Heartfelt Gratitude to Our Community

Article by Claudia Kittock, photos by Ryan Ojard

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Mill City Players program possible!

Almost three years ago, a group of friends decided to start a charity whose central mission was to build community. The Friends of the Mill District has grown quickly, and with every new program, another community has formed. None of this happens by accident, and, in fact, it happens with a lot of work by the board members who volunteer their time. It also happens because of the community, and we are so very grateful for the response and the support of our community.

The Mill City Players just wrapped up their third session, and are now firmly planted as a program, and will now run throughout the year in 4 sessions. If you were lucky enough to go to one of the performances, you know about community because you saw it in action.

We are so grateful to each and every one of you who volunteered to bring food for the actors. Camille Burke, Suzy Bross, Jan Mershon, the Open Book Café, Cindy Case, Adair and Ken New, Ken and Katie Searl, Darlene Richter, Sharon Fong and Anna, Clark Wold, Peggy Lucas, Jennifer Weber and Afro-Deli, Nancy Darcy, Betty Wass, Ginger Tollefson, Sue Johnson, and Julie O’Brien. Special mention to Chris Bray who volunteered to help recruit and organize volunteers. It is a big job, and her help was wonderful.

We are equally grateful for the way our community responded to our need for places to rehearse and place to perform. YouthLink and Augsburg College donated space for rehearsals and the Downtown Central Library and MacPhail Center for Music donated their spectacular stages for our actors. Every dollar we were able to save by having spaces donated went directly to the program, and we were able to provide even more experiences to the actors.

The Guthrie played an integral part in our first two sessions, and then volunteered to provide the actors with tickets to Guthrie plays. It is difficult to teach young people about the theater when they haven’t seen theater. Allen and Lou Burdick bought 5 tickets for 4 Minnesota Twins games and donated them to our actors. That was been great fun and another chance to be part of a larger community. ESPN heard about our program and donated 30 tickets to the X-Games when they were in our city. Our actors were thrilled to be able to experience a day of fun that none of them had seen before.

We are also so very grateful for each and every financial contributor. Everything we do requires money. We have been able to hire great artists to lead our groups. JD and Fred Steele are artists beyond description, and having them lead the Mill City Singers makes us the group we are. It does not happen without your faith in our mission, and because you believe in us, you invest in us, and we get to do this amazing work.

The artistic team we hired to lead the Mill City Players is another such example. James A. Williams is our rock and our center. Without his expertise, his calmness, his passion, and his heart, this program would not be what it is. Sister Patricia Brown brings her skills as a dancer and teacher and gives our actors a way to express themselves that most would not have found on their own. Ahanti Young, a skilled actor, musician, and percussionist, teaches the young people about discipline, about rhythm, about teamwork. I have had the honor to watch this team work at each and every rehearsal and know that hiring them to lead this group was a great decision. We pay them for their skills, but we can’t pay them for their love and their passion, and for all of that, we are so very grateful.  

Above: During his intro remarks before the August 25 perfomance, James A. Williams explained his approach to directing a group of young people: process over product. All the work, creativity and dicipline that goes into the production (the process) is much more valuable than the actual performance (the product). 

Lastly, and most importantly, we want to thank the actors. Showing up can be the most difficult part of life, and these young people decided to do just that. We thank Ahmed Abdi, Ahmed Abdijibar, Ahmed Mahad, Crystal Ray Lamm, David Conyers, Farton Jama, Iman Cabdit, Iqbal Maxamed, Jackie Stewart, Jalen Dyson, Mahamed Salad, Miske Salad, Abdullahi Salad, Hibo Abdi, Adone Ravaz, Anthony Anderson, Zedekiah Zbichorski, Sam Karpeh, Rudy Sutana, Osolo Mohamed, and Nadir Mahamud. 

This is why we do the work we do. This is why we exist. Doing this work changes not only the people who participate, but we hope, the community. We are stronger together, and for this, we are so thankful.

Larger than life drumming coach, Ahanti Young.

Patricia Brown got the audience engaged.

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Check Out These Latest Offerings from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Opens August 31

"One of the year's bravest films." - Los Angeles Times

2018 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Winner based on the celebrated novel stars Chloë Grace Moretz. A group of teenagers form an unlikely family as they fight to survive in an intolerant gay conversion therapy center.

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RBG

Now Playing thru September 6 

At the age of 85, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a lengthy legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But the unique personal journey of her rise to the nation's highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans - until now.

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Yellow Submarine

Now Playing - Weekend Matinees Added 

50th Anniversary Restoration!

An icon of psychedelic pop culture, Yellow Submarine is a colourful musical spectacle and an exhilaratingly joyful cinematic experience for all ages - filled with visual invention, optical illusions, word play, and glorious, glorious music.

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The Bookshop

Opens September 7 

England 1959. In a small East Anglian town, free-spirited widow Florence Green decides, against polite but ruthless local opposition, to open a bookshop. Based on Penelope Fitzgerald's acclaimed novel and directed by Isabel Coixet (Learning to Drive), The Bookshop is an elegant yet incisive rendering of personal resolve, tested in the battle for the soul of a community.

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Minnanimate 7

September 13 at 6:30pm & 7:45pm 

MinnAnimate is celebrating its seventh incarnation on September 13th with another annual showcase of student, youth and independent animation made in. Join us at the St. Anthony Main Theater 3, the home of the Film Society of Minneapolis and St. Paul, for a look at the Minnesota animation scene, in a wide variety of animation types and styles.

2018 DID Greening & Public Realm Awards Voting Now Open

Via an August 28 News Release:

Voting for top downtown green spaces now open for 2018 DID Greening & Public Realm Awards

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) today announced the public voting for the 9th annual Greening & Public Realm Awards is now open.

The Greening Awards, a DID initiative since 2010, celebrate outstanding examples of greening and placemaking that improve public space in Downtown Minneapolis. Winners will be selected by public vote at mplsdid.com/greeningawards. The vote will be open Aug. 28 through Sept. 14.

This year, 36 finalists were selected from more than 60 unique nominees through an interactive public nomination process. These finalists were divided into 12 categories based on the project’s characteristics and size. Among the finalists selected were 15 new nominees—a continued sign of the growing diversity of greening in the downtown area—as well as 14 past winners. Seven of last year’s 12 winners are nominated again this year—including eight-time winner Loring Greenway.

“Our greening awards finalists annually highlight the incredible variety and breadth of public and private greening we enjoy here in our downtown,” said Steve Cramer, Mpls Downtown Improvement District President & CEO. “Thank you to all who enhance our public realm through your efforts—going above and beyond to help make our downtown welcoming and extraordinary.”

Winners will receive a commemorative Greening Award created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued.

The DID Greening Awards are intended to inspire all to work toward making downtown greener and more vibrant. DID’s mission through the Greening Awards is to encourage all downtown businesses and organizations to participate in the greening effort.

The public is encouraged to vote by visiting mplsdid.com/greeningawards and clicking on the interactive vote link. Each category will showcase the finalists along with a photo of each location for easy viewing and identification. This year’s 12 categories include the following finalists:

Small Activated Space

• 100 Washington
• Colonial Warehouse Alleyway*
• Kieran’s Irish Pub

Small Green Space

• Hennepin Healthcare Pocket Park*
• Target Plaza, South Entry
• Westminster Presbyterian Church

Large Activated Space

• Hennepin County Government Center North & South Plazas
• Nicollet*
• The Commons

Large Green Space

• Cancer Survivors Park
• Loring Greenway
• Triangle Park

Façade Greening

• Lenox Brownstones*
• Mills Fleet Farm Parking Garage
• The Local

Public Art

• 5th & Hennepin Mini Mural*
• Carry On Homes by Peng Wu, Zoe Cinel, Shunjie Yong, Preston Drum and Aki Shibata*
• Nicollet Lanterns by Blessing Hancock*
• Prairie Tree by Ned Kahn*

Outdoor Café

• Brit’s Pub
• Eastside*
• Haskell’s Wine Bar*
• The News Room*

Streetscape Greening

• Fulton Taproom
• Kraus Anderson Development*
• Millwright

Streetscape Green Infrastructure

• Minneapolis Convention Center
• Nicollet
• Washington Avenue S*

Entryway Greening

• Aloft Minneapolis
• HQ Apartments*
• Mpls DID Pop-up Satellite Office*

Public Realm Improvement

• Carry On Homes by Peng Wu, Zoe Cinel, Shunjie Yong, Preston Drum and Aki Shibata*
• Colonial Warehouse Alleyway
• Haskell’s Wine Bar
• Hennepin Healthcare Pocket Park
• Kraus Anderson Development
• Nicollet Redesign
• Nicollet Lanterns by Blessing Hancock
• The News Room
• Washington Ave S Redesign
• Westminster Presbyterian Church

Best Neighborhood

• Downtown East
• Downtown West
• Elliot Park
• Loring Park
• North Loop

* New Nominee in this category

The public is encouraged to not only vote on a winner for each category but to also celebrate greening on social media year-round. Send your greening photos to @MplsDID on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #GreenAwardsMpls.

For more information, visit www.mplsdid.com/greeningawards. 

Share your thoughts on initial concepts for the Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Master Plan

Via an August 24 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

New survey offers an opportunity to give feedback on initial concepts for various park areas.

You're invited to participate in a survey about preliminary planning concepts for the following areas of Mississippi Gorge Regional Park: 

- Franklin Flats

- East River Flats

- Oak Savanna next to 36th St.

- Annie Young Meadow

- Bohemian Flats

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The concepts incorporate feedback from the Community Advisory Committee (CAC), the project Advisory Committee (PAC), public listening sessions, open house events and emails from interested community members.  MPRB staff are eager to receive comments from the public on these park area concepts, along with ideas for suggested changes. The survey will be online through October 25.

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Take the survey now! 

Transportation Action Plan Update Underway

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is updating its 10-year Transportation Action Plan to meet the transportation vision and policies outlined in Minneapolis 2040, the City’s draft Comprehensive Plan. Minneapolis 2040 provides the foundation and supporting policy from which the Transportation Action Plan will be developed.

Streets in Minneapolis serve a lot of people. The Transportation Action Plan will guide us in ensuring that City streets foster safe and efficient transportation options. Additionally, the Transportation Action Plan will help us select transportation projects and guide the design of projects on all streets in the city over the next 10 years. The plan will also help the City increase equity in the transportation system, address climate change challenges, and support our Complete Streets Policy and commitment to Vision Zero. Multiple components that are interrelated will be integrated into one Transportation Action Plan. The Plan components will include:

• Advanced mobility
• Pedestrian
• Bicycle
• Transit
• Street operations
• Freight
• Street design

Good planning leads to successful outcomes. The Transportation Action Plan will update and build off Access Minneapolis, the City's existing transportation policy plan. We've accomplished much of what was outlined in Access over the last 10 years. 

A few highlights include:

• Significant increases in the number of people walking and biking across the city
• The downtown redesign of Marquette Ave and Second Avenue transit corridors with bus only lanes
• Significant investment in the City’s bikeway network, resulting in substantial decreases in the bicycle crash rate and bicycle crashes with serious injuries.

Throughout the next year, the Public Works will conduct extensive community engagement to hear your ideas on how we should improve our transportation network. Information regarding future outreach events will be outlined on the Transportation Action Plan website. Public Works will seek City Council approval on the Transportation Action Plan in fall 2019.

We are in the early stages of developing the Transportation Action Plan, but there are many ways to be involved now:

• Check out our website
• Take our short survey and enter to win one of two $25 giftcards
• Sign up for email updates
• Use #gompls to spread the word
• Visit the Public Works booth at Open Streets and various farmers markets 

Minneapolis 2040: What is next?

The public comment period closed on July 22. Staff are reviewing comments which will inform changes to a revised draft plan that will be released in late September. The revised draft will be taken under consideration by the City Planning Commission in late October and the full City Council in December. The approval process will include a formal public hearing at which anyone can submit written comment or speak in person. Specific dates and times will be announced later this summer.

To view public comments that have been received visit the Minneapolis 2040 website. Comments received by email and meetings will be posted at a later date. 

September 9 Mill City Farmers Market 2018 Harvest Social - Delicious Fun for an Incredible Community Asset!

The Mill City Farmers Market 2018 Harvest Social is just around the corner!

This annual event will take place Sunday, September 9, 4:30p - 7:00p inside the train shed connected to the Mill City Museum.

The Harvest Social is MCFM's single fundraiser of the year and supports the work of their new Charitable Fund. Vendor fees cover just 25% of the MCFM operating budget, and they rely on our community, sponsors and individuals to achieve the Market’s goal of Growing a Healthier Community.

Tickets are still available! Can't attend? Please consider making a donation online.

New this year! Check out this new online store with items to bid on (buy it now) before the auction.

Stop by the Info Booth when shopping at the Saturday or Tuesday night Markets to learn more.

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Editor's Note: I can personally attest to the value the MCFM adds to our neighborhood. Since moving downtown in 2009, we've made it a priority to support them. When you attend the Market you can feel the community. These farmers and makers are so much more than "vendors" - they are friends and a trusted source of information. I have so much respect for their hard work, perseverance and spirit. Kim :) 

Sign Up Today for the 12th Annual Minneapolis Bike Tour!

Sunday, September 16, 8 am
Start-finish at Boom Island Park

Come experience the beautiful parkways that make Minneapolis the best place to bike in the country by participating in the 2018 Minneapolis Bike Tour! Spanning the Grand rounds Scenic Byway System, the Minneapolis Bike Tour is a family-oriented, recreational tour that is great for all ages and abilities.

The tour will take place on Sunday, September 16, at 8 am, with a picturesque start and finish line area at Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley Street NE. There are two routes to choose from; 16-mile and 32-mile, both of which are closed to motorized traffic. All routes include stops with refreshments and bike mechanics.

Stick around after the ride to enjoy live music, beer for participants 21+ (must show ID), courtesy of local Utepils Brewing, food from local vendors, exhibitor booths and bike tour merchandise for sale.

Check out our tour video on our Minneapolis Bike Tour Facebook page and sign up to ride today!

The Minneapolis Bike Tour was created to bring cyclists together and support bike-related initiatives. Proceeds from the tour will benefit bike safety and education events for Minneapolis youth as well as bike trail improvement projects throughout the system.

35W@94 Downtown to Crosstown Construction Update

UPDATE: Upcoming overnight closures

• Overnight closures on I-94 now scheduled for Aug. 25, 27, 29 and 30
• Upcoming overnight closures on I-35W now planned for early to mid-September
Upcoming public event
• Join us! Franklin Avenue Open Streets: Sun, Aug. 26
Details on each update are provided below.
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UPDATE: I-94 overnight closures scheduled Aug. 25, 27, 29 and 30
Progress continues on the new bridges that we are constructing and we need some overnight closures of I-94 this weekend and next week. Please note that the closure dates and times have changed since last week’s update.
• On Sat, Aug. 25, starting at 12:01 a.m., westbound I-94 will be closed between I-35W and I-394. The detour route is SB I-35W to WB Hwy 62 to NB Hwy 100 to EB I-394. The road will reopen by 7 a.m the same day.
• On Mon, Aug. 27, beginning at 10 p.m., eastbound I-94 will be closed between I-394 and I-35W. The detour route is WB I-394 to SB Hwy 100 to EB Hwy 62 to NB I-35W. The road will reopen by 5 a.m. Tue, Aug. 28.
• On Wed, Aug. 29, beginning at 10 p.m., westbound I-94 will be closed between I-35W and I-394. The detour route is SB I-35W to WB Hwy 62 to NB Hwy 100 to EB I-394. The road will reopen by 5 a.m. Thu, Aug. 30.
• On Thu, Aug. 30, beginning at 10 p.m., eastbound I-94 will be closed between I-394 and I-35W. The detour route is WB I-394 to SB Hwy 100 to EB Hwy 62 to NB I-35W. The road will reopen by 5 a.m. Fri, Aug. 31.
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UPDATE: I-35W overnight closures planned for early to mid-September
There will be upcoming overnight closures on I-35W tentatively planned for early to mid-September. Additional details will be available as dates are finalized.
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Join us!
The Franklin Ave. Open Streets public event in Minneapolis is this Sun, Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 35W@94 project staff will have a booth set-up at the event near the intersection of Franklin Ave. and Oakland Ave.
The project staff will be available to answer questions and provide information about upcoming construction activities that could impact access to local roads.
Make sure to stop by!
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More about this project
To learn more, including all current traffic impacts and detour routes, visit the project website at: www.mndot.gov/35w94.
Metro Transit bus routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, and to sign up for Rider Alerts, visit: www.metrotransit.org/35W.
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, visit: http://www.mvta.com/.
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Stay Connected
• Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/mndot and Twitter: @mndotnews
• Email the project team at: info@35w94.com
• Call the project hotline at: 612-284-6125
For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit: http://www.511mn.org/ or dial 5-1-1.

