The Woodpiles of Otter Tail County – Minnesota

The Woodpiles of Otter Tail County – Minnesota

by | Mar 6, 2020 | people/passions

Yarns from the Lake

“I don’t think there are any covered bridges in Otter Tail County, but there are plenty of woodpiles. My sister Betsy and I had taken photos of the massive woodpile created during a family work weekend that included splitting and stacking wood needed for the maple syrup evaporator. Later, after we found some creative woodpiles when driving around in the area, Betsy posted photos of a couple of them on Facebook. Recently, I came across more woodpiles and thought it would be a fun blog post. Betsy gets credit for the title. Enjoy The Woodpiles of Otter Tail County.”

Waiting to be split for firewood
Betsy and a cousin operating the log splitter
Split wood stacked in the syrup shed

A few random wood piles seen out and about in Otter Tail County.

extra/ordinary: The American Swedish Institute – Minneapolis, MN

extra/ordinary: The American Swedish Institute – Minneapolis, MN

by | Mar 6, 2020 | art/design

At Play, an imaginative new exhibition produced by the American Swedish Institute that celebrate its 90th anniversary and explores 29 objects from ASI’s collection and the stories behind them.

Visitors are invited to not only re-discover the wonder of featured objects, many on public display for the first time, plus view newly opened rooms in the Turnblad Mansion, but also encounter such surprises as a 20-foot-tall Dala horse, a kitchen ceiling lined with colored wooden spoons and a ballroom full of balls. extra/ordinary was inspired by the book A to Zäåö: Playing with History at the American Swedish Institute which features original watercolor paintings and ink illustrations by the Minnesota mother-son team of Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson. The exhibition will be on through July 5, 2020.

Most amazing and authentic Mexican street foods in the Twin Cities

Most amazing and authentic Mexican street foods in the Twin Cities

by | Mar 6, 2020 | eat/drink

“Our story began out of our own little kitchen on a trailer park located in Little Canada where a lot of loyal customer who are still visiting us today supported us all the way to our 1st and very own brick and mortar which was first stablished in East St Paul. Our backyard used to fill up with cars and lines of people waiting to get the Del Gordo burger before we ran out. Truly something people was so happy to finally have available to them. Our hours of operations at our home were for only 4 hours every Friday, Saturday and eventually Sundays, the demand was so big that we had to give the next step which we don’t regret not one bit and even tho a lot of the times is very hard to maintain a business and raise a family of 5 we would definitely do it all over again.”

 

The Mexican street food specialists at Hamburguesas El Gordo are planning to add a third location this spring.

St. Paul-based Union Park Management Inc. confirms the restaurant has signed a lease for its 161 Victoria St. space in St. Paul. Formerly home to Tori Ramen, the storefront is just north of the Selby Avenue and Victoria Street intersection.

Known for its tacos, hot dogs and gigantic burgers, Hamburguesas currently has two locations: 1731 S. Robert St. in West St. Paul and 4157 Cedar Ave. S. in Minneapolis.

The sit-down restaurant on Victoria Street will also offer takeout and delivery.

Hamburguesas El Gordo’s signature hamburger is the Del Gordo Burger, a two-fister topped with both mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, ham, bacon, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, avocado, pickled peppers, ketchup and mustard. The similarly loaded Del Gordo Cubano adds a split hotdog, fried egg and bacon to the formula.

Hamburguesas’ hot dogs come wrapped in bacon in the style of the street dogs served in northern Mexico and Los Angeles.

Hamburguesas El Gordo owner Claudia Gutierrez said she was already thinking about adding a third restaurant when she was approached by Union Park owner Joseph Hughes about the Victoria Street space. It’s located about midway between Gutierrez’s other two restaurants.

Have you had #Elote on top of #elote? Elotes Chorreado Doble: Two Mexican style corn on the cob with mayo, queso cotija, lime and chile de arbol.

“We’re excited about bringing traditional Mexican street food to the Selby area” Hughes said in a statement Hamburguesas El Gordo will share the building with J. Selby’s, which bills itself as a “plant-based eatery.” The restaurant, open since 2017, caters to vegans and vegetarians, and the menu includes plant-based proteins like the meatless Beyond Burger.

Tori Ramen closed its Victoria Street location in August and relocated to St. Paul’s West 7th Street.

 

By   – Staff reporter, Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
Bock Fest Sip Some Bock And Pray For Spring! New Ulm, MN

Bock Fest Sip Some Bock And Pray For Spring! New Ulm, MN

by | Mar 6, 2020 | events/locations

While the beer doesn’t always speed the arrival of Spring, it will at least keep you warm. Come beckon warmer weather with a mug full of Bock, music, and food. Seven Bocks of Winter are hiding around the brewery and in Flandrau State Park, waiting for brave festers to venture out and capture them. Armed with completely useless clues and Bock beer, hunters will comb the park in search of these elusive bocks. Our two human St. Bernards, with kegs of Bock beer strapped to their backs, are ready to be dispatched at a moments notice of the first signs of thirst. Oft-repeated tales depict their heroic exploits, finding festers roaming the woods at wits end, searching for another glass of Schell’s Bock beer. Once they receive nourishment, they find the strength to go forth and continue their search for the stealthy bocks. Legend has it if all Seven Bocks of Winter are captured and brought back to the brewery, winter will release its icy grip on Minnesota, and bring an early spring. (This has never been scientifically proven and is widely disputed among scholars to this day.)

For those not hearty enough to leave the Schell’s Brewery fest grounds, feel no shame. Schell’s beer, brats, live music and warm fire await you. Grab yourself a Schell’s Bock and brag to your friends of how you braved the Minnesota forest “last year” and found all seven bocks yourself. Your friends will be so impressed with your exploits, you probably won’t have to buy another beer the entire time you’re here! Head over to the fire and have your beer “poked” by our fire tenders, giving your Bock beer some nice caramel flavors.

And when the final bock has been wrangled, the last Ring of Fire sung, the last keg tapped and last mug hoisted, its time to close the books on another Bock Fest…Unless you want to stick around and help with the cleanup! But the party doesn’t stop there. Festers flock to downtown New Ulm for a fun-filled night of friendship. And when the night has run its course and it’s time to call it quits, we ask that you call for a ride home! Be safe out there!

Location

August Schell Brewing Company
1860 Schell Road, New Ulm, MN  56073

 

Admission

  • Ticket cost $10
  • 21 plus event. ID’s required
  • Tickets will also be available at the gate on the day of the event for $10. Limit of 10 per purchase
  • Limited number of tickets will be sold in advance.  Gift shop will open its doors at 10 a.m. on the day of advanced ticket sales and will sell tickets as long as they are available. Online sales will begin at 10 a.m. on February 3rd and last as long as tickets are available. Can’t make it to the brewery to get your tickets? No problem, we’re selling them online as well!
  • Sorry, no refunds on advanced tickets
  •  Purchase your tickets here!

Schedule

  • Saturday, March 7, 2020: 11:00am – 4:30pm at the brewery
  • 10:30 – Gates open for advanced ticket holders only!
  • 11:00 – Gates open for cash purchase
  • 11:00 – The first keg is tapped and the music begins
  • 4:30 – Gates close

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