Tomorrow! Mill City Farmers Market Inside the Mill City Museum

    

Join us this Saturday for our next Indoor Winter Farmers Market celebrating a surprising abundance of local and seasonal produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and cheeses, and more!

From 10 am to 1 pm, shop from nearly 40 vendors for everything from spinach, tomatoes, beets, and cabbage, to artisan chocolates and local honey, maple syrup, hand-milled flour, locally harvested wild rice, specialty cheeses, baked goods, kimchi, preserves, and hand-made artisan ceramics, kitchen utensils, and jewelry.

See you at the Market - don't forget your grocery list!

Current Offerings from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul

Here's what The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul has playing at (and coming soon to) the St. Anthony Main Theatre.

Opening this Friday is the haunting Gothic-drama, The Monk, starring Vincent Cassel! Thursday is the third installment in the ongoing Cuban Film Festival. Plus, the Oscar winning doc Searching For Sugar Man will receive a special extended run through Thursday, March 14. And make sure you check out upcoming films in the month of March: the inspirational documentary Girl Rising, Kenya's first ever Oscar submission, Nairobi Half Life, and the Oscar nominated War Witch!

Opening Friday, March 8: The Monk. A supernatural thriller adapted from Matthew G. Lewis' 1796 gothic novel, The Monk traces the corruption of Brother Ambrosio (Vincent Cassel), a 16th Century, pious Capuchin Monk. Ambrosio is feared for his righteousness and believes he is immune from temptation - until the arrival of a mysterious apprentice undermines his convictions and leads him down a dangerous path of sin, corruption and murder...more info here

Now thru Thursday, March 14: Searching for Sugar Man. 2013 Academy Award® Winner for Best Documentary Feature! In the early 1970s, A&M released two albums by a singer-songwriter known only as Rodriquez, who dropped out of sight and was rumored to have died after the records failed to sell. When two of his most ardent fans decided to track down the truth behind his disappearance from the music scene, they discover a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths... more info here

Thursday, February 28, 7:00 pm: Irremediablemente Juntos (Hopelessly Together).From the director of El Beny, comes a musical drama, based on the theatrical piece Pogolotti-Miramar, by Alexis Vázquez. In it, Sánchez presents a frank take on race, class divisions and corruption.... more info here

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The Guthrie and Aloft Team Up for "Beer, Brats and the Bard"

Join us for Beer, Brats and the Bard

Tuesday, March 12 - Twelfth Night

Tuesday, March 26 - The Taming of the Shrew

6-7:15 p.m.

Enjoy a beer and a bratwurst, delicious side salads and dessert at the wxyz bar at aloft Minneapolis, located at 900 Washington Street South.

7:30 p.m.

Head to the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage to see Propeller's Twelfth Night (performed March 12) or The Taming of the Shrew (performed March 26).

Tickets: $40

Call the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224 and ask for the "Beer, Brats and the Bard" special.

*Offer not available with other offers or on previously purchased tickets. There is a $5 handling fee per order. Soda, wine or rail drinks may be substituted for beer. Veggie options will be available. No other food substitutions.

Visit the Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew show pages to learn more about these productions.

Love and Life Architects’ Worldwide Billionaire Bachelor Search at Blast Blow Dry Bar

As part of a national search, 300 women recently converged at Blast Blow Dry Bar's ALoft location for Round 1 auditions in the Love and Life Architects’ Worldwide Billionaire Bachelor Search. 

Below, Kailen Rosenberg of Love and Life Architects, Dez from KS95, and Kristen Neafus of Blast Blow Dry Bar conduct an interview.

The Bachelor is described as "32 years old, an extreme sports enthusiast who loves the ocean and the mountains, a world traveler, a trained culinary hobby chef and a philanthropist from one of the most prominent and respected families in the world."

This event was co-sponsored by KS95, who raised $10K for their KS95 For Kids fund, helping children in this community who are living with cancer or a complex disability.

During the Round 2 auditions, scheduled for March 6 at Blast's West End location, 50 women chosen from Round 1 will compete for 5 Finalist spots.  Then, on March 9, the finalists will meet at Love and Life Architects Wayzata.  Finalists selected to meet the Bachelor will receive complimentary blowouts and makeup touch ups from Blast Blow Dry Bar.

Employment Opportunity at MCBA

Via a March 4 Minnesota Center for Book Arts e-newsletter:

MCBA is hiring a full-time Membership and Giving Manager who will be responsible for MCBA's membership and development programs. The position includes managing membership benefits, levels, events and programs to increase member participation and enhance membership experiences, among other responsibilities.

