December 7, 2013, Saturday - History Day Hullabaloo at Central Library

Time: 11:00am-3:00pm

Location: Central Library, Room N-361, 300 Nicollet Mall

History Day Hullabaloo

For teens. 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 and break down your project into workable phases. Plenty of time for questions.

Presented in collaboration with Minnesota Historical Society.

December 7, 2013, Saturday - Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam at the Dome

Showtime: 7:00pm

Location: The Dome

Tickets available at all Ticketmaster Outlets, online, or charge by phone (800) 745-3000.

Visit monsterjamonline.com for details.

December 7, 2013, Saturday - Taste Twin Cities Downtown Minneapolis Skyway Tour

Time: 2:00pm

Location: Begins at LaSalle Plaza (800 LaSalle Plaza), located on Hennepin Ave between 8th & 9th Street; ends at Metro Building (80 9th Street S).

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 of the newest and hottest award winning restaurants 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.

•Indoor 3 hour walking tour in the heart of downtown Minneapolis using the skyway system
•Saturdays at 2:30pm; during the Holiday Season Friday and Saturday at 2:30pm
•Flat route with slight inclines and declines, approximately .8 of a mile, bathrooms available at some stops
•5 stops, with 10-12 tastings
•Tour limited to 12 people, advance tickets required. Private tours available for larger groups.
•Begins at LaSalle Plaza (800 LaSalle Plaza), located on Hennepin Ave between 8th & 9th Street; ends at Metro Building (80 9th Street S)
•$45/pp

Register

December 6, 2013, Friday - DIRTY WORKS: First Fridays at MCBA

Time: Happy hour 5–6pm; Class 6–8pm

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

DIRTY WORKS: First Fridays at MCBA

Escape the digital world, get your hands dirty and make something!

Join MCBA for Dirty Works, a new series of casual classes, taking place on the first Friday of each month. Activities are designed for the bookishly curious and the creatively apprehensive; no experience needed. Plus, the registration fee includes a free beer, wine or coffee drink!

December 6: Japanese Paper Art with Jeff Rathermel

Explore the art of traditional Japanese papermaking and decoration in this no-experience-necessary introductory experience. Learn the process from plant to page along with simple techniques to use at home. Participants will rid themselves of a week's worth of stress by hand beating kozo (the plant used to make "rice" paper), pulling sheets from cool, relaxing vats of pulp, and creating meditative patterns through the age-old practice of suminagashi marbling.

$30 + $5 supply fee

December 6, 2013, Friday - MHS Members Double Discount Days at Mill City Museum

Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm Thursday-Saturday; Noon to 5:00pm Sunday

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

Minnesota Historical Society members will receive a double discount (20 percent) on Minnesota-inspired, quality gifts in time for the holidays at a pre-holiday sale at Members Double Discount Weekend at the Mill City Museum. Purchases help support the Society’s programs. Visitors also can sample freshly baked samples of winning recipes from the Star Tribune Cookie Contest on Dec. 7.

Double Discount Dates include December 5, 6, 7, and 8.

For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/membershopping.

December 6, 2013, Friday - Live Music at Crooked Pint

Time: 9:00pm

Location: Crooked Pint Ale House, 501 Washington Avenue South

Tonight:  Davina and The Vagabonds

December 6, 2013, Friday - Holidazzle Parade

Time: 6:30pm

Location:  Nicollet Mall, between 12th & 4th Streets

More info

Fridays and Saturdays, November 29 through December 21.

December 6, 2013, Friday - Jeff Arundel Holiday Variety Show at Aster Cafe

Time: 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm $10

Location: Aster Cafe, 125 Main Stree SE

Tonight:  Jeff Arundel Holiday Variety Show

JA will be joined by a line-up that makes Santa tingle with excitement–fresh off the launch of his new CD we have Tom Lieberman, joining us whilst on a brief hiatus from the road is Rob Arthur, creeping (legally) across the border is the mexican firebrand Esti Beliz, crooning like a modern day Perry Como will be our own Brian “BT” Turner, and of course JA will be on hand to make sure the occasion is properly melancholy and wistful. This entire packet of mayhem will be ring-led by emmy-award winner Kerry McNally.

Please call 612.379.3138 for reservations.

December 6, 2013, Friday - Family Storytime at Central Library

Time: 10:30am

Location: Central Library, Children's Library, 300 Nicollet Mall

For children of all ages and their parent or caregiver. Talk, sing, read, write and play together in a format appropriate for young children. Share books, stories, rhymes, music and movement.

December 6, 2013, Friday - Book Arts Roundtable with Anders Nilsen at MCBA

Time: 7:00pm

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

Isaac and Abraham and Video Games: Book Arts Roundtable with Anders Nilsen

Free and open to the public.

Join us in welcoming local artist and author Anders Nilsen! Nilsen will do a slide reading from his new accordion book Rage of Poseidon (published by Drawn & Quarterly) and discuss the book's themes, including the role of mythology and religion in his work and what it means to re-imagine ancient stories and set them in the present day. Nilsen will also share examples of his many forays into unusual storytelling formats from hand-made, screen-printed artist books and photocopied zines to accordion books and poster-comics, as well as the relationship between these and his work in more traditional publishing.

Anders Nilsen is the author and artist of the graphic novels Big Questions, Rage of Poseidon, Don't Go Where I Can't Follow and The End, among other works. He has received three Ignatz awards as well as the 2012 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel prize. His work has been translated into numerous languages and his drawing and painting has been shown internationally. He lives in Minneapolis.

December 5, 2013, Thursday - "Best Laid Plans" Murder Mystery at Old Spaghetti Factory

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Old Spaghetti Factory, 233 Park Avenue (and Washington Avenue South)

"Best Laid Plans"

Join The Murder Mystery Company as we journey back in time to the glamorous 1930's with, "Best Laid Plans".

Get all dolled up for an evening of "Old Hollywood Style" fun as you mingle with the who's whos of society. Be careful though, as someone in the room is guilty of a terrible crime. Bring your friends, family and don't forget your detective skills to help solve the case!

Information and tickets.

December 5, 2013, Thursday - John Noltner - A Peace of My Mind American Stories at The Sourthern Theater

Doors at 6:30p to view exhibit
Program at 7:00p
Square Dancing at 8:00p

Location: Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Avenue South

In a world that asks us to focus on our differences,A Peace of My Mind encourages us to consider the common good that connects us. This unique multimedia art project offers a stunning collection of portraits and personal stories to celebrate our shared experience.
 
A Peace of My Mind invites you to a timely dialogue exploring the human condition, sharing stories from the road as we develop our second book, A Peace of My Mind, American Stories.
 
Since 2009, award-winning Minnesota photographer and author John Noltner has asked people from diverse backgrounds the simple question, “What does peace mean to you?”
 
His first book, A Peace of My Mind, Exploring the Meaning of Peace, won a gold medal in the 2012 Midwest Book Awards. In 2013 he was recognized with the Art For Change and Peace Initiative awards. He has presented at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, the Peace and Justice Studies Association and the Dayton International Peace Museum.

Music by the Roe Family Singers
 
The Roe Family Singers are a Good-Time, Old-Time Hillbilly band from the Mississippi-headwaters community of Kirkwood Hollow, MN. Led by wife & husband Kim Roe (Best Female Vocalist, City Pages/Village Voice) and Quillan Roe (Accident Clearinghouse), the band marries old-time sounds from barn-dances, fiddle pulls, and county fairs with the rock & roll passion of youth.
 
For more information on the project visit: http://www.apeaceofmymind.net/

Tickets
Suggested donation of $20 / nobody will be turned away due to finances

December 5, 2013, Thursday - First Thursdays in the Arts District at Northrup King Building

Time: 5:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE (see below for full list of studios)

First Thursdays in the Arts District

A multitude of painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, ceramists, textile and fiber artists, jewelers, furniture showrooms and more open their studios at the Northrup King Building located in the heart of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.

First Thursdays in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is an Open Studio and Gallery Tour held the first Thursday of each month. Many NEMAA member artists and galleries open their doors and invite you into their studios. With a more relaxed atmosphere, this mini-AAW is a great experience for the art collector and browser.

Other Open Studios from 5:00 - 9:00 PM at:
•California Building, 2205 California St. NE, Minneapolis
•Casket Arts Building, 681 17th Avenue NE, Minneapolis
•Casket Arts-Carriage House , 1720 17th Avenue NE, Minneapolis
•Grain Belt Studios, 77 & 79 13th Ave. S., Minneapolis
•Q.arma Building , 1224 Quincy St NE, Avenue NE, Minneapolis
•Solar Arts Building, 711 15th Ave. NE, Minneapolis
•Thorp Building , 1618 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis
•Two 12 Pottery and Gifts - We will offer our usual store discount, and on top of that, all books are 20% off including books on sale! 212 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413, 612.331.1556, two12pottery@yahoo.com
•Who Made Who Design Studio + Screenprint Emporium, 158 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis

First Thursday Specials
•First Thursdays at the Red Stag Supperclub featuring Happy Hour 3pm - close and late night music at 10pm. 509 1st Avenue NE, Minneapolis.
•First Thursdays at Chowgirls Parlor, 6-11 PM
We open our doors to welcome all, especially those participating in First Thursdays in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. 1222 2nd Street N.E.

http://www.northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.com

Also check out:

https://www.facebook.com/artmobtwincitiesmn/events#!/events/651143951586946/

December 4, 2013, Wednesday - Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Meeting

Time: 5:00pm

Location: Minneapolis Park and Rec Board, 2117 West River Road

Agenda

Meeting are broadcasted live on the City of Minneapolis Government Meeting Channel 79, or online at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/tv/79.  Those interested in viewing the MPRB meeting are encouraged to attend at MPRB headquarters, located at 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55411, or view during the 10:30 p.m. Monday (12/3) rebroadcast on Channel 79

December 4, 2013, Wednesday - A Sip of Science at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Aster Cafe (River Room) 125 SE Main Street

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 Sip of Science: I Dream of Midway Island: A story of geology, ecology, and the inevitable human footprint

Located ‘midway’ between North America and Asia, Midway Island has a complex history for a 2.4 square mile island.  Formed by the Hawaiian volcanic hot spot 28 million years ago, this tiny atoll is well known for being the site for a key WWII naval battle, but it also serves as the primary nesting ground for the Laysan albatross bird.  As with many landscapes, human activity over the past century has significantly impacted the island ecosystem, from the lead-based paint chipping off buildings into the sand, tons of plastic washing onshore, acidification of the ocean impacting coral reef growth, as well concerns of sea level rise drowning the island. Indeed, Midway Island serves as a microcosm for illustrating the unanticipated impacts of human activity.  Join Barbara Heitkamp as she describes her travels as an environmental consultant to this remote locale, weaving together a snapshot and story of what Midway Island is today and what its future holds in store.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Barbara Heitkamp is a Research Fellow at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota.  She completed her M.S. in Water Resources Science at Oregon State University in 2008 and her B.S. in Geology at Texas Christian University in 2005.  She worked three years as field geomorphologist for GeoEngineers in Portland, Oregon. She currently serves as the primary coordinator for a regional stream restoration organization known as the Partnership for River Restoration and Science in the Upper Midwest (PRRSUM).

This talk takes place during happy hour at the Aster Cafe - Food and Drink Available for Purchase.

December 4, 2013, Wednesday - Breakfast with a Preservationist at the Mill City Museum

Time: 8:00am to 9:00am

Location: Mill City Museum, ADM Conference Room: 6th Floor, 710 South Second Street

Preserve Minneapolis

Breakfast with a Preservationist - Your Favorite Place to Show Out-of-Town Guests

It's our annual invitational, when we solicit your ideas for interesting historic places in the city. This year's theme is Your Favorite Place to Show Out-of-Town Visitors.

We (REALLY, REALLY) need more photos and suggestions, so please send them to Doug Mack at dmack@preserveminneapolis.org by Monday (12/2) at noon.
 
When you’re showing off the city, what do you show? A particular building? A favorite street? It doesn’t have to be officially historic, just something that embodies this fine city’s culture/history/spirit/general excellence.

Please send us your suggestion, including a brief paragraph. If you have a photograph, that would also be very helpful for the presentation (and if you don’t, we’ll try to take one or dig one up).
 
We hope to see you at BWAP next week. You'll also have the chance to speak about your favorite place during the event. Or just come and listen and enjoy all the great ideas for the next time you have your own out-of-town visitors.

For the latest Preserve Minneapolis news, find us on Facebook.

The event is free, and starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. and finishes by 9:00 a.m. Coffee and goodies will be available. Parking is available in the ramp across the street and in metered spaces along South Second Street.

December 4, 2013, Wednesday - Sensible Land Use Coalition (SLUC) Great Places Initiative at Aria

Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Aria, 105 First Street North

Sensible Land Use Coalition (SLUC) Great Places Initiative

Join the Sensible Land Use Coalition (and multiple other sponsors) for a celebration of our community’s Great Places. The event will feature a social hour with hors d’oeuvres and wine/beer/soft drinks; a program with Master of Ceremonies John Shardlow of Stantec; perspectives in Great Places from Mayors R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman; a celebration of all nominated great places; and special recognition of the 2013 Great Places.

More information.

December 3, 2013, Tuesday - Dome Running

Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: The Dome (upper level)

Dome Running

This is the last year of Dome Running as we know it. Please join us in the 31st year!

Dome running is every Tuesday and Thursday through December 26. The remaining dates for 2013 are:  December 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 26.

Cost is $1. Enter at Gate D, free parking in the upper Dome lot.

For questions contact Rick Recker at 612 375-0805.

December 3, 2013, Tuesday - Ceremonial Groundbreaking for the New Vikings Stadium

Time: 10:00am

Initial project schedule:

• Groundbreaking: December 3, 2013

• Excavation: December 2013 – April 2014

• Demolition: January 2014 – April 2014

Per a press release from Lynn Littlejohn, Director of Community Affairs for Mortenson, the first major construction activity that will occur is the excavation of the parking lot. A site fence is being erected around the east end of the Dome. The excavation work also includes hauling of dirt from the site which will commence Monday, December 2, 2013. The hauling will occur 8:00am to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 6:00am Sunday through Friday and will continue for a period of approximately four months.

They anticipate minimal disruption as the route to and from the site is a direct one to the freeway. The trucks will come in from 3rd Avenue, make a left on Norman McGrew Place, then a left on S 4th Street directly into the site. Upon leaving the site, the trucks will take South 4th Street to 35W south.

A community meeting is being planned for January.

December 1, 2013, Sunday - Vikings vs. Chicago Bears

Time: Noon (CST) at the Dome

Additional information is available at vikings.com.