Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

St. Agnus Church

Here Hmong, African-Americans, Latinos and other hard-striving urban folk live in modest houses. This being St. Paul, there are a lot of churches in the neighborhood, the most imposing of which is the steep-spired St, Agnes, home to a congregation of tradition-minded Catholics whose Sunday masses are accompanied by master musicians from the city's orchestras. And this part of University Avenue contains Asiatown, a long stretch of Vietnamese, Hmong, Chinese, Lao, Thai, and Cambodian stores and restaurants that have revitalized a once-moribund streetscape.

Thomas - Dale/Frogtown Features

Verdict: The "Buy Local" Campaign Helped Central Corridor Businesses Stay Healthy

Dan Heilman Wednesday, February 01, 2012

An aggressive, and unconventional, marketing campaign to keep people coming to Central Corridor businesses during light rail construction in 2011 appears to have paid off in less business decline than expected--and a mood of cautious optimism about the future.

Revisiting the Central Corridor's Funky Treasures: A SLide Show

Bill Kelley, Jon Spayde Wednesday, February 01, 2012

In one magical zone in the Twin Cities, there's a loon made of junk, a chimney covered in shattered glass and ceramic shards, and a place to buy tarantulas. It's called the Central Corridor. Here's a second look at what photographer Bill Kelley and managing editor Jon Spayde picked out last year as they traveled down University Avenue and Washington Avenue, seeking out their favorite offbeat, oddball, one-of-a-kind things.

The Big Picture 9: Bruce Corrie on the power of "ethnic capital"

Jon Spayde Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Often, says Concordia University economist and biz-school dean Bruce Corrie, our minority and immigrant communities are seen solely through the "problem" lens. Their struggles are real, but their contributions to our prosperity and potential for growth are greater than most majority Minnesotans realize. And Corrie's got the figures to prove it.

Owners, chamber join forces to keep Corridor businesses healthy

Michelle Bruch Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Nobody expected Central Corridor light-rail construction to be easy on the small businesses along the route. But now that the challenges of access and parking are hitting, business owners, the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations are working to keep the Corridor as customer-friendly as possible.

Quirky Twin Cities bars and restaurants that take you away from the everyday: A slide show

Bill Kelley Wednesday, March 23, 2011

When it comes to dining-and-drinking venues, there's atmosphere--and then there's atmosphere. Some go the extra mile beyond a good color sense and a lively vibe to actually spirit you away to another place or time, real or imaginary. Herewith, a slide show of four of our favorite local places to escape the here-and-now.

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