Featured Stories

The Future of 4th Street activity, courtesy Musicant Group

14 Steps to Greatness: Penalosa's To-Do List for MSP

Jay Walljasper Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Gil Penalosa—former Parks Commissioner in Bogota, Colombia, and now president of the 8-80 Cities think tank—toured the Twin Cities speaking at 17 events from the East Side to Wayzata as part of the Third Annual Placemaking Residency.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership

Downtown/Lowertown

Connecting to the cities by bus, photo by Kyle Mianulli

Car Free and Carefree in MSP: Why Ali Lozoff Kicked Car Ownership to the Curb

Kyle Mianulli Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Welcome to a new series on Twin Cities' residents who live car-free by walking, bicycling and using Metro Transit. Ali Lozoff: "If I can navigate this city all hours of the day and night on a bus, then anyone can do it.”

Energy, Transportation

Uptown/Lyn Lake, Downtown/Lowertown

Revelers do the brew at Dangerous Man, courtesy Dangerous Man Brewing

Twin Cities Brew Boom Taps Into Placemaking, Entrepreneurship, Neighborhood Synergies

Brian Martucci Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Since the passage of the Surly Bill 2012, craft-beer entrepreneurs have rapidly opened breweries with taprooms in neighborhoods throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul. All are doing their part to turn neighborhoods into top-of-mind destinations.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

Central Avenue, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Lake Street, Southwest, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

Call and Answer Project, courtesy Walker Art Center

St. Paul City Artist Amanda Lovelee Inspires Joyful Connections

Brian Martucci Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The second in our series on Twin Cities artists who build community: Amanda Lovelee, a St. Paul City Artist in Residence, uses big tables, wildflowers, square dancing and love stories to convert people to the power of interpersonal connection through public art.

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

Calhoun - Isles, Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

The young women of Little Mekong, courtesy Little Mekong

Cultural Districts + LRT Stops: A Guide to the Central Corridor's Arts and Culture Hotspots

Jay Walljasper Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The Central Corridor is becoming the Twin Cities' new cultural hotspot showcasing local diversity, bringing communities closer together, and boosting economic opportunities.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Union Park, University, Midway, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Saint Anthony Park, Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

Yes, Sherlock and Watson, courtesy Rewire.

How Rewire--and Benedict Cumberbatch--Are Enticing Millennials to Twin Cities Public Television

Brian Martucci Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Rewire is ambitious “cross-platform” initiative innovated by TPT to speak directly to Millennials—and bridge and reinvigorate TPT’s programming.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Technology

Downtown/Lowertown

Saint Paul Artist Oskar Ly: An Organizer and Ambassador for Hmong Arts

Nicole Rupersburg Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Issue Media Group (The Line's parent company) has launched Creative Exchange, a national online platform for storytelling and resource sharing around creativity and community. Saint Paul artist/organizer Oskar Ly was featured in the first issue.

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

Midway, Downtown/Lowertown

Next in Transit: The Green Line, Then Southwest Rail?

Conrad deFiebre Wednesday, February 19, 2014

The Green Line sets the stage for a full regional transit network unlike anything we've seen since the heyday of the streetcars.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Transportation

University, Midway, Downtown, Saint Anthony Park, Southwest, Downtown/Lowertown

Assisting Fellows via the C3 and CCAP programs

Jobs, Housing, Transit: Leveraging the Economic Power of the Central Corridor's Anchor Institutions

Brian Martucci Wednesday, February 12, 2014

How key non-profits have forged partnerships with healthcare institutions along the Green Line to generate corridors of opportunity for job seekers, residents, and communities.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Healthcare, Higher Education, Strong Local Economy, Transportation

University, Midway, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Saint Anthony Park, Downtown/Lowertown

All Aboard: How Urban Train Stations are Becoming Neighborhood Amenities

Rachel Kaufman Wednesday, February 05, 2014

Smart cities like Saint Paul are renovating their train stations (like the multi-modal hub Union Depot) into neighborhood and urban amenities.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Regionalism, Reuse / Rebuild, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Midway, Downtown/Lowertown

Bogobrush: A Bamboo Objet d'Art for Social Good

Anna Pratt Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Heather and John McDougall, who are siblings, have designed the bamboo Bogobrush, a "buy one, give one" product that provides toothbrushes to people in need.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Entrepreneurship, Green Jobs, Healthcare, Philanthropy, Regionalism, Reuse / Rebuild, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability

Downtown/Lowertown

CoCo's co-working space in the Grain Exchange

The Sharing Economy: Sharing Isn't Just Nice To Do, It's Changing How We Do Business

Allyson Jacob Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education, Strong Local Economy, Transportation

Downtown, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Downtown/Lowertown

Made in Minnesota: The Makers Coalition and the Renewal of Our Industrial Sewing Heritage

Anna Pratt Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The Makers Coalition is supporting a new generation of industrial sewers and the local makers movement. The coalition brings together 60 businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and service providers to fulfill its mission: To bring back industrial sewing skills, which largely disappeared in America decades ago.

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

Downtown, Uptown/Lyn Lake, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

City Art: New thinking about public art in Saint Paul is transforming the public sphere

Christine Podas-Larson Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Sustainability, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Saint Anthony Park, Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Payne - Phalen

Throughout the U.S., Public Art Engages Communities and Transforms Neighborhoods

Elaine Labalme Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Public art has evolved into an essential element of urban placemaking and social engagement. From murals on vacant buidlings to art in laundormats to temporary art installations that invite public participation, we take a look at public art and how it's changing cities.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown