Welcome Rachel Kahn, New Mill City Times Contributor

We are absolutely thrilled to have Mill District resident Rachel Kahn as a new contributor to Mill City Times' Farmers Market blog.

Rachel is a gluten free food writer and wellness consultant, whose philosophy is 'healthy food is decadence inspired'. She is in the process of meeting with Mill City Farmers Market vendors, working on in-depth pieces on products near and dear to her heart.  Click here for Rachel's first article, highlighting an afternoon spent making Juniper Caraway Cabbage with Adrienne of Kiss My Cabbage.

Future articles will include Sunrise Flour Mill and Buffalo by Bike.  Learn more about Rachel at http://www.loveself.org/ and follow her on Facebook. You can reach Rachel at rachel@loveself.org, www.loveselfmagazine.com

Welcome, Rachel!  :)

Boom! Down Goes the Metrodome (Partially)

Mortenson Construction and its subcontractors successfully demolished the Metrodome’s remaining ring beam, which is part of the building’s roof structure at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday. The ring beam and corners of the Metrodome were brought down with 84 charges of dynamite set in 24 columns of the upper concourse.

Watch the exposion (includes slow motion):

Vikings Stadium Construction - Week 14

The aftermath of the explosive demolition this weekend.  See the video here...

We're attempting to publish a photo with this same view each week from the start of construction through the first game played at the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.

Dome Demo Alert! Controlled Explosive Charges Scheduled for 7:30am, Sunday, February 23

Minneapolis, Minn. (February 21, 2014) - The demolition of the Metrodome’s remaining ring beam, which is part of the building’s roof structure, is scheduled for Sunday, February 23, at 7:30 a.m. The concrete ring beam will be demolished with controlled explosive charges, similar to the technology that was used to sever the Metrodome’s roof cables.

Click here for the full press release from the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority.

Arboretum to Host Mill City Farmers Market on March 15

Above - shoppers enjoying the March 2013 market at the Arboretum.

Via a February 20 e-newsletter from the Mill City Farmers Market:

On Saturday, March 15, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will host the Mill City Farmers Market and over 40 of its fabulous vendors in a bustling marketplace full of quality, locally produced, homegrown products. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Arboretum's Oswald Visitor Center, shoppers can choose from an abundance of fresh produce, freshly milled grains and flours, preserves, artisan cheeses, pastured meats, beautifully crafted ceramics, kitchen utensils, jewelry, and much more.

Here's a glimpse at participating vendors for the March 15 event: Ames Farm (honey, beeswax candles), Bliss Granola, Buffalo by Bike, Cafe Palmira (coffee beans), Down in the Valley Bakehouse (gluten-free goodies), Gorkha Palace (chutneys), HeathGlen Farm (jams and jellies), Kiss My Cabbage (kimchi, lacto-fermented veggies), Jeanne Beatrice (handmade baskets), Martha's Joy (pickled vegetables), Northern Lakes Wild Rice (locally harvested wild rice), Olsen Naturals (all natural bodycare), Spring Finn and Co (leather handbags and handmade jewelry), Singing Hills Goat Dairy (goat cheese), Stones Throw Urban Farm and Women’s Environmental Institute (fresh local produce!),Sunshine Harvest Farm (pastured meats and farm fresh eggs), and Sunrise Flour Mill (freshly milled whole grains and flours).  A full list of participating vendors can be found at millcityfarmersmarket.org.

