WASTED! The Story of Food Waste - Oct 13-19 Screenings from the The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul

Coming October 13 - 19 from the The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul:

WASTED! The Story of Food Waste

Can you imagine if every time you opened your wallet, a third of your cash fell out - and you did nothing about it? Consider the fact that one-third of the food grown annually for human consumption is never eaten - for one reason or another, it ends up in the garbage. That’s $218 billion - or 1.3 billion tons - of food annually. In America, families chuck about 25% of the food and beverages they buy at a cost of $1,365 to $2,275 annually. Yet at the same time, 800 million people around the globe are starving. It’s a problem - but one with no shortage of solutions.

WASTED! The Story of Food Waste aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the the eyes of chef-heroes like Anthony Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system. WASTED! exposes the criminality of food waste and how it’s directly contributing to climate change and shows us how each of us can make small changes – all of them delicious – to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st Century.

Mpls Downtown Improvement District Announces 2017 Greening & Public Realm Award Winners

Via a September 28 News Release:

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District announced today its 8th annual Greening & Public Realm Award winners, a group that included six new winners among the 12 categories decided by an interactive public vote.

The Greening Awards aim to showcase greening efforts by organizations and companies that help beautify the downtown area through enhancing our urban landscape. This year’s first-time award winners [full list below] in this year’s categories are the 1010 Currie Mural by Bianca Pettis & Erin Sayer (which won two awards: Best Public Art and Best Public Realm Improvement), Best Small Activated Space (co-winners 100 Washington Square and North Loop Parklet), Best Large Green Space (Mill Ruins Park), Best Streetscape Green Infrastructure (Millwright) and Best Entryway Greening (Haskell’s).

Loring Greenway won a Greening Award for a record eighth straight year—tying with Mill Ruins Park for Best Large Green Space. The Local won its sixth Greening Award (Best Façade Greening), Brit’s Pub won its fifth (Best Outdoor Café), Loring Park won its third straight Best Neighborhood award, and The Commons won a Greening Award (Best Large Activated Space) for the second straight year since opening in 2016.

“We’re delighted to see five new winners joining our past award recipients, a sign that enhanced greening continues to be a prominent focus of downtown businesses, neighborhoods and organizations,” Mpls Downtown Improvement District President & CEO Steve Cramer said. “We thank everyone who helps create a more vibrant experience through adding to downtown’s beauty. Congratulations to this year’s winners on exceptional contributions to our city’s core.”

Winners will receive a commemorative Greening Award created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued.

The Mpls DID accepted public nominations for green spaces throughout August, and finalists were announced on August 24. Voting for finalists remained open through September 21.

The finalists, nominated by the public, were selected by members of the Mpls DID staff based on criteria including overall year-over-year enhancements as well as continued excellence in adding vibrancy to the public realm.

This year’s results include the following winners:

Small Activated Space
• 100 Washington Square* - 36.70%
• North Loop Parklet* - 36.70%
• Gethsemane Episcopal Church – 26.60%

Small Green Space
• 20 Washington Square – 45.29%
• Target Corp – South Entry – 39.97%
• American Academy of Neurology– 14.24%

Large Activated Space
• The Commons – 63.17%
• Hennepin County Government Center North & South Plazas – 21.57%
• Target Field Station – 15.25%

Large Green Space
• Loring Greenway – 33.65%
• Mill Ruins Park* - 33.65%
• Triangle Park – 17.06%
• Cancer Survivors Park – 15.65%

Façade Greening
• The Local – 55.48%
• JB Hudson Jewelers – 24.09%
• Capella Tower* - 20.49%

Public Art
• 1010 Currie Mural by Bianca Pettis and Erin Sayer* - 35.77%
• Orbicles by MINN_LAB* - 27.97%
• Hahn/Cock by Katharina Fritsch* - 22.93%
• Inside Out Project* - 13.33%

Outdoor Café
• Brit’s Pub – 38.01%
• Monte Carlo* - 27.41%
• McKinney Roe* - 20.55%
• HopCat* - 14.03%

Streetscape Greening
• Minneapolis Convention Center – 36.89%
• Maverick Apartments* - 27.55%
• Target Commons – 25.21%
• Rock Island Lofts – 10.35%

Streetscape Green Infrastructure
• Millwright* - 40.07%
• Walker Art Center* - 31.79%
• Hennepin & Lyndale Renovation* - 14.57%
• Machine Shop* - 13.58%

Entryway Greening
• Haskell’s* - 48.73%
• City Hall – 24.53%
• Textile Building* - 13.71%
• Zenith Condos* - 13.03%

Public Realm Improvement
• 1010 Currie Mural by Bianca Pettis & Erin Sayer* - 20.44%
• Walker Art Center Grounds Renovation* - 19.43%
• Millwright Building Streetscape* - 14.36%
• Government Center North Plaza Fountain Restoration* - 9.80%
• 100 Washington Square Renovation* - 8.61%
• Hennepin/Lyndale Renovation* - 7.09%
• HopCat Outdoor Café* - 5.41%
• Orbicles by MINN_LAB* - 4.22%
• Hahn/Cock by Katharina Fritsch* 3.38%
• Maverick Apartments Streetscape* - 2.70%
• McKinney Roe Outdoor Café* - 2.70%
• Inside Out Park* - 1.86%

Best Neighborhood
• Loring Park – 45.45%
• Downtown East – 26.78%
• Elliot Park – 12.07%
• Downtown West – 8.76%
• North Loop – 6.94%

* New Nominee in this category

For more information, visit www.mplsdid.com/greeningawards or log onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagram searching @MinneapolisDID.

About the Mpls Downtown Improvement District:

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

Romeo and Juliet at the Guthrie - Just Right for Date Night!

Here are some reviews of the Guthrie's production of Romeo and Juliet to pique your interest...

“Lusty, modern and free-spirited … gorgeous and stirring” - Star Tribune

“Worth seeing for the balcony scene alone” - City Pages

“Fresh, sexy and brilliantly directed … sizzles with energy” - Aisle Say

“Thrilling and action-packed” - Cherry and Spoon

A timeless tale of star-crossed lovers...

It’s a story so well-known it scarcely needs an introduction, yet surprisingly the Guthrie has produced it just twice before. Set in Verona where the rival houses of Capulet and Montague have had a long-standing feud, Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s famous tragedy of star-crossed lovers, filled with all the passion of young love. Underscored by ingenious wit and astonishing beauty, the play pits the bitterness of resentment against the intensity of romance.

Replacement of West River Parkway Wood Plank Trail begins September 29

Via a September 27 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

100-foot section of wood plank trail will be replaced over 2-3 weeks; parkway remains open

Work begins next week on a project that will replace an approximately 100-foot long section of the West River Parkway Wood Plank Trail. Construction is expected to take two to three weeks to complete.

Closures and Detours

• During construction, the north (river) side of West River Parkway Trail will be closed between Portland Avenue and 11th Avenue South. The parkway will remain open.
• Pedestrians will use a detour to the sidewalk across the parkway. 
• Bicyclists may choose to use the parkway or travel south one block and use the bike lane on Second Street.
• Motorists traveling in this area need to use caution and share the road with bicycle traffic.

Project Details

• Beginning at Portland Avenue, approximately 100 linear feet of planks will be replaced.
• The new planks are made from Douglas Fir, replacing the old White Oak planks.
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board maintenance and planning staff will evaluate the new plank design before replacing the entire plank trail, which will occur as funding becomes available.

Project History

• In 2003 this section of West River Parkway (between Portland and 11th Aves.) was converted to an oak plank road similar to the original plank road used during the area's milling heyday. 
• In 2010 the parkway planks were replaced by concrete due to deterioration of the wood and noise the planks created under the weight of motorized traffic.

In 2015 some of the most-deteriorated trail planks were replaced as part of a project that repaved and realigned more than three miles of West River Parkway Trail.

About this project

The West River Parkway Wood Plank Trail Replacement project will eventually replace all of the warped wooden planks on West River Parkway Trail near Mill Ruins Park.

Project Contact:
Julie Roessler
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Phone: 612-230-6463
Email: jroessler@minneapolisparks.org

October 1 Twin Cities Marathon Road Closures Starting at 7:30am

Sunday, October 1 - Twin Cities Marathon

Road Closures Starting at 7:30am

Impacted parkways listed below. To review a more detailed list of parkway closures and estimated timeline of re-opening per section of parkway, CLICK HERE.

Lake of the Isles Parkway (West side of Lake)
Dean Parkway
W Lake Calhoun Parkway (West side of Lake
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)

CLICK HERE to review a detailed detour list of each intersection impacted by the Marathon.

And remember - 35W south of Downtown will be closed both ways this weekend - plan accordingly!

Hennepin County Board Actions

Excerpts from a September 26 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

Thrivent Financial building purchase will consolidate operations

The board voted 5-2 to approve a purchase agreement for the Thrivent Financial building adjacent to the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.

Hennepin County plans to purchase the 18-story, 525,000-square-foot building for $55 million. The county also plans to acquire 332 parking stalls and skyway connections through a $11.5 agreement with Interstate Parking Company. The future parking lot will be built east of the Thrivent Building.

These actions will allow the county to address long-term space needs, consolidate operations and expand connections to other county buildings. Thrivent Financial's decision to sell the building also aligns with its goal of developing a new corporate center across 5th Avenue from its current location.

Hennepin County expects to close on the building purchase during the first quarter of 2018. The county will then lease the building back to Thrivent for two to three years while the company builds its new corporate center. After this time, Hennepin County staff will begin moving into the building.

Read more about these agreements.

- 

Federal Reserve Bank to purchase surplus land for $7.5 million

The board, voting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, approved the negotiation of a purchase agreement to sell approximately three acres of surplus property to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis for $7.5 million.  Located adjacent to the Federal Reserve office building, the property is currently being used as a surface parking lot. The Federal Reserve plans to develop the property to support its current operations.

Read more about this action.

-

Event slated to raise awareness on sex trafficking and domestic violence

The board approved a request to host a domestic violence and sex trafficking resource fair October 4 in the Hennepin County Government Center. This event will provide information regarding organizations and services available to the community. The Fourth Judicial District Hennepin County Family Violence Coordinating Council will host the fair from 11:30 - 1 p.m. on the skyway level of the Government Center. Following the fair, a panel discussion will take place in the A-level auditorium on the intersection between domestic violence and sex trafficking. For more information on the resource fair, contact Anne Taylor at Anne.Taylor@hennepin.us. For more information about the panel discussion, contact Michelle Jacobson at Michelle.Jacobson@minneapolismn.gov.

Read more about the event.

Metro Transit Fare Increases Begin October 1

Beginning Sunday, October 1, fares for all buses and trains will increase by 25¢. This affects all service operated by Metro Transit, the Metropolitan Council, Maple Grove Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Plymouth Metrolink and SouthWest Transit.

Cash fares                                                Current    New

Local (bus/rail) Off-Peak                              $1.75       $2.00
Local (bus/rail) Peak                                     $2.25       $2.50
Express bus Off-Peak                                     $2.25       $2.50
Express bus Peak                                            $3.00       $3.25
Senior/Youth/Medicare Off-Peak               $0.70       $1.00
Senior/Youth/Medicare Peak (local peak) $2.25       $2.50
Senior/Youth/Medicare Peak (express)     $3.00       $3.25
Limited Mobility (at all times)                      $0.75       $1.00
Downtown Zone                                              $0.50    No change

All Northstar fares will also increase by 25¢ on weekdays and weekends.

Metro Mobility prices will increase by 50¢ with an added distance-based surcharge. Transit Link fares will be restructured.

Pass prices will change accordingly. The 10% discount currently offered with stored value purchases will be eliminated.

For pass prices and other details related to the fare increase, visit https://www.metrotransit.org/fare-increase

Tonight: Final Tuesday Night Mill City Farmers Market at The Commons

Support the final day of the Tuesday Night Mill City Farmers Market of the season at The Commons!

Tonight at the Market:
• Beer & wine for sale from Day Block Brewing
• Free yoga class from 6-7 with YogaFit Studios Northeast
• Farm-to-table wood fired pizzas!
• Live music by Pat O’Loughlin at 5:30

Produce Planner: Apples, aronia berries, arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, celery,  collards, cucumbers, dried beans, eggplant, fresh herbs, garlic, grapes, green beans, kale, lettuce, microgreens, mushrooms, pears, peppers, radicchio, radishes, romanesco, onions, peppers, pumpkins, spinach, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatillos, tomatoes, winter squash (acorn, butternut, delicata, kabocha, spaghetti), zucchini and more!

Scenes from the September 23 Mill City Farmers Market

Burning River Farm is known for premium produce and artistic signage, and now they even have a mascot for their Dino kale! Just one example of fun little surprises you'll find any given Saturday at the Mill City Farmers Market. :D

September 23 was Oktoberfest at the Market, which wouldn't be complete without the Elk River German Band (the little ones love to dance along!) and hard cider from Sociable Cider Werks. Yum!

In keeping with the day's theme, Chef Beth Jones prepared Spätzle for the Mill City Cooks demo.

Terri Peterson Smith was at the Market promoting her book, Unique Eats and Eateries of the Twin Cities.

In spite of the unseasonably warm temps, Barn Swallow Garden was busy selling winter hats, mittens, slippers, etc. (Because anyone who lives in Minnesota knows today's 80 can easily turn into tomorrow's 50.)

Milly the goat!

Streets Closures Near US Bank Stadium for Sunday’s Vikings Game

The City of Minneapolis will close streets around US Bank Stadium for Sunday’s Minnesota Vikings game, which starts at noon. 

Beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, the City will close:
• Chicago Avenue, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.
• Norm McGrew Place from Third Street to Fourth Street.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, the City will close:
• Fourth Street from Park Avenue to Interstate 35W.

These street closings are for traffic safety and security needs related to a large stadium event. All streets will reopen about one hour after the completion of the game.

Metered spaces change for events
Prior to the game, metered parking spaces on streets surrounding U.S. Bank Stadium will switch from hourly rates to event rates. Starting at 9 a.m., event rate spaces will require a flat fee of $25, which will cover parking costs for the entire game. Anyone starting a parking session after 1 p.m. will use hourly rates. To find out which streets have event rate parking, please see the attached map or use the interactive parking meter map at www.minneapolismn.gov/parking.

All of the City’s parking pay stations and the MPLS Parking app on a smartphone (iPhone or Android device) will automatically charge the rate in effect. Drivers should follow all signed hours of enforcement, time limits and other parking restrictions. 

Nonprofit Spotlight: Uprising Theatre Company

Article by Claudia Kittock

Remember the 60s and the 70s? Remember political discussions that were about solving real life issues?  Remember being able to express your ideas and having them serve as part of an exchange that might actually yield tangible results? It sounds like a time long ago, but Shannon T.L. Kearns, founder of the Uprising Theatre Company wants that to happen again, through theater.

Five years ago, Shannon had just finished acting in a production of The Laramie Project, the play about the murder of Matthew Shephard because he was gay. Shannon was struck by two responses from the audience. The first was that it was a terribly sad story, but aren’t we happy that those times are over. The second was the question, "What can we do?"

He decided to start a Kickstarter fund, hoping to get enough money to fully fund a production of Son of a Gun. It worked, and the production happened. Two and a half years later, Uprising Theatre Company is a reality and produces two plays a year at the Phoenix Theater on Hennepin Avenue, former home to Brave New Workshop.

Scene from Son Of A Gun, photo by Jill Harms Photography

The mission of Uprising is to produce plays about social justice issues, partnering with groups that are doing the work of each particular issue. These groups are asked to set up a table at every production to educate theater goers about things that they can do. They also make a specific ask of the audience, allowing you to get involved in change before you even leave the theater, taking it beyond just education and into action.

Uprising Theatre Company is a theater currently run by volunteers. Actors are paid stipends, and for the latest production of 6 actors, there were over 100 people who auditioned. The cost of admission is a ‘pay what you can plan’. No one at Uprising wants finances to be a reason to stay away from the theater. You can pay as little as $5 or as much as $50.

The latest production, These Shining Lives, opens on October 6 and tells the true story of poor and immigrant women who were hired to paint watch dials with radium so that they would illuminate in the dark. Radium poisoning is slow and insidious, and even though the watch companies knew it was dangerous work, the women were not told. When the women got sick, they were fired. These brave women filed a lawsuit and took the case all the way to the Supreme Court, where they won. This was the first successful case of workers’ rights, and was the beginning of OSHA and protecting people who work hard jobs, sometimes at great risk.

Interested? How can you help?
• Learn more about Uprising Theater at http://www.uprisingtheatreco.com/
• Come to the show!
• Be a donor
• Be a volunteer
• Audition for a show

Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org

Authors Chef Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley Book Signing Events for The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen

Authors Chef Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley are scheduled to present and sign copies of The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen at these upcoming events:

October 18, 6:00-9:00pm, Aster Cafe River Room, 125 SE Main Street

Open house event and book signing. Samples made from recipes in the cookbook will be served. Cash bar. Books will be available for purchase from Birchbark Books. Please RSVP at z.umn.edu/101817

October 21, 12:30-2:30pm, Mill City Museum, 704 S 2nd Street

Join Chef Sean Sherman for a series of cooking demonstrations based on his new book The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, an introduction to the modern indigenous cuisine of the Dakota and Minnesota territories. 30-minute demos will take place at 12:30 pm and 2 pm. Cost: Included with site admission. For more info, see: http://www.mnhs.org/event/49799

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Here is real food—our indigenous American fruits and vegetables, the wild and foraged ingredients, game and fish. Locally sourced, seasonal, “clean” ingredients and nose-to-tail cooking are nothing new to Sean Sherman, the Oglala Lakota chef and founder of The Sioux Chef. In his breakout book, The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, Sherman shares his approach to creating boldly seasoned foods that are vibrant, healthful, at once elegant and easy.

Sherman dispels outdated notions of Native American fare—no fry bread or Indian tacos here—and no European staples such as wheat flour, dairy products, sugar, and domestic pork and beef. The Sioux Chef’s healthful plates embrace venison and rabbit, river and lake trout, duck and quail, wild turkey, blueberries, sage, sumac, timpsulaor wild turnip, plums, purslane, and abundant wildflowers. Contemporary and authentic, his dishes feature cedar braised bison, griddled wild rice cakes, amaranth crackers with smoked white bean paste, three sisters salad, deviled duck eggs, smoked turkey soup, dried meats, roasted corn sorbet, and hazelnut–maple bites.

The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen is a rich education and a delectable introduction to modern indigenous cuisine of the Dakota and Minnesota territories, with a vision and approach to food that travels well beyond those borders.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Chef Sean Sherman was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and has been cooking in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana for the past twenty-seven years. He works as a caterer and food educator across the country through his business The Sioux Chef, based in South Minneapolis. He has earned plaudits and profiles in such venues as National Public Radio, Guardian UK, Saveur, and the New York Times.

Beth Dooley is author of many award-winning cookbooks, including Savory Sweet: Simple Preserves from a Northern Kitchen, Minnesota’s Bounty: The Farmers Market Cookbook, and The Birchwood Cafe Cookbook, all published by the University of Minnesota Press. She has also written a memoir, In Winter’s Kitchen: Growing Roots and Breaking Bread in the Northern Heartland.

City of Minneapolis Exceeds $1 Billion in Permits for 6th Consecutive Year

Via a Septemer 22 News Release from the City of Minneapolis:

City of Minneapolis Exceeds $1 Billion in Permits for Sixth Consecutive Year

For the sixth year in a row, the City has surpassed the $1 billion mark for approved construction projects. Thanks to continued strong growth in the multi-family housing industry, Minneapolis reached $1 billion earlier this September. 

“Minneapolis continues to grow, and that growth is making it possible for all of us to do better,” said Mayor Betsy Hodges. “Great projects, from the YMCA and Select Comfort headquarters downtown, to Thor Construction’s buildout on the Near North Side point to a city-wide investment in our future. I thank everyone who is joining with us to build for the future of Minneapolis in 2017.”

"Minneapolis is a vibrant, health city and I am proud people are continuing to invest in this exciting economy,” said Council President Barbara Johnson.

Following is the total valuation of building permits in Minneapolis since 2000:

2000: $1.142 billion
2001: $975.8 million
2002: $889.2 million
2003: $852.2 million
2004: $944.7 million
2005: $855.2 million
2006: $839.6 million
2007: $761.3 million
2008: $772.5 million
2009: $778 million
2010: $547.6 million
2011: $752.8 million
2012: $1.118 billion
2013: $1.211 billion
2014: $2 billion
2015: $1.389 billion
2016: $1.757 billion
2017: $1.016 billion (as of 9.15.17)

Multi-family housing development continues to play a major role in Minneapolis construction projects, driven by the high demand for urban living. The trend appears to be larger, taller, higher-rent apartment buildings with more amenities. Given the continued low vacancy rate, these trends are expected to continue into 2018.

In addition to housing, there are a significant number of redevelopment projects in the North Loop with large commercial buildings being converted and/or renovated into new spaces for offices, retail and businesses.

The top ten construction projects in Minneapolis by building permit valuation are as follows:

1. Legacy Condominium at 1240 Second St. S. valued at $123,425,731.
2. The Hub, a 26-story mixed-use building with 407-units at 600 Washington Ave SE. valued at $57,799,980.
3. Ironclad, a mixed-use building with 180-units and underground parking at 240 Chicago Ave. valued at $32,621,424. 
4. The Elliot hotel redevelopment at 523 Eighth St. S. valued at $32,621,424.
5. The Westminster Presbyterian Church addition with below grade parking at 1200 Marquette Ave. valued at $25,799,117. 
6. Thor Construction’s headquarters buildout at 1256 Penn Ave. N. valued at $24,568,252. 
7. YMCA buildout at 651 Nicollet Mall valued at $20,156,283. 
8. Bancroft Elementary School addition at 1315 38th St. E. valued at $19,377,000. 
9. Jack Link’s project at Mayo Clinic Square, a remodel at 600 Hennepin Ave. valued at $19,342,136.
10. Select Comfort’s new headquarters at 1001 Third Ave. S. valued at $19,098,037.

"Our investments in great streets, parks and amenities are paying off and making our city attractive for more people to live and work. I'm proud that as our city grows we are also working hard to ensure everyone benefits and that we minimize displacement for current residents," said Council Member Lisa Bender, Chair of the City of Minneapolis Zoning and Planning Committee.

"I'm proud that for the fourth year in a row, the 3rd Ward leads the way on economic development,” said Council Member Jacob Frey. “Previously vacant areas with nothing more than surface parking lots and tumble weeds are now teaming with life and vibrancy."

The remainder of 2017 will continue to see continued strong building permit activity.  Several large projects are still expected to go before the City of Minneapolis Planning Commission before the end of the year. For more information on any of the City’s upcoming projects please contact CPED Communications, Rose Lindsay at 612.673.5015.

SteppingStone Theatre presents Goosebumps: The Phantom of the Auditorium

Do you know any young readers who are hooked on Goosebumps, the bestselling series by R.L. Stine? 

If so, check out this new production of Goosebumps: The Phantom of the Auditorium, coming to the SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria Street N, Saint Paul. SteppingStone Theatre is kicking off their 2017-2018 season with an October 13 – 29 run of this production.

Suggested for families with young people ages 7 – 16 and up, this story is about Brooke and Zeke, who've been cast as the leads in the school’s new production of an old play about a…Phantom. Strange things start disrupting rehearsals and they have to wonder: is this someone’s idea of a joke? Or is the Phantom real? A silly and spooky adventure ensues that will keep the whole family in suspense until the final curtain!

“I love that R.L. Stine often talks about humor and scariness being closely related. I think it's the key to his amazing and enduring popularity. 400 million books sold! He knows something about what grabs our imaginations. We are so excited to be bringing this mystery whodunit to our stage,” commented SteppingStone Theatre Artistic and Executive Director Mark Ferraro-Hauck. "This is a perfect opportunity for parents and teachers to celebrate the joy of reading for pleasure with young people. R.L. Stine understands that for young people overcoming fear, being an outsider, questioning your assumptions are simply part of growing up. They are nothing to run from. Truth be told we could all be reminded of that." 

Director Dane Stauffer adds, "We are having such a great time putting this production together. The cast is wonderful! The joy of doing something new, (this is only the third time this play has been produced) is that we can discover and invent our own twists on the material. The cast is all familiar with the "Goosebumps" series, and the rhythm of R.L.Stine's writing, the cliff-hanger tensions followed by a funny release...until the one that isn't funny!..is really a fun dynamic to play. We're pleased to get on the roller coaster, and are looking forward to bringing the audience along for the ride!”

With book and lyrics by John Maclay, along with music and lyrics by Danny Abosch, this production promises a silly, spooky adventure that will keep the whole family at the edge of their seats.

Opening Night Reception, Friday, October 13

Following the opening night performance, SteppingStone invites all patrons to attend the Opening Night Reception in the Studio at SteppingStone Theatre. Patrons can mix and mingle with the cast and crew of GOOSEBUMPS THE MUSICAL: PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM while enjoying refreshments, courtesy of SteppingStone.

About SteppingStone Theatre

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in the 2017-2018 production season, SteppingStone Theatre has served St. Paul and the East Metro as the premiere performing arts organization for youth. Our child-focused approach, teaming professional teaching artists with youth in collaborative and child-driven creative activity, has distinguished SteppingStone from its peers as we continue to nurture meaningful change for youth, families and schools in the community.

About GOOSEBUMPS®

In July 1992, Scholastic introduced a monthly book series by R.L. Stine called Goosebumps with Goosebumps: Welcome to the Dead House. Nearly Twenty-five years later, Goosebumps is now one of the best-selling children’s series of all-time—with more than 350 million English language books in print, plus an additional 50+ million international copies in print in 22 languages.  The Goosebumps series made R.L. Stine a worldwide publishing celebrity (and Jeopardy answer). Goosebumps, a feature film starring Jack Black, based on the book series by R.L. Stine, was released in theaters on October 16, 2015, and opened at #1 at the box office.

Mill City Singers' 7th Inning Stretch Performance

Members of the Mill City Singers had a grand time singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame at a recent Twins game. Thanks to funding by Friends of the Mill District, participation in this group is free, and all singing levels are welcome. Rehearsals are every Saturday afternoon, 2:00-3:30pm, on the 8th floor at the Guthrie Theatre.

University of Minnesota's School of Architecture to Host "Complexity: Dutch and American Housing" Symposium, October 6-8

The symposium "Complexity: Dutch and American Housing" will explore the similarities and differences between the way housing is designed, developed, and constructed in the Netherlands and in the United States, as a way to create new practices. The dialogue is inspired by complex housing, a special form of housing developed in Northern Europe, provides an innovative model that includes:
 
• Moderate to high density
• Mixed income housing
• Dwellings for purchase and for rent
• Three or more housing types
• Mixed use
• Notable architectural design

Extending from the book Complex Housing: Designing for Density, (Routledge, forthcoming 2017) and accompanying the exhibition Dutch Complex Housing (September 2 - Jan 28, 2017), the symposium brings 12-13 presenters from the Netherlands, including architects, developers, residents, urban planners, and politicians to engage in discussions about best housing practices. The book and exhibition introduce the reader and exhibition participant to the background that has led to these projects, and then analyzes eight case studies. They end by presenting the implications of these projects for future design of housing, and the requisites for its replication elsewhere. The symposium supplements these more passive presentations of information by engaging conversations among a variety of people engaged in the creating of housing in the two countries that are directed toward application of the ideas in practice. These discussions, both informal (breaks, meals and receptions) and formal (sessions, tours and salon dinners) will be sparked by morning presentations of the Dutch designs and afternoon tours to exemplary local projects.

The conference will address such questions as how to build equitable housing that: 1) incorporates mixed-income households, 2) includes rental and purchase opportunities, 3) is financed in new ways, and 4) is architecturally innovative and diverse?

Registration Information & Rates

Hennepin County Seeks Feedback on Strategies to Reach Goal of Zero Waste to Landfills

Draft Solid Waste Management Master Plan available for public comment

Hennepin County encourages people to complete a survey and give their feedback on proposed strategies in its draft Solid Waste Management Master Plan. This survey is intended for various stakeholders, including residents and representatives from businesses, cities, haulers and community groups.

The survey, plan and supporting materials are available at www.hennepin.us/solidwasteplanning through October 9. It is anticipated that the county board will consider the plan for approval in November.

Focusing on organics recycling

A primary focus of the plan is diverting organics from the trash. Organics, which include food, food-soiled paper and compostable products, is the biggest opportunity to reduce waste. Waste sort studies continue to show that organics make up the largest proportion of trash: 25 percent.

The county is proposing four key strategies to increase organics diversion:

1. Require cities to provide residents the opportunity to recycle organics by 2022, with a possible exemption for cities with 10,000 residents or fewer.
2. Require businesses that generate large quantities of food waste to implement organics recycling by 2020.
3. Support the expansion of organics recycling in a cost-effective way by increasing local capacity to process organics. Tactics include expanding the county's transfer station in Brooklyn Park to accept more organics; working with private transfer stations to accept organics; and developing additional processing capacity through methods, such as anaerobic digestion, that can produce renewable energy, compost, and fertilizer from organic materials.
4. Expand efforts to prevent wasted food by providing assistance to businesses and schools and educating residents.

Developing the strategies

Earlier this year, the county gathered input on the plan from 1,500 participants through public engagement.

Overall, the county found that people are willing to do their part to expand organics recycling if it is part of a broader effort to make organics available more widely. Many residents consider organics recycling to be important, with 62 percent of residents indicating they would be very likely to participate in organics recycling programs.

Representatives from businesses and business associations found that the approach to the requirements made sense. The requirements were also palatable to representatives from cities and businesses if they were implemented with county guidance and support.  

About the master plan

State statute requires metropolitan counties to prepare master plans every six years that identify strategies to meet the state’s goal of 75 percent of waste recycled and zero waste landfilled by 2030. The county has made steady progress towards this goal and diverted 82 percent of waste from landfills in 2016, a rate on par with national leaders.

Scenes from the September 16 Mill City Farmers Market

These ornamental pumpkins and late season blooms help saying goodbye to summer a little less melancholy.

So worth the wait - super sweet white corn from Nistler Farms. :D

A honey rainbow from Ames Farm.

Pizza on a swing!

Milly the goat!

Absentee Voting for 2017 Election Begins September 22

Via an e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

All eligible voters in Hennepin County can vote absentee—either in-person or by mail—beginning Friday, September 22.

Vote early in person

In-person absentee voting will be available September 22 through November 6 at city halls and school district offices across Hennepin County and at the Early Vote Center in downtown Minneapolis at 217 S. Third Street. Each city location can accommodate voters who live in that particular city. Only Minneapolis residents can vote at the Early Vote Center.

To check if there is an election in their area or to find the appropriate polling place, voters can view a sample ballot from the Secretary of State’s website.

Voters who live anywhere in Hennepin County can pick up an absentee ballot application or a voter registration form at the Hennepin County Government Center – 300 S. Sixth Street, Minneapolis – skyway level. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Learn more about absentee voting in person.

Vote early by mail

Voters must fill out a paper application to receive a ballot. Paper applications are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer and Amharic.

Voters do not need to be registered to vote to apply to vote absentee. To make the process easier, voters may want to register or ensure you are registered before applying for an absentee ballot.

Ballots will be mailed to voters within one to two days of receiving the application.

Completed ballots must be received on or before Election Day, November 7. Voters can return ballots by mail or in person

Learn more about absentee voting by mail.

Restoring Books Into Forever Keepsakes: Minnesota Book Restoration & Binding

Article and photos by Merle Minda

Many of us have some books stashed away on our shelves that are in terrible shape, perhaps inherited from parents or grandparents, or perhaps even some of our own – old albums, high school annuals, college readers, art books, an encyclopedia or whatever. And often these books are on their last legs, with ripped pages or broken spines, just for starters.

If you want to make a rescue, help is at hand. A new company, Minnesota Book Restoration & Binding, can fix literally any deteriorating book. Owner Mary Bahneman has set up shop in the North Loop, glueing, scraping, trimming, binding and restoring books in any shape of bad.

Mary Bahneman founder-owner of Minnesota Book Restoration & Binding

Mentor and master book restorer Gary Buchner

Happily, as she began setting up this business in May of 2017, she happened onto book restoration mentor Gary Buchner, who has been in the business of book restoration for over 18 years and was about ready to call it a day. He not only taught Mary everything he knows, but he brought all of his book restoration equipment to the party. These machines are old and expensive to find and buy. So here we have, in our very own North Loop, a terrific book restorer, very hard to find these days.

A Book Press in action

Drawers of type for hand set covers and pages

Everything is done by hand, from trimming exhausted edges to restoring bindings, refreshing covers, glueing pages, etc. These books come back to life in a miraculous way. The company also makes beautiful blank journals with your individualized or signature cover – perhaps a wedding photograph or a special postcard. The refreshed books and journals are then sewn together and bound for a new life. Gary drops in to teach classes or to help with difficult projects. Apprentice Christopher Bohnet is also on site most days.

Apprentice and helper Christopher Bohnet

Their sturdy, powerful equipment fills the space. The Book Board, which puts the final covers together, is over 130 years old. The Book Block creates book journals, and then there’s the aptly named Guillotine, for careful edging or large sectional cutting. The process of restoring a book takes approximately four to six weeks, and costs start at $150, depending on what has to be done.

Mary with a terrifying looking machine called the Guillotine

I looked at pages which had a large tear and could not see it at all once it came through Mary’s magic fingers. “We can do whatever it takes to bring a book back to life,” says Mary. “Once in good condition, your book could last perhaps for another 100 years!” she says.

Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad and Pilgrim's Progress in the midst of major restoration

A finished restored book

So dig out Mom’s high school annual or Grandma’s ancient photo album and get thee to Minnesota Book Restoration & Binding. Your results will be far beyond expectations. Check out their web site at www.mnbookrestoration.com. 

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About Merle Minda

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