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Dear Mill City Commons members and friends,
Election Day has always felt special to me. I love voting at my neighborhood polling place where I can catch up with neighbors, recognize so many of the volunteers, and feel part of something bigger than myself. I love that this year my kids checked in with me ahead of time to make sure I was going to bring them to the polls because they didn't want to miss out on watching how it all works. It's a small tradition that I hope they carry with them.
This summer, as we traveled through Southeast Asia and Oceania, we had lots of conversations about various government structures. Each country we visited had a different system, with its own strengths and challenges. It was a good reminder that there are many ways to govern and not one of them is perfect. I also came home with an even greater appreciation for the privilege of having a voice and a vote.
That appreciation makes me think about the importance of understanding the many perspectives and experiences within our own country. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll have two special opportunities to explore the history and current experiences of Native American communities, thanks to our Native American Programming Workgroup: an interactive Franklin Avenue tour focused on the history of one of the country's largest urban Native communities, and a visit to Red Lake Nation College. Details for both programs can be found below.
I hope we never stop learning, listening, and appreciating the many voices that make up our country. And today, I'm especially grateful for the opportunity to add my own. Happy Election Day!
Mary Texidor, Executive Director
(612) 455-3329, 1201 W River Pkwy, Suite 217C, Minneapolis, MN 55454
| | Our Upcoming Programs and Events | | |
Getting to Know Ten Thousand Things Theater
Tuesday, November 3, 2:30 - 4:00 pm
MCC Office, 1201 W River Pkwy, 2nd Floor Commons
Join us for an engaging introduction to Ten Thousand Things, a professional theater company that has been bringing award-winning performances to audiences throughout Minnesota, including our own Mill City neighborhood, for more than 30 years. Meet Artistic Director Catlin Lowans and actor Dustin Bronson, who recently appeared in the Guthrie’s Private Lives, as they share stories about the company and its unique approach to theater. You'll also have a chance to win free tickets to an upcoming performance!
MCC members sign up here.
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Dining Around the Neighborhood: Umbra
Registration closes Wednesday, November 4 at 12:00 pm
Thursday, November 5, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Umbra, 708 S 3rd St
Join us as we explore some of our favorite restaurants around the city and right here in our neighborhood. This month, we’ll gather for dinner at Umbra.
This event is limited to 12 participants.
Metered on-street parking is available. Carpooling recommended.
MCC members sign up here.
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Franklin Avenue and the Birth of AIM: A Native-Led Tour and Discussion
Friday, November 6, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Wolf Statue and Maria's on Franklin, 1113 E Franklin Ave
Join us for a Native-led walking tour of Franklin Avenue and learn about the history of one of the country’s largest urban Native communities.
Through storytelling, poetry, live music, and humor, our guides will share the history, struggles, aspirations, and resilience of generations of Native people who have called this neighborhood home. The tour will also explore Franklin Avenue’s role in the birth of the American Indian Movement (AIM).
Starting at the Wolf Statue on Franklin near 11th Avenue between the Native health center and Maria’s at 1113 E Franklin, the walk itself will be 45 minutes. Following the walk, the group will experience a 45-minute sit-down circle with the guides for more stories and Q and A. Should there be inclement weather, the walk will be shortened and the circle time lengthened.
Guides will be Tom LeBlanc, Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe and Al Gross, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Click here for more information.
$20/person. Please pay Susan Hartman by check, Venmo (@Susan-Hartman-97) or Zelle (susanhartman7@mac.com or (612) 655-0778). Registration will not be complete until payment has been made.
Registration is full. MCC members can join the waitlist here.
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Breakfast at Elsie's
Saturdays, November 7 and 14, 9:00 - 10:30 am
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE
Start your Saturday with good company and great conversation!
Join fellow MCC members for a relaxed Saturday morning breakfast at Elsie’s Restaurant. Whether you arrive on foot, by bike, or by car, hot coffee will be waiting!
You can order a full breakfast or simply enjoy a beverage while chatting with friends—old and new.
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 25 to accommodate Elsie's staff.
MCC members sign up here for November 7 and here for November 14; guests email MCC.
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Living Well as You Age: Exploring Your Options
Monday, November 9, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
MCC Office, 1201 W River Pkwy, 2nd Floor Commons
MCC’s Vital Aging programming welcomes Kathleen Dempsey of Pathfinder Care Management for a thoughtful conversation about living options as we age. Kathleen will explore the considerations involved in remaining at home as well as when and why it may make sense to consider a move to a senior living community.
An RN, BSN, and board-certified gerontological nurse (Gero-BC), Kathleen brings years of experience, practical knowledge, and insight to help participants better understand their options and think ahead about what might work best for them.
This is part of MCC's Vital Aging Programming.
MCC members sign up here.
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Celebrate the Season at Crooners: The Holiday Songbook
Registration closes Tuesday, November 10 at 5:00 pm
Thursday, December 10, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Crooners Supper Club, 6161 Hwy 65 E
Join us at Crooners for The Holiday Songbook, a joyful celebration filled with beloved holiday standards, seasonal pop favorites, singalongs, fun facts, and terrific vocal performances.
Created by Broadway and recording veterans James A. Rocco and Albert Evans, this festive show blends music, storytelling, humor, and plenty of holiday cheer. From Christmas classics to songs celebrating New Year’s and wintertime, it’s a lively and heartwarming way to enjoy the sounds of the season together.
James Rocco and another cast member will be available to our group after the show to discuss how the show was developed.
Friends and family are welcome to join our MCC group; dinner is available and may be ordered off the menu. Visit Crooners website here for more information and to see the menu.
Doors open at 6:00 pm, and dinner and drinks are served before and during the show. The show begins at 7:00 pm.
Cost: $45.00 per person, payable on the MCC website when you register. Tickets must be purchased no later than November 10.
Please note that tickets are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, you will be responsible for reselling or gifting your ticket to another member.
MCC members sign up here.
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Mid-Term Election Recap
Tuesday, November 10, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Grenada Theater, 3022 Hennepin Ave S
This year’s midterm election cycle is behind us. Now what?
The Theater of Public Policy is talking with political reporter Mary Lahammer, media analyst Blois Olson, and political science professor Kathryn Pearson about the outcomes of the midterms in Minnesota. Host Tane Danger will moderate a conversation between the three about what happened in the election, why it happened, and what it means for our day-to-day lives. The conversation will be followed by a slew of totally unscripted, midterms-inspired comedy scenes. Understand the election results in a fun, informative, and nuanced way.
This program builds on the conversation we started with our 2024 Post-Election Panel Discussion two years ago. We’re thrilled that the conversation has now grown into a public program, and we couldn’t be more excited that the Danger Boat Productions' team has invited us to attend. It’s a great opportunity to continue the conversation together in a new format—with analysis, discussion, and plenty of humor.
This program is hosted by Tane Danger, accompanied by live T2P2 improv comedy. Parking is available at Seven Points Parking ramp.
Registration is closed.
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Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, November 11, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Inkwell Booksellers, 426 E Hennepin Ave
Join us for a monthly book discussion focused on timely, engaging reads.
Our November book is The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans. Our December book will be announced soon.
Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Marsha Blumenthal here.
Our book chats are at Inkwell Booksellers. You are welcome to join us in conversation whether or not you've read the book.
Registration is not required.
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Men's Breakfast*
Thursday, November 12, 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.
Increasingly we are seeing candidates who are independent of both major parties playing critical roles in our election. At the November 12 Men’s Breakfast we will hear from Tom Horner who ran for governor of Minnesota as an independent in 2010 and was endorsed by the Star Tribune which said he “loves Minnesota; he's a serious student of government and economics, and he feels called to service…Horner seeks to apply the lessons of a lifetime spent working in and around public policy to the restoration of this state's vitality.” Horner is now president of Horner Strategies, LLC, a public relations and public affairs consulting firm, after a career working in public relations and media in Minnesota, including service with Senator Dave Durenberger. He is a frequent contributor to regional and national media on public policy and politics and writes a regular column available on Substack (tomhorner.substack.com). Horner will talk about the midterm elections. Aaron Backman is hosting him.
*This event is open to all members of MCC. Registration is required.
MCC members sign up here.
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A Conversation with Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt
Thursday, November 12, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
MCC Office, 1201 W River Pkwy, 2nd Floor Commons
Join us for a conversation with Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt. Sheriff Witt will discuss the impact of Operation Metro Surge on the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, including the role of the Sheriff’s Office during the operation and how the efforts of the federal government affected immigrant communities. She will also share her perspectives on public safety, law enforcement, and other issues of interest to Mill City Commons members, with ample time for audience questions and discussion.
MCC members sign up here.
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Meet Me In The Forest: Exploring the Cafesjian Art Trust Exhibit
Friday, November 13, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Cafesjian Art Trust, 4600 Churchill St, Shoreview
Step into the captivating world of Meet Me in the Forest, an exhibition exploring the mystery, mythology, and history of forests, gardens, and the natural world. Through art, discover the complex relationship between humans and nature, where beauty, danger, and imagination intertwine.
The exhibition features 21 contemporary works, including paintings, textiles, photography, glass, ceramics, mixed-media pieces, and installations. Featured artists include Carrie Mae Weems, Ebony G. Patterson, and Ana Mendieta, alongside other nationally recognized and emerging artists.
After the tour, we'll head next door to the Churchill St. restaurant for a Dutch-treat lunch.
Free parking is available at the Cafesjian Art Trust. Please plan on arriving 10 minutes before the 10:00 am tour.
Registration is full. MCC members can join the waitlist here.
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Met Opera Live: Carmen
Saturday, November 14, 1:00 - 4:30 pm
Marcus West End Cinema, 1625 West End Blvd, St. Louis Park
Join your MCC Opera Friends at the Met Live in HD performance of Carmen. Following the performance, let’s walk a half block to CRAVE restaurant for conversation and refreshments. There is free covered parking next to the theater.
To learn more about this performance of Carmen click here.
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.
Show runtime is 3 hours and 35 minutes, and starts at 1:00 pm.
Please email Kathie Murphy with questions.
MCC members sign up here.
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Guided Tour of the Red Lake Nation College
Monday, November 16, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Red Lake Nation College, 900 3rd St
Join us as we tour the Red Lake Nation College in Minneapolis. The Red Lake Nation College (RLNC) Minneapolis site, the first Tribal College within an urban center, represents a significant advancement in opportunities for indigenous communities in the Twin Cities metro. This state-of-the-art educational institution and vocational training center epitomizes the commitment to Native empowerment, offering curriculum enriched with Ojibwe language and culture. This institution presents an exceptional avenue for academic, personal, and professional growth.
Red Lake Nation College chose Minneapolis for it's new site, due mainly to the over 50,000 indigenous people living in the Twin Cities metro area, and almost 8,000 Red Lake tribal members in Minneapolis. This combined with the easy access via light rail, made this the perfect location for the school.
This tour is limited to 15 participants.
MCC members sign up here.
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Great Decisions: The Future of Human Rights and International Law
Monday, November 16, 4:00 - 5:30 pm
MCC Office, 1201 W River Pkwy, 2nd Floor Commons
Around the world, democracy and human rights are facing growing challenges, while the international legal system is under increasing strain.
This Great Decisions discussion will examine how civil society, international institutions, and legal norms can remain effective in an increasingly divided world. What role can international law play when governments disregard established rules and accountability is difficult to enforce? And how might the global human rights system adapt to today’s changing political landscape?
Join us for a timely exploration of the future of human rights, international law, and the institutions created to uphold them.
Our speaker for this program is Christi Siver. Christi Siver is a Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint 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 for each session is required for Great Decisions members. Please register on the MCC website. Sorry, not open to guests.
Great Decisions members sign up here.
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Tuesday Happy Hour: Retirement Party
Tuesday, November 17, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
La Madre, 205 Park Ave S
Join us for this month's Tuesday Happy Hour at La Madre hosted by Mill City Commons. This month we're celebrating Elise Linehan's contributions to our organization before she retires. This gathering is a chance to catch up with friends and neighbors over small bites and Dutch treat drinks. If you'd like to stay for dinner, please visit the restaurant's website or call the restaurant directly at (612) 200-8061.
MCC members sign up here.
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The Depot Social Hour
Mondays,
5:00-6:00 pm
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. Note: Contact the MCC office if you plan to attend for the first time.
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The Cabana Club Social Hour
Tuesdays, 5:00-6:00 pm
(Except November 17)
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. Note: Contact the MCC office if you plan to attend for the first time.
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Wednesday Morning Coffee
Wednesdays,
9:00-10:00 am
Drop in and join your friends and
neighbors for a morning chat at
C.R.E.A.M Cafe.
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Play Readers
Specific Wednesdays,
6:30-9:30 pm
Our 2026-27 season of six readings will run September-May. If you'd like to be added to the sub list, please email Jane Stacy.
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MCC Community Care Resources | | |
MCC Caregivers' Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
September-December,
10:30-12:00 pm
A way to support members and non-members who are in a caregiving role. Contact the MCC office to learn more about future openings in the group.
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Member-to-Member Volunteering
If you want to support other members, you can sign up to become a volunteer driver or member-to-member volunteer.
If you are in need of volunteer services, let us know. Mary Texidor can help arrange a ride, meals, grocery shopping, visits and more.
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Medical Equipment Loan Program
If you have a medical need, we may have the equipment you are looking for. Consider contacting the office before you buy or rent a piece of equipment. We have a shower chair, raised toilet seat, cane, wheelchair, grabber, walker and knee walker available.
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First Stop Guide
MCC's First Stop Guide has invaluable member-recommended service providers. If you're looking for a dentist, tech support, a personal trainer, healthcare provider or more, you can find it here.
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News From and For Members | | |
Please note: there is construction on West River Parkway and 13th Ave. Access to our office is only available by taking 2nd St to 13th Ave. There will be signs along 2nd St that the road is closed ahead but you can still get to the ARC parking lot before the road closure begins. If that changes, we will notify program registrants through an email.
Upcoming MCC meetings:
- All Chairs Committee Meeting, November 4
- Membership Committee Meeting, November 9
- MCC Board Meeting, November 18
- Program Committee Meeting, November 24
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Magnet Film Club: Clue (1985)
November 5, 1:00-3:00 pm, Minneapolis Central Library-Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall
Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up. Starring Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry & Madeline Kahn. Click here for all of the details about this free event.
MacPhail Presents: The Calamansi Quartet
November 5, 7:00 pm, MacPhail Center for Music, Antonello Hall, 501 S 2nd St
Experience the energy and intimacy of chamber music with the Calamansi Quartet, Madeline Island Chamber Music’s 2026 Emerging Artists Quartet-in-Residence. This emerging ensemble, known for bold, expressive performances, will present two works from the heart of the chamber music repertoire by Mendelssohn and Dvořák. Together, the works offer an evening of rich melodies, dynamic interplay, and the remarkable conversation that can happen between four musicians. Learn more and get tickets here.
MSP Film Night School: Contempt
November 11, 7:00 pm, The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St
Scenes from a marital breakdown between screenwriter (Michel Piccoli) and his wife (Brigitte Bardot), as both become enmeshed in the behind-the-camera struggles of a director (Fritz Lang) and producer (Jack Palance) as they film an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. The Night School screening of Contempt will feature a discussion of camera movement and intermediality with Shima Sahranavard, PhD Candidate, Department of French & Italian, University of Minnesota. Click here to purchase tickets.
What Do Parks Have to Do with Democracy?
November 12, 7:00-8:30 pm, Mill City Museum, 704 S 2nd St
Join The Minneapolis Parks Foundation for the upcoming Next Generation of Parks™ event, What Do Parks Have to Do with Democracy?, hosted in partnership with Trust for Public Land. Hear from local experts and park advocates, as they explore how public spaces foster belonging, participation, and trust—and why investing in parks is an investment in our shared civic life. For more information, 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.
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