The Webber Natural Swimming Pool has been there since July 24, 2015, but I only just heard about it. It is the first (and maybe only?) natural swimming pool in America, with no chemicals used to treat it. No green hair from chlorine! I was excited.

The pool is located in North Minneapolis, and it’s an easy afternoon for anyone in the Metro area. Do know that there are a LOT of rules in order to keep this pool natural and swimmable. I parked by the tennis courts, and walked across the park to the pool area, which was surprisingly uncrowded for such a beautiful day.

The teens who were working were VERY serious, like I almost laughed. They give you the whole spiel about how there is NO FOOD OR BEVERAGE BUT WATER allowed, and they will search your bags to make sure you have no snack contraband. The no glass part is obvious, but not being able to eat my sandwich felt a bit rigid. Shrug. Whatever. Back it went to the car. Drag.

Read more

These intimate dinners quickly became popular, and were moved into a pop-up situation in a ThaiPop restaurant in downtown Rochester. Those also became popular, allowing the team of Chef Diaz and co-owner Chef Kiefer Manning to go for it, and restore the 120 year old Chicago Great Western Railroad Depot to become their wonderful current location.

We recently took my Mom on a visit to her hometown of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and I made it a priority to stop at Our Paladar on our way back on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River. They open at 4:00 p.m., so we timed it just right to get a little happy hour snack. We were just about the only people there when they opened, and it was too blazing hot to sit outside on the lovely railroad track adjacent patio, so we had the cool, breezy interior pretty much to ourselves.

The real reason I wanted to go - aside from the coolness of the Paladar tradition - was that I’d read they had a brown butter Old Fashioned, the “Butter Me Up”. What. I wanted that. I got that. It was DELICIOUS.

All the drinks were, honestly, and if we hadn’t still had to drive back to Minneapolis, we definitely would have had a few more rounds. Yum.

Read more

Sea Salt opened in the summer of 2005, ten years after I had moved away to California. I soon began to hear all about it, and was honestly a little snooty about it, as seafood in Minnesota where there is no sea couldn’t compare to our fresh fish in Los Angeles. But it could. I was delighted to find out that a college friend of mine at Augsburg, Jon Blood, was one of the new proprietors! He knew his fish. I went as soon as I came home for a summer visit, and have not missed a summer since.

There is always a line, sometimes longer than others. Don’t let it daunt you, the line moves fast, and it’s a part of the tradition. You chat with the folks in line near you, and you get to see the food coming out past you, helping you to decide what to order. You really can’t go wrong with anything.

The line also goes fast because there’s always something to look at. People watching is good, but you never know what might be happening on any given night in the park. On the recent night that we were there, a guy was making giant bubbles with special tools - and he even had a kit available that you could get to take and make the huge orbs of soap yourself at home. Classic summertime fun for kids of all ages.

I always used to get the fish and chips, only they never had fries, just actual chips. I’m happy to report that the chips are now available as fries, and that you can also get one of my favorite things ever, fresh oysters. An oyster is the very essence of the sea - something I miss having near me every single day. 

We were going to the River Rats water ski show one night a ways up the River Road, and didn’t have time to stand in the Sea Salt line. This was when it was a joy to find out that they also now offer a sandwich room, that you don’t have to stand in the line for.

The sandwiches are GREAT, and we grabbed a few to take as a picnic while watching the River Rats. Perfect. What a great idea to serve as many people as possible, while also offering equally great choices in both spots.

If you’re not in the mood for a full meal, you can always just get a nice cone of Sebastian Joe’s ice cream right there at the ice cream window. It doesn’t get more summery than that.

The belle of the ball during an outing to Sea Salt will always be the beautiful Minnehaha Falls. It is the centerpiece of the entire area, and an easy place to take visitors because the best view of the falls is right next to the parking lot. It’s fun for everyone, and really a must for any visitor to the Twin Cities.

That visitor might like a keepsake of this nice memory, and Sea Salt has their own merch. You can peruse it all while you’re in the line, and represent this cool place wherever you may go.

A good way to keep summer going at home is that Sea Salt just came out with a cook book! It tells their whole story, as well as shares their most loved recipes. A lovely gift this Christmas to remind everyone that summer will come again.

I’m writing this now, to urgently tell you that you have to GO!, and kind of soon. Sea Salt is a seasonal eatery, and I don’t know their closing date for the season yet, but I know it’s looming soon, because I saw this on my drive home today.

A tree is already turning orange! Summer is flying by faster than I can ever remember, like ZOOM. I read a lovely quote last night that Norwegians say to one another … “Vi skal ikkje sova bort sumarnatta.” We mustn’t sleep away the summer night. It’s far too precious. Minnesotans can easily understand that sentiment. Our summers are so fleeting, so precious … you just have to get out there and soak it all in. And Sea Salt Eatery is a great place to feel like SUMMER. Thank you, Friends!

GO!

Sea Salt Eatery

4825 Minnehaha Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55417

#(612) 558-3370

Open every day 11am-8pm in SUMMER.

No Reservations.

You can pretty much walk the whole stretch of the Main Street and see everything in about an hour (or less) too. Darling shops, delicious little restaurants, all super picturesque. You cannot go to Stockholm without ducking into the Stockholm Pie and General Store. It’s the best. Literally, as it was voted best pie in the country the last two years. And the good news for everyone is that they now ship nationwide!

I think about their Lemon Lingonberry pie a lot. It’s so good. A close second is the Bumbleberry tied with the Chocolate Cream. You really can’t go wrong with any of them, as the always long lines will attest. They’ll give you a little buzzer pager after you order, so you can feel free to go poke around in the equally darling General Store to pick up a little memento or two.

Stockholm Pie is beloved, and really ties this whole little community together. You can check the bulletin board to see what’s happening around town … and there is always something. They like to have fun in Stockholm.

Another highlight that you cannot miss is the Scandihoo Shop. It used to be a little branch of our Ingebretsen’s in Minneapolis, and then the pandemic hit and it was too hard to get down there and keep it going.

It was sold to the now-owner, Kristen Smith Procter, and she has created a very special oasis of hygge. I visit her every time I go through, and she’s a real gem, with an eye for the very best Scandinavian things.

I love her motto, “Nordic style with a kick!”, and that’s exactly what it is. Everything is colorful and fun, and a treat just to walk inside the door into the coziness. The good news, once again, is that Scandihoo also ships nationwide. Cuteness for all!

