New Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Online Meeting Portal is More User Friendly

Via a May 11 email from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Launches New Online Meeting Portal
 
As part of its commitment to sustainable practices, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is launching a new Online Meeting Portal, which can be easily accessed from the MPRB homepage http://www.minneapolisparks.org/ (under Commissioner Meetings).

The user-friendly portal will allow MPRB commissioners, staff, and interested community members to easily search, access and retrieve Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner meeting agendas, minutes and related meeting materials on laptops, tablets or other electronic devices.

"The new portal provides MPRB staff and Commissioners with newly streamlined processes and will eliminate the need to print board packets, which oftentimes exceed 150 pages," said Superintendent, Jayne Miller. "As Commissioners and staff learn how to use the new portal during 2012, we will migrate to a paperless board packet. Since we meet more than 25 times a year, this will significantly reduce the amount of paper used by Park Board Commissioners and staff."

Wireless internet is available and meeting attendees are encouraged to access the meeting portal on their electronic device. Commissioner meetings are broadcast live from 5-9 p.m. on the City of Minneapolis Government Meeting Channel 79 on Comcast cable, and online for real-time viewing. Recent meeting webcasts are available for on-demand viewing on the new meeting portal.

Only bi-weekly commissioner meetings are moving to the new portal. MPRB Planning and other department meeting information and materials will remain on the Park Board's website.

For more information about MPRB board meetings or to subscribe to emails about board meetings or other areas of interest, visit http://www.minneapolisparks.org/.
 
CONTACT: Dawn Sommers
Communications and Marketing Manager
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
612-230-6407, dsommers@minneapolisparks.org

Tonight - 16th Annual East Side Wine Tasting at Nicollet Island Pavilion

Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Nicollet Island Pavilion

Mark your calendars for an evening of wine, food, and entertainment! On Thursday, May 10th, East Side Neighborhood Services will host its annual wine tasting event, from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Nicollet Island Pavilion.  Tickets and proceeds benefit the programs of East Side Neighborhood Services.  The wine tasting traditionally raises $21,000.

An Array of Fine Wines

River Liquor Store and Surdyk's will provide a variety of wines from many regions including: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Riesling, Syrah, Sangiovese and many more.  A selection of micro brews, spirits and alcohol-free options are also available for sampling.  Taste wines you've never tried, enjoy some of your favorites, and have your questions answered by the experts.

Famous East Side Cuisine

Minneapolis is home to a variety of exciting ethnic and classic American restaurants, cafes, coffee houses and caterers.  Samples from eateries such as Jax Café, Elsie's and Psycho Suzie's will enhance your wine tasting experience.

Cigar Tent

Presented by Sarna’s Tobacco Depot, the Cigar Tent offers a variety of domestic and imported cigars and aperitifs. The tent is located next to the Pavilion on the bank of the Mississippi River, providing patrons a wonderful view of our city. There is an additional charge for cigars.

Silent Auction

Bid on fabulous items from fine jewelry to sports equipment. Choice items such as restaurant and entertainment certificates, sport suites and tickets, recreation and vacation packages, original art and more.  The annual silent auction allows East Side Neighborhood Services additional funds that provide the opportunity to support programs that strengthen the community of Northeast Minneapolis. We thank our many donors that provide us with goods and services.

To see a list of restaurants, wine, beer and silent auction items, visit our website.

Parking

Free parking at De LaSalle High School (shuttle provided to the pavilion) is available. Also available is street parking and pay parking at River Place and St. Anthony Main.

Tickets

Wine Tasting, $45.00 ($50 at the door) include wine, food and entertainment. Purchase tickets at River Liquor Store, 2435 Marshall Street NE, Surdyk's at 303 East Hennepin Avenue, at East Side Neighborhood House, 1700 2nd Street NE or by purchasing tickets online.

Tonight - Jazz Thursday: The Dakota Combo at MacPhail

Time:  8:00pm

Location: MacPhail Center for Music, Antonello Hall, 501 2nd Street South

The Dakota Combo is MacPhail's premier student jazz ensemble led by Adam Linz.  Tuition for the group is funded by the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education.

