The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival Returns April 4 - 20

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul recently announced the 38th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF), from April 4 - 20, 2019. MSPIFF is the largest annual arts events in the region, Minnesota’s largest film event, and one of the longest-running film festivals in the country. Each year, the festival showcases the latest films by both emerging and veteran filmmakers from around the globe, totaling more than 250 bold, exciting films from 70+ countries.

MSPIFF screenings will once again be concentrated at the St. Anthony Main Theatre, taking over the five screens for the full run of the festival. MSPIFF continues to expand the festival’s footprint with screenings and special events to be held the newly-renovated Parkway Theater in South Minneapolis, and returning to the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis, Film Space at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, and the Marcus Rochester Cinema in Rochester, MN.

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The programming staff of MPSIFF has been scouring international film festivals from Sundance to Berlin, Palm Springs to Toronto, San Francisco to San Sebastian, in addition to sifting through well over a thousand film submissions, to bring its characteristically unique slate of films to Minnesota—films that reflect issues of global and local interest and that would otherwise never be experienced in Twin Cities theaters.

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The complete MSPIFF line-up will be announced on March 14, and will be on view at mspfilm.org. Festival Passes and 6-packs are on sale now at mspfilm.org, with individual ticket sales opening to Film Society Members on March 14 and to the public on March 21.

Draft Minneapolis Parks Ecological System Plan opens for 45-day Comment Period

Via a February 14 e-announcement from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Project will set vision for more environmentally friendly Minneapolis parks and public land 

Today, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) published the draft Ecological System Plan for a 45-day public comment period ending Sunday, April 1, 2019. This plan was created to set a vision for making more environmentally friendly parks and public land in Minneapolis.

Follow the links below to view and comment on the updated plan. It's also available to view in person along with paper surveys at the following locations: Carl W. Kroening Interpretive Center, Kenwood Community Center, Lake Nokomis Community Center, Luxton Recreation Center, Lynnhurst Recreation Center, Mary Merrill MPRB Headquarters, North Commons Recreation Center, Northeast Recreation Center and Powderhorn Recreation Center.

Draft Ecological System Plan:

Ch. 1: Introduction

Ch. 2: Water

Ch. 3: Air

Ch. 4: Land

Ch. 5: Life

Ch. 6: Recommendations

Appendix: Maps

Comment on Draft Ecological System Plan

After the public comment period closes, MPRB staff will compile and analyze feedback received and potentially adjust the plan. Then the Board of Commissioners will host a public hearing before considering its approval.

About this project

The Ecological Systems Plan, in conjunction with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, will set a vision for making Minneapolis parks and public lands more friendly to the environment.

Minnesota Makers Downtown Store Grand Opening at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center on Feb 19

The Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center on Nicollet and 5th Street is pleased to announce a grand opening celebration for Minnesota Makers. The event will feature Minnesota artists, a ribbon cutting ceremony, artist showcases and giveaways. Free food samples will be available, as well. Local artists will be onsite throughout the day offering samples of their work; Fast Mary’s, Dancing Bear Chocolate and Bolton Bees are just a few of the artists scheduled to attend.

Festivities take place Tuesday, February 19, 10 - 10:20 a.m. (10-minute program and ribbon-cutting ceremony); artists will be in store until 6 p.m. Location: 505 Nicollet Mall, Suite 100, directly across from the METRO Nicollet station. 

Minnesota Makers features the work of more than 100 Minnesota artists from all over the state, including Minneapolis-centric items like prints, clothing and wood products. Guests shopping at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center location also will find illustrations by Adam Turman, screen prints by Brian Giehl of Dogfish Media and cutting boards and games by Al Walker of Savanna Woods available for purchase.

The opportunity to purchase locally made products and artwork is just part of what makes the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center unique for visitors, downtown workers and local residents. Visitor center staff answers questions and shares information on what to see and do around Minneapolis, provides maps and has transit resources including all-day $5 transit passes. To get the most out of visiting Minneapolis, consider the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center your one-stop resource. 

For more information on the official grand opening of Minnesota Makers retail, the event invitation is available on Facebook, or visit www.minnesotamakers.net/. 

Boom Island: One Thing After Another

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Minneapolis skyline from Boom Island

Boom Island, a once bustling industrial island that has transformed into a large, quaint park. It is home to kayaks and canoes, perfect picnic spots, and great views of the Minneapolis riverfront and skyline. A lot has happened throughout the decades upon these 22.5 acres from 5K’s to concerts, and the history of this land is as much a part of humankind history as it is Minneapolis history.

Before humans started developing Boom Island, it was not a very attractive piece of real estate. The back channel of the island was very shallow which meant it was only a true island during high water, and during the rest of the time it was quite swampy. While little to no activity occurred on the island, a very important site lies just across the back channel. During the first decade of the 20th century a team from the Minnesota Historical Society travelled the state to inventory Native American mounds, pottery shards, stone pictographs, and everything in between. One of their discoveries was an ancient burial mound that was found 15 feet beneath the surface near the northwest corner of present-day B.F. Nelson Park. The soil layer that the bones and relics were found in dated the time of burial to the last glacial period, which ended roughly 12,000 years ago. It is somewhat eerie yet amazing to think that humans have found beauty in the back channels of the Minneapolis riverfront for thousands of years.

It was only when pioneers began settling the area that Boom Island saw significant use. During the years leading up to the establishment of the Village of St. Anthony in 1849, a Mdewakanton Dakota woman, who was in Cloud Man’s band on the shores of Lake Bde Maka Ska, ran a ferry service from Boom Island across the river to the area around the mouth of Bassett Creek using her log canoe. Once the first Hennepin Avenue Bridge opened in 1855, there was no need for a ferry service anymore, but Boom Island gradually transformed into Minneapolis’ lumber milling industry. During the industry’s peak, there were too many sawmills to count, so to make things easier the lumberjacks up in northern Minnesota would apply company stamps to the logs they cut down before they tossed them into the Mississippi. Once the logs floated down to Minneapolis, a boom, which is a bunch of logs chained together across the river from bank to bank, caught the logs at Boom Island where the sawmills would then find their company stamped logs and cut them into lumber. It was a log boom, not an explosion or Fourth of July fireworks, that provided the name for the island.

As the forests of Minnesota started to dwindle, the logging industry slowed down significantly. To make matters worse, in 1893, Minneapolis’ largest fire devastated the area, and most of the debris from the fire was bulldozed into the back channel of the island, which permanently connected it to the east bank. 

Boom Island when the railway owned it. Facing east, taken roughly where the current pedestrian bridge is; roundhouse can be seen in the background.

The turn of the century slowly saw Boom Island change from a sawmill hub to a rail hub. The Wisconsin Central Railway turned the island into a train yard with roughly 28 tracks and a roundhouse. The trains would enter the island via the current pedestrian bridge that connects Boom Island to Nicollet Island. The railway abandoned the train yard in the early 1970s, and the city quickly acquired the land. A few years later that land came close to being used for Interstate 335, which would connect I-94 to I-35W, but the local neighborhood had different plans and became the first neighborhood board to stop a federal project in the US.

After a decade of other industries occupying Boom Island, it was sold to the Minneapolis Park Board in 1982 for $2.6 million. During the clean up of the area, the Park Board also considered digging out the back channel to make it a true island once again, however, that would have been far too expensive. The park was opened in 1987 and was officially completed in 1988. Since then it has been a place to enjoy a walk along the river, launch a boat, have a party, and fly a kite. Important events have also taken place on Boom Island since it has turned into a park. Numerous concerts have been performed on the island from The Pointer Sisters and the Oak Ridge Boys to Hippo Campus and Chance The Rapper. In 1996, the Olympic torch relay made a pit stop at the park to spend the night before heading out on its way to Atlanta.

Credit: Michael Rainville. Jr. Taken at the February 10 Klobuchar event.

Most recently, on a very snowy Sunday along the riverfront, Boom Island became the starting point for Senator Amy Klobuchar’s 2020 presidential campaign. A lot has happened on this 22.5-acre piece of land, and I’m sure there will be more 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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Black Sheep and Whole Foods February promo to support Hennepin County Libraries

Have an appetite for reading? Stop by Black Sheep Pizza or Whole Foods this month!

Pizza and groceries for you and support for our Library - it's a win-win!

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Black Sheep Pizza: Order a cheese pizza (item #1 on the menu) by February 28 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit our Library.

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Whole Foods: Bring your own shopping bag to any Twin Cities location through March 31 and you can donate your 10 cent bag credit to our Library.

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Check out Black Sheep Pizza's menu here and find your nearest Whole Foods location here. 

Jack Link's announces Valentine's Day “Kiss my SAS(quatch)” event to support Secondhand Hounds

Help Furry Friends this Valentine’s Day at Jack Link’s Sasquatch Kissing Booth

Fundraiser to Benefit Local Secondhand Hounds Pet Adoption At Minneapolis Target Center

This Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) Jack Link’s protein snacks is asking local Minneapolis shoppers, “Are you brave enough to kiss the Sas?” To benefit local Minnetonka charity, Secondhand Hounds, the Sasquatch will be hosting his very own kissing booth at the Wildside Store in Minneapolis’ Target Center, 600 N 1st Avenue. For every kiss the Sasquatch receives, Jack Link’s will donate $1 to Second Hand Hounds pet adoption agency.

