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

Downtown St. Paul Spine-tingling tales Page 6

Volume 27 | Number 10

A Friend of the River

Blythe named superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Tim Spitzack Editor

innesota’s least known national park has a new leader who will soon be rolling up his sleeves and getting to work on helping the park get the respect and attention he believes it deserves. Tucker Blythe was named superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) in mid-August and begins his duties October 4. He succeeds John O. Anfinson, who retired on January 3. Craig Hansen, superintendent of Grand Portage National Monument in northern Minnesota, was interim superintendent. MNRRA is a unit of the National Park Service that encompasses a 72mile corridor along the Mississippi in the Twin Cities. Established in 1988 as a partnership park with state, county and municipal agencies, it has struggled to achieve both local and national recognition. In an interview upon his retirement, Anfinson said the biggest challenges MNRRA staff face are helping guide responsible development along the riverfront and getting people to know that a national park exists in the Twin Cities. Those challenges now fall squarely on the shoulders of Blythe, who is no stranger to the Park Service or the river itself. Over the past 24 years he MNRRA / Page 2

Your Community News & Information Source

Art Crawl blossoms for 30th anniversary Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

t. Paul’s iconic Art Crawl returns this fall, breathing fresh air into a pandemic-weary community and giving artists a much-needed opportunity for promotion. Different than years past, the Crawl includes seven independent events spread out over 12 weeks. Each will be hosted at a different location and organized by its own committee of artists. Most will feature food vendors and activities. The St. Paul Art Collective (SPAC), a volunteerrun organization founded in 1977, has produced the biannual Crawl each April and October since 1991. The Crawl was canceled for the first time in April 2020 due to the pandemic, and last fall organizers attempted a month-long virtual event, which proved to be largely ineffective for the artists. “People are reluctant to buy online unless it’s from an established artist that they know,” said David Evans, SPAC board chair and founding president of the Lowertown

Christopher Harrington

Ordway names new president

Resilience by Heather Friedli Lofts Artists Cooperative. “In-person is very beneficial for artists.” When the Crawl was yet again canceled this spring, artists began exploring other options to promote their work. Many concluded Art Crawl / Page 4

he St. Paul Farmers’ Market continues to chug along amidst the driest conditions in over a century and shifts in customer shopping behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these and other challenges, in October you’ll find a wide array of fresh meat and produce, as

well as colorful pumpkins, gourds and other fall favorites. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, Ramsey County has experienced the 10th driest year in the past 127 years, with almost five inches less precipitation than normal. The drought has stunted crop growth and reduced normal yields, which in turn has limited

The Ordway Center for Performing Arts has tapped a Motor City arts professional as its 12th president and CEO. Christopher Harrington will begin his duties on November 1. He succeeds interim president Chris Sagstetter, who will resume her previous role as executive vice president and CFO. Harrington has worked with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 2012 and is credited with increasing the orchestra’s presentations sevenfold, growing ticket revenue by more than 300%, and helping attract a more diverse audience base. He has a master of business administration and a bachelor of music from Wayne State University, and currently serves on the board of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. Harrington will also represent the Ordway on the Arts Partnership Board of Directors. The Arts Partnership consists of the four organizations that perform regularly at the Or-

Ordway / Page 3

Harvest time at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

October 2021

the number of vendors at the downtown market and its 19 satellite locations. “Many vendors used to sell at six or more markets per week,” said David Kotsonas, manager of the St. Paul Farmers’ Market. “[This year] the families who would sell at multiple markets have reduced the number they attend by 20-30%.” Kotsonas added that lingering effects from the pan-

demic have made it difficult for many vendors to hire enough workers, which further limits their reach. He also said the change in shopping behavior has benefitted some more than others. “I would generalize and say that attendance was down by 20-30% during 2020 due to the pandemic but sales were up,” said Kotsonas. “It seems Farmers’ Market / Page 3

