Mill City Museum Nominated for Nation’s Best History Museum - Vote Daily to Help Assure They Win!

Photo credit Willette Photography, Inc

  Help Mill City take the top spot by voting online daily

Mill City Museum is asking for the public’s support to take the top spot in an online contest to win the title of the Nation’s Best History Museum.

The downtown Minneapolis museum has been named among 20 nominees for a USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award in the category of best history museum for the third consecutive year. Mill City Museum placed in the top 5 in the same contest in 2023 and 2024. This year, the museum hopes to claim the top prize.

“We are so grateful for all the support we’ve received from Minnesotans in this category,” said Mill City Museum Site Manager David Stevens. “This recognition of the great work our staff does to tell the rich history of Minneapolis is tremendous, and we really feel like this could be our year!”

To vote for Mill City Museum as Best History Museum and learn more about USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards, click here. One vote per day per person is permitted. Individuals are encouraged to vote daily through the contest’s end at 11 am CST on February 10. History lovers can also support the museum online by sharing the hashtag #MCMTop10 on social media.

Visitors at the museum can learn about Minneapolis’ growth through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the Mississippi River, and the city of Minneapolis. Other highlights include multimedia shows, scenic views atop the Koch Rooftop Observation Deck, works from local artists, and award winning architecture.

Additionally, Mill City Museum offers a variety of events for all ages, ranging from walking tours to family days. It also hosts free special exhibits in the free Mill Commons area.

Local Startup Capption Enhances Visitor Experience at WAM and American Swedish Institute

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Weisman Art Museum (WAM) recently launched a new service to enhance visitors’ access to the artwork and information in the gallery, in ways that best suit their needs — whether they’re low/no vision, socially anxious, a non-native English-speaker, or simply prefer to reread and revisit information on their own. 

Susannah SchouweilerThe Twin Cities-based start-up Capption developed this marvelous web-based platform that transforms the museum going experience. We talked to Susannah Schouweiler, Director of Marketing and Communications at WAM and Capption co-founder Sherman Bausch to learn more about its deployment at WAM, how the innovative technology works and how we might make use of it during our next museum visit. 

Q:  What was the motivation to offer Capption services at WAM?

Schouweiler:  We're the campus art museum for the University of Minnesota, and we know our student, faculty, and staff populations speak many languages and come to the museum with a wide variety of abilities, needs and preferences. We're also a public museum for the Twin Cities, and community members who come through our doors for a visit are equally varied. This is about doing the work to make all in our community welcome at the Weisman. At a public institution like ours, accessibility is simply essential. It’s central to our mission to ensure everyone is able to engage with the art, information, and ideas that make a trip to the museum meaningful and fun. We’ve explored more piecemeal digital platforms in the past to offer accessible ways in to the art and information at WAM, but Capption is a real leap forward in this work. Thanks to this platform, we can put all of these offerings together in one place, and present them to visitors in a way that’s easy and intuitive to use. 

Q:  What if a WAM visitor doesn’t have a smartphone?

Schouweiler: We have smartphones at the front desk that visitors can borrow if their own device isn’t compatible with Capption. WAM’s loaner phones are loaded with the platform, ready to use, and freely available, if needed.

Q:  What has been the feedback so far?  How will visitor feedback be collected to improve the service over time?

Schouweiler: We’re definitely getting enthusiastic feedback from visitors, and early analytics show the multilingual translation is particularly welcome. We’re continuously gathering feedback from visitors through surveys and observational evaluation to improve and enhance our use of the platform in the galleries. The team at Capption has been amazing to work with - they’re as eager as we are to use what we learn from visitor feedback to refine and augment the technology as we learn more about what our audiences need, and how they’re using the service.

Let’s also hear from the Capption developer, Sherman Bausch:

Sherman BauschQ:  Why did you develop this marvelous product?

Bausch: Everyone at Capption loves galleries, museums, and other exhibitions. None of us are identifiably disabled, but all of us feel underserved by typical exhibit displays. Turns out we’re not alone - over 350 million people worldwide possess non-obvious sight, mobility, anxiety, and language impairments.

Art, science, and nature exhibits must make sense to be engaging. When there’s a visual, social, or linguistic barrier blocking access to an exhibit’s context, engagement drops and frustration builds. Capption eliminates those barriers.

Q:  Who is Capption designed for?

Bausch; Capption helps museums, galleries, and nature centers serve low-vision, aging, and non-native speaking visitors. With Capption, exhibitors deliver critical exhibit content and context directly to a visitor’s smartphone:

• Immediately
• In context
• In a hyperlegible font
• In any language
• Respecting individual settings
• Readable (or listenable) at any pace
• Recording a referenceable history

At least 1 in 6 visitors have a disability that makes exhibitions daunting. Capption helps previously-excluded visitors feel welcome by granting them autonomy, agency, and access they need to engage with dignity.

Additionally, we engineered Capption to amplify an exhibit’s impact. Capption is a quick, simple enhancement to a curator’s designed experience, not a distraction that competes with their exhibit for visitors’ attention.

We want exhibitors to provide accessibility services discreetly and with dignity. Capption helps people who need it and can be ignored by those who don’t.

Q:  How does the service accommodate languages with different scripts or structures, like Mandarin or Arabic?

Bausch: Fortunately, your phone does already support different scripts and language structures, but it’s up to developers to leverage them properly. Our apps and backend services enforce formatting with a level of fidelity and speed websites can’t match. Capption supports both machine and human translations in 120+ languages.

Q:  What challenges have you faced during the development of Capption and how have they been addressed?

Bausch: A ton of work goes into engineering such a simple experience. Our team had to overcome multiple unknowns to build Capption:

• Learn how institutions discuss and implement accessibility today
• Understand visitors’ unassisted exhibit experience
• Determine precisely where, when, how, and why Capption helps each audience
• Architect the fastest, lightest experience possible with modern tools (most of which are built for bloat)
• Figure out the best way for institutions to implement and promote Capption
• Engage with possible clients to support funding requests

Throughout development, discipline has been Capption’s watchword. That’s meant empathetic research, painstaking architecture, methodical engineering, unflinching testing, and a tempered pace that gives space to think and try things. Everyone on the Capption team is a 20+ year software veteran, and we unanimously agree that this is the most “correct” we’ve ever done development.

