|
Update from the Executive Director
Greetings and welcome to the unofficial start of summer!
This is my third week as the new executive director for Mill City Commons. I continue to learn about the amazing benefits of membership in our community. One of them is the Community Forums, online discussion sites where members can have conversations in the form of posting messages. Whether you're interested in Social Connections, Health & Aging, Sporting Events, Movie Chat, or more, I encourage you to take advantage of this feature. The First Stop Guide is another benefit I've discovered. Members can recommend their favorite trusted service providers. Whether you're looking for an acupuncturist or a massage therapist, an electrician or pet care, we've got you covered!
If you're not a member, those links will not work for you. Consider joining us! Learn more here, or feel free to contact me directly.
Lots of good programs coming up, read on to learn more about them and sign up.
Hope to see many of you tonight at Sea Change!
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Sara Foster
|
|
|
Last Tuesday Happy Hour & Welcome for MCC's New Executive Director
Tuesday, May 28, 5:00 - 6:00 pm 
Sea Change, 806 2nd St S
Join us for Last Tuesday Happy Hour, hosted by Chris Bray, Dianne Iverson, Nancy Reed and Christine Umhoefer at Sea Change! This gathering is a time to catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites. It's also an opportunity to meet and welcome Mill City Commons' new executive director, Sara Foster. The event is dutch treat--no reservations required. If you'd like to stay for dinner, reservations may be made by calling (612) 225-6499.
MCC members and guests. No registration required. |
|
MN History Center: "First Avenue: Stories of Minnesota's Mainroom"
Wednesday, May 29, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Minnesota History Center, 345 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul
 After MCC's April Nosy Neighbor Tour of First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis, we're traveling to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul to view the new exhibit, "First Avenue: Stories of Minnesota's Mainroom." Discover how First Avenue, its staff and the Minneapolis music scene have changed over five decades. Stories are brought to life through video, photographs and artifacts. Museum admission is $10 (free to MNHS members). Meet MCC members in the lobby to walk through the exhibit together. If you'd like, join others for lunch afterwards in the museum's café.
MCC members sign up here. |
|
M
en's Coffee & Conversation
Thursday, May 30, 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, former MCC member Kin-Shing Lun hosts. Kin will share some snippets of China's current status on social media, IT, infrastructure and climate change. His talk will touch on how these developments are influenced by China's history and culture.
|
|
Update: 3rd Avenue, 10th Avenue & Stone Arch Bridge Projects
Thursday, May 30, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
 Ward 3 Council Member Steve Fletcher will give a brief overview of the 3rd Avenue, 10th Avenue and Stone Arch bridge projects, provide an update on the currently planned timing of those projects, share contact information for project staff at each agency (City of Minneapolis and MnDOT), and open it up for Q&A.
MCC members sign up here.
|
|
Birding Walk
Friday, May 31, 9:00 - 10:30 am 
Location to be announced
Celebrate spring with a series of five bird-watching walks along the river or Minneapolis lakes! We hope to see migrating warblers and other songbirds. Gregg Severson, naturalist with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, will lead the walks. Bring binoculars and field guides, if you have them (we'll also have some to borrow).
NOTE: You don't have to be a serious birder to participate--this is a chance to learn! And these are not strenuous hikes but rather easy walks with lots of stopping.
MCC members sign up here. |
|
MCC-Best Buy Focus Group
Monday, June 3, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Open Book Meeting Room, 1011 Washington Ave S, 2nd floor
 Best Buy, in conjunction with Mill City Commons, is holding monthly discussions to gather input on product and service ideas to assist older adults in living independently in their homes. A different topic will be presented each month to a limited group of 10 focus group members. Be part of shaping future smart technology and health and wellness products designed to assist older adults to remain living independently. Refreshments will be offered!
MCC members register here.
|
|
Shining the Spotlight on Women of a "Certain Age"
Monday, June 3, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
A-Mill Artist Lofts, Performance Hall, First Floor, 315 Main St SE 
Women make up more than 70% of the ticket buyers for live theater, and the average age of women in the audience is 52. So why are women--specifically "mature"' women--not seeing themselves reflected on the stage in a meaningful way? PRIME Productions, a new Twin Cities theater company that celebrates women in their second act, was formed three years ago to address this gap. Alison Edwards, a founding artistic director, and Sue Scott, veteran radio actor, will talk about mature women's place in our storytelling. Guests are welcome! Contact Betsy Wray at
[email protected] to register.
|
|
Meditation Circle
Tuesday, June 4 & 11, 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 am. 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 for the June 4 session; members sign up here for the June 11 session. |
|
Technology Help Desk
Tuesday, June 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.
Registration is now closed. If you'd like to be added to the waiting list in case of a cancellation, email [email protected].
|
|
Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, June 5, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 S 2nd St
 Join us to discuss Friends Forever, where two girls and three boys, all with strikingly different looks and talents, meet at the Atwood school as young children. Together, they become an inseparable group--known to outsiders as "The Big Five"--and lean on one another through all the bumps and bends of childhood and adolescence. But when the tight-knit group graduates and scatters to different colleges, their lives diverge dramatically, and some of the friends are lost forever. Those who remain will struggle to understand that even bonds that once seemed unbreakable are not proof against tragedy--but that they can also transform into something new and entirely unexpected.
If you'd like to read ahead, July's book is Becoming by Michelle Obama. Click here to see what books we're reading at future Book Chats. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Marsha Blumenthal.
MCC members and guests. No registration required. |
|
A Conversation on Health Care: What's the Problem? What's the Solution?
Wednesday, June 5, 7:00 - 8:30 pm 
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
Everyone seems to be talking (again) about health care reform. The ideas range from a total repeal of the Affordable Care Act to replacing insurance with a government-run single-payer plan. What are some ways forward to fix our health system? Why is it so difficult for the U.S. to address health care? Our speakers, Stephen J. Hemsley and Dr. Lewis G. Sandy, from UnitedHealth Group, will make some opening remarks and then facilitate a conversation on health and health care. UnitedHealth Group is Minnesota's largest company and deals with these issues every day, so they'll bring a unique perspective to our series on health care.
MCC members sign up here.
|
|
Birding Walk
Friday, June 7, 9:00 - 10:30 am
Location to be announced
 Celebrate spring with a series of five bird-watching walks along the river or Minneapolis lakes! We hope to see migrating warblers and other songbirds. Gregg Severson, naturalist with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, will lead the walks. Bring binoculars and field guides, if you have them (we'll also have some to borrow).
NOTE: You don't have to be a serious birder to participate--this is a chance to learn! And these are not strenuous hikes but rather easy walks with lots of stopping.
MCC members sign up here. |
|
Sunday Soiree
Sunday, June 9, 5:00 - 7:00 pm 
Stone Arch Lofts Rooftop, 600 2nd St S
Join your friends and neighbors for the Sunday Soiree, hosted by Dave & Peggy Lucas and Marcia Townley on the Stone Arch rooftop. Our hosts will provide Kramarczuk brats and all the fixings. Please contribute to the potluck by bringing a salad, side, 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. Buzz Dave or Peggy Lucas or Marcia Townley to be let into the building.
MCC members sign up here. |
|
Mill City Travelers: Will Bracken Photographs Bears
Monday, June 10, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Stone Arch Lofts, 600 2nd St S, #701
 Member Will Bracken has photographed and witnessed the habits of three bears in Alaska and Canada: the Coastal Brown Bear, the Polar Bear and the Kermode Bear (Spirit Bear). He'll present his photography and thoughts on the bears, and then lead an open conversation about wildlife photography.
This is the first in an occasional series featuring MCC members and their travel stories.
MCC members sign up here.
|
|
Nosy Neighbor Tour: An Architectural Tour of the Guthrie
Tuesday, June 11, 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Guthrie Theater, 818 2nd St S 
What was on architect Jean Nouvel's mind when he conceptualized the Guthrie Theater? What were his inspirations? Discover answers to these questions and more in a 75-minute architectural tour of the iconic blue building on the river. We'll get a full backstage tour and then go to the foundation of the groundbreaking facility, covering everything from design to build plans to neighborhood inspirations. Cost for the tour is $12 per person, to be paid to MCC via check beforehand. Reservations are due May 31.
OPTIONAL: Join your tourmates for lunch afterwards at a nearby restaurant.
MCC members sign up
here
by May 31.
|
|
Lessons from a Chaplain and Social Worker on Death & Dying: 5 Things People Forget to Ask in End-of-Life Planning
Thursday, June 13, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 322 2nd St S
 You've thought absolutely everything through, right--or have you? In this second session in our three-part series, "Lessons from a Chaplain & Social Worker on Death & Dying," we continue with the things people often forget to ask about in end-of-life planning. Some are big, some are small, but they all have the power to reduce stress for you and your loved ones in a difficult time. Expect education as well as interaction, and just the right blend of reverence and irreverence. Our guides will be Zac Willette MDiv BCC and Anne Archbold MSW LSW of Allay Care Services, a national nonprofit headquartered in the Twin Cities. You do not need to have attended the first session to participate.
MCC members sign up here.
|
|
MCC Program Calendar
View the full calendar of MCC's May
Plan ahead! View the full calendar of MCC's June events
here.
|
|
News From Members
MCC member Sonia Cairns shares
this article from the
New Yorker on living longer, but staying younger.
MCC member Barbara Broker thought members might be interested in watching
this PBS interview looking at increasing life expectancy and the effect on economics and quality of life.
MCC member Ellie Hands is going to be at
this event for gun safety on June 8 and would welcome MCC members to join her. Contact
[email protected] to coordinate a meeting time and place.
|
Ar
ound Town
Yoga in Gold Medal Park
Every Saturday until August 31, 9:00-10:00 am, Gold Medal Park
Grab your yoga mat (or bring a towel) and meet by the orange sculpture in Gold Medal Park. The sessions are free of charge and are sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District. Come salute the sun and enjoy the beauty of our neighborhood with your friends and neighbors.
Artaria String Quartet - Romantic Rochberg
June 3, 7:30 pm, MacPhail Center for Music, 501 2nd St S
Described as an "exceptional ensemble with impressive confidence in its interpretations" and "Minnesota's foremost teaching and performing string quartet," the Artaria String Quartet recently celebrated its 30th year of chamber music concerts. Tickets are $15 for seniors and can be purchased
here.
Remembering Rondo Exhibition Preview Party
June 6, 7:00-9:00 pm, Weisman Art Museum, 333 E River Rd
A celebration of the intimate and sprawling works of Rose and Melvin Smith--which explore the histories embedded in their paintings and collages. The work in the exhibition speaks to the complex gamut of life in Rondo, and by extension, the African American community writ large. The evening will include small bites, jazz music by PaviElle and conversation with the artists. Registration for this free event 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.
|
|
|
|
|
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
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, 10:00-11:00 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
No reservations required. The next
book is
by Danielle Steele
Click
here to see what books we're reading at future Book Chats.
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
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.
MCC Women Connect
Join MCC women as they connect and grow, sharing experiences and learning from each other as they adapt to life's changes and transitions. This group meets the third Thursday morning of the month.
|
|
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.
|
|
Ongoing Member-Led Activities
MCC Caregivers' Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
May-August,
10:30 am-12:00 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
June 6 & 20
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
|
|
