Downtown Neighborhood News and Events

Ice palace

Downtown St. Paul is not only an arts, entertainment, and business hub, but is also home to over 8,000 residents who enjoy living in close proximity to the Mississippi River, Rice and Mears Parks, and the community festivals that inhabit those parks every season. One of St. Paul’s fastest-growing neighborhoods, Lowertown boasts historic buildings, a vibrant arts community, and the popular St. Paul Farmers’ Market. All downtown residents are within minutes of every part of the Twin Cities with easy access provided by I-94 and 35-E as well as most of the bus lines serving the region (and Light Rail Transit coming soon). The neighborhoods are also connected by the skyway system allowing convenient access to restaurants, retail stores, nightlife, theaters, and more. (Description from livemsp.org)

For detailed demographic information, see the neighborhood profile from Minnesota Compass.


WEDNESDAY PICK | Poetry down under: Jim Cihlar, Heid Erdrich, Kate Kysar, and Bill Reichard at SubText

By Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet

Photo by B Fresh Photography, courtesy Heid Erdrich

SubText is the Twin Cities' newest independent bookstore, and it comes with quite a pedigree: it's located in the former Common Good Books space below Nina's, and its employees include Sue Zumberge (formerly of Common Good) and David Unowsky, owner of the late great Hungry Mind. On July 11, four poets will be presenting their work. Heid Erdrich is the big name; she'll be joined by Jim Cihlar, Kate Kysar, and Bill Reichard. Mary Turck attended a reading last month, and described the atmosphere as "welcome and relaxed."

TUESDAY PICK | Sarah Nienaber doubles down at the Amsterdam

By Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet

Sarah Nienaber (right) at a Replacements tribute at First Avenue in 2010. Photo by Jay Gabler.

It's impressive enough to play in two acclaimed local bands, all the more so to do it simultaneously. The July 10 bill at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall is packed with four top acts—Zoo Animal, Is/Is, Chambermaids, and Gospel Gossip—two of which (Is/Is and Gospel Gossip) feature the passionate singer/songwriter/guitarist. Until Blind Faith opens for Derek & the Dominoes, this is about as good as this sort of thing is going to get.

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Chalchiutlicue focuses youth, immigrant energy on the environment in Minneapolis, St. Paul events

By Jeanette Fordyce, TC Daily Planet

Youth participating in Chalchiutlicue environmental celebration honor the waters at Powderhorn Park. (Photos by Jeanette Fordyce)

“Environmental issues are all around us,” said Jerry Lopez.

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Twin Cities Metro Independent Business Alliance urges: Celebrate your local "independents" in July

By Michelle Tran, TC Daily Planet

The mural on the outside of St. Paul Corner Drug shows the soda fountain on the inside. St. Paul Corner Drug is one of the few independent pharmacies left in St. Paul, and Is participating in the Celebrate Your Independents month. (Photo by Mary Turck)

UPDATED AND CORRECTED 7/2/2012: For many Minnesotans, Independence Day means fireworks, flags, and outdoor barbeques. This July, members of the Twin Cities Metro Independent Business Alliance (MetroIBA) encourage you to “Celebrate Your Independents” all month long by shopping at local, independent stores. Twenty-five local businesses are offering special deals during the month of July, including The Wedge, St. Paul Corner Drug, and Midwest Mountaineering. With each purchase, shoppers will gain a chance to become one of two people to win $1,250 in gift cards from participating MetroIBA member businesses.

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MONDAY PICK | St. Paul's Soap Boxing slam poetry team drowns its sorrows

By Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet

Photo by Jonathan Boeke (Creative Commons)

In retrospect, it was inevitable that this would happen: take a town known for world-class beer and national champion slam poetry teams, toss in a drinkin' spelling bee, and voila! We have our first (to my knowledge) drunk poetry slam. On July 2 at the Artists' Quarter, the Soap Boxing slam poetry team—recently unseated from its back-to-back national championship dynasty—will "compete against the audience in drinking games while performing (with diminishing returns) for your amusement." If nothing else, it's gotta be better than Bye Bye Liver.

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