urbanMSP

http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_244 ... ing-sought

I hadn't heard anything about this at all! I've often wondered what it looks like in there, apart from the computer rendering they provide in the article.

EDIT: found some photos taken last year: http://substreet.org/st-paul-palace-theatre/

Fantastic! Really hope that this happens. I had the pleasure of being able to look around inside about a year ago, and it's a really amazing space- gorgeous and absolutely huge. Of MSP's remaining historic theaters, it's second in size only to the Orpheum in Minneapolis.

That article quotes Mayor Coleman saying the Artist Quarter (across the ped-street from Palace Theater) will stay open! Owner / houseband drummer Kenny Horst recently announced the club would close at the end of the year.

I've been mourning the end of the Artist Quarter as it's my favorite venue in the cities. Let's hope Mayor Coleman is right.

http://www.startribune.com/entertainmen ... 23441.html

The city is probably going to buy the AQ

Yeah, hopefully they'll just find a way to facilitate a deal between private parties. I don't think we need government run jazz clubs.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/displa ... aul-photos

MPR has more photos of the space. Just like with the Union Depot prior to renovation, it is delightfully decrepit!

Back in the early 80"s they use to have laser light shows in the Orpheum. There where a couple of record/head shops next to it. Three Acre Woods? St Paul Companies eyed this property at one time if I recall. Glad its still around.

The governor included funding for this in his bonding request. Cross your fingers, people who like to see great structures saved.

This project is underway!

(locked!)
Palace Theatre rehab will cost more
By: Brian Johnson December 18, 2015 7:00 am
Crews uncovered “previously unknown areas of deteriorated structural integrity” within the 99-year-old former vaudeville theater.

Read more: http://finance-commerce.com/2015/12/pal ... z3ugqrFoDE

Not surprised - I worked for Artspace/Cowles Center for Dance as the old Shubert was being renovated... It is frequently cheaper to save the facade and other historic elements and then tear down and then build a new structure... It makes the HPC unhappy but it really can sometimes make restoration of a historic structure much more likely. Still glad that they are restoring it - no matter what!

Not a whole lot to see other than barriers up around the site. Annoyingly, this blocks the sidewalk on St. Peter Street.


_mg_0353 by Michael Hicks, on Flickr


_mg_0358-edit by Michael Hicks, on Flickr


_mg_0360-edit by Michael Hicks, on Flickr

The Strib has an article and video up about the renovation with a look inside. The seating is planned to be permanently removed from the lower level in order to make more room for concertgoers. First Avenue and Jam Productions are going into a 50/50 partnership to operate the theater, and the contract with the city obligates them to hold at least 45 events per year.

http://www.startribune.com/take-a-look- ... 369439772/

How was this never posted?
https://www.facebook.com/TheCurrent/vid ... 805992657/

That. Is. Fantastic.

Love. Love. Love.

Period.

So. Cool.

There was a story last week about costs climbing on this project by $1 million to a total of about $15.7 million:

http://www.startribune.com/1-million-ov ... 398794901/

First Avenue just announced that the first show at the Palace will be Regina Spektor on March 26, 2017:

https://twitter.com/FirstAvenue/status/ ... 5846368257

That's really exciting news! And a perfect show to start with!

Regina Spektor is a big fan of the Twin Cities, she historically begins her tours here so she can hang out a few days before starting. On this tour she starts on the east coast, but it's the only place she has a 5 day gap in her schedule between Chicago and Denver.

A "sneak peek" event will be held midday tomorrow from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. There will be music from a surprise guest for the first hour, then self-guided tours for the second hour. Here's a Facebook event for it:

https://www.facebook.com/events/213146612464266/