july 15, 2025
Dustin Haug, Science Teacher at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, tells me,
"I grew up in Southern Minnesota and remember taking school trips to the state capitol and the science museum. I also saw Alanis Morissette on her Jagged Little Pill tour and the band Ministry play at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in the spring of 1996. Since 2008, I've been biking into Downtown to teach at SPCPA."
“I love teaching at SPCPA and I plan to teach there for at least the next 5 years. I see our school as an anchor for the Downtown community, making it a space for youth and creativity, while enhancing the vibrancy of the arts in Downtown. I also think Chipotle and Starbucks really appreciate the business!”
Dustin pragmatically continues, "Downtown is in this interesting bottleneck of sorts. Lots of stuff is falling away, which is difficult. Those are people and jobs and services we are losing. If we can just turn the corner, however, there is going to be a lot of opportunity for development and rebirth. We just have to hold steady, get creative, and be willing to take some risks."
Dustin tells me what he loves so much about Downtown Saint Paul, “I love The Farmer's Market. We come down at least a couple times a month. I'll get big jugs of honey to make a batch of mead. We have a big garden, but we can't grow everything. The market helps us supplement what we are not growing or growing enough of or is just not ready yet because we never seem to get things started or planted soon enough. My daughter also likes getting a donut whenever we go together.”
"I love The Breweries- There's now just Gambit (formally 12welve Eyes), Metronome (formerly Birch's) and Barrel Theory, but I remember when Great Waters (now The Loon), Stacked Deck, and Tin Whiskers were also around."
"I love The Skyways- It's like a whole little city above the streets. There's more vacant spaces than there used to be, but I always enjoy being able to walk from school to Mears Park without going outside on a chilly Friday afternoon."
"I love The Concert Venues- I've seen so many shows at the Fitzgerald. One of my favorite musicians, Josh Ritter, plays there often. I've probably seen him there a handful of times and am going again this fall. I also love seeing shows at The Palace. It's such a cool, raw, tall space. I think the sound is pretty good too. Amsterdam is also great. They have a killer happy hour, tons of programming, and they curate a diverse range of forms and artists."
But Dustin's absolute favorite spot comes easily, “For sure the school where I teach. I dance professionally for a local dance company, ARENA DANCES, and I'm a high school science teacher. It is so rare to be able to combine these two passions. Teaching at SPCPA doesn't really feel like work or a job; it just kinda feels like living life. It feels a little bit like cheating to say the place where I work is my favorite, and I've already shouted out a handful, but another spot I love is SubText books. A lot of our students enjoy their space, too. The staff are friendly, enthusiastic, and helpful. In true independent bookstore fashion, they pack a TON of knowledge into a very small footprint.”
Dustin thinks Downtown could use a few tweaks, "The construction is a total pain to navigate right now - haha - but it's temporary. Hopefully, it will also improve the infrastructure and encourage more folks to visit. The bike lane on Wabasha is great until it hits 7th, where it just ends on the "wrong" side of the street. They really need to continue that up to the capitol/12th... I really love the parks - Rice and Mears especially. Obviously, we can't totally remove buildings, but could we create more of that open space/nature energy in other spaces?"
Dustin has a great take on making things better for others, "Everyone is a product of their experiences. We do best when we remember that it takes less effort to be kind than it does to be selfish. People are always making mistakes. Let's give and accept more sincere apologies and encourage do-overs whenever possible."
Thank you for sharing your Saint Paul Story with us, Dustin! I loved your long list of favorite spots and hope that it inspires others to head Downtown and enjoy themselves, whether at a show, at a brewery, in the skyway or at the farmer's market.