As more people live, work, and play in our downtown community, having quality, accessible family-friendly spaces becomes increasingly important.

The City of Minneapolis is exploring the potential for a new indoor playground and multi-use family play space downtown. They are gathering input from parents and caregivers to understand how to build a more family-friendly Downtown Minneapolis and ensure any future space meets the needs of both kids and adults. Your feedback will help guide possible locations, programming, and amenities such as food and beverages, so the space works well for families.

This survey asks about your downtown experiences, indoor play preferences, and what you’d like to imagine for a new family-friendly destination. It takes about 8–10 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous, and you may opt in at the end if you’re interested in participating in a future focus group.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, grandparent, aunt/uncle, neighbor, business owner, or just someone who cares about making Downtown Minneapolis more family-friendly. The City wants your voice in this conversation. Take the survey via the link below.

Take the Indoor Playground Survey

The post Tell Us What You Think: Indoor Playground for Downtown Minneapolis? appeared first on The DMNA.

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The Gethsemane Community Garden is losing access to a water source at Gethsemane Church, because the Church is no longer operating.  The DMNA’s NRP Funds are a matching grant that will allow them to pay for a direct connection to a City water main.

If you have any concerns about this Plan Modification, please attend the Board Meeting on April 27, at the Four Seasons Hotel. There is a Zoom option for those unable to attend in person.  You can also send an email to info@thedmna.org.

The post DMNA Board to vote on NRP Phase II Plan Modification at April 27, Board Meeting appeared first on The DMNA.

Opening Reception is on Sunday, April 12, 4:00 – 6:00pm

Join us to meet local artists, purchase original art, see neighbors and enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages.  Chimborazo food truck will be on site to purchase food.

Featured artists:

• Ron Boehm, Painter
• Logan Chyla, Ceramics
• Mark Kuhn, Photographer
• Risa Nishiguchi, Ceramics
• Rya Priede, Textile-Mixed-Media
• Nancy Hemstad Seaton, Glass
• Linda Snouffer, Multimedia Botanical Printer

Ron Boehm

Ron Boehm is visual artist painting primarily in abstraction with acrylic paint. His compositions are inspired by his life experiences as well as the world around him. His focus is the strength and power of design and the use of various techniques to arrange strong contrasting colors. His objective is to develop a unique statement in each composition. His passion, fascination and play with color is obvious in his work. In addition, “Texture and the impact it can have on the outcome of the paintings has been incorporated in my efforts.”  Ron currently lives in the Twin Cities after retiring from teaching art for forty-two years in North Dakota public schools.

Logan Chyla

Logan Chyla is a local ceramic artist working out of his studio at the Northern Clay Center. Logan makes wheel-thrown functional and decorative vessels intended for everyday use. He is fascinated by the ceramic making process and strives to show aspects of how pots are made throughout his body of work, as well as highlighting the unique marks made by the firing process. His focus is on atmospheric soda firing. Recently, Logan has also begun exploring new colors and surfaces using cone 10 reduction firing.

Mark Kuhn

Mark Kuhn is a professional fine art travel photographer with a passion for capturing the world’s beauty. His photographs of landscapes, architecture, culture and native beauty emphasize shape, line, texture and, most especially, color.  “I chase stories through my lens alongside my wife and travel partner, Kris.” His body of work from traveling 37 countries, so far, is regularly exhibited at juried art shows, where he has received multiple high honors. In addition, his photographs have been recognized in international photography competitions. Mark is owner of Wanderlust Photography based in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Singing Drain Pipes

Risa Nishiguchi

Risa Nishiguchi is a ceramic artist with a focus on creating functional objects. On each piece she meticulously carves patterns to represent the flow of energy in everyday moments. Occasionally, patterns are revealed from the kiln flames during a soda firing. Risa received a BA in ceramic art from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and has been teaching pottery across the Twin Cities ranging from community classes to public high school education. She currently works as a ceramics studio coordinator at Eagan Art House.

Rya Priede

Rya Priede is a textile-mixed-media artist specializing in a unique form of traditional sewing and embroidery. Rya’s lifelong passion for sewing and textiles intersected with her love of illustration and interest in photography inspiring her to combine these elements into original images.  Several years ago, she discovered the “Big Little Books” series of children’s books which were published from the 1930s to the 1960s.  Drawn to both the illustrations and captions – taken out of context and viewed through a feminist lens – she found them witty, sometimes subversive and inspiring. She had the pages scanned and printed on paper. Then she sewed on them. Some pieces are on paper backed with linen and others are on inkjet Tyvek. “The backs are just as fun as the fronts. Removed from the printed illustration, it’s a pure record of the act of sewing.”

Nancy Hemstad Seaton

Nancy Hemstad Seaton is a glass artist who has been creating her entire life. “It’s breathing.”  She finds the physicality, technicality, fluidity and solid intense color of glass inspiration. “Together we express our feelings in a duet. It’s science and heart. Chemistry creates the colors; physics the shape.” Nancy creates functional pieces, such as plates and bowls, as well as jewelry and sculptural towers. She discovers that some of her pieces are straightforward coming out of the kiln exactly as planned. “In others I’ll put reactive colors together or let gravity and heat move things around.” Nancy and her husband live on the Gunflint Trail, “where the calm of a sunset or the power of a towering White Pine stir me to share that moment’s emotion.”

Linda Snouffer

Linda Snouffer is a multimedia botanical printmaker. Her combination of materials and techniques (from fiber arts, watercolor, acrylics, and pastels), has transformed timeless leaf printing into a fine art. All plant images in her multifaceted landscapes are created by printing grasses, leaves, and other plant material. Structural variations in grass stalks, blades and tassels print with remarkable artistic versatility to create meadows and cattails, while fern and yarrow leaf prints form woods. Each of the landscapes informs the viewer of the beauty and respect for native landscapes.

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts

The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence.  The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community.

If you missed the opening reception, please contact us for a private viewing of the show.

This show ends July 30, 2026.

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 South 2^nd Street, Minneapolis 55415

Contact us at:

TheMillYard.Stonebridge@gmail.com

MORE INFORMATION:

Website: TheMillYard.org

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheMillYardatStonebridgeLofts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themillyard.stonebridge/

The post The Mill Yard announces the opening of the new April show: Revive & Shine! appeared first on The DMNA.

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The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) invites you to experience Light and Nature, a beautiful art exhibit now on view at Washburn Lofts.

This exhibit features:
Photographs by Karl Herber – calming, elegant images of botanicals, water, and shadows
Embroidered prints by Rya Priede – meticulous hand embroidery on photographs and printed ephemera

On view: February 2 – July 31
Opening Reception:
Thursday, April 16 | 5:00–7:00 pm
Washburn Lofts Lobby & Great Room
700 S 2nd St, Minneapolis

Exhibition viewings by appointment:
Contact Kathryn Klibanoff at kathryn@kkjep.com

Stop by and enjoy this serene and thoughtfully curated exhibit right here in Downtown Minneapolis!

The post New Art Exhibit at the Washburn Lofts – Opening Reception on April 16 appeared first on The DMNA.

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Brunch lovers—this one’s for you!

The post Chloe Minneapolis is serving weekend brunch starting Saturday, February 28! appeared first on The DMNA.

The post Zero Empty Space Studio Preview for Artists in Downtown Minneapolis appeared first on The DMNA.

Metro Transit is increasing staffing today and will remain fully operational. For details on routes and stops, please check Metro Transit NexTrip.

We are aware of three demonstrations taking place today. MPD and Metro Law Enforcement partners are monitoring these events and have prepared accordingly. For immediate emergencies, always call 911; for non-emergency reporting, contact 311.

Demonstration 1

What: No More ICE – March on the Whipple Detention Center
Where: Fort Snelling Light Rail Station (Fort Snelling, MN 55111)
When: Friday, 1/23/26 at 9:00 a.m.
Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1328795735941485&set=a.469425985211802

Demonstration 2

What: Call to Action – MSP Airport
Where: MSP Airport, Terminal 1
When: Friday, 1/23/26 at 10:00 a.m.
Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50501movement/posts/1254594436277883/

Demonstration 3

What: Ice Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth & Freedom
Where: Starting at The Commons, marching to Target Center for an indoor rally. Due to cold temperatures, many participants may go directly to Target Center.
When: Friday, 1/23/26 at 2:00 p.m.
Event Link: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisibletwincities/event/888812/

Additional Information & Resources

City’s Federal Response Page.

911 and Emergency Communications Center Incident Dashboard

How to use Text-to-911

Make a online non-emergency MPD Police Report

Sign up for Mpls news and alerts

SCC Team

Safety Communications Center

Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District

612-332-1111

safetycommunications@mplsdid.com

The post DID Update for Friday, January 23 appeared first on The DMNA.