December 16, 2011, Friday - Live Music at Crooked Pint Ale House

Time: 10:00pm  $5 Cover

Location: Crooked Pint Ale House, 501 Washington Avenue South

Tonight:  Hookers $ Blow

December 16, 2011, Friday - Tracking Minnesota’s Clean Water Legacy Effectiveness Meeting at McKnight Foundation

Time: 8:00am - 9:00am

Location:  McKnight Foundation, 710 Second Street South, Suite 400

Minnesotans want to know if our water is getting cleaner and how Clean Water Funds are being spent. These questions and many others are being addressed by a multi-agency team whose goal is to develop a clean water tracking framework that will help clarify the connections between funds invested, actions taken and clean water outcomes achieved.

The heart of the Framework is a suite of 36 quantifiable performance measures that tell a cohesive, meaningful story about Minnesota's water bodies, watershed and groundwater health and the actions of agencies and partners working to restore and protect Minnesota's waters. This presentation by Andy Holdsworth (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) and Suzanne Hanson (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) will describe the Framework and the related “Clean Water Performance Report,” to be released in February 2012.

Transit and parking information.  Light breakfast provided. Free.   RSVP to lark_weller@nps.gov.  The Mississippi River Forum is made possible by the generous support of the Mississippi River Fund and the McKnight Foundation.

December 15, 2011, Thursday - Community Meeting: Options for the Former Fuji-Ya Restaurant Site

Time:  6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street

Historic Central Riverfront site reinvention explored - Public invited to community meeting.

The ideas will flow when the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board invite the public to participate in a “designer-ask” community meeting about a potential new park along the city’s Central Riverfront.  Dubbed “Waterworks” (former Fuji-Ya Restaurant site) because the city’s first water supply and fire fighting pumping station were located there in the 19th Century, the site encompasses Minneapolis Park Board-owned land between Portland Avenue South and the Third Avenue Bridge, and between First Street South and the Mississippi River.

This community meeting is the first step in a preliminary feasibility study that will explore options for what could be a significant new park destination in downtown Minneapolis.  The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is leading the project in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, for which it is also a forerunner to the Central Riverfront Regional Park Update master planning process.

December 15, 2011, Thursday - Taste Twin Cities Downtown Minneapolis Skyway Tour

Time: 2:30pm

Location: 800 LaSalle Plaza (On Hennepin Avenue between 8th & 9th)

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours

While it's chilly outside, join us as we weave our way through the cozy corners of downtown Minneapolis skyways on a food adventure.  We will stroll through the "Broadway" Theatre District and enjoy VIP service as we visit some the newest and hottest award winning restaurant downtown has to offer.  The tour includes seeing the Minneapolis skyscraper that was modeled after the Washington Monument and visiting the famous Statue of Mary Richards tossing her hat.  Along the way we will also visit quaint eateries that have pride in local ownership; including a favorite since 1932.  You will participate in tea sampling, and learn the secrets behind the great food you are enjoying.  You'll leave the tour with a tasty experience of some of the best food finds Minneapolis has to offer all while learning history of downtown and soaking in the local culture.

Register.

December 14, 2011, Wednesday - A SIP OF SCIENCE at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main Street
 
Future Earth: Thriving on a Human-dominated Planet

Collectively all seven billion of us now rival natural processes in modifying the Earth.  We live in a world being thoroughly reconfigured by human activity.  As humans we have set in motion global changes that will reverberate for thousands of years.  A diverse portfolio of technologic, economic, social and political innovations is needed for people to thrive on a human-dominated planet.  Earth fortunately now is home to the wealthiest, healthiest, best educated, and most innovative, creative and interconnected cohort of humans in history.

What is the future we wish to create and live in?  Join Patrick Hamilton in an interactive exploration of the challenges and opportunities of living on a human-dominated planet.

About Pat:

Currently, Patrick serves as the Director of Global Change Initiatives at the Science Museum of Minnesota and principle investigator for the museum's Future Earth exhibit.  He started at the Science Museum of Minnesota soon after graduating with his masters in geography in the early 1980s.  He is the lead on several initiatives, including the Science on a Sphere Solutions exhibit, the Big Back Yard, and Earthscapes, working and partnering with groups such as University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment, Columbia University, NCED, and NASA.  
 
A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum in which researchers pair with musicians, artists and storytellers to put science in context through storytelling.

December 13, 2011, Tuesday - DMNA Board Meeting at Central Library

Time: 6:00pm

Location:  Central Library, Room N-202, 300 Nicollet Mall

Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association

Agenda

December 13, 2011, Tuesday - Books & Bars Series at Aster Cafe

Times: 

Social - 6:00pm dinner/drink specials
Discussion - 7:00pm-8:30pm

Location: Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main Street

Author:  Book - Freedom, Author – Jonathan Franzen

Books & Bars isn’t your mother’s book club. We provide a unique atmosphere for a lively discussion of interesting authors, fun people, good food and drinks.

Reservations - 612-379-3138

December 12, 2011, Monday - "No One is Alone" Interlude Winter Concert at MacPhail

Time: 7:00pm

Location: MacPhail Center for Music, 501 2nd Street South

Come enjoy the works of great writing duos Kander & Ebb, Bock & Harnick, Schmidt & Jones, Gilbert & Sullivan, plus works by Rossini, Carlisle Floyd, Stephen Sondheim and others.

Donations gladly accepted in support of MacPhail's Financial Aid Program.  Your gift is 100% tax-deductible.

December 11, 2011, Sunday - An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill at Mill City Museum

Times: 6:00pm, 7:00pm and 8:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill

Dates: December 2, 9, 10, 11

This unique theatrical event performed in the museum's Flour Tower elevator ride, features "The Ghost of Mill City Past" guiding an intimate look at the 1920 Washburn Crosby holiday party. The script is based on real stories taken from the pages of the company's employee newspaper. Scenes unfold on different floors of the mill and visitors will meet different characters along the way. Witness the rocky romance of Celia and Otto; meet marketing mastermind Benjamin S. Bull; experience the awesome sweeping power of Bill Smith; and learn the secret origin of the Washburn Crosby marketing slogan, "Eventually-Why Not Now?" This piece is written by playwright Joseph Scrimshaw, directed by Laura Salveson, and stars a cast of professional Twin Cities' actors. Not recommended for children under the age of 8.

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 for children ages 6-17 and MHS members; $2 off adult admission with Fringe Festival button.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555

December 11, 2011, Sunday - Aebleskiver Fun Class at Local D'Lish

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: Local D'Lish, 208 N 1st Street

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the Aebleskiver and have fun with a variety of ingredients.

Reservations

Decmeber 11, 2011, Sunday - French Christmas Boutique at Our Lady of Lourdes

Time:  9:00am – 3:00pm

Location:  Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1 Lourdes Place

Come to Our Lady of Lourdes’ French Christmas Boutique and enjoy their French Tourtiéres (meat pies) while you shop their French Boutique (items from Paris, fleur-de-lis jewelry and more), Christmas Village, Catholic Louvre (medals, books, statues) and French Bakery. Try for their high quality raffle at Gordy's Raffle Boutique and auction items (three Llrado figures included and quality saint statues and items straight from Paris). To restore your energy, indulge in their warm, home-made Caramel Rolls. Then hit their Dollar Store for great deals and find a perfect gift with a local flavor in their General / Made in MN Boutique.

When you're ready to go home, buy a whole French Tourtiéres to bring home! Silent Auction closes at 1:00pm on Sunday, with the announcement of the winners at approximately 1:30pm. The Gordy's Raffle drawing will be at 1:15pm on Sunday.

December 10, 2011, Saturday - Raptors of Minnesota at Central Library

Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Location: Children's Library, Central Library
 
K-grade 6. Meet an owl, hawk, falcon and very special guest - a bald eagle - from the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center. Learn about the different types of raptors, their characteristics, identification, diets and habitats.

December 10, 2011, Saturday - History Day Hullabaloo at Central Library

Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm

Location: Room N-361, Central Library
 
Grades 6-12. Get personalized help with narrowing your topic, developing your paper, identifying primary resources and finding the best library materials. Librarians, Minnesota History Day staff and mentors from the University of Minnesota will help you make sense of your project. Plenty of time for questions.

Presented in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society.

December 10, 2011, Saturday - Printing! Printing! Printing! at MCBA

Time:  10:00am - Noon

Location: Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Avenue South

For families with children ages 2+

Sit in a circle for Shape Spotters by Megan E. Bryant and print pictures with geometric shapes. Print patterns with crazy objects... print recipe cards with fruits and vegetables... print bookmarks with an alphabet stamp you make yourself... and print with a stamp that rolls all the way down the table! Dress for mess.

Join Ellen Ferrari for Saturday mornings of family book arts fun! Each workshop starts off with a story and game to warm up your creativity and then dives into a book arts project. Workshops accommodate a range of developmental levels so that adults and children (or) adult/child teams may choose to work together or side-by-side. Each participant receives supplies to use during the workshop, but may choose to bring one set home if working with his or her partner. Ellen will provide older children with suggestions for extending their learning.

$30 ($27 members) adult/child pair, $15 ($14) each additional participant

December 10, 2011, Satuday - Live Music at Crooked Pint Ale House

Time: 10:00pm  $5 Cover

Location: Crooked Pint Ale House, 501 Washington Avenue South

Tonight: Tex Pistols

December 10, 2011, Saturday - An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill at Mill City Museum

Times: 6:00pm, 7:00pm and 8:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill

Dates: December 2, 9, 10, 11

This unique theatrical event performed in the museum's Flour Tower elevator ride, features "The Ghost of Mill City Past" guiding an intimate look at the 1920 Washburn Crosby holiday party. The script is based on real stories taken from the pages of the company's employee newspaper. Scenes unfold on different floors of the mill and visitors will meet different characters along the way. Witness the rocky romance of Celia and Otto; meet marketing mastermind Benjamin S. Bull; experience the awesome sweeping power of Bill Smith; and learn the secret origin of the Washburn Crosby marketing slogan, "Eventually-Why Not Now?" This piece is written by playwright Joseph Scrimshaw, directed by Laura Salveson, and stars a cast of professional Twin Cities' actors. Not recommended for children under the age of 8.

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 for children ages 6-17 and MHS members; $2 off adult admission with Fringe Festival button.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555

December 10, 2011, Saturday - Guthrie's How'd They do That Workshop: Charley's Aunt

Time: 9:00am

Location:  McGuire Proscenium Stage, Guthrie Theater, 818 Second Street South

What was the inspiration for the set? Was the play rewritten in rehearsals? Aren't those wigs itchy? Through these eye-opening workshops, you can learn how the Guthrie's artists and staff create a production - from early development and designs to rehearsal, costume fittings and staging of the play.

How'd They Do That Workshops take place on Saturday mornings (unless otherwise noted).

December 10, 2011, Saturday - Kevin Kling Book Release Party at MCBA

Time: Reception begins at 6:00pm; reading at 7:30pm

Location:  Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Avenue South

Official release & publication party Saturday,

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is proud to announce the 2011 Winter Book, Come and Get It by beloved humorist Kevin Kling, with illustrations by Michael Sommers. Come and Get It becomes the twenty-first in MCBA's perennial series celebrating the handmade book; the book will be released on December 10, 2011, at a special publication party at MCBA's gallery and studios in downtown Minneapolis.

December 10, 2011, Saturday - Mill City Farmers Market's Holiday Market at Mill City Museum

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum

Mill City hosts it’s first indoor Holiday Farmers Market at the Mill City Museum! Join us for a smorgasbord of local fares for holiday gifts and meals, including local produce, pasture-raised meats, wild caught Alaskan salmon, eggs and cheeses, whole grains, and artisan preserves, pickles and pasta.

Visit with some of your favorite Mill City Farmers Market vendors, including:

■Ames Farm
■Goldfinch Flowers
■Swede Lake Farm and Global Garlic
■Prairie Hollow Farm
■Burning River Farm
■Braucher’s Sunshine Harvest Farm
■MN Valley Organics
■Wild Run Salmon
■Northern Lakes Wild Rice
■Singing Hills Goat Dairy
■Shepherd’s Way Farm
■Solomon’s Snacks and Bakery
■Bliss Granola
■Cafe Palmira
■Martha’s Joy
■Birchberry Native Arts and Foods
■Very Prairie
■Lucille’s Kitchen Garden
■Olsen’s Naturals

December 10, 2011, Saturday - Taste Twin Cities Downtown Minneapolis Skyway Tour

Time: 2:30pm

Location: 800 LaSalle Plaza (On Hennepin Avenue between 8th & 9th)

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours

While it's chilly outside, join us as we weave our way through the cozy corners of downtown Minneapolis skyways on a food adventure.  We will stroll through the "Broadway" Theatre District and enjoy VIP service as we visit some the newest and hottest award winning restaurant downtown has to offer.  The tour includes seeing the Minneapolis skyscraper that was modeled after the Washington Monument and visiting the famous Statue of Mary Richards tossing her hat.  Along the way we will also visit quaint eateries that have pride in local ownership; including a favorite since 1932.  You will participate in tea sampling, and learn the secrets behind the great food you are enjoying.  You'll leave the tour with a tasty experience of some of the best food finds Minneapolis has to offer all while learning history of downtown and soaking in the local culture.

Register.