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Update from the Business and Member Services Administrator
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving weekend and found time to do things that you enjoy. I #optedoutside on Friday and had a great time with my kids at North Mississippi Regional Park and on Saturday, made the most of a trip to Loring Park for Holidazzle. I am so thankful to live in Minneapolis, where there's no shortage of things to do. Something we as MCC staff are thankful for is posted on our
Facebook page -- our fantastic, giving, friendly, thoughtful members who have invested in our organization to make it what it is today.
We're looking forward to having Executive Director Joan Wright in the office next week after her medical leave. Please join me in welcoming her back.
Take a moment to check out all that is happening in the next two weeks; there are plenty of events you won't want to miss, including tonight's Last Tuesday Happy Hour at Fhima's Minneapolis.
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Mary Texidor
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Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, November 27, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Fhima's Minneapolis, 40 S 7th St
 Join us for Last Tuesday Happy Hour at the newly opened Fhima's Minneapolis in the historic Forum Cafeteria space in City Center! Hosted by John & Sonia Cairns, Judy Cohn, David & Sheryl Evelo and Barbara McBurney, this gathering is a time to catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites. The event is dutch treat--no reservations required! if you'd like to stay for dinner, reservations can be made by calling (612) 353-4792.
It's easy to get to Fhima's. You can bus over on the 3rd Ave. bridge or on 1st Ave. If you drive, use one of two parking ramps: One is right beyond Fhima's on the RIGHT side of 7th St. The other is right across the street in the former Dayton's/Macy ramp on the LEFT side of 7th St.
MCC members and guests. No registration required. |
Social Bridge
Wednesday, November 28, 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].
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M
en's Coffee & Conversation
Thursday, November 29, 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. This week, MCC member Frank Wilkinson hosts. Frank will provide a brief personal profile and then introduce Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. Tom will give an update on RiverFirst, the initiative to develop riverfront parks and trails on both sides of the Mississippi from downtown to the northern city limits.
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Gingerbread Wonderland at Norway House
Thursday, November 29, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Norway House, 913 E Franklin Ave
 Gingerbread is a quintessential feature of the Norwegian holiday season, and for the fourth year in a row, Norway House is building the Twin Cities out of gingerbread in its Galleri. You'll find familiar buildings and landmarks--both contemporary and historical--created by everyone from professional bakers to first-time gingerbread enthusiasts. Join MCC friends to view this whimsical, delightful display. Admission is $5.
OPTIONAL:
Join your tourmates for lunch afterwards at Maria's Café, 1113 E Franklin Ave.
MCC members sign up here.
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Meditation Circle
Tuesday, December 4 & 11, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Mill City Quarter, 322 2nd St S
 Mill City Commons members are invited to join in a weekly drop-in meditation hour. This is a time for self-guided meditation; if you're new to meditation, we'll provide a brief explanation to help you get started. Our hope is that meditating with each other may help each of our practices and create a shared energy among participants. Drop-in sessions are on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 am at Mill City Quarter, across the parking lot from Abiitan. An MCC member will be there to greet you at 9:30 a.m. Please register for sessions you plan to attend so we have an idea of how many to expect. All sessions are free.
MCC members sign up for the December 4 session here and the December 11 session here. |
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Technology Help Desk
Tuesday, December 4, 1:00 - 2:30 pm 
MCC office, 125 Main St SE, Ste 339
Schedule time with a tech support guru and have your nagging technology questions answered during our complimentary Help Desk. Support for both Apple products and PCs is available. After you register, MCC will confirm the time of your 20-minute one-on-one session. Reminder: Installing or upgrading software and creating accounts cannot be included in the Help Desk session, as they exceed the allotted appointment time.
MCC members sign up here.
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A Minnesotan's Story About Saving Rhinos
Tuesday, December 4, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Park Avenue Lofts, 200 Park Ave S, #105
 Join us to hear the story of rhino poaching and what's being done to stop it. Minnesota native Matt Bracken will share what's happening to rhinos and why, who's involved, why they do it, why rhinos are worth saving and what he's doing about it. Matt is the founder and president of Wild and Free Foundation. In 2011, he became the first American to graduate from Protrack Anti-Poaching Ranger Training in South Africa, whose mission is to protect rhinos from poachers.
MCC members sign up here.
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Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, December 5, 9:30-10:30 am 
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 S 2nd St
Join us to discuss
The Last Painting of Sarah de Vos
by Dominic Smith. In 1631, Sara de Vos becomes the first woman to be admitted as a master painter to the Guild of St. Luke in Holland. Three hundred years later, "At the Edge of a Wood," her haunting winter scene of a girl watching skaters at dusk, is her only surviving work. It hangs in the bedroom of a Park Avenue coop of a wealthy Manhattanite, a descendant of the original owner. Meanwhile, in the grungier reaches of Brooklyn, an Australian art history grad student struggling to stay afloat in New York agrees to paint a forgery of the landscape for a dubious art dealer. Half a century later, she's a prominent curator back home in Sydney, mounting an exhibition of female Dutch painters of the Golden Age. Both versions of "At the Edge of the Wood" by Sara de Vos are en route to her museum, threatening to unravel her life and reputation.
If you'd like to read ahead, January's book is Glass Houses by Louise Penny. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email [email protected].
MCC members and guests. No registration required. |
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Education for a Changing World
Wednesday, December 5, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 322 2nd St S
 Our world is changing at an exponentially greater pace than generations before us, which means our education system needs to evolve alongside it. Dana Mortenson, founder and CEO of World Savvy, will discuss how developing students' global competence can prepare them for future careers and civic engagement in an increasingly diverse, interconnected world. She'll explore how our current K-12 education system, designed to "standardize learning," is misaligned with the realities and demands of the 21st century and beyond. And she'll share how World Savvy has been working for nearly two decades to re-imagine K-12 education to build more inclusive, adaptive and globally competent learning environments to help all young people thrive.
MCC members sign up here.
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Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, December 6, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 322 2nd St S 
MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Marilyn Broussard will lead a discussion on "Race Matters Today." Taking a knee; Black Lives Matter; immigration issues; crime and mass incarceration of blacks; racial gaps in education, income and wealth; and the racial component of our current political divide are just some of the topics dominating the news. Come and share your views. Do we overestimate or underestimate the prevalence of systemic racism? What is the influence of media coverage? How do you explain the "why" of racist beliefs to yourself? Does implicit racial bias get in the way of solving some of our societal problems, even those without an explicit racial component? Solutions? Hopeful signs of progress?
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC. |
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A Perspective on Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Thursday, December 6, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Washburn Lofts, 700 2nd St S, #91
 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has served on the U.S. Supreme Court for nearly 25 years, but it's only in the last five years that she has been dubbed "notorious" and become a popular culture icon. Each year, she has four law clerks who assist her with preparing for cases, drafting opinions and writing speeches. Amy Bergquist clerked for her in 2010-2011, and while Amy can't divulge confidential information about deliberations or discussions of cases that happened in Justice Ginsburg's chambers, she will speak about what it's like to work for the Justice and share some insights about her work. Bring your questions! Amy Bergquist is a staff attorney at the Minneapolis-based non-profit The Advocates for Human Rights.
MCC members sign up here.
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Sunday Brunch Soiree
Sunday, December 9, 12:00 - 2:00 pm 
Lourdes Square, 174 Bank St SE
Join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Soiree, hosted by Beverly FitzGerald at Lourdes Square. Please contribute to the potluck by bringing brunch fare--such as an egg dish, salad, sausage, bacon or a breakfast bread--to serve at least 8. As you register, let us know what you'll bring by answering the "Question" that will appear on the screen. You are welcome to bring your own wine or beer to share.
MCC members sign up here.
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What is a POLST and Why Do You Need One?
Tuesday, December 11, 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Village Lofts River Room, 100 2nd St NE
 MCC member Dr. David Plimpton will give a brief review on the concept of patient autonomy and end-of-life options, followed by a detailed review of Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). A POLST is different from an advanced directive. Find out if it's something you should consider.
MCC members sign up here. |
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MCC Program Calendar
View the full calendar of MCC's November events
here.
Plan ahead! View the full calendar of MCC's December events
here.
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News from Members
What is behind the push by Art Rolnick, former chief research economist at the Ninth Federal Reserve District, to target those kids most at risk by providing scholarships for a quality early childhood education experience?
MCC members Bud and Carol Hayden invite you to join them for a free continental breakfast and a panel discussion followed by a Q and A session on Tuesday, December 4 (7:30-8:00 am breakfast; 8:00-9:00 am program). "High Quality Returns: The Smart Venture of Targeting Resources to Early Child Education" is the subject the panel will explore at the Midpoint Event Center, 415 Pascal St N, St. Paul (first building east of the new soccer stadium). Please be advised there is no "Ask" at these Small Talks being presented by Think Small, the St. Paul-based nonprofit engaged in quality early childhood education issues. The talks inform community leaders about the benefits quality early childhood education provides.
MCC member Dick Kavaney shares that Metrotransit is starting a study that would continue the E line (Hennepin Avenue rapid bus service) east on Hennepin with a loop down University Ave SE to the campus and back on 4th St SE. There will be a study kick-off open house at Marcy Open School (415 4th Ave SE) on December 13 from 4:30-6:30 pm where you can share your thoughts or ask questions. For more information, click
here.
MCC member Barbara Forster invites you to a 10:00 am brunch on December 14 at the Guthrie to hear Lois A. Herman speak on the realities of widows and older women worldwide. Lois, founder and Coordinator of the Women's UN Report Network (WUNRN), will describe this 15-year-old highly respected program, WUNRN's recent Widows Discrimination Panel and the serious issue of violence against older women. WUNRN, based on a UN study, addresses the human rights, oppression and empowerment of women and girls all over the world. These realities, largely ignored across the planet are in dire need of attention by all governments and the United Nations. To RSVP for this event, please email Barbara at
[email protected].
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Around Town
Holidays Under Glass
Now through December 24, 12:00 pm, IDS Center, 80 S 8th St
Enjoy a noontime concert every day of the week! Click
here to see a list of performers.
Unique Markets Holiday Pop-Up
December 2, 11:00 am-6:00 pm, The Machine Shop, 300 2nd St SE
Shop from the best modern, independent designers, artists and emerging brands this holiday season! Find one-of-a-kind gifts and enjoy a fun and unique shopping experience. The energetic, festival-like atmosphere includes great music, free drinks and DIY projects. $5 admission.
Global Conversations: Global Health - Progress and Challenges
December 12, 6:00 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
Join us for a discussion with Paurvi Bhatt, Vice President of Medtronic Philanthropy and President of Medtronic Foundation, as she discusses the world's historic health gains and emerging challenges. Free and open to the public. Registration is requested
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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2018 Turkey & Extra Helpings Drive
Join us in raising $3,500 to provide holiday groceries for 50 families at Ascension School. We're also collecting small gifts for two transitional housing programs. Click
here
for details on how you can get involved.
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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
Jefe Urban Hacienda
219 Main St SE
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. No reservations
required.
North Star Group
Wednesday, 11/28
Reading "A Christmas Carol"
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.
September's book is
The Last Painting of Sarah de Vos
by Dominic Smith
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.
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Mill City Commons
Ongoing Fitness Opportunities
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.
Meditation Circle
Mill City Quarter,
Join us for a weekly
self-guided meditation hour.
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Ongoing Member-Led Activities
MCC Caregivers' Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
September-December,
10:30 am-12:00 pm & 1:00-2:30 pm
A way to support members and non-members who are in a caregiving role.
Men's Dutch Lunch
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
December 6 & 20
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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