Founded in 2006 by local acclaimed chef and restaurateur Brenda Langton, the Mill City Farmers Market has earned a reputation for its promotion and support of local, sustainable and organic agriculture.  Typically located next to the Guthrie Theater and Langton's Spoonriver restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, the market is making its third annual appearance at the Arboretum! As a special treat at the March 15 event, Mill City Farmers Markets own chef, Heather Hartman, will also be on-site doing a cooking demonstration and sampling MN Wild Rice-Bison Meatballs in BBQ Sauce. Need another reason to visit the Arboretum on March 15? Check out these fun activities:

• Tiny Treasures: Fairy Gardens, exhibit of miniature gardens in the Oswald Visitor Center's Great Hall, open during visitor center hours, Feb. 22-March 23.
• Welcome Spring Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Oswald Visitor Center. Arboretum Auxiliary's spring sale of green and growing gift items. Proceeds benefit the Arboretum.
• 'Best of the Arboretum' photo exhibit, Restaurant Gallery, & 'Minnesota Magic' member art exhibit, Reedy Gallery, both in Oswald Visitor Center
• Weekend Family Fun: Sprouts Alive! Noon-4 p.m. (drop-in) Saturday & Sunday. Learning Center. Learn how seeds turn into sprouts, make a sprout snack and plant seeds to take home. Free with gate admission.
• Winter Wonders Bus Tours, noon & 1:30 p.m. Sat. & Sun., $3. Narrated bus tour on Three-Mile Drive. Highlights new Sculpture Garden, winter wildlife and plants in their winter shapes.
• Saturdays in the Kitchen Cooking Class: Premium Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars. 9-11 a.m. March 15, Learning Center. Learn about these amazing culinary ingredients and make your own "signature vinaigrette."  $35 Arb member/ $45 non-member. Register: www.arboretum.umn.edu/cookingclasses.aspx.
• Sustainable Trees and Shrubs class. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Learning Center. $38 member/$50 non-member. Learn how to use trees and shrubs effectively in sustainably designed landscapes with horticulturalist Julia Bohnen. www.arboretum.umn.edu/gardeningclasses.aspx

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest, is part of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences & located 9 miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen. The Arboretum is disability accessible and smoke free. Admission: $12 adults; free for members & ages 12 and under.

Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan Charrette Meetings February 26 and 27

Via a February 19 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board will host a two-day charrette to gather public input for the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan. This is the final charrette of five for the Master Plan and will focus on West River Road from Plymouth Ave to 35W with connections to the River and to the adjacent neighborhoods.  A charrette is an intensive creative session intended to generate alternative approaches to a design problem. It is a way to immerse a project team with key stakeholders and the community in a real-time, iterative learning and creative process. Please join us!

Charrette Public Meeting Day 1:

Date - 2/26/14 - Wednesday

Time - 8:00am to 10:00am

Location – MPRB Board Room – 2117 West River Road North, Minneapolis

Teams - Central Riverfront Master Plan Team

Meeting Info: Comment and feedback to define key site program issues, possibilities, and limitations for West River Road

Charrette Public Meeting Day 2:

Date - 2/27/14 - Thursday

Time - 4:00pm to 5:30pm

Location - MPRB Board Room – 2117 West River Road North, Minneapolis

Teams - Central Riverfront Master Plan Team

Meeting Info: Review preliminary design framework plan and concepts for West River Road completed during the charrette.

The Park Board encourages the public to stop by MPRB Headquarters to share ideas, concerns and priorities with the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park design team.  Later in January, ideas from this two-day charrette will be presented to the project advisory committees for discussion.

For more information, please go to the MPRB project page.

Contact:        Tyler Pederson, Landscape Architect
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
612-230-6418
tpederson@minneapolisparks.org

Central Corridor News Release: Green Line Operator Training Starts February 24

Excerpt from a February 19, 2014, Metropolitan Council e-newsletter:

Expect trains anytime as operator training begins February 24.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Feb. 19, 2014 –Anytime becomes train time on the METRO Green Line (Central Corridor LRT) beginning Monday when more than 100 light rail operators start preparing for the line’s June 14 opening.

“Staying off tracks and practicing other safe habits around trains takes on a heightened importance. Safety is a shared responsibility, so please visit http://www.metrotransit.org/green-line-safety and review the safety messages,” said Mike Conlon, Metro Transit’s director of rail and bus safety.

