Section of West River Parkway Trail closes June 4-5

Closure necessary for inspection and repair of Guthrie Theater Endless Bridge

West River Parkway Trail will close between Portland Avenue and 11th Avenue S for two days beginning Monday, June 4, 2018. The closure is necessary for workers to build a scaffolding tunnel so that the trail may remain open during a month-long project to inspect and repair the Guthrie Theater Endless Bridge.

Motorized traffic will not be affected by the project. Bike/walk trail traffic will be detoured along Second Street S for two days at the beginning of the project while the scaffolding tunnel is constructed, and again for two days at the end of the project, likely in early July, while the scaffolding tunnel is deconstructed.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience while the project is completed.

Four Tuesday Night Movies in The Commons!

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, in partnership with Green Minneapolis, presents Movies in the Park at The Commons Summer 2018! The Commons is a 4.2 acre public green space in downtown Minneapolis bounded by 4th and 5th Streets and Park Avenue and 5th Avenue.

FILM LINEUP

• Roller Dreams + The Rookie Season - Tuesday, June 19, 7:00pm
• Isle of Dogs - Thursday, July 26, 7:00pm
• Black Panther - Thursday, August 9, 7:00pm
• Wonder Woman - Thursday, August 16, 7:00pm

Top Spots for a Mill City Date Night

Submitted article by Jane Sandwood, freelance writer

American icon Maya Angelou was once quoted as saying, “Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.”

Minneapolis is the perfect setting to find your soul mate thanks to its beautiful scenery and countless date-worthy venues. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as many as 64% of the city’s population over the age of 15 are still single – making for plenty of fish in the sea for someone looking for a date. The city in its entirety, but the central riverfront area, in particular, boasts countless restaurants, parks and cultural events perfect for a couple to enjoy together. If you have your heart set on someone, why not muster up the courage and ask them out on a date to one of these, or any other, superb date-night spots in and around the splendid Mill City area.

Catch a show at Guthrie Theater
For lovers of the performing arts, the Guthrie Theater holds great appeal as a date night destination. Founded in 1963, the Guthrie creates transformative theatre experiences to the delight of locals and visitors alike. Conveniently situated on South 2nd Street, the lineup is a diverse combination of events including new plays from talented playwrights as well as classics from bygone years. If you want to grab a bite to eat before your theater date, the Guthrie has onsite eateries for your perusal. The Level Five Café offers American-style brunches and dinners, as well as cocktails and wine in a relaxed atmosphere. Sea Change, an upmarket seafood restaurant inside the theater complex, will present you with a vast, interesting menu and stylish décor.

Geocaching at Fort Snelling State Park  
There is no rule book that states a date needs to take place at night. If you and your partner like outdoor adventures, a bout of geocaching at Fort Snelling State Park might be a date idea right up your alley. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game that makes use of GPS-enabled devices such as smartphones. The purpose of the game is to find a cache by following a set of GPS coordinates. Once the geocache is located, the find is documented in an online logbook. The cache-finder then leaves his own treasure behind in accordance with the geocaching rule of “take-a-treasure/leave-a-treasure.” Treasures should be family-friendly and packaged in such a way that it cannot be damaged by the elements.

When you arrive for your geocaching adventure at Fort Snelling, you will be provided with a hand-held GPS device free of charge. The park is open from 8am to 4pm daily, giving you ample opportunity to find a whole array of interesting treasures. Apart from having fun out in nature, geocaching is rather exhilarating and can provide a loving couple with the perfect opportunity to bond in an exciting environment.

Have dinner at the Aster Café
If you are looking to take your partner on a romantic date that involves delectable food, an impressively varied wine list and live music, you should look no further than the Aster Café. Situated under trees on one of the loveliest streets in all of Minneapolis, the café overlooks not only the magnificent Mississippi River but the rather impressive city vista as well. When you go to the Aster, go hungry. The menu is both creative and positively fresh, with the executive chefs priding themselves on the fact that they don’t have a deep-fryer in their kitchen. You can choose between being seated on the quaint European-style patio or in the candle-lit main restaurant area with its stylish bar area. Whether you are a young couple still exploring your fondness for one another, or a long-married twosome celebrating a lifetime together, an evening at the Aster is bound to ignite a romantic flame within your hearts.

Regardless of where you choose to go on your Mill City date, spending quality time with someone dear is what is ultimately important. The Minneapolis riverfront is brimming with magical places, just waiting to be discovered. One date night a week might not be enough to discover all there is to see and do in the city. You may very well find yourself having to make every night date night just to experience a fragment of what is on offer old and new couples alike.

Art on the Rooftop: a Party to Benefit Northern Spark

Excerpt from a recent e-newsletter from Northern Lights.mn:

Every year, we work with some of the most talented artists in the Twin Cities. This year during our benefit party, you’ll get to meet them up close and personal. Art on the Rooftop: a Party to Benefit Northern Spark will connect guests with artists exploring this year’s theme Commonality:

• Carry On Homes, the winner of the Creative City Challenge, will create an immersive experience around ideas of home with an Instagrammable backdrop.
• Mischa Kegan and Jonathan Herrera’s window-drawn art allows guests to trace the drawings with their own poster to bring home!
• Kashimana Ahua’s The Applause Posse, (NS 2017) will serenade you with compliments.
• Clarence White (NS 2013, 2017) and his vintage typewriter will create poems inspired by your intimate conversation with the poet.
• Danielle Everine’s (NS 2018) installation will spark the night!
• And while you jam to DJ Sarah White, indulge in complementary food and drinks from the finest local restaurants!

Art on the Rooftop is at the rooftop lounge at Le Meridien Chambers Hotel on Saturday, June 16, 2018 from 7-10pm.

Purchase your tickets to support Northern Spark here.

Police Chief Arradondo to Honor 6 Organizations with Chief’s Award of Merit

Via a May 29 News Release from the mpls downtown council:

Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo to honor 6 organizations with Chief’s Award of Merit at mpls downtown council board meeting
Awards highlight street outreach work done during Super Bowl
                                                     

Six organizations are being recognized for their street outreach work and support while Minneapolis hosted the Super Bowl in February. Over the 10-day operation period, 490 engagements were documented. The six organizations to receive the honor are:

• St. Stephen’s Human Services Street Outreach
• YouthLink
• Youth Coordinating Board
• MAD DADS, Inc.
• The Link
• Mpls Downtown Improvement District Livability Team

About the mpls downtown council
Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic central business associations in the nation, the mpls downtown council (mdc) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The mdc’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit mplsdowntown.com.

Scenes from the May 26 Mill City Farmers Market

Thank you to everyone who visited the Mill City Farmers Market on a very steamy May 26! With the use of hoop houses, we are seeing a variety if vegetables earlier than previous years. Fresh cucumbers in May? What a treat! :D 

Phil Nusbaum interviewed Steve Horner of Horner's Corner during a live broadcast of Bluegrass Saturday Morning (Jazz88 KBEM 88.5 FM).

Regular MCFM shoppers are wise to sign up for a $40 annual membership. You'll receive a packet inclusive of tokens and deals, plus there are weekly specials.

Milly the goat!

The World Needs More Men Like Joseph Desenclos

Article by Claudia Kittock

Joseph DesenclosJoseph Desenclos is an extraordinary man in the most ordinary ways. He believes in living an honorable life, in taking care of his neighbors, and of treating people as he would like to be treated. Revolutionary? Maybe!

When I became a board member of the DMNA, I knew that I had a lot to learn. As a lifetime academic, I began to study. I found that the best way to study was to attend meetings and listen. Some meetings I only attended once and others I attended regularly because I found the subject matter fascinating. Two of those meetings were Court Watch and the Task Force to End Street Homelessness. I found myself with much the same thoughts that I had in graduate school. “Please don’t call on me because I don’t know anything!” Luckily for me, no one called on me as I continued to soak up enormous amounts of knowledge.

After a few months of attending both these meetings, Joseph and I happened to sit beside each other and he introduced himself. When I explained that I was a newcomer with little to offer, just a need to learn, he asked me about my background and soon was urging me to use my expertise. Within a short amount of time, Joseph and I were friends, and my education really began.

Joseph’s journey to outreach was a journey of twists and turns. After college, Joseph was working for a construction company and doing well in every traditional way of measuring success. However, he realized what he hadn’t found yet was happiness, so he set out to change his life. He decided to volunteer at Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul, and after a short time he applied for and got a job there. 

Later, he applied to be a case worker at St. Stephen’s Human Services without having any experience as a case worker. During his interview, he was urged to think about doing outreach work and decided to try it. He knew very quickly that he had found what he was looking for, work that mattered to him and filled a need to be useful.

Joeseph with Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria "Rondo" Arradondo at a 2017 National Night Out event.

The lessons Joseph has learned doing outreach work are lessons I attempt to apply to my daily life. He has taught me so much and it is my honor to share a few of these lessons.

As an outreach worker, Joseph spends every day visiting people experiencing homelessness and working to build relationships. He learned that, as in all other parts of life, building a relationship takes time, and that is the essence of outreach work. Joseph has great patience which gives him the ability and willingness to put in as much time as it takes to make these important connections.

Curiosity is vital in outreach work, as is the ability to truly listen. Good outreach is respecting the privilege of the work itself as well as knowing when to be small. Joseph talks about sports, about the weather, about any item of interest as you would with anyone you have just met and may want to form a friendship.

Outreach work is about trust and being mindful of a person’s readiness and of personal boundaries. Imagine eating breakfast and having a stranger walk into your home and begin lecturing you about what you are doing wrong and what you need to change. It would be outrageous, and yet can be something that happens to a person experiencing homelessness.

Joseph, along with MDID Livability Team members Christian Huelsman and Liz Conley.

Joseph told me an amazing story from his first-grade class. A classmate was talking and Joseph was eager to join in. His teacher said, “Joseph, don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.”  Joseph uses that mantra in his daily work. Sometimes, being silent with another person is the most powerful thing.

Looking for similarities in people is a guiding principle of outreach, and should be for all of us in our day to day existence. If we can hone in on how each and every person we meet is like us, the differences aren’t so important. Finding those similarities is important work.

People who are experiencing homelessness are not ‘homeless people’. Each and every one had a life before experiencing homelessness, and hopes to have a life after this period in their life. What happens to cause homelessness? Too many reasons to imagine. People experiencing homelessness are not a monolithic group.  There is as much variation in this group as in any group of people. The title of ‘homeless person’ can engender powerlessness and be degrading and debilitating. The experience of being homeless is a period of life, not the defining part of any life.

When someone decides to sleep in your neighborhood, they make that decision for many of the same reasons you decided to live there. It may be because they feel safe here, or love the river, or enjoy the green spaces, or just love the vibe of the neighborhood. No one wants to experience homelessness, but while that is a reality, looking for a reasonable place to sleep is a priority.

Joseph is an important teacher and friend in my life. I learn from him every time we talk and I am so honored to be his student. He is extraordinary in all his ordinariness. Joseph shows us all how we need to live through his quiet example and important work. 

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Public Tours will be part of St. Anthony Falls Laboratory 80 Year Anniversary Celebration

For anyone who has traversed the Stone Arch Bridge and wondered, "What is that place?" - here's your chance to find out first hand! Public tours will be part of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) 80 year celebration. Below are the tour dates, registration links, and a description of what to expect.

Tours of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory:
Thursday, June 21, 3:00 PM
Thursday, July 19, 3:00 PM
Thursday, August 16, 3:00 PM
Thursday, September 20, 3:00 PM
Thursday, October 18, 3:00PM

The St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), through which the Mississippi River runs, is an interdisciplinary fluid mechanics research and educational facility of the College of Science and Engineering at the UMN. These public tours through this historic facility will showcase the experimental facilities and research projects.

Once registered, you will receive an email a day or two prior to the scheduled tour with details of where to meet your tour group. There is no cost to attend, but donations are welcomed through this link (suggested donation of $5 per participant).

Preparing for the tour:

- Please wear closed-toe shoes - no flip flops or sandals. Be prepared to stand and walk for the duration of the tour (1+ hour). SAFL does have an elevator to assist those with some mobility restrictions - please list that concern when you sign up for a tour.
- Parking is reserved for SAFL personnel only (unless you require a handicap space). Off-site parking options include:
    - Garage: 212 SE 2nd Avenue
    - Lot: 200 University Avenue SE
    - Metered street parking is available along SE Main Street, portions of SE 3rd Avenue, and 2nd Street SE
    - Bike racks are available

NOTE: Are you interested in touring the SAFL but are unavailable for the listed public tour dates/times? Please provide your contact information and you will be contacted with other potential tour dates/times throughout Summer/Fall 2018.

AchieveMpls Volunteer Opportunity: Seeking Graduation Coaches for Minneapolis High School Students

Via a recent Press Release from AchieveMpls:

AchieveMpls, the nonprofit partner of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), is recruiting adult volunteers to serve as Graduation Coaches for 9th and 12th grade students in MPS schools during the 2018-19 school year. Whether you're a young professional or a retiree, an executive or an artist, we're looking for caring, open-minded adults who enjoy working with young people.

Research shows that a supportive adult can powerfully impact a young person’s academic and personal success. Students with mentors are more likely to feel connected to school, have better self-esteem and experience greater success in setting and achieving their goals. But one in three young people will grow up without this kind of additional adult support. 

AchieveMpls Graduation Coaches help close this gap by providing personalized guidance to MPS students twice each month in a classroom setting throughout the academic year, from September - May. Coaches meet with individual 12th grade students or small groups of 9th graders to help them transition into and out of high school and build the skills and confidence they need to be successful in school and beyond. Coaches can also offer additional monitored support via email between sessions. 

All Graduation Coaches receive volunteer training, program curriculum and ongoing supervision and support throughout the school year.

For more information about the program, participant videos and application form, visit   www.achievempls.org/GraduationCoaches or contact Amy Shapiro at ashapiro@achievempls.org or 612-455-1550.  All applications are due Friday, June 15. Volunteers from diverse communities are particularly encouraged to apply.

About AchieveMpls
As the strategic nonprofit partner of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), AchieveMpls rallies community support to inspire and equip Minneapolis students for careers, college and life. We manage Career & College Centers in 11 MPS high schools, train and place over 1,600 young people in paid STEP-UP internships with 200+ employers each year, engage hundreds of volunteers as Graduation Coaches and career exploration volunteers, raise support for MPS strategic priorities, and manage MPS school and department funds. Join us a volunteer, employer, donor or partner at www.achievempls.org.

Become an AchieveMpls Graduation Coach for the 2018-19 School Year
The single most important factor in a young person’s success is a consistent relationship with a caring, supportive adult—but unfortunately one in three young people grows up without a mentor. AchieveMpls Graduation Coaches help fill this gap by providing personalized support to 9^th and 12^th grade Minneapolis Public Schools students as they transition into and out of high school and build the skills and confidence they need to be successful in school and beyond.  Graduation Coaches volunteer for two classroom hours each month throughout the school year with a small group of 9th graders or one-on-one with 12th grade students. We provide the curriculum, structure and training—you bring the wisdom and encouragement! Apply today at www.achievempls.org/GradCoaches. For more information, contact Amy Shapiro at ashapiro@achievempls.org or 612-455-1550. 

