COOK is a small, made-from-scratch, Korean-influenced eatery in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood of St. Paul. Commonly called out as one of the best brunch locations in the Twin Cities, COOK serves up a new take on fan favorites like short ribs eggs benedict, Korean pancakes, curry carrot cake muffins, bi bim bop, and breakfast nachos, mac […]
Ward 6 Food & Drink off Payne Avenue in St. Paul opened in December 2012. Unfortunately, it is set to close on June 3rd. Named for its location, residing in the sixth of the capital city’s seven political districts, Ward 6 sits in a 128-year-old building once served as a taproom for the nearby Hamm’s […]
This past Thursday was the 15th anniversary of Second Harvest Heartland’s signature fundraising gala; Dish: Cuisine for Change. Held at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul, the event included gourmet cuisine from 20+ local chefs, wine and cocktail tastings including shrimp and grits from the Oceanaire Seafood Room; farro and arugula salad from […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 – […]
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 […]
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 […]
If you know me well, you’ll know that I have a deep love of all things holiday. Decorating, baking, presents, themed movies, you name it, I love it. There is one winter festivity that reigns supreme for me and it has every single year since its inception. The Union Depot’s Annual Holiday Bake Sale is […]
You can find this piece in the Dow Building, Studio 164. A kaleidoscope of variegated graffiti street art by the ever-and-ever talented, Ryan James Ryoe and Greta Claire.
When it comes to art, I naturally gravitate toward local. Lucky coincidence because St. Paul’s Dow Artist Studios had their annual open house, Do The Dow, this weekend and I was able to get my fill. An exhibition that featured work from 25 different artists including Carolyn Brunelle, Noreen Tyler, Martha Kuzzy, Joan Cox, Steve […]
If you need something to do to this weekend, I suggest making your way to the Twin Cities Pumpkin Nights at the State Fairgrounds. Displaying more than 3000 pumpkins along the half mile walking path, Pumpkin Nights takes a theatrical approach to the typical pumpkin patch. You’ll see things like; Scarecrow Row, International Bazaar, the […]
Random coffee fact for the last day of my caffeine adventure. Shepherds discovered coffee in Ethiopia circa 800 A.D. Legend has it that 9th century goat herders noticed the effect caffeine had on their goats, who appeared to “dance” after eating coffee berries. A local monk then made a drink with coffee berries and found […]
The last (but certainly not least) stop of my week of ice cream is a well-known, dare I say iconic, one. Izzy’s Ice Cream, my favorite of the two locations, just off Gold Medal Park, is, well… I mean, who doesn’t know Izzy’s?! Owned by Lara Hammel (a Lawyer by trade) and Jeff Sommers (a […]
Up next on the #mnbucketlist is the first woman-owned and -brewed microbrewery in Minnesota. Yep. its true, Urban Growler was founded in 2013 by Deb Loch and Jill Pavlak. They make beers like Kölsch, CowBell, Rhubarb Wit, Big Boot and even have a “plow to pint” series that takes their signature beers with a local twist; […]
Because I always stress the importance of spending time with your grandparents, it should come as no surprise that when I chose to cross off somewhere as iconic as the Blue Door Pub from the MNBucketlist, I brought them with. While I’m a fan of anywhere that serves cheese curds, they gravitate more toward the […]
