Events - Future Events View

Start your Saturday with good company and great conversation!

Join fellow MCC members for a relaxed Saturday morning breakfast mixer at Elsie’s Restaurant, inside their cozy main dining room. 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.

Seating will be open at tables of four or five to encourage easy conversation. To help the restaurant prepare, please register in advance.

Note: We’ll be gathering in a secluded indoor space within Elsie’s main dining room. Attendance is limited to 22 participants to ensure smooth service for Elsie’s staff.

Join your MCC Opera Friends at the Met Live in HD performance of “La Boheme." 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. Tickets should be purchased online before the performance.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Minnesota Public Radio’s headquarters in downtown St. Paul!

This special tour offers a rare glimpse inside one of the nation’s premier public media organizations. Learn how MPR News reaches more than 97% of Minnesota every day with trusted news and information that connects our communities.

During the visit, you’ll have the chance to explore the studio where live broadcasts take place, and meet members of the MPR News team. The highlight of the morning will be a conversation with Executive Editor Jane Helmke, who will share insights about the editorial process, the role of MPR‘s news in today’s media landscape, and how the newsroom responds to the rapidly changing journalism industry.

Bring your questions — and your curiosity — for what promises to be an engaging and informative visit!

Please note, you will be asked for a photo ID upon arrival.

Parking: On-street metered parking is available, as well as parking spaces at the City Walk public ramp located behind Minnesota Public Radio on 7th Street. Please note that all visitors must enter the building through the street level cul-de-sac main entry on 9th street.

Evan Ramstad, business columnist for the Star Tribune, will discuss the economic impact of the Trump administration. He’ll examine how tariffs and immigration restrictions have contributed to this year’s slowdown in economic growth. While much of the focus in Minnesota has been on farmers, Ramstad notes that the sharpest decline has been in sales to Canada—the state’s largest trading partner—and he predicts that some of the most significant effects will be felt next year.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Current international news and U.S. foreign policy provide an endless trove of topics for learning and discussion. Retired foreign service officer and MCC member Bill Davnie will identify a topic in advance, although news can always lead us in a fresh direction. There will be both presentation and discussion.

Curious about AI but not sure where to start? Join us for a six-week adventure into ChatGPT! AI consultant Woody Taylor will show you how to ask better questions, draft letters in seconds, plan trips, and even create artwork—right from your laptop or phone. During this workshop, Woody will take us step-by-step through smart prompting, image creation, voice use on phones and more. No tech background needed. Each session builds on the previous one, so being there for the first two will set you up for the best experience.

Class size is limited to 18 participants. Fee is $200 for the six-week class (payable to the instructor via check or Venmo on the first day). An additional fee for Chat GPT Plus subscription of $20/month is strongly recommended.

This is a members only event.

Do you ever find it hard to really connect with other members at our larger programs or speaker events? Then this spontaneous gathering might be just what you’re looking for!

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of conversation at The Cabana Club — a perfect chance to meet new members and catch up with familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while.

If you’re joining us for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to welcome you.

Coffee, conversation, and connection await you at C.R.E.A.M Café. No sign-ups, no fuss—just friends and neighbors gathering for a morning chat.

Join us to discuss for a monthly book discussion on current books. This month‘s book is "Hello Beautiful," by Ann Napolitano.

You are welcome to join us in conversation whether or not you‘ve read the book.

The next Executive Committee meeting is on November 12, 1:30-3:00 pm.

Join us at The Phoenix for a special afternoon with local author Jack El-Hai. We’ll begin with a social reception, followed by an engaging discussion about his acclaimed book "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist," which has recently been adapted into the feature film "Nuremberg."

Jack will share insights into the real-life story behind his work—how a U.S. Army psychiatrist’s relationship with a captured Nazi war criminal shaped our understanding of evil, responsibility, and the human mind.

Members are encouraged to read the book and/or see the film prior to the discussion, though it’s certainly not required to participate and enjoy the afternoon. Come for lively conversation, thoughtful perspectives, and the chance to meet one of Minnesota’s most compelling writers.

Please be aware that this event is limited to 50 participants, so register early to secure your reservation.

Caffeine and camaraderie for members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.

*This event is open to all members of MCC. Registration is required.

When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross is already on the move. From a single-family fire to a large-scale hurricane, this humanitarian organization is often among the first to arrive — bringing help, hope, and relief to those in crisis.

Have you ever wondered how they mobilize so quickly and effectively? Join us for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Red Cross disaster response process. Morgan Sommers, Community Disaster Program Manager for the American Red Cross, will walk us through what happens step by step — from the moment a call comes in, to deploying volunteers, to providing shelter, meals, and emotional support to those affected.

Discover the coordination, training, and teamwork that make the Red Cross a trusted force in times of emergency.

Join us for our monthly culinary adventure as we explore restaurants around the city. This month, we’ll savor the rich flavors of India with a Dutch-treat dinner at The Clay Oven. Space is limited to 12 people—please register by noon on Tuesday, November 11.

Enjoy an insider’s look at the Price Krishnan Gallery before the crowds arrive! Join us at the Northrup King Building for a private behind-the-scenes visit and conversation with featured artists, including MCC member Ric Rosow.

We’ll gather at 3:30 p.m. for an exclusive early viewing of the gallery and discussion, then you’re free to explore other studios just before Art Attack officially opens to the public at 5:00 p.m.


Come for the art and stay for the conversation — a relaxed opportunity to experience this vibrant creative space in an intimate, small-group setting.


Location: Price Krishnan Gallery, Studio 173, Northrup King Building
Parking: Free parking is available in the main lot. Enter through the canopied doors; the studio is directly ahead.

Start your Saturday with good company and great conversation!

Join fellow MCC members for a relaxed Saturday morning breakfast mixer at Elsie’s Restaurant, inside their cozy main dining room. 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.

Seating will be open at tables of four or five to encourage easy conversation. To help the restaurant prepare, please register in advance.

Note: We’ll be gathering in a secluded indoor space within Elsie’s main dining room. Attendance is limited to 22 participants to ensure smooth service for Elsie’s staff.

Screenwriter and actor Marisa Coughlan—daughter of MCC member Cheryl Coughlan—previously spoke with Mill City Commons members about the process of creating her film Blue Eyed Girl. Marisa wrote, stars in, and produced the film, which will have a limited theatrical release November 14–15 at the Edina Mann and Plymouth Mann theaters.

Described as “a coming-of-age story at forty-something,” Blue Eyed Girl follows Jane Messina (played by Marisa) as she re-evaluates her life during a visit home to see her two sisters and her ailing father (played by Beau Bridges). A chance meeting with her first love makes Jane wonder what might have been. The sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking film gently addresses the challenge of examining the road not taken.

Register now to join your MCC friends for a screening at the Edina Mann Theater on Friday, November 15, at 12:00 pm.

Tickets may be purchased in advance on the theater’s website or at the box office.

The 2015 Paris Agreement established a UN-sponsored framework for negotiations on climate change and global warming. In subsequent COP meetings, experts and political leaders have come together seeking common cause for this growing global crisis. What is the future of these efforts, and what have they yielded? What is the U.S. role in fostering cooperation on climate change? In a divided country, what are the possible futures for American policy leadership? What is the U.S. role in fostering cooperation on climate change?

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Join us at the Walker Art Center as we tour Dyani White Hawk‘s art exhibit, "Love Language" with a special guide.

Rooted in intergenerational knowledge, Dyani White Hawk’s art centers on connection—between one another, past and present, earth and sky. By foregrounding Lakota forms and motifs, she challenges prevailing histories and practices surrounding abstract art. Featuring multimedia paintings, sculpture, video, and more, Love Language gathers 15 years of the artist’s work in this major survey. The exhibition unfolds across four sections named by the artist to speak to Indigenous value systems: See, Honor, Nurture, and Celebrate.

See introduces visitors to White Hawk’s worldview. Opening with early pieces that combine quillwork, beadwork, and painting, the artist examines, dissects, and reassembles elements of her own Sicá?gu Lakota and European American ancestries.

In Honor and Nurture, White Hawk uplifts family, ancestors, and community. Her acclaimed Quiet Strength series honors the labor of Indigenous women by referencing Lakota quillwork in the form of large abstract paintings.

The exhibition’s final section, Celebrate, marries traditional techniques with outsize scale, paying homage to small gestures that hold great meaning. Featured here are a new series of glass mosaics, beaded sculptures, and White Hawk’s monumental Wopila/Lineage paintings.

Though the Walker does not have docents, we will have the special experience of being guided by Marne Zafar, a Native artist who is friends with Dyani White Hawk. Ms. Zafar recently spoke at MCC and previously took a group of our members on an acclaimed tour of Native art at MIA.

We will meet at the Walker at 10:20 am; the tour begins promptly at 10:30 and is limited to 12 participants. Cost: $16 for Seniors, payable at the door; free to Walker members.

The Program Committee meets each month to discuss and develop new program ideas for our members. If you have a program idea, please feel free to fill out the Program Committee Proposal form and email it to Jane at janestacy@millcitycommons.org.

Do you ever find it hard to really connect with other members at our larger programs or speaker events? Then this spontaneous gathering might be just what you’re looking for!

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of conversation at The Cabana Club — a perfect chance to meet new members and catch up with familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while.

If you’re joining us for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to welcome you.

Coffee, conversation, and connection await you at C.R.E.A.M Café. No sign-ups, no fuss—just friends and neighbors gathering for a morning chat.

This guided discussion group with professional facilitation supports MCC members and nonmembers who are in a caregiving role.

Join the MCC Board of Directors for an Open Forum from 4:00-4:30 pm at the MCC Offices, 2nd Floor Commons area.

Enjoy this month‘s reading of "Sonia Flew," by Melissa Lopez; (Jungle Theater Reading Series).

Sonia‘s parents, fearful of the new government, sent their only daughter from Cuba to the United States in 1961. Set in Minneapolis and Havana, a story of family unfolds across the generations as Sonia - now raising two children with her Jewish husband - struggles to come to terms with her past, her lost parents, her own children, and her adopted country.

Schedule time with a Tech Support Guru on Zoom and have your nagging technology questions answered during our complimentary Help Desk. The zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.

You are the ultimate decision-maker in your own health care—especially when it comes to medications. While prescribers recommend what to take and in what dosage, it’s you who makes the final choices: which medications—prescription or over-the-counter—you’ll actually take, how much, how often, and for how long. Because only the medications you choose to take affect your health, understanding your decision-making process is essential. Pharmacist and MCC member Dr. Mary Indritz will explore how pharmacists can positively influence those decisions and help create a better, safer medication experience.

Start your Saturday with good company and great conversation!

Join fellow MCC members for a relaxed Saturday morning breakfast mixer at Elsie’s Restaurant, inside their cozy main dining room. 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.

Seating will be open at tables of four or five to encourage easy conversation. To help the restaurant prepare, please register in advance.

Note: We’ll be gathering in a secluded indoor space within Elsie’s main dining room. Attendance is limited to 22 participants to ensure smooth service for Elsie’s staff.

Join us for an engaging update on the work of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation with Executive Director Martin Wera and Michael Schroeder, Assistant Superintendent for Planning at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Together, they’ll share the latest developments along the Mississippi River, including what’s next for the Parks Foundation following the success of the RiverFirst Campaign, and the Park Board’s exciting plans shaping the riverfront’s future.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Join Mary Texidor for a discussion about what she experienced, learned and took away from this year‘s Village to Village Gathering and LeadingAge conference in Boston.

Do you ever find it hard to really connect with other members at our larger programs or speaker events? Then this spontaneous gathering might be just what you’re looking for!

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of conversation at The Cabana Club — a perfect chance to meet new members and catch up with familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while.

If you’re joining us for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to welcome you.

Coffee, conversation, and connection await you at C.R.E.A.M Café. No sign-ups, no fuss—just friends and neighbors gathering for a morning chat.

Start your Saturday with good company and great conversation!

Join fellow MCC members for a relaxed Saturday morning breakfast mixer at Elsie’s Restaurant, inside their cozy main dining room. 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.

Seating will be open at tables of four or five to encourage easy conversation. To help the restaurant prepare, please register in advance.

Note: We’ll be gathering in a secluded indoor space within Elsie’s main dining room. Attendance is limited to 22 participants to ensure smooth service for Elsie’s staff.

Join fellow MCC members for a delightful afternoon at Theater Latté Da’s production of My Fair Lady - widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time. With its unforgettable songs, sharp wit, and timeless charm, this beloved classic captures hearts while reminding us that asking someone to change the way they speak is asking them to surrender a piece of who they are.

As a special offering for MCC, the theater has reserved 15 seats exclusively for our group. To take advantage of this 20% discount, call the Theater Latté Da box office at (612) 339-3003 and identify yourself as part of the Mill City Commons group for the November 30 performance at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $51.20 plus a processing fee.

Free parking is available across the street from the Ritz Theater in the lot shared by the Sheridan Clinic and Las Estrellas School, with entry off University Avenue.

The Mill City Commons Board, Committee Chairs and Staff invite you to our Annual Business Meeting on December 3 at 4:00 pm. Join us to learn what‘s going on at MCC, ask questions, and provide input. Small bites and beverages will be provided. Members are welcome to stay until 6:30 pm to mingle. All members are encouraged to attend.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Do you ever find it hard to really connect with other members at our larger programs or speaker events? Then this spontaneous gathering might be just what you’re looking for!

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of conversation at The Cabana Club — a perfect chance to meet new members and catch up with familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while.

If you’re joining us for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to welcome you.

Coffee, conversation, and connection await you at C.R.E.A.M Café. No sign-ups, no fuss—just friends and neighbors gathering for a morning chat.

Sign up for the Great Decisions 2026 Series. We are using the MCC program calendar as our online sign up mechanism and you can pay your fees online if you wish. All members received an email with registration information. Please contact the MCC office with any questions.

Do you find it hard to really get to know members at our large programs … or those featuring a speaker? This spontaneous event might be just right for you! Join us for a casual conversation at Milwaukee Road Restaurant and Bar at The Depot. Take this opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with some you haven’t seen lately. If you are attending for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to meet you.

Do you ever find it hard to really connect with other members at our larger programs or speaker events? Then this spontaneous gathering might be just what you’re looking for!

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of conversation at The Cabana Club — a perfect chance to meet new members and catch up with familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while.

If you’re joining us for the first time, please contact the MCC office so we can be sure someone is there to welcome you.

Coffee, conversation, and connection await you at C.R.E.A.M Café. No sign-ups, no fuss—just friends and neighbors gathering for a morning chat.

Witness the direction of your own village, Mill City Commons, as the gavel passes to next year’s chair, and new officers and board members are welcomed. The regular monthly meeting of the board directly follows beginning at 4:15 pm. Members are welcome and encouraged to stay for the board meeting.