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Update from the Executive Director
The Annual Mill City Commons Holiday Drive to provide groceries for 50 families at Ascension School and small gifts for two transitional housing programs is in full swing. Contributions of both dollars and gift items are still needed. You're not too late to contribute! Learn more by clicking on the link embedded in the update directly to the right of this message. Thank you for your generosity.
Construction in the Mill District continues at a brisk clip. It's exciting and energizing, but the temporary hassle of closed traffic lanes and detours, compounded by icy streets and snow, is no fun. A really big neighborhood project, the rebuild of the Third Avenue Bridge, is scheduled to begin fall of 2019. A brief update on the project is included below under News from Members.
To receive ongoing email updates about this and other MnDot projects, sign up here. It's easy and helpful.
A reminder that tomorrow is the last day to register for the Handmade Holidays tour at the Swedish Institute this Friday. Details below.
The holidays evoke varied emotions for each of us. In this time of hustle and bustle, may the gifts of friendship, fond memories and an appreciation for each and every day bring comfort and joy to you and those you love!
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
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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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Social Bridge
Wednesday, December 12, 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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MCC Annual Meeting
Wednesday, December 12, 4:00 - 4:30 pm 
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE, 2nd fl
Learn about the direction of your Mill City Commons as the gavel passes to next year's chair and new officers and board members are welcomed. The regular monthly meeting of the board will follow at 4:30 pm. Members are welcome to stay for the board meeting also.
MCC members sign up here.
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M
en's Coffee & Conversation
Thursday, December 13, 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 Tom Carrier will speak on "Miscellany: A Potpourri of Stories Untold." Stressing our role as historians and storytellers, Tom will share some personal experiences from the practice of medicine to the game of golf to, if time permits, his role in a decades-long, one-man raccoon relocation program. The common theme, "Never give up."
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A Personal Story About Doctors Without Borders
Thursday, December 13, 7:00 - 8:30 pm 
Winslow House Party Room, 100 2nd St SE
How does one volunteer with Doctors Without Borders--or MSF (Medecins Sans Frontiers), as it is known internationally--and what can one expect? Dr. Roby C. Thompson Jr., Professor Emeritus of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota, will share his personal experience from Haiti, post-earthquake. He'll talk about the route to an assignment, the experience, the volunteers and the plight of the residents.
MCC members sign up here.
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Swedish Institute "Handmade Holidays" Tour
Friday, December 14, 10:15 - 11:30 am
American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave S
 Join us for a tour of the American Swedish Institute's 2018 exhibition "Handmade Holidays." We'll tour the richly decorated Nordic Holiday rooms, this year centered around ASI's year of "The Handmade." Cost is $13 for this guided tour. Optional: Join your tourmates for lunch at Fika afterwards. Members Diane & Tony Hofstede will buy your beverage of choice; lunch or snacks are dutch-treat!
* Please bring cash and arrive by 10:15 am to speed up the check-in process.
* Reservations due December 12.
MCC members sign up here. |
Dinner for 5
Sunday, December 16, 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. Space is limited, so register early!
Registration is now closed. If you'd like to be placed on the waiting list, email [email protected].
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Meditation Circle
Tuesday, December 18, 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. |
Turkey & Extra Helpings Volunteer Opportunity
Tuesday, December 18, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm 
Cub Foods, 701 W Broadway Ave
Join MCC members and friends for the 11th annual Turkey & Extra Helpings Holiday Drive! Our goal is to provide groceries for holiday meals for 50 families in North Minneapolis. Volunteers are needed to help load and unload food for families from Ascension School. Meet in the Cub Foods parking lot, 701 W Broadway Ave (I-94 and Broadway), at 10:30 am to pick up groceries. We'll then proceed to Ascension School, 1726 Dupont Ave N, to drop them off. Please register and answer the "Question" on whether you have a large vehicle to help transfer food.
We have enough volunteers, but donations are still being accepted through the end of the week. Click here to learn more. |
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Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, December 18, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Milwaukee Road Bar at the Depot, 225 3rd Ave S
 Join us for Tuesday Happy Hour at the Depot's Milwaukee Road Bar! Hosted by Sue Bennett, Camille Burke, Ellie Hands and Marcia Townley, 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) 375-1700.
MCC members and guests. No registration required. |
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Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, December 20, 1:30 - 3:00 pm 
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE
MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Cathi Griffioen hosts an end-of-the-year party at La Rive. We'll take a look back at 2018 and forward to 2019, expressing a gratitude or thanks for something in 2018 and what you hope for individually or publicly in 2019. We'll also hold our annual book exchange. Bring a book you've read that you'd like to give away and take one you'd like to read. Contributions of wine or goodies, as well as a small cash donation for the room fee, are welcomed!
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC. |
New Year's Eve Dinner
 Monday, December 31, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Smith & Porter Restaurant, 428 2nd St S
Join your MCC friends and celebrate a year well-lived with a New Year's Eve meal at Smith & Porter! You'll order off the menu, and the meal is dutch-treat.
Make your reservation on the MCC website by December 21.
MCC members sign up here.
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MCC Program Calendar
View the full calendar of MCC's December events
here.
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News from Members
Last week's program, A Minnesotan's Story About Saving Rhinos, provided insight into what's happening to rhinos, who's involved, why they are so valuable to poachers and why they are worth saving.
Executive Director Joan Wright encourages those interested in learning more to check out the Wild and Free Foundation's website
here.
Have you heard rumors about the 3rd Avenue bridge closing?
MCC member Allan Burdick received an update on the upcoming bridge closure from
MCC member Doug Verdier and the MNDOT website
and shares it
here
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MCC Executive Director Joan Wright shares that MacPhail Center for Music is looking for volunteers to help staff their welcome desk. You can see the job description and learn more here. And don't forget that the MCC website lists other local volunteer opportunities under the Member Volunteering page.
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Around Town
Holiday Giving Opportunity
Now through December 13, Cynthia Froid Group, 709 2nd St S
For the holiday season, the Cynthia Froid Group will be a Donation Drop-Off Site for People Serving People and YouthLink. Please call (612) 279-8215 before you plan to stop by to ensure they will be there to receive the donations. Alternatively, you can purchase a Target gift card or donate online for either organization: People Serving People (gift registry listed
here) and YouthLink (gift registry listed
here). Please have your donations in by December 13. Items most needed include baby wipes, toys, mittens, gloves, warm winter clothing, dish sets, sheet sets and bus passes.
Detours: Made Here
Launch
December 14, 5:30 pm, 900 Hennepin Ave
Please join Hennepin Theatre Trust for the launch of
Detours: Made Here, the newest series of art installations in downtown Minneapolis, and celebration of an important milestone in the program's five year history. Made Here showcases fill underused storefronts and commercial spaces with art by local artists, transforming Hennepin Avenue into a walkable urban art gallery. Free; but an RSVP 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.
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. The next
book is
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 20 & January 3
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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