Featured Stories

The Sounds of Summer: August Arts and Culture In MSP

David Rue Tuesday, August 11, 2015

In this month’s feature highlights arts, entertainment and culture not to be missed in MSP by focusing on music, festivals and fashion.

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

Riverfront/Mill District, Como Park, Midway

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

Jump Into July with Makers, ArtCars, Movement and Beer

David Rue Tuesday, July 14, 2015

July arts, entertainment and culture highlights not to be missed in MSP, with a focus on makers of all sorts — of art, crafts, dance and beer.

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

Phillips, Macalester - Groveland, Southwest, Calhoun - Isles, Warehouse/North Loop

Transforming St. Paul's West 7th Into a Vibrant, Urban Life/Work/Play Corridor

Brian Martucci Tuesday, June 30, 2015

The West 7th area near downtown St. Paul is transforming from a historic transportation artery into a vibrant, 24/7 live/work/play corridor with new residences, busy workplaces, transit opportunities, and hotspots for art, culture and entertainment.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Nightlife, Reuse / Rebuild, Shopping, Transit Oriented Development

West Seventh

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

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

MSP's Big Picture Housing Needs: The McKnight Foundation Weighs In

Interview by Christopher Hudson Tuesday, April 21, 2015

McKnight Foundation president Kate Wolford and program officer Eric Muschler at Clare Midtown talk about the foundation's affordable housing initiatives and how well-designed affordable housing is a community asset with long-term benefits.

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

Riverfront/Mill District, Lake Street

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

The City as Your Living Room: Will Micro-Apts Go Macro in MSP?

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, April 07, 2015

Interest in micro-apartments is growing in MSP because of their affordability and design, the community spaces within the building and the city itself as the living room.

Affordable Housing, Creative Economy, Design, Entrepreneurship, Transit Oriented Development

University, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Downtown, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Warehouse/North Loop

Community Developers Create Room to Mingle

Gayle Thorsen Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Twin Cities community developers aim to create more public spaces in lower-income neighborhoods as common assets for all to enjoy.

Affordable Housing, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy

Greater East Side, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, North Side, Nokomis, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

The Centennial Chromagraph, fabricated in the DigiFab Lab to celebrate the U of M School of Architecture's history

Why MSP is Leading the New DigiFab (Third Industrial) Revolution

Brian Martucci Tuesday, February 24, 2015

We're experiencing the third industrial revolution in which MSP’s digital fabricators are innovatively building the future, one pixel at a time.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, High Technology, Higher Education, Strong Local Economy

University, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Southwest, Powderhorn, Northeast

Still from the Coen brothers' film "A Serious Man"

Cultivating a Cinema of The North

Kevin Obsatz Tuesday, February 10, 2015

In this essay, reprinted from MinnesotaPlaylist.com, Kevin Obsatz puts forward bold proposals for how filmmakers based in The North could create a body of signature, lasting work.

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

10 Independent Bookstores To Get Cozy With This Winter

Gina Dewink Tuesday, February 03, 2015

Searching for a book to get lost in? Ditch your computer and mobile devices, and plan a day trip exploring these distinct and community-minded local bookstores, many of which are celebrating decade birthdays in 2015.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Reuse / Rebuild, Shopping, Strong Local Economy

Macalester - Groveland, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Lake Street, Southwest, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Summit Hill and Crocus Hill