P eople

Your community news and information source

MNRRA

Arch National Park in St. Louis. For the past 2½ years the couple has lived in that city while he was employed at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Blythe has a bachelor of arts in historic preservation from Mary Washington College in Virginia and a master of arts in communication from Wichita State University in Kansas. Over the course of his career, he was also a business owner for nine years, an experience that should benefit him while working with developers and other businesses in the MNRRA corridor. “It wasn’t something that nurtured my soul but it gave me a different perspective on things,” he said of his time as a State Farm insurance agent. “I understand that government work is very much different than private business. I’m always thinking, ‘What would the small business owner be thinking?’” Several projects in St. Paul alone are on the drawing board that will alter the riverfront in the coming years. The biggest proposal is the RiversEdge development, a

from page 1

has held leadership positions at 10 units of the National Park Service, most recently as superintendent of Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site near St. Louis, Mo. He was attracted to the MNRAA job for several reasons. “The park is different than any park I’ve worked in and I’m looking forward to the challenge it will bring me professionally,” said Blythe in a recent interview. “I’ve had a connection to the river my whole life.” That connection began with his birth and upbringing in the land of blues and barbeque: Memphis, Tenn. Years later, he met a woman from Coon Rapids, Minn., and they married in Brainerd, where her parents now live. The couple is looking forward to being closer to her extended family, many of whom live in the Twin Cities. It seems Blythe’s personal and professional life has never strayed far from the river. One of his many Park Service duties was as acting deputy superintendent at Gateway

Tucker Blythe public-private project that includes housing, office space and a park. Developer AECOM wants to build a roughly $800 million development that features four towers filled with 50 condo units, 350 apartments, 160 hotel rooms, office space, and retail and entertainment venues. A key component of the project is The Park at RiversEdge, a 9-acre park built on a land bridge over Shepard Road and connecting to

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the river. Ramsey County is seeking $26 million in state funding for acquisition, design and construction. Also along the riverfront is the proposed 1.5-mile river promenade, often referred to as the river balcony. It’s part of the City of St. Paul’s Great River Passage plan, which was adopted in 2013 and provides guidance for development along St. Paul’s 17 miles of riverfront. The promenade would extend

from Union Depot to the Science Museum and feature restaurants, retail shops, gathering spaces, sweeping views of the river valley, and connections to the river. In September, James Corner Field Operations, a New York-based urban design and landscape architecture firm, was selected to design the balcony. The final design, cost estimates and proposed construction timeline will be completed by June 2022. One of Blythe’s biggest opportunities lies with the creation of the proposed River Learning Center near the Watergate Marina in Crosby Farm Regional Park. The project is a partnership with the City of St. Paul, Mississippi Park Connection (a nonprofit that raises funds for MNRRA), Great River Passage Conservancy and others. The group hopes to have a schematic design by the end of the year, and the center could open as early as 2024. The Park Service would relocate its office there from downtown St. Paul, and rangers would lead environmental and educational programs from the center, including

boat trips on the river and bike outings on the nearby regional trail. The nonprofit Wilderness Inquiry, which hosts outdoor adventure experiences, would also be a tenant and operate its Canoemobile from the center. Canoemobile is a floating classroom aboard a 24-foot Voyageur canoe, where students learn about science, history, geography and culture. Work is also underway on another interpretive site in the area: the Wakan Tipi visitor center at the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary near Lowertown. The Lower Phalen Creek Project is working with St. Paul’s Great River Passage Initiative to construct a 9,000 square-foot building featuring classrooms, exhibit and gallery space, and a community gathering area. The center will be used to educate people about the ecology of the area, and how the Dakota people once used the land and the nearby Wakan Tipi cave. Wakan Tipi translates to “dwelling place of the sacred” in the Dakota language. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2022. The Wakan Tipi center

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P eople will be part of the newly created East Side River District, a Great River Passage Conservancy-led project. The goal of the district is to “heal a compromised landscape,” connect people to the river and land, and protect sacred and significant sites. This area of St. Paul currently has both heavy industrial sites and parks and open spaces. It is also part of the Mississippi flyway bird migration route.

Your community news and information source Blythe and his wife Sandy purchased a condo along the riverfront in St. Paul and are looking forward to hiking the many trails in the park with their dog Lucy. Tucker also enjoys biking and birding and will be doing those activities when he can get away from his job, which at first will consume much of his time as he gets up to speed on issues big and small. His first weeks and months

will include meetings with the park’s many partners and stakeholders, including the Native American communities. “I’m going to come in and listen and learn,” he said. “I’ll be getting out into the park to learn about the park, and out into the community to learn about the community.” He appreciates the groundwork that has been laid by current park staff — approxi-

mately two dozen full- and part-timers — and those who came before them. He’s also thankful that Anfinson, his predecessor, is still involved in efforts in the park as a volunteer. He’s known him for six years and will draw upon his breadth of knowledge about the park and the Upper Mississippi River. “My long-term goal is to get people to understand that the river [in the Twin

specialized products from independent growers and makers. The summer market from page 1 opens in late April and runs people came to the market cards. through October. Downwithout other family mem“So far this year we have town hours are Saturdays bers, but they also purchased reimbursed our vendors 7 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sundays more. Meat sales spiked for $50,998 of SNAP benefits 8 a.m.-1p.m., at 290 5th market vendors during the and $25,469 in Market Street E. in Lowertown. time when the larger pro- Bucks,” he said, an increase The market has a slew cessing plants closed due of 93% and 31% respec- of fall promotions this to the virus. Some reported tively from the same period a friendly flower and gift boutique fall, including free coffee selling a year’s worth in three from 2020. from the donut shop for weeks.” Kotsonas said attenThe market is operated by everyone who arrives before dance has increased by 25- the St. Paul Growers Asso- 9 a.m. Customer apprecia30% over the past year and ciation. Established in 1854, tion weekend is October 2-3, that there’s been an increase the downtown location sells featuring free coffee all day in the amount of tokens pur- locally grown food and other and drawings for market chased with credit and debit

merchandise. A station will be set up October 23-24 for kids and adults to decorate (not carve) pumpkins, and customers are encouraged to dress up and trick-or-treat at all market locations October 30-31. A special Thanksgiving market is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m., November 24. The downtown winter market begins December 4. Winter satellite markets are also held at Bachman’s stores, starting November 6. For more information, call 651-227-8101 or visit www. stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

Farmers’ Market

Ordway a friendly flower and gift boutique from page 1

dway: Minnesota Opera, the Ordway, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Schubert Club. The Ordway also recently hired Maia Maiden as director of arts learning and community engagement. She will manage the annual Sally Awards program, which recognizes the contributions of Minnesota artists, educators, philanthropists and leaders, and assist with the Ordway’s education programming for K-12 students and educa-

tors. For more than a decade, Maiden has run Maia Maiden Productions, a company that provides experiences for hip hop, Black, Indigenous and people of color, women and youth. In 2018, she received a Sally Award from the Ordway for her contributions to Minnesota’s hip hop industry. She has also been a regular emcee of the annual Flint Hills Family Festival, presented by the Ordway and Flint Hills Resources. The Ordway reopened in September after 18 months of being closed due the COVID-19 pandemic. All

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the Grand Portage National Monument, Pipestone National Monument, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the North Country National Scenic Trail. For more information on MNRRA, check out the exhibits or talk to a ranger at the Mississippi River Center, located inside the Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, or visit www.nps.gov/miss.

The Downtown St. Paul Voice is published monthly and delivered to every apartment, condominium and skyway drop in St. Paul’s historic urban village, as well as other locations throughout downtown St. Paul.

Maia Maiden people attending performances are required to wear a mask and present proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before a performance.

