I’ve lived in downtown St. Paul for over a year now.
Things in my second year look dramatically different – I have a boyfriend, a new dog, and a promotion at work – the Lowertown life is great.
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- This is the only historic building of the Galtier Towers / Cray Plaza block. It’s gorgeous and appears to house mostly professional firms like law offices.
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- Immediately inside the Union Depot train station in Lowertown, Saint Paul.
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- The building that houses the Bedlam Theater and the CoCo Coworking Space. It’s right across the street from the Green Line station and is constantly vibrating with loud rock music from practicing bands.
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- Mitchell at Hunan Garden on a Saturday night. They are drinking a Volcano Drink, which is mostly pineapple juice and rail vodka.
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- The sign of the Bedlam Theater in Lowertown. It’s a bar/restaurant that hosts a different event almost every night.
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- The mural in front of the abandoned Station 4 Club in Lowertown, St. Paul. It was a heavy metal club that closed around 2013.
I also discovered that there is an express bus that is actually quicker than driving to the office, so I rarely use my gas guzzler anymore.
I couldn’t have fathomed bus commuting to work even one year ago.
The faux-car-less life is amazing.
It is going to be even better during winter because 1) driving in the suburbs with snow is terrifying, and 2) the office campus is so huge that the walk to the front of the building can take 15 minutes, which is brutal in -20 degrees.
Plus, the bus pass is only $85 for 31 days. (Way cheaper than gas.)
I’m also able to buy new passes at the office, which is insanely convenient. I’m smitten.
The Scenery
Transportation aside, I love living on Mears Park, the Farmers’ Market, the restaurant options, the Cathedral, and all of the gorgeous architecture:
A shot of downtown St. Paul overlooking the ghetto Walgreens and Bruegger’s Bagels. It’s a beautiful area but usually crawling with creeps.
The Green Line station in front of the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. It is in front of the Bedlam Theater and the CoCo Coworking Space.
The Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. It’s run by Minnesota Public Radio and hosts shows like A Prairie Home Companion.
Winter is also more bearable in St. Paul.
Thankfully, I’m far more active in St. Paul during the winter than I used to live in Minneapolis, even without having to rely on a car.
Last time I was in Miami, it was February and miserably cold in Minnesota. I realized that I spent minimal time outside because being outside felt extremely weird.
The Galtier Towers and Mears Park in downtown St. Paul during winter.
The Saint Paul skyway system seems more comprehensive than the one across the river.
It’s also open until 2 a.m., which is highly convenient for wintertime bar hopping if you don’t piss off the cops.
We are in downtown St. Paul for at least another year, and then may try something else. But for now it’s a great life choice.
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- The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ve lived in the Lowertown Historic District for a year now, and I love it.
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- The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota from Harriet Island Park. Kellogg Square Apartments and First National Bank visible.
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- The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ve lived in the Lowertown Historic District for a year now, and I love it.
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- The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota from Harriet Island Park. Kellogg Square Apartments and First National Bank visible.
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- The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota from Harriet Island Park. Kellogg Square Apartments and First National Bank visible.
