🎁 Are you Lake Street Loyal? 🛍️

The Lake Street Loyalty Challenge is BACK for the holiday season — and now it’s bigger than ever! 🎉

From Nov 15 to Dec 15, shop or donate $25 or more at participating businesses or nonprofits along Lake Street or the expanded Uptown Hennepin Ave corridor (34th St to Franklin Ave) and you’ll earn a $15 gift card as a thank-you for supporting local! 🙌💙

Whether you’re grabbing gifts, enjoying delicious food, exploring bookstores, or giving to a nonprofit (including Give to the Max Day donations!), your purchase counts. Just upload your receipt at LakeStreetLoyalty.com and choose your reward from:
✨ Eat Street Crossing
✨ Moona Moono
✨ Midtown Global Market
✨ Sonora Grill
✨ Uncle Hugo’s & Uncle Edgar’s Bookstore

PLUS — everyone who enters is automatically entered to win a grand prize pack worth $250+ in local gift certificates! 🎁💫
(One entry per person. Up to 400 participants will receive gift cards by Dec 31.)

Let’s lift up our local small businesses this season. 🌟
Learn more about the Lake Street Loyalty Challenge here: https://www.lakestreetloyalty.com/

📚 Little Free Library Update

South Uptown’s two Little Free Libraries were relocated in November and will remain in place throughout the winter:

3140 Bryant Avenue S.

3212 Dupont Avenue S.

Neighbors are encouraged to stop by, leave a book, and take a book—winter is the perfect season to curl up with a great read. ❄️☕️📖

We’re also seeking volunteers to host the libraries in 2026. Hosting one in your yard or boulevard is a fun, simple way to share the love of reading with your neighbors. Hosts help keep the library in good condition and stocked with books.

Interested in learning more? Reach out at info@southuptown.org. 💌

🎶 Big News for Bryant Square Park Concerts! 🎶

Thanks to an incredibly generous anonymous donor, Bryant Square Park now has a brand-new $4,000 sound system on the way! 🙌 The donor is a big fan of the Summer Concert Series and gifted the full amount needed to make this upgrade possible—no fundraising required. ❤️

Over the years, the concerts have relied on a mix of hand-me-down equipment and budget gear, and performers sometimes had to bring their own sound equipment to fill the gaps. That’s all about to change. 🔊✨ The new system will dramatically improve sound quality and reliability, creating a better experience for both performers and concertgoers.

We got a sneak preview during the final concert last summer on August 7, when we borrowed the very system that will now become ours—and it was fantastic! 🎤🎸 The sound was clear and strong, and it was much easier to use. It’s going to be a huge upgrade.

The South Uptown Neighborhood Association proudly partners with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and Bryant Square Park to produce the concert series each summer. Concerts are held at the Bryant Square Park amphitheater most Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00–8:30 PM. 🌳🎵

We can’t wait to share better sound—and even better summer evenings—with you next season! 🌟

🎄✨ Holidays on Hennepin is here! ✨🎄

🎄✨ Holidays on Hennepin is here! ✨🎄

Road construction is finally over, and it’s time to celebrate and support our amazing local businesses along Hennepin Avenue! This year, the entire corridor will be lit up with extravagant decorations, dazzling lights, and nonstop holiday cheer. Uptown is back—and brighter than ever! 💡💚

🗓️ From Black Friday through New Year’s, pick up your FREE Holiday Passport at any participating business. Then explore magical light displays, sip festive seasonal drinks, shop for unique gifts, and enjoy exclusive holiday deals.

Each stop brings something new—quirky surprises, cozy winter vibes, and the warm community spirit that makes Hennepin shine. ✨🎁

💡 Holiday markets, live music, movies, theater, crafts, tattoos, wellness events, Santa photos, and more—there’s something for everyone in Uptown this season!

Support the small businesses you love and help us bring the sparkle back to Hennepin! 🌟

Holidays on Hennepin is a project of the Hennepin Joint Committee, a nonprofit, volunteer-run collaboration of local residents, neighborhood associations, and businesses.

