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Archive for May, 2010

Peavey Plaza Summer Music 2010

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

(Jump to 2011 if that’s what you’re looking for)

The good people at the Minneapolis Downtown Council have announced the summer line up for music on Peavey Plaza. Whether you’re downtown for lunch or happy hour, don’t miss the great music in a great setting.

Alive After 5
Concerts take place Monday – Friday, starting Tuesday, June 1st – Friday, June 25th
5 pm to 9 pm
Peavey Plaza (Nicollet Mall and 11th Street)

June 1st – Prior Avenue
June 2nd – The Senders
June 3rd – Martin Zellar and the Hardways
June 4th – St. Dominics Trio
June 7th – Chester Bay
June 8th – Ali Gray band
June 9th – Cash’d Out
June 10th – The Honeydogs
June 11th – Time Mahoney Band
June 14th – Neale & Haberman Band
June 15th – Retro Groove
June 16th – Lynhurst
June 17th – Lola & the Red Hots
June 18th – The Hopefuls
June 21st – Tripping Icarus
June 22nd – Inside Straight
June 23rd – The Watson Band
June 24th – G.B. Leighton with The Nadas
June 25th – Kubla Khan

Tunes At Noon
Concerts take place Monday – Friday, starting Tuesday, June 1st – Friday, June 25th
11 am to 1 pm
Peavey Plaza (Nicollet Mall and 11th Street)

2010 Tunes At Noon Line-Up
June 1st – Billy Johnson
June 2nd – Paul Christian
June 3rd – Matt Muller
June 4th – Dan Israel
June 7th – Ben Connelly
June 8th – Mark Stary
June 9th – Cowboys in Sneakers
June 10th – Alicia Wiley
June 11th – Courtney Yasmineh
June 14th – Diedrich Weiss
June 15th – Sarah Pray
June 16th – Neale & Haberman
June 17th – Stephen Ashbrook
June 18th – Nick Leet
June 21st – Mria & Tom Kehoe
June 22nd – Kubla Khan
June 23rd – Geln Helgeson & Reynold Philipsek
June 24th – Tim Mahoney
June 25th – Alison Scott

Tags: Minneapolis Downtown Council, Peavey Plaza
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Hubert Humphrey and Theresa Baker

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

As I was getting off the train at Government Center Plaza the other day, I noticed a woman preparing to plant the boxes around the statue of Hubert H. Humphrey in front of City Hall. Her name is Theresa Baker and she works for the Municipal Building Commission, the group responsible for maintaining City Hall (a separate group maintains the Hennepin County Government Center and grounds). Theresa said the city had bid out the gardening but the company who won the bid couldn’t afford to continue at the price they bid. So, the job is left to Theresa.

I’m glad I got to meet Theresa, because I’ve been enjoying her work for years as I get off the train every morning. And, I’m sure ol’ HHH would be glad to have such a fine public servant as Theresa Baker tending to his statue.

PS, some interesting factoids from the Municipal Building Commision’s website:

The Fifth Street tower above HHH is 260′ tall. The length of the minute hand on the clock is 14′.
The building is constructed out of granite blocks, some weighing as much as 23-tons. The granite blocks were transported from Ortonville, Minnesota (160 miles away).
Twelve leading citizens and the Minneapolis Journal presented ‘The Father of Waters” statue to the City of Minneapolis in 1904. The cost of the statute at that time was estimated at $40,000.
If the Father of Waters were to stand, he would be more than 15 feet tall. The statute and base together weigh over 14,000 pounds. Some people believe that rubbing his toe is good luck.
The building also features a 15-bell chime and is the only American made set that can play the “Star Spangled Banner” in the original key. Every hour, quarter, and half-hour you will hear the bells of the tower.

Tags: Hubert Humphrey, Minneapolis City Hall, Municipal Building Commision, Theresa Baker
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Minneapolis Public Library

Monday, May 24th, 2010

300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, 55401
952.847.8000
Built: 2006
Architect: Cesar Pelli (also the architect of the Wells Fargo Building)

The new Central Library building anchors the north end of Nicollet Mall. Apart from the aesthetics of the building, it’s remarkable for a host of energy-efficient measures, including a roof garden and a maximizing amount of daylight streaming in from all angles. Aside from the enormous collections of books, the reason you have to go is the 8,000 sq ft atrium that divides the building in two and is covered by a canopy roof that seems to hover over the atrium and projects out over the Hennepin and Nicollet entrances.

There’s free wi-fi and plenty of comfortable space to sit down and read (including great meeting rooms with white boards).

Things to do:

Grab a coffee at the Dunn Bros. at the Nicollet Mall entrance and enjoy the splendor.
Take your kids to the fantastic children’s library with family story time on Saturdays.
James K. Hosmer Special Collections room on the 4th floor with an amazing carved entryway salvaged from the Ladies’ Reading Room at the old Main Library dating from 1889. They have limited hours and you have to call ahead for an appointment at least one full business day in advance. Call 952-847-8200 or email specialcoll@hclib.org for an appointment.

Hours: Mon-Thurs, and first and third Saturdays of the month: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Parking – Library’s Underground Ramp managed by Allied Parking
Allied number at Central Library: 612-630-6375.

The parking ramp entrance is on 4th St.
Handicapped spaces are available on each level near the elevators.
Tickets are issued from 5 am to 10 pm.
People can come back into the library to pick up their cars at any time of the day or night.
Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted by automated payment machines which are on each level of the ramp and also on the main floor, before the entrance to the elevators.

Parking rates (subject to change without notice):

1 hour $3
2 hours $4
3 hours $5
4 hours $7
6 hours $8
8 hours $9
10 hours $10
24 hours $12
After 3 pm $5 max.
Weekend $5 max.
Monthly $175
Daily Special (in by 9 a.m., out by 6 p.m.) $9

Tags: Cesar Pelli, James K. Hosmer Special Collections room, Minneapolis Public Library
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Drumlins of Federal Courthouse Plaza

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Federal Courthouse Plaza
300 South 4th Street
Built: 1997
Landscape Architect: Martha Schwartz
Sculpture: Tom Otterness

The Minneapolis U.S. Courthouse houses both the U.S. District and U.S. Bankruptcy courts. It stands 30-stories tall, the courthouse features a stone-face design and a curved facade on the 3rd Street side like the building is puffing its chest out to the north. But, what is truly remarkable about the Federal Courthouse is the plaza out front.

Drumlins
The 50,000 square foot plaza, designed by Martha Schwartz, features grass mounds planted with Jack Pines, which suggest the glacial drumlins (an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice; the word is derived from the Gaelic word druim “rounded hill,” or “mound”). Schwartz uses a minimalist design vocabulary with the drumlins at a 30 degree angle off of the street. It’s a joy to sit and appreciate the design and the quirky sculptures.