This week in Saint Paul: Monday, April 7–Sunday, April 13, 2014

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I woke up Friday morning to a white blanket of humility. I had watched it begin to fall the previous afternoon as I sat in on one of the many events listed in the Almanac arts calendar. We looked out the window of the third-floor room of the Metropolitan State library to see heavy flakes against the backdrop of our downtown skyline and both of the capital city’s domes. I know last week, I hinted that we might be past all of this. I was wrong, but at the same time here I was in a room full of people happy not to be stuck in front of the television at home. The featured artist seemed apologetic, but we were grateful for the chance to see her, regardless of the weather. A neighbor said that this weather might not be finished, but neither is good art. And we’re glad to tell you about it. Continue Reading

This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, March 31–Sunday, April 6, 2014

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Okay. No kvetching! You can park on both sides of the street now. The snow will be here for a while, but the air feels a lot better, light enough for us to seemingly glide down sidewalks without having to brace ourselves from the previous months’ harsh elements. They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Here, that image rings as thinly as that story about the groundhog. I can’t think of a good animal to reference in an allegory fitting to this Minnesota winter, but it does not matter. It’s nicer out. Let’s greet it with art in our 20th edition of This Week in Saint Paul! Continue Reading

This week in Saint Paul: Monday, March 24–Sunday, March 30, 2014

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The calendar on my kitchen wall claimed that spring had sprung last week, but Minnesota still predictably holds out. As a kid, and even now as an adult, I didn’t understand the connection of the equinox (nor that Pennsylvanian hedgehog) to any change in season. As a kid, I wasn’t sure if the groundhog myth was about adding six weeks or six months to winter. Hey, I was growing up in Minnesota! Anything is possible. Spring coming before the Ides of March would be pretty sweet. Then the University of Minnesota’s baseball and softball teams wouldn’t be playing anywhere that’s elsewhere. But what do we have? We have art. Spoken word. Literature. Music. The season is full. Continue Reading

This week in Saint Paul: Monday, March 10–Sunday, March 16, 2014

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Last week, I checked out three movies from the library. I did not watch any of them. I am guilty of depriving the rest of the world of these copies of movies, but I have an excuse: I went outside. I saw things. I met with people who are doing things. I saw people—people not unlike the folks our stories celebrate each week. Whether I was meeting in Lowertown or Rondo, or working in my neighborhood, it felt great, likely at least in part due to the improving weather. It will grow even warmer this week, and some of the art will be even hotter! We have a few ideas to turn up the temperature. Continue Reading

This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, March 3–Sunday, March 9, 2014

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One of the reasons that Saint Paul has a snow emergency protocol different from that of Minneapolis is that so many of the cross streets in many parts of town do not have houses or other buildings with numbers on them. This means that knowing which side of the street is “the odd side” can be tricky. This is why I was a little surprised when, Thursday evening, the city told us that the odd side of streets is where we must park on many roadways in town until further notice—just like Minneapolis. This means many of us have to move our cars. To where? Well, since you asked, we have a few ideas this week. Continue Reading

This week in Saint Paul: Monday, February 24–Sunday, March 2, 2014

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A little over a week ago, I received a message from Kathy at Ginkgo Coffeehouse to let me know that Ellis Paul, who was scheduled to play two events there that Saturday, was snowed in—in Virginia! I resisted the urge to mock our southern neighbors for a lack of a heartiness that we fake so well. Our own storm arrived on Friday with its own spate of local cancellations and kvetching—naturally behind a façade of Minnesota Nice. Continue Reading

This week in Saint Paul: Monday, February 17–Sunday, February 23, 2014

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I think it is getting warmer. Is it just my imagination or an exercise in learning the meaning of the word “relative”? I will be content to be content with what I feel, even if it results in my being a typical Minnesotan and wearing shorts when the State High School Hockey Tournament comes to town. I can’t wait, though. While some of the snowbirds are getting their own dose of hockey tournament weather to our south, we have some ideas to keep us warm until Minnesota’s spring is sprung from its blanket of ice. Continue Reading

This week in Saint Paul: Monday, February 10–Sunday, February 16, 2014

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Friends have noticed that the days are getting longer. Maybe the days are getting warmer, too, but I dare not speak too soon, in case the polar vortex makes me eat my words. Instead, I’ll follow the sun and write a letter or two because St. Valentine was known as a great letter writer. However you want to celebrate, or not celebrate, now, in the hope of longer days and maybe warmer weather, it is time to write and connect with the creative energies we love in Saint Paul. Continue Reading