In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

TOP STORIES LAST WEEK

See world in 2 weeks at Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Over 300 curated premiers to choose from.  A searchable site will help you sort, select and schedule!

Canadian investor buys Mill Place on edge of downtown Minneapolis
Originally the Hall and Dann Barrel Factory, the 1880 structure gets a full renovation. The project will bring the brick-and-timber buildings back to its roots for current tenants including University of Minnesota Press, Itasca Consulting and Dunn Bros. Coffee headquarters.

IDS Center, tallest building in the state, is up for sale again
Built in 1972 and the first building taller than the Foshay Tower - experts say the relatively short time the IDS Center was held by current owners is  a sign of the strength of the downtown Minneapolis real estate market.

Duffey Paper sold; future of North Loop buildings uncertain
What’s next for employees and the North Loop buildings as the 70-year-old, family-owned paper company is sold to New York-based paper company?

Grain Belt Lock & Dam lager goes on sale next week
Nearly 30 Northeast Minneapolis establishments will have Lock & Dam on tap next week, with the ceremonial first keg-tapping scheduled for Monday morning at Keegan's, where Grain Belt tapped its first Nordeast line six years ago.

Misfit Coffee plans to keep the Mill District cool this summer
State’s only mobile specialty coffee shop to add refillable growlers with cold brew coffee following move out of its winter location at Izzy’s Ice Cream.

Modist Brewing in the North Loop, Grand Opening April 15
Veterans of the local brewing community launch new concept and invite food trucks to partner on flavors.

Modist gets brewing in the North Loop
Style-defying beers are the goal for owners of new North Loop brewery on North Third Street. Combined tap room and patio to seat 220.

After Nye's closes, here are 3 classic Minneapolis restaurants to try
They’ve been serving up classic fare for decades at Jax Cafe, Market Bar-B-Que and Murray’s. Local legends, great specialties!

New Minneapolis rowing gym delivers 'one-and-done workout'
There’s a rowing revival - fueled by a higher caliber of equipment, group sessions and drills that allow you to set your own challenge level.

Vikings stadium's purple seats ready and waiting for first event in four months
The first event is just four months away and 66,200 seats are all in place.  Larger and more comfy  than airline seats!

Comparing The Vikings' New U.S. Bank Stadium to Metrodome
It’s larger. More premium seating. More elevators, escalators, restrooms and concessions. Bigger video boards and better wireless internet. It’s not 1982 anymore!

Counterpoint: Lively streetscapes draw more travelers
A visitor’s perspective on Minneapolis: Could technology be better used to roll out the welcome mat?

Park Board to mayor: Your proposal to repair parks isn't good enough
Mayor has vetoed both the Park Board’s referendum and the Johnson-Goodman plan - aims to bundle parks and streets funding discussion.

Addressing equity goals, Park Board’s state bonding request focuses on Upper River
The part of the riverfront with the least access to the river is the focus of four projects in this bonding request.

Julie Craven can be reached at julie@millcitymedia.org

Julie Craven Joins Mill City Times

I'm Julie Craven and I am so excited to be working with the team at Mill City Times! My husband Doug and I make our home in the Mill District which is both a surprise and a delight to us. A surprise because downtown condo living was not even on our radar five years ago, and a delight because we have literally fallen in love with this community of neighbors.

I recently retired after spending a career in marketing and communications, mostly around food, for companies including Kraft and Hormel, as well as a stint as food editor for Better Homes & Gardens publications. Those roles were at their core, opportunities to tell a story and make connections. Having said that, there are some stories I've already heard - case in point, anything about that much beloved Hormel product, Spam!

On the list of things that get me excited about this neighborhood is the sense of urgency and the excitement people have about the future of this wonderful Mill City. I'm all in, and my volunteer work includes the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership and People Serving People among others.  I am on the board of directors of the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Friends of the Mill District. The folks at Mill City Commons have been warm and welcoming and Doug and I look forward to becoming more active in that organization.

What a fabulous place to be! It tickles me that I have learned the names of some of people's dogs before I know the owner's name, that the bartenders at Sea Change will split the burger with a big half for Doug and a little half for me and that I can't take a walk across the Stone Arch Bridge without being asked to take pictures of at least two groups. There are a lot of great moments here and I'm looking forward to sharing them with Mill City Times readers!

Julie Craven can be reached at julie@millcitymedia.org

First Visit: The Draft Horse

My rule of thumb is, the second time I hear someone comment about a great new restaurant it's time to check it out!

