A thing of beauty is Summer camp options St. Paul Ballet is a joy forever. Even a abound for kids in breaking down barriers 76-year old canoe. the metro so that all can dance PAGE 7 PAGE 8 PAGE 15 Midway Como Your community newspaper since 1975 March 2018 Vol. 43 No. 8 www.MonitorSaintPaul.com 21,000 Circulation • Spring Café awarded five-year contract to operate at Como Pavilion By JANE MCCLURE terers provided food service at weekdays during peak season Visitors to Como Park the pavilion. and no weekday hours during and its economic pavilion New operator Matty the winter. Saturday and Sun- will enjoy a new dining op- O’Reilly is not only a veteran day hours during peak season tion. And everyone is hoping restaurateur, he already works are 9am-9pm, and 9am-3pm that with the new operator, the with the Department of Parks during the off-season. The op- third time is the charm. and Recreation to operate Red erator and city will work to- On Feb. 14, the St. Paul River Kitchen at the City House gether to see if there can be City Council approved a 23- at Upper Landing. That facili- promenade access during the page contract with O’Reilly ty is in what used to be a head peak season, before opening Custom 3 LLC to operate the house and sack house for a the restaurant. pavilion, 1360 Lexington Pkwy. larger grain elevator complex. Peak season is considered N., on a recommendation from Area residents may also Mothers’ Day to Labor Day. the Parks and Recreation Com- know O’Reilly as owner-opera- The hours are a major mission. The name announced The Pavilion at Como Park, the future home of Spring Cafe. tor of Delicata Pizza & Gelato, change from the Como Dock- is Spring Café. 1341 Pascal St., in the Como side operation, which shut A request for proposals was neighborhood. its doors in November 2017. posted in December 2017, and Spring Café will be the judgment against the city after The agreement takes effect Those operators dealt with very the restaurant operator was third restaurant operator at the it was ousted in 2014. That Apr. 1 and continues through slow weekday hours during the chosen from who applied be- pavilion in recent years. Como restaurant had operated for 13 2023, with an option for an fall and winter months. Como fore a January deadline. Dockside closed last fall. In years, and on Como Ave. be- additional five-year renewal. Dockside had to open at 7am The City Council approved 2015 Como Dockside had re- fore that. It also has a clause allowing under its city contract. the contract without discussion placed Black Bear Crossings, Before Black Bear a combi- termination. It calls for opera- The new operator will also as part of its consent agenda. which won an $800,000 legal nation of city workers and ca- tions between 11am and 9pm Continued on page 4 Program helps those with sensory processing needs enjoy zoo more Como works with Autism Society on handouts and maps to help families prepare before they get into zoo By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN offer when it comes to sights, sensory experiences.” “When we go to events like one-time thing. For those with sensory is- sounds, smells, and tempera- The goal of this new pro- these, we find that knowing the Upcoming dates include sues, it can be hard to visit the tures, that it can sometimes gram is to provide families re- staff and other visitors under- Sundays, Mar. 11, Apr. 8, May zoo, but Como is launching a be overwhelming,” remarked sources and tools to support stand unique struggles can be 13, June 10, July 8, July 22, new program to change that. Noah Petermeier of Como Zoo them and make their time at helpful,” said Autism Society of Aug. 5, and Aug. 19; and Visitors who have family and Conservatory. “We are so Como more accessible. Minnesota Education Specialist Wednesdays, June 13, July 11, members on the autism spec- lucky to have such a dynamic “We can’t take away some Lucas Scott, who added that it July 25, Aug. 8 and Aug. 22. trum or those with sensory pro- facility that allows visitors to of these sensory experiences eases any embarrassment that Families can arrive be- cessing needs will now be able have unique learning experi- like the smells and sounds, but might develop. tween 9-10am on the select- to enter Como Zoo one hour ences. Keeping that in mind, it what we can do is provide fam- Scott is excited about the ed dates. They should enter before doors open to the gen- is important for us at Como to ilies with resources to help pre- zoo’s commitment to hold through the visitor center main eral public on selected Sundays