Secrets of the City

Jessica Armbruster posts about Diggin’ Dinos, the new Science Museum of Minnesota project to put 20 dinosaurs in Minneapolis parks and 80 on the streets of Saint Paul. Very similar to the Peanuts gang, the statues will be painted by local artists and sponsored by area businesses. Also, a recent Courtney Remes post about the Peanuts “eyesores”.

Non-English-only bus routes in St. Paul?

Back when I was a kid, the only restrictions were that you couldn’t live within 1.5 miles of a school — otherwise you had to walk.

Uphill.
Both ways.
In snow up to your neck.
Across 8 lanes of freeway traffic.

Globe Street is reporting that Unilev has bought Wells Fargo Place (the former Minnesota World Trade Center) downtown Saint Paul. Considering the development of The Penfield, SuperTarget, and the Bridges, do we have a new wave of reinvestment in Saint Paul?

The requested rezoning for a huge proposed development near the river in downtown St. Paul has been rejected by the city’s Planning Commission.

The GOP Convention will be hosted by St Paul’s Xcel Center, but Minneapolis seems to get all the spotlight. Just another episode in the long dueling history between the two cities. So far, the publicity score of each city, Minneapolis 1, St Paul 0.

So, as of tomorrow, St. Paul’s favorite son, the man who documented the Jazz age, the man whose wife was seen as the prototypical flapper, will be 100. You could spend six hours listening to the entirety of The Great Gatsby at Gatz. Or you could read what Scott himself thought about St. Paul. Maybe in his very own library alcove. You might also download a PDF that walks you through the man’s homes and haunts, including the University Club and Rice Park, where there is a statue of the man. Or you might enjoy the same sort of martini he would have drunk, one made with gin and equal parts dry and sweet vermouth. Cheers!

OK, only in St. Paul. Tonight is the Red Bull Skyway Skyride. MNSpeak has been way out in front on this issue. I’m wondering– anyone here going? Riding? I’ll be there covering it… so you can catch video after the Grammy’s on the big 4.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival began today while a few kids find the Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt medallion. Being the weather is strangely well above freezing I wonder how the ice sculptures in Rice Park are doing. Are you going to any Winter Carnival events?

The Red Bull Skyride bike race in St. Paul’s skyway system on Feb. 8 is quickly becoming more than just a thread on a message board. The Pioneer Press did a piece about it last week, highlighting the enthusiastic support of downtown business leaders like David Fhima and Bill Buth, also revealing that it didn’t hurt that Red Bull promised to repair any and all damages to the skyways and buildings. More information has also been posted on the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists forum. Some helpful guy even took the description of the course and laid it over a skyway map for a good approximation of the nearly mile-long course: registration at LoTo, start at Galtier Plaza (at 7:45), finish at the Xcel. The course does indeed appear to feature many “janky” turns. There will be a party at McGovern’s after the racing.

Ever dream of riding your bike at top speeds through the skyway? Have no fear of clipping doorways or wiping out on tile? Think “janky” is one of the best words ever? A Red Bull-sponsored event in downtown St. Paul’s skyways on Feb. 8 will give 50 local riders the chance to prove that winter riding in Minnesota isn’t just about studded tires and those funny-looking balaclava face masks. Expect high speeds and sharp turns.