The Mill City Times Interview: West Elm North Loop

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

Ribbon cutting - photo: West ElmGlobal lifestyle and design brand West Elm will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, March 5 from 6-8 PM at its new location on the ground floor of the Second + Second development in the North Loop.  The event is open to all and will feature local bites and specialty cocktails (for those over 21), the new spring line and shopping for a cause:  shoppers will receive a 15% discount during the event and a portion of the proceeds will go to Urban Homeworks, a local nonprofit transforming vacant and distressed Twin Cities properties.  Speed up your check-in by rsvp’ing ahead of time.

Ahead of the grand opening, Mill City Times sat down with Hannah Wickberg, spokeswoman for West Elm, to learn more about the company and its vision for the North Loop location. 

Hemp beddingQ: Welcome to the North Loop!  What kinds of challenges do you face when you open a new store?

Hannah: We always partner with a great, local development company to build out our space in new markets. Since no store is exactly the same—and the space footprints vary—we enjoy the challenge of working with our developer, construction partners, and store design team to create a showroom and space that is unique to the market and fits in seamlessly with the neighborhood. The North Loop location has over 11,000 square feet and is on the first floor of a mixed use building.

Decorator aesthetic   

Q: What are you most excited about in this new location?

Hannah: We love the urban location in the North Loop. We’re excited to be part of a diverse mix of retail, dining and cultural opportunities for people to explore while they’re downtown. West Elm is a neighborhood brand with our roots in a neighborhood, so we’re thrilled to continue having a community around us. 

Q: Is there an unmet market you are hoping to serve? And if so, what is it?

Hannah: We look forward to serving the growing community of city dwellers in Minneapolis, from young professionals to established urbanites. We also hope to offer a convenient location for the large community of college students in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Modern aesthetic 

Q: How do you build an assortment that is relevant to the local market?

Hannah: Two examples of how we keep our retail locations relevant to local markets are our in-store Design Crew Services and our LOCAL assortment. Our Design Crew services offer customers free design consultations in store for everything ranging from floor plans to fabric swatch selections. Our West Elm LOCAL program was launched in 2013, and since its inception has introduced over 900 artisans and their unique pieces to customers across the country. The downtown Minneapolis location will carry a unique selection of locally crafted goods from local Minnesota makers Solid Manufacturing & Kate Arends of Wit + Delight.

Kaloh Stoneware Dinnerware SetsQ: What are your best-selling items?

Hannah: Our unique, modern designs are what we’re best known for. Each customer is coming to us with their own personal style, so that’s why we offer a variety of visual expressions in our assortment.  Our three design aesthetics are on display in the store:  Decorator, Pure and Modern. The styles range from playful, colorful, geometric (modern) to velvets, fur and gleaming (decorator) – with lots of choices in each to customize your home design.

Q: How are you thinking about sustainability?

Hannah: Sustainability is one of West Elm’s core values, and we like to say that each one of our products is consciously designed to make a positive impact. Our assortment features GOTS-certified organic cotton, goods that are Fair Trade Certified™, and furniture made with wood certified to the high industry Forest Stewardship Council standards.  We just celebrated our 5 year partnership anniversary with the Fair Trade label last fall. This commitment makes a difference by ensuring safe working conditions and fair wages.  A portion of the purchase goes back to the factory in the form of a premium. Each factory decides how to spend the premium. For example, our makers in Haiti purchased bicycles for employees who typically walk 2-4 hours daily to and from work. Another partner opened a health clinic, not just for employees, but for the entire community. 

Many of our selections are also handcrafted, sourced from a network of 35+ artisan groups in 15 countries, employing nearly 5,000 makers.

Recently, we expanded our bedding assortment to include a new Fair Trade Certified™ collection of hemp bedding including sheets, duvets, and a coverlet. West Elm is the biggest retailer of hemp for bedroom products. Hemp is generally considered to have a low environmental impact because growing the hemp plant requires significantly less water and land than other conventional bedding materials and does not typically require the use of pesticides.

View more about West Elm’s commitments to responsible retail at westelm.com/commitments.

Q: Are you thi​nking about delivery/supply chain differently for this city location? Do consumers shop a downtown location differently than locations in suburbs?

Hannah: We thoughtfully plan each store’s assortment knowing what the community is shopping for. For example, the downtown Minneapolis store may feature more small-space solutions than a store in Dallas, Texas, which may have more large sectionals and expanded dining tables.

Q: How much autonomy is the individual store given?

Hannah: The local stores have a lot of freedom and are encouraged to exercise their creativity. They are empowered to plan and host pop-up events and workshops in the store and participate in community events outside of the store. The local shopkeepers and stylists know their communities best, so we trust them to serve and relate to their customer base as they see fit.  

With our LOCAL program, we love supporting and teaming up with local artists and makers to provide them a store-front location to showcase their products and reach a diverse audience. We also empower small businesses to use our retail space as a footprint to host events and pop-ups.  

We plan to also get involved in community and neighborhood events, especially in the North Loop. We enjoy being a good neighbor, and that means participating in neighborhood functions – whether it is hosting book clubs, wine nights or fundraising events in our retail footprint. 

West Elm has unique social media accounts for every location. For the North loop, check out Instagram: @westelmmpls and Facebook: @westelmmpls. 

Q: How often do you get new product?

Hannah: West Elm always has something new! We change our assortments with each season, three times per season. Our local makers also come out with new products several times a year.   

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for West Elm?

Hannah: I love working for a brand that values corporate social responsibility. From being the first home brand to offer Fair Trade certified home goods to innovating a new bedding material with a sustainable hemp option – West Elm is constantly evolving its approach to design and looking for ways to make a positive impact. Our tag line is that we make design accessible – I’m proud to be part of that as it is as it is played out in our stores and online.

Dapper animal salad plates - koala

Q: Does West Elm offer design services and will staff visit a customer's condo or apartment to assist with room layout and design?

Hannah: Yes! West Elm Design Crew offers complimentary, personalized styling and design services for our customers. Our Design Crew can advise you in the store or visit your home for a consultation. There is zero obligation to purchase. The design services can run the gamut of measuring and selecting furniture for a room to choosing appropriate dinnerware for a special occasion.

We also offer installation services for a small fee, from hanging curtains to mounting gallery walls or a TV! For those who prefer to keep things online, we also now offer a free Design Chat function on WestElm.com.

Q: Why did West Elm decide to not open a hotel location in Minneapolis?

Hannah: We don’t have any updates on the status of the hotel. When we have updates to share, we will inform the community.

Q:  Any other information you’d like to share with our readers? 

Hannah: Visit us! Our store hours are Monday - Saturday 10 AM -7 PM and Sunday 11 AM - 6 PM. The store telephone number is 612-445-9378.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines Available for Review and Comment

Via an e-announcement from David Rubedor, Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations for the City of Minneapolis:

Dear community leaders,

The draft Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines are now available for review and public comment. The official public comment period will be held from February 28 to April 17, 2020.

Since 2016, the NCR department has been holding conversations with community and neighborhood leaders and elected officials about the needs and goals of our growing and vibrant city and identifying the role that neighborhoods should play in meeting them. We are excited to bring forward this culmination of work.

There has been a tremendous amount of volunteer and staff time dedicated to Neighborhoods 2020 and the best ways to support and enhance the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations starting in 2020 and beyond. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of volunteers and community members that contributed their time, talent and energy into this initiative. The tremendous value neighborhoods play in our city was reflected in your commitment and dedication.

The draft Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines are centered on building equity in our community. The City has worked closely with neighborhoods, community members and the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) on the development of the guidelines. The guidelines align with the City’s adopted Strategic Racial Equity Plan and the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which states that “Minneapolis will have an equitable civic participation system that enfranchises everyone, recognizes the core and vital service neighborhood organizations provide to the City of Minneapolis, and builds people’s long-term capacity to organize and improve their lives and neighborhoods.”

To view the draft Neighborhoods 2020 Programs Guidelines, go to: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr/2020. NCR will be holding community informational meetings. All meetings will have interpreters available. These meetings provide a space where residents can submit public comments. Current meeting dates include:

• March 9: Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center (UROC) - 6:00-8:00p.m.- 2001 Plymouth Avenue N. Minneapolis, MN 55411
• April 2: Northeast Park and Recreation Center - 6:00-8:00p.m. - 1530 Johnson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

You may allow submit comments in the following ways:

Email - Neighborhoods2020@minneapolismn.gov

Phone - 612-673-3737

Text Messaging and Voicemail

Español: (612) 404-2978
Hmoob: (612) 367-6548
Soomaaliga: (612) 404-2978
English: (612) 518-8743

US Postal Service Mail

Neighborhood and Community Relations
105 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 425
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

Comments must be received by 11:59p.m., April 17.

The NCR department plans to bring final Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines to the City Council’s Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement (PECE) Committee in May 2020.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your neighborhood or community specialist at NCR.

Thank you very much for your time and contributions.

Regards,

David Rubedor

Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations
ADA Title II Coordinator
City of Minneapolis – Neighborhood and Community Relations
Crown Roller Mill, Room 425
105 5th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Office: 612-673-3129 David.Rubedor@minneapolismn.gov www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr

10th Avenue Bridge to Close March 2020 for Extensive Rehab

The 10th Avenue SE Bridge will close to all traffic (vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians) in March 2020 for repairs. The bridge will be closed and detours will be in effect for approximately 18 months, until Summer 2021. More info.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Success Highlighted at Meet Minneapolis Annual Meeting

Via a recent e-announcement from Meet Minneapolis:

The organization provided information on its key performance goals which help support more than 37,000 tourism and hospitality workers in Minneapolis

Meet Minneapolis held its 2020 Annual Meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Februay 25th. The city’s convention and visitors’ bureau noted successes in 2019 and presented an insider’s look at the future of meetings, events and tourism in Minneapolis from the perspectives of meeting planners, sports events rights holders and leisure travelers. In addition, Meet Minneapolis announced the newest members of its Board of Directors and recognized several individuals and organizations with special awards.

