Literature with Lederhosen

Party like a librarian? Jawohl!

Come to

Presented by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library

There will be books and beer, food and wine, German music and dancing,
scavenging and tours, and games of brawn & skill. Oh, and librarians.

September 23, 2010 / 7–10 p.m.

$25 per person (advance) / $30 at the door

(bring your library card the night of the party for a chance to win prizes)

Saint Paul Central Library
90 W 4th St. Saint Paul

Attention, Herr Bookkopf and Fraulein Learnsalotten: Join us for Book It: The Party - this time we celebrate the 200th birthday of Oktoberfest! In the front courtyard of Central Library we will have two lighted tents – just like Oktoberfest in Munich. There will be German food (brats, sauerkraut, pretzels – what else?), wine, and beer from micro- and popular breweries.

Challenge yourself and your team in three games: hammerschlagen, tug-of-war (between individuals standing on stumps), and a beer stein relay. Central Library will also host a cell-phone-scavenger-hunt and tours.

James J. Hill Library will be the venue for author readings: Norah Labiner(German for Travelers: A Novel in 95 Lessons, published by Coffee House Press) and John Jodzio (If You Lived Here You'd Already Be Home, published by Replacement Press). Doug Hoverson, Minnesota Book Award-winning author of Land of Amber Waters (University of Minnesota Press) will be discussing the history of brewing in Minnesota and guiding us through beer tastings. His beautiful yet scholarly book offers “an intoxicating history of brewing in the North Star State.” —Minnesota Monthly

We are thrilled to announce that Patrick Harison will be roaming through the libraries and beer tents, playing his accordian for us. Patrick grew up in a home full of art, music and dance. His father encouraged him to pick up the accordion at age 13. Patrick learned how to turn the bulky and boisterous machine into a sensitive instrument by listening to and imitating the masters from every corner of the world. By 14, Patrick's professional career had begun. The heart of his musical education took place on the bandstands of Minnesota's bustling music scene working with artists as diverse as Connie Evingson, Coach Said Not To, Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble, Mandragora Tango Orchestra, Parisota Hot Club, John Devine, Sam Miltich, Mark Kreitzer and countless others.

Follow The Friends on Twitter or like us on Facebook and stay up-to-date as plans for Book It: The Party - Oktoberfest! develop. With Books & Bars moderator, Jeff Kamin and other spirited characters, this isn’t your usual library event.

After the author readings we will have dancing to German-themed music. Wear your dirndls and lederhosen and be eligible for a special prize.

Make your own pretzel necklace with our friends from Yelp. And if you discover you're just not that crafty, you can eat the evidence!

Book It: The Party! provides a unique atmosphere for a lively discussion of interesting authors, fun people, music, good food and drinks - all within a framework of supporting the Library.

Spaces are limited - please reserve early!

Food Fight!!!!

Fair Food Fight Night: A Spectacle of Beef and Beer

Friday, July 23, 6pm till we drop
Rau + Barber Bldg, 4244 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis

GREAT FOOD * FURIOUS DEBATE * LOCAL BEER * MAD DANCING * BIG PRIZES

DEVOUR A bonanza of local foods
Bring cash! Great local, sustainable, and organic fare from: Corner Table, The Modern Cafe, Magic Bus Cafe, Fulton Beer, Equal Exchange Coffee and Chocolate, Nature's Prime Organics.

GET IN THE RING: FOOD Forum with Stephanie March
Enter the squared circle as we discuss real food, ethically raised meat, and animal welfare.

DJ: Danny Sigelman
Formerly of Radio K and The Current, Danny Sigelman has helped cultivate the local Minnesota music scene for years. Music starts at 8:30pm.

4th of July in the Metro - lots of Boom, Bang!

I just passed along some 4th of July information and thought I'd share all that the metro has going on for you and your family.

Some of the biggest Independence Day events happen in Downtown Minneapolis and Downtown St. Paul.

Minneapolis: Red, White and BOOM celebrates Independence Day with music, entertainment and family fun on the Minneapolis Riverfront on July 3 and 4. Fireworks at 10 p.m. on July 4.

