Executive Director Update 

It is with sadness that I pass along the following email from the Cowles family. John Cowles Jr. was not just a friend to many Mill City Commons members, he was one of our founders. He will be missed.   

-- Linnea 

Guthrie Play Reading: Hay Fever

Tuesday, March 20, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm;  The Guthrie 8th Floor Learning Center, 818 South Second St. 

Packed with wit, precision, and sheer outrageousness, Noël Coward's Hay Fever centers on the eccentric Bliss family: Judith, a recently retired actress; David, a novelist; and Sorel and Simon, their two oddball children. When each member invites a guest to their country estate without the others realizing it, it is the guests who pay the price. Don't miss Coward's delightfully infectious comedy of bad manners about a weekend getaway gone awry. A Guthrie dramaturg provides scripts and assigns parts.   

MCC Members, sign up here.  Guests, email Linnea.

Social Bridge 

Wednesday, March 21, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm;  Stone Arch Lofts Community Room, 600 S. 2nd St.

Join advanced or intermediate bridge players for a round of social bridge. You are expected to come with a partner at your level. (Advanced players play all the major conventions comfortably.) If you need help finding a partner, contact Linnea Tweed at 612-455-3329, and she will assist you. Play begins immediately at 3:00 pm.
MCC Members, sign up here.  Guests, email Linnea. 

Last Tuesday Happy Hour  

Tuesday, March 27, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm;  Solera, 900 Hennepin Avenue  

Join host Barbara McBurney for this month's happy hour. Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites. Dutch treat! MCC Members and Guests.  

MCC Members, register here. 

MCC Men, register here, or call Linnea at 612-455-3329.   

MCC Members, sign up here. 

News From Members

MCC Members Laura Crosby shares this fun story:

"Now MCC members can have cheeky meetings in ever so private settings...just as Larry Neumann and I have had as of late.  We recently and repeatedly bumped into each other at the Benessere Center just across the Stone Arch Bridge where Kay Bashford and Dr. Andy Stella practice. My visits were related to fractured and broken bones and Larry's to hip replacement and seven serious residual problems from impact injuries.  To 'keep it simple, stupid' we highly recommend them to any of our MCC members. As Larry said, "I just finished my sessions first with Kay and then with Andy. Laura, I feel better than I have in years. Their therapy is truly miraculous." And I agree! They are miracle workers." -- Laura.  

Benessere celebrates seven years in business March 30. See more in 'Around Town' below.  

MCC Members Karla Ekdahl and Peter Hutchinson invite you to join Project SUCCESS in the fifth in a series of one-of-a-kind evenings in one-of-a-kind homes Wednesday, April 18. Karla has served on the board for 16 of Project SUCCESS's 20 years, and says from experience that the difference this organization makes in the lives of young people and their families is huge and far-reaching. For additional details and to RSVP, please click here.   

MCC Member Patty Connelly has shared information about a new book entitled Green Card Stories: The Human Face of the American Immigration Debate. This is a recently released coffee table photo book, and will be the essence of a panel discussion on the human face of the U.S. immigration debate to be held at the DePaul School of Public Service in Chicago on April 3.  For information on the panelists and the discussion at DePaul, click here. 

MCC Members Bill and Charlotte Davnie have been pleased with a resource available in the neighborhood called Hourcar (www.hourcar.org) and wanted to share this information with other members. This program offers short-term rental cars for a monthly fee and an hourly rate. They've found it to work quite well for them, and it could perhaps work well for other members who have cut back to one car.  Click here for more information on membership.

MCC Members Kim Eslinger and Dave Tinjum have created a metro website devoted specifically to our neighborhood. It's a place to go to find out what's happening ... whether it's a new restaurant opening, a local event, proposed new construction, etc.  Check it out at:  MillCityTimes.com 

Around Town

Benessere! 7th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, March 30, 4:00 - 8:00 pm; Benessere: Body in Balance, 125 Main St. SE, Suite 237

Join your neighbors for friendship and celebration at Benessere's 7th anniversary party and enjoy food, wine, and prizes! Register to win an iPad, Kindle Fire, Surdyk's Wine and Cheese Basket...and more! Don't know about Benessere? Learn about this integrated wellness center located in St. Anthony Main by going to their website.  

Vital Aging Network: Empowering the Caregiver Partner Event

Sunday, April 1; Resource Fair 11:00 am; Keynote 12:00 noon; Breakouts 1:00 - 5:00 pm;  DoubleTree by Hilton Park Place, 1500 Park Place, St. Louis Park

Hosted by Jewish Family & Children's Service of Minneapolis.

Keynote speaker: Barbara Rudnick, MN Counseling and Psychological Services. Free and open to the public.  For more information, click here.  To register, call 952-417-2111.   

Let's Talk Theatre: Remembering James Baldwin  

Monday, April 2, 5:30 - 6:30 pm Lobby Social, 6:00 - 7:00 pm Program; Penumbra Theatre, 270 North Kent St., St. Paul

Join Associate Artistic Director Dominic Taylor for a happy hour conversation about writer James Baldwin.  The evening will include readings Baldwin's oeuvre and an exploration of Baldwin's life, work, and activism.  For tickets, click here. 

Momentum 2012: Environmental Solutions in Motion

Thursday, April 5, 7:30 pm, Tedd Man Concert Hall, 2128 Fourth Street South

Winter Market  

Saturdays through April, 10:00am - 2:00pm;  Local D'Lish, 208 1st Street North

On the third Saturday of the month from November through April, Local D'Lish will be transformed from a grocery store to a bustling farmer's market.  Meet your farmers and food makers, sample some tasty treats and buy gifts for any occasion. Choices will include jams, chocolates, baked goods, apples, honey, all-natural skin care products, granola, meat, cheese and so much more.

For information: 612-886-3047 or http://www.localdlish.com

Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District Calendar (DID)

Upcoming MCC Events