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Molly Coleman Wins Election, Support Nina's Coffee, & Minnesota's Civic Pledge: What’s Happening in St. Paul

Welcome to Ambit Media's New St. Paul Newsletter Dedicated to Sharing What’s New, Nearby, and Worth Showing Up For!

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Hello St. Paul!

Welcome back to Ambit’s St. Paul Newsletter!

What a week! It was great to see so many people out and about this weekend (at least those of you not at home playing the new St. Paul Monopoly Game). Let’s dive into what happened over the last week and what’s coming up next!

Thanks for being here,
Tasahra

St. Paul Summary

This week’s newsletter recaps exciting happenings like the St. Paul Monopoly board debut and the ward 4 election results. Plus, you can support June Berkowitz of Nina’s Coffee in her cancer journey, donate to the recent fundraiser for the Hoffmans, and partake in community happenings like free Movies in the Park and upcoming concerts featuring Tate McRae and Stevie Nicks.

Thanks for staying connected and engaged with the Capital City!

Let’s dive in!

Trending

What’s New & Notable

St. Paul is buzzing with two unique celebrations last week—the debut of the city’s very own Monopoly board on August 14 at Can Can Wonderland, and the Irish Fair of Minnesota which wrapped up last Sunday with music, dance, food, and family fun to Harriet Island!

St. Paul Brewing Sues City

St. Paul Brewing Sues City

Saint Paul Brewing has filed a lawsuit against the city over redevelopment plans for the historic Hamm’s Brewery site, arguing that it breaks a longstanding promise and threatens the brewery’s survival. Owner Bob Parker says the business depends on ample parking to attract customers to its hard-to-reach industrial location, and the cut could hurt events and profitability. The lawsuit, which also alleges retaliatory city inspections, could delay plans to build nearly 200 housing units and a vendor market on the site.

Learn more here.

Irish Fair

Irish Fair at Harriet Island

Irish culture came alive on Harriet Island last weekend with three days of music, dancing, storytelling, artisan vendors, family fun, and authentic cuisine. Attendees enjoyed lively performances, cultural workshops, and entertainment across multiple stages—bringing the community together and celebrating the rich traditions of Ireland.

Learn more here.

Local Businesses

St. Paul Business Highlights

Check out what’s new with local businesses across the city.

Support June of Nina's Coffee in her Cancer Journey

June Berkowitz, the owner of Saint Paul’s iconic Nina’s Coffee Café, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to give June the time and resources to focus on her recovery. Consider contributing here.

  1. St. Paul Monopoly Board Debut - On August 14th, the new St. Paul Edition of Monopoly launched with a lively celebration at Can Can Wonderland—featuring iconic landmarks like the Como Park Zoo, State Fair, and local businesses! (Pioneer Press)

  2. Funniest Person in St. Paul Competition - Gambit Brewing Co. is hosting its 2025 Funniest Person in St. Paul contest this summer—with free, audience-judged open mic prelims running Tuesdays from June 24 to August 26, leading to a September 2 finale where the winner earns $1,000 - and the title! (Gambit Brewing Co.)

  3. Last Grand Ave Open Air Music of the Summer - Grand Ave will hold its last open air music event for the summer from 7-8:30pm, featuring classical violin and cello duo, The OK Factor! (Learn more)

  4. The Lexington’s 90th Anniversary Celebration 🎉 - Celebrate nine decades of food, cocktails, and community at The Lexington on September 9 from 5–9 PM— tickets are limited! (Reserve now)

  5. Green Mill’s 50th Anniversary Celebration 🎉 - Turning 50 in 2025? Celebrate with Green Mill on August 14 from 4–9 PM and show your ID to receive a free item from their special 50th Anniversary menu with any purchase! (Grand Ave)

  6. Free Grand Ave Construction Crawl Card - From August through October, use your free Construction Crawl Card at local businesses to snag exclusive deals while supporting shops impacted by Saint Paul’s reconstruction project! Check out which businesses are offering deals and get your card here!

  7. SoYen Desserts Featured - After leaving her corporate career, Yen Fang launched SoYen Desserts, delighting Lowertown with cream-filled brioche donuts, Japanese cheesecakes, and a mix of savory and sweet treats inspired by French and Asian flavors! (CBS News)

Local News

Reporting from Your Backyard

Catch up on the latest posts from St. Paul journalists and newspapers covering the people, issues, and moments shaping our city.

💡 Remember, Ambit compensates local journalists every time you click the lightbulb “useful” button on their Ambit posts! (Learn more here)

Newspaper

Posts

St. Paul Voice (Follow)

++ Palace Pub Opens with Outdoor Dining for Eventgoers. The newly opened Palace Pub downtown caters to eventgoers and locals alike, offering a lively outdoor dining experience perfect for enjoying summer in Saint Paul. With its great location near popular venues, Palace Pub is quickly becoming a go-to spot for casual meals and social gatherings. (View more)

++ The South St. Paul City Council has approved relocating the 116-year-old Armour Gatehouses, preserving these iconic remnants of the city’s meatpacking history. The gatehouses, located on city-owned land in BridgePoint Business Park, will be integrated into future development plans to honor the city’s heritage.(Read more)

++ St. Paul Voice and La Voz Latina share a back-to-school guide with practical tips to help students start the school year strong and finish even stronger! (Read here)

++ Asian Mart Brings Filipino Staples and Tropical Treats to South St. Paul. South St. Paul welcomes a new specialty grocery store featuring a deli and a variety of Filipino staples and tropical treats—perfect for locals craving fresh flavors and unique finds! (Read more)

++ Sample St. Paul: August Events: Big Time Rush at the Xcel Energy Center, the Irish Fair of Minnesota Aug. 8–10 at Harriet Island, and the “Butterfly Odyssey” exhibit at the Science Museum running through September 1. Check out the full Sample St. Paul Entertainment Guide for more fun events. (View more)

Community Reporter (Follow)

++ Businesses in the West 7th neighborhood can apply for sustainability grants of up to $10,000 through the end of the month to support funding for LED lighting, energy-efficient HVAC, and eco-friendly upgrades. Applications close August 31, 2025. (View more)

Midway Como Frogtown Monitor (Follow)

++ Tin Cup Plus Restaurant is offering a free appetizer with a coupon from the July Monitor and has recently updated their hours due to Rice Street construction. (View here)

What a Gutter Upgrade Actually Costs

We studied what roofers are saying about gutter guard prices in 2025… and here’s what we found out.

Finding the best price comes down to just two simple things:

  1. Cut out the middleman and buy from the manufacturer to save big money.

  2. Get guards that install over your existing gutters - no need to replace anything so you’ll save a fortune.

With a little help, you can find the best gutter guards at a great price.

Check out this no-cost website where you can ‘skip’ the middleman and get (fair) local pricing.

Just hit the link below, and complete a 1-minute survey to get started on finding the perfect gutter guards for your home.

Local Government

Updates from City Hall

Here’s what’s happening in city government — from policy changes to upcoming elections, stay informed on the decisions shaping life in St. Paul.

Molly Coleman won the Ward 4 special election for the St. Paul City Council seat. The election took place on August 12th.

  1. President and CEO of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce B Kyle joined Shannon Watson of Majority in the Middle, local leaders, and elected officials in signing the Civic Pledge for a Stronger Minnesota. The pledge calls on Minnesotans to confront division with hope, honesty, and shared responsibility. View the pledge here.

  2. Mayor Carter Delays Budget Address Due to Cyberattack - St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter postponed his annual budget address from August to September amid a major cyberattack that has kept the city in a state of emergency and disrupted key systems. (Pioneer Press)

  3. St. Paul Police Maintain 911 Services Amid Cyberattack - St. Paul police continue to respond to 911 calls and provide emergency services despite disruptions caused by the ongoing citywide cyberattack. (Pioneer Press)

  4. Summit Ave Bike Lane - Where do (did) Ward 4 candidates stand on the Summit Avenue bike trail? A hot-button issue in last week’s special election. (Pioneer Press)

  5. St. Paul is currently accepting applications to join the Labor Standards Advisory Committee which advises the city's Labor Standards Enforcement and Education Division on policies related to minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and wage theft. (StPaul.gov)

📆 Mark your calendars: The next city-wide election in St. Paul is on November 4th, 2025.

Know Your Neighborhood

Neighborhood Roundup

Check out what is currently happening in these neighborhood District Councils!

Neighborhood

News & Events

Mac-Groveland Community Council (Follow)

++ Get a behind-the-scenes look at how your recycling is sorted and learn tips for zero-waste living. Eureka Recycling for a free tour online on August 19.

++ A new organics drop off site at Highland is now open, offering more space for composting and waste reduction. To keep it running smoothly, volunteers are needed—email [email protected] if you'd like to help!

++ Support Macalester-Groveland by dropping your Kowalski’s receipts in the box near the registers. Every receipt helps fund our community programs!

West 7th Ford Road Federation (Follow)

++ Stay tuned—another West 7th Ford Road Federation neighborhood cleanup is coming in September, along with a community Happy Hour on September 23!

Como Park Community Council (Follow)

++ Como Community Council hosts Lake Como cleanups with volunteers, tools, and refreshments at pavilion dock. Join them on September 20th!

Get Involved

Get involved, Say Connected!

Use Ambit to support local businesses, follow neighborhood updates, and be part of what’s happening in your community.

⭐️ Recommend a local business: Recommend businesses on Ambit and help neighbors discover something great.

📰 Share a Story Idea: Submit story ideas to local journalists—share business news or kindness.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Tell a neighbor: Share posts and events with your neighbors, then make plans to get out in the community!

That’s a wrap for this week!
Thanks for staying connected to what’s happening around St. Paul. Keep showing up for your neighborhood, one post, pop-up, or recommendation at a time.

💜 See you out in the neighborhood!

Support Local. Read Local. Be Local.