Update on the Midway

Every time I eat at Caffe Biaggio I find a new favorite item on the menu. Last week it was the brushetta trio. Wow - everyone at our table enjoyed it. John D'Agostino and Shari Breed have really turned Caffe Biaggio into a great meeting place for lunch or dinner. The staff is very attentive, the art is cool and the food is delicious. The restaurant is located at 2356 University Avenue, at the corner of Raymond and University. caffebiaggio.homestead.com or 651-917-7997 Open every day except Sunday.

Focus on Opportunities Too! Let's set aside the controversy on LRT loss of parking and MPR vibration lawsuits for a minute and look at LRT from another side - development opportunity. Over the last week I have shown Update Company's office buildings to an arts group, a charter school, a design firm, a nonprofit group, and a software company. What do they all have in common? They all want to be located on the Central Corridor LRT line. Business people may disagree on many factors regarding the Central Corridor, but there's one thing we can agree on: LRT is already bringing millions of dollars in new development to the Midway . Here are some examples: The Lyric apartments are near completion at the Raymond Station. Frogtown Square senior housing and retail has begun construction at the Dale Station. The New Victoria Theatre group is proposing the renovation of 825 University into a community music venue at the Victoria station. 700 Raymond is being developed into creative lof...

Photo Exhibit at Como Park Conservatory Peter Leach, an Update Company tenant, is well known as a potter, fewer people know that he is an excellent photographer as well. The Como Conservatory is showing a photo exhibit by Peter Leach featuring dramatic seasonal images of the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden. The exhibit will open to the public on Friday, February 5. Over 40 color prints will be on display. The images portray both familiar views of the Garden and images few ever see. The Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden is open from May 1 through September 30, thus very few people have had the experience of seeing the Garden blanketed in sparkling snow. Following the Conservatory exhibit, the Saint Paul-Nagasaki Sister City Committee will send a selection of Leach’s photos to Nagasaki, where they will be on display in April as part of the 55th anniversary of the sister city relationship between St. Paul and Nagasaki, Japan. On Saturday, February 6 at 11:00 AM, the public is invited t...

Saint Paul Classic Cookie Company Our newest neighbor - at Territorial Rd and Raymond Avenue. Stop in and try some awesome cookies. They also serve Peace organic and fair trade coffee, muffins, tea and more. New tenants signing leases in February will get a year's supply of cookies for their office. I have tried 3 kinds, the oatmeal raisin is my favorite so far. Check out their blog at saintpaulclassiccookie.blogspot.com 2386 Territorial, parking in back