Saint Paul: A Taste of Minnesota runs from July 2 - July 5 at Harriet Island, downtown St. Paul. Fireworks every night at 10.15 p.m., with the biggest bangs reserved for July 4. Entry to the festival is ticketed and even more expensive than last year, starting at $20. But Harriet Island is on the west bank of the Mississippi, across from downtown St. Paul so you can get a great view of the fireworks for free from the east bank in downtown.

Cities and communities across the Twin Cities metro area hold Independence Day celebrations, and fireworks displays.

Here's a list of fireworks, festivals and other Independence Day events in cities across the Metro Area. All events are on July 4 and have free admission unless otherwise noted.

Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis is the venue for the second of two firework displays in the city of Minneapolis. An especially family-friendly event with live music, children's activities, and local food vendors.

Excelsior/ Lake Minnetonka The only official firework display over Lake Minnetonka is the finale to a day of Independence Day events at the lake. Fireworks over a lake are especially pretty with the reflections from the water.

Woodbury: Ojibway Park hosts the celebrations, with live music playing and fireworks at 10 p.m.

Oakdale: Tanner's Lake Park hosts the July 4 celebrations with fireworks at dusk.

Richfield's 4th of July: A free, multi-day community event from July 1 - July 6. A car show, music, parade, pie eating contests and many other festivities. Fireworks on July 4 Veteran's Park at 10 p.m.

Bloomington: The Summer Fete on July 3 celebrates Independence Day with fireworks at dusk, around 10 p.m. at Normandale Lake Bandshell.

Apple Valley: incorporates Independence Day celebrations into the annual Apple Valley Freedom Days, June 25 - July 4. The Apple Valley fireworks are one of the biggest displays in the Twin Cities. Fireworks at 10 p.m. at Johnny Cake Ridge Park.

Lakeville: The Panorama of Progress, the Pan-O-Prog, is in its 43nd year. Over a week of celebrations including a car show, parade, sports tournaments and more. Pre-dusk fireworks, followed by the main firework show after dusk. at Lakeville North High School.

Eden Prarie: The Hometown Celebration at Round Lake Park culminates in fireworks at 10 p.m.

Edina: has a parade instead of fireworks. The Edina Independence Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Edina City Hall on July 3.

Afton: The 4th of July Parade starts at noon. Afton House Inn also offers river cruises to watch the Hudson fireworks on July 3 and Stillwater fireworks on July 4.

Blaine: Blaine's Blazing 4th has celebrations and entertainment on June 25-27, and on July 4 at Aquatore Park. The fireworks will be at the National Sports Center at 10 p.m. on July 4.

White Bear Lake: The annual Manitou Days festival ends on July 4 with fireworks at 10 p.m. at Memorial Beach.

Chanhassen: Chanhassen celebrates Independence Day on the 3rd and 4th with a packed family-friendly event schedule. Fireworks are at 10 p.m. at Lake Ann Park.

Eagan: 4th of July FunFest in Eagan runs from July 1 - July 4. On Independence Day, there's the Funfest Parade at 10 a.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m. at Central Park.

St. Louis Park: Fireworks at 10 p.m. at Aquila Park.

Hudson, WI Hudson's Booster Days festival runs from July 1 - July 4. Plenty of free music and entertainment, a carnival, parade, waterski show, and fireworks on 3 July.

Fort Snelling: cannons firing and other period military themed Independence Day festivities from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., admission charge.

Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake A free outdoor concert followed by fireworks on the casino grounds.

Prior Lake: The annual Prior Lake Boat Parade in on Independence Day afternoon, and then there wil be fireworks over the lake at 10 pm.

Oh My, May...

Three Radar Members Doing Stupendous Things in May...

I first met Amy Gattie on a local photo shoot - she now is a friend, Radar supporter/Member & a talented documentary filmmaker. She has been working tirelessly on this mostly self-funded, powerful documentary she began 4+ years ago. This is her first public screening...

"Too Cold Out There Without You"

Bryant Lake Bowl Theater - Wed, 5/5, 6-9 pm

"We are having a work-in-progress screening/fundraiser for "Too Cold Out There Without You," a documentary film about the Rev. Christopher Fike."

