Downtown St. Paul Voice April 2024

Spring Art Crawl returns in April

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

The St. Paul Spring Art Crawl will be in full bloom over three weekends – April 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28. You’ll find the works of more than 350 artists at 40 participating sites across 11 districts, and a handful of venues will feature food, music and other attractions. The Crawl always provides a stellar opportunity to explore the city and support the many brave artists exposing their creations to the world. Look for an empty space on your wall and get ready hit the streets with a few bucks in your pocket. Hours at all sites are 6-10 p.m., Fridays; noon-8 p.m., Saturdays; and noon-5 p.m., Sundays, unless otherwise noted. Details were accurate as of press time. For more information, visit stpaulart collective.org.

West Side, April 12-14

F-O-K Studios, floors 3-5 of Warehouse 2 at 106 W. Water St., will be open 5-9 p.m., April 12, noon-8 p.m., April 13, and noon-5 p.m., April 14. Visitors can explore studios and gallery spaces featuring artwork from 30 resident artists and 20 guest artists. Mediums include painting, mixed media, fiber art, sculptures, wood and photography. Complimentary beverages will be served in the lounge and some artists may have food available in their studio. Music performances slated for the weekend

Downtown St. Paul

Discovering St. Paul’s slot canyon Page 11

Crawlin’ for three decades

years of St. Paul Art Crawl

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Onespring day 30 years ago, a much younger Jeffrey Hansen was hauling blank canvases and painting supplies into the Tilsner Artists’ Lofts along with all his other belongings. At the time, he, like most aspiring artists, didn’t quite know how far his craft would take him, but he was bright-eyed and full of hope and ambition. Shortly after moving in, he prepared his finest collection of paintings and displayed them at the Spring Art Crawl in 1994.

A two-wheeled odyssey

L ocal blogger is pedal ing every block of every street in St. Paul

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Traversing St. Paul’s popular places, hidden gems and everything in between is Steven “Wolfie” Browender, a retired video production worker with a curious eye and self-imposed goal to bike every

block of every street of the capital city’s nearly 900mile street system. He estimates he’s covered about 60% in the last 13 years and believes he’ll be able to complete his mission in the next decade. However, there’s no rush because he says it’s all about the journey not the destination.

He began the venture in 2011 to satiate his curiosity about unique things he spotted around town, such as a lawn on West Seventh covered in white stone or a van on the East Side painted as the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. He also wanted to highlight the little treasures woven into the fab-

He ended up selling two paintings and one sculpture during the 2-day event. Today, he still lives at the Tilsner and remains a loyal participant of the Crawl, always eager to open his door, connect with people and get his work out into the world.

“I had no idea what to expect [of his first art crawl], other than what everyone said: ‘all you do is open your door and hopefully you’ll sell your art,’” said Hansen. “Back then the Crawl was very new and popular and there weren’t a lot of

PUBLIC SAFETY Skyway work scheduled to begin soon

Tim Spitzack Editor

After years of discussions, complaints and ongoing advocacy regarding St. Paul’s skyway system, progress is finally inching forward to improve safety, security and aesthetics in at least one area of the elevated walkway that connects 40 square blocks of downtown buildings.

At the February 23 CapitolRiver Council Skyway Governance Advisory Committee meeting, city representatives shared information about a new pilot program that will address four under-maintained skyway bridges connecting the Press House Apartments and St. Paul Athletic Club on Cedar Street and the Capital City Plaza Parking Ramp on Fourth Street. The project includes replacing lights, deep cleaning of panels and floors, and adding one security camera to Bridge 39 leading into Press House Apartments. Work is set to begin in late spring or early summer and is supported by $850,000 in new funding approved by the St. Paul City Council last October. The funding is also being used to hire two private design firms to identify other problem areas within the skyway system, research better cleaning methods and find contractors who can do the work, and to improve signage and wayfinding. As of press time, the city was still

ric of the city so other residents can enjoy them too. All along the way he’s posted monthly on his “St. Paul By Bike” blog about the unique people he meets, interesting things he learns and quirky places he discovers.

“I’ve got a proclivity to notice things that other people might miss,” said Browender. “As I biked around, I would just notice things like an interesting garden or unique

Browender has explored approximately 60% of the city’s streets and is still rolling on.

Bike

Art Crawl / Page 8

Skyway plan / Page 3

Jeffrey Hansen / Page 5

Lowertown artist reflects on 30

Hansen touches up one of his latest creations for the art crawl.

Sample St. Paul Page 6

Bike odyssey

from page 1

decorations on a house….

The people I’ve met are so interesting. I love hearing what people’s stories are. It’s cliché to say everybody has a story but if you can coax it out, everybody does.”

To get the scoop behind things that catch his eye, he regularly knocks on the doors of homes and businesses. Last summer, he visited the dome house at 89 Morton St. W. on the West Side and learned about its history, as well as that of the Forty Acre notch, a nearby geographical quirk in the northern border of West St. Paul. He also met with a woman who paints and hangs dozens of colorful metal artworks on her fence at 173 W. Robie St., also on the West Side. People often share amusing or moving personal stories that shed light on what he’s inquiring about, and he said he’s constantly humbled by their positivity and willingness to talk.

“I’m indebted and I’ve learned so much,” said Browender. “In a [politically

divided] time, it’s really cool to find that so many people are nice…. It just makes me smile that people aren’t afraid to be individual and do something that’s a little different and fun.” He has a backlog of interviews and expects to post his story about the West Side artist and her increasingly colorful fence this spring. The post about the dome house is already online.

Browender departs on rides from his home in Highland Park and commonly cruises for 20 or 30 miles. He’ll go somewhere specific if he has an interview scheduled, otherwise he lets the wind and his intuition guide him. He said he planned to go to the East Side twice last summer but never made it because he kept getting sidetracked in the North End on his way over. Luckily, his GPS automatically maps his rides so he can easily mark off places he’s been on the massive map he keeps at home.

Highland Park is the only

‘When you hear people say something about a bad neighborhood, maybe they had a bad experience there,’ said Browender. ‘I wouldn’t consider there are any bad neighborhoods in St. Paul.’

neighborhood of 17 in the city that he considers completely biked, but Macalester-Groveland is nearly finished, too. Coming in third is the West Side, which he figures is about 70% complete, and he hopes to get close to polishing it off this summer.

“I love the West Side, it’s so cool and it’s really hilly,” said Browender. “Between the physical barriers like the bluff and Highway 52, there’s little pieces of property tucked away that have really interesting home designs.”

He primarily sticks to streets but will hop on a trail if the street is too dangerous or he needs a shortcut to another neighborhood. His

The Downtown St. Paul Voice is published monthly and delivered to every apartment, condominium and skyway drop in St. Paul’s historic urban village, as well as other locations throughout downtown St. Paul.

Publisher & Editor: Tim Spitzack

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favorite trail is the Robert Piram Regional Trail on the West Side, which connects Harriet Island, the St. Paul airport and South St. Paul. His blog focuses on a variety of subjects and features photos he takes himself. While he expects that most folks read his posts for pleasure, he works hard to ensure accuracy by speaking directly with sources, digging for information from credible research organizations such as the Minnesota Historical Society, and having his wife, Sue, proofread each post.

One of his furthest rides was to the Highwood neighborhood, which has no paved roads and is partially located east of Highway 61. Another leg-burner was his

trip past Gerdau Steel, a factory on Red Rock Road, which is located on a peninsula that can only be reached by traveling south on 61 through Newport and then back west into what is, technically, St. Paul.

Browender has seen first-

hand how the city has grown over the years. Significant changes like the demolition of the Ford plant in Highland Park and the creation of multifamily developments are apparent, but some changes have been more slow and subtle.

Steven Browender

“When you hear people say something about a ‘bad neighborhood,’ maybe they had a bad experience there,” he said. “I wouldn’t consider there are any bad neighborhoods in St. Paul. There might be a spot or two that’s a little bit rougher at times, but the term ‘bad neighborhood’ should be purged from our vernacular because

to paint a whole neighborhood based on two blocks isn’t right….

“In the Midway area,” he continued, “there’s a district where murals are painted every year. The buildings are nice canvases for brightening up a more industrial area. Parts of the East Side have a negative reputation, and

Skyway plan

from page 1

reviewing proposals.

An additional $50,000 from the city has been earmarked to install two cameras and a one-way intercom in Bridge 29 over Cedar Street. The cameras will be placed at each end of the bridge and include an artificial intelli-

gence component that triggers an alarm if someone lies down in the skyway or has a medical emergency. The intercom may be used to provide important messages or to contact security. Both will be monitored by the downtown safety com-

there are pockets where you can tell the houses and businesses might be a little tired but I think things have improved drastically from 2008 when there were a lot more vacant homes boarded up with ‘no trespassing’ signs. I see very few of those now.” Browender said he’s never felt unsafe while biking or

munications center until 11 p.m. A contractor has been selected but no timeline was given for installation.

Perhaps the most exciting proposal on the horizon is the creation of an app-based navigation system that can be used on smartphones and tablets. If this materializes, the app could allow users to find maps of the skyway system, entrance points, hours,

speaking with someone for a blog post. He may get an electric bike someday but for now will continue pedaling and tuning up the hybrid bike he’s had since beginning the blog.

The Wisconsin native moved to Minnesota after college – where he got his nickname “Wolfie” from

and possibly to contact security or register a complaint. At this stage, city staff have merely done preliminary research into what would be required to create such an app.

The skyway system is a public-private partnership and building owners are expected to keep their portion of the skyway clean and temperature-controlled,

his friends because he looked like Wolfman Jack, a popular DJ in the ’70s – and has lived here ever since. While his lofty goal is still far from complete, he’s just as happy working on it as when he first started, and he’s thankful for those who help him travel down the city’s endless rabbit holes.

provide security through a live video camera or security personnel, and have their skyway doors open 6 a.m.-midnight. Some building owners have not been keeping up their end of the bargain, which has rankled compliant building owners and residents alike. To ensure that the entire system is properly maintained, the

“It’s humbling to think that people will give up their free time to talk to me….

To the people that read my blog, I want to sincerely say, thank you very much. It’s very nice to know that my weird hobby is something that people find interesting.”

To view his blog, visit stpaulbybike.com.

City Council passed an ordinance this past December that allows the city to clean any skyway not meeting the standards and bill the building owner for the work. To report a problem or concern with a skyway, contact the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections at 651-266-8989.

City approves $45.1M for streets, parks and rec centers

Crumbling city streets, and aging recreation centers and parks will get muchneeded attention thanks to $45.1 million in funding approved by the St. Paul City Council on February 28. The money comes from the new 1% sales tax that was approved by voters last fall, which will be collected beginning April 1. The tax is expected to generate nearly $1 billion over 20 years. Nearly three-fourths of the revenue must be used for street repair and about a quarter for park improvements.

Streets that will see attention include Jackson, Dale, Earl and Burns streets, and Grand, Minnehaha, Marshall and Front avenues. Park improvements include replacing artificial turf at Oxford Community Center,

renovating Toni Stone Stadium at Dunning Park and playing fields at Highwood Hills, the first phase of converting the heating system at Como Zoo & Conservatory from steam boilers to geothermal, renovation of the

HVAC system at Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center, parking lot repair at Battle Creek Recreation Center, and splash pad upgrades and basketball court renovations at Conway Recreation Center. Some funds will also go

toward design work on the new East Side Community Center, the River Learn -

Volunteer In Your Community

Lutheran Social Service of MN is seeks volunteers age 55 or over in your area to provide companionship to older adults or mentor school-age children. Volunteers commit to regular weekly hours for a tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement. Contact us at 888 205 3770, or AmericorpsSeniors@ lssmn.org for more information and to make an impact in your community.

ing Center at Crosby Farm Regional Park, the River Balcony along the Kellogg Boulevard, and for revitalizing downtown parks.

Since 1865 THE

of the Cross at noon; Good Friday liturgy at 3 pm; Tenebrae service at 9 pm

Saturday, Easter Vigil: March 30, 8:30 pm Easter Sunday Masses: March 31

Weekend

Sat. 4:30 pm, Sun. 7:30 & 9:30 am

Weekday Masses: Mon.-Fri. Noon

Reconciliation: Mon.-Fri. 11:30 am, Sat. 3:30 pm, and by appointment.

Ample parking & handicapped accessible.

267

THE FULLER FILES }

Ler Htoo is the first person of Karen decent to attain the rank of sergeant with the St. Paul Police Department. Htoo lived in Mae La refugee camp in Thailand before coming to Minnesota in 2009. He graduated from Como Park Senior High School in 2011 and has a degree in law enforcement from Hennepin Technical College. He joined the police department in 2014.

Nicole A. Watson has been named producing artistic director at the Playwrights’ Center. She succeeds Jeremy B. Cohen, who held the position for 14 years, although he’s staying on board for several months to assist with the transition. Watson was formerly the associate artistic director at McCarter Theatre Center, a professional company on the Princeton University campus in New

Jersey. The Playwrights’ Center plans to depart its longtime home in Minneapolis for a 19,000-square-foot custom-designed arts center serving playwrights, theater artists and the community in St. Paul’s Creative Enterprise Zone in the Midway area.

Muneer Karcher-Ramos has resigned as director of the City of St. Paul’s Office of Financial Empowerment, which was created in 2019 and administers programs that address economic inequality. Karcher-Ramos was the founding director of the department. Ikram Koliso has been named interm director.

Boyd Ehlert , who has worked as a barber at various downtown shops for nearly 50 years, has retired. He most recently barbered at The Chair on the skyway level of the US Bank Center.

P ostscript

Rod Stewart hair

“I like your hair!” a woman at the party said.

This is always nice to hear. My hair is my least endearing feature, primarily because there is not much of it. But since my husband, Peter, started cutting it, I worry a lot less.

“How does my hair look?”

I ask as I head out the door. Peter always pretends to take this question very seriously. (He should, as my hairdresser.) He scrutinizes the top of my head for a long moment, asks me to turn all

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

the way around then reaches over and tousles something on the top.

“Perfect!” he says, and I choose to believe him.

by Roger Fuller

The American Queen , a 6-deck cruise ship on the Mississippi River, will no longer visit St. Paul. Its parent company, American Queen Voyage, has filed for bankruptcy and is going out of business. It cited hardships caused by the pandemic as the reason. Two other cruise companies will continue to dock in St. Paul: Viking River Cruises and American Cruise Lines.

Bill McGuire, owner of the Minnesota United men’s professional soccer team, plans to build an 8-story, 160-room hotel on University Avenue near Allianz Field. It will be on the site of the former Midway Shopping Center, which once had about 30 stores.

The Capitol Area Architectural Planning Board is reviewing the Capitol Mall Design Framework to deter-

“My husband cuts it,” I told the woman at the party. “He cuts his own hair, too!”

“Ooh! Isn’t that hard?”

“He’s been doing it since he was 17, when the local barber wouldn’t give him the haircut he wanted.”

This is true. Peter started cutting his hair when the barber threatened to give him a buzz cut – because that was the only kind of haircut he gave. Peter got up from the barber chair, walked out and cut it himself. I like that story. Peter has always known what he wants and has always figured he could learn new things.

“Don’t tell people I cut my own hair,” Peter told me on the walk home.

“Why not?”

mine ways to make the mall at the State Capitol more inviting for visitors.

St. Paul Public Library is introducing a new Mobile Library to replace its Bookmobile, which served the city for 19 years. The Mobile Library offers expanded services, including WiFi access, notary services and resource referrals.

The St. Paul Farmers Market at Fifth and Wall will open its spring and summer season on Saturday, April 27, featuring vegetables, flowers and other plants.

Minnesota Sinfonia will hold a classical music concert at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 25 at Metropolitan State University, 700 E. Seventh St. Violinist Yevgeny Kutik will perform Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor. Also on the program is Mozart’s Symphony No. 36, the Linz symphony.

Camp Bar and Cabaret, 490 N. Robert St., will pres-

“They’ll think I’m strange.”

“You’re married to me! I think they may have already formed an opinion.”

Peter granted this was true. As it happens, I was feeling particularly pleased with my hair that evening because Peter had given me a haircut just that morning. Usually, my haircuts are his idea.

“Your hair could use a trim,” he’ll announce in a way that makes it clear I am looking pretty scruffy. So I put on a raincoat and raise my office chair as high as it will go, and he gets out his sharp scissors that make a satisfying “Snick! Snick! Snick!” noise. In less than five minutes he’s finished. He doesn’t have much to work with, after all.

ent the following comedians: Frank Roche, April 5-6; Tommy Thompson, April 12-13; Maggie Faris, April 19-20; and Ronn Vigh, April 26-27.

Subtext Books , 6 W.

5th St., author talks - Lily Meyer will discuss her debut novel “Short War” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, and John Kung will discuss “Kung Food: Chinese American Recipes from a ThirdCulture Kitchen” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 23.

Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., will present “Flex” April 25-May 19. The play centers on a group of high school basketball stars who explore life beyond their childhood. Tickets start at $20.

AZ Gallery, 308 Prince St., will host a reception 5-8 p.m., Saturday, April 27 during the St. Paul Art Crawl. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

But this time, getting a haircut was my idea. I’d just watched an interview with Rod Stewart, the iconic rock star. He is 79 years old and has just released a jazz album. He’s also a keen builder of model trains. But I was more interested in his hair than the jazz or the trains. His hair looked great. I wondered how a man approaching 80 managed to have such ineffable style, and I decided it was, in large part, because he wasn’t too worried about being tidy. Rod Stewart has the untidiest hair you’re likely to find on an octogenarian (outside a long-term senior care facility), and I decided he was my new role model. His music is good but his hair is terrific.

Ramsey County Historical Society will present Eric Dregni, author of “Never Trust a Thin Cook and Other Lessons from Italy’s Culinary Capital” at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, April 18 at Concordia Library, 1282 Concordia Ave.

Zeitgeist, 275 E. Fourth St., will host its Early Music Festival performance at 7 p.m., April 19-20 and 1 p.m., April 21, in partnership with 10th Wave Chamber Music Collective. The festival will explore the influence of Asian and Asian American music makers on American experimental music.

The skyway walking group meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays at US Bank, 101 5th St. E. The group travels a mile and a half through the skyways at a casual pace, and may walk outside during nice weather.

“I want hair like Rod Stewart!” I announced, after watching the interview, and Peter got out his noisy little scissors and set to work.

I’m not saying I look like Rod Stewart. I don’t. He has a lot more hair and a lot more experience looking unkempt. But I woke up this morning and looked at myself in the mirror. I left the comb on the shelf and ran my fingers through my hair and made it stand a little more on end than usual.

“How do you like your haircut?” my hairstylist asked.

“I love it,” I told him. “I look just like Rod Stewart!”

“You do,” he said. And I chose to believe him. Till next time.

People

Jeffrey Hansen

from page 1

other copycat events. There were almost 3,000 people that came through.”

For most of its history, the semiannual crawl was held strictly at venues in Lowertown, and all participating sites were open on the same weekend. Unfortunately, the once heavily attended event took a massive blow when the pandemic struck in spring 2020, forcing the cancellation of both the spring and fall crawls that year. Since returning in fall 2021, the Crawl has been held in different districts throughout the city on consecutive weekends. Hansen said the turnout at the Tilsner has fluctuated a lot through the decades and that his sales peaked in 2019 after several years of consistent growth. In fall 2021, he was the lone artist at the Tilsner to participate and about 300 people came through his studio. In 2022, the number of artists crept up to five and Hansen saw an uptick in visitors.

This April, 13 artists at the Tilsner will show their work and he expects the number of visitors to be closer to what it was pre-pandemic.

“It’s been a slow recovery, but it’s definitely got better,” said Hansen, who was the Art Crawl site coordinator at the Tilsner for seven years in the 2000s and again after the pandemic. Part of the resurgence is due to new artists moving into the Tilsner. He encourages them to be part of the Crawl and offers this advice: “You can keep your expectations high, but don’t let it destroy you if you don’t sell anything or don’t have as many people come through as you expect. Don’t let it discourage you from trying again. That is one thing

with art, you really have to keep trying. Push yourself for more creation and keep trying new things.”

Hansen, a White Bear Lake-native, is an abstract expressionist painter with a degree from the now-closed College of Visual Arts in St. Paul. Early on, his works largely featured biomorphic shapes, but a turning point came in 2018 when he woke up in the middle of the night and was inspired to create a perfect circle on a canvas using a homemade compass. Now, nearly all his pieces feature circles in some regard.

