live.eat.play.twin cities

The best interpretive center EVER.

2009-05-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

People, a little excursion to North Minneapolis' Webber-Camden neighborhood is in order. Just east of I-94, along the Mississippi River, you'll find North Mississippi Regional Park (there are actually lots of entry points via trails and roads.) While the natural surroundings and trails are great, the thing you cannot miss-especially if you are an urbanist-is the Carl W. Kroening Interpretive Center.

Really, how often can you go into a park's visitor center and learn about the effects a freeway has had on neighborhoods and city development (as well as the natural environment)? Old newspaper stories, aerial photos, & a 1973 Barracuda tell the story of I-94's impact on North Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. It's a rarity to find a park that both celebrates natural resources and gives visitors an important lesson in urban history. Visit today!

image: http://ecobirder.blogspot.com

Green Inside & Out-My Love Affair with the Seward Coop

2009-05-13T09:04:00.001-07:00

I love the Seward Coop building. It's a lovely hunk of modernism with its bold green exterior paneling and its boxy shape. There certainly is no mistaking the messaging here--this co-op is green--in every way. According to a January 2009 article in "The Bridge," the building has:

white roofing for climate control, skylights and recycled construction materials — including flooring from the old store — to minimize the co-op’s carbon footprint. Rain gardens and a sloped parking lot capture 90 percent of stormwater runoff.

It was also designed by Close Associates, whose offices are just blocks away on Franklin Avenue (how's that for local?!). As the store awaits for the results of its LEED Gold application (a year-long evaluation process, before certification is granted) I'll be wishing them success.

image: www.heavytable.com

Live MSP--or why I have been MIA

2009-03-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. Excuses, excuses. First it was my son born in September, now it's the forthcoming birth of LiveMSP.org in April. It is all I am working on now. I promise I'll get back to blogging here, but in the meantime, keep your eyes on LiveMSP.org.

You can also follow Live MSP on Twitter and Facebook.

For those of you who have read the blog all along--this is fulfilling #5 of my "urban new year resolutions" for 2008!

Neighborhood Arts

2008-12-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

In the process of working on my own website (the forthcoming LiveMSP.org--and that's live that rhymes with give, not with hive, got it?!?), I realized how much I like the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District Website. Everything you could possibly want to find in the area is on the website--from places to eat and shop and take classes to all of the studios and galleries. The maps are particularly great--showing you where all of the galleries/studios are and giving you a picture with address details too. Check it out here.

Christmas Eve Treats

2008-12-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

It is always a treat when my husband and I get to spend some quality adult time out and about in the cities. Today we had an amazing morning by starting out with breakfast at Hell's Kitchen. Yes, the much ballyhooed lemon ricotta hotcakes (see left) lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Even better though, we found a treat to take home with us--the homemade peanut butter. Folks, this is not your typical Skippy. This is chopped peanuts with loads of honey and brown sugar. It's more like a dessert peanut butter. This will go into everyone's stocking next year. Amazing!

After our hearty meal, we headed out to Fort Snelling State Park to go snowshoeing on Pike Island. It is a woodland oasis nestled in the shadow and roar of MSP International Airport. The solitude and pristine snow conditions made this urban, outdoor adventure truly stellar. After today, I'll be more easily able to remind myself why winter in the Twin Cities is a wonderful thing.

Merry Christmas!

images: Hotcakes at Hell's Kitchen, Jumbledpile on Flickr; Pike Island @ Ft Snelling State Park, Sharon Somero.

Can you believe I've got one more post on geography and fonts?

2008-12-17T07:37:00.000-08:00

I know I must be killing some of you readers who couldn't care less about cool maps and interesting type face, but for the rest of you geeks I thought I'd showcase these funky neighborhood maps today. Alas, Ork Designs has not launched a Minneapolis or Saint Paul version yet, but I'm hoping with enough gentle pressure we'll see one soon. Lots of other hip, progressive cities are featured (e.g. Portland, Seattle, S.F., NYC, etc) so I have to imagine that we'll make the cut soon. I bought the DC map yesterday to honor the place where my husband and I met, where my daughter was born, and where I spent 8 great years of my life--as well as to add some much needed art to our walls!

Extra! Extra! News in the land of citizen journalists

2008-12-15T09:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I found myself on the Twin Cities Daily Planet website for a good half an hour or so. While I've been here many times before, this time I was struck by the high quality articles that freelance, non journalist, folks have contributed to the site. It's also great to be able to find stories about really neighborhood-specific issues that aren't covered in this kind of depth anywhere else.

We're also lucky to have MinnPost too. Replete with top-notch writers, many of whom have worked for the area's major dailies, Minn Post offers some great analysis and investigative reporting.

I'm still a traditional, print version newspaper junkie, but I love having other quality journalism outlets too.

For all lovers of fonts, geography, and humor

2008-12-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that a year has passed and that I have attended my second No Coast Craft-o-Rama. This year was really great--tons of excellent vendors with really interesting wares (not to mention the fact that Salty Tart is now located in the Midtown Exchange--so that now you can shop for handmade items with a pastry-cream filled brioche in your hand. It simply does not get any better than this!!) I heard from one vendor that they had over 300 applications for 80 slots. I think that they should consider expanding next year (while keeping it in the same location, because the Midtown Exchange is awesome!) My favorite vendor, Campfire, schlepped all the way from Akron, Ohio and I'm so glad he did. I can't believe that there is someone out there who shares my love of cool fonts and geography. I'm pasting a bunch of images of his awesome t-shirts here.

All designs from Micah Kraus @ Campfire.

A portrait of Minnesota Winter

2008-12-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

Well folks, winter officially arrived in the Twin Cities last month (as evidenced by snow sticking on the ground--that's my litmus test.) And while we're sitting here in a bizarre 38 degree rain storm that will obviously freeze since tomorrow's highs are in the single digits, folks up north are getting slammed.

Our friend Pam recently wrote an excellent blog post about Minnesotans' tendencies to put up Christmas lights a month early. Pam reckons that we do it because it gets dark, really dark, really early, and for a really long time up in these latitudes. The lights, while a celebration of the upcoming holiday, are also a way of reclaiming some brightness during a long, dark, and cold winter. So thank you to all who emulate Clark W. Griswold this holiday season for giving us a little artificial sunshine, in a rainbow of colors, after 4pm!

image: Eric Hylden, Associated Press.

Uniquely Awesome

2008-12-13T20:16:00.001-08:00

Alright, so this isn't officially in the boundaries of Minneapolis (or Saint Paul), but I just discovered the best thrift store of all time. Unique Thrift on Stinson and 37th NE in Columbia Heights rules!! Despite being packed, it was so neat and well organized that I couldn't believe it. The merch was great and the lines moved quickly. I'm so making the trek out this way again. No offense Saint Paul, but this Unique location is waaaaaaay better than the one on Rice Street.

Tasty Thursdays

2008-12-12T07:25:00.000-08:00

I feel the need to give a shout out to own very own, James Beard Award winning, "Taste" section of the Star Tribune. Every Thursday, you can be treated to delicious recipes, a great wine review, and practical info about all kinds of gadgets, restaurants, and events. Not to mention the fact that I'm still so impressed with this years Holiday Cookie Contest winners--proof that not only can the Taste Section contributors write interesting copy, they can also judge a delicious cookie when they eat it! What more could you want?

Save the Date for NEXT October

2008-12-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

On my blogging hiatus, I missed the chance to share the news of Hennepin County's "Choose to Reuse" month which fell in October. In celebration, the county issued a killer coupon book with discounts from a bunch of thrift stores and other eco-friendly retailers. I'm counting on everyone to help me remember this next year--so I can actually take advantage of the savings.

A great holiday gift for your budding Twin Cities Geographer

2008-12-10T09:09:00.001-08:00

I recently bought this map for work-related purposes and cannot speak highly enough about it! If you want a beautifully illustrated map that includes EVERY neighborhood in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, get to Big Stick Maps ASAP and order this stunning gem. You'll discover some of the smaller neighborhoods you may have never heard of before as well as get your bearings straight in different parts of the city. A great resource for the geographer, city-lover, or map-nut on your shopping list.

A Temporary Hiatus

2008-09-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

A new baby has arrived in Midway
from my blog, he takes away.
Once elusive sleep returns
I'll be back at the keyboard.

Tell the world what you treasure about Minnesota

2008-08-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

From the 1000 Friends of Minnesota website:

1000 Friends of Minnesota and Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) are working together to create dozens of Legacy Letters — short videos about what people treasure most in Minnesota. These minute-long videos will air statewide on the Minnesota Channel numerous times over the course of the next year, with the potential for select Legacy Letters to air on TPT’s weekly public affairs show, Almanac. The videos will also be posted online on the 1000 Friends of Minnesota website.
The goal of Legacy Letters is to have articulate Minnesotans express our collective values and the future they envision for the state.

Tell us what you treasure about Minnesota. Pitch your one-minute Legacy Letter by calling the TPT Comment Line at 651-229-1430 by September 5, 2008. Be sure to mention “Legacy Letters,” and tell us your name, phone number, your object, and the story you’d tell in your Legacy Letter. Winning applicants will be invited to join us for a screening.

image: 1000 Friends of MN.