There are several good eating options in addition to Stockholm Pie (who have more than pie, they have great food!). You could hit the Humble Moon Saloon. They weren’t open when we were there this time, but it’s great. You do have to check hours on places in Stockholm, as it’s so tiny that often places are closed on weird days, and they are seasonal. Like Stockholm Pie is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Random, but that’s the deal and it’s good to know before you go. We ate at Hop Dish & Vine a different time, and the fresh, delicious salad still haunts me. You can also hit The Palate for wine and cheese boards, or to pick up some fine, French delectables. Stockholm has it all.

There are a bunch of antique places, with random hours, and it’s fun to just go and explore and see what you find. These small river towns have their own charm, and it’s a delight to discover things on your own. I also love that even a tiny town like this knows that it is on Dakota land. Respect.

I’d been wanting to visit the Lavender Bluff Farm for a while now, and didn’t know that it’s like not even a mile down the road from the Main drag of Stockholm!

They have acres of lavender growing, and it’s all there for you to pick. It was so very hot when we visited that we just took a quick look at the lovely fields, and then headed inside to the gift shop.

If you need or want something with lavender, Lavender Bluff Farm will have it. There is lavender hanging to dry out above everything, lending an immediate sense of cool and calm the moment you walk in the door.

Products range from lotions and soaps, to bug repellent, CBD tinctures, and tea. As nice as it is to be there in person, smelling it all, these fine folks also ship, so you don’t have to feel left out, wherever you are. We were eager to get to Kinstone on the day we visited, so we couldn’t stay long, but I’m so happy to know it’s there to linger at another day.

As we were speeding south to Kinstone, we passed through Pepin, Wisconsin, and screeched to a halt when I saw the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. There are several Ingalls museums around the country, but this is the one where she was born. I’ve visited before, but this time I was there to grab a bonnet (!), as I knew we were about to be hiking around in the boiling sun, and I’d forgotten a hat. The bonnet was perfect, and the ladies in the Museum were lovely. They were all excited, as the actors from the new Little House On The Prairie Netflix show are going to be there for Laura Ingalls Wilder Days, coming up on September 12th and 13th, which sounds like a great, wholesome time.

We can’t always get away on big, long, far away vacations, and sometimes it’s nice to just do a little getaway. Even a small break from regular life is helpful to your mental health, and it’s good to learn about new places that aren’t that far away. If you have more time, there are several Bed and Breakfasts nearby you would love. I’m kind of surprised at how few people I’ve talked to about it have been to Stockholm - Wisconsin - so consider this your little nudge to go. Skol!

GO!

Stockholm, Wisconsin

We had never heard the term “Driftless Area” growing up, and I think it’s a more recent marketing term, referring to the fact that the region was missed by the last ice sheets, and were never flattened by glaciers, thus you get the hills and bluffs the area is known for. It’s super beautiful, and a great place for a weekend getaway. We took our Mom to her hometown last week to see her childhood friend, Sandra, and to escape the heat by staying in an air conditioned hotel. It was awesome.

There are several La Crosse greatest hits that we as a family can never miss, starting with a visit to our departed family members at Oak Grove Cemetery. We brought some flowers for my Grandma, Leona Olson, (who was known as The Flower Lady), and I brought some tomatoes for my Grandpa, Laurie Olson, who was known for his excellent tomatoes. We love and miss them dearly, and carry them with us always.

My favorite restaurant in La Crosse is Lovechild. Once you go inside, you could be in L.A. It’s delicious food, great decor … but it’s not open on Mondays, and that’s when we were there. I wanted to try a new place, and we found Huck Finn’s On The Water.

I wanted to go for the name alone, but also it was right on the water, and we’d never even known about this little part of French Island, with a marina that you can boat right up to the restaurant. We had no idea. As with a lot of places like this, it’s more about the view than the food. The food wasn’t great, to be honest (like I had to send back cold, hard chips with my fish - and I never do that), but we were happy to sit and look at the boats and the beautiful day, and focus on our cocktails.

I like to stay in places that aren’t chains, to get a better feel of the place I am. This time in La Crosse, we stayed at the excellent Charmant Hotel downtown, just a block from the mighty Mississippi River and Riverside Park.

The Charmant used to be a chocolate factory, and they have 24/7 chocolate service in the lobby should you need a late-night truffle. I love it.

We were beat by the time we arrived, but not too beat for a little stroll around Riverside Park at sunset. La Crosse is gorgeous down by the river, and at certain bends in the river you could almost believe you were in Hawai’i. Weird, I know, but it’s true.

My favorite place to stay in La Crosse is The Hatchery, which I found a few years ago on another trip down with Mom. It’s right IN Riverside Park, and we were there when they were setting up the Christmas light display in the Park, and at night we had the whole place to ourselves to walk around. Magical. (Plus they offer Aveda products!) Alas, they didn’t have a room available for our days, so we ended up at The Charmant right up the street, and we weren’t mad about it at all.

There was a jazz concert happening in the park as we strolled around enjoying the gorgeous sunset, and it just felt like a dreamy summer night - except that it was about a zillion degrees out and we were sweaty messes.

Back to The Charmant to cool off, and to get an appropriate nightcap cocktail for a former chocolate factory - a chocolate martini.

After a great night’s sleep, we set off for The Sweet Shop, to keep the chocolate vibes going. It’s over a hundred years old, and my Mom’s favorite spot in La Crosse.

We’ve had a very hard time ordering her favorite Love Food (basically chocolate covered sponge candy) over the phone (there’s a very small window, they have no website, and they don’t love to answer the phone) the past few years, so thought this year we’d go in person to make sure she got it for the holidays this year. That mission was accomplished.

We also hit up Norskedalen, which I’ve written about before, but Paul had never been there yet, so we got to see our Viking in the recreated Viking village there in the valley near the Troll Trail.

Mom wanted to hit Granddad Bluff, the highest point in La Crosse, so we wound our way up there to see it all from above. Again, it was SO hot, we kind of did the Griswold stand there and look at the view for a second, and then high-tail it back to the cooled off car.

You can see the whole layout of La Crosse from up there, and in the distance, the bluffs on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River that if you squint could be on the Big Island of Hawai’i by Waipio Valley (I used to live there, I’m not just saying it). So gorgeous - and a little bit cooler than down below too. Bonus.

Mom had a nice visit with her friends, Sandra and Lanny, and we promised them we would be back again soon. La Crosse has come a long way, People. It’s a college town, and that was all lost on us when we were kids. We pretty much just hung out at our Grandma’s house on Wood Street.

I’m telling you, La Crosse is cool now, with so many good little shops, and places to eat, and fun to be had. It’s a great place to head for a close getaway to the Twin Cities, with all sorts of cool places to see along both sides of the Great River Road (like Kinstone that we just discovered). You have to go.

Love you, La Crosse!

GO!

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Kinstone was created by Kristine Beck in 2011, to have a space that at its core is the love of earth, and the wonder and mystery and BEAUTY of the natural world. It is a sanctuary made of stone and earth, and it is something else.

It was BOILING hot on the day we visited, like dangerous hot. We were taking my Mom on a visit to her hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and I had looked up Kinstone to see that it was on the way. We took the beautifully scenic Great River Road on the Wisconsin side. I made a quick stop to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Pepin, Wisconsin to pick up a bonnet to protect me from the blazing sun at our next stop. Little CJ on the Prairie!

We drove through the green and rolling hills up, up, up to a sign that pointed to Kinstone. I was so excited. There truly is a FEELING you get on the land, like it's a vortex. You’ll feel it in places like my beloved Venice, California. Sedona, Arizona. It’s an energy that you can’t explain, but it’s there. We were grateful to see that there was a building with A.C., so we could let our Mom learn about the place inside and not wither from the heat.

We were delighted to find that the woman working in the museum/gift shop/cool oasis was none other than Kristine Beck, the founder of the entire place. We were the only visitors at the time, so she was a fount of information to share before we explored it all. I was entirely amazed, even before tramping around the grounds. I asked her if she was a mystic, a psychic, a witch? She smiled and replied, “I stand stones.” Good enough for me.

Beck had reached mid-life, and wanted to do something meaningful. She is the 4th generation of her family on this land, and she wanted to build a “place to be” that was peaceful, serene, and in tune with the energies of nature and life, away from the chaos of the “regular world”. She visited nearby granite quarries, and explains that certain stones just called to her. She laughed and said that the last time she visited, none needed to be taken home with her, so she might be done … you never know. We left our Mom in the groovy reading room, with books all about the mystic, energy, cosmos, history, happy as a lark to be both cool and learning. She loves a pamphlet.

Armed with our map and FAQ sheets that Beck gave us, my brother, Paul, and I set out to see all the stones amid the absolutely beautiful permaculture that Beck has cultivated here.

“Kinstone” is a mix of “Kin” - family and all relationships. Between people, plants, animals, stone, water, wind, fire, earth, and sky. Everything. “Stone” - means stone! Relationships punctuated by stones that remind us that we are all interwoven and connected. All is one. And you certainly feel that here.

There are helpful signs all along the lovely, mowed grass paths. We came first to The Three Witnesses, a dry-stacked stone and megalith sculpture aligned to the sunrise on the Equinox. They have ceremonies here on the Summer Solstice too, as the sun comes up right into the circle of the stones. Cool, dude. I can see a music video being shot here, it would look so great.

When you’re right up in it, you can see all of the massive amount of work that has gone into creating this natural wonder. It is so special, and I just kept beaming as I walked around in wonder - even as I became soaked with sweat and almost delirious. The spacey feeling kind of went with the place anyway.

Paul and I kind of went on our own explorations, shouting to each other when the other had to come see something. I found him lying on a stone amid the Great Stone Circle, the most Stonehenge looking of them all. The megalith contains 19 standing stones in the outer ring, 18 sitting stones in the inner ring, plus one flat “Lying Down Stone” which is where I found Paul looking like he was about to be sacrificed.

He might have been, as lying there on the granite stone he was probably being cooked alive. The sign told you to lie there and feel the connection to the Earth … and we did. We were both getting a natural buzz just being among this magic. And it just kept getting better.

We next strolled through the Portal of Peace, with its colorful prayer flags fluttering in the hot breeze.

With the birds chirping and the wind rustling the tall grasses and prairie wildflowers, I don’t know how you could feel anything but peace here. The whole world needs to take a walk through the Peace Portal, asap.

Beck had told us which were the main points not to miss (though I intended to see it all), and the Chapel Of Creation was one.

The hexagonal cordwood building with a thatched roof is based on the Canticle of Creation by Saint Francis of Assisi. There are glass inserts in the walls allowing in light, and a wood carving honoring the Lakota and Dakota Sioux who likely stewarded this land before Beck’s family. In the middle of it all was a Tree of Intention for you to write on a ribbon and tie to the tree.

Ring the bell. Feel at peace. We surely did. Beck had told us to be sure not to shut any cats inside when we left, and we didn’t see any, so we reluctantly went back out into the inferno of the afternoon.

We could have wandered all day among the cultivated paths, but I cannot stress enough how punishingly hot it was on this day. We saw a sign for a sauna in a little stone house and had to laugh. I’m sure it would be pure bliss on a winter day in these hills, but not today.

We walked as fast as we could to see as much as we could, but also didn’t want to leave Mom too long (we needn’t have worried, she barely missed us in her time in the cool building reading stuff). We went down a hill into a forested area, where the shade of the pine trees offered a brief moment of relief from the blistering sun. There we saw the Anchor Stone and Cosmos, that anchor the “Energy Line” according to the information sheet.

We passed a stone labyrinth, and headed up a different path through what was actual prairie - the perfect setting for my new bonnet! ha.

At the top of another hill was a little barn, with a goat chilling there in the shade. I couldn’t imagine being covered with fur on such a day, but this guy looked content from his perch overlooking the peaceful grounds. I now felt the same way.

We took so many pictures, and we did manage to see all of the stones and attractions, but I don’t want to share all of them here, because part of the greatness of this place is the discovery. Turning a corner to find another resplendent structure framed by nature. Touching a megalith and absorbing the energy of thousands of years that it contains within. Looking around in a circle and being surrounded on all sides by creativity and wonder among all of the natural creation. You honestly feel transformed. You feel better. I can’t really explain it, but you just do.

With all of the daily trauma in our global lives these days, to take special moments away from it all is crucial. To surround yourself with nature and good vibrations for a while is a really good thing to do. We absolutely loved it, and we burst back into the building full of compliments and questions, and a dying thirst (Beck has cold drinks on offer inside, thank God!). We were bubbling over with things to tell our Mom, and we managed to get her out to the edge of it all to see the vista of it, before rushing her into the cooling off car.

I was buzzing all the way rest of the way to La Crosse, so happy to have found such a incredible, magical destination. Kinstone is close enough to either the Twin Cities or La Crosse to make it an easy day trip, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Beck deserves so much credit for creating such a truly mystical little part of our crazy world, and I really want everyone to know about it.

