A closer look at flyover land

Halloween 20 years later

In light of this weekend's snowstorms out east, it seems like an especially good time to reflect on Minnesota's Halloween of 1991, when we were dumped with more than two feet of snow. This weekend, the Star Tribune had a good look back at the craziness that started with a prediction many didn't take seriously, but also started with a wet, sloppy snow that created sheets of ice as the temperature dropped. I remember being snowed in for two days at our then-home in Maple Grove, and when we could finally get out, the roads were the worst skating rinks I've ever had the misery to drive on. 

Holli says, I'm all for two feet of snow in one day. Winter is my favorite time of year.

I remember the kids trudging through high drifts, costumes obscured by snowpants and parkas, to trick or treat. Exasperated accompanying parents noted that between the holiday and the snow, keeping the kids indoors was just asking for trouble; the excitement levels were way too high.

Some things I didn't remember were in an accompanying piece in the Strib. I'd forgotten that was the year the MN Twins won the World Series on Oct. 27, and had a celebration parade on Oct. 29; I'd also forgotten that the storm immortalized as the Perfect Storm peaked on Oct. 30 (although weather experts say the storms were not related); and I didn't remember that of that crazy Halloween snowfall, nearly all of it had melted away by Nov. 20--only to be replaced with six inches of fresh snow on Nov. 23.

It's a landmark storm here in Minnesota. What do you remember about it?

Friday food

Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my maternal grandmother, who arrived in the U.S. from Norway as a young child. Grandma was pretty adamant about Norwegians being the best of the Scandinavians. I'm sure she would not have approved of the Lutheran stand at the State Fair selling "Swedish" egg coffee--that, of course, was a Norwegian concoction. 

Grandma also did a pretty kickass job of cooking and baking. I never tried the lutefisk--even at five years old, I wasn't stupid--but the various other treats she whipped up were beyond delightful. Especially her homemade lefse. There were three choices when it came how to accessorize the lefse: butter, butter and sugar, or butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Again, being very smart, I went with all three.

I couldn't help but wonder what Grandma would have thought of my stopping by the Finnish Bistro in St. Paul recently. Bad enough that her part-Norwegian descendant would grace a Finnish establishment with her presence, but even worse--I ordered lefse. But not with the usual accompaniments.

I ordered the Lohi Lefse. "Lohi" means salmon, and you can see exactly that peeking out of the folded potato pastry. Also? Sauteed onions, spinach, and red peppers, with housemade cucumber dill sauce, and a little side of a tomato-red onion salad. 

The horror! Salmon! On lefse! 

Or rather...

The deliciousness! Salmon! On lefse!

Sorry, Grandma. I admit it. I visited the Finnish place, I ate the Finnish lefse, and I would do it again.

Is this a good time to mention that I'm also a fan of the American Swedish Institute?

Photos of love

When I was growing up, my parents started a moonlighting business as wedding photographers. When they needed a guinea pig to practice their photography skills on, guess who was conveniently at hand? I have hundreds--nay, thousands--of photos documenting my childhood. How unfortunate I didn't become insanely famous so those photos could be put to good use.

However, my father did have some unusual ideas of what constituted good photographic composition. Case in point:

That's me at nearly 9 years old, on my new banana seat bike (remember those? Oh, how cool I felt with my banana seat bike), grinning wildly--and in the backdrop? The neighbor's house, which had just burned down the night before.

Because everyone's family photo album needs a grinning kid in front of a burned-down house.

My father loves me. But I have to admit, this is sort of a peculiar way to show it.

If, unlike me, you have black-and-white photos illustrating love that don't involve a burned house, consider submitting them to Minnesota Moments, which is having a Snapshots of Love contest. Go over to the site--you'll see what they're looking for.

Just be thankful I didn't show you the one of me with the flu, brushing my teeth and crying.

November festivals

What this month’s list doesn’t reflect is the vast number of tree lighting, welcome to winter, get ready for the holidays festivals and craft fairs. Check your local community chamber for local information. Don’t forget to check the Minnesota Historical Society’s event page; they’ve always got something interesting going on.

Minneapolis

Art Attack

Nov. 4-6

A warehouse full of art and artists, all in time for the holidays.

 

 Lutsen

Annual Masters’ Bluegrass Weekend

Nov. 4-6

The 19^th annual celebration of bluegrass in a beautiful locale.