"When the Rev. Christopher Fike was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1999, he was a straight, married mother of two children named Sarah. By 2004, amidst a crisis in the Church over gender and sexuality, Chris completed his transition and now identifies as a man. "Too Cold Out There Without You" looks at how to manage the anger, fear and resentment that arise when someone you love changes unexpectedly."

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You'll have to guess which Caskette is a talented, powerhouse of a business woman in her "day job", a Radar Member and friend who happened to marry Tim & me and perform at our wedding...

The Amazing Caskette's!

The Fitzgerald Theater on May 8th, 8:00 pm

(more details here)

Delna: "The feather shrugs are finished, the gowns properly bedazzled, butterflies are ready, and our hearts are a flutter! The big show at The Fitzgerald Theater on May 8th is coming! We Caskettes sure hope you can join us for the show, after party at the St. Paul Hotel and breakfast at Mickey's Diner too!"

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~ Radar Exclusive Event ~
Here's yet another Radar Member and friend doing her own thang, April Mueller a mom to Martha, Prudence and Penny for 7 months now. And here they are:

Born in Connecticut, these cool chicks are Silver-laced Wyandotte Hens, and have just begun to lay their eggs at April's S. Mpls home. I've been curious to witness this new way of bringing a bit of farm fresh living to an urban setting. Curious also to learn what's involved in urban chicken care? What their living arrangements are? How often they lay? Does what they eat really affect how the eggs taste? And how to keep them safe in our extreme seasonal conditions?

If you're curious too or just wonder if fresh laid eggs really do taste better, then join me for Radar's First Urban Field Trip! Thanks to April, Martha, Prudence and Penny, we are welcome to hang out, see how they live and maybe witness an egg-laying. And a 1/2 dozen of their eggs will be given away!

"Meet The Chicks Field Trip"! Saturday, May 15th, 11:00 am

Email Jen to sign up for this free outing (bring the kids too!)
(address to come via email)

NYE Offer!

STILL NEED PLANS TONIGHT? Grad your Sorels and Sequins!

NEW YEAR'S EVE
FARM DINNER IN THE CITY!

New Year's Eve
December 31st, 2009
Reception starts at 6pm
Dinner at 7:00pm
$150.00 per person, RADAR OFFER: $110.00 per person**
5 course with beer and wine

At Corner Table for New Years Eve, Scott Pampuch has worked with the city to close off 43rd street and set up a farm style dinner table in a heated tent. "If you attended the dinners this year, this is a great way to end the year. If you missed this year, this could be the best dinner yet, so please join us"!

Tickets only available online at Tour de Farm

**Corner Table will reimburse you a $40 giftcard if you sign-up online @$150. Otherwise,email, information@TourdeFarmMN.com to let Scott know Radar referred you and he can arrange the $110 payment separately.

Dog, Dog Dog Dog, Dog!

More action for your four-foot friends! Hit Corner Coffee in DT Mpls this Saturday for their "Dogs Day Out" event. Be one of the first 150 and receive a GIFT BAG with all sorts of goodies for you and your hound.

For this event , Radar is partnering with Sarah Beth Photography, a local, incredibly talented photog, who's subject focus are pets and kids. What a great match to Radar's passion for recommending and shinning the light on local, independent and unique offerings in the Twin Cities! Sarah has generously offered a Radar deal of 20% discount off any session.



So get there early, grab your bag, spread the love of Radar and get that great shot you've always wanted of your best friend.

The END! Ha.

Parents, here's a nice Sunday in St Paul

If it's that point of the summer where you can't think of one more activity for the kids, here's one that's part education and fun:

Tomorrow, Sun., Aug. 9 — Walk St. Paul’s riverfront with a ranger and learn all about the wildlife, ecology, and history of this Mississippi River area. Meet at the Mississippi River Visitor Center, just inside the Science Museum of Minnesota for the 1:30-3:30 p.m. walk. For more info, call 651-293-0200.

Before or after, Radar recommends grabbing some food while sitting on a river boat, literally, River Boat Grill. Enjoy the view of the great Mississip' and of downtown St Paul.

If you go, send me your photos, I'd love to see and share!

Garden Party!

Two of my favs in the Tangletown hood are having an event this weekend, and you're invited!

It's Tangletown Gardens, "Garden & Art Tour". What is it exactly? "This self-guided annual tour features some of the Twin Cities’ best gardens, local art, and galleries. Wine tasting in the gardens is generously provided by Solo Vino of Saint Paul with other refreshments supplied by Tangletown Gardens. Proceeds from the tour help fund public art, charities, and garden projects throughout the Twin Cities’ area. Every year the event gains more recognition and has fostered a loyal following."

My other favorite spot is Gallery 360, is getting in on the "garden" action by having a Storewide Summer Sale, 20% off sale all weekend, and an additional 10% off those who bring in a "Garden Tour" button.

Another bonus, and sorry, two more of my favorites - playing at the Tangletown Garden's event will be my dear friend Joseph's band, Tambuca, and catering the event will be yet another friend, Scott Pampush of Corner Table.

Garden, art, outside, music, food, summer - really, what else is there?

Ready for a (Sea) Change?

I am clearly not alone in my love of Tim McKee's food. The James Beard Foundation likes him too, so much so, he won the "Oscar's" of the food world award for "Best Chef in the Midwest".

Tim's had quite a year, his on-going successful La Belle Vie restaurant continues to thrive, as well as Solera, then this year he opened Barrio Mpls, Barrio St Paul, Smalley's in Stillwater, 423 Main St S # A Stillwater, MN 55082-5180, (651) 439-5375 and the official opening today of Sea Change, at the Guthrie Theater, 806 Second Street S. Minneapolis, MN 55415.

I've been to Sea Change twice already. Fine, I'll admit to stalking Tim, I know I'm not alone in this either. So of course, Tim seems to know his seafood. My first visit to Sea Change, I focused on my favorite way to dine, ordering several small plates. So the bar menu was ideal for this - there were options of intensely fresh seafood, as well as other unique meat options. I tried the Beef Tartar, Tempura Chicken Wings, Ahi Tuna and my personal fav - Shrimp Linguini w/truffle oil. All betw $8-11, crazy prices for Tim McKee-quality food.

My second visit, we had the Octopus, charred with a variety of salsa verdes, the Tuna with watermelon, mint, jalepeno and lemon-infussed oil.



Sea Change offers a 3-course, pre-theater dinner, designed to get you in and out to your show in plenty of time. Also, daily fresh West and East Coast Oyster Bar.



Then I checked out their lunch menu, below, prices between $8-$13 for Tim's cooking, wow!


Outdoor dining also available, this time along Second St, in front of the Guthrie. The space is surrounded by beautiful flower pots and green umbrellas.


Decor has been enhanced with a modern green color accent, which after the second visit I really took in and fell in love with. The large dining room has been given the right attention, bringing an intimacy to the space with several warm wood bookcase-like dividers. The space overall is cozier. And my husband Tim, was thrilled to see the flat TV screens, which do not over-take the bar, but allow a more homey feel.




So if not for today's opening, please go to Sea Change, and once you have tasted this man's food, you'll start stalking him too.

Happy Bastille Day!

"On this date, 320 years ago, the French proletariat liberated the Bastille prison from the hated monarchy; then they all went and ate escargot. Or something like that."

If you missed our local celebrations around town on Sunday (Barbette, Brits), you still have options to celebrate in true French-style tonight.

Vincent, A Restaurant offers a Daily Happy Hour from 4:30 - 6:30 with:

Small Plates to Share for $4.00
Selected Champagne Cocktails & Martinis $5.00
All Beer & Selected Glasses of Wine only $3.00
And the Vincent Burger is only $8.00!

Vincent also offers a 3 Course Prix Fixe Dinner Menu for $30, Mon-Thurs from 5:00-9:00 pm.


Who is Vincent? Vincent Francoual was born in Puy-L'Eveque, in the Cahors region of France. He began culinary school in Souillac at the age of fifteen. Four years later, Vincent earned his diploma C.A.P. of Cuisine and C.A.P. in Pastry. Vincent spent a summer working in a French resort town on the Atlantic Ocean where he began his love for seafood preparations.


Today, at Meritage in St Paul, the staff returns from their all-staff 2-week holiday - which ran from the "American independence to the French Resistance". Chef and Owner, Russell Klein's menu is a combination of New American with French influences.


Meritage offers 5, 7 and 9 course tasting meals nightly from $65 - $95. My personal favorite way to experience Meritage is sitting at the sweet, 4-stool bar and enjoying several of Russell's "Amusements":

If you're in the mood for dining "l'extérieur", it's a beautiful setting in St Paul.


Feeling even more Frenchie? Did you know, we have the Alliance Française in Minnesota, which was was started in the 1920s by a small group interested in the language and culture of France. Led by University of Minnesota Professor Jacques Fermand, the group became a member of the Federation of French Alliances, and the AFMSP (Alliance Française de Minneapolis-St. Paul) pays annual dues to them. By the 1950s, the chapter had approximately 100 members. Currently, the AFMSP has approximately 975 members.

Alliance Française offers language classes, free French movie nights for the whole family, a library of books, journals and magazines, as well as social events.

And heck, July 6 - July 12, 2009 is "Minnesota French Heritage week" as declared by Governor Tim Pawlenty at the request of the Alliance Française!



Feeling less Frenchie? Here are Radar's recommendations for dialing it down:

Blue Door Pub, offers a "Frenchie" hamburger - stuffed with Swiss cheese and caramelized onion on a toasted, buttered, super fresh bun and served with a side of au jus.

For the best French Fries in town:

Burger Jones' "Try-Fry Tasting Tower" - hand-cut russet fries, maple-bacon sweet potato fries and parmesan waffle fries

Convention Grill and Fountain, 3912 Sunnyside Rd. Edina, MN

Edina Grill's sweet-potato fries!

Lurcat

The Nook

Or please submit your favorite fries!

Get out and be "Frenchy" today, if not in what you eat, then in what you wear - put a scarf around your neck or a beret atop your head!

Célébrer!

Beer, Cycling, Nessie, Yo & Downward Dog

The "What's Ups" for this weekend:

TONIGHT, July 9th: OM Indian Beer Tasting at Sorella Wines & Spirits

The contenders:

Flying Horse: A crisp, clean lager beer; the people of India consider it to be the finest beer in the world.

Kingfisher: Brewed in copper urns since 1857 and uses crystal clear water, delicate grain malt, and fine hops.

Maharaja: The winner of the Silver Medal at the World Beer Championships, this premium Pilsner has hints of fruit with grainy, pale malt aromas.

Taj Mahal: A beer for the serious connoisseur; brewed from only the finest water, grain, hops and yeast.

NOW - July 26th: Cyclist fans - Birchwood Cafe's Live coverage daily of the Tour de France

Featuring French Press Peace Coffee, Pâtisserie, French Ale, Quiche Lorraine, Brioche French Toast, and our infamous Tour de Lance Turkey Burger all month long. And Tour trivia too!

SATURDAY, July 11 : - Yo Gabba Gabba! - 5 pm, Opening Reception at Pink Hobo

"Yo Gabba Gabba! is an Emmy-nominated and Bafta Award winning pre-school series shown weekly on Nick Jr., Noggin and other cable networks around the world. Probably the coolest, most A-list children's television series since...well, time began, this show features indie cartoonists, indie rockers and celebrities. Yo Gabba Gabba!'s costume design, illustration and artwork have been up for awards left and right during the lifetime of the show, so expect to be impressed at this exhibit, which will be up until the end of the month."

Pink Hobo is a modern geek gallery in Northeast. Everything from children's books to computational art can be found here at any given time. They throw some great parties with all their arty friends too, so check out their opening receptions.

The Hobo keeps regular hours Monday through Friday from about 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. but you've gotta knock on the door because they keep it locked.

Have you heard about the Lake Creature ("Nessie") on Lake Harriet? "Once upon a time, in a far away land, a young Lake Creature left her parents' nest and went searching for a home of her own. "Where will I live?" thought the Lake Creature as she began her adventure. "It must be someplace very special. It should be friendly and beautiful. It should have lush green landscapes, fragrant flower beds and scenic byways. And most of all, of course, it must have lakes – lots and lots and lots of lakes!"

SATURDAY. July 11th 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. - Remember the store, "Sister Fun"? The quirky, cute owner is still in business online and is having a sale:
Sat. July 11th 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.
2080 Hartford Ave. - Highland Park
St. Paul, MN

PLAN AHEAD: SplitRock Urban Retreats
Create your own mini-holiday with a half-day urban retreat. SplitRock's first yoga and wine tasting was such a success that they've added 2 more dates this summer! If you missed out or want to go again, sign up today. Here are photos of the first event from my friend Nicole:




Sunday, July 19*
Morning Yoga and Brunch with the Winemaker, $95
10:30 Vinyasa Yoga in the vineyard with Alissa Johnson, RYT
11:30 Napa Valley Brunch prepared by Chef Jason Hadley (sample menu on the web site)
12:30 Private tour of the vineyard and winery
1:30 Personal tasting of the Saint Croix Vineyard wine selection

To register: Email info@splitrockretreats.com. They can send you a pay pal link or you can mail a check to:
Amanda LaRiviere
3908 17th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Tonight is "Target FREE Thursday Night" at the Walker

It's all about Remake & Revamp at the Walker Art Center:

Tonight, June 25th - Screenprinting with Calpurnia Peach
Flowers, bikes, fireflies, lake cabins—what do you associate with a Minnesota summer? Calpurnia Peach helps participants to design a personal emblem of summery good times and screenprint it on clothing brought from home. Bring along additional used or gently worn clean clothes to donate to Kulture Klub Collaborative, a nonprofit arts organization that works with homeless teens.




Check out Calpurnia Peach's Etsy page.

And for more Thursday Nights at the Walker, click here.

Tonight, Los Vesparados!

Los Vesparados combines the cult following of scooters with a line up of local and international artists working in different styles and mediums to celebrate the spirit of the scooter. Join us Saturday June 13, 2009 at 6pm at the Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis in what is to hopefully become the first of many annual scooter art shows.

Also part of the evenings events: An impromtu scooter show in the parking lot (ride your scooter here and you’re in the show!); A raffle to win a new Buddy Scooter; Scooter memorobilia display by Michael & Eric Dregni - authors of many books on the subject; Food by Chowgirls... and, uh...Costco!; DJ Aaron Porter will be spinning mod tunes; Scooter movies and old commercials projected.

Hey Golfers!

Calling all Photogs!

And that means YOU. We all seem to have the access to point and shoot, whenever and wherever we are. So here's a chance for you to submit your own snapshot for a chance to win a surprise prize.

Geri Wolf of Style Laboratory, the event planner of all event planners (and the hardest working Minneapolitan I know) thought of yet another creative idea to put on her plate - "Shooting Showdown". It works like this - there will be a list of subjects that will be shot for each week of the contest. If your photo is in the top ten during week one, you will advance to the next week. Subjects range from your favorite restaurant sign to a city skyline.

First challenge is due this Friday:

Week 1 Subject:
* the signage of your favorite restaurant (top ten photos advance)
* submission is due on May 29, 2009
* images to be posted on blog by 8:00 a.m. June 1, 2009
* voting by judges and reader comments announced on June 2, 2009

So who's judging your Diane Arbus? Along with Geri, will be:
• Sara Glassman, Star Tribune's Fashion Writer & owner of PopFizz Daily
• Heather of GigiGuide
• And, Moi'

For more details, see "Shooting Showdown" under Geri's blog Eventful Ramblings.

Get out there and shoot-em-up now!

Memorial Day Weekend, aka Summer is Here!

Noooooooow, it feels like we've arrived. Summer, the season we all deserve, after that, that winter...

Here's Radar's kick-off of suggestions on seeing, doing and making this summer in the cities memorable.

Starting with this weekend:

It's Memorial Day, we know what that means. Take time to do just that. If you've have never been through Lakewood Cemetery, it is stunning, peaceful and filled with Twin Cities history. Lakewood will hold a service on Monday, 10.30 a.m. at the Soldiers Memorial. Following the Ceremony will be guided walking tours of the cemetery, horse and carriage tours, children's art activities, historical presentations, and music. The event is free and open to all.

Historic Fort Snelling hosts a Memorial Day tribute Timeline of the American Soldier on Monday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Costumed staff will help interpret United States military history, with characters from 225 years of history. There will be firing demonstrations at the fort.

The new exhibit at the Minnesota History Center, Minnesota's Greatest Generation, celebrates the World War II generation. A three-day opening weekend has family activities every day. On Monday, veterans are remembered with a Color Guard ceremony, World War II veterans, WWII re-enactments and short plays.

Memory Lanes Block Party!



Cliche, will hold an art reception for photographer, Laura Hallen, and offer 10% off storewide.



FiveTwoSix Salon, featured artists, including MJ Heubach and Booka B will collaborate on a painting while spinning original music, and MCAD grad student Aron Taylor will be making experimental sculputres/paintings. FREE

MCAD will host, Wizard of Oz according to Graham Rawle, "Using handcrafted miniature sets, carved sculptures, found objects, and other unusual materials (such as Pringles cans and spray-painted asparagus), celebrated British artist Graham Rawle crafted dynamic and oftentimes surreal illustrations for his re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, including original characters and scenes that will be unfamiliar to those who have only seen the cinema classic. This exhibition features Rawle's Oz works--illustrations that "come alive in the strangest of ways."

Last weekend for the Ten Minute Play Festival at Bedlam Theater.


Bella Music Festival, here's what Chris Riemenschneider has to say: "this small but adventurous three-day jam bash makes up for its lack of big-name headliners with a familial vibe (carried over from its predecessor, the Big Wu Family Reunions) and its proximity to the Twin Cities (about 90 minutes south of town). The third annual lineup is loaded with acts from San Francisco’s hazy scene, including rootsy jammers Tea Leaf Green, former Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann (partnering with swamp-rocking Texan Rastafarian Papa Mali), DJ/musician/producer Bassnectar and quirky but truly funky indie-rap hero Del the Funky Homosapien. Minnesota groups range from twangy favorites Pert Near Sandstone and the White Iron Band to hip-hop stalwarts Heiruspecs and Dessa, to the usual psychedelic pack, including the Big Wu, God Johnson, Pleasure Pause and the Feelin."

Farmers Markets, visit one, buy from one, this helps local farmers and our community.

Visit the Lake Harriet Elf House - on the south side of the lake, if you have your own little people in your life, they will love to imagine what this official "little man" is all about.

(my God-daughter Grace & lil' sis, Kate)

Como Zoo - and go not just for the animals, hop on the classic carousel, which is a perfect backdrop for a beautiful photo. Here's a couple I shot for a wedding:


And the Como Zoo rides, which now make me sick, especially while taking a photo:


Rent an Ice Cream Truck for your party! Or at least follow Blue Bell Ice Cream on Facebook. Friending Blue Bell saves you the time from running after the truck! Although that feels more like summer.


Other ice cream you don't have to run for:
Sonny's, 466 Hamline Avenue So, St Paul 55105


Adele's Custard, in the quaint town of Excelsior.

Liberty Frozen Custard, yum, yum, yum and in a retro, renovated gas station.

Other casual eats that scream summer:

Brasa, which opens in St Paul this June!

Chef Shack, always at the Mill City Farmers Market on Saturdays:


But you can follow the Shack's other where-abouts on Facebook and Twitter here:



Now fairs, any kinds of fairs may not be your thing, but how about looking at them for their charm? Or for the time spent with family and friends. My Dad and I have been going to the MN State Fair together since I was 13, it's one of those events that I love, more so each year because of who I'm with:






We have a fair/festival almost every weekend this summer, make one an event with those you love. Fairs/Festivals


Well, how's that for a start to the summer? Get out, stay local, buy local and love local, it's good for you.