Featured Stories

January Arts and Culture: Feet on the Ground, Eyes Toward the Sky

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, January 10, 2017

We begin a new year with our feet on the ground, quite literally, with must-see dance performances, as well as talks by local authors on local history, and the unparalleled stargazing offered by the winter sky.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship

Como Park, University, Midway, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown

Artists and Their Families Thrive Amid Community and Creativity in Artspace Housing

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, December 20, 2016

For families living in Artspace affordable artist live/work housing, to reside in a safe, secure building where they can create and are considered normal is not only nice, it’s necessary. It's also "a little place of heaven."

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, diversity, Entrepreneurship

Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

Rain as a Resource: St. Paul Innovates Shared, Sustainable Stormwater Management

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, December 06, 2016

The City of St. Paul and its partners are utilizing an innovative method of managing stormwater to restore natural water systems, incorporate green infrastructure into sustainable communities and improve the urban ecosystem.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Emerging Technology, Regionalism, Sustainability, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Union Park, University, Macalester - Groveland, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, West Seventh, Highland Park, Downtown/Lowertown, Summit Hill and Crocus Hill, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Summit - University

Microloans Help Artists Build Sustainable Careers

Colleen Powers Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Microloans help artists bridge the gaps between other sources of funding. Springboard for the Arts is currently testing a microloan model and has partnered with Kiva, a microlending platform that funds small businesses around the world.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy, Talent Dividend

Downtown/Lowertown

Capital City Bikeway: St. Paul Inaugurates First Portion of Dedicated Bike Loop

Melissa Wenzel Tuesday, October 25, 2016

The first portion of the Capital City Bikeway opened this month, symbolizing St. Paul’s commitment to a new, dedicated biking infrastructure downtown.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Design, Sustainability, Transportation

Downtown/Lowertown

Dark Matter Made Visible: Artists Illuminate Breaking Ground "Idea Lab"

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, October 18, 2016

During Artspace’s Breaking Ground “Idea Lab” October 14-15 in MSP, artists were identified as visionaries and leaders who bring the dark matter of communities--history, memory, relationships--to light through art and creative processes.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Philanthropy, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, North Side, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

October Arts and Culture: Stars, Skin(s) and St. Paul Art Crawl 25

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, October 11, 2016

With autumn in MSP comes "the season," meaning so many art exhibitions, performances, parties and festivals that you could attend several events every evening. Here are our must-do's.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Transit Oriented Development

Como Park, University, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

River Balcony Prototyping Festival, with Craft Beer Overlook, Previews "St. Paul's High Line"

Brian Martucci Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Music, art, craft beer: Earlier this month, MSP'ers enjoyed a tantalizing glimpse of the (possible) future for a 1.5-mile stretch of St. Paul riverfront during the River Balcony Prototyping Festival.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Nightlife, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown

Practitioners and Partners: Artspace Evolves Breaking Ground Into "Idea Lab" That Celebrates Artists

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Artspace’s annual Breaking Ground event evolves this year from one dynamic evening of speakers and performances to an immersive, two-day “idea lab” on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15 in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

September Arts and Culture: Grand Openings, Helmet Art and Community Gardens

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A new independent bookstore! A second ReStore store! Plus a community garden celebration and an art exhibit and fashion show featuring motorcycle helmets highlight September arts and culture.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Shopping

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown/Lowertown, Powderhorn, Northeast

August Arts: A Few of Our Favorite Things

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Not-to-miss Fringe shows, a neighborhood happy hour, beer and bikes…a few of our favorite things for August arts and culture.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Talent Dividend, Transit Oriented Development

University, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Calhoun - Isles, Downtown/Lowertown

Max Boeke (left) & Jordan Standish from Clutch

Microbrewing's Breakneck Growth Continues: 7 of the Coolest New Craft-Beer Concepts in MSP

Brian Martucci Tuesday, June 28, 2016

You don’t need a stats pack to accept the obvious: craft beer is big business in The North, particularly in MSP’s hottest neighborhoods. Here are seven new craft-beer concepts coming soon.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife

Riverfront/Mill District, North Side, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

June Arts and Culture: Food for the Mind, Body and Soul

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, June 07, 2016

Festivals galore during the month of June, just a few of them listed here. There's the big one--Northern Spark 2016--as well as smaller neighborhood gatherings and opportunities to make new friends over food and brews.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Philanthropy, Sustainability

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, North Side, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Downtown/Lowertown

Mayor Chris Coleman (center) w Solomon Parham (left) and Spencer Christensen (right)

Sounds True: St. Paul Celebrates All Genres During Year of Music

Loren Green Tuesday, May 10, 2016

In declaring 2016 the Year of Music, the City of St. Paul showcases all of the music genres, schools, initiatives and venues thriving throughout the city as economic drivers and cultural amenities.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife

Greater East Side, Como Park, Macalester - Groveland, Midway, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Summit Hill and Crocus Hill, Summit - University