In addition, furry canine friends from Secondhand Hounds will be on-site and available to meet visitors.

The Wildside store will also be open all day selling last-minute Valentine’s Day essentials, like the clever Jack Link's I Love Sasquatch Gift Box.

Hours of the event are 11:30am – 1:30pm and 3:00pm - 5:30pm.

Submit Your Nominations for City Pages' Best of the Twin Cities Readers' Choice Poll

City Pages' annual Best of the Twin Cities issue celebrates all the things we love most about our metropolis, from the finest bars and restaurants, to the coolest people, parks, museums, and music.

The 2019 Best of the Twin Cities Readers' Choice Poll gives you the chance to vote for 100 Best of the Twin Cities winners. For the first round of voting, which runs from February 5 until midnight on February 26, you'll nominate your favorite people, places, and things in 100 select categories. City Pages will tally the nominations, and from March 5 until midnight on March 26, readers will be able to vote on the top five nominees in each category. The Readers' Choice Poll results will be announced in the annual Best of the Twin Cities issue, online and hitting newsstands April 17. 

Welcome Back the Herons March 23 with the Mississippi Park Connection

The Mississippi Park Connection invites you to join them in welcoming back the herons on Saturday, March 23, at Marshall Terrace Park, 2740 Marshall Street NE.

Great blue herons start returning to their rookery on the Mississippi River toward the end of March. Join Park Ranger Sharon (aka Birdchick) at Marshall Terrace Park in Minneapolis to watch them rebuild nests and do a little flirting. With any luck, you may also see the resident peregrine falcons fly over, as well as migrating ducks such as the buffleheads and goldeneye.

This event takes place on the banks of the Mississippi River (weather permitting), so attendees should be prepared for mud or ice. It is free and open to everyone. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged. Ranger Sharon will have her spotting scope to aid viewing the birds.

NOTE: The time of this event will be announced closer to the date. Attendees will meet Ranger Sharon at the park down on the river bank.

February and March Opportunities to Meet with 3rd Ward Council Member Fletcher

Council Member Fletcher holds regular open office hours on Wednesday evenings for constituents to drop by, ask questions, and raise any issues you see in the community. These rotate through the different quadrants of Ward 3 (NE, SE, Downtown, North Loop), but all are welcome at any of them. If you would like to discuss a specific issue, contact the office (612-673-2203) so they can put you on the agenda. 

Upcoming Coffee with Your Council Member dates/locations:

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February 6, 5pm at Five Watt Coffee

February 13, 5pm at the Purple Onion Cafe

February 27, 5pm Open Book

March 6, 5pm at In the Loop Coffee

March 13, 5pm at Taraccino Coffee

March 20, 5pm at Five Watt Coffee

March 27, 5pm at the Purple Onion Cafe

The Southern Theater opens 2019-2020 Call for Artists

Via a February 4 announcement from The Southern Theater 

The Minneapolis Theater will expand programming options for artists who want to perform under the historic arch

The Southern Theater has opened its call for artist for those interested in presenting work now through the summer of 2020.  Proposals will be accepted until February 22, 2019 with more presenting options available than in previous years.  

 

New this year is a program that will allow 3-4 artists to be part of a cohort series thanks to an Arts Access Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.  AMPLIFY: to make larger, greater, stronger: to increase in strength. The AMPLIFY series will give voice and a platform to underrepresented stories that need to be heard. Through different performance genres and artistic styles, cohort members will share their message, experiences and process, culminating in public performances of their work.  Artists will also participate in panel discussions and student performance, something The Southern programming has not offered recently.  

 

Other presenting options include a more traditional rental. The Southern has been almost exclusively a shared revenue presenter since the launch of the ARTshare program in 2015.  While some of these partnership slots are available, other groups and organizations find an upfront cost fits better with their operating model. More choices broaden the opportunity for a wider range of artists to present their work.   

 

The expansion comes in response to a number of challenges impacting many of the nonprofit arts organizations today. Two of the most pressing issues facing The Southern are artists’ need for space and the costs associated with operating a venue.   

 

“We are responding to the challenges that many are facing, finding the balance between rising cost, fewer foundation and grant funds, increased competition for limited dollars, donor giving trends decreasing, audience engagement shifting; all of this makes it necessary for us to adapt and be responsive,” says acting Executive Director Janette Davis.

