Hamline and Hague Park is a small park that is noted for its circular tot lot. There are slides, swings, and climbing nets for all the younger set to enjoy and there's plenty of space for running around, too. There are benches which are ideal for parents to sit on and chat while watching their children have fun in the play area.
Midway Peace Park is a park in progress as the city has recognized the need for greenery in the neighborhood. It's three acres with an impressive playground for children to play on and enjoy. The playground equipment is colorful and shaped much like art, which is visually pleasing as well. There is art done by a local artist, Lori Greene, which adds to the beauty and there are plans to add more to the park as time goes on.
Pizza Luce is a local chain started by Joe Baier in 1993 in Downtown Minneapolis. It slowly became a favorite pizza joint and he's expanded to 9 restaurants around the state. They are a mainstay in community events in Minneapolis and a crowd favorite. The decor is colorful and warm, and the atmosphere is casual and inviting. The service is friendly and it's a great place to gather for a fun time and a tasty bite to eat. Their menu includes pizzas, of course, such as Fire Breathing Dragon, Pizza Athena, The Luce, and Ruby Rae. They also have hoagies (Beef Italiano, Meatball Parmigiana, Mock Chicken Dijon, for example), salads, appetizers, and pastas such as Lasagna Abruzzi, Gluten Free Stuffed Shells, and Gouda Mac 'n Cheese. They have a variety of delicious desserts, too, including Peanut Butter Brownie, Molly Bar Sundae, and Carrot Cake. Can't decide? There's a Dessert Bar Sampler Box so you can try a little bite of several different desserts. They have a variety of gluten-free options, vegan options, substitute cheese, and substitute meat, so there is something for everyone.
Yellowbird Coffee Bar was envisioned by John and Suzette during a rough time. They chose the name after the little yellow bird who kept visiting them during this time and the place itself evokes a nature theme with the wood on the walls. They opened in 2019. It is a dog-friendly coffee shop and there's a patio where you and your pooch can sip your coffee, weather permitting. It's a good neighborhood hangout if you want to relax with friends. Drinks-wise, in addition to the standard coffees, they have specialty drinks such as The Yellowbird and seasonal drinks such as The Snowbird. On the food side, they have sandwiches, soups, pastries, and salads.
Express Bike Shop is a nonprofit that is focused on providing young people with work experience in the form of internships at the shop. They are, of course, also a bike shop with everything that entails. They have used bikes for sale, ones that they've carefully refurbished, in a wide range of prices so there is a bike for everyone. They have a full-service menu for when you buy a bike as well, including repairs, replacements, accessories, and adjustments. They care about the environment as well and since 1995, they have repurposed, refurbished, or recycled more than 35,000 bikes.
Jennifer Becker Violin Makers and Restorers is run by Jennifer Becker, who has had been making violins since 1970. She studied under her father and her grandfather, both of whom were master violin makers. The love of the violin goes back even further in her family. Jennifer's daughter, Alya, is continuing the family tradition. The shop has been in its current spot since 2015 and has garnered a reputation for being a quality violin shop. Not only does Jennifer craft quality violins, she also restores violins with care and precision. Her clients are highly satisfied with her work and sing her praises to anyone who will listen.
ARTS-Us is a nonprofit that was founded in 1992 as a community-based organization, focused on nurturing young leaders in the arts through a lens of the African Diaspora. The founders were African American artists and multicultural educators. They lean heavily on the education side with a plethora of programs and experiences, including Civil Rights Research Experience, Timbuktu! (after school program), Camp Teranga, and Underground Railroad, the last which is run by the Kamau Kambui Circle for Cultural Learning. They also lead trainings, workshops, and retreats in several topics. They also rent out The Dunning Recreation Center for various events. In addition, they distribute food twice a week to people who need it.
The Dunning Sports Complex is a place to go if you want to have some athletic fun with your friends and/or family. It's a place for team sports as it has 3 baseball fields and 3 softball diamonds. There are also 5 tennis courts if racket sports are more your thing. In addition, there are 2 batting cages if you want to practice your swing. For the younger set, there is a playground area in which they can burn off their energy. There is also a picnic area if you want to take a break and have a bite to eat.
Eleanor Graham Community Garden was cultivated in the 1990s as a way to bring together members of the community in order to beautify the neighborhood. It is managed by the Union Park District Council and one of their aims is to make sure that it's affordable to everyone in the community. Each gardener is expected to dedicate two hours a month to sprucing up the common space, which include food shelf plots, flower beds, compost bins, and more.
Lex-Ham Community Arts has its roots as a program of the Lexington-Hamline Community Council in the early 1990s. It grew over the years and became a nonprofit organization in 2003. The mission is to bring the community together through the arts, including theater and band. Both are well-established in the community and enjoyed by many members of said community. The Lex-Ham Community Band hosts the BandWidth Music Festival every year and has other events throughout the year as well. In addition to performances, the Lex-Ham Community Theater provides improv classes and acting classes. The latter is in conjunction with Saint Paul Community Education.
There is a long history of the Lex-Ham Spaghetti Dinner annual event as a way to bring the community together. In 2021 because of the pandemic, it's been rebranded as the Lex-Ham Pasta Party and is online. It is hosted by the Lexington-Hamline Community Council in March and everyone is encouraged to make/buy pasta and post pictures of them enjoying said pasta on the LHCC's social media pages on FB and Insta. Everyone who participates will be eligible for a small token prize.
The Lexington-Hamline Annual Ice Cream Social has been an annual event in July for nearly 50 years. It's a time for the members of the community to come together around a common cause--tasty ice cream. With the current situation, the event is more a 'we'll bring it to you' situation with volunteers driving around the neighborhood on a schedule to hand out the ice cream to the people in the community. The volunteers are masked up and gloved up. Since the people can't go to the ice cream, the ice cream will go to the people instead.
