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Update from the Executive Director
*REVISION*
Please accept my apology for sending a bad link.
Here is the chart I refer to below:
(originally found in this article.)
This morning, I learned that my brother's dog Rusty has left the world of the living. We knew he was sick but I wasn't expecting him to be gone so soon. It felt sort of like a punch in the stomach. Before moving to LA several years ago, Rusty lived in Minneapolis with his family. I was the main dog-sitter for him and his (can I say sister if they weren't really related?) sister Maisy, who also passed away this year.
It reminds me of the quote that I believed was from Plato (although Google says it might actually be
Ian Maclaren): "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." So true, isn't it?
I'm aware of several MCC members who are fighting hard battles, and I want to be positive and offer support. I also want to make sure we are offering each other validation and space for our negative feelings. Check out this
chart, offering hopeful alternatives to statements which might be perceived as toxic positivity. There's also a great animated
video about empathy by Brené Brown which I encourage you to watch if you haven't seen it.
Thanks for being a part of Mill City Commons, where we support each other and live in community each day. And now, to practice, from the chart...
This is hard. You've done hard things before. I believe in you.
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Sara J.B. Foster
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Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, November 26, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Bar Moxy in the Moxy Hotel, 247 Chicago Ave S
Join us for Last Tuesday Happy Hour at Bar Moxy in the new Moxy Hotel in Downtown East. Hosted by Ginny & Will Craig and Jan & Linda Willette, this gathering is a time to catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites. Dutch treat--no reservations required!
Our group will be gathering on the mezzanine level, where there are tables and comfy chairs. Order your drink at the bar, then take the elevator up to the mezzanine.
MCC members and guests. No registration required.
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Men's Dutch Breakfast
Wednesday, November 27, 8:00 - 9:00 am 
Elsie's Restaurant, Main Dining Room, 729 Marshall St NE
MCC men are invited to gather for a special dutch-treat breakfast on the day before Thanksgiving in the main dining room at Elsie's. There's no program, just fellowship, and a different start time than the usual Thursday Coffee & Conversation breakfasts. Please register if you plan to come.
MCC members sign up here. |
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The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Monday, December 2, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
 It's been 100 years since the League of Nations promised an independent state of Palestine and 71 years since the state of Israel was established on the greater part of that promised land. As a result, conflict continues to dominate in this part of the Middle East despite decades of efforts at diplomacy and several major wars. What are the prospects today that an agreement can be reached that will meet the needs of all parties involved? Speaker Gary Prevost is professor emeritus of political science and international relations at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. He regularly teaches a course and gives lectures on the Politics of the Middle East.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Meditation Circle
Tuesday, December 3 & 10, 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 for December 3 session; members sign up here for the December 10 session.
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Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, December 4, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 S 2nd St
 Join us to discuss
Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens. For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life--until the unthinkable happens. Owens' story reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.
Book Chat will take a break in January. If you'd like to read ahead, February's book is Jazz by Toni Morrison. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Marsha Blumenthal at theblumenthals@gmail.com.
MCC members and guests. No registration required.
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Technology Workshop: Privacy and Security
Thursday, December 5, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
American Academy of Neurology, 201 Chicago Ave, Training Room A
Many people today are tired of endless robot-calls, frustrated by Facebook's ongoing privacy concerns and worried about being hacked or scammed. Join us for a privacy and security workshop where we'll discuss some of the most frustrating and pressing technological problems today. Learn how to protect your privacy and personal information, safely browse the web and check emails, store and create passwords securely, and understand the risks you may face over the phone and online. Note: seating is limited!
MCC members sign up here.
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Life as an Architecture Critic: The Inside Stories
Tuesday, December 10, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE
 During Linda Mack's 21-year tenure as architecture critic and reporter at the Star Tribune, there were many behind-the-scene stories that didn't make the paper-like Jean Nouvel wears red underwear. Most of Linda's inside stories aren't so racy (she didn't actually see the underwear but heard about it), but they're fun trivia for those who like to be in the know. Join us as she recounts a few of them. Active in historic preservation since the 1980s, Linda currently serves on the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Current Events: A Conversation with Bill
Wednesday, December 11, 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 (this month is an exception). Topic ideas for each monthly gathering are welcome.
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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Ar
ound Town
The Norwegians
December 5-January 5, Dark & Stormy Productions, 77 13th Ave NE
Olive and Betty both want their ex-boyfriends dead. So, they hire the only hit men they can find in Minnesota: really, really nice ones. For information and tickets, click
here.
Mrs. Kelly's Tea Tasting
December 7 & 8, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Mrs. Kelly's Tea, 77 13th Ave NE
Don't miss this chance to try over 100 of Mrs. Kelly's most popular award-winning, local, freshly blended teas. There will be a qualified Tea Blender available to fill your special requests. You can also peruse a hand-made display of tea related pottery, handmade soaps, Muddy Paws cheesecakes, succulents and Ames Farm honey. Admission is free, but there's a suggested $3 donation or a non-perishable food item.
Global Conversations: The Global Pulse of Minnesota
December 11, 12:00 pm, Landmark Center, 75 5th St W, St. Paul
Minnesota's rich tradition of global-mindedness in business, education, hospitality, health and wellness, culture, and in the arts remains crucial to ensuring our continued success. What is the current global pulse of Minnesota? How are we doing, as a region, when it comes to maximizing the benefits of trade, travel, tourism, professional and student exchanges, international conferences and symposiums, and other "two-way streets" that connect Minnesotans to the world and the world to Minnesota. Pre-registration is requested
here for this free event.
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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2019 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 registration 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 Delia Owens
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!
Guthrie Play Reading
RiverWest Group
Tuesday, December 10,
6:30-9:30 pm
Reading The Winter's Tale this month.
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.
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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
Tuesdays 9:30-10:30 am
Mill City Quarter,
322 2nd St S
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
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 5 & 19
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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