The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul The shortest day of the year is behind us now, in the Northern Hemisphere. As are the holidays and the distractions they bring. Now what’s a Minnesotan to do? Sadly it looks like the Art Shanty Projects are taking this winter off. But the St. Paul Winter Carnival […]
Let It Snow
The Weather Outside is Frightful What a funny Fall. The fine weather stuck around a good long while which was fabulous. We enjoyed a lovely long weekend in Lake Pepin. But then, BAM. Sudden cold snap. January in November. Thanksgiving was bitterly cold. Naturally all the snow melted just in time for Christmas. And didn’t […]
Carve It Up
A Tribute to Tim Burton Some years my son and I intentionally coordinate our Halloween costumes. Like when we were Mario & Luigi. Or Squid & Frog. Or Inspector Clouseau and the Pink Panther. This year we opted for costumes from different fictional universes, but created by the same person. Tim Burton. My son perfected […]
The Rush to Fall
September Swan Songs We’re on borrowed time people. This is for real. Summer is OVER. There were a few more bursts and blasts of summer-like weather but nope. It is Fall. Today the region is being drenched in a cold rain that may morph into a rain-snow mixture all too soon. Frankie Teardrop’s song End […]
Might As Well Jump
Go ahead, jump. Making the commitment to get married is no small thing. But many friends have made the leap this year. It’s already been a fun summer of wedding celebrations, with more to come. One lovely couple eloped over the winter (smack dab in the middle of the polar arctic vortex) and saved the […]
Drone Fest
Doctors Without Borders My friend Luke Heiken organized a benefit show for Doctors Without Borders (donations are still being accepted here). But it wasn’t your usual sort of benefit show. It was a 28-hour long drone fest. And it happened last month at The Cedar Cultural Center. I managed to be present for about half […]
Glamour Puss
Another Breed of Cat As demonstrated by the extreme popularity of the Walker Art Center’s Internet Cat Video Festival, cats rule the internet. And my own household. I am a cat person. It comes as no surprise to those who know me that I attend the Saintly City Cat Show every year, in conjunction with […]
Mistletoe & Wine
Baby, It’s Cold Outside I feel extra out of sorts this holiday season. Thanksgiving came late. Hanukkah came early. And my car got smashed up. Saturday morning, as my son and I were leaving for the Santopticlaus holiday sale. A neighbor intervened when she barreled out of an icy alley and collided with the front […]
Little Beasts
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. This Fall has been so very busy, and so very warm, that it sort of snuck up on me. Initially in the form of unexpected doppelganger strangeness. I was out last Saturday night, wrapping up a wedding […]
Two Pony Gardens
Last Day of Summer, First Day of Fall I grew up in a weird in-between place. Not really a city kid, though I had strong ties to the city. We lived in an outer ring suburb that is remote and nearly rural but not quite. I’ve spent my adult life living in more urban areas. […]