Origin Story, Part the Sixth: John Irvine, Granddaddy of W7 / St. Paul

While Irvine Park and Hillside commemorate John Irvine, his legendary civic role in the birth of our neighborhoods and city is somewhat neglected. Prior to…
Woke at the Playground

When asked, the grandparent I met at Thompson Park in West St. Paul said he was from the West 7th Area of St. Paul. There…
A Friendly Reminder to Take Care of Yourself

I don’t know about you, but 2025 came in hot, and somehow, it’s already almost over. We’ve made it through the State Fair (and all…
Express Bike Shop Celebrates 30 Years

Express Bike Shop, a fixture on Selby Avenue and a social enterprise of Keystone Community Services, is celebrating 30 years of community impact this year. …
Brick And Mortar Bookshop To Open In Honor Of St. Paul Librarian’s Unique Legacy

More than a decade after her passing, the legacy of beloved St. Paul book collector Jeanette Kamman —fondly known as “The Book Lady”—is reignited in…
Origin Story, Part the Fifth: The Delusion of Downtown St. Paul

There is a misconception that the City of St. Paul grew out of a downtown district. Through the 1800s nothing could be further from the…
West 7th / Fort Road Federation October 2025

50th Anniversary District Council Celebration Wednesday, Oct. 8 5:30 pm – 8 pm City House, 258 Mill St, St Paul, MN 55102 Join Saint Paul’s…
New St. Paul co-living ‘duplex’ cracks the code of affordability and low-carbon housing

It’s easy to feel hopeless about the housing crisis, especially if you live in St. Paul, where any hint of new housing on the horizon…
R.I.P. Carl Bentson 10-27-1974 to 12-18-2024

Sunday, August 3, 2025, 5:45 p.m. West 7th’s C.S.P.S. Hall was emptied out. Lights down, chairs and tables folded and put away. The band was…