The Draft Horse opened in December and last week we made our first visit. It's next to the Food Building off Marshall and was started by the owners of Anchor Fish and Chips, also located in Northeast Minneapolis. The lunch menu has two stand outs - pot pies and sandwiches. It took some coaxing to get our server Jason to share that his favorite is the chicken pot pie (such a diplomat!) The sandwich line up includes Fried Bologna and Cheese, Hot Roast with Gravy, Lone Grazer Grilled Cheese and Red Table Speck with Arugula. The grilled cheese is available with Red Table Royal Ham. I called it. I loved it.

The soup choices were a Whiskey Onion and a Minnesota Squash. Doug ordered the Chicken Pot Pie and a bowl of Minnesota Squash Soup. Lucky for me he shares. Both were delicious. The pot pie was hearty and flavorful with lots and lots and lots of chicken.

By noon the only remaining seats were at the bar. I asked the owner if lunch or dinner were busier times. She said in the beginning, dinner was the bigger draw but they were looking to build their lunch business. I think they've succeeded.

The focus is local, from the Red Table meats to the Patisserie 46 baguettes to the Spyhouse coffee selections. The emphasis on locally-sourced extended to the beer list with one exception, there's Guinness on tap, a nod to the owner's Belfast roots. We will be back for a happy hour soon to try out the tasting menu and one of the brews!

Location: 117 14th Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413

Website: www.thedrafthorsempls.com

Julie Craven can be reached at julie@millcitymedia.org.

In the News - News from Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

TOP STORIES LAST WEEK

Walking in the Twin Cities: It's hard out there for a pedestrian
What’s it like to be a walker, biker and transit rider - when distracted driving is a factor in one of four crashes?

Biking, pedestrian advocates rally for 3rd Avenue redesign
Green medians and planter-protected bike lanes make for a more pedestrian friendly city space, but some business owners have parking access concerns.

Get tough with downtown violent offenders — and work on preventing youth violence
The Star Trib Editorial Board weighs in: To maintain an active, vibrant downtown, the city and community must double down on prosecuting offenders and bolster youth violence prevention.

When it comes to Twin Cities parking garages, why can't designers ramp it up?
The grim and the good.  Why are most parking garages bland, boring or downright ugly?

Dream a Little Dream of Me: Minneapolis’s 10th Ave Bridge
Thinking way outside the box – could the 10th Avenue Bridge become the Minneapolis High Line Bridge?

Hidden Gems of the Minneapolis Skyway
Unique museums, throwback retail and heavenly desserts.  What you won’t see walking down the downtown streets.

Valspar to keep ‘significant presence’ in Minneapolis
Cleveland-based Sherwin Williams to purchase Valspar.  Valspar completed a $40 million Minneapolis corporate campus renovation project in 2014.  

ICM buys Mill Place buildings, plans $1.5M renovation
Canadian firm’s investment includes returning much of the 120 year old building to its ”brick and timber roots” while adding modern office amenities.

YMCA requests help with $37M move to Nicollet Mall
The relocated YMCA will occupy three floors of Gaviidae Common. They are asking the City of Minneapolis for $15 million in tax increments bonds for the project.

10 story office project planned for Washington Ave N
The Minneapolis Planning Commision to hear more about a mixed-use project for the North Loop. Distinctive front and back “warehouse” windows and features set this design apart.

Theater Latte Da hopes to buy Ritz Theater
A permanent home for one of the Twin Cities’ fastest-growing organizations of its kind.

Theater Latte Da to buy Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis
Built as a movie house in 1928, the Ritz Theater has been the temporary home of the theater group for the past two years.

Coming soon: Stem Wine Bar & Eatery
Partner at The Tangiers to open a wine bar and restaurant concept in the Nicollet Island-East Bank neighborhood.

Riddle Room to expand live puzzle room concept
Modern Antics responds to growing demand for larger groups to solve puzzles in spaceship-themed rooms following Starship’s success.

COMPETING PLANS TO FUND MINNEAPOLIS PARKS

Mpls. council members pitch plan to avoid park funding vote
Two Minneapolis City Council veterans unveil an unprecedented  proposal - the city and Park Board as partners.

New funding plan emerges for city’s parks
There’s a growing neighborhood park funding gap.  Council President Johnson and Council Member Goodman envision a solution that uses a mix of of existing city funds.

Minneapolis mayor vetoes alternative parks funding plan
The Park Board is expected to override the veto when it meets on April 6. Hodges cites concerns about sustainability of funding and a lack of public notice.

Hodges, Quincy propose plan for $300M in park, street investments
Mayor's plan:  $30M per year for 10 years to close the funding shortfall.

Julie Craven can be reached at julie@millcitymedia.org