Minneapolis Riverfront News
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.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 1:00AM
Mayor Hodges Asks You to Report Those Potholes!
Via a February 18, 2014, e-newletter from Mayor Betsy Hodges:
Dear Friend,
The good news: the weather is warming up again, at least for a while.
The bad news: potholes love warm weather followed by cold weather followed by warm weather. Water gets in small cracks, expands as it freezes, and then creates big cracks. The more often that happens, the bigger and more numerous the potholes get.
So we are in for a pothole-y spring.
More good news: We are already working on it and responding whenever the weather permits. We know it's been a tough winter, and the City is prepared to patch up our roads as quickly as we can. That includes the potholes already out there, and the potholes we'll continue to see throughout the spring.
As aggressive and proactive as the City will be, I’m asking for your help in reporting potholes. When you see one, contact Minneapolis 311. When you do that, we immediately map your report into our GIS system and make sure the areas that are most in trouble are at the top of the repair list. While fixing all potholes is the end goal, your help in prioritizing them is critical. Even if you think to yourself that surely, someone has reported the pothole, go ahead and report it anyway. I’d rather hear from 20 people that City workers need to fix a pothole, than not hear from anyone about the problem. Whether we do a “cold mix” patch or a permanent fix with hot asphalt, simply put, our streets need to be passable.
So, please help us keep Minneapolis pothole-free. We’re working as quickly as we can to fix the problems and look forward to hearing from you on where they pop up next. I appreciate your help and hope you all see improvements soon.
Thanks,
Mayor Betsy Hodges
City of Minneapolis
P.S. To learn more about how I’m working to address the issues affecting our city, check out my website and my blog, or follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
Vikings Stadium Construction - Week 13
You can see right through the Metrodome.
We're attempting to publish a photo with this same view each week from the start of construction through the first game played at the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.
A Great MinnPost Series on the Mississippi
A three part series adapted from a report for the McKnight Foundation’s Food for Thought series by local author Jay Walljasper.
A River Runs Through Us: Why the Mississippi is Crucial To MSP’s Future
The river has the potential to draw business, newcomers and tourists — the way the mountains do for Denver and the seacoast for Sydney.
Big Plans Being Hatched for Downtown Waterfronts in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Once industrial, today's riverfronts host new parks, luxury housing and office spaces — with all kinds of ideas percolating for the future.
The Mississippi’s Importance to MSP Doesn't Stop as It Flows On South
The Upper Mississippi between Dubuque and the Twin Cities qualifies as one of America’s most storied regions.
http://www.minnpost.com/environment/2014/01/mississippi-s-importance-msp-doesnt-stop-it-flows-south
SNOGA!
SNOGA (Snow Yoga) Comes to Piazza on the Mall for American Heart Month: Sunday, February 23 @ 2pm
Local yoga studio Yess Yoga is partnering with Piazza on the Mall to observe American Heart Month. Yess Yoga's mission is to promote healthy hearts, bodies and minds. Join Yess Yoga at Piazza on the Mall to observe American Heart Month in true Minnesota style: practicing yoga in the snow at Piazza on the Mall. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the American Heart Association. More information.
Tonight: Water Works Public Meeting at Mill City Museum
Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South
Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm
Food is something all 408 of the Water Works Community Input Survey respondents have in common. Nearly everyone eats when they get to the Central Riverfront; some 90% or more of residents and non-residents visit restaurants here. Hiking/Exploring (69%) and theater and entertainment (63%) are popular for more than half of all respondents, as are special events for nearly as many (49%).
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation and the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board collaborated on the December 2013 and January 2014 survey as part of the community engagement process around the Central Riverfront Master Plan revision and Water Works parks design. Check out the survey summary on our blog to see how your likes and habits stack up.
You're encouraged to stop by this Central Riverfront community meeting for a Design Team presentation and Q & A. We’ll focus on concept development, with an emphasis on engagement and programming.
Tonight: Sip of Science at Aster Cafe
Time: 5:30pm - Location: Aster Cafe (River Room) 125 SE Main Street
February Sip of Science: The Oil Palm: Agricultural Marvel, Environmental Menace?
A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum in which researchers pair with musicians, artists and storytellers to put science in context through storytelling.
Palm oil is probably an integral part of your life. Used in products ranging from granola bars to soap, it is the most-consumed vegetable oil in the world. The high-yielding oil palm, which only grows near the equator, has been vilified as a leading driver of deforestation and carbon emissions. Until recently, little robust research has confirmed these allegations. New satellite remote sensing analyses provide documentation of oil palm’s accelerating expansion into Southeast Asia’s tropical forests and peatlands. Carlson will assess the environmental consequences of the rapidly growing oil palm industry, identify gaps in our understanding of how plantation expansion alters ecosystems, and explore potential solutions to reconcile palm oil production with conservation.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Kimberly Carlson is a Global Landscapes Initiative postdoctoral scholar at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. She earned her doctorate at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. While not exploring trade-offs between agriculture and the environment, you can find Kim on a yoga mat, running around a lake, learning to speak Portuguese, or dancing lindy hop.