Q:  Where will we see Capption installed here in the Twin Cities? How may we follow your news?

Bausch: Right now, you can see Capption live at the Weisman Art Museum and American Swedish Institute. We’re in conversations with a multitude of other exhibitors throughout the region, and we hope to see Capption expand access everywhere!

You can sign up for updates at https://capption.com/news or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram. For direct inquires, we’d love to hear from you at hello@capption.com.

Hennepin Healthcare Patients to Benefit from Meet Minneapolis Warm Winter Clothing Drive

Meet Minneapolis – along with its tourism, hospitality, and community partners – donated more than $22,000 of warm winter clothes

Today, January 9, at Hennepin Healthcare’s Clinic and Specialty Center, the third annual Meet Minneapolis Warm Winter Clothing Drive wrapped up with more than $22,000 worth of new clothes donated for distribution to patients in need. Since mid-November, Meet Minneapolis, its tourism and hospitality partner businesses, community businesses, and individuals came together to provide much-needed clothing items that will assist Hennepin Healthcare in its mission to discharge patients with dignity.

“We are incredibly grateful for this outpouring of generosity from our community partners,” said Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis President and CEO. “It’s not just about physical comfort – these donations provide a sense of hope that can be transformative. In just the third year of this clothing drive, the amount of warm clothes donated has more than tripled. The success of this initiative highlights the compassion of the Minneapolis community and its commitment to helping neighbors in need.”

From November 18, 2024 to January 6, 2025, Meet Minneapolis collected new, warm clothes to be donated to Hennepin Healthcare. Many Hennepin Healthcare patients have financial challenges. Some patients have damaged clothing after being involved in an accident or clothing has been removed to access wounds. Others may not have adequate clothing for the cold weather. Meet Minneapolis staff, board members and partner businesses, and other community businesses donated new coats, boots, pants, tops, mittens, scarves, socks, and more.

“The donations we receive through this clothing drive truly impact the lives of our patients,” explained Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis. “For many of the individuals we serve, winter can be a time of immense hardship. The generosity shown through this drive means that more of our patients will have the basic resources they need to stay safe and warm. Meet Minneapolis and everyone who participated in this initiative are making a real difference.”

Several Meet Minneapolis partners were significant contributors to the Warm Winter Clothing Drive. They include Hyatt Regency Minneapolis; Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot; The Marquette Hotel & Windows at Marquette; Courtyard Minneapolis Downtown, Creekside Apartments, Stearns Bank; and the Minnesota Vikings. 

“One of the roles of Meet Minneapolis is to bring people together in ways that make a tangible, positive impact on our city. With this effort, the team goes beyond visitors and convention attendees and engages our community members,” stated Tabitha Montgomery, Meet Minneapolis Board Chair and Executive Director of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. “This clothing drive is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together toward a common goal. We acknowledge that similar initiatives are supported by other organizations across the city, and hope that our collective efforts can inspire others to take action, especially as winter months pose significant challenges for many in our community.”

“The Warm Winter Clothing Drive exemplifies the heart and spirit of our city,” said Ka Vang, Meet Minneapolis Vice President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access. “This collaboration between Meet Minneapolis, Hennepin Healthcare, and our tourism and hospitality industry is a shining example of how we can come together to ensure that everyone in our community has what they need to thrive. I’m proud to see Minneapolis lead with kindness and generosity.”

Finest Dish: Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM Sauce at NOLO’s Kitchen and Bar

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM SauceNOLO’s Kitchen and Bar in the North Loop is consistently turning out what they call modern American comfort food. You can expect breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and happy hour to all be consistently tasty, made with the freshest ingredients, all while providing the elusive comfort factor. We noticed that one menu item received lots of glowing online recommendations – Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM Sauce. We talked to co-owner Brett Johnson and Chef co-owner and Peter Hoff about the dish. Make plans to visit soon at 515 N Washington Avenue, order the dish and let us know what you think. 

Q:  Please tell us the history of the Breakfast Fried Rice (BFR). How do you balance traditional fried rice techniques with breakfast flavors?  

Peter:  We wanted to try something outside the box of the traditional breakfast options. Our BFR is made with jasmine rice, scrambled eggs, peas, sesame kale, bacon, homemade breakfast sausage and YUM YUM Sauce. The bacon and sausage help maintain the breakfast feel and flavors. The garnish with kale adds a different texture that really rounds out the dish. The BFR is hands down our top breakfast seller. 

Brett:  We have added BFR to the menu at The Hilltop in Edina because if its popularity. I was unsure if the reception to the dish would be the same as in the North Loop – because of slightly different demographics – but once diners realized how good the dish is – it speaks for itself and is very popular there as well.

I personally think that Chef Peter’s YUM YUM Sauce is the secret weapon in making the fried rice so unique and delicious. I think its popularity was definitely a little bit of a surprise to Chef Peter. 

Peter:  The dish is what led me to create Seven Bridges YUM YUM sauce. A little bit of the backstory: after decades as a chef, I got lucky enough to open a place of my own. And with the help of my partners in 2017 we created something special and opened NOLO's Kitchen and Bar. Although the YUM YUM sauce started out as a condiment on our Breakfast Fried Rice, I quickly noticed that our guests were putting it on everything. Some great ideas, others not so much. People were ordering excessive amounts of it on the side, buying quarts of it to take home and asking, “Why isn’t there something like this at the store?" I took their not-so-subtle hints as a call to action and here we are.

Q:  How did you decide on the balance of flavors in the sauce?

Brett:  I think it is the perfect blend of ginger, garlic and soy that gives it such a savory and appetizing flavor.

Q:  Was the YUM YUM Sauce originally intended to complement the BFR?