All Politics is Local

2008-08-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

Let's here it for the St. Paul Public Library sponsoring the Saint Paul*itics program right here in our backyard. As the website says:

The Saint Paul-itics series aims to increase awareness about local and national issues and encourage civic involvement.
Saint Paul-itics will:

Create an informed citizenry and provide a forum for Saint Paul residents to discuss the democratic process.
Help Saint Paul residents find ways to connect to the national excitement and interest in the Twin Cities that hosting the RNC will create.
Create opportunities for those interested in politics to connect to others with like interests and to expand their base of knowledge.

I think its wonderful that the library is building on the momentum here in MN and using its information-based, non-partisan platform to get people educated and excited about this election season. Here's a link to the national and regional speakers and events that are affiliated with the Saint Paul*itics program. Get out and learn, then get out and vote!

On Sale (online) Tomorrow: 2009 Saint Paul Almanac

2008-08-19T12:12:00.001-07:00

I've profiled the eclectic Saint Paul Almanac several times on this blog already, but this is just a heads up that the 2009 edition goes on sale online tomorrow (full disclosure: I've got a piece in this edition about University Avenue (it's an expansion of an early blog post from this site)). You can order online here. You could also wait until Sept. 1 to buy it in bookstores. If you want to celebrate the release of the Almanac and help raise funds for the non-profit that puts it together, come to the Black Dog Cafe and Wine Bar on September 29th between 12 and 4PM. More details here.

MSP makes NYT

2008-08-18T10:38:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite parts of the Sunday edition of the New York Times is the "36 Hours in _____ city." Well this Sunday, Minneapolis and Saint Paul were the featured city (ies.) Not a bad list of highlights--I'm impressed that Saint Paul destinations were referenced (I admit this is a low bar, but given recent RNC coverage and the nation's failure to recognize that the convention is in St. Paul and not Minneapolis, I'll take what I can get!) and the author also listed some off-the-beaten- path bars (e.g. CC Club, Lee's Liquor Lounge, 331 Club) that probably weren't on visitors' radar screens.

image: Ben Garvin, New York Times.

Survey Time: Tell me what you love about Minneapolis and St. Paul

2008-08-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

Dear readers residing in the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul:

I was hoping that you could take a couple of minutes of your time and either shoot me an e-mail (marykay_bailey@yahoo.com) or use the comment field to answer the following questions:

1) What do you like most about living in the city?

2) What do you like most about your particular neighborhood?

3) What neighborhood do you reside in?

4) How long have you lived there?

You may be wondering why I'm asking and what I plan on doing with this informal, unscientific survey. Well, I've recently begun working on an initiative to market and promote all of the neighborhoods in our two fair cities. I wanted to get a very informal baseline about what the folks that read this blog and live here value about the Twin Cities and their neighborhoods. So if you're reading this, please take a minute to share your opinion and if you will, pass a link to other folks you know too. Thanks in advance for the help!!

Save the Date: Saarinen coming to MIA

2008-08-12T00:10:00.000-07:00

Lovers of modern design mark your calendars. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker will be sponsoring the internationally-touring "Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future" exhibit from Saturday, September 13, 2008—Sunday, January 4, 2009. The exhibit will be held in the MIA's U.S. Bank Gallery.

Read more about the exhibit here.

And get your engines revved by checking out Eero and son Eliel Saarinen's local masterpiece, Christ Lutheran Church at 3244 34th Avenue South in Minneapolis.

image: Christ Lutheran Church, by Pete Sieger. See all of his photos here.

History on a Stick or Burning Off Some of Those Cheese Curds

2008-08-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Just caught this nugget in the MN State Fair insert included in Sunday's Star Tribune:

HISTORIC WALKING TOUR
This self-guided walk is a great way to explore the fairgrounds. Tour brochures available at State Fair information booths, the Foundation booth in front of the J. V. Bailey House or at walking tour signs located throughout the fairgrounds.

Could be an interesting way to see new parts of the Fairgrounds while justifying your consumption of the newest infarction on-a-stick, "Big Fat Bacon" (1/3 lb slice of bacon fried and carmelized with maple syrup, served on a stick with dipping sauces). For more State Fair food info, check out this site.

image: http://www.ohforfun.typepad.com

Making the Twin Cities Even More Bike Friendly

2008-08-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

Back in July, there was a great article about a U of M Computer Science graduate student named Reid Priedhorsky who is starting up Cyclopath.org--a "geo-wiki" that allows cyclists to post bike routes to all sorts of destinations. The advantage of this set-up is that sometimes the most direct, or most traffic-free routes can take you off of streets and onto unofficial paths--things that aren't picked up by any map. While the Twin Cities Bike Map is certainly decent--there are lots of alternative ways to get from point A to point B that experienced cyclists are likely to point out. Cyclopath is still in testing mode, but you can sign up to be notified of its official release.

On August 17th from 1-3, the City of Minneapolis and Bike Walk Twin Cities, are launching a
Bike Walk Ambassadors Program. As the website notes:

"The Bike/Walk Twin Cities Ambassadors are here to help you out! The Ambassadors provide the information and support needed to help you start bicycling and walking more often. The Ambassadors are available to give presentations, lead safety/user clinics, and host events year-round. They'll help your group learn how to reach destinations by foot or bike with ease."

There are several other good resources if you're looking to find the best routes to places.

Minneapolis Bike Love. Com has a route planning forum with lots of posted routes and a place where you can ask how to get from here to there.

Bikely.com, a national website, also has a list of bike routes and paths for the Twin Cities.

Bike Walk Twin Cities has links to a bunch of other map/route resources, too.

image: Cage Design. You can purchase a series of posters of favorite Minneapolis-St. Paul cycling locations here.

Slow Down for Art..another cool traffic calming project from the neighborhood that brought you "Paint the Pavement"

2008-07-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Last night, driving on Thomas Avenue in my Hamline-Midway neighborhood, I started noticing all of these random signs posted in the boulevards. I thought they were some interesting art project, perhaps sponsored by J&S coffee shop. Then I saw the Pioneer Press today and learned that they are part of a traffic calming effort devised by local artist Steven Woodward and coordinated with the Department of Public Works. From the article:

"Woodward said he chose images that are meant to convey — in a matter of seconds — the following information: People live here. These are people's homes. You should slow down...For example, a series of the signs is of a mother and child — an image he said should obviously evoke a sense of serenity and safety in drivers' minds. "You see a mother and child. What says protectiveness better than that?" he asked."

Check out the signs on Hamline Avenue between Charles and Blair and on Thomas Avenue between Pascal and Griggs. And while you're at it, check out the Paint the Pavement projects in our neighborhood too.

Images Copyright © by Steven Woodward. Read more here.

Rolling out the Red Carpet--St. Paul's Very Clever Retail Recruitment Plan

2008-07-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

During the past few weeks, I've been reading the articles about the "Red Carpet Campaign," St. Paul's retail recruitment strategy for filling storefront vacancies during the Republican National Convention. The city, working with the Chamber of Commerce and the local Building Owners and Managers Association chapter, is offering very short-term leases, in some cases for a couple of weeks, at significantly reduced rates, to encourage businesses to try out a downtown St. Paul location for a spell. The Chamber is administering the program--being a matchmaker between tenants and building owners/managers--which helps to eliminate the competition between owners as well as making it easier on them by delivering tenants to their door.

Arguably, the RNC will be creating an unrealistic volume of customers, but I think it will be interesting to see which of the businesses decide to stick around to see if they can thrive in the capital city. According to Dave Orrick's article in yesterday's Pioneer Press, one such businesswoman, Stacey Finnegan, owner of Il Vostro Boutique, is taking out a 6-month lease. Finnegan says in the article:

"I'm not really looking at the RNC as a litmus test, because it'll be a false negative or positive," she said. "We'd been considering secondary location options, and it was a perfect storm. There's some nice incentives in downtown St. Paul without the commitment for a five- to 10-year lease."

I heartily applaud St. Paul for piloting this incredibly innovative and unique approach. As central business districts around the country struggle with attracting and retaining retail, a common strategy is to dish out lots of tax breaks and other higher cost incentives. The Red Carpet campaign relies on partnerships with building owners, it allows smaller businesses and those considering new locations to get their feet wet in St. Paul without a major cash commitment, and it is set up so that building owners, small businesses, and the city are all winners in the end.

image: Twin Cities Daily Photo

West End Arts and the Pilney

2008-07-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

Driving on West 7th, near Randolph Avenue in St. Paul I took a close look at the Pilney Building today. It's very "Flatiron-esque" and is now home to the West End Arts "Scene and Be Scene" visual arts show. It's old news now, but the exhibit is showcasing the work of West End artists until August 2nd. So get yourself out to this great historic neighborhood, check out all of the coffee shops and old school bars along West 7th, and be part of one of the city's newest art scenes.

image: PixelboyMN

Get to NOMI (get it, Know Me? and NOMI = North Minneapolis)

2008-07-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Get to know Minneapolis' Northside with some enthusiastic residents! The GLBT Northsider's are hosting a homebuyers tour on Thursday, July 24th 6:30 - 9PM (they also hosted one on the 10th). The tour will be kicked off with a reception and then a tour of a few for-sale homes in several North Minneapolis neighborhoods. For questions or to register for the Home Buyer's Tour on July 24th, e-mail mynewneighbor@gmail.com and include your contact information and how many will be in your party.

Theresa Handy's extraordinary landscapes

2008-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have loved Theresa Handy's work since I saw a couple of her paintings at last year's "SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder): Illuminating a Northern View of Darkness" exhibit at the Weisman. Then I saw a group show of hers at GalleryCo and fell even more in love. And the truth is, I keep loving it! So if you haven't seen her work, let me make the introduction and encourage you to check out the catalog of her work, here.

All images: Theresa Handy.

DIY St. Paul walking tours

2008-07-01T11:30:00.001-07:00

While on the St. Paul Phototour website, I discovered that Joe Hoover has posted a bunch of neighborhood walking tour maps. They bring you into some pretty interesting parts of the city. Here's the sampling along with the links:

Dayton's Bluff Historic District:
Take a driving tour of the some of the neighborhood's most important sites of interest. -- PDF Map 370k

BridgeTrail:
Take a walking tour of St. Paul's historic and scenic Yoerg's Bluff (West Side) and Uppertown (West 7th) neighborhoods and the Mississippi River. -- PDF Map 488k

Phalen Creek / Burlington Northern Trail:
Take this printable PDF map with you and go hike in Swede Hollow and Phalen Creek -- PDF Map 54k

State Capitol Monuments Tour:
A walking tour of the monuments and memorials on the State Capitol Mall -- PDF Map 24k

"Slum it on Summit" Walking Tour:
Walk Summit Avenue and take-in some of the finest architecture in St. Paul -- PDF Map 120k

Labor History Tour:
The factories, and humble homes of the working class have a history to tell all of their own. -- PDF Map 156k

Payne Avenue--love that Main Street

2008-07-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Payne Avenue, on the east side of Saint Paul, is an architecturally outstanding commercial corridor. For quite a few blocks south of Maryland Avenue and down to Phalen Blvd, Payne is lined with 1-5 story historic buildings. It's like a mini, urban version of Main Street in Stillwater or downtown Red Wing. If you've got a hankering for Mexican food, it's also a great place to go! Check out these photos:
All images from: Joe Hoover at St. Paul Photo Tour

A Midwest Summer's Night's Dream

2008-06-28T20:15:00.001-07:00

Here are some key ingredients:

Temperatures in the mid-60s
Minimal mosquitoes

and ample doses of the following:

Leine's Summer Shandy is a "limited edition" treat that somehow makes the mixture of beer and lemonade tasty. Mighty tasty.

Some grilled grass-fed bison steaks from the St. Paul Farmer's Market.

And Ladder Ball -- a game I had never seen until moving back here last summer. It's just the right speed for a summer's evening.

Top it all off with a cone from Izzy's. If I'm ever in luck, they'll make a batch of the salty caramel ice cream I've only ever read about!

St. Paul's Riverfront

2008-06-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

I've come to realize that it really isn't fair to compare Minneapolis' riverfront with Saint Paul's. Constrained by bluffs and an active railroad track, downtown Saint Paul just simply doesn't have the same easy access to the Mississippi that its brother upstream has. Nonetheless, Saint Paul really has done a good job making the riverbanks an attractive place to be. All along Shepard Road the river is flanked by a beautiful landscaped trail--divided for cycling and walking traffic. There are lovely flowers and grasses and lots of points where you can pull off and check out the river. Teresa Boardman, author and photographer of the excellent "St. Paul Real Estate Blog" has some great photos of one of the newest park installments on the east bank (north side) of the river. Check these out:

The park is really bringing you right down to the water's edge, while still giving you the great sense of urbanity--with the High Bridge and the skyline in the distance.

So Saint Paul, hat's off! You've done some great work on your waterfront given all that you've had working against you. Kudos!

All images: Teresa Boardman.

Me, Mayor Rybak, and Facebook

2008-06-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

While it's true that I may be a dork, I seem to be in good company with the 1,434 other individuals who have Mayor R.T. Rybak listed as a friend in Facebook. I'm already a bit beyond the intended Facebook generation, but it seems to me that we are supposed to "friend" those people that we have established, or at least tangible, relationships with. Arguably, some of these 1,400-plus people actually know the Mayor, but I can't claim that. Yet when I discovered that one of my favorite elected officials had a Facebook page, I was compelled to invite him to become a friend of mine. Why? I'm not sure, but I couldn't resist the Starsky and Hutch-like photo on his profile page (see left) and well, who doesn't secretly aspire to having a famous friend--even if it's only on Facebook?

Invite R.T. to be a Facebook friend of yours, here.

Get local on Etsy

2008-06-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

I love Etsy.com--the website where you can buy and sell any manner of homemade art and craft. I've been looking for some artwork for our daughter's and still-gestating son's bedrooms. I'm a big fan of printmaking and I was delighted to discover a Minnesotan whose work is colorful, inventive and sweet. Check out Studio Mela's Etsy page here. If you want to shop local on a global website, you can use Etsy's "Geolocator" tool that allows you to select a state and city and then pulls up all of the sellers based there. Nice touch.

Now if only I could make up my mind about which prints to buy...

Image: Shelli at Studio Mela.

Summertime on Harriet Island

2008-06-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

The combination of the breeze coming off of the Mississippi and the warmth of a cloudless eve-of-summer sky, made this morning's visit to Harriet Island resplendent. Add in the peerless view of the downtown St. Paul skyline and the occasional, enormous piece of floating driftwood and you've got a pretty perfect setting for me. Now, if you asked the toddler what was so great about the place this morning, she'd probably tell you:
1) The duck and egret on the water.
2) The train chugging down the tracks adjacent to downtown.
3) The horn on the sternwheelers.
4) The slides and swings on the playground, and
5) Last, but certainly not least, the tuba player who was part of today's free children's music ensemble in the gorgeous Clarence Wigington Pavilion. The series will be going on all summer, check out the schedule here.

Enjoy your parks Twin Citians--they are a true delight!

image: Clarence Wigington Pavilion, City of St. Paul.

Living the Luxe Life for a Night

2008-06-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

After years of sleeping in hostels, on friends' couches, and in cheap roadside inns, I've grown into adulthood appreciating the occasional indulgence of a luxury hotel. Around the same time, I also discovered that these lovely refuges also tended to have equally indulgent bars. It wasn't so long ago that the Twin Cities didn't have much to speak of in this department--with the exception of some of our lovely historic hotels. So I've been overjoyed by the presence of such glamorous accommodations as the Chambers, the Graves 601 (which I had the pleasure of staying in when it was Le Meridien, and it was a pleasure then too!), the new Westin, Hotel Ivy, and my personal favorite from other cities, the forthcoming W Hotel in the Foshay Tower. At this point in time, I'm most likely to pop in for the occasional cocktail and ogling of art and architecture (have you checked out the interior space of Bank, in the Westin?!?), but I hope that in the nearer future my husband and I can play tourists for a night, complete with wining, dining, and sleeping in some nouveau luxury!

Calling the University District Home

2008-06-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Bringing together businesses, the U, neighborhood advocates, and the city of Minneapolis, the University District Partnership Alliance--comprised of the SE Como, Marcy-Holmes, SE Industrial Area, U of M, Cedar-Riverside, and Prospect Park neighborhoods--aims to "preserve and promote the district as a place to live, learn, and do business." With funding from the state legislature, the Partnership will be offering home ownership incentives in the area, creating neighborhood visions and plans, and telling the stories of residents who love living there. I love the idea and structure of this program--part marketing, part economic development, part residential stabilization, and part community building. I wish them the best of luck in their endeavors!

Free Summer Historic Walking Tours in Minneapolis

2008-06-05T11:48:00.001-07:00

Want to know the history of Elliot Park? How about the a glimpse into early 20th Century Jewish life on the Northside of Minneapolis? Well, you can learn more about these and other Minneapolis neighborhoods and historic sites by participating in any of the numerous free walking tours hosted by the city of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission. The schedule is posted here.

image: from the City of Minneapolis, inside the Shubert Theater on the 2007 tour.

A taste of summer

2008-06-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Nothing says summer like a trip to Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis--preferably via bike--and lunch at the Sea Salt Eatery, complete with a fried fish sandwich and a frosty pitcher of beer. For the uninitiated, Sea Salt is actually located within the park--its a concession of the park building right near the falls and parking lot. So enjoy your summer meal, stellar people watching, and the lovely setting of Minnehaha Park--not bad for an all-inclusive package!

image: Roman Espiritu

University Avenue: A work in progress

2008-05-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Public Radio has pulled together a really nice feature on University Avenue on their website. Rightly titled as "University Avenue: A work in progress" the site features historic photos, stories, information about the Central Corridor LRT, and a place for you to tell the world what your experiences on the Avenue have been.

Image: Minnesota Historical Society

Connecting Reviewers and Reviews

2008-05-28T21:26:00.001-07:00

Do you want to know what your peers have to say about services, dining establishments, and shopping destinations? Then check out the Minneapolis edition of Yelp.com. You can read or create your own reviews of all kinds of different places and create your own social network of reviewers.

