Our birthday party is tonight. 6 - 9 p.m. at Williams Uptown Pub. We promise to stop bothering you about it after tonight, but we would love to see you!

Why did we choose Williams? Partly because it's fun to eat peanuts and throw them on the floor. But another reason is for what they represent. Much has changed in and around Uptown in the past couple years. Since we launched last year, LynLake and Lake & Irving have exploded with new businesses, while Hennepin & Lake added Arts & Rec, the New Uptown Cafe, lost a couple long-term spots along with their pandemic-era vacancies, and gained new long-term plan for Seven Points.

Through all of the change that Uptown has seen over the years – Uptown Bar-era Uptown, Apple Store-era Uptown, and more – there is Williams. I used to drink there after (and occasionally before) turning 21, and know many other people that lived here can say the same. The great thing about the dynamism of great cities is that things change, other things stay the same, but through all the hand-wringing about What The Future Holds, everything always works itself out. Long live Uptown. Long live Williams. See you tonight.

Last Friday, Pershing Park hosted a new event series, Planets in the Park. The person behind this popular event, Michael Kauper, has been teaching children about astronomy for almost 50 years. Ellie Zimmerman talked with him about his childhood spent gazing at the stars and his efforts to bring the planets to the people. (A warm welcome to Ellie, a new writer for Southwest Voices)

Have you ever wanted to own your own coffee shop? Misfit Coffee is looking for someone that wants to buy their equipment and lease their old space at the corner of 24th & Lyndale. This could be the moment you've been waiting for. Bonus: I will buy coffee from you whenever I'm waiting there for the bus.

LINK ROUNDUP

A breakdown of the City Council's meeting this week to discuss the city's new government structure. (Star Tribune)

Two very cool food pop-ups are happening next Saturday, October 15th. 1) Want to learn more about agave spirits? Check out a tasting experience at Centro's Eat Street location on October 15th. 2) Revival and Nixta are teaming up for a barbacoa pop-up. We'd wait to share these next week but the tickets might be gone by then.

A teenage cyclist in Lynnhurst suffered injuries after being hit by a driver yesterday afternoon. (Bring Me The News)

Flower Bar, a new floral arrangement shop at 2736 Lyndale Ave S, had its official grand opening last weekend. (Flower Bar)

From 3-7 p.m., get your bids in on the fundraiser that Tangletown Gardens and Wise Acre Eatery are throwing. (Tangletown Gardens)

Did you know rollerblades were invented in Minnesota? Check out this interview with founder, Scott Olson, which includes a picture of him with his invention at the Rose Garden fountain. (Twin Cities Business Magazine)

Ramen Shoten, the new ramen spot from John Ng of Zen Box Izakaya at Eat Street Crossing, is getting closer to opening "in the very near feature", and it looks beautiful. (Instagram/Eat Street Crossing)

Arts + Rec's rooftop is now closed for the season, and they're shifting into working on opening the indoor space soon. More details and opening date coming soon. (Instagram/Arts+ Rec)

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

The city will be hosting a walk, bike, and roll audit at Nicollet Ave and Lake Street tonight from 6 - 7 p.m. about the future of the Kmart site. You can register for the event here. There will be a guided tour and city staff will be in attendance to take your questions and listen to your perspective.

Bryn Mawr's State of the School event is tonight. Principal Oldenburg will deliver his State of the School Address at 5:45 p.m. and again at 6:45 p.m. There will be a free buffet for students and their families. If you can help volunteer, contact [email protected].

If you get a bunch of annoying junk mail, Hennepin County has a program for you to get rid of a bunch of it.

Here are a few notes on the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee meeting from last week from the Documenters. They include a discussion about internet access equity and a call to track these initiatives.

The Lyndale Neighborhood Association's Environment Committee is meeting tonight from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the South Nicollet Action Center, 3537 Nicollet Ave S.

The West Maka Ska Neighborhood Council is looking for new members.

OUT & ABOUT


The Lake Street Bash is tonight from 5 - 8 p.m. Bonus – it's at the Granada Theater, right down the street from our party, so you should join me in going to both!

Island Queen Satans Flower will be popping up at Leisure World at 2457 Lyndale Ave S. today from 3 - 6 p.m.

It's Senior Night tonight for Southwest Boys Soccer. 7 p.m. at home vs. Edison. The girls team plays Academy of Holy Angels at 5 p.m. at home.

The Washburn girls and boys soccer teams play Roosevelt away. Girls at 5 p.m., boys at 7 p.m.

Reventón, "Minnesota's #1 Reggaeton party," is at Iconos from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

OZONE CREATIONS + KOKOU KAH at Icehouse at 8 p.m.