The Musicant Group

02/02/2023

Here's a great example of how we have innovated winter programming to activate commercial spaces. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean we can't get together!

Albertville Crossing Feb Fest: The Albertville community came out on a cold winter day to boost local business, helped gather ideas and feedback on what they want to see happen at the Albertville Crossing Center and enjoyed a Social Jam Session, s'mores, fire pits, music, and more.

25/01/2023

We love outdoor gatherings. As seasons change, bringing time outdoors to our clients improves morale, health, and gives big building tenants the opportunity to network with others that share the space. Let us know which type of gathering you prefer: Rooftop Happy Hour or Picnic on the Green?

19/01/2023

We aim to create places people want to be. Who are the creators? Meet Kim Peterson (she/her), our Relationships & Events Manager. We sat down with Kim to get her thoughts on what makes The Musicant Group a great place to work:

- When did you join TMG?
August of 2020, I'm a pandemic hire!

- What has been your favorite part of the job?
My role has shifted quite a bit from when I was hired. I was initially brought on as the Community Management Lead, then Division Manger for Community Management so I'm technically on my third title. I feel like what's been my favorite part of my work with TMG is the variety of ways I have gotten the opportunity to support the firm, our clients, and this work and the way that has helped refine and shape my career goals.

- Is there a specific project that has helped you to advance your career goals?
Our work with the Rice and Larpenteur Alliance has been formative. This project is one that is focused on connecting people to the spaces and places that they interact with. I have often said that when you change the way people interact with space, you fundamentally change the way they relate to each other. This is absolutely exemplified in this project. The impact of our work can be felt in this community, there's a sense of care that has been cultivated with the Alliance's work overall, and the community excitement around our signature event series is palpable and it's become a jewel for the area. The layers of relationships that go into the Alliance, our work with them, and the resulting experiences is complex and rich and over the years has become a deep respect and trust. Being a part of this project taps all my skills, but especially leans into relationship building, development, and project management that supports my latest role.

- Which aspect of our approach has become most pertinent to your work? How do you exemplify the TMG process?
The holistic process and deploying relationships (info available on our site) is one that resonates with me deeply. I lean on it frequently in my work at the firm. A skill I've always had is the ability to see how multiple things intersect, connect, and support larger goals. When I first was introduced to this holistic process as part of my onboarding it immediately resonated with me. It's still my default when launching a project or when we need to make changes. In the work I do with relationship building, I continue to develop my skills in creating shared goals so that we can apply the right tools to reach them.

- What is the most important thing you've learned from TMG?
Small changes have big impact! We see this everyday in the resulting events and activations we co-create with our clients. However, I also have found this a helpful lens to apply when attempting to build relationships, navigate change, or even create a larger impact than a client might be able to see at the moment. Small things matter, small changes matter, and the impact can be incredibly powerful.

17/01/2023

As we look forward to creating places people want to be in the new year, we look back to some successful activities we created over the last year. A fun way to get creative in the workplace is to do a Make and Take. Which Make and Take do you prefer? BBQ Seasoning Kits or Hot Chocolate

11/01/2023

The Musicant Group uses a holistic and systematic approach to every space, combining design, management, and events to create places where people want to be. We do this by engaging in a practice we call “Strategy of Place” What does this mean?
- If people have positive and useful experiences in a place, then they will;
- Use it more frequently. By frequently using the space they establish;
- Habits and routines. These habits are the foundation that support enterprise and;
- Relationships, between people and the space itself. These relationships are non-portable and create locational…
- Value. A place where people want to be is the essence of real estate’s “location, location, location” value proposition"

Over the next few months, we will be providing examples of how these practices are enacted. If you are interested in learning more, utilizing our services, and creating places where people want to be, please reach out to our team today!

28/12/2022

The motto for Rice & Larpenteur Alliance “3 Cities. 1 Neighborhood” was fully embodied during our partnership for the annual Winter Warm-Up. With the most vendor participation at any RLA event ever, we were able to help coordinate opportunities to not only celebrate but also invest in this vibrant community. The pop-up food pantry was successful in handing out BIX Produce, and dozens of donations to the winter clothing drive. Free hotdogs from Costco as well as hot cocoa and coffee by Caribou Coffee were enjoyed by families as they met neighbors and celebrated the season’s change. Our Communications and Community Management teams boosted virtual visibility for sponsors who so generously contributed to a successful event with hundreds in attendance while boosting traffic for Social Media accounts. Are you ready to turn your space into a place where people want to be? Reach out to our team today for support with placemaking projects, event planning, association management, and design.

21/12/2022

The intersection of Texas Avenue South and Minnetonka Boulevard is a community hotspot with music, food, and activities for all to enjoy. The Texa-Tonka Holiday Kickoff party was the first event in a series of four, celebrating the Texa-Tonka renovation project reaching completion. Since 1951, businesses have been opening their doors and breathing life into this unique corner of town. By engaging with local businesses including Revival, Erik's Bike - Board - Ski, Shampooch, Judith McGrann & Friends, Angel Food Bakery & Donut Bar, Brookies Fish Market. and Westside Wine & Spirits, we were able to encourage more frequent use of the space and thus increase the value of community engagement within this historic intersection.

09/12/2022

As this year wraps up, we want to take time and reflect on some of the events that have brought our communities together, creating places where people want to be. One of those events is Llamas on the Plaza at 50th & France. During this event, we worked to bring joy to a well established, robust commerce center. By creating fun and positive experiences like this one, people return to spaces like 50th & France more often, in turn creating more economic opportunity for local entrepreneurs.

05/05/2022

We are excited to announce that as part of our work for 50th & France, The Musicant Group will be producing the 55th Annual Edina Art Fair on June 3-5 of this year!

*** Volunteer at the Fair! ***
Art Fair relies on the dedicated volunteer efforts of community members to do so many of the little things that make the event go, such as directing visitors, tent sitting for artists, etc. All efforts support the creative livelihoods of 250+ artists.

To sign up for your volunteer shift and learn more, visit: https://www.50thandfrance.com/art-fair/volunteer/

03/05/2022

31/10/2021

09/09/2020

We are so honored to have our project with the City of Minneapolis be one of 10 recipients of NACTO and Bloomberg Philanthropies national Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery grants.

The grant funds will go towards community partnerships in North and South Minneapolis that pilot new models of caring for and creating safe, service-focused and (dare we say) fun environments at neighborhood scale mobility and transit hubs.

In these times positive and collaborative efforts to create safety, build community, and support mobility have rarely been more essential.

The winners of a new grant will seek put roads to their highest and best use at this historic moment: helping the most undeserved residents of our cities.

04/05/2020

Right now we all have a unique opportunity to connect with others by having an inviting front yard. In order to create a friendly front yard, these are the top six things that need to be in place for others to see it as a comforting space.

Check out friendlyfronts.com to download our tooklit and see examples of "The Big Six" in action.

29/04/2020

This week, we want to recommend one of our favorite books about community. Peter Block's Community: The Structure of Belonging. This quote asks us something we should all be asking ourselves right now, both digitally and for when we gather again in person: How are we going to be when we gather together? Full quote:

“The key to creating or transforming community, then, is to see the power in the small but important elements of being with others. The shift we seek needs to be embodied in each invitation we make, each relationship we encounter, and each meeting we attend. For at the most operational and practical level, after all the thinking about policy, strategy, mission, and milestones, it gets down to this: How are we going to be when we gather together?”

20/04/2020

In some ways, people are becoming more connected to neighbors, friends, and family by engaging with each other digitally. It's important to limit your screen time right now and engage with each other thoughtfully. Zoom calls with family, connecting with your neighbors via NextDoor, and other activities are productive ways you can stay connected.

We can also use social media to engage creatively with our communities and support local businesses. in Minneapolis is a great example. It's a bingo game on Facebook where you pick up a bingo card when you order take out from a local business. ̇d19

15/04/2020

Our next community in the time of COVID tip is one of our favorites: get outside and go for a walk. Go on walks around your neighborhood to get exercise, spark conversations (at a safe distance), and re-ground yourself in the place where you live.

Tired of your current walking route? Drive to a new place you haven't walked before or check out Minneapolis parkways that are currently closed to traffic until May 4th.

And, visit for tips on social distancing in public parks on their website. www.minneapolisparks.org/coronavirus

10/04/2020

Our next tip for building community during COVID is to start new traditions. Communities across the world are starting new collective traditions around weekly (or even daily!) collective singing, music making, clapping, and public art displays through the windows of dwellings.
We've seen fun shared activities in Minneapolis like putting stuffed teddy bears in your front window so kids can search for them during walks.
What traditions have you or your neighbors started in your community? Share in the comments!

09/04/2020

We at The Musicant Group want to help you get through these tough times, so we’re sharing tips for connecting with your community. First up: Embrace the front yard, stoops, and porches to generate serendipitous socializing at a safe distance. Consider doing more things out front like fire pits, grilling food, playing music, or merely just sitting outside (even if it’s still cold!). Check out www.friendlyfronts.com to learn more.

What are you doing to connect with others with your front yard or porch? Share in the comments.