Lyndale Open Streets is Back on August 24!

Lyndale Open Streets

Saturday, August 24, 11AM- 5PM

Lyndale Ave S. Between W. 22nd and 36th Streets

Led by the Uptown Association, the free Open Streets event features more than 200 vendors and participants. It’s a fun way to experience Minneapolis outside of a car. This free street festival features music, food and community activities.

Volunteers are still needed, and you can help here: http://www.uptownminneapolis.com/events/openstreets/

Consider Running for a Board Seat!

The South Uptown Neighborhood Association is seeking candidates to join the 9-Member Board of Directors by participating in the Board Election on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Those elected will serve two-year terms running between October 1, 2024- September 30, 2026. It's fun and a great way to serve your community. Click here for more information and to apply. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O3SP0z7RRZ1IfXRThUDQju713L9LUT0AEdo26iu0wR4/edit#responses

The organization is especially interested in recruiting people of color, renters and women to join the Board to better reflect the neighborhood population. Candidates with experience in fundraising, events organizing, social media and urban planning are also highly desired.

South Uptown Board Qualifications & Duties
All South Uptown residents (including renters), business owners, and property owners 18+ are eligible to run for a seat on the South Uptown Board of Directors. Responsibilities include:
• Fulfill oversight and fiduciary duties of the nonprofit South Uptown Neighborhood Association
• Attend monthly SU Neighborhood Meetings on the third Tuesday of most months, 7 pm online or at the South Uptown office.  
• Participate on at least one of the active SU committees
• Act as an ambassador for the organization

Emergency Shelter Proposed at 916 W. Lake St.

Lakeshore Care is seeking a recuperative care facility license for the property at 918 W. Lake Street. The 20-bed facility will serve unhoused individuals recovering from medical procedures referred from area clinics, hospitals and social service agencies. Under the City’s zoning code, the project is considered an “Emergency Shelter" because it provides sleeping and restroom facilities for unhoused individuals for greater than 24 hours and less than 6 months. 

A Public Hearing is scheduled during the City Planning Commission (CPC) meeting on August 12, 4:30PM in Room #350 at the Public Service Center at 250 4th St. S. The CPC will consider the application for a Conditional Use Permit to operate an Emergency Shelter. Public testimony is welcome. 

Staff Report: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/download/Agenda/6233/4711/8StaffReport918WLakeSt.pdf

Additional Details from Lakeshore Care: https://mcusercontent.com/92d470b82c97dd45657a0bf76/files/7a549d34-fce5-d786-f396-ff4996564753/Lakeshore_Care_Response.pdf

South Uptown Happy Hour is Thu., August 8 at Morrissey’s

South Uptown Happy Hour

Thursday, August 8, 5:30- 7:00PM

Morrissey’s Irish Pub- 913 W. Lake St.

Join us for an evening of camaraderie, community-spirit and connection at Morrissey’s Irish Pub, sponsored by the South Uptown Neighborhood Association. This first- Thursday gathering promises an informal yet engaging setting for South Uptown residents to come together, unwind and learn more about the vital work of the neighborhood association. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a newcomer to South Uptown, this happy hour is a great opportunity to forge new friendships while getting to know more about the community. South Uptown will provide light appetizers while attendees pick up their own drinks. Please bring your friends, family and neighbors! The more, the merrier…

Host a Little Library this Summer or Winter!

South Uptown has two “Little Free Libraries” that we move around the neighborhood a few times a year. Currently, the libraries are located at 3208 Colfax and 3400 Emerson Avenue S. Are you interested in hosting a a library in your yard this fall or winter? Hosts simply monitor the library to make sure it stays in good condition and full of books. It’s easy and a fun way to connect with neighbors. If interested contact info@southuptown.org for more details. #southuptown, #littlefreelibraries

27th Annual South Uptown Garden Tour

South Uptown Garden Tour

Saturday, June 22, 10:00AM- 12:00PM

Meet at 5 Watt Coffee- 3350 Lyndale Avenue S.

Monday, June 24, 6:30- 8:30PM

Meet at Gigi’s Cafe- 824 W. 36th St.

View the Garden Tour route here.

Join us for a delightful stroll through the landscapes of South Uptown. You're cordially invited to immerse yourself in a haven of colors, scents, and creativity at our free walking tour of the neighborhood's most enchanting yards! Discover the magic of gardening as we explore a variety of meticulously curated gardens showcasing vibrant flowers, native plants, and captivating landscaping features. Whether you're an avid gardener or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, this tour promises something special for everyone.

Meet fellow plant enthusiasts and make new connections as we embark on a leisurely journey through our verdant community. Share tips, stories, and inspiration with fellow green thumbs, and perhaps even unearth some hidden gardening gems along the way.

Tour participants will meet at the start of the tour and then walk together as a group to gardens along the route.

2024 Bryant Square Park Concert Series Schedule Announced

In less than a month, live music will return to the amphitheater at Bryant Square Park! The first of 13 concerts will take place on Tuesday, June 11 featuring Zachary Scott Johnson, a talented, local singer/ songwriter who is known for playing multiple instruments. Other musical genres featured during the summer concert series include pop, rock, R&B, Irish, Jazz and more.

Performances will take place most Tuesday and Thursdays from 6:30- 8:00 PM through August 1. The series is brought to you through a collaboration of Bryant Square Park, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) and the South Uptown Neighborhood Association.

Download the Calendar here.

South Uptown Stop & Swap is May 16

South Uptown Stop & Swap
Thursday, May 16, 6-8PM
Bryant Square Park Recreation Center
3101 Bryant Avenue S.

Drop by the park to participate in the first ever South Uptown Stop & Swap on Thursday evening! Your neighbors will be offering up their quality stuff for free in the spirit of “buy nothing”. This includes clean and reusable items like clothing, housewares, appliances, electronics, books and toys. It will be a fun and sustainable way to get something new and connect with neighbors.

Smoke Testing Starts May 1

The Surface Water and Sewers Division of Public Works is preparing to smoke test a portion of the sanitary sewers in Ward 10 including within South Uptown.  Since 2007 the City has been smoke testing to identify and eliminate connections of “clear” stormwater from the sanitary sewer.  During smoke testing non-toxic smoke is used to identify leaks or faulty connections that may allow rainwater into the sanitary sewer system, which can overflow in a significant storm.  This work minimizes risks to human and environmental health posed by overflows and reduces costs to the City to treat water at the wastewater treatment plant.

 

This map shows where Public Works is planning to smoke test starting the week of May 1.  Testing on each block only takes a few days and city-wide smoke testing will be complete by early July. Written notice and a fact sheet about smoke testing will be sent to all impacted properties and will provide door hangers prior to testing with information on where to call with questions/ concerns.

 

Here is a link to the web page: Smoke Testing - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov 

Swap Your Stuff with Neighbors May 16

South Uptown Stop & Swap

Thursday, May 16, 6- 8PM

Bryant Square Park Recreation Center (3101 Bryant Ave S.)

In the spirit of "buy nothing", we are pleased to host the first-ever South Uptown Stop & Swap! This free event is an opportunity to declutter and clean out your home by offering your stuff to your neighbors, while taking a few items for yourself. this free reuse swap is a sustainable way to dispose of unwanted stuff and share with the community. 

Swapable Items: Clean, reusable and portable items such as clothes, housewares, electronics, books and toys.

unacceptable Items: Furniture, large items, expired or opened food, dirty or damaged clothes, unsealed personal care items, medicine, child car seats, strollers, broken electronics and sharp items.  

Online Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pDGtuWZOG4hRs5ZYO6JEYVRPN6L6qruxnw5_rMer2sE/edit#responses 

Reserve table space for the event- either a half (4') or full (8') banquet table. * Space is limited and will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Setup can start as early as 5PM with a 6PM event start. Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 14.

Uptown Farmers’ Market Seeks Vendors for 2024 Season

After a hiatus for visioning, East Isles Neighborhood Association is announcing a call for vendors for the rebranded Uptown Farmers Market! 2024 will be a season of pop-up markets across participating neighborhoods in the Uptown area held during existing community events. The pop-ups will build momentum and recognition for a stationary, weekly market season in 2025. 

New vendors and talent are welcome alongside the vendors, musicians, and food trucks who previously made the East Isles Farmers Market great. Click here to become a vendor and for more info.

Welcome Flip Side Dispensary & Music Lounge!

The South Uptown Neighborhood Association welcomes the Flipside Dispensary and Music Lounge to the neighborhood (www.Flipsidemn.com & @FlipsideMN on socials -- at 901 W 36th St)!  While open since late December, many neighbors joined Flipside for the true, “soft opening” on March 23rd as product samples, plenty of music and local arts (and even, tattoo’s) filled the store.  Flipside will continue to celebrate their ongoing launch as South Uptown and East Harriet neighbors ease into Spring: the festivities of April 20th (420); combining a celebration of Earth Day, Record Store Day & for some, Cannabis.  Husband and wife (owners) Josh and Tess Fellman took a moment to reflect on the positive, successful start for the new business. 

As one of the first dispensaries to open a store front in Uptown, Flipside has made a great impression.  Josh and Tess completely repurposed the corner location (formerly, a somewhat tired and dilapidated, Calhoun Pet Store) with a complete build-out and attractive, new (black) façade.  Inside, Flipside is a bright, open, and contemporary venue with beautifully displayed THC + CBD beverages, gummies, creams and other merch.  The moniker of “Flipside” is apropos, as the store boasts a cozy listening center for any music enthusiast complete with 1500+ records (all $5 except for a select few), deep set listening lounges and a private record player with noise cancelling headphones. Flipside is open daily and encourages neighbors to stop in and enjoy music (with or without any other purchase...) and immerse themselves in the comfortable vibe, massive music library and maybe a refreshment or complimentary coffee. 

The Minneapolis couple commented on the new approach and commitment to our community, “We love this space and the Uptown neighborhood!  We felt our vision could enhance this commercial corner, while bringing a unique retail approach to this space.”  Flipside has quickly developed a consistent group of “regulars” along with a growing base of uptown residents walking to the popular corner.  “There’s so much to offer with Our Kitchen, GiGi’s and Bogart’s so close – many of the neighbors have been so kind to support our growing lines,” Josh stated.  

“The entire neighborhood(s) have been so welcoming and supportive!”, Josh emphasized, referring to their strategic location, not only on the border of Uptown and East Harriet but also on the wonderful Bryant Ave pathway (Flipside will be part of Our Streets Bicycle Benefits Program). “We’re really excited to be part of the community and see how the space grows over time.” Tess commented.  

The Fellman’s are dedicated to focus on Minnesota-based products with over 90% of the items stemming from Minnesota companies.  Whether CBD, THC or even, the focus on local musicians – Minnesota products are beautifully merchandised in the wonderful, clean lines of the black/white tile and slatted wood surroundings. Flipside’s mission of being “your friendly neighborhood advocates for sparking more of those little moments of joy & vibin’ to the music while you do it” is evident by the friendly atmosphere when you enter the store. 

Again, patrons have been incredibly supportive of Flipside, especially with such a light winter – the foot traffic has been a tremendous kickstart.  The couple is confident that the Spring will continue to be positive as Flipside completes their first “4/20” – many plans are in place for any Flipside guests on that special day, with the combination of “Record Store Day” and “4/20” all-in-one!  There truly is no better place to celebrate (however you wish) – as The Fellman’s and a growing group of neighbor’s like to say, “See you on the Flipside!” 

Little Libraries Move to New Locations

Little Libraries Move to New Locations

South Uptown’s two little libraries moved to new locations earlier this week. One library sits at 3400 Emerson while the other is located at 3208 Colfax Avenue S. Stop by to leave a book and then take a book.

We’re looking for neighbors to host the libraries starting in July, so get in touch if you’re interested in getting one deployed to your yard or boulevard. Library hosts simply monitor it to ensure the library remains in good condition and full of books. South Uptown volunteers will install the library in a spot that works best. It is a fun way to connect with neighbors and share a love of reading. 

Help Your Neighbors Pick Up Trash during 4-20 Earth Day Clean Up

Earth Day Clean Up

Saturday, April 20, 9:30AM - 12:00PM

Meet at Bryant Square Park (3101 Bryant Ave S.)

We invite you to join us for the annual Minneapolis Earth Day Clean Up on April 20th sponsored by Minneapolis Parks and the South Uptown Neighborhood Association! This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a community and make a positive impact on our neighborhood and environment. We will provide all the necessary supplies such as bags and gloves for trash collection. Additionally, there will be snacks available to keep us energized during the clean-up efforts. 

Before starting out, we’ll provide a brief orientation to identify areas of focus and ensure everyone is ready to contribute effectively. By working together, we can make a significant difference in keeping our streets, parks, and waterways clean. Let's show our commitment to sustainability and preserving the natural beauty of our neighborhood. Your participation, no matter how big or small, will contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone. Feel free to invite friends and family members who would like to join this important community event.

Together, we can make Earth Day not just a day of awareness but also a day of action and positive change. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you there!

B-Line Construction Starts along Lake St. Corridor

Metro Transit, the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and utility companies will start work soon to prepare the Lake St. corridor for the upcoming B-Line Rapid Bus route. 2024 construction work includes 15 B Line station platforms at eight intersections west of Hiawatha Avenue. Most construction in 2024 is related to Lake Street improvements funded by project partners at the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County including: 

  • Pedestrian and signal improvements at approximately 40 additional intersections. 

  • Resurfacing and restriping of Lake Street and Lagoon Avenue, which includes 5.4 additional miles of bus-only lanes.   

To see where work will be happening, and what is being built, please view the interactive project map: https://app.publiccoordinate.com/#/projects/METROBline/map 

So far, crews have placed temporary signal poles and completed necessary tree removals, and they continue to work to install underground fiber optic cable along the corridor. CenterPoint Energy will begin updating their infrastructure and gas meters before major construction starts. CenterPoint Energy staff may be contacting residents and businesses about potential short-term gas outages as they upgrade equipment. 

Intersection & Lane Closures Planned

  • Starting the first week of April, the intersection of Lake & Dupont north of Lake Street will be closed for up to 8-10 weeks. 

  • Starting the first week of April, the intersection of Emerson & Lagoon avenues north of Lake Street will be closed for 2-3 weeks. East-west traffic on Lagoon will remain open, but reduced to one lane. 

  • Later in April, closures will occur at Fremont  & Lagoon avenue and Knox Ave. & Lake Street/ Lagoon Ave. for approximately 2-3 weeks each East-west traffic on Lake St. will still be open, but reduced to one lane. 

  • Starting in early April, the north (right-hand) lane of Lagoon Avenue between Dupont Avenue and East Bde Maka Ska Parkway will be closed. This closure is projected to last until mid-to-late May. 

  • Starting in early April, the south (right-hand) lane of Lake Street between Pillsbury Avenue and East Bde Maka Ska Parkway will be closed. This closure is projected to last until mid-to-late May. 

  • Crews will begin construction work at 17 intersections to upgrade pedestrian corners, and begin construction on B Line stations at Lake & Lyndale, Lake & Hennepin, and Lake & East Bde Maka Ska. 

General construction information

Construction along the corridor will be phased, with work beginning between East Bde Maka Ska Parkway and Blaisdell Avenue starting this spring. The section between Blaisdell and Hiawatha Avenues will start later this year. 

Work in the corridor will include station construction, utility work, pavement and intersection improvements, traffic signal changes, and resurfacing of the pavement on Lake Street and Lagoon Avenue. When an area is under construction, the street will be partially closed to vehicle traffic in stages, with one side of the street being worked on at a time. At least one driving lane in each direction will be open throughout construction. Sidewalks will remain open on at least one side of the street, and access will be maintained to homes and businesses. Parking on Lake Street and Lagoon Avenue. will be restricted in some areas. More detailed information, including maps of planned closures, is available on the B Line Construction webpage. https://www.metrotransit.org/b-line-project-construction  

Any questions about B Line or Lake Street improvements construction can be directed to the construction hotline at 651-356-6995 or to BLine@metrotransit.org

South Uptown Happy Hour - April 4th @Fool Me Once

South Uptown Happy Hour
Thursday, April 4, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Fool Me Once- 3006 Lyndale Avenue S.

Join us for an evening of camaraderie, community-spirit and connection at Fool Me Once, sponsored by the South Uptown Neighborhood Association. This first Thursday gathering promises an informal yet engaging setting for South Uptown residents to come together, unwind and learn more about the vital work of the neighborhood association. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a newcomer to South Uptown, this happy hour is a great opportunity to forge new friendships while getting to know more about the community. South Uptown will provide light appetizers while attendees pick up their own drinks. Please bring your friends, family and neighbors! The more, the merrier…