March 25, 2014

Executive Director Update

I hope you can join us this afternoon at the River Room at the Aster Café for Last Tuesday Happy Hour! It's a great chance to meet your neighbors and to introduce others to Mill City Commons. Join us and bring a friend! MCC members Joanne Von Blon and Penny Winton host. You'll find details below.

Tomorrow night, join us for an exclusive MCC program (guests are welcome) at MacPhail Center for Music. In addition to a musical presentation, we'll hear from President and COO Paul Babcock on how they are creating community partnerships. I do hope you can join us -- we'll have refreshments at 5:00 -- the program starts at 5:30. Please find details below. Thank you! -- Linnea

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

Wednesday, March 26, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

MacPhail Center for Music, 501 S 2nd St

Experience a live

musical performance and learn about our local treasure's community partnerships from MacPhail's President and COO Paul Babcock. He'll highlight one unique program the Center has instituted of long-distance classes with high schools from 17 communities across the state to meet the demand for music education. Join us for a program tailored for MCC that highlights MacPhail's innovative partnerships! 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 on the topic of "Values: Are they important? How is growing older changing and influencing our values?"

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 d

ramatic 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.

Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat

Wednesday, April 2, 9:30 - 10:30 am

Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express, 818 S 2nd St

Join us to discuss Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp-Sendker. Called a "magical novel" in the Huffington Post, the story describes a young woman's search for her father, a successful lawyer. The daughter's discovery that he had a life before she was born leads her to Burma. Though the narrative takes place between the 1950s and the present, it asks an age-old question: "How well do we know our parents?"

MCC Members and Guests. No registration required.

Social Bridge

Wednesday, April 2, 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, April 3, 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Zenith, 901 South 2nd Street #803

MCC women, come and join other women in conversation! Katie Searl hosts on the topic of "What is wisdom? Does it come with age?" Discussion will be based on the article "Why Older Often Means Wiser" and participants will ponder the questions of "Can young people be wise?" and "Does wisdom imply a kind of peace with the world or acceptance of the world?"

Women MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.

Sunday Soiree

Sunday, April 6, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

La Rive Community Room, 110 Bank St SE

Join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Soiree hosted by Barbara McBurney, Diane Lawrence, Arvonne and Don Fraser, and Lynn Bowe and Charlie Kuivinen. The change of season warrants a change in menu. The hosts suggest a potluck and ask that participants bring anything from appetizers or hotdish to salads, desserts or wine. Please let us know what you plan to bring by answering the "Question" while registering. We hope to see you there!

Members sign up here.

Nosy Neighbor Tour: Downtown YWCA

Monday, April 7, 10:00 - 11:00 am

1130 Nicollet Ave, Room 230

The Downtown YWCA, at its current site since 1929, provides a variety of programs that its President and CEO, Becky Roloff, will describe for our group. During a tour of the building, we will learn about the Y's unique curriculum for Early Childhood Education, see the roof top view of Minneapolis, and visit the RAP (Girls and Youth Resolution and Prevention) room. The tour includes a stop at the health and fitness facility, which hosts the Silver Sneakers program. Coffee will be served.

Members sign up here.

Guthrie Play Reading: Crimes of the Heart

Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 - 9:30 pm

Guthrie Theater Livingston Conference Room, 818 S 2nd St

Enjoy this month's Guthrie Play Reading of Crimes of the Heart, winner of both a Pulitzer Prize and a New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Touted as both a deeply touching Southern Gothic and a screwball comedy, the play depicts the day that three sisters-each in trouble with the law-- reunite in their hometown to await news of their ailing grandfather. The New York Post noted, "(the play) has heart, wit and a surprisingly zany passion..." A Guthrie dramaturg will assign parts.

Members sign up here; Guests email MCC.

News From Members

MCC members who attended the Penumbra Theatre's rehearsal of The Mountaintop invite all MCC members to join them at a matinee on April 12 to see the entire performance. Members were incredibly moved by the play, which is a bold and dramatic re-imagining of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last night. If you are interested in attending, please email Linnea Tweed no later than April 8 so that a block of tickets can be purchased at a discounted rate.

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 and patient stories are available on LifeCourseMN.

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.

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

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.

Cocktails at the Soap: Bourbon

May 15, 6-8 pm, Soap Factory, 514 Second Street SE

Each installment of Cocktails at The Soap will center on a selected spirit and, working with a celebrated bartender, the programwill include an introductory and ending cocktail, insider tips and history of each featured spirit and selected tasting. The series kicks off with Bourbon as our featured spirit! Space is limited. For more information or to reserve a spot, click here. Tickets are $25.

Mighty Mississippi Discovery Backpacks

Check out a free, fun Mighty Mississippi Discovery Backpack at Fort Snelling State Park. The backpacks include everything needed to explore the park and the Mississippi River including activity cards, binoculars, magnifying lenses, bird calls, easy-to-use nature guides and more! Click here to learn more about the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

MCC Upcoming Events

View the March Calendar here

View the April Calendar here

March 25: Last Tuesday Happy Hour. No reservations!

March 26: Rendezvous on 5. No reservations necessary.

March 26: MacPhail: Fostering Community Innovation. 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.

April 9: Rendezvous on 5. No reservations necessary.

April 9: MCC Board Meeting.

April 10: Men's Coffee and Conversation. Members click here; Guests email MCC.

April 14: Great Decisions. Members click here.

Mill City Commons

Did You Know?

There is a difference between the member profile and the member directory?

The member directory is where you can see the contact information for other members. To access the member directory, log in and put your cursor on "Membership" and then click on "Membership Directory."

On our new website, the member profile is where you can manage and track your own account including renewal payments, events you've attended or have registered for, and your contact information. To access your member profile, log in and hover your cursor over your name on the top right-hand side of the screen and click on "Profile."

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, April 3

3:30 - 5:00 pm

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