2011 Mill City Flashback - Aquatennial Festivities & Fireworks

One of the highlights of the festivities was a group of bucket drummers who could really pound it out.  They played to a big crowd all night.

The rain threatened, then arrived, but it was a warm rain at least.  We shot video from different vantage points as we sought shelter from the rain under nearby trees.  The huge crowd stayed for the show.  The first video is shot using our "good" video camera and tripod, the last three handheld with our Flip HD.

Finally, a slideshow of the photos we shot (best viewed in full screen mode).

2011 Mill City Flashback - Fireworks Over the Stone Arch Bridge [Photos] [Video]

We watched the fireworks from our balcony this year.  There was a big turnout to see an awesome finale.  Notice the crowd on the Stone Arch Bridge in the first picture - the hill at Gold Medal Park is in the foreground. Video at the end of this post.

The Red, White & BOOM Fireworks over the Stone Arch Bridge in the Mill District of Minneapolis.

View the whole set of 84 photos on Flickr...

2011 Mill City Flashback - Mayor Rybak Leads August 1 Dedication of the 35W Memorial Garden

In remembrance of Sherry Engebretsen - Artemio Trinidad-Mena - Julia Blackhawk - Patrick Holmes - Peter Hausmann - Paul Eickstadt - Greg Jolstad - Scott Sathers - Christina Sacorafas - Hanah Sahal - Sadiya Sahal - Vera Peck - Richard Chit.

Driving rain ended shortly before the 5:00pm Memorial Garden ceremony dedicated to the victims and survivors of the August 1, 2007, 35W bridge collapse.

The Memorial Garden features 13 columns, which bear the names of the individuals lost to the collapse. Names of the survivors are engraved in the black wall behind the columns. Behind the wall is an observation deck for viewing the river and new 35W bridge.

Following speeches by Mayor Rybak and Governor Dayton, loved ones shared sentiments and there was a performance by Christina Baldwin, Jennifer Baldwin Peden and Bradley Greenwald.

Governor Dayton had ordered flags in Minnesota to fly in half-staff in observation of the fourth anniversary of the 35W collapse.

2011 Mill City Flashback - Joe Hatch-Surisook of Sen Yai Sen Lek at Mill City Farmer Market

Joe Hatch-Surisook of Thai restaurant Sen Yai Sen Lek, 2422 Central Avenue NE, prepared a Green Papaya Salad (substituting melon for papaya) at the September 3 Mill City Cooks demo.  It was out of this world tasty!

The recipe can be found on the Mill City Farmers Market website.   Also, here's a link to a great piece on Joe and his wife from 2010.

2011 Mill City Flashback - 600 Sluts on the Stone Arch Bridge - SlutWalk Minneapolis

A diverse crowd participated in Saturday's SlutWalk Minneapolis 2011, including barely dressed women, fully dressed women, men, parents with babies, trannies and even pets (plus a Segway tour and horse-drawn carriage inadvertently got in the mix).

The purpose of this rape-awareness event was to spread the messages of 'don't blame the victim' and 'don't rape'.   Details are available on the website, and there are news clips from Kare11 and the StarTrib with more info.

Slide show best viewed in full-screen mode

2011 Mill City Flashback - Meg Ashling and Friend at Mill City Farmers Market

 

2011 Mill City Flashback - Runners Get in the Spirit of the 2011 Mill City Suds Run

Creative runners turned out in full force for the September 10 Mill City Suds Run (formerly known as the Blubber Run).

 

Here's a slide show with a more expansive group of pictures:

2011 Mill City Flashback - First Mill City Museum Minneapolis History Pub Crawl

The Mill City Museum added a Minneapolis History Pub Crawl to the tour offerings this year. Unfortunately, the State shut down forced them to cancel two of the three scheduled tours.  We were fortunate enough to join the only tour available on Tuesday, August 30.

The trolley departed from the Museum and took us over the Stone Arch Bridge and along Washington Avenue, with a few stops and jogs along the way. Our guides, Rod and Dave, presented a wealth of history and provided each of us with a Washington Avenue Photo Guide inclusive of pictures ranging from 1860 to the mid 1960's, along with a list of references and links for further research at our leisure.

We stopped for a drink at the Milwaukee Road Depot and The Loop, allowing enough time for attendees to get to know each other and discuss the sites and info in more detail.

Hopefully they'll bring this tour back next summer - it was both fun and informative.  The Mill City Museum has a very talented and engaging staff, and we highly recommend all of the tours and special events they offer.

2011 Mill City Flashback - Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers at Mill City Live

From Mill City Live at the Mill City Museum in the summer of 2011.

2011 Mill City Flashback - Sights and Sounds of July 16 KidsFest at MacPhail Center for Music

This past Saturday MacPhail Center for Music was alive with joyful noises as parents and their future musicians (some still in diapers) soaked up KidsFest.  This action packed 2-hour event gave little ones a chance to experience as many string, brass and percussion instruments as they could handle.  They also got to make their own instrument to take home, and enjoy a performance by the Dakota Combo.

Below are two slide shows - one silent (the Sights) and one quite loud (the Sounds), followed by a video of the Dakota Combo.  MacPhail's talented Early Childhood Music teachers provided guidance with smiles and ease. 

