Events - Month View

Join us as we explore the beauty of Lakewood Cemetery in this 3/4 mile walking tour. Lakewood tour guides will lead you through an informational and fun experience that covers architecture, notable names, historic monuments, and other facets of Lakewood’s past, as well as what they‘re doing today. The tour begins at Lakewood’s historic Lakewood Memorial Chapel.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

The Membership Committee develops new strategies for member engagement and retention. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to Committee Co-Chair Jane Helsing.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation on the patio of the Aster Cafe. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Take in a game to watch the Minnesota Lynx play at Target Center and support MCC with your ticket purchase! Your seats will be in Section 136, Row Q, Seats 24-25. Tickets are $50 for the pair. These tickets cannot be resold on any third-party site. If you want to resell them, they can be reposted through MCC communication channels.

You will need the Lynx mobile app to receive the electronic tickets. After you have paid for the tickets, MCC will transfer the tickets to you. The email address you use to set up the app must match the email address you provide to MCC in order for the transfer of tickets to go through.

*Note, these tickets were a gift to MCC from MCC members Allan and Lou Burdick as a way to diversify MCC‘s revenue. The face value of the tickets is $23.50/ticket, with a small charge to help cover credit card fees.

Join us at the Southern Theater to see the new play, "Orlando: A Rhapsody" directed by Vinora Epp, and written and performed with her father, actor Steven Epp (of Theatre de la Jeune Lune and The Moving Company).

The play tells their own story through the words of Virginia Woolf. Playing with language, movement and dress-up, like children, they put on their own "living-room play." All the while, wrestling with existential questions of gender and fiction: or, what it means to be and why we tell stories. This piece was devised in New York City and France, before making its way to Minneapolis.

After the play is over, stay for a special post-show discussion just for our MCC members with the artists. Vinora Epp is former MCC member Linnea Olesen‘s granddaughter.

Tickets are general admission with no reserved seating and are pay what you can, with the price ranging from $5 to $30. After you register on our website for this program, you may purchase the tickets online at https://southerntheater.org/shows/orlando-a-rhapsody. Doors open at 6:30 pm, play begins at 7:30 pm.

Join your friends and neighbors at the C.R.E.A.M Cafe for a morning chat. This adventure requires no reservations.

All Chairs of the different committees are invited to join us at this monthly meeting.

Join us to discuss this month‘s book, "All Fours," by Miranda July. You are welcome to join us in conversation whether or not you‘ve read the book.

If you‘d like to read ahead, July‘s book is "James," by Percival Everett.

The Loft is one of the nation’s most vibrant literary centers, located in our Mill City neighborhood at Open Book. For the past 50 years, the Loft has been a home for readers and writers. Join Executive & Artistic Director Arleta Little to hear more about the Loft‘s current programs and the Loft’s legacy and impact. Afterwards, take a tour of the Loft‘s writers‘ studios, poetry library, offices and more. This program will be held at the Loft offices at Open Book on Washington Avenue.

It’s time to again be exploring various hikes in and around the Twin Cities, with other MCC members.

We will meet at the parking lot just south of 36th Street on West River Parkway at 9:30 a.m., and walk the southern portion of the Winchell Trail. Note that there is a smaller parking lot just north of 36th Street.

This area is the only gorge found anywhere on the Mississippi River, and was named to honor Newton Horace Winchell, a leading geologist of the late 19th Century. In addition to other accomplishments, he taught at the University of Minnesota, was the first to accurately date Minnesota’s geologic past, and he wrote the first scholarly book about the Ojibwe and the Dakota.

The trail is easy, mostly shaded, and winds along the river to the south. We’ll all plan to go ~1-1/2 miles and then there will be options: some may wish to return to the parking lot, for a total of ~3 miles. Others can continue on for another ~1/2 mile to Minnehaha Park and enjoy an ice cream cone at Sebastian Joe’s.

For those who’d like to carpool, be at the MCC parking lot, ready to depart at 9:15 a.m.

Join us to appreciate the nature that’s only a few minutes away!

Have you ever met a successful playwright and screenwriter? This program is an opportunity to hear award-winning writer Jeffrey Hatcher discuss his incredible career. Mr. Hatcher’s plays (among them Glensheen, Three Viewings, Dial M for Murder, A Picasso, Holmes and Watson, Groucho Marx Meets T.S. Eliot) have been performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally in the U.S., and abroad. Many of his plays have been staged by local theaters such as the Guthrie, Illusion, Children’s Theatre Company, and Park Square. His career also includes screenwriting for movies (e.g. The Good Liar, Stage Beauty, Casanova) and television (episodes of Columbo and The Mentalist). He’ll talk about famous and successful adaptations, as well as approaches to turning a story in another type of medium into drama and theater. Join us for what promises to be a very engaging program!

Please join us for a leisurely bike ride on the Mississippi River trails starting at and returning to Prye’s Brewing, where we can then enjoy a Dutch treat lunch together on their wonderful patio.

We‘ll be heading to Minnehaha Falls and back (15 miles). Riders who want a little more distance can loop around Lake Nokomis also. (7 miles)

All bicycling levels are welcome. Nobody will be left behind. Free on-street parking. Bike racks located in the parking lot adjacent to Prye‘s Brewing.

Get to know other MCC members at a casual Saturday morning breakfast mixer inside Elsie’s Restaurant‘s dining room. Hot coffee awaits you when you arrive on foot or by bike or by car - order a full breakfast or simply a beverage. Open seating at tables set for 4 or 5 - great for conversation with friends, old and new. To help the restaurant prepare, please register. NOTE: Breakfasts are outside as long as the temperature is at least 50 degrees. If bad weather, depending on Elsie‘s availability and our group size, we may be in the small banquet room or in the dining room. This seating arrangement is up to Elsie‘s discretion each week. This event is limited to 22 to accommodate Elsie‘s staff.

Join us as we head to the University of Minnesota‘s Ted Mann Concert Hall to hear the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Listen to five pieces by the St Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) including a solo flute piece, a modern piece composed by both a Grammy and Pulitzer Award winner and ending with Cassie Pilgrim (oboe soloist) performing JS Bach’s Concerto for Oboe d’Amore.

Ted Mann is one of the best halls for music in the Twin Cities, and the SPCO is a world class chamber orchestra.

As a special only for MCC, Cassie Pilgrim, the creative lead for the concert and the Oboe soloist, will meet with us after the concert in the Ted Mann Theater to discuss the program and answer your questions.

MCC has a block of tickets available at a discounted rate of $32 per ticket. After you sign up on MCC‘s website, you will need to call the SPCO box office to purchase your tickets. Their phone number is (651) 291-1144. When you call, tell the box office personnel that you are part of MCC to get in our block of reserved seats.

The space in our block of seats is limited. ?Register now for the opportunity to hear this wonderful chamber orchestra and meet with Cassie.

The Marketing Committee works to increase awareness of Mill City Commons. We build strategies and materials to acquire new members. We provide consulting and creative support for various projects and other committees. We also have fun! Contact Chair Nancy Gardner if you’re interested in learning more.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Join us as we meander through The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary on a guided tour. It is a spectacular 18 acre naturalistic botanic garden with trails meandering through woodlands, wetlands, and an upland meadow that showcase more than 600 plant species and 140 resident and migratory birds species. The Garden was founded in 1907, making it the oldest wildflower garden in the country. Please wear sturdy shoes and clothing appropriate for
the weather. The Garden is often cooler than expected. Cost for the tour is $10.50 per person. After the tour, join us for an optional Dutch-treat lunch at Good Day Cafe. Please answer the question as to whether you will be joining us for lunch.

Schedule time with a Tech Support Guru on Zoom and have your nagging technology questions answered during our complimentary Help Desk. The zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation on the patio of the Aster Cafe. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Join your friends and neighbors at the C.R.E.A.M Cafe for a morning chat. This adventure requires no reservations.

This guided discussion group with professional facilitation supports MCC members and nonmembers who are in a caregiving role.

Please join us at the Berlin Jazz Club in the North Loop for a Dutch-treat dinner and an evening of original and jazz standards performed by the band, Freedom to Listen, with bassist Peter Brendler, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and drummer Mark Ferber. The three musicians have played in many world-famous jazz venues, made hundreds of recordings, and have won several prestigious music awards. The Berlin food menu was designed by well-known chef Jamie Malone. Dinner is at 6:00 pm with the show at beginning at 7:00 pm. Seats for the show are guaranteed but not assigned. Only 8 spots are available.

https://www.berlinmpls.com/calendar/peter-brendler-jon-irabagon-mark-ferber

Tickets for the show including taxes/fees are $24.00, payable to MCC member Kathy McKinstry. Please sign up here and then email her at ka.mckinstry@yahoo.com for payment options.

Street parking is available.

Caffeine and camaraderie for members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.

Back by popular demand! Join fellow MCCers for a pleasant ride between Wayzata and St. Bonifacius! This is an easy ride on paved trail, and it‘s a favorite ride of many. Please register if you plan to attend!

Meet with your bike, helmet and water bottle by 10 a.m. at the restaurant Cov in Wayzata on Lake Street. We‘ll then hop on the off-road bike lane that connects to the off-road trail.

There is a free parking garage just a block away from Cov at the corner of Broadway Ave. S. and Mill St. E.

We‘ll ride the paved Dakota Trail to St. Bonifacius and have an early lunch at the St. Boni Bistro. We‘ll then head back to Wayzata for a total of about 30 miles. We should return to Wayzata around 2:30.

Optional longer route: If anyone wants a longer ride, pedaling out to Mayer would add about 13 miles round-trip. Please contact Jane Helsing if you would like to start the ride to Mayer at 9 a.m. instead, thus getting back to the St. Boni Bistro about the same time as the other riders.

Hope to see you on June 12!

This ride has been cancelled due to inclement weather. We have scheduled a new bike ride for June 19.

Join us for a fun morning of Mah Jongg. Meet new members, guests and fellow Mah Jongg enthusiasts. All levels welcome from beginners to experienced. This event is limited to 8 participants. Registration closes at Noon on June 12.

Get to know other MCC members at a casual Saturday morning breakfast mixer inside Elsie’s Restaurant‘s dining room. Hot coffee awaits you when you arrive on foot or by bike or by car - order a full breakfast or simply a beverage. Open seating at tables set for 4 or 5 - great for conversation with friends, old and new. To help the restaurant prepare, please register. NOTE: Breakfasts are outside as long as the temperature is at least 60 degrees. If bad weather, depending on Elsie‘s availability and our group size, we may be in the small banquet room or in the dining room. This seating arrangement is up to Elsie‘s discretion each week. This event is limited to 22 to accommodate Elsie‘s staff.

Take in a game to watch the Minnesota Lynx play at Target Center and support MCC with your ticket purchase! Your seats will be in Section 136, Row Q, Seats 24-25. Tickets are $50 for the pair. These tickets cannot be resold on any third-party site. If you want to resell them, they can be reposted through MCC communication channels.

You will need the Lynx mobile app to receive the electronic tickets. After you have paid for the tickets, MCC will transfer the tickets to you. The email address you use to set up the app must match the email address you provide to MCC in order for the transfer of tickets to go through.

*Note, these tickets were a gift to MCC from MCC members Allan and Lou Burdick as a way to diversify MCC‘s revenue. The face value of the tickets is $23.50/ticket, with a small charge to help cover credit card fees.

Join us for a presentation on waste reduction and recycling led by Hennepin County Multifamily Recycling Specialist, Lianna Goldstein. Get all your questions answered about what is and is not recyclable, find out what happens to stuff after we recycle it, and learn about resources available for multifamily properties to improve their recycling efforts. Free recycling guides will be available after the presentation.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Join MCC member David Evelo, as he takes us on a fun tour of downtown to see all of the buildings designed by world-class architects. This is a great way to have fun, socialize, walk and perhaps learn a little something about our downtown buildings.

We will meet at 10:30 am by the gateway flagpole which is located on 1st Street South and Hennepin Ave. in front of the Towers condo building. Street parking is available on 1st Street South and around the corner on Marquette. The walking tour will be approximately one hour and 45 Minutes and about 2 miles. Those who are interested can have a Dutch-treat lunch at Northstar Cafeteria in the remodeled Northstar Building.

If anyone has questions, they can e-mail David Evelo at evelosbandb@gmail.com, text or call at 612-810-7766.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation on the patio of the Aster Cafe. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Public safety in Minneapolis is central to the well-being of each of us and revitalizing our city requires strong, high quality leadership. Join us to hear what progress Police Chief Brian O‘Hara has set in motion toward police reform, how the settlement case is supporting change, what challenges remain, and what the path forward is for the future. We’ve asked him to discuss how we as active city residents can support his leadership and tenure in Minneapolis. Q&A to follow.

Please join us for a pre-program social from 5:30 - 6:00 pm.

Take in a game to watch the Minnesota Lynx play at Target Center and support MCC with your ticket purchase! Your seats will be in Section 136, Row Q, Seats 24-25. Tickets are $50 for the pair. These tickets cannot be resold on any third-party site. If you want to resell them, they can be reposted through MCC communication channels.

You will need the Lynx mobile app to receive the electronic tickets. After you have paid for the tickets, MCC will transfer the tickets to you. The email address you use to set up the app must match the email address you provide to MCC in order for the transfer of tickets to go through.

*Note, these tickets were a gift to MCC from MCC members Allan and Lou Burdick as a way to diversify MCC‘s revenue. The face value of the tickets is $23.50/ticket, with a small charge to help cover credit card fees.

Join your friends and neighbors at the C.R.E.A.M Cafe for a morning chat. This adventure requires no reservations.

The next Executive Committee meeting is on June 18.

This Mill City Commons event takes in three side-by-side exhibitions on the third floor of the Minnesota State Capitol Building. The first is: "Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations" at the Minnesota State Capitol is a nationally recognized, award-winning exhibition produced the Minnesota Humanities Center, the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. The richly detailed exhibition is self-guided with 20 informational panels and is free of charge. http://treatiesmatter.org/exhibit/welcome/

The second is the stunning “Portraits of Indigenous Authors and Artists” by photographer John Ratzloff. Among those photographed are Gerald Vizenour, Louise Erdrich, Heid Erdrich, and Peggy Flanagan. https://www.mnhs.org/capitol/activities/gallery

Finally, two large controversial historical paintings removed from the Governor’s office are displayed in the Capitol’s Cass Gilbert room, also on the third floor, with a series of fascinating interviews about seeing the paintings in our time.

We will assemble at the Mill City offices at 9:30am; order Ubers for each group of four; assemble in the Capitol’s Room 321 (Public Art Gallery); visit the exhibitions; gather in a nearby meeting room for a debriefing discussion, coffee and savory snacks; then head back to the Mill City offices by 1pm.

Please join us to celebrate Mill City Commons and our members – because we wouldn’t be here without you!

We’ll be celebrating friendships, fun, and the MCC community at The Legacy Condo’s Party Room/Outdoor Patio. This year our food will be catered by Native Harvest, owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, giving you a chance to try a wild rice bowl, fry bread and some sweet treats. Beverages will also be provided.

There is metered street parking, or you may park at the Red Cross. This is a MCC members-only event. Registrations are due by June 11.

Back by popular demand! Join fellow MCCers for a pleasant ride between Wayzata and St. Bonifacius! This is an easy ride on paved trail, and it‘s a favorite ride of many. Please register if you plan to attend!

Meet with your bike, helmet and water bottle by 10 a.m. at the restaurant Cov in Wayzata on Lake Street. We‘ll then hop on the off-road bike lane that connects to the off-road trail.

There is a free parking garage just a block away from Cov at the corner of Broadway Ave. S. and Mill St. E.

We‘ll ride the paved Dakota Trail to St. Bonifacius and have an early lunch at the St. Boni Bistro. We‘ll then head back to Wayzata for a total of about 30 miles. We should return to Wayzata around 2:30.

Optional longer route: If anyone wants a longer ride, pedaling out to Mayer would add about 13 miles round-trip. Please contact Jane Helsing if you would like to start the ride to Mayer at 9 a.m. instead, thus getting back to the St. Boni Bistro about the same time as the other riders.

Hope to see you on June 19!

Get to know other MCC members at a casual Saturday morning breakfast mixer inside Elsie’s Restaurant‘s dining room. Hot coffee awaits you when you arrive on foot or by bike or by car - order a full breakfast or simply a beverage. Open seating at tables set for 4 or 5 - great for conversation with friends, old and new. To help the restaurant prepare, please register. NOTE: Breakfasts are outside as long as the temperature is at least 60 degrees. If bad weather, depending on Elsie‘s availability and our group size, we may be in the small banquet room or in the dining room. This seating arrangement is up to Elsie‘s discretion each week. This event is limited to 22 to accommodate Elsie‘s staff.

Take in a game to watch the Minnesota Lynx play at Target Center and support MCC with your ticket purchase! Your seats will be in Section 136, Row Q, Seats 24-25. Tickets are $50 for the pair. These tickets cannot be resold on any third-party site. If you want to resell them, they can be reposted through MCC communication channels.

You will need the Lynx mobile app to receive the electronic tickets. After you have paid for the tickets, MCC will transfer the tickets to you. The email address you use to set up the app must match the email address you provide to MCC in order for the transfer of tickets to go through.

*Note, these tickets were a gift to MCC from MCC members Allan and Lou Burdick as a way to diversify MCC‘s revenue. The face value of the tickets is $23.50/ticket, with a small charge to help cover credit card fees.

Join your friends and neighbors for the Sunday Soiree, hosted by Mary and Tom Racciatti. After you register, please come back to the main page and click on the link to let us know what you will be bringing. On-street parking is available. Carpooling is recommended.

The war in Gaza has brought the region to a crossroads. What are the possible outcomes of the war, and how might the United States use its influence to shape a long-term settlement that leaves both Israel and the Palestinians in a better position? How might Arab states in the wider region be brought into a settlement? What are America’s interests in the Middle East and how can it advance them? What is the role of Iran in this equation?

Analysts of American policy in 2025 have the unusual advantage of being able to assess the new president’s likely policies against the backdrop of what he did in his first term, four years earlier. The prognosis is not positive.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Join Barry Hand, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi program director, for a 60-minute guided site visit of the Falls and the Upper Lock and explore the decolonized history of Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls). Learn about Dakota lifeways, the significance of the River, and the Dakota vision for cultural and environmental restoration. Due to construction on the Stone Arch Bridge our tour meeting point will be at the East side entry to the bridge.

The Program Committee meets each month to discuss and develop new program ideas for our members. If you have a program idea, please feel free to fill out the Program Committee Proposal form and email it to Jane at janestacy@millcitycommons.org.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation on the patio of the Aster Cafe. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Join your friends and neighbors at the C.R.E.A.M Cafe for a morning chat. This adventure requires no reservations.

This guided discussion group with professional facilitation supports MCC members and nonmembers who are in a caregiving role.

Caffeine and camaraderie for members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.

Join us on a guided tour as we explore the artwork of Mary Sully in the new exhibit, “Mary Sully: Native Modern." This exhibit is dedicated to the groundbreaking work of Yankton Dakota artist Mary Sully (Susan Mabel Deloria). The exhibit offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore Sully’s innovative and deeply personal approach to artmaking.

“Mary Sully, a groundbreaking Dakota artist, was overlooked by art historians for nearly a century,” said Katie Luber, President of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. “In the early 20th century, Sully quietly revolutionized Native and American art by forging connections between these seemingly distinct genres, ultimately transforming the field of American art."

Members are welcome to stay after the guided tour and tour the permanent Native American Exhibit or other exhibits on their own.

Join us as we embark on a once-a-month culinary experience at different ethnic restaurants around the city. This month, get ready for a culinary journey through the Hmong flavors of Thailand where we will enjoy a Dutch-treat dinner of Hmong food at Vinai. Please note that the portions on many of the menu items are meant to be shared family-style. This event is limited to 12 people. Please register by Noon on Tuesday, June 24.

Join us for a fun morning of Mah Jongg. Meet new members, guests and fellow Mah Jongg enthusiasts. All levels welcome from beginners to experienced. This event is limited to 8 participants. Registration closes at Noon on June 26.

Get to know other MCC members at a casual Saturday morning breakfast mixer inside Elsie’s Restaurant‘s dining room. Hot coffee awaits you when you arrive on foot or by bike or by car - order a full breakfast or simply a beverage. Open seating at tables set for 4 or 5 - great for conversation with friends, old and new. To help the restaurant prepare, please register. NOTE: Breakfasts are outside as long as the temperature is at least 60 degrees. If bad weather, depending on Elsie‘s availability and our group size, we may be in the small banquet room or in the dining room. This seating arrangement is up to Elsie‘s discretion each week. This event is limited to 22 to accommodate Elsie‘s staff.

Take in a game to watch the Minnesota Lynx play at Target Center and support MCC with your ticket purchase! Your seats will be in Section 136, Row Q, Seats 24-25. Tickets are $50 for the pair. These tickets cannot be resold on any third-party site. If you want to resell them, they can be reposted through MCC communication channels.

You will need the Lynx mobile app to receive the electronic tickets. After you have paid for the tickets, MCC will transfer the tickets to you. The email address you use to set up the app must match the email address you provide to MCC in order for the transfer of tickets to go through.

*Note, these tickets were a gift to MCC from MCC members Allan and Lou Burdick as a way to diversify MCC‘s revenue. The face value of the tickets is $23.50/ticket, with a small charge to help cover credit card fees.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.