Masthead
February 24, 2015
Executive Director Update
     

I want to pass along the "thank yous" I've received from organizations whose volunteer positions were listed on our website under "Community Volunteer Opportunities." Thank you, MCC members, for your involvement in the many worthy charitable organizations in our community!! If you're involved in an organization that's looking for volunteers, we're happy to list details on our site. It's one more way we can support this fabulous neighborhood.  

 

Hope to see you at Marvel Bar for Last Tuesday Happy Hour tonight! Please see details below. Our hosts, MCC members Will and Ginny Craig, want you to know that Marvel Bar opens at 5:00 (doors will be locked until 5:00). It's located behind and beneath The Bachelor Farmer -- on 2nd Ave N, downhill from its intersection with N 1st Street. Invite a neighbor to join you -- guests are welcome!  -- Linnea   
Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, February 24, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Marvel Bar, 50 N 2nd Ave 
Join us for the Last Tuesday Happy Hour.  Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites.  Dutch treat - no reservations required!  Ginny and Will Craig host at the Marvel Bar, just recently named "Best Cocktail Bar" by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine and a top rated bar in the U.S.  Try one of their custom cocktails, their weekly punch, a glass of wine or beer.  If you'd like to stay for dinner, make reservations upstairs at The Bachelor Farmer by calling 612-206-3920. Marvel Bar is located behind and beneath The Bachelor Farmer. Doors do not open until 5:00.

MCC members and guests.  No reservations required. 
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, February 26, 7:30 - 8:30 am
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St   
Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This groups meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going. Please register by the Monday prior.  MCC member John Crosby hosts Ted Tucker, who will give an update on the key elements of the Central Riverfront Master Plan. Mr. Tucker was Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee and presented the plan to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board last month.  The plan covers both sides of the River from the I-35 bridge to the Plymouth Ave bridge.  In addition to his remarks, he will show a video and answer questions.  Ted is a leader in the Marcy Holmes neighborhood and a longtime activist for projects along the central riverfront.

Men MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
12,000 Years on the Minneapolis Central Riverfront
Thursday, February 26, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
The Towers Garden Room, 15 S 1st St 
Minnesota State Archaeologist Scott Anfinson will share the cultural and environmental history of the riverfront, focusing on what we have learned from archaeological explorations over the last quarter century. It begins with ancient Indian occupations before St. Anthony Falls was even present and ends with recent re-development activities. As State Archaeologist, Scott's duties include authenticating unrecorded burial grounds, protecting archaeological sites, promoting archaeological education, and encouraging archaeological research. He is the author of a number of books including A Handbook of Minnesota Prehistoric Ceramics, Southwestern Minnesota Archaeology, and two volumes of The Minnesota Archaeologist on the archaeology and history of the Minneapolis Central Riverfront.

MCC Members sign up here.
Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, March 4, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express, 818 S 2nd St
Join us to discuss The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier, a novel about the power of bravery, friendship, and perseverance.  For a modest English Quaker in 1850, life is a trial.  Untethered from the moment she leaves England, fleeing personal disappointment, Honor Bright is forced by family tragedy to rely on strangers in an alien, untamed landscape.  Drawn into the clandestine activities of the Underground Railroad, a network helping runaway slaves escape to freedom, Honor befriends two exceptional people who embody the startling power of defiance.  Eventually she must decide if she too can act on what she believes in, whatever the personal cost. 

MCC members and guests.  No reservations required.
Social Bridge
Wednesday, March 4, 3:00 - 5:00 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 Carol Jordan at 612-817-0466 or caroljordan@millcitycommons.org and she will assist you. Play begins immediately at 3:00 pm.

MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, March 5, 9:30 - 11:00 am
RiverWest Community Room, 401 S 1st St
MCC women and guests, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women.  This group meets every other Thursday alternating between morning and afternoon times.  Marilyn Broussard hosts on the topic of "Talk Back:  We Can All Be Pundits."  Are there times when you want to talk back to news commentators, opinion writers or politicians about an issue because you could make better arguments supporting an issue or feel they're engaging in the wrong conversation about a news item or ignoring topics that deserve more attention?  Come and share your opinions!

MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.

Great Decisions
Monday, March 9, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

The Towers Garden Room, 15 S 1st St 

The idea of "privacy" has undergone significant changes in the digital age, as has the idea of privacy "harm."  Fearful of British spying, influence and intervention, the founding fathers granted citizens significant protections in the Constitution.  Legislation, both at home and abroad, hasn't kept pace with technological developments, leaving some wondering if privacy as we know it is long dead.  Guest speaker, Jane E. Kirtley, is the Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota.  Prior to coming to Minnesota, she was Executive Director of The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, based in Washington, D.C. She has received numerous national honors for her work.  Sorry, not open to guests; to join the MCC Great Decisions Discussion Group, email the MCC office. 

 

MCC Great Decisions members sign up here.

News from Members
 
MCC member Madeline Betsch invites members to attend the Opening Reception of "Someone Else's Story" at the Burnet Gallery at Le Meridien Chambers on Friday, February 27 from 6:00-9:00 pm.  The exhibit features work from Anne Labovitz, Teo Nguyen, Sonja Peterson, and Tetsuya Yamada.  Complimentary beer and wine. Valet parking available.

MCC member Barbara Goldner shares information about a Mayo Clinic program, HABIT, being hosted by Plymouth Church Minneapolis. This study program is aimed at preventing or delaying dementia. The requirements for participation are a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, a study partner, ability to participate from June 1-12 for four hours each day at Plymouth Church, and ability to travel to Rochester for a pre-program evaluation and a one day booster 6 months later. There is no cost to participants.  If you or someone you know would like to participate, please respond to Parker Trostel at ptrostel@comcast.net or call Parker at 612-926-7746 with questions. 
MCC member Carol Jordan invites members to the Global Conversations Program at the Minneapolis Central Library on March 11 from 5:30-7:30 pm.  Michele Garnett McKenzie of The Advocates for Human Rights will speak on Human Trafficking in the 21st Century.  This event is free but advanced registration is requested.
Around Town

Downtown East Commons Public Meeting
February 24, 6:00-7:30 pm, Mill City Museum, 704 Second St S
The meeting agenda will include an introduction to the design team, a project background presentation, public discussion and feedback, and an opportunity to fill out a short survey.  Feedback will be used to prepare initial park design concepts. To take the survey online or to learn more, click here. 

Calligraphy: Gothic Black Letter
March 8 & 15, 12:00-4:00 pm, MN Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Ave S
Gothic Black Letter looks impressively difficult and is surprisingly one of the easier calligraphic hands to learn.  Explore different visual weights possible, look at contemporary gothic lettering artists, and learn both lower and upper case letter using broad-edged dip pens and walnut ink.  $130+$25 supply fee.  To register, click here, scroll down to the Calligraphy class, and click Register.

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 February Calendar here
View the March Calendar here

 

February 24:  Last Tuesday Happy Hour.  No reservations required!

February 25:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

February 26:  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

February 26:  12,000 Years on the Minneapolis Central Riverfront.  Members click here.

March 3:  Program Committee Meeting.

March 4:  Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat.  No reservations required.

March 4:  Social Bridge.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

March 5:  Our Turn:  A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

March 9:  Great Decisions.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

March 11:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

March 11:  Board of Directors Meeting.  Members click here.

March 12:  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

March 15:  Sunday Soup Soiree.  Members click here.
 

MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities

 

Rendezvous

Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
   No reservations required.
The Last Runaway
by Tracy Chevalier

Rendezvous on 5

Wednesdays

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  

Elsie's Restaurant,

729 Marshall Street NE

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

Our Turn: A Conversation for Women 

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.

 

 
Volunteer Opportunities 
 
 Click here for NEW community volunteer opportunities on the MCC Website!  
 

  Looking for a healthy fitness program? Enjoy exercising with friends at one of

 

Mill City Commons

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 of 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.

 
Ongoing Member-Led Activities

 

Men's B&BS Lunch
Elsie's Restaurant,
729 Marshall St NE
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
 March 5 & 19
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact  Allan Burdick
 
Mill City Commons | 219 Main Street SE, Suite 401, Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.millcitycommons.org | info@millcitycommons.org  
612-455-3329