Sweet Science Ice Cream is back in the Como neighborhood beginning today. Every other weekend, the Saint Paul-based purveyor of creatively flavored, organic frozen treats sets up a "pop up" counter in the same Pascal St. building as Delicata. Hours will be 4-9 p.m. Fridays and 3-9 p.m. Saturdays June 21-22, July 5-6, July 19-20, Aug. 2-3, and Aug. 16-17.  

 

In 2018, Sweet Science ran the dockside window in the Lakeside Pavilion. This year it promises to bring 10 flavors of ice cream and sherbet, flights, floats, and doggie scoops. As locals know, Delicata has shifted most of its restaurant operations into the 1337 half of the building. Sweet Science will set up in the 1341 half -- the north half closest to the patio.

 

Meanwhile, the building that houses both businesses (and an apartment above) is for sale; asking price is $1.15 million.  

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is organizing a volunteer clean-up this Saturday, June 22, at Orchard Rec Center, 875 Orchard Ave. Show up anytime from 8 a.m.-noon on your own, with friends or family members or, better yet, with a group. Chores include repainting benches and other outside equipment, pulling weeds, and cleaning our storage closets. Questions? Email Eric Thompson. 

Russ Stark, the City of Saint Paul's chief resilience officer, will discuss and take questions about the city's climate action planning during this week's District 10 Environment Committee meeting. The meeting begins Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. All renters, homeowners, and other community members are welcome to attend and participate. 

The latest design for the proposed Como Avenue Trail retains parking on both sides of Como between Hamline and Snelling, which was one option proposed in January. You can get more details, but here's an overview:

• East of Snelling, city engineers are recommending a design that eliminates on-street bike lanes. It replaces them with a 10-foot wide, two-way bike trail on an expanded boulevard along the north side of Como.
• Between Snelling and the University of Minnesota transit way, the recommended design installs in-street bike lanes on Como; standardizes vehicle lanes to one in each direction with a center turn lane (except during the State Fair); and creates a 12-foot wide, multi-use trail along the south fence of the Fairgrounds.
• West of the transit way, the 12-foot, multi-use trail continues on the north side of Como, along the university's Saint Paul campus to the intersection at Cleveland. The street remains pretty much as it is now: one lane of vehicle traffic in each direction, parking on each side of Como, and an on-street bike lane in each direction.

State Sen. John Marty and state representatives Alice Hausman and John Lesch hold a Senate District 66 town hall meeting this Tuesday, June 25. The free meeting is 6-7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Saint Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Ave.

Interstate 35W shuts down in both directions this weekend between Interstate 94 and the intersection of Highway 280. Lanes will close from 10:00 tonight, Friday June 21, through 5 a.m. this Monday, June 24. Access ramps close beginning at 8:00 tonight.  

The Saint Paul Public Library is looking for volunteers to evaluate and test new designs for its online catalog, in hopes of making the features and search functions more useful. Members of the "library patron panel" will get occasional email invitations from BiblioCommons to participate; they can opt out at anytime. Sign up here 

Weather permitting, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is planning "cold fog" treatment overnight at the State Fairgrounds this Tuesday and Wednesday, June 25-26.  

Eureka Recycling is studying used-clothing collection and recycling in the Twin Cities. Take their survey; if you want, you'll be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card. 

It's still June, which means Ramsey County still sets up a temporary hazardous waste collection site every Friday and Saturday on Kent St. -- just east of Dale and north of Larpenteur in Roseville.  If you've got solvents or other chemicals that say Caution, Warning, Danger, or Poison on the label, those are good candidates. So are batteries, cell phones, fluorescent bulbs, gasoline, mercury thermometers, paint, propane tanks, and used motor oil and filters. Disposal is free.  The site operates Fridays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.  See the complete list of what you can bring. 

ComoFest -- the annual amalgamation of affordable, family friendly fun for everyone in the neighborhood -- is only a month away. Make your plans now.

 

The ComoFest Art Fair still has openings for artists of all kinds. The fair is Saturday July 13 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the promenade at the Lakeside Pavilion. Get all the information you need, including how to register. 

• Today, Friday June 21: Beer Choir, 7 p.m.
• This Saturday, June 22: Tonic Sol-fa, 7 p.m. Tickets: $20 (seniors and students, $15)
• This Sunday, June 23: St. Anthony Civic Orchestra, 3 p.m.; St. Louis Park Community Band, 7 p.m.
• This Monday, June 24: North Suburban Chorus, 7 p.m.
• This Tuesday, June 25: Medalist Concert Band, 7 p.m.
• This Wednesday, June 26: Billy McLaughlin, Jeff Arundel and the Hammsemen, 7 p.m.
• This Thursday, June 27: Minnesota Sinfonia Presents Classics 101, 7 p.m.
• Next Friday, June 28: Jaedyn James and the Hunger, 7 p.m. $8

Performances are free (except when they're not). Find out more about the performers -- or get an advance look at the mix of local artists and traditional bandstand performers -- on Spring Cafe's website.