In 2019, Meet Minneapolis exceeded its key performance indicators in hotel room nights, convention center revenue, and private revenue. The organization brought more than 700 events to the Minneapolis region, and helped support more than 37,000 tourism and hospitality workers.

Meet Minneapolis Key Performance Indicators for 2019*
• Group Room Nights: 556,700 nights (104% of the goal set for 2019)

• Minneapolis Convention Center Revenue: $21.1 million (103%)

• Private Revenue: $2.9 million (110%)

“We take great pride in promoting and selling Minneapolis as the destination of choice for meeting planners and their attendees, sports events rights holders and leisure travelers,” stated Meet Minneapolis President and CEO Melvin Tennant. “Tourism plays a critical role in the economic success of Minneapolis, and our goal is to continue to support our local businesses, neighborhoods and workers while also showing off our city’s assets and amenities.”

Minneapolis Convention Center
One of the roles of Meet Minneapolis is to attract events to the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC). Last year, the MCC:

• Hosted nearly 350 conferences, meetings and events

• Generated $21.1 million in revenue

• Helped to support more than 8,000 jobs in the community

• Was honored with a pair of awards from Exhibitor Media Group which recognized North America’s best convention centers for trade show and events. The MCC earned a Centers of Excellence Award and a Best Customer Service & On-Site Support Award.

“With hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, the Minneapolis Convention Center is a significant economic engine for the tourism and hospitality industry in the city and region,” said Minneapolis Convention Center Executive Director Jeff Johnson. “As we embark on our 30th anniversary of serving as Minneapolis’ meeting place, we’re proud of the role we play in welcoming visitors to our city and creating and supporting jobs in Minneapolis.” 

Sports Minneapolis
Sports Minneapolis highlighted its major role in bringing key sports events to the region such as last year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four, CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, ESPN’s X Games and the USA Taekwondo National Championships.

Seventy-seven (77) future sporting events were secured by Sports Minneapolis in 2019, including the 2020 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials, the 2021 NHL Winter Classic and the 2022 Gay Softball World Series.

Additional Highlights

• Nearly 42,000 visitors from 59 countries and all 50 states stopped into the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, located in the Centerpoint Energy building at 5th and Nicollet.

• More than 2 million people visited the Meet Minneapolis website (www.minneapolis.org) in 2019, to learn more on where to visit, eat, drink, shop and be entertained, resulting in 4.5 million page views and over 719,000 outbound clicks to partner websites.

• Six (6) new neighborhood guides (for a total of 18) were added to www.minneapolis.org, introducing visitors to the unique areas of the city like West Broadway, the North Loop and Kingfield. 

• Meet Minneapolis social media channels had nearly 6.9 million total impressions in 2019.

• In partnership with Great Streets and the West Broadway Business Association, Lake Street Council and West Bank Meet Minneapolis audited more than 3,000 businesses that are located within those boundaries and over 600 partner businesses, to see where our small businesses need help showcasing their offerings.

Board of Directors

• Six new members were welcomed to the Meet Minneapolis Board of Directors: Lester Bagley (Minnesota Vikings), Amol Dixit (Hot Indian Foods), Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou (Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO), Andrea Mokros (Weber Shandwick), Mark Nerenhausen (Hennepin Theatre Trust), Jennifer Ridgeway (Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx)

• A ceremonial passing of the gavel took place as Julie Batliner (Carmichael Lynch) became the new Chair, replacing Mark Andrew (Greenmark Enterprises). 

Awards and Recognition

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Tricia Johnson, Brede Exposition Services

• Innovation in Tourism Award: Peavey Plaza for the renovation and redesign which restored the area to create a lively gathering space in the heart of downtown Minneapolis

• President’s Award: First Avenue for drawing musical artists and visitors from around the world to the city’s iconic landmark for 50 years 

• Excellence in Meetings, Events & Conventions Award: Target, which has held more than 500 meetings and events at the Minneapolis Convention Center since 2000

To access the 2019 Meet Minneapolis Annual Report, please go here. To learn more about how tourism and hospitality impact our community, check out this video:

* Unaudited. Key performance indicators will be verified by an independent auditor.

MNspin Open for Submissions thru March 25

Via a February 25 e-newsletter from Friends of the Hennepin County Library:

Launched in 2017, MNspin is an online music streaming platform with a growing collection of Minnesota's own albums curated by local experts. The platform connects library card holders with Minnesota music, giving artists exposure to new audiences and listeners the opportunity to explore the rich local music scene.

From now until March 25, MNspin is looking for the next group of Minnesota artists to join the collection! Whether to browse the collection or submit your recording, click here to find out more!

From Atmosphere to Spider John Koerner, Bob Dylan to Prince, Cantus to Semisonic, Cloud Cult to Trampled by Turtles, the Minnesota Orchestra, Bobby Vee, the Replacements, Maria Jette, The Steeles, Robert Robinson, Owl City, and so many others - they all had their start in Minnesota.

