Here is a write up the Star Tribune did, the original can bew viewed @ http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/53623502.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUI

From the barrooms to the mayor's office, the thought came to people at different times and in different ways, but most agreed: Something interesting seemed to be brewing in St. Paul's Lowertown area.

But a vibrant downtown scene? Really?

Mayor Chris Coleman declared it so Tuesday during a news event announcing formation of the Lowertown Entertainment District, a non-profit group now dedicated to promoting happenings in the neighborhood at the eastern edge of downtown.

For the mayor, a turning point in Lowertown's evolution into an entertainment hub came two months ago, he said, when he attended a jazz festival at Mears Park and then crossed E. 6th Street to help tend bar at the new Barrio tequila bar.

The city always knew it had a beautiful park, Coleman said. Now, it had a thriving entertainment scene, too, he said.

Dawn Ledin, owner of Station 4, a live-music venue a block from Mears Park, saw some potential for excitement two years ago when Rumours & Innuendo, a gay bar, opened next do or. "Ooh," Ledin recalled thinking then. "There's going to be more down here."

At the Hat Trick Lounge, the area's oldest venue, Larry Englund, who books acts there, said he, like the mayor, saw the addition of Barrio as a nightlife game-changer. By being next door to the Bulldog, he said, Barrio helped build a "critical mass" of bars, restaurants and clubs in the area.

While the formal rollout of the district came Tuesday, collaborative efforts such as shuttle rides to Minnesota Wild and RollerGirls tilts have been occurring for months.

"We take care of each other," said Sean Fetterman, owner of Rumours & Innuendo. "We really are a close-knit group."

Downtown rebirth

The entertainment district is composed of eight establishments forming a triangle north of Kellogg Boulevard. To the north is Trattoria da Vinci; to the east, Black Dog Cafe; and to the west, Señor Wong.

Here is an article from the Pioneer Press the original can be viewed @ http://www.twincities.com/ci_13155134

If you think downtown St. Paul shuts down at 5 p.m., the people behind the new Lowertown Entertainment District are here to tell you otherwise.

"Our customers now refer to Lowertown as the new Uptown," said Sean Fetterman, an organizer and owner of Rumours & Innuendo pub and nightclub.

Eight St. Paul bars and restaurants are teaming up to form the Lowertown Entertainment District. The nonprofit will work to promote the burgeoning downtown St. Paul neighborhood as a nightlife destination.

Each bar and restaurant involved is chipping in $1,000 initially to help sponsor neighborhood events and come up with ways to deal with neighborhood issues. One issue on the horizon is coping as light-rail construction downtown threatens traffic snafus. One possible solution under consideration: a bus to shuttle bar hoppers around.

The announcement of the new nonprofit was made at noon Tuesday in Mears Park as many residents walked their dogs and downtown workers ate lunch. Mears Park is considered the heart of the effort to make Lowertown a residential and nightlife destination.

The eight establishments forming the district are Barrio Tequila Bar, Black Dog Cafe, The Bulldog, Trattoria da Vinci, Hat Trick Lounge, Rumours & Innuendo, Senor Wong and Station 4.

David Fhima, who sold LoTo to Life Time Fitness but still runs the restaurant at Galtier Plaza in Lowertown, said he hadn't heard about the entertainment district and is interested in getting details.

"I'm interested in anything that will make Lowertown more prosperous and more vital," he said.

Mayor Chris Coleman and St. Paul Chamber of Commerce President Kristopher Johnson made remarks supporting the new nonprofit and noting the apartments, condos and restaurants, including Bulldog and Barrio, that have recently opened in the neighborhood.

"Lowertown really is a gem to downtown," Johnson said.

For more information, go to lowertowned.com.

Here is an article from the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Business Journal the original article can be found @ http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/08/17/daily24.html

Bars, restaurants and businesses in St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood on Tuesday announced they’ve formed a nonprofit organization to promote the area.

Members of the Lowertown Entertainment District include the oldest venue in the area, the Hat Trick Lounge, and the newest, Barrio, as well as The Bulldog, Tratorria Da Vinci, Rumours/Innuendo, Senor Wong, Black Dog Café, and Station 4.

“We want to encourage people to rediscover Lowertown and the unique experiences it has to offer,” Sean Fetterman, the owner of Rumours/Innuendo nightclub, said in a news release. “The LED will play a key role in supporting fun, affordable activities that give visitors and residents a taste of our dynamic entertainment district.”

The organization will take part in Concrete and Grass, a three-day music festival in Mears Park next month, and host an autumn pub crawl featuring food and drink specials and live entertainment.

The group will announce upcoming events, specials and promotions through its Web site, www.lowertowned.com, as well as Facebook and Twitter groups.

Lowertown is a 18-block area located immediately east of the central business district. The area is the oldest part of Saint Paul and includes the Lower Landing, the St. Paul Union Depot, Mears Park, and the St. Paul Farmer’s Market.

We are diligently working on putting together this new website to inform all everyone about the events happening in Lowertown. The Lowertown Entertainment District is a collective of local businesses and community members who promote growth in the Lowertown area of Saint Paul, through supporting the arts, local business, community events and in any way that might possibly come up.