We can all use more wonder in our lives, especially now. Trust me that you will find it at this place of connection, inspiration, and renewal. Thank you, thank you to Kristine Beck for sharing her marvelous land and vision with us. Kinstone is magic!

GO!

Kinstone

S3429 Cole Bluff Lane

Fountain City, WI 54629

(608) 687-3332

Hours 10-6 Every Day

Then the smokes seemed to clear. The lodge we were booked at (Sag Lodge) said we could cancel due to the fires, but they were still open. I texted my friend in Grand Marais, and she said the skies were clear there. We decided to go for it. And we’re so glad we did.

We went mid-week, both because that’s when my Mom’s birthday was, but also because it’s less busy. We needn’t have worried about that, as we soon heard how many people had canceled their Up North trips. At the peak season. Sag Lodge is right at the edge of the BWCA, so after a long drive up the Gunflint Trail, we found ourselves deep in the forest, on the edge of large, beautiful Lake Saganaga on the border of Minnesota and Canada. We could canoe right into Canada!

After our long drive (and a stop at the Fisherman’s Daughter in Grand Marais for fresh Lake Superior fish and “Sea Fries”, we unloaded our stuff into our cabin and hit the deck for a nice glass of wine overlooking the glassy lake. This is what I’d been picturing all year, calm beauty with a loon soundtrack. Thank you.

There isn’t really any cell service up there, and I’d been picturing that as well. A real break from all the daily terrible news of society. There was no television, but board games and books and those good, real life old-fashioned things. I had brought two books about this country, Canoeing In The Wilderness by Henry David Thoreau, and Boundary Waters: The Grace of the Wild by Paul Gruchow.

I read aloud to my Mom and brother, Paul, and whenever I would stop to see if they were bored or asleep, they would both say, “Keep reading!” This will be a happy memory forever, as we read both books over the next few days, and my raspy voice is well worth it.

My nature goals were to see a Minnesota moose in the wild (and wore a moose sweatshirt to attract one), an owl if we were lucky, a bear if we weren’t, to hear a loon, to hear a wolf, and to see the Milky Way in this dark sky destination. As we were getting ready for bed, Paul went to the car to get something. He came back and opened the door, saying, “Get out here right now!” I knew from the tone of his voice I needed to jump up, and did. There, right at the bottom of our deck, standing in the light, was a MOOSE! Right there! Not in a hurry!

We felt so charmed and happy. This moose looked right at me for a long time, and it was like we were communicating in some primal way. I could not believe our luck, nor could the family we told about it the next day. But we had photos to prove it. SO. COOL.

We slept soundly after that magical experience, and awoke to my Mom’s 86th birthday! We had seen a coffee shop along the Gunflint Trail on the way up, and we were kind of last minute about finally deciding to come, so we didn’t have any of those basics along.

The 20 or so miles back to The Loon’s Nest was well worth it, and we had a glorious morning drinking our coffees and eating delicious breakfast sandwiches and cardamom rolls outside there among the pine trees. What a welcome haven all all the way up north.

We had passed a sign for a museum along the way, and decided to check it out. I love a museum, and I really love a museum gift shop. The Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center was an informative delight. They have all the history of the area spelled out for you, as well as gorgeous trails and views.

Mom enjoyed reading about all the things, and looking at the exhibits in their A.C., while Paul and I sweated it out on one of the beautiful trails real quick.

What a true gift this stunning part of the world is. I read that one out of every ten trips into the wilderness in the United States is in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. We met a teacher couple from Northern California at The Loon’s Nest who told us this was their sixth Summer in a row up there. It is a natural resource so beloved to so many, we MUST protect it from any and all drilling entities. Forever.

All of the reading and learning made us want to get into the DOING. We headed back to Sag Lodge, where it was now later afternoon. We set Mom up on the deck with her art supplies and snacks, then Paul and I finally got to get out on the water in a canoe provided by the lodge. The physical work combined with the stunning landscape was giving a full endorphin boost. I was so happy.

We had a little map and saw that it was actually not that far to the border of Canada. We didn’t have our passports in the canoe with us, but we were very tempted, and would have gone on except that we didn’t want to leave our Mom alone that long. It was so peaceful, so spectacular, I will be able to return to it in my head for a long while. We turned around after a while, knowing that we still had to clean up for Mom’s birthday dinner.

There aren’t a lot of restaurant options that far into the woods, so we headed to the Gunflint Trail Lodge to get our dear Mom a proper meal. We dolled her all up, and enjoyed a beautiful sunset with our food. The family we befriended at our lodge (shout out to the Langeruds!) came there for dinner too, so it was nice to have more than just us wishing her a happy birthday. I overheard the manager (I think) saying they had 50 employees for 15 guests, as everyone had cancelled their Northern vacations. I’m imploring you to not do that. They need you. We need it, and it’s just as beautiful as always. Please

Saganaga Lake was placid and glassy when we returned, and we sat out on the deck again in the hopes of our moose friend returning.

They didn’t return, and it wasn’t looking good for Northern Lights or The Milky Way either, so we did some more reading aloud, and retired early to get up early for another full day.

We rose and shone, and headed back down The Gunflint Trail to one of my very favorite spots for breakfast, The Naniboujou Lodge, just north of downtown Grand Marais. We made it just in time to have a pancake breakfast in their gorgeous dining room, with its Indigenous painted ceiling. I love it so much.

Naniboujou is now owned by a family with nine kids, and they all work there, along with cousins and other family members. It’s so great, and I feel like it would make a great reality show, this wholesome bunch operating this lodge in the north woods, carrying on a beloved legacy. One of the grandkids had painted stones in the colors of Naniboujou, and you know I went home with one. Darling.

We headed down Highway 61 (can’t say that without thinking of Bob Dylan), to our next destination, the Oberg Mountain Loop trail. I’ve seen photos of this breathtaking vista for years, but had never made it there myself. I wanted to see the circular lake in the middle of it all for myself, and Paul and I set out to accomplish this, while we left Mom in the car with the A.C. and a book. We didn’t know if the lake was right off the parking lot or what, so we thought we’d quick run and see it. It was not quick.

It IS a loop, and we chose the long way. Paul and I were literally running up and down this mountain, as we didn’t want to leave Mom too long. We didn’t bring water. We didn’t bring anything. We just ran. We weren’t even sure we were on the right trail, and then we came around one corner (after one stunning overlook after stunning overlook), and there it was. The lake.

We were panting and sweating, but SMILING. We’d made it. It was rather a Griswold moment, as we just took a quick beat to appreciate it, take a photo of two, then sprint back down the path to the parking lot, red and gasping, but fulfilled. What an absolutely special part of this vast world. We left with an even stronger conviction to protect it at all costs. Everywhere you went there were signs thanking the firefighters, reminding us of how precarious this all is, even without greedy corporations wanting to exploit it for their own profit. All of these trees are the lungs of our nation. They need us, as we need them.

You really can’t head back to the Twin Cities without a stop at Rustic Inn for pie. They’ve added a separate little pie truck strictly for pie ordering, easing a lot of the congestion in the waiting area of the restaurant. We got our slices, and got back on the road, for one last stop up north at a patch I know that is abundant for lupine.

The hot weather this year might have shortened the lupine season, because I saw exactly one left, a purple one. This too was well worth it.

We continued our reading about the land we had just left, and it made us want to turn right around and go back. This was a quick trip for Mom’s birthday celebration, and it was beyond special, but in order to really unplug, I think you need to go for longer. And I urge you to. THIS year. There is still plenty of Summer left to go, and the merchants and outfitters up north need you. We don’t know how long we’ll have to be able to enjoy the BWCA as pristine as it is now, so time is not to be wasted. You’re going to want to see this place in your lifetime, no matter where you’re from. There is no place in the world like it. My heart is full, even from this little taste of our Boundary Waters. All I can say is GO!

GO!

Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Year Round

Tom and I are both products of single mothers, and I know we both recognize the massive job that that was. Our Moms were unwavering in their support of us, loving us truly and deeply, no matter what we chose to do with our lives. Tom had a degree in political science from Harvard, but when he told Mary that he was going to Los Angeles to start a heavy metal band, she was like “Great! Will you be home for Thanksgiving?” Total support. She showed up too. Whenever she was in town near a Rage or Prophets of Rage show too, she would come out to introduce the band saying, “I’m Mary Morello, and I’d like to introduce the greatest band in the fucking Universe!” with her fist raised. Iconic. (And she was right.)

*photo by Paul Gronner

I had to miss her memorial last night in her hometown of Libertyville, Illinois, as I was in the Boundary Waters with my own dear Mom, celebrating her 86th birthday. I hated to miss what I know was an evening of stories and song for a lady whose inspiring presence will be missed forever … but what an impact she made on all of us whose paths were fortunate enough to have crossed with hers.

That impact will continue. The Morellos have set up a Mary Morello Memorial Project to keep her legacy of compassion, courage, and service alive all of our days. Donations to the Project will support causes that were deeply important to her, like The Midnight Mission, Jail Guitar Doors, Doctors Without Borders, and more excellent groups out there fighting the power. They also ask that you try to live like Mary, to “Do as Mary would do”, and get out there to engage in CARING, service, and action like she did. Between now and October 1st, 2026 (which would have been Mary’s 103rd birthday!), they ask that you do something (or a lot of things) like volunteer, protest, speak up, walk a picket line, do political art, basically anything that you know Mary would be doing, then tag a photo or reel of it with #MaryMorelloMemorialProject so as a community we can continue her work for peace and justice. She would love it. I’m all over it.

I went along as the “embedded reporter” on a tour with Tom called “The Justice Tour” where we went around to American cities doing service work with a local charity, then did a show to benefit the charity the next day. It was EPIC, with different all-star lineups in each town we visited. I think we really made a difference, and are definitely overdue for another one with the world the way it is now. When I next saw Mary upon our return back to Los Angeles, she took my hands and said, “Oh, it’s the writer!” - and honestly, I’ve never felt more validated. I can’t find several photos I have right now, but found the above one of Tom and Mary making toasts at Thanksgiving one year. They were a team for his entire life, and though I know it’s so hard to be physically without her now, we can all take comfort knowing that she lived a truly great life, and made such a beautiful impact on so many in her 102 years.

Love to all the Morellos, to all who knew and loved Mary Morello, and a big CHEERS to all who are going out right now to be like Mary.

GO!

Mary Morello Memorial Project

Donate.

Act. Like Mary.

The timing could not be better as national news has a crazy food borne illness going around, stemming from store-bought lettuce. Well, get over to Radish Farm Stop because that’s not going to happen there.

100% of there products are local, at a time when that is exactly what we need to try and help our life on this planet. We MUST start thinking and shopping locally, but even more importantly, naturally.

We can -and should - already be doing this at our wonderful and abundant Farmer’s Markets around town, but they are not open every day. Radish Farm Stop is, just not on Thursdays, as everyone needs a day off sometime.

All of the produce is fresh and local, and you can feel good about putting it into your body. You know exactly where your food came from, and who grew it. This is a real luxury in today’s world, and one that I hope will grow in importance in every day peoples’ minds. We will all be better off when sustainability practices are the norm.

As it is opening day, there is still a lot more to come. The shelves were stocked, but not fully. By the time we got there, most of the fresh bread and pastries were gone, but that made me happy. So did the line to pay. This is going to be a great success, I just know it.

In addition to the shelves of foodstuffs, they also have a coffee menu that I think will be drawing regulars from the jump. There were already people sitting around with their papers and computers, like they’ve been coming there all along. It feels instantly a part of the neighborhood. I got my usual order of an iced mocha, and I can report that it was delicious, and so great to get my coffee at the same place as the groceries that I needed today. Winner.

I was recently told a story about how a mother and daughter were seriously gluten free, and went to Italy on a trip. They signed up for a cooking class, but were about to cancel because they couldn’t eat all the pasta and bread stuff they’d be making. The instructor laughed and guessed they were American, telling them that they wouldn’t be gluten free there. It was our poisonous flour made with GMOs and pesticides that is actually the culprit of their discomfort. WHOA.

They went all the way around Italy eating anything they liked. They got cocky and tried the same stuff when they returned to the states, and were immediately sick again. It’s our bad flour. The good news is that Radish has GOOD, natural flour on the shelves. Live and learn.

This is going to be such a nice one-stop shop. You can get your coffee, your meal ingredients, your little cute things for the house, and even fresh flowers. They had nice bouquets put together, and an elderly gentleman in front of me in line was buying some. When it was his turn to pay, he said that he wished that some of the brighter lilies in vases around the room were in his arrangement.

The woman waiting on him said, “Well, I’d be delighted to give you some.” She took him over to choose the ones he liked, and then added them to the bouquet he bought. He left happy. When she came back, she apologized for making me wait, but I assured her that was a great reason to wait … and for us all to come back. Humanity. Kindness. Fresh, clean, local food. I’m IN - and so happy to welcome them into our lives. I love it.