“There’s a lot of underlying meaning and hidden symbolism for the circle,” he said. “I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that it’s a symbol for infinity…. My compasses pull and scrape the paint across [the canvas] in thick layers and as it’s doing that it leaves trails of all the different paint I’m using, and that’s where I don’t have any control. It’s just going to do what it’s going to do, and I have to visually and emotionally connect with it at that time.”

Hansen enjoys leaving a portion of his work up to fate, even if he must occasionally scrap a piece that doesn’t resonate with him. His inspiration comes from a wide variety of areas including nature, household items and other artists. He uses paintbrushes, palette knives, and textured materials like tinfoil, sandpaper and cloth to bring his pieces to life. His most recent piece, a colorful oil painting on a 10-by-10foot canvas, was inspired by the children’s game Pick-Up Sticks.

During the Crawl, his studio will be open 6-10 p.m.,

April 26; noon-8 p.m., April 27; and noon-5 p.m., April 28. His collection will include many recent works as well as some he created 30 years ago but has touched up to be, in his eyes, finally complete. He will also sell photos of Lake Superior that he made with his film camera for a photo book project in the early 2000s. He said some people visit him year after year during the Crawl and have seen his progression as an artist. Many have become regular customers and he always makes sure to have a variety of sizes of work available.

The Crawl has been organized by the volunteer-run nonprofit St. Paul Art Collective since 1977. This year, it is held across three weekends, April 12-28.

“I do like the idea of it being spread out [over multiple weekends and districts],” he said. “It gives the artists themselves the opportunity to go to those other areas when they’re not open. I did that at the last Crawl and it was nice to be able to go check out what other art is out there and what those people are doing. I had never been to any of those places because I’ve always been open for the Art Crawl.”

Hansen also participates in the Art-a-Whirl in Minneapolis each spring and consistently displays his work at shows in Ithaca, N.Y., Kansas City, Mo., and Cincin-

Early on, Hansen’s works largely featured biomorphic shapes, but a turning point came in 2018 when he woke up in the middle of the night and was inspired to create a perfect circle on a canvas using a homemade compass. Now, nearly all his pieces feature circles.

nati, Ohio. He and his wife, a housing advocate, have no plans to leave the Tilsner.

“It has always kept me motivated knowing there’s

always going to be another opportunity to open my door…and let people see what I’ve been working on,” said Hansen. “I’ve had people

say they remember me from way long ago and that I was doing something so different then. It’s fun to get that every once in a while.”

Photo: DJ Corey

ample St. Paul

MN Children’s Museum

10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 mcm.org

Wild Kratts: Creature Power is the featured exhibit through May 12. Explore the secret lives of animals in habitats around the planet and go on a mission to foil a villain’s nefarious plans.

Other exhibits and activities include “The Scramble,” “The Studio,” “Creativity Jam,” “Sprouts,” “Our World,” “Forces at Play,” “Shipwreck Adventures” and “Imaginopolis.”

Tickets are $14.95. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required and tickets are limited. The next free date is April 7.

MN History Center

345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 mnhs.org

“Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow” is a new exhibit featured through June 9. It follows Black advancement from the end of the Civil War through World War I and features art, artifacts and photographs highlighting Black resilience and resistance in that time.

“The Life & Art of Charles M. Schulz” is featured through June 9. Explore Schulz’s roots in Minnesota and his role as the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip and its beloved cast of characters.

“Our Home: Native Minnesota” features historic and contemporary photo -

graphs, maps, and artifacts that show how Minnesota’s native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values.

Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow,” “Grainland” and “Weather Permitting.” Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $8 for children ages five to 17.

History Theatre

30 E. 10th St. St. Paul

651-292-4323

Historytheatre.com

“A Unique Assignment” is showing through April 7. Following the Ole Miss Riot of 1962, a young second lieutenant in the Army is tasked with protecting the University of Mississippi’s first African American stu-

“On Your Feet: The story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan” is coming to the Ordway Center for Performing Arts April 5-7.

dent. A relationship is forged as they navigate the political and social segregation of the Civil Rights movement. Tickets start at $25, with discounts for students.

Landmark Center

75 5th St. W. St. Paul

651-292-3225

landmarkcenter.org

Rod Kelly Hines

and

Celeste Marie Johnson will perform a courtroom concert, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, April 4. Free.

Urban Expedition: Ivory Coast, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, April 7. Enjoy music, food, dance and crafts. Free.

Skylark Opera Theatre will perform songs from their repertoire, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, April 14. Free.

p.m., Thursday, April 16. Ballet Co.Laboratory performs excerpts from their repertoire. Free. Light in the Well, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, April 21. This event features music, stories of people with disabilities and an art gallery. Free, but reservations are required.

BandWidth Community Band Festival, noon-6 p.m.,

S ample St. Paul

based ensembles in Minnesota will perform marches, concert band classics, pop, Broadway and jazz music. Free.

MN Museum of American Art

350 Robert St. N. St. Paul

651-797-2571

mmaa.org

“Together,” is a new exhibit on view March 28-October 13. It consists of mixed media artwork created by 10 Minnesota artists with the help of their children.

“Hazel Belvo: For Love,” an exhibit in the Nancy and John Lindahl Gallery, features more than 60 pieces from Hazel Belvo’s 70-year career as an artist. It is on display 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, through May 26.

“El Vaiven,” is a skyway installation in windows above Robert Street in downtown St. Paul. Created by Zamara Cuyún, it’s a dreamscape based on a real Mayan landscape in Guatemala and features a series of characters including Gucumatz the feathered serpent and Ixchel the moon goddess.

Ordway Center

345 Washington St. St. Paul

651-224-4222

ordway.org

The Twin Cities Iranian Culture Collective presents “Voices Unveiled,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 30.

From $32.

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts: AnneMarie McDermott plays Chausson, Poulenc and Rogerson, 11 a.m., April 5, 7 p.m., April 6, and 2 p.m., April 7. Haydn’s Surprise Symphony, 11 a.m., April 12, and 7 p.m., April 13. Schubert’s Fifth Symphony, 7 p.m., April 26-27. $12$55 for all concerts.

“On Your Feet: The story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan,” 7:30 p.m., April 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m., April 6; and 1:30 and 7 p.m., April 7. From $44.

Schubert Club concerts: Golda Schultz, soprano, and Jonathan Ware, piano, 7:30 p.m., April 10; Daniel Hope, violin, and Simon CrawfordPhillips, piano, 7:30 p.m., April 25, and 10:30 a.m., April 26. $36-75.

Musicians on the Rise: Schubert Club Scholarship Competition Winners Recital, 1 p.m., Saturday, April 13. Free.

Mandy Patinkin , 7:30 p.m., April 19, and 2 p.m., April 21. From $68.

RiverCentre

175 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul

651- 265-4800

rivercentre.org

Fraser Festival, 10 a.m.2 p.m., Saturday, April 6. This sensory-friendly event features music, food, games and activities exploring the body’s eight senses.

Frozen Fest , 1-6 p.m., Thursday, April 11, and 1-4:30 p.m., Saturday, April 13. Check out interactive games and activities, and shop NCAA Men’s Frozen Four merchandise. The event features music, food and giveaways. Free.

Minnesota Card Show, 3-9 p.m., April 18; 11 a.m.7 p.m., April 19; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., April 20; and 9 a.m.-3 p.m., April 21. Shop more than 475 dealer tables of sports and trading cards and other collectibles. More than 40 autograph signers will be present over the four days. Ticket prices were not available as of press time.

Minnesota Roller Derby, 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27. From $12.50.

Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 smm.org

“Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed” is on display through September 4. Presented in English and Spanish, it features more than 200 authentic artifacts, hands-on activities, lifelike simulations and more.

Virtual Reality Transporter - Use the VRT to hurtle through the cosmos at fantastic speeds, scuba dive into prehistoric seas, and join the astronauts of Apollo 11 as they moonwalk for the first time. $9.95.

Omnitheater films. Tickets are $9.95. Free for children ages 3 and under.

“Asteroid Hunters,” through April 7. Meet the engineers and scientists fighting to protect Earth from this cosmic danger.

“Pandas,” through April 7. Follow a young giant panda as she takes the first steps outside of her protected habitat and discovers her true animal nature.

“Back from the Brink,” through April 7. Learn how California’s Channel Island fox, China’s golden monkey and Christmas Island’s migrating crabs are being rescued from the brink of extinction.

“Deep Sky,” through June 30. Embark on a journey to the beginning of time and space and view images

captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

“Stellar Tours: A Star is Born,” 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Wednesday-Friday, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., SaturdaySunday. Follow the life cycle of a star using the Omnitheater’s new Digistar 7 projection system.

“Recombination,” 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. The film features the work of fractal artist Julius Horsthuis and seven of his favorite musicians.

Sensory Friendly Sunday is the first Sunday of

the month. Visitors can experience a lights-up, sounddown Omnitheater show at 10 a.m. The program was created in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota. Admission is free for personal care attendants when visiting with a client.  Museum tickets are $29.95 for adults and $19.95 for ages 4-17.

Xcel Center

199 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul

651-726-8240 xcelenergycenter.com

Dan + Shay, 7 p.m., Friday, April 5. From $15.50. AJR, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 17. From $50.50.

Tim McGraw , 7 p.m., Saturday, April 20. From $139.

CArt Crawl

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ommunity include David Harland, 5-6:30 p.m., April 12; Leslie Vincent, 7:30-9 p.m., April 12; Ken Takta Ensemble, 2:30-4 p.m., April 13; Todd Harper and The Eugleena Trio, 6-7:30 p.m., April 13; The Electric Honeycomb, 2-3 p.m., April 14; and Laura Sonte-Jeraj, 2:30-4 p.m., April 14. The building is ADA accessible and has free parking.

Neomuralismos de México will host family-friendly activities noon-sunset, April 13-14, at Harriet Island Regional Park.

Summit-Grand

April 12-14

Schromen Law , 319 Ramsey St., will be open 6-8 p.m., April 12, and noon-7 p.m., April 13. Longtime illustrator Thora Reynolds will be selling postcards and stickers that visually represent the foundations of American Democracy. Anthony Eaton will have two displays featuring stained glass, pottery, folded books, writing and photography.

Little Mekong Cultural District

April 12-14

XIA Gallery & Café, 422 University Ave. W., will be open 9 a.m.-3 p.m., April 13-14. Jamie Kalakaru-Mava will showcase her digital art and newly published children’s book, “Half a World Away” April 13. Ronnie Spann will host a jewelry and metal sculpting workshop April 14.

Merriam Park

April 12-14

Spatial Effects Gallery, 1759 Selby Ave., will be open 6-8 p.m., April 12; noon-6 p.m., April 13; and

1-6 p.m., April 14. It will feature 28 artists selling furniture, paintings, drawings, photography, stone and metal sculptures, ceramics and glass objects, mixed media art and even some carved gourds. Art will be in the two indoor gallery spaces, and guitarist Joel Shapira will perform 1-3 p.m., April 13. Refreshments will be available.

Cathedral Hill April 19-21

House of heART 2, 763 Holly Ave., will feature 28 artists selling paintings, photography, ceramics and mixed media. This is a short-term rental home and artwork will be displayed in each room. Art will also be on the porch if weather permits. Light refreshments and wine will be available.

The Milligan Studio , 459 Selby Ave., will feature bronze sculptures by Alan Milligan and glassworks, garden art, and prints and photos by Nicole Mary Milligan. Light appetizers will be available Friday night and French croissants on Saturday morning. The site will feature live music.

Virginia Street Church, 170 Virginia St., will showcase the work of 16 artists. Mediums include paintings, prints, pottery, glassware, jewelry, quilted items, photography and more. The site will feature live music and hors d’oevres.

West Seventh April 19-21

Schmidt Artists Lofts , 900 W. 7th St., will be open 6-9 p.m., April 19, noon-7 p.m., April 20, and noon-5 p.m., April 21. Eighty artists will showcase their work from the main floor and

lower level of the Schmidt Brewhouse, and in a handful of other galleries and rooms. Artwork includes painting, pottery and sculpture, illustration, fiber art, jewelry, photography, glass art, Lino cut and block printing, artisan brooms and brushes, woodworks and sand sculptures. Open Palette painting and art demonstrations will take place on the 7th floor in the Rooftop Room. Red Rocket Pizza, Eggroll Queen, and KP Concessions Mini Donut food trucks will be on site in the courtyard all weekend and Buna Mobile Coffee Bar will be inside the Brewhouse Saturday and Sunday. The work of high school artists in the 43rd Annual Congressional Art Competition will be displayed in the Atrium throughout the weekend. The building is ADA accessible and free parking is available on nearby streets.

Friedli Gallery, 973 W. 7th St., will be open noon7 p.m., April 20, and noon-5 p.m., April 21. Five artists will display paintings, etchings, ceramics, prints, Native American art, food art, jewelry and more. All art will be in the gallery space, and light appetizers and beverages will be available. The gallery has on-street parking.

Raymond Station April 26-28

Dow Art Gallery & Framing, 2242 University Ave. W., will be open 5-9 p.m., April 26, and noon-8 p.m., April 27. Forty artists will be selling their photography, sculptures, metalwork, drawings, paintings and more in the gallery on the first floor. Light refreshments will be available and free parking is available in the Wright Building lot directly across University Avenue.

Open Art Space, 2147 University Ave. W., will be open 6-9 p.m., April 26, and noon-8 p.m., April 27. Four artists will sell their paintings, greeting cards and mixed media artwork from their studios and in hallway displays. Light refreshments will be available. Parking is in the rear of the building at the intersection of Vandallia and Charles. The Jag Gallery and Paul Gaston’s Pottery Studio in the building will also be open the same hours.

The Bindery Building , 708 Vandalia St., will be open 6-10 p.m., April 26, and noon-8 p.m., April 27. E & L Bindery will feature

paintings by three artists, and Lost and Bound Books will feature 5-10 artists. Snacks and beverages will be available.

