Some of us have no sidewalks, while others get theirs replaced: Crew members from Standard Sidewalk level out fresh concrete in the 700 block of Parkview.
A Weekend of Chrome and Glasspacks
In case it isn't obvious already: The annual
Back to the 50s car show is back this weekend. Officially, it takes over the Fairgrounds from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Unofficially, well, look for elbows hanging out of driver's side windows on streets and parking lots everywhere. More than 11,000 cars have registered already. Despite the name, cars as recent as 1964 models are welcome.
If you can't get your fill just watching what's cruising through our streets, admission to the Fairgrounds is $10 for teens and adults, free for children 12 or younger. Otherwise, the Fairgrounds are off-limits. Parking in Fairground lots is free. Shuttle buses run from various hotels and parking lots. Metro Transit also has
free bus and light-rail passes available; get yours online.
No Como Shuttle: Because Back to the 50s will soak up the State Fair's Como Ave. parking lots, the Como Regional Park Shuttle will not run this weekend.
Just a Neighborly Reminder
Despite the crowds and traffic that Back to the 50s attracts, don't be trying to make extra money by parking cars on your lawn.
It's illegal. Residents near the Fairgrounds can do that only during the 12 days of the State Fair -- not the other 354 days of the year. Even then, you need "written consent of adjoining property owners on both sides of the subject yard." To report violations, call St. Paul Parking Enforcement -- 651-291-1111 -- which promises they'll "be tagging in full force."
The former Sholom Home / Traditions property has been vacant since 2009
Developer, Job Corps Official to Speak
The monthly District 10 Como Community Council meeting takes place this Tuesday, June 21. We've lined up guest speakers from two properties that always generate questions from neighbors:
David Grzan, one of the developers of the old Sholom Home/Traditions buildings on Midway Parkway, will talk about developers' latest plans and progress.
William Coleman II, new director of the Humphrey Job Corps Center on Snelling Ave., will talk about the new management team's plans for students and the campus.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station, at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Community members are always welcome.
Shakespeare and Accordions?
The Twin Cities' Cromulent Shakespeare Company gives a free outdoor performance of "
Much Ado About Nothing" this Thursday, June 23, in Como Park. It promises a family friendly evening of squeezebox accompaniment, song, dance, and comedy. The show starts at 7 p.m. behind the Historic Streetcar Station, at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair -- and be aware that, with local street reconstruction, there's even less parking than usual.
Get Rid of Your Obsolete Electronics
St. Paul holds a
roundup exclusively for old electronics this Saturday, June 18, at Dunning Field, from 9 a.m.-noon. That means TVs, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, computer equipment, cell phones, cords, and similar accessories. You can enter from Concordia Ave. east of Hamline Ave. Find the
fee schedule and other details online.
Clean Out Your Hazardous Waste
Ramsey County's temporary collection site in Roseville remains open for household chemicals; fluorescent lights; mercury thermometers; medical needles, syringes, and lancets; and other poisonous and dangerous items that should not go in the trash. The site is at 1725 Kent St. in Roseville, just north of Larpenteur Ave. and east of Dale St. It's open every Friday in June from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and every Saturday in June from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The site is free for county residents; see the county website for a
list of acceptable items and other instructions.
Bored with Summer Already?
There are always new activities going on at our local Park District recreation centers.
Download the summer's entire schedule and get all the necessary details from District 10's website. A peek:
North Dale: Starting next week, there are Pickleball lessons for adults, yoga for preschoolers (and their caregivers), and Advanced Minecraft for older children. At 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 18, there's a "Bike Basics" class for students.
Northwest Como: Classes for youngsters of various ages start next week, including soccer, art workshops, and outdoor adventures.
A Butterfly Bonanza
"Blooming Butterflies" returns to Como Zoo and Conservatory today, Friday June 17. Hundreds of butterflies from Africa, Asia, and the Americas are fluttering in an indoor garden of tropical plants, with up to 400 new butterflies released each week. The exhibit is free and open every day from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Labor Day.
Honor Beauty of Another Kind
Nominations are being accepted for the annual Blooming Saint Paul awards. Different awards honor residential gardens, business landscaping, gardens that include edible plants, remarkable trees, and exemplary public art. Details are available online. The deadline is next Friday, June 24.
State Fair Organizes Job Fair
The Minnesota State Fair holds its first-ever
job fair on Wednesday June 29 to fill an estimated 600 jobs during the fair. Applicants can register and, if their skills and experience match an open position, get interviewed on the spot. The job fair runs from 4-8 p.m. at the Progress Center, Randall Ave. at Cosgrove St.
What's available: Jobs include ticket selling, ticket taking, parking attendants, park-and-ride attendants, cashiers and other retail positions, cooks, food and beverage servers, and custodians.
Wages: Most positions pay $9.50 to $10 per hour.
What else: Applicants must be at least 16 years old and be available to work all 12 days of the fair, which runs Aug. 25-Sept. 5.
Farmers Market Returns to Dockside
A weekly farmers market at Como Dockside begins this Thursday, June 23, at the Lakeside Pavilion. The
market is open every Thursday from 2-6 p.m. on the north side of the promenade, which means it's covered, which means it goes on rain or shine. A bonus: There's always a free concert, usually at 4:30. This week, it's Andy Cook.
Back by Popular Demand
Beginning
ukulele classes begin this Monday, June 20, at Lyngblomsten's Newman-Benson Chapel. Any adult 55 or older is welcome. The classes, taught by Josh Osborne from the MacPhail Center for Music, run for eight Mondays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuition is $147. To register, call 612-321-0100 or
take care of it online.
If You're Shopping Amazon Anyway
You can now donate 0.5 percent of your online Amazon purchases to the District 10 Como Community Council -- if you make your purchases through the AmazonSmile program, instead of through the regular Amazon website.
This is the link to get your started.
Start Your Countdown to ComoFest
ComoFest is less than a month away. This year's celebration expands to bring affordable fun to every part of the neighborhood every weekend in July. Here's a brief rundown of the schedule. You can find full details at
www.comofest.com.
Friday July 8: North Dale Movie Night. A free outdoor showing of "Pan."
Saturday July 9: ComoFest Art Fair. Art and crafts for sale, plus live music, on the Promenade of the Como Lakeside Pavilion. Online registration for artists is open, but don't dawdle too long: The deadline is next Friday, June 24.
Friday July 15: District 10 Ice Cream Social. Enjoy neighbors, ice cream, lawn games, and live music.
Sunday July 17: ComoFest 5K Walk/Run for Everyone. Sponsored by the Como Park Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse Program. Online registration is open.
Friday July 22: Lyngblomsten's Mid-Summer Festival. An arts showcase, with hands-on activities, music, food, and games -- culminating with a community dance under the big tent.
Saturday July 23: Community Appreciation Picnic. Topline Federal Credit Union hosts a free cookout.
Friday, July 29: Northwest Como Campout. Fun family activities, a free outdoor showing of "Zootopia," and the annual outdoor overnight campout. To reserve your camping spot, call 651-298-5813 or register online.
This Wednesday, June 22: District 10 Como Community Council Environment Committee. 7 p.m., Como Park Streetcar Station. Community members are always welcome. Note: This meeting is moved up one week from its usual time.
Next Saturday June 25: St. Paul Community Cleanup, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Harding High School, 1540 E. 6th St. City residents can drop off old appliances, furniture, tires, demolition materials, paper for shredding, and more. Find fees and other details online.
Thursday June 30: Deadline for students in grades 9-12 to apply to Como Zoo and Conservatory's Youth Engagement Program.
Churchill: The one block south of the Horton/Van Slyke intersection is closed.
Dale St.: Westbound ramp to Highway 36 is closed until September. In St. Paul, lane restrictions on Dale, caused by sidewalk repairs between Maryland and Como/Front, are supposed to end today, Friday June 17.
Interstate 35E: Lanes and ramps will close in both directions between I-94 and Shepard Road beginning at 9 o'clock tonight, Friday June 17. The practice freeway is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. this Monday, June 20, after crews remove pavement from the St. Clair Ave. bridge.
Pascal St. bridge over I-94: Now open.
Rose Ave. between Como Ave. and Grotto: Construction is imminent, as Phase II of the Como-Chatsworth RSVP project gets started. Not far behind are West Como Blvd. north of Horton; Jessamine between Chatsworth and Lexington; and Kilburn, Ryde, Colne, and Milton south of Como. Construction is expected to last at least through August.
Van Slyke Ave.: Closed between Horton and Chatsworth.
Victoria St. bridge over I-94: Now open.
Ongoing bridge work:
St. Clair Ave. bridge over I-35E. Closed through July 29.
Highway 5 bridge over Mississippi River: Only a single lane remains open in both directions until November. Ramps at Edgecumbe Road, Highway 55, Mississippi River Blvd., and Shepard Road are closed.
Lexington Ave.: Closed at Highway 36 until September, so MnDOT can replace the Highway 36 bridge. Traffic on Highway 36 is being routed on temporary lanes.
Prior Ave. bridge over I-94: Closed until August.
Other road and highway projects on major travel routes to and from Como:
Chatsworth Ave.: Closed between Front and Horton through July.
Highway 280: Closed between Broadway and Interstate 35W. Only a single lane is open between Broadway and Como.
Interstate 35E: Ongoing work continues, with nightly lane closings, between Maryland Ave. and I-94. Occasional work takes place as far north as Highway 36. Lane and ramp closings continue on L'Orient and Pennsylvania Ave./Phalen Blvd. The southbound ramp to University Ave. is now open, but the southbound ramp from University Ave. will shut down next weekend, June 25-27.
Larpenteur Ave.: Sidewalk, curb, and crosswalk work between Snelling and Oxford continues into July.
Wheelock Parkway: Closed between Rice and Edgerton until fall.
Crime Prevention Tip of the Week
In honor of Fathers Day, we say, "If we've told you once, we've told you a hundred times:" Theft from autos is a
crime of opportunity. The Western District of the St. Paul Police Department repeats these tips:
To deter criminals from breaking into your vehicle, lock the doors.
Whenever possible, don't keep valuables in the vehicle, and certainly don't keep them in sight.
If you put valuables in the trunk, do so before you get to your destination, so thieves can't see you stash them away.
Thieves love to grab tote bags, briefcases, and gym bags, because they know that's where we often tuck wallets, phones, and other valuables.
Tonight, Friday June 17: Hopkins Westwind Concert Band, 7 p .m.
This Sunday, June 19: Porch Pickers, 3 p.m.; City of Lakes Sweet Adeline Chorus, 7 p.m.
This Monday, June 20: Saints of Swing Big Band, 7 p.m.
This Tuesday, June 21: North Star Barbershop Showcase, 7 p.m.
This Wednesday, June 22: Capital City Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m.
This Thursday, June 23: Tom Wolff's Dream Wedding, 7 p.m. (part of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival)
Next Friday, June 24: Stone Arch Jazz Band, 7 p .m. (part of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival)
This week's
Movies and Music combination: Saturday, June 18: "The Princess Bride," with music by Mike Gunther 7 p.m.
This Week in the Park
Groovin' in the Park:
Innocent Reggae Band. This Wednesday June 22, 6-8 p.m.
Concerts occur every Wednesday through Aug. 3 on the lawn outside the Zoo and Conservatory's Visitors Center. Find the season's full schedule online.
More Free Music
The
Solomon Parham Trio performs a free concert this Monday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rondo branch of the Saint Paul Public Library, 461 N. Dale St.
This Week at the Fairgrounds
After the hot rods move out:
This Wednesday, June 22-next Saturday, June 25: Tanbark Cavalcade of Roses Horse Show, Warner Coliseum. Free for spectators; sessions are 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday.
Next Friday-Saturday, June 24-25: Star of the North Antiques Show, Education Building. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Admission: $6.
Next Friday-Saturday, June 24-25: Twin Cities Antiquarian & Rare Book Fair, Progress Center. 3-8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Admission: $6 Friday, $5 Saturday; children 10 or younger, free.
Pick Up a Recycling Bin This Sunday
The
Como Park Streetcar Station is open from noon-4 p.m. this and every Sunday through September. It's your best opportunity to pick up a blue recycling bin, organics composting bags, or just share comments and suggestions with a District 10 board member. The Streetcar Station is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.
Spread the Word
District 10 is one of Saint Paul's 17 citizen participation districts. The District 10 Como Community Council is a nonprofit organization, governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by members of the community. The Council's mission is to inform, educate, and connect the neighborhood to increase community pride and confidence.
You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in District 10 activities.
Know someone else who is interested in what's going on in our neighborhood?
Pick Up a Recycling Bin This Sunday
