Treasures from the Stacks

The Friends of the Minneapolis Central Library are hosting an opportunity to see rare and historic items at a special behind the scenes tour and fund-raising event on May 17.  The proceeds from the event will support the Children’s Library initiative on Early Literacy and School Readiness.   Donations will help purchase developmental toys and furniture that foster exploration and fun by creating an interactive environment where children can learn, create and play.

The tour will highlight such items as the Kittleson WWII Collection, the Hoag Mark Twain Collection as well as other one-of-a kind treasures.   A stop in the Children’s Library will also be included for a look at the programs and activities that promote Early Literacy and School Readiness.     

Friday, May 17, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Minneapolis Central Library,  300 Nicollet Mall

Wine & Hors d’oeuvres

Maria Jette and Dan Chouinard

Admission:   $35  -  Respond By May 1

For registration information, contact minneapoliscentral@supporthclib.org

Izzy's Ice Cream Construction Update [Photo]

From earlier this week:

View full size:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/millcitytimes/8450850896/in/photostream/lightbox/

Vandals Strike Gold Medal Park Sign Again

Vandals mangled the L on the sign this weekend:

This Weekend in Mill City

Above: A recent photo from the Mill City Photo Pool

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District and Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.  Have an event to share?  Contact us...

Friday, December 14

An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill at Mill City Museum

4th Annual Holiday Shindig - Benefitting Open Arms of Minnesota at Aster Cafe

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Keegan's Pub

"Triclosan Derivatives in the Mississippi River Environment" at McKnight Foundation

Holiday Open House at Solar Arts

Fall Honors Recital at MacPhail

Saturday, December 15

Childish Films at Central Library

How'd They do That Workshop at The Guthrie: The Servant of Two Masters

2012 Winter Book Celebration, Lessons for Our Time, at MCBA

An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill at Mill City Museum

The Muppet Christmas Carol at the Guthrie

Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Live Music at Crooked Pint

Court Sports Activity Plan Open House at MPRB

Live Music at Aster Cafe

Tasting Event at Local D'Lish

Children's Book Sale at Central Library Book Store

Ugly Holiday Sweater Bus Pub Crawl

Holiday Open House at Solar Arts

Sunday, December 16

Holiday Open House at Solar Arts

A Walk in the Snow

With the first storm of the winter underway, we put on our big boots and went on a walkabout. 

Tonight - Washington Avenue Redesign Project/ Public Meeting at Open Book

Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: Open Book - Target Performance Hall, 1011 Washington Ave S

Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis are hosting a public meeting for the Washington Avenue Design Concept Project on December 4th, 2012, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., in the Target Performance Hall at the Open Book (1011 Washington Ave South).

For more details download the flyer using the link below:

https://www.box.com/shared/static/ilseghlrpwuck5qzo6ob.pdf

Stonebridge Lofts is new Name for Former Park Vista Condo Project

Jim Stanton of Shamrock Development revealed the new name for the Park Vista condo project in a discussion with me on Friday.

The project, now underway across from Gold Medal Park in the Mill District of Minneapolis, will be called Stonebridge Lofts.

Below - pictures of excavation from last Friday:

New Video - Vote No! the Big Gay Race 2012

Participation tripled this year to 6,000 from 2,000 in 2011.  Mill CIty Times was there to capture the moment.

Reader Photo - Stone Arch Bridge

Reader Tom Carrier took this from his balcony on the Minneapolis Riverfront.  Nice work Tom, thanks for sharing!

"A Minute In Minnesota" Featuring Scenes from the Minneapolis Riverfront

From MinnPost photographer Justin Donais:

Tonight - "Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront"

"Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront” - Central Riverfront Master Planning with the MPRB

When: Monday, September 17, 2012 / 6:30PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Mill City Museum (main floor commons)

Join your neighbors and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board in shaping the future of the Central Riverfront of Minneapolis.  It’s been more than two decades since the last Master Plan for this part of the river was completed.  Learn about potential projects, the planning process, and how local residents can assist in shaping the future:

-- Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Commissioners Anita Tabb, Liz Wielinski and Scott Vreeland will discuss the past, present, and ideas for the future of the Central Riverfront.

-- Andrew Caddock, MPRB Project Manager, will review the Master Planning Process and highlight opportunities for the future at key parks. The end result of this process will be a new Master Plan for the Central Riverfront.

-- “Open Mic”: Engage the MPRB in a question & answer session.

-- Parks that may be impacted include: Boom Island, Father Hennepin Bluffs - Upper & Lower, Mill Ruins Park, Water Works Park (old Fuji Ya site)

All residents, from both sides of the Central Riverfront, are encouraged to attend.

---------------------------------

Co-Hosted by Mill District Neighborhood Association & Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Underwritten by Mill City Times

Crown Hydro Update

Proposed Hydroelectric Plant Developers Continuing Efforts to Avoid Termination of Federal License

By Doug Verdier

On Sept. 5, Crown Hydro’s legal counsel in Washington, D.C. filed a progress report to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) outlining “further engineering and concept analysis of the development of the project within the current licensed project boundaries, and in a location owned by the federal government under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Office.” These efforts are intended to determine “if there were any fatal flaws in the project concept in the new location.”

The primary engineering issues address the feasibility of using the existing tailrace and whether a tailrace tunnel could be constructed from a location under the parking lot next to the lock headwall to a shaft to be constructed with a new outlet below the Stone Arch Bridge. According to the filing, Crown Hydro claims that the Stone Arch bridge footings “are spread footings excavated into the sandstone and may be avoided during the construction.” This statement is intended to address concerns that construction could endanger the structural integrity of the Stone Arch Bridge. Crown’s proposed design called for a new tunnel to be drilled underground between two of the bridge arch supports.

The filing states that Crown is obtaining estimates from contractors for tunnel work and masonry and intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed location. Their intent is to apply for another amendment to the license issued by FERC in 1999, which has been amended several times as the proposed location of the project has shifted.

Crown Hydro’s developers were notified on June 14, 2012 that FERC intended to initiate proceedings to terminate the license for the project “because over 13 years have passed since issuance of the license, the licensee has failed to complete construction of the project as licensed, and its previous filings have failed to show that it can do so in the near future.”

The St. Paul District Corps of Engineers, which controls the lock and dam and area where the new hydro plant powerhouse would be built, noted in March 15, 2012 that “the new alignment [of the project] raises additional concerns” in addition to those previously expressed that need to be addressed.

Download the Crown Hydro Progress Report...

View the Crown Hydro Tracking Page...

Monday Night - "Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront"

"Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront” - Central Riverfront Master Planning with the MPRB

When: Monday, September 17, 2012 / 6:30PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Mill City Museum (main floor commons)

Join your neighbors and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board in shaping the future of the Central Riverfront of Minneapolis.  It’s been more than two decades since the last Master Plan for this part of the river was completed.  Learn about potential projects, the planning process, and how local residents can assist in shaping the future:

-- Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Commissioners Anita Tabb and Liz Wielinski will discuss the past, present, and ideas for the future of the Central Riverfront.

-- Andrew Caddock, MPRB Project Manager, will review the Master Planning Process and highlight opportunities for the future at key parks. The end result of this process will be a new Master Plan for the Central Riverfront.

-- “Open Mic”: Engage the MPRB in a question & answer session.

-- Parks that may be impacted include: Boom Island, Father Hennepin Bluffs - Upper & Lower, Mill Ruins Park, Water Works Park (old Fuji Ya site)

All residents, from both sides of the Central Riverfront, are encouraged to attend.

---------------------------------

Co-Hosted by Mill District Neighborhood Association & Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Underwritten by Mill City Times

This Afternoon at City Hall - Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Public Meeting

Time: 4:30pm

Location: Room 317, City Hall, 350 South Fifth Street

More Info

Agenda Includes:

1. 400 2^nd Street Southeast, St. Anthony Falls Historic District (BZH #27213, Ward 3) (Schaffer)

Continued from the August 7, 2012, Heritage Preservation Commission meeting. Follow up to the Conditions of Approval of the Preservation Plan for the White Grain Elevators and Machine Shop of the Pillsbury A Mill Complex located at 400 2^nd Street Southeast, located within the St. Anthony Falls Historic District.

2. 3045 5^th Avenue South, Chase Residence (BZH #27054, Ward 8) (Smoley)

Landmark designation study for the Laura Chase Residence located at 3045 5^th Avenue South.

3. 413-425 Main Street Southeast, St. Anthony Falls Historic District (BZH #27416, Ward: 3) (Hanauer)

Kelly Doran, with Doran Development LLC, has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness application to allow for a new apartment building at 413-425 Main Street Southeast, Phase II Mill & Main project, located within the St. Anthony Falls Historic District.

Guthrie Theater Features New Mill District Video

The Guthrie Theater is featuring the Mill District Neighborhood Association video on it's website:

http://www.guthrietheater.org/visit/dining_attractions_and_accommodations/local_attractions

Also hosted on YouTube, over 500+ people have already watched this tribute to our neighborhood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBbmCHF2-Y

Thanks again to Peter Zenner for underwriting and producing this gem!

Izzy's Ice Cream Breaks Ground in the Mill District

Construction started yesterday on the new Izzy's Ice Cream Parlor & Headquarters.  Works is scheduled to be completed next summer.  Follow the progress on Mill City Times.

Tonight - Music in the Park at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (East Bank of the Stone Arch Bridge)

Tonights entertainment:  Mankato Symphony Orchestra - With the Maza Kute drum group

What to bring: Blanket or chair, sunblock and bugspray, picnic basket.

Reminders: Watch our facebook or twitter page for weather cancellations of the evening festivities. Post photos on our facebook page of you enjoying the concerts. Support the artists by picking up a CD or other merchandise.

Enjoy Music and Movie combo nights:
Tuesdays at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park
Fridays at the Lake Harriet Bandshell (beginning June 9th).

Questions or comments? Email us at concerts@minneapolisparks.org

Music & Movies in The Parks is produced by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. Enjoy more than 250 FREE concerts and movies in Minneapolis parks this summer!

Tonight - Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills (Preseason Game)

Time:   7:00pm (CST) at the Dome

• TV: NBC KARE - 11
• Radio: KFAN (FM 100.3)

Additional information is available at vikings.com.

Tonight - THE ULTIMATE MASTER OF WORDS! at The Loft

Time: 
6:30pm  Doors open — grab a drink at the bar and a good seat.
7:00pm  The tournament of literary destiny commences.

Location: The Loft at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Join The Loft for this epic tournament of wits and words.

12 contestants concoct fake definitions to bizarre words, 3 judges prognosticate, but YOU decide who is truly THE ULTIMATE MASTER OF WORDS!

Featuring

Emcee: Jeff Kamin

Judges: 
Marianne Combs, Lorna Landvik, and Anatoly Liberman

Contestants: 
Peter Bognanni, Dennis Cass, Chris Cloud, Sierra DeMulder, Sally Franson, Jay Gabler, Martin Kihn, John Munson, Maggie Ryan Sandford, Hersi Shirwa of Poet Nation, Andy Sturdevant, and Emily Weiss

Tickets: $10 ($5 discount for Loft members)

Tickets are available for purchase at the door or online at loft.org/ultimatemaster or by calling Hannah at 612-215-2582.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the literary programs of The Loft Literary Center.

Tonight - Stone Arch Patio Party at The Depot

Party on in the Mill District: