Canopy by Hilton and Out of the Box Opera present Hello Italy!, October 14-16

Canopy and Out of the Box Opera present “Hello Italy!“

Out of the Box Opera will present HELLO ITALY, the third in its series of unique interactive entertainments at the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District Hotel, 708 Third Street S, on October 14, 15 and 16 (shows at 6:00p, 7:00p and 8:00p). The three-night stand will include an immersive opera experience featuring Italian classics presented by Out of the Box and a specially curated Italian menu from Umbra.

Out of the Box Artistic Director David Lefkowich says: “Italian opera is the heart and soul of what opera is all about. It features big emotions – love, loss, jealousy, and hate – all expressed through rich, evocative music. You don’t need subtitles to know what is going on in the classic operas. Just listen to the singing and it is all right there.” The show will feature pieces from the great composers – Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini – and great shows – La Traviata, La Boheme, Lucia and Barber of Seville. Lefkowich adds: “The music in this show is what puts the “grand” in “grand opera.”

Umbra’s award-winning Executive Chef, Kevin Aho, has curated a menu of delectable Italian favorites exclusively for the three nights of Hello Italy performances. Each of the four entrees including Osso Buco, Frutti de Mare, Gnocchi and Braised Ragu, and Pasta Arrabiata are served with warm bread, choice of salad, House Panna Cotta dessert and a glass of wine. Visit their website to reserve your table, Umbrampls.com.

Musical Director and accompanist Carson Rose Schneider says, “Our cast features singers who have performed locally and nationally and are all alumni of Out of The Box productions.” Soprano Siena Forest has sung everything with Out of The Box from a contestant in Diva Cage Match to the lead in The Amazing Adventures of Acis and Galatea the Wonder Nymph and will star as Mimi in the upcoming production of La Boheme at Theater Latte Da. Tenor David Walton has performed with Out of The Box in Acis and Galatea and appeared locally with Minnesota Opera and Minnesota Bach Ensemble and nationally with Virginia Opera, Opera Carolina and Glimmerglass Festival. Rounding out the cast is tenor Brian Wallin who sang in the very first Out of The Box show at the Weisman Art Museum in 2017 and has performed with Minnesota Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Atlanta Opera, and Opera National de Bordeaux.

The show is a non-ticketed event. A dinner reservation at Canopy’s Umbra restaurant will guarantee reserved seating. But the show can also be seen and heard from the hotel’s lounge and lobby (and even from balconies in the hotel’s atrium if you have a room).

Out of The Box will wrap up its 2021 series at the Canopy on December 17 and 18, when an all male cast presents a holiday themed “tenor extravaganza.” Lefkowich says, “This show will both fill you with cheer and knock your socks off!”

Small Business Spotlight: Slice Inc.

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Adam Kado’s new pizza restaurant Slice Inc. officially opens Saturday, October 2 at 1PM. Come by 519 E Hennepin Ave for the ribbon cutting ceremony and welcome another small business to NE Minneapolis! We talked to Adam about the concept for Slice and balancing his professional activities – he’s a busy man!

Adam Kado, right, with partner Hosie Thurmond on the left.

Q:  Tell us about the concept for your new pizza restaurant. 

A:  Our concept for Slice is take-out and delivery New York style pizza in slices and whole pies. We want to take an innovative approach in service to our customers, so we will be utilizing a service window to decrease interaction and increase efficiency. We have also invested a lot in our online ordering system so people will be able to place an order online and pick it up in person. (The website won’t be live until Friday, October 1, but here is a sneak peak.) 

Q:  Will you have daily specials? 

A:  We will not have an extensive menu. We want to make sure everything on our menus tastes good and is a classic. We will, however, try new specials every now and then, and based off what the people crave we will supply.  

Q:  You’re the son of an immigrant from Kenya. How do you describe your American dream?

A:  For me, the American dream is freedom and ownership. My father was an entrepreneur and although he didn’t make a lot of money, he took pride in the fact that as an immigrant he owned his own business. To our family, that was priceless. I hope that one day when I have children and it comes time for them to provide, they can start with positions in our respective family businesses. For me that would be a dream come true. 

Q:  Please tell us about your involvement with the Timberwolves and Lynx teams. Will you transition fully to your restaurant business? 

A:  As far as my transition to the pizza industry, it was actually my first job when I was 16 years old working at Papa John's as an in-store worker. I still remember working 30 hours a week at Papa John's in high school while simultaneously playing varsity basketball. I went on to play and coach college basketball and also played 2 years professionally in Europe. Today I work with the Timberwolves and Lynx basketball academy and also own a basketball player development and consulting business. I think it’s important for current and former athletes to develop other life skills outside of athletics, and that’s what inspired me and my partners to start up Slice. 

Q:  What do you want Mill City Times readers to know about your restaurant? 

A:  We want the Mill City Times readers to know we are excited to provide an affordable eating solution that not only tastes good, is prepared fast, but is also made with quality ingredients. We also couldn’t be prouder to service this Northeast Minneapolis community. We have here such a beautiful diverse blend of Millennial, Generation X and Generation Z (even Boomers) that we feel our restaurant is curated to the neighborhood we will be calling home. We have already received numerous letters, calls and messages of support from the whole community and we really can’t thank them enough for their support. 

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Please follow our social media channels - Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

17th Annual Historic Riverfront 5K Run/Walk to Benefit Neighborhood Parks and Activities in the St Anthony West Neighborhood

The 17th Annual Historic Riverfront 5K Run/Walk will take you through historic Northeast Minneapolis, along the Mississippi River and over the Stone Arch Bridge. This is the perfect time of year to see the fall colors and the beauty of the tree canopy, river, and cityscape. The race starts/ends at Boom Island Park (700 Sibley Street NE). Let Kramarczuk's treat you to their famous brats and enjoy some snacks at the finish line!

Whether you participate as a timed chip runner or take a casual walk with your dog or baby stroller, this is a route that everyone enjoys!

Proceeds benefit neighborhood parks and activities in the St. Anthony West Neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Minneapolis, which includes the beautiful Boom Island, BF Nelson, and Dickman parks. Learn more at stawno.org.

Event details and schedule:
- Start/End at Boom Island - 700 Sibley Street NE, Minneapolis
- Start time at 9am, Saturday, Oct 9th (check-in starts at 7:30am)
- Early check-in available on Friday, Oct 8th, 4-6pm at Mill City Running
- Historic Riverfront 5k Stocking Cap included in registration
- Prizes for top winners in male/female, 65+, and 18 and under and drawings for all participants
- Enjoy Kramarczuk's brats hot off the grill at the end of the race.
- Chip timed for accuracy and running enjoyment. Limited parking in parking lot w/in Boom Island, additional parking available on side streets.

Pricing:
Now to October 5 - $30
October 9 Race Day Registration - $40

Register Here: https://www.active.com/minneapolis-mn/running/distance-running-races/historic-riverfront-5k-run-walk-2021

Volunteer Here: https://signup.com/go/hanMyue

Raising Ollie: How My Nonbinary Art-Nerd Kid Changed (Nearly) Everything I Know, Open House Book Launch with Minnesota Author Tom Rademacher

Via a recent press release from University of Minnesota Press

826 MSP, Transforming Families Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Press will host an open house meet-and-greet book launch event for Raising Ollie: How My Non-Binary Art-Nerd Kid Changed (Nearly) Everything I Know by Minnesota author Tom Rademacher on Tuesday, October 12 at 826 MSP, 1915 E 22nd Street. Raising Ollie, the newest book from author of It Won't Be Easy, is the account of one radically new school year for a Teacher of the Year and for his nonbinary, art-obsessed, brilliant child.

Seven-year-old Ollie was researching local advanced school programs—because every second grader does that, right? Ollie, who used to hate weekends because they meant no school, was crying on the way to school almost every day. Sure, there were the slings and arrows of bullies and bad teachers, but, maybe worse, Ollie, a funny, anxious, smart kid with a thing for choir and an eye for graphic art, was gravely underchallenged and also struggling with identity and how to live totally as themselves. Ollie begged to switch to a new school with “kids like me,” where they wouldn’t feel so alone, or so bored, and so they made the change.

Tom RademacherRaising Ollie is dad Tom Rademacher’s story (really, many stories) of that eventful and sometimes painful school year, parenting Ollie and relearning every day what it means to be a father and teacher. As Ollie—who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, and prefers art to athletics, vegetables to cake, and animals to most humans—flourishes in their new school, Rademacher is making an eye-opening adjustment to a new school of his own, one that’s whiter and more suburban than anywhere he has previously taught, with a history of racial tension that he tries to address and navigate.

While Ollie is learning to code, 3D model, animate, speak Japanese, and finally feel comfortable at school, Rademacher increasingly sees how his own educational struggles, anxieties, and childhood upbringing are reflected in his teaching, writing, and parenting, as well as in Ollie’s experience. And with this story of one anything-but-academic year of inquiry and wonder, doubt and revelation, he shows us how raising a kid changes everything—and how much raising a kid like Ollie can teach us about who we are and what we’re doing in the world.

Tom Rademacher is an eighth grade English teacher in the Minneapolis area. His book It Won’t Be Easy: An Exceedingly Honest (and Slightly Unprofessional) Love Letter to Teaching (Minnesota, 2017) was a finalist for a Minnesota Book Award. His writing has been published in Education Post, City Pages, MinnPost, and Huffington Post. In 2014 he was honored as Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year.

The event is free and open to the public. Masks are required for entry. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. 

Sherman Associates hosts Downtown Advocate Service Saturday, October 2nd

Via a September 24 e-announcement from Sherman Associates:

Join us to support your unsheltered neighbors at the Downtown Advocate Service Saturday on October 2nd from 1pm to 4pm at 205 Bark, the public dog park located next to The Vicinity, 205 Park Avenue.

Service Saturday will be a day for residents in the East Town and Mill District neighborhoods to gather together to help the homeless community and lend a hand in cleaning up the neighborhood.

Listen or join in the conversation with guest speakers on topics of awareness, volunteerism, and experiences centered around homelessness. Volunteers will assemble care packages and make fleece tie blankets for residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness within the community. Additionally, volunteers will receive garbage pick-up supplies to clean up around the neighborhood.

Guest speakers include Emily Bastian from Avivo Village, a volunteer from Supply Depot, and a person with lived experience of unsheltered homelessness.

All volunteers will receive a discounted drink ticket to W XYZ Bar in the Aloft Minneapolis Hotel and a $5 off voucher to Bacon Social House.

Please register here to volunteer: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-advocate-service-saturday-tickets-178824507917.

CenterPoint Energy Pollinator Gardens

On September 23rd CenterPoint Energy employees and volunteers from the Great River Coalition planted downtown pollinator gardens featuring native flowers, plants and grasses that offer a critical habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinator insects. Great River Greening is CenterPoint Energy’s nonprofit partner in creating and managing the pollinator gardens. Information about the pollinator gardens is available at www.CenterPointEnergy.com/MNpollinators.

Mill District resident Rick Kittock captured the following photos from the event:

* Thank you to everyone involved with the project! *

Walking the Beam at the ELEVEN

Submitted by Mill District Resident Ric Rosow

With the exterior of the ELEVEN almost complete, the last of two construction cranes on site is being removed. It is a harrowing task as construction workers labor more than 35 stories up to take down sections of the crane. Yes, the workers are tethered to a safety harness. Nevertheless, to walk across that beam takes a lot of skill, fortitude and courage. Oh did I mention, the wind was so strong this day that my telephoto lens shook even with the camera clamped into a stable tripod. To avoid ending up with blurred images, I switched to a shorter lens so that it was not so severely shaken by the wind. I can’t imagine how strong the wind blew through that crane. You can see more of my work at www.ricrosowphotography.com.

Owámni Falling Water Festival - October 9, 1-5 pm

Via a September 24 e-announcement from Minnepolis Park and Rec Board:

Owámni Falling Water Festival will be held on Saturday, October 9 from 1 to 5 pm

Join us on Saturday, October 9, from 1 – 5 p.m. at Father Hennepin Bluff Park (420 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN) and at the NEW Water Works Park (333 1st Street S., Minneapolis 55401) for the Owámni: Falling Water Festival, a celebration of indigenous Minnesota cultures, Owámni is what the Dakota called the area at St. Anthony Falls. It means, “whirling or falling water” in the Dakota language, making it an appropriate name for this festival along the Mississippi River.

This free, family-friendly event, co-presented by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the St Anthony Falls Heritage Board, celebrates indigenous Minnesota culture with music, art, food, and more! Enjoy the many event offerings with the opportunity to learn more about artifacts from the Minnesota History Center’s collection; picnic in the park with Native foods from Owamni by the Sioux Chef and other food vendors.

Art

An arts area focused on Native contemporary traditional and fine arts will showcase the talents of indigenous visual artists. Jewelry and native art will be available for purchase. Hands on art opportunities will also be available.

Music and Entertainment

The Owámni Falling Water Festival will celebrate indigenous voices, connecting both locally and nationally through music featuring Tufawon, Buffalo Weavers, and comedian Rez Reporter.

Food

Pow-Wow Grounds and Owamni by the Sioux Chef will be making and selling local indigenous foods.  NATIFS- North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems will be providing Native Food Education and information.   

This event is made possible by a grant from the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board. Event partners include the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Minnesota Historical Society.

Celebrating James Sewell Ballet’s 30th Anniversary - One Year Later - at The Cowles Center

Via a September 23 Press Release:

James Sewell Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Retrospective delights in past company favorites while bringing new contemporary ballet work by Resident Choreographer Da’Rius Malone to The Cowles Center on October 16 and 17. The production celebrates James Sewell Ballet’s (JSB) 30th anniversary a year and a half after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered the company’s commemorative tour. Audiences can see the magic during an in-person or livestreamed performance from the Goodale Stage. Tickets range $20 - $35, fees included.

Eve Schulte, JSB’s Executive Director, shares: “We made it to six of our planned 2020 tour locations before lockdown. Our final performance before entering the void of COVID was March 13, 2020, in St. Cloud, with a cheerful and immediately distanced audience in the beautiful Paramount Center for the Arts. The past 18-plus months have changed us in so many ways, and the program has evolved to highlight both joy and catharsis, including an exciting new premiere from company member Da’Rius Malone.” 

The company is known for its distinct and compelling choreographic voice capable of producing cutting-edge productions which combine theatricality with grace and expanding notions of what ballet could or should be.

James Sewell Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Retrospective will be anchored with Made in America, a work from 2000 that pays homage to some of the vast history of American music and musical culture, a fitting end for an evening whose themes explore reflection, remembrance, and the passage of time. Da’Rius Malone’s work, /kənˈsəm(p)SH(ə)n/, explores the “anger and frustration” which came with the combined grief from the pandemic and police brutality in the recent past. Malone was recently announced as JSB’s inaugural Resident Choreographer, a promotion you can read about on jsballet.org/press. Live music will accompany select works throughout the evening.

JSB will offer a Meet the Artist Q&A for all attendees after the Sunday, October 17 matinee performance. Other community engagements are pending. Learn more and purchase tickets.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT THE COWLES CENTER

Masks are required at all times in The Cowles Center’s hallways, common/shared spaces, and theaters. Anyone attending an event or performance in our theaters (the Goodale Theater & TEK BOX) will need to show proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to entry. We respectfully ask that anyone who is feeling ill or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to please stay home. Please visit thecowlescenter.org/visit to review our full health & safety information. 

ABOUT JAMES SEWELL BALLET

James Sewell Ballet was founded in New York City by James Sewell and Sally Rousse and brought to Minnesota in 1993. Combining their expertise, vision, and chutzpah, James and Sally envisioned a close-knit company of dance artists willing to challenge their physical limits and expand their notions about ballet. Decades later, the embodiment of the original vision is a professional company of dancers performing innovative work that explores the technical boundaries of ballet.

ABOUT THE COWLES CENTER

The Cowles Center is a dance and performing arts hub that promotes movement and growth for artists through supportive programs and spaces; engages audiences through dynamic performances; and educates learners of all ages through robust and inclusive education initiatives.

Third Avenue Bridge Project - Resident Connection Event Scheduled for October 9

Via a September 22 e-announcment from MnDOT:

Join us in-person for an afternoon of fun!

The Third Avenue Bridge project team is hosting a resident connection event from 1-3 pm on Saturday, October 9 at 30 Main Street SE between Central Ave. and Hennepin Ave. This family-friendly event will include games, activities, live music and local treats. Project team members will be there to provide bridge construction updates and answer questions.

Behind-the-Scenes Construction Tour 

A behind-the-scenes construction tour narrated by construction manager Tim Nelson is online! Check out the video on the project webpage under About this project.

More About the Project

The historic Third Ave. Bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls opened in 1918 and needs significant repairs. The bridge carries Third and Central avenues, which are part of Hwy 65.

Construction began in May 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in August 2023. The bridge is fully closed to traffic through November 2022. Motorists, transit riders, and people walking and bicycling will need to use alternate routes across the river during this time.

For more information, visit the project webpage. To contact the project team email connect@thirdavebridgeclosure.com or call the project hotline at 612-547-7968.

Students, Staff and Fans Return to More Than a New Name at Former TCF Stadium

Via a recent e-announcement:

Gophers welcome back fans with a newly branded club—the result of a 10-year agreement between Cambria and Gopher Athletics

Last month it was announced that University of Minnesota Gopher fans will enjoy special amenities and the best views in Huntington Bank Stadium in a newly designed Club Cambria for the 2021 season. A new energetic and modern Club Cambria will be completed in two phases as a result of a 10-year agreement between Le Sueur–based Cambria, the leading American-made producer of quartz surfaces, and the University of Minnesota.

Cambria and the University of Minnesota have partnered to create a unique, innovative, and advanced-design club space at the newly branded Huntington Bank Stadium, ensuring a high-end, elevated, luxury lounge experience unlike any other seating area in the stadium. The renovations will take place over two phases — the first phase being completed for the start of the 2021 season, including an updated look and feel with new floors, Cambria designs in maroon and gold, and bold Gopher football graphics throughout the space. Phase two will include more extensive renovations, to be completed before the start of the 2022 football season.

Club Cambria will be the central location for premium seat holders, becoming Huntington Bank Stadium’s own “College Game Day” experience for Gopher fans. The club is 20,000 sq. ft. and can hold over 1,000 guests. The space includes two bars, concessions with expanded menu offerings, multiple fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, and access to the outdoor club level. In addition, Club Cambria will be the site of numerous events and non-football-related functions throughout the calendar year, hosting approximately 100 events annually.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cambria and its entire team on the development of Club Cambria at Huntington Bank Stadium,” said Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. “Club Cambria will provide our fans a tremendous experience at home football games and will also have a dramatic and positive impact on Gopher Athletics. We are grateful for the generous support from Cambria and are proud to have an internationally recognized, Minnesota-based company prominently featured at Huntington Bank Stadium.”

Highlighted by nearly 1,300 seats all located between the 25-yard lines with theater-style, padded seating, Club Cambria will feature premium amenities along with an exclusive private entrance. The climate-controlled Club Cambria will offer direct access to the club seating area on the south side of Huntington Bank Stadium and feature newly renovated Cambria quartz surfaces and amenities throughout, making it one of the premier clubs in the Big Ten Conference.

“We’ve been longtime enthusiasts of the University of Minnesota, partnering with the U in various ways for many years now,” said Marty Davis, President and CEO of Cambria. “This partnership is compelling for our company, our employees, and our Cambria brand throughout the region. Sports are an excellent platform to share our brand with consumers, support local communities, and in particular, we are greatly enthused with the Gopher Football program and its future under the elite leadership of AD Mark Coyle and Head Coach PJ Fleck. Winning programs are a key and most critical ingredient to successful marketing and branding efforts. We are very excited about this opportunity. Go Gophers, RTB, SkiUMah!”

Cambria has been a supporter of Gopher Athletics venue development over the last 20 years with projects that include TCF Bank Stadium - developing custom maroon and gold quartz surfaces for many of the luxury areas; renovations to Bierman Athletic Building and the new Gophers Athlete Village - including Cambria surfaces featured throughout state-of-the-art training facilities, dining areas, and offices; and ongoing collaboration with projects to keep historic buildings sleek and modern such as Williams Arena, 3M Arena at Mariucci, and other University-owned-and-operated facilities on campus.

Moon On Top Campbell Mithun Building

Submitted by Mill District Resident Ric Rosow:

At around 6:30 this morning I saw the moon over the stadium moving toward downtown. I had planned to go to the Arboretum last night to photograph the moon, but cancelled because of the rain and heavy cloud cover. At 6:30 the moon was mostly below the cloud cover. As the minutes passed the clouds would cover and then reveal the moon. I did not have time to determine if the moon would land on top of the Campbell Mithun Tower, but figured it would be close. I set the camera to take a photo every ten seconds and then as it came close to the tower I manually increased the frequency. When the moon moved behind the SPS Tower it formed a halo behind the peak of the building. I plan to process that photo as well.

I hope you enjoy the image. See more of my work at www.ricrosowphotography.com.

What's All the Fuss About? Becky Fillinger Visited the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit to Find Out!

Article by Becky Fillinger 

There’s still time to visit the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit – the extraordinary art feature has been extended to November 19. The digital exhibit is open in many cities around the globe, but Minneapolis is one of a handful with actual Van Gogh paintings nearby. The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) owns three pieces by Van Gogh, one of which is on display: Olive Trees. My advice – visit both the amazing digital exhibit at Lighthouse Minneapolis, 1515 Central Ave NE, and complete it with a trip to view our local treasures at Mia.

Bridget BergI spoke to Bridget Berg, on-site manager at the Minneapolis installation. She wants Mill City Times readers to know that although the exhibit is showing in many global cities, each installation is a bit customized. 

“For Minneapolis, our Stone Arch Bridge is dreamily blended into a Starry Night vignette. In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is featured.” She also notes that experiencing the art in the digital format is a very different experience than just viewing the art in a museum. “The North East site has allowed the exhibit to pair with breweries and local artists to create experiences – which was our goal. We wanted our guests to think of Van Gogh’s art as important, memorable and experiential.” 

Stone Arch Bridge

Windmill

Attendee Kathleen Lepp takes in the exhibit.

I think the show sponsors have succeeded. I spoke with guest Kathleen Lepp, who commented, “I’ll never forget this exhibit. The art came alive to me – the music, movement and colors surrounded me and gave me such a greater appreciation for Van Gogh.”

Go - you never know who you might see. Mayor Jacob Frey was there with his wife Sarah and daughter Frida. He told us Frida loved the colors and music. I’m with her!

Mayor Frey soaks up the sights and sounds with daughter Frida.

CenterPoint Energy Plants a Green Future on Minneapolis Downtown Riverfront

Via a September 20 e-announcement from CenterPoint Energy:

Pollinator gardens to grow where gas was once produced from coal (and where gas will soon be made from water)

CenterPoint Energy traces its history more than 150 years ago to the founding of the Minneapolis Gas Light Company in 1870. In those early days, gas was produced from coal at a facility near the Mississippi Riverfront and then delivered through hollow wood logs to provide the first artificial nighttime light on the downtown streets of Minneapolis.

Today, the coal is long gone, the soil has been cleaned up and the once-industrial riverfront is now a vibrant downtown neighborhood and recreational destination. Soon, it will be home to a pollinator habitat on CenterPoint Energy property, where a demonstration project is also in the works to produce zero-carbon “green hydrogen” from water to blend with the utility’s natural gas supply.

On Thursday morning, Sept. 23, about 75 CenterPoint Energy employees and volunteers from the Great River Coalition will plant three downtown pollinator gardens featuring native flowers, plants and grasses that offer a critical habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinator insects. Great River Greening is CenterPoint Energy’s nonprofit partner in creating and managing the pollinator gardens.

Event schedule: 

Thursday, September 23

8:15 am – Welcome/kick-off program

8:45 am - Planting begins and continues through the morning

 CenterPoint Energy, Corner of West River Parkway and 13th Avenue S (map)

The pollinator gardens and the green hydrogen project reflect CenterPoint Energy’s ongoing environmental stewardship as Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, serving 890,000 residential and business customers in more than 260 communities. Information about the pollinator gardens is available at www.CenterPointEnergy.com/MNpollinators 

Assault and Attempted Mugging (Downtown)

Editors Note: This letter was sent by Joe Tamburino to Mayor Frey & Council Member Fletcher last Wednesday. Joe Tamburino is a Downtown resident and serves on the board of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association.

Mayor Frey and CM Fletcher: 

Today at approximately 10:45 a.m. on 9th Street between Nicollet and Marquette, I was walking on the sidewalk talking on my phone via air pods and I was hit from behind in the back of the head, left shoulder and something cut my arm near my left wrist - it was some young punk.

I confronted him, called 911, and went after him so that he wouldn't get away and I caught the attention of an MPD squad going SB on Marquette.  The officer arrested the perpetrator right on the street with the help of two other officers who responded very quickly to the scene.  Also, two people on the street witnessed the assault and gave statements to the police corroborating what happened. 

This is unacceptable and outrageous - you can't even walk on the sidewalk in downtown without running into criminal problems.  Thankfully, the police were right there.  I wish to thank the police officers for their excellent response time to my situation - job well done.  The perpetrator is now in jail.  That he will be released and back on the downtown streets within hours is another issue, but also another problem.  But this nonsense of defunding or dismantling the MPD must stop.  We need police on the street! A social worker or "violence interrupter" would not have helped me today.

Mr. Mayor - you need to come out more forcefully in support of more police, more patrols, and veto any future ballot questions concerning defunding or dismantling MPD that may occur in the future.

CM Fletcher - I truly don't know what to say to you because you're wrong on every single public safety issue and I believe you have contributed to this atmosphere of chaos and crime in our city with your rhetoric and inaction. 

Thank you,

Joe Tamburino

***FOLLOW-UP***

Update: the guy who assaulted me on Wednesday, 9/15, was Ararso Mumad (29 y.o. convicted felon who got out of prison in 2019). He was released from jail on Friday, 9/17, with charges pending regarding my assault.  But, as predicted, he was picked up again yesterday, Saturday, 9/18, around 900 Washington Ave. South at approximately 10:00 p.m., for using a baseball bat in trying to rob people on the street; he's robbing people right near you folks at the Bridgewater and Zenith condos.

CM Fletcher - a social worker or violence interrupter responding to Ararso and his baseball bat would have been completely useless and they would have wound up getting hit with the bat.  Once again the police properly responded and removed a violent person from the street.

The Longest Concrete Arch in the World

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Minneapolis, the City of Lakes, but also, the City of Bridges. Dozens of bridges span the Mighty Mississippi, and each are famous for their own reasons. This week, I will tell the story of a bridge that once held the world record for the longest concrete arch in the world, the Franklin Avenue Bridge.

The old Franklin Avenue bridge, 1912

Starting back in 1889, a metal bridge with stone piers was constructed where the current bridge stands. It served as a vital connected between Prospect Park on the east side and Seward on the west. Thirty years later, Minneapolis grew by nearly 350,000 people, and a larger bridge was needed. The two men tasked with designing a new bridge were Norwegians Kristoffer Olsen Oustad and Frederick William Cappelen, who lead the project. Cappelen designed the Prospect Park water tower, was previously Minneapolis’ municipal bridge engineer, and later was elected as the city engineer, with Oustad taking over as the municipal bridge engineer after Cappelen.

The advancements of concrete and steel in the early 1900s meant that much larger structures could be built than previously imagined, so Cappelen took this opportunity to give this new bridge a center span of at least 300 feet long and fifty feet tall. Over the course of the design process, Cappelen decided to lengthen the center span in order to keep the current bridge in operation until the new one could be completed. Construction started in 1919 and finished in 1923, with the center section spanning 435 feet across the river and providing eighty-eight feet of clearance for boat traffic. Upon completion, the center span was the largest concrete arch in the world.

A 1920 painting of the construction of the current bridge by Ada Wolfe

Unfortunately, Cappelen passed away in October of 1921, five days before his sixty-fourth birthday, so when the new bridge opened in 1923, it was officially named the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge. During this era of bridge construction, similar bridges were constructed throughout the Twin Cities, and the area became known as having the best examples of concrete arch bridges in the world.

1923 photo of the current bridge, looking downstream. Note the piers of the original bridge underneath the new bridge.

In the 1940s, the streetcar tracks were removed from the bridge, and two more lanes of vehicle traffic were added, bringing the total number of lanes to four. Soon thereafter in 1954, West River Road was built underneath one of the arches. The bridge closed in 1971 for its first major renovation, and in 2005, a bike lane was added.

In 2007, an inspection revealed that freezing and unthawing water combined with salt from the winters contributed to significant corrosion. Efforts to repair the bridge began during the spring of 2015 after $28.5 million was set aside for the project the year before, and it was thought that the bridge would have to be closed for two years. However, the construction crew decided to use a method called Accelerated Bridge Construction in order to greatly speed up the process, and the bridge only had to be closed for five months.

Because of U.S. Bank Stadium construction driving up the price of concrete, the piers of the 1889 bridge were salvaged to help with costs, but the newly renovated bridge ended up having a price tag of $43 million. It includes two lanes of traffic with terrific, separated bike and pedestrian lanes, much needed improvements for one of the most bikeable cities in the nation. Because of the fantastic updates and renovation, the bridge and construction teams won the Engineering News-Record Midwest Award of Merit and the American Public Works Association Project of the Year Award in Historical Restoration/Preservation ($25 million to $75 million category), both in 2017.

The F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, commonly referred to as the Franklin Avenue Bridge, is approaching its centennial birthday, and with the recent renovation, Minneapolitans will be able to enjoy this once record-holding bridge for another hundred years.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville, Jr. received his B.A. in History, Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies, and M.A. in Art History from the University of St. Thomas.

Michael is a historical interpreter at the Minnesota History Center and has been a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway, walking, and biking tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 9+ years.

 

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net

Local Business Spotlight: Kaleidoscope

Article by Becky Fillinger

Greg DehnBased in the North Loop, Kaleidoscope is an innovative company that pairs students with scholarships in a way never done before. We talked to CEO and Founder, Greg Dehn, about how the program works and ways you, your company or organization, may assist.

Q:  Why is the company named Kaleidoscope?

 A:  Every person has a dream for their lives, for what they want to accomplish, for their career. And, there are organizations that want to help them achieve this. When I think about a Kaleidoscope, I imagine that for each of us, when we look into the scope and we see light fracturing in a unique way only we can see, we are seeing a future that is unique to ourselves. It is this diversity, and the connection of two equal partners – sponsor and scholar - on our platform, aligned by a future goal, that inspired the name Kaleidoscope.

Q:  I grew up in Appalachia where access to grants and scholarships was limited. Let me rephrase that - my knowledge of available grants and scholarships was limited. Kaleidoscope would have been a dream. Do you serve all geographies?

A:  We have award programs on our marketplace sponsored by organizations in all 50 states and D.C., serving applicants nationally and internationally. Today, our focus is on the US market, and don’t turn away customers looking to launch programs internationally.

Award Builder

Q:  What are the company's priorities for the rest of the year?

A:  For the remainder of this year, our team will be focused on launching 6000+ programs, and supporting one of our most exciting product innovations since 2020, the launch of our Award Builder. Award Builder provides the ability for any individual or any organization to launch an education-related award program on our platform, for free on their own. They can now self-register and begin using the best tools in the industry to build, launch and manage their program. We are confident others feel the same as we do, and, by offering a free tier on our platform, we will further mobilize private wealth toward eliminating the financial barriers to education. And, we will do so in a big way.

Q:  You received grants to cover most of the cost of your undergraduate studies. You started Kaleidoscope as a way to return the favor. Give us some details - how many students have you helped?

A:  Today, more than 1 million people have built profiles on the Kaleidoscope platform. We have disbursed well over $150M in funding to students, thanks to our 300 partners and more than 6000+ active awards programs.

Q:  How do you acquire new sponsors?

A:  We have been very fortunate to have many sponsors find us by word of mouth or referrals. A significant benefit of our platform is that the sponsor can fully customize their program with unique branding and configuration options. This unlocks a vast array of possibilities for the types of niche, targeted awards that sponsors can create on our platform, allowing applicant individuality and diversity to live at the heart of the process.

Q:  How may our Mill City Times readers help Kaleidoscope?

A:  The more programs that go live on the platform, the more of a difference we are able to make. Starting a program is easy with Kaleidoscope, and if you are interested in hosting a scholarship, grant, or other award program, we are here to help! Please reach out to hello@mykaleidoscope.com or visit mykaleidoscope.com to learn more. Also, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Milling on Minnehaha

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Minnehaha Creek has been an important fixture in Minneapolis and the western suburbs for over 150 years. Ever since the first settlers came to the area when Fort Snelling was established in 1819, people have been drawn to it. The first person to capitalize on the power of the creek was our friend from my last article, The Oldest House in the City, Ard Godfrey.

During the mid-1800’s, Minnehaha Creek and Falls would have been well known throughout the tourism world. It was very popular to take a steamboat from St. Louis up to St. Paul and explore the creek and lakes of Minneapolis. Thousands of people made that journey every year, including many photographers and artists. This lead to the creation of many paintings and stereoscopic view cards of the falls, which spread throughout the country. The popularity of the art and view cards eventually led to Minneapolis and Minnehaha Creek being called a must-see vacation destination.

Now one would think that with the popularity of the area, someone would settle that land immediately. The reason why this was not the case is because it was within the Fort Snelling Military Reservation. Fortunately for Godfrey, he had a friend who was an officer at the fort, and in 1851, with his friend’s help, Godfrey made a claim to "the wooded point lying between the Mississippi river and Brown's creek, as Minnehaha was then called.” His first project was opening a sawmill in 1853 on the north side of the creek, roughly halfway between Minnehaha Falls and the Mississippi. I’m sure he got this idea from the sawmill that was located on the same stretch of the creek which helped build Fort Snelling a few decades before. Even though sawmills would always create a profit since everyone needed wood, he quickly opened a second mill on the creek closer to the Mississippi. This second mill was a gristmill, a type of flour mill, and was a two-story wood frame building with a gabled roof and a redbrick chimney, much like his house in the Village of St. Anthony. Godfrey’s gristmill became very popular as many farmers in the area would take their various grains directly to mill to be made into flour.

Godfrey's gristmill, 1865 

Godfrey's dam, 1889 

Godfrey dam ruins, 1920 

Like many mills that operated during the early years of the city, Godfrey’s sawmill and gristmill burnt down, but while his mills are no more, the foundation of the limestone and wood dam he built for his mills is still visible today. There’s a reason why we’re called the Mill City. Mills weren’t exclusive to the Mississippi around St. Anthony Falls. They could be found anywhere there was a body of water in the city. When you find yourself strolling down Minnehaha Creek, look through the foliage, find the remains of Godfrey’s dam, and imagine a time when the creek was more than just a place of monumental beauty.

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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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 5+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

The Bacon Social House Returns Today - Here's What's Cookin'!

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

The Bacon Social House officially reopens Friday, September 17. My advice is to make a reservation and wear clothes that have a bit of give – you’ll be eating lots of bacon - what some people consider the most coveted cut from the hog – and you’ll have plenty of it.

First, the restaurant is gorgeous. Bacon is the star of the show. Bacon neon, murals and an open kitchen remind you of what’s to come. The staff is energized and so ready to welcome you back! Mike, Will, Alexis and Mitchell made my visit memorable – they’re knowledgeable, friendly and proud to be working at Bacon Social House. 

The Green Chili and Chips was a wonderful starter.

The chili was not too spicy and had layers of flavor – jalapeno, chipotle, pork, onions and of course, green chiles. The homemade tortilla served on the side was crispy and made an excellent dipping tool.

On the Wedge Salad of crispy iceberg lettuce with blue cheese drizzled over it, you’ll find many chunks of blue cheese on your plate! Applewood bacon, cut into lardons, and cherry tomatoes added texture and flavor.

Now to the bacon samplers – wow! My bacon flight had 6 crispy strips. Some strips were candied and others were savory - Sriracha, applewood smoked, barbeque and chili lime. As a guest, you’re provided kitchen shears to cut bite sized pieces as you progress through the platter. The baller bacon, also served with shears, is a thicker cut bacon that is candied and baked.

Was there room for more eating? Yes there was! If you go, please check out the Chicken & Waffles. The Belgian waffle is crispy, the chicken breast is crispy, the sausage gravy is decadent and the warm maple syrup pulls it all together. The Baller Mac & Cheese was a very large portion of goodness:  smoked gouda, cheddar, onions and the thick cut baller bacon.

Can a vegetarian find happiness at the Bacon Social House? Yes, there are many items that will please everyone in your party. Is there a happy hour? Yes, and it starts at 3PM! It features $5 small bites (bacon and cheddar tater tots, smoked wings, poutine and the green chili!), $3 beers, $4 well drinks and $2 off any wine. 

Excellent food – check. Friendly staff – check. Great atmosphere – check. Book a table online or call 612-428-7107 for a reservation and make your way to 700 S 3rd Street.

Neon bacon!

MacPhail Announces September 21 Lunchtime Listening Club: The Thrilling Three

As part of their 55+ MacPhail Music for Life™ program, MacPhail Center for Music has scheduled a special Lunchtime Listening Club event, The Thrilling Three, on September 21 at 12:15pm.

Vicky MountainJoin this new listening club to discuss music with others who share your passion for music. MacPhail voice faculty member Vicky Mountain will explore music performed by the Thrilling Three: Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Vicky will provide interesting background information about the performers and their art, as well as musical examples from a shared playlist to help spark discussion about these three thrilling female vocalists.

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The event will take place under the tent on MacPhail's lawn for a COVID-friendly atmosphere. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch. Sign up ahead of time online, by calling Student Services at 612-321-0100, or stop by the front desk that day!