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Executive Director Update
Last year, Mill City Commons was part of a national survey conducted by Rutgers University and the University of California-Berkeley. Their report, "A National Overview of Villages: Results from a 2012 Organizational Survey" presents a national "snapshot" of Villages in the U.S.
The report includes data on organizational characteristics, finances, community settings, membership statistics, services, activities, governance and collaborations of the 69 Villages surveyed. The report states "...Villages have emerged as an innovative model to help people remain in their homes and to connect with their communities throughout later life." I am grateful to our founders for their vision, tenacity and commitment required to launch and build Mill City Commons into a Village of almost 170 members. To view the report, please go to the Village to Village Network's home page by clicking here. Thank you! -- Linnea
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Nosy Neighbor Tour: Minneapolis Club
 Tuesday, January 29, 4:00 - 5:00 pm;
Minneapolis Club, 729 Second Avenue South
Join fellow members for a tour of the recently renovated Minneapolis Club. The Club looked to a London hotel called The Connaught for design inspiration. The tour will end at the bar for happy hour!
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Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, January 29, 5:00 - 6:00 pm;
Minneapolis Club, 729 Second Avenue South
Join host Susan Boren for this month's happy hour. Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites. Dutch treat! No reservations!
MCC Members and Guests.
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Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, January 31, 7:30 - 8:30 am;
Nicollet Island Inn, 95 Merriam Street
 Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday at Nicollet Island Inn and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going. Bob Whitlock hosts this week and will be asking participants to give recollections on "Who or what: What person or event had a positive (or negative) impact on you"?
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Intermediate Bridge Lessons
Tuesday, February 5, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm;
Stone Arch Lofts Community Room, 600 South Second Street
 The intermediate to advanced lessons include reviews of less basic conventions (Transfer bids, 2 club openings etc.), the introduction of more intricate conventions (Michaels cue bids and Roman Key Card Blackwood as examples) as well as an emphasis on work with defensive signals and justification of the hands. These are just some of the possibilities and others may be suggested by members. Lessons run for six weeks through February 19. Lessons are $15 per session or six for $60.
MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
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Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, February 6, 9:30 - 10:30 am;
Guthrie Theater Level Five Express, 818 South Second Street
Join us for our discussion of Grand Opening by Jon Hassler in which twelve-year old Brendan tells the story, set in 1944-45, that begins with his parents' decision to buy a run-down grocery store in a tiny Minnesota town. What they discover about small town idealism, bigotry and good old American values will change them and the town forever. Barbara Goldner hosts this month's discussion. This adventure requires no reservations!
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Social Bridge
Wednesday, February 6, 3:00 - 5:15 pm;
Stone Arch Lofts Community Room, 600 South Second Street
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.
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Complimentary Technology Help Desk
Thursday, February 7, 6:00 - 7:30 pm; (NOTE NEW DAY, TIME AND LOCATION!)
MCC Office, 219 Main Street, Suite 401
 Schedule time with Tech Support Guru Max Fritz from Network Guidance 2.0. Max can answer your nagging technology questions during our complimentary help desk. When you register, Linnea will confirm the time of your 20-30 minute one-to-one session. A reminder: Installing or upgrading software and creating accounts are not appropriate for the help desk as they exceed the 20-30 minute appointment time. Linnea is also available to answer your questions on how to utilize the MCC members only website.
MCC Members, sign up here.
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Great Decisions Discussion Group
Monday, February 11, 7:00 - 8:30 pm;
Winslow House Community Room, 100 Second Street SE
The Great Decisions Discussion Group is centered on the Great Decisions briefing book developed by the Foreign Policy Association. This well researched annual publication provides eight timely global topics to be read by group participants prior to each session. This month's topic is Myanmar and Southeast Asia. The West has welcomed unprecedented democratic reforms made by Myanmar's government. What challenges must Myanmar overcome before it can fully join the international community? Our guest speaker, Dick Virden, has served with U.S. embassies in Portugal, Poland, Romania, Thailand, and Vietnam. Ellie Hands hosts.
MCC Great Decisions Members, sign up here.
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Intermediate Bridge Lessons
Tuesday, February 12, 10:00 am-12:00 pm;
Stone Arch Lofts Community Room, 600 South Second Street
The intermediate to advanced lessons include reviews of less basic conventions (Transfer bids, 2 club openings etc.), the introduction of more intricate conventions (Michaels cue bids and Roman Key Card Blackwood as examples) as well as an emphasis on work with defensive signals and justification of the hands. These are just some of the possibilities and others may be suggested by members. Lessons run for six weeks through February 19. Lessons are $15 per session or six for $60.
MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
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Guthrie Play Reading: Long Day's Journey into Night
Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 - 9:00 pm;
Guthrie's Livingston Conference Room, 818 South Second Street
Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning autobiographical family drama,
Long Day's Journey into Night, explores the highs and lows of the Tyrone family. It takes an ordinary day together in their seaside Connecticut home to face the fact that what's holding them together could be tearing them apart. A Guthrie dramaturg will assign parts.
MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
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News From Members
MCC Member Peggy Lucas wants you to know about "Romance Dance" with the James Sewell Ballet on Thursday, February 14, 6:00-10:00 pm, at the Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Avenue. Enjoy a James Sewell Ballet performance, music, appetizers, live auction, dinner and dessert. To reserve tickets, call 612-672-0480 or email info@jsballet.org.
MCC Member Margee Bracken invites you to the Bakken Trio's mid-winter concert, "The Garden of the Gamelan", on Sunday, February 24th, at 4:00 pm at MacPhail Center for Music. The concert features music of Debussy, Ravel, and Harrison. Four free tickets are available -- send a request to margeebracken@gmail.com and she will mail tickets to you.
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
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Around Town
Contempo Physical Dance
Contempo Physical Dance will premiere Batuque at the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Avenue, February 1-3. Batuque explores the African origins and rise of samba in Brazil. Contempo Physical Dance aspires to be internationally recognized for its dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian, capoeira and contemporary dance. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
Nordic Lights Film Festival
The Nordic Lights Film Festival, February 8-14 at the St. Anthony Main Theater, 115 Main Street SE, will highlight contemporary cinematic treasures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and support Minnesota's historic Scandinavian ties while giving a modern look into new sides of Nordic cultures. Click here for more information.
BoDeans
Hear the BoDeans in concert on Monday, February 11, 7:30 pm, at the Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 Second Street South. The BoDeans are still rocking and harmonizing gracefully, exposing longtime fans (and their kids) to real, heartfelt and trend-free music. Click here to buy tickets.
Collide Theatrical Dance Company
See the upcoming production, Lot of Living to Do, February 14-17, at Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Avenue South. Enjoy this dance musical which follows the story of three women in a brothel in the 1930's and seeks to raise awareness for The Women's Foundation's Project, "MN Girls Are Not For Sale". Click here for more information.
Animal Tracking at Wirth Park
A naturalist will lead a guided hike on Saturday, February 23, 10:00-11:30 am, as you look for tracks and other signs of animals in winter. Many animals stay active in winter or can return in February as nature readies itself for the coming spring. Meet at the Wirth Beach parking lot on Glenwood Avenue just east of Theodore Wirth Parkway. Fee is $5 per person. Click here to register.
Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District Calendar (DID)
This DID web site has a calendar feature with lots of great information! It covers many downtown venues with current happenings and performers e.g. all of the theaters, Target Field, the convention center, etc. It's really a worthwhile site to keep in mind when you're looking for things to do downtown! To check it out, use this link.
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Upcoming MCC Events
View our detailed January Calendar here!
View our detailed February Calendar here!
January 29: Nosy Neighbor Tour: Minneapolis Club. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
January 29: Last Tuesday Happy Hour: Minneapolis Club. MCC Members and Guests.
January 31: Men's Coffee and Conversation. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 5: Bridge Lessons. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 6: Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat: Grand Opening. MCC Members and Guests.
February 6: Social Bridge. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 7: Complimentary Technology Help Desk. MCC Members, sign up here.
February 11: Great Decisions Discussion Group. MCC Great Decisions Members, sign up here.
February 12: Bridge Lessons. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 12: Guthrie Play Reading: Long Day's Journey into Night. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 14: Men's Coffee and Conversation. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 17: Chalk Talk and U of M Women's Basketball. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 17: Sunday Soup Soiree. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
February 19: Bridge Lessons. MCC Members, sign up here, Guests, email Linnea.
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A note from Patti Ries,
Mill City Commons
Program Coordinator
Did You Know?
In an article from the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing, the author poses the question: "What can I do to achieve more balance in my life?" By tending to our well-being, we enhance our sense of balance in life. According to the article, the six aspects of well-being are: Health, relationships, security, purpose, community and environment. We optimize well-being by maintaining health in mind, body and spirit, incorporating positive emotions and attitudes, decreasing stress levels, preserving healthy sleep patterns, exercising regularly, sustaining strong relationships with family and friends, engaging in volunteer activities, practicing preventative habits, decreasing feelings of anxiety or fear, embracing a strong sense of purpose and meaning, getting more involved in our community, surrounding ourselves with a peaceful environment, and spending time each day in the wonder of nature!
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MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities
Rendezvous on 5
Wednesdays, 9-10 am
Guthrie Theater
Level Five Express
818 S 2nd St
Drop in and join your friends and neighbors at this neighborhood haunt. Enjoy a cup of coffee and fellowship with other MCC members. This weekly adventure requires no reservations!
Rendezvous
Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, February 6 9:30-10:30 am
Guthrie Theater
Level Five Express
818 S 2nd St
Join us to discuss Grand Opening by Jon Hassler. Barbara Goldner hosts this month's discussion.
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, January 31
7:30 - 8:30 am
Nicollet Island Inn,
95 Merriam Street
Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.
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MCC Ongoing Fitness Opportunities
SBS Class
Mondays, 7:35-8:35 am and
Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 pm
501FIT
501 Washington Avenue
Created exclusively for MCC, this class at 501F1T focuses on strength, balance, and stretching. Please register by contacting 501F1T at (612) 767-4415.
River Walkers
Tuesdays and Thursdays,
7:30-8:30 am
Stone Arch Lofts Riverside Parking Lot
All level of walkers welcome for this early morning walk along the banks of the Mississippi River. An MCC volunteer leads each walk.
Hatha Yoga
Wednesdays and Fridays,
8:00-9:15 am
This alignment-based class is held at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis, 212 3rd Ave N., Suite 205.
Purchase a 12-class pass for $132 directly from YCM to use as your schedule allows, or drop in on a class for $12.50.
Contact Dena at 612.436.4700 for details.
Drop-ins welcome.
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