In addition, Metro Transit police would like to remind the public that violations of basic transit laws are misdemeanors with $180 fines.

Weekday roundtrips for light rail trains will occur as often as 10 minutes apart between Lowertown St. Paul and the connection with the Blue Line. The training runs are for 61 newly hired and certified Green Line operators and 58 Blue Line operators and their instructors. The operators already know how to run the trains. The purpose of the trips is to familiarize them with the Green Line route, stations, standard operating procedures and other features.

In addition to these operator training runs, trains movements will continue for test purposes. Test trains may operate anytime, any day of the week. In April, Metro Transit will switch to operating trains on the regular-service schedule from about 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week to prepare for the June 14 opening.

University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota’s transit-pedestrian mall is an area where people need to have a heightened awareness of their surroundings.

“As the light rail training runs begin, pedestrians and cyclists will need to watch for both buses and trains sharing the tracks on the East Bank. It becomes especially important for everyone to observe all pedestrian, bike and traffic laws,” said Pamela Wheelock, Vice President for University Services.

The mall has gathering spots flanking both ends of the East Bank Station on Washington Avenue. These gathering areas are basically sidewalks between the two tracks on which trains and buses will operate. Pedestrians in these areas will need to use designated crosswalks and walk-signal buttons. Cyclists will need to use bike boxes to ride across the tracks at intersections. No left turns will be allowed for cyclists or drivers crossing the tracks.

See a video demonstration of how to safely use the Washington Avenue new bike boxes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a5DSBlXqLE.

What the public can expect

Traffic should not be affected. Trains will operate with traffic, following traffic signals. If signals are unavailable or not functioning, trains will operate under guidance from Metro Transit controllers.
Trains normally will not exceed 35 mph during training and after revenue service begins. Speeds will be lower in downtown St. Paul and through the University of Minnesota.
Operators will not open train doors at stations or give rides to the public.
Stay safe. Stay off tracks.

The Central Corridor LRT Project emphasizes four main safety points:
• Always stay off the tracks;
• Stay off station platforms until service begins in June 2014. After service begins, a paid fare will be required to be on platforms;
• Look both ways for oncoming trains during training and testing and after service begins;
• Cross only at intersections and legal mid-block crosswalks.
How to learn more
With the advent of train testing last summer, Metro Transit, Central Corridor LRT Project staff and the city of St. Paul collaborated on production of a safety video and public service announcements. Project staff began safety presentations to businesses, neighborhood groups school groups and others, and Metro Transit created safety posters for station kiosks, brochures and wrapped train exteriors in safety messages. See Metro Transit’s safety webpage for tips for staying safe and how to request a presentation at http://www.metrotransit.org/green-line-safety

How to view the safety video, PSAs
Here are the links to the Green Line Quiz Bowl safety video and three PSAs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH2iAQBVF0I
Mid-block crossing PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYduwYwAaxQ
Crossing tracks PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqHgEXaXS2I
Stations PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2vE6FnLnMs
For more project facts, see:
Metro Green Line Fact Sheet: http://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Current-Projects/Central-Corridor/Publications-And-Resources/News/Green-Line-Fact-Sheet.aspx
Updates to the June 14 celebration will be posted at: http://www.metrotransit.org/greenline

Today: Nicollet Mall Re-Design Presentation at Central Library

Mayor Hodges Asks You to Report Those Potholes!

Via a February 18, 2014, e-newletter from Mayor Betsy Hodges:

Dear Friend,

The good news: the weather is warming up again, at least for a while.

The bad news: potholes love warm weather followed by cold weather followed by warm weather. Water gets in small cracks, expands as it freezes, and then creates big cracks. The more often that happens, the bigger and more numerous the potholes get.

So we are in for a pothole-y spring.

More good news: We are already working on it and responding whenever the weather permits. We know it's been a tough winter, and the City is prepared to patch up our roads as quickly as we can. That includes the potholes already out there, and the potholes we'll continue to see throughout the spring.

As aggressive and proactive as the City will be, I’m asking for your help in reporting potholes. When you see one, contact Minneapolis 311. When you do that, we immediately map your report into our GIS system and make sure the areas that are most in trouble are at the top of the repair list. While fixing all potholes is the end goal, your help in prioritizing them is critical. Even if you think to yourself that surely, someone has reported the pothole, go ahead and report it anyway. I’d rather hear from 20 people that City workers need to fix a pothole, than not hear from anyone about the problem. Whether we do a “cold mix” patch or a permanent fix with hot asphalt, simply put, our streets need to be passable.

So, please help us keep Minneapolis pothole-free. We’re working as quickly as we can to fix the problems and look forward to hearing from you on where they pop up next. I appreciate your help and hope you all see improvements soon.
Thanks,
 
Mayor Betsy Hodges
City of Minneapolis

P.S. To learn more about how I’m working to address the issues affecting our city, check out my website and my blog, or follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Vikings Stadium Construction - Week 13

You can see right through the Metrodome.

We're attempting to publish a photo with this same view each week from the start of construction through the first game played at the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.

A Great MinnPost Series on the Mississippi

A three part series adapted from a report for the McKnight Foundation’s Food for Thought series by local author Jay Walljasper.

A River Runs Through Us: Why the Mississippi is Crucial To MSP’s Future

The river has the potential to draw business, newcomers and tourists — the way the mountains do for Denver and the seacoast for Sydney.

http://www.minnpost.com/environment/2014/01/river-runs-through-us-why-mississippi-crucial-msp-s-future

Big Plans Being Hatched for Downtown Waterfronts in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Once industrial, today's riverfronts host new parks, luxury housing and office spaces — with all kinds of ideas percolating for the future.

http://www.minnpost.com/environment/2014/01/big-plans-being-hatched-downtown-waterfronts-minneapolis-and-st-paul

The Mississippi’s Importance to MSP Doesn't Stop as It Flows On South

The Upper Mississippi between Dubuque and the Twin Cities qualifies as one of America’s most storied regions.

http://www.minnpost.com/environment/2014/01/mississippi-s-importance-msp-doesnt-stop-it-flows-south

SNOGA!

SNOGA (Snow Yoga) Comes to Piazza on the Mall for American Heart Month: Sunday, February 23 @ 2pm

Local yoga studio Yess Yoga is partnering with Piazza on the Mall to observe American Heart Month. Yess Yoga's mission is to promote healthy hearts, bodies and minds.  Join Yess Yoga at Piazza on the Mall to observe American Heart Month in true Minnesota style: practicing yoga in the snow at Piazza on the Mall. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the American Heart Association.  More information.

   

Tonight: Water Works Public Meeting at Mill City Museum

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm

Food is something all 408 of the Water Works Community Input Survey respondents have in common. Nearly everyone eats when they get to the Central Riverfront; some 90% or more of residents and non-residents visit restaurants here. Hiking/Exploring (69%) and theater and entertainment (63%) are popular for more than half of all respondents, as are special events for nearly as many (49%).

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation and the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board collaborated on the December 2013 and January 2014 survey as part of the community engagement process around the Central Riverfront Master Plan revision and Water Works parks design. Check out the survey summary on our blog to see how your likes and habits stack up.

You're encouraged to stop by this Central Riverfront community meeting for a Design Team presentation and Q & A. We’ll focus on concept development, with an emphasis on engagement and programming.

Tonight: Sip of Science at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm - Location: Aster Cafe (River Room) 125 SE Main Street

February Sip of Science: The Oil Palm: Agricultural Marvel, Environmental Menace?

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum in which researchers pair with musicians, artists and storytellers to put science in context through storytelling.

