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Update from the Executive Director
Living the good life.
Depending on your viewpoint, this phrase covers a good deal of tacit territory. Recently, I came across an article written by Panos Mourdoukoutas in Forbes Magazine. The Ten Golden Rules on Living the Good Life
bears reading. Perhaps you'll agree with all ten "golden rules," or you may have additional ones of your own to add. Personally, #3 - Treasure Friendship - carries profound resonance for me.
At Mill City Commons, we're all about building community through shared experiences. You know what? It works beautifully. Assisting one another over "the bumps in the road" and through participation in the many programs, events and volunteer opportunities MCC offers, people come together. Friendships form. Trust builds. Lives are changed. Good living unfolds.
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
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Social Bridge
Wednesday, May 24, 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.
Registration is now closed.
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Treasures from the Archives
Wednesday, May 24, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Hofstede Hall, 1 Lourdes Pl 
Our Lady of Lourdes is the oldest church in continuous use in Minneapolis. This year marks the 140th anniversary for the parish, and preparations for the celebration included a deep dive into the church archives. MCC member Julie Craven will share some of the items and information that were found and talk about how both the neighborhood and the parish have evolved since the French-Canadian settlers made Lourdes their parish home back in 1877.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Birding Walk 4
Tuesday, May 30, 7:00 - 9:00 am
Location to be announced
 Celebrate spring with a series of four bird-watching walks! 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 final walk will be announced soon.
MCC members sign up here.
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Sneak Peek: New Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Wednesday, May 31, 10:30 - 11:30 am
RiverWest Community Room, 401 S 1st St 
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden was dedicated in 1988 and expanded in 1992. Now, 2017 marks the completion of Walker Art Center's 19-acre campus, with the Sculpture Garden opening on June 3. Join us for an overview of these changes. Discover popular Sculpture Garden sculptures in new locations, infrastructure enhancements, and descriptions of public art commissions by local, national and international artists.
MCC members sign up here.
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Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, June 1, 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
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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 Tyrone Bujold will be introducing Dr. Lee Frelich, Director of U of M Center for Forest Ecology, discussing effects of climate change in Minnesota.
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Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, June 1, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
The Landings, 510 River St 
MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Sylvia Kaplan hosts a "Show and Tell." She suggests bringing an object you love, or maybe a photo if it's too large or no longer available. Think about what you would be most unwilling to give up, leave behind when you move or mourn if it were lost. The value could be sentimental, aesthetic, nostalgic. It could be clothing, jewelry, household items, a bloom from your favorite tree. Be ready to share your story!
This group meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Locations and topics will change each time.
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A Perfect Pair: Oil and Vinegar
Monday, June 5, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Cooks of Crocus Hill, 208 1st St S
 Talk about a classic pairing: Olive oil and vinegar have teamed up for countless salads and marinades through the ages, but they can also hold their own. Learn about a variety of oils and vinegars from around the globe, sample the distinct flavors and understand how to enhance a recipe using these ingredients.
Each attendee will also receive a 15% discount to Cooks of Crocus Hill for that day. (Coupon is good for regular priced, in-stock merchandise. Excludes cooking classes, private events, gift cards, electrics and sale items.)
MCC members sign up here.
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Technology Workshop: Technology Tools for Travelers
Tuesday, June 6, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
American Academy of Neurology, 201 Chicago Ave, Training Room A 
Join us for the last 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 third class will cover information on convenient and fun techy travel accessories, tips for traveling securely and pointers on best ways to share travel photos. 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.
Registration is now full. If you would like to be on the wait list, email betsywray@millcitycommons.org. |
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U of M Bee Lab Tour
Wednesday, June 7, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
University of Minnesota Bee Lab, 1634 Gortner Ave
 The University of Minnesota Bee Lab moved into the new Bee and Pollinator Research Lab on the St. Paul campus last fall. This state of the art building is home to the honey bee and native bee labs of Maria Spivak, Ph.D, and Dan Cariveau, Ph.D. It also houses the Bee Squad, the Extension and education arm of the Bee Lab. Join us for a tour of the facility and the pollinator gardens. If you'd like to carpool, meet in the Stone Arch parking lot no later than 1:30 pm. Find a campus map here.
Optional: After the tour, visit the U of M's Dairy and Meat Salesroom, where dairy products made in the pilot plant of the Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, as well as meat products from the meat lab, are sold. The salesroom is open from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays; cash or credit cards only. The salesroom is located in Room 166 ABLMS, 1234 Eckles Ave. Find more information here.
MCC members sign up here.
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Breaking the Chain of Cancer
Thursday, June 8, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
The Phoenix River Room, 222 2nd St SE, 6th fl 
David Largaespada, Ph.D, a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Cell Biology and Development and associate director for basic sciences at the Masonic Cancer Center at the U of M, will discuss his research, as well as the outstanding impact made by all research conducted at the Center and the necessity for funding to do so. Joining Dr. Largaespada will be Thomas Lennox, founder and president of Chainbreaker, who will share his story as a cancer survivor and how that led him to found an organization that has raised more than $130 million for cancer research in just eight years in Ohio-and why he is striving to do the same in Minnesota.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Sunday Soiree
Sunday, June 11, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Stone Arch Lofts Rooftop, 600 2nd St S
 Join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Soiree, hosted by Dave & Peggy Lucas and Marcia Townley. Our hosts will provide Kramarczuk brats and all the fixings. Please contribute to the potluck by bringing a salad, wine, beer or a dessert. As you register, let us know what you'll bring by answering the "Question" that will appear on the screen.
MCC members sign up here.
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MCC Program Calendar
View the MCC May calendar
here.
Plan ahead! View the MCC June calendar
here.
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News from Members
MCC member Dick Kavaney wants you to know that the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association's Land Use & Development Committee has arranged for the new owner/developer for the General Mills property to present his plans for the site on May 24 at 6:30 pm at the Pillsbury A-Mill (315 Main St SE). This is an open meeting and all interested neighbors are invited. For more information, click here.
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Around Town
Yoga in the Park
May 27, 9:00 am, Gold Medal Park, 2nd St S between 9th and 11th Aves
Grab your mat (or a towel) and a neighbor, and meet by the orange sculpture. The sessions are free of charge and sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District. Come salute the sun and enjoy the beauty of the neighborhood. Yoga in the Park will take place every Saturday through September 2.
Hennepin Island Hydropower Tour
June 1, 10:30 am-noon, tour departs from 125 Main St SE (meet at green awning between Pracna and Aster Cafe)
Join this tour to learn about the historic uses of waterpower at the falls for flour milling, sawmilling and hydroelectricity, the role of hydroelectricity in Xcel Energy's green energy and energy efficiency initiatives and the future of waterpower on the Minneapolis riverfront. This tour will also include rare access to an operating power plant. Tickets can be purchased
here.
A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota
June 12, 7:00-8:30 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
Join award-winning writers IBĂ©, Bao Phi and Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria as they read their essays from the timely book, "A Good Time for the Truth." This collection from 16 local writers features reflective essays on life as a person of color in Minnesota. Q&A will follow the reading hosted by the editor Sun Yung Shin. Seating is limited. Reserve your spot
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.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Click
here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC website!
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MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities
Dutch Treat
Social Hour
Mondays, 4:00-5:00 pm
Aster Cafe
125 Main St SE
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.
Our Souls at Night
by Ken Haruf
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.
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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 25 & June 8
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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| 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.
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