Dear Mill City Commons members and friends,

We survived the daylight savings time change and hopefully your internal clock has reset itself. While it has been difficult to get my kids out of bed in the mornings, I appreciate the longer daylight hours in the evenings that make it easier to go out and about...a meeting that finishes at 5:30 pm doesn't seem so bad when the sun is still shining when we walk out the door! It feels like with a longer day, there's just a bit of wiggle room to add in some fun, extra things to the calendar. I hope that holds true for you as you look at our upcoming programs and consider whether you have the time to join us. An hour here and there ends up equaling a lot of quality time with quality people! I'm glad we can spring forward into this new season together.

Mary Texidor, Executive Director

(612) 455-3329, 1201 W River Pkwy, Suite 217C, Minneapolis, MN 55454

MCC Spring Trial Membership Coming Soon!

Not a member? Try us out!

We understand the importance of strong social connections and belonging. Join Mill City Commons for $150 and attend unlimited programs from April 1-June 30, access trusted online resources and rely on courteous and friendly staff. Not sure? Our members say it best! "The Trial was a good incentive to try MCC. I’ve found the programs to be intellectually stimulating and I love the variety of activities." – John K., past trial member

Learn more here or sign up by visiting our website. Fill in the online form and you'll hear back from our staff with next steps to become a part of our membership community.

Our Upcoming Programs and Events

Revere Auctions: Unveiling the World of Art and Antiques

Thursday, March 13, 4:00 - 5:30 pm

La Rive 110 Bank Street SE

Have you ever wondered how valuable your grandmother's set of silver is? Did you purchase that vase or pottery at an Estate Sale, wondering if it was the “real” thing? Do you have adequate insurance for your valuable collections? Have you determined and documented where your estate will go? Will your heirs know how to carry out your wishes to obtain the best outcome?

MCC Members David and Sheryl Evelo have invited representatives from Revere Auction House to answer all of our questions. Our speakers will discuss the importance of how they identify what is valuable and the evaluation process to buy, sell or insure it. They will share stories of some auctions they’ve had for our local collectors who had notable estates.

Guests are invited to bring their heirlooms or contemporary art such as jewelry, paintings, glassware, to this program for an on-the-spot complimentary evaluation from 5:30-6:00 pm. Our speakers are experts in the field, conducting auctions nationally and internationally. Mill City Commons version of Antiques Road Show!

MCC members sign up here.

Morning Mixer 

Saturdays, March 15 and 22, 9:00 - 10:30 am

Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE

Get to know other MCC members at a casual Saturday morning breakfast mixer inside Elsie’s Restaurant's small banquet room. Hot coffee awaits you when you arrive on foot or by bike or by car - order a full breakfast or simply a beverage. Conference-style seating - great for conversation with friends, old and new. To help the restaurant prepare, please register.

NOTE: 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.

MCC members sign up here for March 15 and here for March 22; guests email MCC. 

Met Opera Live: Fidelio 

Saturday, March 15, 12:00 - 3:30 pm

AMC Roseville 14 Theatre, 1595 Highway 36 West

Join our MCC Opera Friends at the at Met Live in HD performance of Fidelio. Following the performance, we encourage friends to meet at CRAVE restaurant in Rosedale Mall to visit and to enjoy a beverage or a snack.

To learn more about this performance of Fidelio click here. Show runtime is 3 hours, 5 minutes and starts at 12:00 pm.

Did you know that the performance is telecasted live to more than 2000 cinemas in over 50 countries? It is kind of a thrill to realize that we are enjoying the same fabulous performances at the same time as thousands of people all over the Earth!!

You may purchase your ticket online and choose your seat. MCC members pay their own admission. Buy advance tickets here.

Please email Kathie Murphy with questions.

MCC members sign up here.

Sunday Brunch Soiree

Sunday, March 16, 11:00 - 1:00 pm

Abiitan, Ute Buehler's Unit #420, 428 S 2nd St

Join your friends and neighbors for this Sunday Brunch Soiree, hosted by Ute Buehler and Nancy Brown in Ute's apartment at Abiitan. Please contribute to the potluck by bringing breakfast fare, such as an egg (or other main) dish, fruit, sausage/bacon, salad, breakfast bread, dessert or beverage to serve at least 8.

Enter through Abiitan's main entrance, sign at the desk and the concierge will buzz you up to Ute's unit (#420).

This Soiree is limited to 20 people.

MCC members sign up here.

Great Decisions: AI & American National Security

Monday, March 17, 4:00 - 5:30 pm

MCC Office, 1201 West River Pkwy, Room 215

The AI revolution is the leading edge of a larger high-tech revolution which promises to transform the world. Experts argue that international cooperation is needed to expand the opportunities these new technologies hold while protecting societies from their dangers. What are the key policy debates in this area, and what are the opportunities and limits on global AI rules of the road? How will the AI revolution impact American national security? What are its policy options to secure the benefits of AI and guard against its dangers?

Our speaker for this program is Christi Siver. Christi is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the College of St. Benedict and St John’s University. She did her undergraduate work at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR, her Masters in International Relations and International Economics at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and her Ph.D. in political science at the University of Washington. She teaches courses on international relations and international security. Her current research interests include international humanitarian law, military technology, and comparative law.

Registration on the MCC website is required for Great Decisions members. Sorry, not open to guests. To join the MCC Great Decisions Discussion Group, please email Jane Stacy.

MCC Great Decision members sign up here.

Zoom / Current Events: A Conversation with Bill

Tuesday, March 18, 10:30 - 11:30 am

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 month's topic will be "When the Elephants Fight, it's the Grass that Suffers".

MCC members sign up here.

Friends of Mia Coffee, Tea, and Scones and a Guided Tour

Wednesday, March 19, 10:00 - 11:30 am

Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 3rd Ave S

Join us at the Minneapolis Institute for Arts (Mia), as we meet with the Friends of Mia for coffee, tea, and scones as well as a guided tour of two special Mia exhibits: At the Moulin Rouge as well as The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room. 

This tour is limited to 15 participants.

Meet at Mia’s front information desk to be guided to the Friends Office.

MCC members sign up here.

Men's Breakfast

Thursday, March 20, 8:00 - 9:00 am

Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE

It's caffeine and camaraderie for 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.

For our March 20 Men’s Breakfast Bob Lazear is bringing Patrick Wilson, the Development Director of the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON), to speak with us about the important work this organization does in assisting low to moderate income entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis and surrounding communities.

Among other activities, the group has been involved in the creation of the Northside Food Incubator, to assist those who want to start restaurants or food related businesses in the community, as well as short term commercial real estate lending through the Northside Commercial Real Estate Revolving Loan Fund.

They also provide training and technical assistance, in addition to their work with business incubators, all with the goal of creating a strong and resilient Northside community by strengthening and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses through every phase of their business’s growth. Mr. Wilson will present overview of the organization’s work and answer your questions.

MCC members sign up here.

TPT Viewers Like Us Program: The Electric Indian

Thursday, March 20, 3:00 - 4:30 pm

MCC Office, 1201 West River Pkwy, Room 215

MCC is partnering with TPT's Viewers Like Us Program for a series of programs to explore and discuss thought-provoking videos. This first set of three programs will be focused on Native American culture and history.

For the second video, we will view The Electric Indian. The Electric Indian chronicles the life of Ojibwe hockey star Henry Boucha. From his remarkable performances in the 1969 Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament to the 1972 Olympics and the NHL, Boucha's career was cut short by an on-ice injury, leading him on a path of healing and cultural reclamation.

Together, we will discuss Henry Boucha’s journey from professional stardom to crushing defeat and from struggle to healing.

We will watch the video together, then we will have a discussion hosted by trained TPT facilitators.

We we do encourage you to attend the series in-person, but individuals can participate virtually as well. 

MCC members sign up here.

Native American Boarding Schools: History and Current Efforts Toward Healing

Monday, March 24, 1:00 - 2:30 pm

MCC Office, 1201 West River Pkwy, Room 215

More than 523 government-funded, and often church-run, Indian Boarding schools existed across the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries. Native children were forcibly abducted by government agents, sent to schools hundreds of miles away, and beaten, starved, or otherwise abused when they spoke their Native languages. The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the first and only national organization whose purpose is to advocate on behalf of Native peoples impacted by the boarding school policies. The organization seeks truth through education and research, justice through activism and policy advocacy, and healing through programs and traditional gatherings. Join us as we hear from Fallon Carey (Cherokee Nation), the Digital Archives Manager of NABS, who will speak about the work of her organization.

After the program, you are welcome to stay for an optional post-program discussion and treats from a Native American restaurant.

MCC members sign up here.

Last Tuesday Happy Hour

Tuesday, March 25, 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Milly's Wine Bar & Bistro, 1129 Washington Ave S

Join us for Last Tuesday Happy Hour at Milly's Wine Bar. Hosted by Kathy McKinstry, Carol Hovey, Susan Burdick, Peggy Reinhardt, and Pat Schaffer, this gathering is a time to catch up with friends and neighbors over small bites and Dutch treat drinks.

Metered on-street parking is available.

MCC members sign up here.

MCC members, a reminder that if you'd like to attend a scheduled in-person program on Zoom, you just need to email Jane Stacy to get the Zoom link.

MCC member Jim Conaway has a new upcoming art exhibition at the Groveland Gallery opening Saturday, March 15th, with a reception from 2:00-5:00 pm and continuing through April 19. Click here for details. Jim has had a long career teaching painting, drawing, and ancient art history and is now a full-time artist with a studio in the Traffic Zone Center for Visual Arts. For the last three years, Jim has been painting characters from homer's Odyssey in which Homer angers Poseidon and survives a treacherous journey home after the Trojan War. Seventeen of Jim's paintings from this collection will be shown at Groveland Gallery. Jim's interest in Greek Mythology started at a young age when he joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the 7th fleet and had a chance to visit many Greek ruins, the first being a temple dedicated to Poseidon, god of the sea. 

Upcoming MCC meetings

• Zoom / Marketing Meeting, March 17
• Board Meeting, March 19
• Hybrid / Program Committee Meeting, March 25

Around Town

Tru Pettigrew: The Fabric of Our Relationships and Societal Discourse

March 13, Doors open 5:00 pm, Music 5:30 pm, Forum 6:00 pm, Westminster, 1200 Marquette Ave

Join the Westminster Town Hall Forum to hear from Tru Pettigrew. Prior to being named the first Chief Impact Officer for the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx of the NBA and WNBA, Pettigrew served as the organizations’ Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and Vice President of Player Programs and Diversity and Inclusion. Currently, his consultancy, Tru Access, helps organizations build bridges of trust and understanding across areas including racial, gender, and generational divides. For additional details, click here.

St. Patrick's Day Parade on Nicollet Mall

March 17, 6:00-8:00pm, Nicollet Mall

Join the St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Downtown Minneapolis! The St. Patrick's Day Parade is making its way through downtown on Nicollet Mall for the first time since the pandemic! Bundle up, wear your green, and come out to celebrate this festive tradition with your neighbors. Parade Route: Nicollet Mall from 6th Street to 12th Street. Click here for information.

Irish Dance at the Pavilion

March 23, 3:00–6:00 pm (doors open at 2:45 pm), Nicollet Island Pavilion, 71 Power St

Celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with Mactir Academy of Irish Dance. Dance lessons start at 3:00 pm—perfect for beginners and seasoned dancers alike. Wear your favorite green outfit and get ready to step, stomp and shuffle to the lively rhythms of traditional Irish dance. No fancy shoes needed—tennis shoes or soft-soled shoes work great. All ages welcome and no partner or experience needed. Free admission and free parking. Click here for more information.

Making Room: Women’s Histories from the Northwest Architectural Archives

March 24, 5:30–8:00 pm, Elmer L. Andersen Library, 222 21st Ave S

For more than 100 years, women have trained and worked as architects in Minnesota, yet their achievements remain largely unknown. Drawn from the collections of the Northwest Architectural Archives, this exhibit shines a light on the talented and determined women who made room for themselves in a field once reserved exclusively for men. The exhibition will kick off with a reception and brief panel discussion with four local architects, representing different eras of work. For registration and details click 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.

Mary Texidor, Executive Director, marytexidor@millcitycommons.org

Elise Linehan, Business and Member Services Administrator, eliselinehan@millcitycommons.org

Jane Stacy, Program and Events Manager, janestacy@millcitycommons.org

(612) 455-3329