Minnesota Pride in the Nation's Capital

2008-05-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Even though we've lived here for almost 11 months now, I still troll the blogs of my former neighborhood and surroundings in Washington, DC. I found this awesome doorway photo on one such blog (the Prince of Petworth) and it totally speaks to the roaming nature and home-state pride of Minnesotans. There were many of us transplants in DC when I was there and even though we had voluntarily left our state, we all still thought of and talked about it fondly.

The Ultimate Urban Scavenger Hunt- (with prizes!) on 5/31/08

2008-05-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

For all of you savvy urban scavengers who know your way around Minneapolis, you may want to register for this free, prize-giving event being held on May 31st. The race is called the BlackBerry Curve Challenge (can you tell who the sponsors are?) and it is limited to 150, two-person teams. Participation is free and open to adults aged 18 and older.

Basically, teams are given a set of clues that incorporate the landmarks and layout of Minneapolis. At each of these destinations team members will have to use their Blackberry to take a photo of themselves completing some kind of challenge. The kicker is that to get from destination to destination, you can only run/walk or take public transit. The distance will be several miles and the course takes between 3 -4 hours to complete. And oh yeah, you can use your Blackberry as a "lifeline" to call/text friends for help answering some of the clues. So gather a posse up by a computer so they can get you answers to the clues you don't know.

Here are the deets:
WHERE: Guthrie Theater, 818 South 2nd Street--serves as the Start & Finish line
WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 31, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Team Orientation, 10 a.m. Start
HOW: Advanced registration suggested. Register online at http://www.BlackBerryCurveUC.com. Day-of registrations accepted on-site if race slots are still available
PRIZES: The top 30 teams will receive one BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone for each participant. The winning Minneapolis Challenge team will compete in the Ultimate Challenge in San Francisco on June 14th . Both members of the team will receive an all expense paid, three-night stay in San Francisco for themselves and one guest. Members of the winning team of Destination Alcatraz, the final challenge in San Francisco, win an all expense paid trip for two to their choice destination of Maui, Paris, Rome or the Mayan Riviera.

Image: from last year's "running of the Elvises?!?!"--taken by "kayakbiker."

Sidewalk Poetry and Defeat

2008-05-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I shouldn't even admit it, but I did enter the Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk competition here in St. Paul. I even sent in 2 poems. Sadly, I will not be memorialized in concrete as they announced the 2o winners today (there were 2000 entries) and I was not among them. But I will be brash enough to share my poems with you, dear reader. Feel free to tell me that I should stick to blogging instead!

The City of Seven Hills

Seven hills

like beacons

proclaim our saintly city.

Wrought by water

these caves and cliffs--

limestone shapes our history.

Geography.

Geology.

Unknowing authors of

our destiny.

Sounds of Street and Sky

Roaring overhead

the airplane owns the sky, for a moment.

Soon the silence of the roving clouds

returns.

My footfalls

gentle on the sidewalk

echo the sound of freedom

and curiosity.

The skyline, quiet in the distance

wakes with the whir of traffic,

the clambering of buses.

The city streets and their cacophonous choir

call me home.

Drug Store Democracy

2008-05-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't actually experienced the spectacle myself, but I've heard and read about Schneider Drug's (@ 3400 University Avenue, in Prospect Park in Minneapolis) legendary stature among hardcore DFLers. Drug store by day, town hall by night, Schneider's plays host to candidate nights and heady political discussions--full of debate. According to an NPR story last year, the drug store's pharmacist, Tom Sengupta, a native Indian, organizes and moderates the meetings. It is expected that if you are a DFL candidate running in MN, you'll make a stop at Schneider's and sit in the hot seat for hours being grilled by party activists, academicians, and other political heavy weights. So the next time you're heading east on University you can feel assured that democratic debate is alive and well in this small, nondescript drug store.

Why Minneapolis is Great: Reason 2

2008-04-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Reason 1 was the lakes. Reason 2 is the riverfront. When I last lived here 10 years ago, the Whitney Hotel (now the Whitney Landmark Residences) was the only thing happening near the mills. We cyclists were overjoyed with the opening of the Stone Arch Bridge back in the early 90s to non-auto traffic. You could ride your bike on the parkway, but if I recall correctly it was incomplete (as you headed down river toward the U.) But otherwise, there wasn't a whole lot going on here.

Now this part of town is a true Minneapolis treasure.

There's the amazing mill architecture--and it's great that we've got the Mill City Museum to show and tell the story of the area, but you also get the bonus adaptive reuse of random mill buildings and warehouses into stunning lofts. The North Star Lofts are my favorite.
Second, this area has some of the most innovative and funky parkland in the city. Going to Mill Ruins Park is like embarking on an historical scavenger hunt or archeology dig.

Climbing to the top of Gold Medal Park is like being King of the Hill--where you preside over the Guthrie Theater, downtown, and the Mighty Miss.
As if these two parks weren't enough, the land along the river banks is all park too--complete with the aforementioned trails.

All of these things bring people to the river--which is in and of itself a remarkable asset. It's the Mississippi--the father of US waters--right here in MPLS! Standing on the Stone Arch Bridge, looking down at St. Anthony Falls or off at the skyline, it doesn't take long to realize that this is a pretty stellar place to live.

images: Riverfront @ U of MN; North Star Lofts homepage; Mill Ruins Park at wikipedia; Gold Medal Park @ oaala.com; Pedestrians on the Stone Arch Bridge @ MNDOT.

Save the Date: May 12 - 18 is Bike (and Walk) to Work Week

2008-04-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

One other drawback of working at home is that I can't really participate fully in Bike to Work week. Here in the Twin Cities, May 14th is really the big day, but organizers have decided to spread out activities over the entire May 12 -18th week. So if you're new to bike commuting this week is made for you--lots of commuter convoys and resources to get you started. Just think, biking to work means you've got built in exercise, you have saved money on gas, and you are probably a lot more energized when you get to the office.

Get all of the information that you need to participate here.

Cool Churches: Volume 2

2008-04-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

Jehovah Lutheran Church is right down the street from us and I love its pressed concrete forms and totally stylistic crosses. According to Larry Millett, the design mimics department stores of the early 1960s. In any event, it rocks.

Green being the new black and all

2008-04-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

As some of my previous posts have suggested, I love free things. And if you're looking for something free to do next weekend (May 3-4) head on over to the Living Green Expo at the State Fair Grounds. Check out the exhibitors, workshops, and other demonstrations here.

Common Roots Cafe--uncommonly delicious

2008-04-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Much has been made of the NY-style bagel at Common Roots Cafe in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis--and much should. The crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside plain bagel with good old plain cream cheese is a weekend treat everyone should wake up to. A friend and I went in the evening a couple of weeks ago and we were totally impressed by the patatas bravas-- a typical find at a tapas restaurant--yet they were much better at Common Roots than they were at Solera.

So I'm hoping that the good folks at Common Roots aren't anti-expansion, because with their super eco-ethos and their totally treatsy food, we'd love to see them in St. Paul. In particular on Snelling Avenue north of University where there is a sandwich and bagel wasteland. Come East oh Common Roots!!

images: Common Roots Cafe website.

Looking for stuff to do in the Twin Cities? Event calendar links are here

2008-04-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

A lot of people get to my blog by searching for things like "Cool Things to Do in the Twin Cities this weekend" and "Plays in Minneapolis." And I'm sure that they end up leaving disappointed since my posts are typically musings about random things that I think are cool that aren't geared toward a specific weekend or venue. So for all of you party animals, thespians, groupies, and others looking for calendar-specific things to do in the Twin Cities, I'm going to include links to some of the major event calendars in the area.

City Pages calendar (you specify the date range and the kind of event).
Vita.mn (the homepage has featured events for the day and you can select for the week or month.)
Craigslist (I just discovered that good, old Craig has an events calendar. It seems sweet for finding some really random things to do.)
Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine (the place to go to find fundraising events)
Minnesota Public Radio (the calendar lists their own events and others submitted by "listeners"--or I guess "readers.)
The Rake (same as City Pages concept)
Last FM (has listings of concerts and event in Minneapolis--you could change search term and find things going on in St. Paul too.)
Thrifty Hipster (for the drinkers out there, this interactive guide has happy hours and bar and nightclub events.)

You can also sign up for e-mails to get the latest scoop on events.
Meet Minneapolis' e-newsletter sign up is here.
Minnie Indie weekly e-newsletter sign up is here.

From Hopps to Houses

2008-04-14T17:55:00.001-07:00

I am totally stoked to read of the redevelopment plans for St. Paul's two breweries (Schmidt's and Hamms.) I've been cruising the area of West Seventh near the Schmidt's brewery and have found some of the renovations on that street really exciting. Some funky restaurants, the 1000 Friends of Minnesota office, plus some of Mayor Coleman's favorite old school bars. A great eclectic mix!

There are some interesting posts at the St. Paul Real Estate blog about the existing neighborhood and the brewery.

For more info on the area, see the website of the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation/District 9 Community Council.

Map: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Why We Dine: Installment 4

2008-04-12T13:05:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I don't buck any trends and I choose to eat somewhere based on recent hype. Maybe not even hype, but a steady media presence that gives a place priority in my mental list. That said, after reading several reviews of The Strip Club in St. Paul, I do believe we've found our next child-free dining excursion. Doubtless, part of the allure is in the off-the-wall location in Dayton's Bluff and its home in a beautifully restored building. The Strip Club also wins points for its role in bringing commercial activity to a neighborhood that's predominantly residential and institutional (i.e. Metro State). It also doesn't hurt that I have a hankering for some good red meat and I always enjoy a good view of a city skyline.

image: Aaron Landry (for more of his stuff, go here.)

Midwest Threads

2008-04-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

Sadly, I don't sew and I'm not crafty, but I can appreciate cool fabric designs when I see them. I'm totally loving this Midwest Modern collection by Amy Butler. Available at Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul on Grand Avenue.

images: amybutlerdesign.com

The office shed

2008-04-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

In the Spring 2008 NYT magazine Real Estate supplement, there's a feature on "office outbuildings." These small pre-fab buildings are generally bigger than a toolshed and have windows and electricity and are meant to be added to one's backyard. The article lists several different companies--check out their designs here: Modern-Shed, MetroShed, Modern Cabana, and Shelter-Kit. How lovely it would be to work at home in a sun-drenched, totally separate office space, that is just a stone's throw from the kitchen, yet isn't the basement?

images: Top: Dwight Eschliman in the NYT. Bottom: Metroshed.com

If the Mayor thinks it's cool...

2008-04-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what the Mayors of our fair Twin Cities like best about their cities? Well, you can get a glimpse in the new Insider Guides that Meet Minneapolis has developed. Here you'll learn that R.T. likes to eat dinner at Solera and swim in the city's lakes 3x/week in the summer. You'll also discover that Mayor Coleman lists 15 different locales for his favorite bar/restaurant and likes to buy men's clothing at Heimie's Haberdashery.

If you care less what the politicos think and more what other interesting locals think about the cities, check out the full range of guides here.

To the moon

2008-04-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

If you head west on Lake Street and turn right at the Blue Moon coffee shop...and then go a few blocks til' the street dead ends, you'll hit one of my favorite, little neighborhood parks. Brackett Park is in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis and is home to a gorgeous rec. center, a kiddie pool, mature trees, a playground, and this awesome rocket sculpture. Ahhh, summer awaits.

Fear of an Old Home

2008-03-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting conversation the other day with someone who said she'd love to live in Minneapolis or Saint Paul, but feared the prospects of having to do repairs to an older home. I figured that in an area like ours, there would be lots of places to turn for learning how to tackle some common home improvement/repair issues. Here's what I found:

Both Saint Paul and Minneapolis have Community Education courses focused on Home Improvement. You can take classes in "sanding your own floors," "window restoration," "electrical wiring," "plaster and sheetrock repair," among many others.

Depending on where you live and the income you make, there are also city and non-profit programs to help offset the cost of some improvements (e.g. lead paint removal, energy updates, etc.) Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have "City Living Home Programs" that offer home repair loans and mortgage assistance. There's also a list of some different programs here and I'm familiar with the work that Sparc does in Hamline Midway, the North End and East Como.

If home improvement still scares you, the city of Minneapolis has the Home Ownership Works program where you can move into a home that the city has remodeled to bring up to code.

So don't fear the old house--there are lots of resources available to you!

image: http://www.geomyidae.com

A Minneapolis Institution

2008-03-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Indulging an unnatural craving for a glazed donut, I headed over to the out-of-the-way (for me) but revered Mel-O-Glaze bakery on Minnehaha Parkway and 28th Avenue S. What's up with the spray-painted, fake Christmas trees out front? My donut was good, but I think since I went in the late afternoon, it was past its peak freshness. Regardless, I love that this bakery is all by itself on a street corner surrounded by homes, apartment buildings and the lovely Parkway.

Green Routes

2008-03-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota-based non-profit, Renewing the Countryside, hosts Green Routes a great website that lets you find unique accommodations and attractions across the state. As the website says:

"Green Routes will help you discover small, unique businesses that are rooted in their communities; places to eat where the food is not only fresh from a family farm, but where you might bump into the farmers who grew it; places to have fun while helping to ensure that our natural and cultural resources will be around for many generations to come. Green Routes gives you a way to incorporate your values into your travels. It makes it easy to find fun and rich experiences and places."

So the next time that your plans include traveling around the Land of 10,000 Lakes, check out Green Routes for some unique destinations.

Graceful Losers

2008-03-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

We're trying to be graceful in our epic defeat in the St. Paul Pioneer Press Peeps Diorama Contest, but my friend Denise and I feel totally robbed. I mean how can a diorama of the G.O.Peeps convention lose out to a bunch of peeps doing yoga? What's clever about that? Dear readers, go and judge for yourself. Here is the link to the winners. Here's the link to our entry. If you go to our entry you can give it your own vote and at least if you like it, we'll feel a little less w(p)eepy.

PS: Here's what we included along with our photo submission:

Explanation from creator: We discovered after we built the diorama that taking pictures to fully capture the inside action of the GOPeep Convention and the outside scene with the Peeps Corps and the Protest Peeps, was going to be difficult. So for all of you judges struggling to read the signage, let us provide you with some assistance here: Protester Peep signs read: "No Justice. No Peeps." "Give Peeps a Chance" "Greenpeeps: Save the Whales" "Up with Peeple." and "Hey Hey Ho Ho the GOPeeps Have Got to Go." The Peeps Corps, includes representatives from CNN, KSTPeeps, the Colbert Report, and of course, the Pioneer Press. And, yes, those are secret service peeps watching the protest barricades.

Day Trippin'

2008-03-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

During our glorious day of toddler-free gallivanting, my husband and I drove the Great River Road route from St. Paul to Wabasha, stopping in Red Wing and hiking in Frontenac State Park. We crossed the river at Wabasha and ate a wonderful lunch at the acclaimed Harbor View Cafe in Pepin, WI, where we learned that Lake Pepin makes up 22-miles of the Mississippi River. Off-season, we had little competition for seats! Although we had to speed through the rest of our drive, I found that of all the places we cruised, Stockholm, WI was by far and away the most charming. Not bad for a town of 97 people!

image: Stockholm, WI website.

I Scream, You Scream...It's about that time

2008-03-19T18:11:00.001-07:00

My husband likes to call me a "gold digger"--not for the usual reason of trolling guys that have loads of money--but for my annoying tendency to eat all of the yummy bits out of our flavored and chunky store-bought ice cream (incidentally, I do the same thing with trail mix.) So I think we'll all be happier when the weather is warm enough to justify an evening jaunt to the area's excellent ice cream parlors (are all ice cream shops parlors? What makes it a parlor?)

St. Paul parlors:

Izzy's @ 2034 Marshall Ave (when will I ever be there when they serve the famous salty caramel?)
Grand Ole Creamery @ 750 Grand Ave.
Conny's Creamy Cone @ 1197 Dale St N (if it is good enough for Garrison Keillor, it's good enough for me!)

Minneapolis parlors:

Sebastian Joe's @ 1007 W Franklin Ave
Pumphouse Creamery @ 4754 Chicago Ave
Crema Cafe @ 3403 Lyndale Ave S

Then again, why wait til' it's warm--don't Minnesotans hold some record for eating the most ice cream per capita off season?

Day By Day Cafe

2008-03-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to try out this place for a long time and we finally did today. It is adorable--pine paneling covering the walls of the back room; built in book cases filled with books and toys; lots of cozy booths and great windows. I bet that it's awesome in the summer when you can eat in the outdoor seating area. My food was good too and it is totally family friendly. We'll definitely be back!

Day by Day Cafe--West 7th Street @ Goodrich in St. Paul.

St. Paul Neighborhood History

2008-03-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to learn more about the history of St. Paul's neighborhoods, check out the Ramsey County Historical Society's website. They've got neighborhood profiles of many of the city's neighborhoods.

St. Paul's former Central Park

2008-03-17T11:32:00.001-07:00

In the mid 1880s, St. Paul's Central Park was constructed south of the State Capitol. Paths and an ornate fountain resided in the park and homes and apartment buildings ringed its borders. By 1929 the newspaper was calling for the removal of the "screen of ugliness" (the buildings) that were blocking the approach to the Capitol. Gradually the homes were removed, the last in 1970, and now as an ultimate screen of ugliness, the only structure on the site is a government parking ramp. Ahhhhh, progress.

image: postcard from 1922, Minnesota Historical Society.

Doing the Bluff

2008-03-14T11:25:00.001-07:00

I think that Dayton's Bluff is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in St. Paul. It's made up of a couple of different parts: the Historic District, north of I-94 and east of East 7th Street; Swede Hollow, west and north of East 7th, and Mounds Park on the South side of 94. The houses are amazing--lots of Victorians, some crazy mansions, and more modest homes. The area is super hilly and Mounds Park and Swede Hollow Park are great places to explore.

If you want to get out and explore this neighborhood off of the beaten path, the Dayton's Bluff Community Council has created several different walking and driving tours. You can access them online here or pick up brochures at their office at 798 East 7th Street. Before you go you can read up on some neighborhood history too.

Since the season of the shirtless Minnesotan is upon us (see previous blogpost), this is a great time to get to know a lesser-known part of the city!

images: Dayton's Bluff Community Council.

Shirtless Minnesotans: A Phenomenon

2008-03-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's 50 degree warm spell has prompted this post on a phenomenon I took notice of in the early 1990s while in high school. I'd forgotten about it until last spring when my husband and I were making trips to MN to look for a house. One such visit took place during an unseasonably mild April weekend. Maybe it was in the 60s, certainly not the 70s or 80s, and we witnessed several different men with their shirts off.

For those of you who have lived here for awhile you know the feeling when the air starts to warm up and 50 degrees feels like summer vacation? Well many residents seem to think that indeed, temperatures in the high 50s and into the 60s constitute a heat wave, and so the wearing of shorts and sandals and the removal of shirts, is an all too common phenom. I will admit, that as a youth, I definitely donned shorts in weather that would make a Floridian bundle up. But even though I drove with my window down yesterday, I can assure you that shorts and sandals have another 20 degrees to go!

image: Georgia Gould (BTW those aren't really shirtless Minnesotans, but try googling and see what you find!)

West Saint Paul: the Suburb

2008-03-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

West St. Paul (not to be confused with St. Paul's westside), which is really south of downtown St. Paul (it's that cursed riparian geography!), gets a great tribute in this video produced by Carolyn Swiszcz & Wilson Webb for the Walker Art Center's "World's Away" exhibit. Thanks to Matt for sharing. Good laughs, good imagery, familiar story, and excellent music.

Progress on New Year's Resolution #1

2008-03-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

Back in December, I posted my "5 Twin Cities New Year's Resolutions" on the blog. The first involved getting Calvin Trillin, the acclaimed essayist, novelist, and food writer, to visit the Twin Cities and chow down on some of our amazing ethnic food. For those of you unfamiliar with Trillin's genius, check out these articles. Whether he's trying to convince his daughter to move back to NYC from San Francisco because of the greater number of take-out places that deliver food or summing up the variety of local food specialties from around the country and world, he's always funny.

I decided that as a mere Trillin fan who is proud of this region's surprisingly diverse ethic foods, I was unlikely to have the necessary stature to a) track him down; and b) convince him to come (even if I did offer up the cushy Aerobed at our house and to pay for all of the meals.)

So when my favorite local food writer, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, moved over to Minnesota Monthly from the City Pages, last month, I decided to reach out. Surely the powerful triumvirate of Dara and her James Beard awards, Minnesota Monthly, and their sugar mama, Minnesota Public Radio would have more influence than I. Dara's response to my query (as posted in the comments section of her February 29th blog entry) was as follows:

Hi MK,
That's a great idea! I would love to hang out with Calvin Trillin and eat, that would be a highlight of my year. That said, I have no idea how that would be accomplished, but I'll definitely ask around. Even though I've been here for a whole month now I'm really still feeling my way around. Like, I think I've finally picked a parking garage. Progress!
In any event, thanks so much for stopping by and reading, I'm really thrilled about this new job, and I'm so happy you've come along.
-Dara

So I'll let her keep settling in, writing her excellent and amusing reviews, then I'll nag again later.
Or if y'all think this is a good idea, maybe you can nag a little bit too.

Image of Calvin Trillin by Todd Pitt, USA Today.

Cool Churches: Volume 1

2008-03-09T19:57:00.001-07:00

This state has some seriously cool religious architecture. Today's Cool Church is in the eastern reaches of St. Paul. I've never seen it up close, only as I'm returning from visiting my folks in Washington County, along I-94.

The present-day version of Grace Lutheran Church was constructed in 1959 along Old Hudson Road. As the Church history reads:

Designed by Ray Gauger and Associates, it was to be a unique structure, contemporary Gothic, like only two others in the world, the Paris UNESCO building and Saint John's Chapel in Collegeville, Minnesota. There would be no interior columns in the half-million dollar building. Symbolism of the Story of Salvation would be portrayed in the unique windows of colored glass, one-inch thick and chipped on the edges to refract light, set in special concrete. On Palm Sunday, April 15, 1962, worship was offered in the new sanctuary.

What I love is the combination of the modern aesthetic of smooth concrete that frames the sanctuary, inlaid with traditional stained glass. The steeple/bell tower is also a totally unexpected delight too--with its unique shape and slant.

And I wouldn't be me, if I didn't also point out that I love the font (see top picture.) I'm not usually a big serif fan either, but it totally works here!

images: from the Grace Lutheran Church website.

Drinking, Sidewalk Writing, and Spelling

2008-03-05T10:39:00.001-08:00

I'm tying together two rather unrelated items in today's post, but since they both involve words, I feel OK about it. In my younger years, bar trivia was perhaps the best way to use your intellect while quaffing a beer or cocktail. Now it seems that the folks at the 331 Club in Minneapolis are going to host the Second Drunken Spelling Bee (which they are now billing as the "Grown Up Spelling Bee.") I actually followed the results of the first one back in early February and read with amusement the winner's chronicles on her blog. Spelling multi-syllabic words after requisite inter-round drinks is a serious feat--especially in this age of spellcheck. Even though I'm way too old and maternal for an event like this, I'm amused by the concept and expect that in America's most literate city, our winners could go national!

A less intoxicating event is going on here in St. Paul. Public Art Saint Paul and Saint Paul’s Department of Public Works are looking for residents to enter a sidewalk poetry contest – “Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk.” The project will permanently install short poems on city sidewalks. Up to 20 contest winners will receive $150 and citywide honor for their work. Submissions due by April 25. Information and guidelines are at: www.everydaysidewalk.org

So find your inner poet and be memorialized!

Image: Lauren Sanford.

The Modest, the Mundane, and the Monumental

2008-03-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

The current issue of MN Architecture, the magazine published by the Minnesota chapter of the American Institute of Architects, has a really good piece about when modesty should trump monumentalism in the design of public spaces and arts facilities. The author, Frank Martin, points to context as a guide. Context includes both the surroundings of the facility/building and its past, current, and future use. Martin also considers the value of authenticity and the charm of the ruinous in evaluating decisions.

I'm not sure that there is a cut and dried formula for determining when to apply the monumental. I love that Minneapolis has spent the money to make the Midtown Greenway bike/ped bridge over Hiawatha Avenue a monument. In my mind, this gesture elevates the status of non-motorized transportation and puts a new, unique landmark on the map.

I also appreciate the rise of "starchitecture" in Minneapolis (Nouvel's Guthrie, Pelli's Central Library) because I think that high quality modern design adds variety and intrigue to our skyline as well as leaving an imprint from our generation. Monumentality for the purpose of leaving landmarks strikes me as a redeeming goal--who doesn't love the ornate St. Paul Hotel, the Foshay Tower, and the Hennepin Avenue suspension bridge?

But we certainly don't need a city made up entirely of precious landmarks. Martin makes the case for modesty when he talks about places like the Soap Factory (whose name belies its use before becoming an art exhibition space). Its modest origins, its architectural authenticity (e.g. aging wood floors, lack of heat) make it a unique venue in its own right--without any touches of the monumental. As Martin says, "every city should have such rusticity and ruins--or at least places that aren't perfect..."

So if we want our cities to be rich with beauty, vitality, and functionality, applying a bit of the Golden Mean to our architectural styling seems appropriate. Thanks for the thoughtful article, Architecture MN!

Images: Martin Sabo Memorial Bridge by Richard Tsong-Taatarii for the Strib; The St. Paul Hotel by Twin Cities Daily Photo; and the Soap Factory by Paul Gill.

Have you got something to say about St. Paul?

2008-03-03T13:23:00.001-08:00

Calling all St. Paulites and St. Paulophiles, the Saint Paul Almanac is seeking submissions for the 2009 edition. See guidelines here. Deadline is April 28, 2008.

Are you hip to the 1950s?

2008-02-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Minnesota Historical Society is sponsoring a series looking at the elements of 1950s culture that shaped the art, music, and design standards of that era and how those influences exist today. The "History of Hip" series as it's billed, will be held at the Turf Club on University Avenue, and the first program will be on March 4th looking at the Beat Generation. On April 22nd, the series will focus on the art, furniture and architecture of the period (which I plan on attending!) and May 6th will be the last night of the series looking at Jazz. All programs start at 7:30 PM and are 5 bucks for MHS members and $6 for non-members. Who says you can't learn something in a bar?

Image: German Historical Institute.

Home to the Nation's 2nd Oldest Rose Garden

2008-02-27T00:45:00.000-08:00

Random piece of Minneapolis trivia. Lyndale Park Rose Garden near Lake Harriet is the second oldest public rose garden in the US. It was constructed 100 years ago in 1907/1908 and is outseated by a garden in Connecticut that was built 4 years earlier. The garden has 3000 plants, representing 100 different varieties. Ah sweeet spring...just around the corner.

Midway's Inland Port

2008-02-26T12:16:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for train whistles. I've also been mocked in my professional life for my interest in freight and how to move and store goods efficiently. So it's a sort of funny coincidence that my neighborhood is home to one of the larger urban intermodal (i.e. mix of trains and trucks=2 different "modes") terminals in the area. The Burlington Northern Sante Fe Intermodal Terminal is a 50-acre site, nestled right alongside of the Pierce Butler Route near Fairview Avenue. There are several train tracks that carry freight trains with scores of shipping containers that have Chinese characters and names imprinted on them. At the the terminal, some of the shipping containers are off-loaded and put onto trucks for local distribution. The others stay on the trains going to who knows where.

I love the mystery about the whole thing. Where did these containers originate? What's in them? Where are they going? I also love the fact that this port-like facility is chock full of shipping containers with no water in sight. You sure don't expect to see it where it is. I'm not blind to the fact that this can also be a nuisance to nearby residences, but I'm happy to see our city, that isn't on a coast, play a part in the global movement of goods.

Image: TwinCitiesRailFan.com.

Start Seeing Art

2008-02-25T06:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Metroblogging Twin Cities for highlighting Start Seeing Art, a great interactive website with a map and linked photos identifying public art all over the Twin Cities metro area. You can contribute to the website by helping to identify unknown artwork. And it's more free cool stuff to check out on your next drive to wherever in the metro.

image: Stella Salon mural in Columbia Heights by John Grider.

Best Subs in the Twin Cities

2008-02-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

It's crazy I know, but my brother has convinced me (along with my tastebuds) that the Gopher staple, the Big 10 Restaurant and Bar, makes the best subs in the area. I hadn't had one in probably 12 or more years and there's definitely something in that secret sauce. Next stop, Bewiched Deli for what I'm sure is an incomparable overall sandwich.

Winter boating

2008-02-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

The other day on another St. Paul driving whim, the child and I took a spin on Water Street along the Mississippi on the west (south, geographically) side of downtown. After a quick drive-by of the park at Harriet Island, we passed the St. Paul Yacht Club(established in 1912) and we checked out all of the dry docked boats. Then I remembered a story this summer about liveaboards, who use their houseboats as a primary residence. Surely, folks aren't doing this in the winter? Alas Google has informed me that there are indeed some hearty souls who brave the freezing temps and hunker down in their poorly winterized vessels. Now those are some Minnesotans for ya.

Image: Joel Koyama, Star Tribune.

150 Things to Do in Minneapolis

2008-02-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

The folks at Meet Minneapolis (the official visitors and convention bureau) compiled this major, seasonal list of things to do in the city. See all 150 items here.

Minneapolis has an official Artist in Residence

2008-02-19T11:31:00.001-08:00

I stumbled on this the other day and thought it was really cool. The Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Department hired Seitu Jones as the city's Artist in Residence for a 12-14 month term that started last year. His job is to design public art for the city's major transit corridors. I'm not sure if any of his design ideas have been implemented yet, but you can check them out in this presentation, here.

Image: Larry Kanfer.

Why Minneapolis is Great: Reason 1

2008-02-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

As I was falling asleep last night, quasi-dreaming of summer, my mind turned to one (well several) of Minnneapolis' major assets. The Chain of Lakes. Folks, if you don't live here, you need to understand how remarkable it is to have lakes in the city limits, with views of the skyline and trails flanking the banks (over 13 miles of trails!), that you can actually SWIM in. I admit, it is a sad state of national affairs when one's amazement about being able to swim in a body of water is as profound as mine. But really, there are few urban bodies of water out there where you can safely submerge your sweaty summer self.

For the uninitiated, the lakes I'm talking about in Minneapolis are: Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet. The ones in blue are the ones that have beaches. Lake Nokomis, which is just to the west of the Chain of Lakes is also a popular swimming lake and home to an annual triathlon. This map gives you a sense of how connected these lakes are and check out the photos to see how close to downtown they are (depending on the lake, they're 1 - 3 miles from downtown.)

Lake Calhoun, below:

Lake of the Isles, below:

Images: Lake Harriet, Gustavas.edu; Lake Calhoun, destination360.c0m; Lake of the Isles, urbanplnnrdad42's Picasa web album.

City on Seven Hills

2008-02-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

The other morning I was struck by the sun casting itself off of the gilded cross on top of the St. Paul Cathedral. The cross, illuminated by the sunlight, pierced through the snowy, foggy clouds of the morning commute and I was reminded that I had once heard St. Paul referred to as "The City on Seven Hills." And surely Cathedral Hill, graced with Archbishop John Ireland's masterpiece must be one of hills, but what could the others be? I found the answer in a book aptly titled "City on Seven Hills: Columns of Oliver Towne" (Oliver Towne, a clever pseudonym of Gareth Hiebert's, was a backpage column first in the St. Paul Dispatch, then the Pioneer Press. It ran from 1954 to 1986 and shared with readers people and places in St. Paul that they might not have otherwise experienced.) Well readers, cue the drum roll, the Seven Hills of St. Paul are....

Baptist (which is now home to Mears Park, and not really so much of a hill anymore)
Capitol
Cathedral
Ramsey
Dayton's Bluff
West Side; and
St. Clair

So the next time someone remarks that Rome is the City of Seven Hills, you can casually claim that that your own saintly city is too.

Image: David Brewster.

Why do they call them Parkways when you Drive on them?

2008-02-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

This was one of the "101 Questions To Ponder During Humanities Class: Volumes 1 and 2" that fellow Stillwater High School classmates and I scribbled into a notebook that I would love to find! As far as the answer to the question --I think I have a pretty good idea why they call them parkways here in the Twin Cities...it's because these spaces are practically parks that happen to have roads going through them. Mature trees create canopies over the street, grassy medians separate lanes of traffic and sometimes have benches and paths that encourage pedestrians to be in the middle of the road. They force you to slow down and take in the lovely natural and residential surroundings (it's no surprise that nicer homes are built along the parkways--who wouldn't want their street to feel like a park?!?)

As usual, I have none of my own photos to show you my favorite parkways in the Twin Cities. But the University of Minnesota Design Center did a regional parkway compendium in 2003 called "Community Parkways: An Urban Design Survey of Green Streets in the Twin Cities"
that includes illustrations.

My top 5 favorite parkways:

Minnehaha Parkway (Minneapolis)
East and West River Roads (Minneapolis and St. Paul)
Midway Parkway (St. Paul)
Stinson Boulevard (north of 35W in Minneapolis)
The Chain of Lakes portion of the Grand Rounds byway (Minneapolis).

Minneapolis has this handy parkway map of all the roads and portions of roads that are classified as parkways.

There's also a YouTube video of someone driving on the Minneapolis Parkways. It makes me nauseous to watch, but you can get a feel of what these roads are like.

Images: Top, Summit Avenue, by Tim. Bottom, Minnehaha Parkway, by R. Bunney.

The Walker's take on the suburbs

2008-02-12T18:20:00.000-08:00

Ever since I got the postcard in the mail the other week with this incredible photo advertising the Walker's new exhibit "Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes" I've been itching to attend. I love this image--the Suburban queen holding forth at her personal estate tucked away on a cul-de-sac in Sudden Valley. I can almost see a moat around the McMansion and I keep waiting for Carmella Soprano to pop out of one of the doors too. The exhibit opens this weekend.

Image: from the exhibit, Angela Strassheim, Untitled (Elsa).

You're never too old for a diorama

2008-02-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

In my years as a Gopher, I never ventured inside of the Bell Museum of Natural History (on the East Bank of the U of M campus.) Well, during yesterday's Arctic freeze, we decided to check it out and it was awesome. The museum is over 125 years old. It's got two floors of taxidermy encased in these great retro landscape dioramas. Although the child was making it difficult to read the accompanying material, we found ourselves laughing out loud at some of the great descriptions (e.g. "The Feisty Rodent.") There's also a really extensive "Touch and See" room where you can touch all kinds of horns, antlers, bones, furs, and living reptiles. I don't think I've ever seen so much stuff that kids are actually encouraged to manhandle. And for all of you fellow freeloaders, Sunday's are free at the museum.

From the bluffs to the banks

2008-02-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

This morning the baby and I took a little motoring excursion. We took Kellogg Blvd. out of downtown St. Paul, heading NE to Mounds Blvd, where we headed toward Indian Mounds Park. I haven't spent anytime here before and the topography is stunning. Through the swirling snow we climbed up steep hills that would fool you into thinking that you had left the state. To our east, the hills were dotted with lovely older homes and to the west a commanding view of the river, skyline, and the banks below. As we drove further east/south, the view became more surreal--with the wide expanse of railyards and the curve of the river making me feel far from home. We flipped back around on CR10 to Warner/Shepard/Great River Road. We descended down to the river flats, traveling alongside the gorgeous beige limestone bluffs encrusted with ice waterfalls. All the while I thought that this would be a ride more appreciated at a bicycle's pace than at 45mph.

images: Mounds Park, from the Margaret Marriott Collection. Shepard Road, from Twin Cities Daily Photo.

A place for the arts

2008-02-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

Minneapolis and St. Paul are really great places if you are an artist. There's great foundation support out there (McKnight and Jerome in particular) and plenty of affordable studio space. There are also lots of opportunities to find places where you can live affordably and while also having studio space to do your art. In my neck of the woods, the Carleton Place Lofts on University Avenue near Raymond, are home to a couple hundred units where artists can live and work. I was also thrilled to discover a couple of years back that Artspace, a non-profit real estate development organization with projects all over the country, was a Minneapolis creation. Artspace creates affordable live/work units for artists, usually by reusing older buildings that once served some other function. They've got lots of properties here in the Cities, from the Grain Belt Studios in Minneapolis to the Northern Warehouse Artist Cooperative in St. Paul. It's great to live in a place that shows its support for the arts in such fundamental, but often overlooked, ways.

image: grain belt brewery, mississippi river field guide.

Another Electoral Aside

2008-02-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

Just as my post on the lack of voting rights in DC was a bit off topic for this blog, this post too wavers from my blog's purpose. But as someone who truly cherishes her right to vote, I feel compelled to say that the caucus system here in Minnesota blows. While I love the idea of a caucus being a grass roots way to get motivated citizens involved in the affairs of their political parties, I hate the fact that it makes it impossible for everyone to attend (or even meaningfully participate.) Take our household, someone has to stay home with the child (whose bedtime falls at the caucus start). So the lucky individual heading over to our caucus site found that it was so crowded and there wasn't enough space at the site to even hear what was being said, so straw poll votes were cast and no caucusing took place. Since I can't even claim to understand what exactly happens re: the nomination of our candidate for U.S. Senate, that too seems to be a problem. C'mon folks, a straight up primary (one now for Presidential races and one later for our Congressional seats), is the easiest way to allow everyone who wants to vote a better chance at making it to the polls.

MK's What Makes for A Great Neighborhood Now.

2008-02-05T11:10:00.000-08:00

Sidewalks
Mature trees
Homes that greet the street, rather than garages
Proximity to the following:

a park
a library
a "third place" (e.g. coffee shop, book store, other hang out)
a place to buy milk in a pinch

5. Easy opportunities to meet your neighbors
6. Calm enough streets so that an older child can safely cross them
7. Houses in many different architectural styles
8. Feeling of safety and pride in the neighborhood
9. Ability to use transit if I want/need to.

While I think these features will always be hallmarks of a great neighborhood in my book, I can also see how at different stages of life, new characteristics will rise on the list.

City of Lakes & Lights

2008-02-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

Last night we got a sitter and headed to Uptown to do the Caribou Coffee Luminary Loppet. It's a ski tour around Lake of the Isles, illuminated by ice globes filled with candles. It was positively festive. The next best part of the evening was seeing people all decked out in their XC ski gear, carrying skis and poles, crossing Hennepin Avenue at Lake Street. What a mix of Saturday night party people and skiers. The event is part of the larger City of Lakes Loppet weekend--with races, skijoring (skiing with dogs), and kids events.

I love this town!

Images: left, City of Lakes Loppet. right, skinnyskis.com.

Don't let the chain link fool you...

2008-02-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

It is true, the best croissants in Minneapolis St.Paul are at Trung Nam French Bakery at 739 University Avenue (housed in a former Popeye's Chicken restaurant.) Get there before noon or else you will miss out on the flakiest, loveliest croissant this side of the Seine. Delish.

Image: from Cool on the Hill (you should start blogging again!)

The best things in life are free

2008-02-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

I always figured that no place could compare with DC when it came to free admission to tons of interesting places--all of the Smithsonian Museums, the National Building Museum, all of the monuments, jazz in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden...

Then I started paying attention here. You can always go to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts or the Weisman for free. Then there's the free Thursday night and first Saturday at the Walker. Of course there's Como Zoo and Conservatory. Then there is my most favorite thing of all, the Museum Adventure Pass that you can check out from any Metro area library.

You don't have to have kids to take advantage of this either. We're talking free admission for anywhere between 2-4 people to places like the Minnesota Zoo, the Walker, the Minnesota History Center, the Bell Museum of Natural History, and others. It's such a steal that you can use it, go to a place for 30 minutes, and not feel guilty. Thank you to all of the generous corporate sponsors out there and the venues who are opening themselves up to freeloaders like myself!

U of M's very own design museum

2008-01-31T08:40:00.000-08:00

Of course everyone knows about the Weisman---the gleaming, Frank Gehry art museum on the east river bank of the University of Minnesota campus. But did you know that the St. Paul campus houses the Goldstein Museum of Design? It's tucked into the second floor of McNeil Hall--one of the campus classroom buildings--and has permanent collections as well as temporary exhibitions. The newest exhibit, opening this Friday, showcases the work of Russel Wright whose work really encapsulates the mid-century modernism housewares aesthetic. Read Star Tribune coverage of the exhibit here.

Image: Manitoga and Decorative Arts Center of Ohio.

Public Involvement 2.0

2008-01-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

I've always felt that the civic culture in the Twin Cities was robust. There are hundreds of non-profits, neighborhood groups, and other ways to get involved in the things that you care about. So it's also not surprising to me that our local governments would be looking for new ways to engage people. Governing Magazine's online version has an Idea Center and this week they're covering the City of Minneapolis' use of a wiki (an online document that anyone can edit and the city can review all of the comments) to update their 2008 Comprehensive Plan. This is a great way to get hear more voices since city meetings compete with everything else going on in peoples' lives.

Minneapolis Historic Landmarks and Districts

2008-01-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

While I was looking for some information about an interesting block of rowhouses we saw just west of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, I stumbled on the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission website. If you like distinctive architecture, their historic landmarks and districts website is a great tool to plan a walking or driving tour. It lists all of the registered sites, plots them on a map, gives some short info about them, and includes current and historic photos. It rocks....even though I still haven't figured out the story with those rowhouses we saw.

Image: Despatch Laundry Building, 2611 1st Avenue South, courtesy of Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission.

Minneapolis' Own Maya Lin

2008-01-27T18:15:00.000-08:00

Many of you may know this already, but if you don't let me share a little, tucked away urban secret. If you head to the Ameriprise building at 901 Third Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis you can check out a vintage Maya Lin (of Vietnam Veteran's Memorial fame) installation. It is called "the character of a hill, under glass" and is a winter garden in the lobby of this office building. It was built in 2000. The most defining feature is the wall of water that flows down the exterior windows into a pond--all of which freezes this time of year. It's always a treat to find an artistic treasure in an unexpected place.
Images: Stanford University.

Dreamland Arts

2008-01-26T11:21:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd use today's post to introduce people to a wonderful little neighborhood performing arts theater here in Midway. dreamland arts, on Hamline Avenue, just south of Minnehaha, opened in 2006. In addition to its 40-seat theater, Dreamland also offers classes, workshops and performances in theater, music, puppetry, dance and more. What I really love is the commitment of the owners to bringing arts to the community and that their house is physically connected to the studio theater. So next time you're in the neighborhood and in the mood for supporting some local artists, checkout dreamland arts.

Why we dine: Installment 3

2008-01-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

This is a bit of a continuation of Installment 1, which was about ambiance. So I ate at the Dinkytown Loring Pasta Bar yesterday, knowing full well that the food is mediocre at best, but I never fail to be dazzled by the space. It is one of the more magical (and I cringe as I type that word) dining experiences in the Twin Cities.

When I enter, I feel like I'm walking into a Gaudi-designed building in Barcelona.

In the dining hall, I feel surrounded by fireflies under a starry night.

Which is the opposite of how one feels in Chino Latino where you may be in Hell surrounded by orange, glowing cauldrons (don't get me wrong, I enjoy that space too, but it's the opposite vibe to me.)

Images: Top, About.com. 2 interior photos of Loring Pasta Bar, from the restaurant website.

Why City Image Matters

2008-01-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

When you're in your mid thirties, you've come of age during the great period of Irony. You know this period....where it's cool to wear ugly shoes and drink bad beer not so much cause you like it, but because you are beyond trendy with your cool nonchalance and nod to the "old school." Another key characteristic of this period is mockery--of anything too cute, too schmarmy, or too whatever.

So it's no surprise that I, who came of age during Irony's peak, snickered at the new slogan for our cities -- "Minneapolis St Paul: More to Life." As far as slogan's go, this one isn't the catchiest or most memorable, but what's behind the slogan is actually quite important. I like to think of it as a long over-due public education campaign for the rest of the world. The people that still think of Minneapolis and St. Paul as part of an overly white, frozen, fly-over country with no redeeming value. I also think it should be a wake up call to those of us who live here and love it to stop being so self-deprecating about the state and start evangelizing about what's great here.

While its important for self-serving reasons (how many times have you traveled out of state, said where you lived and had someone say "oh, Minn-E-Soooota in their worst "Fargo" accents) to correct these misconceptions, it is even more important as cities compete globally for jobs and talent. If we want to attract talented workers and employers, people need to know that Minneapolis and St Paul are rich with amenities and diversity. As Mayor Rybak says, "You can live a sophisticated life in New York and enjoy a great outdoors experience in Bend, Ore., but you can do both in Minneapolis Saint Paul."

Since the unveiling of this campaign earlier this week, there have been some thoughtful editorials in the Star Tribune and Steve Berg's MinnPost is right on target.

Despite, or perhaps as a result of my coming of age with an over-abundance of irony, I've always bragged about this state. Maybe I thought it was edgy to love a place that most people ignore. Maybe I thought I'd expose people to the next great place and be ahead of the hipster curve. Or maybe, I had cast irony aside and was simply spreading the word that it doesn't get much better than a place where you can see Broadway calibre theatre, eat incredible ethnic food, buy the most amazing wardrobe at thrift stores, ride your bike to the places you want to go and actually swim in urban lakes.

So step up happy St. Paulites and Minneapolitans--spread the word about our great cities!