New Paddle Share Stations Bring Kayak Rental to the Minneapolis Riverfront!

A rendering of the new paddle share station coming soon to North Mississippi Regional Park

Via an August 4 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Pilot program will allow park users to rent kayaks and explore Mississippi

New agreements between the National Park Service’s (NPS) non-profit charitable partner Mississippi Park Connection (MPC), the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) created a pilot program that will bring “paddle share” stations to Minneapolis’ Upper Riverfront this summer.

The NPS and its partner, Mississippi Park Connection, hope to launch the pilot program in late August, pending all necessary permits and approvals.  Read more

About Paddle Share Stations

Paddle share stations are similar to a bike share stations like Nice Ride Minnesota, but there are some differences. Once the program launches, users go online to www.paddleshare.org (not available yet, targeted for late August) to reserve kayaks for a specific date and time, review safety precautions and a safety video, sign a waiver and pay for the reservation.

Once the reservation is paid, users will receive a code that unlocks a station on the selected date and time at either North Mississippi Regional Park (near Kroening Interpretive Center) or the MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center, enabling them to get all necessary equipment (kayak, paddle, life jacket). Check with the NPS for times staff and volunteers will be available onsite to help explain the paddle share program and share information about the river and the national park.

Users can paddle upriver or downriver, but the rental equipment must be returned to the return station at Boom Island Park (on the southern edge of the park next to the existing canoe racks) before the allotted time is up. All stations are aligned with Nice Ride Minnesota bike share stations so users are able to paddle downriver and then bike back to where they started. Check Nice Ride bike availability and transit schedules at www.rivertripplanner.org. 

Announcing the Temporary Closure of Restaurant Alma and the Opening of Café, Hotel and Restaurant Alma

Via an August 2 e-newsletter from Restaurant Alma:

ALMA “2.0”: Restaurant, Café and Hotel

In 2013, fourteen years after the opening Restaurant Alma, the wonderful opportunity came along to purchase our building, and together as a team we began the journey of expanding the Alma experience to include an all-day cafe and boutique hotel. We also planned some much needed renovations to the original restaurant space. The process has taken longer than we expected, presenting many challenges and great learning experiences along the way. Most importantly, our work with the Minneapolis City Council, Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, and many supportive neighbors, ultimately resulted in changes to the city lodging ordinance: allowing the operation of small hotels in Minneapolis (for the first time in nearly 100 years), and breathing life into our new concept.

The Temporary Closing of Restaurant Alma

Alma “1.0“ will serve the last dishes from our Summer Menu on Friday, August 12th. Unavoidably, we must close for three months to connect the restaurant and cafe kitchens and to make significant mechanical and equipment upgrades. At the same time, the dining room will be undergoing renovations to improve the comfort of the guest experience, while also preserving the feel and layout of the original space. To reserve a table before August 12th please reserve via our website or call the restaurant after 2pm at 612-379-4909.
 
Perhaps the most important goal for us in the next seventeen years is to keep Alma very much the same. Since our first day of business we have believed in the saying, “a kitchen is only as good as the last meal it served,” knowing it applies equally to customer service. We believe our continued success is dependent on maintaining this humble—yet imperative—standard. One thing is for sure: the magic of excellent food and exceptional hospitality is never something we can turn into a simple recipe or set of instructions. We will continue our pursuit of excellence until the last plate is served at Alma 1.0, during our closure and preparations, and into the future with the arrival of Alma “2.0” this fall.

Our projected reopening date is the week of November 7th, 2016, landing almost seventeen years from our opening day in 1999. To share our progress and more about our expansion, we would like to invite you to read a weekly blog on our website, where we will chronicle construction progress, special events, design, menu development, hiring, and profiles of our dedicated team while we prepare for our first day as a restaurant, cafe and hotel.

Booking Hotel Alma

We are launching our online hotel-booking site to the public on Saturday, October 1st. To honor you, our longtime guests, we will be offering room reservations for mid-November stays, by invitation only. Expect another email from us in late September with a promotional code to book. 

Tonight - August 2: 2016 National Night Out in the Mill District!

Location: On the Chicago Avenue Mall (between Humboldt Lofts & the Guthrie)

National Night Out is an annual nationwide event that encourages residents to get out in the community, holding block parties and getting to know their neighbors as a way to encourage crime prevention. It's a great way to promote community-police partnerships and enjoy a Minnesota summer evening surrounded by friends and family. For more information, see the Minneapolis NNO mission statement.

Gather with your Mill District neighbors 6:00pm-9:00pm and enjoy:

• Beverages (Day Block and Fulton beers, wine, water and lemonade) and snacks
• Family Fun Zone with the SPARKit trailer sponsored by the Cynthia Froid Group
• Music - Rich Lewis Band
• Izzy Pops compliments of Betsy Lucas
• Food trucks (food for purchase) Chef Shack and Peeps Hot Box
• Community Giving Challenge: Dollars for Diapers for People Serving People. Please bring a few dollars for the diaper fund.
• The City is dropping off two temporary bike racks for block party attendees to use tonight. Feedback is appreciated as we continue to work with the City on temporary bike racks for various events.

Thank you to the hardworking group of volunteers led by Cynthia Kriha for consistently making the annual Mill District National Night Out (NNO) party a success! If you'd like to volunteer to help with clean up or the snack table, please contact Cynthia at 612-940-3827.

Last year's attendance was estimated at 525. Here are some scenes from that party:

Washington Avenue Reconstruction Project Open House, Aug 4 at Open Book

Via an e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

Project Construction Open House

You are invited to an open house for the Washington Avenue (County Road 152) reconstruction project.

Time and date: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4

Location: Open Book's Target Performance Hall at 1011 Washington Avenue S

There is no formal presentation. You can come at any time.

Project leaders will be at this informal event to provide you with an overview of the project, including information about the different stages of the project, details about the various improvements and overviews of the detours and traffic changes during construction.

About this project

Hennepin County, in coordination with the City of Minneapolis, is reconstructing Washington Avenue South (County Road 152) between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South.

When complete, the project will:

•Add dedicated turn lanes at key intersections
•Provide more space for pedestrians and shorten crossing distances at intersections
•Provide one-way cycle tracks, or protected bike lanes

To learn more about the project, visit www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue.

Project contact:
Stan Lim, project engineer
612-596-0292

Reward Offered in Gold Medal Park Vandalism

$500 for information leadng to arrest and conviction

Vandals struck in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, July 22 damaging the lights in front of the Gold Medal Park sign. The 2 white males caused over $3,000 in damages.

The campany charged with maintaining the park, Windsor Companies, is offering a reward of $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Contact Windosr Companies with questions.