Downtown April 26-28

George Latimer Central Library, 90 W. 4th St., will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., April 27, and 1-5 p.m., April 28. It will feature seven artists showcasing a variety of media including painting, sculpture, photography and ceramics. The art will be in the Bremer Room on the first floor of the building, and refreshments will be available both days.

Lowertown April 26-28

Lowertown Lofts Artist Cooperative, on the top three floors of the building at 255 Kellogg Blvd. E., will feature more than 30 artists selling their paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, woven arts, collages and more. Most art will be in hallways and gallery spaces on each floor. Enter in the back of the building in a well-marked alley entrance.

Union Depot, 214 4th St. E., will host artists 5-9 p.m., April 26; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., April 27; and noon-6 p.m., April 28. You’ll find 30 artists selling paintings, photography, jewelry, mixed media art and apothecary creations from booths in the Head House. Visitors will have the chance to win prizes, and specials and happy hour will be available at Union Depot’s Station 81 restaurant.

Calendula Gallery, 275 E. 4th St., Suite #130 in the Northwestern building, will be open 5-9 p.m., April 26, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., April 27, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., April 28. Twenty gallery artists and 10 pop-up artists will showcase paintings and drawings, prints and stickers, ceramics and sculptures, and more. Art will be in the gallery and the adjacent Dance Hall, and the building will also have up to 18 open artists’ studios. An artist reception dubbed “Hotdish, a Celebration of Art, Food and Friendship” will take place 5-8 p.m., April 27, in the Poppy room. It will feature an artistic cookbook created by 30 local artists.

Mary’s Pence, 275 4th St. E., Suite #642 in the Northwestern building, will be open noon-8 p.m., April 27 and noon-5 p.m., April 28.

You’ll find sterling silver jewelry and artisan items created by women’s organizations in Central America.

Lowertown Underground Artists, 308 Prince St. in the lower level of Northern Warehouse building, will be open during gallery hours.

Master Framers, 262 4th St. E., will be open 5-9 p.m., April 26; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., April 27; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., April 28. Ten artists will display paintings, screen and block prints, etchings, photography, paper and clay sculptures, pottery and ceramics, needle and textile art, and jewelry. Art will be in the gallery showroom and booths in the front shop. Light refreshments will be available.

Tilsner Artist Lofts, 300 Broadway St. N., will feature approximately 20 artists selling paintings, photography, ceramics, woodworks, mixed media artwork and more. Art will be in artists’ studios, hallway spaces and open galleries.

Northern Light Art Studio, 218 7th St. E., will be open 6-9 p.m., April 26; noon-8 p.m., April 27; and noon-5 p.m., April 28. It will feature a gallery exhibition and works from 20 artists. Mediums include paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles, glassworks and mixed media art. The site will also host an on-site scavenger hunt with chances to win small prizes, and two art workshops will take place over the weekend. Pottery 201, a 6-week wheelthrowing course, is held 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., April 27, and a Finger Drawing Workshop is held 3-5 p.m., April 28.

Como

April 26-28

Front Avenue Pottery , 895 Front Ave., is celebrating its 10th season of the Crawl. It will be open 5-10 p.m., April 26; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., April 27; and 11 a.m.4 p.m., April 28. It is hosting its annual “Firing It Up In South Como!” event. Nine local artists will sell their pottery, sculptures, decorations and jewelry inside the studio, workshop space and potter’s wheel area. There are several free community clay workshops throughout the weekend. “Potter’s Wheel” is held 6-9 p.m., Friday; noon5 p.m., Saturday; and noon3 p.m., Sunday. “Hand Building Kitchen Microgreens Planter” and “Kid’s Hands-on Activity: Clay Fish Dish” is held noon-5

p.m., Saturday, and noon-3 p.m., Sunday. Food and refreshments will be available.

Mark Granlund Studio, 1022 Burgess St., will be open 6-9 p.m., April 26; noon-8 p.m., April 27; and noon-6 p.m., April 28. Granlund will be selling his oil paintings from his studio.

Of Ink + Insight, 1410 Pascal St. N., will host “Art on the Porch” noon-6 p.m., April 27-28. Cynthia Berg will showcase Scandinavian mixed media collages featuring abstracts and botanical themes. All art will be in the enclosed front porch of the building.

Como Streetcar Station, 1224 Lexington Pkwy. S., is a new site this year. It will be open noon-6 p.m., April 27. Eight artists will showcase a variety of artworks.

Payne-Phalen April 26-28

ArT @ 967, 967 Payne Ave., will feature five resident artists showcasing their work from studios and approximately 14 guest artists in the gallery. Mediums include watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, photography, ceramics and mixed media.

Sue Sepulveda will host a soft pastel demonstration at 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Dance classes and performances

Kalpulli Huitzillin de MN will present a free dance performance 1:15-2:15 p.m., April 28, at Rice Park.

Kala Vandanam

Bharatanatyam Dance School will host a youth Bharatanatyam dance class 1:15-2:15 p.m., April 27, at the school, 2327 Wycliff St., Suite #214. The event will also feature a short performance.

Noelle Awadallah from Body Watani will lead a community dance class 4-5 p.m., April 27, at Como Streetcar Station.

Mariusz Kujawski will host a Cha-Cha class 1-3 p.m., April 20, at the Schmidt Artist Lofts.

Nautilus Music-Theatre, Suite 190 in the Northern Warehouse building, 308 E. Prince St., will present performances from new operas and contemporary musicals 7-10 p.m., April 26.

Judit Neilsdottir will host evening dance performances April 26-27 outside her loft at Lowertown Loft Artist Cooperative, 255 E. Kellogg Blvd.

ommunity

Saints return to newly updated CHS Field

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

The crack of a baseball bat will once again echo through CHS Field, spurring rowdy crowds to their feet in a wave of cheers. The St. Paul Saints 2024 season kicks off with home games against the Columbus Clippers March 29-31. The first 2,000 fans through the gate on Friday and Saturday receive a free Saints hoodie. Friday’s game will feature fireworks and Sunday’s an egg scavenger hunt.

The Saints were purchased early in the 2023 season by Diamond Baseball Holdings, which owns 16 other minor league teams, and this year fans will notice a few changes that were made at CHS Field to improve the game viewing experience. New videoboards have replaced the static scoreboard in the right field and the electronic scoreboard on the third base side. They will provide real time statistics such as pitch

type, spin rate, launch angle and exit velocity, and also show where pitches are in relation to the strike zone. To ensure fan safety, the protective netting in the foul territory has been upgraded and extended to the end of the seating bowl down the right and left field lines.

Key players to watch this season include pitchers David Festa, Matt Canterino and Simeon Woods Richardson, catcher Jair Camargo, infielders Brooks Lee, Austin Martin and Yunior Severino, and outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. The lineup may also occasionally include major leaguers rehabbing from injuries. Toby Gardenhire returns for his fourth season as Saints manager and is joined by returning bench and pitching coaches Tyler Smarslok and Peter Larson.

Last year, Gardenhire led the team to the best record in the West Division, going 84-64. Despite not making the playoffs, the Saints had the third best record in the

To ensure fan safety, the protective netting in the foul territory has been upgraded and extended to the end of the seating bowl down the right and left field lines.

International League and the best winning percentage of Gardenhire’s managerial career. At one game, the team had 14 grand slams, tying the modern era minor league record set in 2005. Overall, Gardenhire is 225-202 in his three seasons as manager. As a player, he played seven seasons in the Minnesota Twins’ Minor League system.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS }

St. Paul Library

The following events are held at the George Latimer Central Library, 90 W. 4th St. When registration is required, call 651-266-7000. Visit sppl.org/events for more information. All library locations will be closed April 18 for staff training.

Intro to Adobe Premiere, 3-4 p.m., Tuesday, April 2. Learn the basic of professional video editing. Registration required.

Level Up at the Library, 3-5 p.m. each Wednesday. Enjoy video games, arts and crafts, and tech.

Drawing and Coloring Circle , 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 3. All materials provided.

PJ Storytime , 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 3. Children are invited to wear pajamas and bring a stuffed animal or blanket.

Baby & Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m. each Thursday. Features stories, songs and age-appropriate toys.

Learn 3D Printing, 2-3 p.m. each Friday. Learn the basics of operating the Library’s Ultimaker S3 and Lulzbot Mini 3D printers. Registration required.

Learn Laser Engraving, 2-4 p.m. each Saturday. Learn the basics of operating the library’s Universal VLS 3.50 laser engraver/cutter. Registration required.

Clash of the Controllers: Teen gaming tournament, 3-5 p.m., Wednesday, April 10. Show off your gaming prowess for the chance to win prizes and bragging rights. Ages 12-18.

Library After Dark: Game Night, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10. Board and card games for all ages.

Bean Art, 11 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 13. Make a masterpiece out of dried beans. All materials provided.

Learn to Sew, 2-4 p.m., Saturday, April 13, and 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, April 20. Bring your own sewing machine or use one of the library’s. Some fabric and notions are available for you to use. Registration required.

Historical Building Tour, 4-5 p.m., Saturday, April 13. Enjoy a guided tour of George Latimer Central Library, designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style and completed in 1917.

Family Storytime , 11

a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 20. Storytelling, puppets, songs and other activities.

Craft Circle, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 24. Bring a project to work on, or start a new one with materials at the library.

The following events are held at the Riverview Library, 1 E. George St.

Musical concert for all ages, 1-3 p.m., Saturday, April 6. Son de Cuerdas performs music from North and South America. A meal will follow. Free.

West Side Writers, 2-3 p.m. each Wednesday. Participants of all skill levels bring in pieces of written work, offer each other feedback, and discuss the craft of writing.

Teen Wednesdays, 3:305:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Games, snacks, art and more for ages 12-18.

Chess Club , 6-7 p.m. each Thursday. Open to chess players ages 8-18 of all skill levels.

Family Storytime, 10:3011:30 a.m. each Friday. Songs, stories, fingerplays, puppets and more.

Riverview Book Club , 6-7 p.m., Monday, April

25. A portion of proceeds will support Special Olympics Minnesota and Special Olympic athletes can play ball on the field before the game. April 28 is a Peanuts (cartoon) celebration featuring Peanuts jersey giveaways. Other home game promotions throughout the season include Military Appreciation Night, Dog Day, Star Wars, Shred Sesh in Sk8 Paul, Pride Night, Juneteenth celebration, Pickleball Night and Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond. The Saints will also give away shirts, bobbleheads and other prizes on various dates.

This season’s home game opponents in April are Iowa, April 9-14; Rochester, April 23-28; and Louisville, April 30-May 5. Each game will have its own zany promotion. On April 9, several bars in Lowertown will host a pre-game block party event featuring a 2 p.m. happy hour. Special Olympics Minnesota Night is April

Thompson Park Activity Center

Unless noted, all activities take place at Thompson Park Activity Center, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul. Events are for ages 55 and older. To register, call 651-403-8300.

Russell Schmidt: A Musical Journey Through the Decades!, 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, April 17. $10. Dessert is included. Register by April 10.

Watercolor Painting Introduction , 1-3 p.m. each Monday in April. $85. Supplies may be purchased from the instructor at class for $40. Register by Mar. 28.

British History, 1:303:30 p.m., Tuesday, April

8. The title is “The Quarry Girls” by Jess Lourey.

Pokémon Party , 3-5 p.m., Tuesday, April 9. Create your own Poke Ball, design original cards and buttons and more. Ages 7-11.

Union Depot

The following events are held at Union Depot, 214 4th St. E. For more information, visit uniondepot.org/ event-calendar.

Super shows are presented June 8, July 3 and 4 and September 21. On Saturdays, visitors are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts, and on Sundays, families can let their kids run the bases and get player autographs.

While each home game has its own special promotion, days of the week also have their own themes. Tuesdays highlight travel and Wednesdays have activities that teach about Minnesota. Thirsty Thursdays feature $2 beers and two-for-one Bud Light seltzers. Post-game fireworks are back on Fridays, complete with music and light shows. Firework

The 8,000-seat CHS Field saw an average of 6,679 fans at each game last season, a slight increase from 2022. For tickets or more information, visit milb.com/st-paul. The Saints ball pig this year was not named as of press time but, as always, it will proudly wear a satchel loaded with baseballs and water for the home plate umpire beginning at the home opener. Although, since the Saints transitioned from a minor league team to a Triple-A affiliate in 2022, their season is 50% longer and therefore the little piggy won’t be so little by July and a new piglet will take over at that time. It will be named at a later date. Last year’s two pigs were Mud Grant and Squealon Musk.

9.  Register by April 4. $8.

Caregiver Support Group , 2-3:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10.

Rev Up for EVs Class, 9:30-11 a.m., Thursday, April 11. Learn all about electric vehicles. $5.

Spring Showers Spring Hike ,1:30-2:45 p.m., Tuesday, April 16. Look for the first sights of spring. $10.

How to Save Money and Still Get Good Care, 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, April 23. Gain insights on navigating long-term care challenges, protecting assets, and ensuring quality care while following simple Medicaid rules. $5.

Storyteller workshop, 10:30 a.m.-noon, April 24-25. A two-day work-

Riffs, Rails and Cocktails, 5-7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 4.

Red Cross Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, April 18. Games galore, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. each Wednesday. Giantsize games are available or bring your own. Free. All ages.

Public tours of the depot, 11 a.m.-noon, April 9 and 23, and noon-1 p.m., April 18.

shop designed to help you refine your storytelling skills. $10.

Men’s Topics & Toast, 9-10 a.m., Monday, April 29. Discuss topics pertinent to men ages 55 and older and enjoy buttered toast and toppings. $10 annually.

