Kim Eslinger
Editor
612-321-8040
kim@millcitymedia.org

Brianna Ojard
Associate Editor

David Tinjum
Publisher
612-321-8020
dave@millcitymedia.org

Claudia Kittock
Columnist / Non-Profits
Email Claudia...

Becky Fillinger
Small Business Reporter
Producer / Milling About
Email Becky...

Michael Rainville Jr.
History Columnist
Email Michael...

Doug Verdier
River Matters

Mill City Times is a not-for-profit community service. We do not sell advertising on this site.

Community Partners

Thanks to our community partners, whose support makes Mill City Times possible:

MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET

With over 100 local farmers, food makers and artists, MCFM strives to build a local, sustainable and organic food economy in a vibrant, educational marketplace.

Visit their website...

HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM

Hennepin History Museum is your history, your museum. We preserve and share the diverse stories of Hennepin County, MN. Come visit!

Visit their website...

MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Maximizing the visitor experience of Minneapolis for the economic benefit of our community, making Minneapolis the destination of choice among travelers.

Visit their website...

MSP FILM SOCIETY

Promoting the art of film as a medium that fosters cross-cultural understanding, education, entertainment, and exploration.

Visit their website...

GREAT RIVER COALITION

Enhancing the Minneapolis riverfront environment—for people and pollinators.

Visit their website...

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Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share?  Contact us.

Tuesday
Dec022014

Holiday Music at the Government Center

The Hennepin County Government Center (Skyway Level, 300 South 6th Street) will continue its annual tradition of seasonal and holiday performances, free and open to the public.  All performances are Noon – 1:00pm unless otherwise noted.

SCHEDULE:

Dec. 5:  City-County Chorus
Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis and 4th Judicial District Court employees perform a variety of songs of the season.

Dec. 9:  City-County Chorus
Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis and 4th Judicial District Court employees perform a variety of songs of the season.

Dec. 12:  Chippewa Middle School, Noon – 12:50pm
8th grade orchestra plays to communicate a love for beauty in sound, an appreciate for teamwork, and a sincere wish for the audience to have a happy holiday season.

Dec. 16:  Ameriprise Holiday Choir
Sponsored by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since 1986, 25 members performing secular, Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa holiday songs.

Dec. 18:  City-County Chorus
Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis and 4th Judicial District Court employees perform a variety of songs of the season.
                                                         
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website.

Tuesday
Dec022014

Minneapolis Tops in the Nation in National Night Out Participation

Via a December 1 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

December 1, 2014 (MINNEAPOLIS) Thanks to incredible community support and an increase in community policing, Minneapolis has once again grabbed the trophy for top National Night Out (NNO) city in the country. It is the city’s 3rd year in a row topping the charts nationwide.

1,484 events were registered for NNO in 2014, setting a record on our City streets the night of August 5th. Attendance totaled more than 74,000 and more than 23,500 of them were kids and young adults. All told, 19% of Minneapolis’ total population participated in the celebration and 100% of city’s 83 residential neighborhoods participated this year.

“Our communities and block club leaders realize what a tremendous honor this is for our City. Our Officers and Crime Prevention Specialists certainly do. The numbers prove that we have a very strong partnership with the neighborhoods that play a huge part in helping keep our streets safe,” Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau said. 

- - - - - -

Mill City Times Note - Over 500 neighbors gathered on the Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront overlooking the Stone Arch Bridge for food, drink, music and fun for National Night Out on August 5, 2014:

Monday
Dec012014

MacPhail Music for Life™ Offerings

MacPhail Music for Life™ is a new program for adults 55+ looking for a comfortable and inviting place to pursue music. These offerings are specifically tailored for adult learners and provide a diverse range of musical experiences in a relaxed, enjoyable, and supportive environment. 55+ adults choose music for many reasons: relaxation, "Alzheimer’s prevention," "bucket list" or just pure joy. Whatever your reason, MacPhail Music for Life™ will help you have fun making music with people like you.

More info at: http://www.macphail.org/OFFERINGS/ADULTS/mmfl

Monday
Dec012014

New, Healthy Lunch Spot Opens Downtown

With a name like Sprout Salad, it has to offer healthy choices, right?  Well, this new lunch spot in the skyway has 10 entree's - salads & wraps - on the menu, all between 200-485 calories.  Open between between 10am and 3pm, it's produce is delivered each day,  ensuring fresh , high quality meals. They also prepare each meal in front of the customer, so you know what you're getting.  From the Sprout Salad website:

Inspired by clean eating and healthy lifestyle, we became obsessed with solving the “typical salad bar” problem.  For way too long, your everyday salad bars and delis have been making salads less and less appetizing. Same boring ingredients, same lack of creativity, same old dressings and most importantly, same old experience.

With Sprout, we wanted to take something that’s been around a long time and introduce it in a new and fresh way.  How does one reinvent the wheel?  Simple, build it the way it’s supposed to be in the first place: use the freshest locally sourced ingredients, prep and cook in-house daily, create unique small batch dressings from scratch, and never stop innovating the menu and introducing new and exciting options for our customers to try.  We also suspected that some people may not always want a salad, but the same overused tortilla wrap just didn’t seem right, so we decided to make our wraps in a warm and delicious lavash flatbread instead.  Trust us, it’s better!

The Menu:

SPROUT CLASSICS

Mighty Aphrodite $7.5 320 Cal

Orzo, tri-color quinoa, cucumber, red bell pepper, teardrop tomatoes, Kalamata olives, chickpeas, red onions, imported Feta cheese with romaine & baby spinach

best with grilled chicken +$2.5

suggested with: fresh lemon-oregano vinaigrette

Sprout Chicken Caesar $7 340 Cal

Grilled chicken with romaine, handmade sourdough croutons and shaved parmesan cheese

suggested with: Sprout virtually oil-free Caesar

Sienna $8.5 300 Cal

Grilled chicken, radicchio, Kalamata olives, Italian parsley, toasted almonds, dried cranberries with Napa cabbage & baby kale

suggested with: lemon Creole mustard vinaigrette

Heartland Cobb $9.5 485 Cal

Grilled chicken, avocado, Nueske bacon, teardrop tomatoes, Maytag blue cheese, hard-cooked egg, olives with romaine

suggested with: classic French vinaigrette

LIGHT & FUN

Chop Chop $8.5 225 Cal

Grilled chicken, golden beets, radish, carrots, bean sprouts with baby kale & cabbage mix

suggested with: fresh carrot ginger vinaigrette

South Beach $9 250 Cal

Teardrop tomatoes, golden beets, frisee, tri-color quinoa, toasted Marcona almonds, citrus segments, with arugula & watercress

best with grilled wild salmon +$3.5

suggested with: citrus solara sherry vinaigrette

Riviera Nicoise $10 200 Cal

Grilled wild salmon, frisee, fingerling potato, green beans, Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, hard-cooked egg with arugula & watercress

suggested with: classic French vinaigrette

FOODIE

K-Town $9.5 365 Cal

Korean BBQ steak, crispy wontons, kimchee, hard-cooked egg, scallion, carrots, roasted seaweed, toasted sesame seeds, with baby spinach

suggested with: spicy gochujang vinaigrette

Ensalada Mexicana $8 390 Cal

Avocado, teardrop tomatoes, pickled red onions, grilled corn, crispy jalapeños, pepitas, Cotija cheese with romaine & cabbage mix

best with blackened shrimp +$4

suggested with: jalapeño honey lime

Argentine Steak $9 400 Cal

Grilled USDA Choice flank steak, roasted red peppers, grilled red onions, tri-color quinoa, black beans with romaine & arugula

suggested with: chimichurri vinaigrette

Monday
Dec012014

[Download] A-Mill Hydro Project / Fish Entrainment and Mortality Study

The objective of this fish entrainment and mortality study is to provide the information necessary to estimate potential project operational effects on fisheries resources in the upper Mississippi River, namely the potential for fish to become impinged or entrained at the proposed Project facilities. The general approach utilized to conduct this study is as follows:

1. Describe the physical characteristics of the proposed Project that may influence fish-related turbine entrainment, impingement, and survival;

2. Describe the species composition of the existing fish community;

3. Assess the potential for trashrack exclusion and/or impingement of the target species;

4. Provide monthly turbine entrainment rates from existing empirical data, and utilize these rates to estimate monthly turbine entrainment for the target species using existing hydrologic records or information and proposed Project operations; and

5. Calculate turbine mortality rates for the range of target species’ sizes expected to become entrained, and apply these rates to the monthly entrainment estimates.

Download the report...

Monday
Dec012014

Monday, December 15 - Later with Lisa

From the office of Council Member Lisa Goodman:

Later with Lisa

Monday, December 15, 2014

4:30 pm—6:30 pm

The Normandy Inn - 405 South 8th St

------------------ 

Council Member Goodman is excited to invite you to a non-traditional “Lunch with Lisa”:

We are hosting “Later with Lisa” at the Historic Normandy Inn.

Complementary Hors D’oeuvres, parking and cash bar.

Please Join Lisa, Patrick & Ruth Along with Special Guest Commissioner Marion Greene

Socialize, nibble and visit with your Ward 7 neighbors

We wish you a wonderful Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year

Please let us know if you are able to attend.

RSVP to: 612.673.2207 or ruth.weakly@minneapolismn.gov

RSVPs appreciated but not a must.

Monday
Dec012014

Monday, December 15 - Jacob Frey's First Annual Holiday Party

 

Please Join Us For
Jacob Frey's First Annual Holiday Party
 
Monday, December 15
5:00 - 7:00 PM
 
At the Soo Line Building
501 Marquette Ave S
Downtown Minneapolis
 
Along with co-hosts:
Siyad Abdullahi - Tony Barranco - Jennifer Breitinger - Richard Carlbom - Joel Carlson - Jackie Cherryhomes - John & Laura Crosby - Barb Davis - Fran Davis - Jonna Davis - Lou Demars - Sen. Scott Dibble - Kelly Doran - Dean Dovolis - Tyrone Folliard - Ted Grindal - Joe Grunnet - Clayton Halunen & David Duddingston - Tom Hoch - Fabian Hoffner - Nancy Hylden & Commissioner Peter McLaughlin - Ted Johnson - Ambassador Sam Kaplan & Sylvia Kaplan - Michelle Kelm-Helgen - Todd Klingel - Kathleen Lamb - Len Levine - Peggy Lucas - Bob Lux - Curt Martinson - Dan McConnell - Bill McGrann - Matt McNeill - Dore & Ron Mead - Charlie Nauen - Michael & Darcel Rainville - Larry Redmond - Win & Binky Rockwell - Carl Runck - Andy Schriner - Jim & Cindie Smart - Cecil Smith - Melvin Tennant - Paul Rexford Thatcher - Dave Tinjum & Kim Eslinger - Brent & Nora Webb
 
(Co-host committee is currently in formation. Please contact Joel Dumonsau at joel.dumonsau@unitedstrategiesllc.com to join!)
 
 
To RSVP or for more information, contact Joel Dumonsau at joel.dumonsau@unitedstrategiesllc.com.


 
Thank you,

JACOB FREY

 

Monday
Dec012014

Our Flickr Photos Hit the One Million Views Mark

Our Flickr photo sharing account - https://www.flickr.com/photos/millcitytimes - hit 1 million views last week.

Friday
Nov282014

Hennepin County Public Truth in Taxation Meeting is December 2

 

Via a November 26 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Hennepin County will hold a public meeting on the proposed 2015 budget and property tax levy – commonly called the Truth in Taxation meeting – at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the County Board Room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. Sixth Street in downtown Minneapolis.

Hennepin County is proposing a 2015 budget of $1.802 billion – an increase of 0.27 percent from the 2014 budget – and a property tax levy of $699.988 million– a 2.75 percent increase in the net property tax levy from 2014.

The budgets and levies for the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority and Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority also will be discussed at the meeting.

For more details, go online to www.hennepin.us/hcbudget. Contact the Hennepin County Clerk's Office to sign up if you wish to speak: 612-348-4019.

Free parking is provided for residents attending the meeting if they park in the Government Center’s underground ramp after 5 p.m.The ramp entrance is on Third Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets.

Friday
Nov282014

Small Business Saturday, November 29

Please join us in supporting our neighborhood businesses!  :)

Thursday
Nov272014

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and here's my all-time favorite Turkey Day 5K picture (from 2011):

Turkey Says Eat More Ham - 2011 Turkey Day 5K

Tuesday
Nov252014

La Rive Condominiums Becomes Energy Independent

Via a November 25, 2014, Press Release from La Rive Condominiums:
 
LA RIVE CONDOMINIUMS BECOMES ENERGY INDEPENDENT

On November 6, 2014, La Rive Condominium completed the construction of its own heating/cooling and domestic hot water energy plant. Previously, La Rive received its energy from Sentinel Property Management under a 30-year legacy agreement with Riverplace Eastbridge offices and Falls/Pinnacle residences. By establishing its own energy source before the legacy agreement expired December 31, 2014, La Rive now provides its homeowners with the most cost efficient and state-of-the art equipment to serve current and future homeowners.

La Rive is proud that its energy plant was designed and built with the latest energy-efficient technology and sound reduction equipment to benefit both its residents and neighbors.

Items of note are:

   • Three high efficiency-small footprint boilers providing 7.5 million BTU heating capacity for homeowner units, common spaces and garage areas, and converting the pool and hot tub heating from less efficient electric.
   • A single 440-ton cooling tower surrounded by a high technology sound enclosure that assures whisper-quiet performance in a bricked enclosure that matches and blends with existing exterior.
   • A boiler exhaust plume abatement system that recaptures the heat from the boiler exhaust in the winter and injects that energy into the core-heating loop.  The result is lower energy costs and virtually no unsightly plume to block resident’s views or ice formation under the discharge area.

“We were very pleased to report to our residents that the net result of over five  years of hard work by our energy committee is that we were able to build this project on-time and on-budget and deliver a 2015 dues reduction from the energy efficiency of this system” said Gary Gleason, Board President.

Kate Grutzmacher, Property Manager with First Residential (formerly Gittleman), added “LaRive is one of the premier condominium properties in Minneapolis and will continue to be because of the outstanding leadership of its board of directors and the dedication of its residents to serve on committees to continuously improve its facilities.”

Tuesday
Nov252014

Our Lady of Lourdes' Famous French Meat Pies Now Available

Our Lady of Lourdes began serving French Meat Piesin the late 1800's at it's traditional holiday dinners at the church. Many of the French and French Canadian parishioners also prepared the "tourtieres" for their own families to serve at Christmas and New Year's Day.  Over the years at Our Lady of Lourdes, people would prepare and serve their meat pies at various parish events.  The women who cooked for funerals, in particular, would have different recipes, so they worked through to create a consensus in order to find the best one, which is now the recipe for the parish.

These French Meat Pies are now available for purchase at the Parish House during office hours, and also on weekends after Masses. Pies are $20.00 each - receive a free insulated bag with the purchase of two!

Monday
Nov242014

What Happens When History Relocates?

Susan Wakefield, the corporate archivist at General Mills, talks about the new location for the company's one-of-a-kind Archives collection.

Read the General Mills blog post on the topic...

Monday
Nov242014

Holidazzle Village Volunteer Opportunity

You can be part of the management of the Information Booth, which is in Santa's Workshop, on Nicollet Mall / Peavey Plaza.

Volunteers are needed for nine (9) weekend dates, beginning Friday, November 28, from 3 pm to 8 pm.

Download the volunteer flyer:

https://app.box.com/shared/static/si8igtro8ucr895z8pkq.pdf

Monday
Nov242014

The Doughboy Rises Again!

Excerpt from the General Mills Blog:

A new Pillsbury Doughboy balloon will make its first official flight in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

But thanks to its test launch earlier this month, you’re seeing it first right here.

The Doughboy was one of six new balloons made for the parade to fly at “Balloonfest” on a sunny Saturday, Nov. 8, high above a parking lot at Citi Field.

And I was there to see the Macy’s team unload the balloon, spread it out, inflate it and launch it – all in the course of six hours or so.

Monday
Nov242014

Planning Underway for Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Reconstruction

From MPRB:

Planning is underway for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Reconstruction and Cowles Conservatory Renovation. To learn more and get involved, visit the project webpage or go to www.minneapolisparks.org/currentprojects, then select Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Reconstruction and Cowles Conservatory Renovation. 

On the project webpage, you can: 

  • Sign up for email updates,
  • Share your ideas on an online survey,
  • Apply to serve on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). Applications are now being accepted for the Community Advisory Committee for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Reconstruction and Cowles Conservatory Renovation. Applications will be accepted until noon on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Download an application and learn more by visiting the project webpage,

Learn more about the project.  

Monday
Nov242014

Take the Annual Downtown Minneapolis Perception Survey

From Minneapolis D.I.D:
 
Your input on safety, cleanliness, and the public realm will be used to help make downtown Minneapolis a better place to live, work, and visit.

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and your responses will be kept confidential.

Upon completion of this survey you will have an opportunity to enter a prize drawing! Five lucky winners will receive a $50 gift card to one of these great downtown businesses: Butcher & The Boar, The Loon, Mason, McCormick & Schmick's, and Sawatdee.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MDIDSurvey2014EDC 

 

Monday
Nov242014

New 4th St. to 35W North Ramp Opens

We caught a quick blurb about this on local news last night, to our surprise.  I was expecting some advance notice and a little more fanfare, as this should make a big impact on Washington Ave S. traffic.  Here's a link to the project page, check out the affected area below:

35w-4th-st-ramp-0001 (1)

Sunday
Nov232014

Scenes from the November 22 Mill City Farmers Market

It was a packed house for the November 22 indoor Mill City Farmers Market.  We love our vendors! :D

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

What to do with these things? Martha Stewart has a mouth watering Celeriac Gratin recipe.

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

There were only three dozen duck eggs available from Debra of Star Thrower Farm, and I got one of them. They are the prized ingredient for my Thanksgiving baking!

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

The goat!

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

An added bonus to visiting the indoor Market is experiencing the Mill City Museum. Be sure to check out their very cool store and programming. Note - if you're a MNHS member you'll receive 20% savings at the store from December 4 - 7. Sweet!

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

The next indoor the Market is Saturday, December 13 - just in time to finish up (or start?) your Holiday shopping and pick up the perfect hostess gifts.

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market

November 22, 2014 Mill City Indoor Farmers Market