 

Rochester

Mayowood Mansion Christmas Tours

Tues., Wed., Fri.-Sun., Nov. 4-27

Advance registration required. Visit the home of the Mayo Clinic founder and see it decorated for the holidays, with guided tours to explain the historical significance of the home, which celebrates its centennial in 2011.

 

St. Paul

Hmong New Year

Nov. 5-6

A change in venue this year, from St. Paul to the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Visit to learn more about the Twin Cities’ Hmong community, and enjoy live music, dancing, a beauty contest, and food.

 

Two Harbors

Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting

Nov. 10

The anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is commemorated with special tours that allow visitors to see the lighthouse beacon lit from inside the lighthouse, the only time each year that this privilege is available. Bring warm clothes.

 

Madison

Norsefest

Nov. 10-12

Ludefisk eating contests. You don’t want to eat? Go to watch. Also—other kinds of food. And art shows, and a talent show, and Norsky bingo.

 

Blue Earth

The Scarfing of the Jolly Green Giant

Nov. 12

Be there by 10:30 a.m., or you’ll miss the spectacle of Santa being lifted by machine to wrap a warm scarf around the Giant’s neck.

 

Grand Marais

Winterer’s Gathering & Arctic Film Festival

Nov. 17-20

The North House Folk School outdoes itself with this festival, including all manner of winter skill courses (building a wood stove, snowshoe construction, build a traditional toboggan), ski and gear swap, winter camping, and movies about all aspects of life in the frozen regions.

 

Minneapolis

MCAD Annual Art Sale

Nov. 17-19

This is your chance to find that “artist on the verge.” MCAD students create and sell artworks. Go early.

 

Minneapolis

Harvest Jamboree

Nov. 18-20

The Minnesota Bluegrass Old-Time Music Association began this festival just a few years ago, combining old-time bluegrass with live concerts, workshops, contests, and a banquet.

 

Aitkin

Fish House Parade

Nov. 25

Wild and crazy ice fishers decorate their  fish houses and take them on parade prior to settling them on the frozen lake for the season.

 

Minneapolis

Holidazzle

Thurs-Sun, Nov. 25-Dec. 18

2011 marks the 20^th year Holidazzle has brightened Nicollet Mall. Truly a parade of lights, with life-size fairy tale characters decked out in splendid lit-up costumes. Allow extra time for traffic and parking, and if you’re planning on dining before or after, make reservations ahead or be prepared to wait.

 

 

 

Friday food

Taking the easy way out this week, I'm going to redirect you over to the Heavy Table and a wonderful post they ran earlier this week, interviewing Brett Laidlaw, author of the blog (and now book) Trout Caviar, about his views on foraging wild foods and what it truly means to eat locally and sustainably. 

Third Thursday

I love this and wish I could go. On the third Thursday of every month, the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts has a themed public event. This week? It's CrAfterHours, a special event for the fiber enthusiast. From the press release: 

As a part of CrAfterHours, we will be hosting a crafting circle in the galleries for knitters, crocheters, hand-sewers, and yarn spinners of all levels and ages.  Bring your own projects from home and join in!

The event will also include yarn spinning demos, and Crafty Planet, I Like You and ArtStart will provide inspiration and fun projects to try. Local band The Starfolk will be playing in the Arts Break coffee shop and curator-led tours of art by Native textile artists and silversmiths will be available.

So, all you crafty types, get thee to the Institute on Thursday. I'll be there in spirit. 

 

Friday food

I'm breaking with tradition here. This is not about a Minnesota food today. But it is about searching for a particular food in Minnesota. Also, I apologize in advance. This is not the most mature post you'll ever see me write.

Remember that oh-so-classic SNL skit about Schweddy Balls? Frankly, that's on my annual holiday viewing list, right up there with A Christmas Story (my family's divided on the latter, half love it and half hate it). I'm fully aware that the Schweddy Balls skit is juvenile. But still, the piles of double entendres crack me up every time.

So of course when I heard that Vermont's very fine Ben & Jerry's was going to have a limited-edition Schweddy Balls ice cream flavor, I knew I had to find it. People on Twitter began muttering, "Where is it? Is it coming to Minnesota?" There were rumors it was only going to some states, and maybe we weren't one of them.

Then yesterday, a friend tweeted that Schweddy Balls had been acquired at the Byerly's in Golden Valley. I responded, a few others joined in, and pretty soon we had a tweet stream going that was both hilarious and raunchy. (Best tweet of the afternoon came from a lesbian friend: "I'm a big ol dyke, but even I want some Schweddy Balls in my mouth!")

I had some appointments and wondered if my local Kowalski's would have it in stock. So I called.

Kowalski's: Can I help you?
Me: I wonder if you have a certain flavor of ice cream in stock.

K: Sure, I can check. What are you looking for?
Me: Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls.

Silence.

K: That was...um..

Me: Schweddy Balls. S,C,H,W,E,D,D,Y Balls.

K:...{crickets}

Me: It's their newest flavor.

K:...Ooooooooooooookay....?

He put me on hold, and while I waited, I wondered if he'd ever come back. He did.

K: Yes we do have--we have that flavor.

Me: Thank you.

Apparently I'm not the only Eden Prairie-ite to lust after this particular flavor, because when I got there, only two pints remained in the freezer case in what looked to be a much bigger space set aside for them.

Now those two pints are in my freezer.

 That's right--I have Schweddy Balls in my freezer.

FYI, you can go to Ben & Jerry's Facebook page and send Schweddy Balls e-cards. 

A fall hike

Should you go to the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area in Eden Prairie and take the Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail in the direction of the scenic overlook, you'd climb a steep hill until you reach this opening.

Then you'd see this and think, wow, cool, what a great overlook.

You might also, oddly, find a little veggie in the grass.

But really, you wouldn't have reached the real overlook yet. See this little trail?

Just a little extra jaunt, and you get this.

And this.

Gorgeous overview for miles of the Minnesota River and Shakopee and Eden Prairie. 

Then, if you look back at where you just were, you might see this.

If you then continue on the EFE trail, you'll be deep into woods very soon.

And what beautiful woods they are (in a Blair Witch Project kind of way). 

I might have exhibited an unruly amount of exuberance kicking leaves off the trail than is acceptable for a woman of a certain age.

The trail winds up and down steep hills and across little bridges.

And occasionally near a little brook.

Do brooks babble or burble? I think this one burbled.

This is only one small portion of the gorgeous trail at the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area. The Elizabeth Fries Ellet Trail was named after, well, Elizabeth Fries Ellet, who did not live here, but visited back in the 1800s and compared the natural beauty to that of the Garden of Eden--hence the name, Eden Prairie. It's a beautiful place to hike and wander. 

(Also, click on that link to Elizabeth Ellet--she was quite something, a pioneer writer who documented women's roles in the Revolutionary War and had significant dust-ups with the likes of Edgar Allan Poe.)

The Church Project

St. Mark Catholic Church, Shakopee.

Friday food

Late to the party as always, long after everyone else has raved about Linden Hills' Tilia, I finally jump on the bandwagon.

It's a cheery, casual place inside, somewhat noisy when busy.

But a friendly, appealing place. 

And the food....oh, the food.

Amazing how good something so simple as an arugula sald with grated Pecorino cheese in a lively lemon vinaigrette can taste, especially on a warm day. 

This is technically an appetizer, but I was alone the first time I went, so this and the salad made up my meal. Gravlax with black rye spread with shallot-flying fish roe butter. Ohhhhhhhh so good.

But while I enjoyed this light and tasty lunch, I saw someone else ordering something that made me determined to return and try it. So last week, I did, this time with a friend.

First, soup.

Smoked potato soup with beer vinegar and bacon-butter croutons. Yes--those sandwich-sized pieces of bread on top had bacon in between.

But this is what I really wanted to try:

BLT dogs. Yes! Hotdogs with bacon and tomatoes, and in place of the lettuce, dill pickled carrots and cauliflower, along with mayo and some pungently spicy mustard. 

My friend and I shared this; it's definitely enough for two, especially if you start with soup or salad. But oh--how wonderful these dogs are. Spicy, flavorful, extremely messy (not a good first date item, perhaps). I'm salivating just remembering.

So two thumbs up to Tilia. And even though I now know how divine the BLT dogs are, I have a ravenous (sorry) curiosity about the fish tacos. You know, the fish tacos with the peppadew pepper slaw, cilantro and lime...