The Forgotten Islands Beneath the Falls

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Before Minneapolis turned into the Mill City and tamed the riverfront, there was a clump of three islands located downstream of St. Anthony Falls. Cataract, Spirit, and Upton Islands were limestone outcroppings left behind from the receding waterfall. While these islands were not large, like Hennepin and Nicollet Islands, that did not stop early settlers and entrepreneurs from attempting to start up businesses on these river islands.

Light pole powered by the first hydroelectric plant in the US.The first of these islands, Upton, was located immediately downriver of the falls, roughly where the northern portion of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam lies today. The island’s claim to fame is that it was home to the first hydroelectric power station in the United States. In 1881, a group of men, which included Joel Bassett and C. M. Loring, started the Minnesota Brush Electric Company. Once the company bought land on Upton Island, they built a small central power station with five generators that used power lines to connect to businesses along Washington Avenue. The island was completely removed by the Army Corps of Engineers when they built the upper lock and dam.

About 1,000 feet to the East and between Spirit and Hennepin Islands was Cataract Island. In 1855, the Lovejoy Brothers constructed a shingle factory, with a small wooden bridge that connected the island to Hennepin Island. This was done so their employees could have easier access to Cataract Island. Unfortunately, since the island was very small and in the middle of turbulent water, the sandstone located underneath the island eroded rapidly, and Cataract Island collapsed into the river in 1860.

Spirit Island, 1899

The most well-known of the three islands, Spirit Island, held high importance to the Dakota who called this part of Minnesota home well before pioneers settled the area. The mist of the falls would float over the majestic spruce trees that sprouted from the rocky surface, and to top it all off, bald eagles frequently nested on the island. However, once more and more people started moving to the area, the beauty of the island started to decrease. While the island never had any structures built upon it, Minneapolitans, or rather mill owners, valued the island even more than the previous two. For a few decades, the island turned into a Platteville Limestone quarry that provided building materials for many of the mills along the river. In 1882, the St. Anthony Water Power Company purchased the island, and they owned it up until 1957, when they ceded it to the federal government. This was necessary as Spirit Island was right where the lower entrance for the upper lock would eventually be constructed.

Both nature and humans have leveled the islands that once occupied the river at the base of St. Anthony Falls, but let us not forget the practical and spiritual role they once played for the many people that have called the Minneapolis riverfront their home.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Happy Labor Day! Meet Local Labor Leader, Sarah Beth Ryther

Article by Becky Fillinger, Photos provided by Sarah Beth Ryther 

Sarah Beth RytherOn Labor Day, our first thoughts are usually on end of summer celebrations. Let’s leave the party for a bit to focus on the real meaning of the holiday: Labor Day is a day to celebrate the achievement of workers. When Labor Day was first celebrated in the late nineteenth century working conditions in the U.S. were often poor and unsafe. Over the decades, organized labor brought about many changes to the workplace in terms of better wages, benefits, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The work is not finished - labor leaders are still necessary today. Meet Sarah Beth Ryther, employee-organizer, instrumental in the union activity at the Mill District Trader Joe’s. We talked to her about the process of organizing at the store and the amazing energy around unionizing in the country today.

Q:  You mentioned in an interview in early August that there is a “wonderful union energy in our country right now.” Can you tell us more about this notion? 

A:  This year, there’s been a 58% increase in union representation petitions received by the National Board of Labor Relations, and we’ve all heard about the historic wins at Amazon and Starbucks. A multitude of factors - layoffs during the pandemic, inflation, dissatisfaction with workplace culture - have made workers increasingly willing to search for outside solutions. Ultimately, worker dissatisfaction is not occurring in a vacuum; in the past few years, there’s been a larger national conversation about what work means to us culturally and as a value. The pandemic forced many of us to examine the place work holds in our lives. For discouraged workers, unionization feels like a ready-made solution. While unions were perhaps unfashionable five years ago, most everybody knows somebody who is in a union and has benefited from the larger protections unions can provide. 

Q:  As a leader, you’ve done your homework – you’ve communicated with other young union leaders, you’ve met with other unions in the area to learn best practices (nurses, educators, craftspeople. etc.) - and formed strong bonds with your co-workers. Could you tell our readers about this groundwork that you did? Could you see yourself taking on a broader national role to share these learnings if the union movement sprouts in other Trader Joe’s locations? 

A:  For the organizers at our store, it felt intuitive to use trust as a baseline in our union drive. We were committed to having ongoing conversations with each other about what unionization might ultimately mean for every one of us. We wanted our coworkers to know that our relationships with them were far more important than Trader Joe’s or any union, and we repeated this sentiment often. We felt unionizing was the best option to make daily life better for people we care about, but we made sure to let everyone know that if at any point during the drive, we no longer felt it was the right move for us collectively, we would pull out.

We’d encourage other folks looking to unionize their workplaces to do the same: get to know the people around you. The more you know about someone’s life - their passions, values, fears and worries - the better you’ll be able to understand how they can benefit from the worker’s movement.

Personally, I’m very excited to be part of the beginning of such an important national conversation. I’m energized by the possibility of Trader Joe’s United as a presence in many stores with similar concerns across the country, and I’m committed to (slowly and surely) helping make that happen! 

Trader Joe’s United public outreach in the Mill District. 

Trader Joe’s United organizing and community outreach at Gold Medal Park.

Q:  Your Trader Joe's store is located in a densely populated urban area in the Mill District – what safety concerns are on the mind of you and your fellow crew members who voted for the union?

A:  We love Downtown East! We’re so proud of our neighborhood, and we feel so lucky to be close to the Guthrie and the Stone Arch Bridge. We also love our neighbors. That being said, emergency situations happen nearly every day, and we’ve asked for more comprehensive training from Trader Joe’s Corporate. Clearer procedures around fire alarms and tornado warnings come to mind. We’d also like access to de-escalation training and equipment that doesn’t take such a toll on our bodies. 

Q:  Did social media factor into the success of the vote to unionize in your store?  

A:  By the time we announced in June, we were confident that we would win our election. From June, when we went public, to August, when we voted, we used social media as a tool to communicate with our local and national community. Being part of the larger movement felt particularly important to us. Social media is a wonderful connector - it’s how we learned that the Trader Joe’s in Hadley, MA was organizing. It has also allowed us to have conversations with workers across the country who are in the middle of their own union drives or are interested in organizing. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

A: You can follow us on Twitter @TraderJoesUnite, and on Instagram @traderjoesunited. If you’d like to email us, our address is press@traderjoesunited.org.

Shopping Basket from the September 3rd Mill City Farmers Market

New in this week's shopping basket from the Mill City Farmers Market are butternut squash from Dawn2Dusk and Kimchi from Mhonpaj’s Garden. The outdoor Market is open Saturdays, 8a-1p thru September, and October hours are 9a-1p.

Catch the "Lettres de Gratitude: When Minnesota Fed the Children of Europe" Exhibit at the Mill City Museum thru September 11th

Article by Becky Fillinger 

David StevensTime is running out to see this free exhibit, Lettres de Gratitude: When Minnesota Fed the Children of Europe, at the Mill City Museum, 704 S Second Street.

We spoke to Site Manager, David Stevens, on what the exhibit is about and the relevance to today’s news. He provided us with a high-level list of reasons to visit the museum before this exhibit leaves on September 11, 2022.

• Lettres de Gratitude documents the work of famine relief in Europe during the First World War. 

• This work was led by American Herbert Hoover, who organized the Commission for Relief in Belgium, the largest humanitarian relief effort in history, which fed 100 million people in 45 countries between 1914 and 1923. 

• Mill City Museum was interested in hosting this exhibit because of the important role that Minnesota flour milling companies played in this effort.

• The exhibit is relevant and timely, as the global food system has been interrupted once again by conflict in Europe with the Russia-Ukraine war. 

• The exhibit features thank-you letters written by Belgian children to their benefactors. Mill City Museum has also supplemented these letters with flour sacks from our own collection that were embroidered by grateful Belgians and presented as gifts to members of the Commission for Relief in Belgium. 

• The exhibit was organized and produced by Global Minnesota, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that connects Minnesotans to the world, and the world to Minnesota. 

• The exhibit is located in the museum’s central Mill Commons, and is free and open to the public during regular museum business hours through September 11, 2022.

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Visit the Mill City Museum over the Labor Day weekend!

Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am–5:00 pm

Labor Day  10:00 am–4:00 pm

Third Avenue Bridge Project Reaches a Milestone as the Remaining Tower Cranes are Removed

Article and photos by Doug Verdier

A milestone was reached this past week in the Third Avenue Bridge rehabilitation project with the removal of the two remaining tower cranes that had been in place on the bridge since the early stages of the project. Each crane had to be disassembled and lowered to the bridge surface where the sections were loaded onto flat bed trucks to be removed from the job site. The whole operation took most of four days to accomplish.

The photos below show the various elements of the two cranes being removed one at a time from the towers and lowered by another crane (the yellow one). Anyone watching the operation had to be impressed by the skill and precision of the workers, especially when they were climbing around on the cranes to detach each section from the others and connect the cables from the other crane that would safely lower each section. The workers on the ground also had to ensure that each piece being lowered was brought down precisely where it was, then detached from the crane and prepared for loading onto the awaiting flatbeds. The entire process was well orchestrated to keep the operation moving on schedule and, above all, safely.

The first crane to be disassembled was the one closest to the First Street end of the bridge. Here the front section has been removed and is being lowered by the yellow crane.

Another view of the front section coming down. While this is going on, the workers on top of the tower are starting to disconnect the rear section of the crane (the horizontal red portion with the flag on top) from the control unit. That will be the next piece to be removed and lowered.

Rear section is connected to cables for lowering it before final disconnection is made.

Rear section about to be lifted. Note the worker at the left end of the red section making sure the disconnection and separation goes smoothly.

Here comes the rear section of the first crane to the ground. Note the other tower crane to the right. It will be taken down the following day.

The crane operator’s cabin is next to be removed from the tower and lowered.

Workers beginning to prepare sections of the tower to be removed. The horizontal section of the second tower crane can be seen to the right of the tower being worked on.

This is the second (and last of the original four) crane being disassembled and lowered. Cab of flatbed truck can be seen on the bridge awaiting the sections of the crane as they are brought down. Several flatbed trucks were required to transport all the various section of the cranes as they were taken apart.

The rear section of the crane coming down. The red front section can be seen laying on the bridge. It will be disassembled into sections that can be transported off site.

Almost there! Once on the ground, the “ALL” signage and other elements will be removed before the remaining section will be prepared to be loaded onto flatbed truck transport.

Pieces of the tower being placed on flatbed. Just two vertical sections remain standing.

The last tower section is on the ground.

A closer look at the last tower section before it is laid down in preparation for loading onto the flatbed.

Fall Fashion Check-in with Queen Anna House of Fashion

Article by Becky Fillinger

Nicole JenningsFall is right around the corner. We have all heard that hard and fast fashion rules no longer apply (no white after Labor Day, don’t mix silver and gold jewelry, etc.). Are you curious as to what’s trendy and timeless for the new season? We spoke with local fashion expert, Nicole Jennings, owner of Queen Anna House of Fashion for advice. When interviewed by CBS News in 2017, she said, "When people walk through the doors of Queen Anna, they will experience a sense of freshness.”

Our question - Please tell us the Fall 2022 Fall Fashion Trends that you are seeing and how may we find them at your North Loop shop, Queen Anna?  Here’s what she had to say:

Trends may come and go, but timelessness is forever. Finding key trends that will allow you to wear them into style perpetuity is essential in reducing the amount of money you spend on clothing each year as well as reducing the harmful impact that fashion has on our planet. Investing in quality pieces will allow for your style to be on point each and every season without breaking the bank or the back of Mother Nature.

Rebecca Allen Nude Loafer

Trendy + Timeless Accessory Capsule Pieces

- Ballet Flats + Loafers

- Multi-Purpose Handbag

- Hoop Earrings

- Classic Belt

Moon River Cutout Sweater

Trendy Fall Staples

- Chunky Knit Sweater

- Denim Jeans

- White Top

- Leather Jacket

- Blazer

- Slip Dress

Come to my shop at 109 N. Second Street in the North Loop and we’ll dress you in what is comfortable for you and decidedly fashionable.

Thank you, Nicole! We’ll see you soon and thanks for the advice. 

Minneapolis Monarch Festival/Festival de la Monarca is Saturday, September 10

Saturday, September 10
10 am to 4 pm 
Lake Nokomis Park

Free and for everyone!

Butterfly, music and art lovers from the Twin Cities and beyond come together on Saturday September 10 for the free 2022 Minneapolis Monarch Festival / Festival de la Monarca. 

Scheduled from 10am to 4pm, the festival is filled with music, art activities, games, food, plants that monarchs love and more. 

The day offers a host of fun ways for people of all ages to learn about these amazing pollinators and their role in the ecosystem.

The festival takes place at Lake Nokomis Park, northeast of the lake and near the Nokomis Naturescape, a certified Monarch Waystation.

Read on for highlights, or visit the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) website or monarchfestival.org.

Festival Highlights:

Costume parade
Join in or cheer on this ever-popular monarch-themed march for children

Monarch encounters
Observe these insects up-close; learn about their 2,300-mile journey between Minnesota and the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico; find out simple things everyone can do to help restore their population

Monarch-friendly plants 
Purchase native flora to create a habitat in your yard for butterflies and other pollinators 

Performances galore 
Monarch-themed puppet shows, music from Salsa del Sol and Mariachi Mi Tierra performances and dance highlighting the Minnesota/Mexico connection 

Art activities 
Join in community mural and sculpture-making; make your own screen- or block print or paper from plants

Great tastes 
Minnesotan and Latin foods plus other eats and treats available for purchas

Volunteer at the Festival! Email monarch@nokomiseast.org for information.

Theatre in the Round Players Opens 71st Season with the Pulitzer-Prize Winning Drama, Doubt: A Parable

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) opens its 71st season with the Pulitzer-Prize winning drama, Doubt: a Parable by John Patrick Shanley. 

In this powerful drama, Sister Aloysius, a Bronx school principal, takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the young Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the male students. Written in 2004, partly in response to increasing political polarization, Doubt explores the nature of uncertainty with profound relevance to our current day.

Kari Steinbach directs the 4-member cast, with sets designed by Devyn Becker, costumes by A. Emily Heaney, sound by Mark Kieffer, props by Andrew Stam, and lighting by Bill Larsen.

An open audience discussion with members of the company will follow the performance on Sunday, October 9. To provide space for further exploration of the themes presented in this production, Theatre in the Round is also offering facilitated post-show discussions for private groups, including book clubs, churches, classes, and civic groups. Interested groups can email larisa@theatreintheround.org to schedule.

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

* * Full schedule for Season 71 * *

Doubt a Parable, September 23-October 16, 2022

Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles, November 18-December 18, 2022

The Book Club Play, January 27-February 19, 2023

Eurydice, March 10-April 2, 2023

True West, April 21-May 14, 2023 

Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, June 9-July 2, 2023

Call for Artists! Parks for All Mural Project

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Forecast Public Art seek artists to develop murals to foster Parks for All. There will be 9 artists selected to create murals in 2023. The deadline to apply is September 19, 2022, and selected artists will received a $6,000 fee + $3,000 for materials (to include artist travel).

Information Site

The 9 mural locations have been selected based on the following goals: to help reduce the amount of vandalism in the park system; to reduce reactionary maintenance efforts required for tagging removal; to beautify park walls, and to celebrate the park system and park users. There are specific sites in the MPRB system that are frequent targets for vandalism that require countless hours of labor each year to remove and repaint.

State Fair Ferris Wheel by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

Around 11 pm last night after we finished watching a movie, my wife looked out our living room window and saw an unfamiliar colorful glow in the distance. With binoculars purchased for a trip never taken due to the pandemic, she identified it as the State Fair Ferris Wheel. Never one to pass up an interesting photo opportunity, even though it was late, I set up my camera and tripod. After several test shots to determine the right settings I took a dozen or so photos, as the lights on the Ferris Wheel kept changing colors. I was eager to see what the images looked like on my computer screen and processed this one image. Who knew that 8+ miles from the State Fair grounds one can see the Ferris Wheel from our Downtown East neighborhood. I didn’t. But then I’ve never before had a view from my home in Downtown East looking East. In order to get a closer and larger view of the Ferris Wheel, paraphrasing from that iconic line in Jaws, I need a bigger lens.

See more of my work at ricrosowphotography.com and Tres Leches Art Gallery in the Northrup King Building.

State Fair Ferris Wheel

21st Annual Ukrainian Heritage Festival is September 17th

The Twin Cities Ukrainian community is celebrating the 21st anniversary of the Annual Twin Cities Ukrainian Heritage Festival and the 31st anniversary of Ukrainian Independence. Bring family and friends to this FREE event! Saturday, September 17, 12 PM – 5 PM.

Dedicated proceeds from this year's festival will be going toward the humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

Local Health Innovator Uses Music Therapy in the Treatment of People With Disabilities

Article by Becky Fillinger

Yue WuWe are used to reading about medical innovation in our state – but did you know that we have local professionals tackling health issues combined with music therapy?

Meet Yue Wu, who is working as a board certified music therapist at MacPhail Center for Music, while pursuing her PhD in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Minnesota. She is tackling problems by collaboration - music therapy for individuals with disabilities and telehealth music therapy solutions for children with autism spectrum disorders in rural areas. We talked to her about how she approaches multi-disciplinary collaboration and a recent project, Light in the Well.

Q:  You are a member of the University of Minnesota’s Medical School – focusing on Rehabilitative Medicine. You also reach beyond the boundaries of the medical school to work on collaborative projects with other organizations. Could you tell us about some of these projects? 

A:  Yes. Being a curious person and wanting to learn from others was what led me to the PhD program in Rehabilitation Science at the Medical School. Being in an intellectually rich and emotionally supportive environment helped me thrive in developing innovative ideas and collaborate with people in other fields. I have done projects both nationally and internationally, in-person and virtually, in and across fields. Some of these projects include an international documentary featuring music therapy and people with disabilities, an international partnership training rehabilitation staff to incorporate music into their services for children with disabilities, and research projects focusing on the experiences of having a child with disabilities.

