First Resident Moves Into Mill District City Apartments October 25

The Mill District City Apartments onsite sales office opened October 22.  We spoke with leasing agent Dan on Friday evening, and he gave us an update on their fast moving progress. 

The first residents are taking occupancy today, October 25.  A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for November 11, and the fitness center and Living Wall are slated for completion mid-November.

Above, a view of the main entry on Portland Avenue.  The sales office is to the right, directly under the Mill District City Apartments signage. (If you look real close, you can see Dan sitting at his desk.)

New details have been appearing daily on the 2nd Street South side.  Above, the rusted metal trim ties in with the history of the neighborhood.   First floor residents have private entries. 

Above, signage on the corner of Portland and Washington went up last week.  Below, the Living Wall is under construction.  It receives light through a wall of windows overlooking the courtyard.

Mill District City Apartments adheres to the National Association of Home Building "NAHB Green Building Standard".  Below, natural finishings in the lobby are part of the developers commitment to green construction.  Read more on this topic. 

The Plank Road is No More

Our last update on the Plank Road Replacement Project was posted October 11, at which time there was one section of planks yet to be replaced with cement.  

The below pictures were taken while we were out for a stroll this past Friday night.  Although all the planks have now been replaced with cement, the road was not yet open on the Portland side.

  According to an August Star Tribune article, the replacement project was scheduled for completion this October.

American Academy of Neurology HQ Project Clears Final Hurdles

The Minneapolis City Council approved the financing and land sale on Friday, the final steps needed for the global headquarters to be built in the city's Mill District, across the street from the Guthrie Theater.  When completed, 125+ news jobs will move to the neighborhood.  Construction on the 5 story building is slated to begin in early 2011, completed and ready for occupancy in Spring of 2012.

The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest professional association of neuroscience professionals and neurologists, with more than 22,500 members.

Free Saturday Samplings at Mill City Market Grocery & Deli

Visit the Mill City Market Grocery & Deli on Saturday between 10a & 2p and enjoy free samples of fruits, vegatables, cheeses, dips and salsa.

Mill City Market is located at 1020 Washington Ave S.

View the flyer...

This Weekend in Mill City / October 22-24

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis:

Friday, October 22

The Soap Factory's Haunted Basement Open Thursday-Sunday throughout October

Merry Sisters of Fate Reading and Conversation at The Loft

Open Book Family Day

Backstage Tour at the Guthrie

Musical Theater: MEA Camp at the Guthrie

Live Music at the 501 Club

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Saturday, October 23

Washburn A Mill Tour

6th Annual Youth in Music Band Championships at the Dome

Second Story: Marina Budhos, Kirsten Cronn-Mills at The Loft

Family History Fair at Minneapolis Central Library

Discover Saturday: Chemists in the Library at the Mpls Central Library

Halloween Mask Boooooks! at MCBA

Twin Cities Yoga Festival at the Holiday Inn Metrodome

Live Music at the 501 Club

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Weekend Brunch

Saturday

Brunch at Spoonriver

Reservations recommended

10:00am - 2:00pm

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.

Saturday & Sunday

501 Club Hash House Brunch

Coming Soon - the Mill City Fitness Blog

We're excited to launch the Mill City Fitness Blog on November 1.   We've lined up an expert guest blogger, Andrea Austin, who will contribute fitness tips and amazing client success stories.

Andrea is a Certified Master Personal Trainer with 20 years experience, and is a RealRyder instructor at 501SP1N, 501 Washington Avenue South.  Please visit Andrea's website to learn about her background, credentials and innovative approach to fitness.

We're honored to have Andrea on board as a guest blogger! 

Large Turn Out for Fundraiser to Benefit Mill City Farmers Market and Skyway Business Women's Education Fund

On October 14 the Skyway of Minneapolis Business Women sponsored a Fundraiser and Silent Auction to benefit Mill City Farmers Market and the Skyway Business Women's Education Fund.  The event was held at Local D'Lish, 208 North 1st Street. 

This was Skyway of Minneapolis Business Women's 6th Annual Fundraising event, and the first year MCFM was a beneficiary.  Skyway of Minneapolis Business Women, formed in 1989, is one of 14 member organizations within Minnesota Business Women (MBW).

Per Marjorie Hegstrom, Director, Mill City Farmers Market, "We were honored to be part of this lovely evening celebrating women entrepreneurs, especially the many Mill City Farmers Market businesses that are owned by women, and grateful to receive the generous donation from the event proceeds."

Over 20 locally owned vendors were present, with appetizers catered by Zoie Glass of Lucille's Kitchen Garden.  

Above, Amy Bibeau of Beonia Creations Jewelry was one of the vendors at the Fundraiser.  Amy travels extensively to obtain the perfect stones for her rings and other pieces. 

Signs of Mill City

Big Brain Comics

Front door of Big Brain Comics on Washington Ave S in the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Rave reviews for the Soap Factory's Haunted Basement!

We spoke with several groups of people who dared to venture through the Soap Factory's Haunted Basement.  Here's what they had to say:

The Haunted Basement is open through October 31, Thursdays through Sundays.

Downtown Condo Development News

We're posting this link in case you missed Jim Buchta's "Developers Returning to Downtown Condos" article in the Sunday, October 17, Star Tribune.

Mill City Farmers Market Closing Celebration & Fall Harvest

The end of another great season at the Mill City Farmers Market on Saturday.  The weather looks like it will cooperate for the celebration and Fall Harvest event.

This Weekend in Mill City / October 15-17

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis:

Friday, October 15

Huge Free Wine Tastings at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Architecture Tour at the Guthrie

Live Music at the 501 Club

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Saturday, October 16

Huge Free Wine Tastings at Sorella Wine & Spirits

Backstage Tour at the Guthrie

HALLOWEEN TOONS FOR TOTS at the Central Library

MCFM Fall Harvest & Market Closing Celebration!

Family Printmaking: The Woodland Art Style, with Gordon Coons

Live Music at the 501 Club

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Sunday, October 17

Flute Master Class: Paula Gudmundson and Amy Morris at MacPhail

Live Music at the 501 Club

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Vikings vs. Cowboys at the Dome

Weekend Brunch

Saturday

Brunch at Spoonriver

Reservations recommended

10:00am - 2:00pm

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.

Saturday & Sunday

501 Club Hash House Brunch

Pet Park Safety Tips - An Ongoing Series from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM

Our neighborhood is a haven for dog owners, and we thought it would be beneficial to have an ongoing series specifically for them.  This is the second installment of Pet Park Safety Tips from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM.

Aggressive or fearful dogs, and puppies not fully vaccinated should not be taken to dog parks until they are completely socialized to all sizes and behaviors of dogs. Dog parks are not a place to learn socialization.

Small pet companions and large pet companions should be separated, unless the known companion can interact nicely with other pets.

Dr. Sanford is a Veterinarian and Owner/Founder of Minneapolis Veterinary Hospital in the Mill District.   He can be contacted at 612-746-0300 or mplsvet@live.com.

Research at the Red Stag / Happy Hour Tonight

Something from Nothing: The Mystery of Landscape Patterns

Time: 5:30pm

Location:  Red Stag Supper Club

Look out the window of an airplane and you will likely encounter a sight that U of M Geology & Geophysics Professor Chris Paola describes as "something miraculous." Beautiful, striking, and well-organized landscape patterns are one of the great mysteries in nature.  Join us for happy hour as Prof. Paola discusses what scientists are learning about these fascinating formations.

"Research at the Red Stag" is a new science happy hour sponsored by the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics / St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. It is a chance to hear about new and exciting work over beer, in a cool bar.  Come talk with the experts about their efforts to address some of the Earth's most pressing problems.  NCED's Research at the Red Stag brings the wonders of science to happy hour.

Charlize Theron in the Mill District - Exclusive Mill City Times Photos

As promised yesterday,  Charlize Theron leaving the aloft hotel and Mini Cooper auto's appearing in the movie Young Adult.

Photos taken from, and in front of, the Bridgewater Lofts in the Mill District of Minneapolis. 

Zombies Invade the Mill District

The 6th Annual Minneapolis Zombie Pub Crawl took place Saturday, and we were there.  Kim and I took over 540 photos and 220 videos of the invasion.  We had a blast, hanging out in front of Maxwell's for several hours.  Here's the last video of the night - we'll be posting our favorites on the new Zombie blog we set up.

Coming Tomorrow - Photos of Charlize Theron in the Mill District - Mill City Times Exclusive

As mentioned in the Star Tribune last week, Charlize Theron was in town filming Young Adult, a black comedy scheduled for release in the fall of 2011.  Thanks to a tip from a local worker, we found out she was staying at the aloft hotel on Washington Ave S in the Mill District.  We'll publish photos of our celebrity sighting, as well as 3 identical Mini Cooper automobiles that evidently play a role in the film.

Progress on the Plank Road Replacement Project

These shots were taken Thursday, October 7:

Mill District residents who access parking via West River Road are now entering from the 11th Avenue South entrance and driving on new cement. 

Access is no longer available from the Portland Avenue entrance while the final section is being replaced.

This Weekend in Mill City / October 08-10

Heads up:  We're being invaded by Zombies Saturday afternoon.  They'll be converging on the 501 Club and terrifying passersby as they stagger down Washington Avenue, stopping at Grumpy's and Maxwell's on their way to the 7 corners bars.

Other events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis:

Friday, October 08

Midwest Photo Safari "Minneapolis Nights" on the Heritage Trail

The Soap Factory's Haunted Basement Open Thursday-Sunday throughout October

Live Music at the 501 Club

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Saturday, October 9

6th Annual Zombie Pub Crawl

National Fire Prevention Week Celebration

'The Fresh Girl's Guide to Easy Canning and Preserving'

When Last On The Mountain Reading at The Loft

Saturday - Washburn A Mill Tour

Live Music at the 501 Club

Live Music at the Aster Cafe

Live Music at Grumpy's

Weekend Brunch

Saturday

Brunch at Spoonriver

Reservations recommended

10:00am - 2:00pm

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.

Saturday & Sunday

501 Club Hash House Brunch

Father Hennepin Bluffs Regional Park East Falls Feasibility Study

The Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation hosted an Open House at Pracna's on Main October 5 to present ideas for achieving their vision: To create a more vital, world-class riverfront destination that will honor our past and welcome visitors to generations to come.

Jeff Lee of Barr Engineering presented excerpts from the Feasibility Study his firm is currently composing. The Feasibility Study is a prerequisite to obtaining funding for the project. It addresses issues such as sustainability, aesthetics, environmental benefits, and improving visitors experience.  A component of the project is to restore the East Falls. Below are artists' renderings of what two restored water falls might look like:

These falls are referred to as the Northern Limestone Ledge and Southern Limestone Ledge, both of which are in the park area below the Father Hennepin Bluff pavilion.

The East Falls Team is comprised of individuals from 14 organizations.   A follow up public meeting is planned for early December.  When the date, time and location are finalized, we'll post it under the Event section.