Public invited to The American Legion Parade Sunday, August 26

Via an August 21 News Release from Meet Minneapolis:

Public Invited to a Parade on Nicollet Celebrating Military Veterans and The American Legion

The American Legion’s return to Minneapolis for its 100th National Convention will bring an estimated 10,000 attendees to the city

Nicollet will be buzzing with the most excitement its seen since Super Bowl LIVE when approximately 3,000 members of The American Legion march through downtown Minneapolis on Sunday, August 26. The public is invited to line Nicollet for the parade that starts at 5th Street and continues to 12th Street, as these military veterans join in a community celebration to mark their 100th National Convention, which takes place at the Minneapolis Convention Center. In addition to honoring the wartime veterans who are marching, parade watchers will be treated to an extravaganza that includes floats, marching bands, color guards and horses.

“It’s an honor to once again bring this respected organization to Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center,” said Meet Minneapolis President and CEO Melvin Tennant, who noted the city last hosted The American Legion in 2011. “This year cements the strong historic ties Minneapolis has to The American Legion. It’s a relationship we value, as this group of two million members continues to highlight Minneapolis as a great place to visit and conduct business.”

Minneapolis was the backdrop for the organization’s first national convention in 1919. Sunday’s historic parade is the largest public event marking the organization’s 100th National Convention, which will be held August 24-30, with an anticipated 10,000* attendees in downtown Minneapolis. Two additional public events will be a color guard competition Friday, August 24, and a band competition Saturday, August 25.

Details for Public Events:

• Color Guard Contest – 5 p.m. on August 24
  • Minneapolis Convention Center, Hall B Level 1
• Band Competition – 1 p.m. on August 25
  • Minneapolis Convention Center, Auditorium Level 1
• The American Legion Parade – 4 p.m. on August 26
  • Nicollet between 5th Street and 12th Street
  • Staging at Nicollet and Washington Avenues

The American Legion’s 100th National Convention will continue its legacy of work that began in Minneapolis, advocating on behalf of veterans, including extensive work on the original GI Bill and the post 9/11 GI Bill providing more education benefits for veterans. 

“The American Legion, founded by returning World War I veterans, held its first national convention in Minneapolis in November of 1919.  At that convention, patriotic American service members laid the foundation of what would become our nation’s largest veteran service organization,” said Denise Rohan, National Commander of The American Legion. “Today, with more than 12,000 posts around the world, The American Legion is proud to kick off its Centennial Celebration in Minneapolis – right back where it all began.”

*Anticipated attendance numbers provided by The American Legion and subject to change. 

Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge Repairs Update

Workers will install new decking in the coming weeks

The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge rehabilitation project is making good progress, although long lead times for steel and timber decking did cause some delay. The bridge is still expected to reopen this fall, likely in early October.

Steel repairs continue this week with sandblasting and painting of the lower steel structure, followed by deck installation on half of the bridge in the coming weeks. Please continue to follow the posted pedestrian and bike detours and stay out of the construction area.

The Mississippi River East Channel below the bridge is closed to all boat traffic until the bridge reopens, so the Paddle Share kayak return station has been relocated to the Boom Island Boat Launch.

Project Page

City Seeks Volunteers for Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts September 11-13

Via an August 21 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

Minneapolis Public Works is gearing up to conduct its Annual Bicyclist and Pedestrian Count, and you can help! Volunteers are needed to count the number of bicyclists and pedestrians at several locations around the city. The main days for counting will be September 11-13. All count shifts are from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Bicyclist and pedestrian counts are conducted in order to understand the impact of non-motorized traffic on streets, sidewalks, and trails. Accurate counts enable the City to plan and build for bicyclists and pedestrians, while tracking what’s successful and what should be done differently.

If you’re interested in volunteering for any of these counts, register online or contact Chris Kartheiser at Chris.Kartheiser@minneapolismn.gov 612-673-2544.

Minneapolis Public Works is also teaming up with Hennepin County this year, offering new counting locations outside of Minneapolis in first-ring suburbs. If you are interested, you can register online by visiting www.menti.com and entering the code 67 00 90 or by contacting Emily Kettell at Emily.Kettell@hennepin.us or 612-543-1963.

Hennepin County Library Adds 70-plus More Local Albums to Streaming Platform

Via an August 21 News Release:

Music is available at no cost to library users!

This week, Hennepin County Library is amplifying its online music platform, MnSpin, with more than 70 additional albums by local artists. The new work includes standouts such as Atmosphere and Brother Ali, and brand new acts launching their first records. Added to the 50-plus albums shared last year, the whole curated collection of local artists’ albums is available to library patrons and music seekers worldwide.

Inspired by models already cranking on library websites based in places like Seattle, Portland and Nashville, Hennepin County Library staff worked last year with Madison-based MUSICat to create a platform to accept submissions from musicians, and make the tracks available via the library’s website. 

Good for musicians, good for listeners

Since the December launch, library patrons and others have streamed and downloaded more than 20,000 songs. In a musician survey last spring, three-quarters of respondents said that participating in MnSpin had brought more attention to their music.

“We have been so pleased by the enthusiastic reception MnSpin has received, and by the benefit to our participating musicians,” said Library Director Lois Langer Thompson. “We hope that by participating in our rich and diverse local music scene, we will continue our work to make the library inclusive and welcoming to more people in our community and beyond.”

