2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

The Mill City Times Interview: Dianne Walsh and Peter Zenner, Co-Chairs of the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts

Article by Becky Fillinger

What do condo associations do? Well, they collect monthly fees, sponsor events for residents and manage the ongoing maintenance of their buildings. Would you believe that a local one also puts together art exhibitions and purchases permanent art collections? Meet Peter Zenner and Dianne Walsh, Co-Chairs of the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts. Their story is innovative, inspiring and a masterclass for other associations to emulate.

Dianne WalshQ:  What is the history of the Art @ The Bridgewater rotating art program?

Dianne: In 2014, a small group of Bridgewater residents started exploring the possibilities of rotating art throughout the building. We started by touring art programs at other condo buildings. Then in 2015, we officially formed the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts and hired Alison Price as the curator of our new Art @ The Bridgewater program. Alison is an artist at Northrup King Building and has an extensive network with the artist community in the Twin Cities.

Peter ZennerQ:  Please tell us about the program’s development.

Peter:  Our first exhibit was unveiled in July 2016, and since that time we have shown a total of 15 exhibitions spotlighting over 160 Twin Cities’ artists. Since the beginning, we have sold $217,000 of art benefiting over 75 artists. The program is completely self-sustainable and is at no cost to the HOA. Our expenses are paid through a 30% commission on all sales as well as donations and sponsorships. The Art @ The Bridgewater program has been very successful.

Q:  How has the Bridgewater Lofts community responded?

Dianne:  The Bridgewater Lofts community loves the program. We did a survey last year and 97% of respondents were in favor of the rotating art program and were willing to financially support the program by purchasing art and making donations. You hear from the community when the walls go bare between exhibits. Everyone looks forward to the next exhibit with anticipation!

Q:  You’ve now started a Bridgewater Art Acquisition program. Please tell us about it.

Dianne:  Because of the success of the rotating art program as described by Peter, in 2017 the Board determined that having art in the building was important to the Bridgewater and asked the Art Committee to start a permanent collection.

In 2018, the Art Acquisition Committee began the selection process. It prepared a list of artists in three categories - ceramics, painting and sculpture. At a community forum, the homeowners voted on their favorite artists after seeing multiple samples of their work. The art committee then chose works by the five selected artists and presented the artists and their pieces at a reception in 2019. Thus the Bridgewater Collection was formed! The collection is on display in the lobby alongside the rotating collection.

The Board then asked for additions to the collection in 2020, specifically selected for the recently remodeled Community Room. Because of the pandemic and the inability to meet as a community, the Committee selected the artists and pieces, but also because of the importance of homeowner input into the collection, the Art Community conducted a Zoom presentation to the community seeking approval. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the Art Committee then submitted to the Board for approval which was granted. The Committee is now in the process of acquiring the selected works.

Past artists represented in the collection are Warren MacKenzie, Maren Kloppman, Leila Denecke, Michael Schmidt and Peter Vanni. New artists include Lisa Nankivil, Ellie Kingsbury, Randy Johnston, Jan McKeachie Johnston, Jodi Reeb, Bob Carls, Brendan Kramp and Denise Tennen. Bridgewater Lofts homeowners are proud of their collection. Each piece is separately marked as owned by the residents.

Sample pieces that have been displayed at the Bridgewater:

White Water Lily Beauty by Vicki Underland-Rosow

A Recipe for Poems by Wendy Shragg

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Wet Evening on the Riverfront by Coreen Johnson

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Untitled Land 19 by Kimberly Tschida Petters

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Slice by Shannon Joy Potter

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2 by 2 Olive & Black, Wipe off Citron, Remnants x1 by Beth Dorsey

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Q:  What’s on the horizon? Are you open to mentor other organizations or homeowner groups on art exhibitions or acquisitions?

Dianne:  With COVID-19, 2020 was a difficult year. Pre-COVID-19, we had receptions for each opening, serving wine and appetizers and introducing the artists to the Bridgewater community. We hope to return to this practice later in 2021. In 2020, those receptions have been conducted via the Zoom platform with artist presentations. We had also planned outreach to other buildings in 2020, but placed those plans on hold. We would be open to collaboration with other HOA groups.

Q:  When is the next opening exhibition? How may we follow your program? 

Peter:  The next Art @ the Bridgewater exhibit will open on January 29, 2021, again by Zoom, and we will have a virtual art opening where residents and other Mill District neighbors can see the artwork and ask the artists questions. For more information or to participate, please email bnfacommittee@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.

Doug Verdier's Third Avenue Bridge Photos from January 6-7, 2021

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project. He has also been documenting the Third Avenue Bridge refurbishment project.

Since the Third Avenue Bridge was closed to all traffic, bikes and pedestrians on Monday, construction activity on the bridge has increased significantly. Wednesday morning saw a tower of red steel framework being erected on the bridge, which was fascinating to watch.

In the two photos below, a section of the structure is being lifted by crane into place atop the growing tower:

Workers guiding the new section into place before attaching it to the growing tower.

As of Thursday, January 7, the horizontal arm of the construction crane was attached.

Minneapolis Ice Rink Updates from MPRB

Via a January 5 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Rinks are opening across the city!

