June 14 Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

Via a June 14 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis. This project is anticipated to be completed summer 2023.

The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures.

Project Map

Latest Project News

  2nd Ave

• Crews continue tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S, just north of the Washington Ave intersection. Crews are working under Washington Ave towards the existing access shaft near Hennepin Ave.
  • The sidewalks remain open on both sides of the road.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 2nd Ave S intersection remains open.
  • 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Ave and 1st St S.
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

 Portland Ave

• Tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave continues from the existing tunnel access shaft at the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Portland Ave intersection. Crews are tunneling under Washington Ave towards Chicago Ave.
  • Pedestrian access is being maintained during this work. Please follow any posted detour routes.
  • There may be short, periodic delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

Long-term closures/restrictions

• The north westbound lane, bike lane, and parking lane remains closed on Washington Ave between Portland Ave and Park Ave. These closures will remain in place until the project is completed. This is necessary for the contractor to utilize the existing shaft to connect the existing tunnel to the new tunnel.
  • During this closure, pedestrians can still use the sidewalks along Washington Ave.
  • Crosswalks across Washington Ave and Portland Ave will remain open.
  • Bicyclists will share the traffic lane.
  • The existing left turn lane on Washington Ave at the Portland Ave intersection will temporarily become a left turn and through lane.

• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains restricted between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall. The contractor will resume tunneling from the existing tunnel to the new tunnel in fall 2022.
  • During these restrictions, pedestrians share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remains open.

• The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S remains restricted through the end of the project. The dewatering well and pumps are installed in this area.
  • Pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the west side of 4th Ave S.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 4th Ave intersection remains open.
  • Access to driveways off 4th Ave S remains open.

• The eastern sidewalk along Nicollet Mall between Washington Ave and 3rd St N remains restricted. Access is open to the Marquette Plaza building. The dewatering well and pumps are installed in this area.
  • Pedestrians are still able to use the sidewalk on the west side of Nicollet Mall.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave intersection remains open.
  • Possible short-term sidewalk closures to remove equipment in the area through the end of the month.

• The west sidewalk of Portland Ave south of Washington Ave will remain restricted to pedestrians around the dewatering well and pumps until the project is completed.

Suspended sites through summer 2022

Hennepin Ave

• Tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave will resume fall 2022 at this site.

Mississippi River Portal

• Minor activities will periodically occur at the Mississippi River portal site through Summer 2022. Work will resume fall 2022.

Stay connected

Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418

Pride Community Icon: Dot Belstler, Executive Director, Twin Cities Pride

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dot Belstler Photo: David ShermanDot Belstler was hired as the Executive Director of Twin Cities Pride in 2009. She recently chose to retire, after a career where she specialized in community outreach, sponsorships, and volunteerism. 

Quorum honored Belstler with a Lifetime Achievement Award this week and she is also the first ever recipient of the Dot Belstler Ally of the Year Award. We talked to Dot about her tenure at Twin Cities Pride and this year’s 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Minnesota.  

Q:  Congratulations on your Lifetime Achievement Award and also for having an award named in your honor! Please tell us the accomplishments you're most proud of during your tenure at Twin Cities Pride.

A:  I love that the LGBTQ+ community is more visible than even ten years ago. Of course, it’s not due to me or Twin Cities Pride, but we have strived to create space for people to come together to be who they are. Pride is like a family reunion, welcoming all the relatives - those who have been around for many years and those who are new to the community. I love that we are able to light the bridges in rainbow colors to let queer community members know that they are seen, they are included, and they are loved.

Q:  Twin Cities Pride is celebrating a 50-year anniversary in 2022.  Please tell our readers a brief history of how it started and how it's going?

A:  The first Pride march in the Twin Cities was in 1972 as a commemoration of the Stonewall riots in New York three years prior. It was planned by Jean-Nickolaus Tretter and two other people who have since passed. About 25 people marched down Nicollet Avenue and another 25 or so remained in Loring Park with money to bail them out of jail if they were arrested. No one was arrested and they all had a picnic in Loring Park afterwards. In 1980 the Pride committee applied for a block party and was denied by the City Council and Mayor. The local ACLU sued the city and there was a one-hour block party in 1981. Over the years the Pride Festival and March have grown to become one of the largest Pride events in the country. Visitors can see some of the history of Pride at the History Pavilion (Loring Community Center) during the Pride Festival. 

Q:  Does the 2022 Festival have a theme?  

A:  The theme for our 2022 Pride Celebration is Past, Present, Future, and we have three Grand Marshals each representing an era: Past: Jean-Nickolaus Tretter, Present: Nic Zapko, and Future: Hildie Edwards.

Q:  Are there multiple events?

A:  Yes! We’ve had several events already, but the Pride Family Fun Day is coming up on June 19. It’s a free family picnic at Como Park East Pavilions and includes several family-fun activities. The Festival is June 25-26 from 10a-6p in Loring Park. We’ve added a dedicated disability services area and Twin Cities Sober Pride space with a barbeque. It’s also the 20th Anniversary of the Power to the People of Color Stage at Pride. We are so proud to support this space and the BIPOC and other artists who perform on this and all of our stages.

