Local news briefs: December 2025

Local news briefs: December 2025

Downtown St. Paul

DGPilot is relocating from the Hamm Building to Union Depot on November 28. The store offers productes related to Minnesota, travel and aviation.

The Eagle Street sports bar is now open at 253 Kellogg Blvd., in the former Apostle Supper Club. It is open 11 a.m.-1 a.m., daily.

The flags representing the 11 Native American Tribes in Minnesota now fly at the Tribal Flag Plaza at the Minnesota State Capitol grounds. The plaza includes each Tribal Nation’s flag, plantings selected by each tribe at the base of each flagpole, and Minnesota-sourced granite pavers and benches.

Subtext Books, 6 W. 5th St., will present three authors 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2: Donna May Sanders, author of “Growing Up a Farm Girl Saved My Life,” Poet Dominique Miller and her new collection “OUTSIDE(R),” and Mary Walerak, author of “Finding Alineade.” Karen Engstrom, author of “Shadowland” will speak at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12.

Laughcamp comedy club, 490 N. Robert St., will present the following comedians: Patrick Garrity, Dec. 5-6; Chelsea Hood, Dec. 12-13; Clay Horwitz, Dec. 19-20; Rich Williams, Dec. 26-27; and Maggie Farris, Dec. 31.

Ramsey County Historical Society will present Mary Lucia, author of “What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To,” at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth St.

Books and Bars will discuss “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16 at the Urban
Growler, 2325 Endicott St.

Burl Art Gallery, 308 Prince St., will present its Kaleidoscope exhibit of paintings, photos, sculpture and other works in December.

Penumbra Theatre, 370 Kent St., will present its annual Christmas production of “Black Nativity,” Dec. 4-24.

Development corp. buys condemned parking ramp
The St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) recently purchased the Capital City Plaza Parking Ramp at 50 4th St. from Madison Equities. The ramp was condemned by the City of St. Paul in April, and SPDDC is now evaluating the work needed to correct safety violations, with the goal of reopening it as a public parking ramp by the end of 2026. The ramp is near the vacant Alliance Bank Center, which the SPDDC purchased in October. Both the Alliance Bank Center and the Capital City Plaza Parking Ramp will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future to ensure safety and security. This includes the skyway closures that have been in place since April. The skyway connections to Osborn370 and Treasure Island Center remain open. The St. Paul Downtown Alliance is working with the City of St. Paul to update skyway maps to reflect these closures.

“This ramp has been a public safety concern in the heart of downtown St. Paul for too long, and our first priority is making it safe and secure again,” said SPDDC President Dave Higgins. “Parking is essential infrastructure: when it is offline or neglected, people notice, and when it works well, it shapes the first impression of our downtown. Reviving this property fits our mission to take on catalytic projects that strengthen the downtown core and support future investments.”
While financial terms weren’t disclosed, SPDDC said the ramp purchase was fully funded by private investment.

Park nonprofits announce merger
In an effort to strengthen partnerships and fundraising efforts, the St. Paul Parks Conservancy and the Great River Passage Conservancy will merge on January 1, 2026. The Saint Paul Parks Conservancy, founded in 2008, has raised nearly $5 million for neighborhood park projects. Since 2018, the Great River Passage Conservancy has helped people experience Saint Paul’s 17 miles of the Mississippi River.

Fundraiser for Mears and Pedro parks
Friends of Mears Park and Friends of Pedro Park are hosting an event to raise funds for holiday lights and park beautification, and to promote downtown businesses. Downtown is Open for Business-Beyond the Arena will take place 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10 at A’BULAE, 255 6th St. E., Lowertown. Residents will have a chance to mingle with neighbors and meet local business owners. There will be a cash bar, and coffee and soda, light appetizers and dessert will be provided. The event is by ticket donation ($15 minimum). To register, visit ticketleap.events/events/friends-of-mears-park.

Downtown help
The Downtown Street Team welcomes feedback from downtown residents in their ongoing work to improve safety and aesthetics in the city. Team members are on the streets daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and are available to escort people to their car or downtown destination, give directions and provide other assistance.

They also take reports of troubling behavior, garbage spills and graffiti, and address those issues themselves or contact the proper authorities. The team, which is easy to spot on the street in their bright yellow clothing, is a program of the St. Paul Downtown Alliance’s Downtown Improvement District. For more information, call 651-236-0284 or visit spdid.org.

Crime Map
Local police departments use a tool through LexisNexis online that allows residents to track crime incidents in their neighborhood or city. To view crime reports, visit communitycrimemap.com.

South St. Paul

Library

The following events are held at Kaposia Library, 115 7th Ave. N., South St. Paul. For more information, visit co.dakota.mn.us/libraries or call 651-480-0900.

Kaposia Gives Back, 2:30-4 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9. Help decorate grocery bags, organize supplies and other projects needed by Neighbors, Inc. Ages 12-18.

Intro to Glass Fusing: Pendants & Ornaments, 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2. Learn how to compose and compile colorful scrap glass and prepare it for firing. Projects will be fired in a kiln offsite and returned three weeks later. Registration required. For adults.

Kaposia Book Club, 7-8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8. The title is “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks. For adults.

Central Square

The following events are held at Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Ave. N., South St. Paul. For more information, visit communityed.sspps.org or call 651-306-3632.

Free Take & Bake Meals – Free meals (single serve or to feed a family of four) are available to all South St. Paul residents on Mondays after 3 p.m. through Saturday at 2 p.m., while supplies last.

The Fare For All food program offers affordable groceries and packages of produce and meat at up to 40% off retail prices. The next date is 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16. Credit, debit, EBT or cash payments only, no checks. For more information, visit fareforall.org.

Senior Center activities for ages 55 and older
Happy Feet Walk the Square, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., second Tuesday of each month. Get some exercise by walking inside Central Square.

South St. Paul Buzz, 8:30-11 a.m., Monday-Friday. Enjoy a conversation of what’s happening around the community.

Cribbage, noon-2:30 p.m. each Monday.

Penny Bingo, 1-2:30 p.m. each Monday.

Woodcarvers Group, 9-11 a.m. each Tuesday. Bring your own tools and supplies.

Line Dancing, 10:30-11:30 a.m. each Tuesday. Dance to a variety of music genres.

Craft Day, 1-3 p.m. each Tuesday. Socialize with other crafters or learn a new hobby.

500 card games, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. each Wednesday and Friday.

Hand and Foot card games, 1-2:30 p.m. each Thursday.

Free lap swimming for Senior Center members ages 65 and older, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday; and 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday. Senior center membership is $12 a year.

Meeting dates

The South St. Paul City Council meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month in the council chambers at City Hall, 125 3rd Ave. N. For agendas and city council member contact information, visit southstpaul.org or call 651-554-3284.
The Special School District 6 School Board meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month. For agendas and school board member contact information, visit sspps.org or call 651-457-9400.

The South St. Paul Lions Club meets at 7:15 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month (September-May). Locations vary. For more information, visit ssplions.org.

South St. Paul Southwest Lioness Lions Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at Fireside Lounge, 1288 S. Robert St., West St. Paul. This group of women serves the community through fundraising and volunteering.

Crime Map

The South St. Paul Police Department provides an interactive crime map through LexisNexis online. To track crime incidents in the city, visit southstpaul.org/423/Crime-Mapping.