
Lake Street Council Events & Meetings

Insurance Advising
Interested in getting advice about your business’s insurance policy? Come by the Lake Street Council office to consult with experienced insurance professionals.

Recent changes in MN labor law
Attend to learn more about compliance with Minnesota labor laws from Integrity 1st Professional Services and MN Department of Labor.

Lake Street Lift Lab
Lake Street Council will provide information about Lake Street Lift and support in completing program intake forms.

Technology Tools for Business Efficiency & Cybersecurity
Learn how to streamline business operations with cloud-based tools for scheduling, invoicing, and customer management. Discover workflow automation strategies and essential cybersecurity practices to protect your business data.

How to Build Your Brand in 2025
Modern Day Me will discuss how to create a winning social media strategy in 2025.
Covering organic social media execution, and how not all social creative is created equal.

Mastering Restaurant Financials and Profitability
Join Victor Jones Consulting (VJC) for a dynamic workshop series designed to help Lake Street restaurant owners boost profitability, improve operations, and grow successful businesses.
Through hands-on sessions, entrepreneurs will gain practical tools and expert insights to strengthen their financials, enhance customer experience, and build high-performing teams.

Building and Enhancing an Effective Online Presence
Explore how to create and manage a business website that boosts visibility and customer engagement. This workshop also covers SEO, digital marketing tools, and e-commerce strategies to help you sell effectively online.

Lake Street Council Annual Meeting
The Lake Street Council Annual Meeting is a happy hour networking event that brings together community members to celebrate the successes of the last year and outline our goals for the upcoming year.

Lake Street Art Drop & Shop
The Lake Street Art Drop & Shop is back! The Lake Street Art Drop & Shop scavenger hunt series features a variety of clues and local artwork to take home.

Insurance Advising
Interested in getting advice about your business’s insurance policy? Come by the Lake Street Council office to consult with experienced insurance professionals.

Optimizing Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems & Payment Processing
Gain insight into choosing the right modern POS system for your business needs. Learn best practices for secure and efficient payment processing, including fraud prevention techniques.

Mastering Restaurant Financials and Profitability
Join Victor Jones Consulting (VJC) for a dynamic workshop series designed to help Lake Street restaurant owners boost profitability, improve operations, and grow successful businesses.
Through hands-on sessions, entrepreneurs will gain practical tools and expert insights to strengthen their financials, enhance customer experience, and build high-performing teams.

Social media in one-day: Hands on content planning workshop
Every business owner has forgotten to post on social media (us too!). We have a fool-proof way to make sure it doesn't happen.
In this hands-on workshop, we’ll share a simple approach to getting it done — without the stress.

Lake Street Art Drop & Shop
The Lake Street Art Drop & Shop scavenger hunt series features a variety of clues and local artwork to take home.

Lake Street Art Drop & Shop
The Lake Street Art Drop & Shop scavenger hunt series features a variety of clues and local artwork to take home.

CANCELED - Insurance Advising
Interested in getting advice about your business’s insurance policy? Come by the Lake Street Council office to consult with experienced insurance professionals.

Mastering Restaurant Financials and Profitability
Join Victor Jones Consulting (VJC) for a dynamic workshop series designed to help Lake Street restaurant owners boost profitability, improve operations, and grow successful businesses.
Through hands-on sessions, entrepreneurs will gain practical tools and expert insights to strengthen their financials, enhance customer experience, and build high-performing teams.

Free Legal Workshop & Brief Advice Clinics for Lake Street Artists
Lake Street Council is partnering with LegalCORPS and Maslon LLP to offer a free workshop to Lake Street artists at the Historic Coliseum Building, 2708 East Lake Street in Minneapolis.

Insurance Advising
Interested in getting advice about your business’s insurance policy? Come by the Lake Street Council office to consult with experienced insurance professionals.

Fees, Fees and More Fees: Analyzing Your Credit Card Statements to Maximize Savings
Join Good Money Payments and the Lake Street Council at this free group training to learn how to manage your small business’s finances and prepare your business for growth and success. This session will focus on analyzing your credit card statements to maximize savings.

Fees, Fees and More Fees: Analyzing Your Credit Card Statements to Maximize Savings
Join Good Money Payments and the Lake Street Council at this free group training to learn how to manage your small business’s finances and prepare your business for growth and success. This session will focus on analyzing your credit card statements to maximize savings.

Lake Street Lift Lab
Si tienes preguntas o está interesad@ en aprender más de Lake Street Lift y aplicar para nuestro asesoramiento de negocios.

Lake Street Lift Lab
Si tienes preguntas o está interesad@ en aprender más de Lake Street Lift y aplicar para nuestro asesoramiento de negocios.

Lake Street Lift Lab
Lake Street Council will provide information about Lake Street Lift and support in completing program intake forms.

Lake Street Lift Lab
Si tienes preguntas o está interesad@ en aprender más de Lake Street Lift y aplicar para nuestro asesoramiento de negocios.

Insurance Advising
Interested in getting advice about your business’s insurance policy? Come by the Lake Street Council office to consult with experienced insurance professionals.

Lake Street Lift Lab
Si tienes preguntas o está interesad@ en aprender más de Lake Street Lift y aplicar para nuestro asesoramiento de negocios.

Fees, Fees and More Fees: Analyzing Your Credit Card Statements to Maximize Savings
Join Good Money Payments and the Lake Street Council at this free group training to learn how to manage your small business’s finances and prepare your business for growth and success. This session will focus on credit card processing.

Lake Street Mural Tour
Discover the stories of Minneapolis on the Lake Street Mural Tour!

Lake Street Morning Mixer - Pancakes & Policy
The third and last Advocacy Update & Networking Session of 2024 will be on Wednesday, December 11, from 9:00 - 11:00 am at The Hook and Ladder Theatre & Lounge.

Small Business Financial Literacy Workshop
Join Good Money Payments and the Lake Street Council at this free group training to learn how to manage your small business’s finances and prepare your business for growth and success. This session will focus on credit card processing.

Pro Bono Legal Corps Monthly Clinic
Lake Street Council is partnering with LegalCORPS to offer free legal advice and assistance to organizations that cannot afford legal representation. These clinics will be held monthly from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on the third Wednesday in Lake Street Council’s office.

Educación Financiera para su Negocio
Asistiendo a esta clase, usted podrá entender la importancia de la educación financiera para el éxito de su pequeña empresa.

Small Business Financial Literacy Workshop
Join Victory Business Solutions, Redesign, and the Lake Street Council at this free group training to learn how to manage your small business’s finances and prepare your business for growth and success.

Educación Financiera para su Negocio
Asistiendo a esta clase, usted podrá entender la importancia de la educación financiera para el éxito de su pequeña empresa.

Pro Bono Legal Corps Monthly Clinic
Lake Street Council is partnering with LegalCORPS to offer free legal advice and assistance to organizations that cannot afford legal representation. These clinics will be held monthly from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on the third Wednesday in Lake Street Council’s office.

Lake Street Bash
Every fall, our Lake Street Bash brings together local businesses, community and business leaders, policymakers, and you - all to support our Lake Street community.
Funds raised at this event support the Lake Street Council’s work to rebuild, strengthen, and advocate for the Lake Street business community and the Twin Cities at large!

Lake Street Art Drop with Siman & Garaad
About the Artist - Siman
“Hello, I am Halimo, known by my alias Siman, and my passion for art has only grown stronger over the years, fueled by my experiences in Somalia, Ethiopia, and now the United States. Coming from a family of artists, with both my parents being full-time artists and art teachers at their own school in Somalia, art has been an integral part of my life since childhood.
Every day, my appreciation for art deepens. I am a full-time artist, and my journey has taken me from working at Osman Art Gallery in Sheboygan—our family-owned gallery during the early days of the pandemic—to our recent move to Minnesota. Here, I continue to pursue my art career and have begun working with Kushite Art Gallery.
In 2015, on World Refugee Day, I was honored to win second prize in the UNHCR art competition titled "Open the Home of Peace," with my brother and sibling taking first and third prizes, respectively. This achievement was a proud moment for our family, especially considering that both my parents were first prize winners in the 1998 art competition organized by the United Nations, UNDP, UNOS, and UNESCO. Our shared success is a testament to our family's dedication to art.
As a representative for East African women, I strive to bring our unique stories and perspectives to the forefront through my artwork. My journey is not just about creating art; it's about celebrating my heritage, advocating for my community, and inspiring others to find their own voice in the world of art.”
Favorite Lake Street business: Hufan Restaurant, 1304 E Lake St
About the Artist - Garaad
“My name is Abdulahi (Garaad), and I am a visual and contemporary artist originally from Mogadishu, Somalia. Art has been my passion since childhood, and I have been working in this field from an early age. My journey brought me to the United States, specifically Minnesota, to explore new artistic boundaries and to share my cultural heritage with the Somali community here.
Throughout the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, I have engaged in numerous projects. One of the highlights of my work has been my involvement in the Lake Street Façade Program, which aims to revitalize Lake Street with vibrant and diverse artistic expressions. As part of this initiative, I brought Somali traditional painting to life at several key locations: DurDur Grocery Store, Madina Mall, and the corner of Cedar and 6th Street.
In addition to my artistic endeavors, I am deeply committed to community engagement. I have worked closely with the youth, using art as a medium to inspire and connect with the next generation. My work not only beautifies public spaces but also fosters a sense of cultural pride and unity within the community.”
Favorite Lake Street business: Quruxlow Restaurant, 1414 E Lake St

Lake Street Morning Mixer: Pancakes & Priorities
Join us for our second Lake Street Morning Mixer of the year!
Special Guests: City Council members Katie Cashman (Ward 7), Jamal Osman (Ward 6), and Andrea Jenkins (Ward 8)

Lake Street Art Drop with Daniela Bianchini
The September 2024 Lake Street Art Drop is with artist, Daniela Bianchini!
Hints begin on our Instagram and Facebook stories @VisitLakeStreet at 6:00 pm.
Meet the Artist
Daniela Bianchini was born and raised in Cordoba, Argentina. She was given the opportunity to come to the United States and fell in love with Minnesota. She has been living here for the past 24 years and it definitely feels like home to her.
Daniela worked with several mediums until she fell in love with mosaics. She is very enthusiastic about composing a work of art by bringing many pieces together. Sometimes she feels her work is very much like life itself composed by mosaic pieces of experiences, places, people, colors, etc. She dives into the process of making mosaics with passion and excitement. She spends countless hours finding or creating the right pieces to make it all come together. Daniela’s goal is to bring art to the community. She wants to beautify spaces and create art to inspire everyone. She has dedicated her practice to public art for the past ten years and she absolutely loves it.
Daniela’s favorite Lake Street businesses are Panaderia San Miguel, Himalayan Restaurant, Midtown Global Market, and Dogwood Coffee!

Small Business Financial Literacy Workshop
Join Bremer Bank and the Lake Street Council at this free group training to learn how to manage your small business’s finances and prepare your business for growth and success.

Small Business Financial Literacy Workshop
Join the Lake Street Council at this free group training to learn how to manage your small business’s finances and prepare your business for growth and success.

Pro Bono Legal Corps Monthly Clinic
Lake Street Council is partnering with LegalCORPS to offer free legal advice and assistance to organizations that cannot afford legal representation. These clinics will be held monthly from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on the third Wednesday in Lake Street Council’s office.

Lake Street Mural Day
The first ever Lake Street Mural Day is August 17th, 2024 from 3 - 6 pm. This 3-hour free family-friendly event will feature a festive sidewalk atmosphere filled with art, food, music, and activities. Individuals will have access to food and entertainment along Lake Street between 15th and 17th Ave

Lake Street Art Drop with Kelly Anderson
The August 2024 Lake Street Art Drop is with artist, Kelly Anderson! Thanks to our partners at Uptown Dermatology, four randomly selected art packages in this Lake Street Art Drop will come with a $25 certificate towards any SkinSpa service!
Hints begin on our Instagram and Facebook stories @VisitLakeStreet at 6:00 pm.
Meet the Artist
“As an artist and leader of Crayon Kelly Agency, my journey has been a vibrant tapestry of experiences, emotions, and evolution. My artistry began in high school, and it has since grown into a profound passion that has shaped my life and career. With a degree in Graphic Design, I've honed my skills and expanded my creative horizons. But my art is not just about the past, it's about the future. It's about the continuous journey of self-discovery and expression.
Today, I stand at a new juncture. After a decade and a half of building an art business, impacting lives, and giving back to the community, I am now focusing on my individual journey as an artist. My suitcase of experiences, once bursting at the seams, has exploded into a kaleidoscope of emotions and stories. These are not just my stories, but universal narratives of life, love, struggle, and triumph.
My mixed media images are a reflection of these emotions. They are a dialogue between the past and the future, the personal and the universal. The crayon in my work symbolizes the innocence and safety of childhood, while other elements add depth and context. Each piece includes a dictionary cutout relevant to the theme, adding a layer of visual and conceptual meaning.
But my art is more than just images. It's a conversation, a story, a piece of my soul. Each image carries a handwritten message, a secret whisper from me to the viewer. When you purchase an original piece, you're not just acquiring art, you're becoming a part of my journey and legacy.
As I look to the future, I am excited about the endless possibilities. I am committed to continuing to explore, create, and inspire. I am eager to share my art with the world, to touch lives, and to keep adding to my suitcase of experiences. Because for me, art is not just about creating, it's about living, growing, and transforming. And I can't wait to see where this journey takes me next.”
- Kelly Anderson
Kelly’s favorite Lake Street businesses are Twin Cities Skaters, Amazing Thailand, and Cyclebar!
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