   
Saturday night’s Pride in Concert is moving to The Armory this year and our headliner is Carly Rae Jepson! Tickets are available at The Armory’s box office and Ticketmaster. Visit tcpride.org and our Facebook page for a chance to win tickets in the White Bear Mitsubishi VIP Lounge!

Ashley Rukes is the former director of the Twin City Pride Festival, and the namesake of the annual Twin Cities Pride Parade. Photo: MNHSFinally, on Sunday at 11 am, the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ Pride March honoring Ashley Rukes will be back on Hennepin Avenue. We have over 100 contingents in the march this year, even though it is shortened by three blocks due to construction. Bleacher seating is available in front of Rock Bottom Brewery. Tickets

Check out our Events page for a complete listing of all events.

Q:  Do you need volunteers for this year's Pride events?

A:  Volunteers are welcome! Everyone who volunteers for a four-hour shift gets a t-shirt, a free meal, and a gift bag of Pride goodies. PLUS, the Minnesota Twins have provided four tickets to a Twins game for every volunteer. Apply here.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A: The most up-to-date news will be found on our social media, specifically Facebook. You can also sign up for our email updates on tcpride.org at the bottom of the page.

Progress on the Father Hennepin Bluff Park Improvements Project

Submitted by Doug Verdier

Visitors to Father Hennepin Bluff Park are able to observe the construction underway to build a new performance stage and attached seasonal restroom facility near the South end of the Stone Arch Bridge. Other improvements are also underway throughout the remainder of the park. These include: upgraded lighting, path connections, way finding signage and trail markings, as well as landscape and stormwater management improvements. Construction began in mid-April and is expected to be completed in Fall 2022. The park remains open to visitors with some restrictions in areas under construction. Project Info

Foundation for the new performance stage building is well underway, while landscaping work continues throughout the park.

Restaurateurs Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald to Open New Tequila-focused Restaurant in North Loop (2023)

The New Restaurant Is Slated To Open Summer 2023

Local restaurateurs Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald, the duo behind Burger Dive, Smack Shack, and The Lexington, are opening a new, yet to be named restaurant, in the North Loop in 2023. With an emphasis on tequila and Chef Nick O’Leary helming the kitchen, the new concept is slated to open next summer.

Located in the former Alliance Francaise space at 113 1st Street N in Minneapolis, the restaurant is three stories (including the basement) and approximately 10,000 square feet. The ownership team is working with the city to ensure the historical integrity of the building endures while local design firm, Shea, brings new life to the historic space.

“We’ve been wanting to open an elevated tequila bar for a long time,” said Josh Thoma. “While the pandemic may have put a pause on our progress, we’re thrilled to finally get the process started and can’t wait to share this exciting new concept with everyone.”

The new restaurant will be open for dinner and weekend brunch with a strong emphasis on tequila. A menu is still being developed.

Thoma and Fitzgerald are also bringing their new tequila concept to Lloyd Companies' The Steel District project in Sioux Falls announced last May. Located adjacent to Falls Park, the project will also include a Burger Dive and a new elevated seafood concept from the pair. That project is scheduled to open Spring 2023.

“We’re very excited to bring this new concept to the neighborhood,” said Kevin Fitzgerald. “When we first opened Smack Shack in 2013, the community embraced us immediately and they remain avid supporters to this day. That’s just one of the many reasons we chose to open another restaurant right here in our own neighborhood.”

To follow the project progress, sign up for updates on the website, and follow along on Facebook. 

Six Minnesota Dance Artists Selected for 2022 McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers

L – R: Leila Awadallah, Leslie Parker, Pedra Pepa, Sharon Picasso, Rosy Simas, Cheng Xiong

The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts recently announced its 2022 McKnight Choreographer Fellows and 2022 McKnight Dancer Fellows. McKnight Artist Fellowships deliver significant financial support to mid-career individuals whose work demonstrates artistic excellence. As a result, three Choreographer Fellows and three Dancer Fellows will individually receive $25,000 to set aside time to study, reflect, experiment, and explore, as well as take advantage of an opportunity to work on a new project.

2022 McKnight Choreographer Fellows

Pedra Pepa - Leslie Parker - Rosy Simas

Choreographer Selection Panel

Stefanie Batten Bland Choreographer & Movement Director (New York City, NY)

Andrew Chiang Executive Director, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (New York City, NY)

Adam W. McKinney Co-Artistic Director, DNAWORKS (Fort Worth, TX)

Taja Will Choreographer, Performer & Healing Justice Practitioner (Minneapolis, MN)

In addition to the $25,000 fellowship award, each Choreographer Fellow is offered additional support for research and development of their work. The opportunity offers a supported trip to New York City during the APAP conference, as well as funds for renting dedicated space and/or engaging collaborators or staff in the creative process.

2022 McKnight Dancer Fellows

Leila Awadallah - Sharon Picasso - Cheng Xiong

Dancer Selection Panel

Stephanie Fellner Teacher, Dancer (Minneapolis, MN)

Rosie Herrera Choreographer, Artistic Director of Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre (Miami Beach, FL)

Herbert Johnson III Dancer/Choreographer (Minneapolis, MN)

Daniel Singh Artistic Director, Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company (Washington D.C.)

