May 15 Newsletter from Council Member Steve Fletcher

Ward 3 Friends -

I’ve heard a range of reactions from many of you about Governor Walz’s announcement on Wednesday that he is letting the Stay Home order expire on May 18, and replacing it with a “Stay Safe” order that allows many businesses to resume operation. I want to share a little insight about what it means for Ward 3. As a regional destination for work and recreation, our fates and our health are tied to the rest of the region, so we need our statewide strategy to succeed. If Minnesotans do not proceed cautiously, we could bear the brunt of people’s bad judgment and may have to show some agility and adjust to new conditions. 

First, I want to acknowledge that many people are concerned that this announcement will be misconstrued. If you only read the headlines, the emphasis is on re-opening, but if you listen to the Governor’s speech, he’s clear that we need to keep up the efforts that have been working to keep the virus from spreading quickly through our community. While some businesses and activities will resume in a limited way that will be a relief to business owners and customers alike, we still owe it to ourselves and our neighbors to take steps to avoid infection. Masks are even more important as more people come into closer contact with each other, and we should still be minimizing contact in general. 

I asked Mayor Frey in our Council meeting this morning about guidance for employers and workers to make sure newly reopened businesses are reopened in a safe way, and I was encouraged to hear that he is taking seriously our unique role as the work destination for the region, and considering new regulations to increase mask usage and other prevention measures to protect workers returning to their jobs. The Governor’s order puts a lot of pressure on everyone to figure out what safe re-opening looks like very quickly, and we’ll be working hard to support workers and employers in creating safe work spaces.

The order enables some businesses to re-open at a reduced capacity and sets a timeline for others like restaurants and bars. Make no mistake – many business owners are feeling a sense of relief at seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, but most will continue to struggle. There are very few businesses that can thrive at 50% capacity, and there will inevitably be less traffic and less business activity as we all continue to act in the interest of safety. The City is dedicating significant resources to helping businesses figure out strategies for safely reopening so that they can start generating some revenue, and for some business models, that will be beneficial. Small businesses and their workers will still need our support for a long time to come.  

Starting Monday, the Governor is allowing gatherings of up to 10 people, which will be a huge relief to close friends and family who have been separated during isolation, but will also enable more infection-spreading events if people overuse this. As tempting as it will be to make abundant use of this new freedom after many weeks of isolation, it could be very dangerous if people use it irresponsibly, and bounce from small gathering to small gathering. We didn’t come this far together, only to risk becoming super-spreaders of the virus by jumping too quickly into in-person socializing.  

My heart is crying out to be with you in person again. This weekend should be Art-a-Whirl, which is one of the best weekends of the year, and this weekend would have been the nicest weather Art-a-Whirl has had in a while. It is tempting to hear what we want to hear, and go back to normal too quickly, but we’re smarter than that, and we care for each other more than that. So, we’ll do Art-a-Whirl virtually this year (starting at 5:00 PM tonight!), buy art online, share it with our friends online, and look forward to the day when our heads and our hearts are telling us to go fully back into the world again. We still have a long road ahead.    

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How We're Responding to People Experiencing Homelessness Camping Outdoors

I’m hearing from a lot of you from around the Ward about people experiencing homelessness camping outdoors, and as always, I appreciate the spirit of compassion evident in those conversations. I want to share as much accurate information as I can about how the City is responding, what solutions we are working on with our partners at Hennepin County, and how you can help.  

First, this is certainly not unique to Ward 3 or to Minneapolis. We were facing an urgent shortage of deeply affordable, low-barrier housing before the pandemic, and COVID has put strains on all of our existing systems of shelter and support for people experiencing homelessness. We are tracking about 85 encampments around the city, including several small ones (3 tents or fewer) in Ward 3. For the most part, small groups are keeping to themselves and discouraging people from joining them to avoid drawing attention. West River Parkway near Plymouth, Nicollet Island, and the Commons are the most visible ones in Ward 3. There are larger, more concerning encampments in Whittier and Phillips to the south. 

The Commons is newly under the Park Board's control, as are the other sites in Ward 3, but that does not prevent us from collaborating on outreach, public health, and policing. The City monitors camping activity, works to keep it as healthy and safe as we can, and we intervene if the activity begins to pose a more direct and explicit public health or safety threat.  

We are actively working with Hennepin County on shelter and housing options that people can choose (but are not required) to take. The County has placed people from the shelter system into 600 hotel rooms so far, and is working on more. They’re even exploring the option of purchasing hotels, to create long-term low-barrier housing – a concept I strongly support. One thing that is unfortunately delaying that expansion is a debate in the Minnesota Senate on whether or not to take federal CARES Act funding away from the County to give to cities, instead of funding cities with the unallocated CARES Act funds currently held by the state.  

That's significant, because the Governor's executive order limits our ability to disperse encampments during the stay-at-home order. We try to take a compassionate approach to people camping and are usually able to find alternate housing options. Part of what sometimes motivates people to consider other shelter choices is a deadline, which they now know we are unable to set. Advocates tell us they believe many who are camping would choose a hotel bed over a tent if given the option, so the safest and best way to help everyone shelter safely is to expand hotel shelter access. 

Please call 311 if you see a new encampment just in case it's not already on our radar (though it likely is), and please feel free to contact me and my office directly if you see camping activity causing issues that require a response.  

The city has a special partnership with St. Stephens to provide effective, accountable outreach and direct service to people experiencing homelessness, and their hard work and dedication to their mission is critical to our response. I get questions from many of you about how you can contribute money or volunteer time to help others during the pandemic, and among many worthy efforts deserving of generosity, St. Stephens is surely high on the list. You can donate to St. Stephens at https://ststephensmpls.org/donate.

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The 25th Art-A-Whirl is Online!

Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country, and is celebrating their 25th year! Due to COVID-19, we can’t gather together across Northeast Minneapolis this May, but over 1,000 artists, galleries, bands, businesses, restaurants, and breweries are active and ready to connect with you through the Art-A-Whirl Online Experience.

The online Art-A-Whirl experience is LIVE HEREThe online Art-A-Whirl experience is LIVE HERE!

• Find artists by map location, studio building, or medium.
• Browse over 800 artist profiles and shops with shipping and curbside pick-up options.
• View art demos, virtual studio tours, and musical performances.
• Order takeout or delivery from NE restaurants and breweries. 

 (Virtual) Coffee With Your Council Member

I normally hold regular open community office hours at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, at a rotating neighborhood coffee shop in Ward 3 for constituents to drop by, ask questions, and raise any issues you see in the community. 

Right now, I am holding my community office hours remotely on Skype:

Wednesday, May 20, at 5:00 P.M.

Skype Link or by phone: 612-276-6670, 940707330#

Wednesday, May 27, at 5:00 P.M.

Skype Link or by phone: 612-276-6670, 940707330#

If you have questions or a topic to discuss, email Aurin.Chowdhury@minneapolismn.gov to RSVP.

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Good Morning Ward 3 Postponed Indefinitely

Two months ago, at the onset of COVID-19, I had tentatively postponed our planned March Good Morning Ward 3 to next week on May 20.

However, large group gatherings continue to be strongly discouraged, and unfortunately, that will likely be the case for the foreseeable future.

It is with no small degree of sadness that as a result, I have to postpone Good Morning Ward 3 indefinitely. In the meantime, I will continue to host my weekly virtual coffee hours and join as many of you as I can in other virtual gathering spaces.

If you are part of a local community group that meets virtually, and you would like me to join you to talk about what's going on in our Ward and "at City Hall", please email Aurin.Chowdhury@minneapolismn.gov, so we can get it on my schedule! 

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Governor Walz Turning the Dial with New COVID-19 Executive Orders

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Allows More Businesses to Re-Open at Limited Capacity

Gov. Tim Walz announced the next phase of the COVID-19 response in Minnesota. Citing progress made to prepare for the peak of infection, the governor announced a measured, cautious turning of the dial toward a new normal. With the stay home executive order set to expire May 18, the governor will replace it with an order continuing to encourage Minnesotans to stay close to home but allowing for gatherings of friends and family of 10 people or fewer.

• Minnesotans are still asked to stay close to home and limit travel to what is essential.
• All gatherings are limited to 10, and physical distancing with masks, hand-washing and other safety measures should be followed to protect each other.
• No matter what, Minnesotans are asked not to gather in large groups.
• The governor will also allow retail stores and other main street businesses to open if they have a social distancing plan and operate at 50%. Additional guidance, including a template plan and checklist for businesses, is available on DEED’s website at mn.gov/deed/safework.

Acknowledging that there is no stopping the storm of COVID-19 from hitting Minnesota, the governor said that we have made great progress preparing for it.

Gov. Walz also signed executive orders strongly encouraging Minnesotans at greatest risk of serious illness to continue staying home, ensuring workers can raise concerns regarding the safety of their work environments without fear of discrimination or retaliation, and protecting workers from loss of income if they refuse to work under unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

Following the guidance of public health officials, the governor announced a preliminary set of health indicators that could trigger a decision to re-impose restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. These indicators will be refined over time as we learn more about the virus and the course of the pandemic in Minnesota.

They include the number of COVID-19 tests that can be conducted as well as the rate of increase in:

• Number of new COVID-19 cases.
• Percent of COVID-19 tests that are positive.
• Percent of COVID-19 cases for which the source of infection is unknown.

Updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota are available at mn.gov/covid19. 

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Minneapolis Parkways Will Remain Open to Pedestrians Through at Least End of June

Sections of eight parkways or park roads totaling 21 lane miles are closed to motor vehicles and open to pedestrians to allow more space for trail users to follow social distancing practices and limit the spread of COVID-19. Park Board staff estimates this will remain in place until at least the end of June.

Learn more about the parkway availability.

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City Amending Budget Due to COVID-19

Financial stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic including a projected $100-$200 million revenue shortfall are forcing the City of Minneapolis to reassess our budget.

2020 Amended Budget Process

The mayor will present a recommended revised 2020 budget to the City Council on June 12. The City Council will hold a series of meetings in mid- and late June to hear from City staff about the impacts of the recommended revisions and make any modifications they see necessary. There will be two opportunities for the public to engage and share their voices in this process. Details are being finalized and will be released as soon as they are available.

Budget Steps Already Taken

The City has already frozen wages for all non-bargaining-unit employees and are working with labor partners to implement a wage freeze across the enterprise to help guard against deeper cuts later.

Bills up before the Legislature right now could affect possible State and federal funding that would allow Minneapolis to get a share of the federal coronavirus relief bill. As of now, the City has received none, which has implications across our budget. 

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Final Call for Public Comments on Draft Transportation Action Plan - Closes Friday, May 22

Public comment on the Public Works Department's draft Transportation Action Plan closes next Friday, May 22. 

On social media, follow the City of Minneapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and use the hashtag #gompls to share your feedback with us. 

The Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan is a 10-year action plan to guide future planning, design, and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways we move around the city. The plan will identify specific actions for the City and our partners to take to implement the transportation vision outlined in Minneapolis 2040.

If you have feedback or ideas about how you walk, bike, bus, drive, scooter, roll, ride, or otherwise get around your neighborhood, I strongly encourage you to comment on this plan in the next week! 

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Online "Open House" for University & 4th Street Improvements

Hennepin County, in participation with the City of Minneapolis, MnDOT, Metro Transit, and the U of M, is developing roadway improvements for University Avenue and Fourth Street between 35W and Oak Street.

One main goal of this project will be to improve bicycle and transit facilities on University Avenue and Fourth Street to help make the roadway safer for all users. This project will also upgrade intersections for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), modernize the traffic signal systems and improve access to transit stops.

You can access the online open house here to explore the project, learn more, and provide your feedback. 

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New Renter Protections Take Effect on June 1

The City of Minneapolis passed new renter protection rules that go into effect soon. Starting June 1, there will be caps on security deposits and limits on what a rental property owner can use to deny rental applications.

• Inclusive screening criteria will set limits on what information in a renter’s criminal, rental and credit history can be used to deny a rental application. Landlords who don’t use the inclusive screening criteria will have to specifically state why an application is denied and provide an opportunity for the applicant to add more context to their history.
• Security deposits will be capped at one month’s rent, or one-half month’s rent if the landlord requires first and last month’s rent to be paid in advance. If they require the first and last month’s rent to be paid along with the security deposit, renters must have the option to pay the security deposit in installments over three months.

The ordinance goes into effect June 1 for owners with more than 15 rental units. The effective date for property owners with 15 rental units or fewer is Dec. 1. Enforcement will be through the City’s housing maintenance code.

This follows previous renter protection efforts adopted recently, including relocation assistance for displaced renters and a requirement that owners of naturally occurring affordable housing rental property give the City 60 days’ notice before selling their units.

To learn more, visit minneapolismn.gov/renterprotections.

Work Continues on Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Housing

Council Member Schroeder and I introduced a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase ordinance process last year, and staff work on that ordinance continues. City staff are receiving technical assistance in that work from LISC-Twin Cities (The Local Initiatives Support Corporation) and the Coalition for Non-Profit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED) in Washington, DC. 

Along with Council Members Ellison and Gordon, who are also working with us on this project, we recently received a progress report from the consultants and City staff, who are studying options for a tenant opportunity, a City opportunity, and/or a non-profit opportunity to purchase rental housing when it goes up for sale.     

If you have questions about this project and/or would like to be included in opportunities to learn more and help shape it, please contact David.Zaffrann@minneapolismn.gov. 

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Sign Up Online to Vote Early by Mail This Election Year

With health officials advising everyone to reduce contact to keep each other safe during the pandemic, the City of Minneapolis is recommending voting early by mail this election year.

Voters can sign up now to get ballots for the August primary and November general election mailed to them. Ballots will arrive approximately six weeks before those elections, along with postage-paid envelopes for return.

All Minnesota voters are eligible to vote early by mail. Ballot applications should be made no later than 10 days before an election so the ballots can arrive in the mail with enough time for voters to return them.

Although voting early by mail is recommended, voters will still be able to cast their ballots in person at the City’s Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., or at their polling places on the day of the election.

Watch this video about voting by mail, sign up for your absentee ballot here, and get more voting information at vote.minneapolismn.gov. 

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Check Out the Neighborhood Census Response Rate Map, Encourage People You Know to Complete the Census

Minnesota is currently number one in the nation in responding to the census. With a 69% response rate, we are 11% over the national average of 58.7%

Minneapolis is doing well also, landing at number six of large cities in the nation with populations of 300,000 or more with a response rate of 66.5%, which is close to surpassing our 2010 decennial rate of 72.8%.

However, there is still work to be done. There are several neighborhoods in Minneapolis with previously low response rates that have yet to gain real ground in their 2020 census completion. Too often communities that are underrepresented in the census are subsequently under-resourced when and where they need it the most.

View the Minneapolis neighborhood response rate map and encourage your friends, neighbors and community to complete the census!

Data from the census is used to provide not only services and programs that many of our communities rely on, but also critical medical equipment and first responders during times of crises, much like the current pandemic. Data from the previous census is currently being used to determine where to send ventilators based on population numbers. Our collective response to the census is crucial to our ability to respond successfully to the needs of community.

Take the census now: www.my2020census.gov.

Doug Verdier's Mid-May 2020 Water Works Photos

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.

It took only about 30 minutes to connect and lift the HVAC mechanical package from the trailer to the roof of the Water Works Pavilion, but the task required patience and precision.

Workers attached cables to each corner of the HVAC unit.

The lift itself went smoothly, with several workers both on the ground and on the roof guiding and making sure the unit was placed exactly where it was supposed to go and in the correct orientation.

New sidewalk and ramp along the First Street edge of the future South Plaza.

Lower portion of ramp from First Street level of South Plaza to vicinity of new main entrance of Pavilion.

Another view of the ramp and sidewalk from First Street level.

New stone arch main entry to Pavilion under construction. Remind anyone of the Stone Arch Bridge?

Panoramic view of the project from THird Avenue Bridge. In foreground is preliminary work on future woonerf location that will provide access to lower level of park via a passage beneath the iron bridge on First Street just south of Third Avenue.

Pining to do Something "Normal"? Take a Segway Tour!

Via a May 15 e-newsletter from Mobile Entertainment, LLC

Together we can get back up... and Out!

SOCIAL DISTANCING? SO ARE WE!

Since 2003, we have had one very important safety tip that is more relevant today than ever before... “KEEP A SIX FOOT BUBBLE AROUND YOUR SEGWAY AT ALL TIMES” Now more than ever, this rule is being applied to all tours, whether you are walking or biking with The Fit Tourist or Segwaying in style as a Human on a Stick.

COVID-19 POLICIES

Additional safety measures have been put into place, including requiring masks for our staff and encouraging masks for our guests. Everything surface that you come into contact with be sanitized and cleaned from handlebars to helmets. Will will also suggest you watch our safety video online prior to your tour. To learn more about our Covid-19 preparedness plan click here.

OUR TOURS HAVE ADVANCED We are keeping our tours fun, engaging and informative, while reducing contact. How are we doing that? TECHNOLOGY! Lucky for us, one of our very own tour guides (way over qualified I might add) developed a prototype that allows you to listen to your tour guide from 3+ city blocks away! No Static!

example of our narrative CLICK HERE!

READY TO PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?

For more information call 952-888-9200 or visit humanonastick.com

BOOK NOW!

We thank you in advance for supporting our local, family-run business!

Minnesota’s only LGBTQ+ Employment Equality Conference Goes Virtual June 23 - 26

Via a May 14 Press Release:

MOSSIER’S PROUD TO WORK MN CONFERENCE GOES VIRTUAL, CONTINUING ADVANCEMENT OF LGBTQ+ EMPLOYMENT EQUITY

Tickets to the June event include a 2-month online subscription with 30+ hours of virtual webinars and live expert Q&As

Mossier, a non-profit social enterprise helping businesses offer inclusivity for LGBTQ+ people all over the world, today announced its third-annual Proud to Work MN Conference is going virtual. The June 23 – June 26 event is Minnesota’s first and only employment equality and LGBTQ+-focused conference, packed with 30 sessions over 4 days and paired with a learn-at-your-own-pace online subscription with keynote speakers.

“Mossier has helped establish equality in the workplace since its inception in 2017, advancing conversations about the LGBTQ+ community in corporate America,” said Nick Alm, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Mossier. “We’re coming up on a historic LGBTQ+ Pride Month, as a number of cases could finally determine if the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ people in the workplace. There is no better opportunity for HR professionals and corporate businesses to join the discussion and reevaluate their own commitment to inclusive practices.”

Each day of the conference will be dedicated to key audiences, including Human Resources Champions, Diversity and Inclusion Champions, LGBTQ+ Champions, and LGBTQ+ Advocates. Sessions will be evenly split between tactical business strategy work and expanding attendee understanding of different lived experiences in the LGBTQ+ community—a new structure compared to past years. For companies and individuals navigating COVID-19, there will be sessions on the impact on the LGBTQ+ community and “Leading Through Crisis.”

This year’s conference carries on Mossier’s community-first approach, featuring a diverse group of speakers aligned with culturally specific topics. Livestream keynotes, with a virtual chat component, will be presented by notable speakers including Minneapolis City Councilwoman Vice-President Andrea Jenkins, Commissioner for the MN Department of Human Rights Rebecca Lucero, and OutFront MN Executive Director Monica Meyer.

Tickets will come with a 2-month subscription to an online learning platform, offering 30+ hours of virtual webinars, live expert Q&As and access to presentations from the conference, including audio-only sessions for those who want to take their learning outdoors. Available to individuals and businesses at different levels of understanding, the platform is designed for subscribers to learn at their own pace and focus on the topics most important to them.

“With virtual learning becoming the new norm, an online subscription was the perfect way to accelerate our mission and extend our impact,” said Elizabeth Kubicek, Program Director. “Attendees will have the opportunity to continue learning well past the 4-day conference and use the platform to best meet their needs. And, the best part is we can now open it up to people outside of the Twin Cities area.”

Both individuals and companies alike, in all 50 states, can purchase tickets to the Proud to Work MN Conference on the Mossier website. Mossier is also offering individual scholarships, awarding free admission to the conference and this fall’s career fair, among other VIP benefits. The scholarship is open to anyone and will focus on unemployed individuals and students in need of additional support during these unusual times, with an application deadline of May 25. Ticket pricing is as follows: 

• Corporate, Single Ticket: $199
• Corporate Team, 5 Tickets: $899
• Non-Profit/Government/Education, Single Ticket: $99
• Non-Profit/Government/Education Team, 5 Tickets: $449

The conference is made possible through generous support from sponsors 3M, UnitedHealth Group, Land O’ Lakes, Ecolab, Allianz and many more, representing a large and diverse line-up spanning many sectors, including government, non-profit, for-profit, and education.

About Mossier

Mossier is on a mission to advance LGBTQ+ employment equity across generations and borders, helping businesses of all sizes and types offer inclusivity for LGBTQ+ people all over the world. Since launching in 2017, Mossier has worked with corporations on LGBTQ+ workforce issues and uses revenue and donations to fund LGBTQ+ businesses in Uganda, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic. By the end of 2020, Mossier will have granted $160,000 to LGBTQ+ communities globally who are working on employment access. The organization believes that the most sustainable pathway for human rights in the community is to utilize business as the foundation for stability for all LGBTQ+ people, everywhere. For more information on Mossier, visit www.mossier.org. 

The Mill City Times Interview: Jesse Roesler, Local Emmy and James Beard Award-winning Filmmaker

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Jesse Roesler

Jesse Roesler is an Emmy and James Beard award-winning filmmaker whose work has moved millions via SXSW, The Travel Channel and The New York Times. His debut feature film The Starfish Throwers was named “The Most Heartwarming Film of the Year” in 2015 by The Huffington Post. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons where he is Principal and Creative Director at the creative content studio Credo Nonfiction. We talked to him recently about his current projects and earliest inspirations.

Q:  Your company has been nominated for a 2020 James Beard Foundation Award. Congratulations! Can you tell us about the project? Is this your first James Beard award?

A:  Thank you! The project is called The Taste of Place, which celebrates the concept of terroir, which people often talk about with wine, but we are looking at food through that same lens. How do things like geography, climate and cultural traditions come together to create some of the most distinctive and delicious flavors on Earth? Which ones are in danger of disappearing and how can we protect them? In particular, the first episode of this series about Wild Rice received the nomination. This would be our second James Beard Award if we win. We received the award for Best Documentary in 2016 for our feature length film, The Starfish Throwers, which we’ve actually made free to stream on VIMEO during the pandemic. Here’s that link: https://vimeo.com/73092552. 

Jesse RoeslerQ:  Was this project for a client? Or an original work by Credo Nonfiction?

A:  This was an original work that began as we were launching Credo Nonfiction a few years back. It was a passion project for me personally that I was able to fund primarily with a McKnight Foundation Fellowship.

We have three more episodes nearing completion (that were filmed in Ecuador, Spain and the Faroe Islands) and are working on finding a distributor to help release those to the largest possible audience very soon. Here is the link to the series trailer. 

Q:  Who inspires or inspired you to be a storyteller?

A:  I got inspired early on to go into film from the works of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Amelie in particular. And my love for non-fiction comes from the great literary journalists like Joseph Mitchell and food writers like M.F.K. Fisher. I was also a huge fan of Charles Kuralt in journalism school. I love character-driven stories about people who have remained authentic and true to their sometimes-eccentric vision in an increasingly inauthentic and homogenized world. I also think storytelling and filmmaking’s highest function is to inspire others to return to their own unique potential (not what society tells them to be), which I believe in turn makes the world a more authentic, inspired place. These are the heroes of the stories I want to tell. 

Q:  Many of your films have focused on food or feeding those in need. How did you become interested in these topics?

A:  To me, food is this amazing container for so much of what interests me: history, anthropology, cultural studies and not to mention on the surface level, it’s a feast for all our senses! It’s an art form that tantalizes sight, smell, taste, touch, even sound (think of cracking into a crusty baguette). Food is also love and compassion - which are the themes we explore in The Starfish Throwers. I often show my affection through cooking for someone I love, and it can also be a form of therapy for the one doing the cooking. If I’m having a down day (as so many of us have recently), getting lost in knife work, building a fire, combining multiple ingredients to create what feels like alchemy - this brings me to a flow state and any troubles or negative thoughts I’d been having kind of melt away.

Q:  Did you grow up in Minnesota?

A:  I grew up next door in North Central Wisconsin in a town called Wausau. I came to the University of Minnesota and fell in love with the cities and remained a Minnesotan after graduating from the School of Journalism. 

Q:  What is your earliest food memory? Earliest memory of wanting to be a journalist?

A:  Shucking and eating freshly picked corn on the cob from the garden. Earliest memory of wanting to be a journalist: Seeing a rather poetic Charles Kuralt On The Road segment* about a man who still carved his own canoes by hand and realizing journalism could be an art from - and a cinematic one at that.

The Wild Harvest is a new foraging & cooking series.

Q:  Who is your customer?  

A:  We serve a broad range of brands, non-profits and publishers at Credo Nonfiction, but our sweet spot is creating non-fiction, story-driven content for brands who are self-publishing. We also have a specialty and wealth of experience in the food and outdoor lifestyle categories. We’re often working with marketers, advertisers, PR and communications professionals to craft stories that build emotional connections through first-person narratives - be it in video/film, audio or written/photo stories.

Q:  Do you script your films as well as direct and shoot them?

A:  We do script them, but this is often something we call “Scripted/Unscripted” since we work a lot with real people in the documentary space. We draft story outlines that contain key messages and structure but then draft questions that will allow our subjects to answer questions in their own words for maximum authenticity.

Q:  How do you find new business?

A:  We’ve been fortunate to have been recommended by many past and current clients to new ones. Beyond that we create a wealth of thought leadership content to help our prospective partners. The biggest example of this is our podcast Content That Moves in which I interview leaders in brand storytelling from some really amazing brands like REI, 3M and Hilton among others. Links to the podcast episodes can be found on our website or directly in Apple Podcasts.

Q:  How do you reinvigorate yourself if you feel stuck or unmotivated on a project?

A:  It’s funny. Sometimes the most seemingly unglamorous projects allow for the most creativity. How do you show people something they’ve seen hundreds of times before in a completely new way? This is a question we ask ourselves a lot. We also look to other art forms - painting, literature, great music for inspiration in our work.

Q:  What will you tell your two sons about choosing a career?

A:  I’ll tell them to pursue whatever lights the biggest fire in their belly and if they do that, the money will follow. It’s a simple phrase that’s become a bit of a cliché but I still think Joseph Campbell may have said it best when he said, “Follow your bliss.” In fact, I often refer to this passage of his to help keep me on my path:

“Are you going to go on the creative soul’s quest or are you going to pursue the life that only gives you security? Are you going to follow the star of your zeal of your own enthusiasm? Are you going to live the myth or is the myth going to live you?”

*Shared link is to a CBS news ‘look back’ at the earlier Kuralt report.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

FINNOVATION Lab + ImpactSKU Launch Virtual Program for Purpose Driven Start-Ups

Via a May 11 Press Release:

ImpactSKU Pivots to Virtual Program

Twin Cities 1st CPG Accelerator responds to COVID-19 with 6-week program

With COVID-19 creating an unprecedented situation, ImpactSKU is pivoting to a virtual program to give consumer packaged goods (CPG) startups a glimpse of the accelerator’s full program. Originally, ImpactSKU was scheduled to launch in June with a 12-week program covering key topics of importance to purpose-driven startups. Unfortunately, given the volatile market and uncertainty, the full program has been postponed until 2021.

But since ImpactSKU is a new program, the team didn’t want to ignore the founders and mentors who want to participate in the program. Instead, they created the ImpactSKU Preview Program, which will launch August 4th with 10 companies.

“We’ve had a great response from regional start-ups and mentors applying to be a part of our first cohort, and we wanted to offer them the opportunity to get a preview of the full accelerator,” said Connie Rutledge, CEO of FINNOVATION Lab and executive director of ImpactSKU. “With the Preview Program, participants will see why SKU has such a successful track record in accelerating the growth of CPG startups.”

The ImpactSKU Preview Program will include programming on such topics as Vision +Purpose, Market Validation + Positioning and Channel Strategy. Throughout the program, participants will have access to CPG experts. They also will develop pitches for the 2020 Showcase @ Twin Cities Startup Week.

ImpactSKU is for purpose-driven ventures with business models that support environmental sustainability, fair labor practices, ethical supply chains, and healthy communities. By focusing on social impact, we aim to support entrepreneurs who know that long term growth is based on business practices that protect the planet’s resources and nurture wellbeing for everyone.

ImpactSKU is a partnership between Austin-based SKU – the nation’s first CPG accelerator and FINNOVATION Lab, supported by two of Minnesota’s great CPG companies: The Stable and 301 Inc., General Mills venture-capital unit.

SKU has produced a wide variety of interesting and successful brands, including Siete Foods, EPIC Provisions, Mosie Baby and Austin Eastciders.  A 2016 Forbes magazine column identified SKU as one of the country’s top three accelerators. SKU has been a powerful catalyst in establishing Austin as a CPG powerhouse.  Companies in the SKU cohort receives a cash stipend upon graduation of the program and agree to provide SKU with equity.

Embracing the New Normal: City Council Member Lisa Goodman

By Lisa Goodman

Happy Friday to everyone. We made it through another week of the new normal in the City of Minneapolis and in our country and I hope everyone finds themselves healthy, happy and with their families of choice, if that’s possible. So many changes, so much uncertainty, yet so many have been able to figure out how to move forward as we progress into this next phase of attempting to stay safe and begin to reopen our community.

One of the things that has been hardest for me in the new normal is working from home. As an extrovert and someone who was always on the go, working from home has been hard and I am sure many of you can relate. Like so many I find myself alone in my home, eating meals alone, watching the news alone and not having my normal interactions, except with my dog. Thank goodness for Sadie. It can be difficult, and I definitely don’t like the feeling of isolation.

Like many I have adapted to the new reality of video interactions. I have learned to embrace the world of Skype, Zoom, Teams and GoTo meetings as this is how we are conducting city business and how I am able to continue representing you on the City Council and even “getting together” with friends, family and my faith community.

With the emergency declaration in place, we needed to restructure the City Council set up from a two-week cycle with seven (7) standing committees to a one-week cycle with two (2) main committees. This means we are also holding a City Council meeting every week instead of every two weeks. On Tuesday afternoon we have the Business, Inspections and Zoning (BIZ) committee, which I chair. The focus of this committee is economic development and zoning and planning related items. On Wednesday afternoon we have the Policy and Government Oversight (POGO) committee which handles all the other business items the council must address. Things are moving much faster now.

The City Clerk’s office worked diligently to put a system in place for us to conduct public hearings and that is now done with people calling in to offer testimony and comment on public agenda items. This new system will be in place for some time so we can continue to work from home and maintain property social distancing. The City workforce, except for first responders, are largely working from home and the City Coordinator reports this is working well and that our employees are feeling safe and being productive.

I long for the day when we can get back to working with each other in person, when neighborhood meetings and community events resume, and when the activities we took for granted before the pandemic return to normal and we can feel and be safe being around each other.

The new normal is an adjustment but it is a small price to pay for keeping our community healthy and safe. Be well friends, be in touch in you need anything and know that Patrick, Judy and I look forward to the day we can see you all again in person.

Fondly,

Lisa

The Winslow House

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Luxury and opulence were hard to come by along the riverfront during the early years of St. Anthony and Minneapolis. Even though many immigrants from the East Coast, Canada, and Europe were coming to this area, it was still very rugged. However, that would all soon change when St. Paulite James Winslow entered the hotel business.

As one of the first and most prominent hoteliers in the St. Paul-St. Anthony area, James Winslow had a keen eye for opportunity. After establishing a successful hotel at Seven Corners in St. Paul, also called The Winslow House, he looked to grow his business. Upon completion of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, the first bridge to span the Mississippi River, James Winslow bought a block of land in St. Anthony. Construction of the bigger and better Winslow House Hotel began in the spring of 1856 and was completed a year later in the spring on 1857.

1860 photo of the Winslow House taken from the west bank of the river, with the First Universalist Church, later Our Lady of Lourdes, to the left of the Winslow House.

Designed by architect Robert S. Alden, who also designed the first Hennepin County Courthouse and the Old Main building for the University of Minnesota, the five-story Winslow House was built using Nicollet Island limestone in the Colonial Revival style. It had 260 rooms, featured a ballroom, dining room, bar, billiards room, and bridal chambers, and was adorned with a cupola with a weathervane from Lyon, France of a trumpeting archangel Gabriel, a popular symbol of liberty found throughout America at the time. James Winslow even spent over $60,000, or over $1.5 million today, to furnish his new hotel. The Winslow House rivaled the great hotels of the East Coast and South.

Photo of the building taken in 1870.

Guests of the hotel were predominately from the South. With the help of Father Hennepin’s writings about his travels of the upper Mississippi, word of St. Anthony Falls and its beautiful surroundings made its way to the residents of the lower Mississippi well before Fort Snelling was even thought about. Because of this, southerners could not wait to board a riverboat and make the trek up the Mississippi to St. Paul where they would take horse drawn carriages to St. Anthony. During their stay, guests would frequently visit the chalybeate springs flowing out of bluffs near St. Anthony Falls that would eventually be home to Pettinghill’s Resort.

Guests playing croquetAs a result of the Winslow House’s popularity with southern tourists, abolitionist groups in St. Anthony did all they could to help the enslaved peoples who accompanied the tourists. The most famous of these accounts happened during the summer of 1860 when the Christmas family from the state of Mississippi paid a visit to the Winslow House with their slave, Eliza Winston.

When creating the state constitution in 1857, the writers banned slavery in Minnesota. This would normally dissuade southerners from visiting, but earlier that year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott, a former resident of Fort Snelling, which made it illegal for enslaved people to be freed for visiting or living in northern states. Local entrepreneurs and business owners also made it clear that they prioritized money over basic human rights. With the protection of capitalism, barbaric cultural norms, and the ruling of the Dred Scott case, southerners, like Col. Richard Christmas, flocked to the Winslow House.

Later during the summer of 1860, local abolitionists, led by former slave Emily Grey, filed a complaint with the sheriff of Hennepin County. The sheriff found the Christmases and took Eliza Winston to the county courthouse for a ruling. With the streets in front of the courthouse crowded with abolitionists, Judge Charles E. Vanderburgh, also an abolitionist, ruled in favor of Eliza Winston, who was then immediately freed. While this is one of the first cases of Minnesotans showing their kindness and commitment to helping those who are in need, the ruling scared away southern tourists and thus marked the downfall of the Winslow House. The last reservation in the hotel records was made only four months later on November 6th, 1860.

That following May, the furniture was sold, and the hotel was no more. Over the next two decades, the building would serve three more purposes. As the Civil War began, the building housed a “water-cure” business that quickly failed. After being bought by Charles Macalester, the building was rented out to Rev. Edward D. Neill who used it to house the Baldwin School. Charles Macalester would later deed the building to Rev. Neill and the trustees of the school, which later helped them establish Macalester College.

The last use of the old Winslow House building was as a medical facility, the Minnesota College Hospital. The hospital left the building in 1886 and it would soon be razed to make way for the Minneapolis Industrial Exposition Building. The weathervane that once stood atop the cupola was saved and put on top of the Exposition Building’s tower. The same weathervane would make its way into the Hennepin History Museum’s collection in 1946, and in 1999, it became, and still is, the museum’s logo.

Photo of the riverfront taken from on top of the Winslow House when it opened in 1857.

Even though the Winslow House building lasted only thirty years, it made an everlasting imprint on Minneapolis History. As the tallest building in the area, guests enjoyed spectacular views of St. Anthony Falls and the riverfront. The vantage point was so breathtaking that many photographs were also taken from on top of the building. Almost every single photo of Minneapolis taken from the east bank of the river during this time period was taken at the Winslow House, the city’s first taste of luxury.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Theater Latte Da's At Home Series: Bradley Greenwald

Reprinted with the permission of Theater Latté Da

Our At Home with... series this week features Bradley Greenwald who has graced our stages as Cyrano De Bergerac in C. (for which he also wrote the book and lyrics), Voltaire/Pangloss in Candide, and Frid in A Little Night Music.

Q:  Do you have a daily ritual that's keeping you grounded these days?

A:  I start every day the same: a French press pot of coffee and a slice of whatever I baked for breakfast; read the New York Times and do the crossword; peruse the local online news.  I go to Fox News and Breitbart as well— E. B. White wrote that in order to form your own solid opinion, you should read everything, even if you find it questionable; walk the beagles; feed the beagles; get the beagles to stop yelling so my husband, John, can sleep (a Sisyphean task).

Q:  What are you reading?

A:  Since the last preview of La Bohème in March: 

   Quichotte by Salman Rushdie

   A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley

   A biography of lyricist John La Touche

.

And next on the pile:

   The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

   The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

   The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer

.

Q:  Which work of art - a book, poem, painting, piece of music - provides some solace for you?

A:  John gave me The Complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson, a beautiful hardbound box set of all the daily comic strips. The first volume is set up on a library stand in a corner of the living room, and every day I read one strip. It takes a lot of discipline not to peek ahead, so that’s got to be a healthy thing. Just one strip, every day. I find it comforting that something I loved as a young adult remains timeless. Bill Watterson’s work is funny, gorgeous, inspired and naughty. That’s a Daily Solace.

Q:  What's your go-to, binge-watching TV series?

A:  Killing Eve

     Boardwalk Empire. I tell myself it’s research for the next Chronofon concert we’re putting together for Open Eye Theatre. (No, the concert’s not about Steve Buscemi.)

Q:  If you could throw a Fantasy Dinner Party (since that’s the only kind of dinner party we can throw right now!) who would be on the guest list?

A:  My sister Kathy, and brothers Gary and Dan. I can’t remember the last time we were all together. Really. It’s been decades. We’re all that’s left of the family now, it would mean a lot to me. And it would mean the world to my sister.

Q:  What are you doing to feel creative or productive during this time?

A:  Steve Epp and I are working through Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi for Latté Da, writing a new English libretto and creating an extended prologue before Puccini’s one-act kicks in. We’re doing it by Zoom. We’re Zooming. Is that a verb now? I guess it is. Should it be capitalized? I capitalized it. Also, Dan Chouinard, Prudence Johnson, Diana Grasselli and I are also Zooming weekly for the aforementioned Chronofon show, something about the early 1920s in Minnesota and the world— radio, Prohibition, the 19th Amendment, etc., all celebrating their centenaries.

And gardening. Gardening is my therapy. Since the lockdown, and since spring has sprung, I work everyday out there to get exhausted enough to want to fall asleep at night. It’s an empty canvas that I’m not masterful at painting yet, but I do it anyway because when I sit down at the patio table I see proof of the day’s labor. You don’t get that as a performer. Your work dissipates into the ether as soon as it’s exhaled. I need the garden. And the beagles need to destroy it, but that’s part of the whole trip. When they dig up a shrub or trample the life out of a perennial, it’s just another invitation to start something new.

Q:  What's a theater production you've seen that you wish you could stream right now?

A:  You know, I thought long and hard about this one, and I came up with nothing. I just don’t enjoy watching a production on a screen the way I do in the theater. I have a long list of personally meaningful productions in my mind, and that’s where I’ll keep them, and stream them.

Q:  Are you cooking? Do you have a favorite recipe to share?

A:  Yes, choquettes! Here’s a recipe!

The Triplets of Belleville is one of my favorite movies, and John came across Sylvain Chomet’s only live-action film — Attila Marcel. Delightful. The hero constantly eats choquettes— little balls of pastry sprinkled with pearl sugar. They’re not sweety-sweet, just a tasty little treat to have with a cup of coffee.

Q:  Of the roles you've played at Theater Latté Da, which is your favorite?

A:  Latté Da tells their stories beautifully, every time, but my favorite is the staged concert of Candide we did last spring with Philip Brunelle and VocalEssence. It’s on my short list of productions I’m immensely grateful to have been a part of.

Q:  Would you share a quote that's especially meaningful to you?

A:  There’s so much to worry about, and the coming reality is a scary thing to contemplate, so I don’t. I guess it’s all about a single day. I get up in the morning, and there’s just the day ahead. There must be something good in that for me, because I have found nothing to complain about, really. I’m actually quietly content, bordering on something that Joseph Campbell might call bliss:

“If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.”

― Joseph Campbell, author of The Power of Myth

Q:  Since this is the At Home with... series, do you have a favorite spot in your home? Would you be willing to take a picture of it that we could share?

A:  In my therapy room.

North Loop News

Via a May 8 e-newsletter from the North Loop Neighborhood Association:

Despite the continuing disruptions caused by COVID-19, we're seeing many positive developments in the North Loop. Here are a few things happening in the coming days.

We've added another pop-up neighborhood cleaning for Saturday. All who join us outside Corner Coffee at 9:00 AM will get a $5 gift card plus bags and gloves.

We have about 170 new trees in the North Loop that need to be watered. (And dog owners: please steer your pets away from them.) To learn about our Adopt A Tree watering program, click here.

Thanks to all who kept the pressure on the city, we now have new stop signs on 2nd St at 5th Ave. More "traffic calming" measures are also under consideration according to our city council representative, Steve Fletcher.

Tend the Demonstration Prairie on Nicollet Island with Friends of the Mississippi River, June 11

Photo by Tom Reiter for FMR

Tend the Demonstration Prairie on Nicollet Island

Thursday, June 11, 2020 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Last year, Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) volunteers planted over 600 native prairie plants in the demonstration prairie boxes on Nicollet Island. Along with adding pollinator habitat and beauty to the island, these boxes are educational. Identification plaques give park visitors the chance to learn more about the stunning array of species coming up throughout the restored prairies on the island.

However, the boxes need upkeep and tending! Join us this June to work in the demonstration prairie to ensure that this resource is providing everything it can for the human and wildlife communities on Nicollet Island. Volunteers will also help pull garlic mustard and other invasive plants from forested areas where buckthorn was recently removed. 

FMR is leading a multi-year restoration of the natural areas on the north half of the island in partnership with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. The restoration plan includes the removal of invasive species, enhancement of degraded forest areas, and the creation of new, diverse habitat, including two acres of native prairie and the re-creation of a pocket of maple forest historically present on the island.

All are welcome. No experience is needed; however, registration is required and capacity is limited. All tools, gloves and training will be provided.

Ready to register?

To sign up and receive directions to the meeting spot, contact FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey at sdowney@fmr.org, 651.222.2193 x27. Please include the name of the event, your name, address, phone number and the number in your party.

You will receive a confirmation email from sdowney@fmr.org within two business days. (If you don't, please check your Spam or Promotions folder.)

If you're under 18 and interested in volunteering without the company of your parent or guardian, please take a moment and have them fill out this brief minor permission form.

To maintain social distancing, our events will be smaller than usual. Please register right away if you are interested. Once the event is full, we will start a waitlist, and any spots that open up will be offered on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Can't make it?

To receive notices of future volunteer events, contact FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey at sdowney@fmr.org, or by selecting Sophie by name under "Category" via the FMR contact form. Or, visit our events calendar for our most up-to-date listing of upcoming events. To receive a twice-a-month e-newsletter including all FMR activities and news, sign up for Mississippi Messages.

What about coronavirus?

We're watching the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines closely. If plans change based on their recommendations, FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey will email registrants with event updates. (Be sure to add sdowney@fmr.org to your contacts so updates don't land in spam.) And we'll update this page if anything changes.

If this event does proceed as planned, it is unlikely we will have masks but we'll continue to offer gloves and hand sanitizer.

Partners: 

Thank you to our partners and funders: Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Friends of the Riverfront, BNSF Foundation, Coca-Cola, Hennepin County, RBC Wealth Management and Xcel Energy.

Mpls Downtown Improvement District Launches Cloth Mask Drive for People Living in Vulnerable Settings in Downtown Minneapolis

Mpls DID Cloth Mask Drive, May 7 through May 31

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) today launched a cloth mask drive aimed to provide masks for people living in vulnerable settings in downtown Minneapolis.

Masks are a basic need during this pandemic, and the goal of this drive is to help those in need have access to this important resource. DID will gather donated masks and distribute them to project partners at emergency shelters and congregate care facilities. More than 3,000 masks are needed to meet existing needs of residents and staff at these facilities.

To help meet this goal, DID will source and distribute 500 cloth face masks directly to people in need on the streets of downtown through its Livability Team. The organization already purchased 300 masks from vendors at the Nicollet Makers Market to get started toward the goal.

The public is encouraged to create or purchase cloth masks and donate them to those in need through this drive to meet that 3,000 mask goal. The dropoff is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day at the Minneapolis Fire Department’s Fire Station No. 1.

To donate masks in person: Mpls Fire Department Fire Station No. 1 (530 S 3rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415)

To donate masks by mail: Mpls Downtown Improvement District (1030 S 3rd Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404)

JAZZ FEST LIVE Fills a Void During the Pandemic - Starting Tonight, May 7!

Via a May 7 e-announcement:

COVID-19 has impacted everyone and we are disappointed that jazz fans will not gather in Mears Park this summer. Twin Cities Jazz Festival Executive Director Steve Heckler has embraced technology and added a series of free jazz concerts – streamed weekly on Thursday nights via crowdcast.com. JAZZ FEST LIVE has been a welcome diversion for music lovers from across the nation. The artists are paid for their performances.

The online platform (Crowdcast) is used to share live performances Thursdays at 7:00 pm CDT.

“We were full steam ahead for Jazz Fest 2020 until the impact of COVID-19 began to effect our plans. We could not safely gather our fans in Lowertown,” Heckler said. “We took a look at some pretty new technology that allows us stream live jazz concerts into the homes of music lovers across the world. With the support of our generous sponsors and funders, we made the series a reality.”

The concerts are also streamed live on the Twin Cities Jazz Fest’s Facebook page.

Heckler has the next couple of weeks booked with regional and national artists:

Thursday, May 7 @ 7:00 p.m. Minnesota’s own Sam Miltich live from his home in northern Minnesota

Thursday, May 14 @ 7:00 p.m. Local duo Jennifer Grimm and Joe Cruz

Thursday, May 21 @ 7:00 p.m. 19 year old jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker live from his home in New Jersey

Jazz fans can register for upcoming concerts via this channel https://www.crowdcast.io/tcjazzfestival. It’s simple and free!

JAZZ FEST LIVE is presented by AARP Minnesota and supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board, St. Paul Cultural STAR, HIWAY Federal Credit Union, JAZZ88 and by music lovers who support live jazz.

Emergency Rental Assistance Available

Via a May 6 e-announcement from Hennepin County:

Emergency Rental Assistance

At their meeting yesterday, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved $15 million for emergency rental assistance for low-income residents throughout Hennepin County.

Low-income households and households of color have been disproportionately impacted by the economic consequences of COVID-19. Many low-income renter households are working in the industries that have lost the most jobs due to COVID-19. To address these disparities, funds will be targeted to renters with incomes below 50 percent of the area median income.

This funding is expected to help 9,000 low-income Hennepin County residents maintain stable housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more and apply

Doug Verdier's Early May Water Works Photos

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.

With warmer weather, much progress is being made on construction of Water Works Park from end to end, both inside the pavilion and throughout the landscape. The scene changes almost daily. Large cranes put pre-cast concrete elements into place in multiple places, and it is becoming easier to visualize what the area will look like in several more months. Photos below were taken over the course of a week in early May.

Above, the former Columbia Mill foundation and lower walls have been stabilized, and the foundation has been refilled with dirt and sand prior to turning the area into a grassy space next to the pavilion underway (green walls). Previously, this area was a gravel parking lot across the street from RiverWest condo.

Interior framing underway in what will become the Sioux Chef restaurant on the 2nd level of the pavilion.

Restoration of exterior walls of former Occidental Mill takes patience and a good eye to get stones of proper size and fit in place. Seen from 1st Street.

Trenching along West River Parkway in preparation for continuing placement of stormwater capture and drainage system.

Part of the stormwater system in place. It will be covered when the line is complete.

Poured concrete walls that will be part of the edge of a sloping tree and grass-filled outdoor area overlooking a promenade below. 

Teams of masonry workers in yellow vests restoring the existing walls of the Occidental Mill that will be part of the uphill side of the sloping landscaped overlook.

Excavation in general area of the future woonerf beneath the bridge on 1st Street.

View of the excavation and placement of stormwater system in future woonerf location. Plans call for a play area to be constructed in this general area next to a walkway leading down to lower level of the park. Photo taken from the bridge on 1st Street.

Cranes are a common sight these days as pre-cast concrete slabs are hoisted into place at a variety of locations within the park area. 

Workers positioning concrete slab near newly constructed stairs next to the pavilion. The area in this photo will be known as the South Plaza.

Workers positioning concrete slab near newly constructed stairs next to the pavilion.

Save Twin Cities Eats: New Online Platform Connects Consumers with Local Food and Culinary Experiences

Article by Becky Fillinger

Save Twin Cities Eats, an extension of the Save the Eats movement, is being led by Vasiliki Papanikolopoulos. She grew up in South Minneapolis and is an advocate for local businesses. The local program launched on Sunday, May 3rd. “#SaveTwinCitiesEats was born out of a vision to showcase chefs and restaurants to the community – perhaps presenting their offerings in novel ways,” says Papanikolopoulos. The digital hub is currently operating unique sites in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, New York City, and now the Twin Cities.

What is it? It is a space for restaurants, bars and foodies to come together to offer and purchase unique culinary experiences (think tours, private dinner parties, high teas) and take-home dining opportunities to supply restaurants with critical revenue now. Save Twin Cities Eats takes no money - it is a completely volunteer movement to help our restaurants survive. 

To date, outreach to restaurants has been handled primarily by Jametta Raspberry of House of Gristle and Andrew Zimmern. Here are the next steps to take:

Restaurants - Get Listed

• Post culinary & beverage experiences & offers that can be redeemed later
• Post take-home dining options to be redeemed now
• Come back and make more than one offer. Update & create new offers frequently.
• Vasiliki will work with you to be creative in your offers. 

Customers -

Recruit your restaurants to Get Listed. Be a good community member and link/promote #SaveTwinCitiesEats and @SaveTwinCitiesEats in your social. 
 
We'll be covering the developments and stories along the way with Save Twin Cities Eats, follow us at EatMPLS to stay close.

Celebrating Minneapolis and the ‘Spirit of Travel’ During National Travel and Tourism Week

Via a May 4 Press Release from Meet Minneapolis:

Meet Minneapolis is Using 37th NTTW (May 3-9) to Prepare for the Return of Travel

Even as Minnesotans do their part and stay home during the pandemic, the “Spirit of Travel” is alive and well. This week marks National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) and Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitors Association, will spend the next six days encouraging enthusiasts to take part in the virtual activities. Kicking off yesterday with the “Minneapolis at Home Starter Kit” and the first Instagram story “question of the day,” the week will feature a virtual road trip, trivia, a twist on #TakeoutTuesday, ways to enjoy a fun-filled Minneapolis “night in” and more. It’s part of a larger effort to help the greater community support local businesses and attractions through the organization’s Experience Minneapolis From Home while people are unable to travel at this time.

To keep Minneapolis top-of-mind as a destination for future travel, Meet Minneapolis offers armchair travelers a variety of opportunities to join in the fun throughout NTTW:

• May 4: Participate in virtual Minneapolis trivia with @MeetMinneapolis on Twitter and respond to the Instagram story question of the day: What is your favorite outdoor activity in Minneapolis?
• May 5: Take part in #TakeoutTuesday by grabbing a bite from a Minneapolis restaurant and sharing photos (tag @MeetMinneapolis or #MeetMPLS. Plus, join the NTTW #VirtualRoadTrip from Washington, D.C., to California in 12 hours, “stopping” in Minnesota at 4:30 p.m.
• May 6: Watch the latest Minneapolis video and answer the question of the day (What is your favorite way to enjoy the arts in Minneapolis?). Then get Experience Minneapolis From Home Zoom backgrounds, local brews and cocktail kits ready, and schedule your own Virtual Happy Hour for Friday, May 8 that supports local businesses and your friends’ wellbeing
• May 7: Use your social account of choice and share your favorite Minneapolis travel memory on #ThrowbackThursday, and answer the question of the day: What is your favorite place to shop in Minneapolis?
• May 8: Fire up your scheduled Minneapolis Virtual Happy Hour between 4 and 8 p.m. and be sure to tag #WeGotThisMPLS on social posts of your group, plus answer the question of the day: What is your favorite brewery in Minneapolis?
• May 9: Get comfy for a Minneapolis Night In with Meet Minneapolis’ themed online puzzles, DIY art or science projects, Minneapolis music on Spotify, and all the best suggestions for delivery or takeout to enjoy at home

“There’s no doubt this has been an incredibly challenging time, but we see National Travel and Tourism Week as an opportunity to remind future visitors and our residents of the incredible spirit and resiliency of the travel industry and our workforce,” said Melvin Tennant, President and CEO, Meet Minneapolis. “It’s only a matter of time before we all get moving again. We want visitors to know that we’ll be ready when you’re ready to travel.”

A major focus for Meet Minneapolis during the COVID-19 crisis has been working to support the hospitality community and local businesses, as well as lifting up the local community throughout the say-at-home period with its Experience Minneapolis From Home offerings. Along with these efforts, Meet Minneapolis continues to prepare for the return of travel by promoting and selling the city for future conventions, meetings and sports events, such as the recently announced 2021 National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Championships.

Additionally, in an effort to show solidarity in the tourism industry in the Midwest, Meet Minneapolis has joined forces with Catch Des Moines, Visit KC, Experience Sioux Falls and Visit Omaha, during NTTW, to rally around each other’s virtual experiences with links to one another’s websites and social media promotion. Once restrictions are lifted, domestic travel and road trips are expected to be the first phase of the travel industry’s recovery. When the time is right, the travel and tourism industry will be integral to our nation’s recovery—for the economy and American jobs. But it is the #SpiritofTravel that will heal our country’s morale.

Celebrated annually the first full week in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to underscore the economic power of travel in the U.S. The 37^th NTTW (May 3-9) arrives at an opportune moment to unite the industry, celebrate its indomitable spirit and elevate the role it will play in America’s economic recovery. Visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about the week and tag #NTTW20 and #SpiritofTravel on social posts.

The Mill City Times Interview: Enkhbileg “Billy” Tserenbat of Billy Sushi

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provide by Billy Tserenbat

Billy has been a fixture in the Twin Cities food scene for over 20 years. He is opening a new restaurant, Billy Sushi, this week in the North Loop. We talked to him about his life in his native Mongolia, his career choices and approach to life.

Q:  Tell me about your family and childhood in Mongolia.

A:  We grew up in the city but my grandma lived in the countryside. I lived with her every summer. Grandma lived in a ger, and her warmth and hospitality was typical of all Mongolians. Strangers were welcome to share a meal with us. I think these early life summer experiences were instrumental in how I approach my life and customers today. My father was a geologist. My mother worked for the Ministry of Geodesy and Geography. Mongolia is called Mine-golia – copper, gold and coal mining is booming. There was an expectation that I would also be a geologist. I came to the US as a science student but veered off that track. I have three brothers and they are all still in Mongolia. I used to speak four languages (Mongolian, Russian, English and Japanese) now just English and Mongolian. My dad always said that when you work hard, there will be someone willing to help you. Keep working and studying and stay current. Those life lessons have been true for me.

Mongolian ger

Q:  Why food and restaurants for you as a career?

A:  Let’s just say life’s lessons. The short version is that back when I was studying geology in San Francisco, I had a roommate who borrowed money from me and ran away. So, I had to work and make pocket money to pay my bills. Luckily, I learned to be become a sushi chef and it was the best thing to happen to me. When my friend ran away with my money, I thought it was the worst thing that someone could do. It led me to my future.

Q:  When did you arrive in Minnesota? Did you immediately start to work in the food industry?

A: I think that I arrived in Minnesota in early 2000. A friend recommended that I move here. It snowed my first day in Minnesota and I was in heaven! I had lived in San Francisco for a few years and in some Pacific Rim climates and I was very tired of hot weather. I started working at Yumi’s Sushi Bar in Excelsior. I never attended a formal culinary school, but I had the greatest teachers who were willing to teach me the foundations of Japanese cuisine.

Q:  When did you open your first restaurant in Minnesota?

A:  Our Sushi Fix food truck was opened in 2012 in downtown Minneapolis. This brought national attention to Minneapolis and our foodie scene. At that time, no one was doing edo style sushi (nigiri) on a food truck. We were the very first in the nation. People used to fly in from all over the country to see what we were doing. There were people who said that sushi from a truck was a very wrong ‘thing’. Well, we had a flock of folks standing outside of our truck fighting for our sushi and choosing our food compared to another greasy hamburger. We knew exactly what we were doing and we’re still the best at it. Then that following year we opened Sushi Fix restaurant in Wayzata.

Q:  How many restaurants do you currently own?

A:  Currently Baja Haus in Wayzata and Billy Sushi, in the North Loop, which will open in the next week.

Q:  Why open a sushi restaurant in the North Loop at this time? Did you do research that there was still room in the market for another restaurant?

A:  Yes, there is plenty of room for a new sushi restaurant in the North Loop. Each place does it with their own distinctive twist. For example, there are ninety-nine different ways to write “sushi” in the Japanese script of kanji. Each has its own unique interpretation and meaning. We chose 寿司 to best represent Billy Sushi, which is translated as celebration of fish! I’m not competing with any of the current restaurants – hopefully we’ll just bring more people out who want to eat delicious Japanese food and have a great time.  Billy Sushi will be one of a kind, I guarantee it.

Q:  Do you mentor young chefs or other entrepreneurs?

A:  That’s where my strength is, sharing my knowledge and inspiration to younger generations. What’s the point of knowing something if you can’t share your wealth of knowledge? If anyone wants to learn about sushi, Billy Sushi’s door is always open for you. 

Q:  Everyone describes you as enthusiastic and optimistic. How do you maintain your enthusiasm?  

A: You absolutely must have a ‘dream’. When you have a dream, you learn to set goals and the goals drive you to accomplish where you want to go in life. It has worked for me for every new venture. The time and events between the dream and realizing the goal are a roller coaster ride. Of course, I have the support of my wife – a partner that allows me to chase my dreams and understand me so well.  

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not working?

A:  I don’t know...Betty White once said: "Drinking and drinking can be a hobby, right?" Just hanging out with my wife, son, daughter and dog Sengee is how I love to spend my time away from the restaurants. 

Q:  What menu item do you want people to try?

A:  How about the George Clooney Roll? It was invented by our friend Thad. It has real snow crab, avocado and shrimp tempura, wrapped in soy paper and topped with tuna, jalapeno, wasabi mayo and unagi sauce.

Q:  How do you gather customer feedback?

A:  With their smile, we gather all our customer feedback. That’s the difference between Sushi vs other foods. We say “Enjoy Sushi Our Way, Walk with Smile.” 

Q:  What menu items will you have during the shutdown?

A:  We will definitely have to adjust our menu at Billy Sushi. Please check our Facebook and website, or call 612-886-1783, for the latest offerings. I will select items that will make you smile at home. Itaakimasu!

Billy Sushi is located at 116 N First Avenue.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

April 2020 by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

The Northrup King Building May Newsletter

Virtual Events and Building Updates

We are proud to share that virtual art opportunities through the Northrup King Building artists continue! Read below about Art Sprawl: Mother's Day Edition and the upcoming Online Art-A-Whirl®. 

The Northrup King Building team has made the difficult decision to postpone all on-site events for the next few months, and likely through summer. Please continue to reference our website and/or our Facebook page before finalizing plans to visit.

Art Sprawl: Mother's Day Edition

Image: detail from Good Morning, by Dyan J. Padgett Fine Art

The Virtual Art Sprawl Continues!

Northrup King Building artists continue slinging art via their virtual Art Sprawl, and this time it's with Mother's Day in mind. 

Participation is easy! Head on over to the Facebook event to follow along and find the perfect gift for the moms in your life. Northrup King Building artists share available works, priced at or under $300, and you, the collectors, are able to claim that work and have it shipped to you.

Full event details are listed in the "About" section, and you can peruse available art via the the event "Discussion."

Have a question about a piece? Comment on the photo and we'll get you in touch with the artists.
Don't see exactly what you're looking for? We can help get you in touch with an artist & make your dreams come true.

This particular virtual Art Sprawl runs through May 9, 2020. Art is routinely added to the selection, so return again and again to the discussion to find the perfect piece!

Art-A-Whirl® Goes Online

NEMAA, the organizers of Art-A-Whirl® (the largest open studio tour in the country) is also pivoting their event to a virtual platform and Art-A-Whirl® Online is expected later this month. We're excited to see Northrup King Building artists participating in this new version of a beloved event!

Stay tuned for more updates regarding Art-A-Whirl® Online shortly. 

Looking to Connect with Creativity?

The Northrup King Building Facebook page and Instagram account are as active as ever - sharing lovely art updates from across our campus. 

Kolman & Pryor Gallery is posting virtual studio tours! 

Studio Pintura offers a lovely virtual experience of their juried exhibit, Floral Art Exhibition 2020.