July 23, 2014, Wednesday - Common Room Tours with the Soap Factory

Time: call for start time

Location: The Soap Factory, 514 Second Street SE

Now in it's seventh season, Common Room began as a month-long series of interactive art events, out of a refurbished art deco office at The Soap Factory. Since 2011, Sergio Vucci and Andy Sturdevant have taken the Common Room concept outside the four walls of The Soap Factory and into the city, activating public spaces and redefining our relationship with our surroundings.

July 23: Fishing Trip with the Soap Factory - Tickets $10

Walk down any pier in Minneapolis or St. Paul, from the banks of the Mississippi River to any of the city lakes, and you'll see the young and old alike with a plastic bucket filled with fathead minnows and a fishing pole, trying their luck at landing a walleye. On this bus tour, we'll meet some of the fishermen and -women themselves, along with park rangers, naturalists, chefs, fishing enthusiasts and others, as well as visiting bait shops, seafood restaurants, national park sites, and of course a few of the city's best fishin' holes.

REGISTER at The Soap Factory

River City Revue is presented by the Mississippi River Fund, the National Park Service,Works Progress Studio, and artist Andy Sturdevant.

Future tours:

Wednesday, July 30 - The Weather Tour
Saturday, August 2 - The Overnight Tour
Wednesday, August 6 - The Trespass Tour

July 23, 2014, Wednesday - Murder and Mayhem with Kate Racculia at The Loft

Time: 7:00pm

Location: The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall), 1011 Washington Ave S

Murder and Mayhem with Kate Racculia

About Bellweather Rhapsody: Fifteen years ago, a murder/suicide in room 712 rocked the grand old Bellweather Hotel and the young bridesmaid who witnessed it. Now hundreds of high school musicians, including quiet bassoonist Rabbit Hatmaker and his brassy diva twin, Alice, have gathered in its cavernous, crumbling halls for the annual Statewide festival; the grown-up bridesmaid has returned to face her demons; and a snowstorm is forecast that will trap everyone on the grounds. Then one of the orchestra’s stars disappears—from room 712. Is it a prank, or has murder struck the Bellweather once again?

The search for answers entwines a hilariously eccentric cast of characters—conductors and caretakers, failures and stars, teenagers on the verge and adults trapped in memories. For everyone has come to the Bellweather with a secret, and everyone is haunted.

Full of knowing nods to the shivery pleasures of suspense and the transporting power of music, this is a wholly winning new novel from a writer lauded as “charming” (Los Angeles Times), “witty” (O, The Oprah Magazine), and “whimsical” (People).

Kate Racculia is a writer and researcher living in Boston, Massachusetts. Her first novel, This Must Be the Place, was published by Henry Holt & Company in 2010. Her second, Bellweather Rhapsody, was just published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in May 2014. Kate studied illustration, design, Jane Austen, and Canada at the University of Buffalo. She has her MFA from Emerson College, and teaches novel and genre-fiction workshops at Grub Street, Boston’s nonprofit creative writing community. She has been a bookseller, a planetarium operator, a coffee jerk, a designer, and a proposal writer. She posts many pictures of her cat on the Internet, is a total sucker for a saxophone solo, and has every intention of growing up to be Jessica Fletcher.

July 23, 2014, Wednesday - CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade

Time: 8:30pm-10:30pm

Location: Hennepin Avenue between the Dunwoody College of Technology & 5th Street

Brighten up your summer with the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade. This one-of-a-kind parade will illuminate downtown with bands, floats, and fun for all ages.

More Info

July 23, 2014, Wednesday - Guns N’ Rosenkavalier at the Mill City Museum Courtyard Ruins

Guns N’ Rosenkavalier – July 21 & 23

Find the Rock in Classical and the Classical in Rock! Mill City Summer Opera NEXT presents Guns N’ Rosenkavalier – a performance written by John Glover where rock and classical music collide. Andrew Wilkowske, Genghis Barbie—all-female horn experience, and Chris Zemliauskas, pianist, present an evening of Brahms, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, Strauss and Van Halen. Guns N’ Rosenkavalier will confound your expectations and celebrate the universal in music. A great song is a great song, no matter the genre!

Performance Dates: July 21 and 23, 2014

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Mill City Museum Courtyard Ruins

Tickets: Sales start June 2, 2014 at millcitysummeropera.org. You can also call the Mill City Museum box office at 612-341-7582 or stop by. Prices range from $25-50.

