St. Paul Summary

Hey St. Paul! I’m Natasha - your new guide for St. Paul’s news summary! 👋 

This week’s newsletter is packed with something for everyone:

• A local comedian hitting the national stage on Saturday Night Live,

• New restaurants bringing bold flavors to the city,

• Neighborhood events like cleanups and dog-friendly fun; and

• City hall updates on the 2026 budget, downtown revitalization, and community safety initiatives.

Let’s dive in! 👇️ 

What’s New & Notable

St. Paul’s own Tommy Brennan is taking the national stage—he’s officially joining Saturday Night Live’s 51st season! From cracking jokes in local clubs to performing at Studio 8H at 30 Rock, Brennan’s leap proves Minnesota funny can shine on a national level. The Cretin-Derham Hall has also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Featuring, and co-hosts the podcast Roommates-In-Law. So next time you watch SNL, remember: he’s one of our own!

The local comedian joins SNL alongside four other new cast members, continuing a proud Minnesota legacy that includes Al Franken and original writer Tom Davis. Learn more here.

Luis Gomez and Rene Roque are serving up big flavors at their new West St. Paul spot, Mr. Mustacheo. Specializing in tacos, wings, and creative fusion dishes like sushi burritos and mustache-shaped quesadillas, the 40-seat restaurant blends Mexican-inspired flavors with inventive sauces like macha, pipián, and salsa negra. The space features murals by Gustavo Lira Garcia, in-house drinks like limoncito, lemongrass tea, and horchata, and a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. Learn more reading St. Paul Voice’s article here.

Local Businesses

St. Paul Business Highlights

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

Macalester College President Suzanne Rivera says federal immigration policies are complicating international student enrollment. Despite projections of a 30–40 percent drop nationally, Macalester welcomed 90 new international students this fall, though some admitted students declined to attend due to visa difficulties and concerns about re-entry. Read more here.

Here’s what else is making headlines in St. Paul:

1. Crasqui Travels the World (Through Food) Crasqui is kicking off a monthly chef’s table series, Travel With Us, limited to just 16 guests. Each eight-course dinner explores how immigration shaped Venezuelan cuisine—from Italian pastas to African plantains. Tickets can be found here.

2. Four St. Paul Favorites Shine - The Buttered Tin, The French Hen Café, Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit, and Mickey’s Diner all made this year’s “best of” lists—further proof that St. Paul’s food scene continues to carry a punch!

3. French Meadow Café’s Legacy - For nearly 40 years, Lynn Gordon has championed organic, plant-based food through French Meadow Café. As Gordon transitions leadership, she plans to return to teaching the art of macrobiotic bread baking. Read the article here.

4. Donut Trap’s Sweet but Sticky Start - Donut Trap brought art-inspired, plant-based donuts and community spirit to St. Paul’s Midway, but before they even opened, more than $5,000 in “vacant building fees” piled up. Now they’re appealing with the City Council, but, despite the setback, their shop is already becoming a colorful neighborhood hub. Read MyVillager’s article here.

5. Paws on Grand - On Sept. 7, Grand Avenue hosted wiener Dog Races, a Paws for a Cause Walk, a pet marketplace, and plenty of pup-friendly deals from local businesses. Proceeds supported more than a dozen animal rescues and nonprofits (Community Reporter)

6. Hyacinth x Waxwing x Keepsake - Hyacinth is teaming up with Waxwing Farms and Keepsake Cidery for a one-night-only, five-course tasting menu on Sept. 29. Expect heirloom vegetables, rustic-modern ciders, and an intimate, seasonal dining experience. Purchase tickets here.

7. Razava’s Holiday Catering Menu - Razava just unveiled its new High Holidays catering menu: round challahs, lox platters, bagels, schmears, sweets, and coffee. Get more details here.

8. Pino’s Pizza Finds a New Home - After 37 years in the skyway, Pino Lipari’s beloved pizzeria was nearly forced to shut down when its building was condemned. With help from the city, the restaurant has secured new space—continuing its tradition of scratch-made pies, oversized slices, and specialties like chicken alfredo and buffalo chicken (St. Paul Voice)

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)

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.

1. 2026 St. Paul Budget – Mayor Melvin Carter unveiled the city’s $887 million budget for 2026, including a 5.3% property tax levy increase. Highlights include $1 million for a citywide opioid response, $1 million for cybersecurity, and $5 million for downtown office-to-housing conversions. Carter also proposed stricter gun laws following the Annunciation Catholic School shooting, pending state approval. (View more)

2. UST Arena Traffic: UST hosted a neighborhood meeting on the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, detailing traffic, parking, noise, safety, and neighborhood coordination plans, and collecting questions and feedback.

3. Mayoral Race Fundraising: Eight weeks out, Mayor Melvin Carter holds a fundraising lead over four challengers in St. Paul’s citywide race as debates and outreach intensify.

4. Downtown Revitalization – St. Paul Voice shares that the CapitolRiver Council now has a full board, with new chair Haley Taylor Schlitz focused on streamlining operations, boosting community engagement, and shaping downtown planning initiatives. (Read more)

5. Cybersecurity Update – MinnPost reports that after the July ransomware attack, city officials are “manualizing” processes to return to normalcy and prepare for future threats. Experts note that human error remains the city’s greatest vulnerability. (Read more)

📆 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!

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!

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