Visit Lake Street Blog
Twitter Contest: Win two free tickets to our November 17 fundraiser!
November 07, 2011
Your last chance for two free tickets is here! We want to see you at our 15th Annual Lake Street Wine and Beer Tasting and Silent Auction, and all it takes is a few seconds on Twitter to enter.
How to enter:
1. Follow @VisitLakeStreet.
2. Tweet a link to this blog post.
3. Mention @VisitLakeStreet in the tweet. Example tweet: “I’m gonna win two free tickets to @VisitLakeStreet‘s Nov. 17 wine tasting by tweeting this. http://bit.ly/tc49oT”
4. Encourage your friends to enter! If they win, you can then guilt them into giving you their second ticket.
The winner will be chosen at random after the contest ends Thursday, November 10 at 11:59 p.m.
You can take care of steps #2 and #3 with this button: Tweet
Extra rules (in case you’re feeling tricksy):
1. Don’t create multiple Twitter accounts (you’re likely to get them all suspended).
2. Don’t post the same tweet over and over (only one entry per account).
Midtown Logo Contest Winner!
July 26, 2011
Congratulations to Dave Grimsrud for winning the Midtown Logo Design Contest! The Midtown area of Lake Street (from 35-W to Hiawatha) recently held this contest to find an engaging brand that connects with residents and welcomes visitors. Without further ado, here’s the winner!
Dave Grimsrud is from Zumbrota, MN he has a strong passion for art, painting and design work, spanning over the last 50 years. He earned art degrees at St. Olaf College (BA), U of M – Mankato (MA) and Indiana University – Bloomington (MFA). He has worked as an Art teacher and basketball coach at several high schools across the state of MN. In addition he was owner/publisher/graphic designer for over 25 years with Grimsrud Publishing, Inc.
And a couple runners-up:
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This one’s from Jim Smith, recent graduate from Anoka High School. He has been working with graphic design and making logos for about four years and he is planning on attending Full Sail University for computer animation in the fall.
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And here’s one from Nick Zdon, a 2004 graduate from the College of Visual Arts. Nick has held senior design positions at Larsen Design and HartungKemp. He’s created work for Amnesty International, Best Buy, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Microsoft. His work has appeared in GDUSA, Graphis, HOW, and Print.
What do you think?
Best of the Cities 2011
April 20, 2011
We’re always excited when the City Pages Best Of awards drop. They’re always a good reminder of all the fantastic stuff all around us. And this year we’re doubly happy to see that a Lake Street area neighborhood, Lyn-Lake, won the best neighborhood award.
It’s easy to become a resident; there are plenty of duplexes and apartments for rent, many just rundown enough to be affordable without crossing the line into scary. Parking is pretty easy, the neighbors are mostly friendly, and the business district can’t be beat.
But that’s not all! Read on for the full list of love shown to the Lake Street area this year, with more awards than you can count on your fingers.
Best Neighborhood – Lyn-Lake
Best New Restaurant – Heidi’s, 2903 Lyndale Ave. S.
Best Outdoor Dining - moto-i, 2940 Lyndale Ave. S.
Best Ethiopian Restaurant – T’s Place, 2713 E. Lake St.
Best Restaurant for Romance – Barbette, 1600 W. Lake St.
Best Italian Restaurant – Il Gatto, 3001 Hennepin Ave. S.
Best Cheap Eats – La Loma Tamales, Midtown Global Market & Mercado Central
Best Cocktail Name – Trust Me Baby at Amore Victoria, 1601 W. Lake St.
Best Bloody Mary – Burger Jones, 3200 W. Lake St.
Best Free Activity – Free Ink Day at Highpoint Center for Printmaking, 912 W. Lake St.
Best Place to Buy Vinyl – Hymie’s Vintage Records, 3820 E. Lake St.
Best Art Gallery – Cult Status Gallery, 2913 Harriet Ave. S.
Best Bowling Alley – Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St.
Best Coffee – Peace Coffee, 2801 21st Ave. S.
Best Tattoo Parlor – Leviticus Tattoo, 4109 E. Lake St.
Best Store for Sex Toys – Smitten Kitten, 3010 Lyndale Ave. S.
Best Wine Store – Lake Wine & Spirits, 404 W. Lake St.
Best Liquor Store – Chicago Lake Liquors, 825 E. Lake St.
Reader’s Choices
Best Neighborhood Bar: Merlin’s Rest, Best Sushi: Fuji Ya, Best Beach & Place to Run: Lake Calhoun, Best Bike Trail: Midtown Greenway
Honorable Mention
Best Mexican Restaurant – Salsa a la Salsa on Nicollet, but they have a Midtown Global Market spot too!
Council Member Glidden Tours Lake Street Businesses
September 20, 2010
by Joyce Wisdom, Lake Street Council executive director
On Friday, September 17, Elizabeth Glidden and Lake Street Council staff, Joyce Wisdom and ZoeAna Martinez, took a whirlwind tour of some of the Lake Street businesses in the Eighth Ward.
First stop was The Dental Emergency Room at 707 East Lake, where they were greeted by Amelia Moreno, manager. The slogan there is “let us be the reason behind your smile.” While no one in the group stopped for dental care, there was much reason to smile. The Dental Emergency Room has been open since May 2009 and has seen considerable growth in their business. They have plans to expand at their location, adding additional treatment rooms. Everyone agreed that their success is an indicator of the need for professional services like theirs in this community.
Next up was El Amor Fashion at 511 East Lake Street. This is a family operation like so many others on Lake Street. While the matriarch of the family, Alicia, helped a customer find just the right wedding apparel, her husband Estevan, son Steven, and preschool granddaughter Esmeralda shared stories about their family business and its 10 years on Lake Street.
The group then paid a visit to Tamer Azzazi and Mike Jones at World of Wireless. Tamer Azzazi now has four locations, two on Lake Street and two in St. Paul. They closed a Bloomington location after opening at 505 East Lake, and are pleased that many of the Bloomington customers now come to this location. Add to those loyal customers the many neighborhood residents who have found their products and service here worthwhile and the World of Wireless business is continuing to grow.
Council Member Glidden was really enjoying the tour. She knows many of the businesses and owners in her Ward, but most enjoys opportunities like this to just visit in a rare open couple of hours on a Friday afternoon…but the tour wasn’t over yet. It was time to sit a minute, and enjoy a little Somali spiced tea at the newly open Safari Restaurant at 3010 4th Ave. S. Met by Jamal Hashi, on the run from his Global Market location, the group was impressed with the improvements Mr. Hashi has made to this property. He has quite the plan to keep both the restaurant and larger event space busy. Council Member Glidden commented on how pleased and supportive the neighborhood is to have such a responsible restaurateur here on 4th Avenue.
Carniceria La Huazteca owner, Alfredo Zagal, really welcomed Council Member Glidden at his location in one of Lake Street’s many urban malls, this one located at 419 East Lake. Mr. Zagal and Council Member Glidden became acquainted when Lake Street Council worked with Council Member Glidden, Mr. Zagal and other small grocers and community partners to revise the specialty grocers license so these businesses could continue to thrive and grow in our communities. Mr. Zagal noted that his business has grown 40% since those changes have gone into effect.
Last stop and lunch was at Los Ocampo, 809 East Lake Street. Council Member Glidden told Lilia Ocampo that she eats here often and loves the food. It is authentic Mexican and real quality. The talking seemed to slow down here as the group began to enjoy the food. What better way to end the tour!
Best of the Cities
August 26, 2010
We are honored to be named in Minnesota Monthly’s new Best of the Cities issue. They gave us the prize for Best Twitter Feed:
“You can’t possibly cram the energy and vitality of the most diverse and historic street in Minneapolis into 140 characters, right? Tell that to the Lake Street Council, which has been packing its Twitter feed, @VisitLakeStreet, with gorgeous photos, restaurant reviews, coupons, and breaking news from the people and businesses that line Lake Street.”
Always nice to know that people are paying attention and like what you’re doing! Be sure you’re keeping up by following us on Twitter and Facebook.
Heidi’s to Lyn-Lake
August 19, 2010
More big news for the Lyn-Lake area this month, as it was announced that popular Minneapolis restaurant Heidi’s will soon open up at 2903 Lyndale Ave. S. Heidi’s was one of the restaurants displaced from the fire at 50th & Bryant. That fire was a tragedy for Minneapolis, but we’re happy that Heidi’s has found a new home, and that it’s right here in the Lake Street area. According to City Pages’s Hot Dish Blog, they plan to have 55 seats there, and a patio that can seat 28. And:
As a nod to the neighbors, Woodman said, the new Heidi’s will continue to keep its entrees priced less than $20. He plans to offer a larger selection of one or two-bite amuse bouches priced at a couple bucks a pop, so the restaurant can be open to more flexible drinking/snacking options than the multicourse meals commonly eaten at the original Heidi’s.
Keep an eye out for them!
In other Lyn-Lake restaurant news, Szechuan Spice is now open at 3016 Lyndale Ave. S. Kathy Jenkins at the Pioneer Press says it’s one of her new favorite dining spots. Check it out!
Openings all over West Lake
July 29, 2010
New things happening all over the Lyn-Lake and Uptown areas! Here’s what we’re tracking:
MSP Magazine’s Foodie File is reporting that an empty spot at Lyn-Lake is picking up interest from the restaurateurs at Tea House. The Pioneer Press says that it may be named Szechaun Spice.
Another restauranteur is looking to expand into the Uptown area. Look for Darbar India Grill to open at 1221 West Lake. Among the highlights of its offerings: “an exhibition tandoori oven that will roast free-range chickens, among other ingredients, and the menu will also focus on grilled items served small-plate-style.”
And HUGE Improve Theater just signed a lease at 3037 Lyndale Ave. S., and is currently looking for donations to help with the move. (Thanks to Our Uptown for the tip.)
Making the Twin Cities Tasty
July 26, 2010
The August 2010 Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine has a big list of 52 People, Places, and Plates that make the Twin Cities Tasty. Congratulations to Salty Tart’s Michelle Gayer for being number ONE on the list, and getting a nice big photo to go along with it. Congrats too, to Midtown Farmers’ Market, Ingebretsen’s, and Town Talk Diner for clocking in at #20, #22, and #28, respectively. Look for the issue at your local newsstand!
More oral history with Joyce Krook
May 19, 2010
The second part of our oral history interview with Joyce Krook is now live! Joyce, the longtime Community Relations Specialist at Abbott Northwestern, shares what it was like to live, shop, go to school, and go to the movies at Lake & Hennepin in the 1950s.
And be sure not to miss part 1, which focuses more on the Minneapolis Ice Arena, which was where the Uptown Rainbow Foods is now.
As we create more of this videos, we’ll create a section of our website devoted to them, to make finding and browsing them easier. Keep an eye out!
Oral History
April 27, 2010
We’re on a history kick this year. We know many people with long and deep roots in this area, and many more who enjoy hearing about days gone by, what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same. Some businesses have been around for decades, like Ingebretsen’s, Roberts Shoes, and Schatzlein Saddle (which is now over a century old). Others have sprung up on the same ground as some old favorites. With all that in mind, we’re recording the memories and stories of long-time residents, so we’ll always have them.
Our very first interview is with Joyce Krook, who was the community relations specialist with Abbott Northwestern and Allina for many years. She grew up at Lake & Hennepin in the 1940s and 1950s. Here’s part 1 of the interview with her, which mostly has to do with what it was like to grow up next to the Minneapolis Ice Arena.
You can read more online about the Minneapolis Arena, and the Rainbow Building. Stay tuned for part two and for more interviews!