A playlist picked for you

For the latest round, the library worked with seven volunteer curators and three staff members to cull almost 300 contributions down to about 70 additions to the collection.  

10 curators included local music leaders and library staff members who have deep roots in the Twin Cities music scene: 

Dan Gaarder, a performer with the Jayhawks, Trailer Trash and the Roe Family Singers

Maria Jette, vocal performer of classical and contemporary music 

Brianna Lane, singer-songwriter and executive director/co-founder of The Warming House 

Andrea Pierre, founder/co-host of radio talk show The Discourse on 98.9 KRSM

J.D. Steele, member of The Steeles and director of the MacPhail Community Youth Choir 

Malik Watkins, aka MaLLy, independent hip-hop artist. Performer and teaching artist

Bo Weber, alternative/pop solo artist and creator of the online publication, Music In Minnesota

Jonathan Copeland, Hennepin County librarian

Alyssa Kuglin, Hennepin County Library staff

Murphy Baker, Hennepin County Library staff

Watkins, a new curator this round, said the picks that made the collection were pretty clear-cut. MnSpin presents opportunities for artists and for the library, he said. 

“Some people say all exposure is good exposure, but I think MnSpin is a new spin on how the library is perceived, too,” he said. “It’s a good way to give people a different perspective on the library, and that [the library is] paying attention to how music is consumed. It’s just another avenue for folks to explore. It gives everyone a seat at the table, that their interests are being met.” 

A ticket to listen

Your Hennepin County Library card is a ticket to stream or download music from MnSpin; and music lovers everywhere can discover and stream music created in our hometowns. For decades, Minnesotans have been musical innovators. Hennepin County Library is proud to play a part in spreading the word about new, sometimes undiscovered, and always varied music that is constantly being created in Minnesota. 

The final MnSpin collection includes, rock, hip-hop, folk, country, R&B, jazz, international music, children’s music and more. Some of the artists who contributed work in 2017 are back again with new albums. 

The artists being added to MnSpin include some who have been recording and performing in major venues for years, and others who are brand new to the Twin Cities scene.

PaviElle French, known by her music fans simply as PaviElle, decided to enter her album, Fear Not, after hearing about MnSpin by word of mouth.  

“Growing up, I was really into music,” she said. “I grew up in the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul and went to Lexington Library a lot to check out CDs and books. I thought that was really cool they were adding local people because I discovered a lot of music at the library.”

It’s important to offer access to music for free to listeners, she said. 

“I appreciate being able to put it out to the public like that. I think it’s great access for people who can’t necessarily pay for it or can’t go to a show. I hope the program itself grows and that it continues to spread to more libraries. … Things like that keep the library alive and keep learning alive.” 

Thanks to the Friends 

MnSpin would not be possible without help from the Friends of the Hennepin County Library, the system’s funding partner, which along with other support, provided a $200 per-album stipend for each act.  

Find the names of the other inaugural artists at MnSpin, or browse from hclib.org/arts-culture.

Please contact us for connections to curators and participating musicians. 

Look for more news on the Hennepin County Library website at hclib.org.

The Minneapolis Marines

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Long before the Minnesota Vikings played their first game in 1961 there was another NFL team in the city. The Minneapolis Marines introduced professional football to the city in 1921, and while their win-loss record was nothing to brag about, the team was a source of entertainment and pride for the communities they played in.

The Minneapolis Marines

A photo of Bobby Marshall taken in 1905Starting back in 1905, the Marines consisted of local neighborhood boys for their first few years of existence where they competed in city leagues. The team was the starting point for many future NFL players, which is a big reason why they saw regional success. The peak years for the team came shortly after they started bringing in ex-collegiate players from local colleges, such at the University of Minnesota, Augsburg, and Hamline. The most notable of these players is Bobby Marshall. After graduating from Minneapolis Central High School, Marshall attended the University of Minnesota where he became the first African-American to play baseball, hockey, and football at the university, as well as enroll in their law school.

From 1913-1917, the Minneapolis Marines were the best independent football team in the Midwest sporting a 33-0 record. With the United States’ involvement in World War I, all independent teams disbanded. During this time, the Marines’ star players, including Bobby Marshall, left for Illinois to play for the Rock Island Independents. In 1920, the Independents became a founding member of the American Professional Football Association, which later rebranded as the NFL. It was because of this that Bobby Marshall became the first African-American to play in the NFL.

A year later, the Minneapolis Marines would also make the jump to the NFL, however, they would not find the same success they had as an independent team. From 1921 to 1924 they went 4-17-3, including a 0-6 record during their last season. The financial burden was too much for the owners, so the team folded. A few years later in 1929, the owners of the Marines decided to give it another go and field another team in the NFL. This time they would be called the Minneapolis Red Jackets. Once again, the gamble did not payoff, and the team went 2-16-1 during their two seasons in the league. With the team never making money and the Great Depression in full swing, the owners folded the team one last time. The best thing to almost happen to this iteration of the team would’ve happened in 1930 when they offered a contract to legendary Golden Gopher, Bronko Nagurski. Unfortunately, the Chicago Bears offered a better deal, and Nagurski signed with them for $5,000.

Football game at Bottineau Field, 1926

From playing in parks like Bottineau and Camden to stadiums like Nicollet Park and Lexington Park, home of the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints, the Minneapolis Marines/Red Jackets found lots of success early on and unfortunately ended things on a bad note, much like the Vikings did last season, but let’s put that behind us. Will the Vikings ever dawn the red jerseys with red and white striped sleeves that the Marines once wore for a throwback game? Probably not, but the interest and passion that this team created for professional football in the city and state can still be seen throughout Minnesota.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 5+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

THIS WEEK: It's Showtime for the Mill City Players!

