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Update from the Executive Director
Eight Mill City Commons members completed the first of three days at the 2018 National Village Conference in San Diego, yesterday. Spirits were high, networking a focus and seeking out old friends and making new ones a priority.
This year's theme, Models for Living: Today and Tomorrow, offers several interesting keynote speaker topics:
* When Living to 100 is the New Normal
* Creating your Signature Story
* Age Brilliantly: What Makes a Good, Long Life?
The following are some nuggets from the day's events offered by MCC attendees:
* Loneliness is the new smoking
* Health, Wealth and Self
* Village members are co-creators of their village.
* A 10 year old girl in 2018 can expect to live until 104
Be sure to attend the Q & A session featuring Conference attendees on October 16 to learn more! Register
here.
San Diego weather is predictably lovely. In fact, check out the sunset photo of the entire MCC crew on our
Facebook page!
Tonight's program featuring Eric Dayton and his vision for the North and his commitment to making it a movement for good, is not to be missed. Guests are welcome! Members register
here; guests please contact
Betsy Wray.
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
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Eric Dayton: Identity and Entrepreneurship in the North
Tuesday, October 9, 7:00 - 8:30 pm 
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
Over the past five years, the North has grown from a knit hat into a movement built around adventure, creativity and the embrace of our cold winters. Eric Dayton, CEO of Askov Finlayson, will discuss his vision for the North and his commitment to making it a movement for good.
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Caregiver's Support Group
Wednesday, October 10, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Cobalt Condos, 2nd floor Conference Room, 45 University Ave SE 
Members of Mill City Commons have created a second Caregivers' Support Group and invite other caregivers to join them. This guided discussion group with professional facilitation supports MCC members and nonmembers who are in a caregiving role for a spouse, partner or other family member. Caregivers' Support Group members share experiences, issues and concerns about caregiving, as well as give and receive support around this critical role. This four-month series, meeting the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 1:00-2:30 pm, runs through December. Cost is $80 for the four-month (8 session) series, regardless of how many sessions you attend.
MCC member and guests. Contact Betsy Wray ([email protected]) if you'd like to join. |
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Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, October 11, 1:30 - 3:00 pm
212 Lofts, 212 N 1st St, #609
 MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This weeks Ginny Craig hosts in her home at 212 Lofts. Many of us feel downhearted by the way the "world" seems to be going at this point in time. Ginny will share what she's learned reading a book called Factfulness by Hans Rosling, with Ola Rosling and Ann Rosling Rönnlund. We'll do a short quiz to see if our perceptions match up with others. Are our perceptions correct? If not, why? How is our way of looking at the world wrong? Or if correct, why? A hopeful (mostly) and eyeopening look at world progress.
Our Turn meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Hosts and topics change each time.
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Dinner for 5
Sunday, October 14, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Smith & Porter Restaurant, 428 2nd St S
 If connecting with and getting to know other MCC members in a smaller, more intimate social setting interests you, this new 10th Anniversary program idea just might be for you! Join other MCC members for a casual evening of dining in Abiitan's Smith & Porter Restaurant. The meal is dutch treat. Just one spot remains!
MCC members sign up here.
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Great Decisions: South Africa's Fragile Democracy
Monday, October 15, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
 The African National Congress (ANC) party has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. But the party today suffers from popular frustration over official corruption and economic stagnation. It faces growing threats from both left and right opposition parties, even as intraparty divisions surface. Given America's history of opportunistic engagement with Africa, there are few prospects for a closer relationship between the two countries. Meanwhile, a weaker ANC could lead to political fragmentation in this relatively new democracy. Speaker Gary Prevost is professor emeritus of political science at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University and research associate in political and conflict studies at Nelson Mandela University in Port, Elizabeth, South Africa. He has published numerous articles on South African politics, with particular emphasis on the African National Congress and the political attitudes of South African university students.
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.
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Meditation Circle
Tuesday, October 16, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 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 here.
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Village to Village Conference: What We Learned
Tuesday, October 16, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 322 2nd St S
Join several Mill City Commons members and Executive Director Joan Wright for a panel discussion about what they experienced, learned and took away from this year's Village to Village Annual Gathering in San Diego.
MCC members sign up here.
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Current Events: A Conversation with Bill
Wednesday, October 17, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Winslow House Party Room, 100 2nd St SE
 Current international news and U.S. foreign policy provide an endless trove of topics for learning and discussion. Retired foreign service officer and MCC member Bill Davnie will identify a topic in advance, although news can always lead us in a fresh direction. There will be both presentation and discussion.
This ongoing program is held on the third Wednesday of the month. Topic ideas for each monthly gathering are welcome.
MCC members sign up here.
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Social Bridge
Wednesday, October 17, 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, October 18, 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 O.J. Fawcett hosts. O.J. moved to Abiitan in 2017 to be close to children and grandchildren after retiring from a career as a funeral director in Winona. He'll introduce a leader from the U of M's Program of Mortuary Science. Currently a part of the Medical School, it was established in 1908 and was the first program of its kind in this country to be organized at a state university.
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The Minneapolis Fed on "Too Big to Fail"
Thursday, October 18, 2:00 - 3:30 pm 
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE
The financial crisis is about 10 years past. Despite efforts to address its causes, the Minneapolis Fed continues to believe that many of America's banks are still "too big to fail." Ron Feldman, chief operating officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, will discuss the Fed's Minneapolis Plan to End Too Big to Fail (TBTF). He'll also field your questions on the Fed's role as the nation's central bank.
MCC members sign up here.
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Sunday Brunch Soiree
Sunday, October 21, 12:00 - 2:00 pm
Cobalt Condos, 45 University Ave SE, #606
 Join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Soiree, hosted by Carol & Ron Vantine at Cobalt Condos. 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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Driven to Discover: Making Wine in Minnesota
Monday, October 22, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Stone Arch Lofts, 600 2nd St S, #701 
Commercial grape production and the winery industry in the Minnesota continue to grow. Innovations at the University of Minnesota have helped to propel this $80 million industry. This includes developing cold-hardy grape varieties that can produce quality wines despite Minnesota's harsh environment. Dr. Matt Clark, assistant professor of grape breeding and enology, will present a brief history of grapes in Minnesota and discuss the process of breeding grapes. With the improvements in technologies and skills, today's award-winning Minnesota wines continue to improve. Minnesota wines will be served!
This is one in an ongoing MCC program series under the banner "Driven to Discover." The series features University of Minnesota faculty and students sharing current research and programming at the University.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Meditation Circle
Tuesday, October 23, 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 here. |
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MCC Program Calendar
View the full calendar of MCC's October events
here.
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News from Members
Are you looking for a great place to exercise?
MCC member Christine Kaehler encourages members to try out Studio Me Fitness (219 Main St SE, #115). Studio Me Fitness offers yoga, rowing, personal training sessions and more. Learn more
here.
Reminder to members that recommendations like this can be found on the members-only website under the First Stop Guide!
MCC member Bob Rinek invites members to attend an open house at Twin Cities PBS (172 E 4th St, St. Paul) on October 16 from 6:00-8:30 pm. Take a tour of the studios, meet TPT staff and enjoy beverages and hors d'oeurves. RSVP is requested to this free event by emailing
[email protected] or calling (651) 229-1417. This is a great chance to take a look at TPT, especially if you missed the well-received After Hours Connect tour of Alamanc. Click
here for more details.
MCC member Merle Minda invites members to attend Out of the Box Opera's "Diva Cage Match 2.0." Last year's sell-out event will happen again on October 20 at 7:00 pm, at the Upper Cut Boxing Gym in North Minneapolis (1324 Quincy St NE). Six opera divas, in full concert dress, will climb into the boxing ring and belt their hearts out; judges will select a winner after the sing-off. Hosted by artistic director David Lefkowich. Great music and great fun. Free parking onsite and cash bar. Tickets can be purchased
here.
MCC member Merle Minda wonders if members would like to join her in attending a program with John Leland, New York Times reporter and author of the best-seller "Happiness is a Choice You Make; Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old." Leland will speak about his unexpected experiences and reflections on old age. The event takes place October 24, 7:00 pm at Temple of Aaron, 616 Mississippi River Blvd, St. Paul. Tickets are free
here. Learn more about John Leland and his book
here.
MCC members Scotty and Peter Gillette would like to encourage you to attend a FREE luncheon at the Depot (5th Ave and Washington) at noon on Tuesday, October 30, to hear about an innovative and exciting public-private partnership on the Northside called the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). The mission of NAZ is to inspire and prepare 1,200 kids in a challenging geographical area on the Northside to be ready for college! You'll hear about the hurdles that these kids face on a daily basis and the tremendous progress they have made towards their goals. You can also sign up to take a free bus tour of the Northside on Thursday, November 15, to see of yourself both the needs and positive happenings in North Minneapolis. RSVP for the luncheon and/or the bus tour to Kenneth Scales at 612-594-8294.
MCC Executive Director Joan Wright invites those planning trips this fall to the Minnesota Arboretum to view the 11th Annual GRC Exhibition, "Inspired by Nature," in the Reedy Gallery. The opening reception will be held on November 4 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm in the Reedy Gallery; the exhibition runs through December 27. MCC member Katie Searl will have at least one piece featured in the exhibit.
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Around Town
Random Reverie: Improvisation Rearranged
October 14, 5:00-8:00 pm, Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd St
Enjoy an opening reception at the Mill Yard in Stonebridge Lofts. Artists featured include Teo Nguyen, Ann Ledy, Ernest Miller and Robert Briscoe. Exhibition runs through December 31.
MN Bach Ensemble Performance
October 20, 2:00 pm, MacPhail Center for Music, 501 2nd St S
No tickets required for this free performance. Open to the public.
Read Between the Lines
October 20, 6:00-8:00 pm, Form+Content Gallery, 210 2nd St N
Join an opening reception of a solo exhibition by Ellie Kingsbury that highlights the lives of signers (people who stand on street corners with cardboard signs asking for money). Kingsbury has been a fine art photographer for the past 30 years, but recently has been exploring social issues through room-sized installation projects. Learn more
here.
Noises Off
October 27-December 16, various times, Guthrie Theater, 818 2nd St S
Be treated to a hilarious behind-the-scenes peek at an acting troupe rehearsing and performing the farce
Nothing On. Despite nerves, dropped lines and technical difficulties, they make it through rehearsal and open the show. As time goes by, things deteriorate until pandemonium ensues and axe-wielding co-stars, drunken cast members and misplaced sardines take center stage during a disaster of a performance that threatens to jinx the old saying, "The show must go on." Tickets can be purchased
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.
September's book is
Exit West
by Mohsin Hamid
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.
*Note: There are still openings in the afternoon group.
Men's Dutch Lunch
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
October 11 & 25
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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