Greetings, Streets.mn friends and family! We’ll be hosting our annual picnic this Saturday, and due to air-quality alerts, we have changed the location to give folks the option of both indoor and outdoor sites.
Join us on Saturday, August 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1200 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. We have reserved an indoor party room, as well as an outdoor courtyard and grills.
We look forward to seeing familiar faces and making new friends!
What’s to Eat?
As usual, Streets.mn will provide grilled entrées, buns and condiments, as well as plates/utensils and some canned beverages.
This event is potluck-style for sides and desserts, so bring something to share. Please write your name on your container and list some ingredients (such as nuts, meats, dairy) for folks who might have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Learn more about everything Streets.mn has been doing this year, check out our new merch store and get excited about our future. Your favorite board members, volunteers, contributors and readers will be there! You can also chat about story ideas with members of the editorial and podcast teams.
As with all of our events, our volunteers are essential to making things happen. Volunteer for set-up and clean-up, running games, greeting or even becoming our grill master. If you are interested in helping with the picnic (and future events), email us at [email protected].
Getting There
The location is extremely transit accessible.
- The nearest stop is Nicollet Mall and Alice Rainville Place, where Metro Transit routes 10, 11, 17 and 18 routes stop.
- The picnic location is also about four blocks away from Hennepin Avenue and 12th Street, where Route 4 and Route stop.
- Transfers from the Blue or Green Line light rail can be made at Nicollet Mall to bus routes 10, 11, 17 or 18.
- If you’re not carrying too much, the location is a seven-block walk from Nicollet Mall.
- The BRT Orange, C and D lines also have stops within a few blocks.
The location is bike-friendly, too.
- Eastbound from North Cedar Lake trail: Exit the trail at Van White Memorial Boulevard and turn right onto the bike path on Dunwoody Boulevard. Cross Lyndale/I-94 via the at-grade intersection or the pedestrian bridge and then take the bike trail counterclockwise around Loring Park until you reach Loring Greenway, just past the intersection of Yale Place and Willow Street. You can either exit Loring Greenway and take LaSalle to 1200 on the Mall or stay on Loring Greenway to Nicollet Mall to come around the east side of the building.
- Westbound from St. Paul: Head west on Marshall/Lake or Midtown Greenway (exit at Nicollet) and go north on First Avenue, just past I-35W. Turn left on East 15th Street, just before the Minneapolis Convention Center, and then right on Nicollet.
- Westbound from within Minneapolis: From the Hennepin Avenue bike lane turn right on 10th Street and then right on La Salle.
Do not lock your bike to the canopy! The party room looks out onto 12th Street, so park there if you’d like line of sight. Other options include Westminster Presbyterian Church (southeast corner of 12th and Nicollet) or on Loring Greenway.
Locate the bike parking that you prefer and then enter the building at the canopy located midblock along 12th Street (a bit closer to LaSalle than Nicollet).
Our thanks to Streets.mn community members Ryan and Miriam for opening up the community room of their condo at 1200 Nicollet Mall. The main entrance will be locked, but here is a link to the virtual key that will work during the duration of the event.
Enter the front door under the awning and type in the pin code or hold the QR code on your phone up to the sensor. We will also have friendly faces keeping an eye out for arriving guests.