Do you know the perfect person for this position? Send them our way! Read the full description, skills/experience requirements and salary/benefits on our Employment Opportunities page. The deadline to apply is March 29, 2013.

Minneapolis Park & Rec Board Hosts Seasonal Job Fairs in March

Via a March 1 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

Park Board Hosts Seasonal Job Fairs in March
 
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will host job application fairs on March 6 at the Minneapolis Urban League and March 13 at Phillips Community Center for seasonal positions as Park Maintenance Workers and Mobile Equipment Operators.

Anyone interested in learning about and applying for these positions is invited to attend a job fair on March 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Minneapolis Urban League (2000 Plymouth Ave. N) or March 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Phillips Community Center (2323 11th Ave. S). Candidates who meet the required qualifications will be invited for interviews.

Nominations Now Open for The McKnight Foundation 2013 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service

The McKnight Foundation invites nominations for the 2013 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service.

Click here to submit your nomination.

Each year The McKnight Foundation recognizes up to six Minnesotans who have demonstrated an exceptional personal commitment to helping others in their communities but who have received little or no public recognition.

In alignment with McKnight's mission, the Foundation seeks individuals who attend, unite, and empower others in communities throughout Minnesota. Here, we define individuals who "attend" as those who serve people or organizations directly; who "unite" as those who bring people together around a shared goal; and who "empower" as those who enable people to help themselves and others.

Each awardee receives $10,000 and is honored at a ceremony in late summer.

The awards, which were first presented in 1985, are named for Virginia McKnight Binger, the Foundation's first board chair and the daughter of the founders. Although she passed away in December 2002, these awards help us remember Virginia's enduring spirit of compassion, humility, and generosity.

Last year’s recipients include community activists, youth mentors, healers, and advocates for the immigrant population.

 ELIGIBILITY

The Foundation invites nominations recognizing anyone directly involved in providing human services, especially those working to make their communities more responsive to the needs of poor or disadvantaged people in Minnesota.

• Nominees may be volunteers or service staff working directly with people in Minnesota. Senior administrators and program managers are not eligible.
• Nominees (and the work for which they are being nominated) do not have to be associated with any organization to be eligible.
• The process is confidential, and individuals are not to be notified that they have been nominated.
• Individuals may not nominate themselves.
• Nominees may not be past Human Service Award recipients.
• Nominees must be current residents of Minnesota.
• Nominees may be any age.
• Tenure of service will be taken into consideration.

REVIEW PROCESS

A committee, composed of human service professionals and volunteers from throughout Minnesota, reviews nominations, checks references, and recommends candidates to the Foundation's Board of Directors. Award recipients are notified in June and honored in August.

You may submit your nomination online at any time for the 2013 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. Please call 612-333-4220 if you have any questions.

Washington Avenue Bridge Light Rail Prep Earns Contractor Award

From a recent StarTrib article by Tim Harlow:

The contractor that retrofitted the iconic Washington Avenue Bridge to accomodate light rail trains has won an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota.
 
AECOM, the international engineering and design firm selected by the Metropolitan Counci for the job, earned a 2013 Engineerint Excellence Grand Award for the $21 million makeover of the double decker bridge that spans the Mississippi River on the University of Minnesota.
 
The firm shared the award with the Met Council, according to a news release updating progress on the construction of the Central Corridor Light Rail Line.  Known as the Green Line, trains will cross the bridge when the line between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul opens in mid-2014.
 
Construction is 89 percent, according to a Met Council spokeswoman.
 
The retrofitted bridge includes two tracks in the center of the lower level of the bridge along with one traffic lane in each direction. The upper level is still open to pedestrians.
 
Preserving the existing 1,131-foot bridge, which was built in 1965, saved an estimated $80 to $100 from the Green Line's cost since a new bridge did not have to be built. It also kept construction on schedule since complete bridge replacement could have taken up to 2 years.
 
Photo credit: Metropolitan Council 

Fourth Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival Opens Tomorrow

On February 21, the Fourth Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival opens at Saint Anthony Main Theatre in Minneapolis. Presented by the Minnesota Cuban Committee in partnership with The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, the festival includes a mix of new feature films and documentaries, along with two vintage classics. The films will all be accompanied by short features from Cuba's International Film School and other sources.

More Info

Arboretum to Host Mill City Farmers Market on March 16

Shop for Jams, Pickles, Artisan Cheeses, Natural Soaps & More!