Cities] is part of the National Park Service — and what we do to preserve it,” said Blythe. “It’s an important National Park Service site.” Minnesota’s most wellknown national park is Voyageurs, near International Falls. Comprised mostly of water, the park is popular with fisherman and boaters of all types. Other sites in Minnesota managed by the National Park Service are

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A rts & Culture

Your community news and information source

Art Crawl

that social distancing and “Spreading out the event current health regulations might actually be better befrom page 1 make the traditional Crawl cause people might be able format less attractive, and to see more locations.” viewed independent events Historically, the Crawl has as a better alternative. Artists included more than Clothing & Ropa three y Accessories banded together and worked dozen buildingsaccesorios and about Jewelry Joyería five frantically to find dates suit- 300 artists. The original Toys Juguetes able for their group, and buildings — the Jax, 262 w/$20 min. order, after 4 pm Unique Gifts Regalos únicos when the dust settled SPAC Studios, Lowertown Lofts MN-made Hechothe en MN Stop in today had with a 3-month schedule to Artist Cooperative, TilWe've teamed up GRUBHUB Much more! ¡Mucho más! for big savings promote. sner Artists’ Cooperative and Customers “This year remindswho me of the Northern Warehouse order food from when I firstGRUBHUB joined thecan Crawl Artists’ Cooperative — were una experiencia única de de regalos y boutique in 1991,” Para said Evans. “It allcompra in Lowertown. This year now get beer, was Se habla a free-for-allwine and&people Some spirits had events run the gamut. español to bang theirfrom fistsus.on the are one day in length, some deup.” descuento table to set something an entire weekend. Most will th 262 E. 4 St., St. Paul • 651-222-3661Orden total He thinks the new format be held outside under tents Expira 10/31/21 Total Order. Exp. 10/31/21 will be better for the public or in galleries rather than www.Lowertownwine.com as well. in artists’ studios. An artist OPEN Mon.-Fri. 10 am.-8 pm, Sat. 10 am-5 pm Abierto Lun.-Vier. 10 am.-8 pm, Sáb. 10 am-5 pm “Nobody ever walked directory and more informa34 Moreland Ave. E., Suite 200, West St. Paul • 651-571-2154 Moreland Ave.he E., said. Suite 200, West Paul • 651-571-2154 the 34 whole thing,” tion canSt.be found at www. stpaulartcollective.org. A kick-off event featuring live performances was held September 12 at Celtic Junction Arts Center, and an art w/$20 min. order, after 4 pm and cultural festival centered We've teamed up with GRUBHUB around justice, equity and solidarity was held SeptemCustomers who ber 23-25 on Payne Avenue. order food from GRUBHUB can Upcoming events include: now get beer, Lowertown art co-ops, wine & spirits October 1-3, Fri. 5-10 p.m., from us. Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. View works of 262 E. 4th St., St. Paul • 651-222-3661 artists from the following buildings: www.Lowertownwine.com • Northern Warehouse

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Artists, 255 E. Kellogg Blvd. • Lowertown Lofts Artist Cooperative, 255 Kellogg Blvd. E. • Tilsner Artists, 300 Broadway St. N. • Northwestern Building, 275 4th St. E • 262 Studios & Master Framers Inc., 262 4th St. E Art on the Island, October 8-10, Fri. 5-9 p.m., Sat. and Sun. noon-5 p.m., Warehouse 2, 106 Water St. W. An open studio event hosted by more than 20 Harriet Island artists. Includes food trucks, live music, a tango demonstration and interactive art demonstrations. Parking is free. Art on the Hill, October 8-10, Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m., Virginia Street Church on Cathedral Hill, 170 Virginia St. Features the work of 13 artists and includes musical performances in folk, classical keyboard, rock and jazz. Where Art Lives, October 15-17, Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m., Schmidt Artist Lofts, 900 7th St. W. Artists will have open galleries. Green Line Crawl, October 22-24, Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun.

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noon-5 p.m. Features art at two locations on the light rail route: Dow Art Gallery, 2242 University Ave. W., and Union Depot, 214 4th St. E. West Side: District del Sol Winter Crawl, December 3-5, Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m., Villa del Sol, 88 Cesar Chavez St. Artists will have open galleries. During the Crawl you’ll also find events at AZ Gallery, Lowertown Underground Art Gallery, Nautilus Music Theater, Dow Art Gallery, Rafferty Gallery, Grand Hill Gallery, Front Avenue Pottery & Tile Co., Friedli Gallery and Studio, Spatial Effects Gallery and the George Latimer Central Library. Here’s a sample of the art you’ll find: Stephen Hadeen is a photographer who shoots landscapes, cityscapes, nightscapes and astrophotography. His favorite part of the Crawl is sharing his behind-the-scenes stories of how he created each piece. Inspiration for his “Images from a Quiet World” series stems from his own hearing loss, which he experienced as an infant. He’ll be at the

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A rts & Culture

Your community news and information source

Photo of Union Depot by Stephen Hadeen Union Depot. For more information, visit www.stephenhadeenphotography. com. “Art is important for our mental well-being,” he said. “Art, at least for me, can be a healing salve in a world that is increasingly volatile. Art can bring people together…. Art, in its subjectiveness, can

help build a community of peers through thoughtful conversations and showing respect toward differing opinions.” Heather Friedli, whose art appears on the front page, is best known for her contemporary impressionist oil paintings and snow sculptures that depict her

family heritage and the land in which she lives. She won the “Best of Show Award” at the 2019 St. Paul Art Collective Winter Members Show, and her snow sculpting team placed first in the United States national snow sculpting championship in 2019, in Lake Geneva, Wis. Her favorite part of the Crawl is interacting with her audience and sharing her art with the world. She creates art to share the beauty and joy of the natural world with others. Recently, she opened her own gallery on West Seventh Street near Keg & Case, and you can find her there during the Crawl. Friedli Gallery and Studio supports local and national artists, offers classes, artist conversations and more. For more information, visit www.friedliarts. com or call 248-660-3771. “My philosophy about art in society is building community,” she said. “Teach, learn, grow, participate — build and be a part of our community.” Natalie McGuire specializes in a mixed media technique known as photozaics, a mixture of a photograph and a mosaic. Each project includes a photo and colorful

Poplar N Pine by Natalie McGuire hand-cut shards of glass that complement it. She hopes her art serves as an escape from the stress of daily life and engages curiosity. Her favorite part of the Crawl is connecting with the public and networking with fellow artists. She especially enjoys inspiring young artists who

may lack confidence. She will be at the Schmidt Artists Lofts. For more information, visit www.nmcguirestudio. com or call 651-470-0872. “In the presence of my art you can open yourself to another plane of consciousness,” she said. “It awakens your curiosity about what

lies beyond the frame. What you see is personal to you. The images I create help me connect with you, making you feel as if you are there with me, as well as give you a peaceful feeling that inspires your imagination to wonder what lies beyond…. I’m here to create art that heals.”

St. Paul Art Crawl

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uniondepot.org | 214 4th Street East | Saint Paul, MN 55101 | @uniondepot

Downtown St. Paul Voice - October 2021 - Page 5

S ample St. Paul

Fitzgerald Theatre

10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul 612-338-8388 www.first-avenue.com

ring true today. “Extraordinary Women” - Walk among extraordinary Minnesotan women who changed their communities.

“Wits” comedy and music show will host a reunion performance with special guests at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1. Tickets start at $35.

“Our Home: Native Minnesota” - Learn how Minnesota’s Native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values, and an essential connection to home.

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

Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow” and “Weather Permitting.”

“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

The Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ThursdaySunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students and $8 for children ages five to 17.

Your community news and information source

History Theatre

10 E. Tenth St., St. Paul 651-292-4323 www.historytheatre.com

“Not in our Neighborhood! A story of Courage, Faith and Love,” October 14-24. In 1925, Nellie and William Francis, residents of St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, purchased a home in the “all-white” Groveland Park. As a result, they found themselves faced with ugly racist protests and KKK-like behavior. Tickets start at $35.

Landmark Center

75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org

History Plays will perform “Obscenity on Trial: The Case Against Dr.

“Theatre of the Macabre” will bring classic tales of hauntings and horror to Park Square Theatre October 29-30. Charles Malchow” at 7 p.m., October 7-8, and 2 p.m., October 10, in the F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium. The play explores the repercussions of the Comstock Act of 1873. Tickets are $10. The Great Pumpkin Halloween Festival will take place 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 24. This free event features a kids’ DJ, crafts, treats and a costume parade. Adults and older kids are invited to attend the Gangster Ghost Tour, held 6-9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28. Participants will be guided through the shadowy halls of Landmark Center to hear from the “ghosts” of Police Chief “Big Tom” Brown, Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, Ma Barker and others. Tickets are $10, and space is limited. Reservations are required and can be made online or by calling 651-292-3063.

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

“Storyland,” featuring children’s literary classics, opens soon; a date wasn’t available as of press time. Other exhibits and activi-

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ties 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. Tickets are $14.95.

MN Museum of American Art 350 Robert St. N. St. Paul 651-797-2571 www.mmaa.org

“Many Waters: A Minnesota Biennial” is on display through October 2, installed in the windows on Robert and 4th streets, and in the Ecolab entrance in the skyway.

Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul www.ordway.org 651-224-4222

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives will perform at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 24. Tickets start at $58. The Home Fires will be performing a pre-show event in the Ordway lobby at 6:45 p.m.

Park Square Theatre

Allen Poe, William Shakespeare and others.

Science Museum 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org

Days of the Dinosaurs, opens October 21. View dinosaurs and fossils from around the world in brand-new exhibits, movies and the recently expanded Dinosaurs & Fossils gallery. Current Omnitheater films include “Oceans: Our Blue Planet,” and “Volcanoes: Fires of Creation.” “Dinosaurs of Antarctica” begins October 21. Theater tickets are $9.95, with discounts for children and seniors. Museum tickets are $19.95, with discounts for children and seniors.

Xcel Center

199 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-726-8240 www.xcelenergycenter.com

Eagles will perform at 8 p.m., October 1-2. Tickets start at $126. Dude Perfect will perform at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 29. Tickets start at $25.

20 W. 7th Pl. St. Paul www.parksquaretheatre.org

Movies in the Parks

cabre” will beFOR performed MR. LARRY HIRE at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29-30. I do painting, repairs It features classic tales & cleaning of homes of hauntings and horror, and apartments including ghost stories, Window Washing songs, classic literary Gutter Cleaning scenes, and storytelling and Repairs from the works of Edgar

“Hocus Pocus,” is presented October 1 at the Como Midway/East Pavilion; “IT” (2017) October 8 at Lake Phalen; and “The Shining” October 15, at Mears Park. Movies begin at dusk and some have pre-show activities.

“Theatre of the MaHANDYMAN

Insured

651-399-4304

N ews Briefs

Your community news and information source

{ THE FULLER FILES } American Public Media Group (APMG), which operates Minnesota Public Radio, has named Jean Taylor as its CEO. She succeeds Jon McTaggert, who held the position for a decade. Taylor has served on the APMG board since 2013. Minnesota Sinfonia will hold a fall concert at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 15 at First Covenant Church, 1280 Arcade St. Trumpeter Rodney Marsalis will perform “A Scottish Lament,” a Harry James concerto and the Hummel concerto. Mendelssohn’s First Symphony will also be performed. George Latimer Central Library has fully re-opened, including the computer and

internet stations. The second floor had been closed during the pandemic. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Masks are required. St. Paul Parks and Recreation has restored regular hours and programs to its recreation centers, and the Great River Indoor Water Park has reopened. Masks are required at indoor facilities. St. Paul Charter Commission is considering expanding the city council’s ability to impose new administrative citations or civil penalties for some criminal violations. These changes could include fines for land-

Postscript

Taking no chances

The renovations to our new home continue. We didn’t expect to be refinishing the floor, but when we tore up the flooring that was buckling and warping in the summer humidity, we discovered the original parquet, spattered with paint, underneath. A man named Michael showed up with the biggest floor sander I have ever seen, looked disapprovingly at the paint sprayed all over the parquet, and declared that it should sand clean without a problem. My husband, Peter, told Michael he was retired, and Michael told us he was retired as well.

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

“What did you used to do?” I asked. “Sand floors!” he said, as if that was obvious. “And now you sand floors in your retirement?” “But only when I want to!” he clarified. Michael was right, and

by Roger Fuller

lords who do not maintain their property or employers who do not follow minimum wage regulations. The Charter Commission will hold several public hearings and make a recommendation to the council. Metro Transit is offering $1 fares on busses and trains through October in an effort to lure back customers who didn’t use public transit during the past year due to the pandemic. Bus and light rail fares are normally $2 ($2.50 for rush hour) and $2.50 for express busses ($3.50 for rush hour). Friends of the St. Paul Library will host a virtual discussion of “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley at 7 the paint cleaned right up, revealing not oak floors, as we had thought, but an intricate pattern in teak. Michael didn’t finish sanding on that day, which happened to be a Friday, but said he’d be back Monday morning. “Don’t walk on it in bare feet,” he cautioned. “Your feet might have oil on them.” I didn’t think I had particularly oily feet, but I was taking no chances and made sure I had slippers on every time I touched the beautiful raw wood floor. “Peter! You dropped a piece of popcorn!” I scolded, scurrying to retrieve an errant kernel. I tell you all this so you’ll understand how dreadful I felt about what happened next. We like peanut butter, the kind that’s made with peanuts and nothing else. That kind of peanut butter separates, with the peanuts at the bottom and the oil at

p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 6. The Opus and Olives annual fundraiser for the Friends will be held virtually on October 10. For more information, visit www.thefriends. org/calendar. According to the 2020 Census, the percentage of white people in St. Paul has dropped to 49% from 60% in the past decade. The city’s population is 19% Asian, 16.5% Black and nearly 10% Hispanic. Statewide, the white population dropped to 76% from 83%. The state’s population is 7% Black, 6% Hispanic and 5% Asian. The City of St. Paul has eliminated off-street parking requirements for developers building residential units, retail space and offices. Developers may still build off-

street parking facilities but are no longer required to do so. A city study revealed that it costs a developer $5,000 to install a surface parking stall, and $25,000-$35,000 for a stall in a parking garage, which in turn drives up rents. The Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary will hold Restore! Events 5:30-7 p.m. on October 5 and 9-11 a.m. on October 16. Volunteers will remove invasive species. Indigenous Peoples Day will be observed on October 11. The Department of Public Works will repave several downtown streets this fall. Mill and overlay will occur on 5th and 6th street between Jackson and Wabasha, and on Seventh Place between Robert and Minnesota. Some streets

near Rice Park will also be repaved. The Apostle Supper Club and the False Eye Doll tiki bar and voodoo lounge is expected to open this fall in the Gateway Project near the Excel Energy Center. Managed by Purpose Driven Restaurants, the supper club will offer prime rib, a tableside salad bar cart, burgers, fish and chips and more. Wellness market - The St. Paul Downtown Alliance is hosting a wellness market noon-6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 19 in the conjoined spaces of local St. Paul gyms D1 Training, Conquer Ninja Gym and Finish Line Wellness in the Treasure Island Center on Wabasha Street. The free event will feature multiple vendors from the health and wellness industry.

the top. You may think you can imagine what happens next, but it’s even worse. When opening a new jar, I use one beater on my hand mixer to stir, but, when I did this on Saturday, the GFCI on the electrical outlet popped. “Darn!” I said. “Try another socket,” Peter said. And so I did. What I didn’t do was turn off the mixer before plugging it in. The jar spun madly out of control and, in a moment,

there was peanut oil and peanut butter all over the raw teak floor. I didn’t move for a long moment, hoping what had just happened would somehow rewind and be undone. “Quick! Get a towel!” Peter said, snapping me out of it. I wiped it up and scrubbed it with detergent and hot water. Then I did it again. Then one more time. I turned a fan on and let it dry all night, and in the morning it was every bit as bad as I feared it would be. I tried to imagine what I could have done that could be worse. “Maybe India ink,” I thought. “India ink might be worse.” I was sick at heart. “Have you ever hated any

of your clients?” I asked Michael the next morning. “What did you do?” he asked. I showed him. “It won’t show, will it?” Peter asked. “The polyurethane will cover it, won’t it?” I waited for Michael to reassure us. “I don’t know,” Michael said. “Guess we’ll find out.” And he fired up his sander. A few minutes later he called out, “Come here!” I ran to the kitchen. The oil was gone. “I knew you could do it!” I said, although I had been anything but sure. “Stay off the floor!” Michael yelled. And I did. Till next time.

there was peanut oil everywhere — all over me, all over the countertop, all over the cupboards. The only really important thing was that

Letter to the Editor

Now is the time to act to address climate change Those of us who have denied the reality of climate change can no longer pretend it is a natural cycle, or that scientists are unnecessarily sounding the alarm. The best time to act was decades ago. The next best time to act is now. Wildfires, extreme heat waves, severe flooding and droughts — we are witnessing the real-time human and economic cost of political and systematic inaction on climate change. We need ambitiously bold climate investments that protect our planet and communities now. Today. Congress is currently debating a budget package that could put us on track

for tackling the climate crisis before us. We are in this together, like it or not, and we must all work together to mitigate the effects of this very real crisis. My faith tradition teaches me that our sacred task as people of faith and conscience is to protect our ecosystems, work for environmental justice and public health, and address the climate crisis. We have to do all that we can to protect the people and places we love. As a grandmother, I want my small grandsons, and their generation, to know we finally paid attention and worked together to protect their future. Congress has an opportu-

nity right now to deliver a budget with bold climate investments that match the scale of the climate crisis and our communities’ needs. It is the moral responsibility of our nation to address the impacts of climate change and fulfill our moral obligation to leave a habitable world for future generations. I urge Congress to pass a budget that makes significant, bold and ambitious investments and truly tackles the climate crisis before it’s too late. And creates jobs. Inaction is no longer an option. Politicizing the crisis is no longer an option. Lisa Burke Downtown resident

Black Dog Cafe by David A. Amdur

During the Art Crawl, David A. Amdur will exhibit paintings that depict Twin City musicians, the MayDay Parade and a memorial to George Floyd. You can find his work October 1-3 in the Northern Warehouse, Studio #250, 308 Prince Street St. Paul. Hours are Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m-9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown St. Paul Voice - October 2021 - Page 7

Destination: Downtown & Lowertown A Guide to Shopping, Services and Entertainment

A12

Penfield/Lunds

The Chiropractor

St. Paul Dental Center

Lancer Service

F17

F Atlas Staffing

G16

G14

Kat Keys

G PARK SQUARE

I US BANK CENTER

J12 K

Great River Dental

K LOWERTOWN LOFTS & APTS.

Subtext Bookstore

CHS Field

WALL

SIBLEY

ROBERT

WACOUTA

M16 Master Framers

Shop locally and support the businesses that support our community

Atlas Staffing G14 189 7th Place E., 651-222-5894 atlasstaffinginc.com Providing the BEST employees

Master Framers M16 262 E. 4th St., 651-291-8820 www.masterframers.com www.facebook.com/MASTERFRAMERS Custom picture framing and restoration since 1959

Great River Dental J12 375 Jackson St. Ste. 200 651-222-0983 greatriverdental.com Providing complete dental care, including implants

Subtext Bookstore K6 6 5th St. W. 651-493-2791 subtextbooks.com St. Paul’s independent bookstore

Kat-Key’s Lock & Safe St. Paul G16 249 E. 7th St. 651-292-1124, www.katkeys.com Repairs, replacements, safe sales, safe moving/delivering, rekeying, master key systems, door hardware/door closer installation and more.

The Chiropractor A12 523 Jackson Street, Suite 105 St. Paul, MN 55101 | 651-287-0935 www.thechiropractormn.com Chiropractic Adjustments Acupuncture | RockTape Techniques Massage Therapy

To advertise on this map, call 651-457-1177

Page 8 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - October 2021

Lancer Service F17 270 E. 8th St. 651-224-0267 www.lancerservice.com

Our promise is simple - continuously provide every customer with exceptional auto repair & maintenance solutions.

St. Paul Dental Center E7 30 E. 7th St., Ste. 101 651-227-6646 www.stpauldentalcenter.com We provide comprehensive family dentistry. Map Map base base courtesy courtesy of of the the Capitol Capitol River River Council Council