(best viewed in full screen mode)

2011 Mill City Flashback - Naphtalia at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

2011 Mill City Flashback - Great Turn Out for NorthEast Dog Parade

A huge crowd gathered in Chute Square for the July 30 NorthEast Dog Parade.  We didn't make it to the Red Stag for "Dogtail Hour" afterwards, but the parade kick off was quite a party by itself.

2011 Mill City Flashback - The Depot Hosts Bar & Patio Party for Neighbors and Guests

We met The Depot's Restaurant Manager, Randee Douglas, when our group stopped at the Stone Arch Bar for a drink during Mill City Museum's Minneapolis History Pub Crawl in August.  While chatting with Randee, we learned about the monthly Bar & Patio Party The Deport started hosting this summer after the completion of their beautiful new patio, situated just off of the Stone Arch Bar.  

The latest party was September 28, and featured Flat Earth Brewing Company of St. Paul, whose staff was on hand to pour samples and answer questions about their micro-brews.  DJ Adrian Perryman of Events by MV was spinning tunes, and juicy sliders were being devoured as fast as the chef could plate 'em up at the grill.  Servers treated guests to martinis and specialty shots, and fruits and cheeses were available for the non-carnivores in the crowd.  It all added up to a relaxing, enjoyable evening - a neat gift from The Depot to it's neighbors and guests.

A sizable fire pit is the focal point of the patio, and will come in handy for October's party (what are the odds of it being this gorgeous a month from now?).  You can stay informed on what's happening at The Depot through Facebook and Twitter. 

2011 Mill City Flashback - Minneapolis Duathlon [Video]

The Minneapolis Duathlon, a premier multisport event, became the largest du in America in our inaugural year (2009).

The Minneapolis Duathlon includes a 3.1-mile run, 18-mile bike, and a 3.1-mile run which can be done individually or as a 2- or 3-person relay, or you just do the 5K run. All of the races happen in downtown Minenapolis and along the scenic Mississippi River. It is a beautiful, rolling course perfect for athletes of who have different levels of experience. We would love for you, your friends and family to join us!

Each of these races, whether you do them as an individual or as a relay, offers the fourth piece of our 2011 5-medal series: the stained glass Minneapolis Duathlon medal. Plus athletes get a Minneapolis Duathlon bike set:  a hat, arm warmers and a bike bag.

2011 Mill City Flashback - Orange Mighty Trio at Mill City Farmers Market

Visitors to the August 20 Mill City Farmers Market were treated to a fantastic performance by the Orange Mighty Trio.  Also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

2011 Mill City Flashback - Spider-Man Among Runners in the Red, White & BOOM! TC Half Marathon

Watch for Spider-Man about 1:25 minutes into the video!  (Superman also ran, but unfortunatley we didn't get a shot of him.)

2011 Mill City Flashback - Outrage in Minneapolis - Vandals Strike 35W Bridge Memorial

Vandals removed several letters from the just dedicated 35W Bridge Remembrance Garden sometime between 8:00 AM yesterday and this morning.  I received a call this morning from Star Tribune reporter Matt McKinney inquiring about a photo shoot I did early yesterday morning to see if I caught the lettering still intact.  I directed Matt to a site we just launched for the memorial - http://35Wbridge.org - so he could verify.

According to McKinney, the project manager had been there earlier this morning to removed the remaining letters out of respect for survivors of the tragedy.  Matt let me know that Mayor Rybak was on his way to give a statement, so I headed over to the memorial.

Yesterday morning with the letters intact:

This morning, letters removed:

Mayor Rybak arriving on the scene:

2011 Mill City Flashback - Union Thugs Seize Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis

"Union thugs" is a term heard frequently on cable news and talk radio - search Google for and see for yourself:

- union thugs tea party 3,680,000 hits

- union thugs sarah palin 3,500,000 hits

- union thugs governor walker 2,270,000 hits

When I heard of the "Build Minnesota So Minnesota Works" rally, I wondered what it was really all about, so I decided to walk over to see some thugs for myself.  What I witnessed was shocking.  I hope my readers appreciate the bravery this reporter showed in covering this event.  As the following pictures show, I was in fear for my safety every moment spent on the Stone Arch Bridge (View all of the photos on Flickr...):

Thugs gathering for their assualt on the Stone Arch Bridge

Thugs about to attack

Grandpa thug and his buddy

Future thug

Apprentice thug

Cute blonde thug

Scary Black thug

Girl next door thug

Gang signs

Thug propaganda

Watch the Rally and judge for yourself:

View all of the photos on Flickr...

2011 Mill City Flashback - Another Performance by Light of the Moon Band at Mill City Farmers Market

Light of the Moon Band put on another great performance at the September 3 Mill City Farmers Market.

2011 Mill City Flashback - National Night Out in the Mill District [Sideshow]

Friends (new and old), food, drink, music, massages, door prizes and Segways - they all add up to a perfect 2011 National Night Out in our Mill District neighborhood. 

Special thanks to everyone who organized, provided refreshments, and helped set up and clean up.   Also, thank you to Mill City Commons, Sorella Wine & Spirits, The Doorway, Segway Tours and Mark Stillman.

Visit the Block Party Website for more photos...