Lowertown Community Response

COVID-19 News & Information

Lowertown COVID-19 Home Outbreak Liveblog

Please submit any new reports to Lowertown.info via the contact page or email at info@lowertown.info. Follow @lowertowninfo on Twitter for regular updates about new additions to this timeline.

Nigel Parry/Lowertown.info—Weeks 4-6: March 27th-April 15th, 2020: Tracking the local impact of the COVID-19 virus in Lowertown, Saint Paul, MN. This series, tracking the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the 4×4 block square area of just one neighborhood in Saint Paul—Lowertown—was begun on March 6th, the date that Minnesota saw its first official positive test result for COVID-19. Since then, we’ve gone from one positive case to 1,809 positive cases and 87 deaths (April 15th statistics from the Minnesota Department of Health). At the end of week three of this series, the openings and closings of local hospitality industry businesses, and the news of event cancellations had mostly stabilized, so the series was paused. Today, April 15th, I went back through these last three weeks of social media postings by local businesses, and local news reports, to find developments worth adding to the documentary record below.

Friday March 27th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 14,003 total tests taken to date, with 398 positive results and 4 deaths.

Saturday March 28th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 16,129 total tests taken to date, with 441 positive results and 5 deaths.
Just/Us restaurant popped up on Facebook just after 1:30pm to remind us that we can’t get their wings right now. *&#@%.

Sunday March 29th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 17,657 total tests taken to date, with 503 positive results and 9 deaths.

Monday March 30th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 18,822 total tests taken to date, with 576 positive results and 10 deaths.

Tuesday March 31st, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 19,780 total tests taken to date, with 629 positive results and 12 deaths.

Wednesday April 1st 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 21,191 total tests taken to date, with 689 positive results and 17 deaths.
The Lowertown Underground Artists gallery posted an invitation to “Virtual First Friday! Normally, our Lowertown artists would be prepping their studios and galleries for Lowertown First Friday this week, but since we are all in our homes, we are bringing First Friday to your computer.”
The Minnesota Museum of Modern Art has launched its “THE M @ HOME” program, a virtual online tour that currently allows you to explore “A Choice of Weapons, Honor and Dignity: The Visions of Gordon Parks and Jamel Shabazz” and “Gordon Parks: A Homecoming.”

Thursday April 2nd, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 22,934 total tests taken to date, with 742 positive results and 18 deaths.
The Minnesota Museum of Modern Art posted a video of Laura Joseph, Curator of Exhibitions, introducing “THE M @ HOME” program of virtual gallery tours.

Friday April 3rd, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 24,227 total tests taken to date, with 789 positive results and 22 deaths.

Saturday April 4th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 25,423 total tests taken to date, with 865 positive results and 24 deaths.
Birch’s Lowertown is cranking out crowlers (contains 2 pints).

Sunday April 5th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 26,777 total tests taken to date, with 935 positive results and 29 deaths.

Monday April 6th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 28,128 total tests taken to date, with 986 positive results and 30 deaths.

Tuesday April 7th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 29,260 total tests taken to date, with 1,069 positive results and 34 deaths.
Appetite For Change, the organization behind the currently-closed Station 81 in Union Depot, announced on Facebook that it “aims to prepare and distribute over 1,000 meals each day to those who need them. These meals are not only nourishing, but also a reminder of the power food has to connect and comfort us.”
The Minnesota Museum of Modern Art is drawing attention to its “M @ Home” program, offering virtual gallery tours online:

Wednesday April 8th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 30,753 total tests taken to date, with 1,154 positive results and 39 deaths.

Thursday April 9th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 32,294 total tests taken to date, with 1,242 positive results and 50 deaths.
Various media reports today: “Gov. Tim Walz is extending a statewide stay-at-home order to May 4 to push the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic into the summer — and to buy time to allow hospitals to stock up on supplies and researchers to develop tests and treatments against the new coronavirus.” (Star Tribune)
Members of the community have been ringing restaurants and paying for meals for anyone that needs them. At 4pm, the Black Dog posted an example of this neighborhood generosity. Two-and-a-half hours later, the five meals were gone:
The Show Gallery is working with artist Leah Bedford to connect artists during this time of uncertainty. Here’s more about their plan from a Facebook post:

Friday April 10th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 33,894 total tests taken to date, with 1,336 positive results and 57 deaths.
Today, the Pioneer Press published an article about local dog leash-maker and Tilsner resident Kirk Sklar, “The face mask business is booming for this Lowertown artist”:

Artist Kirk Sklar sews facemasks at his Lowertown loft in St. Paul on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. Sklar felt he needed to do something to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic, so he pulled out his mother’s vintage sewing machine and began making facemasks. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)

Kirk Sklar is getting revenge against coronavirus. When the virus wiped out his business, he created another business to counterattack. Until last week, Sklar was a 49-year-old artist and maker of specialty dog leashes who lives and works in St. Paul’s Lowertown. But now he is founder of Ikervolk, a company which sells his home-made face masks. The masks carry unique designs such as flowers, images of the galaxy, bees and cartoons. In his first week, Sklar sold 150 of them at $10 apiece.
The Saint Paul Farmers’ Market remains open. Today, the market posted some COVID-19 Farmers’ Market shopping tips.

Saturday April 11th, 2020

- - As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 35,404 total tests taken to date, with 1,427 positive results and 64 deaths.

Sunday April 12th, 2020

- - As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 37,421 total tests taken to date, with 1,621 positive results and 70 deaths.

Monday April 13th, 2020

The Saint Paul Art Collective announced the participants in its Virtual Art Crawl, taking place online from April 24th-26th.
The Minnesota Museum of Modern Art posted a suggested Gordon Parks-themed walk through points of interest in Rondo.
As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 38,427 total tests taken to date, with 1,650 positive results and 70 deaths.

Tuesday April 14th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 39,241 total tests taken to date with 1,695 positive results and 79 deaths.
At 12:40pm, the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance posted an update on Facebook, announcing the launch of a new “Downtown Saint Paul Small Business BINGO!” card to encourage people to support local businesses that are continuing to offer takeaway and delivery, or who are closed but offer gift cards or merchandise:

“The rules are simple – shop small, support our local restaurants, breweries and retail shops, and be entered to win a $100 gift card to your favorite downtown spot! BINGOs can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal and receipts of $25 or more can be dated back to March 12th of this year. Entries must be submitted by May 31st. Good luck!”
Legacy Chocolates continues to crank out delicious treats:
The Show Gallery posted on social media that it “is proud to report that we were fortunate to be selected as one of the recipients of [the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s] Emergency Relief Fund. In these difficult times, especially for those in the arts, these funds will help The Show secure our lease through August.”

Wednesday April 15th, 2020

As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) informational page reports 40,242 total tests taken to date, with 1,809 positive results and 87 deaths.
At 11:30am, the Black Dog updated us on its preparation of sandwiches for homeless youth currently sheltered in a nearby hotel. This initiative was the result of a collaboration between Lowertown.info and the Brigette Anderson from the Lowertown Mask Makers group on Facebook. Lowertown.info had asked Jerry Blakey at Lowertown Wine & Spirits if the staff needed masks. Brigette and Emily from the Mask Makers group sprang into action and provided 10 masks for staff. Jerry donated $100 to the group as a thank you, and Brigette decided to “pay it forwards” to youth in crisis. Nice job, all!