Friends,

While we are generally accustomed to road construction in the summer, the disruption in downtown lately certainly feels like a lot all at once. In addition to the ongoing closures caused by the Minnesota Street reconstruction and Kellogg Boulevard improvements, there are currently several other road closures and lane restrictions that are making things trickier than usual to get around in downtown.

We're always happy to see investments in our downtown infrastructure, but we also know that this concentration of road work has caused some frustration and confusion among workers, residents and visitors alike recently. As many current projects will continue through November, we'll include a brief summary and any new updates on projects happening around downtown at the bottom of each newsletter, you can find this week's below.

I also want to call your attention to the Downtown Investment Strategy questionnaire that is linked below. We'd love to hear from folks so please consider taking a few moments to complete the brief survey.

See you around downtown!

-Joe

Downtown Investment Strategy

engagement questionnaire

Thank you to everyone who took the time to visit with us and provide your input at various community events these past few weeks.

If you were unable to attend and would still like to weigh in on the Downtown Investment Strategy work, a questionnaire can be found here. Responses will be collected until the end of September and we'd love to hear from you!

What is the Downtown Investment Strategy?

The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is leading an effort in partnership with public and private stakeholders to create a development strategy that furthers density, vitality, and desirability in downtown Saint Paul.

The Downtown Investment Strategy will identify three to five priority development opportunities and/or initiatives based on stakeholder input, community engagement, market analysis, and an economic impact assessment.

What you need to know about Crasqui, Saint Paul's newest date night destination restaurant

For Venezuelans like chef Soleil Ramirez, home can feel ephemeral — out of reach and sorely missed. In her new restaurant, Ramirez not only aims to share the transportive beauty of Crasqui, a Venezuelan island where aquamarine water laps up against white sand, but also share a piece of her journey through gorgeous plates of food.

Located just over the Wabasha Street bridge outside downtown Saint Paul, Crasqui is one of the anchors of West Side Flats. The building is relatively nondescript, but inside the bright blue floors and white furnishings evoke the Caribbean Sea, sand and the elegance of a luxury destination.

Downtown exchange market?

Over the years I've heard a number of times about the desire to organize some version of a downtown flea market / garage sale / rummage sale, and while recently chatting with some downtowners the concept of an "exchange market" was shared. A way for downtown residents and workers to trade gently used, no-longer-needed goods without exchanging any cash. You may have heard about our friends across the river coordinating a similar program this summer. Maybe a downtown Saint Paul version looks like that, or maybe it becomes something different.

This idea is still very much in its brainstorming era, but we're curious to hear some early feedback from you all.

Would you be interested in participating in some kind of downtown exchange market?

I live downtown, probably yes

I live downtown, probably not

I work downtown, probably yes

I work downtown, probably not

Other ideas for a downtown exchange market or interested in chatting more?

Email Emma Burns.

Here's a glance at what's happening downtown this week.

A full look at what's coming up can be found on our event calendar. Check it out!

Sept. 14	Eric Clapton	Xcel Energy Center
Sept. 14	Thursday Night Chess Club	Creators Space
Sept. 14-16	Wakapa Triennial Closing Weekend	Rice Park
Sept.14	Talking Volumes with Abraham Verghese	Fitzgerald Theatre
Sept. 15	Coheed and Cambria	Palace Theatre
Sept.15	50 Cent	Xcel Energy Center
Sept. 15	Landmark LIVE: Amy LaVere	Landmark Center
Sept. 15-16	SPCO - Opening Weekend: Beethoven’s Second Symphony with Richard Egarr	Ordway Theatre
Sept. 17	BIPOC Market	Union Depot
Sept. 17	Plants & Pints - Pocket Full of Posies 5-Year Anniversary	Gambit Brewing
Sept. 17	Mid-Autumn Moon Festival	Rice Park
Sept. 19-24	Saints vs Toledo	CHS Field
Sept. 19	Herb Alpert & Lani Hall	Ordway Theatre
Sept. 19	The Tallest Man On Earth	Palace Theatre
Sept. 20	Wednesday Morning Coffee Hour	Creators Space
Sept. 20	The 370 Sets - Miss Myra	Osborn 370
Sept. 21	Mystery on the Mississippi	Paddleford Riverboats

Wakpa Triennial Festival closing weekend festivities

To close out the first Wakpa Triennial, Public Art Saint Paul, in collaboration with Northern Lights.MN presents Constellation: Video Storytelling on Friday, September 15, and Saturday, September 16.

A cohort of seven artists have each created a short video that will be projected onto George Latimer Central Library on Rice Park. Videos interact with the architecture of the library building, transforming it with new visions for public space and public knowledge.

Friday, September 15

5:00 PM-7:30 PM – Family friendly activities and food trucks
6:00 PM-7:00 PM - Music from Chris Koza
7:00 PM-7:30 PM – Announcements and artists introductions
7:30 PM-8:30 PM – Constellation: Video Storytelling - First round of videos
ASL and DBI interpreters will be available for the first round of videos.
8:30 PM-8:40 PM – Intermission
8:40 PM-9:40 PM – Constellation: Video Storytelling - Second round of videos

Saturday, September 16

5:00 PM-7:30 PM – Family friendly activities and food trucks
6:00 PM-7:00 PM - Music from Kashimana
7:00 PM-7:30 PM – Announcements & artists introductions
7:30 PM-8:30 PM – Constellation: Video Storytelling - First round of videos
8:30 PM-8:40 PM – Intermission
8:40 PM-9:40 PM – Constellation: Video Storytelling - Second round of videos

Artists: Za’nia Coleman, Boo McCaleb, SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE, Witt Siasoco, Miko Simmons Jonathan Thunder, and Moira Villiard.

Downtown Construction Update

Click the table to enlarge.

Click the map to visit the City of Saint Paul road closure map.

Are you following the Alliance on Facebook? What about Instagram?

Event season is in full swing! Make sure you're following the Downtown Alliance on social media to stay up to date on all the latest downtown events and news. Plus, we do love giveaways, so you never know when you could end up with tickets, swag or other great downtown prizes.

@StPLdowntown

stpdowntownalliance.org

Have questions?

Drop us a line!

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