Article by Claudia Kittock

It is show time for the Mill City Players!  Rehearsing since mid-June, this energetic and talented group of young people are ready to perform. We hope you can join us August 21st at 7 p.m. in MacPhail Center for Music's Antonello Hall, or on August 25th at 1:30 p.m. in Central Library's Pohlad Hall. Performance will be in 3 sections: Movement, Drumming, and Acting. The actors have been writing - you can expect to hear their own words, and they are powerful. COST: FREE.

We are so honored to have an incredible team of professionals leading the Mill City Players. James A. Williams is the Artistic Director and comes to this project with 42 years of theater experience and incredible skills. JW (as he is known) has been a professional actor, director, producer, and writer for almost 40 years.  Patricia Brown, adjunct professor of dance at the University of Minnesota and Macalester, teaches movement and serves as Associate Director. Ahanti Young, professional percussionist, actor, and spoken word artist teaches our actors drumming on paint pails and also serves as Associate Director.     

This troupe was created and is sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District. We began a year ago and are now preparing to make this troupe a permanent group. The mission of the Friends is to create and support activities that build community, and are free of charge to all participants. We hit a home run with this group!  Come and see for yourself. You do not want to miss a chance to see what these actors have to say.

The Players' motto is “Process over Product”. They want the audience to know that everything is a work of ongoing art. We grow, we learn, we change, and we do not have an endpoint.

If you have any questions or comments or want to know more about supporting the work of the Friends of the Mill District, please contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com. 

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

zAmya Theater Project announces SECOND CHANCE

Via an August 17 Press Release: 

zAmya Theater Project announces SECOND CHANCE

September 11 - 14 in the amphitheater outside Minneapolis Central Library on Nicollet

  

zAmya Theater Project announces SECOND CHANCE, a new play that explores what a second chance looks like for people experiencing homelessness. SECOND CHANCE was created by weekly workshops (primarily people experiencing homelessness) with playwright Carlyle Brown, choreographer Leah Nelson and theater artists Bianca Pettis and Esther Ouray. SECOND CHANCE is directed by Maren Ward.

Who deserves a second chance? And who decides? SECOND CHANCE explores the concept of what it means to get a second chance in life. A woman has a criminal charge that has been following her around and she can’t seem to get rid of it no matter what she tries. We hear her plea to the Council of Second Chances and the audience weighs in on whether or not she gets a second chance. What would you decide?

SECOND CHANCE will be performed by Stayci Bell, Charles Hilton, Caroline Mannheimer, Greg Tromiczak, Arminta Wilson, D. “Lurch” Yundt, Shannon Kemp, Tahiti Robinson, Sol Moran, Robert Blood, Calvin Wright, Annette Bryant, David Schnell, and Kamp Welch.

SECOND CHANCE is the culmination of ACTivation: Changing the Conversation on Homelessness Downtown. ACTivation is zAmya’s year-long residency at the Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central on Nicollet Mall. The goal of the residency is to engage library patrons experiencing homelessness in creative projects which will build relationships between homeless and housed patrons of the library and, by extension, Minneapolis – particularly downtown employees and residents. Activities have included weekly workshops and performances on Nicollet Mall.

It is said in the housing advocacy world that people with criminal backgrounds are the hardest to house. The phrase Second Chance is a term housing advocates use to refer to this challenge. Second Chance implies there is someone who messed up. With this housing or this job we’ll give that person a Second Chance at life. As it is now, these Second Chances are hard to come by. While we generally believe in the idea of serving time and paying dues, our systems do not support this idea. As the truth gets louder around racial covenants in housing practice, Criminal Justice System as the new Jim Crow, huge racial disparities in shelters and on the streets – it must be asked – was there ever a first chance? Maybe it is America that needs a Second Chance to fulfill the dream for all Americans?

These are the questions and contradictions that fuel the latest project of zAmya Theater Project, a company embedded in St. Stephen's Human Services, a social services agency devoted to ending homelessness. Created by actors who have experience with homelessness, zAmya’s plays tell stories related to this vital issues that increase awareness and understanding and build the public knowledge and will to address this problem. As with all zAmya productions, SECOND CHANCE will include humor, song and spoken word.

SECOND CHANCE is created with support from Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, National Endowment for the Arts and the Carolyn Foundation.

SECOND CHANCE will run September 11, 12, and 13 at noon and September 14 at 5pm at the amphitheater outside of Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Avenue. All performances are free, but donations are gladly accepted. More info is available at ststephensmpls.org/learn-advocate/zamya.

zAmya Theater Project is a unique creative process that brings together homeless and housed individuals to create and perform a theatrical production. zAmya turns “homeless” from a word back into a person. Or persons. Living, breathing, laughing, singing persons. Who act — yes, act — in entertaining, genre-defying productions that are guaranteed to change your mind, if not your life.

zAmya Theater Project uses creativity, collaboration and community-based theater to build understanding and connection between citizens with and without experience in homelessness toward a vision of a community with safe, stable, affordable housing options for all. zAmya is a Sanskrit word that means “aiming for peace”.

35W@94 Downtown to Crosstown Construction Update

Upcoming closures

• I-94 overnight closures Aug. 23 and 25
• Project webcam views available
• Upcoming I-94 and I-35W overnight closures tentatively scheduled for late Aug. and early Sept.

Project status

We’re continuing to make progress on some of the new bridges we’re constructing. As a result, we need some overnight closures on I-94 and I-35W later this month. If you’re interested in watching progress of the I-35W and I-94 interchange, we have good news for you, views from our project webcam are now available.

