U of M School of Music & MacPhail Center for Music Kick Off New Chamber Series with ‘An Evening of Collaborative Percussion’

The University of Minnesota School of Music and MacPhail Center for Music will present the first of four concerts in a new chamber series with An Evening of Collaborative Percussion on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. at MacPhail’s Antonello Hall. The evening will feature U of M School of Music Professor Fernando Meza, MacPhail President, COO and Teaching Artist Paul Babcock, the U of M Percussion Ensemble, and the MacPhail Rimshots! Percussion Ensemble. Events in this series are free and open to the public.

The program will be an eclectic mix of percussive works, including Emmanuel Séjourné’s Akadinda Trio, Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble, Mvt. 4, Bob Becker’s Mudra, for prepared tom-tom and percussion ensemble, John Cage’s Third Construction, Edgar Varése’s Ionisation, and Ney Rosauro’s Samba.

Upcoming concerts in the series: Guitar Concert: Six Strings Valentine with Maja Radovanlija (SOM professor) and Alan Johnson and Jean Seils (MacPhail teaching artists) and MacPhail students on February 14, 2013; Collaborative Brass concert with performances by David Baldwin (SOM professor), Allison Hall and Timothy Bradley (MacPhail teaching artists) on March 8, 2013; and Voice Concert: Songs of Spring with Adriana Zabala (SOM professor) and MacPhail teaching artists and students on April 3, 2013.

Over 16,000 Particpate in 2012 Turkey Day 5K

Sunny and 50 degrees - perfect conditions for the 2012 Turkey Day 5K.  According to an article in the StarTrib, the race drew a record 16,500 participants.  Numerous 5K's run through the Mill District throughout the year, but the Turkey Day 5K is my favorite.

An added bonus in our neighborhood this year was entertainment by River City Rhythm.

Road Closures on Thanksgiving, November 22

Time: 7:00am - 11:00am

Certain streets and West River Parkway will be temporarily closed Thanksgiving morning for the Turkey Day 5K.

Here's the race course:

Starts on North 4^th Street, turns left on Portland Avenue, turns right on South 2^nd Street, turn left on 11^th Avenue South, turn left onto West River Parkway, turn left on North 4^th Avenue, turn left on North 1^st Street, turn right on 1^st Avenue North to the finish line.

A complete list of parkway closures through December 2012 is available online.

Mill City Commons Announces 5th Annual Turkey, Dressings and Extra Helpings Drive

Check out the ways you can participate in Mill City Commons' 5th Annual Turkey, Dressings and Extra Helpings Drive:

 

Stonebridge Lofts is new Name for Former Park Vista Condo Project

Jim Stanton of Shamrock Development revealed the new name for the Park Vista condo project in a discussion with me on Friday.

The project, now underway across from Gold Medal Park in the Mill District of Minneapolis, will be called Stonebridge Lofts.

Below - pictures of excavation from last Friday:

Cranksgiving Gathering at Gold Medal Park

Cranksgiving is an annual charity bike event held the weekend before Thanksgiving to raise food and funds for local food shelves.  This year bikers met at Gold Medal Park, and all donated food will go to Sisters' Camelot.

More info.

Minneapoli​s Parks Winter-Spr​ing Activities Guide Available Now

Via a November 16 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Minneapolis Parks Winter-Spring Activities Guide Available Now

If you’re looking for ideas for wintertime fun in Minneapolis, check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) Winter-Spring Guide.

Now available online and in print in the coming week, the 24-page, full-color guide highlights the park system’s winter amenities and activities. Once winter weather conditions allow, the park system’s winter recreation facilities become available, including ice rinks, ski trails and snowboarding and tubing areas. The guide lists hours for ice rink warming houses, ski chalets, snowboarding and tubing, including extended hours during Minneapolis school release days.

The Winter-Spring Guide also includes details about recreation center programs and classes for youth and adults and special winter and spring events in the parks.

The guide will be available at MPRB recreation centers, Hennepin County Libraries in Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center in the next week. For more information on the park system or to request a copy of the guide, visit www.minneapolisparks.org, call 612-230-6400 or sign up to receive email updates about your favorite winter activities.

Hennepin County Now Accepting Applications for Citizen Advisory Board Volunteers

Hennepin County is now accepting applications for Citizen Advisory Board volunteers.  Click here for more information on the current openings and the application process.

The purpose of the Open Appointments process is to promote citizen involvement through volunteer service. The process allows Hennepin County commissioners an opportunity to tap into and select from the broad base of talent, diversity, knowledge and skills of its citizens to benefit county government.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Seeks Website Feedback

Via a November 14 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

MPRB Seeks Website Feedback

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is seeking feedback about its website (www.minneapolisparks.org) and is encouraging residents, park users and the general public to complete a brief online survey. Results will be used by the MPRB to redesign the website in 2013-14.

The survey is available online through Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong languages. Print copies are available through Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. at Minneapolis recreation centers.

The MPRB’s website, www.minneapolisparks.org, was launched in 2001, is considered the organization’s most critical communication and has more than 2.2 million visits annually. The Park Board is committed to providing easily-accessible information and is seeking public input as part of its efforts to meet the public’s information and technology needs.

Website feedback will help the MPRB to serve the public better now and in the future.

Thanksgiving Dinner at The Depot

Thanksgiving is only a week away!  Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in the neighborhood from Noon - 8:00pm at The Depot.

Added bonus - The ice rink will be open for the skating from 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

Tomorrow is Give to the Max Day

There are a number of local nonprofits participating in Give to the Max Day on November 15.  We participated last year, and I found it to be a positive experience.  The system is easy to use, and I received emailed receipts formatted for tax filing purposes immediately.

Some organizations to consider are People Serving People, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Mill City Commons, Mill City Summer Opera, The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, Minneapolis Parks Foundation (specifically the "Let's Go SiteSeeing" project),Friends of the Hennepin County Library, The Soap Factory and MacPhail Center for Music.

Launched in November 2009, GiveMN helps nonprofit organizations of all sizes reach new donors, increases giving through fun and engaging campaigns and significantly reduces overall fundraising costs. It is an independent 501(c) (3) supporting organization of the Minnesota Community Foundation. Donations through the GiveMN.org site to nonprofit organizations are tax deductible and irrevocable.

GiveMN will be offering several incentives to inspire nonprofit and donor participation in Give to the Max Day:

For each donation you make on November 15, your name is entered to win a Golden Ticket. One nonprofit donor and one K-12 public schools donor will be randomly chosen every hour to have $1,000 added to their donation. One nonprofit donor and one K-12 public schools donor will also be selected randomly from throughout the 24 hours of giving to have $10,000 added to their donation!

The three nonprofits that get the most people to donate during this event will receive $12,500 for first place, $5,000 for second place and $2,500 for third place.

A small donation can have a big impact. At People Serving People, for instance, a $50 donation will allow a parent to participate in the employment assistance program. This program has helped hundreds of parents secure a job to support their families.

The Soap Factory Tour

The closing reception for Andy DuCett's project "Why we do this" took place this past Saturday night at The Soap Factory.  We had a chance to take a tour a few days earlier with fellow Mill City Commons members.

In addition to the exhibit, Executive Director Ben Heywood gave us an in depth tour of the building, providing history along the way.

Artists maintain workspaces on the top floor in exchange for helping out around building.

With the props and actors removed, the Basement isn't quite as Haunted...

Brenda Langton Wins Charlie Award for Community Hero

Congratulations to Brenda Langton of Spoonriver on winning the 2012 Charlie Award for Community Hero, presented by Mayor RT Rybak at the Pantages Theater this past Sunday. Brenda is pictured here with Sue Zelickson.

The Charlie Awards were created to recognize the organizations, businesses and individuals that comprise our metro area food and restaurant industry to ensure a diverse, vibrant and creative lifestyle and economy. The Charlies were the inspiration of Sue Zelickson, a James Beard award-winning food journalist.

Michelle Gayer of Salty Tart, a Mill City Farmers Market favorite, took home the award for outstanding Pastry Chef.

First Indoor Mill City Farmers Market of the 2012-2013 Winter Season

Shoppers filled the Mill City Museum for the November 10 Mill City Farmers Market indoor Winter Market. With over 25 vendors participating, we had no problem finding all the staples of the regular market.  Mark your calendar for the December 8 indoor Market - a perfect opportunity to pick up Holiday gifts.  :) 

An added bonus for shoppers at the indoor Market is access to the Mill City Museum Store and grabbing a bite at D'Amico & Sons.

Bird's-eye View of Mill District Condos Provided by Ben Ganje

Ben Ganje, a Real Estate Agent at Lakes | Sotheby's International, provided us with this aerial perspective of our Mill District neighborhood.  Thanks for sharing this, Ben - it's scenery most of us would have never had the opportunity to enjoy otherwise. :)

Saturday is the First MCFM Winter Market Inside Mill City Museum

The Mill City Farmers Market bounty continues every Second Saturday inside the Mill City Museum through April 13, 2013.

Mark your calendar for the first Winter Market this Saturday, November 10, when the Mill City Museum’s Commons will be transformed into a bustling marketplace of locally grown and sustainably produced food and gift items.  From 10:00am to 1:00pm, shop for everything from squash varietals, root vegetables, and salad mix to freshly milled grains, honey, syrup, pastured meats, eggs, specialty cheeses, baked goods, flowers, and even wreaths for your front door.

Each Winter Market will bring a unique celebration of seasonal offerings.  On December 8, they'll offer everything you need to make the holidays bright, including Christmas Trees and wreaths from Dawn2Dusk Gardens.  The January 12 Market will highlight many local artisans, and the February 9 Market comes just in time to get that one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day gift for that special someone.  On March 9, we hope to see the first signs of spring and on April 13^th we will be all geared up for our regular Market season!

Continue to eat local foods this winter while supporting Healthy Foods, Local Farmers. Stock up on carrots, pumpkins, potatoes, garlic, parsnips, apples, eggs, and more local and sustainable food from Mill City Farmers Market. Meat and cheese Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares are available at Braucher’s Sunshine Harvest Farm, MN Valley Organics, and Shepherd’s Way Farms.  Winter produce CSA shares are available at Prairie Hollow Farms.

VOTE! 7:00am - 8:00pm

                                                     

Hennepin County Updates from Jan Callison

Excerpts from Commission Callison's November 1 e-newsletter:

Revenue Bonds Approved For A-Mill Lofts The board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA), gave preliminary approval to issue up to $55 million in tax-exempt multifamily housing revenue bonds to assist in the construction of a residential rental development – the A-Mill Artist Lofts – in the historic Pillsbury A-Mill at 301 Main St. S.E. in Minneapolis. The $138-million project will include 251 units of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income people. Anticipated opening is in the fall of 2014. Debt service on the bonds will be paid from project revenues and other assets pledged by the developer. File photo by Bill Klotz Resolution Opposing Voter ID Amendment Approved The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners gave final approval to a resolution, offered by Board Chair Mike Opat, opposing the Photo Identification Constitutional Amendment (commonly called voter ID). The resolution highlights several issues with voter ID: The language on the ballot is significantly different than the language in the actual amendment, and there are many unresolved details – including what kinds of valid “government-issued” photographic identification will be required. In Hennepin County, there has been no evidence – proven or anecdotal – of voter impersonation – the only type of fraud that could be addressed by voter ID. The amendment raises many serious questions about Election Day registration – a hallmark of the Minnesota voting system – and leaves many unanswered questions surrounding the proposed provisional voting system. The amendment will likely cost millions in taxpayer dollars to operate, and could result in unfunded state mandates that would have a permanent impact on Hennepin and its cities – potentially resulting in higher property taxes or the elimination of services. Constitutional amendments should not be used to stifle, prevent or restrict voting in any way, but should expand and guarantee voting rights and encourage voter participation The board is responsible for the conduct of elections in Hennepin and is uniquely positioned to speak to the integrity of the elections system – including the quality of county and city elections staff; the safeguards that are in place to ensure that elections are fair and that only qualified voters vote; and the training of election judges that takes place. No Salary Increase For Commissioners In 2013 The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, on a vote of five in favor and one opposed, approved a resolution providing a zero-percent increase in their salaries for 2013, and a 2.5-percent increase in 2014. State law requires that any adjustments in commissioners’ salaries must be adopted before the general election to take effect Jan. 1 of the following year. In 2014, commissioners’ salaries will increase 2.5 percent, continuing the practice of board salaries lagging behind staff increases by a year. Hennepin commissioners have not received any salary increases since 2009. Look for more news at www.hennepin.us/news. 'History Day Hullabaloos' Provide Assistance For National History Day Projects What: National History Day is an inter-disciplinary research project for students in grades 6-12. Experts will offer their assistance at free “History Day Hullabaloos” to students needing help with their projects. Librarians, Minnesota Historical Society staff and mentors from the University of Minnesota will help students narrow their topics, develop their projects, find the best resources, and strategize how to complete their projects in workable phases. This school year’s theme is “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events.” Students choose a topic related to the annual theme, develop a thesis, research the topic using primary and secondary resources, and develop a research paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website. Students are advanced from their school to the regional, state and national competitions. When: Saturdays, Dec. 1, Jan. 26, and Feb. 16; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Hennepin County Library -Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis Where: Hennepin County Library – Ridgedale, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka History Day Hullabaloo is sponsored by Hennepin County Library, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society. More information is available in the news release.

Set Your Clocks BACK 1 Hour

From Sheriff Stanek's November 1 e-newsletter:

Weekend reminder: Set your clocks back one hour & check safety items!

Daylight Saving ends on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 am. Set your clocks back one hour.

The biannual changing of the clocks for Daylight Saving Time is also a great time to check on your family’s preparedness. Please do the following:

• Test the smoke alarms in your home and at work. Don’t forget to test your carbon monoxide alarms, too. Replace the batteries if needed.
• Check the emergency kit in your vehicle.
• Update the emergency contact information in your family’s communication plan. Choose an out-of-area emergency contact that each person in your family can call contact if he/she becomes separated during a disaster situation.
• Make sure that your emergency preparedness kit still includes at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water (a minimum of one gallon per person, per day), a flashlight, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a multi-purpose tool, first aid kit, copies of important documents, and special items such as medications, diapers, and infant formula.
• Check your emergency preparedness kit for expired food items and freshen staples such as water, food and batteries. If there have been changes in prescriptions or dietary needs, adjust your supplies as needed.
  (SOURCE: American Red Cross) 

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul's November Lineup

November 5, National Theater Live. From the grand stage of London's National Theatre to our big screen at St. Anthony Main Theatre, The Last of the Haussmans plays Monday, November 5 at 7pm. In one of the most sharp-witted productions that you will see all year, Julie Walters (Harry Potter, Billy Elliott, Mamma Mia!) plays Judy Haussman with Rory Kinnear (National's Hamlet) and Helen McCrory (The Queen, Hugo) as her children in this eagerly-anticipated debut play by actor and first-time playwright Stephen Beresford. In what The Guardian called "self-destructive gaiety," Haussmans is a funny, touching and sometimes savage portrait of a family that's losing its grip. Friday November 2, Civic Cinema begins! Just in time for the elections, we are presenting a series of political films that are sure to spark healthy debate. November 2 thru 8, Janeane from Des Moines. This remarkable new political buzz film, told in an inventive fiction-documentary hybrid style, follows an intrepid conservative Iowa housewife as her personal and political convictions are severely tested when she seeks answers from the Republican presidential candidates leading up to the 2012 Iowa Caucuses. See these incredible encounters with the candidates including Mitt Romney and Michelle Bachmann. Director Grace Lee and actress Jane Edith Wilson will be present for a Q&A Sunday, November 4 at 7pm! November 2 and 4, Escape Fire. Join us Friday, November 2 at 7pm for a special preview screening of Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, followed by an expert panel discussion (*This screening is selling fast!). This award-winning documentary tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time: how can we save our badly broken healthcare system? Escape Fire plays again Sunday, November 4 at 4pm, and opens theatrically Friday, November 9. November 3 and 4, Suddenly, Last Winter. 2012 MSP International Film Fest directors Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi of Italy Love it or Leave it, return to our screen Saturday, November 3 at 7pm and Sunday, November 4 at 1:30pm with their 2008 documentary Suddenly, Last Winter. In Hofer and Ragazzi's characteristically humorous and exacting style, the film chronicles their personal journey amidst Italy's recent contentious civil union debate. All tickets just $5! Wednesday November 7, Ask Your Shadow. The Film Society and the University of Minnesota present director Lamine Ammar-Khodja and his new documentary Ask Your Shadow (Demande à ton ombre) on Wednesday, November 7 at 4:30pm. Eight years after leaving native Algeria for France, Lamine Ammar-Khodja decides to end his exile on January 6, 2011, the day major riots break out in Algiers. Followed by a discussion with the director and professor Patricia Lorcin, Department of History, UMN. Click on the images below for more information.

The Film Society Ticket Prices: $8.50 - Regular $6.00 - Students w/ ID / Seniors 62+ / Children under 12 $5.00 - Members The Film Society presents the very best of national and international independent cinema on Screen 3 at St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 SE Main Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414 The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul 125 SE Main St, Suite 125A, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414 info [at] mspfilmsociety.org | 612.331.7563 | mspfilmsociety.org