📩 info@holidaysonhennepin.com https://www.holidaysonhennepin.com/ 

🌨️ Snow Season Is Here! 🚗❄️

With winter already underway—and a Snow Emergency in effect—the City of Minneapolis makes it easy to stay informed. Visit their snow information page for street parking rules, Snow Emergency updates, and to sign up for text, email, or phone alerts: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-around/snow/

If your car gets towed, you’ll also find details about the City Impound Lot and how to retrieve your vehicle. 🚘

And don’t forget—shoveling your sidewalk is required by law and is one of the most neighborly things you can do! 🥾💙 Clear snow down to the pavement as early and often as you can. Keeping up with it prevents ice buildup and helps reduce or even eliminate the need for salt, which keeps our waterways cleaner. 🌍💧

🚍 Celebrate the Grand Opening of the New E-Line Rapid Bus! 🎉

🚍 Celebrate the Grand Opening of the New E-Line Rapid Bus! 🎉

Join your South Uptown neighbors on Saturday, December 6 as we take a group ride to try out Metro Transit’s brand-new E-Line Rapid Bus route! We’ll meet at 2:00 PM at the Hennepin Ave & W. 36th St Station, hop aboard together, and ride up to the 25th St Station. From there, we’ll take a short stroll over to Tii Cup (2645 Hennepin Ave) for tasty beverages and snacks. 🧋🍟

Tii Cup features delicious Taiwanese street food and Boba — a perfect stop to warm up, chat, and connect with neighbors. 💬✨

Best of all, Metro Transit is offering FREE rides all day to celebrate the launch! 🙌

Come check out the new service, make some new friends, support a local business, and experience how the E-Line will connect South Uptown to Linden Hills, Southdale, Downtown, and the U of M with a faster, more reliable, and more comfortable ride. 🚏💨

We hope to see you there! Check out more info about the E-Line here: https://www.metrotransit.org/e-line-project

🎉🎄 1st Thursday South Uptown Happy Hour — Last One of 2025! 🍻✨

🎉🎄 1st Thursday South Uptown Happy Hour — Last One of 2025! 🍻✨

Join us on Thursday, December 4 from 5:30–7:00 PM at Gigi's Cafe (824 W. 36th Street) for our final happy hour of the year! It’s a cozy, holiday-themed chance to meet your neighbors and connect before the season gets too busy.

☕️🍷 Gigi’s has something for everyone — coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, wine & more.
🍕 South Uptown will provide light appetizers, including Gigi’s delicious, shareable pizzas.

Bring a friend, grab your favorite drink, and help us wrap up 2025 with good company and neighborhood cheer. No RSVP needed — just stop by! 🎁❄️

🌟 Give to the Max Day is almost here — but you don’t have to wait!

💛 Early giving is open now, and every contribution (big or small!) helps the South Uptown Neighborhood Association continue our work to foster a safe, equitable, and connected community.

👏 Huge thanks to Riley Co. and KRC Apartments for their generous early gifts recognizing our impact!

💚 Give early, give local, and help us reach our goal today!: https://www.givemn.org/organization/South-Uptown-Neighborhood-Association

🌆 Meet Cheba Hut Coming to Uptown!

South Uptown Land Use & Transportation Committee

Wednesday, November 5 at 7:00 PM

3501 Aldrich Avenue S., 1st Floor Conference Room

Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86791321960?pwd=Sksr0U68ZjvXFNRaRB9r9mTu0LXxti.1

Join us for the next Land Use & Transportation Committee meeting! We’ll be welcoming representatives from Cheba Hut, the new toasted sub shop opening soon in the Asher Building at Lake Street and Emerson Avenue S (1128 W. Lake St.).

Franchise owners Nick Reckinger and Matt Alexander—who also run Georgia Boys BBQ in Colorado—will introduce themselves, share their plans for the Uptown location, and talk about what’s next as they prepare to open their doors later this year.

Cheba Hut recently received approval for a liquor license and permission to stay open until 2 AM on weekends, so this is your chance to learn more, ask questions, and meet the team bringing a new flavor to Uptown.

🥪 Come join the conversation and help welcome Cheba Hut to the neighborhood!

🌟 Give to the Max Day is Coming — Support South Uptown! 🌟

South Uptown Neighborhood Association is excited to participate in Give to the Max Day on Thursday, November 20 — Minnesota’s one-day celebration of giving where nonprofits statewide come together to seek support and strengthen our communities. 💚

Building Community.
South Uptown Neighborhood Association brings neighbors together to make our community stronger, safer, and more connected.

Our Mission:
“Improve the well-being of the South Uptown Neighborhood by fostering a safe, equitable, and connected community.”

This year, your support helped us:
✅ Host beloved community events like the Luminary Skating Party, Chili Fest, the Bryant Square Park Concert Series, the Garden Tour, monthly happy hours, and Clean Up Days.
✅ Promote safety and connection through Home Security Grants, Personal Safety Workshops, and crime discussion forums.
✅ Support local businesses through partnerships with the Uptown Farmers Market and the Uptown Futures Forum.
✅ Advocate for you by championing better design for Seven Points and supporting a safer, more people-friendly Lyndale Avenue.
✅ Add neighborhood charm with art wraps, little free libraries, and dog waste stations.

Your donation keeps South Uptown vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming — all year long. 🌳
💚 Give today or anytime this month — and help us continue building community, right here at home.

👉 [Click here to donate! https://www.givemn.org/organization/South-Uptown-Neighborhood-Association

🎉 1st Thursday South Uptown Happy Hour 🍻

Join us on Thursday, November 6 from 5:30–7:00 PM at Gigi's Cafe (824 W. 36th Street) for a fun, low-pressure way to meet your neighbors and learn more about South Uptown!

☕️🍷 Gigi’s has something for everyone — coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, wine & more.
🍕 South Uptown will provide light appetizers, including Gigi’s delicious and shareable pizzas.

Bring a friend, grab your favorite drink, and let’s get to know each other. No RSVP needed — just show up! ✨

🎉 Hennepin Avenue Reopens This Friday! 🚧➡️✨

After 18 months of construction, Hennepin Avenue is officially reopening this Friday, October 31! Come check out the brand-new pavement, sidewalks, protected bike lanes, utilities, and signals 🚲🛣️.

While you’re there, make sure to support our small, local businesses who have weathered the long construction period ❤️🏪.

👉 Minneapolis Public Works will continue lining storm sewers over the next few weeks (expect occasional lane closures), and some streetscape improvements will continue into the spring 🌳💡. Check out the update here:https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MPLS/bulletins/3f85958 

Welcome back, Hennepin! 🙌

🚶‍♀️🚲 South Uptown Signs Onto “Livable Lyndale” Letter 🌳

The South Uptown Neighborhood Association has signed onto the Livable Lyndale letter, joining other community groups in voicing concern about Hennepin County’s proposed design for Lyndale Avenue (Franklin Ave to W. 31st St.), scheduled for reconstruction in 2027.

While the County’s plan includes a 12-foot shared-use trail along the east side of the corridor, this design would force people walking and biking to share the same space — creating safety risks ⚠️ and an uncomfortable environment for everyone.

Livable Lyndale, a campaign by Move MN, advocates for a street that truly works for all users — whether you walk 🚶, bike 🚴, take transit 🚌, or drive 🚗.

👉 Read the full letter and learn more about the campaign here: https://www.movemn.org/action/lyndale-municipal-consent/?gf_protect_submission=1#main

📚 Host a Little Free Library this Winter! ❄️

Love books and community? South Uptown is looking for neighbors to host one of our two Little Free Libraries this winter! Starting around November 1, the libraries will move to new homes and stay in place until spring. 🌳✨

Hosting is easy and fun — just keep an eye on the library to make sure it stays in good shape and full of books. Our volunteers will help you find the perfect spot and get it set up in your yard or boulevard. 💪📖

Interested? Email us at info@southuptown.org to learn more and spread the love of reading! ❤️ #SouthUptown #LittleFreeLibrary #CommunityLove #ReadLocal

🫶 Bystander Intervention Training – Thursday, October 16, 7PM 💪

Learn how to stand up for one another with courage and compassion! 🌈
Right to Be has empowered thousands nationwide to build safer, more inclusive communities — now it’s your turn to join in. 💬✨

This free training is facilitated by Right to Be and co-hosted by the Fulton, Linden Hills, South Uptown, and Tangletown neighborhood organizations.

👉 Register and learn more:
🔗 Bystander Intervention in Public Spaces Training

10th Ward City Council Candidate Forum - Oct. 7th

If you’ve traveled along Aldrich Avenue recently, you may have noticed some new features aimed at slowing down traffic and improving safety. Last summer, Minneapolis Public Works installed speed humps on the 3100 and 3400 blocks of Aldrich, as well as a traffic circle at the intersection of 33rd & Aldrich.

These changes are part of the City’s Vision Zero initiative, which works to prevent traffic injuries and deaths by deploying quick and cost-effective treatments to reduce speeding and improve safety for people walking, biking, rolling, and driving.

Residents across Minneapolis can request traffic calming treatments through the City’s website here:https://www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-around/parking-driving/traffic-calming/. It remains something of a mystery how specific projects, like those on Aldrich, are selected. We assume factors such as high vehicle speeds and the occurrence of recent severe crashes played a role. The City announced this round of traffic calming last spring and hosted workshops to gather community input across Minneapolis.

South Uptown Neighborhood Association has requested additional details from Public Works but, so far, has not received a response. In the meantime, we’ll continue advocating for more transparency in how these projects are prioritized and making sure South Uptown has a voice in future decisions.

✨🍕 South Uptown Happy Hour 🍷☕

📅 Thursday, October 2
🕠 5:30 – 7:00 PM
📍 Gigi’s Café – 824 W. 36th Street

We had such a great time at Gigi’s last month that we’re going back again for October (and November too)! 🎉

The South Uptown Neighborhood Association will cover light appetizers (🍕 pizza, anyone?), while you can grab your own drink of choice—Gigi’s has everything from coffee ☕ and tea 🍵 to beer 🍺 and wine 🍷.

Come hang out in a fun, low-pressure setting 🙌, meet new neighbors 🤝, and learn a little more about what’s happening in South Uptown 🏡.

We hope to see you there! 💚

South Uptown Board Elections Update

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Annual Celebration & Elections. Seven candidates originally filed to run for six open Board seats. However, one candidate has withdrawn from the election. This means that the six remaining candidates will fill the six open seats, and all are now considered elected members of the Board.

As a result, the online ballot has been closed. Congratulations to our new Board Members, and thank you to all who stepped up to serve our neighborhood!

Welcome to the six new South Uptown Board Members:

• Brian Dvorak

• Julia Goodhart

• Greta Kurtz

• Lauren McCarley

• Katrina Michaels

• Alec Shannon

Brian Dvorak

Julia Goodhart

Greta Kurtz

Lauren McCarley

Katrina Michaels

Alec Shannon

📊 South Uptown Neighborhood Survey Results Are In! 🌳🏡

At our Annual Celebration & Elections on September 16, we shared the results of the 2025 South Uptown Neighborhood Survey. Last summer, 217 neighbors took the time to share their thoughts 💬 — from neighborhood demographics to how folks are feeling about our community and what priorities matter most including public safety, health of the area business districts and building more ties with neighbors.

These results will help guide the work of the South Uptown Neighborhood Association and shape our upcoming Strategic Plan. 🌟

👉 Check out the full presentation here.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped shape the future of South Uptown! 💙