Masthead
April 29, 2014
Executive Director Update
 
Haven't been to The Freehouse on North Washington Avenue? Join us tonight for Last Tuesday Happy Hour! You'll find details below. Ideas for a happy hour venue and an interest in hosting a Last Tuesday Happy Hour? Contact MCC Member Volunteer Barbara McBurney -- here's a link to the MCC Member Directory (members only -- you'll need to log in). Haven't been on the MCC members only website? Here's a "How To" link for first time users. 
Mary Texidor has created a "How To" in the Did You Know column to the right to help you navigate the MCC Member Directory. She's filled the directory with member photos taken by MCC Member Peggy Weber -- take a look before coming to happy hour to help you put a member name with a face. Of course, we'll have name badges tonight to help. Happy hours are open to guests and we encourage members to bring a neighbor to introduce them to Mill City Commons. I hope to see you there!!  
-- Linnea
Last Tuesday Happy Hour 
Tuesday, April 29, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
The Freehouse, 701 N Washington Ave, #101
Join us for the Last Tuesday Happy Hour hosted by Marcia Townley, Mary Margaret MacMillan, and Larry Neumann.  Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites.
 
MCC Members and Guests welcome.  No reservations required.

Social Bridge

Wednesday, April 30, 3:00 - 5:15 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 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, May 1, 3:30 - 5:30 pm

La Rive Community Room and Deck, 110 Bank St SE

MCC women, come and join other women in conversation!  This week's meeting is hosted by Arvonne Fraser who asks "What have you learned lately that surprised, amused, helped you, improved your life or your understanding of the world?  No matter how old or wise we are, we keep learning."

 
Arvonne is extending Our Turn to 5:30 with wine and snacks.  During this time, we would like to have a discussion on Our Turn.  We have been meeting since October, evolving, doing topics, reading an article, having a speaker.  Questions to discuss: what has worked, what needs to change; ideas and feedback are most welcome.  

Women MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC. 

Technology Helpdesk
Monday, May 5, 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-on-one session. Reminder:  installing or upgrading software and creating accounts cannot be included in the Helpdesk session, as they exceed the allotted appointment time.

MCC Members sign up here.
Milkweed Editions:  A Local Publisher 
Tuesday, May 6, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Open Book, Target Performance Hall, 1011 Washington Ave S
Please join fellow members to hear Daniel Slager, Publisher & CEO of Milkweed Editions, discuss publishing stories of several upcoming titles from the Milkweed press. Founded in Minnesota in 1980, Milkweed Editions is an independent literary press dedicated to identifying, nurturing and publishing transformative literature, and building an engaged community around it. In addition to learning how a story develops from a manuscript to a printed book, we'll hear his perspective on the future of independent publishing.
 

MCC Members sign up here; Guests email MCC.

Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat 
Wednesday, May 7, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express, 818 N 2nd St
This month's Book Chat offers a special opportunity!  We will be discussing The Monuments Men, an intriguing story of men who volunteered for service during World War II in order to save as much of the culture of Europe as possible.  The group had expertise as curators, art scholars, educators, museum directors and artists, yet they went into combat to find and protect art being pillaged by Hitler's forces.  One of the Monument Men was from Minneapolis; and his niece will join us to share stories about Walter Huchthausen, the American killed in Germany while working on the Monuments project. 
 

MCC Members and Guests welcome.  No reservations required.

Men's Coffee and Conversation 
Thursday, May 8, 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 host is Tony Hofstede who will introduce Peter Wagenius, the Senior Policy Aide to Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges.  Mr. Wagenius will update members on the Southwest LRT project and will comment on some of the mayor's priorities in the year ahead.

 

Men MCC Members sign up here; Guests email MCC.

Great Decisions 
Monday, May 12, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Winslow House Party Room, 100 2nd St S
This month's Great Decisions Discussion Group will respond to the chapter on Islamic Awakening. The aftermath of the Arab Spring has resulted in unforeseen changes in the political landscape in many countries, especially regarding the role of Islam and democracy.  How have the countries in the Maghreb reacted, including Tunisia, where the Arab Spring began?  Is U.S. foreign policy adapting successfully to all of the changes in the region?  MCC Member Sam Kaplan is our guest speaker.
 

MCC Great Decisions Members sign up here.

Birding Walk I 
Tuesday, May 13, 8:00 - 9:30 am
East end of the Stone Arch Bridge

Celebrate spring with the first in a series of three bird watching walks along the river!  We hope to see migrating warblers and other songbirds.  Jamie McBride, Lead Naturalist with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation board, will lead the walks.  We will leave from the east end of the Stone Arch Bridge at 8:00 am.  Or join us at 7:45 am on the west side and walk across.  Parking is available at meters or in the Stone Arch Lofts parking lot on West River Road.

 

MCC Members sign up here; Guests email MCC.

News From Members 
 
MCC member Kin-Shing Lun invites members to join car2go-Minneapolis in celebrating their 6 month anniversary.  The party takes place at Elsie's, 729 Marshall St NE, on May 1, 4:00 - 8:00 pm, and will include free bowling, food, and appetizers. If you're not already a car2go member, you can sign up for free at the event.  
 
Several MCC members of the Men's Coffee and Conversation breakfast group are starting an "MCC Table" luncheon at Elsie's on alternating Thursdays.  No reservations, no program, Dutch Treat.  The next gathering will be Thursday, May 1, at 11:30 am.

MCC member Marsha Blumenthal shares that the Orchid Society of Minnesota is hosting the national orchid show.  There will be 4500 square feet of orchid exhibits, 15 vendors, and lectures May 2-4 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Bloomington. For more information, click here.
 
MCC member Dick Kavaney invites members to join in the fun of Marcy-Holmes Spring Fest on May 3.  Listen to live music, hear stories of historic site sculptures, and much more from 12:00 - 4:00 pm at 6th Ave Greenway and University Ave SE.
  
MCC members Barbara McBurney, Pat Hoven, and Penny Hunt invite members to join them at the World Savvy Gala on May 29.  See how World Savvy students and teachers convert Knowledge to Action to create change in their communities and the world.  RSVP by May 20 by clicking here.
 
MCC member Dick Kavaney shares an article on Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's trail of the month: Minnesota's Dinkytown Greenway.
 
MCC member Dick Olson invites members to attend the "Caring for a Person with Memory Loss" conference on May 31.  This free conference will provide information, support, and education to adult children, spouses, parents, and others concerned with caring for persons with memory loss.  Pre-registration is required.  To register or see the conference details, click here.
 
Around Town

 

Art in Bloom

May 1-4, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 3rd Ave S

Complimentary 45 minute docent-led tours of floral displays will be available at Art in Bloom.  For more information, click here.

  

Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan CAC Meeting

May 6, 6:00-7:45 pm, MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road N, Board Room

The tenth CAC meeting will include finalization of the Master Plan's Vision Statement, and discussion of the Guiding Principles and Programming Matrix.  For more information, click here.


Mill City Farmer's Market - - Opening Day

May 10, 8 am - 1 pm, Chicago Avenue between 2nd St S and West River Parkway

Kick off Mother's Day weekend and celebrate the much awaited spring season with farm-fresh foods, live music, and local fine arts and crafts.  For details on the market, click here.

 

The Soap Factory Presents:  We Are Water

May 10-June 7, Soap Factory, 514 2nd St SE

An exhibition by Wang Ping, We Are Water is the culmination of the five-year Kinship of Rivers project linking the spiritual cultures on the Yangtze and Mississippi rivers.  Artists bring poetry and stories to life with art installations, music, and performance. Learn more by clicking here.

  

Art-A-Whirl

May 16-18, Northeast Minneapolis 

Presented by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country. It's a great opportunity to tour private artist studios and galleries, connect with the artists, and purchase original artwork.  For more information, click here. 

 

Mill City Times

It's a metro website devoted specifically to our neighborhood and a place to go to find out what's happening, whether it's a new restaurant opening, a local event, proposed construction, etc.  Check it out at MillCityTimes.com.

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

 

April 29:  Last Tuesday Happy Hour.  No reservations necessary.

April 30:  Social Bridge.  Members click here;  Guests email MCC.

May 1:  Our Turn:  A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 5:  Technology Helpdesk.  Members click here.

May 6:  Milkweed Editions: A Local Publisher.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 7:  Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat.  No reservations required.

May 8:  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 12:  Great Decisions.  MCC Great Decisions members click here.

May 13:  Birding Walk I.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 13:  Program Committee Meeting.  

May 14:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

May 14:  Social Bridge.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 14:  MCC Annual and Monthly Board Meeting. Members click here. 

May 15:  Our Turn:  A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 15:  Nosy Neighbor Tour:  Hydrology Lab.  Members click here.

May 18:  Sunday Salad Soiree.  Members click here.

May 19:  Aging Well:  What's Next?  Members click here.  

May 20:  Birding Walk II.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

 
Mill City Commons   
Did You Know?
 
... how to find a member's contact information?
2.  Hover your cursor over "Membership."
3. Click on "Membership Directory."
4. Type in member's last name in the "Search for Member" box.
5.  Click on the member's name to see contact details, including their mailing address and email address.

You can also find a member contact list in our document library on the site.  Click here to view the most recent contact list.
 
...what the "?" floating on the right side of the screen is for?
Another great resource for getting help on the website is the "?" button on the right hand side of the screen.  When you click it, a screen pops up with helpful information about the page that you are currently viewing.  

 

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, May 7 
9:30-10:30 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
    No reservations required.
The Monuments Men by Robert Edsel
 

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, May 8
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: A Conversation for Women 

Thursday, May 1

3:30-5:30 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

                            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