Minneapolis Riverfront News
Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
Entries from October 1, 2016 - October 31, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 3:30PM
Scenes from the October 15 Mill City Farmers Market
Thank you to MCFM Sponsor Cynthia Froid and her team for the October 15 Ames Farm apple give away.
Cute boots, Holly Holt! :)
That bee looks familiar...
This little cutie was sure proud of her carrot from Stones Throw Urban Farm.
Music!
Homegrown Minneapolis was the October 15 Community Booth. It is a citywide initiative that brings together key partners from local government, area businesses, community organizations, non-profits and residents to build a healthy, local food system.
It's official - Dumpling & Strand (Noodlers at Large) is a Market hit! Definitely worth waiting in line for.
This week's Mill City Cooks Chef was Beth Jones. She always invites guests to come up for a close look at the recipe in progress.
I always feel like I'm getting a "high five" from the glass hand at the Barn Swallow Garden booth. :)
Milly the goat!
Civic Group Proposes Visitor and Interpretive Center for Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam
Via an October 14 Press Release from Friends of the Lock and Dam (FL&D):
MINNEAPOLIS—October 14, 2016—St. Anthony Falls created Minneapolis. Today, the falls are the center of a revitalized riverfront and a chain of riverfront parks and trails that attract over 2 million visitors a year across the Stone Arch Bridge.
A new civic organization, Friends of the Lock and Dam (FL&D) is proposing that the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, which was closed to navigation last year, be developed into a world-class visitor and interpretive center. However, this vision is threatened by a proposal to put a hydroelectric plant at the site, preempting other uses.
On Tuesday, FL&D filed a motion before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject a current proposal from Crown Hydro, LLC to build a hydroelectric plant at the Lock and Dam or at least order an environmental impact statement (EIS). The FERC environmental review of the Crown Hydro proposal is open to public comment until November 2.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a riverfront that is a destination landmark. It’s a site we hope to protect and preserve as a centerpiece for our community, for generations to come,” said Tom Fisher, the director of the Metropolitan Design Center at the University of Minnesota and an FL&D board member.
“If construction of the hydroelectric plant is allowed to proceed as proposed, it will negate the four decades of planning and redevelopment efforts by the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the National Park Service,” Fisher added.
The Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam is at the center of the Minneapolis riverfront area, adjacent to the iconic Stone Arch Bridge, and in the middle of an 800-acre stretch of the Mississippi designated as a National Register Historic District. In 1988, it became part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. Over the past 20 years, the surrounding area has seen over $2 billion in public and private development.
Since the mid-1990s, Crown Hydro has made multiple proposals to construct a power plant on or near the site. In 2005, after a failed attempt to obtain a license, Crown Hydro unsuccessfully sought FERC’s help to take the parkland by eminent domain. These proposals have been strongly opposed by the City of Minneapolis, the National Park Service and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, as well as hundreds of neighborhood residents. Concerns have focused on loss of historic and cultural values, preclusion of public recreation and river access, and noise and vibration impacts from the plant’s industrial operations.
Friends of the Lock and Dam was formed to create a community-focused initiative to explore public uses of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, and to ensure that the proposed hydroelectric plant does not preempt future uses for the site.
“Crown made their proposal without communicating with the City, Park Board, National Park Service or the community,” said Paul Reyelts, a leader of the RiverFirst effort and president of FL&D. “It is at odds with the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan, adopted last year, which calls for use of the Lock and Dam as a focal point for visitors. It is simply the wrong use of this critical place.”
FL&D is asking FERC to order a full environmental impact statement (EIS) before further consideration of the Crown Hydro proposal, or to deny it outright as inconsistent with the broader environmental and public benefit requirements for a FERC license.
The FL&D plan, called “The Falls,” is a sweeping vision for the massive 400-foot-long lock and dam structure, designed to integrate with and complement the nearby Water Works Park and the Stone Arch Bridge. Construction of Water Works Park is scheduled to begin in 2018. FL&D has presented a preliminary concept design for The Falls that preserves the character-defining elements of the Upper Lock and adds the following amenities:
- A new 7,500-square-foot visitor center in collaboration with the National Park Service, the City and Park Board
- A 50,000-square-foot interpretive center
- A new one-acre park for events with public access to the Lock and Dam
- Below-grade parking for visitors
- Restaurant and event space
- Observation decks for 360-degree public viewing of the Falls, Stone Arch Bridge and skyline
- Canoe/kayak landing and portage and bike facilities
The estimated $45 million project would be funded through a new public-private partnership. Revenues from concessions, parking and events would be used for ongoing operation and programming. FL&D has already received a pledge of $5 million from a private donor for project planning and development costs. If approved, construction is estimated to begin in the 2021-2023 timeframe in sync with the riverside phase of Water Works Park.
About Friends of the Lock and Dam
Friends of the Lock and Dam is a nonprofit organization of Twin Cities’ citizens interested in Minneapolis’ riverfront preservation and development of riverfront public amenities. Its mission is to generate broad-based public discussion around the development of the Mississippi riverfront and to share a vision for repurposing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam as a public facility.
Street Closures for October 15 Zombie Pub Crawl
From the Minneapolis Police Department:
This Saturday will bring both Zombies and road closures to Downtown Minneapolis. Check out our Zombie Pub Crawl street closure map, so you can plan your way in and out of downtown accordingly.
Wells Fargo Minneapolis WinterSkate Opens November 25
The Minneapolis Downtown Council, in partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and Minneapolis SafeZone Collaborative, announced today that the Wells Fargo Minneapolis WinterSkate will offer free outdoor skating in Downtown Minneapolis this winter.
Wells Fargo Minneapolis WinterSkate will be located in Loring Park and will open on Friday, November 25. The skating rink is free and open to the public daily through the winter skating season.
“It is an exciting opportunity to ensure the Downtown Minneapolis community will have an outdoor skating rink this winter,” said Joe Ravens, Wells Fargo Minnesota Region President. “This partnership is a great way to bring our community together through one of our state’s longstanding traditions.”
The Warming House courtesy of CenterPoint Energy will be open daily during the following hours: Mondays-Fridays 3 pm – 9 pm, Saturdays 9 am – 9 pm, and Sundays 10 am – 6 pm. Hours will be extended by one hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during Holidazzle, which runs November 25-December 23. The warming house will also have special hours on December 24 (12 pm – 4 pm), December 25 (closed) and December 31-January 1 (12 pm – 6 pm).
Complimentary skates will be available during warming house hours on a first-come, first-served basis. Sizes and quantities may vary.
“Skating outdoors is such an important part of Minnesota winters, and we’re excited that Wells Fargo Minneapolis WinterSkate will be in downtown Minneapolis this winter,” said Leah Wong, Vice President of Events and Marketing, Minneapolis Downtown Council. “We’re excited for all who live, work, play and explore our downtown area to come out and create memories on the rink right here in the heart of our city.”
In addition to being open daily for public use, Wells Fargo Minneapolis WinterSkate will also host activities and programming throughout the year. More information will be announced throughout the winter season.
“Outdoor skating is a great winter addition to Loring Park,” said Jayne Miller, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Superintendent. “Our parks are a gathering place for people to come together, and what better way to congregate during the winter than a skating rink. We’re excited to welcome people to Loring Park this winter and enjoy their skating experience.”
For more information on Wells Fargo Minneapolis WinterSkate, visit www.downtownmpls.com/winterskate or follow @MplsDowntown on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #MplsWinterSkate.
Alma Cafe and Hotel Update + October 14 - 15 Events!
Via an October 12 e-newsletter from Restaurant Alma:
We have some news about our opening (and re-opening dates): Alma Cafe & Hotel will open on Friday, November 11th and Restaurant Alma will reopen on Friday, November 25th! We are putting some final touches on our online reservation system and will send an update out next week on how to reserve rooms at The Alma Hotel.
We are partnering with some friends to bring a taste of the Cafe outside of our walls. Read below to learn more about Cafe Alma at the Fulton taproom and the Northeast Farmers Market.
Alma at the Fulton Taproom!
We are excited to announce the launch of a series of pop-up cafes at the Fulton Taproom in October.
To kick off the series, on Friday, October 14th, from 4:30–9:30pm, Matti Sprague, Cafe Chef de Cuisine, will serve small dishes from our soon to open cafe menu. Fulton will be suggesting beer pairings to highlight Matti’s menu.
On Saturday, October 15th, between 5:00–9:30pm, Alma’s chef and owner Alex Roberts will join Matti in serving, and most definitely will enjoy a beer with guests. This will be an opportunity to talk directly with the faces of Alma about what’s to come with the cafe, restaurant and hotel.
Alma is hiring!
We are looking for good people to join our award winning culinary team in our newly built open kitchen.
If you are interested in becoming part of our team, send a cover letter and resume to Matti Sprague (matti@restaurantalma.com).
Bakery pop-up!
Carrie and her team are back in the kitchen (this time our brand new production kitchen) and they are baking again!
On Saturday, October 15th, they will be setting up a stand at the Northeast Farmers Market at St. Boniface Church. In addition to fresh baked tarts, we will have savory and sweet galettes, cookies and pies. Stop by between 9am–1pm to say hi, and to fill your shopping bags.
Northeast Farmers Market
St. Boniface Church Parking Lot
629 NE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55413
(corner of University Avenue & 7th Avenue NE)
Preserve Minneapolis Seeks New Board of Directors Members
Preserve Minneapolis looking for a few new members for their Board of Directors. There are a few skill sets they are particulary looking for (detailed below), but they'd love to hear from anyone passionate about preservation in Minneapolis, no matter your background.
To be considered, please send a letter of interest to Board Secretary Kelly Mastin (kmastin@millerdunwiddie.com) by November 1, 2016.
In your letter, please include comments regarding:
• Your interest and/or background in preservation in Minneapolis (or elsewhere)
• How you could help the board and the organization in its mission to improve the quality of life in Minneapolis by recognizing, preserving, and revitalizing the architectural and related cultural resources of the city of Minneapolis
• Special skills, experience, or interests (etc.) that you would contribute to the board
These positions are for a one-year term, with the possibility of a longer-term extension. The Board meets every other month, in addition to the annual meeting. View current Board of Directors.
Right now, they are seeking new board members (and volunteers - you don't need to be on the board!) with the following expertise:
• Website management (namely, experience with WordPress)
• Bookkeeping/accounting (to advise our treasurer)
• Video production (to assist with creating short videos about our tours and other events)
• Communications
Minneapolis Downtown Council To Honor 2025 Plan Leadership Awards Recipients At Annual Gala On Thursday, October 20
MINNEAPOLIS (October 11, 2016) — The Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) announced today the winners of its annual Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan Leadership Awards, all of whom will be honored at MDC’s Gala taking place Thursday, October 20 at Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot (225 South 3rd Avenue). The awards ceremony will begin at 7:30 pm.
The 2025 Plan Leadership Awards, now in their third year, celebrate individuals, organizations and initiatives that helped advance the 2025 Plan’s mission over the past year. The awards focus on specific efforts that fall under the six 2025 Plan committees focused on Development, Downtown Experience, Greening & Public Realm, Transportation, Ending Street Homelessness and Festival of Ideas (MiX). MDC also honors a group or initiative that made an exceptional impact on downtown through its 2025 Plan Impact Award.
“We have an exceptional network of people and businesses within our community that volunteer their time, talents and efforts toward helping us create a vibrant and extraordinary downtown,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District. “The 2025 Plan Leadership Awards are our way of saying thank you while honoring those that went above and beyond over the past year.”
This year’s 2025 Plan Leadership Awards recipients include:
- Development: University of Minnesota Task Force co-chaired by David Marquis and Paige Rickert
- Downtown Experience: Northbest: Ads of Minnesota in collaboration with Doug Spong & AdFed MN
- Greening & Public Realm: The Commons
- Transportation: Commissioner Charlie Zelle
- Ending Street Homelessness: YouthLink Peer Street Outreach Program
- Festival of Ideas (MiX): John Sweeney
- 2025 Plan Impact Award:
The Minneapolis Downtown Council issued a call for nominations for this year’s 2025 Plan Leadership Awards in August, asking its members, 2025 Plan committee leadership, volunteers, and the public to nominate individuals, organizations, or initiatives that have impacted the 2025 Plan’s 10 main goals over the past 12 months. Those nominations were compiled and one winner was selected for each of the six 2025 Plan committee areas.
The 2025 Plan Impact Award is an additional award given to recognize an individual or organization that has had significant impact and greatly advanced the 2025 Plan in several areas of its initiatives over the past year.
The University of Minnesota Task Force co-chaired by David Marquis and Paige Rickert focuses on the 2025 Plan’s mission to forge a strong connection with the U of M. This year, the task force worked on projects that helping connect university students and faculty with the downtown business community. In an effort to help our downtown community attract and retain top, up-coming talent, this task force delivered opportunities to accentuate shared objectives and points of connection between potential future employees and the local business community.
Northbest: Ads of Minnesota, a partnership between MDC, AdFed MN and The 2025 Plan’s Downtown Experience Committee, was a new event in 2016 that highlighted the local creative advertising community. The event took place at The Commons in downtown Minneapolis on October 4 and included a big screen that showcased a reel of locally made ads. Doug Spong chaired a curation committee, which also included Sue Crolick, Nancy Rice and Steve Wehrenberg. After a call for nominations, the curation committee received 138 advertisement submissions from 19 local agencies. They then selected the 27 best from the group. Northbest also included food trucks, local craft beer, lawn games and networking, and it led into AdFed MN’s Silver Medal Award presentation.
The Commons, a new 4.2-acre green space located on two city blocks in East Town, opened this summer and provides a new park for the downtown community. The Commons offers a place for people to take a break during the work day, a gathering and connection point, an entertainment destination and much more. The park was designed by Hargreaves Associates, and was a public and private collaborative effort. The Commons is open to the public but can also host events.
Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle has been a longtime supporter of transportation enhancement. Commissioner Zelle was appointed by MnDOT in 2012 and has served as a 2025 Plan volunteer since the plan was initially conceived in 2010. He has been an advocate and a supporter of enhanced transportation options in downtown Minneapolis and the surrounding region.
The YouthLink Peer Street Outreach Program is a collaborative effort that places youth outreach workers on the street throughout downtown Minneapolis in an effort to connect with and provide resources for youth ages 18 to 23 years old who are experiencing homelessness. The youth outreach workers all have a background of experiencing homelessness themselves. The program offers them a job that helps direct those in need to vital resources in the community. It also offers the youth outreach workers a scholarship to cover the cost of a class at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
John Sweeney of The Brave New Workshop has been a strong advocate and supporter for the innovation and community gathering nature of the Minneapolis Idea eXchange. He has a passion for putting a spotlight on innovation and solving challenges within our community. Over the past year Sweeney has provided a voice of directional leadership for MiX and is always willing to volunteer and help with upcoming MiX initiatives. This year, Sweeney and Brave New Workshop hosted MiX at their comedy theater and led insight and improvisational exercises to initiate conversation and develop ideas related to MiX’s topic of design thinking within the community.
U.S. Bank Stadium opened in July 2016. Securing the Minnesota Vikings’ new home in downtown Minneapolis was one of the 10 initiatives that the 2025 Plan laid out in 2010, and this goal became a reality when the gates opened this year. The Minneapolis Downtown Council will recognize the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, Minnesota Vikings, Mortenson Construction and U.S. Bank for their collaborative efforts in making this stadium a reality. Not only did it secure a venue that will host both major and daily events, but it also ushered in a wave of development in the East Town area that includes new office space, residential properties, greening, transportation amenities and overall neighborhood vibrancy.
This year’s Minneapolis Downtown Council Gala will include networking, dinner, updates on the 2025 Plan and musical entertainment. Registration is available through October 13 by visiting www.downtownmpls.com/2025awards.
Following the event, photos and logos will be available at www.downtownmpls.com/media. For more information on the Minneapolis Downtown Council Gala featuring the 2025 Plan Leadership Awards, follow @MplsDowntown on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or use the hashtag #2025Plan.
About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:
Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic central business associations in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The MDC’s collaborative developments of Intersections: 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 www.downtownmpls.com.
About the 2025 Plan:
The Downtown 2025 Plan is a vehicle to help leaders and citizens build on Downtown’s assets and guide its development in ways that reflect the community’s aspirations for a Downtown Minneapolis that is thriving, livable, green, connected and welcoming in the decades ahead. This includes initiatives to double downtown’s residential population, transform Nicollet Mall into a must-see destination, implement a Gateway area and other green elements throughout downtown, 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. The 2025 Plan is a Minneapolis Downtown Council initiative established in 2010.
Celebrating the Reconnecting of Franklin Avenue this Saturday, October 15
Celebrating the reconnecting of Franklin Avenue
WHAT: Bridging our communities – Reconnecting Franklin Avenue, a Franklin Avenue bridge community celebration.
WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 10:00am to Noon
WHERE: West end of the Franklin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis
ACTIVITIES: Starting at 10:30am, there will be speeches emceed by Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin.
Celebratory remarks will include Minnesota Department of Transportation, members of the state Legislature, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Prospect Park and Seward neighborhoods.
This will be followed by a ceremonial bike ride/pedestrian walk on the bridge to celebrate the new bridge deck’s separated on-road bike lanes, walkways and overlook nooks.
This event is open to the public.
RSVP: Contact Colin Cox at 612-596-7426 or colin.cox@hennepin.us. This will ensure that you have the proper access to parking and to the event.
The Skyway Senior Center at Risk of Closing
Article by Claudia Kittock, photos by Rick Kittock
In my ‘new’ life, I go to many meetings every week, meeting fascinating people from all over our city that do important work. I am in awe of the work they do, and listen intently so that I can learn what I don’t know and what I need to know. Several months ago, in a span of a few weeks, at least one person in each meeting told me I had to meet Sara Goodnough and visit the Skyway Senior Center. I decided not to question, but rather to just follow the directives. Why was I meeting Sara? What was I supposed to do after we met? I didn’t have answers to those questions, but I set up a meeting out of respect for the cumulative wisdom of the people who told me to ‘go’! I’m glad I did.
Have you ever wandered around the skyways? If you have, and have walked past Target, keep walking and around two more corners, you will find the Skyway Senior Center. It is a charming place, usually populated with a mix of senior citizens, chatting, reading newspapers, using the computers, and just hanging out.
When I found it, I met Mary Louise. She is 69 years old, a retired attorney who was married for 47 years to a man she calls “the one true love of my life”. They battled cancer together for 12 years, and when he died, she was confident she had prepared as best she could. What she couldn’t have planned for was the alone-ness. A life lived with a partner had suddenly become a life she didn’t recognize. Mary Louise tried many things to help with the feelings of being alone, and none seemed to help, until she discovered the Senior Center.
The Center is for people age 50 and over. Visitors tend to live alone, and/or are low income, some of whom are experiencing homelessness. On any given day, the visitors represent every demographic and social strata. Having a place to go, knowing other people will be there can have social and health benefits. There are 74 visitors a day on average, and in a year that can total well over 18,000 visits.
Mary Louise began coming in to have a cup of coffee. As she talked with others there, she found discussions with other people who had lost a spouse and also were grappling with the feelings and the sadness. She didn’t have to explain what she was feeling. Stopping in for a cup of coffee became a daily occurrence, and soon she was helping around the center. Mary Louise segued into volunteering there and is now an integral part of the center.
In addition to being a ‘hang out’ for seniors, the center offers over 600 structured activities and programs in a year, which averages to 2 ½ activities every day. During October of 2016, some of these activities include exercise classes, yoga classes, and seminars in planning health care in retirement, etc.
The Skyway Senior Center was founded in 2001 by a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Senior Citizen Advisory Committee to the Mayor and City Council, and Ryan Companies with support from the University of St. Thomas and Target Corporation. In 2010, The City of Minneapolis and UCare established a partnership with financial support from UCare. Augustana Care became a partial sponsor in 2015 through June, 2016. The Minneapolis Health Department provides oversight for the Center. In addition, the Friends of the Skyway Senior Center, an incorporated 501(c) (3) organization was established in 2003 to help support the Center.
While all of this is interesting, it is also cause for great concern. The future of the Skyway Senior Center is unknown at the time. The Friends of the Skyway Senior Center have generously been supporting the Center since April in absence of a sponsor and their funding will run out the end of this calendar year. Without financial support they will close. Help is needed, and quickly.
The Friends asks for your support with a generous contribution to their annual fundraising appeal so that the Center can continue into 2017 while more sustainable funding is sought. The Friends are a 501(c)(3)organization and gifts are tax-deductible. Supporters can contribute to the Friends of the Skyway Senior Center at: https://www.givemn.org/organization/the-friends-of-the-skyway-senior-center-incorporated.
This Center is important to so many people and it will not stay open without your help. Please contribute!
Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org
Friends of the Mill District Singers Update
Article by Claudia Kittock
The Friends of the Mill District Singers had a wonderful rehearsal at the Mill City Museum on October 8th. We are so grateful for the generosity of our neighbors. The MacPhail Center for Music, the American Academy of Neurology, the Guthrie Theater, First Covenant Church, and Mill City Museum have welcomed us into their buildings for our rehearsals, and we are so very grateful.
Photo credit - Eric Best
Next week is the last rehearsal in the first section of rehearsals. We will be back at MacPhail on October 15th, and will then have a break until November 12th. Our next group of rehearsals, November 12-December 17 will all be held at the Guthrie.
Please join us on October 15th. Bring your voices and spend 90 minutes singing and laughing. ALL are welcome!
Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org
Scenes from the October 8 Mill City Farmers Market
Plenty of hats, scarves and gloves at the October 8 Market.
Even the guitar picker had gloves on...
Okay, that is man-made ice - but it wasn't melting very fast!
Popcorn and peanuts from the Bean Market.
Can't wait to try this Black Garlic Puree!
Milly the goat!
What is ZeSa? Find Out Oct 14 at Their Grand Opening Celebration!
If you're looking to boost your workout repertoire, be sure to check out ZeSa Fitness during their October 14 Grand Opening Celebration. I've been taking a weekly ZeSa Power class with the lovely Cindy Vavra since late August and love it!
I've done weight training for years, and incorporating these "Activator" platforms has taken me to a new level. Grace and balance have never been my strong suit, so doing everything from curls to planks while keeping steady on an unstable, rotating surface is a welcome challenge. And it's fantastic how such small movements can get the heart rate up in mere seconds.
Shanti Rainey, creator of ZeSa, with Cindy Vavra, Partner and Studio Manager
Oct 9 Street Closures near US Bank Stadium for Vikings Game and the Twin Cities Marathon
The following parkways will be closed from 7:30am-2:00pm** for the Twin Cities Marathon:
Lake of the Isles Parkway (Left side of Lake)
Dean Parkway
W Lake Calhoun Parkway
William Berry Parkway
E Lake Harriet Parkway (Bandshell to Minnehaha Pkwy)
Minnehaha Parkway (Harriet to Godfrey Parkway)
Lake Nokomis Parkway
Godfrey Parkway
West River Parkway (Godfrey to Franklin Ave)
West River Parkway (Portland to 22nd Ave)
East River Parkway (14th Ave to Lake Street)
Route Map - CLICK HERE to review a detailed detour list of each intersection impacted by the Marathon on October 9. ** All street closings by the Stadium for the marathon will end by 9:00am.
Minneapolis closing streets near US Bank Stadium for Vikings game and the Twin Cities Marathon
The City of Minneapolis will close streets around U.S. Bank Stadium for Sunday’s Minnesota Vikings game, which starts at noon, and the start of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and Medtronic TC 10 Mile race, which happen at 8 a.m. and 7 a.m. respectively.
Street closings near the stadium for the marathon and 10-mile race
• Beginning at 5:00am Sunday:
◦ Sixth Street, from 11th Avenue to Hennepin Avenue.
◦ Portland Avenue, from Seventh Street South to Second Street South.
◦ Fourth Street, from Norm McGrew to Fifth Avenue South.
◦ Third Street South, from Chicago Avenue South to Fifth Avenue South.
◦ Park Avenue South, from Seventh Street South to Third Street South.
Street closings near the stadium for the Vikings game
• Beginning at 5:00am Sunday:
◦ Chicago Avenue, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.
• Beginning at 9:00am Sunday:
◦ Fourth Street, from Park Avenue to Interstate 35W.
◦ Norm McGrew Place, from Third Street to Fourth Street.
These street closings are for traffic safety and security needs related to a large event. Chicago Avenue, Fourth Street and Norm McGrew Place will reopen about one hour after the completion of the Vikings game.
Washington Avenue Reconstruction Project Update
Via an October e-newsletter from Hennepin County:
Crews began pouring new sidewalks on the north side of Washington Avenue this week between Hennepin and Second avenues. The new sidewalks will remain closed to pedestrian traffic as crews continue with other work behind the curb. The crosswalks at Hennepin and Marquette avenues have reopened.
These sidewalks are the first piece of what will be a greatly improved environment for pedestrians and bicyclists along Washington Avenue. Some other new features will include:
• Curb-separated bicycle lanes (also known as cycle tracks)
• Shorter pedestrian crossing distances at intersections
• Lantern-style lighting for pedestrians
• Street greening and landscaping
• New colored pavers between the cycle track and sidewalk
• Reprogrammed signals that give pedestrians and bicyclists a head start at intersections
In the coming week, crews will be busy:
• Digging tree pits and trenches for new enhanced landscaping
• Installing storm sewer, sanitary and watermain pipes at the intersection of Fifth Avenue
• Pouring the first portion of cycle track
• Installing curbs and gutters between Second and Third avenues
• Installing bases for new lighting fixtures
As work continues to progress, there are a few ongoing and upcoming traffic changes to consider when traveling in the area.
Second Avenue
There will continue to be some short-term lane reductions at Second Avenue while crews complete curbs and other work at the corners of the intersection. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction. This work is expected to be complete the week of October 17.
Third Avenue
There will be a minor lane adjustment at Third Avenue, as crews begin work in the northwest corner of the intersection. Two lanes of through traffic in each direction will be maintained for this portion of the work. This reduction is tentatively scheduled to occur the week of October 17, or once a northbound lane is opened at the Fifth Avenue intersection.
Fifth Avenue
Crews expect to open one northbound lane at the Fifth Avenue intersection by the end of next week, as they continue to work in the northwest portion of the intersection. They plan to fully reopen the intersection by the end of the month. However, this schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change. Motorists should continue to use the marked detour following Washington Avenue, Portland Avenue and Second Street. Please look for pedestrians crossing Washington on the east side of the intersection.
Award Winning A STRAY to be Screened by the Film Society of Mpls St. Paul Oct 14-27
Showing October 14-27, the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul presents the 2016 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival Award Winner - Best MN Made Narrative Feature, Musa Syeed’s (Valley of Saints) moving locally made drama A STRAY. Starring Barkhad Abdirahman (Captain Phillips) in a commanding lead performance, A STRAY brings the streets of Riverside Minneapolis and the struggles of a young Muslim immigrant to the big screen in this vivid and moving drama. Desperate to outrun his bad luck, a young Muslim refugee seems like he just might make it until he crosses paths with a stray dog.
Director Musa Syeed and members of the cast and crew will be attending screenings on Saturday, October 14 at 4:20 and 9:45pm — check the film’s webpage on mspfilm.org for additional updates.
MacPhail Announces 2016-2017 Spotlight Series Lineup
The MacPhail Spotlight Series showcases the exceptional talents of MacPhail teaching artists and special guests, providing an intimate listening experience in MacPhail’s state-of-the-art Antonello Hall.
Under the artistic direction of Mischa Santora, this premier performance event is brought to life with collaborations from some of the Twin Cities’ finest artists.
November 5, 2016: MacPhail Spotlight Series: Jefferson: An American in Paris
February 11, 2017: MacPhail Spotlight Series: Schubert: A love letter to Music
April 8, 2017: MacPhail Spotlight Series: From the Balkans to the Holy Land
May 6, 2017: MacPhail Spotlight Series: Music in the Wild
Vote For Your 2016 Mississippi Minute People's Choice Award Between Now and Noon on Oct 21
Voting is now open for the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership's Mississippi Minute Film Festival People's Choice Award. A panel of judges will rate most of the films and award honors in several categories, but the winner of the People’s Choice Award is determined by the general public. The film receiving the most votes by Noon on Friday, October 21, wins.
Using the below link, play each video, and if you like it, click the Like icon. It’s that simple! (If you prefer to Like, Love, Wow or Haha the post on Facebook itself, those will be counted, too.)
The winners will be announced during the annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival, October 24, at the Mill City Museum. Minneapolis City Council member Jacob Frey, a member of the board of the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership, will be the keynote speaker. Doors open at 5:30pm and program begins at 6:00pm. Come hear how the Mississippi River is an engine for change in our city.
What $2 Million Buys: Phoenix on the River
Rarely available corner residence at Phoenix on the River. Enjoy unobstructed Mississippi River and spectacular downtown skyline views. Highly efficient and thoughtfully designed floor plan featuring two bedroom suites and third bedroom/office, large recessed balcony, three parking stalls and private storage. The Phoenix is a world class building with unmatched amenities and services in one of the most desirable neighborhoods along the river.
3 bed | 3 bath | 3 parking | 2,740 sf | $2,195,000
One Year at the Loft: Executive Director Britt Udesen tackles some lofty issues
Article and photos by Susan Schaefer
Last year, as The Loft Literary Center turned 40, so did Minnesota native, Britt Udesen. Together, they shared a birthday and a merger of sorts as Udesen stepped into the very big shoes of her popular predecessor, Jocelyn Hale, as executive director of the nationally recognized literary center.
This is a year where much new blood has been infused into major Twin Cities’ cultural establishments, as with Sarah Rasmussen’s ascendency as artistic director at the Jungle Theater (see my Mill City Times’ profile from March 6, 2016) to Joseph Haj replacing Joe Dowling at the venerable Guthrie Theater. Taking over the top spot in any organization can be daunting, but particularly when the organization and the individual have enjoyed high profile status.
Loft executive director, Britt Udesen, flooded in sunlight
From her sundrenched corner office, a keffiyeh style scarf twined high around her neck, vintage black-rimmed banker’s eyewear propped on her youthful face, Udesen, who looks every bit the role of a cultural non-profit executive, shared reflections on her first year at the Loft’s helm.
“Taking over after Jocey was one of the more daunting parts of the job,” she admits. “She was an exemplary ED and a force in the community. One of the kindest things she did for me, and for the Loft, was to plan out her departure with both the staff and the board.”
Udesen, who was actively recruited for the job from the Cabin literary center in Boise, Idaho, was the Loft’s hands down winner in a wide-ranging search. Known for having encouraged collaborative programs with other artistic organizations during her two-and-a-half-year tenure at the Cabin, I suggest introducing her to Rasmussen, who embraces collaboration and actively seeks more diversity and inclusion in her dramatic work at the Jungle. She nods to the idea.
Speaking of inclusion and diversity, I’m curious as to how Udesen is going to tackle this thorny issue – diversification– that has dogged the Loft’s historic rarified base. Back in 1993, then-Loft program director Carolyn Holbrook quit, stating there were too many roadblocks to making the Loft more diverse. More recently Holbrook has acknowledged that the Loft has tried doing things better for diverse populations. In fact, she has returned to serve as a mentor.
Indeed, the Loft, with a budget of over $2 million, has a storied history forged over many years, dating back to the humble Dinkytown Book Loft over Marly Rusoff’s bookstore in the 1970s. It has hosted such luminaries as Robert Bly, Patricia Hampl and Garrison Keillor, among many others, enjoying a great reputation with world-class publishers and authors alike. Yet, this very provenance still causes some ‘elitist’ perception problems in an increasingly diverse literary scene. Udesen faces the challenge of serving the Loft’s core mission while opening its doors to the vibrant wider communities that have long since made the Twin Cities their home.
Udesen alludes to new programming that will address this critical gap, particularly by diversifying the teaching core. She echoes Holbrook who once stated that all organizations “have a culture and it takes time to change that culture.”
It’s not only the books that are dog-eared at the Loft!
Key to changing any culture begins internally. A first step, she states, is “that we need to break down perceived barriers between departments.” Her four-legged office companion, Lou Lou, resonates with this task, ever so slightly acknowledging the work ahead with a wag of a tail. (Support from all quarters, especially hindquarters, is always helpful!)
A resident of the Bancroft neighborhood, Udesen is re-embracing the Twin Cities she once called home. She grew up in a St. Paul suburb, and partly in Duluth, a place that obviously reaches deep into her core identity.
“Even when we lived in the Twin Cities, my dad, a Duluth native, made sure I was raised with a deep love of the North Shore and the north woods,” she notes. “Every possible weekend was spent outside, under pine trees. That has stuck with me and was certainly one of the things that drew me back to the area. There are few places I know where you can access incredible arts programming, great food, and a canoe trip or a ski trail within the same few miles.”
Having graduated from Macalester, she and her dog, cat and journalist husband Matt (mentioned in that order) have more than passing familiarity with the Cities – Matt, too, attended a few years at Eden Prairie High. But, they’ve spent many years in Idaho, and as in all transitions, they are still finding their way around.
“We've been pretty busy starting new work and finding a home, so neither of us have been able to ride our bikes, make art, or go fishing as much as we would like.” It’s no secret – Udesen is an avid fisher woman!
Yet, she says she is settling in nicely – hitting her stride at work and at play. Last February, she participated in the Art Shanty program with poet Julie Strand, “and loved it. Where else can you spend the month of February on a lake, with artists?” she beams.
With the critical first year under her belt I ask what other changes we might expect from the Loft.
“The Loft is at a very exciting moment in its history. We're headed into middle age as an organization and it's time for us to look at what we do well, what we could refresh, and how we can open the doors open even wider to invite in more readers and writers.”
She acknowledges that she and staff are “very excited about the challenges ahead and hope people will notice a difference,” emphasizing that their first priority is “putting literature at the center of conversations around big ideas, while of course, continuing to offer the amazing readings, classes, events, and programs that we've always done, but reimagining how these programs might feature new voices.”
Udesen, herself at middle age, nevertheless possesses that youthful vigor that we are seeing infused into leadership roles at many of the Twin Cities’ established cultural organizations. Such gusto is needed, and promises to invigorate a cultural landscape that otherwise could become a bit tired and musty.
Look for Udesen with trusty companion, Lou Lou, on their daily morning walks along Washington Avenue and say hello.
Susan Schaefer can be reached at susan@millcitymedia.org.
