Masthead
March 18, 2014
Executive Director Update
 
Thank you Mill City Commons members who have already renewed your memberships! Sixty memberships come due in April, and we so appreciate your continued support of Mill City Commons. Thanks, too, to all who have included a tax-deductible donation with your dues. We count on gifts for one third of our annual income. In addition to financial support, member involvement is critical to our sustainability. We very much appreciate members who host events and support each with rides, meals and friendship.
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I'm thrilled to have Program Coordinator Mary Texidor back from maternity leave. Mary won't be working a full 20 hours a week quite yet as baby Jeremiah needs her, too. Today, she's written an updated "Did You Know?" column that describes how to cancel a reservation, update the Member Directory and view payments. Unfortunately, the website only tracks payments for dues and events, not donations. We will track those via QuickBooks and mail you the charitable donation receipt. Please contact me with any questions.  Thank you!  -- Linnea

Social Bridge

Wednesday, March 19, 3:00 - 5:15 pm

Stone Arch Lofts Community Room, 600 S 2nd 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 major conventions comfortably).  If you need help finding a partner, contact Carol Jordan at 612-817-0466 or caroljordan@millcitycommons.org and she will assist you.  Play beings immediately at 3:00 pm.

 

Members sign up here; Guests email MCC. 

Our Turn: A Conversation for Women 

Thursday, March 20, 9:30 - 11:00 am  

The Landings, 413 River Street  

MCC women, come and join other women in conversation!  Patty Connelly hosts on the topic of:  "Travel is transformative.  For some of us, it's a journey to a far-off destination.  For others, it's a well-worn path to a cabin or hometown. Wherever the trail leads us, it can be a life changing experience. How has travel changed your life?"

 

Women MCC Members sign up here; Guests email MCC. 

Penumbra Theatre Rehearsal: The Mountaintop

Friday, March 21; 12:40 - 2:30 pm

The Guthrie Theater, 818 South 2nd Street

Watch the Penumbra Theatre's co-artistic director Lou Belamy direct this bold re-imagining of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last night. A soul-stirring hit in London and on Broadway, The Mountaintop's dramatic, magical storytelling gives us insight into King the man, and reaches a summit that might surprise you. The Mountaintop received the 2010 Olivier Award for Best Play and earned playwright Katori Hall the 2011 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.  Please meet in the Guthrie lobby at 12:40 where we'll be directed to the rehearsal space.  Mr. Belamy will speak for 15 minutes prior to the 1:00 rehearsal.

 

Members sign up here.

Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, March 25, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Aster River Room, 125 SE Main Street

Join us for the Last Tuesday Happy Hour hosted by Joanne Von Blon and Penny Winton. Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites.  Dutch treat - no reservations required!

 

Members and Guests welcome.
MacPhail:  Fostering Community Innovation in Rural MN
Wednesday, March 26, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Macphail Center for Music, 501 S 2nd St
Experience a live musical performance and learn about a unique program at our local treasure, MacPhail Center for Music.  To meet the need for music education in greater Minnesota, the Center has instituted long-distance classes with high schools from 17 communities across the state. Join us for a program tailored for MCC and experience the impact of this unique program that reaches 1,500 students in weekly lessons.  Light refreshments will be served.

Members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Men's Coffee and Conversation 
Thursday, March 27, 7:30 - 8:30 am
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE

Coffee 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.  This week's topic is led by Mike Fronk on "Black Swans:  who and what they were and how they impacted American history, especially military engagements."

 

Men MCC Members sign up here; Guests email MCC.

Aging Well:  An Ongoing Conversation 
Friday, March 28, 1:30 - 3:00 pm 
North Star Lofts, 117 Portland Ave, #602
Join fellow members to discuss a topic picked by the host on the topic of aging well. This monthly conversation is part of our Healthy Village Series, programming designed to support quality aging. Delia and Tyrone Bujold host.
 
Members sign up here.
Creating Dialogue:  Othello 
Tuesday, April 1, 3:30 - 4:45 pm
Washburn Lofts, 700 S 2nd St
Expand your perspectives of live theater and dramatic literature during this program offered by the Guthrie Theater.  Student alumni of the theater will read scenes from Othello and lead a discussion that will touch on the ethical and civic questions in the play. Michelle O'Neil (alumna of 18 Guthrie productions) will facilitate the discussion that will offer participants an opportunity to explore a scene's social/cultural/historical meaning and to reflect on their own personal values.  Joanne Von Blon hosts.                                                         

Members sign up here.

Technology Helpdesk
Tuesday, April 1, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
MCC Office, 219 Main St SE, Ste 401

Schedule time with a Tech Support Guru from Network Guidance 2.0 and have your nagging technology questions answered during our complimentary Helpdesk.  When you register, MCC will confirm the time of your 20-30 minute one-to-one session.  Reminder:  Installing or upgrading software and creating accounts cannot be included in the Helpdesk session, as they exceed the allotted appointment time.

 

Members sign up here.
News From Members 

  

MCC member Penny Hunt invites you to watch the 30 minute documentary "Late Life:  Redefining Care" on Twin Cities Public Television which focuses on the challenges and opportunities around late life care in our community. The documentary is the first installment of a six part series funded by the Robina Foundation, the foundation Penny works with.  The documentary airs tonight, Tuesday, March 18, at 9 pm.  The documentary and patient stories will also be available on LifeCourseMN.

 

MCC member Carol Jordan invites you to experience the documentary, "Mexico Uncovered." Facilitated by Mary Stucky, long-time contributor to national shows on public and commercial radio, there will be a lively conversation via Skype with some of the young American and Mexican journalists who reported on stories for this documentary. Also participating, live from Mexico City, will be the host of the program, Daniel Hernandez.  This program is part of Minnesota International Center's 2014 focus on Mexico in collaboration with the Friends of the Minneapolis Central Library and Round Earth Media. Monday, March 31, 5:30 pm registration; 6-7:30 pm program; Minneapolis Central Library's Pohlad Hall. Free but registration is requested micglobe.org or 612-625-1662.

 

MCC member Patty Connelly is wondering if any MCC members would be interested in forming a group to participate in the North Loop Neighborhood Earth Day Cleanup on April 26.  The cleanup includes picking up trash in our neighborhood's streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and green spaces.  Supplies will be provided by the city of Minneapolis. If you are interested in participating, please contact Patty Connelly or contact Scott Woller for more information.  

 

Several MCC members wanted to share this New York Times article: The Science of Older and Wiser.  

 

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

Fifth Annual Cuban Film Festival

February 20 - March 27, every Thursday, 7 pm St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 Main Street SE

The Fifth Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival will once again present a selection of the best new and vintage Cuban cinema. This year the theme is Women and Afro-Cubans in Cuban Cinema, dedicated to the continuing fight for the release of the Cuban 5 and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. Films are in Spanish with English subtitles. Join the discussion afterwards at Pracna on Main. For more information:  click here.

 

Minneapolis Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan Update CAC Meeting 

Tuesday, March 25, 6-7:30 pm, 2117 West River Rd N, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Headquarter's Board Room

The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board will host a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting to gather public input for the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan. This meeting is open to the public and will focus on the west bank, including the Bassett's Creek and Gateway areas. The Park Board encourages the public to attend CAC meetings to share ideas, concerns and priorities with the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park design team. 

 

MCC Upcoming Events 
                    
View the March Calendar here
View the April Calendar here

March 19: Social Bridge.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

March 20: Our Turn: A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

March 21: Penumbra Theater Rehearsal: The Mountaintop.  Members click here. 

March 25: Last Tuesday Happy Hour.  No reservations!

March 26: MacPhail: Fostering Community.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

March 27: Men's Coffee and Conversation.  Members click here; Guests email MCC. 

March 28: Aging Well: An Ongoing Conversation.  Members click here.

April 1:  Creating Dialogue:  Othello.  Members click here.

April 1:  Technology Helpdesk.  Members click here.

April 2:  Rendezvous Readers Book Chat.  No reservations required.

April 2:  Social Bridge.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

April 3:  Our Turn:  A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

April 6:  Sunday Soiree.  Members click here.

April 7:  Nosy Neighbor Tour:  Downtown YWCA.  Members click here.

April 8:  Guthrie Play Reading:  Crimes of the Heart.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.
Mill City Commons   
Did You Know?
  
Have you logged on to the new website?  If the answer is yes, now go into your member profile to see all that you can do!  When you log on to www.millcitycommons.org, you can hover the cursor over your name on the top right hand side of the screen and click on "profile."  The member profile page allows you to change your username and password, see when your MCC membership is set to expire, update your contact information, and view payments you've made to MCC.  You can also click on "Event History" under Financial/Historical Data to see events you've signed up for.  From there, you can cancel your current registrations if you are unable to attend an event.  
 
 Consider creating your bio while you are in your member profile.  Click on "Standard Member Directory" under "Personal Info."  A bio can be a short paragraph that:
-Tells us about your family 
-Tells us about your hobbies and interests 
-Tells us where you have worked and/or volunteered (currently or in the past) 
-Tells us where you grew up and/or have lived 
-Tells us why you joined MCC!  
 
The membership directory is an excellent resource to get to know other MCC members.  Do you want to send a card to another member or get to know them a bit better?  On the top of the webpage, click on "Membership" -> "Membership Directory" -> and then the member's name.  You can now see their contact information and bio. 
 
The website is an excellent resource -- if you need help accessing it, please contact the office at 612-455-3329 or info@millcitycommons.org
 
 Thank you!
 
 

MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities

 

Rendezvous

Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, April 2, 9:30-10:30 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
    No reservations required.
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker.
 

Rendezvous on 5

Wednesdays, 9-10 am

Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express

Drop in and join your friends and neighbors for fellowship at this neighborhood haunt.  This weekly adventure requires no reservations!

 

Men's Coffee and Conversation  

Thursday, March 27
7:30 - 8:30 am

Elsie's Restaurant,

729 Marshall Street NE

Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This group meets every other week and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.

Our Turn  

Thursday, March 20

9:30 - 11:00 am 

Relax and chat with other MCC women. This group meets every other week and alternates between morning and afternoon times. Look for details in the body of this newsletter.

 

 

MCC Ongoing Fitness Opportunities


SBS Class

*Mondays

7:30-8:30am

(*Monday's are on hiatus in March) 

Thursdays
2:00-3:00pm
501FIT,
501 Washington Avenue
Created exclusively for MCC, this class at 501F1T focuses on strength, balance, and stretching. 
First time participants, please contact 501F1T at 612-767-4415 and arrive 20 minutes early to complete paperwork. Cost varies depending on commitment.

  

  River Walkers

Tuesdays and Thursdays,

7:30-8:30am

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,

8:00-9:15am

Yoga Center Minneapolis, 212 3rd Ave N., Suite 205

This is an alignment-based class. 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.

 
Mill City Commons | 219 Main Street SE, Suite 401, Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.millcitycommons.org | info@millcitycommons.org  
612-455-3329