Palm oil is probably an integral part of your life. Used in products ranging from granola bars to soap, it is the most-consumed vegetable oil in the world. The high-yielding oil palm, which only grows near the equator, has been vilified as a leading driver of deforestation and carbon emissions. Until recently, little robust research has confirmed these allegations. New satellite remote sensing analyses provide documentation of oil palm’s accelerating expansion into Southeast Asia’s tropical forests and peatlands. Carlson will assess the environmental consequences of the rapidly growing oil palm industry, identify gaps in our understanding of how plantation expansion alters ecosystems, and explore potential solutions to reconcile palm oil production with conservation.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Kimberly Carlson is a Global Landscapes Initiative postdoctoral scholar at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. She earned her doctorate at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. While not exploring trade-offs between agriculture and the environment, you can find Kim on a yoga mat, running around a lake, learning to speak Portuguese, or dancing lindy hop.

This talk takes place during happy hour at the Aster Cafe - Food and Drink Available for Purchase.

Vikings Stadium Construction - Week 12

Look closely at the 2nd picture and you can see inside to the seating bowl.

We're attempting to publish a photo with this same view each week from the start of construction through the first game played at the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.

February 8 at the Mill City Farmers Market; Exciting News

I overhead someone say, "I wish they had these winter markets every Saturday."  Me too.  :)

And now for the exciting news...

During the February 8 Market, Dave began introducing Mill District resident Rachel Kahn to vendors.

Rachel is a gluten free food writer and wellness consultant, whose philosophy is 'healthy food is decadence inspired'. She will be meeting with MCFM vendors and doing in-depth pieces on products near and dear to her heart, such as Kiss My Cabbage's lacto-fermented creations and Sunrise Flour Mill's Turkey Red Heritage Wheat.

Learn more about Rachel at http://www.loveself.org/. You can reach her at rachel@loveself.org, www.loveselfmagazine.com

Dave and I can't wait to start sharing Rachel's upcoming articles!

Tomorrow! Mill City Farmers Market at the Mill City Museum

Join us tomorrow from 10:00am - 1:00pm for the Mill City Farmers Market inside the Mill City Museum! 

What: A bustling marketplace of over 40 local vendors where you can shop for everything from squash and spinach to wild rice, local honey, maple syrup, pastured meats, eggs, specialty cheeses, baked goods, kimchi, preserves, hand-made artisan gifts, heart-shaped chocolates and other indulgences for Valentine’s Day!

Produce Planner: potatoes, onions, carrots, shallots, cabbage, beets, parsnips, rutabagas, spinach, frozen raspberries, and MORE!

Live Music, 11 am – 1 pm: Back by popular demand: Moonlight Duo! Featuring an eclectic mix of traditional Southern roots music, bluesy old-time songs, and Appalachian and Irish dance tunes spiced with Cajun and country swing.

Featured Local Artists: Crookedwood, The Ink Orchard, The Abbey, Matthew Krousey Ceramics, Heinz Brummel, Old World Cabinet, Aprilierre, and Christy Wetzig Ceramics.

Additional Mill City Farmers Market 2013-2014 Winter Market dates:

March 8
March 15 (at the Arboretum, Chanhassen)
April 12

New Webster School Public Feedback Meeting Scheduled for February 18 at RiverWest

Minneapolis Public Schools are planning to re-open the Webster School in the fall of 2015. The Downtown Minneapolis School Initiative - a joint committee of the North Loop Neighborhood Association, Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association and Elliot Park Neighborhood - is hosting a 7:00pm meeting on Tuesday, February 18, to collect your thoughts and ideas for the new Webster School. The meeting will take place at RiverWest (Condominium Social Room), 401 South 1st Street.

All neighbors and families impacted by this new school are invited to attend and provide feedback.

Contact Adam Schiff, adamdschiff@gmail.com, or Eric Laska, elaska@gmail.com, with quesitons.

The Bakken Trio Returns to MacPhail February 16 with Passion From the Pampas...

Upcoming Film Festivals from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul

Check out these upcoming Film Festivals from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, starting with the 5th Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival, playing every Thursday from February 20 - March 27: