Around (down)town: Final reminder to register for the upcoming Speaker Series, this weekend's events and more

News from the Downtown Alliance

August 27, 2021

A note from the president

Friends,

You've likely noticed one of the 30 or so mosaic trash cans that have popped up across downtown in the past two years. They're the work of Dani Bianchini, an artist and former downtown resident. The Downtown Alliance has been working with Dani since the 2019 Streets of Summer program, and this week those beautified bins caught the eye of Richard Reeve at KSTP. Check out the great feature they aired last night about Dani's work to bring beauty to everyday objects.

On Sunday, the Star Tribune reported on the tremendous amount of work being done by the City, the County, service providers and others to increase shelter space and outreach workers in order to reduce the number of people sheltering outdoors by more than 90% over the last year. The level of commitment dedicated to this effort from our public sector and nonprofit partners has been extraordinary, and the positive impact on downtown can’t be overstated.

We hope you'll “bring” your lunch and join us virtually next Thursday at noon to hear from a whole host of public and private sector partners about what to expect in downtown as workers and visitors continue to return. We'll hear from our public safety partners at the SPDID and SPPD Downtown Beat as well as folks from both our entertainment scene and downtown employers about how they're continually adapting and staying nimble as they plan for the rest of the year. More info is below.

Finally, while we were disappointed the rain (much needed though it was) postponed several events this week, there's still plenty of good times to be had in downtown in the coming weeks. Keep reading to find out more, but be sure to add the bonus Lowertown Sounds performances from happening in September to your calendar.

Take care,

Joe Spencer

President

Saint Paul Downtown Alliance

Whether you're already back in the office or are currently preparing for the return, tune in on September 2 to hear from downtown employers, public safety officials, event planners and more about what you can expect and all the exciting things happening in downtown Saint Paul.

We'll share additional details in the coming weeks, but be sure to save the date and register now.

WHAT: Downtown Alliance Speaker Series : Preparing for the return to downtown

WHEN: September 2, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

WHO: Panelists include:

The Palace Theatre, Lowertown Sounds & One Simple Plan
Ecolab, Securian & Goff Public
SPDID & SPPD Downtown Beat

#WelcomeBackStPL events & news this week

The clouds will part just in time for the Summer Beer Dabbler happening Saturday afternoon at CHS Field. A limited number of tickets are still available if you haven't picked them up yet. This is your chance to explore options from more than 130 breweries sampling over 400 beers on the grass at the home of the St. Paul Saints.

Here's a glance at what else is coming up:

August 28: Summer Beer Dabbler | CHS Field
August 29: Walking Gangster Tour | Rice Park
August 30: Yoga Sculpt | Union Depot
September 1: Farmers' Market | Securian Financial
September 2: Lowertown Sounds | Mears Park

Be sure to check WelcomeBackStPL.com for full details, new events are also added daily!

Snap, Tag, Win!

All summer, the #WelcomeBackStPL statue will move around downtown, making stops at our favorite parks, venues and destinations.

You’re likely to run into it at one of our events, or you may stumble upon it out of the blue. Either way, we want to see your pictures showing off your StPL pride!

To participate:

SNAP a picture with the statue - a selfie, a shot of your dog, or just admiring the scenery, we love them all!
TAG us in your post - use #WelcomeBackStPL and @StPLdowntown on your favorite social channel.
WIN - each tag gets you entered to win a downtown gift card. Winners are selected randomly.