In addition to the $25,000 fellowship award, the Fellowship Program will also provide funds for each Dancer Fellow to commission a choreographer of their choice to create a new solo dance work specifically for them.

The McKnight Fellowships for Choreography and Dance are designed to enrich and strengthen our community by acknowledging the accomplishments of individual choreographers and dancers and providing for their artistic growth.

Mill City Farmers Market Welcomes New Vendor Superior Provisions at the June 11 Market

Our shopping basket from the June 11 Mill City Farmers Market. I'm looking forward to a week of arugula salads topped with strawberries from Twin Cities Berry Co, Big Woods Blue cheese from Shepherd's Way, toasted hazelnuts from American Hazelnut Company (and a drizzle of their cold pressed hazelnut oil) with Zen crackers from The Happy Healthy Buddha.

Superior Provisions is a new vendor for the 2022 season. At the June 11 Market they offered three varieties of bone broth. We'll capture more photos at future Markets when signage, etc., is available.

Can you ever have too many strawberries? NO!  :D

Wow - yummy dishes from Muddy Tiger Indian Street Food! Tawa Chicken on a grilled roll and Idli coconut-cilantro Chutney on spongy steamed rice and lentil cakes. When they return, we'll try the Vada Pav and Chilli Paneer.

Love it when two vendors collaborate - above is a recipe for Hazel Maple Vinaigrette, using hazelnut oil from American Hazelnut Company and maple syrup and vinegar from Horner's Corner. Of course you can soon get garlic and shallots at the Market, too.

Our vendors are a hardy bunch - WEI suffered a few weather-related set backs this spring, but they are back with a beautiful variety of produce.

Nonprofit Leader: Nicki Hangsleben, Executive Director and Founder, QUEERSPACE Collective

Article by Becky Fillinger

Nicki HangslebenNicki Hangsleben, Executive Director and Founder of QUEERSPACE Collective, is a community hero – she has created a kinder and more supportive world for LGBTQ+ youth by providing a safe space through one-on-one virtual and in-person mentoring.

We talked to her about the origins of QUEERSPACE, their unique mentoring programs and the fun events coming up during Pride Month. Keep reading – you can help in many ways – the easiest is ordering a delicious QUEERSPACE Lime & Sea Salt Lager at all Red Cow and Red Rabbit locations during June.

Q:  QUEERSPACE Collective recently won the 2022 Community Leadership Awards Nonprofit of the Year - congratulations! Please tell us more about the reasons QUEERSPACE was given this award.

A:  We are so honored to have been chosen as Nonprofit of the Year by Quorum! As one of the few organizations in Minnesota and the Midwest directly supporting LGBTQ+ youth, QUEERSPACE Collective is filling a much-needed gap in the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to working with the broader community to fill this need while not being redundant in our services. Key to the success of QUEERSPACE is the collaborative approach we are taking with youths’ caregivers, partner organizations and the broader LGBTQ+ community. We understand mentorship for LGBTQ+ youth cannot be provided in a vacuum, and the greater the network of support each youth has, the greater their chances for success.

Q:  Your LGBTQ+ mentoring programs are unique in Minnesota and across the nation. As founder, what led you to put together a nonprofit to address this void? Could you tell us more about the mentoring programs?

A:  In the United States, LGBTQ+ youth represent some of the most vulnerable and underserved people in our country. LGBTQ+ youth face on-going discrimination and often lack the support required to feel safe living an open, “out” and authentic life. A staggering 85% of LGBTQ+ youth experience harassment at school and they are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Access to inclusive spaces where LGBTQ+ feel safe to show up as their authentic selves is crucial to their development and emotional, mental and physical well-being.

There are currently over 5,000 mentorship programs across the US with less than 10 focused on LGBTQ+ youth. QUEERSPACE hangouts, our mentorship initiative, is a free youth-centric intergenerational program creating safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and LGBTQ+ adults to connect. LGBTQ+ mentors are matched with LGBTQ+ youth based on youth choice, location, identity, orientation and shared interests. Mentors and mentees connect weekly to hangout, set and accomplish goals, and build resilience through meaningful engagement.

Recent BBQ at Minnehaha Falls

QUEERSPACE also provides opportunities for youth and their mentors to participate in social and educational group events each month to promote a sense of community and provide both mentors and mentees an opportunity to build relationships with others in the program. Activities include games, BBQ’s, queer history, art, and much more. We have a ton of fun at these group events and have seen many of the youth begin to come out of their shells and show up as their authentic selves.

Q:  Over two-thirds of LGBTQ youth said recent debates on the topic and the passed state legislation that targets transgender people have negatively impacted their mental health. Are you seeing an uptick in requests for mentoring for trans youth as a result of the anti-trans legislation?

A:  With the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans legislation across our country, there is a growing need for youth-serving organizations to do more to make their programming safer and more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ youth they serve. Over half of the youth that we serve identify as trans or non-binary and are looking for mentors with similar gender identities to support them along their journey of self-discovery. More often than not the trans and non-binary youth that come to us have never met a trans or non-binary adult. Research has shown that having at least one supportive adult in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth reduce their risk of suicide by nearly 40%. Being able to connect with someone who has walked many miles in your shoes is incredibly important in supporting trans and non-binary youth and giving them a chance to see that a healthy and happy future is possible.

Q:  Do you have events planned for Pride Month?

A:  Yes! On June 23 we will be hosting a Pride Block Party at Red Rabbit in the North Loop from 3PM to 9PM. There will be music, food, drinks, and a whole lot of fun! We have great friends over at Indeed Brewing Co. that have created a special QUEERSPACE Lime & Sea Salt Lager that is being sold at all of the Red Cow and Red Rabbit locations throughout the month of June. $1 from each beer sold will be donated directly to QUEERSPACE to support our mentorship program. We encourage everyone that is able to stop by to say hello, enjoy a few refreshments, and celebrate our community together.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Following QUEERSPACE collective on social media, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, is a great way to stay up to date with all of our latest news and events. You can also visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to receive emails about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to continue supporting our mission of creating space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to be their true selves.

By the Numbers: Celebrating the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, June 18-19

Article by Becky Fillinger

Sara CollinsAn iconic Twin Cities’ summer festival in its 27th year, the Stone Arch Bridge Festival returns June 18-19 along the Mississippi Riverfront.

We talked to Sara Collins, festival director, about all the components that make up the much-anticipated event. What will we see, hear, eat and drink? She happily gave us the facts.

Below is a brief overview by the numbers. Report back on your favorite experience!

- More than 1 mile of Art and Music, spanning from Gold Medal Park to N 4th Avenue

- 27th year of the festival (25 years on the east side of the river and this will be the 2nd year on the west side of the river)

- 235 juried artists from more than 400 applications

- 3 specialty markets: Culinary Arts (under the Hennepin Avenue Bridge), Black Market (located on West River Parkway across from Mill City Museum) and Vintage and Vinyl (located on the West River Parkway across from the Guthrie)

- 2 music stages

- 28 music performances – the live music schedule is awesome!

- 15 local dance groups performing on the Bailame Dance Stage – want to dance Bachata, Salsa, Kizomba, Urban Kizomba, Hip Hop, East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop or Tango? It’s free and fun – come join us!

- 2 live artists doing Art in Action doing chalk art and murals

- More than 50 cars each day on display at Art of the Car Show

- 27 Food vendors

- 4 local breweries + beverage partners: La Dona Cerveceria, Pryes Brewing Company, Wild State Cider and Vamos Vinos

.

2022 Collectors Poster by artist Amy Marie Kulseth

Small Business Spotlight: Rachel Silberman, Owner, Luxjoy & Comfort

Article by Becky Fillnger

Rachel SilbermanLooking for a custom gift box for any occasion? Meet Rachel Silberman, owner of Luxjoy & Comfort. Her products are truly luxurious, customized and brought me joy just looking at them. Check out the timely LGBTQIA+ and Pride gift boxes during Pride Month!

Q:  A customized gift box – what’s better than that? How do you approach a customized box request?

A:  I first ask what the theme is, then their budget, likes and dislikes of the person or event, if they want a logo on a mug, tumbler, coaster, journal, or hundreds of items they can choose from. Then the date they need it by, and voila! That’s it. If they want photos before it gets delivered, I can do that too. I do custom boxes for individuals, corporate, events, or really any occasion.

All Spiced Up gift box

Q:  When you started your business in 2019 we had not entered the pandemic shutdowns. How did Luxjoy & Comfort shift its business model to adapt?

A:  Fortunately, I didn’t have to adapt at all. My business thrived during the pandemic, due to an influx of at-home kits and zoom parties! There were many different types of parties that I got to make boxes for like Alice in Wonderland, Coffee, Charcuterie, and Snack-based gifts. It was a lot of fun! Many businesses found me through different ways and I’m very grateful.

Q:  It’s Pride Month. Let’s talk about your LGBTQIA+ and Pride gift boxes. What was your inspiration for these products? Please describe the offerings.

A:  I went onto Etsy to see if there were any Asexual boxes and I couldn’t find any. Then I went to Google and did a broad search…nothing popped up. It was wild! I knew I had found a niche that needed to be filled. I ended up with 18 different orientations on my website and Etsy page. Inside are items that make the recipient feel special and seen. There is a choice of mug or tumbler with the flag of their choice and the giftee’s name on it, bandana with the flag, sticker that says “you are loved," Skittles (taste the rainbow), and a pronoun pin. 5% of each box goes to MyHealth for Teens and Young Adults, which is a non-profit in Hopkins that helps young adults and teens with counseling, pregnancies, LGBTQIA+ services, education, support and so much more. It is a wonderful organization.

Q:  Do you have a storefront? Will you be on-site at any Pride events?

