Lowertown

Music in Mears announces 2013 lineup for 10th anniversary

With the weather in the area slowing taking a turn for the better, local music fans are looking for any and all opportunities to see outdoor performances. And, for the past ten years now, one of the best options for free outdoor music in the Twin Cities has been the Music In Mears series in Lowertow ... More >>

Brother Ali to perform on The Lowertown Line's second episode

After launching the series earlier this year with Trampled by Turtles, MN Original and TPT have gotten the go-ahead for another episode of their live concert series The Lowertown Line. This time around, rapper/activist/Nardwuar fan Brother Ali will be the featured performer.In March, Ali stirred up ... More >>

The best Twin Cities bars for spirits

We distill what local watering holes serve up the best Scotch, gin, tequila, vodka, and more

Louis Ristorante aims to revive St. Paul

Cossetta's overhaul hopes to wake up the city's sleepy downtown with classic Italian cuisine

Top 10 wine bars in the Twin Cities

Spending an evening at a great wine bar is one of life's most elegant, refined, and enjoyable dining experiences. Whether you're rediscovering a favorite wine; exploring little traveled regions, wineries, or varietals; seeking a perfect match of food and beverage; or just relaxing in good company, T ... More >>

Midway Stadium documentary captures storied ballpark's twilight [VIDEO]

The St. Paul Saints will soon leave Midway Stadium behind for shiny new $27 million digs in Lowertown.SEE ALSO: Mike Veeck championing stadium for St. Paul Saints [FEATURE]Most agree that's good news. But for those who have enjoyed the quirkiness of the Saints' 30-year-old ballpark, there's somethin ... More >>

Downtown St. Paul has become a whole lot whiter over the past decade

Michael Petrilli of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute recently put together a list of the "fastest-gentrifying neighborhoods" in the country, and one of them is downtown St. Paul.Granted, Petrilli's characterization of these neighborhoods as "gentrifying" seems to be inappropriate. He uses race data b ... More >>

Music in Mears kicks off free summer concert series in St. Paul tonight

The ninth season of Music in Mears kicks off tonight in the gorgeous setting of Mears Park in downtown St. Paul with a strong trio of local acts. Dan Israel and the Cultivators, Crossing Guards, and the Annie Lawler Band should certainly get Music In Mears off to a rousing start.Thursdays full of ... More >>

Mona takes a chance on downtown Minneapolis

Chef Lisa Hanson hopes her creative small plates will draw diners

Top 5 butcher shops in the Twin Cities

As the three-day weekend looms, it's time to scrape off those grates and get ready for grilling. The key to a carnivorous cookout is a high-quality cut of meat. While it's not hard to pick up a chub of hamburger from any old grocery mart, buying meat from a butcher shop not only ensures quality but ... More >>

Mike Veeck championing stadium for St. Paul Saints

Team owner ready to move on from Midway

2 Live Crew, Andrew WK playing Zombie Pub Crawl as it expands into St. Paul

2 Live Crew are one of the headliners at this year's ZPC​Anyone who tried to set foot on the West Bank last year during Zombie Pub Crawl can tell you that the once modestly sized bar crawl has gotten a bit too big for its britches. What started as a 150-person tour of Northeast bars later moved to ... More >>

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon September '11

Blue Plate's Lowry and the Bachelor Farmer were this month's big openings.​NOW OPEN The Public House (former N. Washington Cafe) Amsterdam (former Pop! St. Paul) Adagio Cafe and Espresso (former Dragonfly) Urban Bean II (former Muddy Waters) Bachelor Farmer (Dayton bros.) The Lowry (Blue Plate ... More >>

Food truck owners to restaurateurs: Blame yourself, not our trucks, for business problems

Barrio Restaurant Group think it's easy for restaurateurs to blame food trucks for their problems.​Local food truck vendors are striking back at the suggestion that their trucks are eating local restaurants' profits. "I think in a downward economy we blame everybody but ourselves as restauran ... More >>

St. Paul restaurant owners say food trucks are eating profits

Brent SchoonoverSt. Paul restaurants vs. food trucks.​When the city of Minneapolis was creating its food truck policy, several restaurant owners spoke out against it, saying the competition was unfair. Now that food trucks have come out in full force in downtown St. Paul, the Pioneer Press h ... More >>

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon August '11

Several new outposts for popular Asian eateries opened this month.​NOW OPEN Viva Brazil Little Szechuan St. Louis Park Osaka Golden Valley Grand Szechuan Plymouth Rare Steak and Sushi Blue Ox Coffee (38th & Chicago Ave.) Asia Bistro Catalina's, Minneapolis

Dolly Parton, Handsome Furs, Journey, and more

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon July '11

This month was rough for closings...​NOW OPEN RedRosa Italian Grille Asian Taste Pandolfi Indian Garden Wilde Roast The Six15 Room Cru in Grand View Lodge Gather Kinsen Mill Valley Kitchen

Yo La Tengo, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and more

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon June '11

Republic, Wise Acres, and more opened this month.​NOW OPEN Republic (221 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis) Candy Alley (4813 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis) Casper & Runyon's Nook (reopened at 419 Hamline Ave. S., St. Paul) Bullfrog Cajun Bar (1111 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis) Bread & Pickle (Lake Harri ... More >>

Twin Cities Jazz Fest 2011 lineup announced

​We're just going to keep posting lineups for summer festivals and ignore the fact that it's snowing outside right now. Ok? Ok.Today, the Twin Cities Jazz Fest unveiled the lengthy lineup for its annual three-day celebration in Mears Park and surrounding Lowertown venues. The fest is a nice cross- ... More >>

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon March '11

A second Sweets, the loss of legendary lutefisk at Pearson's, and more...​ NOW OPEN Pollo Campero (1570 Robert St., West St. Paul) Sweets Bakeshop II (4747 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis) Urban Eatery (2730 West Lake St., Minneapolis) Boiler Room Coffee (1830 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis) n ... More >>

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon February '11

The return of Heidi's, the loss of Liberty, and more...​OPEN Heidi's (2903 Lyndale Avenue S., Minneapolis) The Lowbrow (42nd/Nicollet, Minneapolis) Andiamo Ristorante (1629 Lena Ct, Eagan) University Buffet (225 University Ave. W., St. Paul) Pasta Zola (Eden Prairie Center, Eden Prairie) Hima ... More >>

Restaurant Roll Call, 2010

The first new restaurant of 2011 opened January 1, a Fridley outpost of the Himalayan Restaurant.​When one restaurant closes...another two or three seem to immediately replace it. In 2010, we lost several eateries that we'll dearly miss, as well as a few we probably won't. Here's a rundown of ev ... More >>

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon January '11

More Thai, wings, and French pastry arrived in the Twin Cities this month.​ OPEN Hazel's NE (2859 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis) Naviya's Thai Kitchen (2812 W 43rd St., Minneapolis) Cocina del Barrio (5036 France Ave. S., Edina) The Herb Box (Eden Prairie Lifetime Fitness) Buffalo Wild Wings (200 ... More >>

Cloud Cult parts with one of its founding members

Photo by Nick VlcekSarah Young at the Lowertown Fest in July 2010​With the release of their latest concept album, Light Chasers, much attention has been paid to Cloud Cult frontman Craig Minowa and wife Connie's relationship with their new child. But for the past several years, the band has also i ... More >>

Art Attack, Hotel, Scott West: Freeloader Friday

Image by Pacdog​Still hungover from Halloween? Although this weekend isn't as epic in terms of what places are offering, it is still pretty full. For this edition, we've got Art Attack, a three-day gallery hop in the Northeast; the one-year anniversary of the Lowertown Art Crawl in St. Paul; music ... More >>

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon November '10

Amu's Madras, Scusi, and more joined us this month...​OPEN Whisky Park, 15 S. Fifth St., Minneapolis Malone's Bar & Grill, 12635 Elm Creek Blvd N., Maple Grove Chocolate Celeste, 652 Transfer Ave., St. Paul Hibachi Buffet, 111 E. Lake St., Minneapolis Amu's Madras Cafe, 4920 Central Ave. NE, C ... More >>

Heartland launches ambitous complex in Lowertown

St. Paul's most lauded restaurant thinks big

Gasthof's unveils a 39.4-inch wiener this Week in Food

Enzian44The mighty meterwurst.​We have to admit--St. Paul is gaining an edge. On Tuesday chef Lenny Russo opens up Heartland's Farm Direct Market, where patrons can buy the restaurant's house-made charcuterie, jams, and jellies. It also will offer locally raised meats and poultry. But you'll have ... More >>

Uptown Art Fair, Lutefisk Sushi D: Freeloader Friday

Mykl Roventine via Flickr.com​ Do you like art festivals? We have about 30 happening this weekend. Do you like free music? Yeah, we have that too. How about hot, molten iron? Yep. A giant board game bigger than the people in it? That's happening too. It's an epic week for free stuff happening in M ... More >>

Origami vs. Tanpopo in a battle of noodle soups

Lisa Gulya​ If you've seen the Japanese film Tampopo, you know the power of a perfectly prepared bowl of Japanese noodles. Heck, even if you've never heard of Tampopo, you probably know someone who subsisted on ramen noodles when times were tough. This Food Fight is for them. We want to make ... More >>

Mason Jennings, Cloud Cult, and more at Lowertown Music Fest, 7/31/10

Photos by Stacy Schwartz​It was a set-up that seemed destined for failure: A sparse offering of food, limited numbers of bathrooms and trash cans, ample booze for sale, and no re-entry made it seem like the Lowertown Music Fest could end it total chaos.

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon July '10

​ OPEN FACES, St. Paul (David Fhima reboots LoTo) Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group, Minneapolis I Love This Bar & Grill (Toby Keith's deal), St. Louis Park Depot at First Avenue, Minneapolis D'Amico's PARMA 8200, Bloomington Sauce Pizza & Wine, St. Louis Park Mango Tango, Brooklyn Center

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the Jayhawks, and more

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon June '10

​ OPEN Haute Dish, Minneapolis Aster Cafe (under new management, Matty O'Reilly of 318 Cafe), Minneapolis Nonna Rosa's, Robbinsdale CLOSED Cooqi, Minneapolis Rizzo's (aka Il Vesco Vino), St. Paul Porky's Northeast, Minneapolis

Freeloader Friday: CD-release shows, binge drinking elves, and a peachy gallery party

Loads of free stuff to do.

Meet the Vulcans: The Twin Cites' most controversial partiers

Goggle-clad men in red strike up trouble around town

Wear your kneepads: St. Paul art crawl is this weekend

Obento-Ya: Everyday chic in Japanese dining

Healthy, quick, and tasty Asian lunch

Saint Paul Almanac Book Release Party

Billion Dollar Dreamer

Jerry Trooien has already spent millions promoting The Bridges, the $1.5 billion St. Paul riverfront development that city government keeps on spurning. No matter: He knows they'll come around someday.

Dream Date

The Danforths plan a very special evening

French Revolution

With French food and Belgian beers, St. Paul's new Margaux puts a little spring in the city's step

Avant-Garde Whatchamacallit Takes Over Studio Z

Zeitgeist and Scott Miller present a multimedia chameleon

Roger, Over and Out

City Pages writer, St. Paul developer, and helpless lover of life Roger Swardson dies at 69

Connaughty's Choice

How one artist has gone from crafting 48-foot paintings to walking on plants--all in search of the spontaneous image

Canadian Rocker to U.S.: "I Am Not a Wuss!"

Last Train Out

Hobos have been hopping freights since the Civil War. Now a new generation of riders is hitting the tracks--stockbrokers, students, and the occasional serial killer.