May 19, 2015
Update From the Mill City Commons Membership Coordinator
Mill City Commons members gathered on Sunday for a farewell to Linnea Tweed with much appreciation for her years of outstanding service to our organization and all best wishes for her future endeavors.  In the meantime, the Search Committee appointed by the Board of Directors has been working hard to sort through applicant resumes and meet with candidates to fill the Executive Director position.  To keep everything running smoothly, I am increasing my hours so that I can be available to MCC members and the Board.  With the help of member volunteers, our exciting calendar of events will continue and I encourage you to join us at one of our upcoming programs listed below!

 - - Mary Texidor, Membership Coordinator
Nosy Neighbor Tour:  Scottish Rite Temple
Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Scottish Rite Temple, 2011 Dupont Ave S
The Scottish Rite Temple, formerly known as the Fowler Methodist Episcopal Church, is a historic church building in the Lowry Hill neighborhood.  It was designed by architects Warren H. Hayes and Harry Wild Jones and built in 1894.   In 1915, the Minneapolis Valley Scottish Rite Masons bought the building, adding new features while keeping intact the original auditorium to use as their Red Room.

MCC members sign up here.
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, May 21, 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 John Cairns hosts guest speaker Thomas Adams.  Thomas will share information about "Better Futures Minnesota," on organization that will provide services to the Great River Landing, a new apartment building planned to house men who have struggled with homelessness, unemployment, and previous incarceration.  

 

Men MCC members sign up here.

Birding Walk IV
Tuesday, May 26, 7:00 - 8:30 am
Theodore Wirth Park, Wirth Beach Parking Lot, 3200 Glenwood Ave
Celebrate spring with the final bird watching walk 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 walk.  This week we'll meet at the Wirth Beach Parking Lot at Theodore Wirth Park and will hope for warmer weather!

MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, May 26, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Lurcat, 1624 Harmon Place 
Join us for the Last Tuesday Happy Hour hosted by Sonia and John Cairns and Judy Healey.  Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites.  Dutch treat - no reservations required!  

If you'd like to stay for dinner, please make reservations by calling Café Lurcat at (612) 486-5500 or online at www.cafelurcat.com. Valet parking is available.

MCC members and guests welcome.  No reservations required!
Social Bridge
Wednesday, May 27, 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, May 28, 10:00 - 11:30 am
The Landings, 413 River St
MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women.  This group meets every other Thursday alternating between morning and afternoon times.  This week Patty Connelly hosts Calida Cogan, a Senior Games staff member who will give details on the National Senior Games.  Members will have a chance to share their personal experience with competitive sports.  Or, if the answer is none, to share what event they would choose to compete in if they were an athlete.  MCC members Penny Hunt and Penny Winton are competing in the Senior Games and will share their connection to their sport and how their interest evolved.

Women MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Advanced Directives 2.0
Thursday, May 28, 4:00-5:30 pm
North Star Lofts, 117 Portland Ave, #702
Recent articles on the complexities of creating an Advance Directive with a diagnosis of dementia led members to request more information on this important topic. Join members for a discussion on "New Learnings" in the area of Advance Care Planning, including the issues associated with dementia. Presented by Dr. Ken Kephart, Medical Director, Fairview Geriatric services. 

MCC members sign up here.
News from Members

Mill City Commons members have created a Caregiver Support Group and invite other caregivers to join them. This guided discussion group with professional facilitation was created to support MCC members who are or have been in a caregiving role. Caregiver Support Group members will share experiences, issues and concerns about caregiving as well as give and receive support around this critical role.

  • The Caregiver Support Group launches Wednesday, June 17th with a three month pilot, meeting the first and third Wednesday each month from 1:30-3:00 pm.
  • Meetings will alternate between two locations in the neighborhood. 
  • Participants will be asked to pay $60 for the three month (six sessions) pilot regardless of how many sessions they are able to attend. Confidential scholarships are available - contact Membership Coordinator Mary Texidor at marytexidor@millcitycommons.org.
  • Participants of the pilot will determine the ongoing format of the group.  

Please contact MCC member Tamra Nelson no later than May 29 at tamranel@msn.com to join the group and/or with your questions. Thank you!       -- MCC Caregiver Support Group


MCC members Lou & Allan Burdick invite you to participate in a research study being conducted by Jessica Finlay, a Cobalt neighbor who is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Geography at the U of M.  Researchers at the U of M are investigating how neighborhood environments affect the health and wellbeing of older residents.  The study is for community-dwelling older adults in the Twin Cities area.  To learn more about the requirements, details and benefits of participation, click here. It's an opportunity to share your stories and experiences, and spend time with young researchers. 

 

Do you want to serve as an ambassador for our city and Mill City Commons? MCC members Peggy Lucas and Ellie Hands are recruiting Athlete Registration volunteers for the National Senior Games on July 3-16 for the 11:00 am - 3:00 pm shift.  For more information, click  here.

MCC member Anne Heegaard is exhibiting her work in the Plymouth Congregational Church Annual Members Art Show, which opened May 10 and will continue through June 24.  The Gallery is open from 9:00-4:30 Monday-Friday.
Around Town

 

Unforeseen Poetry Reading

May 20, 4:30-7:00 pm, Gallery One TractorWorks, 800 Washington Ave N

Unforeseen is a collaborative group exhibition pairing poets with artists in all media. The Guest Poet-Curator is Morgan Grayce Willow and Guest Artist-Curator is Marcia Soderman.  This event is free and open to the public.  Doors open at 4:00 pm.

 

Downtown Commons Park Public Meeting

May 27, 6:00-7:30 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Pohlad Hall

The City of Minneapolis will host a public meeting to unveil the preferred design approach for Downtown Commons.  The design incorporates feedback the Hargreaves-led design team received during public meetings, from surveys, and community outreach done by City staff.  For more information, click here.

 

Still Life: The Inanimate Subject

May 29, 6:30-9:00 pm, Mpls Photo Center, 2400 N 2nd St

Join the Mpls Photo Center for an opening reception of the exhibition: Still Life: The Inanimate Subject.  The exhibit allows for a slower, more thoughtful approach to the creation of a photograph and to allow viewers a chance to connect with the thought, touch and presence of the creator behind the photograph.  Exhibit runs through July 12.

 

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 May Calendar here
View the June Calendar here

 

May 19:  Birding Walk III.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 20:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

May 20:  Nosy Neighbor Tour:  Scottish Rite Temple.  Members click here.

May 21:  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 26:  Birding Walk IV.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 26:  Last Tuesday Happy Hour.  No reservations required!

May 27:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

May 27:  Social Bridge.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 28:  Our Turn:  A Conversation for Women.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

May 28:  Advanced Directives 2.0.  Members click here.

June 2:  Program Committee Meeting.

June 3:  Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat.  No reservations required.

June 3:  Nosy Neighbor Tour: Valspar.  Members click here.

June 4:  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  Members click here; Guests email MCC.

June 4:  Technology Workshop:  New Ways to Watch TV.  Members click here.

June 8:  Great Decisions.  Great Decisions members click here.

June 9:  Nosy Neighbor Tour:  UMN Nurse Practitioner Clinic.  Members click here.
 
Ongoing Member-Led Activities

 

Men's B&BS Lunch
Elsie's Restaurant,
729 Marshall St NE
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
 May 28 & June 11
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact  Allan Burdick

MCC Caregiver Support Group
Launches June 17
1st and 3rd Wednesdays
1:30-3:00 pm
A way to support members who are or have been in a caregiving role. For more information or to sign up, contact 
 

MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities

 

Rendezvous

Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
   No reservations required.
The Lowland
by Jhumpa Lahiri

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 community volunteer opportunities on the MCC Website!  
 

 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.

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