A:  I work from home at the moment, but I am going to sell at the Pride Festival this year which is very exciting! I’ll be offering rainbow glitter tumblers with different flags, mugs with different flags, glitter candles, stickers, pins, and so much more!

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  The place I post the most is Instagram. Also my website and Facebook. Come visit me at the Pride Festival!

Now Available Online: Info on Housing and Commercial Building 311 Requests

From the June 10th City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Easily look up housing and commercial condition 311 complaints online with any device. Search by address to find any recent calls or calls resolved in the last year. This makes it easier to follow up on your own complaints, to find information on a place you’re thinking about renting or buying, or to find the status of a complaint on a place you own.

If an issue is found at the property, you can see the specific violation name and date. Examples include: trash, overgrown vegetation, broken window and fire safety issues, as well as conditions inside a rental property: utilities, safety concerns, code violations, etc.

The tool will also give you a link to see the address on the violations dashboard. Use this to find more information on orders at the property. This information used to be stored in different places and people had to call 311 to follow up, or potentially call an inspector. Now, anyone can see the complaint, the status of the complaint and the result in one place.

Go to the 311 tool online or the Minneapolis DataSource.

4th Street Reconstruction Project Update - June 10

4th Street Reconstruction Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis is reconstructing 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and 4th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. The reconstruction will include wider sidewalks, improved crossings, a new bi-directional off-street bike path on the north side of the street, lighting, trees, and planting beds. Construction is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

What's Happening Next Week?

Roadway reconstruction continues on 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Fourth St. is currently closed to vehicle traffic between 1st Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access is being maintained between 2nd Ave. N and 1st Ave. N.

• Concrete, curb and gutter, and concrete pavement construction will occur on the south side of the roadway between 2nd Ave. N and 1st Ave. N.
• Starting next week, crews will begin sidewalk construction work along the south side of the roadway between 1st Ave. and Hennepin Ave. Pedestrian access will be maintained.
• Lane restrictions at the 1st Ave. intersection continues for roadway paving work.
• Crews will be conducting minor concrete repairs between Hennepin Ave. and 4th Ave. S.

*Please note that the construction schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

What to expect during construction?

• During roadway construction, 4th St. will be closed to through traffic between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access will be maintained from 2nd Ave. N and 1st Ave. N. 
• Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction. Be aware of your surroundings when walking on the sidewalk and biking in the roadway. 
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.

Upcoming Events

4th Street Weekly Stakeholder Meeting

Weekly project newsletters are sent out weekly and virtual stakeholder meetings occur bi-weekly. Join us at the next stakeholder meeting to get project updates, talk with project staff and get your questions/concerns answered.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings:

June 17, 9-9:30 a.m.

July 1, 9-9:30 a.m. - CANCELLED

July 15, 9-9:30 a.m.

Teams Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

Stay connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/fourth-st-n-and-s/  

Provide questions, comments or concerns on the interactive map: https://zan.mysocialpinpoint.com/4thstreetreconstruction

Email the project team: info@4thstmpls.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-412-9774

Crews pouring a sidewalk

Bike trail completed between 1st Avenue N and Hennepin Avenue

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project - June 9 Update

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project

Hennepin Ave. will be reconstructed between 12th Street and Washington Avenue. The City will reconstruct the pavement from building face to building face, including improvements to public and private utility infrastructure, and improved space for pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and vehicles.

Latest Project News

The 7th Street intersection is back open to two lanes and all the concrete pavement is complete in the intersection.  All the concrete in the 5th Street intersection was also completed last weekend during the LRT shutdown.

Work has begun in the 6th St intersection.

What's Coming Up

Continued concrete paving work be taking place in the 6th Street intersection.  This intersection will be reduced to one lane of traffic starting June 20.

The majority of the concrete planters have been completed this week as well as bike lanes.

The 5th Street intersection will re-open for next week.

See update for additional information  Hennepin_Update_Vol95.pdf

Contact Info

For more information on this project contact: 

Project email: hennepinCM@minneapolismn.gov

Phone: 612-255-4049

Website: www.hennepindowntown.com 

Music Mover and Shaker: Grant Meachum, Director, Live at Orchestra Hall, Minnesota Orchestra

Article by Becky Fillinger

Grant Meachum Photo:Scott StrebleGrant Meachum is the Director of Live at Orchestra Hall - innovative programming that combines symphony orchestra with - well, many different artists and art forms. We talked to him about how he plans his collaborations, what’s on tap for the summer and his wish list for the perfect collaboration.

Q:  What do you have planned for the Live at Orchestra Hall during the outdoor summer season?

A:  The summer season is particularly exciting in that it really defies the question of what is “Live at Orchestra Hall” and what is “Classical.” I’ve worked alongside our programming team – including the Orchestra’s Artistic Advisory Committee and our Creative Partner for Summer Programs Jon Kimura Parker – to create programs that engage musically and visually. Some of the most exciting projects are collaborations between the Orchestra and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre and BRKFST Dance Company. Both organizations are offering a new visual and movement-based work to accompany music from the classical repertoire. There is so much great art being created in the Twin Cities, and it’s so gratifying to find ways for the Orchestra to work with these artists.

