Monster Halloween Store Opens on Washington Avenue South - Mill City Times Exclusive

It's never too early to start working on your perfect Halloween costume or party, and the Monster Halloween store is now open and ready to help.   They're located at 1211 Washington Avenue South (next to Bobby & Steve's Auto World) and will be open daily 10:00am-10:00pm until November 7th.

The store features two levels stocked with decorations, makeup, accessories, props and costumes for both kids and adults.  

Manager Hunter Duncan has plans to offer artist services for customers who want professionally applied makeup to complete their costume.  We'll post a follow up article when the details are available.

Check out some of the cool items and large selection you'll find at Monster Halloween:

There are separate changing rooms for men and women, so you can make sure the outfit that looks great on the hanger also looks great on you.   The "Ladies Boodoir" is located on the upper level, and has 8 dressing rooms.

Reach them at 612-338-5161, or email info@gosota.com with any questions.

This Saturday at the Mill City Farmers Market

This Weekend in Mill City / September 16-18

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis and across the Stone Arch Bridge in Old St. Anthony.

Friday, September 16

Oktoberfest at Aster Cafe

Lunch with MacPhail

Live Music at Aster Cafe

Saturday, September 17

Oktoberfest at Aster Cafe

Mill City Farmers Market

Art, Politics and Censorship at The Soap Factory

Taste Twin Cities Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour (Starts at Gold Medal Park)

Judith Yates Borger Book Signing at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Childish Films at Central Library

Central Library Book Store Fall Clearance Sale (7 days)

Historic Main Street Tour at Mill City Museum

Second Story Reading: LGBT Panel & Reading (Featuring David Levithan) at the Loft

Live Music at Aster Cafe

Sunday, September 18

Ukrainian Heritage Festival

Minneapolis Bike Tour

Railroad History Tour at Mill City Museum

Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Dome

Live Music at Aster Cafe

Weekend Brunch

Saturday & Sunday

Brunch at Spoonriver
750 South 2nd St (at Chicago Ave S)
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-436-2236

Reservations recommended

10:00am - 2:00pm

See the menu...

Saturday & Sunday

Brunch at the Aster Cafe
St. Anthony Main
125 SE Main Street
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3138

Until 2pm.

See the menu...

Sunday

Brunch at Spill the Wine
1101 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415
612-339-3388

brunch buffet 10am- 2pm Sunday
$12/person (kids 3 and under eat free, 4-12 years are 1/2 price!)

includes: eggs, bacon, french toast, hash browns, fresh salad and fruit, pastries, build your own omlette bar and more...

featuring absolut bloody bar for $5.

also offering fair trade coffee and full bar.

This Friday & Saturday - Aster Oktoberfest from @astercafe

Tonight - Central River Forum: Focus on the East Bank

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum

The developers of the Pillsbury A Mill will present their plans for this National Historic Landmark. The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership convenes a quarterly forum in the Central Riverfront concerning issues shaping this area.

Central River Forum:
A Mill Outstanding in Our Nation: Shaping the Future of the Pillsbury “A” Mill and Main Street Southeast

Why is this site’s story so important to Minneapolis – and the nation?  How can you help shape the future of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District? What are the pressure points in the development process?  What are two developers planning to propose for the area? 

Experts David Wiggins of the National Park Service and Brian Schaffer of the City of Minneapolis will highlight the big stories this place tells, and preview how and when you can most effectively inform public decision makers. Developers Dominium Apartments and Doran Companies will share their proposals for developing the area, including this National Historic Landmark.

Live Music at the Crooked Pint Ale House

Here are some upcoming acts at the newest live music venue in the area, the Crooked Pint Ale House:

9Tomorrows - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Lynhurst - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

SellOutStero - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Tonight - "Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront Photo Contest" Exhibit Opening Reception

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location:  Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street

A reception to celebrate the opening of the new exhibit “Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront Photo Contest.” The reception will take place on Wednesday, September 14, from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the museum’s Mill Commons. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Brief remarks will take place at 7:00.  This event is free and open to the public. 

As part of its "Greening the Riverfront" program series, Mill City Museum invited the public to submit striking images of the Mississippi River and the Minneapolis Riverfront. "Greening the Riverfront," funded by St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board, was a year-long series that highlighted how the Minneapolis Riverfront has been transformed from an industrial center into a catalyst for new ways of thinking about our relationship with nature.

The exhibit is runs through January 2, 2012.

Today - Grand Opening of WorkAround

From WorkAround:

You're Invited! Wednesday, September 14th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. we will be having our Grand Opening of WorkAround, a new coworking space in Minneapolis North Loop Neighborhood and the consolidation of the KnowledgeSphere Group of AdviCoach coaches as members of WorkAround.

Where:

WorkAround 
210 North 2nd Street, Suite 101
Minneapolis, MN 55401

RSVP so we can have enough beer and dogs on hand 

Come join us for hot dogs, beer, and networking with each other, our coaches and coworkers.  An official ribbon cutting with the Minneapolis Regional Chamber will start off our event. We will have live music performed by Beck Shaheen.

To pull off this grand event, we are partnering with FINNEGANS and the FINNEGANS Community Fund to provide the beer and with Nate Beck of Natedogs for our hot dog meal.  Both FINNEGANS and Natedogs are social entrepreneurs who are committed to giving back to those in need in our local communities.  FINNEGANS mission is to create sustainable change for those affected by the cycle of poverty and gives back 100% of their profits to support their local priority partner, the Emergency Food Shelf Network.  Natedogs mission: “Get a dog, Give a dog.”

To get your free beer and hot dog, bring a non-perishable food item for the Emergency Food Shelf Network or cash donation to the FINNEGANS Community fund.  We will buy you a dog then Nate will give it back.

Both WorkAround, Inc. and KnowledgeSphere, Inc. are members of the Minnesota Keystone Program and have committed to giving at least 2% of our profits back to local charities.

Learn more about WorkAround and KnowledgeSphere Group of AdviCoach

Mill City Farmers Market September 11 Harvest Moon Dinner

Neighbors and friends of the Mill City Farmers Market filled the train shed Sunday night for the Harvest Moon Dinner.  Attendees enjoyed a feast prepared by Chefs Heather Hartman and Nick Schneider, Cajun music, a colorful live auction, silent auction, raffle, and guest speaker Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. 

Can't think of a better way to transition into the Fall season.

Repairs to 35W Bridge Memorial Almost Complete

A few minor tweaks are all that remain of repairs to the 35W Bridge Memorial.  Notice the security cam set up my Minneapolis Police Department - good move!

Runners Get in the Spirit of the 2011 Mill City Suds Run

Creative runners turned out in full force for the September 10 Mill City Suds Run (formerly known as the Blubber Run).

 

Here's a slide show with a more expansive group of pictures:

Video - MPRB Fuji Ya / Waterworks Resolution 09/07/2011

From last week's Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board meeting where they passed the resolution authorizing an agreement with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation to study redevelopment options for the former site of Fuji Ya, now being called the "Waterworks site".

Lights Out at the Pillsbury A Mill on the Minneapolis Riverfront

The Pillsbury A Mill has been dark since last week.  We've been unable to find out why, but we'll keep asking around...

Dessert at the Aster Cafe - Perfect+

While meandering around this past Friday night we noticed the dessert menu posted outside the Aster Cafe.   The brownie ala mode (with ganache AND caramel, of course) and lemon pie drew us in.

The place was hoppin', but General Manager Rick Oknick was kind enough to secure a table for us on the patio.  Our desserts did not disappoint.  The lemon pie was very similar to a key lime (my fave).  And the brownie?  Well, the brownie was perfect all by itself, but adding the other three components kicked it up to perfect+.

Check out Aster Cafe on their website and Facebook.  In addition to good food, they have live music, open mic nights, host the Books & Barsseries and more.  Look for an Oktoberfest celebration next weekend.

Job Posting at MacPhail Center for Music

Associate Director of Individual Gifts

Job Summary

This position is responsible for the development of major individual and planned gifts for the MacPhail Center for Music. The Associate Director is responsible for identifying new major individual gift prospects and upgrading and renewing existing donors with major gift capacity. This position will develop and actively implement plans to increase major individual giving at MacPhail, primarily through direct donor contact and face-to-face visits, as a critical factor to meet fundraising goals.

Experience

Education: Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent. Master’s degree preferred.

Knowledge and Skills: Ability to promote and successfully solicit major gifts by identifying prospects, managing portfolio of major donors, designing and implementing cultivation and solicitation strategies with timely follow up and stewardship. Demonstrates excellent communication skills (oral and written); Basic knowledge of organizational and program planning and budgeting; Ability to work independently with highly developed organizational skills; Passion for and commitment to the mission and goals of MacPhail; Strong prospect research skills; Excellent relationship building skills; Ability to handle significant workload; meet deadlines and accomplish set funding goals; High integrity and ability to maintain confidences.

Experience - Required: Five years experience in development with an emphasis on building individual relationships, proficiency with Microsoft Office Professional Suite.

Experience - Preferred: successful track record in fundraising; familiarity with major gift societies; familiarity with Planned Giving vehicles; a working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge software.

Physical Demands: Required to sit for up to 8 hours of time at keyboard. Infrequent lifting, carrying.

Transportation: Vehicle, valid driver’s license and ability to drive required for attendance at off-site meetings, presentations and events.

How to Apply

Send cover letter and resume to resume@macphail.org.

The Week Ahead in Mill City / September 12-18

Bright and early each Monday morning we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Mill City neighborhood.  Submit your events here...

Monday, September 12

Meet Artist Sharon D. Stadther at Sanctuary

Tuesday, September 13

Books & Bars Series at Aster Cafe

Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting

Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association Meeting at Central Library

Wednesday, September 14

"Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront Photo Contest" Exhibit Opening Reception

Thursday, September 15

Central River Forum: Focus on the East Bank

Nicollet Island Tour Sponsored by Preserve Minneapolis

Bonnie Jo Campbell Publication Reading: Once Upon a River at the Loft

Friday, September 16

Oktoberfest at Aster Cafe

Lunch with MacPhail

Saturday, September 17

Oktoberfest at Aster Cafe

Mill City Farmers Market

Art, Politics and Censorship at The Soap Factory

Taste Twin Cities Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour (Starts at Gold Medal Park)

Judith Yates Borger Book Signing at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Childish Films at Central Library

Central Library Book Store Fall Clearance Sale (7 days)

Historic Main Street Tour at Mill City Museum

Second Story Reading: LGBT Panel & Reading (Featuring David Levithan) at the Loft

Sunday, September 18

Ukrainian Heritage Festival

Minneapolis Bike Tour

Railroad History Tour at Mill City Museum

Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Dome

Breakfast at the Newly Opened Crooked Pint Ale House

The Crooked Pint Ale House, 501 Washington Avenue South, opened at 7am Saturday, September 10.   We dropped in for breakfast before heading off to the Mill City Farmers Market.  

I opted for the caramel apple walnut french toast (above), which had a nice apple/sauce/walnut ratio.

They did a beautiful job renovating the former 501 Club space.  Removing the wall between the two levels really opened it up, and the new stage area is a huge improvement - both in size and location.

We spoke with Manager Matt Saffert, who filled us in on some of the upcoming and ongoing events and activities. Check out the schedule online.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Crooked Pint Ale House, and thank you for bringing us early morning weekend breakfast option!

Week 19 at the Mill City Farmers Market

Only five more Saturdays to take advantage of all the wonderful food, education, arts and entertainment the Mill City Farmers Market has to offer.

 

Grumpy's Offers Evening Food Delivery

From the September 9 Secrets of the City e-news:

Grumpy's Partners with MPLS Courier for Downtown Delivery

You can now get a Grumpy Burger and a beer brought to your house, if you live in downtown anyway. Grumpy’s Bar & Grillin downtown Minneapolis tells us last night was the first night the resto started offering a new (and FREE) bike delivery service through MPLS Courier. From 5 to 10 p.m., the folks at MPLS Courier will deliver from the full menu at Grumpy’s to 7 corners, Loring Park, and beyond and will even make a stop at Sorella Wines & Spirits to round out your evening noshing. Eventually Grumpy’s may expand to offering delivery during lunch, but for now they’re just gauging interest in this new service.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) part of Minneapolis Museum Day, September 24

From the September 9 Secrets of the City e-news:

Mpls Museum Day Set for September 24th

Has there been a “museum crawl” around Minneapolis or St. Paul yet? If not, September 24th would be a great day to start one. The Smithsonian will be bring their 7th Annual Museum Day to Minneapolis; the event will be “a day of knowledge and tradition” that follows the format of Smithsonian Magazine‘s nationwide Museum Day, a full, and free, “celebration of education and culture.” Participating Minneapolis museums include the Hennepin History Museum and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and you can get free entry to the museums with a downloadable Museum Day Ticket from Smithsonian Magazine‘s website. For more information, visit Smithsonian Magazine‘s Museum Day website.