Public Art Installation at Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District up for a Prestigious CODAaward - Your Vote Can Help Them Win!

A public art installation in the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District is among the top 100 finalists for a prestigious CODAaward; given to those who successfully integrate commissioned art into interior, architectural or public spaces. From June 18 - 30, public voting is open! The two artworks that receive the most votes will receive a People’s Choice CODAaward.

The centerpiece of this historic Minneapolis building’s lobby is the atrium art installation. It is a sculpture designed to evoke the image of flour falling from a sifter in homage to one of the local historic industries. This delicate installation consists of nearly 200 strands that are 100 feet in length with a series of bronzed and stainless metallic square elements within the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis, a conversion of the historic Advance Thresher/Emerson-Newton building from office to hotel by DLR Group.

CODAworx is a creative online platform that connects artists, de­sign­ers, and fabricators with municipalities and developers who commission artwork. The organization continues an active presence in shaping public arts in the U.S. and around the world. Their annual CODAawards is an international competition given to those to excel in integrating commissioned artwork into interior, architecture, and/or public spaces. Design categories include Landscape, Residential, Healthcare, Commercial, Institutional, Liturgical, Public Spaces, Transportation, Hospitality, and Education. Cindy Allen (EIC, Interior Design), Malene Barnett (Founder, Black Artists + Designers Guild), and Frances Bronet (President, Pratt Institute in New York City), are among the eighteen jurors, who have spent weeks reviewing and scoring all 374 entries to narrow down the Top 100. They will agree on one winner in each category to create the 2021 CODAawards winners circle, in addition to the two People’s Choice CODAawardees that the general public will select.

Mill District Artist Kathleen Franzen Featured in Book Illustrating Minnesota's Threatened Boreal Forest

Mill District resident Kathleen Franzen is one of 10 Minnesota botanical artists featured in Art on the Edge of the Boreal Forest: Alternative Futures for the trees, birds and insects, a science and art book including articles by Lee Frelich, Ph.D., director of The Center of Forest Ecology at the University and Gerald J. Niemi, Ph.D. and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology, University of Minnesota-Duluth.

The book includes 83 renditions of original art. In addition to Kathleen, the Minnesota botanical artists include Vicki Barth, Wendy Brockman, Marj Davis, Nancy Gehrig, Debra Greenblatt, Julie Martinez, Mary Anne O'Malley, Kathy Reeves, and Bruce Wilson. Their work highlights specific aspects of 10 trees of the boreal forest identified by Lee Frelich that are undergoing slow and silent but significant change due to disturbances caused by fire, invasive insects and stressful climate conditions.

Threatened birds of the boreal forest were identified by Gerald J. Niemi. Insects associated with the trees of the boreal forest were identified by Jana Albers, DNR Forest Health Specialist. 

Art on the Edge of the Boreal Forest is available online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and BookBaby. Sales proceeds go to The Center of Forest Ecology and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth.

SINGULA Exhibit at Gamut Gallery Opens July 16 Featuring Muralists from Mexico, Chicago and Mpls

Via a recent e-announcement from Gamut Gallery

Singula (adj.) derives from the Latin word, singulus, meaning single or separate; each one being individually unique and particular, possessing its own essence. As individuals experiencing and interpreting distinct realities– from our physical surroundings to our imaginations deep within the subconscious realm; Singula honors the distinguishable and rare elements that continuously shape our identity and understanding of the world.  

Singula is curated by Rodrigo Oñate and features muralists he has invited from Mexico, Chicago and Minneapolis, all whom incorporate whimsical characters and dream-like imagery to explore their cultural origins and storytelling practices that embolden critical connections across identities. Through a combination of colors, textures and intricate shapes and figures, this collection of muralists reveres the accessibility of public spaces to create vibrant and eclectic works that connect directly with the community. By highlighting everyday human experiences and marginalized narratives, this exhibition affirms street art is a powerful form of expression and solidarity among communities, stimulating the imagination and activism necessary for transformative change. 

We hope this work engages the viewer to reflect upon their own innermost identities and the dreams that we carry with us throughout our lifetime. This Summer, we invite you to enter the gallery filled with environments most commonly found in our flights of fantasy.

MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT:

Thursday, July 15 / 6-8pm
Meet & greet with Twin Cities with curator & artist Rodrigo Oñate 

Reserve your spot or become a member today!!
• Memberships required, book your FREE pre-sale today
• Members may purchase a guest pass to bring a friend for $7

PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT:

Friday, July 16 / 6-9pm • $7, FREE for members
Singula will feature muralists Los Calladitos, 2MIL, Lelo Zaa and Roco Drilo from Mexico, (sub)urban warrior, Liz Flores and Elloo from Chicago, Chuck U and Joy Spika from Minneapolis, all whom incorporate whimsical characters and dream-like imagery. Curated by Rodrigo Oñate aka Roco Drilo.
• Pre-sales available and recommended • Entry will be available at the door

Elliot Park Art Walk & Makers Market

Saturday, July 24 / 11am - 3pm • $6.50
Tour times at 11:30pm, 12:30 pm, 1:30pm & 2:30pm with Live painting in Gamut's Courtyard.
FREE pop-up makers market at Gamut featuring Twin Cities Makers and Icy Icy Baby shaved ice treat truck!

Experience historic Elliot Park neighborhood through a comedian-led tour from the Theater of Public Policy. Learn fun facts about the neighborhood, check out historic landmarks, and explore experiences in the Elliot Park Arts Quarter featuring Gamut Gallery, Fades Of Gray Inc. Bee Ink Tattoo, Rose Salon & Segue Coffee Shop.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

The creation of characters and fantastic worlds are the universe that defines the work of Rodrigo Oñate (Roco Drilo). Originally from the city of Queretaro, Mexico, Roco embarked on his career as a self-taught plastic and graphic artist, influenced by the pop culture of the 80s, comics, graffiti and various artists representing Mexican art. By extracting himself from his context and looking at it from the outside, he found a better appreciation and understanding of Latin American culture, thus conceiving a style with a contemporary and modern vision of Latino folklore, mixing techniques that since his career have gained great relevance as in graffiti or pop art. 

Los Calladitos (The Silent Ones) was founded in 2015 by Ariadna Galaz and Jorge Peralta. When Ari and Jorge began working together they gave themselves Los Calladitos as a nickname because they believed that the work is more valuable than words. Passionate about their work and improving the environment through art, Los Calladitos creates unique characters based on legends, myths or real people representing the communities they visit, encouraging the viewer to be a part of their own community. Currently, they are painting murals around Latin America and helping communities through art education, and hosting workshops. Their studio is located in the quiet colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Creator and promoter of street art in Mexico, LELO is known for his colorful artwork, in small and large format, using spray, acrylic, latex paint and natural pigments. In his art, Juárez explores and recreates the worldview of native towns, with elements of his personal identity. He uses street art and graffiti as techniques of orality and image, aimed to build a universal language. His work continues to revolve around the worldview and cultural context of the native towns; articulated with the medical background he acquired at the veterinary school. In this way, he combines empirical and scientific knowledge.  

2MIL is a Mexican street artist, born in Morelia, Michoacán. He has dedicated his work to the appropriation of urban spaces with muralsl since 2015. With a varied and eclectic style, he represents through Mexican folklore an iconic character of his work, a personal reinterpretation of the torito de petate dance, one of the most traditional emblems of Morelia.

Elloo is a Chicago based artist who is known for her bright colored compositions. Her work is inspired by her love for sweets, subconscious memories and fairytales. Her bright colored characters are a blend of her imagination and dark dream-like scenes. Behind every piece she creates: Life is Sweet. Currently, she resides in Pilsen and continues to paint from her imagination bringing her characters to real life. Her main focus is to create a body of work that is unique and that allows the viewer to dig into their subconscious and develop their own interpretations of what they see.

Liz Flores is a painter and muralist based in Chicago. Her work experiments with how the human condition—with its interplay between emotion and memory—can be represented abstractly. She engages everyday human experience and the female body by using shape, color and the human form as a mode of visual storytelling.  Her mural work can be found throughout the Chicagoland Area and New York City. In addition to working with private and commercial clients, her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Chicago and is driven by her interests in womanhood, belonging and inner life.

(sub)urban warrior is an artist from the suburbs of Chicago, who views each piece as an opportunity to share her passion with the surrounding communities, and to leave something behind that will be thought provoking, emotionally significant, and mentally stimulating to the viewer. Influenced greatly by nature, something that is very relatable to all walks of life, (sub)urban warrior combines multiple creatures and sometimes humans in a whimsical playful way that oftentimes exudes an ethereal feeling. Her original creations are called beasties, all knowing omnipotent beings that are eternal and roam the earth, bringing a message of love and strength and stability to those around them. While her characters are known for their sweet nature and strong presence, incorporating bright colors and vibrant tones communicate a joyful message that is uplifting and smile inducing.

Joy Spika is a black identifying artist with a mixed cultural background. She incorporates her personal stories into all of her work. She is a mixed media artist with a deep love for aerosol murals, painting, and textile art, who believes in the power of art to heal and connect people. From a young age she has used art as a fundamental form of expression and communication. Joy finds Inspiration through her intuitive understanding of the world around her and those things that aren’t always visible. Joy uses her art as a channel to retrieve messages from her ancestors and guides. Art has always been her primary spirituality. The characters she creates are often exaggerated or dream-like versions of her current emotions and still images of what her internal life looks like. In this show she is featuring paintings that have her deep truths hidden in them through symbols and the characters she creates. She wants to hold space for the complicated and non-monolithic nature of the lives of BIPOC, fat, femme and alternative humans. 

Chuck U is a painter, illustrator and muralist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who specializes in whimsical yet intricate works that celebrate the unusual and unexpected. His pieces are populated with fanciful flora, fauna and unusual landscapes that are playful yet masterful and aim to spark imagination and joy in the viewer. Chuck’s prints utilize a combination of traditional pen and ink technique with digital coloring applications that are printed digitally or as limited edition screen prints. His paintings and murals are approached with a similar sensibility but take on a life of their own transporting the viewer with scale, color, and the skillful line work that has become his signature.

GALLERY & GIFT SHOP OPEN HOURS 

FREE open hours: Wednesday - Friday, 11am - 6pm; Saturday 11am - 4pm

Gamut Gallery is open without capacity restrictions for in-person viewing of the exhibition. We are available by appointment, please request an appointment 48 hours in advance. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for further details and information regarding the event.

Mill City Museum Welcomes Back Visitors with New Programs

Via a June 18 e-announcement from the Minnesota Historical Society:

Programs offered outdoors and in Mill Commons as museum gallery remains temporarily closed

“What Makes Minneapolis, Minneapolis?” is a series of programs designed to engage visitors in the historical and contemporary identity of the city. The programs will be offered during the summer and fall of 2021 while the museum gallery remains temporarily closed.

Held in outdoor spaces including the Ruin Courtyard and indoors in the Mill Commons lobby, the programs include a participatory exhibit, performances, walking tours, drop-in family programs and more:

• Open Courtyard Family Days, June 19-20, July 10-11, Aug. 14-15 and Sept. 11-12
  A drop-in family program with hands-on activities, take home craft projects, a participatory exhibit, puppet show and more. Free.

• “Minneapolis is…” Participatory Exhibit, July through September
  Share what Minneapolis means to you and be inspired by others with this participatory exhibit offered during the Open Courtyard Family Days and other select events. Free. 

• The Theater of Public Policy Performances, July 30 and Aug. 28
  Two performances, each with a different theme and featuring an expert who will share a Minneapolis history topic followed by improvisational comedy. $15.

• Guided Tours, weekends, July through September
  Each weekend a different tour (walking and bicycle) will be offered: Minneapolis Riverfront, Historic Main Street, Worker History, and Codswallop: Fact vs. Fiction. $14-20.

• Soul of the Cities Performance, Aug. 12
  The Avant Garde presents a concert featuring premiere talent from the Twin Cities rhythm and blues, and soul scenes. $15.

Tickets for events with a fee will be available beginning July 1. Visit www.millcitymuseum.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

In addition, Mill City Museum will play host for local theater companies in June, July and August including Collide Theatrical Dance Company, Rough Magic Performance Company and Off-Leash Area this summer. Visit their websites for show information and ticketing. 

The Mill City Museum gallery remains temporarily closed while MNHS works on reopening plans. 

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. Visit us at mnhs.org.

Mark Twain in the Mill City

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Mark Twain, 1883Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, Samuel Clemens, more commonly known as Mark Twain, rose to celebrity status throughout America and the world.

Growing up in the river town of Hannibal, Missouri, he fell in love with the Mississippi, which became the setting for many of his stories such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. One of his more famous works of non-fiction is his memoir Life on the Mississippi where he recounted his time on the Mighty Mississippi from his young adulthood in Missouri to contemporary times.

To get a better feel of how the river has changed, he embarked on a riverboat journey from St. Louis to New Orleans, then up to Minneapolis where he witnessed the rapid growth of our great city.

The steamboat "Minneapolis" taken in 1870

In late May of 1882, Mark Twain travelled up the river from Iowa to St. Paul in the steamboat “Minneapolis,” and was greeted by thirty-seven-degree weather. Some things don’t seem to change. After taking in the sites of St. Paul, he continued upstream to St. Anthony Falls. Here he noted the beauty of the river bluffs, which are the only bluffs on the entire Mississippi, by saying “where the rough broken turreted rocks stand up against a sky above the steep verdant slope, they are inexpressibly rich and mellow in color — soft dark brown mingled with dull green — the very place to make an artist worship.” During this trek up to Minneapolis, he also noticed other rivercraft filled with families making their way upstream looking for a fresh start.

Once Mark Twain reached Minneapolis, he quickly observed the prosperity of the city and made the claim that “the Siamese twins would eventually rival in prestige and numbers the metropolis at the other end of the great waterway, New Orleans.” This prediction was not wrong. According to 2017 estimates, the cites of New Orleans and Minneapolis have populations of 401,221 and 422,331 respectively, while the metro areas of New Orleans and the Twin Cites have populations of 1,262,888 and 3,551,036. The evidence Mark Twain saw to make such a claim was the many mills, schools, railroads, and newspapers, as well has the up and coming University of Minnesota, as it was “not confined to enlightening the one sex.” This is praise that would make anyone proud of their city. While he noted the rapid success of Minneapolis, he also took in the natural beauty of the Twin Cities and took trips to Minnehaha Falls and White Bear Lake.

The only other time Mark Twain visited Minneapolis was four years later in 1886 when he and his daughters travelled from Buffalo, New York to Keokuk, Iowa to visit his aging mother. Intending to have a relaxing visit in Minneapolis, he arrived via train from Duluth with the press and paparazzi waiting for him at the train station and hotel. He tried his best to give the reporters what they wanted, but he did not have the same energy he had four years earlier. During his visit, he drove around the city with his daughters and stopped at Minnehaha Falls once again to take in its beauty one last time before departing downstream to Keokuk.

The man who brought the Mississippi River into popular culture had only good things to say about the Twin Cities and Minneapolis, except for maybe the weather, but who can really blame him for that? I can write about how great and important various spots of our city are, but it’s tough to know what it was really like. Pictures can only do so much, but when one of our country’s greatest authors is impressed by our city and predicted its growth and prosperity, that adds another layer of evidence that Minneapolis’ ability to impress tourists with its beauty and success started from day one.

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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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 5+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Feedback Requested for NIEBNA Placemaking Project - Deadline is July 1

UPDATE: Deadline extended! You can request a survey thru August 3, 2021. All feedback must be sent back to NIEBNA by midnight on August 8, 2021.

Via a June 17 e-announcement from Nicollet Island-East Bank Neighborhood Association

Your input matters!

The Nicollet Island-East Bank Neighborhood Association's (NIEBNA) Board of Directors invites all residents, business owners and property owners in the neighborhood to review 4 concepts to name the "East Bank" portion of our neighborhood. To learn more about this project, and to review the 4 design concepts, please visit: www.niebna.org/placemaking

All residents, business owners and property owners who live or operate in the NIEBNA neighborhood are automatic members of the association. After members review the concepts, they can confirm their membership and request an official survey by filling out this form.

Once completed and verified, you will receive an email (form) from NIEBNA within 2 business days that will allow you to submit comments.

You can request a survey from June 17 - June 24, 2021. All feedback must be sent back to NIEBNA by July 1, 2021.

If you have any questions or comments about this project, please contact NIEBNA Executive Director, Chris Lautenschlager, at chris@niebna.org.

Minneapolis Police Precinct 1 Update

E-announcment sent as a courtesy for Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) Department of the City of Minneapolis:

Crime prevention team transitioning to Neighborhood & Community Relations June 28

The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) Department would like to announce that MPD’s Crime Prevention Specialists, who have been an integral part of the MPD for over thirty years, will officially transition to the City’s NCR Department on Monday, June 28, 2021. Crime Prevention Specialists are being transferred to NCR at the direction of the City Council.  

Since January 2021, NCR staff have worked closely with Chief Arradondo, Deputy Chief Waite and Deputy Chief Fors to ensure that the Crime Prevention Specialists will have access to the technology they need to perform their numerous responsibilities. This includes conducting premise surveys, offering block leader trainings, providing crime statistics, participating in weekly MSTAT meetings with law enforcement and participating in crime prevention strategies. In addition, stakeholders will continue to see Crime Prevention Specialists educating the community about public safety and at community and neighborhood association meetings and related events. 

The direct supervision of the Crime Prevention Specialists will transition to NCR Crime Prevention Team Manager Jose Velez. He can be reached at jose.velez@minneapolismn.gov.

West River Parkway Closures, June 18 - 20

Please note the following West River Parkway closures for this weekend:

US Paralympic Cycling Team Trials

Friday, June 18, 9am - 2pm

Saturday, June 19, 6am – 3pm

West River Parkway, Portland to 46th Avenue S

Stone Arch Bridge Festival

Friday, June 18, 9am to Sunday, June 20, 9pm

West River Parkway from 4th Avenue N to Portland Avenue

Tipton-Hammond Arts Celebrates Grand Opening in the Northrup King Building on June 19

Northup King Building welcomes it's newest gallery, Tipton-Hammond Arts

Opening celebration is Saturday, June 19, from 12-4pm, featuring live music by Brian Forehand

.

Local artists Beverly Tipton-Hammond and A. Drew Hammond are hosting a gallery opening of their artwork at Northrup King Building, #261, on Saturday, June 19th from 12-4pm.

Beverly and Drew were commissioned by the Minnesota African American Museum and Gallery in Minneapolis to participate in the creation of the Black Lives Matter mural. Additionally, this dynamic duo has artwork exhibited in The Absence of Justice exhibit at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery.  Drew’s art was selected for Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Art Connects Us billboard initiative last year.

City Center Welcomes New Tenants

Via a June 15 Press Release fom Ryan Companies

As COVID-19 mandates ease up and workers start returning to their downtown offices, new storefronts are emerging. Ryan Companies US, Inc. is excited to announce several new tenants at City Center. 

“Just over a year ago, the vibrancy of downtown crowds and traffic came to a halt. We had no idea what to expect in the months that followed,” said Jim Durda, general manager at City Center. “Now, we’re ready to welcome people back, along with some exciting new businesses. This is just the beginning of more good news to come.” 

*  *  *  NOW OPEN  *  *  *

Bell Bank, Suite 265

Bell Bank opened its first full-service downtown Minneapolis location in City Center, and leaders of the company – one of the nation’s largest family-and-employee-owned banks – are eager to be part of the revitalization and continued development in the heart of Minneapolis. Offering a full range of banking and financial services and guidance, Bell is built on a unique “bottom line” focused not on dollars and cents, but on “happy employees. happy customers.” Bell’s team of experienced bankers anticipates welcoming downtown customers who want to connect with a bank they will love. And the team is gearing up to host appreciation and meet-and-greet events on its Nicollet-view terrace and in its unique Champions Club – which spotlights Bell Champions including Ben Leber, Lindsay Whalen, Chris Hawkey, Gavin Kaysen and Marney Gellner.

Chase Bank, Suite 242

One of Chase’s newest branch locations in the Twin Cities is now open at the corner of Nicollet Mall and Seventh Street South with convenient second floor skyway access. “Despite the challenges of the past year, we never wavered on our commitment to downtown Minneapolis,” said Branch Manager Emily Johnson. “We opened last November and have been open every day since, welcoming all customers, no appointment necessary.” Chase proudly serves nearly half of America’s households with a broad range of financial services including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans and payment processing. Customers can choose how and where they want to bank: More than 4,700 branches in 39 states and the District of Columbia, 16,000 ATMs, mobile, online and by phone. For more information and to find other Twin Cities Chase branch and ATM locations, go to chase.com.

*  *  *  COMING SOON  *  *  *

Bad Axe Throwing, Suite 103

The world's largest axe throwing company Bad Axe Throwing is opening its second Minneapolis location at City Center. This will be the company’s third largest location in the country and will feature 24 targets and a full bar. Bad Axe Throwing will host competitive leagues, birthday parties, bachelor/ bachelorette parties, and corporate and team building events. Its mission is to bring the thrill of a traditional Canadian backyard pastime to urban communities. Expanding to over 35 locations in six years, the company has brought axe throwing to over a million people across Canada, U.S. and U.K. Opening fall 2021.

Tom’s Watch Bar, Suite 101

Tom’s Watch Bar is opening its first Minneapolis location at City Center. Founded in 2014, Toms Watch Bar defines the ultimate sports watching entertainment experience. Promising “All the Sports, All the Time”, Toms Watch Bar’s highly curated sports programming covers all sports, from collegiate to professional to international, big events and prize fights, even emerging obscure and outrageous sports. Toms Watch Bar’s central oversized “stadium” screen, surrounded by hundreds of screens provides 360-degree viewing, making every seat at Toms the best seat in the house. Sports fans have to option to enjoy premium sound or personalize their sound and listen to the play-by-play for their favorite game. Toms Watch Bar’s menu features high quality versions of traditional sports bar fare coupled with contemporary options to satisfy any and every hungry sports fan. Opening 2022.

City Center is a 51-story, 1.6 million square foot office and retail complex located in the heart of the Minneapolis 64-square-block skyway system. Last June 2020, the retail building revealed a $3 million façade renovation and in January 2021, was the largest property in Minnesota to earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation by the United States Green Building Council. Ryan’s Real Estate Management provides management and building services to City Center. The company now manages more than 16 million square feet of property across the country including 9 million square feet in Minnesota.

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About Ryan Companies US, Inc.

Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies offers comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, architect, capital investment consultant, builder and real estate manager with a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works. Ryan market depth includes retail, industrial, healthcare and senior living. Ryan development and corporate build-to-suit work spans a wide range of product types including office, mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily housing and mission critical facilities. Ryan has nearly 1,600 employees in 15 offices and has completed projects in 39 states. For more information, visit ryancompanies.com.

Episode 10 of Milling About With Brianna Rose airs June 17

Article by Becky Fillinger

Brianna RoseMore great local content is coming your way with this month’s episode of Milling About with Brianna Rose! The show will first air on June 17 at 8PM on MCN6, and replays for a month every Thursday and Friday at 8PM and Monday and Tuesday at 5PM. The June show will introduce you to some fabulous people:

• Fancy Ray McCloney, also known as the best-lookin' man in comedy! In this fun interview you'll hear about how he got his start in comedy, his move to TV shows and commercials, and what made him decide to start officiating weddings. This interview will definitely bring a smile to your face.

• Chris Lautenschlager, Executive Director of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, takes us through the geography and familiar landmarks of this vibrant neighborhood. Learn about well known, and not so well known, places to visit, as well as the various projects the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association organizes.

• Author Jamie Schumacher introduces us to her new book, Butterflies and Tall Bikes, which tells the story of the West Bank Business Association.

• Our local historian, Michael Rainville, Jr. discusses the work he did for his qualifying paper for his masters degree in Art History at the University of St. Thomas. In this interview he takes us through the history and architectural style of two local institutions – The Grain Belt Brewery and The Schmidt Brewery. You'll appreciate these 100+ year old buildings even more after hearing their stories.

• Audrey Liquard describes the benefits - to our food chain and your wallet - of purchasing fruits and vegetables with bruises or other blemishes – a great #ZeroWasteLifestyle tip!

Milling About with Brianna Rose is a production of Mill City Times, and we cover topics of interest to our readers. We focus on local entertainers, small businesses, leaders, neighborhood stories, Mississippi River connections, local food producers and history - and we are open to suggestions! Please email host Brianna Rose at brianna@millcitymedia.org to suggest ideas or to be a guest on the show.

June 14 Third Avenue Bridge Project Photos by Doug Verdier

Editors Note: We are immensely thankful to Mill District resident Doug Verdier, who did an excellent job documenting the Water Works project through to fruition, and continues to document the Third Avenue Bridge refurbishment project.

Lots of activity on the pier and beneath the supporting components of the 3rd Avenue Bridge next to the West River Parkway bike and pedestrian path:

Mill City Farmers Market Vendor, Lost Capital Foods, Wins Big at International Hot Sauce Competition ZestFest 2021

Via a June 12 Press Release

Minnesota shines at the nation’s longest running hot sauce competition ZestFest 2021 as Lost Capital Foods brings home 5 awards

The Fiery Food Challenge is the longest‑running, most prestigious competition of zesty products in the industry. Held at ZestFest in Irving, TX every year the challenge invites hot, spicy, and zesty foods to be submitted by businesses vying for the coveted Golden Chile Award – one of only two major “fiery” food awards in the United States.

Lost Capital Foods took home 5 awards at this year’s competition. Three of their hot sauces, (Another Bad Investment, Pyramid Scheme and Consider the Sauce) took ribbons in their respective categories as well as their spicy pub mustard (Economics Coarse) and recently released hot honey (Bear Market). Lost Capital was not the only company representing Minnesota at this year’s competition. Other local makers receiving awards in their separate categories this year were Singh’s Caribbean Heat, Facepunch Foods and Folly Coffee for the sauce featuring one of their signature roasts. Minnesota is certainly a formidable opponent on the national fiery food scene and has shown the field that “Minnesota Hot” has taken on new meaning as these four local companies took home a total of 14 awards from the competition this year.

When asked about his experience at ZestFest, DJ Bocchetti, cofounder of Lost Capital Foods, had this to say, “Honestly, it was just exciting to hear our name called out next to some of the leaders of the industry. There are a lot of great makers up in Minnesota and we couldn’t be happier to come down to Texas and represent them the way we did.”

Lost Capital Foods has made a name for themselves with their clean label fermented hot sauces and their luxurious flavor profiles. Formed in 2017 by a husband-and-wife team along with their longtime friend and business partner, their clean label fermented sauces can be found around the state at Lunds & Byerlys, select Hy-vees, local co-ops and soon at Jerry’s Foods stores. They are highly active at the area’s outdoor markets, most notably Mill City and East Isles Farmer’s Markets and can also be found showcasing their award-winning products at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival June 19-20 on the west bank of the Mississippi River. For a full calendar of Lost Capital’s upcoming events check out their website https://www.lostcapitalfoods.com.

Small Business Spotlight: Kenneth Scales, CEO, BowTie Billionaire

Article by Becky Fillinger

Kenneth ScalesI don’t know about you, but I see beards everywhere. Meet Kenneth Scales, CEO of BowTie Billionaire and provider of best-in-class beard care products. (Check out a special offer for Mill City Times readers - details listed at the end of this article.)

Q:  Let’s start with your Father’s Day offerings – please tell us about your BowTie Billionaire gift packages.    

A:  Yes – a great place to start! Aside from all of our amazing product offerings that can be purchased à la carte, we have two featured packages. The first is our intro beard care kit we call our Billi-Pack. It features our best-selling Billion Beard oil called Southern Blvd., our fresh Beard shampoo with the perfect combination of peppermint and tea tree oil, our star-studded Beard Balm which helps tame the beard (which doubles as a conditioner) and last but not least, our Billi-comb which helps style the beard.

The Billi-Pack

Second, we have our Billi-Box Elite, which features all of our greatest hits from our three types of Billion Beard oil, shampoo, beard comb, Beard brush and beard balm. Any father with a beard would love either package.

Billi-Box Elite

Q:  Your website says that Billionaire BowTie represents the excellence within that you portray to the world. What does that mean to you?

 A:  I believe we all have greatness inside of us, sometimes we allow fear to over shadow our true light. We are reminding everyone that the face we present to the world represents the excellence inside of us and our products allow what you portray to the world to be a reflection of that excellence.

Q:  In the beginning days of your business, you consulted with your grandmother on natural products for beards and haircare. Does your family still advise the business? 

A: Absolutely! My family planted many seeds in this amazing company. I periodically consult them on new products that I and my business partner, Brian, dream up and make happen. I still talk to my grandmother almost weekly and pick her brain. Mostly I'm asking her about her generation and how health and beauty products changed over the years.

Q:  Please tell us about your plans to offer entrepreneurial workshops to community youth.   

A:  Yes, it has always been our passion to give back to the community, especially to the youth. Since we started business five years ago, we have unofficially mentored youthpreneurs from food, services, to fashion. We are in the process of creating a mini bootcamp for youth to help discover their hidden entrepreneurial spirit or maximize what they're already doing. We are looking to launch this summer.

Q:  Please keep us posted on the bootcamps. Where may we purchase your products? How may we follow your news?   

 A:  Customers may purchase our products via our website, and can follow our latest news on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. *Please note:  For Mill City Times readers we are offering 10% off Billi-Box Elite and Billi-Pack with promo code MCT2021. Offer runs until June 30th and includes free shipping on all orders.*

Local Artist: Presley Martin

Article by Becky Fillinger

Presley MartinHow do you view plastic pollution in our waterways?  Environmental artist Presley Martin has the unique ability to create art from the detritus polluting the Mississippi River – created in an effort to help us think about the vast amount of plastic waste traveling through storm drains, tributaries and into the Mississippi River – and eventually into the ocean. 

Q:  Presley, one of your artist bio statements says you incorporate invasive species and animals into your works to give different perspectives on the natural world. Please tell us more about this notion.

A:  Part of my interest in invasive species is simply material. I want to collect and use local plants in my artwork, but most parks prohibit plant collection. I think it's summed up well by a response I got from a park ranger in California when I asked if I could collect some plants from the park for an art project. They said that there was no collecting of plants allowed in the park, but when I said what about fennel (an invasive plant in CA) they said go ahead and take as much fennel as you want.

I think the general narrative in our culture regarding nature is that it's fragile and we need to protect it except when it comes to certain species we call invasive/non-native. When talking about invasives, militaristic language is often used - waging war, etc. For example, I did a project with buckthorn, an infamous local invasive tree that is the focus of an incredible amount of aggression and hateful language. I photographed flowering buckthorn covered in many species of bees and honeybees. I’m sure a delicious honey came from that buckthorn. When bees are losing habitat and losing numbers, maybe buckthorn trees covered in bees is a positive thing that we should not try to get rid of. Part of my project made ink from the buckthorn berries. Buckthorn was used for painting in Europe for centuries before more modern pigments replaced it. I hope viewers of the buckthorn project and other invasive species projects will ask questions that challenge their commonly held assumptions about invasive species.

Q:  You've put together the A Field Guide to Plastic of the Mississippi River. I appreciate your humor in the naming of your guide. What do you hope people do with the information you've compiled?

A:  Thank you for appreciating the humor. I hope the field guide will show people heading to the river some things they can find that they might have overlooked. I hope it sparks some curiosity about plastic pollution so that maybe someone will be inspired to go and collect plastic from the river and look for some of the objects that I highlight in the field guide. I think if we can see some of the trash as an interesting object to search for - instead of a knee jerk "gross" - then maybe more plastic will be collected from our shores. We tend to think of trash and garbage as one monolithic thing, but the reality is many different objects, some of which can be quite beautiful.

Q:  What is the Foam Project?   

A:  The Foam Project is my ongoing project to collect and document the different types of foam in the Mississippi River. One form it takes at art shows is an installation (usually in a circle) of individual pieces of foam perched atop dowels or sticks from a few inches to four feet above the floor. Many of the pieces look like rocks so viewers often do a double take when they see a rock on the end of a thin piece of wood. This often leads viewers to find their own sense of curiosity and investigate the project further. Since the project is ongoing, the foam collection is growing and the installation gets larger each time I show it. It's now over 5,000 pieces of foam. Photographs are part of the foam project too. I document the more interesting pieces and also document the diversity of similar objects (see the Feral Peanuts of the Mississippi, pictured below).

98% Air installed at Lake Hiawatha for This is Ours show in 2018. Created from found polystyrene foam and wood. 144" diameter, 1500 pieces. (It has grown to 5000 pieces since then!)

Q:  You've taught intro to ceramics, hand-building, and wheel throwing in the past. Do you still dabble in ceramics, either as a teacher or an artist?

A:  I still love ceramics! Restaurants lose stars if they don't use ceramic dishes in my reviews. Recently the only art I'm making with clay are cups cast from Styrofoam cups that I find in the river (see Foam Project.) I find lots of Styrofoam cups that have been run over by cars so they have tire tread impressions on one side and pebbly road impressions on the other. I make a plaster mold of the cup and then slip cast a ceramic cup.  

Q:  Presley, where may we see your artwork?    

A:  I'll be showing two foam works at Many Waters: A Minnesota Biennial opening July 24th. This is from the show description: "A number of artists use found materials drawn from daily walks or other creative rituals. Presley Martin’s sculptural installation, for example, is made up of hundreds of pieces of foam he often first mistakes for natural materials and collects from the Mississippi." I'll also be doing several plastic collection tours at the River this summer and fall. The first one will be June 26th. People that come out will get a Field Guide. Information will be on my website. 

Q:  The Field Guide is a wonderful incentive! How may we follow your news?

A:  Please follow me at presleymartin.com or Instagram.

"Downtown Thursdays" Features Activities and Events all Summer in Downtown

Via a June 10 Press Release from the mpls downtown council

Enjoy mpls downtown this summer with activities and programming taking place throughout our city’s core. With more workers returning to office and patrons to events, activities and patios alike, downtown’s reanimation continues each week.

Throughout the summer, there will be free events and programs happening that will add to your collective experiences. Headlined by Downtown Thursdays—which features the Nicollet Farmer’s + Maker’s markets, music, patio fun and more—downtown has many can’t-miss activities to check out on breaks, after work, or before a planned outing.

Visit www.mplsdowntown.com for information on Downtown Thursdays, walking tours, green spaces, what’s new, a full calendar of events and more.

“Downtown is ready for us to fully embrace the experiences and moments we enjoyed pre-pandemic,” said Steve Cramer, president & ceo of the mpls downtown council and Mpls Downtown Improvement District. “Each week Downtown Thursdays will be a full day of activities throughout downtown—from your morning commute to your after-work happy hour. And there are more activities throughout the week. We have a vibrant, resilient community, and we are ready to dive back into those moments we missed over the past 15 months.”

This summer’s weekly downtown events and programming will include: 

• Downtown Thursdays  |  Nicollet Farmers Market & Makers Market, Nicollet closed to bus route 6 am – 3 pm, MNSpin concerts, lawn games, Upper Lock & Dam Tours, Paddle Share promotions, Target Free Thursday Nights at Walker Art Museum, movies at Target Field Station, programming at The Commons, Twins games, various happy hour specials and programming at downtown restaurants and bars, and more
• Pianos on Parade presented by PNC Bank
• Peavey Plaza programming

“Summer is here, and there is nothing better than enjoying a patio before or after your favorite events,” said Ryan Petz, CEO of Fulton Beer. “We love being part of the downtown community nearby all the fantastic events and venues you can’t find anywhere else. Our taproom is thrilled to see downtown’s reanimation and love welcoming our patrons to enjoy summer together.”

Pre-pandemic, downtown welcomed 218,000 workers daily and millions of visitors annually. Today, with 53,000 downtown residents, over 26 percent of downtown’s workforce already returned with more coming this summer through fall, and stadiums, restaurants and entertainment venues preparing for full capacity, downtown is ready and able to accommodate its continued reanimation.

“We very much look forward returning to our downtown office,” said Meike Hengelfelt, CenterPoint Energy Strategic Marketing Manager. “We are so excited to be back in person with our colleagues to work collaboratively but also to enjoy downtown and all it has to offer – the Farmers Market on Nicollet Mall, spending the lunch hour by Peavey Plaza fountains, a summer evening on one of the beautiful downtown patios and so much more. Collectively, we are the ones who make downtown and we look forward to creating new experiences and making it an even better place for all this summer.”

Enjoy Downtown Thursdays all summer

Downtown is the place to be each Thursday this summer! Take in the Nicollet Farmers Market and Nicollet Makers Market from 6 am-2 pm. At Peavey Plaza, enjoy MNSpin live music (12-1 pm), free lawn games (11:30 am-1:30 pm), and piano performances (5-6 pm). The Mississippi Park Connection is offering Lock and Dam tours plus 10 percent off paddle share tickets. The Walker Art Center has its Target Free Thursday Nights from 5-9 pm. Plus, enjoy summer evenings with Happy Hours at our fantastic downtown restaurant scene. There will be special events and activities throughout the summer.

Pianos on Parade presented by PNC Bank returns

Pianos on Parade presented by PNC Bank return this summer with an extended run and includes pianos placed throughout downtown June through August. This year’s pianos are being painted through artist collaborations with Kulture Klub Collaborative, FAIR School, Art Buddies and other local artists to reflect a theme of A Vibrant Downtown. Pianos will be available for the public to share their gift of music, and they will also have more than 90 scheduled performances.

Splash and play at Peavey Plaza

Get ready for fun activities at Peavey Plaza throughout the summer. Enjoy free lawn games each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 am-1:30 pm, free vinyasa yoga with the YWCA of Minneapolis on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm, Pianos on Parade performances on Wednesdays at 12 pm and Thursdays at 5 pm, MNSpin live music on Thursdays at 12 pm. Plus, enjoy the fountains and splashpad at Peavey Plaza throughout the summer.

Your favorite dish. Your perfect patio. The best part is you.

Downtown Thursdays complements a wide variety of happy hour specials at downtown restaurants including 8th Street Grill, Borough, Boulevard Bar & Grill, Constantine, Cowboy Jacks, CRAVE, Gluek’s, Lyons Pub, Monello, Nolo’s Kitchen Bar, The Loop and more.

For more information on downtown’s reanimation, a calendar of events, walking tours, and more, visit www.mplsdowntown.com. 

About the mpls downtown council

Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic central business associations in the nation, the mpls downtown council (mdc) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The mdc’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit mplsdowntown.com.

About the Mpls Downtown Improvement District

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) is a business funded non-profit focused on creating a more vibrant downtown. DID leads and collaborates on programs that make downtown safer, cleaner and greener. DID convenes people across sectors and jurisdictions to work on issues of mutual interest; develop innovative solutions to complex public space challenges/opportunities including strategic activation and seek continuous improvement of ongoing programs including the ambassadors. For more information, visit www.mplsdid.com.

MPRB Invites You to Help Plan and Design Graco Park, a New Riverfront Park Project in NE Minneapolis

Via a June 9 announcement from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board

A view of Hall's Island, Plymouth Avenue Bridge and East Bank Trail running through the future Graco Park

Project includes new and improved park, new park building and connections to Hall's Island and Boom Island Park

A new stage of Northeast Minneapolis riverfront park development begins this summer! The new project includes:

• A new and improved park, called Graco Park on a parcel of riverfront land north of Plymouth Avenue Bridge that currently hosts a section of Mississippi East Bank Trail and a gravel beach facing Hall's Island.
• Design and construction of a building supporting Graco Park on the former Parcel D site (now referred to as Lot 2) along Sibley Street NE.
  • See below for information on submitting a Letter of Interest for being a tenant, hosting programs, or both in the new building.
• Improved trail connections to Boom Island Park and a pedestrian bridge connecting to Hall’s Island.

The project will be based on a site concept plan approved by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioners and a series of agreements reached with Graco Inc. in 2018. 

An overhead view of the plan for Graco Park. Tap or click the image to open a larger file in an internet browser.

Get Involved!

The MPRB invites anyone interested in the Graco Park project to give feedback that will be used to develop park and building concepts. The first of three planned phases of engagement in 2021 just launched. There are multiple ways to get involved:

Online Survey and Resources: Visit the project engagement page to find maps and images with information about the project and prompts to provide input. All submitted ideas and comments will be documented and considered as designs for the project are developed. This survey will be open through July 7, 2021.

In-Person Event: Share your thoughts in person at Graco Park on Saturday, June 12, 1-3 pm. Look for the MPRB tent and table!

Virtual Conversation: Join MPRB staff and community members for an online conversation about the project on Wednesday, June 23, 4:30-6 pm. Use the Zoom link below to join:

Graco Park Zoom Link - Meeting ID: 928 8232 1476, Passcode: 303288

Down the Road: The first phase of engagement wraps up in July. Project staff will use feedback collected to create multiple park and building design concepts and share them in August for another round of feedback with another survey and additional in-person events. Then, in the fall, a single, preferred concept will be shared for a third round of engagement.  

Visit the Graco Park and Lot 2 project page and enter your email address into the box under "Subscribe to Email Updates" to stay informed about this project.

Call for Letters of Interest in Graco Park Building

The MPRB is soliciting letters of interest (LOI) from interested parties, organizations, businesses, or proprietors that are interested in being a tenant, hosting programs, or both in a new proposed MPRB building in Graco Park. As part of the new Graco Park design process, there is also an opportunity for a future separate commercial space to be developed on the site adjacent to the Park Board building with the intention of the building to support operations of a park-supportive vendor. This call for letters of interest is for both opportunities. Interested parties should review the submission guidelines and submit a letter of interested by July 23, 2021.

The new park owned and operated building will be approximately 4,000 square feet comprised of a combination of shared or independent office space, community meeting rooms, public restrooms, and an open programmable gallery-like hall. The design and configuration of the future commercial building may change as a result of the design process.

Letter of Interest Submission Guidelines

Schedule and Deadlines

Release of solicitation for proposals: June 7, 2021
Questions or requests for clarifications due July 7, 2021
Responses to questions or requests for clarifications posted July 10, 2021
Proposals due 5 pm CST, July 23
Interviews, if required early August 2021

Questions regarding this request shall be directed VIA EMAIL ONLY to:
Carrie Christensen, Senior Planner, cchristensen@minneapolisparks.org

Small Business Spotlight: The Hitching Company

Article by Becky Fillinger

Mike Miller with Marty and carriage at the Nicollet Island Inn.

Looking for a fun way to see the sights of Minneapolis? How about a carriage ride? We spoke to Barb Miller, co-owner of The Hitching Company, about the company’s history, rides available (you can design your own route!) and the great care provided to their horses. 

Q:  Please tell us the history of The Hitching Company.

A:  The Hitching Company was started in 1988 with one white Cinderella carriage, pulled by two beautiful white horses, catering mainly to the wedding trade. After about a year or so of providing elegant carriage rides for weddings and special occasions, we purchased the assets of Cobblestone Carriage Company in Minneapolis. This acquisition gave us three valuable assets - a second carriage, the phone number of Cobblestone Carriages Company, and a daily ride schedule.

Barb and Mike MillerShortly after the purchase of Cobblestone, we started the long application process with Minneapolis to obtain our necessary permits to operate in the city. We were elated to be granted permits to operate carriages in Minneapolis. We operated out of The Hyatt Hotel for about a year and then decided to add The Nicollet Island Inn as a second location. The cobblestones of Main Street and the history of the Island seem to be a good fit with our historic and romantic carriage rides. We added two more carriages when we started at The Nicollet Island Inn. With the additional carriages, we purchased a building downtown to house the carriages. Over the years we have added more carriages and horses.

Regarding our horses, we have a farm just north of Minneapolis where they live when not working. The horses enjoy sleeping, rolling in the dirt (especially just before heading to work), and eating. We have a large field to let them graze in during the summer and walk around for exercise. The Hitching Company has had the privilege to provide our horses, carriages and staff to events not only in Minneapolis and St. Paul but all around the metro area. We have performed in thousands of parades and events as far away as Montana, New Jersey, Florida and almost everything in between. We have participated in weddings from the very beginning of our company and now we are providing wedding services to the kids of parents that used our services for their wedding day. We also provide horses and caisson for funerals - bringing a loved one on the last ride to the final resting place. The majority of our work is carriage tours in Minneapolis.

What's more romantic on your wedding day than a horse-drawn carriage ride?

Celebrating this girl's Quinceañera with a carriage ride.

Q:  Who takes a carriage tour and why?

A:  So many people love carriage rides - young, old, people on first dates, people celebrating weddings and anniversaries, visitors to the city, family holiday traditions and more. Some people love horses and want to spend time with our horses. Others wish to slow down and relax from the hectic pace of life. For the history lovers, we offer a fully narrated tour that is informative and educational.

These beautiful animals are well cared for.

Q:  How many horses do you have? Where are they stabled?

A:  We currently have 18 horses on our farm in Stacy, Minnesota. The horses are trailered to our Minneapolis stable on tour days.

Q:  What precautions do you have in place for your horses' safety and wellbeing?

A:  We give very good care to our horses. They get vet checks and shots throughout the year. Our farrier trims and shoes the horses on a regular basis so they can easily walk on the different surfaces of the city.

We also provide health, hoof and dental care for the horses. In addition, we provide long term care for every retired horse that works for our company. It may be a human thing, but knowing they can spend their golden years on our farm is the least we can provide for them.

A common sight on Main Street.

Q:  What areas do you serve? Are there choices of routes for rides?

A:  We are currently offering rides that start and end at The Nicollet Island Inn at 95 Merriam Street in Minneapolis. Our thirty-minute Mississippi River Carriage Tour takes you down the cobblestone of Main Street and around the Nicollet Island. The sixty-minute Mississippi River Grand Carriage Tour takes you over the Hennepin Avenue bridge to the North Loop area. From there we make our way along West River Parkway to the Stone Arch Bridge. The carriage crosses over the Stone Arch Bridge to Main Street. Once on Main Street the carriage will travel down Main Street to Merriam Street where it will go back on the Island and to the Nicollet Island Inn.

In the near future we will be starting and ending our tours from our stable in the North Loop, 925 N 5th Street. We will be offering 30-, 60- and 90-minute tours from the stable. The tours will offer the river area, North Loop and Loring Park/Nicollet Mall.

Our tours are predetermined but can be customized if planned ahead of time. Come ride with us!

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Our website is www.thehitchingcompany.com. We are also on Facebook and Instagram.

Sunset from the Franklin Avenue Bridge

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

I took a four mile walk the other day that included crossing the Franklin Avenue Bridge. Normally I am on my bike or in a car going over the bridge. Walking allowed me to visualize what a sunset photo on a clear night might look like.

I went back that evening. Although it was past 7:30pm I had arrived too early. Of course I did not want to be late as the sunset waits for no one. But at that time the sun was far too bright. It had not descended far enough for any photograph to be worthwhile. I walked back to my car and drove back down East River Road to the East River Flats Park to see if I could get a better angle on the setting sun that would not blow out all the detail from the sky. That was a waste of my time and the small parking fee in the parking lot, as the park is lower than the bridge and the view of downtown is nothing to write home about. I went back to the Franklin Avenue Bridge and decided to photograph the river looking to the east. The vegetation was lush and the river was calm. I could see the reflections of the railroad bridge and the Lake Street Bridge in the water. By the time I finished photographing to the east, the sun was setting quickly behind downtown. I hurried back to the intersection and crossed over to the other side of the bridge. This was the perfect time to take the photograph I had visualized. The sky was beautiful and the reflections in the river of the bridge was grand.

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More of my work can be found at https://www.ricrosowphotography.com and in the Tres Leches Art Gallery at the Northrup King Building. 

May 2021 by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group: