Reflections of wilson park tower - Bill Kelley | Show Photo

Downtown/Lowertown

The Northern Warehouse, Lowertown

The vista of downtown is anchored by two domed symbols of the city: the massive, ornate grey eminence of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, the center of the city's rich Catholic culture, and the white Minnesota State Capitol, designed by native son Cass Gilbert. At their feet, a downtown graced with fine old buildings like the Saint Paul Hotel, the Hamm Building (home to the French-inflected Meritage restaurant and to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's public rehearsal hall), and the Landmark Center, a former courthouse where many of the city's cultural and arts organizations have their offices. Lowertown, in downtown's southeast quadrant, is an artists' quarter of fine live-work spaces in former warehouses, with hip cafes and fine restaurants on the ground floors or nearby.

Downtown/Lowertown Features

A Line or Two: Love is the Law in Minnesota

Jon Spayde Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Governor Mark Dayton signed Minnesota's law legalizing gay marriage on a bright, clear day that broke temperature records. The theme of the outdoor signing ceremony was love, just as love had been a major theme of the campaign to get the law passed. Where else might we use this big word?

The Big Picture: Laura Zabel on Art's New Roles in the Community

Jon Spayde Wednesday, May 01, 2013

The nonprofit Springboard for the Arts used to concentrate solely on career development for artists. Now, under the leadership of Laura Zabel, it's become a powerful force in redefining the whole relationship between artists and the communities they live in--and in marshaling artistic creativity to improve those communities.

Videoline: Muslim Day at the Capitol

Tom Niemisto Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Last Wednesday, some 150 Minnesota Muslims got together to share concerns and hopes with their legislators at the ninth Annual Muslim Day at the Capitol, organized by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota. Here's a video look at the event, from our friends at Minnesota 2020.

Living Downtown: What's Promising, What's Missing

Agata Miszczyk Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Both St. Paul and Minneapolis have committed themselves to making their downtowns more residential, with major projects to develop the infrastructure a genuine residential neighborhood requires. But, says Minnesota 2020 fellow Agata Miszczyk, an emphasis on rental units and luxury buildings is holding back the vitality that the downtowns need.

A Line or Two: Saymoukda Vongsay's "When Poets Found Bass"

Jon Spayde Wednesday, February 20, 2013

In A Line or Two, I share some of my enthusiasms and discoveries as I make my way around the Twin Cities. Call it an editor's note as blog entry. This week: A multi-everything hip-hop/spoken word extravaganza organized by our coolest Lao-American diva and sponsored by the lovable Saint Paul Almanac.

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