Minneapolis Parks Add More “Good Chairs”

This summer, more than 150 “Good Chairs” will be in 12 Minneapolis parks, including the shores of Lake Bde Maka Ska.Via a May 23 News Release:

This Memorial Day week, volunteer-led nonprofit, The Minneapolis Good Chair Project, will be expanding in its third year to provide up to 150 custom wooden chairs to 12 Minneapolis parks. Given the popularity of the free-standing chairs, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board invited the nonprofit to place more chairs throughout its acclaimed parks system through September.

In addition to its first locations in Currie Park and Lake of the Isles, park patrons can find a comfortable place to sit and recharge at:

• Bottineau Field
• Powderhorn Park
• Keewaydin Park
• North Commons
• Fairview Park
• Cleveland Park
• Lake Nokomis
• Lake Bde Maka Ska
• Seward Parklet
• Cedar Lake/Hidden Beach

After multiple requests, Good Chairs are now available for purchase for memorials and personal use, including personalized engraved messaging. The chairs cost $1,500 and can purchased by contacting the designer and builder, Minneapolis-based, Willie Willette Works. Proceeds will support the construction of more chairs for public use.

This summer, the chairs will also serve as a platform for leaders of local nonprofits to be filmed in a video series called, “Who’s in the Good Chair?” The videos will be shared on social media and through paid media placements to generate more awareness of the good works being done in our community. Executive directors from a diverse set of organizations such as the Soo Visual Arts Center, The Brand Lab, Ann Kim with Young Joni and Lola restaurants and Amol Dixit with Hot Indian Foods, will share their mission while being filmed sitting in a Good Chair.

The program, started by retired General Mills’ chief marketing officer, Mark Addicks, is designed to equip the Minneapolis parks system with high-end chairs that help foster community connections and personal reflection through engraved phrases such as “Sit. Share. Debate. Engage,” and “Sit. Breathe. Contemplate. Meditate.”      

“We’re honored to work the city to expand the program to all corners of the city,” said Mark Addicks, founder of the nonprofit. “From popular parks like Bde Maka Ska and Lake Nokomis, to Currie Park in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and Fairview Park on the north side, the chairs are now adding more resources for residents throughout the entire Minneapolis community.”

To learn more, or to make a donation, visit the nonprofit’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Minneapolis Repeats as Nation’s Best Park System, According to The Trust for Public Land’s 2018 ParkScore® Index

Minneapolis has the best park system in the United States, according to The Trust for Public Land’s 7th annual ParkScore® index, which was released today by the nonprofit organization.

Minneapolis narrowly edged Saint Paul to earn top honors. A different regional rivalry claimed third and fourth place, as Washington, DC, barely outscored Arlington, Virginia, to hold on to third. In another big move, Chicago cracked the top 10 for the first time in ParkScore history.

“We’re honored by the top ranking for the sixth year in a row! My motto is ‘playing for life’ and parks are a vital resource for youth, adults and families throughout the city. We are committed to serving the diverse needs of our residents, and we’re proud of the initiatives we’ve taken to continually assess and improve our park facilities and the services we provide the community,” said Mary Merrill, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

“Minneapolis will always be a great city in a park. From quality of life, to safe recreational space, to tourism—our parks are critical to who we are as a city. I’m thrilled that our park system continues to earn accolades. We have world class parks and the world is taking notice,” added Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

“Saint Paul is excited to be recognized again as a world-class park city,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “We are proud of what we have achieved and are grateful for the partnership we have built with the Trust for Public Land. I believe that parks play an important role in both social and environmental resilience and am glad that the Twin Cities have set a high standard for what a successful park system looks like.”

Nicollet Springtacular event set for Wednesday, May 23 #OnNicollet

Via a May 21 e-newsletter from the mpls downtown council:

Spring is here, and the mpls downtown council and Mpls Downtown Improvement District invite the public to celebrate warmer weather and a new Nicollet as part of the Nicollet Springtacular.

The event will take place this Wednesday, May 23 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm #OnNicollet between 9th and 10th streets. The public is invited to stop by and enjoy a sampling of the activations that will be held regularly #OnNicollet throughout the year, including:

• Nicollet Farmers Market
• Nicollet Makers Market
• Street Show
• Mobile bike library feat. Minneapolis Central Librarians       
• ACTivation: zAmya Theatre Project
• YMCA outdoor fitness classes
• Guided Architecture and Weird Nicollet Tours
• And more

The festivities will take place near several outdoor patio locations including Haskell’s Wine Bar, Randle’s Restaurant, The Local, Barrio, and The Newsroom. The public is invited to come out and enjoy the festivities during their lunch hour and also listen to a special performance by The Grateful Red, a high-energy horn band comprised of Target employees that play classic and modern hits.

“The new Nicollet is an incredible asset for our city, and with nice weather finally here we are thrilled to invite the public out to see first-hand what you can expect throughout the summer,” said Steve Cramer, president & CEO of the mpls downtown council and Mpls Downtown Improvement District. “We’re grateful for the public-private partnership that helped Nicollet transform into this must-see destination, and we’re excited to invite the public to enjoy new DID-led activities and programming that add to Nicollet’s overall vibrant experience.”

Throughout the year, the public is encouraged to share their experiences using the hashtag #OnNicollet. Nicollet’s activations during 2018 will include:

Nicollet Farmers Market: The beloved Minneapolis Farmers Market returned to Nicollet in 2018 after a three-year construction hiatus. Stop by Nicollet from 6th to 9th Streets each Thursday from 6 am-6 pm through October.

Nicollet Makers Market: This unique craft market preview featuring handmade goods from local artists debuted #OnNicollet last year and returns in 2018 on a routine basis between 7th and 8th streets. Enjoy the Makers Market on the second and fourth Wednesdays, June 13 through October 10, from 10:30 am-2:30 pm.

Street Show: Watch for the official Street Show wagons and catch informal, busking-style live performances #OnNicollet from local musicians, dancers and others. Street Show will take place Wednesday through Fridays, May through September during lunchtime, happy hours and occasional event nights.

Mobile bike library prototype featuring Minneapolis Central Librarians: In partnership with the Minneapolis Central Library, you’ll be able to enjoy this impressive outreach tool featuring fun activities and specially-curated library collections during the Nicollet Farmers and Makers markets and throughout the summer. Families will enjoy Storytime with the Mobile Bike Librarians on Thursdays at 10 am through Aug. 30 at the Nicollet Reading Room in front of the YWCA.

ACTivation: zAmya Theater Project: The acclaimed zAmya Theater Project will provide sidewalk theater vignettes #OnNicollet Tuesdays from 11 am-1 pm between 6^th and 8^th Streets. The zAmya Theater Project uses community-based theater to build an understanding and connection to people with and without experience in homelessness.

The Douglas Dayton YMCA at Gaviidae will be hosting free fitness classes on select Wednesdays this summer. On June 6, July 11, August 1 and September 5 from 12 pm-1 pm, they’ll alternate hosting yoga and Oula classes at Xcel Energy’s plaza at 5^th and Nicollet. Try a dance fitness Oula class, their newest program, demonstrated by certified YMCA instructors at this Wednesday’s Springtacular at 11:30 am.

Nicollet Go Tours: Take one of our free, self-guided audio tours and learn more about what makes Minneapolis’ most well-trodden street so interesting.  Get the inside scoop about our famous buildings on the Nicollet Architecture tour. Learn the story behind the public art and Mary Tyler Moore’s famous hat toss on the Nicollet Public Art Tour. Coming in June is the story behind the new design of Nicollet’s public spaces, and the Weird Nicollet tour, featuring rare and peculiar stories about our downtown main street. All the tours will be available through the free IZI app and at www.onnicollet.com/stories. This Wednesday, you can hear direct from the tour creators themselves as architectural historian Richard Kronick and urban geographer Bill Lindeke offer rare in person experiences of the Nicollet Architecture (11:30 a.m.) and Weird Nicollet tours (12:30 p.m.).

Mpls DID unveils pop-up drop-in center

In addition to the Nicollet Springtacular event on Wednesday, the Mpls Downtown Improvement District will officially open its pop-up satellite office located #OnNicollet at the street level of Gaviidae Common.  The satellite office will offer information about the DID and its initiatives, have Ambassadors on hand, and provide an additional DID resource for downtown patrons. The satellite office will be open Mondays-Fridays from 8 am-9 pm and Saturdays from 3-9 pm.

2025 plan quarterly forum set for 4:30 pm at Randle’s

The mpls downtown council will also host its 2025 plan quarterly forum on Wednesday, May 23 at Randle’s Restaurant. The event will focus on greening and public realm progress since the 2025 plan’s inception in 2011, impacting development, downtown experience, transportation and other facets of downtown life in the process. The event will begin at 4:30 pm and include the following panel: 

• Steve Cramer, mpls downtown council & DID (moderator)
• Robin Hutcheson, City of Minneapolis Public Works
• Jim Vos, Cresa Minneapolis
• Tom Whitlock, Damon Farber Associates; 2025 plan downtown experience committee chair
• David Wilson, Accenture; 2025 plan greening & public realm committee chair, Green Minneapolis board chair

For more information on The 2025 Plan’s initiatives, follow @mplsdowntown on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #mplsdowntown and #2025plan. For more information #OnNicollet’s programming, public art installations, new features and more, visit www.onnicollet.com or follow @mplsdid on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #OnNicollet.

About the mpls downtown council:

Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic central business associations in the nation, the mpls downtown council (mdc) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The mdc’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit mplsdowntown.com.

About the Mpls Downtown Improvement District:

Founded in early 2009, after more than five years of formative planning and advocacy by the downtown business community, the Mpls DID delivers higher levels of service to make downtown cleaner, greener, safer and more vibrant throughout a 120-block area, as is the case with most Business Improvement Districts. For more information, visit http://www.mplsdid.com/.

About The 2025 Plan:

Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan is a vehicle to help leaders and citizens build on downtown’s assets and guide downtown Minneapolis’ development. This includes initiatives to double downtown’s residential population, transform Nicollet into a must-see destination, create a compelling and walkable environment around the clock, lead the nation in transportation options, end street homelessness, forge connections with the University of Minnesota and more. For more information on the 2025 Plan and its initiatives, visit mplsdowntown.com/2025plan. The 2025 Plan is a mpls downtown council initiative introduced in 2011 

Deep Sewer Tunnel Cleaning Project

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) will be cleaning six large diameter sanitary sewer interceptors in Minneapolis and St. Paul between in June 2017 and December 2018. (Full map)

Between May and June, MCES will be cleaning the interceptor pipes beneath Washington Avenue between 11th Avenue and 35W. There will be periodic lane closures near the work zone. Work hours on this site will occur during off-peak traffic times. Overnight cleaning work may occur.

Cleaning activities will include inspecting the pipes with CCTV and sonar equipment to confirm quantities and locations where debris will be removed; cleaning the pipes using high velocity water jetting equipment and removing debris with pumps; drying the debris; and hauling it to a licensed landfill. Jetting and debris removal will be conducted through existing access structures with minimal surface disruption and pavement restoration. Work will be conducted in existing rights of way under traffic, or overnights to minimize traffic disruption.

Questions? Email info@deeptunnelcleaningproject.com or call 612-352-9774.

Scenes from the May 19 Mill City Farmers Market

Like the sign says - it's asparagus time! :D

Shoppers met two new vendors at the May 19 MCFM: Red Clover Herbal Apothecary Farm and Double Dog Kombucha. We will feature each of them separately on our Farmers Market blog in the near future.

Here's a treat for the 2018 season: Joe from Eversharp will be on hand for select Market dates. Joe is the guy to see for anything and everything you need to know about knives - from what type of knife to use for the job at hand, the best surfaces to cut on, sharpening techniques, etc. 

Below, Beth Dooley prepares ingredients for her Mill City Cooks demo. Beth worked with Sean Sherman on the nationally acclaimed The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen cookbook.

Milly the goat:

Northside Boxing Club Fulfills Dreams

Article and photos by Merle Minda

Visionary founder Ryan BurnetRyan Burnet is best known as a restaurateur plus other endeavors around town, with popular restaurants such as Bar La Grassa, Burch Steak, and Crisp & Green in his stable. But there was something else on the mind of this successful 38-year old businessman – boxing. He had picked up the sport when he was younger, loved it and even boxed competitively for a bit. Something about boxing was in him and he decided to do something more – for kids who could benefit from the determination, discipline and mental challenges the sport provides.

Thus the non-profit Northside Boxing Club* was born. Indefatigable, Ryan found and totally rehabbed an old fire house on the Minneapolis North Side; the place was boarded up and “a complete wreck inside; it needed everything,” says Ryan. But it was dry and secure, with 10,000 square feet that could be utilized. And Ryan went on a mission, raising $850,000 in a year-long capital campaign to outfit and equip this new boxing gym, bringing the sport to Northside kids who wanted to participate.

The old firehouse has been transformed into the Northside Boxing Club.

Now, two years later, the Northside Boxing Club is running at full speed. The program is free to boys and girls, ages 9-21, from nearby neighborhoods. The gym accommodates about 40 kids in two after-school periods, 4:00 to 5:30pm and 6:00 to 7:00pm. The kids are truly dedicated and are there nearly every day after school. Open boxing happens on Friday afternoons. Training varies and includes boxing drills, running and strength conditioning, and technique work. Each daily session ends with a healthy meal, also free to participants.

Coach Moe Kayongo works with kids.

Coach Phil Williams (right) and one of his young boxing students demonstrate their logo/hands up position which means "overcoming struggle."

Professional boxing experts serve as coaches who are also deeply involved with these young people. Coaches Phil Williams and Moe Kayongo are in it for the long haul and are there every day during boxing hours, also serving as role models, counselors, friends and parental figures at times. Both are professional boxers who know the sport well.

“Boxing parallels life,” says Phil Williams. “You get out of it what you put in; that’s what we teach here. We push these kids by believing in them and helping them to find their own motivation,” Phil continues. 

15-year-old Trell shows off his National Championship award belt.

And the kids love every minute. Phil says he often has to push them to go home at the end of the day…"I am home!” they often say. 15-year old Trell is a freshman at North Community School. He won a local boxing competition in his age group; the gym then sent him to the national competitions in Independence, MO, where he won the national championship. Everyone is very proud of his success.

Sparring in the ring, watched closely by Moe. 

The main floor has a beautifully equipped regulation boxing ring, surrounded by a raft of boxing equipment. The kids I saw were involved every moment – no sitting around. Exercising, all kinds of boxing practice – either with a coach or under a coach’s watchful eye – not a moment is wasted. There is a quiet room for study and a yoga studio on the second floor. Dinner comes at the end of practice and the food is good; from restaurant Bar La Grassa the day I was there.

Senior high school student Chello gets ready for his boxing mitts to be put on.

Young man with a plan works out solo. 

“These kids have to learn to eat good food too,” Phil notes. “And that means eating well for health, not just chips and candy bars. We teach everything we can here.” Phil says, “Boxing reflects life, you can apply it to your life. But you can’t cheat it!”

Happy boxing participant says "I love it here."

Girls box too!The club’s stated Mission is “to effect positive change in North Minneapolis youth through boxing and physical fitness.” They have a vision too, because this effort is all about vision and motivation. Their Vision is to “create a community of hopeful and empowered youth, who achieve self-discipline, confidence, compassion and respect.” Pretty big words for a boxing club, but then this is no ordinary such space. 17-year-old participant Meti, a high school senior, said “the coaches here push you but they believe in you, they see potential in you. But you have to put in the work.” Founder Ryan Burnet is continuing his funding efforts for next year; he is so pleased with the continued positive community response.

Northside Boxing Club is located at 33rd and James Avenue North in Minneapolis. Classes are free for Northside kids, but adults can also join for a monthly fee or by volunteering. More information online.

*Note: This club was originally called Fighting Chance Boxing Club, and later rebranded as Northside Boxing Club.

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About Merle Minda

Journalist and free-lance writer Merle Minda writes about travel, business, people profiles and other subjects for a number of national and regional publications, including Delta SKY, Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business, Star Tribune, Twin Cities Statement, Minnesota Monthly, and now Mill City Times. She can be reached at mminda@earthlink.net or TravelOverEasy.com on the web.

Welcome to Downtown View

Article by Claudia Kittock

Mike (a pseudonym) is a young man I have known for 2 years, and he has had a difficult life. He has experienced homelessness for most of that time, and, as you might expect, life has been hard. Mike has almost 2 years of college finished, but the rigors of homelessness have interfered in almost every imaginable way. As a regular client at the drop-in at YouthLink, Mike learned about the possibility of housing at Downtown View and applied. He moved in about a month ago and life has changed for him in almost every way.

Downtown View is officially open. A 10-year project that was fought for, planned for, and hoped for is finished. Located next door to YouthLink, it is operated by Project for Pride in Living (PPL), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering low-income people to become self-reliant through integrated services. The mission is in part dedicated to “...providing transformative affordable housing and employment readiness services.” PPL began as an affordable housing developer and has since become a robust multi-service agency that today serves more than 13,000 low-income people annually. YouthLink clients are part of that mission through Downtown View.

Dr. Heather Huseby addressed the hundreds of attendees at the May 15 Downtown View grand opening celebration.

Paul Williams discusses the Downtown View project and the work of Project for Pride in Living.

YouthLink operates a drop-in center for youth ages 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness. With over 40 years of experience connecting young people with a community of resources and support, YouthLink is uniquely poised to be a powerful resource. Whether it is providing basic needs, like a hot shower or a warm meal, assistance with employment or educational goals, accessing mental and physical health resources, or finding supportive housing, there are navigators that can and will help young people at all stages of their journey.

The power in the word ‘home’ is beyond description.

Downtown View fills a critical need of housing for youth experiencing homelessness. Housing is only the first step. Providing services to help create a holistic, positive, vibrant community that makes it possible for youth to engage with new opportunities, broaden their horizons, and build self-esteem is all part of Downtown View.  

Housing first matters! Once someone has the stability of a place to sleep, a physical transformation occurs. Remember Mike? He has not only found housing, he is working 35 hours a week, and exploring a return to college. I ran into him a few weeks ago. We chatted about his work, what he is going to have for dinner, what movies he had seen, all the things you talk about with a friend. I asked where he has headed and he said, “Home!” That moment will stay with me forever. The power in the word ‘home’ is beyond description.

If you agree that housing is a right, here are ways you can help:

• Call YouthLink at 612-252-1200

• Volunteer

• Purchase pre-selected items for the young people thru YouthLink's Wish List on Amazon. Items will conveniently be shipped directly to YouthLink.

• Make a monitary donation 

• Donate items

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Downtown View offers two housing options - single units and quad units. Both come with basic housekeeping items, such as sheets, cleaning products and cooking gear. Below is a single unit ready for move in.

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In quad units, there are four private bedrooms and a shared kitchen/living area:

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Opportunity to Join the Neighborhoods 2020 Work Groups

Via a May 17 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement Committee (PECE) Approves 2020 Work Group Structure

On May 14, 2018 NCR presented the updated Neighborhoods 2020 Roadmap and public comments to the PECE committee of the Minneapolis City Council. PECE approved the establishment of  work groups to develop the next stage of Neighborhoods 2020 policy. The Neighborhoods 2020 web page has been updated with the revised roadmap, work group overview and application, public comment report, PECE presentation, PECE video and an updated timeline.

Next Steps & How to Join Work Groups

NCR is excited to invite neighborhoods and residents to get involved in the next steps, which you can view in the adjacent timeline. From June to August, groups will develop policy, and from August to November, they will solicit public comment on their drafts. The work team will include the following three work groups: Program Guidelines, Funding and Implementation (16 members) Governance Advisory Structure for Neighborhood and Community Engagement (17 members) Citywide Community Engagement Policy (16 members) Apply by June 4, 2018 to serve for six months on one of the inaugural Neighborhoods 2020 work groups. You can submit your application via email to ncr@minneapolismn.gov or by postal mail or in person to 105 5th Ave. S. Suite 425, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Overview and application form

Work Group Composition & Selection Process

The PECE approval of the Neighborhoods 2020 work groups included the following structure: 

• 2 City Council representatives on each work group will be appointed by Council President Bender.
• 1 mayoral representative will be appointed by Mayor Frey.
• 2 Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission representatives and (1-2)* Neighborhood Revitalization Program Policy Board representatives will be selected by each body at their May 2018 board meetings.
• 3 cultural community representatives, 5 neighborhood representatives, and 2 representatives on equity and undoing racism will apply through an open application process and will be chosen by a committee of the Chair of the Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement Committee, 2 NCEC members and 2 NCR staff.**

*The work group on Governance Advisory Structure for Neighborhood and Community Engagement  will be comprised of 2 Neighborhood Revitalization Program Policy Board representatives.

**City staff will serve as non-voting subject matter experts. 

If you have questions, please contact the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department at 612-673-3737 or email to ncr@minneapolismn.gov.

Mississippi River Paddle Share Season Opens May 26

Mississippi River Paddle Share is a recreational and transportation opportunity for people who don’t own a boat and want a safe and enjoyable river experience. This is a first of its kind in a national park and in the country. 

Be sure to stop by The Sample Room in Minneapolis if you're paddling between Boom Island and North Mississippi Regional Park. The dock behind The Sample Room has kayak parking designated for Paddle Share. Bring your Paddle Share PFD (life jacket) and receive 20% off your total tab.

All the Minneapolis and St. Paul stations are aligned with Nice Ride bike share stations. For a separate fee, you can paddle one way and bike back along this great river. Transit service and ride share is available from the other locations.

See www.rivertripplanner.org for transit and bike share options, including schedules and locations.

Yoga in Gold Medal Park Returns May 26

Article by Claudia Kittock, photo by Rick Kittock 

Yoga in Gold Medal Park is returning. We will meet on Saturdays, May 26th thru September 1st.  Each session will begin at 9 a.m. and end before 10.  Grab your mat (or a towel), a neighbor, and meet us by the orange sculpture. 

The sessions are free of charge and sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District charity. Come salute the sun and enjoy the beauty of our neighborhood with your friends and neighbors. Questions and comments can be sent to cjkittock@gmail.com.

Green Minneapolis Announces The Commons 2018 Summer Season

Via a May 17 News Release from Green Minneapolis:

Green Minneapolis has released The Commons 2018 Summer Season of programming and events. Green Minneapolis is under contract with the City of Minneapolis to operate, maintain, and program the 4.2 acre downtown green space.

2017 was a successful first full year of operation.  The Commons hosted 68 free community events, fulfilling the vision of an active and vibrant downtown park, and welcomed over 500,000 guests, not including attendees of stadium events. The summer kicked off with Northern Spark, an overnight festival celebrating the Twin Cities’ thriving arts community, and concluded with a free performance by the Minnesota Orchestra with over 3,500 people from diverse communities gathered together to share an evening of food, music, and enjoyment.

“In Minneapolis, we do summer better than anyone and The Commons park adds immensely to that status,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “Whether it’s Northern Spark, a movie night, or just a place to hang out with a partner, The Commons is the perfect place to gather — a kitchen table of our downtown.”

“Increasingly, people who live in the neighborhood, work downtown, or visit on the weekend are enjoying time in The Commons,” said Ward 3 Council Member Steve Fletcher. “I’m excited for all of the events and programs that the summer has in store and look forward to seeing so many people come together from across Minneapolis to enjoy them.”

In 2018, The Commons will continue its programs with the Mill City Farmers Market, Minnesota Orchestra, Northern Lights.mn, MacPhail Center for Music and Fly Feet Running. Green Minneapolis is proud to announce new partnerships with Minnesota Sinfonia, CreativeMornings/Minneapolis and Mixed Blood Theatre, among other local entities.

Gathering input from community members and partner organizations, Green Minneapolis developed new events that include hip hop performances, a morning lecture series, lawn game leagues, and additional fitness classes. Graywolf Press poet Gretchen Marquette will serve as The Commons’ 2018 Poet In Residence, taking inspiration from the surrounding city and writing in the park each week. She will also host a series of outdoor poetry readings and lead writing workshops for all ages.

Daily, The Commons is #YourDowntownOasis. Site amenities include a large building block set for children, a splash pad fountain, umbrellas for shade, table tennis, reading and games carts.  Food trucks are regularly available.

The Commons is also a site for events produced by other entities, including the X Games and other stadium related activations, festivals and private parties.

“We are grateful for the sponsors and in-kind partners that have made this level of programming possible.  Programming and sponsorship are essential to the operations of The Commons, to create the active and engaging destination park envisioned by City leaders,” said Beth Shogren, executive director of Green Minneapolis.

Green Minneapolis raised $14M in private donations to enable the construction of The Commons.  No additional construction will occur this year. 

“The Commons is a prime example of the power of public-private partnerships.  Because of the vision and generous contribution from many individuals and businesses in our community, the City was able to replace surface parking lots with a vibrant urban park for all its citizens,” said David Wilson, board chair for Green Minneapolis.  “We are proud of our partnership with the City and look forward to welcoming more people to The Commons this season.”

The full 2018 Summer Season is attached. See www.commonsmpls.com/activities for updates and additions.