It was the research projects – interviewing families who are affected by disabilities in both China and U.S. - which made me realize that having a child with disabilities is more like a universal experience, despite the cultural, language, and regional differences. 

Q:  One of these collaborative efforts – culminated in an event called Light in the Well. What groups were involved? Who was the event for?

A:  Light in the Well was born out of these research findings and is dedicated to honoring people with disabilities and their families by telling their true stories and inviting all into a conversation of hope. This project involves a variety of groups including families who are affected by disabilities, professional musicians, therapists, university researchers, disability rights advocates, visual artists, and college students who study related areas. MacPhail Center for Music, where I work as a music therapist, has been a big support, providing initial funding and in-kind venue for our first show last fall. Half of the orchestra were MacPhail teaching artists. The development and facilities departments helped us greatly with fundraising, setting up, and audience accommodations.

The event is really for everyone. We want Light in the Well to be therapeutic for the featured families by validating their emotional journeys and enabling them to gain skills through real-life situations, while also being educational for the rest of us who are not directly affected by disabilities. People with disabilities are featured in Light in the Well as they tell their own stories on stage and perform alongside professional musicians in an orchestra under the spotlight. Through many practices and rehearsals, the featured people with disabilities learn how to cope with unexpected situations and how to work with others. For the rest of us, Light in the Well provides an opportunity of exposure to learn about what life is like with disabilities. Our society is not complete without people with disabilities, and together we are better.

Q:  How did the audience respond?   

A:  After our first show last fall at MacPhail, many audience members came to us and said they were touched in deep ways. “We came expected to be entertained but left being educated.” Many people laughed and also cried with the featured families as the stories unfolded.

We interviewed the audience and highlighted their experiences in this video:

Q:  Why are these collaborations important to the work you’re doing? 

A:  Many people came alongside of the project since it started – people with disabilities and family members, therapists, leaders in disability services, business and legal professionals, etc. These different collaborators are important to the work because they offer a variety of expertise and bring different life and emotional journeys into Light in the Well.

Q:  What’s next for you?

A:  Next, Light in the Well will be putting on its fall performance on Sunday, October 16, 2pm, at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. We are currently working on a series of children’s picture books which highlight the featured individuals in Light in the Well. The purpose is to bridge the gap in children’s literature regarding disabilities. We want to expose the younger generation to learn about the life of having disabilities. We have also invited other organizations who serve people with disabilities in our community to be at our next performance to share about the resources available to families who are affected by disabilities. We hope to partner with high school bands or community orchestras in the future to perform the original music and expose their members to this type of work.

Last, but not least, I will be finishing my PhD program by completing my dissertation, which focuses on accessibility to disability services. Low accessibility and lack of resources are primary barriers for children in rural areas to receive music therapy services. In my PhD dissertation research, I used real-time video-conferencing platforms to provide cost effective music therapy to serve children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Thanks to MacPhail Center for Music, I was able to recruit participants from Austin, MN, where one of our satellite centers is located. The preliminary analysis showed that tele-music therapy is effective in producing lasting behavioral changes in children with ASD. We will apply the exciting research findings in practice to provide a robust and reliable alternative method of music therapy addressing the reduced access some children experience.

Q:  How may we follow your news?  

A:  Please visit us at https://www.lightinthewell.com, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Tik-Tok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Please attend our free performance on Sunday, October 16, 2pm, at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. Click here or scan the QR code to reserve your spot:

Improvements Coming to Riverside Park and Bohemian Flats Park

Via an August 23rd e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Detail showing Riverside Park and Annie Young Meadow, from the Mississippi Gorge Regional Park master plan. Bohemian Flats Park, not pictured, is to the northwest along the river.

Opportunities to share your thoughts are coming soon!

Improvements are coming to Riverside Park and Bohemian Flats Park through a Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) capital investment project. They include playground and wading pool improvements at Riverside Park and restoration of the savanna  landscape at Bohemian Flats Park. Community engagement for both projects will be combined, since both parks are within the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. 

At Riverside Park, a new playground will replace the existing 20-year-old playground and the 80-year-old wading pool will get much-needed upgrades. Additional improvements may include picnic tables with concrete pads, additional basketball court space, lighting, grills, and benches.

At  Bohemian Flats Park, a five-acre savanna landscape will be restored with various types of oak trees, grasses, and wildflowers.

MPRB will share additional announcements about opportunities for Cedar-Riverside community members to get involved in the Riverside Park improvements project.