July 23, 2014, Wednesday - Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5K

Time: 7:30 pm

Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5K

Basilica of St. Mary, 88 North Seventh Street, to Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Whether you are a dedicated runner or just someone who jogs from the couch to the fridge, the Life Time Torchlight 5k in Minneapolis is the fun run for everyone! Grab your family, friends and running shoes because the Torchlight 5k starts with a bang and ends with a brew. That’s right, our legendary post-race party features musical entertainment and complimentary refreshments. It’s the party of the year that just happens to start with a run!

The Torchlight 5k starts near the historic Basilica of Saint Mary and follows the Aquatennial’s CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade route. The course offers up close views of the Guthrie, Gold Medal Park, the Mighty Mississippi, Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Main.

For more information, registration materials and a course map, visit http://www.torchlight5k.com/

July 22, 2014, Tuesday - Let's Go to the Museum! Workshop at MCBA

Time: 10:00am-12:00pm

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

For families with children ages 2-10

Come and meet two artists in When Pigasso met Mootisse by Nina Laden. Learn to make handmade paper with white cotton pulp, then "paint" your masterpieces with pulp in a rainbow of colors. Use colorful yarn and eye droppers for added artistic effects. "Gallery opening" snacks will be served. Dress for mess with water-safe shoes.
 
Join Ellen Ferrari for 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.
 
Adult/child pair: $32 ($29 members) + $6 supply fee
Additional participant (adult or child): $16 ($14.50 members) + $3 supply fee

July 22, 2014, Tuesday - The Southern Theater ARTshare Membership Event at Town Hall Brewery

Time: 2:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: Town Hall Brewery, 1430 Washington Avenue South

ARTshare Membership Event

Join The Southern Theater as they celebrate the kick off of the public availability of ARTshare memberships, and celebrate the beginning of this new endeavor and program for the Twin Cities. This exciting new program allows you to pay $18 a month to have all access to 15 Resident Performing Arts groups over the course of the year. For more details about ARTshare visit http://www.southerntheater.org/ and check out the FAQ. We'll be hanging out at Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery on the patio (or inside if weather is crummy). THB has been kind enough to provide food and drinks for all attendees. The gathering will include some performances by some of the newly announced resident companies and some speeches (brief) by Southern board and staff. Attendees will be able to sign up for an ARTshare membership from 2 to 6 pm. Memberships are limited! There are only 2,100 so they can't guarantee that everyone will necessarily get one. So come down and celebrate as they launch this exciting new adventure. Thanks to Town Hall and Arts ink, Inc. for sponsoring this event.

July 22, 2014, Tuesday - "Music & Movies in the Park" at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

Time: Music 7:00pm; Movies air 15 minutes after sundown.

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

Tonights entertainment: See website.

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 of you, your family and friends enjoying the concerts and movies on the facebook page Support the artists by picking up a CD or other merchandise.

2014 dates:

July 22 Barbara Meyer Band, Roots rock & reggae
July 29 Tortuga!, Jazz/Rock/World
August 05 Charity Huot and the Summit Hill Band, Acoustic Alternative Folk
August 12 War Poets, Rock/Americana
August 19 The Funky United, Instrumental
August 26 Hippo Campus Pop/Rock

Movies start 15 min after sunset.

July 22 Beetlejuice Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

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!

July 22, 2014, Tuesday - Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Public Meeting

Time: 4:30pm

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

More Info

July 22, 2014, Tuesday - Mill City Summer Opera Presents Puccini’s Tosca at Mill City Museum

Minneapolis' newest opera company, the Mill City Summer Opera, presnets Tosca by Giacomo Puccini.

Tosca will be presented at 7:30pm in the Mill City Museum’s dramatic Ruin Courtyard will again be the venue for all performances.

Mill City Summer Opera was founded in 2011 to bring the Twin Cities exceptional opera performances set in a nontraditional venue. Artistic Director David Lefkowich and Music Director Brian DeMaris have assembled a first-rate design team and cast, featuring acclaimed American soprano Jill Gardner and exciting tenor Dinya Vania as Cavaradossi. Gardner and Vania sang these roles together at the Lyric Opera Baltimore in 2011 to great acclaim. 

July 21, 2014, Monday - Guns N’ Rosenkavalier at the Mill City Museum Courtyard Ruins

Guns N’ Rosenkavalier – July 21 & 23

Find the Rock in Classical and the Classical in Rock! Mill City Summer Opera NEXT presents Guns N’ Rosenkavalier – a performance written by John Glover where rock and classical music collide. Andrew Wilkowske, Genghis Barbie—all-female horn experience, and Chris Zemliauskas, pianist, present an evening of Brahms, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, Strauss and Van Halen. Guns N’ Rosenkavalier will confound your expectations and celebrate the universal in music. A great song is a great song, no matter the genre!

