid was awarded to students who would not otherwise be able to afford music education. Dave and I agreed it was a great investment to become Music Matters Circle members.
From an April 26 People Serving People E-news:
Homeless Families Get Comforts of Home at People Serving People
Homeless children and families at People Serving People can now gather, relax and play in six new living areas at our shelter. The International Interior Design Association donated over $100,000 in products, as well as the talents and time of some of their top designers, to help comfort and inspire the families at People Serving People. Please take a look at some of their amazing work!
The International Interior Design Association Northland Chapter has transformed blank-walled common areas in our homeless shelter into comforting and inviting spaces for struggling families to unwind and catch their breath. Additional funds for the makeover were donated by Target, as well as thousands of children's books to go in each redesigned room.
Since the fall of 2010, the IIDA Northland Chapter has been in and out of People Serving People’s shelter for homeless families – speaking with shelter guests, taking measurements of spaces, and gathering materials so they can use their talents as leaders in the industry of business space renovation to make the most out of the underutilized common areas in this bustling shelter.
Dr. Craig J. Lewis, President of People Serving People, said, “The first thing I noticed about the lounges is they inspire children’s curiosity and their imagination. We forget that kids live in an imaginary world. This one little girl walked into a lounge for the first time, and went straight to the dress-up area, put on a princess gown, and started performing on the stage. She was four years old, and already knew just what to do. The second thing about the lounges that I saw is the increased connectivity that parents now have with each other. There was one mother I spoke with in a hallway near the lounge, who was worried about getting clothing for herself, her whole wardrobe was actually on her back. She stopped by the lounge, saw a comfy couch, and took respite. As she sat there, another guest at the shelter approached her to enjoy the comfort of that same couch. As they spoke with each other, I witnessed that mother receive numerous resources for free clothing from her new friend. That is when I realized that the new spaces at our shelter serve as a catalyst for building connections between families. This is truly amazing.”
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, 2117 West River Road
This two-hour session features MR|DI designers TLS/KVA, who will give a 90-minute presentation of their RiverFIRST design proposal for the Upper Riverfront. Following the presentation, there will be 30 minutes for Q&A and feedback with the designers and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
We're proud to announce People Serving People as a Community Cornerstone of the Mill District.
"People Serving People plays a vital role beyond being a haven for families in need of shelter" according to Kim Eslinger, Editor of the Mill City Times. "They help prepare families for success in living after they find permanent housing" said Eslinger.
View the press release here...
The Community Cornerstone Awards are given to organizations that contribute to the growth, health and vibrancy of the Mill District neighborhood of Minneapolis. The Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theater, MacPhail Center for Music, Open Book, People Serving People and Mill City Commons are currently recognized as cornerstones of the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis.
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From the April 26 Hennepin County E-newsletter:
If you're a smartphone user, access to Hennepin County Library is now at your fingertips, wherever you go. The Library has launched a mobile application, "hclib mobile," so people with smartphones can have mobile access to features available on the Library's website. The app is free of charge, and hclib mobile is compatible with most smartphones, including Android, Blackberry, J2ME, Palm OS, Symbian S60, Windows Mobile and iPhone.
With the Library's app, you can access many online services, including:
- Fast catalog searches with minimal keystrokes;
- Access library "My Account" functions such as renewing and reserving items;
- Find hours and library locations;
- Check the events and classes calendar;
- See new title lists;
- Ask questions via phone, chat or email;
- Connect to HC Library on social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Click here download the mobile app, or follow the link from the HC Library home page. The mobile application is funded by the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA).
Earlier this year 
Dave and I became members of Mill City Commons. We joined for a number of reasons, including the ability to attend interesting member-only events, meet fascinating people, and to have more of a hands on role in helping with their various fundraising activities.
Unfortunately, our schedules prohibit us from attending as many events as we'd like. For example, this week members participated in a Guthrie play reading of Arsenic and Old Lace. Play readings are hosted by Guthrie staff or an artist associated with the play.
However, we were able attend the monthly MCC Happy Hour prior to the play reading. The April Happy Hour was held at Spill the Wine, and as usual there was a large turn out:
Next week, we look forward to a menu sampling event at Masu Sushi and Robata Restaurant, hosted by MCC members Scott Parkin and Amy Sperling.
To learn more about Mill City Commons, please visit the website, or contact Linnea at 612-455-3329 or linneatweed@millcitycommons.org.
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, 2117 West River Road
This is a public session featuring design team TLS/KVA. Representatives of community and non-profit organizations who are members - or would like to become members - of the Advisory Committee will attend and participate. The agenda will be posted on Tuesday, April 26. Other members of the public may observe this meeting and are encouraged to attend the scheduled public meetings.
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Pohlad Hall, Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
In celebration of National Poetry Month.
Local poetry legend Jim Lenfestey has edited a new collection of poems on the subject of pigs. This porcine-anthology, Low Down and Coming On: A Feast of Delicious and Dangerous Poems about Pigs, features the work of 105 poets from around the world and throughout time, including works by Margaret Atwood, William Blake, Pablo Neruda, Sylvia Plath, and dozens of local authors.
The idea behind the collection came from Minnesota author Bill Holm before he died in 2009. In the introduction dedicated to Holm, Jim roots through the history of pig poetry since Homer, uncovering many tasty surprises. Join Jim and contributing poets Jim Heynen, Jill Breckenridge, and Katherine Grant for an evening of rhyme swine, and wine. A wine toast will kick-off the program and a book signing reception will follow.
There have been a number of articles regarding the financial crisis at the Southern Theater.
Click on this Save The SouthernFacebook event link for quick access to those articles, letters from the Board and Wall posts featuring feedback on what The Southern Theater means to people in the community.
The Southern Theater opened its doors on March 1, 1910, offering a variety of entertainments. Following years as a garage, warehouse, antique shop, restaurant and vacancy, the Southern resumed its role as a theater when the Guthrie Theater renovated the space for use as a second stage. With the assistance of the Minneapolis Arts Commission, the Southern Theater Foundation emerged in its present, non-profit corporate structure in 1983.
Donations are being processed through GiveMN.
Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Location: City Hall, Room 319, 350 South Fifth Street (Enter City Hall at the Fourth Street South Entrance)
The City of Minneapolis announces an upcoming community meeting on the development of the new Historic District Design Guidelines for the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. The Public is invited to help shape Design Guidelines for the St. Anthony Falls Historic District...
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 2:00AM