This talk takes place during happy hour at the Aster Cafe - Food and Drink Available for Purchase.
Vikings Stadium Construction - Week 12
Look closely at the 2nd picture and you can see inside to the seating bowl.
We're attempting to publish a photo with this same view each week from the start of construction through the first game played at the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.
February 8 at the Mill City Farmers Market; Exciting News
I overhead someone say, "I wish they had these winter markets every Saturday." Me too. :)
And now for the exciting news...
During the February 8 Market, Dave began introducing Mill District resident Rachel Kahn to vendors.
Rachel is a gluten free food writer and wellness consultant, whose philosophy is 'healthy food is decadence inspired'. She will be meeting with MCFM vendors and doing in-depth pieces on products near and dear to her heart, such as Kiss My Cabbage's lacto-fermented creations and Sunrise Flour Mill's Turkey Red Heritage Wheat.
Learn more about Rachel at http://www.loveself.org/. You can reach her at rachel@loveself.org, www.loveselfmagazine.com
Dave and I can't wait to start sharing Rachel's upcoming articles!
Tomorrow! Mill City Farmers Market at the Mill City Museum
Join us tomorrow from 10:00am - 1:00pm for the Mill City Farmers Market inside the Mill City Museum!
What: A bustling marketplace of over 40 local vendors where you can shop for everything from squash and spinach to wild rice, local honey, maple syrup, pastured meats, eggs, specialty cheeses, baked goods, kimchi, preserves, hand-made artisan gifts, heart-shaped chocolates and other indulgences for Valentine’s Day!
Produce Planner: potatoes, onions, carrots, shallots, cabbage, beets, parsnips, rutabagas, spinach, frozen raspberries, and MORE!
Live Music, 11 am – 1 pm: Back by popular demand: Moonlight Duo! Featuring an eclectic mix of traditional Southern roots music, bluesy old-time songs, and Appalachian and Irish dance tunes spiced with Cajun and country swing.
Featured Local Artists: Crookedwood, The Ink Orchard, The Abbey, Matthew Krousey Ceramics, Heinz Brummel, Old World Cabinet, Aprilierre, and Christy Wetzig Ceramics.
Additional Mill City Farmers Market 2013-2014 Winter Market dates:
March 8
March 15 (at the Arboretum, Chanhassen)
April 12
New Webster School Public Feedback Meeting Scheduled for February 18 at RiverWest
Minneapolis Public Schools are planning to re-open the Webster School in the fall of 2015. The Downtown Minneapolis School Initiative - a joint committee of the North Loop Neighborhood Association, Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association and Elliot Park Neighborhood - is hosting a 7:00pm meeting on Tuesday, February 18, to collect your thoughts and ideas for the new Webster School. The meeting will take place at RiverWest (Condominium Social Room), 401 South 1st Street.
All neighbors and families impacted by this new school are invited to attend and provide feedback.
Contact Adam Schiff, adamdschiff@gmail.com, or Eric Laska, elaska@gmail.com, with quesitons.
Upcoming Film Festivals from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul
Check out these upcoming Film Festivals from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, starting with the 5th Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival, playing every Thursday from February 20 - March 27:
Vikings Stadium Construction - Week 11
The 1st of 5 giant cranes is erected, demolition has started.
We're attempting to publish a photo with this same view each week from the start of construction through the first game played at the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.
In case you were wondering what the BOOM was Sunday morning...
February 1 at Izzy's - All Purchases Will Help Support People Serving People
It's a win-win for everyone - stock up on the ice cream you love while helping support the important work at People Serving People. On February 1, a portion of each purchase at Izzy's Ice Cream goes to support People Serving People, and helps move families from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Carnaval Brasileiro Scheduled for March 8 at Muse Event Center
Carnaval Brasileiro, now in its 12th year, celebrates with TWO shows at Muse Event Center March 8.
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 23, 2014 -- It’s time for winter's biggest party, "Carnaval Brasileiro 2014" (Brazilian Carnival)! On March 8, over 80 singers, drummers, samba dancers, and artisans will transform Muse Event Center into an authentically festive Brazilian cultural experience!
Guitarist/vocalist Robert Everest and his ten-piece group Beira Mar Brasil host Carnaval Brasileiro. Everest is a world music expert and leads a band steeped in the sounds of Brazil -- Samba, Baião, Frevo, and other dance-inducing styles from throughout the country. Singer and samba dancer extraordinaire Dandara Odara will join Everest on stage. Direct from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil’s famous party-loving city, Dandara performs at over 50 carnival celebrations around the world each year in Europe, North America, and of course, Brazil. 2014 will mark her eighth straight appearance in Carnaval Brasileiro of the Twin Cities.
In addition to Dandara, Everest, and Beira Mar Brasil, other performers will include the fifty drummers from Brazilian percussion ensembles Batucada Do Norte and Drumheart, professional samba dancers Edilson Lima and Vanessa Luiz from São Paulo, Brazil, and the Brazilian martial arts group Omulu Capoeira Guanabara.
Carnaval guests will be able to purchase true Brazilian drinks, try out carnival masks created by master Brazilian artisan Goretti, or have their face and body painted (just like they do it in Rio!).
This year’s event will include an all-ages afternoon family matinee (with mask and instrument making, dance lessons, and face painting for kids). Both afternoon and evening shows will take place at one of the premier venues in the Twin Cities, the newly opened venue Muse Event Center (formerly Trocaderos, completely renovated).
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 falls a week after it is celebrated in Brazil, allowing for so many of the special guests to come to Minneapolis.
Beira Mar Brasil, a band with over 15 years of history, features Brazilian music veteran Robert Everest on guitar, cavaquinho, and vocals. He is joined by keyboards, bass, drums, a horn section, and multiple percussionists. The group has performed at prestigious events, including the 15th Anniversary of the Sculpture Garden at the Walker, the planet Ordway series at the Ordway and at the 2011 Children’s Heartlink Gala. Everest has toured throughout the world, has performed with Manhattan Samba in New York, and has appeared at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's annual gala in the Twin Cities. Special guest Dandara, who has been referred to as the "Brazilian Tina Turner," has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and other premier events in cities including Los Angeles, Paris, London, and Lyon.
DATE: Saturday, March 8, 2014
TIMES: 2 pm (doors at 1:30) Special All-ages Family Matinee
9 pm (doors at 8) 18+ Full Brazilian Music, Dance, & Drink Extravaganza
VENUE: Muse Event Center, 107 3rd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
TICKETS: 2 pm Afternoon Show: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
9 pm Evening Show: $17 in advance, $25 at the door
Tickets available after Feb. 1 at www.carnavalbrasileiro.org
Vikings Stadium Construction - Week 10
Excavation continues, demolition to start soon.
We're attempting to publish a photo with this same view each week from the start of construction through the first game played at the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.
Magna Health and Fitness Will Be a 2014 CSA Drop Site for LTD Farm
Magna Health and Fitness recently announced they will be a 2014 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) drop site LTD (Livng the Dream) Farm.
Photo credit - LTD Farm website
Dr. Tara Schug explained, "Magna wanted to become a CSA drop site because it directly speaks to our core mission statement 'to teach people to be healthy for life'. A big part of this is a lifelong commitment to healthy eating and a diet rich in clean, wholesome, locally-sourced foods. By providing easy access to fresh produce and proteins, we are encouraging our community to live more healthy lives.
LTD Farm was recommended to us by a local health coach and friend of Magna, Jenni Floring. She blogs about her personal health struggles and shares some great recipes that she created using items from her CSA from LTD Farm last summer. Her story and recipes can be found at www.thehealingplate.blogspot.com.
After researching many options, it was obvious that LTD farm offers great variety, has a farming philosophy that aligns with Magna's core philosophy, and has an easily maneuverable website to serve it's members."
Click here for more information on LTD Farm's CSA program.
Day Block Brewing Company Officially Opens Monday, January 27
We're excited to welcome our newest Mill District neighbor, Day Block Brewing Company, 1105 Washington Avenue South. They officially open tomorrow, January 27, at 3pm.
Below, Partners Chris Hahn, Jeff Hahn and Cory Williamson raise a toast, each with a glass of their favorite brew.
Last week the staff invited us to a Happy Hour preview of their beers and menu. The following are a few samples to whet your appetite.
We started with the Bacon Flight and Pickle Flight from the Snack menu. Both are based on daily selections. Each bacon cup includes a specially paired dipping sauce.
Next, we sampled three specialty pizzas, starting with Hungry Hungarian (Sour cream spread, Hungarian bacon, sausage, pickled onion, dill, ricotta):
Followed by the Taco Truck (Flank steak, radish, cilantro, pickled jalapeno, onion, cotija cheese):
... which I thought would be my favorite hands-down, but then we were introduced to the Bahn Mizza (Gochujang mayo, Vietnamese pork, scallion, pickled slaw, cilantro, maple-soy glaze) - wow!:
We finished off with cheesecake. The one we sampled was peanut butter cup, but the flavor will change daily.
With each sample, Head Brewer Paul Johnston (pictured below in the bibs) and Chef/General Manager Joe Williams (to the left of Paul), explained how to pair beer with food. They also discussed Day Block Brewing Company's philosophy on using locally-sourced ingredients.
Check out the What's on Tap? page for details on the current five brews.
The second floor is available for events, such as weddings and corporate meetings. Drop them a line at contact@dayblockbrewing.com or call 612-617-7793 for more info. Follow Day Block Brewing Company on Facebook to keep up with their latest happenings. You might even get a chance to savor a "Hot Scotchie"!
Kare11 Segment on 35W Bridge Technology
In case you missed this piece when it aired last week:
