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Urban Explorer
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Volume 25 | Number 11
Your Community News & Information Source
November 2019
A Heavenly Haven
Just/Us restaurant reopening soon in Lowertown
Celeste St. Paul Hotel and Bar opens Oct. 30 Tara Guy Contributor
Nigel Parry Contributor
I
n an age that glorifies the new and scorns last season’s version of anything, Northfield-based Rebound Hospitality has conceived a lovely hybrid of past and present and executed it beautifully in the Celeste St. Paul Hotel + Bar. Situated in the former St. Agatha’s Conservatory of Music and Art at the corner of Cedar and Exchange streets, the new hotel is a sublime blend of St. Paul history and a new, beautifully appointed 71room boutique inn. The historic structure was built by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and opened in 1910. Designed by architect John Wheeler in the Beaux Arts style, construction began not long after the cornerstone was laid for the St. Paul Cathedral in 1907. As Archbishop John Ireland was overseeing construction of the Cathedral, his cousin, Mother Celestine (the former Ellen Howard of Ireland) was establishing St. Agatha’s Conservatory. It operated as a convent and music and arts conservatory until 1962, and the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Rebound has renovated other historic buildings in the Midwest, including the Archer House River Inn in Northfield. General manager Carl Deeken has been a hands-on presence since Rebound purchased the property in 2017. He has worn many hats during the year-long renovation project carried out by Flannery ConCeleste St. Paul / Page 10
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St. Paul City Council Ward 2 | St. Paul School Board | Trash Collection Amy Johnson Staff Writer
Election season is in full stride. On Nov. 5, Downtowners will cast votes for one of five candidates running for the Ward 2 St. Paul City Council seat, as well as for members of the St. Paul School Board. They’ll also weigh in on the contentious issue of citywide trash collection in St. Paul. Voter’s Guide / Page 2 Jump / Page 3
fter opening in downtown at the end of 2017, Just/Us took the St. Paul restaurant scene by storm with a rolling series of creatively themed prix ��������������� fixe������ tasting menus. Eater Twin Cities used phrases like “punk, no-holds-barred approach to fine dining” to describe the restaurant and lauded its “cult following.” Many were shocked when, after just over a year in operation, the restaurant abruptly closed in April of last year. Their landlord, the new owners of the Viking Apartments building on West 7th Street, had given Just/Us one month’s notice to vacate to make way for a total renovation of the property. They were told they could reopen after a year—if they liked—and pay more than quadruple their previous rent. It was a blow to the core team of five who ran the spunky, up-andcoming restaurant as a collective. They spent much of the past year regrouping and holding a GoFundMe appeal and are about to reopen in November in the former Golden’s Deli space at 275 E. 4th Street, next to the Farmers’ Market in Lowertown. Watch for the official opening date at www.justusmn.com and facebook.com/justusmnrestaurant. The quintet of artists and service industry veterans running the restaurant have served their time and earned their chops through an impressive roll call of restaurants, bars, Just/Us / Page 5
FAITH IN ACTION
Local faith communities unite to fight homelessness
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John Molene Staff Writer
usiness is booming at the Project Home day center, and that’s both a good and bad thing. The good news is that people who need a hot meal and a bed for the night are getting them. The bad news is that the need for those services continues to grow.
“We have not been able to keep up with the need,” said Director Sara Liegl. “We’ve tried several times to create extra shelter beds but it’s very hard to get the funding to keep new shelter beds up and running.” Project Home is a program of Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul that partners with local faith communities to provide emergency
shelter space for families facing homelessness. Unlike traditional shelters, Project Home coordinates with area churches, synagogues and schools to provide emergency shelter spaces for a short period of time. Most host sites are in Ramsey County, including Central Presbyterian and First Baptist in Lowertown, and a few are in Dakota County,
including First Presbyterian of South St. Paul and Salem Lutheran Church in West St. Paul. Once a congregation chooses to get involved with Project Hope, they usually become a longtime partner. “Once they do it they’re typically hooked,” said Liegl. “We have congregations like First Presbyterian who have been doing it for over 20 years. There’s some-
thing about it, that the family shelter becomes theirs. It’s an opportunity that’s so very hands-on, and different from anything else they could do.” Working with faith communities is key to addressing issues related to poverty, said Randy Roth, executive director of Interfaith Action. “There’s no faith tradition that doesn’t look at poverty
as robbing people of their God-given right to dignity,” Roth said. “What’s being left on the table in our community response to poverty is the untapped labor potential of volunteers from faith communities. “Faith communities, especially small- and mid-sized faith communities, tend to
Interfaith / Page 4
E lection 2019
Your community news and information source
Five vie for Ward 2 St. Paul City Council seat
Incumbent Rebecca Noecker is being challenged by Lindsay Ferris Martin, Bill Hosko, Helen Meyers and perennial candidate Sharon Anderson. Here’s a brief profile of each candidate, in alphabetical order. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Sharon Anderson Occupation: Retired; blogger and political activist Endorsements: None Political experience: None. Has a decades-long history of running for various offices but being elected to none. Fights for citizens’ rights through blogging. Number of years living in Ward 2: (did not respond). Is a lifelong resident of St. Paul. Reason you are running
for office: “Exposing city and county Ponzi taxing schemes. Election, immigration and tax reforms; housing issues; bloated government; trash litigation.”
Bill Hosko Occupation: Architectural artist, owner of Hosko Gallery and Music Forest Café in downtown St. Paul Endorsements: None sought; non-partisan Political experience: Elected to three district council boards; previous city council candidate Number of years living in Ward 2: 25; a Ward 2 native Reason you are running for office: “Uncontrolled spending is resulting in outof-control property, fee and assessment taxation. Over-
taxation not only affects homeowners, it is also the largest driver of ever higher apartment rents. Crime is increasing and political pressure for officers to not report all crimes needs to end. More officers are needed, not fewer, in higher crime areas. Fare theft and crime are commonplace on light rail transit. Security costs have skyrocketed and millions of dollars are lost annually. Regarding trash collection, I fully support the ‘no’ referendum which will allow residents to decide how we proceed with this debacle.”
Lindsay Ferris Martin Occupation: Social media consultant Endorsements: Veterans Party of Minnesota (nonpartisan party)
Political experience: None. Has worked as a lobbyist. Number of years living in Ward 2: Nine Reason you are running for office: “From April to June, nine of my direct neighbors moved out of St. Paul to the suburbs or out of the state altogether. Why the move? Our neighborhood was victimized by a problem property for years. We as neighbors had been working with St. Paul Police Department and Code Enforcement for 10 months. The council forgave this property owner of 90 percent owed back taxes and continued to give the homeowner deadline extensions for code violations, despite us begging for her to consider the neighbors and our efforts to protect the school children and our families. While this was happening and neighbors were moving out, our taxes increased and we watched the homeless encampments grow on the West Side, our public safety resources shrink and our roads continue to be a mess.
Our new garbage system didn’t only cost us more, but it created a severe amount of damage to our alleyway so we got taxed higher.”
Helen Meyers Occupation: Retail Endorsements: Socialist Workers Party Political experience: None. Longtime unionist and civil rights supporter Number of years living in Ward 2: Two Reason you are running for office: “Working people must organize and act independent of the ruling capitalists and their political parties, the Democrats and Republicans. I will help build a movement of millions to organize unions, fight for amnesty for all undocumented immigrants
and demand a federally funded public works program to put millions to work at union-scale wage.”
Rebecca Noecker Occupation: St. Paul City Council member; council vice president Endorsements: 26 listed, including St. Paul DFL, numerous unions, State Sen. Sandy Pappas and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter Political experience: St. Paul City Council, 2015present Number of years living in Ward 2: Seven Reason you are running for office: “I am running for office to make St. Paul a place where all our families prosper, all our residents have a place to call home, and where all our young
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E lection 2019 people have access to opportunity. I’ve championed our city’s earned sick and safe time and $15 minimum wage ordinances, invested in young people, parks and streets, led the creation of the Winter Safe Space emergency shelter, fought for new affordable housing projects throughout the ward, and launched the Open for Business initiative to help small businesses open and expand. In the next four years, I want to expand access to highquality, affordable child care and find new, sustainable revenue to build affordable housing and maintain our streets. I believe government needs to work efficiently and be held accountable for results so I’m leading an effort to restore the Council’s ability to monitor city departments’ performance.”
Your community news and information source
Citywide trash collection The big issue on the ballot is St. Paul’s trash collection system. A citywide garbage disposal system has been in effect since Oct. 1 of last year. According to the City of St. Paul’s website, this program is an effort to bring one designated residential garbage hauler to each street or alleyway, thus reducing the number of trucks on the road. In this system, each resident or homeowner pays a consistent rate across the city. Voting “no” on this ballot question could result in a 17.4% spike in the property tax levy and transfer the financial burden from individual rate-payers to all property owners. Because the City has pledged to honor
its 5-year contract with the haulers, it will pay them out of the general fund. For residents, this means no invoicing but increased property taxes overall. A vote “no” will not result in an immediate change in garbage hauling, but the old system may return after the 5-year period. Opponents of the current service say garbage disposal should not be mandatory. Some claim the service actually increased their rates, while others have reported finding more inexpensive rates by researching different haulers. Those who choose to haul their own garbage also object to having to pay for the service. The biggest pushback comes from residents who felt that the City did not allow them to provide feed-
back on the decision. A group called St. Paul Trash sued the City over this issue, citing suppression of voter input. According to the group’s website, its goal is to return to the old system of trash collection, which they say had lower costs and supports those who opt-out of trash collection.
St. Paul School Board The St. Paul School Board has 10 candidates vying for four seats. They are: Chauntyll Allen, Charlie Castro, Zuki Ellis, Tiffany Fearing, Jessica Kopp, Steve Marchese, Jennifer McPherson, Elijah Norris-Holliday, Omar Syed and Ryan Williams. Ellis and Marchese are the incumbents. All were
given the opportunity to give a candidacy statement. Charlotte “Charlie” Castro Candidacy statement: “As a concerned citizen of St. Paul, I believe that we need to provide our youth with the services they need to be able to take on challenges, both current and in the long term. Teachers need to be uplifted through recruitment and mentorship and provided the resources to teach the lessons that will engage students. Lastly, we need to aggressively address budgets so that the money available goes where it can do the most good.” Tiffany Fearing Candidacy statement: “I am concerned that the facilities remodeling budget
is $179 million over. First order of business would be to request that the superintendent replaces the facility director. I want to see more diversity on the board for where people live. It looks like half the board lives in 55104, that’s not representing our city. I want to put the spotlight on schools we never talk about.” Jessica Kopp Candidacy statement: “I’m running to increase diversity and innovation in teaching and learning, and build strong, smart and sustainable relationships with the many community partners and organizations that help St. Paul Public Schools thrive.”
Arts community remembers one of its own Ryan Funes Contributor
T
he St. Paul arts community lost a respected member when Brenda Brousseau, director of the St. Paul Art Crawl for the past six years and an accomplished artist in her own right, passed away on Oct. 2 from a cancer-related illness. She was well regarded among artists as a skilled director who successfully managed the Art Crawl with her team of organizers and fought to make each event better than the last. Josephine Geiger worked alongside Brousseau as an Art Crawl committee member. They met several years ago at an art show and when the Art Crawl director position opened up, Geiger encouraged her to apply. To-
Brenda Brousseau
day, she credits Brousseau with expanding the Crawl to reach a more diverse group of artists. “Demographically, there are not a lot of artists from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds that are actively participating in the Crawl, so she started working on these special exhibits,” Geiger said.
One was last year’s “Other” exhibit, which highlighted Latin and South American heritage through the works of local artists. Heather Friedli, an oil painter of indigenous background living in St. Paul, participated in the “We Are Still Here” exhibit of Indigenous Peoples’ artwork and witnessed how Brousseau could bring people together to help them flourish. “She was able to bring the elders together and other people from Native backgrounds,” she said. “Once she got people going, guiding people with the process, she stepped back and let Native people coordinate the exhibit. An important element of her leadership was that she led by guiding and helping other peoples’
lights shine.” Brousseau also got involved in other ways with that particular exhibit. She made handcrafted pouches of tobacco to present to the Indigenous elders presiding over the exhibition, as a show of cooperation and respect. Tobacco is sacred and used in rituals by many Indigenous tribes. Brousseau’s own artwork revealed her fascination with other cultures. Her medium of choice was beads and she used them to craft complex and mesmerizing items such as mandalas, headdresses, sculptures and wall art. Friends and co-workers remarked that Brousseau’s legacy is one of constant learning. Linda Snouffer, who works on program administration for the Crawl,
worked closely with Brousseau and hopes people will remember her for being a funny and creative person to work with, and as a talented artist. Friend Tim Harwig saw Brousseau’s work ethic benefit the local arts community over the past 25 years. “She was the hardest working, most willing learner, and I’ve never met anybody in my life so eager to learn new things,” he said. “Combined with her creativity was an overwhelming work ethic that kept her going in life.” Brousseau’s artwork can be viewed at www.lunacbede. com. There you’ll also find her philosophy of art: “My art is a reflection of my life, I have found that even though my art is very personal, once the viewer knows the story
behind the art they find their own truth within it.”
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Interfaith from page 1
be filled with people who are praying for a way to be part of the solution, but not necessarily the best designers of the way to be a part of the solution.” And that, in essence, is what Interfaith Action is all about – connecting those who need a helping hand with those who can help. In September, Project Home took over the day center at First Baptist Church, 499 Wacouta St., St. Paul, from another provider. Available to clients are three meals a day and after-school snacks for kids. In the first month, Project Home served 885 meals and 236 after-school snacks. It also serves as a central location for children to be bused to their schools. In addition, the center has lockers, showers, basic hygiene supplies and laundry facilities, and workers assist the
families with finding housing and employment. On a recent afternoon, about a dozen parents and kids were having an early dinner at the day center in First Baptist Church. They chatted and ate quickly in order to catch a shuttle to one of the two emergency shelters operated by Interfaith Action this month. Volunteers and supplies are always needed. “Right now we are really looking for weekend meal teams to come down to the day center and help feed the families, Liegl said. The most needed items are feminine hygiene products, towels and washcloths, disposable razors, deodorant, games, craft supplies, and coloring and activity books. Donations can be dropped off at the office at 1671 Summit Ave., St. Paul, during of-
fice hours. Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of ways, including as shelter hosts. Shifts are 5:30-8:30 p.m., and 8 p.m.-7:30 a.m. weekdays, and until 9:30 a.m. on weekends. Duties include greeting guests, serving healthy snacks, conversing with guests, and playing and reading with teens and children. Overnight volunteers also help secure the facility before bedtime, wake up guests and serve a light breakfast. Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul has a budget of about $2.7 million annually. Funding comes from a variety of sources, including federal, state, county and city grants, and foundation and individual donations. For more information, visit https://interfaithaction.org. To volunteer, contact Sara Liegl at 651-789-3848 or sliegl@interfaithaction.org. If you are seeking emergency shelter, call 651-291-0211.
The most needed items are feminine hygiene products, towels and washcloths, disposable razors, deodorant, games, craft supplies, and coloring and activity books.
{ CALENDAR OF EVENTS } Minnesota Museum of American Art at Fourth and Robert is presenting “Sherin Guircuis: Here I Have Returned” through Feb. 23, 2020. Guircuis, an Egyptborn, Los Angeles-based artist, has created an installation of hand-cut works on paper and sculpture inspired by a leader of the Egyptian
feminist movement, Doria Shafit (1908-1975). The museum will continue to exhibit “History is Not Here: Art and the Arab Imaginary through Jan. 5, 2020. Seventeen artists use painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and book art to make connections between contemporary geopolitics
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Page 4 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - November 2019
and history. Lowertown First Friday will present works by artists on Friday, Nov. 1 at Northern Warehouse, AZ Gallery, Lowertown Underground Gallery, Show Gallery, 333 Gallery, Handsome Hog, Octo Fishbar and Birch’s Lowertown. Black Dog Café, 308 Prince St., will present vocalist Jiselle McCullum at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1. Flamenco Guitar will be featured 6-8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3. Medicinal Jazz will appear at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21. Subtext Books, 6 W. 5th St., will present Courtney Maum, author of “Costalege,” at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1. Shannon Gibney and Kao Kalia Yang will discuss “What God is Honored Here?” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7. Allen Eskins, author of “Nothing More Dangerous,” will appear at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13. Amsterdam Bar and Hall, 6th and Wabasha, will present Ripe Fall Tour 2019 with Castlecomer on Saturday, Nov. 2; Alex G with Tomberlin and Indigo De Souza on Friday, Nov. 8; The Score: Run Like A Rebel Tour on Friday, Nov. 15; SYML on
Interfaith Action staff members Wade Piper and Maria Soroka chat with a diner at the day center at First Baptist Church in St. Paul.
By the numbers (most recent statistics are from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018) • Project Home provided emergency shelter to 57 families, including 43 singleparent families. Shelter beds were used 10,312 times. • 196 individuals were served; 66 adults and 130 children. • 21 percent of the parents
served struggled with mental illness, including depression, and 27 percent had a chronic health condition or disability. • 39 percent of the families were affected by domestic violence. • 14 percent of the parents were 24 or younger. • 33 percent of the children were under the age of five; 49% were 5-12, and
18% were 13-17. • Self-described race and ethnicity: 70% Black/African American, 10% White/ Caucasian, 13% multiple; 6% Hispanic/Latino, 4% Asian American, and 3% American Indian. • Volunteer hours: 24,388 hours of direct service to shelter guests, filling 3,770 volunteer shifts.
Saturday, Nov. 16; Augustana on Monday, Nov. 18; Exmortus and Hellfire on Saturday, Nov. 23; The Spill Canvas on Friday, Nov. 29. St. Paul Parks and Recreation will hold a Chocolate Frolic 7:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2 at Harriet Island. A Turkey Trot will be held Thursday, Nov. 28 at Upper Landing Park. The 10K begins at 7:30 a.m., and the 6K at 8 a.m. East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier, will discuss, “How Did Our Political Culture Get Here?” at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2; “Immigration: The Making of St. Paul” at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6; “School’s Not for Kids” at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9; Conversation with Jay Weiner on the Last Lecture of Hy Berman at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25. Berman was a renowned professor at the University of Minnesota. Baroque Room, 275 E. 4th St., will present Songs of the Pavia Wind Quartet at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2. Lunchtime Concert Series will present Going Off the Script: The Ornamental Suites for cello with Juliana Soltis at noon, Friday, Nov. 22. Dubliner Pub & Café, 2162 University Ave., will hold Langer’s Ball 8 p.m.midnight, Wednesday, Nov. 6.
St. Paul Conservatory of Music, 1524 Summit Ave., will present A Coffee Concert at noon ,Wednesday, Nov. 6, featuring Artu Duo, with Ruth Marshall, cello, and Garret Ross, piano. The Contemporary Music Faculty Concert will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21. The Suzuki Group Recital will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. Studio Z, 275 E. 4th St., will present The Innocents percussion duo at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8 and 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10. Lower Phalen Creek Project will hold its annual breakfast fundraiser at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13 at CHS Field. George Latimer Central Library Book Club will discuss “The Word is Murder” by Anthony Horowitz at 10:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14. Underground Music Café will present Cajun Jam at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16. Books and Bars will discuss “My Sister, the Serial Killer,” a novel by Oyinkan Braithwaite, at 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Urban Growler, 2325 Endicott St. Penumbra Theatre, 270 Kent St., is presenting its annual Christmas Show
“Black Nativity” Nov. 2124 and 29-30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays. Penumbra will also present “Let’s Talk Possibly: Ideas from the Ashe Lab” at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18. Ashe Lab is a program nurturing black artists. Minnesota Sinfonia will present Happy Holidays at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23 at First Covenant Church, 1280 Arcade St. Holiday favorites and Dimitri Kabalevsky’s Concerto in C major will be performed. St. Paul Farmers’ Market will be open 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 27 for customers to pick up holiday products. Patrons are urged to place their orders in advance. The Indoor Farmers’ Market at Market House, 289 5th St. E., will run Dec. 9-April 15 on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Union Depot Indoor Farmers’ Market, 214 4th St. E., will be held 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Thursdays. R&B artists Brandon Trevon, Just Will and Loreda Rose will perform at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30 at Can Can Wonderland, 755 Prior Ave. N., St. Paul. $5. AZ Gallery, 308 Prince St., will present its annual Holiday Show Nov. 29-Dec 31.
B usiness Just/Us from page 1
cafes, chains, and momand-pop joints across the Twin Cities—as well as literally just around the corner from their new space. Mona Negasi, publicity and community outreach manager, worked for three-and-a-half years at the Black Dog Café. General manager Nathan Docken, assistant front of house manager Emily Hagen, and chef Samantha Hathaway have all worked at The Buttered Tin. Just/Us is not abandoning its fine dining and tasting menu concepts, which brought the attention and accolades during its inaugural year. However, the new location in the heart of the Lowertown artist community has precipitated a different focus. Since each member of the management team has lived and worked in Lowertown, the community tie that restaurants work so hard to build already exists. On the walls, a mural is being created by none other than world-renowned artist and St. Paulite Ta-coumba Aiken—also known as “the mayor of Lowertown.” He is a Minnesota State Fair featured artist and the creator of the Guinness World Recordbreaking Union Depot LiteBrite mural. Aiken has cleverly added the faces of the restaurant’s team in some of the wild, swirling patterns he is painting. He lives nearby in the Lowertown Lofts Artists Cooperative. The restaurant team will focus on both community and art, said Negasi. “I have such a soft spot in my heart for this neighborhood,” she said. “Every day I hear people reminiscing about Kelly’s Depot Bar,” which closed in April after
Your community news and information source almost 30 years. “It left a huge hole in Lowertown. Golden’s used to inhabit the space we’re taking over, another Lowertown place near and dear to my heart. And Bedlam is gone. With these losses, aiming at being a neighborhood spot makes sense. “I’ve seen Lowertown negatively impacted by gentrification over the years but I feel that there’re people still here holding it down for the arts community,” Negasi added. “They need a place to be, to meet, and to do their art. And there’re so many new people in the neighborhood and they all have something to share. They just might not know it yet. We want to be that place. “Our last restaurant was focused on breaking down the stigma of fine dining. While we’ll still offer high quality, chef-driven food as a part of what we do, in Lowertown we will be more approachable—a neighborhood cafe and hangout, a diverse and eclectic community event space and gallery, and a pub with great food.” The physical space itself opens up new opportunities. “At our last space, we had a zine fest, a music festival, and weekly open mics, but it wasn’t set up for events,” said Negasi. “This space is huge. It has four separate areas, including an outdoor patio. We’re in an arts neighborhood now. There are so many people looking for a stage to perform on and not just from Lowertown but St. Paul in general.” Jesse Hedman, event coordinator and booking agent at Just/Us, comes from a background of organizing community art shows and festivals, and booking bands. He previewed the type of events Just/Us will offer.
“We plan on keeping our Tuesday Open Mic show going, all ages, all types of content—just a free stage,” he said. “On Friday and Saturday nights we’ll be holding regular shows with our favorite genres—hip hop, punk, rock, and spoken word. We’ll have space for stand-up comedy and a black box stage set up and ready for anything. One night a month we’ll have a salsa band so people can dance. There will be casual DJ sets while people are eating dinner, as well as heavier late night DJ sessions. There are a lot of venues that associate with a particular genre but not that many venues who showcase all genres. Like our eclectic menus, our event programming will offer variety.” Negasi sees the restaurant’s event engine enlivening the wider Twin Cities music scene. “A lot of venues book a band but then don’t do any promotion,” she said. “Booking bands that already draw a crowd is important but everyone has to start somewhere. We’re doing all of our own marketing and plan on being very aggressive with it. We have a screen-printing studio on site so that we can make merchandise for bands and print flyers for our street team. Musicians and others who have shows here will get a promotional boost that ripples out beyond our single event. It’s a win-win.” Just/Us plans to have a limited breakfast menu all week with an expanded brunch menu on weekends. “For lunch, our chef Samantha Hathaway is excited about her pastrami sandwich,” said Docken, the GM. “We’ll offer small plates with treats like fried broccoli, and of course some of the signature burgers that
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The Just/Us team (L-R): Emily Hagen, Samantha Hathaway, Nathan Docken, Mona Negasi and Jessi Hedman. we created for our highlysuccessful Burger Bob’s Parody Pop-up that we held in the downtown space.” The most popular of the no-puns-barred six burgers created for Burger Bob’s was the Gouda Morning Sunshine, with a sunny-side-up egg and bacon jam topping the beef and gouda. The next popular was the Let It Brie, that topped the beef/brie
combo with house-made almond butter, apple chutney and caramelized onions. New items end up on the restaurant’s permanent menu as the result of experimentation at different events. That approach has become a trademark of the restaurant’s creativity and openness. “We plan on opening our kitchen to other chefs
to hold special events,” said Docken. Negasi added, “One of the things that people really responded to in the last space was that our chefs were free to do what they want. You have a weird or kooky menu idea? Come take over our kitchen space. At Just/ Us, it’s always interesting to see what comes out.”
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Lost Art of Scripture,” with MPR journalist Kerri Miller. Musical guest is K.Raydio. $30.50-$32.50.
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“Wits,” 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2. The beloved Twin Cities comedy and music institution will feature John Moe, John Munson and the Witnesses, and special guests. $35-$55. “A Tuba to Cuba,” 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5. Join the Preservation Hall Jazz Band as they present their soundtrack, “A Tuba to Cuba.” YUSA and other guests will be featured. $25-$149. “Talking Volumes,” 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7. Karen Armstrong will discuss her book, “The
Lindy West, author of “The Witches Are Coming,” is featured 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14. Musical guest is Chris Koza. $30.50-$32.50. Tracy K. Smith will discuss her poetry book “Wade in the Water” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21. Musical guest is Lady Midnight. $30.50$32.50. “Storyhill,” 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9. Join American folk duo Storyhill as they celebrate their 30 th anniversary with a special show. $25-$45. “Piff the Magic Dragon,” 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15. Join Piff the Magic Dragon for a family-
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friendly night of comedy and magic. $30-$75. Eric Benét, an American R&B singer, will perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29. $40-$70.
History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 www.mnhs.org
“First Avenue Stories of Minnesota’s Mainroom,” through May 3, 2020. Since 1970, First Avenue & 7th St. Entry have been at the heart of the Minnesota music scene. This exhibit celebrates the musicians, employees and regulars who have called First Avenue their rock ‘n’ roll home. Museum tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $6 for children
Kate Hamill’s adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” is presented Nov. 15Dec. 22 at Park Square Theatre. ages five to 17. Free on Tuesdays, 3-8 p.m. “Macbeth,” 7-10 p.m., Nov. 1-4 and 6-8. The Wayward Theatre Company will present Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” at the James J. Hill House. $32$35. Author visit, 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7. Author Martin Case will present
“The Relentless Business of Treaties” at the East Side Freedom Library. “ Victorian Gothic Novels,” 7-8:15 p.m. and 8:30-9:45 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8. Take a guided tour at the Alexander Ramsey House to explore the origins of the Gothic novel. $11-$12. Ages 18 and older.
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History Theatre
10 E. Tenth St., St. Paul 651-292-4323 www.historytheatre.com
“Beyond the Rainbow,” Nov. 16-Dec. 22. This musical explores the life, music and movies of Grand Rapids, Minn. native Judy Garland. $30$65.
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S ample St. Paul Landmark Center
75 W. 5th St., St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org
“LUV,” Nov. 1-3, 9-10, 16-17. “LUV” is a comedy about alienation, loss and the meaninglessness of it all. $20-$25. “Courtroom Concerts” - The following free conconcerts are held noon1 p.m. “Land of Song,” by David Evan Thomas, Thursday, Nov. 7; The Lux String Quartet, Thursday, Nov. 14; The Mill City String Quartet, Thursday, Nov. 21. “Gala,” 5:30-10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8. The “Once Upon A Time Gala” is a vibrant celebration in support of the Landmark Center and its free arts and cultural community programming. $150. “Film Screening,” 4-6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 11. Enjoy a screening of the film, “Stalag Luft III–One Man’s Story.” $12. “Ballet,” noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12. The Ballet Co. Laboratory will present a demonstration from the company’s repertoire. “Global Conversations,” noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13. Raymond Kuo, executive director of the Midwest International Policy Institute, will discuss the future of U.S. nuclear arms control negotiations. “Landmark Live,” 8-10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15. Olivia Diercks and Karla Colahan, cellist and violinist of the new-classical crossover duo The OK Factor, will perform. Cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m. $20-$25. “Sundays at Landmark” - The Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra will perform 1-2:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17. Free. Celebrate National Square Dance Day with several forms of social dancing. 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. Free.
Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 www.ordway.org
“Festival of Lights,” 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10. The Thai Cultural Council of Minnesota presents
Loy Krathong, also known as the Festival of Lights. $11-$27. “Classic Albums Live,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16. Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” will be presented. $32-$64. “The Okee Dokee Brothers,” 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17. $19-$32. “Maria Bramford,” 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17. $37-$48. “CMA Songwriters Series,” 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20. See country music’s best singers and songwriters. Tickets available online.
following two marine researchers and the dolphins and whales they study. $3.
CATALYST | Conversations LIBRARIES ARE ESSENTIAL.
“Girls, Science and Technology,” 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9. Join Fox 9, and female scientists and engineers from the Twin Cities, as they introduce girls to science and technology through hands-on demonstrations and activities. To order tickets, call 651221-9444.
FEATURING
ERIC KLINENBERG Tuesday, December 10, 2019 | 3:30 p.m. F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium, Landmark Center 75 West 5th Street, Saint Paul Free and open to the public Acclaimed author and sociologist Eric Klinenberg will discuss his new book and how the future of our society rests on our shared spaces. Space is limited. Register now at thefriends.org/catalyst
“Six the Musical,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30. $40.50-$81.50.
Palace Theatre
17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul 612-338-8388 www.palacestpaul.com
“Greensky Bluegrass and the Lil Smokies,” 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2. $27.50-$45. “Bishop Briggs with Miya Folick and Jax Anderson,” 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12. $29.50. “FKA twigs,” 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14. $35$55. “Wilco,” 7:30 p.m., Nov. 22-24. $59.50. “K im Petras,” 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30. $33.50.
Park Square Theatre
20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul 651-291-7005 www.parksquaretheatre.org
“Pride and Prejudice,” Nov. 15-Dec. 22. Enjoy Kate Hamill’s adaptation of the Jane Austen classic. $16-$37.
Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org
“Body Worlds RX,” through Jan. 5, 2020. Explore the human body exhibition that has drawn 47 million people around the world. “Virtual Reality Experience,” through Nov. 21. With the help of virtual reality goggles and headphones, experience “The Click Effect,” a short film
Farm-fresh produce. Skyway convenience. Now at Union Depot. Every Thursday starting October 17, 10 am – 1:30 pm 214 4th Street East, St. Paul, MN 55101 uniondepot.org/farmersmarket
Downtown St. Paul Voice - November 2019 - Page 7
A rts & Culture
Your community news and information source
The Urban Explorer Exploring our regional amenities Ginny Contreras Sawyer Contributor
A ‘visit’ to Southeast Asia: Hmongtown Marketplace
P
ulling into the nondescript parking lot at 217 Como Ave. I see an aging building with dark brown siding. The large lot is bordered by long brick structures painted white. It has an empty, desolate warehouse feel. I wonder if I’ve come to the wrong location until I step inside and am hit with the full color and vibrancy of Hmongtown Marketplace. In 2004, entrepreneur Toua Xiong converted this abandoned lumberyard into an indoor and outdoor market with the vision that it would become a gathering place for the Hmong community in Minnesota. The Hmong people began immigrating to the United States in the mid-1970s fol-
lowing the devastating effects of the American war in Vietnam and the secret war in Laos. Sponsored as refugees through Lutheran Social Services, many settled in Minnesota. Today, more than 66,000 Hmong live in Minnesota, and the Twin Cities metro has the largest concentration of Hmong people in the United States. Currently, Hmongtown Marketplace houses more than 125 stores and 11 restaurants, and there’s talk of future expansion. On my self-guided tour, I spot a pharmacy, real estate office, teashop and tax service. The first shop I visit has traditional Hmong clothing hanging from the wooden rafters all the way down to the floor. The bright blues, reds, pinks and yellows draw me closer. A young, friendly shopkeeper tells me these outfits are worn for special
occasions, like the New Year, weddings and funerals. “Back in Laos, everyone knows how to make these kinds of clothes, but here, not so much,” she says. “It takes too much time.” I can see why. Some of the outfits are extremely ornate, with intricate floral designs and beaded fringes. For women, the complete ensemble includes a short
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jacket with embroidered sleeves, pleated skirt, sash and apron. Some come with a headpiece. The apron, or sev, is a source of pride for Hmong women and is where they show off their finest embroidery skills. The sev alone can take months to sew. My next destination is the outdoor farmers’ market. As I cross the open paved area between buildings, I pass a few stands with plastic toys and more clothing. From a distance, I see a long row of tables overflowing with an array of fruits and vegetables. Bundles of yard-long beans mingle with stalks of lemon grass and massive winter melons. There’s bok choy, bouquets of lavender, mushrooms, dried bamboo, fresh herbs and many items I do not recognize. As I pause to admire the colorful display of Thai chilies, the shopkeeper recommends I buy the small bird’s eye ones. “They are spicy in your mouth, but not in your stomach,” he says. Farther along, another stall displays different kinds of eggplant—green, light purple; round and long— and something resembling a tomato but smaller and grouped in grape-like bunches.
“Those are bitter balls,” says the helpful vendor. “You put them in soup. It’s very bitter, but great for the stomach, like medicine.” The flavors of Hmong cuisine range from bitter and sour to sweet, salty and spicy. Some complex dishes incorporate all these flavors at once. One of the most common Hmong meals is a soup of boiled meat (typically pork, beef or chicken) with vegetables and herbs, usually served with a side of steamed rice. While that might sound mild to the palate, the zing comes from additional condiments, such as fresh garlic, ginger, lime, green onions, lemongrass, chilies and cilantro. As in many cultures, Hmong food is more than flavor or sustenance. It’s about being with friends and family, a nourishing of the soul. With my mind on fragrant and spicy soup, I head to the food court located in the back of the building. Though small and modest in décor, it boasts a wide selection of authentic Hmong dishes. My mouth waters as I spot crispy stuffed chicken wings, braised meats, noodle soups, green papaya
salad and sticky rice sweets wrapped in banana leaves. Quite a few customers are sipping on bubble tea as they wander from stall to stall deciding what to order. The green papaya salad calls my name. A large sign tells me I have four options: Thai Style Light, Thai Style with Crab, Laos Style and Lao Style with Noodle. The woman making the salads explains that Laos style is heavier and more pungent than Thai style. I choose Laos style. “One or two chilis?” she asks. “Two, please.” (If you’re going to do something, it’s always best to go all the way!) She adds shredded papaya, tomato, green beans, peanuts, sauce and chilies into a giant mortar and pestle and begins grinding them together. With a plastic fork, she gives me a taste to make sure it’s not too spicy. I first notice the sweet and salty blend then slowly my mouth tingles with spice. It’s amazing! As I leave the market, I see the marbled dome of the State Capitol just above the tree line. I can’t believe it. It feels as if I’ve spent the afternoon in Southeast Asia but I’ve never left St. Paul.
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N ews Briefs
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{ THE FULLER FILES } Coming and going The Minnesota Centennial Showboat has left its dock at Harriet Island and moved 100 miles downriver to Winona. Winona businessman Bob Harris plans to convert it into a venue for musical and theatrical performances, weddings and other events. The University of Minnesota Drama Department used the boat until 2016, when it sold it to the city of St. Paul for $1. The city then sold the boat to Harris for $40,000. Kaeding Development Group of Bloomington plans to build a $68 million development at Seven Corners/Cleveland Circle, near the Xcel Center. The 2.3-acre project will include a 5-story, 120-unit Courtyard by Marriott hotel and a 6-story, 144-unit market rate apartment building. A 40,000-square-foot public plaza will be located between the two buildings. The development will include studio, one- and twobedroom apartments and five penthouse units. There will be 137 underground or
enclosed parking spaces and 12,000 square-feet of retail space. Red’s Savoy Pizza is moving into the Treasure Island Center at Fifth and Wabasha where Tim Horton’s donut shop used to be. Red’s was established 50 years ago in Lowertown but closed its downtown location in 2017 after Earl “Red” Schoenheider passed away. The restaurant has seven other locations in the metro area. The former Ecolab University Center Tower at Sixth and Wabasha has been purchased by John Thomas, who paid $3.5 million for the property. He plans to build 200 apartments on the upper floors and have a 10,000-square-foot Jet Express food store on the ground and mezzanine levels. The Lawson Commons building at 380 St. Peter St. has a new name: Infor Commons. The building was named for its primary tenant, Lawson, a software firm, when it was built in 1999. Lawson was purchased in 2011 for $2 billion by Infor, a New York-based business software developer.
Postscript
Blooming Late
Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com
am good at starting over, not getting discouraged, asking for advice. I am good at sticking to a plan even if it takes a lot longer than I thought it would. These are not glamorous skills. But lately, in addition to all the stories of prodigies and wunderkinds, I’ve been hearing more stories about late bloomers: the woman who gets her first book published at 80, the fellow who goes back to college and graduates with his grandson, the singer who records her best album three decades after she was supposed to be “finished.” I love these sto-
Skyway Masala recently opened at the Town Square food court, 444 Cedar St. The restaurant serves Indianbased food, incuding paneer, dai, tikka masala and tandoori.
Streets of Summer results The five full-time staff members of the St. Paul Downtown Alliance’s Streets of Summer program had a busy season organizing outdoor performances and street cleanup events. The Streets Team removed 84 bags of trash, 550 graffiti tags and 5,300 pieces of gum from the sidewalks, and gave directions to 1,700 visitors. The program also hosted 53 pop-up musical performances and an outdoor art gallery featuring 12 downtown artists, and decorated 32 public trash receptacles with tile mosaics.
Christmas Boutique Little Sisters of the Poor is hosting its annual Christmas Boutique, 10:30 a.m.4 p.m., Saturday and Sun-
ries as well and think there is a place in this world for late-in-life achievements. I’m hoping to be a late bloomer. Late bloomers don’t need to worry about reaching 30 and thinking their best days are behind them. They don’t have people comparing their new work with what they did in the past. Late bloomers might get told they are too late, that it’s too late to start that new thing they want to do, but late bloomers are no longer young so they can ignore the doubters and proceed, under the radar. Nobody’s paying attention to them anyway.
day, Nov. 23-24, at 330 Exchange St. S., St. Paul. The sale features Christmas décor, dolls, gift baskets, purses, home goods, baked goods and more. The event also includes a silent auction, tea room and a ham dinner. The dinner includes sloppy joes. Cost is $11 for adults and $6 for children. For more information, call at 651-227-0336.
MN Christmas Market MN Christmas Market, an annual pop-up holiday shopping event that showcases homegrown brands and makers, returns to Union Depot 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2. Entry fee is $1. All vendors will donate 7% of their sales from the event to The Reel Hope Project, an organization that helps children in foster care in Minnesota find a home.
Christmas Tree returns to Rice Park The downtown Christmas tree will return to Rice Park this winter after a year’s absence during the park’s re
In little more than 100 years human beings have doubled their lifespan. I think if there were some kind of plant that was suddenly living twice as long, scientists would be studying it. “What will it do with all this extra time?” “Will it grow some new fruit or become twice as large?” This is what I’ve been wondering about all the late bloomers out there. Instead of getting one great talent, one terrific skill, late bloomers have had time to learn a lot of things and now, later in life, we can figure out how all the things we’ve learned can work to-
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construction. The lighting ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. The St. Paul Winter Carnival ice carvings will also return to the park and nearby Landmark Plaza. The Wells Fargo Winter Skate rink will be moved from Landmark Plaza to CHS Field. It will be open Dec. 6 until mid February.
Lowertown Wine and Spirits celebrates Lowertown Wine and Spirits, a specialty beer and wine shop owned and operated by Jerry Blakey, is celebrating 15 years in business in November. Look for discounts on wine Nov. 1-15. The store, located at 262 E. 4th St. in Lowertown, is known to host musicians and art shows during Lowertown First Fridays and the spring and fall art crawl. For more information, call 651222-3661 or visit www.lowertownwine.com.
HHW collection Ramsey County’s household hazardous waste collection site at 5 Empire Dr.,
gether. We might be starting from scratch, but we’ve got a head start. We might be trying something new, but we get credit for time served. I know the news will continue to be dominated by the young, and maybe that’s the way it should be. Neither youth nor fame lasts long. I’m happy I get to try new things now. I’m delighted with any extra time I get to grow a little more, produce some sort of crazy new fruit. I’m happy for this chance to bloom in whatever way I can—even if my blooming comes a little late. Till next time.
ELECT
St. Paul, is open year-round. Drop-off is free for residents of Ramsey and Dakota counties with a photo I.D. For more details, call 651633-3279 or visit www. co.ramsey.mn.us/ph.
St. Paul Almanac names new director St. Paul Almanac has named Pamela Fletcher Bush as its new executive director. She succeeds Kimberly Nightingale, who founded the annual anthology of writing in 2005. Bush has been a professor of English at St. Catherine University since 2016. She received a W.E.B. DuBois scholar and teacher award and has taught at Hamline University, Carleton College and the University of Minnesota. St. Paul Almanac also has a Storymobile and a program called Poetry in the Park in the Dark. SPV-MammaOct2019V-Eng.qxp_Layou
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I love hearing about prodigies: the 5-year-old drummer and the 16-year-old activist. I love hearing the 19-year-old who sings like an old soul, and reading about the 14-year-old who just completed a master’s degree. I marvel at all these amazing accomplishments. I am impressed with the laserlike focus of these children and teenagers that enables them to change the world in awe-inspiring ways. I was never one of them. I showed no promise on any musical instrument, didn’t learn to read when I was especially young. I struggled with math, had no artistic talent to speak of and played tennis so poorly the instructor sent me to the nurse to have my vision checked. My vision was fine. As I got older, I was not one of those young women with terrific style. I never knew what to do with my hair. I had no signature look, no original ideas. Instead, the things I have been good at are rather dull. I
by Roger Fuller
952.934.1525 800.362.3515 ChanhassenDT.com
Jennifer McPherson
St. Paul School Board
A strong leader, a fighter and team player "I believe everyone has the same opportunity when given the same chances. I believe in diversity, equality, and inclusion. I am excited to work for you and your family."
A new tomorrow starts today. McPherson4spps real education starts now! Downtown St. Paul Voice - November 2019 - Page 9
B usiness
Your community news and information source
Celeste St. Paul from page 1
struction: project supervisor, re-imaginer of historical spaces, and traveling curator of period pieces. Deeken described the effort to keep as many of the historical features as intact as possible. “Almost everything is untouched and original, such as the woodwork and molding, the decorative iron work and the terrazzo floors, which have been cleaned, buffed and clear-coated,” he said during a recent visit. Pointing out the original tiles around the fireplaces in both front parlors, he added, “Those tiles were handpainted by the Sisters who lived here.” In hewing close to the Catholic conservatory’s original identity, four large historic religious paintings were sent to a museum for restoration, and a new portrait of Mother Celestine was commissioned. It hangs over the fireplace in the lobby. With his keen and imaginative eye, Deeken had the pocket doors from the lobby parlor removed and repurposed for use as a headboard for the king-sized bed in the Chapel
Suite. Modern conveniences have been added, such as a street-level, ADA-compliant entrance, a large new public elevator and newly appointed restrooms. Flashes of Deeken’s cheeky humor were evident as he described another painting he commissioned to hang between the men’s and women’s restrooms. “A priest will gesture to the men’s room on the right, and a Sister will point to the ladies on the left,” he said. He pointed out the original tiny elevator, scarcely larger than a dumbwaiter. It was seldom used by the Sisters; its use was considered “lazy.” The minuscule conveyance was called the “friend-maker.” “You may not have known each other when you got in, but you were going to be good friends by the time you got out,” said Deeken. The hotel incorporates original features of the building in unique, eclectic ways. There are standard queen rooms converted from the original Sisters’ rooms, king rooms with grand views of
ê
Photo CSJ archives. Circa 1885.
Sister Jane Hurley proudly displays her invitation to the hotel’s grand opening. The building will look much different than when she resided there in the late 1940s.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet have been a force majeure in St. Paul since arriving in St. Paul in 1851.
the State Capitol, king suites at the end of the hallways, and quirky-shaped rooms— “crashpads”—with queen bunkbeds, converted from the old chapel loft and accessed by private walk-up stairways. The stunning Chapel Suite with its original stained-glass windows was converted from a portion of the original chapel and sanctuary. It features a
variety of local and imported drafts, as well as Prosecco. It’s backed by luminous, mirror-like antique subway tiles he selected, eschewing the conventional mirrored bar-back. Remarkably, the original convent confessional remains intact right next to the bar and is available for an intimate get-together. Furnished with authentic pe-
stained-glass skylight in the 18-foot-high vaulted ceiling, a dressing room and an elegant, windowed full bath with soaking tub. The remainder of the early chapel will be used to host a continental breakfast buffet for guests. The hotel bar will be open to the public and is one of Deeken’s favorite elements of the venue, with its sterling silver tap dispensing a
riod church pews and dark, drawn-back velvet curtains, the space is rife with irony. “Every fine bar should have a cheater’s nook,” Dekken quipped. With the Green Line just steps away, and the Fitzgerald, the History Theatre and State Capitol all within easy walking distance, the Celeste St. Paul hopes to attract a varied guest clientele.
The World is a Great Big Place We proudly cover just a tiny portion of it. Community news specifically for community-minded people in... • Downtown St. Paul • The West Side • West St. Paul • South St. Paul • Sunfish Lake • Lilydale • Mendota Heights
To submit news or advertising to reach 37,500 homes in the greater St. Paul area and the Latino market of the Twin Cities, call 651-457-1177. Check us out at www.stpaulpublishing.com. Page 10 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - November 2019
B usiness A saintly history The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet have been a force majeure in St. Paul since arriving from St. Louis at St. Paul’s Lower Landing in 1851. Within two weeks they established St. Joseph’s Academy, and two years later opened St. Joseph’s Hospital, Minnesota’s oldest hospital now known as M Health Fairview St. Joseph’s. The order founded and operated grade schools, orphanages and hospitals throughout Minnesota. Dedicated to their mission of caring for “the dear neighbor” but constantly strapped for operating funds, the forward-thinking Mother Celestine—with the support of her cousin the Archbishop— opened St. Agatha’s in 1910. Soon the school became a profitable venture for the Archdiocese, generating significant income through the Sisters’ collective hard work. At its peak, 1,100 students were enrolled in its art, music, dance and drama classes. Graduation from St. Agatha’s often guaranteed acceptance at prestigious schools such as Julliard in New York City. Former student Florence Schmidt, 77, has many happy memories of St. Agatha’s Conservatory, and the firm but kind Sisters. “I took piano lessons there from Sister St. Agatha, and
Your community news and information source went on to student-teach piano there myself,” said Schmidt, who later opened her own piano studio. “There was a small auditorium there with a stage and a piano on it for our recitals. We felt so important.” With the bustle of the city streets right outside, Schmidt always marveled at the utter stillness and gleaming cleanliness of the Conservatory. “I would take a seat in the parlor, just inside the big front doors and wait patiently for Sister to come get me,” she said. “There was no wandering the hallways at St. Agatha’s.” Of the bar’s confessional-turned-lover’s nook, Schmidt laughingly imagined the early-day Sisters rolling in their graves. As it turns out, at least one of the surviving Sisters has a more earthy view of the old confessional’s conversion. During a recent conversation at her apartment at Carondolet Village, Sister Jane Hurley, 92, simply chuckled tolerantly at the impious transformation from sacredto-secular. When she lived at St. Agatha’s (1948-1950) she shared it with 92 other Sisters who also taught in St. Paul, across the Archdiocese and beyond. “My bed was on the fifth floor,” she recalled. “It was a
The new hotel offers 71 guest rooms and incorporates original features of the building. huge dormitory-like space, with only curtains between our beds. We couldn’t talk. There were strict rules about quiet times.” After her first stressful day of teaching first-graders and feeling completely overmatched, she began weeping in her bed. An experienced Sister heard her and came to offer counsel and advice. “She comforted me and
suggested what to do…but we had to confess to talking and do penance the next day,” she said. Since the hotel’s inception, the Sisters have been invited to share in the excitement of the new venture, with site visits and updates. “The sixth floor is all beautiful rooms now,” said Sister Jane. “When I lived here, that was an open-air roof-
top with swings for the Sisters to swing on.” A heavenly playground, younger Sisters reportedly even roller-skated there to burn off excess energy, despite their long hours of hard work. On Oct. 30, the Sisters will join project investors and local dignitaries at the gala grand opening of the new hotel. If the Celeste St. Paul’s general manager
Deeken has lavished tender loving care on the building, he has surely been equally attentive to the living history embodied in the now-elderly Sisters who once lived and worked there. Displaying her hand-inscribed invitation to the grand opening, Sister Jane said, “They’ve been so wonderful…so nice to include us in everything. We feel very honored.”
{ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES } Neighborhood House in St. Paul is looking for volunteers to assist in the food shelf, with tutoring, youth services and other areas. For more information, contact Vanessa Edwards at 651-789-2524 or vedwards@neighb.org. Neighbors, Inc., a social service agency serving northern Dakota County, has a number of volunteer opportunities to assist local residents, including work with the food shelf and thrift store. For more information, contact Jenny at 651-2721133 or volunteer@neighborsmn.org. DARTS, a nonprofit organization serving seniors in Dakota County, offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for all ages. To volunteer, contact Angela Liedke at 651-234-2254, angela.liedke@darts1. org or visit www.darts1.org/volunteer. Dakota County offers volunteer positions in community corrections, environmental resources, the Historical Society, library, parks, public health, the sheriff’s office and social services. For more information, call 651-438-4435 or visit www. co.dakota.mn.us/Government/Jobs/Volunteering/Pages/default.aspx Dodge Nature Center, a nonprofit environmental education center in West St. Paul, is seeking volunteers age 16 and over to assist with community events, land management and environmental education. For more information, call 651-455-4531 or visit www.dodgenaturecenter.org.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for men, especially Latinos, to mentor boys ages 7-12 in St. Paul. Volunteers are asked to commit just a few hours a month. To volunteer, call 651-789-2400 or visit www. bigstwincities.org. CommonBond Communities seeks volunteers to assist children and teens with their academic skills, homework and discovering post-secondary school and career opportunities. For more information, visit commonbond.org/volunteer or contact volunteerservices@commonbond.org or 651-290-6226. Cerenity Senior Care-Humboldt is seeking volunteers to transport residents to activities. It also needs Spanish-speaking volunteers to assist with one-onone visits. Volunteers may work weekly, monthly or at a special event. Located on the West Side, the Cerenity Residence at 514 Humboldt provides assisted living, memory care and transitional care, and the Cerenity Care Center at 512 Humboldt provides nursing care. To volunteer, contact 651-220-1789, HumboldtVolunteer@bhshealth.org, or visit www. cerenityseniorcare.org/volunteer. St. Paul Public Schools is seeking volunteer tutors to assist students one-on-one or in small groups. Flexible day, evening or weekend hours. To volunteer, contact Jyni Koschak at 952-945-4162 or jkoschak@ voamn.org.
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon needs volunteers to assist the families of deployed military members with household chores, grocery shopping, transportation to medical appointments, etc. To volunteer or for more details, contact yellowribbon@wspmn.gov or call Jan at 651-457-3541. Volunteers of America is looking for volunteers age 55 and over to assist children who are struggling with homework and reading. Time commitment ranges from three to 12 hours a week. To volunteer or receive more information, contact Jyni Koschak at 952-945-4162 or jkoschak@voamn. org. Minnesota Reading, Minnesota Math Corps is seeking full- and part-time tutors to serve in St. Paul public schools during the school year. Volunteers earn a biweekly living allowance of $526 (full-time) and an education award of up to $4,200 to help pay for education. Full-time tutors may also receive health insurance. For more information or to apply, visit visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org, www. MinnesotaMathCorps.org, or contact 866859-2825. Rebuilding Together Twin Cities is looking for Safe at Home volunteers to provide home safety and accessibility modifications for low-income older adult or disabled homeowners in St. Paul and
Dakota County. For more information, call 651-776-4273, email volunteerservices@rebuildingtogether-twincities.org. or visit http://rebuildingtogether-twincities.org. St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul is looking for volunteers to escort patients as they discharge from the hospital. Flexible shifts, free parking and meal vouchers offered. Contact Michele Sahar at 651-232-3756 or MLSahar@healtheast.org. Ramsey County Community Human Services has volunteer opportunities for people age 16 and older. For more information, contact 651-266-4090 or humanservicesvolunteer@co.ramsey.mn.us. Science Museum of Minnesota is seeking volunteers to assist with visitor services and exhibits. Apply at smm.org/volunteer or call 651-221-9453. YMCA in West St. Paul - The YMCA offers several volunteer opportunities, including youth sports coaches, member services and Kids Stuff staff. For more information, call 651-457-0048 or visit www.ymcamn.org/weststpaul.
Downtown St. Paul Voice - November 2019 - Page 11
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Page 12 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - November 2019