Join us this Sunday September 23rd for Open Streets Nicollet! Open Streets Minneapolis events are free events that temporarily close major thoroughfares to car traffic, opening them up for people walking, biking, rolling, and playing. Check out the Open Streets Nicollet Facebook page or the event webpage for more details. Here are some events that I’m especially excited to see at Open Streets Nicollet!
1. The Advice People
Location: Nicollet Ave between W Lake St and W Lake St (in front of Wells Fargo Bank parking lot)
Have a spare nickel? Then stop by The Advice People to get some shockingly affordable guidance--just don’t expect it to be completely serious! These performance artists are here to offer some wisdom as well as some laughs at their Charlie Brown-style advice stand.
2. Bob Payton Abstract Art Quilts
Location: Nicollet Ave b/t W 34th St and W 35th St (halfway down on west side of street)
Love art? Come check out Bob Payton’s Abstract Art Quilts, featuring beautiful and colorful textile designs made by a local Minnesotan artist...you can even take part in creating a group art quilt!
3. Ma Jolie Marché Mobile
Location: Nicollet Ave between E 35th St and E 36th St
For all the Francophiles out there, here’s your chance to get a beautiful bouquet of flowers at this Parisian-inspired mobile flower stand! Also look out for fresh flower crowns, build-your-own flower bouquets, and other delights!
4. Washburn Millerbots
Location: Nicollet Ave between E 42nd St and E 43rd St (⅓ way down on east side of street)
Support science and technology education! Come visit the Millerbots Robotic Team 2549 from Washburn High School as they show off their competition robot and demonstrate small robots for you to interact with!
5. Our Streets Minneapolis
Location: Nicollet Ave between E 43rd St and W 44th St (halfway down on east side of street)
Come learn about Our Streets Minneapolis, the organization that organizes the Open Streets Minneapolis events. Talk to staff and volunteers about our advocacy campaign for better winter sidewalk maintenance, and pick up some free bike pins, maps, and more!
6. Kingfield and Lyndale Neighborhood Associations
Location: Nicollet Ave between W 35th St and W 36th St
Be sure to say hello the local hosts of Open Streets Nicollet, the Kingfield and Lyndale Neighborhood Associations! Here you'll be able to purchase special Open Streets Nicollet t-shirts, and learn more about what is going on in your local neighborhood.
7. Purple Playground
Location: Nicollet Ave between E 44th St and W 45th St (in front of Apex Holdings)
Minneapolis is Prince’s hometown! Come honor his legacy at the Purple Playground, a space for worldwide Prince fans to get together and raise charitable donations to invest in music education programs for kids and the musicians of the future.
8. streets.mn
Location: Nicollet Ave b/t E 45th St and E 46th St (⅓ way down on east side of street)
Join streets.mn, a non-profit transportation and land use-focused organization, as they conduct a photo hunt (with prizes!) and walking tour looking for good and bad examples of street infrastructure.
Open Streets Nicollet is hosted and sponsored locally by the Kingfield Neighborhood Association and the Lyndale Neighborhood Association. Open Streets Minneapolis is a City of Minneapolis event, hosted by Our Streets Minneapolis and presented by the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Open Streets Nicollet is also sponsored by the Minnesota Brewery Running Series, Kmart, Metro Transit, Minneapolis Telecommunications Network, AT&T, AARP Twin Cities, All Energy Solar, CenterPoint Energy, Hennepin Healthcare, and Xcel Energy.