Performance Dates: July 21 and 23, 2014

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Mill City Museum Courtyard Ruins

Tickets: Sales start June 2, 2014 at millcitysummeropera.org. You can also call the Mill City Museum box office at 612-341-7582 or stop by. Prices range from $25-50.

July 21, 2014, Monday - "Music in the Park" at Nicollet Island Amphitheater

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Nicollet Island Amphitheater

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 of you enjoying the concerts on the facebook page. Support the artists by picking up a CD or other merchandise.

Tonights entertainment: See website

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!

2014 dates:

July 21 - Patchouli,Indie - acoustic guitar duo
July 28 - Dustin Hatzenbuhler,Pop/Singer/Songwriter
August 4 - Nordic Surf, Instrumental Surf/Rock
August 11 - Bossa Jazz Band, Jazz with a Bossa Twist
August 18 - Standing Waves, Melodic, twisted folk/rock
August 25 - Chico Chavez World Music Band, World fusion jazz

July 21, 2014, Monday - Mill District Neighborhood Assoc Meeting at the Mill City Museum

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Location - Mill City Museum, 6th Floor ADM Conference Room

AGENDA -

6:30PM / DAVID TINJUM
"Welcome & Agenda"

6:35 / JACOB FREY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 3
"3rd Ward Update & Q&A"
Bring your questions, ideas and feedback for Jacob.  Hear the breaking news in the Thrid Ward.

7:00PM / DAN COLLISON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EAST DOWNTOWN COUNCIL
“Shaping the Future of the East Downtown District”
Downtown Minneapolis is in the throws of unprecedented growth. This is now undisputed.  But, how will the growth be stewarded such that it transforms the built environment into a home for tens of thousands of residents while playing host for tens of millions? Such a dialectic tension is undoubtedly on the mind of those who live downtown and on the riverfront. At this MDNA meeting Dan Collison, the newly appointed Executive Director of the East Downtown Council (EDC), will discuss the new role of the EDC alongside the Minneapolis Downtown Council, introduce a new East Downtown Development task force, and frame some of the critically important convergence points that residential, business, and civic leaders will need to work on together in order to ensure our part Downtown Minneapolis is built beautifully, holistically, and with 21st century sustainable practices in mind.
 
7:20PM / KATHLEEN BOE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MINNEAPOLIS RIVERFRONT PARTNERSHIP
"Minneapolis River Film Festival"
A brand new event for the Minneapolis Riverfront.  The name of the festival will be announced for the first time, learn how you can participate.
 
7:40PM / MADONNA CARR, CMP | VICE PRESIDENT OF DESTINATION SERVICES, MEET MINNEAPOLIS
"Another disruption on the Mill District Riverfront?"
After the All-Star Gala tonight, can we take yet another event?  Not to worry.  The August 2 event for meeting planners will be much smaller and should be much less disruptive.

July 21, 2014, Monday - Minnesota’s Great River Road Corridor Management Plan Public Open House at Boom Island

Time:  4:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: Boom Island Park Picnic Shelter, 724 Sibley Street NE

Minnesota’s Great River Road Corridor Management Plan Public Open House

The Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, in collaboration with local governments, chambers of commerce, tourism-related river resource managers and other partners are developing a new Corridor Management Plan for the Great River Road. This project will document today’s byway attributes and suggest strategies to help the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Minnesota and its partners provide and promote a superior byway travel experience and improve the quality of life locally, while maintaining the archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic intrinsic resources that enrich it. It also will guide the future work of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Minnesota including priorities for investment and marketing. Have additional questions, interested in learning more, or want to get involved? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or sign up to receive email updates.

For information on the process, the upcoming open house (and similar open houses to be held other dates/locations) and other ways to provide input: http://www.mnmississippiriver.com/cmp/participate.htm.

July 20, 2014, Sunday - Bluff Street Extension Ceremony and Ride

Bluff Street extension of the Dinkytown Greenway

On Sunday, July 20, 1-2 PM, we celebrate the opening of the Bluff Street tunnel, a new extension of the Dinkytown Greenway! The tunnel connects cyclists directly from Bridge 9 into downtown Mpls, the Mississippi River bike trails & bike lanes on 2nd Street.

