Nellie Debruyn and Mary Longfellow met in a warming house down the street from the outdoor rink where their kids were playing hockey. Both long-time residents of St. Paul, Minnesota (they have each lived in the area for more than 35 years), these two friends are using their local experience, their technical prowess, and their dedication to all things digital to manage the St. Paul Spot app to bring the best of the city to locals and visitors.
In October 2010, Mary and Nellie together became the eighth partner in the Town Wizard venture, which empowers local residents to create smart phone apps for their own cities. There are now over 110 partners all over the US, as well as in Japan and Canada. St. Paul Spot has grown with Town Wizard as it has expanded and added more power and functionality.
Since the app’s launch in late 2010, it has become available for the android platform as well as the iPhone. Not only does the app have a companion website, but they have recently started a blog as well because, as they mention on the blog, “not all the world (or St. Paul) can fit into the constraints of an app.” The city of St. Paul has a link to the app on their home page – giving them a virtual thumbs up as the city’s definitive calendar.
The St. Paul Spot app and website currently track around 300 venues on a weekly basis, and that number continues to grow as more and more people discover what a great resource St. Paul Spot is for people living in or visiting St. Paul. Adding events to the calendar is a simple one minute process – plus, it’s free, so anyone can have their event “go mobile.”
What the St Paul Spot app has to offer:
News: Stay up-to-date with what’s going on in St. Paul. From concerts to art galleries to where to park in the city, this is a quick place to find things to do.
Events: This is a thorough calendar of what’s going on in St. Paul, day by day. I love that this calendar of events not only includes the what and when, but also the travel distance and a link to directions from where you are.
Dining: Looking for a particular style of food? It’s easy to search for the type of cuisine you’re in the mood for. Maybe you’d rather just find the closest restaurant to your location. The app will do that, too.
Weather: This section of the app displays a simple 5-day weather forecast, current temperature, and when the sun will rise and set.
Photos: App users can upload and share photos from their activities in and around St. Paul.
Videos: This is a great way to get a good feel for the vibrant personalities and the diverse activities you can find in the St Paul area.
Map: It’s like a built-in GPS. Who doesn’t love a map that knows where you are and where you want to go?
Contact: Easily email the women who operate the app.
Users can download photos on the app. The best pics are displayed on the website each day.
What about those of us who don’t live in or visit the St. Paul area? The Town Wizard application software is available for any town, large or small, and can be customized to the needs and features of your particular community. Is there an app for YOUR hometown?
Download the FREE St. Paul Spot app on itunes and android.
Find St. Paul Spot online:
- Website : http://stpaulspot.com/
- FB page : http://www.facebook.com/stpaulspot
- twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/stpaulspot
- blog: http://stpaulspot.wordpress.com/
© 2011, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Andrea,
Your city does indeed have a site – it is http://www.raleighspots.com/
Have fun!
This looks amazing! I am off to see if they have an ap for my city. Thanks for sharing!