July 31, 2011, Sunday - CorePower Yoga in the Park

Time: 10:00am - 11:00am

Location: Father Hennepin Park

Join your favorite CorePower Yoga instructors for outdoor classes.  Bring a mat.

July 31, 2011, Sunday - Railroad History Tour at Mill City Museum

Time: 1:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MHS members. Includes museum admission.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555

Beginning with the arrival of Minnesota’s first rail line in 1862, Minneapolis boomed in population, flour milling, lumber production and warehousing as a rail network extended throughout the Upper Midwest. Take a guided tour to discover the impact of railroads on the Mill City, visiting railroad landmarks such as the Stone Arch Bridge, Milwaukee Road Depot and the Minneapolis Eastern Railway engine house & trestle. Along the way, find clues to the vanishing railroad landscape and learn about the new rail era that is arriving with the Hiawatha light rail and the North Star commuter rail. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum, where participants can visit the museum’s gallery, included in the price of the tour.

July 30, 2011, Saturday - Taste Twin Cities Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour (Starts at Gold Medal Park)

Taste Twin Cities was created to share our passion of food and enjoy the taste the Twin Cities has to offer.  If you love to eat, try new foods and enjoy a fun experience learning about the history of the Twin Cities, this tour if for you! Reservations.

Tour Facts
•3 hour walking tour of Minneapolis Mill District and Northeast Minneapolis neighborhoods.
•11:30am - 2:30pm
•Flat route with slight inclines and walking down 1 staircase, approximately 1.8 miles, standing most of the time, bathrooms available at some stops.
•6 stops, with tastings at each (enough food for lunch!).
•Tour limited to 12 people, advance tickets required.
•Begins at Gold Medal Park (S 10th Ave & S 2nd Street), located next to the Guthrie Theater, ends in Northeast Minneapolis (Hennepin Ave & SE University Ave).
•$43 (Prepaid at time of reservation)

Tour Description
Hungry for an off-the-beaten path Minneapolis food experience? Join us as we explore one of the city's trendy and historical neighborhoods, Mill District and Northeast Minneapolis. We will share what's hot in the Minneapolis food scene as we visit specialty shops and restaurants that are proud of their commitment to local and sustainable ingredients, and handmade treats. As you participate in tasting mouth watering pasta, compare gourmet cheeses and learn how Danish pastry is made, you'll gain an appreciation for a distinct neighborhood that most tourists never see.

We'll stroll past Museums and Theaters in the Mill District, enjoy gorgeous views the river has to offer and cross over into historical Northeast Minneapolis. You'll learn about the history of both these neighborhoods and visit the oldest street in Minneapolis. You'll taste and chat with other food-loving guests, and leave the tour with a host of restaurant recommendations and discounts for your next trip back to the Twin Cities.

Tastings
•Mouth watering pasta with an amazing atmosphere.
•Specialty Danish pastry baked in front of us, served with a variety of delicious toppings.
•Local cheese and specialty items.
•Variety of Minnesota brewed draft beers (non-alcoholic tastings available).
•European style bakery bread.
•Extravagantly blended gourmet chocolates.
•Award winning coffee including local favorite Noreast Mud (substitute options available).
*Tastings subject to change without notice. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Location
Our Tour begins at Gold Medal Park (S 10th Ave & S 2nd Street).

July 30, 2011, Saturday - Women’s Work: History Player Eva Valesh Tour at Mill City Museum

Time: 1:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555

A costumed actor portraying labor writer Eva Valesh will lead a walking tour highlighting the factories whose working conditions were exposed by Valesh in series of newspaper articles in 1888 and 1889. Jobs available to women in the 19th and early-20th century and some of the key events in women’s labor history in Minneapolis will be discussed. Valesh was a labor writer and orator who was also known by the pen name Eva Gay. Among the riverfront factories singled out by "Eva Gay" was the North Star Woolen Mill, still standing two blocks from Mill City Museum. Valesh served as labor editor for the Saint Paul Globe and the Minneapolis Tribune. She went on to national acclaim, working for Samuel Gompers as Assistant Editor of the American Federationist.

July 30, 2011, Saturday - Book Art Biennial 2011 at MCBA (2 days)

Times:
Saturday July 30; 9:00am-4:30pm
Sunday, July 31; 10:00am-Noon

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

Admission:  $50; $30 for MCBA members and students.
Discounted tickets for The MCBA Prize celebration are available with Biennial registration.

The strength of a sequential narrative cannot be denied. Artists' books, like no other art form, have the ability to cultivate meaningful and intimate relationships with viewers and readers through the development, refinement and advancement of content over time. Through workshops, lectures, conversations and exhibitions, MCBA's Book Art Biennial 2011 will explore the power of pacing, the structuring of sequence, the manipulation of rhythm and the significance of physical engagement in contemporary artists' books.

Highlights include:
- Keynote address by Gary Frost (University of Iowa)
- Panel discussions with leaders in the field, including Anne Dorothee "Doro" Boehme (School of the Art Institute of Chicago), Barbara Tetenbaum (Oregon College of Art and Craft) and Philip Zimmermann (University of Arizona).
- Motionpoems screening and presentation
- "Teaching Book Arts" roundtable for educators and practitioners
- Four concurrent exhibitions illustrating the wonderfully diverse world of book arts and the dynamic themes of the Biennial
- the 2011 MCBA Prize Gala and award presentation (tickets sold separately)

Read more about each of these components at the Book Art Biennial page.

Click here for local review.

July 30, 2011, Saturday - 8th Annual Mississippi River Challenge (2-day event)

The Mississippi River Challenge is a 2-day, 44-mile paddling event to raise money for a cleaner, healthier river.

This is the premier event for Friends of the Mississippi River and all funds raised go toward aiding the organization’s work on the Mississippi River in and around the Twin Cities. Each paddler over 18 is required to raise a minimum of $250 in pledges ($50 for those 16-18, and no minimum for those 15 and under) to participate in this event.

July 30, 2011, Saturday - 2011 MCBA Prize Gala and Award Ceremony

Time: 6:30pm - Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live music
          8:00pm - Award ceremony

Location: Minnesota Center for Book Arts, (Open Book building) 1011 Washington Avenue South

The MCBA Prize is the first honor to recognize book art from across the field and around the world, celebrating the incredible diversity of this vital artform. Our jury of three distinguished leaders in the field of book arts reviewed 147 submissions from over 150 artists, representing 22 nations around the world and all 7 continents of the Earth. The jury narrowed the field to five finalists; these five works will be on display at MCBA during Book Art Biennial 2011.

We hope you will join us as we announce the winner at The MCBA Prize Gala on Saturday, July 30! Enjoy cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live music while you mingle with artists and special guests. Then attend the evening's program and witness the presentation of The MCBA Prize. Stay and celebrate with champagne and a dessert buffet following the ceremony.

Tickets to attend the MCBA Prize Gala are $50 per person. Discounted tickets are available to Book Art Biennial attendees. This event sold out last year; reserve your spot today!

New this year: a silent auction of "MCBA Experiences" -- private group opportunities ranging from a Fine & Dirtywine and cheese party for 20 with curators Betty Bright and Jeff Rathermel, to hands-on experiences with letterpress, marbling or binding, to a personalized youth workshop for your favorite group of kids. Prize packages will also include gift certificates to art supply stores and other bonuses! Read full descriptions here. The silent auction will be open to Gala attendees only!

July 29, 2011, Friday - Real Ghost Tour (2 Nights) at St. Anthony Main

Time: After dark on Friday and Saturday nights - call for the specific time of the date you want to reserve for.

Location: Check in is at the Segway Tours office, 125 Main Street SE

Real Ghost Tours is not a gory haunted house experience - it's a history-packed tour during which you'll learn about (and maybe encounter the spirits of) people who shaped this area.  Visit the website and Facebook for more information.

Private tours can be arranged for groups of 15 or more.  The $25 per person fee includes parking, plus a voucher for 25% off at your choice of Pracna, Vic's or Tuggs.

During the tour you'll explore areas of the building that are otherwise off limits, using an EMF meter (a scientific instrument for measuring electromagnetic fields, and the prime sensory instrument of any ghost investigation).

July 29, 2011, Friday - The Amazing Adventures of the Corporate Wizard in the Land of LARP at Soap Factory (3 nights)

Time: Click here for details.

Location:  Soap Factory, 518 Second Street SE

A 3 day live action role playing event. Local artists and players from across the state come together to participate in the Corporate Wizard's weekend adventure.

Bringing together local and national artists, artist Erik Ullanderson crafts a spectacular 72-hour live-action role-playing (LARP) event at The Soap Factory. Working closely with Minnesota LARP-ers, the artist and The Soap Factory present a weekend of adventure, The Amazing Adventures of the Corporate Wizard in the Land of LARP.

The Soap Factory comes to life as LARP-ers unfold their quests in the vivid environments designed by artists including Karl Unnasch and Scott Stulen. Centering around a single character, The Corporate Wizard, the project is presented in a traditional LARP format, a structured script, controlled by a set of rules and driven by live action. Player Characters and Non-Player Characters (PCs and NPCs in LARP lingo) will engage in a plot line initiated by the Corporate Wizard, a figure that embodies the morals of corporate America. Throughout the 72-hour event each Player Character will find his or her way through the story line in a different way. No endings are written. The outcome of each quest is unknown. Visitors to The Soap Factory are welcome to explore the game amidst the action.

The adventure will take place primarily at The Soap Factory. But, quests will also spill into Minneapolis, even reaching the distant, mythical lands of The Walker Art Center. A full list of weekend events will be posted at soapfactory.org in July. Volunteers interested in engaging with this project as NPCs should contact the Soap Factory’s volunteer coordinator: lillian@soapfactory.org. Participating artists: Erik Ullanderson, The Guild-of-One, Scott Stulen, Kari Makoutz, Animalcharm. The Soap Factory is pleased to partner with the Southern Minnesota Live Action Role Playing Alliance. Visit mnalliance.com to learn more about the Larping in Minnesota.

July 28, 2011, Thursday - Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Coffee Concert at Nicollet Island Pavilion

Time:  10:30 am

Location: Nicollet Island Pavilion

Free Coffee Concerts will be presented free of charge at Nicollet Island Pavilion.  These concerts will feature complimentary beverages, pastries, and door prizes.

The mission of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra is to bring the power and pleasure of live orchestra concerts performed by professional musicians to the Twin Cities community, free of charge. Since 1950 the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra has been making a difference in the community by offering summertime concerts at various park locations.

Click here for information.

July 28, 2011, Thursday - Range of Motion Wellness Workout at Mill Ruins Park

Time: 5:00pm

Location: Meet at the base of the Mill City Ruins parking lot, past the lock and dams.

New wellness workouts scheduled for Northside, Riverside, and the Mill Ruins! 5:00pm on Thursdays, starting Thursday July 28 to September 29.

Embracing the American College of Sports Medicine’s “Fitness is Medicine” campaign, there’s a new fitness offering in Minneapolis that promises to strengthen, not weaken, your fitness resolve. These classes, offered by Range of Motion (ROM) Wellness are offered at three accessible locations.  These hour-long sessions are only $5 each and will take you on a short warm-up, body-weight strengthening exercises, and a stretching cool down. E-mail reservations are strongly encouraged (include date) but anyone is welcomed to attend.

July 28 , 2011, Thurday - Mill City Live: Outdoor Music Series at Mill City Museum

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

Performers:  Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers

Fee: $5 per person; includes admission to Mill City Museum. Free for MHS members.

The Twin Cities’ most explosive outdoor concert series is back for an eighth season with a slate of bands curated by music writer Jim Walsh. Featuring legendary performers from the heyday of the Minneapolis sound, these concerts will riff on American music in a gorgeous riverfront setting every Thursday from July 7 through Aug. 18. Admission includes the concert and entrance to the museum from 4 to 9 p.m. Food and drink by D’Amico Catering available for purchase.

July 28, 2011, Thursday - Arms Around our Shelter Tour at People Serving People

Time: 8:30am-9:30am

Location:  People Serving People, 614 South 3rd Street

Tour People Serving People with staff members, and find out what a typical day at People Serving People is like in just a half hour.  Coffee and light breakfast served, and Q&A with staff afterwards. 

RSVP to Lauren at 612-277-0219.

July 27, 2011, Wednesday - Schiffelly Puppets: The Little Mermaid at Minneapolis Central Library

Time: 10:30am

Location: Pohlad Hall at the Minneapolis Central Library
 
Entering kindergarten and up. Join Ariel, King Triton and other underwater friends as they try and teach the evil Ursula a lesson about bullying in this parody of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale. Plenty of humor and audience participation.

Funded by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.

July 27, 2011, Wednesday - Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships (5 days)

Location: The 22nd annual event will take place on the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis off of West River Parkway, between Plymouth & Broadway Avenue.

The 2011 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships is the largest wakeboarding event in the United States.  Presented by Rockstar Energy Drink.

July 26, 2011, Tuesday - Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting

Time: 4:30pm

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

Agenda for this meeting includes 104 8th Avenue South, Washburn Grain Elevators and Pillsbury A Mill Complex.

More Info

July 26, 2011, Tuesday - Movies in the Park at Father Hennepin Bluffs

Time: Movie starts 15 minutes after sunset.

Movie:  Breakfast at Tiffany's

Treats available for purchase. Bring a blanket or chair.  Don't forget your bug spray!

More Info

July 26, 2011, Tuesday - Game On! Gamers' Army at Minneapolis Central Library

Time:  2:00pm–5:00pm

Location: Minneapolis Central Library

Entering grade 6 and up. Get your gaming fix ... 3 hours, 5 consoles, 15 video games, 8 laptops, 6 board games! Bring your friends, meet other gamers, or see if you can beat the librarian at Guitar Hero!

July 26, 2011, Tuesday - Music in The Park - Father Hennepin Bluffs

Time: 7:00pm

Naphtalia and Friends  "Youthful Folk and Driving Heart"

Brought to us by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

July 26, 2011, Tuesday - Upper River Forum at MPRB

Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

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

Upper River Forum: Creating Our Great River Legacy

Key Lessons from "Waterfront Cities" and "Your Turn: Redevelopment Choices".

Featuring Peter Hendee Brown, Architect, Planner and Development Consultant, and author of "America's Waterfront Revival.

Followed by a Community Discussion of Key Redevelopment Issues.

Peter Hendee Brown will share key lessons learned from other waterfront cities, including critical tools for implementation and realistic time frames for measuring success.  Participants will have the opportunity to discuss key riverfront development questions.  Refreshments will be serves.

This series of Upper River Forums is hosted by the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership and the Above the Falls Citizen Advisory Committee.