Doug Verdier's February 25 Photos of the Water Works Project

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.

These photos, taken February 25th, show wooden forms in place against the inside of the stone wall on the river side of the Columbia Mill building. Concrete will then be poured into the forms, which contain rebar, to reinforce the stone exterior walls of the Mill building.

The right side of the above photo shows steel construction underway for the Sioux Chef restaurant area on the top floor of the Pavilion.  The vertical  concrete structure is the elevator shaft. 

One Lane of West River Parkway will be Closed Weekdays Near Bohemian Flats Park thru March

Via a February 25 e-announcement from Minneapolis Park and Rec:

A short section of West River Parkway between Bohemian Flats Park and the 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed down to one lane, 7 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday, beginning this week through March 30. Construction flaggers will guide traffic around the closure, but please plan for delays traveling through this area of the parkway.

The closure is necessary for the City of Minneapolis to perform repairs on Bridge #9. Bike/pedestrian trails will remain open through the area.

Please follow the posted detours and stay away from areas where work is being performed. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience during the closure.

Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines Release Moved to February 28

Via an e-announcement from David Rubedor, Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations for the City of Minneapolis:

Dear neighborhood and community leaders,

In order to further define the recommendations, the City has postponed the release by a few days of the Neighborhoods 2020 guidelines for public comment. We anticipate releasing the guidelines by next Friday afternoon, February 28. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Steven Gallagher, policy specialist, at steven.gallagher@minneapolismn.gov

Thank you for your time and patience.

Best,

David Rubedor
Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations
ADA Title II Coordinator

City of Minneapolis – Neighborhood and Community Relations
Crown Roller Mill, Room 425 105 5th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Office: 612-673-3129
David.Rubedor@minneapolismn.gov
www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr

Destruction & The Book: Minnesota Center for Book Arts Hosts 3-Part Lecture Series with Hill Museum & Manuscript Library; First Event is Tonight, February 20

Via a February 19 News Release:

Destruction & the Book: Minnesota Center for Book Arts Hosts 3-Part Lecture Series with Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

Attendees will have the opportunity to handle rare books from HMML's special collections

You can’t judge a book by its cover, unless the cover is 300 years old, worm-devoured, or from a remote archive in the Mediterranean Sea. Then, an archival expert can conclude a lot—not just about the individual book, but about the culture and society that produced it.

The public will have the opportunity to learn about this and more from HMML archival experts at three lectures taking place this spring at Minnesota Center for Book Arts:

Malta, Slavery & Archives: The Legacy of 
Human Trafficking in Early Modern Documents
Thursday, February 20; 7-9pm

Cut, Eaten, Burnt, Stained: The Perilous Life of Old Books
Thursday, March 26; 7-9pm

Books Ripped Away: Secularization and the 
Removal of Monastic Books to State Libraries 
Thursday, April 16; 7-9pm

Before and after the presentations, attendees will have the chance to handle rare books, some close to 350 years old.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with HMML for the third year, and to offer audiences the chance to learn from HMML’s vast collections of digitized and physical rare books and manuscripts from cultures across the world. Our partnership reflects each organization’s commitment to preserving the material culture of the book in the 21st century,” says Elysa Voshell, Executive Director of MCBA.

The first lecture in the series features Dr. Daniel K. Gullo, the Joseph S. Micallef Curator of the Malta Study Center and Coordinator of Digital Humanities. He will look at the role of small archives in Malta to discuss the nature of slavery and what it tells us about human trafficking, law, and international communication in the 18th century.

In the second lecture, HMML’s Assistant Director for Strategic Development, Dr. Melissa Moreton, will explore the world of damaged medieval books and demonstrate the resilience of these carriers of knowledge. The manuscripts and early printed books that have survived across the centuries have endured use by many hands and abuse in many forms. Manuscripts have been cut up, their illuminations sold and dispersed, eaten by book worms and rodents, damaged in floods and fires—but often survive these ravages to carry forward the messages held within their covers.

In the third lecture, Dr. Matthew Heintzelman, Curator of Western Collections and Rare Books at HMML, will look at the history of monastic collections that were built over centuries and their removal to the Bavarian State Library, state libraries and archives in Austria.

Free and open to the public, the lectures will take place in the Target Performance Hall at Open Book, with wine receptions to follow.

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts Announces Winter Art Show Opening, February 23

Opening Reception Sunday, Feb 23  5:00-7:00PM

Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street

Show runs February 23 – June 1, 2020

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You're invited to The Mill Yard opening reception for wine, beverages, snacks and beautiful art. Local popular food truck, Taqueria Victor Hugo, will be out front selling a variety of Mexican cuisine.

About The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts

The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence. The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community.

ARTIST DETAILS:

Laura Donovan

Laura Donovan: E Marooned

Laura describes her oil paintings as “suggestive of landscapes in a world just beyond this one. The moods can be dark while the colors vivid and provocative.” Elements in her work are inspired by her surroundings and her travels. A Twin Cities native, her education focused on International Relations at the University of Minnesota but she has pursued art throughout her life.  Her paintings have been displayed around the Twin Cities and she is currently an exhibitor at Gustaf’s Up North Gallery in Lindstrom, MN.

Tim Harding

Tim Harding: Koi Cloud Reflections

After working in painting and photography Tim became intrigued with the intimacy of fiber/textiles, their textural, tactile richness, the pliable plane, and the inherent grid of the weave, as well as the complex cultural roles of this medium. Inspiration for his work emerges from historical references, world cultures, modern art and artists with a key influence being the profound connection between modern painting and primitive ethnographic artifacts. Tim uses a unique, self-developed physical technique (a complex, free-reverse applique) that creates a compelling interplay of surface and structure. He has received numerous prestigious awards and Tim’s pieces are in museums and corporate collections across the country.

Steve Hemingway

Steve Hemingway: Tree Vase

Steve explains the material that best suits his work is clay. “Clay, especially wet clay, allows for sensuous immediacy. The clay responds immediately to your touch and in return you respond back and a dialog is created. It immerses you into the present moment. I find this a wellspring for creative thought and process.”  A native of Flint Michigan, and where he trained as an artist, Steve taught part time which allowed him to develop as an artist. In 1992 Steve moved to Minneapolis and in 1996 moved to Minnetonka where he built another studio and soon after devoted himself full-time to his art.  Steve creates tablets, tiles, vessels and sculpture. Most of his work is Raku fired.

Nanci Yermakoff

Nanci Yermakoff: Series 14 #21

Nanci’s luminous watercolors majestically radiate color, space and emotion. She currently lives and works in St Paul and has a studio in the Northrup King Building. In addition, she has a studio in north-central Minnesota where the lakes of the north woods inspire her work. Nanci has been a featured artist in American Artist Watercolor magazine as well as Watercolor Artist magazine. She taught watercolor at the Botanical and Zoological Art and Illustration Program at the Como Conservatory in St Paul from 2004-2009.

Doug Verdier Shares Early February Photos of the Water Works Project

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.

Construction continues on the Water Works Park Pavilion as workers erect the steel framework for the restaurant level of the building.

Steel beam being positioned on the building.

Pavilion as seen from West River Parkway showing framework for the restaurant level of the park pavilion.

Interior of the former Columbia Mill building showing concrete reinforcing wall under construction inside the original mill walls.

Another view of the interior of former Columbia Mill building showing reinforcing wall under construction.

When You Get Tangled Up, Go to Tango

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

Thanks to Al Pacino for our title. Why does he recommend it? 

Tango is the one of the most popular partner dances worldwide. It is 140+ years old, originating in the Argentine and Uruguayan port areas along the Rio de la Plata, where native urban dwellers mixed with slaves and European immigrants. In 2009, UNESCO included tango in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. Tango is now known to offer therapeutic healing – benefits were recognized in 1980, and numerous scientific studies have shown that tango dance improves quality of life, cognition, endurance, balance, social satisfaction, and emotional health. Tango is recognized by the Veteran’s Administration to assist in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease – it improves balance and walking, and is a safe psychological touching environment that can help in rebuilding trust. The combined mental and physical aspects of Tango, practiced consistently, make a big difference in veterans’ wellbeing. Tango can also help build empathetic communities. There’s a Tango Society of Minnesota. Pope Francis danced the tango in his younger years. 

Wow – it’s a dance powerhouse! What can it do for our hyper-local Mill City community? A lot. Tango’s cultural heritage, along with its physical and mental benefits, are celebrated weekly in the Mill District.

James Schmit and Nancy Arnison   

James Schmit founded Mill City Tango in 2019. He came to tango as a remedy for serious back pain caused by a sedentary IT career. “I was spending many hours on the floor at work every day just trying to manage my back pain. My job as an IT person, sitting all day at a desk, was clearly aggravating my condition, but doctors continued to avoid naming the real problem, prescribing palliative care again and again.” James determined that moving his body would be key to recovery and that dancing would be his way to a better lifestyle.

He retired from the desk job and started dancing. His early dancing adventures in Minnesota led him to Country Two Step, West Coast Swing, and then after moving to Florida, to Salsa. He noticed that the pain was diminishing week by week. The Salsa dancing he witnessed in Miami involved unbelievable sensuality and gusto, causing James to realize that the world “just didn’t need one more aging white guy attempting Salsa.” Enter the Tango. “I found I enjoyed Tango music. I liked sensing the kinetic movements of my partner and I began feeling the flow of the dance. As challenging as the dance was, I began to realize I was stronger and felt much better for doing it. My core had to be engaged to survive practice, and the mental challenge was significant. I have tried to quit Tango many times in complete frustration, but I keep coming back to it.” When he moved back to Minnesota, James founded Mill City Tango to continue his practice and healing and to meet new people.

Instructor Rebecca Abas (red shirt) instructs on the connected tango embrace, or abrazo. 

Rebecca Abas is the instructor for Mill City Tango. She teaches at her studio, Four Seasons Dance Studio in Loring Park (where she has taught for over 20 years), and at the U of M. Rebecca has taught dance coast to coast at corporate events, and has choreographed many theatrical productions. She is an enthusiastic promoter of tango’s social aspects and ability to build community. “Couples enjoy it because they can each contribute to the partnering fun. Singles like it because they can meet people in a safe happy environment. I think Argentine Tango has more connection than most dances because of the close physical contact and intense music - it is very social.

The Mill District is a fairly new community that has been thrown together by all the nearby development. We know people seek others with similar interests to have a social network. Dance is wonderful for the physical and mental exercise, and social dance brings people together unlike anything else. It's a little risky (to be vulnerable) for someone, but if they stick with it they soon have a group of people they can trust, and when they live in the same building or neighborhood that connection will extend to other aspects of living in the Mill District.”

When I visited the Mill City Tango, they were dancing to Cristal by Francisco Canaro. The music is beautiful and melancholy - worth a visit to hear new music!

Other students’ reactions were enthusiastic as well. Beth Lee noted, “Tango is a nice way to meet people outside of your wheelhouse. It is something I totally would not do before Mill City Tango.” Cindy and Darrell Randle “wanted to take dance classes forever – the steps and little pivots are fun to learn.” 

Mill City Tango meets every Tuesday at 6:15p at The Legacy, 1240 S 2nd Street. What do you need? A sturdy shoe with a smooth bottom and a willingness to learn and trust. Dancing lasts about an hour and then the group socializes for another hour. There is a suggested donation of $15 per class, and all are welcome to the social after class. For those in the Mill District interested in improving their physical and mental health – i.e. untangling - for a brief interlude, please get in touch with James via jschmitr@msn.com. (No registration is needed, but you can request to be added to the email notification list.)

The shoes are important - you need to be able to glide and pivot to tango.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Friends of the Hennepin County Library Invites you to Share Your Library Love this Valentine's Day!

An open invitation from Friends of the Hennepin County Library:

Dear Friend,

As Valentine's Day approaches, we want to say thank you for loving our library! Your generosity and support show just how much you care about our library and the thousands of your neighbors who depend on its programs and resources.

To celebrate this Valentine's Day, we're inviting you to write a special message to your local library! Your kind words will mean so much to our librarians and staff who make the promise of our library come to life. Click the link below to submit your Valentine's Day message online by February 21.

Send your Valentine now!

Whether you share a personal story, write a quirky poem, or simply say "thank you," please know that your kindness will truly be appreciated. After receiving your Valentine's Day messages last year, one librarian said, "Thank you so much for sharing this heartwarming message...it made my day!"

Thank you again for supporting our library, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Condo Sales at Eleven Hit Half-Way Point

Via a February 11 News Release:

Sudler Property Management Hired to Provide Concierge Services to Resident Owners

Ryan Companies and Luigi Bernardi announce today that Eleven has sold over half of the residences in the 550-foot, 41-story tower that will be Minneapolis’ tallest residential building. In addition, Chicago-based Sudler Property Management has agreed to terms with the project team to offer resident owners a new-to-market level of customized services and amenities. 

“We knew there was a severe lack of inventory in the luxury condo market in the Twin Cities area and the pace at which these homes have sold bears that out,” said John Wanninger of WMG Partners at Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty, which is selling homes at Eleven. “What has been extremely gratifying is that this project defies the norms of a typical winter project. December and January felt like a spring market, and we are very happy with our sales for the project overall.”

Sudler Property Management, Chicago’s premier property management firm, is known for providing concierge support at prominent residential addresses in Chicago including No. 9 Walton, Park Hyatt Residences, and the Palmolive Building.

“After searching nationwide, the team at Eleven is thrilled to announce Sudler as our partner to provide the residents of Eleven with all the benefits, experiences and amenities of a five-star hotel,” said Luigi Bernardi, CEO of Arcadia, LLC, and co-developer of Eleven. “Sudler’s vast resources in its management team, innovative technology and legendary reputation for service will provide the residents of Eleven with stellar 24/7 attention from the moment they enter the building.”

The Eleven team toured more than 30 projects in North America seeking the best-in-class for every facet of Eleven. Sudler Property Management stood out for its attention to detail. Eleven will be Sudler’s first property in Minnesota.

“Our Sudler team will provide the residents of Eleven with calm, attentive expertise, from the 24/7 greeting as they arrive in the building’s motor court, to concierge-level support for parcel and grocery delivery, to floral arrangements effortlessly refreshed daily and much more,” said Steven Levy, President of Sudler.  “Eleven owner-residents can expect true service and everyday luxuries provided with Midwestern charm, hospitality, and care.  Our goal is to establish ‘Sudler-managed’ as a mark of excellence in Minneapolis. We are proud to set that standard at Eleven.”

At Eleven, residents will enjoy a level of amenities above and beyond those offered elsewhere in Minneapolis. The building's revierfront location, convenience to Gold Medal Park, music venues, theaters, and museums, is as unique as it is inviting. Situated near the Stone Arch Bridge, set back from the chaotic busyness of the urban center, Eleven's resident owners will appreciate a green setting with stunning views of the city. Eleven will foster a true sense of community among its owners.

“Eleven’s design is magnificent and unparalleled in the marketplace,” said Bernardi. “As a future resident of Eleven, I am looking forward to raising the bar on the standard of living and personal service for each homeowner; and Sudler provides a critical part of delivering that experience.”

About Eleven

The 550-foot, 41-story Eleven tower will be Minneapolis’ tallest residential building and first designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), based in New York City.  Luigi Bernardi of Arcadia LLC is serving as the project sponsor and co-developer and Ryan Companies is serving as co-developer, builder, and is partnering with RAMSA as the architect. RAMSA, Ryan, and local firms Peterssen/Keller Architects, Martha Dayton Design and Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty have ensured the building interior is as thoughtful as its exterior. Amenities include a large landscaped terrace that will be unlike any other in the city including a 25-yard lap pool, a private motor court,  a 24/7 doorman, an expansive fitness suite, a multi-sport court, a library, a golf simulator, a children’s splash pad, retail space (ideally for a restaurant), a demonstration kitchen with dining, residential and guest parking, storage, and more.  For reservation inquiries, contact Lake Sotheby’s International Realty at (612) 340-9000.

Cuddle a Puppy this Valentine’s Day at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center

100% of Proceeds benefit Midwest Animal Rescue & Services

Get ready to cuddle up with cuteness on Valentine’s Day at the 5th annual Meet Minneapolis Puppy Cuddle on Friday, February 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, located at 505 Nicollet Mall, Suite 100, directly across from the METRO Nicollet station. A $5 donation will provide three minutes of cute, snuggle time with a plethora of puppies while also supporting Midwest Animal Rescue and Services™ (MARS).  Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted at the event.

MARS is committed to finding homes for animals that were once lost, left behind and forgotten. Once in their care, companion animals are vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. Special attention is provided for those animals that need additional time and medical care before going to a new home. For more information, visit www.midwestanimalrescue.org. 

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS VISITOR CENTER

As part of Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitor Association, the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center is the official visitor center for Minneapolis, located in the CenterPoint Energy building on Nicollet and 5th Street. Staff is available to answer questions, share visitor maps and resources about things to do in Minneapolis and the surrounding area. The Visitor Information Center in the Minneapolis Convention Center also is available to provide similar information to visitors and convention attendees.

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit to the greater Minneapolis area. Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International.

CONNECT WITH MEET MINNEAPOLIS!
Online: www.minneapolis.org
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis
On Instagram: www.instagram.com/meetminneapolis
Watch: You’ve never met a place quite like this

Catch the Academy Award Winning Movie Parasite at St. Anthony Main Theatre!

On the heels of last night's 92nd Academy Awards, MSP Film has extended their run of the Oscar-Winning PARASITE on Screen #3 at St. Anthony Main Theatre. Bong Joon Ho's modern fairytale won Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, Best Director, AND Best Picture.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks.

Census Offices in Minnesota Launch “You Count” Kickoffs and Recruiting Blitzes for 2020 Census at Open House Events - Minneapolis is February 11

The U.S. Census Bureau Chicago Region is hosting open house events at Minnesota’s three Area Census Offices, in Minneapolis, Rochester and Duluth, to launch “You Count” kickoffs and recruiting blitzes for the 2020 Census.  

Minneapolis Open House and Recruiting Blitz Location:

Minneapolis Area Census Office
Open house:   Tuesday, February 11 – 10 a.m. 
250 South Marquette Ave, Suite 560, Minneapolis

The open houses are an invitation for state and local officials, organizations that are 2020 Census Partners across Minnesota, and census job seekers to visit the Area Census Offices (ACOs). The role of ACOs is to recruit, hire and manage ACO staff and field positions across the state.

The open house events are being held one month from when the Census Bureau will begin mailing letters in mid-March to households across Minnesota inviting everyone to respond to the 2020 Census. 

The public will be able to apply onsite for census jobs, to meet and greet local leaders, and to learn more about the importance of the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau is still seeking over 8,400 applicants for field and office Census positions across the state. Census taker positions offer flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. In Minnesota, Census job pay rates range from $16.50 to $27.50 per hour. 

For more information, please visit 2020Census.gov.
Census jobs:  2020Census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020 (1-855-562-2020) 
For TTY/ASCII, applicants may contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

January 2020 by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

goPuff Delivery Service Expands to Minneapolis

Via a February 5 News Release:

goPuff, a digital convenience retailer, has expanded service in Minneapolis, offering its superfast deliveries in the Midway area from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., seven days a week. goPuff, which launched in the state of Minnesota with the opening of its St. Paul facility in June 2018, also operates in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.

goPuff stocks more than 2,500 products in centrally located facilities in Minneapolis (and each market in which it operates) to bring products directly to the customer in those moments they need them most. From snacktime favorites such as ice cream, candy and beverages to household essentials ranging from cleaning products, diapers, and even pet goods, the unique delivery concept answers the call for consumers in need day or night with solutions spanning more than eight categories.

“goPuff’s mission is to create more time in the day for our customer by consistently redefining the very meaning of convenience to provide a high-quality experience at an exceptional value,” said Yakir Gola, goPuff co-founder and co-CEO. “Every day, we work tirelessly to further this mission by bringing the exceptional goPuff experience to more customers across the country. Since launching in Minneapolis in 2019, goPuff has delivered thousands of orders to customers in the city and today we’re excited to expand our service and deliver the moments that matter most to even more customers in the area.”

In celebration of the launch, goPuff also announced  Minnesota customers’ most-ordered items in popular product categories:

• Snacks: Gushers Flavor Mixer and Funyuns

• Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked and Ben & Jerry’s Milk & Cookies

• Alcohol: White Claw Seltzer Variety Pack and Truly Hard Seltzer Berry Pack

• Home Essentials: Scott Toilet Paper and Bounty Paper Towels

• Frozen Food: Pepperoni Hot Pockets and Three Cheese Bagel Bites

Co-founded in 2013 by Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, two Drexel University undergraduates, goPuff began by delivering 50 basic products before pivoting the company to a full convenience store and alcohol delivery service in 2014. Today, the brand operates in more than 150 U.S. locations, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and many more. goPuff, originally embraced by digital natives and Millennials who responded to the intuitive mobile app and entertaining social brand voice, has built a loyal following across demographics, catering to anyone who needs more convenience in their lives.   

All orders are accessible through the goPuff mobile app (iOS and Android) or goPuff.com. Users simply enter their address and scroll through a wide range of products across numerous categories including snacks, beverages, groceries, household goods, OTC, personal care, school supplies, pet supplies and more. Any order can be delivered for a flat $1.95 delivery fee.

goPuff currently serves customers in the following zip codes: 55114, 55116, 55401, 55402, 55403, 55404, 55405, 55406, 55407, 55108, 55413, 55414, 55415, 55454, 55455, 55479, 55487, 55411, 55417, 55116, 55102, 55455, 55408, 55409, 55415, 55108, 55407, 55406, 55413, 55403, 55117, 55405, 55418, 55414, 55401, 55104, 55419, 55105, 55114, 55402, 55113, 55103, 55454, 55404

For more information, please visit www.gopuff.com or check us out on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

City of Minneapolis Art in Public Places Call for Artists

Excerpts from the latest City of Minneapolis Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy newsletter.

Sign up for these newsletters at http://www.minneapolismn.gov/coordinator/arts/index.htm.

Art in Public Places: Call for Artists

The City of Minneapolis Art in Public Places Program is launching a new Call for Artists. The City is seeking an artist/artist team to design and fabricate an approximately 325 square foot, public artwork for the new park building at Currie Park.

The chosen public artists will work with residents of the Cedar Riverside area to create a new two-dimensional public artwork.

Artist Info Session: February 6th, 2020
Where: Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55454

For more information on how to apply, visit the City Webpage.

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Art Force at Nordhaus: Call for Art

Art Force is requesting submissions for the first exhibit of 2020 at the gallery at NordHaus.
NordHaus is a collection of custom designed apartment homes on First Avenue NE in Minneapolis.

The theme of the show is “Bold North.” The work should depict or respond to this theme, and each artist may submit up to six images for consideration.

Art Force is seeking:

• Art by artists living and/or working in Minneapolis
• Art of professional quality and presented as such. Pieces should be ready to hang.
• This is a 2 Foot x 2 Foot show. Submitted work must not be larger than 30” x 30” including framing.

The exhibition will be installed the first week of March, 2020 and will remain installed until the end of August, 2020. Artwork will be available for sale and Art Force will manage those transactions.

Submission Deadline: Received by 5 PM on Monday February 17, 2020.

Submissions should include:

• Images of artwork labeled with:     Title of Work     Size 
• Retail Price
• Media
• Artist Name
• Artist phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address
• Artist Statement (optional)

Please submit to lpr@artforce.org using www.wetransfer.com. It is free. Please indicate that your submission is for the NordHaus show.

If you have questions, please contact Leslie Palmer-Ross lpr@artforce.org.

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Threads Dance Project: Audition Notice

Threads Dance Project is seeking an ethnically diverse group of dancers ages 21 and older, that are quick learners and are fluent in a variety of dance forms.  Rehearsals begin on August 3, 2020 and the opportunity to perform in a new Ordway Theater commission next November, and other events.

Auditions will be held: Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Registration and warm up time: 9:00am-9:30am
Audition: 9:30am-11:30am

Location: Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts. 1617 N. 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55411 FREE Parking available.

• Dancers must bring a headshot and resume.
• Looking for both men and women

Please visit the Threads Dance Project website for further information.