April 14, 2015
Executive Director Update
        
The Program Committee finalized the May calendar last week -- a PDF version is available via the link near the bottom of this email in MCC Upcoming Events. You may also go directly to our website www.millcitycommons.org and find all of our upcoming events under the Calendar tab. Many thanks to all of our members who bring the ideas, connections and the followup required to make our calendar work. It looks like a very busy month! Hope to see you at an upcoming event soon!  -- Linnea 
MSP International Film Festival Screening: Zemene 
Tuesday, April 14, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
St. Anthony Main Theatre, Theatre #5, 115 Main St SE 

Mill City Commons and Cynthia Froid Group host a special screening of the documentary, Zemene.  Ten-year-old Zemene is a spirited but hunchbacked child, afflicted with a severe curvature of the spine.  A chance encounter with an American doctor specializing in disfiguring spinal cases changes her life forever.   Dr. Rick Hodes embarks on a journey to save Zemene's life and aid other afflicted families.  The doctor's resulting humanitarian work in bridging cultural gaps also comes to light.  Zemene is a reminder of our universal humanity, and how one person's faith-based compassion can transform not only individual lives, but communities as well.  Watch the trailer here.  A reception with the filmmaker will follow the film in the River Room at the Aster Cafe. 

 

Registration is now closed.

Social Bridge
Wednesday, April 15, 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, April 16, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Lourdes Square, 192 Bank St SE 
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.  Scotty Gillette hosts this week's event.  According to the Myers-Briggs test, each of us has one of 16 different personality types.  After reviewing a handout describing the personality types, we'll discuss the question "In what way does your personality type have an impact on your daily life?"
Women MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Sunday Soiree
Sunday, April 19, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
RiverWest Club Room (1st fl), 401 S 1st St 
MCC members, join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Soiree hosted by members at RiverWest.  Please contribute to the potluck by bringing a hearty hors d'oeurve or dessert.  You are welcome to bring your own wine or beer.  As you register, let us know what you will bring by answering the "Question" that will appear on the screen.

 

MCC members sign up here.

MSP International Film Festival Screening: Capturing Grace 
Tuesday, April 21, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
St. Anthony Main Theatre, Theatre #5, 115 Main St SE

Mill City Commons and Cynthia Froid Group host a special screening of the documentary, Capturing Grace.  Capturing Grace is a story of a professional dance company and people with Parkinson's who join forces to discover a lighter step and the sweetness of motion.  It's a story about a remarkable community of dancers coming together to move in space...and in doing so, rediscovering grace. And it is in that rediscovery that each becomes whole.  Filmmaker and director David Iverson will join us for a discussion following the film during a reception in the River Room at the Aster Cafe.  To watch the trailer, click here. 

 

Registration is now closed.

Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, April 23, 7:30 - 8:30 am
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE 
Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC and guests!  This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.  Please register by the Monday prior to  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  This week Keith Nelson leads a conversation on a newcomer to the neighborhood, Webster School, scheduled to open in the Fall of 2015.

 

Men MCC members sign up here.

Technology Workshop
Tuesday, April 28, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
American Academy of Neurology, 201 Chicago Ave, Training Room A 
Online video streaming technology has given us a plethora of new ways to watch TV. Unfortunately, the options, while exciting, can be a bit confusing and overwhelming. But it would be even more unfortunate to get "left in the dust" with a clunky cable package that's expensive and not well suited to your watching preferences.  Come learn about Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Slingbox, and more.  Brian Roemen from Backpack Tactics will lead this informative workshop.  

MCC members sign up here.
Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, April 28, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Sapor Cafe and Bar, 428 Washington Ave N

Join us for the Last Tuesday Happy Hour at Sapor Cafe and Bar hosted by Bill and Kathy Fox.  Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites.  Dutch treat - no reservations required!  There is complimentary parking in a lot across 5th Ave N.  If you'd like to stay for dinner, make reservations by calling (612) 375-1971 or online at www.saporcafe.com. 

 

MCC members and guests.  No reservations required!
News from Members

MCC member Peter Gillette reports that the IRAN trip is a "go" for next Fall, particularly in light of the diplomatic break-through.  There are three openings for those who are on the fence or have a change of mind.  We would like  to keep the maximum to 16 with MCC members having preference.  It will be a truly remarkable trip.  For a tour summary, click here.  Peter can be reached at epgillette@gmail.com or by phone 612-716-1935.

MCC member Patty Connelly suggests members visit the Museum of Russian Art to see two new exhibits:  Romance in Soviet Art and Russian Imperial Porcelain Easter Eggs.  For more information, click here.
Around Town

 

Riverfront Earth Day Clean-Ups

April 25, 9:30 am-12:00 pm, various locations

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the City of Minneapolis have announced the 21st annual clean-up event.  Nearby locations include those sponsored by Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association (meeting at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, 6th Ave SE & Main St) and Friends of the Mississippi River (meeting at West River Parkway at East 36th or 44th Street).  For more information and a full list of participating locations, click here.

 

For Richer, For Poorer: The Rich Legacy of the Hapsburgs

April 26, 4:00 pm, MacPhail Center for Music, 501 S 2nd St, Antonello Hall

The Bakken Trio usher out the MIA's Hapsburg exhibit with a special performance, including "The Fandango" by Boccherini and Mozart's Violin Sonata.  To purchase tickets, click here.

 

Creative Minnesota: The Nonprofit Arts and Culture Mean Business

May 11, 12:00-1:30 pm, Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S

Hear about Creative Minnesota: the most comprehensive report ever done of the non-profit creative sector.  It is a new effort to fill the gaps in available information about Minnesota's cultural field and to improve our understanding of its importance to our quality of life and economy.  $16.95 for members of the Minneapolis Club/$26 for non-members and includes lunch. To register and learn more, click here.    

 

Forget Me Not When Far Away

Various dates in May at the Minnesota Opera Center and Open Book

Kira Obolensky's new comedy is about a soldier returning from a long war who must navigate a very changed world.  Forget Me Not When Far Away was written specifically for Ten Thousand Things unique production style.  Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here.

 

Mill City Times and River Hub

Mill City Times is 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.  You can also check out River Hub, a comprehensive listing of events related to the Minneapolis Riverfront.

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

 

April 14:  MSP International Film Festival Screening: Zemene.  Members and guests email Cynthia Froid.

April 15:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

April 15:  Social Bridge.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

April 16:  Our Turn: A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

April 19:  Sunday Soiree.  Members click here.

April 21:  MSP International Film Festival Screening: Capturing Grace.  Members and guests email Cynthia Froid.

April 23:  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

April 28:  Technology Workshop: New Ways to Watch TV.  Members click here.

April 28:  Last Tuesday Happy Hour.  No reservations required!

April 29:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

April 29:  Social Bridge.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

April 30:  Our Turn:  A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 5:  Birding Walk I.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 5:  Program Committee Meeting.
 

MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities

 

Rendezvous

Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
   No reservations required.
Middlemarch
by George Eliot

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.

 

 
Ongoing Member-Led Activities

 

Men's B&BS Lunch
Elsie's Restaurant,
729 Marshall St NE
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
 April 16 & 30
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact  Allan Burdick
 

 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.

 
Volunteer Opportunities 
 
 Click here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC Website!  
 
Mill City Commons | 219 Main Street SE, Suite 401, Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.millcitycommons.org | info@millcitycommons.org  
612-455-3329