Chanhassen, MN (March 16^th, 2013) - On Saturday, March 16, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will host the Mill City Farmers Market and its popular vendors in a bustling marketplace full of quality, locally produced, home grown products. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors can purchase everything from pickles to freshly milled grains and flours to honey and artisan cheeses. 

Here's a glimpse at participating vendors for the March 16 event: Ames Farm (honey, beeswax candles), Bliss Granola, Cafe Palmira (coffee beans), French Nugget (chocolate nougat), Gorkha Palace (chutneys), Natura Farms (hydroponic tomatoes), Kiss My Cabbage (sauerkraut, kimchi), Lucille's Kitchen Garden (jams), Jeanne Beatrice (handmade baskets), Martha's Joy (pickled vegetables), Olsen Naturals (natural body care), Spring Finn and Co (leather handbags and handmade jewelry), Singing Hills Goat Dairy (goat cheese) and Sunrise Flour Mill (freshly milled whole grains and flours).  A full list of participating vendors can be found at http://millcityfarmersmarket.org/events/03162013-winter-market-at-the-arboretum/.

Founded in 2006 by local acclaimed chef and restaurateur Brenda Langton, the Mill City Farmers Market has earned a reputation for its promotion and support of local, sustainable and organic agriculture.  Typically located next to the Guthrie Theater and Langton's Spoonriver restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, the market is making its second annual appearance at the Arboretum! As a special treat at the March 16 event, Langton will make a guest appearance to greet attendees and sign copies of her popular Spoonriver Cookbook at the Arboretum. Mill City Farmers Markets own chef, Heather Hartman, will also be on-site doing a cooking demonstration and sampling a delicious wild rice salad. Need another reason to visit the Arboretum on March 16?

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest, is part of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences & located 9 miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen. The Arboretum is disability accessible and smoke free. Admission: $12 adults; free for members & ages 12 and under.    

American Academy of Neurology Awarded LEED Certification

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recently announced the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the Academy’s new headquarters at 201 Chicago Avenue with the coveted Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Click here for the Press Release.

"Sweatworking" Comes to Minneapolis

Marcy Twete, Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network, notified us about this upcoming networking and health & fitness event.

Per Marcy, "We empower women to excel in their careers through information, resources, and networking. We've launched a nationwide event series in 2013 and our first event in Minneapolis is on February 28th. It's a "Sweatworking" event – we're combining the incredible power of a workout class with the professional connection of a networking event giving busy and ambitious women a change to get fit and enhance their careers at the same time."

Their first event is at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 28, at Ivy Fitness Club in the Ivy Hotel. The event is sponsored by LUNA and benefits local Minneapolis nonprofit organization Girls on the Run.

More information can be found at http://www.sweatnetworking.com/.

Violent Crime Has Decreased Countywide By 37%

From a February 15 Hennepin County Sheriff's Office e-newsletter:

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is releasing statistics that provide an estimate of the county’s violent crime in 2012.  The statistics show that violent crime has decreased countywide by 37% from 2006 to 2012.

2012 had one of the lowest levels of violent crime countywide in more than two decades. 

Violent crime is defined as: murder and manslaughter--non negligent, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The definition is from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Year-to-date, from 2011-2012, there was an estimated 3% increase in violent crime countywide. Despite the slight increase year-to-date, last year’s overall violent crime numbers are historically low. 

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek credits several areas of law enforcement with contributing to the effective fight against violent crime: the expansion of partnerships among law enforcement agencies, enhanced criminal information sharing and analysis, and improved use of technology by law enforcement.

Sheriff Stanek encourages residents to help law enforcement in the continued effort to fight crime.  If you see suspicious activity, call 911.  Or, if you prefer to send an anonymous tip, text HCSOtip to 847 411.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all our Mill District neighbors.  We celebrated a day early, and I will be enjoying this lovely bouquet from City Gardens Flower Mill for days.

Hockey Fans! The Film Society of Mpls St. Paul Presents "The Last Gladiators" February 15-21

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul would like to inform you of the upcoming exclusive theatrical engagement of the compelling new documentary The Last Gladiators. Academy Award® winning Director Alex Gibney takes an unprecedented look at the National Hockey League’s most feared enforcers and explores the career of Chris “Knuckles” Nilan. Chris won the love of hockey’s holy city, Montreal, and helped his team win the Stanley Cup, but it came at the cost of a shattered body, addiction to drugs, and harming the people closest to him Through interviews with hockey’s toughest guys, the film explores what it means to enforce the unspoken code of the NHL®.