Locations:

At the time of this notice, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has opened ice rinks for skating and hockey at the following locations: 

• Bohanon Park - hockey and skating
• Hiawatha School Park - skating
• Lake Hiawatha - skating 
• Lake of the Isles - hockey and skating
• Longfellow Park - skating 
• Lyndale Farmstead Park - skating
• McRae Park - hockey
• North Commons Park - hockey and skating
• Pearl Park - skating
• Sibley Field Park - skating

MPRB staff continue to build rinks at other locations - including broomball rinks. A total of 39 rinks are slated to open: slightly fewer than in previous years, due to impacts from COVID-19.

• Track the ongoing status of rinks with the Ice Rink Daily Status Map.
• Check the Ice Rink Flyer to find all outdoor rink locations and addresses
• Get more details on the MPRB website.

COVID-19 Guidelines:

Please remember to keep at least 6 feet between yourself and other skaters. The MPRB also recommends that skaters wear a face mask or face covering. Additionally, Executive Order 20-103 requires that all non-organized hockey games be limited to members of the same household.

Update: Warming houses at ice rinks:

Warming houses are currently closed by Executive Order. Once open, they will be available at the locations below. Free loaner skates are not available this year.

• Bohanon Park 
• Lake of the Isles 
• Lake Hiawatha
• Longfellow Park  
• Logan Park
• Lynnhurst Park
• North Commons Park
• Windom Park

Sports leagues:

Registration is open for youth and adult outdoor hockey leagues and adult outdoor broomball leagues; use the links below to browse options and register.

Youth Hockey Registration

Adult Broomball and Hockey Registration 

The Mill City Times Interview: Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director, MSP Film Society

Article by Becky Fillinger

We have a cultural cornerstone within a stone’s throw of the Mill District – the MSP Film Society. We talked to Executive Director, Susan Smoluchowski, about this year's 40th anniversary of the International Film Festival, the organization’s successful pivot during COVID-19, and the many reasons we should celebrate and support their enduring status as an exhibitor of the best independent cinema.

Susan Smoluchowski

Q:  Please tell us about the origins of the MSP Film Society.  

A:  The MSP Film Society was established in 1962 as the U Film Society, by the legendary Al Milgrom, as one of the first art houses in the country to present independent and international film. Today, we are widely recognized as the foremost exhibitor of local, national, and international independent cinema in the region, offering a wide array of the best of such films 365 days a year. And we continue to do so this year through our virtual cinema programs, which can be found at MSPfilm.org

1981 Minneapolis Film Festival program coverOur primary identity is as the organization producing the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, with origins going back to 1981 when a group of local cinema lovers launched the Minneapolis Film Festival.

Since the mid-eighties, when it became known as the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF), the festival has operated under the umbrella of the MSP Film Society. Moving into its 40th year in 2021, MSPIFF is one of the longest running film festivals in the country, our community’s collective annual rite of spring, a treasured gathering for film lovers, filmmakers and the growing international communities throughout the state, and an enduring and increasingly important cultural establishment. People often tell us that they plan their year around our festival!

Q:  When did you get a home at SE Main Street in Minneapolis?

A:  We had been looking for a new location off the campus of the U of MN for a while, and had an opportunity to bring MSPIFF to the St. Anthony Main Theatre for a test run in 2008. The location proved to be a great draw, creating more prominence and a heightened profile for our organization at a time when the riverfront was beginning to bustle again with new residents and businesses, providing access to and opening MSPIFF up to brand new audiences. 

The next year, we settled down by the river permanently, a move that launched an audience expansion period for our organization that has yet to dwindle. Our membership and donor base grew from 200 in 2010 to 3000 in 2019, and our annual attendance grew by 150% during that same period, to an approximate 85,000 in 2019.

We have significantly expanded our film programs over the past 10 years as well, with year-round offerings of the best in international and independent films, as well as several new film series, including our annual Cine Latino festival. In fact, we have grown so much that we are now exhibiting films out of a number of venues besides our hub at St. Anthony Main, including the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis, the Landmark Theater in St. Paul, and during MSPIFF in Rochester, too.

Q:  How has MSP Film Society adapted to business as usual in times of COVID-19? 

A:  COVID-19 may have put a damper on the growth, but not for long (says she says she…). 

Our theme for the 2020 MSPIFF, or MSPIFF39, selected in late 2019, was the prescient ADJUST YOUR VIEW. On March 13, 2020, just one month before the festival’s anticipated launch and a few days after the lineup was announced to the press, Governor Walz issued an executive order in response to COVID-19 limiting public gatherings and urging us all to stay at home for the next few weeks. Out of concern for the safety and well-being of our staff and audiences, we cancelled all of our live theatrical programming and took a moment to regroup. In a quick pivot - and incredible burst of creativity and will on the part of our small and dedicated core staff - we reimagined the festival in just a few weeks as MSPIFF39 Redefined – A Virtual Film Festival. We offered 50 new feature length films and as many shorts representing 40 countries, on a newly developed virtual platform, and managed to engage a viewership for the films and attendant filmmaker conversations topping 20,000. 

Since then and throughout 2020, we continued presenting the best in new international independent cinema, and films of relevance to our community and to the times, including our newest series We The People: Required Watching, or in October Cine Latino en Casa, on our virtual platform at mspfilm.org.

As you will imagine, this shift has come with many challenges. But we were determined to not disappear from view, keep our amazing staff gainfully employed, do our best to continue to bring films from around the globe to our audiences especially during this period of isolation for us all, and support the work of talented filmmakers in a moment of upheaval for artists everywhere.