Project funding

Riverside Park (a neighborhood park within Mississippi Gorge Regional Park)

• $1,398,000 - 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan (see below) and MPRB's 2022 Capital Improvement Program 

Bohemian Flats Park (a regional park within Mississippi Gorge Regional Park)

• $ 20,000 - River Access Grant

• $286,000 - 2022 Grant for Bohemian Flats Savanna

Riverside Park improvements are funded from NPP20, a historic agreement between the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the City of Minneapolis. NPP20 helps address racial and economic equity across 160 neighborhood parks and provides more than $11 million annually to maintain, repair and replace facilities. 

• Watch a 1-minute video on NPP20
• Get more info and subscribe to email updates

More Information and Updates

Visit project page for Riverside & Bohemian Flats Parks Improvements

Subscribe to email updates on this project

Project contact

Tyler Pederson, Design Project Manager, Planning Division, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

612-499-9084 | tpederson@minneapolisparks.org

MacPhail Announces First Free KidFest! Family Music Series Concert of the 2022-23 Season

Chione Quintet

Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® will present the first free KidFest! Family Music Series concert of the 2022-23 season on Saturday, September 10th.

This season kicks off with a brand-new musical performance featuring the Twin Cities-based woodwind quintet of cross-disciplinary women, Chione, along with Twin Cities author Ka Vang. The performance features Vang’s Shous and the Northern Lights Dragon set to beautiful music composed by fellow Minnesotan musician Jocelyn Hagen. Chione’s performance is captivating and inclusive, as they combine musical character themes with American Sign Language, while sharing the stories of each of their instruments.

Activities include:

• Free Family Music Concerts 10:15-10:45 AM and 11:15-11:45 AM
• Instrument exploration stations
• Visual Art stations- make an instrument
• Sample Sing Play Learn classes
• Snacks and more

As always, the Free Family Music series is open and welcome to the community. No tickets or RSVP necessary.

August 22 Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

Via an August 22 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis. This project is anticipated to be completed summer 2023.

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

Project Map

Get an inside look of tunnel mining

The Star Tribune recently released a story on the Minneapolis Central City Tunnel project. Check out the Star Tribune story to get an inside look of what tunnel mining looks like underground.

Latest Project News

2nd Ave
• Crews continue tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S, just north of the Washington Ave intersection.
o The sidewalks remain open on both sides of the road.
o The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 2nd Ave S intersection remains open.
o 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Ave and 1st St S.
o Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

Portland Ave
• Tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave continues from the existing tunnel access shaft at the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Portland Ave intersection.
o Pedestrian access is being maintained during this work. Please follow any posted detour routes.
o There may be short, periodic traffic delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

Tunneling Progress

Long-term closures/restrictions

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

• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains restricted between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall. The contractor will resume tunneling from the existing tunnel to the new tunnel in fall 2022.
o During these restrictions, pedestrians share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
o The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remains open.

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

• The eastern sidewalk along Nicollet Mall between Washington Ave and 3rd St N remains restricted. Access is open to the Marquette Plaza building. The dewatering well and pumps are installed in this area.
o This sidewalk will reopen to pedestrians after the scaffolding and extra equipment in the area are removed and the site is cleaned up. Once the sidewalk reopens to pedestrians, it will remain restricted around the dewatering well and pumps. This is anticipated to be completed by the end of August.
o Pedestrians are still able to use the sidewalk on the west side of Nicollet Mall.
o The crosswalk at the Washington Ave intersection remains open.
o Possible short-term sidewalk closures to remove equipment in the area through the end of the month.

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

What to expect

• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.
• Schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Suspended sites through summer 2022

Hennepin Ave

• Tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave will resume fall 2022 at this site.

Mississippi River Portal

• Minor activities will periodically occur at the Mississippi River portal site through Summer 2022. Work will resume fall 2022.

Stay connected

Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418

August 20 Trip to the Mill City Farmers Market

Fruit attack! Watermelon, First Kiss apples, pears and strawberries. Alfajores and empanadas from Atacama Catering. New from Sunrise Flour Mill - biscuit mix.

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza August 21 - 27

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, August 23 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

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MNspin Musician of the Week: Curtis & Loretta

Thursday, August 25 from 12-1pm 

Award winning folk singer-songwriter duo Curtis & Loretta’s extraordinary harmonies and proficiency on a parade of stringed instruments create an alluring frame for their poignant original songs, and traditional pieces. The Minneapolis husband and wife duo’s current menagerie includes mandocello, folk harp, guitars, clawhammer banjo, and ukulele, plus a bit of kazoo, harmonica, and shakers.

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Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre 

Saturday, August 27 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm

Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.

Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora

Saturday, August 27 at 6-7:30pm

Journeying through the sonically diverse realms of old school and new school hip hop, R&B, funk, and soul, Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora seamlessly blend melodic harmonies, smooth instrumentation, and raw, poetic energy to tell stories of struggle, resilience, and celebration. Formed in the heart of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, the collective is dedicated to crafting vibrant soundscapes around honest narratives that reflect their community’s sacred humanity. Each song is an ancestral echo, a battle cry calling for freedom, an unending dance for justice and joy, welcoming all of the diaspora home.

For a complete calendar of Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ on the River - Margaret McDonald, Executive Director, Mill City Commons

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Margaret McDonaldMill City Commons has a new Executive Director, Margaret McDonald. I asked Margaret to tell me her thoughts on taking the helm of the innovative organization, programming updates and how to get involved.

Tipping my hat to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty, I don’t claim to be Proud Mary. But there is a part of me that is proud Margaret these days. As the new Executive Director of Mill City Commons, I could not be prouder to represent this dynamic organization. I’ve worked and lived close to our magnificent Mississippi River for several years. But never this close. Today I walk across the river to my office. I work with and serve wonderful people. I walk out of my office and sit by the river and eat lunch. I’m back where I belong! 

“The Mill City Commons Board was impressed with not only Margaret’s extensive experience but also her long-standing commitment to the Rivefront Neighborhoods.”

Pam Berkwitz, MCC Board President

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Since 2002, I’ve chosen to be an active part of the neighborhoods on both sides of the riverfront. I’ve seen the areas transformation from parking lots, rusty railroad ties and abandoned buildings to a dynamic, growing civic minded community with all the amenities to support it.  My husband and I are committed to supporting local businesses and establishments as we are very familiar with the hard work it takes to build and sustain a business.

Since the inception of Mill City Commons in 2008, our mission has been to provide programs and services to our members who are 55+ and live near the Minneapolis riverfront. As a neighborhood community, MCC provides member-driven programs that are educational, relevant, fun, easily accessible and inspiring.

Post-COVID, my vision is not to reinvent the wheel but to re-ignite the element of personal engagement, relevant discussions and fun to all our programs. After these past two years I believe we all need more comradery and good times. It’s time for us all to reconnect.

Scenes from Summer 2022 activities

Our programs fall into four categories: Educational (Great Discussion Series, Current Events and Conversations with Bill); Recreational (River walkers); Social (Men’s Dutch Lunch); and Cultural (Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan). In addition, our members strive to be a positive force in our community through volunteerism, civic involvement and supporting local businesses and fundraising activities. Meetings, social events, and discussion groups are frequently held in local restaurants and venues.

Throughout the pandemic most of our programing was delivered on Zoom. We were fortunate to be able to maintain our high-quality programing and membership retention. We even gained new members. My goal is to provide 80% of our programing in person in the coming months. Our new office located at 219 Main Street SE, affords us enough space to hold some events. In addition, many of our members willingly open their residences or party rooms to host programs and social events like our monthly Soiree buffet. For those members who spend their winters in warm climates, most of our programs are archived for future on-line access.

Although the majority of our members live along both sides of the Mississippi River, we have many living in South Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. Membership is broad and diverse, as is our programing.

In addition, our members support one another with services such as rides to doctor appointments, airports and grocery shopping. Members also network with others through post-hospital stays and rehabilitation. MCC is committed to helping members remain empowered in order to live vibrant lives in this community with friends and family.

To learn more about us, roll on over to our website at http://www.millcitycommons.org. You will find our monthly calendar, pictures of recent events and how to become a member. If you prefer, call us at 612-455-3329.

We look forward to welcoming you to our exciting neighborhood on the river.

SBA Small Business Person of the Year 2022 – Minnesota: Kristen Denzer, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Tierra Encantada

Article by Becky Fillinger

Kristen Denzler is the CEO and Founder of Tierra Encantada. She was recently honored as SBA Small Business Person of the Year 2022. Her company has been on The Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal list of the 50 fastest-growing privately held companies in the Twin Cities for a few years. We talked to Kristen to learn more about her business success and perhaps take away a few tips. 

Q:  Congratulations on being awarded SBA Small Business Person of the Year 2022 – Minnesota. In a 2021 Forbes interview, you said, “I think that the only limitations you have as a business owner are those you place on yourself.” Please tell us more about this thought.

A: Many people have great business ideas but hold themselves back because they don't have a degree or experience related to their business idea - and they think that is needed to be successful. While that can certainly help, it shouldn't hold someone back from pursuing an idea they are passionate about. I never worked at a childcare center prior to starting Tierra. I also had never constructed a licensed commercial kitchen and had never worked in construction before Tierra, either. But, by using my resources and being willing to put in the work, I figured it out and opened multiple centers, working as the general contractor for two of them, with no relevant experience/education.