Details on each update are provided below.

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I-94 overnight closures scheduled Aug. 23 and 25

As work progresses on the new bridge that will carry traffic to/from the downtown exits over I-94, we need to set bridge beams in preparation of deck construction. To do this, some nighttime highway closures are needed and scheduled for the following dates:

• On Thu, Aug. 23, an overnight closure of eastbound I-94 between I-394 and I-35W from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The detour route is WB I-394 to SB Hwy 100 to EB Hwy 62 to NB I-35W
• On Sat, Aug. 25, an overnight closure of westbound I-94 between I-35W and I-394 from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. The detour route is SB I-35W to WB Hwy 62 to NB Hwy 100 to EB I-394. 

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Project webcam views available

We’ve installed a project webcam at the north end of the construction area. From the webcam you can see progress being made on:

• The new I-35W tunnel bridge which will be the new alignment for traffic traveling from westbound I-94 to southbound I-35W.
• The new bridge over I-94 that will carry traffic to/from the downtown exits.
• The I-35W/I-94 interchange

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Upcoming I-94 and I-35W overnight closures scheduled for late Aug. and early Sept.

There will be additional overnight closures on I-94 and I-35W in late Aug. and early Sept. Additional details will be provided in future email updates as dates are finalized.

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More about this project

To learn more, including all current traffic impacts and detour routes, visit the project website at: www.mndot.gov/35w94. 

Metro Transit bus routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, and to sign up for Rider Alerts, visit: www.metrotransit.org/35W.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, visit: www.mvta.com.

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Stay Connected

• Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/mndot and Twitter: @mndotnews
• Email the project team at: info@35w94.com
• Call the project hotline at: 612-284-6125 

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit: http://www.511mn.org/or dial 5-1-1.

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul announces the 7th annual CZECH THAT FILM, Aug. 24-26

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul announces the 7th annual CZECH THAT FILM, a series of contemporary Czech cinema showing August 24-26 at the Film Society’s St. Anthony Main Theatre Screen #3.

The 2018 slate features seven critically acclaimed Czech productions, six productions from the last two years and one special restoration screening.  Established in 2012, Czech That Film is a festival of the best contemporary and classic Czech films held throughout the United States every year, and this is the fourth year that the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul has hosted the event in Minnesota. Czech That Film was established to accommodate increased interest in Czech cinema and culture in the United States and is dedicated to raising the profile of current Czech films at an international level.

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Notably, 2018 marks 100 years since the formation of the sovereign nation of Czechoslovakia, 50 years since the Prague Spring reform movement, and 25 years since the formation of two sovereign nations: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.

ICE MOTHER (Bába z ledu)

Winner of the best screenplay award at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Czech Republic’s submission to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language. Sixty-year-old Hana is unexpectedly given the impulse to break out of her routine when she meets the nonconformist, Brona who encourages her to join him in taking up a new activity, ice swimming. Directed by Bohdan Sláma. Czech Republic, France, Slovakia. 106 min. Czech w/English subtitles. Friday, 8/24/2018 7:00pm | Sunday, 8/26/2018 7:00pm

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8 HEADS OF MADNESS (8 hlav šílenství) 

8 Heads of Madness follows the life of the talented Russian poet Anna Barkova (1906-1976), who spent twenty-two years of her life in the Gulags. She survived thanks to the help of her poetry, hope for better days, and passionate love for a woman named Valentina. Directed by Marta Nováková. Czech Republic, Slovakia. 107 min. Czech w/English subtitles. Friday, 8/24/2018 9:30pm

 

MILADA

Set against the complex, political landscapes of post-WWII, Milada tells the story of a strong woman, Milada Horáková, a heroine fighting for democracy, who survived imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps only to be arrested and executed by the Communists in 1950. Her execution shook the world and triggered powerful and fervent responses from many nations and renowned individuals across the globe–Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, and Eleanor Roosevelt, to name a few. Directed by David Mrnka. Czech Republic, USA. 124 min. Czech w/English subtitles. Saturday, 8/25/2018 4:00pm

 

BAREFOOT (Po strništi bos)

Set in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi occupation, a young boy named Eda opens up a world of trouble when he inadvertently reveals that his father has been listening to resistance broadcasts from London. As a result, the Nazi requisition their apartment, and they are forced into exile in the countryside. Shot from the perspective of the 8-year-old boy, Eda finds his own adventures and discovers a new crop of friends during the extraordinary times. Along the way, Eda’s innocent perspective of the world contrasts with the shadow of World War II weighing heavily upon the country. Directed by Jan Svěrák. Czech Republic. 111 min. Czech w/English subtitles. Saturday, 8/25/2018 7:00pm

 

ACCUMULATOR 1 (Akumulátor 1)

In this 1994 sci-fi drama, Olda suffers from a total lack of energy and falls into a coma. A natural healer tries to rejuvenate him. In doing so, he learns that Olda has an “alter ego” inside the TV that sucks the energy from Olda every time he tunes in. Can Olda resist watching TV and live a more fulfilling life in the real world, or will the television world take over? Accumulator 1 won the Czech Lion Award for Best Editing and was the most popular film in the Czech Republic in 1994. Directed by Jan Svěrák. Czech Republic. 102 min. Czech, English, Slovak w/English subtitles. Saturday, 8/25/2018 9:30pm

 

A PROMINENT PATIENT (Masaryk)

Winner of 12 of the prestigious Czech Lion Awards, A Prominent Patient is based on the true story of Czech diplomat and politician Jan Masaryk, the son of Czechoslovakia’s founding father Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. Set just before World War II breaks out, Jan serves as Czechoslovak Ambassador in London. He desperately tries to save his homeland from Nazi occupation, appealing to his French and British allies. Directed by Julius Ševčík. Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany. 113 min. Czech, English, Slovak, French w/English subtitles. Sunday, 8/26/2018 1:00pm

 

GARDEN STORE: FAMILY FRIEND (Zahradnictví: Rodinný přítel)

Three young women and two children await the return of their imprisoned husbands and fathers from Nazi concentration camps. A family friend and doctor named Jiri watches over the women forced into a family union by the war. The film tells a story of forbidden love that remains unfulfilled, friendship bigger than life, desire, departures and returns. Love, friendship and loyalty leave deep imprints on the family lives of women brought together by destiny. Directed by Jan Hřebejk. Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia. 130 min. Czech, Polish w/English subtitles. Sunday, 8/26/2018 4:00pm

Veterans Job Fair Thursday, August 16, at TCF Bank Stadium

Via an announcement from RecruitMilitary:

Veterans Job Fair Thursday at TCF Bank Stadium: Jobs for Military Spouses 

Recently, the President signed a bill to provide expanded federal job opportunities to military spouses. This new bill is part of an executive action being taken to promote military spouse hiring across the federal government, and the nation at large.

According to a recently released report from the Council of Economic Advisers, “American military spouses, who number approximately 690,000, are a diverse population. Like their active duty husbands and wives, they come from varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, and bring a diversity of skills to the labor market. But military spouses face a particular challenge: they often find their labor market activities, including choices over whether to work, how many hours, and in what occupation, to be subject to the geographic and temporal constraints imposed by their active duty spouse.” 

This Thursday, August 16, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and RecruitMilitary are providing Minneapolis-area military spouses and veterans the opportunity to explore new career opportunities at the Minneapolis Veterans Job Fair at the TCF Bank Stadium from 11am to 3pm.  The event will feature nearly 60 exhibitors looking to fill hundreds of job openings – with military spouses and transitioning military personnel as two of their top hiring targets.  Facebook Event

August 14 Primary Voting Info

Minneapolis polling places listed below will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m, Tuesday, August 14:

• Ward 1, Precinct 10 – Columbia Manor/golf club, 3300 Central Ave NE
• Ward 3, Precinct 9 – Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave S 
• Ward 5, Precinct 9 – Harrison Park Recreation Center, 503 Irving Ave N
• Ward 9, Precincts 2 & 7 – Powderhorn Park gym, 3400 15th Ave S
• Ward 12, Precinct 5 – Nokomis Community Ctr, 2401 Minnehaha Pkwy E
• Ward 12, Precinct 12 – Roosevelt High School, 4029 28th Ave S

Election results get reported after polls close and both Election Day and absentee ballots are counted for a specific precinct.

All results are posted on the Secretary of State’s election results website and at the Hennepin County elections results website.

County elections staff work with city elections staff to ensure that every ballot, no matter how it was cast, is counted and verified before reporting election results. To ensure integrity of the ballot counting process, elections workers do not leave their counting location until all votes are counted and reported.

Pre-registered voters
Hennepin County has 749,000 pre-registered voters for the Minnesota primary. Voters can register at their polling place on Minnesota primary day, August 14. Voters also can look up their polling place, sample ballot, voter registration status, and absentee ballot status at mnvotes.org. For more information about elections and voting in Hennepin County, visit hennnepin.us/elections.

Mill City Players Ready to Perform August 21 at MacPhail and August 25 at Central Library

Article by Claudia Kittock

“Ago”

“Ame”

With that call and response, the Mill City Players begin rehearsals. Both of these words are from the Twi dialect, spoken in Ghana. "Ago" is a call to community or attention, and "ame" is a response meaning the responder is here and is listening.

This energetic and talented group of young people have been rehearsing since mid-June. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays and begin with lunch, provided by community volunteers. If you have forgotten what it means to feed 20 young people, you need to remember the enthusiasm and energy they bring to lunch. With lunch decisively consumed, rehearsal begins.

We are so honored to have an incredible team of professionals leading the Mill City Players. James A. Williams is the Artistic Director and comes to this project with 42 years of theater experience and incredible skills. JW (as he is known) has been a professional actor, director, producer and writer for almost 40 years.  Patricia Brown, adjunct professor of dance at the University of Minnesota and Macalester College, teaches movement and serves as Associate Director. Ahanti Young, professional percussionist, actor and spoken word artist, teaches our actors drumming on paint pails and also serves as Associate Director.

Patricia Brown (center) instructing dance.

Ahanti Young (far left, pink shirt) teaches drumming.

The most exciting news is that we have agreed to make the Mill City Players a year-round troupe. Stay tuned for the details as they are still being planned. The overall plan is to offer 8-week sessions throughout the calendar year with hiatuses in between. We have seen what our actors have been able to accomplish in this short amount of time and are even more excited to have the time to keep building on their accomplishments with a predictable calendar.   

Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for MusicOur first set of performances with this group are coming soon. Please mark your calendars to join us on August 21st at 7 p.m. in MacPhail Center for Music's Antonello Hall, or on August 25th at 1:30 p.m. in Central Library's Pohlad Hall. Performance will be in 3 sections: Movement, Drumming, and Acting. The actors have been writing - you can expect to hear their own words, and they are powerful.

Pohlad Hall, Minneapolis Central Library

This troupe was created and sponsored by Friends of the Mill District. Our mission is to create and support activities that build community, and are free of charge to all participants. We hit a home run with this group! Come and see for yourself. You do not want to miss a chance to experience what these actors have to say.

If you have any questions or comments, or want to know more about supporting the work of the Friends of the Mill District, please contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com.

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org