The film will play Friday, February 15-21 at The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul's St. Anthony Main Theatre (115 SE Main Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414)

A special Q&A will be facilitated by The Code author Ross Bernstein and Chris Nilan, along with several other NHL®. players on February 15 at 7:00pm. The group will discuss the movie, the current state of hockey, and how concussions and physical play have changed the game.

Click here for more information, tickets and showtimes for THE LAST GLADIATORS.

2013 Minneapoli​s Earth Day Cleanup Set for April 20

Via a February 11 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the City of Minneapolis will host the 19th annual Minneapolis Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in neighborhoods and parks throughout the city.

The Earth Day Cleanup has become the largest community service project in Minneapolis and takes place at nearly 40 cleanup sites. It’s free to participate and the public is encouraged to participate by volunteering to help pick up trash in parks, neighborhoods, and watersheds. No registration is needed – just choose a site and show up to help. For more information about the event and a list of cleanup sites, visit http://www.minneapolisearthday.com/ or call 612-230-6479.

Mill City Farmers Market February 9 Winter Market

These Winter Markets were a brilliant idea - packed house every time. At the February 9 event, Mill City Farmers Market founder Brenda Langton signed copies of her latest cookbook, The Spoonriver Cookbook, and St. Croix Chocolate Company had a beautiful selection of specially packaged Valentines.

The Depot Announces RLife LIVE Idol Tryouts

RLife LIVE events at The Depot include live music, food and featured drinks.  The Depot is currently searching for local top talent to compete in the RLife LIVE Idol try-outs.  The winner of the competition will get 4 exclusive contracted gigs this summer, along with other prizes.  See details

Casting Announced for Kingdom Undone - Opens March 15 at The Southern Theater

The Powerful Passion Play Returns to The Southern Theater March 15 - 30

Casting has been announced for Kingdom Undone, the new play written by Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble (founders of Theater for the Thirsty). This critically acclaimed work with a compelling twist on the last days of Jesus and Judas returns to the Southern Theater March 15 – 30.

The Gamble’s hoped the piece would challenge both church goers and non-church goers to rethink assumptions and provoke discussion. “We were thrilled with the response,” says Jeremiah, “and we are pleased that 12 of 16 actors from last year’s premiere are returning. Two additional roles plus a percussionist have been added to this year’s production.

Kingdom Undone is directed by Jeffrey S. Miller (The Refreshment Committee) with musical direction by Michael Pearce Donley (Triple Espresso), Nadine Grant is the costumer and Betsy E. Mills is directing movement. The creative team includes Jeremy Barnett (Set Design), Joy Donley(Producer/Asst. Director), Sarah Pierucki (Stage Manager), Geoffrey Wold (Lighting Designer) and Mike Anderson (Fight Instructor).

Dustin Bronson (Pillsbury House, The Illusion, Park Square) is featured as Judas, Jeremiah Gamble (playwright and author) plays Jesus, Vanessa Gambleis Magdalena (Children’s Theater Company, Theater Latté Da, History Theater), Matt Berdahl (Bloomington Civic Theater, Skylark Opera Company) is Isaac, and Janet Hansonas Mary (Theater Latte Da, Park Square Theatre, The Children’s Theatre Company). The rest of the stand-out cast includes Greg Bunce (Pharisee), Nathan Cousins (Peter), Stephanie Cousins (ensemble), Kelli Foster Warder (angel), Matthew Greseth(Caiaphas),Eric Heimsoth (Centurion), Nicholas Leeman (James), Daniel McLaughlin (John), Gail Ottmar (Joanna), Bethany Peters (ensemble), Arnie Roos (Lazarus), Peter Simmons(Pilot/Achan), and Kurt Schweickhardt(Zacchaeus/Sadduce). 

Musicians include Anna Bakk (violin), David Doll (percussion), Christopher Erickson (upright bass), Karen Thomas (violin) and Jon Visser (classical guitar) who will be joined by Music Director Michael Pearce Donley on keyboards.

Performance Dates: March 15 – 30 at The Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S,. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays – Saturdays with 3 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Additional performances: 7:30 p.m. on Palm Sunday, March 24, and 4 p.m. on Good Friday, March 29. 

Tickets: $15 - $25, Discounts for groups, seniors, students and Minnesota Fringe button-holders at http://www.kingdomundone.com/ or 800.838.3006.

Izzy's Ice Cream Construction Update [Photo]

From earlier this week:

View full size:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/millcitytimes/8450850896/in/photostream/lightbox/