Featured Stories

Why MSP's Amenity-Rich Downtowns are Prime Spots for Relocating Businesses

Brian Martucci Tuesday, October 20, 2015

MSP’s increasingly amenity-rich downtowns offer irresistible quality-of-life benefits that help firms attract and retain top talent. Here’s a look at why some companies moved to the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Strong Local Economy, Transportation

Downtown, West Side, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop

Artists Can Be The "Connective Tissue" of a Neighborhood, But First Need Affordable Housing

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, October 06, 2015

The creation of affordable artist live/work housing is a proven initiative that reinvigorates neighborhoods, while artists and their work bring members of diverse communities together.

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

Downtown/Lowertown

October In MSP Opens with Plenty of Spooks and Spice

David Rue Tuesday, October 06, 2015

This month’s feature highlighting arts, entertainment and culture not to be missed in MSP focuses on innovation, startups and artistic initiatives that will scare and inspire you, and spice up your life.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy, Nightlife

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

MSP Slides Into September with National Events and Exhibits

David Rue Tuesday, September 01, 2015

This month’s arts and culture feature includes visual and literary arts that continue to break boundaries and forge new alliances.

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

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

Urban Agriculture in MSP: Growing, Diversifying, Sustainable

Brian Martucci Tuesday, August 18, 2015

As the rapid proliferation of urban farms, CSAs, community gardens, hyper-local farmers’ market stalls and farm-to-fork restaurants shows, MSP’s urban agriculture ecosystem is only getting stronger.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Green Jobs, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability

Greater East Side, Midway, North Side, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

Pedals and Pints: A Guide to Your Own Bike Friendly Brewery Tour

Brian Martucci Tuesday, July 14, 2015

All of these homegrown breweries are located on or near major bikeways, making for convenient — and safe — access. String two or three of these bike-friendly breweries together for a pedal-powered, DIY brewery tour.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

Greater East Side, West Side, North Side, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Nokomis, Downtown/Lowertown, Payne - Phalen, Northeast

June in MSP: Outdoor Arts Festivals that Give Back

David Rue Tuesday, June 02, 2015

In this month’s feature highlighting arts, entertainment and culture not to be missed in MSP, the focus is on community events that inspire, entertain, invite participation —and give back.

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

University, Downtown, Lake Street, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

Take Me Out to a Ballgame and Brewpub: Your Guide to Game Day Transit and Venturing Afield

Brian Martucci Tuesday, June 02, 2015

Baseball season is upon us. Why not turn game day into an opportunity to explore neighborhoods around CHS Field in St. Paul's Lowertown and Target Field in Minneapolis' North Loop, which are bookended by Green Line light-rail stops?

Central Corridor, Nightlife, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

University, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Downtown, Saint Anthony Park, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop

Living the Life: Seven Members of MSP's Growing Coastal-Transplant Community

Brian Martucci Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Strike up a conversation at an art opening, microbrewery, maker event, co-working space, tech-entrepreneur gathering, placemaking conference or food truck, and chances are that person is a coastal transplant living the life they’ve always wanted.

Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Strong Local Economy, Transportation

Riverfront/Mill District, Uptown/Lyn Lake, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

Funding, Policy, Persuasion, Need: How Artspace Gets Affordable Artist Live/Work Housing Done

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Artspace’s residential projects fill a critical niche in a city’s ecosystem of affordable housing, particularly for artists. But making the case for public policies and resources to realize these transformative projects is challenging.

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

Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

spring veggies,courtesy Bill GourmetFoods, MIll City.jpg

Eat Up! 7 Transit-Friendly Farmers Markets in MSP

Brian Martucci Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Looking to sample the region’s freshest produce without braving traffic? In celebration of the Green Line’s first full farmers market season, here are seven MSP markets within walking distance of a major transit line (in many cases, the Green Line itself).

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Green Jobs, Shopping, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Riverfront/Mill District, University, Downtown, Lake Street, Southwest, Downtown/Lowertown

Why MSP is the Once, Current and Future Internet of Things (IoT) Alley

Brian Martucci Tuesday, April 14, 2015

There’s a movement afoot to rebrand MSP as “IoT Alley” in recognition of its historical and current innovations in the field of Internet to cloud devices. MSP startups, in fact, are leading current growth in the field.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, High Technology, Strong Local Economy

University, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

Takin' It To the Streets: New Food Trucks Coming to a Corner Near You

Brian Martucci Tuesday, April 07, 2015

Birds are chirping, patios are open and soon food truck season begins in earnest. These new additions to our burgeoning mobile foodie scene show off MSP’s evolving restaurant culture, stimulate street life and generate community.

Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy

Dayton's Bluff, Phillips, Lake Street, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Downtown/Lowertown, Powderhorn, Northeast

Mill City Winter Farmers Market, photo courtesy Mill City Times

Local Doesn't End With Summer: Meet 4 Food Entrepreneurs at 5 Winter Markets in MSP

Brian Martucci Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A merry band of farmers market managers and vendors are braving the cold and dark to keep us supplied with locally grown food, locally made food products and locally sourced crafts. Here's where you can find them this winter!

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, Southwest, Downtown/Lowertown

From Ken's forthcoming graphic novel, Bicyclopolis

Embracing the Creative Nexus of Bikes, Transit and Art

Brian Martucci Sunday, December 14, 2014

Ken and Roberta Avidor have been car-free since 2010. Union Depot is their jumping-off point for bike, bus and train trips around the Twin Cities—and beyond. They're also making a name for themselves in the Twin Cities’ urban-sketching movement.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Transportation

Downtown/Lowertown

Downtown/Lowertown : Featured Stories