Q:  You've been Director, Live at Orchestra Hall, for over seven years. What changes have you witnessed in your tenure?

Dessa with the OrchestraA:  The biggest change has been the broadening of the idea of what kind of music a symphony orchestra can and should offer. I’ll use the Orchestra’s ongoing collaboration with Dessa as an example. Ten years ago, the idea of an Orchestra performing with a hip hop artist would have been viewed as an anomaly by some and sacrilegious by others.

Having an artistic partner like Sarah Hicks (principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall) and an open-minded and nimble orchestra like the Minnesota Orchestra has allowed us to explore new ideas like this. As long as music is well written and performed in a way that highlights the virtuosity of the Minnesota Orchestra, then the sky is truly the limit as to what kind of guest artist you might see at an orchestral Pops show in the future.

Q:  Your collaborative programming is outstanding, including guests such as Dessa, as you mentioned, Cloud Cult, Dan Wilson, Charles Lazarus and The Steeles. Do you have free reign to program collaborations with your 'wish list' of guests?

A:  Sarah Hicks and I definitely have a wish list of guest artists (*cough* Lizzo *cough cough*) A big part of our programming process at the Minnesota Orchestra involves discussions of new ideas with internal stakeholders – notably the musicians and my colleagues in marketing. We are so fortunate to work with an open-minded orchestra like this – if we can make a compelling case as to why someone would be a worthwhile collaboration, we usually get enthusiastic support in pursuing this wish list.

Q:  So many people are envious of your job. How did you train for such an interesting position?  

A:  Like many people working in artistic administration, my path to this job is anything but linear. My employment history has included positions with the Yale School of Music, Boston Lyric Opera, Hartford (CT) Symphony Orchestra, and Dispeker Artists (managing opera singers – my very favorite kind of musician to befriend). I gained important skills at all of these jobs, but writ large the one thread that has tied everything together in leading me here is the recognition that the relationship between artist and administrator goes both ways. Talented musicians sharing their art is the reason that my job exists, and I consider it a personal calling to find avenues and resources to lift up the art and artists whose work I believe in.

Salsa del Soul will be one of the performances during the July 16 A Day to Celebrate Music event.

Q:  What is on the drawing board for the rest of the year?

A:  The summer season is a very “hands on” time of year. The Minnesota Orchestra’s International Day of Music is on July 16, and it’s a day that will find me bouncing between four stages over a course of 12 hours to assist our guest artists, staff, and volunteers in welcoming thousands of guests to Orchestra Hall. But I will also make sure there is time to step back and plan out how I can approach those projects on our “wish list” as we look to programming future seasons.

Q:  Thank you so much for providing innovative musical programming to our community. How may we follow your news? 

A:  Check out the Minnesota Orchestra on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can read about all of the exiting things the Minnesota Orchestra is working on!

Anatomy of a Murder (Mystery)

Article by Becky Fillinger

There’s lots of chatter about the upcoming outdoor murder mystery, Mystery on the Mississippi: St. Anthony Falls which will play out on the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in June and July. We talked to co-creators Tim Wick and Duck Washington about what to expect during the immersive performances. Pull out your vintage 60s clothing, get your questions ready and help solve the mystery!

Q:  How did the collaboration between the Mississippi Park Connection, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and Fearless Comedy Productions come about?  

Tim - I have been friends with one of the rangers from the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area for some time. She was working on enrichment programs for the park and got in touch with me about doing something more theatrical. Mississippi Park Connection has been hosting excursions on the Jonathan Padelford for a few years and they wondered if we could put together a show. I had been creating some murder mysteries for a lodge in Wisconsin and suggested a murder mystery. 

After that, we just had to figure out how to create a show that was going to work with an audience in a confined space for two hours that also managed to educate the audience about the history of the river at the same time. It was a lot of work to come up with a format that worked, but the end result was really pleasing and got great feedback from the audience.

Tim Wick

Duck - I know one of the main focuses of the Mississippi Park Connection was to try to get people to connect with the river in some way. One of the reasons we were contacted was to provide an opportunity for both regular patrons to connect with it and also attract some patrons that might not spend as much time on the river. Since that first year in 2017 we have done something with the parks every summer. Tim has been the primary producer on all of those shows, co-writing them with Eric Thompson. I have been the director of all the shows and have played a pivotal role in also helping design its functionality in such unusual performance spaces.

Duck Washington

Q:  I understand the program has morphed from a boat performance to a Zoom performance during the pandemic to a walking tour at St. Anthony Falls this summer. What was the inspiration to continue tinkering with the program? 

Tim - The inspiration, more than anything, was necessity. The pandemic made it impossible to do an in-person show in 2020, but we still wanted to do something so we wrote a show that could take place online.

This year, in-person performances are possible but we all felt it might be too soon to put 100 people back on a boat together, so the Park Service and Mississippi Park Connection asked us if we would be interested in doing the show on the lock instead. We were really interested in the new challenge. We had to write the show completely differently than the shows we'd created for the Paddelford, and that was a very exciting problem. We're still working through some of the problems but the end result should be really interesting and fun.

