St Paul

“The 1968 Exhibit” at the Minnesota History Center

| Jessica

If you are interested in history, you need to check out the “The 1968 Exhibit” at the Minnesota History Center.
1968 was a pivotal year.
‘68 saw the Tet Offensive, the turning point of the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, the rise of Black Power, the struggle for women’s rights, the violent conflicts at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the first full-color images of Earth from outer space beamed by Apollo 8.

Through the 1968 exhibit, You will see a Bell UHI “Huey” helicopter (Vietnam-era), the torch from the 1968 Olympics, oral histories from civil rights workers and Vietnam vets, Presidential campaign artifacts, landmark TV, film, and news clips, vintage fashions like a suede vest worn by Jimi Hendrix and a sweater and shoes worn by Fred Rogers on the television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” household items and toys, a full-size replica of the Apollo 8 capsule.

You can also spend some time learning about the legacy of the civil rights movement. You can create screen print posters inspired by the Poor People’s Campaign and the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike.

Marking the 50th anniversary, “The 1968 Exhibit” was developed by the Minnesota History Center, in partnership with the Atlanta History Center, the Chicago History Museum and the Oakland Museum of California. Tom Brokaw, news anchor and author of “Boom! Talking About the Sixties,” served as honorary chair of the project. If you are interested in adding it to your #mnbucketlist, the exhibit runs from now until Jan. 21, 2019.

Saint Paul Winter Carnival

Image | | Jessica

The St Paul Winter Carnival has been a Minnesota tradition for over 130 years.
130 years.
Let that sink in.
So the story goes;
In 1885, a New York reporter wrote that Saint Paul was, “another Siberia, unfit for human habitation” in winter.
Offended, the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce decided to prove not only that Saint Paul was habitable but that its citizens were very much alive during winter by creating what we know to be, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

The castle was constructed in 1886, making it the oldest winter festival in the United States.
No kidding.

Complete with illuminated ice sculptures, live entertainment, vendor booths and an ice bar…
It gets better every year!
Speaking of, this year there was a Prince-inspired Bold North flash mob!

Check out the video here:

The Bold North Flash Mob HD 2-3-2018 from Bill Hermann on Vimeo.

There is still time to plan to experience it all yourself, the Winter Carnival is open now through February 10th in Rice Park!

Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition

Image | | Jessica

If you are in need so something to do tomorrow, I highly recommend heading to the MN State Fair Grounds for the Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition.

The three day competition ends tomorrow when you get to vote for your favorite sculpture in the People’s Choice Awards 11am-1pm.

Don’t forget to stick around to watch the awards ceremony at 2pm.

Come see the incredible works of art, built using only hand tools.

The finished sculptures beautifully lit after dark and can be seen through February 5th.

Cafe Astoria

| Jessica

Taking a cue from Explore Minnesota, Rebekah and I ventured out to Cafe Astoria in St Paul this morning. Just off Grand Avenue and West Seventh Street, the independent, locally owned coffee house is tucked away inside the historic Paulina building.As home-away-from-home as it gets, Astoria is intimate, cozy and comfortable. While they are known for their smoothie bowls, crepes, oatmeal, and homemade pastries, we came for their famous 24K gold lattes. I mean, look at those things! Rainbows, marshmallows, edible gold… Could there be anything better?! If you are looking for a fun adventure, head to Cafe Astoria.Tip: Ask about their “secret menu!”

St. Paul European Christmas Market

Image | | Jessica

I have another event to add to your December traditions! The St Paul European Christmas Market is held on the East Plaza at Union Depot over the first two-weekends of December. The market was inspired by “Christkindlmarkt,” an outdoor holiday festival common across central European countries during the Advent season. Since the Middle Ages, this 500-year-old world tradition fosters European shared cultural heritage. Plan to shop for all kinds of artisan, unique, handmade holiday gifts and decorations such as Christmas ornaments, nutcracker, beeswax candles, decorative glass, wool mittens and scarves, jewelry, wooden toys, artwork, holiday decor, clothing, toys, Pop-up cards, wooden utensils, blankets, rugs, wood burned art, rolling pins, clocks, soap in felted wool wrap, steins, candles and boots. While you are there, taste European-inspired food and delicacies that include roasted nuts, sizzling sausages, cones of warm sugared almonds, hot-off-the-pan potato pancakes, Jægerschnitzel, pierogi platters, cabbage rolls, handmade spaetzle, apple fritters, chocolate-covered waffles, cheese curds and Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest Orchard freshly baked apple pastries (pictured) and caramel apples. Follow all that up with some Glühwein (spiced mulled wine), hot chocolate, apple cider or eggnog! This free, eight-day open-air event that had become so popular, now in its third year, they even had Krampus join in on the fun!

Union Depot’s 5th Annual Holiday Bake Sale

Image | | Jessica

My absolute, most-favorite event of the year is the Union Depot’s Annual Holiday Bake Sale. Hosting the top Twin Cities bakeries for 5 years in a row, it certainly doesn’t disappoint! More than just a bake sale, it includes all kinds of events like baking and cooking demonstrations and musical performances. This year, there was even a holiday cake walk sponsored by The Germanic American Institute! Every year I buy so many baked goods that I can barely hold my camera, let alone walk back to my car! I tend to get very “involved” when baked goods are offered. My camera is covered in frosting, and rightfully so. I fell in love with Groundswell’s Ugly Sweater Cookies, The Buttered Tin’s Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees and Grandma’s Gourmets Dilly Beans.
Featured Bakeries and Vendors: North Mallow, Heavenly Treats, Potter’s Pasties, Bread Art, Curly Girlz Candy, Nikkolette’s Macarons, Cookie Cart, T-Rex Cookie Company, Something Sweet by Maddie Lu, Sarah Jane’s Bakery, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, The Buttered Tin, Ink Sweets, Groundswell Midway, Black Dog Cafe, Groveland Confections, ALMA, MinneCookies, The Sweet Retreat, Mademoiselle Miel, Germanic American Institute, Antoinette’s Little Bakeshop, Amy’s classic Confections, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jamazing, Double Take Salsa, Patti’s Granola, Grandma’s Gourmets, Panache, Blue Heron Soap Company, Wild Country Maple Products, and Vom Fass.

Check out past years here: 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. I HIGHLY recommend adding the Bake Sale to your yearly holiday traditions.

Herbie’s On The Park

Image | | Jessica

Earlier this week, I stopped by Herbie’s on the Park to check out their Toast to Summer festivities! Located inside the old Minnesota Club, one of St. Paul’s original buildings, the hockey-themed restaurant is next to the Xcel Energy Center. If you have trouble finding it, just look for the Herb Brooks statue outside – he also serves as the eatery’s inspiration.

Part old world elegance and part game-day sports public room, the formal historical ambience mixed with large screen tvs playing above the massive bar help to round out the upscale atmosphere. A full bar for those who love beer and handcrafted cocktails, they even have a nod to my favorite mythical lumberjack! Try the Babe, the Blue “Mule” with Bombay Sapphire, lime, and ginger beer.

Herbie’s is walking distance from some of Minnesota’s best cultural attractions. If you are in downtown St. Paul and need a drink after a show at the Ordway, looking for WILD or Lynx pre-game merriment, grabbing dinner after a conference at the Rivercentre or need a break from studying at the St. Paul Library, Herbie’s is the perfect spot.

Pictured (with exceptional presentation): roasted pear toast with cambozola, and gemma balsamic on crostini; cauliflower salad with medjool dates, peppadew pepper, chevre, almonds, and roasted garlic vinaigrette; a BLT with hickory bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, jalapeno aioli, between two slices of grilled sourdough; creme brulee with macerated seasonal berries, and Bulleit Rye bourbon.

Nelson’s Ice Cream

Image | | Jessica

Well hello, hot weather staple! Ice cream is my go-to in the sometimes unforgiving Minnesota heat. And there is no better place to kick it off than Nelson’s Ice Cream in Stillwater. Started in 1923 as the Seven Corners grocery store, owned by John Lustig, it was the place for top-heavy, cold ice cream. After John died in 1964, Art Nelson operated the grocery store until his death in 1964. His son Wade took over and changed the name to Nelson’s Dairy Store since the family already owned Brown’s Ice Cream in Minneapolis, where they served generous two-scoop ice cream cones for ten cents in the 60s. Later sold in 1992, and then again in 2006. In 2014, Nelson’s expanded and opened a second location in St. Paul.

The tiny building is quite the hot spot with lines out the door and cramped, full picnic tables – but don’t worry, the line is fast-moving and Nelson’s more than makes up for the wait with monumental portions. Who knew that someplace so small could house something so epic?! Back to the ice cream… Nelson’s has more than 40 flavors including Monster Cookie, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Praline Pecan, Caramel Collision, Elephant Tracks, Moose Tracks, Mackinaw Island Fudge, Zanzibar, Pirate’s Booty, and even Superman! And for the caloric adventurer, try the Lumberjack. A challenge to eat five softball-sized scoops of any flavor with a choice of toppings. If you do actually finish, your photo will be displayed on Nelson’s “Wall of fame”. Nelson’s isn’t just a local hideaway, it carries a long list of accolades like “The Best of Minnesota Ice Cream” by WCCO, “One of the top five things to do in Stillwater” by Minnesota Public Radio and “Top 25 World’s Best Ice Cream Parlors” by The Daily Meal.

Oh! It’s helpful to know; they only take cash.

Mademoiselle Miel

Image | | Jessica

It is my personal belief that that only way to make it through mid-weekdays, happily, is by chocolate. You may disagree, and that’s okay; more chocolate for me. Speaking of, I give you Mademoiselle Miel in St Paul.

Founded in 2011 by Susan Brown, MM moved to its current location, a small storefront and showroom off Kellogg in 2013. Specializing in rooftop honey bon-bons thinly-coated in 100% dark chocolate, MM is lovingly known as the beekeeping chocolatier because they collect honey from hives that sit on the rooftops of several Twin Cities buildings. The honey from each different location has a very distinct flavor because they are reflective of any place the bees are getting nectar from. When it’s time to harvest, the honey is extracted directly from the hives in the shop. After it is encased in the bittersweet, black chocolate, it is painted, by hand no less, with edible 23k gold leaf. What a better way to add ‘fancy’ to your Wednesday?! Amirite? These babies belong in a museum. While the raw honey is Miel’s signature, they also have seasonal flavors like rose, espresso, fennel, and black pepper. I loved the rose because the essential oil laced through to the chocolate and permeated the bon-bon into perfection. Beautifully packaged in sets of 3-PC, 8-PC, 20-PC and unique in every single way, Mademoiselle deserves its accolades; Awarded 2014 Top 10 Chocolatier of North America and named one of the best chocolates in the state by Minnesota Monthly.