News from the Downtown Alliance
August 12, 2021
A note from the president
Friends,

A big, big thanks to everyone who came out to party with us at the Party in the Park last weekend. We laughed, we danced, we played Saint Paul trivia (did you know Tim Kaine was born in Saint Paul? Do you remember who Tim Kaine is?), and all in all it was a great time. Special thanks to the Craig Clark Band, DJ Sophia Eris, Little Fevers, and Koo Koo Kanga Roo for bringing their talents and their fans downtown!

This afternoon, Mayor Carter presented his 2022 budget address. While we haven't had a chance to dig into the details yet, we were pleased to hear about commitments to public safety at the neighborhood level. The City and Saint Paul Police Department have been great partners to the Downtown Alliance and Downtown Improvement District as we have worked to improve public safety outcomes and perceptions in downtown over the past three years.

There's also been some exciting restaurant news in downtown this week. Brian and Sarah Ingram, the team behind Hope Breakfast Bar, plan to open a new supper club/tiki bar combo at the soon-to-open apartment and hotel development at Cleveland Circle. The Apostle Supper Club and False Eye Doll tiki bar are scheduled to open this fall. I'll plan to meet you at the piano then. It was also fun to see downtown featured in the Pioneer Press' neighborhood dining guide. Sometimes a little outside perspective is all it takes to remember how many truly fantastic options we have at our fingertips.

If you have not yet reserved your seat you may still be in luck to grab a spot at tonight's Vinai & Company Feast. There's also a slew of other great events taking place this week - the Children's Museum's 40th Birthday Block Party, the Ice Cream Social at the Science Museum, music from Big River Pizza at the Farmers' Market, the New Music Gathering, the Irish Fair and more. Keep reading to get the lowdown.

Finally, I'll just briefly call your attention to the announcement of our next Speaker Series webinar. We're thrilled to host a panel of downtown experts from our own backyard to discuss the return to downtown. More information can be found below but be sure to register.

Take care,
Joe

Joe Spencer
President
Saint Paul Downtown Alliance
Save the date: Our next Speaker Series is September 2
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: Full lineup to be announced soon 
Metro Transit lowers fares for fall
This week, Metro Transit announced that for the months of September and October all rides, regardless of time of day or type of service, will cost just a dollar.

If you were a regular transit commuter pre-pandemic, or even if you weren't, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of as you create new routines and get back into the swing of things.
#WelcomeBackStPL events & news this week
The three-day New Music Gathering festival of music and music theory continues today and tomorrow. You can catch the final performances Saturday in Mears Park or see the full schedule of programming here.

This weekend is also a great time to head back down to Harriet Island. Tonight you can bring a blanket and watch Sister Act at Movies in the Park and all weekend Irish Fair is back!

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

  • August 13-14: New Music Gathering 2021 | Landmark Plaza & Mears Park
  • August 13-15: Irish Fair 2021 | Harriet Island
  • August 13: Vinai & Company Feast | St. Paul Farmers' Market
  • August 13: Music & Movies in the Park - Sister Act | Harriet Island
  • August 14: Children's Museum Block Party
  • August 14: Science Museum Ice Cream Social
  • August 14: Big River Pizza Live Music | St. Paul Farmers' Market
  • August 15: Downtown Walking Tour | Rice Park
  • August 17-22: St. Paul Saints vs Iowa | CHS Field
  • August 19: Red Cross Blood Drive | Union Depot

Be sure to bookmark WelcomeBackStPL.com - new events are 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.
Follow #WelcomeBackStPL on social media
Downtown has a lot going on these days and we're not slowing down anytime soon.

Make sure you don't miss anything by following along on each of our channels:
Downtown restaurant and retail options
Stumped for where to order dinner from these days? Or who has a patio to visit?

Have questions?

Banner photo cred : Visit Saint Paul