Many people also think you need a business degree to start a business. I don't have one, and I know many successful entrepreneurs and not a single one of them have a business education. If you believe in something, don't hold yourself back with self-created limitations - just go for it. 

Q:  You’re the CEO and Founder of Tierra Encantada. The business features Spanish immersion language skill building and organic food. What led you to put these two features together?

A:  The United States is incredibly behind in language learning, and countries around the globe have children learning multiple languages from a very young age. Knowing first-hand the limitations that come with learning a second language as a teen, I wanted my children to have an opportunity I did not have - to learn at the most critical time for their language development, their first years of life. I also wanted my children to be exposed to a vast array of food that they may not otherwise have - I wanted more for them than chicken nuggets and hot dogs. I didn't have much variety as a child, and tried Brussel sprouts, okra, asparagus, and mushrooms for the first time as an adult. Many parents don't know how to cook some things, like lentils, and some parents simply don't have time. Our culinary program provides fresh-cooked meals designed to expand young palates. 

Q:  You have degrees in Psychology, Political Science, Leadership and Evaluation Studies. Did your education help you become fearless in trying new things? Did your education prepare you for owning a business?

A:  My education provided valuable experiences, connections, and learnings that shaped who I am and how I think about things. Though, I wouldn't say it was instrumental to my entrepreneurial nature nor my sense of adventure. I mean, the very first "club" I joined freshman year at the University of Minnesota was the skydiving club! 🙂 My education was not really related at all to the companies I have started, so did not do much to prepare me for running a successful company. The most relevant I would say was my graduate assistantships, which allowed me the opportunity to see what it was like to work as a consultant for community organizations - which I parlayed into my first business - consulting.

Q:  You’re a Board Member at Women Venture and St. Croix Preparatory Academy. Have these experiences helped you as an entrepreneur? Are you mentoring other business start-ups?

A:  Serving on both boards has been both fulfilling and educational. Seeing how other entities structure things has definitely informed decisions I have made as I have grown Tierra. With Women Venture, I also am on one of the two loan committees. It is very inspiring to see entrepreneurs bring their ideas to be considered for funding, and I feel honored I get to be a small part of their journey to entrepreneurship. I have had a number of entrepreneurs over the past few years that I have shared ideas and guidance with to help support them in growing their business. 

Q:  What are your daily habits? I’m sure that I’m not the only person who wants to know how you accomplish so much in a 24-hour period.

A:  It's a bit hard to get into a routine with how busy I am - though I do try to! I try to get any large projects or tasks completed first thing in the morning and aim to keep my email under 100 if I can. I typically work 12-14 hours a day, so I try to plan ahead with healthy meals when I can and I make it a priority to work out 5 days a week. We have a gym at our corporate office, so that helps! Scaling a company means many long days, but if it is something you are passionate about, then it doesn't feel so much like work!

Q:  We wish you many continued years of business success! How may we stay up to date with your news? 

A:  Thank you! You can follow me on LinkedIn and also Tierra Encantada on Facebook and Instagram.

Tour the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center!

After a hiatus due to COVID-19, Hennepin County is again offering facility tours at the Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center (HERC) waste-to-energy facility. HERC is a waste-to-energy facility where waste is received and burned to generate steam for the downtown district energy system and electricity sold to Xcel Energy. Tours describe how the plant works and fits within the county’s solid waste management system to divert waste from landfills.

• Tour participants must be 14 years of age or older.
• Masks are optional. (Masks are available at HERC for participants that do not bring their own.)

Tours for Groups

Please complete the HERC tour request form to request a tour for a group of five to 16 people. Due to safety precautions related to COVID-19, tours to groups of more than 16 people are not available at this time. Protecting the health of tour participants and HERC’s operating staff is critical to maintaining the waste and energy infrastructure.

Outdoor tour option: to request a tour that is 100% outdoors, list “outdoor tour” when providing your goal for visiting the facility. Note that outdoor tours will not enter the HERC facility. 

Tours for individuals or groups with less than five people

Complete the HERC tour sign up form to sign up for a slot during pre-scheduled tours of the HERC facility. This option should be used for groups of less than five participants. New date options will be added regularly. You will be contacted by a Hennepin County staff person when your slot is confirmed with additional information, including how to access the facility the day of the tour.

Take a virtual tour

Watch a video about HERC (YouTube) to learn more about how waste is managed in the county and how HERC converts waste to energy.