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With more and more performance spaces closing, artists need more options to be able to share their work.  Davis says by staying nimble, The Southern will be able to better serve the community as a whole. The Southern is also exploring special Monday night mini-programs that educate, inform and broaden the Southern’s reach to artist, audience and community.  This includes showcase evenings, new works in progress and various outreach and community engagement programs.

   

In addition to revised programming, The Southern has some new faces under the arch.  

Program Associate, Kaleena Miller (Kaleena Miller Dance, Twin Cities Tap Festival), Production Coordinator and Front of House Manager, Kelly Turpin (Arbeit Opera Theater) Production Supervisor, Mark Ruark (Rhythmic Circus), and Media Intern, Andy Glischinski (Winona State University) join acting Executive Director, Janette Davis, Graphic Artist Galen Higgins (Schubert Club), and Sequoia Hauck (Administrative Services, on sabbatical until spring) to round out the staff.   

Those interested in submitting proposals can find more information at www.southerntheater.org.  Accepted submissions will be announcements after March 15, 2019.

Opinion: Act to Protect the “Power of the Falls”

By Cordelia Pierson

Growing with Integrity to Protect Our Historic Mississippi Riverfront

Our elected officials will soon decide how our Mississippi riverfront community will grow, as they review a proposal to redevelop the General Mills Riverside Technical Center, just one block from the Mississippi River.  Despite a 15-17 story height maximum, Doran/CSM is proposing a 32-story tower for the 311 2^nd Street SE project, transforming two full city blocks between Second Street and University Avenue.  The site is next to the Pillsbury A Mill complex, a National Historic Landmark, in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District’s Water Power Character Area, where the historic mill buildings define the district on both banks of the Mississippi River.  The 32-story tower would dwarf the historic industrial buildings surrounding the Pillsbury A Mill, now prominent features in the protected “key viewshed” from the Mill City Museum and Stone Arch Bridge.

Now is a great time to ask our elected officials to vote to protect the “Power of the Falls” by supporting growth that honors this riverfront area’s integrity.

What is the “Power of the Falls?”

What places do you choose when you are welcoming visitors from other countries or cities here?

The Stone Arch Bridge? Mill City Museum and the Guthrie Theater? Perhaps Gold Medal Park?

All of these places are along the Great River Road, in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District.  The Great River Road is an 80-year old National Scenic Byway, connecting communities from the Headwaters at Lake Itasca to Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, from Oliver Kelley Farm to Fort Snelling, from Oheyawahi (Pilot Knob) to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha.  Along the Great River Road, people can experience beautiful views and nature; learn about American Indian culture today; discover stories about how farming, sawmilling and grain milling here changed our state and nation; and enjoy biking, paddling and walking.  I serve as regional commissioner on the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, which protects and enhances the Mississippi valley and the Great River Road.

Here in Minneapolis, by the Mississippi River’s only falls, our riverfront boasts an incredible blend of all those values – scenic, natural, spiritual, cultural, historic, recreational.  We are lucky to have two National Historic Landmarks – the sister mills facing each other, one now the Mill City Museum, and the other affordable artist housing at Pillsbury A Mill.  We can easily see these mills and grain elevators that define the area’s “Water Power Character” area, at the heart of this national and state-designated St. Anthony Falls Historic District.  This protected, historic character makes this area unique, and private and public investment – well over $2 billion - has followed. 

While we have a National Scenic Byway Great River Road that is hundreds of miles long, we have only one national park on the entire length of the Mississippi River.  Our Mississippi River in the metro region earned its National Park status – the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - because of this concentration of amazing, diverse assets at the falls.  Standing on the Hennepin Bridge and looking downstream at night, you can see “Gold Medal Flour” towering over the West bank, and “Pillsbury” atop the Red Tile Elevator on the East bank.  These mill complexes define this Water Power Character area, tying us to our sister communities in Greater Minnesota, where grain elevators dominate the landscape of rural towns. 

So why the “Power of the Falls?” That phrase captures more than the hydropower we draw from the Mississippi here.  It is the title of the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board’s interpretive plan for the area because the “Power of the Falls” also captures the area’s spiritual, cultural, historic and natural significance and inspires new plans for the area’s future. “The enduring sense of place that drew people here many hundreds of years ago is prompting new generations to embrace the riverfront and care about its future.”  According to the plan,

• Spiritually significant place for indigenous people: This relationship with the river is felt by many and is inspiring a new understanding of the river among others. St. Anthony Falls continues to be a place of homecoming for Dakota people.
• Historically significant: The Mississippi River’s steepest drop attracted waterpower for industries that helped build a city, shape the region’s economy, and change how we eat.
• Uniquely scenic: This is an urban landscape shaped by human and natural forces. The dramatic tension between these two forces resulted in a setting that is unlike any other in the region.

