Bridge 9 Portion of Dinkytown Greenway Closed on Friday, June 19

Via a June 15 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

The Bridge 9 portion of the Dinkytown Greenway will be closed Friday, June 19 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Bridge 9, which carries the Dinkytown Greenway over the Mississippi River, will be closed to all bicycle and pedestrian traffic during this time for work on the bridge.

The 10th Ave and Washington Ave bridges over the Mississippi River will remain open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

See the bicycle and pedestrian detour page for bicycle and pedestrian detour information throughout city.

Week 6 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

Road construction and early morning drizzle will never keep seasoned MCFM shoppers away.  The June 13 Market was no exception. 

SunShare Community Solar was the Community Booth. Look for a separate post about this organization later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

Stone's Throw Urban Farm always has some words of wisdom to share.  :)

That's one serious Market basket!  Thank You to these lovely ladies for sharing their beautiful smiles.

This little gal was proud to show off a $2 Market Token.  Her parents stopped by the info booth to learn about the Power of Produce (POP) program, which is the planning stage and future dates are TBA (sign up for the Mill City Beet e-newsletter to stay in the know!).  Per MCFM Executive Director, Martha Archer, the goal is to offer it weekly, but that is dependent on sponsor funding. We hope it comes to fruition, as it's a great way to get kids involved with the Market, and is of no cost to their parents.

My ears perked up when I overheard a discussion on how Prohibition Kombucha from Verdant Tea can be used in cocktails, so I picked up a bottle of "The Sicilian" to try in Gin & Tonics. It's flavored with rosemary, lemon and orange blossom.

These fuzzy little babies always look like they're smiling.  Don't you just want to snuggle them?

Dave caught this bird in mid-squawk.

Any way they're displayed, radishes are a thing of beauty.

Breakfast is served!

New from Barkley's Bistro - Hopvale & Cheddar Buttons.  Happy hour for Fido.

Potter Adam Gruetzmacher debuted at the June 13 Market. Look for a separate post about his work later this week on our Farmers Market blog.

The goat!

RiverQuest: ride the riverfront!

Date: Saturday, June 27

(Registration closes on Monday, June 22nd!)

It’s the time of the year to gather a few good friends and spend a summer’s afternoon getting to know the Mississippi! Join RiverQuest, a two-wheeled team scavenger hunt up and down the Minneapolis riverfront! Explore the famed Mississippi both on and off the beaten path, and dive headlong into its past, present and future.

Through a unique series of clues, each team will explore key points along the riverfront and capture their completed tasks via Instagram (using #RiverQuest2015). At each of several stops along the way, it will be up to you and your team to fulfill the challenge laid out for you.

Full details & registration...

Map Your Route! Northern Spark is This Saturday Dusk 'til Dawn!

Via a June 11 e-newsletter from Northern Spark and Northern Lights.mn:

Visit our new mobile-friendly website northernspark.org, click on the Art and Events tab to view all the 2015 projects and events. See something you like? Just click "Add to My Night" to save your to-do list. (Reminder: we are not updating the 2014 Northern Spark app this year. The mobile site allows us to make updates quickly as needed.)

The 6 zones on our maps page show you where all the action is for artist projects, food trucks, Northern Spark Information and Merch Tents, and restrooms. Read below for a possible route, but we encourage you to chose your own adventure!

Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership's Second Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival

Sitting within blocks of thousands of Minneapolis workers, residents and visitors is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world: the Mississippi River. And too many people don’t realize it’s there.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership invites you to make the invisible visible using the engaging medium of film. Create a vision that tugs at heartstrings or makes people laugh, that showcases an appreciation for – or the future potential of – the riverfront in Minneapolis.  Most important, inform, energize, and inspire our citizenry to action -­ all in 60 seconds!

The contest formally launches on Monday, June 15, and the film submission deadline is 5:00pm September 15.  The screening and awards ceremony will be held Monday, October 26, 2015.

Click here for details.

Cynthia Froid Group to host June 17 Izzy's Ice Cream Social in Gold Medal Park

Thank you to Cynthia Froid and staff for the hosting this fun event!

Metro Transit Rider Alert for June 12 - 15

Buses will replace Green Line trains this weekend

Due to scheduled maintenance, buses will replace Green Line trains beginning Friday, June 12 at 7:00 p.m. through Monday morning at these stations:

Stadium Village
East Bank
West Bank
Downtown East
Government Plaza
Nicollet Mall
Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue
Target Field

During the disruption, customers can board replacement buses near each affected station.

See maps for boarding locations.

Buses will operate on a similar schedule as trains but may take more time. Customers are encouraged to plan accordingly.

Share Your Ideas for Downtown Using New Mapita Online Tool

Via a June 9 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Tell us how you use downtown parks and public spaces! Project staff want to know more about what you do and how you get around. This interactive map allows you to share ideas about a specific park or place, the path you take to get there and how you'd improve the experience. Please visit Mapita to share your thoughts, or visit the project webpage (or go to www.minneapolisparks.org/currentprojects and select “Downtown Service Area Master Plan”), then check the “What’s New” tab for a link to Mapita.

 

2015 National Senior Games to be Held in the Twin Cities July 3-16

Via a June 8 Press Release from Mill City Commons:

2015 National Senior Games to be held in the Twin Cities July 3-16
Mill City Commons will field two entries

More than 12,000 athletes ages 50 and up from all over the country will compete in the National Senior Games (www.nsga.com/special-events.aspx), a 19-sport, biennial national championship for men and women 50 and over. The largest multi-sport event in the world for senior athletes, this year’s competition will take place over 13 days in July in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington. All events are free and open to the public.

The Senior Games will kick off in the Mill City neighborhood at 8 p.m. on July 4 prior to the annual “Red, White & Boom” fireworks at Father Hennepin Park. Competing athletes will accompany a symbolic torch and flame across the Stone Arch bridge celebrating their arrival in Minneapolis after traveling throughout the state. There will be 851 Minnesota athletes competing in the 12-day competition.

Among the senior athlete competitors will be two downtown riverfront residents and Mill City Commons (MCC) members: Penny Hunt and Penny Winton.  Both competed in late May in the Minnesota Senior Games held in St. Cloud and both won gold medals. Penny Winton won her Gold in the 50 yard freestyle swim event for seniors ages 80-84; Penny Hunt earned hers by winning her age group in the 5K Road Race.

Below - Penny Winton, left, and Penny Hunt, right, with game poster.

On Monday, July 6, Penny Hunt will run in the 5K Road Race with 18 entrants in the 70-74 category.  Her race starts at 8 am at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. On Thursday, July 9, Penny Winton will swim with 15 entrants ages 80-84 from across the country in the Womens 50 yd freestyle at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Both are the only Minnesotans in their races.

On Friday, July 10 at 7:00 pm. there will be a Parade of Athletes at CHS Field in Saint Paul. Minnesota athletes, including those from Mill City Commons, will celebrate their accomplishments with participating athletes from all over the country. All athletes will walk with their state in the Parade of Athletes. The program will also feature entertainment by the Wright Bros. Band.

Co-chairing Mill City Commons participation are MCC members Peggy Lucas (Downtown East) and Ellie Hands (Marcy Holmes).  “In addition to encouraging our two Penny’s, we’ve recruited 40 Mill City Commons members and friends who will join other Twin Cities volunteers to help with Athlete Registration at the Minneapolis Convention Center”, said Ellie Hands.  “Volunteering and giving back to the community where we live is a key value of Mill City Commons,” she added. 

Opened and staffed in 2008, Mill City Commons is a welcoming and inclusive neighborhood “village” for 175 residents ages 55+.  Members build community by bringing together neighbors on both sides of the downtown Mississippi Riverfront District who connect with each other through a rich calendar of events. Information on Mill City Commons is available at http://www.millcitycommons.org/ or 612.455.3329.

Traffic Alert - Hennepin Avenue Closure Update for June 10

Via a June 8 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Portion of Hennepin Avenue northbound in Downtown to close overnight Wednesday, June 10

Northbound Hennepin Avenue, from Third Street North to First Street North will close at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 10 until 5 a.m., Thursday, June 11.

A signed detour diverting traffic from Third Street North to First Avenue North to First Street North and back to Hennepin Avenue will be place during the closure. Southbound Hennepin Avenue and Washington Avenue will remain open.

A utility company will excavate two sections of the street to deactivate and cap an old gas line during the closure.

Please click on the link below which includes all proposed downtown construction for the 2015 season.  By clicking on the colored lines or boxes, this map gives information regarding project name, Contractor, type of closure, estimated start/end times.