Membership to this combo is determined by competitive auditions, and the combo has produced their own recordings, received the Mingus Spirit Aware at the Charles Mingus High School Competition and Festival in New York, and Performa t jazz venues throughout and beyond the Twin Cities.

Mark Your Calendars - What's Up with Downtown Parks Meeting

Topics will include the Water Works / Fuji Ya project, Gateway Park, and even touch on Gold Medal Park.

CorePower Yoga’s 'Yoga in the Park' Returns to Father Hennepin Park June 3rd

Looking for a way to take your sun salutations outside so you can truly salute the sun? The Downtown Minneapolis CorePower Yoga invites you to join them each Sunday for CorePower Yoga’s, “Yoga in the Park.” CorePower encourages yoga practioners to open their minds and join their breath and movements to the sound of music and nature all around us. All levels of yoga students are welcome and their hope is that you take this opportunity to not only practice yoga, but to find even deeper connections within your community!

These free classes will be held every Sunday starting June 3rd and running through August 26th.  All classes are 10:00am – 11:00am at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (intersection of SE Main and SE 6th Avenue, on the East Bank of the Stone Arch Bridge).

Please call CorePower Yoga Downtown Minneapolis at 612-375-9642 with questions.
 
Items of note:
- Attendees should arrive 15-30 minutes prior to class starting for sign in purposes.
- Students are asked to bring their own mat, towel, water and SUNSCREEN! There is limited shade at the park.
- Classes will be lead by certified yoga instructors from downtown Minneapolis’ CorePower Yoga.

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Announces New Brewery Tour

Rebecca Pfeiffer recently announced the Twin Cities Brewery Tour, the newest Taste Twin Cities Food Tours offering.

Taste Twin Cities invites you to hop on their bus for a guided beer adventure as they tour 3 local breweries: Flat Earth Brewing, Harriet Brewing, Lift Bridge Brewery.  Whether you're by yourself, with a significant other, or with a group of friends; this Brewery Tour is a great way to safely enjoy an afternoon of beer sampling. 
 
On this tour you will receive VIP brewery tours, beer tastings, learn how beer is made and get an insiders look at the Twin Cities beer culture.  You'll have plenty of time to purchase your favorite beer growler.

Coach bus pick ups are located at Mall of America or Hilton Downtown Minneapolis.  All Taste Twin Cities tours are offered at pre-scheduled days and times, and are also available for private bookings. 

To learn more, visit their website and Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.

Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Releases 2012 Summer-Fall Guide

If you’re looking for great ideas for fun in the sun in Minneapolis, check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) 2012 Summer–Fall Guide.

The guide will be mailed to annual patron parking permit holders, and will be available at MPRB recreation centers, Hennepin County Libraries in Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center mid-May. For more information about the park system or to request a copy of the guide, call 612-230-6400.

$5,000 Can Be Yours - If You Win 'The MOST Amazing Race' on July 21

Time to start preparing if you want to quality for The MOST Amazing Race Twin Cities on July 21!

Award Winning Spanish Language Film ZOMBIE DAWN Comes to Minneapolis May 11-17 With FREE Comic Book Giveaway

Eagle One Media and iFN are proud to announce the nationwide theatrical release of the Spanish language horror action film ZOMBIE DAWN with the film debuting exclusively in the Minneapolis metro area at the AMC Block E Theater from May 11-17.

In a special arrangement with AMC, cinema ticket buyers shall receive a FREE limited edition copy of the ZOMBIE DAWN: Safehouse comic book that contains a prequel tie-in story to the feature film. The complimentary 28 page comic book was specifically commissioned for the film and created by comic industry veterans David A. Rodriguez and Dheeraj Verma and will be bilingual in English and Spanish.

Along with ZOMBIE DAWN, the award winning computer animated horror short HAMBUSTER will be shown before the main horror feature as an added bonus.

ZOMBIE DAWN is an action horror Spanish language film that has won praise for its presentation and kudos for the film makers in assembling such a feature while working with only a micro budget. ZOMBIE DAWN recently won awards at the Zixion Sars film festival in Chile for directors Cristian Toledo and Lucio A. Rojas, and art direction.

Glowing reviews are in regarding ZOMBIE DAWN:

"ZOMBIE DAWN is low budget zombie horror done right. It has that gritty feel as if it were made right about the same time as DAWN OF THE DEAD while embracing films like Peckinpah and the old spaghetti westerns by focusing on a morally grey merc and his men." AINITCOOL.COM

"'Zombie Dawn' Arrives in America with Originality, Micro-Budgeting" YAHOO!

"The passion for the genre is here, down to the trigger happy 'good guys'...there's a cultish charm to everything" INDIEWIRE.COM

Film premise: In 2006 a mysterious incident at a remote mining facility unleashes a zombie horde with an appetite for human flesh. It decimates large portions of the cities and countryside. The only course of action is to rapidly enclose the infected areas and seal them off from the rest of the remaining, living population. Now, 15 years later the tattered remains of the government and the mining corporation responsible where the initial event took place commit themselves to finding out what may have happened at the mining complex. The solution is to covertly send in a group of mercenaries led by a cynical but no-nonsense Colonel and investigative scientists into the quarantined zone to find answers.

Fans of ZOMBIE DAWN can be kept up to date at the official website or Facebookpage.  For additional information, contact Eric Reichert, President of Eagle One Media, Inc., at eagleonemedia@yahoo.com.

Brenda Langton Prepares a Recipe From Her New Spoonriver Cookbook on Kare11

Brenda visited Belinda Jensen on Kare11 this morning.

This Weekend in Mill City / May 4-6

Above: A recent photo from the Mill City Photo Pool

Events this weekend in and around the Historic Mill District and Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.  Have an event to share?  Contact us...

Friday, May 4

Live Music at Crooked Pint

The Making of a Medium - Composition Workshop with the Verdehr Trio at MacPhail

Live Music at Aster Cafe

Saturday, May 5

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour

Midwest Photo Safari: "Minneapolis Nights" St. Anthony Main

BRIT BASH at The Depot

Live Music at Crooked Pint

Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum

Live Music at Aster Cafe

Free Family Music Series: “Celebrating Jewish Music" at MacPhail

Spice & Slice of Asian America: Japanese Taiko at Central Library

Sunday, May 6

No events scheduled

Brenda Langton and "The Spoonriver Cookbook" Featured in Star Trib Taste Section

Be sure to check out the Star Trib Taste section this week for Beth Dooley's articleon Brenda Langton and "The Spoonriver Cookbook".

Click here for a full list of Book Launch Events. 

In our neighborhood, mark your calendar for 7:00pm Thursday, June 7, when Brenda and Atina Diffley will be at the Mill City Museum for a discussion and book signing.

Tickets Go On Sale May 14 for Debut Season of Mill City Summer Opera

We look forward to enjoying one of the five 8:00pm performances of Pagliacci scheduled for July 12, 14, 15, 18 and 20 at the Mill City Museum.

Anton Treuer Presentation and Book Signing at the Mill City Museum May 15

Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist Anton Treuer will give a presentation based on his new book from the Minnesota Historical Society Press. 

White/Indian relations are often characterized by guilt and anger. "Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask" cuts through the emotion and builds a foundation for true understanding and positive action.

Mill City Museum hosts the May 15, 7:00pm event.  After the presentation Dr. Treuer will sign copies of the book which can be purchased in the Mill City Museum store.

Click here for more on the book and author from the Star Trib.

Revitalization of Chute Square Park Made Possible by Neighborhood Group

During the next two months you'll see Chute Square Park (across from Lund's) revitalized with new tables, benches, light poles, colored and stamped concrete walkways, dog dropping receptacles and more.  The Friends of Chute Square Park, a group of Northeast neighbors who live across from the park, have been working on a renewal plan since 2007.

Opening Day and Mother's Day Celebration at Mill City Farmers Market May 12

Get ready for the Mill City Farmers Market Opening Day - Saturday, May 12, 2012