acknowledge what we can do pare them for their experience these Autism Sensory Friendly entrance. The early entry days and Wednesdays. to assist those who might have and set them up for success,” Mornings monthly and make it “Como has so much to challenges processing these stated Petermeier. a regular offering rather than a Continued on page 4 “Como has so much to offer when it comes to sights, sounds, smells, and temperatures, that it can sometimes be overwhelming,” remarked Noah Petermeier of Como. “We can’t take away some of these sensory experiences like the smells and sounds, but what we can do is provide families with resources to help prepare them for their experience and set them up for success.” (Photos submitted) Everyone loves to ‘mix it up’ in the Creative Enterprise Zone Article and photos ment, commercial leasing, and by MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN new development projects. She The Creative Enterprise Zone is also a licensed commercial (CEZ) is a well-established hub real estate agent. “I get to go to of industry and creativity, radi- my job every day and work on ating out in all directions from re-connecting neighborhoods. the intersection of Raymond and What could be better!” she said. University avenues. Reid Day concluded, “The Home to many creative Mixer Series has been great be- businesses and nonprofit cause we’re able to invite all groups, the CEZ itself became kinds of people into creative a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organiza- spaces in the CEZ for conver- tion in the fall of 2017, making sation.” it possible to receive funding In addition to many cre- from a broader range of foun- atives and makers living and dations. working in the CEZ, staff of Originally formed in 2009 the Department of Planning as a task force of the St. An- and Economic Development thony Park Community Coun- showed up in full force for this cil, the CEZ now has its own mixer. And why shouldn’t City twelve-member working board. Hall be interested in what’s As part of an ongoing se- CEZ board chair Catherine Reid Day welcomed 100+ attendees to the mixer happening in the CEZ? Accord- ries, they hosted a mixer on held at the Naughty Greek Restaurant on Feb. 26th. The topic of discussion ing to Reid Day, “this district Feb. 26 at The Naughty Greek was Innovative Development for a Creative Economy. provides more tax revenue to Restaurant (2400 University the state than any other.” Ave. W.). The Naughty Greek panel discussion. Seward Redesign in Minne- The next mixer will be held is a fairly new addition to the Clapp explained, “Can Can apolis, is a resident of Ham- in early April, time and place restaurant scene that serves up Wonderland (755 Prior Ave. line-Midway, and a new CEZ still TBD. Check the website at authentic Athenian street food N.) is proud to be the first arts- board member. Her work is www.creativeenterprisezoneorg at their two St. Paul locations. based public benefit corpora- focused on business develop- for updates. The mixer addressed ques- tion in Minnesota (called a B tions unique to the CEZ about Corp). That means that we can live/work spaces, the growing place value both on being an trend of maker spaces, the fu- economic engine for the arts ture of space development for and on being a profitable com- creative entrepreneurs, and the pany. The American Can Fac- opportunities and challenges tory was the perfect place to associated with transit-oriented create Can Can Wonderland be- development. cause it had the space we need- The event was funded by ed at a price point we could af- the Knight Foundation. Jai Win- ford.” ston, St. Paul Program Direc- “The positive energy of the tor for the Knight Foundation, Dr. Bruce Corrie, newly appointed CEZ,” Peter Remes said, “was added closing remarks. Director of Planning and Economic a big part of what drew me to According to board chair development for the City of St. Paul want to develop Vandalia Tower Catherine Reid Day, “At the said, “We have every intention of at 550 Vandalia St. The 220,000 heart of everything we do for becoming the best city in the country square foot building was in ter- the CEZ is the belief that cre- for the creative economy.” rible shape, but so many other ativity and economic devel- things about the decision felt opment go hand in hand. We right. Ultimately, it was because very much want to preserve the of Summit Group/KW Com- of the neighborhood that we lively mix of people and enter- mercial; First and First CEO decided to put our stake in the prises that make up our zone.