Duck - You want to always be retaining and advancing the work you've built on. It has been a hard couple of years, but I feel it is still really important to connect the members of our community to the resources the park system provides. You don't want them to just forget about the river for two to three years.

2019 photo of the Fearless Comedy Productions cast and crew (costumes unrelated to the current Murder on the Mississippi production).

Q:  What's the plot line of this murder mystery? Is it completely fictional? Will attendees learn history of the area during the production? How should an attendee prepare in advance of the show?

Tim - The audience will be asked to solve a murder that took place when the Upper St. Anthonly Lock originally opened in 1963. We've tried to focus our shows on specific eras in the history of the river. When we were on the Paddelford, for instance, we began with the gangster era of the 1920's. Then we looked at WWII and the post-Civil War periods. All of those time periods had different interesting things happening on the river and we used those historical events to inspire our writing.

I don't want to give too much away, but the audience will meet a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who built and maintained the lock until it was shut down in 2015 and recently handed over to the Park Service. He will be asking the audience to help him solve a mystery. The audience will meet people who were working on and near the lock in 1963 and will need to figure out which one of them is the killer.

This show is completely fictional. In other productions, we've pulled characters from history, but the original opening of the lock didn't provide a lot of interesting subjects - so we created our own. We used the reasons for the creation of the lock along with changes that were happening along the river, like the movement of the flour mills out of downtown Minneapolis, and environmental concerns that have always been part of development on the river. 

We always hope that while the audience is trying to solve the mystery, they will learn something - so there is a lot of history about the dam, the lock, and the local area included in the show.

Attendees don't need to do anything to prepare, but should be aware the audience will be moving around the lock during the show and will be invited to interact with the characters to solve the mystery. The lock is handicapped accessible, so those with mobility impairments will be able to enjoy the performance.

Duck - While nothing is really required of our audiences, often we have had patrons come dressed up for the period. Those that wish to should feel welcome to dress in their favorite early 60's stylings. We will do some travelling through time but they can do it in style.

Q:  What are the dates of the production?  

Tim - Performance dates and times are:

June 24 / June 25 / July 15 / July 16

Because these are walking groups, each performance will be in front of a small group so tickets are very limited. Get tickets here. We encourage people to pick them up as soon as possible!

Q:  Do you see other collaborations happening in the future? I sure hope so!

Tim - We hope to be working with the Park Service and Mississippi Park Connection for many years to come! We already had been developing our next script for the Padelford when the pandemic hit and are excited to get back to that show someday soon.

Duck - I feel like we have had a strong collaboration over the past five years. The parks and the audiences have seemed happy with what we have put together, and it has definitely felt like a success on our end. Who knows what future possibilities there may be? Maybe we will do another show on the Jonathan Paddleford, maybe we will do mystery via canoe trip (I just made that up!). Anyhow, there are lots of possibilities. 

Q:  How may we follow your news?  

Tim - You can follow Fearless Comedy Productions on Facebook and our website. The Mississippi Park Connection is on Facebook. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is also on Facebook.

Celebrate Excellence: Dr. Jean O’Brien

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dr. Jean O’Brien

Our neighbor, Dr. Jean O’Brien, lived on Nicollet Island for 28 years; the last two years in Northeast a block away from the river. She is a celebrated professor of history at the University of Minnesota, with Distinguished McKnight University Professorship status. Did you know she was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences? This prestigious organization was founded in 1780, during the American Revolution, by John Adams, John Hancock and 60 other scholar-patriots who understood that a new republic would require institutions and leaders able to gather and share knowledge and advance learning in service to the public good. It’s a big deal! We talked to Dr. O’Brien about the award, the global explosion of indigenous studies, and how she gives back to the next generations of scholars.

Q:  Congratulations on your recent election to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, a national award. David Oxtoby, President of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, said the award winners “excel in ways that excite us and inspire us at a time when recognizing excellence, commending expertise and working toward the common good is absolutely essential to realizing a better future.” Please tell us your thoughts on how studying and amplifying history and Indigenous studies leads us to a better future. 

A:  Studying history helps explain why the world around us looks like it does and what we can do to make the world a better place. Knowing something about how the past has produced the present allows us to better understand the circumstances and lives of peoples, cultures, countries, and more. History at its best teaches empathy and understanding and the tools for making a better future. And as I always tell my students, "U.S. history IS Indian/Indigenous history." One cannot possibly understand the U.S. right now without knowing about the long history of Indigenous people and the struggles Indigenous people have faced within the structure of settler colonialism that produced the U.S. But as importantly, knowing something of Indigenous history helps explain our status as sovereign nations and vibrant peoples in the present looking to the future.

Q:  Will there be an award ceremony at the University and may the public attend? 

A:  There was a nice acknowledgement of faculty and staff awards at the May meeting of the Board of Regents that I was thrilled to attend. There will be what I understand is an elaborate inauguration ceremony at the AAA&S headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts in spring 2023 with all of the inductees for 2022. There is a backlog of inductees because of the COVID pandemic: that induction will happen first, in the fall.

