Update from the Mayor – June 2, 2006
Minneapolis Mosaic: Many Worlds, One City.
Minneapolis is known for its vibrant and diverse cultural scene and I hope you will join me in as we kick off a third summer of Minneapolis MOSAIC, which uses art to celebrate the many cultures of our city. This year’s festival begins June 10 - 11 with U.S. Bank’s "Many Worlds, One Weekend" celebration with dozens of free indoor and outdoor performances Saturday night on Hennepin Avenue downtown and Sunday afternoon in Fair Oaks Park with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Grant Opening.
Each year Minneapolis MOSAIC commissions a lasting artistic work, which celebrates the diversity of the city and serves as a commemorative representation of the project. This year’s art commission is a spoken word piece to be performed at the opening Minneapolis MOSAIC celebration at 7PM on June 10.
The artists selected for this years commission are "Found in Translation", a collaborative that includes Soulistic Playhouse, Center for Independent Artists, Tru Art Speaks, In the Belly and AtlanticRock.com. Their performance is a visual and spoken mosaic of cultures featuring spoken word, drumming, vocal incantations and movement. In parts of the presentation, artists present stories in their native languages and native dress, with translations from other artists, through language movement or song. At other times, artists will step out of their culture and present stories from anothers point of view. Minneapolis MOSAIC truly presents the best Minneapolis has to offer and I hope youll join the fun and festivities. For more information and a schedule of the Opening Weekend visit http://www.minneapolismosaic.com
Midtown Global Market is Open
In addition to digesting a diversity of art at Minneapolis Mosaic, you can now digest a diversity of food at the New Midtown Global Market. Now open from 7PM-8PM daily, the Midtown Global Market features over 60 vendors offering the finest selection of produce, delicacies, prepared food, grocery items, and unique gifts from around the globe. Like the town square of days gone by, the Midtown Global Market is a community-driven effort spearheaded by local organizations featuring local vendors. Take an international adventure without leaving town! Join me at the Midtown Global Market Grand Opening Party on Saturday, June 3 from 10AM-4PM at Chicago Avenue and Lake Street. To learn more about the Midtown Global Market, visit www.midtownglobalmarket.org.
Police Chief Resident Survey Results Are In
When I launched my plan to select a new Police Chief I made it clear that I wanted the residents of Minneapolis to have a voice in the process. Over 200 residents have already taken part in our "311" phone and online survey. These survey results will be used to inform this important leadership appointment. To see the survey results to date and take the survey yourself.
Minneapolis and St. Paul Are A Finalist for National Political Party Conventions
Last week Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and I celebrated the news that we were on a short list of cities to host the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions. We are one of four cites to make the final list for the Democratic convention along with New York, Denver and New Orleans. We are competing with New York, Cleveland and Tampa for the Republican convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is the only location other than New York City currently in the running for both Democratic and Republican conventions. [ Click here to read more.]
Spotlight on Building North Minneapolis: New Bike Lanes
The City of Minneapolis has added five miles of new bike lanes to streets in north Minneapolis, and two more miles will be ready for riders later this summer. Lanes have already been painted along 26th Avenue North, 42nd Avenue North, and 2nd Street North, and new lanes are being added to Plymouth Avenue in the next few months.
Minneapolis has an extensive system of more than 85 miles of bike lanes and paths, but until now, few have been on the north side. This expansion of bicycle lanes in north Minneapolis will better connect north Minneapolis to the trails and lanes throughout the city.
The new lanes have been in the works for two years. A task force of community members from every north side neighborhood worked to identify the best routes for the new bike lanes. For more information and to see a map of the new bike lanes in north Minneapolis.
Learn More About: Smart Living in Minneapolis
Minneapolis-Saint Paul ranked #2 on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine’s list of America’s "50 Smart Cities." The list ranks cities on the basis of cost, livability, and vibrancy. Now Kiplinger’s readers can know what we’ve known all along: it’s smart to live in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Kiplinger’s reports that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have a hip and progressive atmosphere with multiple cultural outlets, pro teams in all four major sports, a dozen universities and colleges, and a diverse economy. The profile describes a "cosmopolitan gem" and hails that the Minneapolis skyline is as "riveting as Oz." [
Click here to read the article.]
See and be Seen: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Join the Grand Opening Celebration
Sun., June 11, 9AM-5PM
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2400 Third Avenue South
On June 11, the MIA's glass doors open to an elegant new addition and reinstalled galleries that showcase more of their outstanding collection. This transformation is the culmination of dreams and plans begun more than a decade ago and will dramatically advance the museum's accessibility and stature. At the opening party, enjoy free live entertainment, art workshops, special exhibitions, gallery and new wing tours, and food and drink offered by the best Eat Street has to offer. For more details visit www.artsmia.org.
See and be Seen: Celebrate Minneapolis Juneteenth
Minnesota Juneteenth Festival
11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Theodore Wirth Park
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Juneteenth Parade
Starts at Penn Avenue at Plymouth
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free. Since then Juneteenth has been celebrated to remind and inspire people to utilize their artistic, social, political, spiritual, economic, and educational abilities. Over 60,000 people participate in the Twin Cities Celebration each year. For more information click here.
Published Jun. 2, 2006