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St. Paul This Week: Downtown Revival, ICE Raids, Fall Art Crawl, & Seasonal Festivities
Welcome to Ambit Media's New St. Paul Newsletter Dedicated to Sharing What’s New, Nearby, and Worth Showing Up For!
Natasha Lokodo
October 12, 2025
In partnership with
St. Paul Summary
Hey St. Paul! It’s Natasha - your guide for summarizing this week’s St. Paul’s news! 👋
Downtown St. Paul is seeing early signs of revival as state employees return to the office, boosting foot traffic and retail activity;
The St. Paul Fall Art Crawl returns October 10–12, featuring over 300 local artists, live music, and family-friendly fun across the city;
Celebrate autumn with Dodge Nature Center’s seasonal events and explore trails, wildlife, and harvest activities;
Let’s dive in! 👇️
What’s New & Notable
Saint Paul Art Crawl Returns
The Saint Paul Art Crawl is back, celebrating its status as the longest-running art crawl in the U.S. Explore more than 300 local artists across 10 districts, with galleries, shared spaces, and artists’ lofts offering a mix of visual art, live music, dance, and local food. This family-friendly event is perfect for browsing, buying art, and supporting the city’s creative community.
Experience the Crawl October 10–12 throughout Saint Paul and read full details here.
Poster Designed by: Devon Kavaline
Downtown Sees Early Signs of Revival
Foot traffic in downtown St. Paul is up 5% since state employees returned to the office part-time, with an average of 45,000 people daily in August 2025. Local businesses are already feeling the difference—Pino’s Pizzeria reports a 20% revenue boost since the return-to-office policy began.
Despite ongoing vacancies, office-to-housing conversions, like Landmark Tower’s 187 new apartments, are helping revitalize the area. City leaders continue to focus on safety and activating streets to encourage weekday and weekend activity.
Read details here.
KSTP
Local Businesses
St. Paul Business Highlights
Check out what’s new with local businesses across the city.
United Village Forum Brings Neighbors Into the Loop
United Village Development hosted a community forum at Allianz Field’s Stadium Club on Thursday, October 9. The event provided updates on current development projects and outlined immediate plans for what’s next, giving neighbors a chance to ask questions and provide input. .
Here’s what else is making headlines in St. Paul:
Good Things Happening on Grand
Big congratulations to Good Things on their new expansion on Grand Avenue — a win for local retail and community spirit alike! 🙌 The Grand Ave Business Association spotlighted this moment and Mayor Melvin Carter joined the celebration. We love seeing family-owned businesses continue to invest in Grand Avenue’s future.
U.S. Bank Center Heads to Auction
The 25-story downtown St. Paul office tower is set for auction next month with a starting bid of $1 million. Once home to major tenants like U.S. Bank and the Bush Foundation, the building now sits 26% occupied after losing tenants and falling behind on property taxes. Built in 1973 and renovated in 1995, the tower faces mounting debt and legal disputes tied to unpaid loans and delinquent taxes. Read full details here.Macalester Women’s Golf Claims School-Record Finish
The Macalester College women’s golf team earned its best-ever finish at the MIAC Championships, placing second with a school-record 218 (+54) at Braemar Golf Course. Senior Bailey Lengfelder broke her own school record with a second-place individual finish, one of three Scots in the top 10. Macalester finished 38 strokes ahead of third-place St. Catherine and 32 behind champion Carleton, marking a milestone for the program. Read full details here.Haunted Bites in St. Paul
Two historic St. Paul restaurants are serving up more than great food this October — they’re also rumored to host lingering spirits. From eerie encounters to ghostly lore, these haunted hotspots make the perfect spooky-season dining adventure.
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) | ++St. Paul Fall Art Crawl The Fall Art Crawl is back, with more than 30 venues across six wards opening their doors October 10–12. Explore local artists, pop-ups, and unique installations throughout the city. Find the full details here. ++Fall Fun at Dodge Nature Center Fall is here! Explore miles of trails, farm animals, and seasonal activities at Dodge Nature Center. Check out the fall event guide, including the Halloween Extravaganza, hay rides, and family-friendly games. Find the guide here. ++ Sample St. Paul - Check out the St. Paul Entertainment Guide for upcoming October events here. |
Community Reporter (Follow) | ++ Sen. Sandy Pappas on Preventing Gun Violence In this month’s District Perspectives, State Senator Sandy Pappas reflects on Minnesota’s ongoing fight against gun violence, including the tragic August 27 shooting at Annunciation School. She highlights proposed legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and advocates for local control over firearm restrictions in city-owned spaces. Read full details here. ++Support Local Journalism on Its 55th Anniversary As small, community-based news organizations face growing pressures, the West End’s Community Reporter is counting on readers to help it thrive. This year, the goal is $5,500 in donations to continue reporting on local stories that matter. Read full details and donate here. |
Midway Como Frogtown Monitor (Follow) | ++ Van Buren & Pascal Street Mural Brings Neighbors Together Neighbors gathered in September to refresh the “living rug” mural at Van Buren Ave. and Pascal St., originally designed by Luna GebbenGreen. The Paint the Pavement project has brought the community together since 2006, turning intersections into colorful, shared spaces with the support of the Hamline Midway Coalition and St. Paul Public Works. Read full details here. |
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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.
Minnesota Reformer
Federal Raid Sparks Outcry in North End
Community members rallied at Marydale Park in support of Latino roofers detained by federal agents Thursday morning. Lawmakers and neighborhood leaders called the raid a “rude awakening,” saying it threatens the fabric of a neighborhood where immigrants play a vital role. Details on the men’s current status remain unclear. Read more
Pre-Dawn Patrols Spotlight Downtown Homelessness – St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry hits the streets before sunrise to check on people experiencing homelessness, working alongside outreach teams to connect them with social services. City leaders say these efforts balance compassion for residents and visitors with downtown safety challenges, including housing shortages and the opioid crisis. Read more
Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon Visits Minnesota – On Monday, Oct. 6, Crown Prince Haakon toured the Twin Cities to mark 200 years of Norwegian emigration and celebrate Minnesota’s deep ties to Norway. Stops included Norway House in Minneapolis and a meeting with Gov. Tim Walz at the State Capitol in St. Paul. “We in Minnesota recognize how important that immigration was, because it was foundational to who we are as Minnesotans,” Walz said, praising the cultural and economic connections between the two regions. Read more
John Ireland Boulevard Bridge Closing for Major Repairs – Starting Monday, Oct. 6, the John Ireland Blvd. bridge over I-94 will be closed for reconstruction through August 2026. Drivers will be rerouted via Kellogg, Marion, and University Avenue, while walkers and cyclists follow a detour through Marion Street and Rondo Avenue. The 1967 bridge is getting a complete rebuild to improve traffic flow and safety. Read more
St. Paul Sees Strong Crime Numbers in 2025
St. Paul dramatically reduced homicides while solving more crimes — a shift officials credit to a strong focus on nonfatal shootings and smarter policing strategies.
Twin Cities Go Green 🌿
Minneapolis and St. Paul are now ranked among the “greenest” U.S. cities, thanks in part to their robust bike infrastructure, renewable energy efforts, and sustainability measures.
📆 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) | ++ Speaker Series: An Evening with John Choi Community members were invited to attend the second Speaker Series event featuring Ramsey County Attorney John Choi on Wednesday, October 8, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church. ++ Fall Community Kickoff Local residents are invited to the Fall Community Kickoff on Tuesday, October 14, at Groveland Recreation Center. City partners will present plans for site upgrades and a new playground, with displays and discussion. The event offers a first look at timelines and design details, encouraging public feedback ahead of construction. |
West 7th Ford Road Federation (Follow) | ++ West 7th Curb Cleanup Curb cleaning season is here! From October 1 through November 30, the West 7th/Fort Road Federation and Capitol Region Watershed District are teaming up for the West 7th Curb Cleanup. When it rains, leaves on the streets release nutrients that can cause algae overgrowth in the Mississippi River. Help protect the river by joining neighbors and sweeping your curb once a week this fall — every little bit makes a big difference! ++ Community meeting and Q&A with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter A town hall-style discussion with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter will be held Wednesday, October 15, at Highland Park Community Center. The meeting will cover the city’s riverfront plans, the Mississippi River Corridor development ordinance, cleanup of the Ford Area C dumpsite, and other riverfront issues. Attendees can ask questions and share feedback. Read more about this event here |
Como Park Community Council (Follow) | ++ 2025 St. Paul Fall Art Crawl: Como Pop-Ups Get ready for a weekend of creativity! The Como Community Council will host two pop-up locations for the 2025 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl, happening October 10–12 across the city. Organized by the Saint Paul Art Collective, this annual event celebrates local artists and makers. Check out the full list of participating locations on the Saint Paul Art Collective’s Fall Art Crawl page and plan your art-filled weekend! ++ 2025 Como Curb Cleanup From Oct. 1–Nov. 1, join 100+ neighbors in keeping Como Lake clean by participating in the Como Curb Cleanup. Sweep leaves from your curb once a week—rain washes leaves into storm drains, adding nutrients that fuel algae growth. Organized by the Como Community Council, Como Active Citizen Network, and Capitol Region Watershed District. Register here |
Get Involved
Get involved, Say Connected!
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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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