Q:  You’ve mentored 31 Ph.D. students – another major career accomplishment. Did you realize when you started your teaching career in 1989 the potential impact you would have on so many other people?   

A:  I had no idea I would be so heavily involved in mentoring Ph.D. students when I started teaching at the UMN. It is one of my very favorite things about my job and I'm especially thrilled at the exponential growth in Indigenous graduate students in our programs. I currently advise fourteen more graduate students, ten of whom are Indigenous: we have at least three dozen Indigenous studies graduate students and we are well known internationally for our work in graduate education in the field. Our students are doing amazing things in the academy across the US and Canada and in institutions such as the Minnesota Historical Society. I also could never have imagined participating in the co-founding of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, now the most significant professional association in global Indigenous studies. I organized our first official meeting of NAISA at the UMN in 2009.

Q:  Bemidji State University has a new program focusing on environmentalism through an Indigenous lens, New Bemidji State degree draws on Indigenous practices to teach 21st century sustainability | MPR News. Do you see Indigenous studies continuing to develop in ways we perhaps can’t see today?   

A:  Indigenous studies is exploding in significance right now, and the field is incredibly far-reaching. Environmental studies is a vital component of our field and is growing dramatically. Indigenous people have a lot to teach the world about sustainability, food sovereignty, and creating the conditions of survival for the planet. But Indigenous studies reaches across virtually every field you can think of, well beyond the humanities and social sciences to law, medicine, and the hard sciences.

Q:  When you're not lecturing, writing, mentoring and inspiring others  - what do you like to do in your downtime? 

A:  My husband and I love to travel. He is an economist working in international trade, and I'm able to follow him around to lots of places, especially Spain and Latin America. I love to read, walk, tend to my container garden, and I love to cook.

Storm Over Mississippi River by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

The storm moved in early on the evening of May 30th, first with high winds, then menacing storm clouds and then rain in the distance moving this way. I went out to photograph from the balcony. The first photograph is early in shooting the storm. The clouds look ominous and the rain had not yet appeared in the horizon. The second photograph was taken not long after the first. The clouds are menacing and rain appears in the horizon. Nature changes the landscape rapidly.

See more of my work @ricrosowphotography and Tres Leches Art Gallery.

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June 4th at the Mill City Farmers Market

Our shopping basket from the June 4th Mill City Farmers Market.

Atacama Catering is a family business specializing in South American food. Their empanadas (available both hot to enjoy at the Market and cold to take home) are incredible, and they also sell salsas and bakery items. Atacama is a monthly vendor, and their next date at the MCFM is July 16th.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was excited for the first tomatoes of the year!

The U of M College of Design conducted a shopper survey and gathered feedback on how people react to less than perfect looking produce.  

It's always fun to see Chef Beth Jones in the demo booth.

Saturday Morning Workouts with Basecamp Fitness at Water Works Park

Submitted by Doug Verdier

This past Saturday morning found a group of folks engaged in a High Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) Workout on the grassy plaza of Water Works Park. Basecamp Fitness North Loop provided equipment and instruction, which gave participants a full-body workout designed to tone, define and add muscle mass. Perfect weather and a slight breeze were most welcome. The photos below show some of the activities during the session. 

Future outdoor classes are scheduled Saturdays throughout the summer months from 10-11am (except June 11 and June 18). For more information, call 612-870-8080 or email northloopmn@basecampfitness.com.

The colored squares  provide agility training.

The park’s inclined ramp provides a perfect space for a quick jog between other activities.

All done, all smiles! Great workout everyone - see you next week!

Rhythmically Speaking's The Cohort 2022 runs August 11-13 at the Southern Theater

Rhythmically Speaking (RS) recently announced The Cohort 2022 will run August 11-13 at the Southern Theater.

The Cohort 2022 will feature new works by local dance artists Erinn Liebhard (RS Artistic Director) and Rae Charles (RS Company Member), and remounted works by visitors Kathleen Doherty (Halifax, NS Canada) and Laura Ann Smyth (Los Angeles, CA). Liebhard’s new work An Opening is a musing on the synergy of keeping it together and breaking apart, and Charles’ new piece Learning to Understand uses the metaphor of falling in love to explore how we come to understand ourselves and one another. Visitor Kathleen Doherty is remounting her work BASS-line, which takes inspiration from how prominent basslines within music influence movement choices, rhythmic timing and shapes in the dancers’ bodies, and visitor Laura Ann Smyth is setting her work Character A/Musings, using the jazz idiom to consider the way in which we invent and reinvent ourselves throughout our lifetime.

In addition to these four choreographers, The Cohort 2022 includes a group of ten local dancers who will perform all four pieces on the show. The cast includes company dancers Nieya Amezquita, Rae Charles, Doug Hooker, Sara Karimi, RS Artistic Director Erinn Liebhard, Kelli Miles, Javan Mngrezzo, Jake Nehrbass, Kathleen Pender and Betsy Schaefer-Roob

Since being founded in 2008, Rhythmically Speaking has presented 98 original and remounted works, and engaged 350+ artists and thousands of audience members.

May 2022 State of the Downtown Market from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group: