Spider-Man Among Runners in the Red, White & BOOM! TC Half Marathon

Watch for Spider-Man about 1:25 minutes into the video!  (Superman also ran, but unfortunatley we didn't get a shot of him.)

July 22 is the Deadline for Submitting "The Future of Nicollet Mall Poetry Contest" Entry

The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District(DID) has announced their "The  Future of Nicollet Mall Poetry Contest".

Share your vision for Nicollet Mall by incorporating one or more of the following words into a poem:  Change, Vision, Community, Future, Gather, Vibrant and Commerce. You could see your winning poem displayed in public or win gift cards to down town establishments.

The deadline for submitting your original poem is July 22nd.  Click here for all the details.

9 NIGHTS OF MUSIC CANCELLED TONIGHT DUE TO STATE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

From the Minnesota Historical Society:

Tonight’s first concert in the Minnesota History Center’s popular free outdoor music series “9 Nights of Music” has been cancelled. The performance by the Afro-Caribbean group “Salsa del Soul” is cancelled due to the ongoing State of Minnesota government shutdown. As soon as the shutdown is resolved and the History Center reopens, the series will resume. Now in its 15^th year, “9 Nights of Music” celebrates the vibrant sounds of Minnesota’s multicultural community. Concerts are held every Tuesday in July and August and are free to the public. In total, the concerts are enjoyed by over 12,000 people each summer.

In addition, the first concert in the “Mill City Live” series, which kicks-off its 8^th year this Thursday at Mill City Museum with Chris Osgood & the Mill City Rockers, will be cancelled if the government shutdown continues. This year the program is curated by music critic Jim Walsh who has selected bands which represent five decades of Minneapolis music history from 1960 through the present. Each concert in the popular series draws as many as 550 people to the historic ruin courtyard.

The Minnesota Historical Society, its museums, historic sites and library are closed temporarily, and all programs and special events are suspended due to the State of Minnesota government shutdown. Funding from the state comprises more than half of the Society’s operating budget.

Historic sites and museums affected in the Twin Cities include: the Minnesota History Center, Historic Fort Snelling, Mill City Museum, James J. Hill House, Alexander Ramsey House and the Minnehaha Depot. Society-led tours at the Minnesota State Capitol also are suspended.

Other sites closed statewide during the shutdown are: Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors; Birch Coulee Battlefield, Morton; Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Little Falls; Comstock House, Moorhead; Folsom House, Taylors Falls; Forest History Center, Grand Rapids; Fort Ridgely, Fairfax; Harkin Store, New Ulm; Historic Forestville, Preston; Jeffers Petroglyphs, Comfrey; Lac qui Parle Mission, Watson; Lower Sioux Agency, Morton; Marine Mill, Marine on St. Croix; Mille Lacs Indian Museum & Trading Post, Onamia; North West Company Fur Post, Pine City; Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River; Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota; Traverse des Sioux, St. Peter; and the W.W. Mayo House, Le Sueur.

Information is available on the Society’s website at www.mnhs.org, which will continue to function. However, web-based services enabling the public to order historical documents, photographs, tickets and merchandise will not be operational during the shutdown. The public may still make charitable donations and membership payments through the Society’s secure website.

All historic sites and museums as well as the library at the History Center, will reopen and all programming will resume when the state government shutdown concludes and funding is available to operate the Society’s programs. Reopening information will be available at www.mnhs.org.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849 to preserve and share Minnesota history. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. For more information, visit www.mnhs.org.

Fireworks Over the Stone Arch Bridge [Photos] [Video]

We watched the fireworks from our balcony this year.  There was a big turnout to see an awesome finale.  Notice the crowd on the Stone Arch Bridge in the first picture - the hill at Gold Medal Park is in the foreground. Video at the end of this post.

The Red, White & BOOM Fireworks over the Stone Arch Bridge in the Mill District of Minneapolis.

View the whole set of 84 photos on Flickr...

Tonight - Music in The Park at Father Hennepin Bluffs

Time: 7:00pm

Barbara Meyer  "Midwestern Roots Rock & Reggae"

Brought to us by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Nice Turn Out for Inaugural Hot Dam 5K Fun Run

Funds raised from the inaugural Hot Dam 5K Fun Run will benefit future Red, White and Boom Celebrations in Minneapolis. 

 

Exciting Technology-based Innovations at MacPhail

Per their most recent e-newsletter, MacPhail Center for Music is now offering technology-based innovations to enhance musical study, including:
 
· Live, online one-on-one lessons via the internet.
· Online lesson additions to supplement classes like Piano for Children.
· Electronic lessons for some Early Childhood Music classes featuring video links to songs sung in class, research articles and sheet music.
· Video enhancements for the Crescendo Program.
· Online video tutorials for All-State Band etudes.

We had a preview of their new technologies at the Music Matters Luncheon in April - very impressive. Check out their newly re-designed website for more information.

The Benefits of Being a Mill City Commons Member - An Ongoing Series

Dave and I became members of Mill City Commons for a number of reasons, one of them being the interesting member-only events.

There were two exclusive MCC events on June 30.  The first was a tour of Graywolf Press, 250 Third Avenue North, publisher of poetry, fiction and non-fiction.  Below, Development Assistant Stephanie Shockley starts the tour.

Using the book Assumption by Percival Everett (available Fall 2011) as an example, staff members shared the process of publishing a book - from editing, to cover design and marketing.  Attendees received a copy of Invisible Strings, a collection of poems by Jim Moore. 

Afterwards we toured several artist studios at Artspace, the innovative nonprofit developer behind the potential ArtCube projecton Washington Avenue South next to the new American Academy of Neurology site.

Later that day, MCC members gathered for a pre-opening tour of the Bachelor Farmer Restaurant & Marvel Bar at 200 First Street North.   Owners Eric and Andrew Dayton led us through their restaurant and bar, which together encompass three levels.

Week 9 at the 2011 Mill City Farmers Market

As of July 1, Mill City Farmers Market held the most votes over all Minnesota farmers markets in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest!   Click here to cast your vote for Mill City Farmers Market.

 

Families Being Hurt by State Shutdown at People Serving People

A MESSAGE FROM PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE:

As we know, the State of Minnesota has shut down effective today.  People Serving People will remain open, but the families staying at our shelter and moving out of our shelter will be deeply affected by the shutdown. 

To keep these families from experiencing prolonged homelessness or returning to homelessness, we are reaching out to YOU to help ease affects of the shutdown.

Families at People Serving People will be losing childcare assistance – and many moms and dads will not have the resources available to them that allow them to go to work every day.  We expect our Early Childhood Center will be full.

How you can help:

Join a list to be called on if a family needs a babysitter.  Sign up with Kristina, our volunteer coordinator.

Families moving out of People Serving People will be losing financial assistance.  Many families are still getting back on their feet when they leave our shelter, and depend on financial assistance to feed their children.

How you can help:

Volunteer to make food packs from donated canned goods from our pantry, and deliver the food packs. Sign up with Kristina, our volunteer coordinator.

Families staying at People Serving People are losing subsidies to help them move into affordable housing.  This will increase the shelter stay for families, keeping other families new to homelessness from being able to stay at our shelter.  This loss of subsidies will also affect families who need to purchase other items, such as diapers and hygiene products.

How you can help:

You can help to off-set other costs for families moving into their new homes with a donation of diapers and hygiene products, and also help pack the products and deliver them to families’ new homes. 

Also, you can help families to cope with their extended shelter stays by volunteering for children’s activities or field trips.  Sign up with Kristina, our volunteer coordinator.

Thank you for your support of homeless families.  They are among the most vulnerable populations affected by this government shut down, and they need our support more than ever.

If you are unable to donate your time, please consider making a financial contribution to help families in need.

This Weekend in Mill City / July 1 - July 4

It's a long weekend culminating with a 4th of July Celebration on the Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront.  The weather looks like it will cooperate too!

IMPORTANT NOTE:  All Mill City Museum events have been canceled, and the Museum is closed until the State of Minnesota reopens for business.

Saturday, July 2

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

Mill City Farmers Market

How'd They do That Workshop: HMS

Sunday, July 3

Minneapolis Riverfront Tour at Mill City Museum

Minneapolis Red, White and BOOM! (2 Day Event)

Hot Dam 5K Fun Run

Music in The Park - Nicollet Island Park

Monday, July 4

Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks

Ten Second Film Festival at the Soap Factory

2nd Annual Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon!

Music in The Park - Father Hennepin Bluffs

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.

Mill City Museum Will Be Victim of a State Shutdown

We've confirmed with the Mill City Museum that they will close during a State of Minnesota shutdown due to the budget impasse.  This will include a new History Pub Crawl we had registered for.  A Museum shutdown will impact people from all over the metro area, State of Minnesota, and nationally who've made the Mill City Museum part of their leisure or travel intinerary.

The Press release from the Minnesota Historical Society:

NEWS ALERT: MHS TO CLOSE IF STATE SHUTDOWN OCCURS

The Minnesota Historical Society announced today that in the event of a state government shutdown all its programs and operations would be suspended beginning July 1. Funding from the State of Minnesota comprises more than half of the Society’s operating budget.

All of the Society’s 26 historic sites and museums statewide would be closed during a shutdown, including the History Center, Mill City Museum, Historic Fort Snelling and Split Rock Lighthouse, as well as the library and general offices that support all of the Society’s functions including preservation and education.

“The Minnesota Historical Society has a long history of serving Minnesotans, beginning in 1849 – even before Minnesota was a state,” said Stephen Elliott, the Society’s director and CEO. “If we indeed need to close operations for a state government shutdown, it will be with deep regret, both for the many families planning to visit our sites and museums this summer and for our employees and the financial hardship such an action would place on them.”

If there is a shutdown, the public would still be able to access general information, conduct online research, and make charitable donations and membership payments at www.mnhs.org. However, web functions enabling the public to order historical documents, photographs, tickets and merchandise would not be operational during the shutdown.

Until an official notice of a shutdown is given by the state, on or around June 30, the Society and all its historic sites and museums remain open and ready to serve the public. Go towww.visitmnhistory.org for links to all of the Society’s historic sites and museums.

“We know and appreciate that Minnesotans value the work of the Society,” said Elliott, “and we look forward to continuing to fulfill our mission to connect people with history, preserve the evidence of the past, tell the stories of Minnesota’s people, and educate our schoolchildren.”

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849 to preserve and share Minnesota history. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. For more information, visit www.mnhs.org.

Tonight - Twin Cities River Rats Show on the Riverfront

The 2011 Twin Cities River Rats season kicked off Thursday, June 2.  Shows are scheduled for 7pm Thursday nights through August 25, and take place at 1628 West River Road (between the Plymouth and Broadway).

The Twin Cities Rivers Rats describe their show as an aquatic Broadway musical featuring multiple water ski acts choreographed to music and built around a theme.

If you haven't already enjoyed a River Rats show, their website is loaded with fun videos to give you an idea of what to expect.  These are free events.

Tonight - Youth Farm 6-Course Tasting Menu Event & Benefit at Sanctuary

Time:  5:00pm to 10:00pm

Location: Sanctuary - the restaurant, 903 Washington Avenue South

Talk about sourcing locally, Youth Farm & Market Project teaches urban kids to grow food in urban gardens and sell it.  Please join us for one of Chef Patrick's famous 6-course Tasting Menus for a Cause - this time benefiting Youth Farm. Sanctuary will buy some of the food on the menu from these local kids and their gardens - an we will donate $5 to them for each Menu purchased.  The Menu is fun enough for your inner-kid!

Menu 
westfield farm classic blue goat cheese quesadilla, black olive provencal tapenade, tomato oil 
pairing:  lemongrass gin infused ‘tini

trio of melon salad with a balsamic reduction 
pairing:  duboeuf rosé
 
braised short ribs in a root beer barbeque sauce, yukon mashed potatoes, elephant garlic and mirepoix
pairing:  angeline pinot noir
 
hawaiian mahi, hoisin paint, baby carrot, sweet corn, english pea salsa 
pairing:  ferrari fumé

duck confit ratatouille and tomato shot 
pairing:  organic tomato ‘tini
 
caramelized red banana split

Six Course Tasting Menu only $40 ($5 from each will be donated to Youth Farms)
Five Optional Tasting-Sized - Pairings $15 (tasting sized pours – a little over 2 glasses total).  Prices exclude tax and tip

These special event Tasting Menus only happen on one night a couple times a year - so don't miss it!

Reservations

Canines Celebrate 2011 Pride Parade

Hundreds of 4-legged supporters turned out for the 2011 Pride Parade:

Tonight - Upper River Forum: Our Great River Park Future: From Design to Delivery

Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Location:  Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Headquarters, 2117 West River Road

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership and Above the Falls Citizens Advisory Committee are hosting a series of forums to help us envision and shape a vibrant riverfront. Ten years after the visionary Above the Falls plan for the Mississippi River above St. Anthony Falls was adopted, the transformation of the Minneapolis riverfront is getting a jump-start.

Both the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the City of Minneapolis will soon be making choices that will help shape the future of this segment of the river and our city for generations to come.

MacPhail Center for Music Website Gets a Makeover [Photo]

MacPhail Center for Music just launched a totally revamped website.  It has a very nice visual presentation and is much easier to navigate.  Well done neighbors!

http://www.macphail.org/

Tonight - Music in The Park at Father Hennepin Bluffs

Time: 7:00pm

Charity Huot  "Original, uplifting, Relaxing Night Out"

Brought to us by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Elected Officials Show Support in the 2011 Pride Parade

There was a huge show of support from elected officials at the 2011 Pride Parade, starting with Mayor Rybak riding front and center with the Dykes on Bikes.

 

 

35W "Rainbow Pride" Bridge Lights #NOH8 [Photos] [Video]

It was spectatular.  Kim and I attended the lighting ceremony (see video at the bottom) and snapped a few photos.