|
Update from the Executive Director
Mill City Commons is a connector.
Its program calendar touts speakers, programs and events that
educate and connect members not only to opportunities and services in and around the neighborhood, but also to valuable insights into the nuances of public policy and world events.
Information. Services. Opportunities. Social Connections.
Take a look at the next two weeks of programming and find YOUR place to connect!
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
|
|
Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, May 3, 9:30 - 10:30 am 
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 2nd St S
Join us to discuss The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. The art of love is never a science: Meet Don Tillman, a brilliant yet socially inept professor of genetics, who's decided it's time he found a wife. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs The Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a 16-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers. Rosie Jarman possesses all these qualities. Don easily disqualifies her as a candidate for The Wife Project (even if she is "quite intelligent for a barmaid"). But Don is intrigued by Rosie's own quest to identify her biological father. When an unlikely relationship develops as they collaborate on The Father Project, Don is forced to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie, and the realization that, despite your best scientific efforts, you don't find love, it finds you.
If you'd like to read ahead, June's book is Our Souls at Night by Ken Haruf. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Barbara Goldner. |
|
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Tour
Wednesday, May 3, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
1011 Washington Ave S
 Join us at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts for a special evening of art and community! Enjoy a wine and cheese reception and tour MCBA's historic facility, including its galleries, library and artist studios specializing in bookbinding, papermaking and letterpress printing.
MCC members sign up here. |
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, May 4, 7:30 - 8:30 am 
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE
It's caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC and guests! This group meets ev
e
ry 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. MCC member Jose Peris hosts this week. A native of Madrid, Spain, Jose will speak about his life journey and, most especially, his 31-year career at U.S. Bank and his community involvements.
|
|
Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, May 4, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Zenith, 901 2nd St S, #202
 MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Chris Bray and Nancy Reed host at Chris's home on the topic of Meditation Exploration. Do you want to explore meditation for the first time? Have you tried meditation and thought, "I'm not sure this is for me?" Are you hooked on meditation? Come have fun and explore various forms of meditation and resources to start or advance your practice. MCC member Linda Dolan will lead us through brief meditation exercises, and we'll talk about what we experience. Linda has used meditation in her own life for more than 25 years and is a certified teacher in Tai Chi, Ayurveda and Energy Healing.
This group meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Locations and topics will change each time.
|
|
Technology Workshop: Technology Tools for Travelers
Monday, May 8, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
American Academy of Neurology, 201 Chicago Ave, Training Room A 
Join us for the second in a three-part series focusing on useful apps, accessories and tips for traveling with your iPhone or iPad. The series will cover tools that can help you stay in touch, save money, navigate your way in a new place and discover interesting sites. This second class will cover communication tools such as apps and iPhone features for communicating while traveling abroad, connecting to cell service outside of the U.S., sharing travel photos, and using foreign languages and currencies. The workshop is limited to 12 attendees, and it will cover iPhones only, not Android devices. You do not need to participate in all three workshops to attend. Please make sure your device is fully charged, as electrical will not be available in the room.
|
|
Birding Walk I
Tuesday, May 9, 7:00 - 9:00 am
Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St, Nicollet Island
 Celebrate spring with a series of four bird-watching walks along the river! We hope to see migrating warblers and other songbirds. Jamie McBride, Naturalist Education Coordinator with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, will lead the walks along with master birding volunteer Greg Severson. Meet for the walk at the Nicollet Island Pavilion.
MCC members sign up here.
|
Author Celebration: Fred Amram
Tuesday, May 9, 7:00 - 8:30 pm 
RiverWest Community Room, 401 S 1st St
Join us as Fred Amram, University of Minnesota Professor Emeritus of communication and creativity, shares stories from his riveting memoir, We're in America Now: A Survivor's Stories. Born in Germany during the rise of Hitler in the 1930s, Amram and his surviving family escaped to Holland and sailed to America, where they encountered many challenges as immigrants in a new world. This country truly became a land of opportunity where they built a new life and became more than "Holocaust survivors."
MCC members sign up here.
|
|
Social Bridge
Wednesday, May 10, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Washburn Lofts, 700 2nd St S
 Join bridge players for a round of social bridge; levels of expertise and experience vary. Bring a partner if you can, and remember to register both yourself and your partner. Questions? Contact Carol Jordan at
caroljordan@millcitycommons.org.
|
|
Nosy Neighbor Tour: East Side Neighborhood Services
Thursday, May 11, 10:30 - 11:30 am
East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 2nd St NE
 Join former MCC Executive Director Linnea Tweed for a tour of East Side Neighborhood Services. Founded in 1915, East Side is a multiservice agency with programs in the areas of child and youth development, education, employment, family violence prevention, senior services and food support. Linnea leads the Empowering Vital Aging (EVA) project at East Side. In addition to developing new initiatives to enhance aging in place, EVA serves as an umbrella for other vital programs that address needs of underserved older adults: The Senior Community Service Employment Program, Metro Food Programs, Handicap Accessible Transportation and Adult Day at Friendship Center.
OPTIONAL: If you wish to stay for lunch, served at 11:45 am by Volunteers of America, please make a reservation by May 4 with Betsy Wray at betsywray@millcitycommons.org. Cost is $5.50 and can be paid on May 11.
MCC members sign up here. |
|
Great Decisions: Saudia Arabia in Transition
Monday, May 15, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Rm D104
 As Saudi Arabia struggles to adjust to the drastic decline in oil revenue, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman attempts to boldly transform the country and shift more power to the younger generation. At the same time, many countries such as the U.S. point out the lack of democracy, women's rights and human rights in Saudi Arabia and blame its promotion of Wahhabism, an extremely conservative version of Islam, for creating jihadists. Bipartisan criticism of Saudi Arabia is rising in Congress. Both countries need each other, but they are at a crossroads in bilateral relations. Speaker Molly Hayes worked for the U.S. Department of State from 2008-2014 as an advisor on foreign policy issues in East Africa, the Middle East and North Africa. Hayes served as the State Department's counterterrorism advisor for East Africa, desk officer for Kenya, Morocco, Western Sahara and Tunisia, and assistant to the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. She was also a deputy coordinator of the State Department's Egypt Task Force during the 2011 Arab Spring. Hayes holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame in English and Arabic and has lived in Cairo, Egypt, and County Kildare, Ireland.
Registration on the MCC website is required for Great Decisions members. Sorry, not open to guests; to join the MCC Great Decisions Discussion Group, email the MCC office at betsywray@millcitycommons.org.
MCC Great Decisions members sign up here. |
|
Birding Walk 2
Tuesday, May 16, 7:00 - 9:00 am
Location to be announced 
Celebrate spring with a series of four bird-watching walks along the river! We hope to see migrating warblers and other songbirds. Jamie McBride, Naturalist Education Coordinator with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, will lead the walks along with master birding volunteer Greg Severson. The meeting location for this second walk will be announced soon.
MCC members sign up here.
|
|
Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, May 16, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Blarney Pub & Grill, 903 Washington Ave S
 Join us for Tuesday Happy Hour-a little earlier this month--at Blarney Pub & Grill. Hosted by Katie and Ken Searl, Happy Hour is a time to catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites. Dutch treat--no reservations required!
MCC members and guests. No registration required.
|
|
MCC Program Calendar
Plan ahead! View the MCC May calendar
here.
|
|
News from Members
MCC member Scotty Gillette invites members to attend the opening reception for the Wow! Textile Artists on Tuesday exhibition on Thursday, May 4, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Textile Center, 3000 University Ave SE. The exhibit features the work of 14 women who have been meeting at the Textile Center on Tuesday mornings to make their art since 2014.
MCC member Jim Conaway invites you to come to the Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art (250 3rd Ave N) to take part in the 22nd Annual Spring Open Studio Night on May 6 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Visit the working studios of 28 professional visual artists and see their new work in a variety of medium including oil painting, water color, drawing, print making, photography, sculpture and book art. Refreshments served. Parking available on the street or in a city ramp across the street.
MCC ED Joan Wright shares that members are invited to the presentation of "Set the Stage for Happiness in the Next Act of Your Life," presented by MCC member Dr. Dale Anderson at Abiitan's Smith and Porter Restaurant, 428 2nd St S, on Tuesday, May 9. Coffee and welcome at 10:00 am; program begins at 10:30 am. Dr. Anderson will share humorous, enjoyable and creative method-acting techniques that dramatically enhance health and happiness by generating the chemistry of success in/on/at every stage of life.
MCC member Peggy Lucas wants members to know that there is a Meet Minneapolis Hospitality Hero Training on Wednesday, May 10, from 8:30-11:30 am. The training will consist of an informational session at the Minneapolis Convention Center, followed by a coach tour of the city where you'll learn about special events like the X-Games & Super Bowl, upcoming conventions, the state of the hospitality industry and what's new in Minneapolis. For more information or to register, click here.
Are you a Trial Member with MCC? If so, MCC ED Joan Wright invites you to mix and mingle with the MCC Board on May 10 from 5:30-6:30 pm. Click here to RSVP. |
Around Town
Mill City Farmers Market
May 6, 8:00 am-1:00 pm, 704 S 2nd St
It's opening day of the outdoor Mill City Farmers Market. Enjoy live music, a cooking demonstration, fresh produce and local artisanal goods.
Refugia
May 13-June 11, various times, Guthrie Theater, 818 2nd St S
A riveting investigation of the lives of those who find themselves navigating life's margins at the crossroads of transition. Composed of interconnected chapters and conveyed through music, movement, language and video, this world premiere - developed by the Guthrie - explores exile, borders and the displacement of peoples now and throughout time. For information and tickets, click
here.
Friends of the Mill District Singers
May 16, 7:00 pm, Capri Theater, 2027 W Broadway Ave
The Friends of the Mill District Singers will be singing at the Capri Theater. Parking and directions can be found
here.
Mill City Times is a local 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, volunteer opportunities and more.
|
|
|
|
|
Volunteer Opportunities
Click
here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC website!
|
|
MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities
Dutch Treat
Social Hour
Mondays, 4:00-5:00 pm
Aster Cafe
**note the new location
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. No reservations
required.
Rendezvous
Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month, 9:30-10:30 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
No reservations required.
The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion
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
Elsie's Restaurant,
729 Marshall Street NE
Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday at 7:30 am 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 Thursday and alternates between morning and afternoon times. Look for details in the body of this newsletter.
|
|
Ongoing Member-Led Activities
MCC Caregiver Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
May-August,
10:30 am-12:00 pm
A way to support members and non-members who are or have been in a caregiving role. For
more information,
contact Betsy Wray.
Men's Dutch Lunch
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
May 11 & 25
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 2:00-3:00 pm G-Werx Fitness,
An exclusive opportunity for members, this weekly class focuses on strength, balance
and stretching to keep you fit and strong.
First time participants, please contact G-Werx Fitness at (612) 767-4415 and arrive 20 minutes early to complete paperwork. Cost varies depending on commitment.
River Walkers Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 am Stone Arch Lofts Riverside Parking Lot
All levels of walkers are welcome for this early morning walk along the banks of the Mississippi River. An MCC volunteer leads each walk.
Hatha Yoga Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:00-9:15 am
Yoga Center of Minneapolis,
212 3rd Ave N, Ste 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.
|
|