Link to Proposed Construction

Also, to access current construction projects please click on the website link below. By clicking on the lines or boxes, information will include the type and duration of closure.

Link to Current Construction and Events 

Northern Spark June 13th & 14th Ticketed Events

Via a June 6 Northern Spark e-newsletter:

Northern Spark is free for all to attend. Our 3 ticketed events help make this possible by funding 10% of our overall budget as an arts nonprofit. Spark our night and yours with great food, company, and surprise performances in the beautiful spaces of the Mill City Ruin Courtyard and Aria. We're only 1 WEEK AWAY, get your tickets now!

Join us at the Northern Spark Launch Party on June 13th, 7-9:30 pm at the beautiful Mill City Ruin Courtyard. Get your tickets here while they last! $60-$100, plus the option to add beautiful artist prints by Kate Cassanova, Robin Schwartzman, Piotr Szyhalski, and Jenni Undis. All proceeds benefit Northern Spark's artistic programming. 

SOLD OUT: Northern Spark Bike Tour on June 13th-14th with Recovery Bike Shop. Thank you to all who bought tickets!

NORTHERN SPARK PANCAKE FEED tickets now just $5 dollars in advance! It was a long night last year in the rain; we want to thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support for Northern Spark. Celebrate with us over hotcakes. Sunrise / 5:30-7 am on Sunday, June 14th at Aria. The James Bearders The Bachelor Farmer x Al's Breakfast join forces once again to serve a special meal for those who stayed up all night night (or returned after a nap). Special appearance by Pierwoss & SISKA, Cole Pulice and DJ Brian Engel.  There's no better place to swap stories and re-fuel after a night of adventure. Tickets are limited. Advance purchase strongly recommended. $5 in advance, $25 at the door. All proceeds benefit Northern Spark's artistic programming.

Wild River Academy is Seeking Fellows for the Annual Paddle Forward Canoe Expedition

Via a June 6 Wild River Academy e-newsletter:

Are you a recent college graduate looking for a creative way to spend your fall?  Or do you know someone who might be interested in paddling an entire river and expanding their knowledge about our nations rivers?  Please pass on this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Paddle Forward is an annual canoe expedition down a major river in the Mississippi Watershed. The Paddle Forward program is primarily focused on three main purposes: (1) Work with K12 schools through our Adventure Learning Model by engaging students throughout the U.S. in our trips (2) Provide an experiential and unique learning opportunity for college students and recent graduates (3) Engage with river communities as we paddle to learn about their community.  This fall a group of 6-8 paddlers will travel downstream in tandem canoes on the Minnesota River from August 28th to October 5th, connecting with people who live, work, and recreate along the river.

Paddle Forward revolutionizes experiential learning by integrating technology, paddling, film, and environmental education. By paddling diverse social and ecological systems in the Mississippi River basin we discover the complex connections between rivers, agriculture, politics, water quality and health. 
 
We use our own curiosity and exploration skills to learn more and uncover the truth. You will learn from professionals in the field, local business owners, river community members, other paddlers, each other, and the Paddle Forward Project Leader. Paddle Forward is a program designed for people from a variety of disciplines. If you are interested in connecting your passions, studies, and enjoyment for the outdoors, Paddle Forward is a program for you!

Learn more online at www.paddle4ward.com/fellowship or send questions to Liz@wildriveracademy.com.  Deadline: JUNE 30TH!

Our mailing address is:
Wild River Academy
2751 Hennepin Ave S PMB#254
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Week 5 at the 2015 Mill City Farmers Market

So much packed into the June 6 Market - New produce (strawberries, new potatoes, green beans, cabbage, etc).  It was the first Saturday for the Guthrie Theater Storytelling Hour (part of MCFM Kids @ the Market Series), Mary Jane Miller gave an entertaining Mill City Cooks demo, and representatives from Northern Spark and Sustainable Farming Association(SFA) were on hand.  Whew! 

Peonies - glorious peonies!

Art vendor Heidi Schweigert of Redcruiser debuted at the June 6 Market.  Look for a separate post on our Farmers Market blog later this week. Love her work!

YAY - Sonny's is back!  And they've been busy creating adventurous new flavors. Look for more gelato offerings from them this season.

Down in the Valley Bakehouse brings gluten-free treats to the Market.

