Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

“It is a travesty on so many levels that we have gotten to this point, given there are multiple win-wins for the community, including a renovation design commissioned by the city or a relocation of the library, something that has never been seriously considered but would serve the community better on a number of levels,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer of Renovate 1558.

The Hamline Midway Library building will check out its last book on May 27 and close on May 28, 2023. The historic building will be demolished and replaced with a new structure. Once closed, staff … more

By Jane McClure and Tesha M. Christensen | 5/10/23

Ker Cha, one of the team members that went to South Korea, practices at Frogtown Community Center.

It all started in a refugee camp

Gao Chang likes to play volleyball and soccer. But the sport that has captured his heart is sepak takraw, a game with three team members on each side of a net using any part of their body except … more

By Jan Willms | 5/10/23

Diane Schray, a real estate agent with Real Estate Masters, shopped on April 28 at the ReUse Warehouse, scoring vintage fixtures for a client who recently bought a tudor-style house in Como neighborhood. The clerk remarked that they had just come in that day.

Why throw away a house when parts can be reused?

From early 20th Century thrift to building cabins from contractor cast-offs, reuse of building materials had long been an informal norm. But in a more recent world, entire houses have been thrown in … more

By Margo Ashmore | 5/10/23

AAPI Heritage Month event tries to envelop the decades

In 1992, Theater Mu was founded in St. Paul to tell stories from the heart of the Asian American experience, and now, we are in the middle of celebrating our 30th anniversary season. Four world … more

By Lianna Matt McLernon, Theater Mu marketing and communications director | 5/10/23

Vote delayed on Doge Pizza request

Should a Hamline-Midway pizza restaurant be allowed to provide carryout and delivery service overnight until 6 a.m.? That’s a question the St. Paul Planning Commission’s Zoning Committee … more

By Jane McClure | 5/10/23

Brad Curoe plays Young Sam in the upcoming production of “Ending True” at Dreamland Arts (677 Hamline Ave. N.)

Applause Theater’s latest show, ‘Ending True’ opens May 18

Applause Theater explores the power of family stories in its latest show, “Ending True,” which runs May 18-21 at Dreamland Arts (677 Hamline Ave. N.). “The play is about the power … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 5/10/23

Rafiki Coffee & Cafe owner Ian Oundo recommends trying the African Tea. The black tea is from Kenya and it is seasoned with the East African spices of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and cardamon.

Coffee shop focuses on building community

The space in the Griggs Midway Building used to house Lucy’s. Then it was Snack Chat. It had been empty for about four years when Ian Oundo looked at it. He had dreamed about opening a … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 5/10/23

Plan it May 2023

2023 Qeej and Hmong Arts Festival JUNE 4 Attend an authentic celebration of Hmong culture at the Qeej and Hmong Arts Festival, taking place on June 4, 2023 at the historic Landmark Center in St. … more

5/10/23

Celebrate Juneteenth in Rondo

Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions (RCODE) is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Observance on Monday, June 19t, 2023, at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza, 820 Concordia Avenue. Activities … more

5/10/23

Chat with local gardener, plant sale organizer

The 4th Annual Plant Sale to Benefit the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Food Shelf wil be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1138 Churchill St. Veggies, annuals and perennial … more

5/10/23

Firefighters from Frogtown’s Station 18 lend a hand during the annual Frogtown Park & Farm trash pickup on Earth Day 2023. (Photo submitted)

Signs of spring

Frogtown Green Spring has definitely sprung! This year, Frogtowners are busier than ever, working to enhance our neighborhood’s natural environment. Check out this spring roundup of … more

By Patricia Ohmans, Frogtown Green | 5/10/23

Intergenerational knowledge

“There is never a wrong time to do the right thing.” Author unknown “Although slavery may have been abolished, the crippling poison of racism still persists, and the struggle … more

By Melvin Giles, peacebubbles@q.com | 5/10/23

Briefs May 2023

Lyngblomsten welcomes Cosmina Strain as Housing Manager Lyngblomsten, a senior services nonprofit serving older adults in the Twin Cities since 1906, recently welcomed Cosmina Strain as the new … more

5/10/23

Folks officially re-open the children’s area at Rondo Community Library on April 25, 2023.

Children’s area transformed at library

Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) celebrated the transformation of the children’s area at Rondo Community Library (461 Dale St. N.) at a volunteer event and ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 25, … more

5/10/23

‘Northern Nights, Starry Skies’ premieres at Hamline

Nearly 400 guests came out on March 3 to attend the Twin Cities premiere screenings of “Northern Nights, Starry Skies,” a documentary produced by PBS North and Hamline’s Center for … more

5/10/23

Hamline launches student internship support program

No student internships at Hamline University will go unpaid, thanks to a combined $2.5 million in federal appropriations and donor gifts. A $1 million appropriation establishes Pipers to … more

5/10/23

Instructional crime scene prepares Hamline students for real-world forensic challenges

Few things would bring anyone out into a November snowstorm at 1 a.m., but on Nov. 16, more than a dozen Hamline forensic science students were called out to investigate a staged crime scene on … more

5/10/23

Plan it May 2023

WORLD WITHOUT GENOCIDE GALA MAY 23 Tanya Gersh will speak about receiving hundreds of death threats from neo-Nazis at World Without Genocide’s benefit gala on May 23, 2023. Tanya Gersh, a … more

5/10/23

Tidbits May 2023

TOM STREITZ NAMED INTERIM EX. DIRECTOR Land Bank Twin Cities (2515 Wabash Ave.), a nonprofit organization that works to break barriers to equitable real estate development and provide investment … more

5/10/23

Elsa’s House of Sleep owner Tetra Constantino said, “I want to thank everyone for supporting our vision.” He hopes to reopen the second location for Elsa’s House of Sleep at E. Lake Street and 36th this summer. More photos online.

Elsa's House of Sleep founder: ‘It’s never too late to start dreaming’

The words of Eritrean immigrant Elsa Rezene sparked the Dream Sequences pop-up public art gallery at the corner of 36th Ave. and East Lake Street. She said, “It’s never too late to start … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 5/10/23