Downtown St. Paul Voice July 2021 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

Downtown St. Paul Music & Movies Page 5

Volume 27 | Number 7

A community in bloom Tara Guy Flaherty Contributor

he beautiful displays of hanging flower baskets that add glorious splashes of color to public spaces across the city don’t happen by magic, even though it might appear that way. They are made possible by the hard work of Tony Singerhouse, St. Paul’s lead landscaper, and his 2-person gardening crew, who work from dawn until dusk in late May and early June to hang 600 baskets. The riotous profusion of flowers is the most visible aspect of the city’s award-winning Blooming St. Paul landscaping and gardening program, administered by the Natural Resources crew of St. Paul Parks and Recreation. The baskets made their debut in 1999 when John Labosky, then president of the Capital City Partnership, Bill Morrissey, general manager of the St. Paul Hotel and the Rice Park Association partnered to purchase and hang 108 baskets in Rice Park. The effort received an enthusiastic boost after the St. Paul Garden Club visited Chicago that summer to evaluate the Chicago Grows program. Club members came home and proposed a similar undertaking to then-Mayor Randy Kelly and the St. Paul City Council. Under their auspices, the baskets were officially incorporated into the Blooming St. Paul program in 2005. “The program thrives as a result of dedicated staff, phenomenal

Blooming St. Paul / Page 2

Your Community News & Information Source

July 2021

HOUSING REPORT

A look at how the St. Paul housing market compares to the Twin Cities region Low supply drives up home prices, bidding wars

The Seven Corners Gateway apartment project near the Xcel Energy Center is adding 144 housing units to downtown St. Paul. Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

he number of single-family homes for sale in the Twin Cities metro area is now at a 20-year low, with 46% fewer homes on the market compared to a year ago, according to a recent report from the Saint Paul Area Association of Realtors and Minneapolis Area Realtors. With such low supply, sellers are benefitting from high offers and fast sales, while buy-

ers are often forced to offer more than the asking price. Although mortgage rates are at a 50-year low, higher home prices often offset any potential savings from the low rates. “This is the most unusual market I have seen in my 30-plus years,” said local realtor Kathy Kueppers of RE/MAX Results. “First-timers are writing several offers, always over the list price. There is tough competition among first-timers and Housing report / Page 3

New courthouse art promotes unity Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

rtwork that promotes peace and unity will be added mid-July to the plaza of St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse, near Kellogg and Wabasha. The artwork honors Lawrence “Larry” Cohen, the only person ever to serve as St. Paul mayor, chief judge of the Ramsey County district court and chair of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. A staunch civil rights advocate, Cohen was renowned for his work on behalf of communities of color and immigrants, including the waves of Hmong refugees who arrived in Minnesota in the late 1970s and 1980s. He died in 2016 at age 83. St. Paul artist and landscape architect Marjorie Pitz designed the project. “Many of the social justice issues that Cohen worked to change 50 years ago still plague our community today, so his memorial is relevant and timely,” Pitz said. “The building and former plaza looked severe and bureaucratic but the artwork will make it more welcoming to all citizens in our diverse community.” Pitz created three separate designs for the project. The design chosen by a community advisory committee incorporates doves to signify peace, open hands that symbolize a welcoming nature, and circles that represent equality. The design includes a large sculpture that can be interpreted as either Courthouse art / Page 3

Riverfront Development

Lower Landing returns to its roots as a passenger ship port Tim Spitzack Editor

tarting next year, Lower Landing in St. Paul will once again be a wharf for people traveling the Mississippi River by ship. The once thriving 19th century steamboat port will be the docking point for the luxury cruise ship Viking Mississippi, an impos-

ing 450-foot-long, 5-deck, 386-guest vessel that was custom built for river travel between New Orleans and St. Paul. Viking cruise lines is booking 15-day cruises between New Orleans and St. Paul, and 8-day trips between St. Paul and St. Louis beginning next year. Both have stops in other cities along the way and both are

selling like hotcakes. Cruises for 2022 have sold out, and the 15-day trips in 2023 are already half-booked. In mid-May, the St. Paul City Council approved a contract that allows Viking to use the city’s dock through 2026, with a 3-year renewal option. Viking Mississippi will visit St. Paul three times in 2022 and six times annually thereafter. The cruises

either end or begin at the dock near Sibley Street and Warner Road. The landing is a short walk to Union Depot, where Viking passengers can find many transportation options — busses, rental cars, light rail — to explore the city. A nearby sign at Sibley Street has directional markers to Union Depot and other area landmarks, with estimated

walking times to each destination. Unfortunately, one must cross the busy Warner Road and walk beneath an uninviting concrete train trestle to get to most of them. Decorative sidewalk art resembling a river helps pedestrians find their way to Union Depot, but the trestle area needs a facelift if the city wants it to be an inviting gateway to downtown

St. Paul. Fortunately, Lowertown has many talented artists who are surely willing to bid out their talents. In its promotional video, Viking touts St. Paul’s “great museums, iconic Cathedral and beautiful period architecture.” While those landmarks give the city its “Old World charm,” it feels as if Lower Landing / Page 4

C ommuity Blooming St. Paul

Your community news and information source

from page 1

community volunteers, and partner support,” said Adam Robbins, Natural Resources supervisor for the city. “Our business community sponsors, the St. Paul Garden Club, Ramsey County Master Gardeners, the St. Paul Parks Conservancy, individual community volunteers, corporate volunteers, and many more contribute to these efforts. The City is currently funding the purchase of the baskets, but it is through community sponsorships that we can keep them watered and looking beautiful.” The Natural Resources program manages approximately 3,000 individual and group volunteers who provide about 8,500 work hours annually. “Really, it is the volunteers that do all the work,” said Tricia Wehrle, the city’s volunteer coordinator for the Natural Resources division. “We have really great people we work with, so that makes it easy.” With the continued backing of subsequent mayors

and councils, Blooming St. Paul eventually expanded to include extensive gardening and landscaping improvements all over the city. It includes the Blooming St. Paul Showcase, which recognizes extraordinary gardens created by residents and business owners. It’s an annual collaboration between Parks and Rec., the St. Paul Garden Club, the St. Paul Parks Conservancy and the Ramsey County Master Gardeners. Awards weren’t given last year due to the pandemic but the competition has resumed, and nominations are currently being sought for outstanding gardens in the following categories: business/institutional, microgarden, residential garden, edible garden, landmark tree and youth gardening. Detailed category descriptions and nomination forms are available at https://growstpl.com. Nominations are accepted through July 5.

Community partners Founded in 1927, the St. Paul Garden Club’s

volunteers have been helping beautify Rice Park for decades, and their grant program helps community groups create and revitalize gardens across the city. The club was a vital partner in the recent $1 million renovation of Rice Park, which included a $250,000 maintenance fund managed by the St. Paul Parks Conservancy, the Rice Park Association and the Garden Club. Another invaluable resource for city staff and residents is the Ramsey County Master Gardener program, operated as part of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Last season the Master Gardeners contacted the Showcase nominees, learned about their gardens, collected their gardening secrets and stories, and helped assemble a virtual Showcase. In addition, the Master Gardener volunteers stand ready all season long to provide gardening advice, troubleshoot problems, offer eco-friendly gardening advice and help people identify plants and insects. Residents may connect with master gardeners online via Zoom every Wednesday

TH ON RO V UG IEW H AU NOW GU ST 31

and Saturday noon-1 p.m. through September 29 at www.ramseymastergardeners.org. Perhaps most important of all, the hard work of city staff and community volunteers pays dividends in the form of residents, workers and visitors who appreciate the flower-filled city environment. “Having lived in Lowertown since 1990, my expe-

rience is that for a relatively small investment by the City of St. Paul, the hanging flower baskets bring only joy and a splash of color to those who see them,” said Crystal Meriwether. “There is only an ‘upside’ to the program and hopefully the city will continue to see it the same way.” Joe Spencer, president of the St. Paul Downtown Alliance concurs. “Blooming St.

History on display— a photographic exhibit. Join us at Union Depot for this unique traveling photography exhibit, After Promontory: 150 Years of Transcontinental Railroading. The free exhibit features over 60 historic photos showcasing the impact and significance of the transcontinental railroad expansion throughout the American West— along with a bonus section featuring the history of Union Depot and railroading in Minnesota.

150 Years of Transcontinental Railroading

Paul makes a terrific impact on the downtown experience, especially now, as we’re so excited to welcome our workers and visitors back. It fits in perfectly with our Welcome Back campaign to bring events, activities and people back to downtown. People are going to be excited to come back, but they’ll be even more excited to come back to such a beautiful downtown.”

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1643 So. Robert St., West St. Paul, MN 55118 651-457-1177 | info@stpaulpublishing.com | www.stpaulpublishing.com Downtown St. Paul Voice assumes no responsibility for the opinions expressed by contributors and for the validity of claims or items reported. Copyright Downtown St. Paul Voice 2021. All rights reserved in compliance of Federal Copyright Act of 1978.

H ousing Housing report

Your community news and information source

from page 1

empty-nesters for smaller homes. The condo market is usually the slowest portion but is very hot now. There is an enormous inventory shortage. It’s a fantastic time to be a seller but tough to be a buyer.” This inventory shortage is further emphasized by Justin Fox, a realtor with RE/MAX Professionals in downtown St. Paul. “Inventory sits at a 1.1 month supply for housing under $313,000,” said Fox. “That means if we stopped listing houses today, it would take 1.1 months to sell every house currently on the market in that price range. We’ve tracked this metric since 2005, and this is its lowest point since then. We consider a market balanced when the supply is be-

tween four and six months. This equates to a feeding frenzy where buyers are offering higher prices and far less contingencies so they can get something.”

Market trends First-time buyers and empty-nesters looking to downsize are competing with each other, with most homes staying on the market for only about a month and selling for over the asking price. Homeowners looking to upgrade aren’t necessarily as worried about selling their existing home as they are about finding a new one. Sales of luxury properties ($1M+) are up over 50% from last year. Condos saw the strongest growth over the

past year and sales for new construction far outpaced those of existing homes. New construction sales rose 32.5% compared to a 2.6% increase for existing homes. Overall sales were up 23% in Minneapolis and 8% in St. Paul, indicating that buyer interest remains strong in the urban core. About 45% of households in St. Paul are renter-occupied. The average rent for an apartment in St. Paul is $1,317, same as last year. Average rent in Minneapolis is $1,559, a 3% decrease from last year. Here are several multifamily projects underway in the downtown area: Degree of Honor Building, 325 Cedar St. - This former office building was recently converted to 78 upscale units. They are mostly studios, with some 1- and

2-bedroom units. The company is currently offering 14-month leases. Rent is $1,110 for a studio, $1,453 for a 1-bedroom, $1,774 for a 2-bedroom. Park Square Court building, 400 Sibley St. Madison Equities is converting this historic 1880s-era building into 100 marketrate apartments with occupancy expected in mid- to late-2021. Empire Building, 400 Robert St. N. - This project, also by Madison Equities, has 150 units, mostly studios and one-bedrooms. Seven Corners Gateway, 7th and Kellogg - Kaeding Development Group of Bloomington is developing a 144-unit apartment complex across the street from the Xcel Center. The complex will feature studios, 1- and 2-bedroom “plush”

rental units, a shared office suite, sky deck, private underground parking and a street-level bar and restaurant. A 120-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel and a 40,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza are also part of the project. Waterford Bay Apartments, 380 Randolph Ave. - Chicago-based developer Stoneleigh Cos. is constructing a 243-unit building on the site of the former Xcel Energy Island Station power plant. Occupancy is expected this fall. The building will feature market-rate micro, studio, 1- and 2-bedroom luxury apartments. Rents range from $1,100 to $2,220. Amenities include 9-foot ceilings, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and private balconies. The site will have paved

Courthouse art from page 1

a dove or open hands, and a half circle pergola with glass baubles that reflect light. The plaza will also have 17 medallions embedded into the ground, each with a statement reflecting Cohen’s ethical values, and four chairs depicting the stories of different cultures: Hmong,

WANTED Sketch courtesy of Marjorie Pitz

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walking and biking trails, a public kayak launch and connections to the regional trail system. The Gallery, 460 Wacouta St. - Burnsville-based Chase Realty is constructing a 5-story building with 140 market-rate studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Rents will range from $1,200-$2,200. Amenities include a gym, lounge, rooftop patio, and underground and surface parking. The building is expected to open in August. The Cordelle, 84 Water St. - Reuter Walton Co. built this 7-story, 136-unit apartment complex near Harriet Island. It includes mostly studio and 1-bedroom apartments, with rent for studios starting at $1,000 a month, and 1-bedrooms at $1,100 a month.

panies is creating the plaques and medallions, and CD Stone and Tile will install the granite. Installation will take about a week, and the project will include interpretive signage. The plaza was last renovated in 1991, when granite flowerbeds were installed. View more of Pitz’s work at www.marjoriepitz. com.

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D evelopment Lower Landing from page 1

Viking struggled a bit to find any world class attractions in the Saintly City to promote, similar to those of other large cities along the river — New Orleans has the French Quarter with its mouth-watering cuisine and street musicians. Memphis has its placid Riverwalk and the lively Beale Street entertainment district with Blues and BBQ, and St. Louis has its iconic towering arch. That’s not to say St. Paul is lacking vision. In 2013 the City adopted the Great River Passage plan, which provides guidance for making St. Paul’s 17 miles of riverfront “more natural, more urban, more connected.” One of its most ambitious components is the 1.5-mile river promenade, often referred to as the river balcony. The promenade would extend from Union Depot to the Science Museum and feature restaurants, retail shops, gathering spaces with sweeping views of the river valley, and connections to the river itself. In March, the City received great response from

its request for schematic design proposals. A design review committee is now reviewing the designs and is expected to name a winner soon. Mary deLaittre, executive director of the nonprofit Great River Passage Conservancy, which will help raise funds for the project, said the design will be a big step forward in seeing the project come to fruition. It will allow the city to determine cost estimates and construction phases. Once that happens, the Conservancy will get to work assembling private and public funds to support the promenade. The Lower Landing dock, also called Lambert Landing, is part of the 21-acre Lower Landing Park, which is now mostly open green space with the 6-mile Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail running through it. While the park currently has few amenities, that will change in the next few years. Construction of a 1-acre dog park and a nature trail are slated to begin this summer or fall, and

Your community news and information source later improvements call for an outdoor public art gallery, interpretive overlooks, expanded parking to accommodate food trucks, an improved picnic area and fishing deck, a children’s play area, and several fitness areas, including a futsal court, half basketball court, lacrosse field and exercise course. According to the National Park Service, which manages the Mississippi National River Recreation Area in the Twin Cities, Lower Landing was once one of the busiest steamboat landings in the country. By the mid-1850s, tens of thousands of immigrants had arrived at Lower Landing. The landing was reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1937 and renamed “Lambert Landing,” after Col. George Lambert, who helped champion the effort to modernize navigation on the Upper Mississippi River. Most of the landing was removed in the 1950s for the construction of Warner Road. For more information on the Viking cruises, visit www.viking.com or call 1-800-304-9616.

Courtesy of Viking cruise lines

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S ample St. Paul

History Center

345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 www.mnhs.org

“Sinclair Lewis: 100 Years of Main Street.” Discover the legacy of Sinclair Lewis, an author from Minnesota, whose literary works and social critiques of American life ring true today. “Extraordinary Women.” Walk among extraordinary Minnesotan women who changed their communities. Learn how featured objects reflect pivotal moments in their lives. “Our Home: Native Minnesota.” View historic and contemporary photographs, maps and artifacts. Learn how Minnesota’s Native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values, and an essential connection to home. Other exhibits include: “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow” and “Weather Permitting.” The Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thurs.-Sun. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students and $6 for children ages five to 17; free on Tuesdays, 3-8 p.m.

Landmark Center 75 W. 5th St. St. Paul 651-292-3225

www.landmarkcenter.org The Landmark Center offers two free guided walking tours this summer. The Rice Park tour circles one of St. Paul’s most iconic parks and observes the surrounding buildings that gave the park its central role in city events and celebrations. The tour is held at 10 a.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month, through Aug. 18. It departs from the Landmark Center at 75 5th St. W. The Great River tour travels along the Mississippi, highlighting buildings and locations that helped make St. Paul the city it is today. This tour is held at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, through Aug. 25. It departs from Upper Landing Park at Shephard Road and Chestnut Street. Advanced registration is required for both tours. For more information, visit www.landmarkcenter.

Your community news and information source

org or call 651-292-3276.

Children’s Museum 10 7th St. W., St. Paul 651-225-6000 www.mcm.org

“Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice” - Learn about dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes, and explore the hot and cold habitats they once roamed. Other exhibits and activities include The Scramble, The Studio, Creativity Jam, Sprouts, Backyard, Our World, Forces at Play, Super Awesome Adventures, Imaginopolis and the Tip Top Terrace. The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wed.Sun. All visitors must make a reservation. Tickets are $14.95.

encouraged to bring food and a blanket or lawn chair. For more information, visit www.stpaul.gov or call 651292-6508. Movies: “Tom and Jerry (2021),” July 23 at the Northwest Como Recreation Center, 1550 Hamline Ave. N.; “Toy Story 4,” July

27 at the Hayden Heights Recreation Center, 1965 Hoyt Ave. E.; and “Up,” July 30 at the West Minnehaha Recreation Center, 685 Minnehaha Ave. W. Concerts at Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Pkwy. N.: Como Pops, 3-4:30 p.m., July 4; Explosion Big Band, 7-8 p.m., July 5; Fridley City Band, 7-8 p.m., July 6; Stan Bann’s Big Bone Band, 7-8 p.m., July 11; North Star Chorus, 7-8:30 p.m., July 13; Minnesota Sinfonia, 7-8:30 p.m., July 15; Beasley’s Big Band, 7-8:30 p.m., July 18; Bend in the River Big Band,

7-8:30 p.m., July 19; Sweat Beat Big Band, 7-8:30 p.m., July 20; Minnesota Sinfonia, 7-8:30 p.m., July 22; Zorongo Flamenco Dance Company, 7-8:30 p.m., July 23; Open Pages, 7-8:30 p.m., July 25; Vox Nova Chorale, 7-8 p.m., July 26; St. Anthony Park Community Band, 7-8:30 p.m., July 27. Mears Park - 221 5th St. E. All shows are from noon1 p.m. TBD, July 6 and July 7; Natalie Fideler, July 13; The Issues, July 20; Women’s Drum Center, July 21; Pelicant, July 27; and Westwind Swing Band, July 28. Rice Park, 109 4th St. W.

All shows are from noon-1 p.m. Jeff Ray, July 12; TBD, July 19 and July 26. The City of West St. Paul is hosting outdoor movies this summer. “Trolls World Tour” will be shown at 9 p.m., Friday, July 16 at Harmon Park, 230 Bernard St. W. Lowertown Sounds will present free concerts 6-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, July 8-Aug. 26, in Mears Park, 221 5th St. E. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Guests are invited to bring blankets and Music & Movies / Page 6

MMAA

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Current exhibitions are only on view from outside the building, installed in the windows on Robert and 4th streets and in the Ecolab entrance in the skyway. Exhibits include: St. Paul Public Schools Honors Visual Art, June 27-July 17. The exhibit celebrates the skills, creativity and achievements of student artists from each public high school in St. Paul. Many Waters: A Minnesota Biennial, July 24-Oct. 2. The exhibit examines ways artists across the state are engaging with water. Wise, Gifted, and Black: Art by the Magnificent Golden Agers, June 27July 17. A group of women elders known as the Magnificent Golden Agers have created collages, prose and poetry, and photographs on the themes of black identity and the intersection of art and activism. Free art kits with supplies and activities related to the exhibit are available for pick-up 1-3 p.m., Sunday, July 11.

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Music & Movies St. Paul’s Parks and Recreation department is hosting outdoor concerts and movies in the parks. Movies begin 15 minutes after sunset. Children ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Participants are

Register Now! saintpaul.edu/fallstart Document available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by contacting 651.350.3008 or AccessResources@saintpaul.edu. Saint Paul College is an Equal Opportunity employer

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Downtown St. Paul Voice - July 2021 - Page 5

S ample St. Paul Music & Movies from page 1

chairs. Concerts are: Flamin’ Ohs and Kiss the Tiger, July 8; The Shackletons and Henry Invisible, July 15; Annie Mack and Maudlin, July 22; Salsa del Soul and Atlantis Quartet, July 29. For more information, visit www.lowertownsounds.com. Bands on the Boulevard - Local acts from the First Avenue music scene in Minneapolis will be featured at the “Bands on the Boulevard” outdoor concert series this summer at the Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. Free concerts will be held 6:30-8

p.m. every Tuesday in July. Food and activities open at 5:45 p.m. Visitors may bring lawn chairs and picnics. The lineup includes: Roe Family Singers, July 6; Bluedog, July 13; Malamanya, July 20; The Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra, July 27. For more information, visit www.mnhs.org or call 651-259-3000. Groovin’ in the Garden - Free concerts are held 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday in July in front of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr. Food and beverages will

Your community news and information source be available for purchase. Lawn games will be available. Guests are invited to bring blankets and chairs. The lineup includes: TBA, July 7; The Innocent Reggae Band, July 14; Flamin’ Oh’s, July 21; and Kiss the Tiger, July 28. For more information, visit www.comozooconservatory.org. Union Depot is hosting drive-in movies in Lot D, located near Kellogg boulevard. Shows are: “Jurassic Park,” 9:15 p.m., June 25; TBD (Facebook poll), 9 p.m., July 23; “Moana,” 8:30 p.m., Aug. 27; and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Sept. 24, time TBD. Each event features a chance to win a thematic

{ THE FULLER FILES } The St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation is looking for a CEO to replace Deb Schaber, who held the position for four years. The Foundation organizes the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the Cinco de Mayo Festival West Side. Due to COVID restrictions, this

spring’s Cinco de Mayo event was cancelled and the 2021 Winter Carnival had a curtailed schedule of events at the State Fairgrounds. Downtown bikeway The St. Paul City Council has approved construction of the western leg of the downtown bikeway. The $2

by Roger Fuller

million project will begin at Kellogg Boulevard and Wabasha Street, head north on Wabasha to 10th Street, turn west of 10th Street for a block and continue north on St. Peter until crossing over the I-94 bridge and reaching the State Capitol area. The current parking lanes will

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prize basket. Concessions will be available. Tickets are $15 per vehicle. To purchase tickets, visit uniondepot.org/ depotdrivein. Codesweat Entertainment and The Good, The Bad, and The Funky will perform a free outdoor concert 5:30-9 p.m., July 10 at Dual Citizen Brewing, 725 Raymond Ave. For more information, visit www.lowertownbluesfestival.com. Keg and Case Market, 928 7th St W., is hosting “Rock What You Got” 5-7 p.m., Sundays, July 4-Aug. 22. This series features female comics and local musical artists. Admission is free.

The St. Paul Downtown Alliance is hosting the St. Paul Jazz and Blues concert series 4:30-6 p.m., Sundays and Wednesdays in July (except July 4), at Mears Park, 221 5th St. E. “Trivia Mafia” is offered 6-8 p.m., Wednesdays in July at The Loon Café, 426 St. Peter St. “One More Saturday Night” music series takes place 5-10 p.m., July 10, at Big River Pizza, 280 5th St. E. Fitness in the Park - The City of West St. Paul is offering Yoga Flow 6:30-7:30 p.m., July 15 at Harmon Park, 230 Bernard St. W. Ages 16 and older. Registration is required two weeks in

advance. For more information, visit www.wspmn.gov/ rec or call 651-552-4100. Safe Summer Nights The St. Paul Police Department is collaborating with the Safe Summer Nights organization to offer free hot dogs and hamburgers, beverages and outdoor activities at parks and recreation centers throughout the city. Events are 5-7 p.m., every Thursday through Aug. 12. This month’s events are: July 15 at Battle Creek Recreation Center, 75 Winthrop St. S.; and July 22 at Langford Park Recreation Center, 30 Langford Park. For details, visit www.stpaul.gov or call 651-266-5485.

be removed and replaced by bike lanes. The north section on 10th Street, from St. Peter to Jackson, and the east section on Jackson, from Kellogg to 11th Street, have been completed. Arts grants - Ten minority arts groups have received grants totaling $12.8 million from an initiative comprised of the McKnight, Bush, Ford and Jerome foundations. The grants are for Black, Indigenous, Latino and Asian groups that have made a significant impact on the community during the past decade. The St. Paul Farmers’ Market is hosting a satellite market 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Securian building, 400 Robert St. The traditional satellite markets held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Seventh Place were canceled this summer. St. Paul Downtown Alliance will hold about 300 events in downtown through September. The group will continue to have its twoperson street teams to greet visitors, clean up trash

and remove graffiti. Trivia events and pop-up concerts throughout downtown are planned. The Green Line light rail transit train and busses are now operating at full capacity. Metro Transit still encourages passengers to wear masks and observe social distancing when possible. The decision to restore full service was based on an increase in vaccinations and a decrease in hospitalizations and deaths due to the COVID-19 virus. During the pandemic ridership was down 56% on busses and down 67% on trains. The Buttered Tin Bakery and Café, located at 237 7th St. E. since 2013, is opening a cafe in northeast Minneapolis. It will be in the Gateway Northeast building at Lowry Avenue and Marshall Street. Metro Square - The glass façade on the Metro Square building at 121 7th Pl. E. is being removed during a $5.5 million maintenance project. Passersby can now see portions of the original brick and terra cotta build-

ing that was built in 1911 as the Emporium department store. When the Emporium closed in the 1950s the building was covered with a metal façade. Several decades later the present glass was installed. The project is expected to be completed by 2022. The Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary will hold “Restore!” events under the direction of the Lower Phalen Creek Project. Volunteers will remove invasive species 5:30-7:30 p.m., July 13, and 9-11 a.m., July 24. A program on cottonwood trees is also planned for July. For more information, visit www.lowerphalencreekproject.org/events. The St. Paul City Council denied a request of Madison Equities to close the skyway bridge between the Park Square Court building and Mears Park Place apartments for three years as it converts the top three floors of the 5-story building into apartments. Madison Equities may submit another request for a shorter period of time.

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Postscript

A change of scenery

The old wooden folding table belonged to my grandma but I don’t remember her ever using it. After she moved out of her house and into a retirement home, my sister inherited the table but she didn’t use it much either. The unusual table is uniquely compact, with four wooden folding chairs that can be stowed neatly underneath so, when all folded up, the whole thing rolls on casters. My husband Peter and I are moving to be closer to family, and don’t yet have a serviceable table for our new place. “Bring the folding table when you come,” I told my sister. “We’ll use it until we find a new table.” Peter and I were ready to move our furniture when we learned the moving truck had broken down on the way to our house, delaying the move. Peter stayed behind to help load the truck when it finally arrived, and I went ahead to meet the mov-

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

ers. I spent four nights in a sleeping bag on the floor but when my parents and sister came to visit, they brought the table. Peter and I did not spend Christmas of 2019 with my family, but rushed home to see his sister, Lori, who was very ill. We thought it might be her last Christmas. We were wrong. We celebrated the next Christmas with her before she died. I did not see my family again until this past week, 17 months later, when they arrived with my grandma’s table. “It’s been so long!” everyone kept saying. I got lost leading them out of the parking garage,

and we ended up taking the heavy wooden folding table on a tour of the neighborhood. The table rattled along on its 75-year-old casters and made a heck of a racket as we rolled down the street. My dad laughed. “Do we even know where we’re going?!” “Do you think someone is catching this on a security camera?” my sister asked. I felt as if I had not been away for 17 months, or even a day. Our furniture finally arrived on Saturday, and on Sunday morning, still surrounded by boxes, I discovered we were within earshot

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of three churches with bell towers. I sat out on our little balcony in the sunshine and called Peter. “All the bells are ringing!” I told him. My parents and sister came to visit one more time before I left, and this time they brought along my brotherin-law, niece and nephew. My niece is now completely grown up and my nephew went from being a child to a teenager while I was away. I had tied brightly colored seat cushions onto the old

wooden folding chairs and my mother didn’t recognize them. “Those aren’t the same chairs!” she said, amazed. “They are,” I told her. “They just perked up when they got a change of scenery.” Peter still hasn’t seen this new place we bought during the pandemic, and I know he still has some trepidation. But I am feeling so much better. It is good to be closer to family. We will be able to see more of our old friends

and both Peter’s relatives and mine. We’re looking forward to trying new restaurants and riding our bikes and doing a lot of things we haven’t done in a long time. Of course, there will be things we will miss. But right now I’m feeling like one of my grandma’s old wooden folding chairs, all decked out in a fancy new seat cushion. I’m thinking a change of scenery will do us both a world of good. Till next time, Carrie

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