This is indeed a place of power – unique, and worth protecting, investing our lives in, and sharing with our visitors from afar.  Did that power draw you, too?

What does “Growing with Integrity” mean?

The City of Minneapolis adopted St. Anthony Falls Historic District Guidelines to protect the integrity of this area and the “Power of the Falls.” These rules apply to all private and public development here – parks, like Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, now in planning for $1M in 2019; public facilities, like WaterWorks and the Lock and Dam visitor center, now proposed; and private development, like the General Mills Riverside Technical Center redevelopment.  The City has also adopted a Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area plan, which applies to the entire historic district as well. 

Our elected officials are charged with applying these rules to all developments, private and public.  Everyone considering whether to invest here knows about both the historic and river protections. 

A key test for whether to grant permission to build here is whether the project “will ensure the historic district’s continued integrity” as well as being “compatible with the historic designation” and “consistent with the spirit and intent of preservation policies and laws.” 

“Growing with Integrity” means two things:  following the rules that apply to us all, and ensuring the historic district’s continued integrity. 

The proposal Doran/CSM submitted in December 2018 does not meet that standard. 

• Height: The rules clearly require a maximum height of the Red Tile Elevators, which is 15 – 17 stories, and a 32-story tower does not meet the requirement of being “compatible with the character area.”
• Visual impact: The rules list specific “key view opportunities” to gauge visual impact, particularly from public ways, and require new structures to be low to maintain views, such as from Mill City Museum and West River Road, our Great River Road.  Whether the project reduces the prominence and scale of the historic resources is the key test.  The 32-story tower would loom over the Pillsbury A Mill complex, and indisputably impact these historic resources.

Other towers have been approved in the historic district, close to the activity center along University and Central Avenues.  To use them as an excuse for allowing excessive height closer to the National Historic Landmark Pillsbury A Mill and deeper into the historic district and residential neighborhood is simply to abandon the design guidelines that aim for building compatibility in height, mass and scale. Previous loss of integrity underscores the importance of adhering to the guidelines and maintaining the integrity that remains in the district. 

Act to Protect the “Power of the Falls:” Urge Our Elected Officials to Support Growing with Integrity

You were drawn to the “Power of the Falls.”  You can act to protect it.

Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission on January 22 said they would deny permission for the 32-story proposed, and the developer agreed to return on February 19 with a revised proposal.  The City of Minneapolis now has until April 12 to approve or deny the developer’s project, a planned unit development.

Contact our elected officials – Council Member Steve Fletcher; Zoning and Planning Committee Chair Jeremy Schroeder; Council President Lisa Bender; Mayor Jacob Frey.

Encourage them to deny approvals for this 32-story project.  Encourage them to ask the developer to submit a revised proposal that preserves the integrity of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District by meeting historic district guidelines, including honoring the Red Tile Elevator maximum height (15-17 stories) and meeting visual impact requirements. 

Learn more at Power of the Falls – East Bank Development Task Force of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association.

Join me in acting to protect the “Power of the Falls” and welcome growth with integrity.  And the next time you tour the area with a visitor, you can be proud that you have helped protect the future of our Mississippi riverfront, leaving an inspiring legacy for generations to come.

Cordelia Pierson, Mississippi River Parkway Commissioner, Metro Region

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cordelia Pierson, 1st elected to the Mississippi River Parkway Commission in 2011, serves as Vice Chair. Contact Cordelia at cordelia.pierson@gmail.com

Update on Monday, February 4, 2019 at 9:24AM by David Tinjum

THANKS TO COMMUNITY PARTNER: CYNTHIA FROID GROUP

Residential Real Estate professionals serving Downtown Minneapolis & Riverfront. Visit https://www.cynthiafroid.com/

2019 Event Planner: Downtown Minneapolis & Riverfront Neighborhoods

Updated on Monday, February 4, 2019 at 8:55AM by David Tinjum

Our first annual event planner for Downtown Minneapolis & Riverfront Neighborhoods is a list of 20 top events for 2019. We'll be adding to the list during the year as event dates & details become available. Did we miss your favorite event? Let us know, click here to submit event info...

*MAY 2019 DOWNTOWN & RIVERFRONT EVENTS*

MAY 4 / OPENING DAY: MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET (OUTDOOR SEASON)

Mill City Farmers Market is Minneapolis’ trusted source for healthy, local and organic groceries, bringing a wide assortment of fresh food, cooking education and live entertainment to one beautiful space.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MillCityFarmersMarket

Website: www.millcityfarmersmarket.org/

MAY 17-19 / ART-A-WHIRL

View artwork of nearly 800 artists in every medium at more than 60 locations throughout Northeast Minneapolis, including studio buildings, art galleries, homes, storefronts, and local businesses. The artists’ open studio tours may include demonstrations, mini workshops, installations, and special exhibitions. Studio tours offer a great opportunity to ask questions, discuss techniques, experience art first-hand, and purchase unique artwork directly from the artists.

Website: https://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl/

*JUNE 2019 DOWNTOWN & RIVERFRONT EVENTS*

JUNE 14-15 / NORTHERN SPARK 2019

Northern Spark is known as an all-night arts festival that lights up the Twin Cities. In early June, tens of thousands of people gather throughout the city to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets, and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces. From dusk to dawn the city surprises you: friendly crowds, glowing groups of cyclists, an unexpected path through the urban landscape, the magic of sunrise after a night of amazing art and experiences. Experience the artful magic of Northern Spark for two nights until 2 am!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NorthernSparkMN/

Website: www.northern.lights.mn/

JUNE 15-16 / STONE ARCH BRIDGE FESTIVAL

A huge celebration of art and music on the Mpls Riverfront! Join 200+ artists, live music on 3 stages, family fun, food trucks, beer/wine gardens and the Art of the Car display.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/StoneArchBridgeFestival/

Website: www.stonearchbridgefestival.com

Click to read more ...

Downtown Living: Stonebridge Lofts - 1120 S 2nd St #908

It’s all about the VIEW. Full unobstructed views of Gold Medal Park and the Mississippi River from this Stonebridge gem. Corner location and prime orientation allow for sunrise and sunset views from all windows.Two private balconies and open floor plan featuring 2 bedrooms and den, hardwood floors, and many thoughtful details. Bright and cheery with fresh paint throughout. Lovely amenities and new art exhibit in the lobby make this property a very special place to call home. Walking distance to the Light Rail, Trader Joe’s, Farmers Market, U of M, and US Bank Stadium.

2 bed | 2 bath | 2 parking | 1,640 sf

Visit this listing online for more details...

Update on Monday, February 4, 2019 at 6:44AM by David Tinjum

THANKS TO COMMUNITY PARTNER: CYNTHIA FROID GROUP

Residential Real Estate professionals serving Downtown Minneapolis & Riverfront. Visit https://www.cynthiafroid.com/

Mirror, Mirror - a poem by Sam Karpeh

Article by Claudia Kittock

This is the title poem from the book Mirror, Mirror written by 23-year old Sam Karpeh. Available through Amazon, this book of poems chronicles much of the chaos, pain, and triumph of Sam’s life. Sam, an actor in the Mill City Players since the first rehearsal, is multi-talented and an amazing young man. Don’t miss reading his story.

Mirror, Mirror 

Mirror

    Can you hear me?

    What am I looking at?

    Answer me now dammit

    All I see is a man six feet three inches standing there

    With eyes red from all the bleeding to live and smile

    You adding weight to what I’m already carrying

    Can’t carry no more, my legs dying like I’m on my death bed waiting for someone to come and carry me on

    Come on now,

    I want to see what you see when you look me in the eye.

    I’m still waiting for that answer

    Day in, day out, it’s still quiet

    I see a fat man in the mirror trying to smile back at me

    I know you think I’ll fade away into the dust of the wind

    Come on I’m blowing away here

    I eat and eat the fruit of life yet I’m not full

    Something missing

    What’s missing here?

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Mirror, mirror are you there?

    Can you hear me, are you still there

    Are you death to the ear or you sleep to the day to be waken by night

    Where you roam freely

    Mirror, mirror

    It’s getting cold from the day of loneliness

    Rushing to reckoning the night away

    Reckoning,

    Damaging my face with every blow

    Given

    Mirror, mirror

    It’s winter to the summer breeze

    Feel the cold air hit you

    Mind blowing ain’t it

    How long you going to let me bleed tears of fire

    Burning twisting in cyclone of flames touching the stars

    Mirror, mirror

    I slay demon and laugh at fear straight up

    Laughing

    Mirror, mirror

    Why do I pretend to smile?

    When I know it kills me

    Lend me your smile for a day

    And that I will smile till the sun cry out

    Mirror, mirror

    Borrow me your happiness

    Borrow me that sun that shine over you

    While I borrow you my rain of could that lurking over me

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

January by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

MN Brewery Running Series announces 2019 Season

All events include the fun run, free beer, free swag and more! Additional details may vary by event. Cheers to beers! More info

* * * * * Be an Ambassador! * * * * *

Ambassadors are passionate about being active, having fun, and giving back, dedicated team players who are willing to go the extra mile to help runners have a great experience, and enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with others. As a Brand Ambassador you would volunteer at Brewery Running Series events, spread the word about BRS, and help recruit additional volunteers and encourage new participants. As part of the BRS team, you'll be hooked up with some great swag, craft beer, and race entries for you and your friends! Apply by Feb 8.

February 8 Art Opening at the Bridgewater

RE/MAX Resultsand Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts invite you to the next art opening at the Bridgewater:

Wellspring

Friday, February 8, 2019

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Bridgewater Lobby

Art, Wine and Appetizers

This free event is generously sponsored by Lance Watkins & RE/MAX Results, a top-3 RE/MAX franchise in the world, for transactions and sales. RE/MAX Results is proud to say the RE/MAX brand was number one, with a 54% market share for total closed sales, in the 55415 zip code last year.

Appetizers are provided by Smith & Porter, an independent neighborhood restaurant in the Mill District, with a variety of menu offerings ranging from hand pattied burgers and walleye tots to Salmon en Papillote and a full-service bar.

The Bridgewater is located at 215 10th Avenue S, across from Gold Medal Park.

All Mill District neighbors and their guests are welcome. Please RSVP to bnfacommittee@gmail.com.

2019 Earth Day 5K Bee Run Call for Volunteers

The 4th Annual Earth Day - 5K Fun Run/Walk/River Cleanup is on Saturday, April 20, 2019.

Diane Hofstede invites you join the Great River Coalition with planning and marketing, setup, registration, greeters etc. during the event.

 

Why should you volunteer?

The 5K Bee Runs have drawn hundreds of participants to the banks of the Mississippi River, and to the mission of the Great River Coalition. By joining the team of volunteers, you can help to enhance our riverfront environment while bringing awareness to the plight of pollinators.

 

How to sign up:

It's easy! Please send an email with your name and phone number to:

diane@greatrivercoalition.com. Feel free to forward this email to your friends, too.

 

BEE READY for the best Earth Day ever!

The Great River Coalition, 501c3 and sponsor of the 5K Bee Run/Walk/River Clean Up, thanks you for your consideration. Their 4th Annual Earth Day - 5K Fun Run/Walk/River Cleanup is a direct result of contributions made by our volunteers, sponsors, partners, and, of course, participants. 

Brazilfest MN's Carnaval Brasileiro Celebrates with Two Shows on March 9 at the Cedar

Carnaval Brasileiro Family Matinee and Masquerade Ball 2019

Brazilfest MN's Carnaval Brasileiro celebrates its 17th anniversary with TWO shows - a kid-friendly family matinee in the afternoon, and an all-ages (but mostly for grown-ups) Masquerade Ball in the evening, both on Saturday, March 9th!

The most attended and longest-running annual Brazilian festival in the Twin Cities teams up with the Cedar Cultural Center for the 17th annual Carnaval Brasileiro on Saturday, March 9 at one of the premier live music venues in Minneapolis, internationally respected for top quality world music events.  This year the event brings back the very popular Brazilfest MN Family Matinee after a two-year hiatus, which will take place in the same space as the evening show from 3 to 5 pm and will include children performing with the headlining band for the first time ever! Children attending the matinee can have their faces painted, make their own masks, create and play their own percussion instruments, and learn to dance samba and sing in Portuguese.  The evening show will be an all-ages show as well, though designed more for grown-ups, and will start and end earlier than previous years. Over 60 singers, musicians, samba dancers, actors and artisans will transform the Cedar Cultural Center into an all-day authentically festive Brazilian cultural experience!

Guitarist/vocalist Robert Everest and his ten-piece group Beira Mar Brasil will host both Brazilfest MN Family Matinee and Carnaval Brasileiro Masquerade Ball from 8pm to 12 midnight.  Everest, who also serves as Executive Director of Brazilfest MN, has been joyfully exploring Brazilian music and culture for over 25 years and brings us authentic Brazilian carnival flavor through various musical genres from around the country -- Samba, Axé, Frevo, Baião, and other dance-inducing styles.  Joining Beira Mar Brasil for the thirteenth straight year, direct from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil’s famous party-loving city, will be singer and samba dancer extraordinaire, Dandara Odara, who performs at over 50 carnival celebrations around the world each year in Europe, North America, and of course, Brazil.  

Along with Beira Mar Brasil, Carnaval Brasileiro 2019 will present more performers and performance groups than ever before, including Brazilian percussion ensembles Batucada Do Norte and Drumheart, professional samba dancers/instructors Ginga da Bahia, Edilson Lima (who has been featured on Ellen DeGeneres) and Vanessa Luiz from São Paulo, Brazil, and Blue Lady - the mysterious mermaid, as well as Brazilian martial arts group Capoeira Floração of Minnesota.  Plus, for the first time in the seventeen-year history of this event, there will be children as young as 3 years old performing on stage, trained by Robert in Portuguese and different instruments throughout several months leading up to the event! (contact him directly (rkeverest@gmail.com) if you would like your child to participate as a performer!)

Carnaval guests can participate in Brazilian dance lessons, purchase authentic carnival masks created by master Brazilian artisan Goretti Aamot, and have their face and body painted just like they do it in Rio!

The annual Carnaval, celebrated throughout Brazil, lasts nearly a week and has roots dating back to the 1700s.  Like Mardi Gras, Carnaval is an all-out party with music, masks, dancing, food and drink - a final blowout before Lenten traditions kick in for the Easter season.  This Minneapolis edition of Carnaval takes place after it is celebrated in Brazil, allowing for many of the special guests to come to Minneapolis.

DATE: Saturday, March 9, 2019

TIMES: Brazilfest MN Family Matinee 3 - 5 pm (doors at 2:30 pm, ideal for young children and seniors)
All-Ages Evening Show 8 pm - 12 midnight (doors at 7:30 pm, all-ages)    

VENUE: Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Avenue S

TICKETS:  Afternoon Matinee $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Evening Show $22 in advance, $30 at the door.  Tickets available at the Electric Fetus, Depth of Field, and thecedar.org  

PARTICIPATION: If you would like your child to participate as a performer contact Robert Everest at rkeverest@gmail.com.

New book "A People's History of the Seward Neighborhood" includes the story of Falls City

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

In December of 2018, a new local history book hit the shelves that tells the story of one of Minneapolis’ most vibrant neighborhoods. Included in the 2017 American Planning Association’s “Great Places in America” list, the Seward neighborhood has a very rich history, and their newest publication A People’s History of the Seward Neighborhood unveils the uniqueness of the area. The book chronologically lays out the neighborhood’s history while focusing on the important events and eras, made evident by the chapter headings.

Scattered throughout the book are also very interesting fun stories, such as Falls City: The City That Never Was. The story of Falls City starts back when Fort Snelling was the only non-native settlement on the west side of the Mississippi River from the fort to St. Anthony Falls. As westward expansion grew by the year, the U.S. government decided to allow the settling of the west side of the river near Fort Snelling. At the time, the Village of St. Anthony was becoming a booming industry town and in the area just across the river lied the wilderness. When settlers began establishing homes and businesses on the west bank, there became a very apparent need to improve infrastructure and transportation, because hauling goods via oxcarts from the river landings in St. Paul to what eventually became Minneapolis was not cutting it.

Edward Murphy, 1874The first attempt at bringing more commerce to the west bank was done by Edward Murphy. He formed a steamboat company that would traverse the small islands and rapids that occupied the river from Fort Snelling to St. Anthony Falls. Murphy even piloted his flagship steamboat, the Falls City, for several years. His other ambitious plan was to connect both sides of the river gorge just upstream from the current Franklin Avenue Bridge, and in 1857, his bridge was completed. It washed away in a flood just two years later. Oops.

Around this same time, plans were starting to take shape to build a series of locks and dams to raise the river level and cover up the small islands and rapids, which would make boat travel up to the mills around St. Anthony Falls a walk in the park. The first lock and dam to be built would be located at Meeker Island, but unfortunately it would take 50 years for the government and Army Corps of Engineers to approve its construction. At the time the businesses of the area did not foresee the lengthy delays and also planned warehouses to be built near the dam, which eventually lead to the panning of a small community. The Mississippi River Improvement and Manufacturing Company, the entity that was the mastermind behind these new developments, divided the land near the lock and dam into 600 plots.

There was a lot of expected success from those who invested in this idea, especially those who initially owned the land along the west bank. As word got out about this new town, the mapmakers of the time began including the area in their publications. Falls City was officially on the map. However, at its peak, there were only eight residents. Quickly after the town got up and running, the economy crashed and scared everyone away from this business endeavor. While Falls City never became the thriving river town that its founders envisioned, it still laid the groundwork for city planners to develop that part of Minneapolis and the Seward neighborhood.

Seward's riverfront facing upstream with the old Franklin Ave. Bridge in the background taken in 1910

This story, like others found hidden between the pages of A People’s History of the Seward Neighborhood, offers a glimpse into the past of an area that has been vital to the growth of industry, community, and inclusiveness in Minneapolis. From railroads to Co-ops and Scandinavian’s to East African’s, this book embraces the many identities that have left their mark on the neighborhood. If you’re like me and are always looking to further your knowledge on local history, this book is a must need for your bookshelf.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.