It’s Fun to Volunteer in Dakota County, 1011 a.m., Tuesday, April 30. Discover the many opportunities available in Dakota County.  Four Hour Driver Safety Course , noon4 p.m., April 4, 18 and May 2. Pre-registration is required. Call 888234-1294 or visit www. driverdiscountprogram. com. $24.

St. Paul Art Crawl, April 26-28. Shop local artists, listen to live music, enjoy specials and happy hour at Station 81 restaurant, and win free prizes. Hours are 5-9 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.7 p.m., Saturday; noon-6 p.m., Sunday.

Free yoga classes are offered 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9-10 a.m., Saturdays.

DOWNTOWN

Church of St. Louis, King of France

506 Cedar St. 651-224-3379 stlouiskingoffrance.org

• Church of the Assumption 51 W. Seventh St. 651-224-7536 assumptionsp.org

• Central Presbyterian 500 Cedar St. 651-224-4728 centralforgood.org

• First Baptist 499 Wacouta St. 651-222-0718 firstbaptiststpaul.org

• Church of St. Mary 267 8th St. E., #100 651-222-2619 stmarystpaul.org

WEST SIDE

Cherokee Park United 371 Baker St W 651-227-4275 cherokeeparkunited.org

• La Puerta Abierta UMC 690 Livingston Ave. 651-558-1896

• Our Lady of Guadalupe 401 Concord St 651-228-0506 www.olgcatholic.org

• St. Elizabeth Orthodox 125 Congress St E 651-424-0814 seocc.org

St. Matthew Catholic 490 Hall Avenue 651-224-9793 st-matts.org

• St. Paul Mennonite Fellowship 371 Baker St. W 651-291-0647 saintpaulmennonite.org

WEST ST. PAUL

Augustana Lutheran

1400 Robert St. S. 651-457-3373 augustana.com

• Community Christ the Redeemer

110 Crusader Ave. W. 651-451-6123 ccredeemer.org

• Crown of Life Lutheran Church & School 115 Crusader Ave. W. 651-451-3832 colwsp.org

• Faith United Methodist 1530 Oakdale Ave. 651-457-5686 faithumcmn.com

• Mizpah River Ministries 1530 Oakdale Ave. 651-399-5783

• Restoration Hope Church 121 Butler Ave. W. (Heritage Middle School) West St. Paul, 612-254-480 restorationhopechurch.com

Riverview Baptist

14 Moreland Ave. E. 651-457-3831 riverviewbaptist.net

Salem Lutheran 11 Bernard St 651-457-6661 salemluth.org

•

St. George Antiochian Orthodox 1250 Oakdale Ave. 651-457-0854 saintgeorge-church.org

•

St. James Lutheran 460 Annapolis St. W. 651-457-9232 saintjameslutheran.com

• St. Joseph’s Catholic 1154 Seminole Ave 651-457-2781 churchofstjoseph.org

• St. Stephen’s Lutheran 1575 Charlton St. 651-457-6541 ststephenswsp.org

SOUTH ST. PAUL

Luther Memorial Church 315 15th Ave. N. 651-451-2400 luther-memorial.com

• St Augustine’s Catholic Church 408 3rd St N 651-455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org

• First Presbyterian 535 20th Ave N 651-451-6223 fpcssp.org

• Woodbury Lutheran Wakota Ridge Campus 255 W. Douglas St. 651-739-5144 woodburylutheran.org

South St. Paul Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist 140 6th Ave. N. 651-455-0777

• Grace Lutheran Church 149 8th Ave S 651-451-1035 grace-ssp.org

• Holy Trinity Catholic Church Catholic church 749 6th Ave S 651-455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org

• Clark Memorial United Church 779 15th Ave N 651-451-7278 clarkgraceucc.org

• St. Sava Serbian Orthodox church 357 2nd Ave S 651-451-0775 stsavamn.org

• Saint John Vianney Catholic Church 789 17th Ave. N. 651-451-1863 info@sjvssp.org

• Sf. Stefan Romanian Orthodox Church 350 5th Ave. N. 651-451-3462

sfantulstefan.org

• St Mary ’s Coptic Orthodox Church 501 6th Ave S 651-455-8947 stmarymn.org

Discovering St. Paul’s very own slot canyon

Tim Spitzack Editor

Whenresidents rattle off the geographical amenities of Minnesota, you’ll hear them mention our 10,000 lakes, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Lake Superior and the Mississippi River. You might even hear some talk about caves, but rarely, if ever, will anyone say canyons. That’s because we don’t have them, at least that’s what I thought until I read about a slot canyon in Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul. Intrigued, I had to see it for myself.

A slot canyon is a long, narrow channel or drainageway with sheer rock walls made of sandstone or other sedimentary rock. They’re common in Utah, Arizona and other areas of the Southwest that get little rainfall. I’ve hiked through some in that region, and they are stunning to see. Their depthto-width ratios range from 10:1 to nearly 100:1, and

some can measure less than 3 feet across at the top and drop more than 100 feet to the canyon floor.

It turns out we have other canyons, too, including the mile-long Kadunce Canyon on the North Shore, north of Grand Marais. Perhaps I’ve been living under a rock.

The bluffs in St. Paul are well known for their many caves, but not canyons. Nonetheless, if you’re willing to walk about one mile from the west entrance parking lot at Crosby Farm, near the marina, you can witness St. Paul’s very own slot canyon for yourself.

The park surrounds two lakes – Crosby Lake and Upper Lake – and has nearly 7 miles of trails that weave through the heavily wooded flood plain of the Mississippi. You can find the canyon by following the trail along the bluff on the north side of the lakes. It’s paved until just past where the two lakes meet, then it becomes a narrow dirt path that is prone to flooding in the springtime.

Here, you’ll find a wonderful slice of wilderness. Looking to the south, all that is visible are the shimmering lakes

and tangled forestland. Were it not for the din of traffic zooming along Shepard Road on top of the bluff, it

At its narrowest point, St. Paul’s slot canyon is just three feet wide and over 30 feet high. The canyon widens to a large bowl some 20 feet wide and at least twice as high.

would be easy to get lost in a daydream of experiencing the land before a sprawling city grew around it. I hiked to the canyon in late February, so it was simple to spot. It may not be as easy to find when the trees are thick with foliage. From the trail you can see the narrow opening of the canyon and one must hike over a slight incline paved with slippery stones to reach it. At its narrowest point, the canyon is just three feet wide and over 30 feet high. Along the walls are initials inscribed by young lovers and others wanting to mark their place in time. Erosion will eventually erase their marks,

leaving a clean slate for the next generation. The canyon widens to a large bowl some 20 feet wide and at least twice as high. A trickle of water runs off the bluff and sparkles against the north canyon wall as it makes its way below. All around one can see the colorful strata of the limestone and the many curves and crevices carved out by the passage of time. Is the canyon as impressive as those in the southwest. No, not by a long shot, but it’s still interesting to see and is worth the short hike. Plus, it gives us one more boast of the many wonderful geographical amenities we have in our state.