October 3, 2017
Update from the Executive Director

A hearty welcome to new Mill City Commons members Chelle Stoner & Warren Kelly, Connie Packard, and David & Sheryl Evelo. We look forward to meeting and getting to know each one of you!

Mill City Commons has started a new, ongoing program series under the banner "Driven to Discover." The series will feature University of Minnesota faculty and students sharing current research and programming at the University.

Two programs in the series have been scheduled for this month. Pathways to Resilience and Wellbeing as We Age, Monday, October 9, will feature Mary Jo Kreitzer, Director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. The Center has become a national leader in the growth of integrative health and medicine, and its Wellbeing Model offers strategies to help one feel content, connected, energized, resilient and safe. A timely opportunity. Won't you join us? Members register here;; guests email here.

Then on Monday, October 23, Growing Apples in Minnesota will be featured. The University is no stranger to developing new strains of apples! Take advantage of this fun and interesting program. Taste samples will be available!  Register here.

As always, please contact me,  Joan Wright if you're interested in learning more about Mill City Commons. I welcome the opportunity to have you be my guest at any of the upcoming events, or simply to answer any questions you might have.

MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.

~ Joan Wright
Men's After Hours Connect
Tuesday, October 3, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Lourdes Square, 178 Bank St SE
The men of MCC have formed an evening group that connects once a month over a speaker, tour or social event. This month, the group hosts Dr. Sarah Bridges, who'll speak on "Your Brain on Retirement: Lessons from Neuropsychology (Or Why Early Retirement Can Make Us Dumb)." Dr. Bridges blends the latest findings from brain science to provide practical and counter-intuitive ideas for successful transitions. Her entertaining and provocative ideas provide the basis for building a brain-healthy time in our second half of life. Dr. Bridges, Ph.D., is the founder and leader of Bridges, a firm that specializes in coaching, leadership training and human potential consulting.

Male MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC.
Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, October 4, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 S 2nd St
Join us to discuss A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota by Sun Yung Shin. In this provocative book, 16 of Minnesota's best writers provide a range of perspectives on what it's like to live as a person of color in Minnesota. They give readers a splendid gift: the gift of touching another human being's inner reality, behind masks and veils and politeness. They bring us generously into experiences that we must understand if we are to come together in real relationships. Minnesota communities struggle with some of the nation's worst racial disparities. As its authors confront and consider the realities that lie beneath the numbers, this book provides an important tool to those who want to be part of closing those gaps.

If you'd like to read ahead, November's book is LaRose by Louise Erdrich. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Barbara Goldner.

MCC members and guests. No registration required.
Simple Preserves for the Urban Dweller
Wednesday, October 4, 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Village Lofts River Room, 100 2nd St. NE
Think making preserves is just for those with large pantries and la rge families? Think again. As a single person, local author and photographer Mette Nielsen had no interest in old-time canning and preserving, but she loved to cook and wanted to make some interesting preserves, often to give as gifts. With her book  Savory Sweet: Simple Preserves from a Northern Kitchen , she redefines modern preserving to better suit urban dwellers with smaller households and spaces. Mette will bring samples and show us how to pair these fun preserves with purchased items for instant entertaining.

Members sign up here.
 
Men's Coffee and Conversation 
Thursday, October 5, 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 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. MCC member Bud Hayden hosts this week. Bud will talk about American National Standards: What is their purpose? How did Bud get involved in ANSI A92 Standards and why was understanding them important to his aerial work platform business? Answers available only on October 5!

MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC.
Sunday Brunch Soiree
Sunday, October 8, 12:00 - 2:00 pm
Lourdes Square, 174 Bank St SE
Join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Brunch Soiree, hosted by Beverly FitzGerald. Please contribute to the potluck by bringing brunch fare-such as an egg dish, sausage or bacon, salad--to serve at least 8. (We have enough fruit and breads!) As you register, let us know what you'll bring by answering the "Question" that will appear on the screen. You're also welcome to bring your own wine or beer to share. 

MCC members sign up here.
Driven to Discover: Pathways to Resilience and Wellbeing as We Age
Monday, October 9, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Stonebridge Lofts Community Room, 1120 2nd St S, 2nd fl
In recent surveys, MCC members have expressed interest in spirituality. Now we have the opportunity to hear from an international leader in the field: Mary Jo Kreitzer, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, and director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. Launched in 1995 under Kreitzer's leadership, the Center has become a national leader in the growth of integrative health and medicine in our country. In addition to interprofessional research, education and practice, the Center provides a wealth of resources for promoting wellbeing in the community. Come and learn about the Center's Wellbeing Model and discover strategies to help you feel content, connected, energized, resilient and safe.

MCC members sign up here.
Technology Workshop: Technology Tools for Travelers
Tuesday, October 10, 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. This second workshop 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 14 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.

MCC members sign up here.
Social Bridge
Wednesday, October 11, 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 [email protected].

MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC.
Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, October 12, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Mill City Quarter, 322 2nd St S
MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Ginny Craig hosts on the topic of birth order. When did you enter your family through birth or adoption? First? Last? Middle? Do you think your place in the family impacted your childhood? Adulthood? Why? Do the stereotypes about first-borns, middles and babies fit? Did you see similar patterns in your own family?

Our Turn meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Hosts, topics and occasionally locations change each time.

MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC.
Nosy Neighbor Tour: Minneapolis Central Library
Friday, October 13, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm 
Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
What does a 21st century library look like? Join us to discover how your neighborhood library-Minneapolis Central-is adapting to the changing needs of today's diverse population downtown. See its digitization efforts and its impressive historical print collection, and learn how to access its electronic resources from afar. We'll also learn about its meeting spaces, including The Magnet (the previous book store space). This multi-purpose space is set up to meet the needs of the young--by offering food assistance to youngsters attending summer and school-year programs--as well as seniors, by hosting activities and programs for people 55 and older.

MCC members sign up here.
Great Decisions: Latin American's Political Pendulum
Monday, October 16, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
The pendulum of Latin American politics is swinging rightward once again. Yet as the "pink tide" recedes, the forces of change have more to do with socioeconomics than ideology. Dramatic economic and political crises have coincided in countries like Brazil and Venezuela. Still, the result for Latin America may be the emergence of centrist, pragmatic modes of governance, and with them, opportunities for the U.S. to improve relations. The new administration must look beyond the neoliberal model of the 1990s and develop an approach to relations fit for the 21st century. Speaker Erik Brand publishes the Latin America Advisor at the Inter-American Dialogue and directs the Corporate Program, a network of companies including Apple, BMW, Google, Mitsubishi, Walmart and more than 100 others that are invested in Latin America's development and future.

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 Betsy Wray at [email protected].

MCC GD members sign up here
Finding Common Ground: A Panel Discussion on Public Safety and Racial Justice
Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
Recent events have caused all of us to feel and see the divide between people, both locally and nationally. Join us for a panel discussion in which we'll explore the relationship between public safety and racial justice. Participating on the panel will be Minneapolis Chief of Police Medaria Arradondo, Deputy Hennepin County Attorney David Brown, Minnesota Chief Inclusion Officer James Burroughs and Minneapolis NAACP Vice President Leslie Redmond. Julie Showers, Director of the Office for Conflict Resolution at the University of Minnesota, will moderate the discussion. Those attending will be asked to participate in the conversation by submitting written questions to the panel the evening of the event. Be thinking about what questions you have regarding this timely and sensitive issue.

MCC members sign up here
MCC Program Calendar

View the full MCC October calendar here.
News from Members

MCC member Ellie Hands thinks members might be interested in the following article in the New Yorker by Atul Gawande: Is Health Care a Right?

MCC member Susan Higgins wants members to know that they can dine out to support "Mission Nutrition" on October 5. Eating at a number of participating restaurants in the neighborhood will help support Eastside Meals on Wheels. Click here for information on participating restaurants.

MCC members Bud and Carol Hayden invite members to an upcoming Small Talks, a Think Small speaker series. This month's program will be focused on "Text Me: Turning Everyday Moments into Early Learning Experiences." The event will take place on October 10 from 7:30-9:00 am at the Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Parkway N, St. Paul. Free, but registration is required here.

MCC ED Joan Wright suggests members consider attending Courageous Conversations: A Statewide Dialogue about Older Adults in Minnesota's workforce. The event is on October 11, 1:00-2:30 pm, at the U of MN Cowles Auditorium, 301 19th Ave S. This event is free, but registration is required here

Are you interested in attending a new show? MCC member Linnea Olesen invites members to attend a performance of Speechless by the Moving Company at 7:30 pm on Friday, October 13, at the Lab Theatre. Details of the performance can be found here. Linnea reports, " Speechless is different from the usual stage production. It is innovative and timely. As Alan Alda and Atul Gawande pointed out in presentations this past week, 'stretching our minds is the way to go.' I'm looking forward, too, to the music that the Company has chosen for the show." If you are interested in joining Linnea, you can email her at  [email protected].
Around Town

Eat NE
Now through November 15, various restaurants
The Northeast Business Association (NEBA) is offering an Eat NE coupon event involving eight neighborhood restaurants. You can receive either $10 off the total bill or a menu item worth $10 for each of the eight participating restaurants, an $80 value for only $40. 100% of the proceeds will be split between Keep the Beat police fun and the Little Kitchen Food Shelf. Details and purchase can be made here.

Global Conversations: Prospects for Afghanistan and Pakistan
October 11, 6:00-7:30 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
Major internal conflict has plagued Afghanistan for four decades. The U.S., for its part, has conducted military operations in the country nearly continuously since 9/11. Newly laid-out plans from the Trump Administration for Afghanistan and the South Asia region have prompted national discussion and further questions. Join Dr. Manju Parikh as she offers considerable insight into the Trump administration's proposed foreign policy efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Register for this free event here.

An Evening of Fine Wine and Fine Books
October 13, 6:00-9:00 pm, MN Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Ave S
This annual event is dedicated to fostering the collection of artist's books. You can explore new work from more than 100 artists around the world, representing the range of contemporary artist's books from self-published chapbooks to fine press limited editions. Enjoy wine and cheese while browsing. RSVPs are appreciated here.

Mississippi River Flyway
October 14, 1:30-3:00 pm, North Mississippi Regional Park, 4900 Mississippi Ct
An estimated 325 bird species will use the Mississippi River to guide them during their round-trip migration. Find out more about how and why birds make such an impressive journey. Then, go bird watching along the river with a naturalist. Binoculars provided if needed. For information and to register for this free event, click 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.  
 
Please Welcome MCC's Newest Members! 

Chelle Stoner & Warren Kelly
 
Connie Packard

David & Sheryl Evelo
 
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.

Guthrie Play Reading
RiverWest Group
Tuesday, 10/3,
6:30-9:30 pm
Groups will  read  "Watch on the Rhine" this month.

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. A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota
by Sun Yung Shin

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!

Social Bridge
Every other Wednesday, 3:00-5:00 pm
Washburn Lofts,
700 2nd St S
Enjoy a round of social bridge. Be sure to register on the website!

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

Exploring Meditation
Every Tuesday, September 19 - November 21,
9:30-10:30 am
Clear the clutter in your mind, reduce stress and increase the feeling of calm in your life. For more information on future meditation opportunities, email Betsy Wray.

MCC Caregiver Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
September-December
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
October 12 & 26
 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

                 9:15-10:00 am

*Note the new time

G-Werx Fitness,

428 2nd St S, #100
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,

103 N 2nd St

This is an alignment-based class. Purchase a 12-class pass for $150 directly from YCM to use as your schedule allows, or drop in on a class for $13. Call 

612-436-4700 for details.

Drop-ins welcome.

Discounted rate for MCC members applies to any drop-in class at YCM.

 
Volunteer Opportunities 
 
Click here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC website!  
 
 
Mill City Commons | 125 Main St SE, Suite 339, Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.millcitycommons.org | [email protected]  
(612) 455-3329