💡 Spotlighting St. Paul’s West 7th

The “People’s Neighborhood" of St. Paul

On Friday, we recorded our second live show at Claddagh Coffee to spotlight St. Paul’s West 7th neighborhood. Mary Hogan-Bard talked about changing the space from an adult bookstore to a neighborhood cafe of 15 years. Kat Hunter of Rising Waters Mutual Aid, a volunteer group helping unhoused residents, sounded the alarm on St. Paul’s impending efforts to clear its biggest encampments. Julia McColley of the West 7th/Fort Road Federation talked about how a streetcar almost came to the neighborhood (it’s still a sore spot). “The best part [of West 7th] is the people,” McColley said. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

Funding cuts: The Aliveness Project, a nonprofit focused on HIV prevention, says it may lose $450,000 in federal funding. The Centers of Disease Control didn’t renew a program supporting community organizations like The Aliveness Project. “For the first time in 45 years, the end of this epidemic was within reach, and the federal government is choosing to drag us backward,” executive director Matt Toburen said in a statement. The Minnesota Department of Health may have to pick up the slack. [Aliveness Project]

Save the murals: Memorialize the Movement, the group preserving murals created after the murder of George Floyd, is running out of money. The organization has subsisted on philanthropic donations, but founder Leesa Kelly says foundations may have been scared away by the president’s anti-DEI stance. [MPR News]

Take a dip: Can I interest you in a beach? How about our Top 5? Here are our favorite places to cool off in the Twin Cities. Check out which beach was crowned No. 1. [City Cast Twin Cities]

New bites: 2901 Lyndale Ave. S. has seen a lot of turnover. Lago Tacos closed last May, and its replacement Aurelia’s Mexican didn’t last long. Enter Even Keel, which promises an “upscale-casual neighborhood joint.” The menu preview includes po’ boys, burgers, fish, steaks, and small plates. [Bring Me The News]

Take our survey: Here’s your last chance to make yourself heard. Do it pleeeasseee!! You’ll be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and some City Cast merch. You know you want to give us your opinions. C’mon. Take it here.

Monday, July 27

• 🎷 Kavyesh Kaviraj & Omar Abdulkarim | The Dakota
• 🎬 Wanda | The Trylon Cinema
• 🆓 GROUNDS x PILLLAR | PILLLAR Forum Cafe & Bar
• 🎛️ Jonger, Argo & The Violet Queens (D.C.), & One Big Quilt | Zhora Darling
• 🆓 Mondays@MetroNOME – Free Community Concerts | MetroNOME Brewery
• 🏃 Community Table Tennis | Minneapolis Cider Company
• 🎸 LSD and the Search for God | 7th St Entry

Tuesday, July 28

• 🎛️ Music: Safety Knife | PILLLAR
• 🆓 Off The Dock – David Feily | Indeed Brewing
• 😂 Is Laughter Contagious? (And Other Public Health Ponderables) (Sold Out) | Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater
• 🆓 2026 Funniest Person in St. Paul Contest, Week 3 | Gambit Brewing Co.
• 🎹 An Evening with Jukebox the Ghost | Fine Line
• 🎼 Chris Pierce | Icehouse

• Chief Financial Officer at Office of Attorney General | $101k – $174k per year
• Audience Editor - Sports at Minnesota Star Tribune | $93k per year
• Artistic Director at Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra | $35k – $40k per year (PT)
• HR Generalist, Labor and Employee Relations at Walker Art Center | $80k per year
• Energy Efficiency Specialist at Minnesota Chamber of Commerce | $53k – $57k per year