Join Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and City Council Members Frey and Gordon for a celebration of the Bluff Street Extension of the Dinkytown Greenway.

When the Dinkytown Greenway opened last summer, it provided a bike/ped path from Bridge 9 to TCF Bank Stadium and the U of M Transitway bike/bus route. This summer, the new Bluff Street tunnel extension under I-35W connects cyclists directly from downtown Minneapolis to Bridge 9 (the tunnel entrance is on 13th Ave S, between 2nd St S and West River Parkway). Both projects received federal funding from the Bike Walk Twin Cities federal Nonmotorized Transporation Pilot Program, administered by Transit for Livable Communities. Join us in celebrating this exciting bike/ped connection!

Council members Frey and Gordon will lead two rides to the celebration:
•From downtown Minneapolis: Meet CM Frey at 1:00pm at Gateway Park (Hennepin at 2nd Street S) and join him on a ride to the ceremony
•From the east bank: Meet CM Gordon at 1:00pm at TCF Bank Stadium (between gates C & D, on SE 23rd St) and join him on a ride to the ceremony.

Remarks will be at 1:30. Afterwards, join elected officials for a ride through the tunnel.

July 20, 2014, Sunday - Mill City Summer Opera Presents Puccini’s Tosca at Mill City Museum

Minneapolis' newest opera company, the Mill City Summer Opera, presnets Tosca by Giacomo Puccini.

Tosca will be presented at 7:30 p.m. July 20 and 22. Mill City Museum’s dramatic Ruin Courtyard will again be the venue for all performances.

Mill City Summer Opera was founded in 2011 to bring the Twin Cities exceptional opera performances set in a nontraditional venue. Artistic Director David Lefkowich and Music Director Brian DeMaris have assembled a first-rate design team and cast, featuring acclaimed American soprano Jill Gardner and exciting tenor Dinya Vania as Cavaradossi. Gardner and Vania sang these roles together at the Lyric Opera Baltimore in 2011 to great acclaim. 

July 20, 2014, Sunday - Railroad History Tour at Mill City Museum

Times: 1:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

Railroad History Tour

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

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online.

Beginning with the arrival of Minnesota’s first rail line in 1862, Minneapolis boomed in population. Flour milling, lumber production and warehousing took off 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 and trestle. Along the way find clues to the vanishing railroad landscape and learn about the future of Twin Cities rail.

The tour includes 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. 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. Tours are held rain or shine.

Future dates: Aug. 24, Sept. 7

July 20, 2014, Sunday - “Wish upon a Barre!" Family Fitness Day & Toy Drive for Make-A-Wish Foundation at Marquette Plaza

Time: 10am - 1pm
 
Location:  The Lawn at Marquette Plaza, 250 Marquette Avenue (Cancer Survivor’s Park)

Join in the Aquatennial festivities on Sunday, July 20, by attending Haute Barre presents “Wish upon a Barre!”, a Family Fitness Day & Toy Drive for Make-A-Wish Foundation.

There will be family friendly activities include kids yoga and barre classes, along with an adult barre class, and snacks.

Make-A-Wish Minnesota will be there sharing information on how you can help make wishes come true for children with life threatening illnesses and will be collecting unwrapped toys that will be used in wish bags and travel gifts. We would love to see you and your family on this fun filled Minneapolis weekend!

Sign up here at Eventbrite and bring a new toy to donate to Make-A-Wish for entrance for the family.

July 20, 2014, Sunday - Swing Brunch at Aster Cafe

Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Aster Cafe, 125 Main Stree SE

Today: Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons

Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era.

July 20, 2014, Sunday - Sister Cities Day Celebration & Ice Cream Social at Nicollet Island Pavilion

Time: 1:00pm-5:00pm

Location: Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power Street

FREE and open to the public. Find us on Facebook.

International entertainment, free ice cream sundaes (while supplies last), and a chance to connect and learn about the 10 Minneapolis Sister Cities throughout the world. This year will feature a talented group of youth international performers: Songs of Hope. With nearly 50 children from across the globe, Songs of Hope will perform songs of peace and love in an eclectic mix of languages.

An afternoon celebrating the Sister City relationships between the city of Minneapolis and:
 
Santiago, Chile
Kuopio, Finland
Ibaraki City, Japan
Novosibirsk, Russia
Tours, France
Harbin, China
Uppsala, Sweden
Eldoret, Kenya
Cuernavaca, Mexico
Najaf, Iraq