Peter:  Yes, originally intended for the breakfast fried rice but now you can find it complementing tacos, salads and entrees throughout the menu – at all times of the day!

Q:  Did the sauce evolve over time, or was it perfect from the start? 

Peter:  No tweaks needed!   

Q:  What’s the most surprising way you’ve seen that people use YUM YUM Sauce? 

Peter:  For me, I’ve seen lots of people, surprisingly, putting it on potatoes or chicken salads! Also smoked meats!

Q:  The YUM YUM Sauce story is so entrepreneurial and surprising – do you have any tips for aspiring food innovators? 

Peter:  Patience! Believe in yourself and the product. I also think networking with the right people can also help. We went all in pretty fast and we are already in not only larger grocery stores such as Kowalski’s, Von Hanson’s Meats but also some independent markets such as Brookies Fish Market in St. Louis Park. Don't be afraid to bet on yourself and put yourself out there. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

Peter:  Follow YUM YUM Sauce and me at @sevenbridgessauces on Instagram, and our website sevenbridgessauces.com. 

Brett:  Follow NOLO’s Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram @noloskitchen. Come on down and visit us in person and try the Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM sauce!

Art Escape Room Experience Coming to the Northrup King Building

The Secret of the Lost Pyramid: An Art Escape Room Challenge

Looking for a fun and creative interactive experience? How about paint night meets escape room? Join Oya Arts in Suite 265 of the Northrup King Building in February, March or April for The Secret of the Lost Pyramid: An Art Escape Room Challenge.

  Dates and reservations

As an explorer, your mission is to solve a series of cryptic puzzles and riddles, unlocking each stage of your painting as you race against time. But beware - the Watchful Pharaoh sees all, and will stop at nothing to protect its secrets. Can you beat the clock? Every clue brings you closer to breaking the mystery, but the dangers grow with each stroke. Only by completing your masterpiece can you lift the veil of mystery and escape the pyramid alive.

Event Highlights

Immersive Setting: Step into the heart of a forbidden pyramid, where every shadow holds ancient secrets and hidden dangers.

Puzzle-Solving Adventure: Conquer cryptic puzzles and riddles that lead you deeper into the mystery, unlocking stages of your painting along the way.

Race Against Time: The clock is ticking—use each clue to get closer to breaking the mystery before time runs out.

The Watchful Pharaoh: Face off against the spirit of the Watchful Pharaoh, who will do anything to guard its secrets.

All-Inclusive: No art skills needed—just bring your courage and curiosity. All supplies are provided!

Unique Take-Home Artwork: Complete your masterpiece and escape with a one-of-a-kind creation and bragging rights!

Light Refreshments Provided: Enjoy tasty bites to fuel your creativity as you delve into the pyramid’s secrets.

Thrilling Experience: This is no ordinary art night—prepare for suspense, strategy, and a touch of luck to see if you can survive the challenge.

Sean Sherman to Appear on Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., February 4

Celebrity chef and Owamni founder, Sean Sherman, will be uncovering his own family history on this season of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Mark your calendar to catch the February 4 episode. Fellow chef José Andrés will also be featured in this episode of the Emmy-nominated PBS docuseries.

Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts Invites Mill District Neighbors to Opening Reception for Abstracted Perspectives, January 16

Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts welcomes you to attend the January 16 Meet the Artists Reception for its latest exhibit, Abstracted Perspectives. Please RSVP at bnfacommittee@gmail.com. You can also take a virtual tour here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhoCHKYo9tE.

Lobster Week 2025 at the Nicollet Island Inn

For over a decade, Lobster Week has been the unofficial last hurrah of the holiday season at the Nicollet Island Inn, and Larry and Caryl invite you to enjoy a decadent lobster feast at their historic inn. Holiday decorations will remain throughout, set against the backdrop of the inn's elegant dining room, illuminated by crystal chandeliers and with views of the Merriam Street Bridge, now also illuminated and casting a lovely glow. Make your reservations now!

January 12 Fix-It Clinic at American Swedish Institute

At a Fix-It Clinic, volunteers help you dismantle, troubleshoot and repair your small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Learn valuable skills and reduce waste at the same time. Clinics are held from noon to 4pm, with the last items accepted at 3:30pm. Events are first come, first served. No pre-registration required. 

The next clinic is Sunday, January 12, at the American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue S.

A Discussion with Local Artist Alison Hiltner, Recipient of the 2024 International Sculpture Center Innovator Award

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

We Have Merely Been Detected

Minneapolis sculptor Alison Hiltner describes herself as an archeologist of science fiction. For the past ten years, her work has had the underlying theme of connection—how we communicate, feel, exist in harmony, and what causes discord. She was recently bestowed with the 2024 International Sculpture Center’s Innovator Award. The Center noted that “through her work, Hiltner invites audiences into imaginary worlds to discover their own forms of comfort.” We talked to her about how she defines innovation, her creative process and what’s on the horizon for her.

Alison Hiltner  Photo Credit Trina Fernandez, Brian Matthew Hart

Q:  Congratulations on winning the 2024 International Sculpture Center (ISC) Innovator Award. Did you submit an individual sculpture, or was your overall body of work considered for the award?

A:  I submitted three work samples of different pieces and a link to my website, so I’d guess, in this instance, my larger body of work was taken under consideration.

Q:  How do you define innovation in the context of your art? 

A:  That is an excellent question and a very complex one. I can give my answer, but there are many more answers out there, especially since, in a very real way, the most effective art is all about pushing boundaries and innovating. For me, innovation means constantly striving to realize the images, instances, and experiences you want others to experience. Innovation is a way of sharing your dreams with others in a way they, too, can understand. 

Q:  Please describe your creative process and how you approach developing a sculpture.

A:  I love these questions; they make me think. I've been doing this for a long time, and it’s fascinating to realize how much of the process becomes second nature. However, it is important to reflect not only on what you are doing but also on everyone else around you so you don’t miss the essential questions other people are asking, the unique gifts they have, and how you can do that justice or translate this knowledge into an experience that tiptoes around the universal but feels profoundly personal. Aside from that, research and experimentation are my guiding light, plus the genuine joy of making the impossible possible; nothing is ever finished; it's always in process.

