You're invited: Get together with the Securian Financial team

Friends - this week we're handing the note over to Chris Hilger, Chairman and CEO at Securian Financial and a Downtown Alliance board member. Be sure to keep reading for his exciting invitation as well as news about some favorite downtown events returning next week. - Joe

Neighbors,

More than a million minutes. Nearly 750 days. That was the time between when most Securian Financial employees began working from home due to COVID-19 and when we returned to downtown Saint Paul in a hybrid work model this April. It was tough being separated from each other and from the community we have called home for more than 140 years. Yet our amazing employees remained strong through uncertain times, rallying to take care of those who count on us when they needed us the most.

Securian Financial is throwing a party at Mears Park the afternoon of July 21 to celebrate being back together and to thank our employees for their dedication. The community is invited to join us from 2-4 p.m. for free fun in the park, including music by Romantica and The Sunken Lands. Beverages – including local wine and craft beer – will be available for purchase. Consider making an evening of it by patronizing nearby businesses before returning to Mears Park for the outstanding Lowertown Sounds music series.

Thank you for what you do to make Saint Paul a great place to work, visit and live. We hope to see you next week. In the meantime, have a great weekend!

Chris Hilger

Chairman, President and CEO

Securian Financial

Saint Paul Brewery Double Feature

Follow Securian's Chris Hilger as he tours two Saint Paul breweries - Waldmann Brewery and Bad Weather Brewing Company.

Gifts & giveaways tonight at Lowertown Sounds!

Tonight as you head to Lowertown Sounds, keep an eye out for the Downtown Information Station! You can often find it parked at events in downtown, staffed by one of the amazing SPDID Street Team ambassadors.

They're always available to lend a hand, provide directions, answer questions and more, and tonight they'll have some sweet gifts on hand to give away when you drop by to chat.

Learn more about the Street Team here.

More upcoming events around downtown

This week we kicked off a brand-new event series on Tuesday afternoon. StPL Music and Lunch in Landmark Plaza will feature a different food truck and musician each week. The sometimes-overlooked park adjacent to Rice is one of our favorite spots to sit in the shade over the lunch hour and all are encouraged to come join between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Next week some of our favorite events from summers past are making a comeback. Beginning Wednesday the lunchtime farmer's market at Securian Financial will return, and on Thursday both the lunch hour market on 7th Place Mall and The 370 Sets, happy hour music and drinks at Osborn370, will be back.

More info on all of these and more below.

What do one of Lizzo's producers, the Chief of Staff at the City and Saint Paul's trivia master have in common?

They're all performing at Lowertown Sounds tonight!

July 14 - Lowertown Sounds - Heiruspecs feat. Longshot and Lazerbeak | Mears Park

July 14 - An Evening of Amy Winehouse and Carole King | kj's hideaway

July 14 - Summer Nights in Rice Concert | Rice Park

July 14-17 - Saints v Toledo | CHS Field

July 15 - Roller Skating | Rice Park

July 16 - Walking Gangster Tour | Rice Park

July 17 - BRP Concert Series and Summer Art Market | Farmer's Market

July 19 - StPL Lunch & Music | Landmark Plaza

July 20 - Securian Farmer's Market | 400 Robert Building

July 20 - Capital City Bikeway Open House | Kellogg Square Apartments

July 21 - Securian Financial Get Together | Mears Park

July 21 - Lunchtime Farmer's Market | 7th Place Mall

July 21 - The 370 Sets Happy Hour Kick Off | Osborn Plaza

July 21 - Lowertown Sounds | Mears Park

Through July - Holmes and Watson | Park Square Theatre

See more events happening around downtown.

Downtown Saint Paul finds a way forward as pandemic drags on

COVID-19 accomplished what 80 years of wars, recessions and blizzards couldn't. It closed Mickey's Diner. For the past two years, with the exception of a handful of carryout orders, Saint Paul's iconic all-day dining car has been dark, its future uncertain. Mickey's President Melissa Mattson said this week she hopes Mickey's can resume slinging its O'Brien potatoes by the end of summer.