Kudos to parents who bring their little ones to the Market.  :)

Joanna Buyert of Fringe & Fettle Ceramics worked on one of her lovely handled bowls between helping customers.

Apparently I'm not the only one who loves the Chevre from Singing Hills Goat Dairy...

The goat!

CenterPoint Energy Project Status Update for Downtown Minneapolis

MN Limited, LLC. and Michels Corporation, two authorized CenterPoint Energy contractors, will continue installing natural gas pipeline in the following locations:

Hennepin Avenue, from Washington Avenue N. to 2nd Street N.:

•Construction will begin Wednesday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m. until Thursday, June 11th at 5:00 a.m.
•Crews will be working overnight with extended hours until 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 15th.
•Northbound Hennepin Avenue traffic will be closed during construction. Please follow the posted detour. Southbound Hennepin Avenue traffic will remain open.
•Please anticipate intermittent lane closures for eastbound and westbound Washington Avenue N. traffic.
•Construction will continue for four weeks in this area.

2nd Street S., from 3rd Avenue S. to 5th Avenue S.:

•Traffic is reduced to one lane in both directions as crews continue to work eastwards.

2nd Street S., from Park Avenue S. to Chicago Avenue S.:

•This area will reopen to traffic on Tuesday, June 9th.
Parking lots and ramps are accessible.

At the intersection of 2nd Street S. and 9th Avenue S.:

•This intersection will be closed beginning Tuesday, June 9th for approximately one week.

2nd Street S., from 11th Avenue S. to 13th Avenue S.:

•Traffic is reduced to one lane in both directions as crews continue to work eastwards.

At the intersection of 2nd Street S. and 12th Avenue S.:

•Traffic going east and west at this intersection is open.
•There is no through traffic going north and south at this intersection.

Restoration is underway in the following areas:

•2nd Street N., from 2nd Avenue N. to 1st Avenue N. will be completed on Friday, June 12th.

Please visit our website often to receive project updates, traffic alerts and any anticipated road or lane closures.

For further information, please contact Ashley Osteraas at 612-321-5546 or Ashley.Osteraas@centerpointenergy.com. Thank you.

Video: Backyard on the Mississippi

From the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.

Poliça and Ra Ra Riot to Headline The Bachelor Farmer's 4th Annual Kräftskiva! Block Party

POLIÇA AND RA RA RIOT TO HEADLINE FOURTH ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY FOR THE BACHELOR FARMER, ASKOV FINLAYSON AND MARVEL BAR

Minneapolis (June 3, 2015) – The Bachelor Farmer, Askov Finlayson, and Marvel Bar will host Kräftskiva!, their summer block party, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1.

The fourth annual festival will bring The Bachelor Farmer and Marvel Bar out onto the streets of Minneapolis for the evening – shutting down 2nd Ave North alongside The Bachelor Farmer between Azine Way and North 1st St – for an evening of live music, food, and beverages.

Kräftskiva! will be better than ever this year, featuring multiple live music performances throughout the night, culminating with local standouts Poliça. Additional performing acts include Ra Ra Riot, Rogue Valley, and DJ Jonathan Ackerman.

Tickets will go on sale this week for $20, with all proceeds from the event benefiting the Mississippi River Fund. This is the first time the annual block party will benefit a charitable organization, building on the efforts of all three businesses, which have been active supporters of numerous local non-profits since opening in 2011.

“Kräftskiva! has become a cherished summer tradition for our entire team, and hopefully for Minneapolis,” said Eric Dayton, co-owner of The Bachelor Farmer, Marvel Bar and Askov Finlayson. “The support of the North Loop has been crucial to our success and this is really our way of saying thank you to the neighborhood. We’re proud to add a charitable aspect to the event this year, as giving back is fundamental to who we are as a company. Given our location, supporting the Mississippi River Fund and their efforts was a natural fit.”

Revelers will have the chance to purchase traditional Kräftskiva! menu items, including chilled crayfish with dill, as well as some classic favorites from The Bachelor Farmer, such as its beloved meatballs, grilled sweet corn and warm bannock with honeyed butter. To wash it all down, Fulton beer, adult snow cones and ice-cold aquavit, the traditional Scandinavian spirit, will be available.

Sticking with the local theme, this year’s bold Kräftskiva! event poster was designed by Charles S. Anderson Design Co., a legendary graphic design firm headquartered two doors down from Askov Finlayson.

Presale tickets are available beginning today for email subscribers or fans of The Bachelor Farmer, Marvel Bar or Askov Finlayson’s social media channels. Tickets will officially go on sale to the general public at 12:00 p.m. on June 4 and can be purchased by visiting Askov Finlayson or askovfinlayson.com. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door the day of the block party for $25, but purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended.

About Kräftskiva

Kräftskiva, which is Swedish for “crayfish party,” is a summertime eating and drinking tradition held in many Nordic countries during the month of August. The annual celebration originated in Sweden, where crayfish are a delicacy, during the 1900s when restrictions were placed on crayfish harvesting, delaying the start of the season to the first week in August. As a result, August became a month of crayfish parties, where family and friends would come together to feast on mass amounts of the small crustacean.

Franklin Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Update

Via a June 2 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

CLOSURE UPDATE:

Crews have been working on concrete removals on Franklin Bridge above West River Parkway trail. A flagperson(s) is on site for intermittent closures through the next few weeks.

Crews plan to close East River trail Thursday, June 4 for tree removals. The trail will be closed until fall 2015 for multiple construction activities. Detour signs will be in place.

TREE REMOVAL:

Tree removal is necessary to access the underside of the bridge for concrete removal. The crews will remove as few of trees as possible. The contractor will begin removing trees on the west bank today and east back Thursday.

IMPACT TO BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS:

Crews have been working on concrete removals on Franklin Bridge above West River Parkway trail. A flagperson(s) is on site for intermittent closures through the next few weeks.

Crews plan to close East River trail Thursday, June 4 for tree removals. The trail will be closed until fall 2015 for multiple construction activities. Detour signs will be in place.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Project website: http://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/franklin-ave-bridge

Email: FranklinBridge@hennepin.us

Phone:  888-474-8929

Hennepin County Board Schedules Public Meetings for 2016 Budget

Via a June 2 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Public meetings set for 2016 budget

A series of public meetings have been scheduled regarding the 2016 budget and property tax levy. There will be presentations from county staff to the county board about the proposed budget, followed by public comments on the proposed budget on the following dates:

•Tuesday, September 8 at 1:30 p.m. – proposed budget presentation
•Wednesday, September 9 at 1 p.m. – budget hearing for operations, library and public works
•Thursday, September 10 from 9 at 11 a.m. – budget hearing for human services and public health
•Monday, September 14 at 9 a.m. – budget hearing for public safety
•Tuesday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m. – Hennepin County Board adopts 2016 maximum tax levy and budget
•Friday, September 25 at 9 a.m. - budget hearing for human services and public health (follow-up if needed)
•Monday, November 2 at 1 p.m. - budget hearing for capital budget and fees

An additional public meeting will be held Tuesday, December 1 at 6 p.m. for public comment on the 2016 budget. The public meetings will take place at the Hennepin County Government Center downtown Minneapolis. The final levy adoption is scheduled for December 15, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at the regular county board meeting.

This Week at Piazza on the Mall

Wednesday June 3rd from 5:30-6:30pm is the first of the summer long weekly concerts.  It's a perfect way to enjoy your evening with some outdoor music.

Jelloslave, which originally formed as a duo in 2003 by cellists Jacqueline Ultan and Michelle Kinney, has since become an established quartet with the addition of drummer Greg Schutte and Gary Waryan on tablas. Known for their dynamic improvisational compositions, the foursome pours heart and soul into an eclectic original repertoire ranging from mesmerizing fusions of jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Indian rhythms, to surprising pop music interpretations.

- - -

Come join Ross Hackenmiller Music for the first summer Social Jam Session on Thursday, June 4th, 7:00-9:00pm!  These sessions are a fun way to do some outdoor improvised music-making at the Piazza! Any and all are welcome. There will be a stack of random percussion and noisemakers waiting to be played. Feel free to bring your own.

- - -

This Saturday, June 6th from 10am-11am is the first weekly free Saturday morning yoga class, brought to you by Yess Yoga.
 
The free classes will reflect Yess Yoga’s overall approach focused on connecting with yourself and the community around you. Whether you are new to yoga or a guru, Yess Yoga can help you improve your physical and mental strength and wellness. There are free yoga mats to use at each class and all levels are welcome.