Q:  How do you think technology and new media are shaping the field of sculpture?

A:  Art, regardless of discipline or medium, reflects our culture. Technology can be utilized in its creation or a focus in the conceptual conversation. We live in a world where the norm is rapidly evolving technology. Whether adopting technological tools as part of your process or actively avoiding their influence, cultivating new ways of sharing experiences is constantly reshaping our world. This has happened since humans realized they could affect their reality using tools.

Above and below - photos from the 2024 installment of Part of Our Lives Once Removed

Q:  You’re a multimedia artist - how do you select the materials and techniques for your pieces?

A:  I want everything I include in a piece to have a story and a purpose. Still, it can be simple and concrete. I use material to bring someone into a setting, mindset, or experience. Sometimes, though, we are very simply drawn to certain things with no rhyme or reason; that is why repetition is so common in nature and human behavior. We repeat what feels right, at times so instinctual that the only truthful answer can be summed up by it literally feels like something I should use.

Q:  How do you see your work contributing to social change or community engagement? Can you share an example of how your art has sparked dialogue or impacted a community?

A:  Knowing if you are contributing or not is truly a unicorn I will always chase; in other words, it is hard to know - especially when most artists rarely get feedback from a community. IF we are very lucky, individuals will share their experiences, and that has happened to me a few times, primarily with children, to be honest, and I would not want it any other way. One of the best was a little boy telling me he wants to think like me when he grows up, and I can’t think of a better impact than that - passing on how you see the world to new generations.

Q:  What advice would you give other sculptors looking to push boundaries in their work?

A:  Remember that you are limitless. Barriers will always exist, but it is your job to push past them, to deny them, and to prove them wrong. And none of this is easy; it’s probably one of the hardest things you will ever do.

Q:  What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or directions you’re excited about? How may we follow your news?

A:  I have some ideas cooking in my head, but they still need to finish baking. My subsequent work will continue my most recent body of work, Our Lives Once Removed. To sum up, I am actively pursuing conversations with plants. My next scheduled exhibition is in the fall of 2025 at The Practice Gallery in Philadelphia. And people can follow me @alisonhiltner on Instagram, or my website, www.alisonhiltner.com. 

Tugboat Icebreaker on Mississippi River by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

A tugboat icebreaker on the Mississippi clears the ice in early December during reconstruction work on the Stone Arch Bridge. The tugboat went back and forth to clear a path presumably to facilitate moving the construction platform barges to and from the bridge. It is certainly not your typical icebreaker.

-   -   -   -   -   -

View Ric's work at ricrosowphotography.com and PriceKrishnanGallery.com.

Frank Theatre presents Martyna Majok’s SANCTUARY CITY, Jan. 31 – Feb. 23

SANCTUARY CITY runs January 31 – February 23, 2025 at Open Eye Theatre, 506 E 24th Street

Frank Theatre presents Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Martyna Majok’s SANCTUARY CITY, a story that brings light to the sacrifices made by DREAMers who struggle to establish a place for themselves in America, the only country they have ever known as home.

Two teenagers who were brought to America as children become one another’s sanctuaries from the harsh circumstances of post-911 Newark, NJ. When G becomes naturalized, she and B hatch a plan to marry so that he may legally remain in the country and pursue the future he imagines for his life. But as time hurtles on and complications mount, the young friends find that this promise challenges and fractures the closest relationship either has ever had.

What are they willing to risk for a future together in the only country they've known? They navigate the complexities of adolescence through their tender, joyful, and spirited connection — all while living the realities of being undocumented immigrants. Poignant, timely, and highly theatrical, SANCTUARY CITY illuminates the triumphs, challenges, and deep personal resilience of young DREAMers as they fight to establish a place for themselves and each other, and for the right to fully join the world in which they live.

SANCTUARY CITY will be performed by Stephanie Bertumen, Clay Man Soo and Keivin Vang. The production is directed by Frank Artistic Director Wendy Knox, with scenery by Joseph Stanley, lighting by Tony Stoeri, costumes by Kathy Kohl, sound by Dan Dukich, and stage management by Spencer Putney.

Tickets are $30 ($25, students and seniors) Saturday, February 1, 7:30 PM Pay What You Can

-   -   -   -   -   -   -   -

Frank Theatre is a professional theatre company committed to producing unique work which stretches the skills of the artists who create the work while simultaneously challenging the everyday perceptions of the audience through the exploration of ideas and issues of social, political and/or cultural concern. The Twin Cities' based company was founded in 1989 by Artistic Director Wendy Knox. 

December 30 Weekly Update from Mayor Frey Highlights 2024 Achievements

Reprint of the December 30 e-newsletter from Mayor Frey

Mayor Frey Celebrates Landmark Year for Minneapolis

Mayor Jacob Frey is celebrating a historic 2024, a year marked by significant progress across key priority areas including affordable housing, economic inclusion, public safety, and climate work. Thanks to strategic investments, community collaboration, and strong leadership, Minneapolis has emerged as a national leader in several areas. From major affordable housing investments to the best recovery downtown—to the successful recruitment of police officers, the city is stronger than ever.  

“As we close out 2024, we stand on the shoulders of incredible progress, a testament of the hard work and dedication of our entire community,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “This year, we’ve made bold, forward-thinking strides in affordable housing, public safety, climate action, and inclusive economic recovery. Our work has been recognized nationwide, making it clear that Minneapolis is a city that truly works for everyone. As we enter the new year, there's no slowing down. We'll continue to build on this momentum, making sure Minneapolis remains a model of innovation, opportunity, and success.”   

The following are key achievements from the past year: 

Affordable Housing and Homelessness

.

• Minneapolis continues to lead the nation in affordable housing production. Since 2018, we’ve invested more than $365 million in housing and homelessness strategies. This has allowed us to: 
  • Produce deeply affordable housing at 8.5 times the previous rate. 
  • Produce an average of 780 total units a year, more than double the average between 2011 and 2017. 
• A main driver of our housing policy is the Minneapolis 2040 Plan. A critical legal victory this year allowed this visionary plan to move forward, allowing for a diversity of housing units across neighborhoods. Since the plan was approved in 2019, rent costs have gone down 4% (during that same period, they went up 22% nationwide).
• The HRA levy for $5 million in annual funding for capital investments for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority portfolio was reinstated, advancing the work to preserve and improve existing housing units and take advantage of strategic opportunities to create new ones.
• This year, we awarded $18.5 million to 11 different housing projects through our Affordable Housing Trust Fund, helping to increase our affordable housing supply. 
• Stable Homes Stable Schools has connected more than 1,800 families and 5,300 Minneapolis students to housing or housing stability assistance over the past few years.
• Since the pandemic, unsheltered homelessness has decreased by roughly 24% in Minneapolis and we continue to invest millions into homelessness response strategies and initiatives.

Economic Inclusion and Recovery

.

• Over the summer, Mayor Frey announced his Downtown Action Plan, a bold, comprehensive strategy to bring downtown Minneapolis to the next level and build on its success as a vibrant, 24-7 destination for residents, visitors, and businesses.
• Since 2020, the City’s Ownership and Opportunity Fund has awarded $12.6 million to 25 business owners in Minneapolis, helping them buy and own commercial real estate while building generational wealth.
• The City kicked off its Arts and Cultural Vibrant Storefronts Initiative this year, a pilot program that subsidizes rent for local artists and arts organizations in empty storefront space, helping to beautify and revamp the city while supporting local artists.
• With the Upper Harbor Terminal project, we officially connected North Minneapolis to the riverfront. The project will bring acres of green space, improved bike and pedestrian lanes, beautiful landscapes, and recreation for residents to enjoy.
• The City has made major progress at George Floyd Square, putting forward a community-driven vision for the space after community engagement efforts that totaled 17,000 staff hours and over 25,000 interactions with community members. The City will continue moving forward with a redevelopment that honors George Floyd and fosters unity, healing, and growth.
• The City hosted its first-ever Latino Business Work in 2024 and celebrated its fourth-annual Black Business Week.
• The City named its first-ever poet laureate this year. Heid E. Erdrich helped connect the community through the art of poetry while hosting educational events throughout the year. 
• Other projects that have moved forward or been completed this year include:
  • V3 Center.
  • Hennepin Ave. S reconstruction.
  • New Nicollet Redevelopment project.

Climate Action and Public Health

.

• This year was the first full year of Mayor Frey’s Climate Legacy Initiative (CLI)—an innovative plan to fund the City’s accelerated, equitable, and aggressive climate goals over the next 10 years. Our goal is for Minneapolis to significantly reduce climate pollution by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050.
  • Of the $10 million in ongoing CLI funding, $4.7 million went toward weatherizing all homes in Minneapolis, $1.4 million in workforce training, and $850,000 in the City’s tree canopy program.
• The City has saved residents and businesses $160 million in energy costs since 2018 while supporting more than 4,000 low-income residents and businesses.
• We’ve doubled the number of trees planted, invested in green jobs, supported rapid transit, and added more infrastructure for electric vehicles across the City, welcoming our 100th EV to the fleet.
• The City has achieved 100% of its renewable goals for City-owned buildings, and we will be expanding to city-wide buildings by 2030.
• Mayor Frey spearheaded the municipal consent process for the City of Minneapolis for the Blue Line Light Rail Transit Extension, ensuring that: 
  • An additional stop will be constructed to serve residents and businesses near the intersection of Washington and Broadway avenues.
  • Anti-displacement measures from the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County will ensure the communities and neighborhoods surrounding the corridor thrive before, during, and after construction.
  • We are collaborating with the City of Robbinsdale, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, North Memorial Hospital, and surrounding neighbors to plan the Lowry Ave. Station.
• The mayor helped unveil a new Narcan vending machine and the Mobile Medical Unit—both aimed at bridging healthcare gaps and providing support and care to people who need it the most when they need it the most.
• With a $3.5 million annual investment in our Lead and Healthy Homes program, Minneapolis is on track to become the first city in the nation to end childhood lead poisoning. From 2022 to 2024, the program inspected more than 750 homes for lead paint.  
• The City is in the process of upgrading the North Transfer Station to allow residents to more easily recycle large and hard-to-recycle items, preventing thousands of pounds of waste from going to a landfill.
• Minneapolis is replacing aging lead water service lines at no cost to homeowners, thanks to state and federal funds. In 2024, the City replaced around 400 lines, and we plan to replace 1,000 in 2025.

Community Safety and Police Reform

.

• A historic police contract was signed in June, providing a nearly 22% raise for officers and establishing significant reforms.
• Police applications are up 45% from this time last year, thanks in large part to the City’s recruitment campaign— “Imagine Yourself”—and boots-on-the-ground efforts from the Minneapolis Police Department.
• The City continues to implement and build out reforms under the settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and selected ELEFA as the independent evaluator to oversee reform work and compliance.
• The City is in the process of building its first-ever Southside Community Safety Center, which will open early in 2026. This new space will bring together a multitude of safety resources under one roof, including police, violence prevention initiatives, and mental-health resources.
• The Lake Street Safety Center opened its doors in early November, providing a temporary space for safety services to collaborate.
• The Behavioral Crisis Response team continued to provide 24/7 culturally responsive services across the city, and the mayor is proud to support their work with a $5.9 million annual investment.
• The first off-campus safety center opened at the University of Minnesota, providing safety services for students and families along with rooms for studying and safety classes.

Downtown Revitalization

.

• Downtown Minneapolis is leading the nation in downtown recovery, with activity surging 45% since 2023.
• The city hosted more than 1,800 events downtown this summer, including the USA Olympic Gymnastics trials, Taste of Minnesota, and Twin Cities Pride, and it marked the best season for hotels since 2019.
• Close to 70% of downtown employees are working in person at least once a week, and more than 450 retail stores and restaurants are open.
• The mayor signed an ordinance in the fall making it easier to convert unused office space into residential units.

Good Governance

.

• The City of Minneapolis was recognized by UNICEF as the second “Child Friendly City” in the nation—a recognition of our support and inclusion of young people.
• The City was also named the first "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” organization in Minnesota for our commitment to supporting veteran employees and their families.
• For a second year in a row, the City earned a AAA credit rating, which is the highest rating possible. This rating enables the City to fund projects, save taxpayer dollars, and ensure Minneapolis remains a thriving economic center.
• Over the summer, the City completed construction on the Central City Tunnel downtown, one of the largest Public Works projects in recent history. The stormwater tunnel lowers the risk of flooding and will keep Minneapolis safer for years to come.
• The City was awarded a federal Bridge Improvement Program grant of $34 million to rebuild the Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha Creek, making the bridge safer for all that use it.  
• New department leadership:  
  • Michelle Phillips: Director of the Civil Rights Department.
  • Tim Sexton: Director of the Public Works Department. 
  • Rachel Sayre: Director of the Emergency Management Department.
• In 2024, Minneapolis was recognized with the following accolades:
  • Happiest city in the country.
  • Best city for recent college grads.
  • Best city for retirees.
  • Top five city for accessibility.
  • Best parks and bikes systems.  

Thank you for an incredible 2024! 

Pritzker Hageman to Host January 16 Community Blood Drive with American Red Cross at Machine Shop

Pritzker Hageman Red Cross Blood Drive at Machine Shop

Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 10:00a - 4:00p

Machine Shop, 300 2nd Street SE

Schedule an Appointment: pritzlaw.us/donateblood

 

Bucolic Topographies by Lisa Truax, a Kolman & Reeb Gallery Project Space Exhibition, opens January 11

January 11 – March 1, 2025

 Artist Reception: January 18, 2025,  6:00–8:00p

Artist Talk: February 15, 2025, 2:00–3:30p

Kolman & Reeb Gallery is pleased to present its next Project Space grantee exhibition, Bucolic Topographies, by Lisa Truax. With her abstract, wall-based ceramic pieces, Truax explores the intersections of nature and human influence to create a sense of connection with our natural world, asking us to examine our relationship with innate tendencies to seek connection with nature and other life forms.

Maintaining a studio in the Mississippi Bluff River Valley just outside of Winona, Truax is constantly collecting locally sourced items. These materials and the processes used to incorporate them are important conceptual factors in her work. Truax achieves a unique synthesis by blending traditional ceramic ingredients with natural elements like granite, clay, and sand from the region, along with recycled items such as glass, metal, and waste glaze. These components transform during the firing process, melting, flowing, and fusing in surprising ways. Her creations evoke abstract representations of landscapes, caves, bodies of water, and even microscopic life forms, reflecting the intricate interplay between nature and human influence.

Continuing with the modular format found in past shows, Truax builds a cohesive body of work in this exhibition that explores our evolutionary history and the tendency to seek connection to our natural environment. Because of the resources provided by her Kolman & Reeb Project Space Grant, Truax’s techniques significantly increased in complexity. By building layers, creating glaze tests, and using traditional methods to expand her palette, Truax uses surface textures and colors in new and complex ways.

Per Anita Sue Kolman, Kolman & Reeb Gallery co-founder and co-partner, “Lisa’s show incorporates individual pieces to create a whole. What’s great about this approach is how these stand-alone pieces can be shown as individual works or as stunning, larger installations. Jodi and I are excited to have Lisa's unique approach to ceramics in the gallery.”

Jodi Reeb, gallery curator, and co-partner, added, “Lisa’s show is more like an overall installation created by an array of individual pieces. Deeply inspired by her local environment, Lisa expands on and advances her work using soda ash firing techniques and found materials such as clay and soil, which create impressive color combinations. I’m excited to see how visitors respond to her dimensional ceramic wall sculptures.”

Lisa Truax is a ceramic artist who has exhibited regionally and nationally in group and solo exhibitions, including the Northern Clay Center and the American Swedish Institute. She was an Artist in Residence at Isle Royale National Park in 2022 and has work in the collections of hospital facilities in Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. Maintaining a studio in Pickwick, Minnesota in the Mississippi bluff country, Lisa works as an artist and educator. She holds an MFA in Ceramics from Michigan State University and a BFA from Carthage College.

Kolman & Reeb Gallery is in Studio 395, Northrup King Building at 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

For more information, visit: kolmanreebgallery.com or call 612-385-4239.

2024 Minneapolis Tourism Highlights: A Year-in-Review from Meet Minneapolis

Via a December 26 e-announcement from Meet Minneapolis:

As 2024 draws to a close, Minneapolis celebrates a tourism year marked by exciting events, significant milestones, record-breaking numbers and an ever-growing reputation as a premier travel destination. Meet Minneapolis shared 10 highlights to recap a memorable year for the city’s tourism and hospitality industry: 

1.  Increase in Hotel Room Demand Continues

With strong convention activity, several marquee events and increased business and leisure travel in 2024, Minneapolis hotels recorded their strongest year since 2019, setting several records along the way:

• 2 million+ total hotel rooms sold – most since 2019
• All-time monthly hotel room revenue record: $43.7 million (October)
• All-time weekly hotel room revenue record: $12.5 million (July 14-20)
• 223,430 hotel rooms sold in August – most since August 2019 (240,980)
• 59,590 hotel rooms sold on March 3-9 – most ever in a week
• 70.2% hotel occupancy in August – highest monthly rate since October 2019 (75.4%)
• 82.9% hotel occupancy on March 3-9 – highest weekly rate since Oct. 6-12, 2019 (83.1%)
• 97.7% hotel occupancy on May 7 – highest daily rate since Oct. 12, 2019 (98.0%) 

2.  Physicists & Hoops Fans Drive Mpls Hotels to New Heights

With the American Physical Society March Meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) and the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center, Minneapolis hotels recorded their strongest week ever in terms of hotel rooms sold (59,590, March 3-9). Also worthy of mentions:

• Minneapolis became the first city to host both the Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments in the same year.
• Combined attendance for the two tournaments was more than 220,000, highlighted by the first sellout of the women’s tournament in the 31-year history of the event.    

3.  Minneapolis Becomes Gymnastics City USA

From June 21-30, downtown Minneapolis was transformed into Gymnastics City USA as it hosted four of the sport’s most prestigious events, highlighted by the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. From the several events held at the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) and fan interaction areas like Flip Zone and Promenade du Nord to Target Center, where fans watched the country’s best artistic gymnasts vie for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, more than 200,000 visitors came to downtown Minneapolis for one or more Gymnastics City USA events. 

4.  “Bring Ya Ass” – Timberwolves Playoff Run and More

Three words became a viral sensation when Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards told NBA analyst Charles Barkley to "bring ya ass" to Minnesota during the team's electrifying run to the NBA Western Conference Finals. But it wasn’t just sellout crowds at Target Center that made sports headlines in 2024:

• In February, the Stifel Loppet Cup brought the World Cup to Theodore Wirth Park. The event drew 40,000 fans to watch elite cross-country ski athletes, including Minnesota's own Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins.
• The MCC welcomed nearly 87,000 players, coaches and fans for multi-day youth volleyball tournaments hosted by Northern Lights Volleyball and North Country Region Volleyball, further cementing Minneapolis as a volleyball hub.

5.  Major Conventions & Large Public Events

The MCC, U.S. Bank Stadium and other downtown venues hosted hundreds of major conventions and large public events, resulting in significant economic impact for the city, thanks to the local tourism and hospitality industry. For examples include:

• Groups holding large-scale conventions in Minneapolis included Herbalife International of America (attendance: 18,000), American Physical Society (12,785), Minnesota Music Educators Association (12,600), American Public Health Association (10,450), American Cleanpower Association (7,440), and GALA Choruses (7,000).
• The public events with the highest attendance at the MCC included the Twin Cities Auto Show (attendance: 49,500), Minneapolis Home & Garden Show (36,415), Twin Cities Con (35,110), Minneapolis Boat Show (26,130), and The Ultimate RV Show (21,840). 

6.  Rock & Roll (and Country, too)

Minneapolis hosted an electrifying lineup of concerts in 2024 at a wide variety of venues. In addition to live-music stalwarts like First Avenue, the Armory and the Dakota Jazz Club, several mega concert tours took over the city.

• U.S. Bank Stadium was filled with country music fans singing along to Chris Stapleton (April), Kenny Chesney (May), Morgan Wallen (June) and Zach Bryan (August).    
• One long weekend in particular – August 16-19 – saw 12 bands play at four concerts for a major rock n’ roll weekend in Minneapolis:  Metallica/Pantera/Mammoth WVH/Five Finger Death Punch/Ice Nine Kills, Aug. 16/18, U.S. Bank Stadium; Green Day/Smashing Pumpkins/Rancid/Linda Lindas, Aug. 17, Target Field; Def Leppard/Journey/Steve Miller Band, Aug. 19, Target Field.

7.  Arts, Theater and even more Music

Minneapolis boasts countless museums, galleries, theaters and music venues, offering visitors a world of choice to experience the city’s thriving arts, culture and music scene. Following are some of the highlights from a year full of events and exhibitions:

• The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) presented a new exhibition of more than 50 documentary photographs by renowned photographer Gordon Parks and debuted a new permanent Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room with than 200 gilt-bronze sculptures, paintings, silk hangings and carpets.
• The Great Northern festival returned with 50+ events celebrating arts, food, culture and climate along with a 100-foot ice bar.
• Hennepin Arts welcomed a wide range of performances, highlighted by 2024’s slate of Broadway productions: Funny Girl, Mamma Mia!, Clue, The Lion King, MJ the Musical, Back to the Future, Some Like It Hot, Les Misérables, and The Book of Mormon.
• The Tony Award-winning Guthrie Theater presented an epic three-part theatrical event, “A Brittle Glory, William Shakespeare’s History Cycle,” a rare undertaking produced at this scale.   
• In May, the Walker Art Center presented “Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody,” an exhibition of more than 100 works and rarely seen archival materials from the 1980s art star.
• Minneapolis marked the 40th anniversary of Prince’s “Purple Rain” with concerts, exhibits, panel discussions, and a high-definition screening at Paisley Park. 

8.  Showcasing the Minneapolis Cultural Districts

To highlight the city’s designated Cultural Districts, Meet Minneapolis partnered with designer Jesús Li in 2024 to create a map and a series of illustrated icons. These visuals showcase each district’s proximity to landmarks and distinct identity, blending cultural symbols, local narratives, and notable sites. The map encourages exploration and fosters a deeper appreciation for Minneapolis’ culturally rich and diverse communities.

9.  Getting Here Gets Easier

Getting to Minneapolis has never been easier for travelers with the addition of new routes at the award-winning Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and a popular new railway service:

• In April, Aer Lingus resumed nonstop service between MSP and Dublin (DUB).
• In May, Delta Air Lines added seasonal service between MSP and DUB.  And in October, Delta announced that it would launch its first-ever nonstop route between MSP and Copenhagen (CPH) starting in May 2025
• In June, Lufthansa became MSP’s 18th airline when it launched year-round service between MSP and Frankfurt (FRA). In May 2025, Discover Airlines – Lufthansa’s leisure subsidiary – will take over the route with Lufthansa planning to resume operation of the route in 2026.
• Finally, a new passenger train began in 2024 as Amtrak’s Borealis began twice-daily service in May between Chicago and the Twin Cities. 

10. Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame Experience

Since Black Friday, more than 9,300 visitors (through Dec. 24) have enjoyed the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame Experience – a free pop-up exhibit at The Dayton’s Project celebrating the many individuals, teams and key moments in our state’s sports legacy. Featuring a pictorial history of Minnesota’s history on the field, diamond, court, ice and beyond, the exhibit has received outstanding reviews with more than 94% of attendees reporting a positive experience. The temporary attraction is open through December 28.

Participate in the 10,000 Families Study

Excerpt from the December 23 City of Minneaplis e-newsletter:

The 10,000 Families Study (10KFS) is a study of family health in Minnesota looking to understand the influences of genetics lifestyle, and environment on health and illness. At least two family members are needed to participate in this study. Participants can earn gift cards for taking part.

Learn about the steps for applying and how to sign up

Meet Roshan Ganu, the Latest Artist to be Featured in Mia’s Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program

Article by Becky Fillinger

Do you need a break from the holiday messaging and imagery? Here’s the answer: Roshan Ganu’s work, तराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine, is now on display in Mia’s Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, and runs through February 23, 2025. Her dreamy multi-media pieces transform the 2500 sf U.S. Bank Gallery into an "enchanting nighttime realm." We talked to Roshan about the meaning – to her – of the narratives in the show, her creative process and how you may be in touch to share your own reactions to the exhibition. 

Q:  Can you tell us about the symbolism and narratives in रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine?

A:  The symbols in रातराणी are derived from my everyday life in Goa, but memorialized through my lens as a foreigner in Minneapolis. They are portrayed as a combination of memory and lived bodily experience, through video, ceramic work and paintings. रातराणी (pronounced Raat-raani) is a Marathi word for The Night Blooming Jasmine, which literally translates to Queen of the Night. For me, the night is liberation. It is the time when I come into my truest self, a poetic absurdity. This exhibition is an interpretation of this idea through cultural symbols of the Night, such as Narkasur, a demon who is burned in effigy the night before Diwali, the Bodgeshwar Fair, and the Night Blooming Jasmine. 

Q:  How was it to be selected to be part of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP)?

A:  It was amazing! I am so happy to be a part of a legacy of artists who have shown their work in this gallery. Since I moved to Minneapolis 6 years ago, I have followed the MAEP program as a pivotal next step in a Minnesota artist’s career. Seizing this opportunity, I traveled back to ground zero, my hometown Goa, to create a portion of the work. The process has been illuminating, educational and empowering, and I look forward to experiencing it with the Mia audience. 

Q:  Please tell us about your creative process. Do you follow a structured routine or is your process more spontaneous?

A:  I think it is a mix of both. It is important for me to be disciplined and committed to the process. But at the same time, I am dreamy and slow. So, I factor in the dreamy and slowness into the schedule. I really enjoy spontaneity, but I feel like it is important to set myself up for spontaneity to be effective, so that it does not become meaningless. A large part of my process is creating an atmosphere for the process through intense research, throwing myself open to experiences, travel, making physical and mental space, buying equipment, sourcing tools, etc.

Above and below - Installation views of Roshan Ganu: रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine at Mia, on display now through February 23, 2025. Photo Credit: Charles Walbridge, Minneapolis Institute of Art

Q:  How do your personal experiences or cultural background influence your work?

A:  In this regard, I am no different than any other artist. We feel a lot. There is a depth of feeling, experience and a desire to create meaning from what we see and feel. For me, personal experience and cultural background contributes to this Well of Wisdom. It is a place I go to fetch my nurturing water. I also have a responsibility towards this Well, to use it sustainably and let it rest when it is running dry. This is when I let go of Art and venture into the world as a mundane person, for as long as it takes to guide me back into the studio. 

Q:  What message or emotion do you hope viewers take away from रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine?

A:  I invite viewers to explore the space by positioning themselves in different parts of the gallery. By looking into the mirrors, you can curate your own unique compositions of the elements in the show, deriving meaning that is unique to you. I invite everyone to slow down, contemplate the visuals and spend time with the labels to find their own connections with the stories. We all have a relationship with the Night, what is that relationship for you? What would you do if the Night was not off-limits?

Q:  How may we follow your career?

A:  I am most active on my Instagram page, where I post about my events, exhibitions and other updates. My handle is @blingalingthoughts. You can get in touch with me through an Insta message, I would love to hear from you, especially if the work left an impression. My website, http://www.roshanganu.com/, is where you can find some of my past work.

Minnesota Frost Players to Make Appearance at Theatre in the Round's Hocky Play, Glory, on January 24

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) is presenting Glory by Tracey Power which tells the true story of one of Canada’s most successful hockey teams – the Preston Rivulettes, who won four Dominion Women’s Hockey Championships and 10 Ontario Titles from 1931 to 1940.

To celebrate the current and historical significance of women’s hockey, two Minnesota Frost players will be attending the production on January 24. Taylor Heise (2024 Walter Cup Playoff MVP) and Grace Zumwinkle (2024 PWHL Rookie of the Year) will be appearing at the theatre before the performance to greet fans. 

As the fourth production in Theatre in the Round’s 73rd season, Glory translates hockey to the stage through jazz dance, telling the story of four friends who set out to prove that hockey isn’t just a sport for men. With the Great Depression weighing heavily on the nation and fascism rising in Europe, can they overcome the odds to forge their own path to glory? Full of humor and inspiration, Glory is a thrilling hockey play for the whole family. 

Sean Dooley directs the six-member cast with choreography by Antonia Perez, set design by Keven Lock, costumes by Parker Adams, lighting by Andy Kedl, props by Elliott Van Winkle, and sound design by Abe Gabor. 

Glory runs January 17 to February 9, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm.

*     *    *    *     *    *

Tickets range from $20-29     Box Office: 612-333-3010

Content Warning: Mild swearing, moments of crude humor, and sports-related violence. Ages 10+

 *    *    *     *    *    *

Theatre in the Round’s facilities are accessible for audience members using wheelchairs. Assisted Listening and captioning devices are available at any performance. An Audio-Described performance is scheduled for Sunday, February 2 at 2pm. For questions about access services, please email tix@theatreintheround.org or call the box office at 612-333-3010.

Wintertime Auto Theft Crime Prevention Tips from the MPD 1st Precinct