Photo of New Vikings Stadium

From the press conference, artist rendering of the proposed new Vikings Stadium.

Vikings Stadium Opinion from Steve Berg

From Steve Berg of MinnPost:

Recycling the Metrodome location is a better fit for the trends of the next half-century. The site leverages infrastructure investments already made, including two light rail lines, a connection to commuter rail, the state's two busiest freeways, thousands of parking spots, a grid of streets for easy traffic dispersal, a network of hotels and restaurants, and a tie-in to convention facilities.

And...

In other words, the Dome site offers customers more options and carries greater potential for non-football events, both local and national. Its location delivers more efficiency with less impact on the environment. And it adds to a concentration of other assets that makes the metro region more competitive nationally. From a competitiveness standpoint, putting an NFL stadium in Arden Hills is a little like mixing a weak drink. When assets spread out they lose their collective punch.

Read the full article...

Central Corridor Light Rail Construction Starts in the Mill District - Mill City Times Exclusive

Construction started recently on the Central Corridor Light Rail line in the Mill District behind the Periscope building on 10th and Washington Ave. South.  The line will connect to the Metrodome/Downtown East station.

Vikings Stadium Update - Minneapolis to Announce Proposal for the Metrodome Site

From the Star Tribune:

City officials have scheduled a midafternoon news conference at the State Capitol to outline details of the proposal, which comes two weeks before the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn. The city is competing with Ramsey County, which wants to lure the Vikings to suburban Arden Hills, to partner with the team and the state on a new stadium.

The city plan, according to the source, would use sales taxes from the city's convention center for the project and also would provide money for renovation of Target Center, the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves in downtown Minneapolis. The proposal would also change the debt structure for Target Center.

No city property taxes would be used for the Vikings stadium, the source said.

Read the full article...

People Serving People Residents Featured on Kare 11

People Serving People (PSP), located at 614 South 3rd Street, provides emergency housing and community services that assist families experiencing homelessness in becoming self-sufficient and reconnected with the community. 

There are no guarantees in life, and circumstances beyond our control could put any one of us in this situation.

Kare 11 recently interviewed Joey and Tina Sletten and their children, who were residents at PSP at the time of the interview:

As you can see from the video, PSP does an incredible job of providing stability for children experiencing the trauma of homelessness.

If you would like to help, PSP has volunteer opportunities and an ongoing Donation Needs List:
 
• Alarm Clocks
• Blankets, Quilts, Comforters, Bedspreads
• Feminine hygiene products
• Sleeping bags
• Inflatable mattresses
• Children's books (new or gently used)
• Formula (powdered)
• Strollers
• Diapers (sizes 3 through 6)
• Wipes
• Pull Ups

New Blog Covering the Mill City Farmers Market

Today marks the launch of a new blog at Mill City Times, and a new section of the site.  Each day we'll be posting a photo, video or story on the Mill City Farmers Market from the previous Saturday.  You can find the new blog in our new, you guessed it, Blogs page.  Here you'll find link and descriptions to blogs on the Mill City Times site, and links to other blogs we like.  Enjoy!

Create a Film for the Attention-Challenged

The Ten Second Film Festival will take place at The Soap Factory directly following the fireworks at St. Anthony Main on July 4.   This free event is an outdoor screening of 100 of the most surprising, inventive, disturbing, hilarious movies you'll ever see.  

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011
The festival, which drew nearly 4000 eager movie-goers last year, is the film festival for both the amateur and immature; the talented and the unfortunate; the virtuoso and the accidental artist. Anyone can submit a 10 second film!

SUBMITTING A FILM
Click here for instructions on submitting a film.

Film makers will be notified of acceptance by June 20th.  Accepted films will be screened on July 4 at The Soap Factory.

Need inspiration? Check out films from previous years on YouTube

Best of Fest: May 6 - 12 Encore Showings from 2011 Mpls St. Paul International Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theatre

20 Films Get One Final Screening - giving you one last chance to see films you missed and a second chance to see your favorites!

Opening Day at Mill City Farmers Market!

At last! I can't imagine a better way to celebrate Spring than attending Opening Day at the Mill City Farmers Market - and look Mom - no coats!

COMING SOON to Mill City Times:  the Mill City Farmers Market Blog with scads of pictues posted daily.

People Like This Make the Mill District a Great Neighborhood

The folks at Cynthia Froid Group made the announcement of the important Crown Hydro meeting this week The Home Page of their website without being asked or even letting the organizers know.  Of course, Cynthia, Holly and her team have been an important part of helping to make the Mill District what it is today.  Still, what a pleasant surprise this morning to see this.  Thank you!

Crown Hydro Update for Friday May 6 - NoCrownHydro.org

The intensity ratcheted up this week when an unexpected Letter of Intent with Crown Hydro was delivered to the Minneapolis Park Board just 2 hours before they were expected to vote on it.  Several Commissioners had not even had the chance to read it prior to the expected vote.  Commissioner Young made a motion to table the matter until the May 18 meeting so they could give the matter the consideration it deserves.  Sanity prevailed and the motion was approved.  Here's the vote:

Against Tabling

Olson
Kummer
Fine

For Tabling

Erwin
Vreeland
Wielinski
Tabb
Young
Bourn

Best Quote: Board President Erwin -

"I appreciate that there is a legislative agenda, but we have our own"

Second Best Quote: Board President Erwin in response to concern over State Legislative deadline to force the Board to give away Mill Ruins Park -

"The timetable for this project will be dictated by the citizens of Minneapolis and the Park Board"

Download the Crown Hydro Letter of Intent...

Please mark your calendars and attend the May 18 Park Board meeting to voice your opinion!

Vikings Stadium Update - Down to Metrodome Site & Arden Hills

From the Star Tribune:

Hennepin County took itself out of the running on Thursday as a potential funding partner for a new Vikings stadium, a decision that appears to narrow the list of possible locations to Minneapolis' Metrodome and the former munitions plant site in Arden Hills.

Read the full article...

This Weekend in Mill City / May 6 - May 8

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

Friday, May 6

WineFest No. 16: A Toast to Children’s Health! at The Depot (2 nights)

WHISPER: Jiyoung Chung's Joomchi Exhibition opening reception at MCBA

Wine Tasting at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Saturday, May 7

Think Green: Recycled Papermaking at MCBA

Stone Arch .5K (Aster Cafe)

Youth Poetry Festival at Central Library

Opening Day at Mill City Farmers Market

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Sunday, May 8

Mother's Day at Mill City Museum: Mom's Admission is Free

Live Music at the 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.

City Gardens Flower Mill is Open on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 8!

City Gardens Flower Mill, 231 10th Avenue South (retail level of the Bridgewater Lofts), will be open 9:00am to 5:00pm on Mother's Day to accommodate last minutes floral arrangement requests. 

Here are some examples of super fresh flowers - including peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and sunflowers - that Dan and Kaia incorporate into each unique arrangement:   

 

 

Dan is a master at taking these individual elements and combining them into something special.

 

European Gardens are an alternative to cut flowers: 

  

 

Don't forget - there's free indoor parking!  Enter on the 11th Avenue South side. City Gardens Flower Mill also delivers.  You can reach them at 612-332-7377.

2011 Mill City Farmers Market Opens Tomorrow at 8am!

We're finally done counting down the days to the Mill City Farmers Market! See you there tomorrow!

Enjoy! :)

Call for Donations: MCBA Book Arts Rummage Sale

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), 1011 Washington Avenue South, is seeking donations of gently used, saleable book arts-related items for its first annual Book Arts Rummage Sale, to be held Saturday, June 11, 10am-5pm. Accepted items may include:

- Hand tools (bone folders, awls, brushes and needles)
- Bookmaking materials including text-weight, cover-weight and decorative papers, thread, and bookboard
- Art supplies (brushes, inks and paints)
- Artwork
- Trade books -- no encyclopedia sets or non-art related books please

All donations must be dropped off Friday, June 10 between 10am and 5pm. Donations to MCBA may be tax deductible. If you have equipment or materials you'd like to donate, we ask that you please send a brief summary of the items to Sara Parr, Studio and Artist Co-op Manager ( sparr@mnbookarts.org). This will help us in advertising big-ticket "For Sale" items, as well as help us manage space in the studios the day of the sale. Please email the following by Friday, June 3:

- Donor name(s)
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Email address (Please place “Rummage Sale” in the subject line of your email.)
- Description of items to be donated
- Optional:  Digital images of the equipment/items

Questions? Contact Sara Parr at sparr@mnbookarts.org.

2 Days to Go - Countdown to 2011 Mill City Farmers Market

We're counting down the days to fresh produce, cheese, meat, bakery, honey, preserves, grains, etc.   I can't wait to start sampling the fantastic food, enjoying the live music, and watching our grandson interact with the animals.  And then there's the local artists, unique clothing and special events - so much packed into each weekly 5-hour Mill City Farmers Market!

See you there! :)

Only 2 More Nights to Enjoy the 2011 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theatre

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF INTERNATIONAL AND INDEPENDENT FILM!
 
The Film Society of Minneapolis-St. Paul 2011 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival ends Thursday night, May 5.  During this years festival over 170 films from some 50 countries were presented at the five-screen St. Anthony Main Theatre.  Only two nights remain to enjoy the best of international and independent filmmaking in the region.

Click here for daily list of films. 

3 Days to Go - Countdown to 2011 Mill City Farmers Market

We're counting down the days to fresh produce, cheese, meat, bakery, honey, preserves, grains, etc.   I can't wait to start sampling the fantastic food, enjoying the live music, and watching our grandson interact with the animals.  And then there's the local artists, unique clothing and special events - so much packed into each weekly 5-hour Mill City Farmers Market!

See you there! :)

Construction Starts on 35w Bridge Memorial - Mill City Times Exclusive

Construction started today on the 35w Bridge Memorial across from Gold Medal Park in the Mill District of Downtown Minneapolis.  The crew was surveying and excavating all day.  Work on the tribute to the victims of the 35w Bridge collapse is scheduled for completion in time for the 4th anniversary of the tragedy in August.

Below are a few shots of the action: