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MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET
With over 100 local farmers, food makers and artists, MCFM strives to build a local, sustainable and organic food economy in a vibrant, educational marketplace.
Maximizing the visitor experience of Minneapolis for the economic benefit of our community, making Minneapolis the destination of choice among travelers.
Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
A 1965 TV commercial for Pillsbury Flaky Biscuits featuring one of the first appearances of the Pillsbury Doughboy (Poppin' Fresh) who was voiced by the legendary Paul Frees.
The Central Minneapolis Riverfront is not only the birthplace of the Minneapolis, but also gave rise to many iconic brands, some of which have endured for over a century. Alas, some have not. Selling Mill City is a series highlighting brands that arose on the riverfront and surrounding neighborhoods.
We will meet on Saturdays, beginning on May 27 and ending on September 2nd. Each session will begin at 9:00am and end before 10:00am. Grab your mat (or a towel) and a neighbor, and meet us by the orange sculpture. The sessions are free of charge and sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District. Come salute the sun and enjoy the beauty of our neighborhood with your friends and neighbors.
I’m sure all of you have been inconvenienced by a car repair. That moment always happens when you realize how much of life depends on a reliable car. How do you get groceries? How do you make appointments? How do you get to work?
I first met Cathy Heying on a Saturday in May when she agreed to come in an hour early to share the story of The Lift Garage with me. Her enthusiasm and passion for the work she does is amazing. Cathy is funny, kind, smart, and has a laser focus.
Cathy had spent most of her career working at St. Stephens. She held multiple positions during her 15 years working with people experiencing homelessness. Her clients told her over and over again about the obstacle of not having a dependable car. How do you get to work if your car isn’t working? How do you afford car repairs if you can’t get to work?
Cathy said she was plagued with the recurring thought that ‘somebody should do something about it’. While she struggled to ignore that voice, she took a tour of Dunwoody College of Technology in 2008 and was told that applications were due by the end of the week. After coming to terms with the idea of a 2 year program and more student loans,she sent in her application, was accepted and began in the fall of 2008.
Armed with a master’s degree in pastoral ministry, Heying assumed the training would be a ‘piece of cake’. That’s not how it turned out. The training was rigorous and difficult, and Cathy persisted, working full time at St. Stephens while attending classes full time at Dunwoody. She graduated 2 years later with an AAS degree in auto technology.
Cathy said she was plagued with the recurring thought that ‘somebody should do something about it’.
For all of 2013, the garage was open 1 day a week, and customers flocked to it. On the 3rd Saturday they were open, Cathy got a call from a woman in Lakeville who needed her help. She was calling because she had seen the information on a flyer...but there was no flyer!! Word of mouth was powerful and swift. Within a very short time, they were booked out 3 months, and Cathy knew she needed help. She had volunteers to help her with the office and the repairs, but more was needed.
By January of 2014, The Lift Garage was able to expand business hours to Wednesdays through Saturdays, and by the summer had hired both full time and part time staff. There are now 4 full time employees and the garage is open 50 hours a week. A mobile van has just been added with the goal of going out to assess repair issues to determine if it can be fixed or not. The Lift Garage still has a 3-month waiting list.
The service is for all Minnesotans who meet the 150% Federal Poverty Guideline. They charge only $15 per hour plus the cost of parts at no mark-up, serving all counties in Minnesota.
The goal is getting cars safe and back on the road, so they work on brakes, suspension and steering, starting and charging systems, fuel systems, exhaust systems, and heating and cooling systems (not air conditioning). They do not do work on transmissions or the body. They are also not able to do significant engine repairs such as head gaskets or engine rebuilds, and are no longer able to offer payment plans.
The Lift Garage costs approximately $30,000/month to run. Earned income for most months is $8,000-$10,000. Help is needed!
How can you help?
• Learn more at https://www.theliftgarage.org/ • Donate at https://www.theliftgarage.org/donate. Please take note of the supplies needed. • Volunteer! Currently they are in need of: - Mechanics: Insurance requires certified or formally trained techs to work on cars. - Office assistants: Staffing phones, intakes, and payment. - Committee members to serve in areas of fundraising and finance. • If you are a caseworker you can fill out The Lift Garage – Income Verification Form and email it to info@theliftgarage.org or mail to PO Box 6992, Minneapolis, MN 55406. Once you send a referral the customer needs to call to set up an appointment.
Cathy Heying reminded me that fixing the problems we find in this world is about doing it. Don’t argue with that thought that ‘someone should do something about that’. Dig deep, ask yourself what you can do, take a deep breath, and get to work!
On May 17, 2017, Michelle Snider, executive director of the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA), presented Jayne Miller, superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), with a 2016 Award of Excellence.
Each year, the MRPA recognizes agencies or organizations throughout Minnesota for a range of outstanding achievements, including communications, parks and facilities, programming and events, sponsorships and partnerships, sustainability and volunteer initiatives.
MPRB was awarded for its 2016 adoption of the 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan (NPP20), in the Administrative and Management Strategies category.
"We are thrilled to receive this award," said Superintendent Miller. "It affirms how essential neighborhood parks are to the livability and the vitality of Minneapolis. We hope other park systems can use NPP20 as a model to find ways to fund and carry out much-needed repairs, replacements and updates."
NPP20 is the MPRB's response to a problem facing heavily used urban park systems across the country: a combination of chronic underfunding and overall aging of neighborhood parks.
MRPA Executive Director Michelle Snider and MPRB Superintendent Miller with the 2016 MRPA Award of ExcellenceA historic agreement between MPRB and the City of Minneapolis, NPP20 was approved as an ordinance in 2016 to accomplish the goal of revitalizing the city’s 160 neighborhood parks for current and future generations of park users. The plan protects current levels of park funding received from city and state sources and provides an additional $11 million annually for 20 years, with those funds dedicated to three areas: park maintenance, rehabilitation and capital investments.
Just as important, NPP20 addresses disparities within a city that has grown far more racially and ethnically diverse in the past 20 years. An equity ordinance accompanying the NPP20 agreement ensures that funding for rehabilitation and capital investments is prioritized using a set of data-driven criteria that are focused on racial and economic equity.
About the MRPA
The Minnesota Recreation and Park Association is a professional membership association serving nearly 900 members statewide. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in Minnesota by enhancing the profession of parks, open space, recreation, and leisure services.
Enjoy these outdoor activities at Hennepin County Government Center South Plaza, 300 S 6th Street (June 1 – August 31):
Tuesdays (12 pm – 1 pm) Stop by for piano performances each Tuesday throughout the summer during your lunch hour! Through Pianos on Parade program, a partnership between mdc, mpls downtown improvement district & Keys 4/4 Kids, a piano at South Plaza will include programmed musical performances each Tuesday. Grab some food and enjoy a gift of music each week. You never know who will be tickling the ivories!
Wednesdays (11:30 am – 1:30 pm) Every Wednesday, South Plaza will be transformed into an outdoor recreation room! The space will feature a food truck each week, yard games (bean bags, connect four, etc.), an art card (adult and youth coloring, bubbles, plado, yarn, paper, wasabi tape), a meditation area with colorful blankets and yoga mats there for you to enjoy a brief get-away, and the Pianos on Parade piano if you’d like to play a song or two yourself.
Thursdays (6 am – 6 pm) Beginning May 5 and running through October, the Downtown Farmers Market will be on site at South Plaza again in 2017. The farmers market moved here during the Nicollet Mall Project, and it provides a great way to bring people together on the South Plaza lawn to browse fresh produce, flowers and more. The farmers market has a wide variety of friendly local vendors that have great products to share.
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Enjoy these outdoor activities at Target Field Station, 335 N 5th Street (June 1 – August 31):
Tuesday trivia nights Trivia has always been a fun and trendy after work activity! We are bringing trivia outside at Target Field Station on select Tuesdays this summer. Gather a group of colleagues, friends or family and test your knowledge. Questions will be read aloud along with use of the big screen.
Thursday movie nights On select Thursdays throughout the summer, you can enjoy outdoor movie nights at Target Field Station. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, find a spot on the green grass outside the Twins’ ballpark and enjoy an evening watching a movie under the stars and the downtown skyline.
Family events, outdoor fitness & more Throughout the summer, you’ll be able to enjoy family events like our Most Epic Family Day, fitness classes outdoors on the Target Field Station grass and much more. Our Monday fitness nights in September will coincide with National Yoga Month.
Per Above the Falls Sports: "No longer doing trike tours but we do have a variety of Trident Trikes for sale! Still running kayak tours on the Mississippi! Contact us via email at info@abovethefallssports.com or call us at 612-825-8983!"
Above the Falls Sports, 120 N 3rd Avenue, now offers a Downtown Historical Trike Tour- discover the history of Downtown Minneapolis on a recumbent trike alongside the shores of the Mississippi. From flour mills, to beautifully sculpted parkland, this trip encapsulates what Minneapolis was and what it came to be.
The tour is approximately 3 hours and the cost is $60 per person + tax/optional gratuity.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and philanthropic partner, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation (MPF) are excited to request expressions of interest from food vendors seeking to create a food experience for Water Works on the downtown Minneapolis riverfront.
A project of the RiverFirst Initiative, Water Works is a transformational park development project in Mill Ruins Park overlooking St. Anthony Falls. The project includes creation of a new café space built into excavated mill walls with an address on West River Parkway and indoor/outdoor dining spaces.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and Minneapolis Parks Foundation (MPF) invite interested food vendors to submit an expression of interest communicating their food concept along with team and financial details. Find more information and the formal Request for Information by visiting MPRB's Business Opportunities page.
Starting Friday, May 26, the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul celebrates the brilliance and creativity of the singular auteur, David Lynch, with presentations of the new documentary on Lynch’s formative years and early artistic career, DAVID LYNCH: THE ART LIFE.
This screening will be presented as a Double Feature with THE SHORT FILMS OF DAVID LYNCH, a digitally restored collection of six short films crafted by Lynch between 1967-1974, plus a one-minute film from 1995.
40th Anniversary: Eraserhead
Also screening will be the 40th Anniversary DCP restoration of ERASERHEAD, David Lynch’s debut monochrome masterpiece and cult sensation.
Northern Spark Community Art Making Party Saturday, May 20; 6-9pm MCBA's print studio
Join us as we screen print t-shirts, cut out paper leaves, and fold tiny letterpress books for TransitionNOW!, a Northern Spark project dedicated to sharing ways to reduce your carbon footprint and create a sustainable future.
TransitionNOW! is also looking for 100 people to wear the screenprinted t-shirts on June 10th for Northern Spark. A few shirts will be available on the evening of May 20th for you to screenprint, or you can bring your own pre-washed black or darkly colored t-shirt to print on. To learn more about TransitionNOW! and ways to reduce your carbon footprint, visit the Twin Cities Transition website.
Northern Spark 2017 is a free, all-night art event exploring the effects of climate change through participatory projects in neighborhoods along Metro Transit’s Green Line.
Call for Zines! MCBA and Twin Cities Zine Fest are seeking submissions for the upcoming Free For All Zine Lounge, which will be featured in the 2017 Book Art Biennial's exhibition programming. Zines can be mailed to Aaron King c/o Boneshaker Books, 2002 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55404. Submissions are due May 22. The Zine Lounge will be open May 29 thru Aug 13. Donated zines will be added to MCBA's James and Marilynn Alcott Library.
The weather is warming up! Is your family ready for summer? MCBA is proud to partner with a series of fantastic arts and cultureal centers across the Twin Cities to offer camps and classes for kids and tweens. Have fun experimenting with the book arts, plus dabble in clay, photography, theater, writing, and more! Give your child the opportunity to expand their creativity and experience many different art forms in a fun, hands-on environment.
For a complete listing of summer camps and to register, visit our Youth Camps website. Spots are filling up fast. Reserve yours today!
Join our team! We are currently accepting applications for a full-time Marketing and Communications Coordinator to create and coordinate our print, digital, and social media communications.
The deadline to apply is next Friday, May 26 at 5pm CST. For a complete position description and to submit your application, please visit our website.
The sultry lament of the bandoneon, the thrilling atmosphere, alluring tango dancers, and a wildly acclaimed cast new to Twin Cities opera audiences, will take the stage for Mill City Summer Opera’s 2017 chosen production Maria de Buenos Aires, by famed tango composer, Astor Piazzolla.
The stellar cast and creative team for this year’s production includes the key casting of Colombian soprano Catalina Cuervo in the leading role of Maria. As Maria, Cuervo has performed the role worldwide and is often referred to as the Fiery Soprano. Starring with her is baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco who has been hailed for his vocal and dramatic presence in the signature role of El Payador.
Opening night is Friday, July 14, with additional performances July 16, 18, 19 and 20.
With a ticket to the opera, attendees will be guided through dance instruction by professional tango dancers prior to the performance. After watching the tango performed as part of the opera performance, those that wish may join in the be dance with the cast to the splendid music that compliments the dangerous dance that is the tango.
Doors open at 7:00pm with tango dancing, the show begins at 8:00pm and more tango dancing at 9:30pm.
In light of the Ruins Courtyard’s extensive renovation throughout the Summer of 2017, MCSO is taking the opera across the Stone Arch Bridge for our sixth season. The shift in venue to the Machine Shop, 300 2nd Street SE, is temporary as restoration work continues in the Ruins Courtyard.
Mother's Day was the focus of the May 13 Mill City Farmers Market, and many of them were treated to personal flower containers created by their little ones.
Pam from Prairie Hollow Farm never disappoints when it comes to morel mushrooms!
Superior Switchel is a new vendor for the 2017 season. Melina Lamer crafts her version of this tangy ginger-infused beverage that was popular with farmers in the 19th century.
Hippy Feet and YouthLink 501(c)3 are collaborating on a project that aims to raise awareness about the needs within the homeless community.
For this program, youth clients of YouthLink who are interested in additional income opportunities will be given disposable cameras and asked to take photos that document their day to day experiences as a homeless or formerly homeless individual. In conjunction with taking pictures, they will write a quick journal about each photo. When the individual has filled the entire camera roll, they'll return the camera and a copy of their journal entries to YouthLink, where they will be awarded varying forms of compensation for their work.
The Hippy Feet team will then develop the photos and prepare them for a “gallery” event. This event will be held at Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul, and will act as a fundraising event for YouthLink and for Hippy Feet’s efforts to employ homeless youth. Tickets will be sold for this event, and each ticket will include a pair of socks, a beer, a pulled pork sandwich, and admittance to the fundraising event. The photos that are displayed at the event will be sold/auctioned off to the attendees.
The proceeds from photo sales will be divided in 3 ways. An equal percentage will be donated to YouthLink and Elpis Enterprises, a non-profit partner of Hippy Feet that provides employment and job training to homeless youth. The remainder of the proceeds will be given back to the individual artist who took the photos as a form of commission.
The goal for this project is to provide a $100 value as an invective for youth to participate in this project, and for them to return the camera in a timely fashion with a full film roll of high impact photos. This $100 per participant will be paid via gift cards, bus tokens, and a cash stipend.
The gallery event will be hosted at Lake Monster Brewing because of its convenient location next to Elpis Enterprise. Photographs will be displayed and sold, food and beer will be available, and additional items will be up for auction. Tickets for the event will be sold at the door and online via Eventbrite.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation recently unveiled an evolved concept for Water Works. Water Works is a transformative park development project overlooking St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge that will bring significant new historic, cultural, and recreational amenities to one of the most iconic locations in Minneapolis.
The updated concept embeds a new park pavilion into the historic ruins of the Bassett and Columbia mills, as well as expands naturalized gathering spaces with direct access to public amenities. Click the link below for an in-depth tour of the updated concept and share your thoughts:
May 19 is Bike to Work Day, and all over the city theMinneapolis Bicycle Coalition will have pit stops set up for participating riders. Bike commuters will be greeted with coffee, high-fives, free food, and other giveaways during both the morning and afternoon commute.
Enter the Twin Cities Bike to Work Day Sweepstakes Pledge to ride to work on Twin Cities Bike to Work Day and be automatically entered for a chance to win some great prizes, including $500 gift cards to Cherry Cycles, Farmstead Bike Shop and Tangletown Bike Shop.
You can also volunteer as a pit stop captain. The Coalition is looking for enthusiastic people to keep the energy alive throughout the morning and afternoon commute. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt! Click here for more info.
Article by Claudia Kittock, Photos by Mary Martin of Dignity Center
In my work, many people have mentioned the Dignity Center and the incredible work done there. Today, I found out what all of the ‘fuss’ is about.
Located on the grounds of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, the Center is housed in a beautiful old mansion on Groveland Avenue. Built in the 1930s and eventually donated to the church, the Center is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00am – 11:30am. The front door remains locked to assure that everyone who arrives is greeted by name and welcomed.
Mary Martin, the Director of Outreach, greeted me at the door and introduced herself. She is a dynamic and enthusiastic advocate for the work done here. The mission is to assist people to reach the goals they have in their lives by providing structure, support, and resources. It is free and open to all, but the requirement is for the people who come here to do the work. It is a unique relationship-focused program, and when people reach their goals they are welcome to volunteer at the Center.
Mary Martin, center
When people enter the Center, they meet with an advocate to assess the nature of the problem and assist in setting steps needed to resolve that problem. The responsibilities of each client includes:
Making and keeping appointments
Taking part in programs to help succeed
Following action plan and documenting progress
Staying clean and sober
The Dignity Center works with people to achieve and maintain stability. They work together on skills such as problem solving, decision making, organization and budgeting. Progress is measured as improved housing, improved financial situation, completed education and training, obtained employment, and supportive community.
In pursuit of its mission to support each person’s stabilization, the Dignity Center is a host site for the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) brief legal services clinic. The on-site legal clinic allows clients to address their legal issues side-by-side with other issues creating instability in their lives. The VLN clinic is generally open on the same schedule as the Dignity Center.
At the VLN clinic, clients meet face-to-face with an attorney for approximately 30 minutes free of charge. The attorney will answer questions and/or refer people to other places for help. Clients will not receive any ongoing representation or ongoing services by the attorney. Any action taken after this meeting with the attorney is the client’s responsibility.
Attorneys can provide brief services, such as: writing a letter, making a phone call, obtaining specific information from a third party, drafting pleadings or a portion of pleadings, assisting in service of process, and providing written information regarding your legal issue and the next steps to take. Once again, any action taken after the meeting is the client’s responsibility unless a specific agreement has been crafted with the attorney in writing.
If you are interested in supporting the vital mission of this group, there are a number of ways to get involved:
3) Participate in the Share the Journey Dignity Center Luncheon on Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm (arrive by 11:45am). Join other lunch guests and enjoy entertainment and inspiring stories by Dignity Center participants. You will have an opportunity to learn about the Dignity Center's mission and contribute to the important work of stabilizing the lives of those in need. Free parking available in Hennepin Church’s parking lot. The Keynote Speaker is Susan Haigh, President and CEO - Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
Items not accepted due to size, disposal and/or repair costs:
Refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, gas/electric stoves, dishwashers, water heaters/softeners, damaged/musty/smoky furniture, pianos, organs, plumbing fixtures, storm doors, windows, screens, swing sets, metal bed springs, carpeting, tires, batteries, chemicals.
Wondering if it is in good enough shape to donate? Just ask yourself, “Would I use this myself or give it to a loved one?” If the answer is yes, your donation is definitely welcome and will be greatly appreciated by our neighbors in need.
The Friends of the Mill District Singers, sponsored by Friends of the Mill District and a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC), will be performing at the Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway, on Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00pm. JD Steele and Dennis Spears will be directing, and the singers will be accompanied by a group of talented musicians.
This is part of the Capri Glee! Choirs in Concert series - a night of hope and a night of community. Come and hear songs sung with pure joy. We are a community of friends and know we are stronger together.
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation and one class for state park systems awarded on odd numbered years.
The MPRB is a finalist in the Class I category for park agencies serving jurisdictions with a population over 400,000. This is the second consecutive year the MPRB has been named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award. The MPRB was also named a finalist in 1988 and 1989 and won the award in 1989.
Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. The MPRB joins three other finalists in their class that will compete for grand honors this year.
“We’re thrilled to be named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award once again,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller. “This honor is a testament to the incredible work our staff puts in every day, as well as the enormous support we receive from the communities we serve.”
A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.
This year’s finalists will compete for Grand Plaque Award honors this summer, and the seven Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during the NRPA General Session at the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, Sept. 26-28, 2017.
For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org. (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) as a finalist for the 2017 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting LLC has been a proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program for more than 10 years.
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation and one class for state park systems awarded on odd numbered years.
The MPRB is a finalist in the Class I category for park agencies serving jurisdictions with a population over 400,000. This is the second consecutive year the MPRB has been named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award. The MPRB was also named a finalist in 1988 and 1989 and won the award in 1989.
Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. The MPRB joins three other finalists in their class that will compete for grand honors this year.
“We’re thrilled to be named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award once again,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller. “This honor is a testament to the incredible work our staff puts in every day, as well as the enormous support we receive from the communities we serve.”
A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.
This year’s finalists will compete for Grand Plaque Award honors this summer, and the seven Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during the NRPA General Session at the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, Sept. 26-28, 2017.
For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org.
It’s the time of year when the sky stays bright a little later each night, reminding us of the summer season ahead. For Northern Spark staff and artists, it’s a time of projection tests, rehearsals, outreach and chocolate restoratives.
As you begin to consider your journey on the night of June 10th, here’s a linear preview of what’s to be found down the line at Northern Spark.
The Commons Let’s begin at The Commons, the western-most edge of the festival and downtown Minneapolis’s new green space. At 8:30 pm, Mayor Hodges talks with MINN_LAB artists about ORBACLES, this year’s multi-sensory Creative City Challenge winner. Listen and wander among the lights, sounds and smells of speculative infrastructure for the futures of bird populations in a climate-changed Minnesota.
We’ve just begun, but maybe you already find yourself with a desire for connection and play. Find the station for Collective Action! - Northern Spark’s festival-wide game of acting together to solve climate change. Make yourself a unique avatar on your phone; wait until you’re called up to the stage and go! Find a Collective Action! station in each festival zone (except East Bank).
And lastly, don’t forget to swing by the Fulton Beer Tent for a sip before heading on your way.
West Bank Next stop: West Bank. Climb the stairs from the Cedar Ave exit and choose right or left. Right takes you to the Southern Theater, where you can hone your debate skills with a sidewalk climate denier; or sit for a spell as 3600 seconds of multimedia movement are performed eight times over the course of the night, prompting the consideration of the vast effects of climate change in relationship to the minutiae of everyday life.
Choose left and travel down Cedar Ave to find pockets of interactive installations throughout the neighborhood. In the plaza in front of May Day Books, find a game arena to play a series of activities linking drought, traditional food ways and feminism. Then cross the street, remove your shoes, walk the carpet and visit a dome of light, sound, and video that challenges progressive discourses on climate change.
Wander down to the Cedar Community Plaza, where--if you arrive by 8:59 pm-- you’ll hear the call to prayer, the traditional end the day of fasting during Ramadan. Take a seat at an interfaith Iftar and storytelling circle to share about your environmental ancestry. Stop off at the Northern Spark Info Tent to grab a recycled water bottle to fill at a Tap Mpls station and continue across the street to find a market of gifted experiences and a ritual / installation that calls us to reflect on the urgency of environmental genocide through the voices of immigrants and people of color.
Continue to walk and wander all the way to Currie Park to witness the intergenerational building and unbuilding of an aqal, the traditional Somali nomadic home. Weave your way back to the small park behind the Cedar Community Plaza and find a garden, tended by neighbors, growing greenery to blur the borders. Stay for awhile and drink tea with a gathering of Somali elders sharing stories of an ancient nomadic life.
Or, if nocturnal birds of prey are more your thing, time your visit to occur in the 11 pm hour to join the meet and greet with owls from the U’s Raptor Center.
Little Africa Get back on the train and take a load off for a while, traveling down the line into Saint Paul. Exit at Snelling Station and walk 1 block north into Little Africa where Sherburne Ave becomes an outdoor cinema, festive eatery and interactive installation hub. Check out wireless headphones and settle in to watch films about economy, ecology, and environmental justice at the inaugural Little Africa Film Fest. Express your commitment to extricating yourself from petrochemical culture; watch sculptures and paintings animate global warming; join others in a circle where water brings connection, healing and creativity; and take a personal journey towards a tree sapling chosen specifically for you.
Perhaps all this leaves you a little hungry? Fuel up! We’re only half-way through the night. Little Africa’s staple eateries Fasika Ethiopian and Ghebre’s Restaurant will be open all night for necessary nourishment along with neighborhood-related food trucks and tents.
Stay tuned for Journey Down the Green Line Part 2 in the next newsletter. Or, don’t wait for us. Plan your night by reading about all festival projects on our Art and Events page.
We’re Hiring!
We are looking for several individuals to join our Northern Spark 2017 Production team as Production Assistants! Production Assistants work with the Production Coordinator and Producer to support all aspects of outdoor festival production. Read more on our website here, and apply by sending a resume and cover letter to jobs@northern.lights.mn.
Do you have a knack for nighttime photography? We are looking for professional photographers and videographers to join our documentation team to capture images of Northern Spark all night long. Must be able to work in very low-light environments. Read more on our website about the photography or videography calls, and apply by sending an email to photos@northern.lights.mn with an email explaining your interest and a link to your portfolio.
Online survey open until May 22; design options will be discussed at May 24 meeting
Sheridan Memorial Park will receive more than $1 million in park improvements in 2018, including a picnic shelter, playground and pathways. Now a new online survey is available for park users (including kids!) to weigh in on a new picnic shelter, playground and other potential additions planned for the new riverfront park.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is hosting the second public meeting regarding this project on Wednesday, May 24, 6-8 pm at East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 2nd St. NE. At the meeting, several design options will be presented and discussed.
Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 8:31AM
40th Anniversary: Eraserhead