This said, the virtual world that we now inhabit is a competitive one, and we have deliberately kept our virtual cinema prices low for maximum access. In fact, we offer many of our film programs free of charge or pay-what-you-can. And we are proud to say that film viewership alone has exceeded 30,000. In addition, all of our filmmaker conversations, which have drawn an astonishing participation of 50,000+ since April, are free of charge.

Although we are elated to have found a way to maintain a connection with our audiences and members, the financial repercussions for our organization have been significant. In 2020, earned revenues, or ticket sales, are down by more than 85% compared to 2019. 

So, what has allowed us to stay above water and given us the impetus and capacity to continue offering our unique content in these confounding times? The fact that, along with our audiences and members, our individual donors, corporate sponsors and institutional funders have continued to believe and invest in our organization, supporting us and pivoting with us this year in impressive numbers. Our motto - We do it for you. We can’t do it without you! - has a particular resonance in this year of all years.

Q:  You're about to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MSP International Film Festival. Congratulations!  Any memorable milestones you'd like to share? 

A:  The annual MSP International Film Festival is a singular and significant cultural event, introducing films and filmmakers from across the globe, as well as local filmmakers, to Minnesota audiences. Each year our festival presents some 250 new documentary and narrative feature length and short films representing more than 100 cultures and countries, films that are otherwise simply not available to audiences in the region.

Over its 40 years, visiting guests have included directors, actors and film artists of note such as Louis Malle, Jean-Luc Goddard, Werner Herzog, Terry Gilliam, Deepa Mehta, Agnieczka Holland, Tippi Hedren, Steve James, the Coen Brothers, and so many others. Most often, however, our guests are emerging filmmakers, whose films we discover at festivals around the world, who are gathering critical acclaim and awards, and who are on a path to making names for themselves. In recent years we have presented films by and hosted promising new filmmakers from countries with longstanding film industries like Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, India, Iran, England, The Czech Republic, Poland, China, Japan and Germany, but also and importantly from countries with lesser-known or burgeoning industries including Iceland, Finland, Cuba, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Algeria, Turkey, The Balkans, Greece, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Australia and Chile, to name a few.

This spring, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MSP International Film Festival. How could we not? It will simply look a little different from the event that we had anticipated a short year ago. Holding no illusions that we can safely return to the St. Anthony Main Theatre complex this spring, we have decided to move forward with plans for a virtual/hybrid MSPIFF40. Of course, we hear from many of our members and patrons that they cannot wait to see our films again in a darkened theater in the company of friends and strangers. On the other hand, we hear from many of the same that they have sought out inspiration, and even solace, from our virtual film offerings. And in this year of seclusion, when those of us who so love to travel the world cannot, we are proud to offer the next best thing: a little virtual global travel from the comfort of your living room. 

MSPIFF40, slated for May 13-25, 2021, will be hosted primarily on our virtual platform at mspfilm.org, but we are also planning some in-person outdoor events, if COVID-19 restrictions allow. Since the summer, and as we always do, we have been culling the offerings at national and international film festivals - many of which have also gone virtual this year - to find the best new films to bring to our audiences. And we have received nearly 1000 film submissions, each of which our selection committee will view. We anticipate an exciting line-up of some 100 new documentary and narrative films, and 100 shorts, representing as many cultures and countries, and scores of virtual conversations with filmmakers from around the globe. 

Q:  How does the Board of Directors interact or assist with your mission? 

A:  All members of our Board of Directors (currently 16) play key roles in strategic planning and financial oversight, and as ambassadors, advisors, advocates, promoters of our mission and vision, and as sponsors of our programs. Board terms are three years, renewable once. All of our past Board members remain invested in our organization in many ways, joining our Industry Advisory Council of 25 individuals who live around the world and work in the global film industry, whose role is to connect us with and advocate on our behalf within that industry. Others serve on our active Cine Global Advisory Group, now counting 100+ Minnesota residents representing some 50 countries and cultures, who are academics, transplants working for multinational companies, community leaders, activists, diplomats and others with an interest in and knowledge of international film.

Q:  Tell us more about the Filmmaker Conversations.

A:  Our Filmmaker Conversations happen live on Zoom. They are free to anyone and registration links can be found on the page for each film/event. Here is a link to an upcoming conversation for the film First Daughter and the Black Snake, which is part of The Great Northern festival.

These conversations are also simulcast live on Facebook, which anyone who follows us can access on their own feed, or find by going to our page. Some of our ongoing programs and special screening series have their own pages on MSPfilm.org and anyone can register to join the zoom conversations: We the People: Required Watching, The Great Northern: Climate Action Films.

Also, past conversations are archived and available for viewing anytime on MSP Film Society's Facebook page  and our YouTube channel.

Q:  Are there volunteer opportunities now?

A:  Yes, especially as we move deeper into planning and presenting the 40th anniversary of MSPIFF. We have always relied on our enthusiastic volunteers to help us present MSPIFF, in a variety of capacities from marketing to promotions to operations to programming assistance, and this year will be no different. Anyone who is interested in joining us should reach out to info@mspfilm.org.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We keep our website up to date and please do follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter! We also have a weekly eNewsletter – sign up on our website to follow our news.

The Third Avenue Bridge and the Stories It Holds

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

On January 4th 2021, the Third Avenue Bridge has closed for repairs for just the second time in its history. Since its opening in June of 1918, Minneapolis has made it a point to give the bridge attention when it desperately needs it. 103 years later, and this still rings true. While this historic bridge will be closed for nearly two years, the repairs and enhancements will allow us to enjoy one of Minneapolis’ riverfront landmarks for the next fifty years.

1917 photo of the bridge under construction.

Photo of the newly completed bridge from 1918.

In a city where bridges are vital for commerce and leisure, it was very important for Minneapolis to adapt to transportation advancements, such as the introduction of automobiles and streetcars. The Lower Bridge, or Old Tenth Avenue Bridge, was not built to handle the weight of cars and large trucks, so plans were put in place to construct a new bridge that will connect the central riverfront. With Central Avenue turning into a business and cultural hub, the city planned to connect Central Avenue on the east side of the Mississippi River to Third Avenue on the west side.

Frederick Cappelen, the City Engineer for Minneapolis who also designed the Prospect Park Water Tower, was tasked with the project. This was a challenge not only because Central Avenue and Third Avenue do not align with each other, but also the rock formation that makes up St. Anthony Falls was weakened from a previous tunneling venture gone bad forty-five years prior. This lead Cappelen to design the bridge in a reverse s-curve shape, which made it the longest of its kind in the world, a title it still holds. Other features of Cappelen’s bridge that give it its iconic look are the seven Melan arches with open spandrels and Classical Revival ornamentation on the pilasters and piers. When the project was completed in June of 1918, it cost $862,254, or roughly $14.86M after inflation. Originally, the bridge was known as the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, but over the years, that name fell out of favor.

1940

1965

In 1939, ornamental metal and concrete railings were added, but the first major renovation came in the late 1970s. The bridge was in very rough shape and all signs pointed to demolition. Officials were adamant about keeping the bridge, and in order to achieve that, everything above the arches was replaced. The newly improved Third Avenue Bridge opened in November of 1980, and four years later, Prince included an homage to the bridge when filming his movie Purple Rain.

The easier and cheaper thing to have done in 1978 would have been to demolish the old bridge and build a more modern version. Thankfully, city officials thought it would be best to keep the historical aspects of our riverfront as it transitioned from heavy industry to some of the best parkland in the world. The landmarks of our riverfront - the Stone Arch Bridge, Pillsbury A-Mill and Mill City Museum - aren’t just cool to look at, they contribute to our identity, our story, no matter how big or small.

In fact, eighty-eight years ago to the day, January 4th, 1933, the Third Avenue Bridge was a getaway route for quite a few robbers. The headline of the Wednesday issue of the Minneapolis Star read “Rob Mail of $100,000 Cash. Three Forces of Detectives Hunt Bandits.” Eight gunmen smoothly stole three registered mail pouches from the Milwaukee Depot, jumped into two cars, and made their way across the Third Avenue Bridge. Reports say they then took a right turn onto University Avenue and sped off towards Saint Paul, a known safe haven for gangsters during this era. The Minneapolis Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Milwaukee Railroad Special Police were unable to track down the bandits and the estimated $175,000 they stole, which is over $3.5M after inflation. Quite the haul. It’s little stories like this one that are saved from being lost to time with the preservation of our own historical landmarks.

Rendering of the current project from MnDOT

Forty years after the first shut down and the Third Avenue Bridge has closed once again for repairs and restoration. The work being done isn’t just mending what needs to be fixed. Lighting on the bridge deck will be improved, the railings, pilasters, and spandrels will receive a historic facelift, and the sidewalks will expand into thirteen-foot multi-use paths. If everything goes to plan, this smoother, safer, historic bridge will reopen to the public in summer of 2023 - ready for more stories to be made and remembered.

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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.

Unintended Consequences by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

This photograph was taken in October when the Army Corp of Engineers lowered the Mississippi River. The theory is, with no scientific evidence to say otherwise, that the loss of water pressure in the riverbed allowed mountains to rise west and south of the city. It was not widely noticed since so many of us were self quarantining as a result of COVID-19. Those who did not quarantine thought they were hallucinating and were afraid to tell others. I have heard a report that Buck Hill grew higher and a pond lost all its water. Alas, it was short lived when the Corp raised the level of the river.

You can see more of my work at: www.traveltheglobephotography.com.

Small Business Spotlight: The Greenery Minneapolis Plant Shop & Mercantile

Article by Becky Fillinger

Meet Melissa (Mel) Anderson, owner of The Greenery Minneapolis Plant Shop & Mercantile, a stellar new small business addition to the Mill District at 1029 Washington Avenue S. Visit Mel’s shop to find items to create a home sanctuary for the cold winter season ahead of us. 

Melissa AndersonQ:  What about the Mill District appealed to you for a new business location? 

A:  I've always loved downtown. The beauty of the Mill District is that although you still get the hustle and bustle of downtown, it's actually quite peaceful here. Honestly, it was by sheer serendipity that I got this space! My lease was nearing its end at Midtown Global Market and I saw an ad while weighing my options. I wasn't sure if it would even be possible but I cast my hook and the management at Green Rock bit. Turns out this was everything I'd imagined and more. The neighborhood is clearly growing and everyone has given me such a warm welcome - plus the windows in this space are hard to beat for all the plants.

Q:  You’re a Native entrepreneur. Is it important to you as an indigenous small business owner to incorporate under-represented cultural perspectives into your business?

A:  Indeed. Thank you for asking this question. I myself am both Lac Courte Oreilles and White Earth Ojibwe. I understand that I've been given the opportunity to set an example, change the narrative, and shift the perspective on what a modern female Native entrepreneur looks like. As the space progresses and while the primary focus will still be a plant shop, I wanted to provide the same opportunity for other makers to have a platform to showcase their work since I have more than enough space in what will become the Mercantile piece of the store. Collectively, Natives are multifaceted and have a wide variety of interests outside of stereotypes and I want the shop to be reflective of that. Not only will there be works by other Native entrepreneurs, but it will be open to BIPOC and LGBTQIA makers as well.

Q:  We’re looking forward to seeing the build out of the Mercantile! What merchandise or goods are offered at The Greenery Minneapolis Plant Shop & Mercantile?

A:  We will always have an assortment of houseplants, pots, soils and plant care products. As our build out progresses, our vendors will offer a wide variety of goods, from macramé pieces, bath and body products, teas, tinctures and art. It will be an ever-changing piece of the store as we have rotating vendors. You'll have to come in and see what's new each time. Each vendor handcrafts their products and no two pieces will be alike. By early spring we will be offering cut flowers and vases to make your own bouquets. It's going to be a labor of love.

Q:  Making our homes more of a sanctuary is more important than ever. Do you believe that plants can help?

A:  Yes! They are the epitome of bringing the outdoors in and caring for something, through nurturing and watching it grow. It's a never-ending learning process to find the plant that works for you, and you'll find that people bond over plants and nearly everyone who has a plant, has a plant story. Whether it's been gifted, they still have it from a beloved family member's service from years ago, or they propagated it themselves. Plants do bring a sense of wellbeing, can bring a feeling of pride, and they will always be in style. Plants defy trends.

Q:  Will you have any Grand Opening specials? 

A:  We will! Since the pandemic has turned everything upside down, we're hoping things open up enough to allow us to have our Grand Opening this spring. Stay tuned!

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Instagram, Instagram, Instagram! @thegreenerympls, also Facebook.

Welcome 2021!

Wishing our neighbors all the best in 2021. May we each pass a cup of kindness.

Video by Yam Haus.

Game Night With A Ranger!

Via a December 30 e-announcement from Mississippi Park Connection:

Compete with park rangers and celebrities to test your knowledge of Mississippi River history and biology in our TV game show spinoffs!

Do you have what it takes to be a contestant on Who Wants To Be A Ranger, Win, Lose or Draw, or Cottonwood Squares?

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Find out by playing Game Night With A Ranger: four evenings of wildly entertaining TV game show spinoffs with contestants from the National Park Service, popular authors, outdoor celebrities, Fearless Comedy cast members, and a live audience! Test your knowledge on Mississippi River park topics by playing funny games for a chance to win prizes!*

• January 7: The Historic River with Ranger Will and historian Lee Harris
• January 14: Birds of the Upper Mississippi with Ranger Sharon and Jason Ward
• January 21: Minneapolis Locks & Dams with Ranger Haddy and John Scalzi
• January 28: Minnesota Mushrooms with Ranger Kyle and Mary Jo Pehl

Each night will feature a medley of games including: Watch Your Mouth, True Confessions With A Ranger, Who Wants To Be A Ranger, Match Game, Win, Lose, or Draw, or Cottonwood Squares. This is a virtual event that will be hosted live on Zoom.

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Tickets: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/game-night-with-a-ranger-tickets-133362046471

   $10 per event

   $35 for all FOUR events (save $5 AND automatically become a member of Mississippi Park Connection for one year!)

Current Mississippi Park Connection Member Pricing:

   $8 per event

   $30 for all FOUR events

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*All audience members will have an opportunity to virtually participate in the games by answering trivia, polls, and other questions. We will randomly select a few audience members to play against the featured contestants each night. Prize packages vary, and can be shipped within the United States.

New Adventure Hubs now Open at Parks Across Minneapolis

Via a December 29 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Navigate to an Adventure Hub for FREE fun this winter

Trek through the snow, construct a cool fort, spy on feathered friends and more. Kids, teens, families, adults – everyone's welcome!

Think you're familiar with Minneapolis parks? This winter, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) invites people of all ages to explore the parks in fresh ways.

Through Adventure Hubs at 16 locations, MPRB offers FREE supplies and materials for a range of self-guided activities: snowshoes, trekking poles, fort building, outdoor art, orienteering, birdwatching or animal tracking. 

All Adventure Hub items are FREE to borrow - no sign-up or registration needed. Just show up, see what's available and be ready for fun! 

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Activities: * Snowshoeing * Trekking with poles * Fort building * Snow painting * Bird watching / animal tracking Items rotate among Adventure Hubs,     so you can return to try new activities.

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Head to a Hub near you – or explore a new park! Look for Adventure Hub signs at recreation centers in the parks listed below or call ahead for information. The signs show available items, which staff bring outside for you to use.    Note: Items are available first-come/first-served; see COVID-19 safety protocols below.

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North Minneapolis locations: Creekview Park 612-370-4965 Folwell Park 612-370-4917 North Mississippi Regional Park (Kroening Interpretive Center) 612-370-4844 North Commons Park 612-370-4921 Northeast/Southeast Minneapolis:  Bottineau Field Park 612-370-4958

South Minneapolis locations: East Phillips Park (East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center) 612-370-4888 Keewaydin Park 612-370-4956 Lake Nokomis Park (Lake Nokomis Community Center) 612-370-4923 Longfellow Park 612-370-4957 Powderhorn Park 612-370-4960 Stewart Park 612-370-4932

Southwest Minneapolis locations: Bryant Square Park 612-370-4907 Fuller Park 612-370-4963 Kenwood Park 612-370-4941 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park 612-370-4908 Whittier Park 612-370-4966

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COVID-19 safety at MPRB Adventure Hubs

• Complete a self-assessment of health before visiting an Adventure Hub.
• Stay home if you or anyone in your household has any signs of illness.
• MPRB staff bring items outside for participants; recreation centers are closed to everyone except staff and registered participants for scheduled programs.Maintain a safe distance at all times from staff and individuals from other households.

• Adhere to the current Minnesota state face-covering mandate.
• Use hand sanitizer when picking up and returning Adventure Hub items.

Failure to comply may result in staff asking for early return of borrowed items.

Milling About: Getting to Know the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood

What do you know about the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis?  We sat down with Lynda Shaheen, Communications and Fundraising Coordinator for the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association to get a better idea of the geography, parks, businesses and annual events.  She describes how to spend a perfect day in her neighborhood, from coffee to pampering and take-out dinners.  Looking for a really fun holiday activity?  Don’t miss the Bryn Mawr Winter Lights Tour, featuring 43 homes, with an online ballot allowing votes until January 4.    

Now Streaming: Milling About, Episode 4

Brianna RoseThe December episode of Milling About with Brianna Rose first aired on Thursday, December 17 at 8PM on MCN6. The show replays for a month on every Thursday and Friday at 8PM and Monday and Tuesday at 5PM. The December show is chock full of interesting speakers and information:

Martha Archer, Executive Director of the Mill City Farmers Market. Martha tells us all about the plans for Winter markets and the safety protocols put in place for shoppers and vendors. Looking for a unique holiday gift? Check out the show and the market blog for inspiration.

Simon Parrish, owner of the Northeast Tea House gives us his take on creating an urban oasis dedicated to the joy of tea service. Our Small Business Spotlight highlights how his shop is one of few producing fresh matcha and the gongfu service is guaranteed to produce a sense of calm into your day.

Kristy Ornelas, Americorps VISTA service member, Mississippi Park Connection tells us about her project highlighting Women of the Mississippi. Some background: The National Park Service challenged our parks to recognize contributions made by women. Also, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment occurred this year. Those two events, combined with her love of the river, led Kristy to put together the interactive Women of the Mississippi project. She tells us all about it in this segment of the show.

Our resident historian Michael Rainville, Jr. tells us about the earliest Holidazzle, as well as the first public Christmas tree in Minneapolis, which was lit 107 years ago in Gateway Park.

Who doesn’t love stories about a local hero, or two? Blaine Police Officer Reggie Larson and his canine partner, Rex, were recently awarded the United States Police Canine Association’s National Case of the Year. I know you’re curious to learn more about this one – tune in for the full story! 

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, neighborhood stories, Mississippi River connections, local food producers and history - and are open to suggestions! Please email Becky Fillinger, executive producer, at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com to suggest ideas or to be a guest on the show. 

Downtown Aglow by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

Downtown Aglow started out as a regular photograph of Downtown Minneapolis as seen from the Legacy. I experimented with the image by applying an artistic effect that transforms the image into fibers of color along mainly vertical and horizontal lines. The process allows me to control the luminosity, vibrance, brightness and opacity of the image, as well as to determine where the image is transformed into these fibers of colors.

I’ve taken many photographs of the downtown view, altering the angle of view from image to image. Sometimes I include the stadium, other times I include more of the river, sometimes such as in this one, I include only downtown. At times I zoom in on a specific building, at other times I take in as much as my wide-angle lens will allow. And on occasion I take multiple photographs and merge them into a panoramic. There are unique things to see almost every time I look. 

In addition to that, what changes from photo to photo is based on the weather and the time of day, sunrise, midday or sunset. These affect not only the amount of light in the scene but the colors that are visible. Sunlight, moonlight and clouds change not only the appearance of the sky but affect the color of the sky and everything in the scene including the downtown buildings. Sunrise and sunsets bring out pinks, blue, red and yellow tones in the sky and in the clouds.

This photograph is one of my favorites. My wife and I have it displayed in our home printed on metal. Another print on metal is displayed in the House of HeART Airbnb in Northeast Minneapolis. Each room in the house, as well as the beautiful staircase to the second floor, is decorated with the art of a Minnesota artist. Downtown Aglow is in a large bedroom on the second floor with eight other photographs of mine. To view more of my work visit my website at: https://www.traveltheglobephotography.com

Working Together to Help for the Holidays

In this episode of Milling About, let us introduce you to two great neighbors:  Delia Bujold and Aman Biruk.  Delia is the Member Coordinator of the Turkey and Extras Program at Mill City Commons and Aman Biruk is the Manager of the Broadway Avenue Cub Foods .  Both were instrumental in carrying out a delivery of 50 holiday food baskets, in times of COVID, to the Ascension Catholic School for the Mill City Common’s Turkey and Extra Helpings program.  Thank you Delia and Aman! 

Traditions Made Sweeter with Honey

By Anna Margl and Rick Margl

We came from the ‘old country’. Through weeks on the gray, wind-tossed endless sea, our children in fear of the abyss stretching below. Or, in a centuries-long migration, our people finding their way across the Beringia land bridge in the dim time before history. Some came by their own choice and some not. Many reasons drove us. We’d never have enough land to raise a family, or we were chased by starvation, we longed to worship in our faith unoppressed, perhaps we were indentured, or even brutally sold to the highest bidder.

Or because our dreams were lit by the golden torch held high by the stern woman gazing back towards those ‘ancient lands’ across the sea.

The new land awaited. Strange customs, new languages, long and wearisome labors, sometimes visited by disease and hunger, and often death came too soon. But we persevered, worked hard, learned new ways and built new lives. We taught our children what we had learned and became proud citizens of the young nation.

But often our thoughts drifted back to the old country and those whom we’d left behind. The ties that bind. Secure in our new life, still we missed the music, the dances, the food and the drinks that had brought much of what joy those long-ago days had held. And so, on holidays and feast days, in homes, church basements and fraternal halls across the land, the smells and tastes of the old days filled our plates and wafted delightfully through the air. Oh!, the latkes, spatzle, ravioli, lefse, gingerbread, pieroges, krumkake and so much more. For a while at any rate, our hearts could be filled with warm memories of those far distant lands…

Gratefully, nowadays those traditions continue, especially at this time of year. December brings holidays and many families like to celebrate them in very special, traditional ways. Many of these traditions are specific to ethnic groups, were brought over from the ‘old country’ and are carried on – with great pride – from generation to generation. These celebrations include various customs and events, but food and drinks are among the most important things passed on.

A key part of the Great River Coalition’s mission is to “bring awareness to the vital role pollinators play in the health of our riverfront communities”. In that light and during this time of celebration when we often drink to each other’s health, we thought it would be appropriate to share the recipes for a few traditional Polish holiday drinks that are extra special since they include honey. They are Krupnik, Jojokoniak and Kompot Owocowy. Enjoy!

Krupnik – A Polish Liqueur of Spiced Vodka and Honey

INGREDIENTS

250 ml (1 cup) mild flavored honey

250 ml (1 cup) water

1 clove

2 cinnamon sticks

5 allspice berries, lightly crushed

1 vanilla pod

1 unwaxed lemon, sliced in rings

1 unwaxed orange, sliced in rings

500 ml (2 cups) at least of 80-proof vodka

You will also need:

a large muslin cloth (or 2 medium)

a funnel

4 x 250ml (1 cup) bottles, sterilized (or any container(s) equaling the total amount of 1 liter (4 cups)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place everything, other than the vodka, into a large saucepan and bring to a simmer on medium heat.

2. As soon as it’s simmering, lower the heat right down and let it simmer for 1 minute.

3. At the end of the minute, take it off the heat, and leave to cool for 5 minutes before we add the vodka. This is important, as we don’t want the alcohol evaporating in the steaming liquid.

4. At the end of the 5 minutes, add the vodka, stir well with a wooden spoon, cover tightly with a lid or foil, and leave to steep overnight.

The Next Day

1. Double line your funnel with your muslin cloth. If you have a large one, folding it over will work.

2. Strain your Krupnik into the sterilized bottles, pushing down only ever so slightly on the contents. Don’t overdo this, or your last bottle may be a touch bitter from the vanilla.

For the Jojokoniak and Kompot Owocowy recipes, please visit our Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/GreatRiverCoalitionMN/.

The team at the GRC wish you, your family and friends, much health and prosperity in the coming year! Na Zdrowie!

Year End Message from Ward 7 Council Member Lisa Goodman, Including Video of the Dayton's Project

We have made it to the end of a very active year and as we say goodbye to 2020, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the outreach, correspondence and interaction that we’ve had this year.  Our office has most definitely received and responded to a record number of emails and phone calls in the past twelve months. Due to COVID-19 our entire way of interacting has changed, including communication with constituents, how we conduct city council meetings, public meetings, neighborhood meetings and our Lunch with Lisa program. A highlight for me that we missed this year is the summer tour we do as a Lunch with Lisa topic that we call the Lunch with Lisa Field Trip. 

I have shared many times that it was my hope to host a tour of the new Dayton’s Project in downtown Minneapolis so you could see what was hiding behind the papered windows and the temporary walls on the skyway level. COVID has prevented this from happening in person, however, I am happy to let you know that in partnership with the ownership and marketing folks we just finalized a video tour that I am going to share. The link at the bottom of this page will take you to a 30 minute tour that shows all the amazing work they have accomplished to date including the new food court area, the old J.B. Hudson space, the former Skyroom and Oak Grill restaurant spaces, along with a couple of model office spaces and shared common areas for the office users and the historically maintained 4th floor art deco woman's bathroom.

This video is a way to show you what the future will look like after COVID, what the new normal might be as it pertains to downtown development, commercial space and historic preservation projects.  While we as a city have challenges, we have had success stories too and during the long dark days of winter we thought this might be a little ray of hope and a special remembrance of the Dayton’s Store that has meant so much to so many people.

As is customary, my staff and I will be taking some much-needed time off the last two weeks of the year so we will have sporadic and limited office hours and availability.  Should you need to report a city related item that needs to be addressed I encourage you to contact 311 and I will be responding to email during this time.  We look forward to coming back refreshed and recharged in 2021 to continue representing you, our constituents.  We wish you all a healthy and safe holiday season.

Lisa

The Mall of America

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

If Minnesotans are good at anything, it is figuring out ways to live our best lives when it’s -15° with three feet of snow outside. Skyways have changed how our downtowns operate, indoor stadiums and arenas have made it possible to cheer on our teams comfortably, and the “-dales” showed the nation that people can indeed shop in frigid conditions. One of the most impressive innovations to our winter world is the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the United States.

Before the Mall of America broke ground on June 14th, 1989, that site was the location of Metropolitan Stadium from 1955-1985. The 48,000-seat stadium was home to the Minneapolis Millers from 1956-1960, the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings from 1961-1981, and the Minnesota Kicks from 1976-1981. In January of ’82, the Twins and Vikings left for the new HHH Metrodome, and the old Met laid vacant on seventy-eight acres for three years until its demolition.

The Bloomington Port Authority considered four proposals for the site, a new convention center, an office park, multi-residential buildings, and a retail/entertainment complex. While the others aren’t the worst ideas, the port authority went with the latter. The Ghermezian brother’s Triple Five Group, who also opened the largest mall in North America in 1986, the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, took the lead for the creation of the Mall of America.

The Mall of America under construction.

The Mall of America officially opened to the public on August 11th, 1992 to much fanfare, with one of the more popular areas of the Mall being The LEGO Store and Camp Snoopy, the largest indoor amusement park in America. To this day, the Mall relies on the skylights and body heat of their own visitors to heat the Mall. In fact, they even have to turn on the A/C in the winter to make a comfortable shopping experience for everyone. Among the 330 new stores, the four main anchor tenants were Bloomingdale’s, Sears, Macy's, and Nordstrom. More importantly, 10,000 people, 13,000 during the holiday season, were now employed at the Mall. More jobs, more entertainment, more tourism - what’s not to love?

Camp Snoopy was the original amusement park in the Mall of America.

The Mall has had many tenants throughout the years, but the building stayed relatively unchanged up until 2015. That year, a fourteen-story JW Marriot hotel opened, along with additional retail space and a second atrium for the Mall. This led to more expansion in the years to come. Luxury stores and office buildings opened in 2016, and perhaps the most interesting phase of this project is the Mall's expansion into the large surface lot to its north. For now, the plan is to build an indoor waterpark with 335,000 total square feet of waterslide and lazy river fun. COVID-19 has stalled this project, but hopefully once the world has healed and the pandemic has come to an end, the surface lot can be better utilized.

The large number of shops and restaurants make for an exciting experience, but the Mall of America wouldn’t have become what is it today if it wasn’t for their attractions. Camp Snoopy, since rebranded as Nickelodeon Universe, with twenty-seven rides and attractions, is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike, but the fun doesn’t stop there. SEA LIFE, once called Underwater World, gives visitors an opportunity to get up close and personal with the creatures of our oceans. The Escape Game, Amazing Mirror Maze, Crayola Experience, movie theater, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, and many more provide visitors with entertainment for days. Major events happen frequently as well, such a movie premiers, concerts and book signings.

One of the more popular events to take place in the Mall was a good ol’ wrasslin’ show; the very first WCW Monday Night Nitro on September 4th, 1995.

The home plate from Metropolitan Stadium is located in the northwest corner of Nickelodeon Universe.Thankfully, the Mall never forgot the past. A bronze plaque lies on the floor of Nickelodeon Universe to mark the spot where home plate was once located when the old Met was still standing, and a single chair from the stadium is mounted on the wall near the log flume ride to mark where Harmon Killebrew hit a 520-foot home run, the longest in Twins' history.

Located a few miles from the downtowns of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and just four light rail stops away from the Minneapolis – Saint Paul International Airport, the Mall of America has proved over the past three decades that it's a major pillar in the Twin Cities community. Sometimes it’s easy for us locals to gloss over the Mall, because of prices, or there’s too many people, or finding a parking spot can be a struggle, but we really do have a not-so-hidden gem in our own backyards. I, for one, am looking forward to watching the Mall’s own growth and success help the growth and success of the Twin Cities for years to come.

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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.

A Sign of the Times...

Submitted by Mill District resident, Doug Verdier

A recent Friday afternoon saw several customers outside Kramarczuk’s Deli on Hennepin Avenue wearing masks and maintaining social distance while patiently waiting to enter. A limit of seven customers at a time are allowed inside the store due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Similar patron limits and other safety measures are in effect at other merchants throughout the neighborhood.

The Nicollet Island Inn Announces NYE Pre-Order Dinners and Extended Popular "Stay INN" Promotion

Recent announcement from our neighbors at the Nicollet Island Inn:

Nicollet Island Inn, 95 Merriam Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401

For 30 years, the Nicollet Island Inn has been the Twin Cities’ favorite destination for special events and holiday celebrations. This year looks and feels different, but the funny thing about traditions is, though they may take on different forms, there is something familiar and comforting in them that keeps us coming back.

The Nicollet Island Inn offers something comforting and familiar during a challenging time. In times of uncertainty it’s nice to embrace the comfort of tradition. At the Nicollet Island Inn, tradition is what we do.

First, the New Year’s Eve menu, available for pre-order and pickup on December 31 between 4pm and 7pm:

• $69 per person, plus tax and processing fee
• A four-course dinner featuring a variety of choices in each course, including prime rib, sea bass or gnocchi entrees
• Three Jumbo Shrimp
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Mixed Green Salad with dried cranberries, apricots roasted carrots, pearl onions and honey roasted pecans with a champagne vinaigrette
• Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Berries - or - Cinnamon Roll and Croissant Bread Pudding​
• Wine can be included at $18 a bottle:  House Red or White

Second, this summer's Stay INN promotion was so successful we've extended it:

• Stay overnight during the holiday season at the rate of $179 -  with roses and champagne in your room!
• Rate includes continental breakfast; coffee, fruit, juice and pastries delivered to your room door
• In-room, room service - from the restaurant's full menu
• Stay Thursday, Friday or Saturday​
• For reservations, call the Nicollet Island Inn at 612-331-1800