Around (down)town: The St. Paul Grill reopens, Ambassador of the Month, and more!

News from the Downtown Alliance

October 8, 2021

A note from the president

Friends,

The day we've all been waiting for is finally here. The Saint Paul Grill reopened today after 19 months. The iconic downtown dinner joint is sure to be busy as loyalists flock back so snag the next reservation you can if you're planning on going. Congrats to everyone at the hotel, in the kitchen and at Morrissey Hospitality on the return — things haven't been the same without you all.

Minnesota Wild hockey fans are also returning this week! Pre-season games are underway at the Xcel Energy Center and it was great to see a steady stream of fans crossing Rice Park Wednesday evening.

Wednesday afternoon the Saint Paul City Council voted to formally approve the 2022 operating plan and budget put forth by the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District. We appreciated the kind words offered by several councilmembers expressing their gratitude and positive experiences with the Street Team and SPDID over the past year, and we are especially grateful for the downtown property owners and business leaders who continue to invest in our downtown. You can hear more about the process and next year's budget here.

Keep reading to learn more about our first Street Team ambassador of the month (congrats, Mary!) plus several fun and interactive ways to get engaged (spoiler, one involves dueling dinosaurs).

Enjoy the weekend,

Joe Spencer

President

Saint Paul Downtown Alliance

Congrats, Mary!

Street Team Ambassador of the Month

Mary has been with the Street Team as a Safety Ambassador since May. During that time, she has become known for her passion and enthusiasm while performing her duties. Her ability to remain calm and engage people who are having a difficult time has been noticed and appreciated by her supervisors. Mary has taken it upon herself to be an unofficial leader of the team and someone who others look to for guidance when there are questions.

A hearty congratulations and thank you goes out to Mary for her achievement in becoming the first Ambassador of the Month for the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District!

New interactive art unveiled at Osborn370

Civic design studio Plus/And worked with Osborn370 to develop their latest interactive, engaging public art piece. From the team:

"Portal to the Next is a playful tool for capturing curiosity and encouraging people to explore the future of futures; while it may seem just like a long rug, in reality it is a doorway reconnecting our past and the future. This magic carpet has hidden doors that will transport you to joyful online experiences that will challenge you to think and participate in the shaping of our shared future."

Stop by Osborn370 to experience Portal to the Next yourself!

Fossils facing off!

Dinosaurs roamed the earth for millions of years. But what if, despite living in different places and times, they met up to have an epic battle?

That’s what the Dino Battle from the Science Museum of Minnesota is all about! The home team from the Dinosaurs & Fossils gallery is facing off against the traveling team from Ultimate Dinosaurs in one spectacular battle!

Each week on Tuesday, they're asking you to vote for which dynamic dino you think would win.

This uniquely SMM game is perfect for the little ones in your lives, or no judgement - a great way to give your mind a break during the work day.

Get in on the fun here.

#WelcomeBackStPL events & news this week

The next installment of Movies in the Park is happening next Friday evening in downtown - this time with an extra spooky theme! "The Shining" will be playing in Mears Park, so bring a blanket and chair and head over at dusk for a perfect Halloween activity.

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

October 8: Vinai & Company Feast Finale | Farmers' Market
October 8-10: Art on the Island - Harriet Island Artists | Harriet Island
October 9: Drive by Truckers | Palace Theatre
October 13: StPL Jazz & Blues | Mears Park
October 15: Movies in the Park: "The Shining" | Mears Park

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

Snap, Tag, Win!

Ashlie tagged us after the TC10Mile!

The #WelcomeBackStPL statue is still moving 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.