Yesterday would have been my Dad’s 85th birthday, but we lost him when he was just 33. I recently found a snapshot of him enjoying a giant radish he had grown, and thought of him again when my brother and I went to visit Radish Farm Stop on its opening day. I know he would also love this place.

This is the kind of place we’ve been waiting for, and now it’s here. As they get more settled in, they’ll be offering even more local products, and I’m looking forward to hearing about how much everyone loves it. Because they will. Congratulations and a warm welcome to Radish Farm Stop! Thank you for being here.

GO!

Radish Farm Stop

5357 Penn Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55419

7 am - 1 pm every day but Thursday

I got an email from Christopher Ludder-Gardella and Big Animal Productions inviting me to be a part of a massive human mural of The Statue of Liberty, calling for freedom from tyranny for ALL People. Well. That decided my 4th of July plans right then and there.

There was also to be a mass funeral for all the people killed by ICE going through the streets of downtown Minneapolis with The Singing Resistance. I couldn’t get down there in time for that, but looked forward to them joining us at The Commons park to add to our Lady Liberty outline. This was no normal Independence Day in America, and we were not going to act like it was. We would continue to resist.

It was HOT on Saturday, and the park has zero shade, so they tried to run through the action as quickly and as efficiently as possible. We were assigned sections when we checked in, and given a little handmade torch to hold aloft at the end. The wonderful Native Protectors were there to give us water. Think about the generosity of that. We’re here on their stolen land, celebrating a holiday that fully screwed them over, yet here they are, not only in solidarity with us, but taking care of us. That is grace in motion. We are so grateful to them - every day.

We the People were definitely in the spirit to take back what is good about the U.S.A. I saw more than one person dressed up as the Statue of Liberty, and pretty much everyone was in some blend of red, white, and blue. We love our COUNTRY. Not our Government. And we will fight for her, and our FREEDOM.

There was going to be the outline of the Statue of Liberty, with dancers in red (blood) making up her heart in the middle. They would dance around inside the figure, then run up the arm to light the flame of liberty (silk scarves operated by puppeteers). We would then all stand up, holding our torches up, then leave the field and hand off our torch of liberty to someone else, spreading it across the land. FREEDOM!

We all ran through a song with The Singing Resistance about liberty and justice for all, and then it was time to execute the art. As with the Kaleidoscope of Love giant monarch butterfly we created out of humans in the much colder winter in Powderhorn Park, it seemed a bit chaotic and unclear how it would come together in the right shape. It was traced out on the grass … but still.

Just like then, we got into place on the ground, and looked up to see the form taking place on the Jumbotron, and just like this past winter, it made me emotional all over again.

I was lying down, feet to feet, next to a kid who was probably about 12. It was SCORCHING lying there on our sides, and sweat was running into our eyes as we held the image and waited for the blood dancers to run up to the torch where we were. He could have been anywhere, playing with his buddies, blasting off firecrackers, jumping in lakes, riding bikes … but he was here, literally putting his body on the line for liberty. I smiled at him, he smiled back, and I knew that this kid was making a core memory right in front of me. And it gave me hope.

The whole action was over in about five minutes, and then we all went to the front to look at what the drones had captured from above. It was awesome, and so beautiful to see what the good People of American can do when we can come together for a righteous cause - like saving our Democracy.

Former Mayor R.T. Ryback (no sign of Jacob Frey - as usual) was there to thank everyone for still being out there fighting the good fight that has been so crucial here in the Twin Cities this year.

A nine year old Somalian girl got up and read a poem she’d written about this winter, when her community was being so persecuted - and still is. To not only write her emotions so eloquently, but then to get up in front of a big crowd and read it aloud was really something else. More hope given.

The Brass Solidarity Band was there to pump everyone up, as they always are. What a gift they are to us. When things were as sad and dark as they could ever be, Brass Solidarity would show up and turn it all into a second line … a funeral march, but also an energetic call to action - uplifting us to carry on the battle for another day.

And I was uplifted. I felt so much better about the holiday, and our country itself. It’s not about a despot criminal leader and his henchmen that we’re suffering through now. It’s about the beauty and the spirit of our People, and our torch has not been dimmed, not even a little.

There was more music and dancing and reveling in the park, but I had to get back to take my Mom to the Richfield parade (where I was impressed to see both my candidate for Senator, Peggy Flanagan, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison marching in the hot sun - on foot), where she would reunite with some of the friends she made at the Good Trouble protests. There are no age limits on fighting for your Democracy.

I’m so glad I started my Semiquincentennial of The United States of America with fellow patriots in a park making the shape of our beloved Statue of Liberty. It gave me the inspiration to go out and actually enjoy the holiday with my fellow Americans, knowing that the People will always have the Power, and we’re not giving it up. Ever. Join us in the fight for our Democracy, ensuring liberty and justice for ALL. God bless the American People.

Go!

DO SOMETHING.

It has been HOT in Minnesota this week, and we don’t have AC at our house at the moment. I’ve been looking for things to do to keep my Mom cool, and the other day a friend (Shout out Leah!) texted me that there is a ride in the Nickelodeon Universe park at the Mall of America called Fly Over Norway! What?! My little Mom’s biggest wish is to return to Norway again - and we’re working hard to make this happen - but a little fly over tour would certainly be welcome in the meantime.

The great thing about Fly Over Norway is it’s not just visuals. When you fly off the mountain and swoop down to the water, you feel the wind and the cool mist. When you fly over a team of sled dogs in the north, you hear them barking and running. When you fly over the Oslo harbor, you hear kids jumping off walls into the water. It is awesome.

I tried to capture a picture of my Mom flying over Norway with the big smile and tears in her eyes, but you’re not allowed any photography, and I got busted immediately. I tried.

The only thing we would change about it is to be longer. It’s not cheap ($21.95 if you buy ahead online) for like ten minutes, but we all agreed when we emerged that it had been worth it. With all the Norwegian Americans that live in Minnesota, this was a smart move. With all the World Cup attention on our Motherland, this is a great experience for anyone that appreciates the breathtaking beauty of our beloved Norway.

It’s super wrong that I’ve still never been in real life, but we’re looking for sponsors (anyone know anyone at Hurtigruten?) for me to take my Mom again - the stories I will tell! This lovely ride only made us more eager to go. And you should definitely go to Fly Over Norway if you too love the land of the Vikings. Enjoy!

GO!

Fly Over Norway!

Mall of America

5120 Center Court (Nickelodeon Universe)

Bloomington MN 55425

(952) 853-6000

11 am - 9 pm

Minnesota Mexican has come a loooong way. When I was growing up, Mexican here meant Taco Bell and ChiChi’s … unless you knew about El Burrito Mercado. I recently had a L.A. friend ask me about a Mexican restaurant here that his Mexican grandma who moved here (!) had said was the best … it was El Burrito Mercado. You know that’s saying something, coming from a real Abuela!

The vast space on Cesar Chavez (we’ll see if that name gets changed now - yikes) has grown into a full on Mexican empire, stocking their shelves with absolutely everything you could ever need for a proper Mexican meal. Or you can just eat there! El Burrito Mercado has awesome burritos! And an awesome market! The name doesn’t lie.

This is the place to be for any Mexican event. Cinco de Mayo is a full on extravaganza. Right now it’s the place to be for any Mexico games in the World Cup! How fun to watch a game among all the people rooting for their homeland that they love so much. There’s a game tonight in fact, vs. Czechia. Go Mexico!

Obviously, the recent Operation Metro Surge did a number on El Burrito Mercado, like everywhere else. People still need mutual aid, they still need rent assistance, and they still need our support. Support can be as donating to the various aid sites on their website’s home page … or as easy as heading there to enjoy delicious, authentic food and a margarita. Easy.

There is a vast parking lot behind the buildings, and in the middle of it there’s a guy selling the best elote I’ve has outside of Los Angeles. I got one for my Mom, and she doesn’t remember everything these days, but she sure remembers that. Get it.

I’m all about helping our immigrant neighbors these days more than ever. El Burrito Mercado needs our help, yes, but it’s also just an awesome place to go. You could do a little staycation and pretend you’re in Mexico, because it feels exactly like you are - just maybe a little inland. I’m so proud and grateful that Minnesota has upped its food game to such a level that National Geographic recently named us one of the 15 best food destinations IN THE WORLD. That’s because of our wonderful, vibrant, supported immigrant community. Period.

If you’ve never been (or even if you’ve gone hundreds of times), please head to El Burrito Mercado, and enjoy yourselves as much as we did. It’s pretty easy to do (maybe after you visit the new Wakan Tipi Center nearby, like we did.).

I’m so excited for you to go. Viva El Burrito Mercado!

GO!

El Burrito Mercado

175 Cesar Chavez Street

St. Paul, MN 55107

(651) 227-2192

Open 9-7 every day.

If you’ve been to any local protests (and I hope you have), you’ve certainly seen our Native relatives there, and you’ve for sure seen the “Land Back” and “No
One is Illegal on Stolen Land” signs. Well, the Wakan Tipi Center is an excellent example of the Dakota getting the land back. Reclaiming their stolen land. It is powerful just to stand there and look around at the land … not only look, but listen.

There is a lovely new building that serves as a welcome center, and right outside there is a marker that tells you that this is a sacred place. And you indeed are welcome. All are welcome.

Inside, there are exhibits teaching you about the land outside, the native plants, the local flora and fauna, and the history of the area.

There are interactive screens that you can click on to learn more about a specific area, from flowers to the sky, and nice restrooms.

There was a photography exhibit on now from Cole Redhorse Taylor, depicting scenes of Native life, all of which are outstanding.

The paths outside are gravel to blend in with the nature, but that makes it a little hard for pushing a wheelchair, so I was grateful that there was so much for my Mom to look at inside while I went out for a quick hike around the grounds to check them out. I would actually suggest this to you … go by yourself. To listen to just the wind in the air and the birds calling to each other is a certain kind of peace that you can’t get when you’re in a group.

There are little solar-powered markers all through the land, with Native art on them, and three little buttons. One is for the narration to be said in Dakota, one is for you to listen in English, and one is just for the nature sounds, with no narration. It’s really powerful to stand and look out at the natural beauty while listening to its story in its native tongue. Literally.

The sacred cave - Wakan Tipi - was used by brewers to keep their beer cold for a while, which is pretty offensive when you think it’s a burial site. That it is now back under Native stewardship feels like a small kind of victory for what is right in this world.

You could tell yourself that you’re deep in the forest, or far out in the plains, the way things used to be … and then you look up through a grove of trees and see downtown St. Paul right over there. That too is a small victory. Right in the middle of bustling city life, people are forced to remember what it used to be … and WHOSE land it used to be.

One picture made me more emotional than others. There is a picture in a wooden frame of the area, and how it used to look when the Native people were all that was here. It faces out so you can see all that was built up over it, and you can’t help but think about how much better off we’d all be now if we’d listened to the Native people who were already here. How to be good stewards of the land. How to protect our water. How to best cultivate our land so it benefits the most people.

I’ll never forget the PSA with the Native man (who was actually Italian!) with a tear running down his face looking at the polluted waters. It made an impact on all of Gen-X, and I honestly don’t know anyone who litters. But still … if we could only rewind and listen to them before our climate got to this critical tipping point of disaster. Again, this land is great for reflection, and I think it might be its actual point.

I had the place pretty much to myself, as I don’t know if everyone knows about it yet (you do now!). It’s also pretty sketchy to get to at the moment, as the parking area is still under construction and you go under a super-rickety train bridge to get there, but trust me that it’s well worth it. Nature is our best teacher, and the Wakan Tipi is a wonderful resource to be out in nature in all its splendor.

Their website is full of information about their programs, events, resources, anything you’d ever want to know about the project, its origins, and its plans for the future. This is going to be a busy place, full of learning and respect for the lands we all now share.

I made my way back to the building, and was already thinking about my return trip when I could spend a bit more time. To feel so utterly immersed in nature while you’re actually just right outside a metropolitan city is a real gift, and one that you can take advantage of easily from anywhere in the Twin Cities.

I’m so grateful that our Native Community is so cool about sharing and teaching everyone, when they have every right to be super bitter and angry at the colonizing population that took so much from them. But they’re not. Every time I attend a Native event or visit a Native site to learn and offer respect, I’ve been met with nothing but gracious welcoming. Something else we can all learn from our Native neighbors.

The next time you’re thinking about where you should take your walk, or you’re visiting the Twin Cities and want to see somewhere off the beaten paths, put the Wakan Tipi Center on your list. Your soul will thank you.

GO!

Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi Center

590 4th Street East

St. Paul, MN 55106

(651) 370-2106

Come From Away is the story of thousands of “Plane People” getting stranded in Gander, Newfoundland after 9/11 happened in New York and all planes had to be grounded at the closest airport to where they were. As Gander had a huge airport that was used as the last refueling stop before transatlantic flights would head to Europe, they could still accommodate all the planes that had to land there. The townspeople of this tiny burg in the middle of nowhere had to suddenly figure out how to feed, clothe, bathe, and house more than double the size of their population in one day. They banded together out of crisis, and let their humanity lead the way. Does that sound familiar? It does to anyone who lived in the Twin Cities during the horrible Operation Metro Surge. I still can’t really talk about 9/11 without crying, and I certainly can’t talk about this winter yet without crying. Needless to say, I was a bit of a puddle during this performance. (So was the guy next to me, and the people behind me.)

As in Little Women, I didn’t expect to laugh so much. The Guthrie’s acting and production company is top notch, and hit all of the emotions in this nearly two hour, very creative staging (with no intermission). The more you go to theater around Minnesota, the more you’ll recognize the actors. When the guy who played the town cop (among like five other parts; all the actors play many parts in this one) came on stage, I was like, “Hey, that’s the handyman from White Christmas at The Chanhassen Dinner Theater.” - kind of fun. Also fun is that I saw a recent interview with the treasure Pedro Pascal, and he said that Minneapolis is his favorite city in the country, not least because of The Guthrie. Excellent (as is their gift shop).

As much as I laughed, I probably cried more. When an African couple can’t understand anyone, a man brings out a Bible, as they’re numbered the same in all languages, and he knew a verse that would comfort them. “That’s how they began to speak the same language.” Another man is Muslim, and everyone immediately is suspicious of him … and that was the seed that was planted then, and people are still being persecuted about today. I drove home past the Renee Good Memorial on Portland Avenue, thinking about how she (nor Alex Pretti, nor anyone harmed by ICE) still doesn’t have justice, and we are still dealing with all the trauma that occurred here. In the play, one man sings the hymn “Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace” with the line, “Where there is hatred, let me bring your love” … and I teared up again as I drove, thinking of how we all met such shocking hatred with absolute peace and love. But that is what it will take to find our collective way forward out of this current mess. Peace and Love.

I’ve never been to Newfoundland (but now I want to go!), but it seems a lot like Minnesota. The jokes about hockey and moose all got big laughs and knowing smiles from the people that live here … as did the one about fish with cheese. One woman says Gander people are terrible at knock-knock jokes, because when someone says “Knock knock” we automatically say, “C’mon in, the door’s open!” We understand that here.

The play takes you from that awful, scary day through to the reunion of the Gander and Plane People ten years later. Real friendships were forged out of tragedy, again much like happened here this past winter. People of all walks of life were thrust together to try to help one another. People with good hearts giving of themselves to strangers. As dramatic and deeply sad as both times and stories were and are, what came out of them is truly beautiful. Please give yourself the gift of Come From Away at The Guthrie. You will feel better about the world.

GO!

Come From Away

The Guthrie Theater

818 South 2nd Street

Minneapolis MN 55415

(612) 377-2224

The Survivor’s Memorial is beautiful. And important. I can’t believe I didn’t know about it, but when I looked it up to learn more, I found that it had been dedicated virtually during the pandemic in October of 2020. I think a lot of people missed it.

The Memorial effort was started by Sarah Super, a survivor of rape by an ex-boyfriend. The project was inspired by the many, many stories shared with Super after she went public about her rape. When she first began talking about it, she was met with mostly silence. As she said, silence is never neutral, and only helps the perpetrators get away with it, and continue to harm others.

In a time in this country when our very President is a CONVICTED rapist, we NEED to be talking about it. When fake wars are being started, and a whole host of other calamities are being inflicted upon our nation just to distract from The Epstein Files, we need to be doing MORE than talking about it. We need to be standing up for victims, and letting them know they are not alone. As the sides of the art pieces say, We Stand With You. We Believe You. You Are Not Alone.

Because they absolutely are NOT alone. Every woman I know - and probably all the ones I don’t - has been the victim of some type of sexual abuse. While not always being victims of actual rape, everyone has had some type of unwanted sexual violence done to them. I have, and pretty much every woman I’ve ever talked to about it has had similar or worse done to them. It’s a sickness in this world, and I just keep wondering when men are going to learn. Times have changed. You’re not going to get away with it. Karma is real … and it will get you.

The Survivor’s Memorial is truly gorgeous, made up of mosaics (by mosaic artist Lori Greene of Mosaic On A Stick) to symbolize that broken pieces can be put back together again into something beautiful. They are fanned out in a ripple effect, to signify the expanding power of sharing the stories of sexual abuse. One storyteller inspires another, and so on … and so on. Survivors (female, male, Trans) need to realize the power of speaking up. The Epstein Survivors hold so much power, they could literally take down an entire administration and its supporters. I feel like they all need to visit this Memorial and get the power they need to speak up entirely. Name names. End this complete nightmare inflicted upon us all in the name of escaping accountability. You will be Heroes in history books. We won’t forget, and the abusers will ultimately be taken down. It’s time.

The sidewalk leading to the seating area (arranged in a circle to encourage talking to each other) is made up of bricks honoring sexual abuse victims. There could be a sidewalk from one end of the country to the other, honestly, meeting here in the middle at our nation’s first Memorial to the Survivor’s of Sexual Violence. The first of what could/should be many, many memorials. Better than memorials however, is the ending of the sexual violence that makes them necessary. It may never happen, as human beings are animals, but we can hope. We can try. We can speak up.

It was rather poetic to then walk back over to the Saype mural, and hold hands with strangers in an effort for us all to go Beyond Walls. To make a human chain, and know that at least in Minneapolis, the People will have your backs.

*Photo courtesy of Saype

I can’t think of a better place to be if you are a survivor of sexual abuse. There are so many resources in Minnesota, so many kind hearts to help you, and they cared enough about you to erect a memorial in the middle of a city park to encourage you. And remind you that you are not alone. That is Community. That is how we’re SUPPOSED to be. Our entire republic is being held hostage by sexual predators that are willing to do anything - ANYTHING, obviously - to try to make us forget about their crimes. We will not. Power to the People. Power to the Survivors.

GO!

Memorial To Survivors of Sexual Violence

Boom Island Park

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Anytime (it lights up!)

Giant photo-realistic biodegradable murals are painted directly on grass, depicting hands connecting us all across the globe. Since his first huge painting in the French Alps out in nature called L’Amour, these massive-scaled works have shown up in places from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to Venice, Italy, Geneva, Cape Town, Turin, Nairobi, Instanbul, Tokyo, Cairo … and now Minneapolis.

Saype was there in person to unveil the work officially, and gave a nice speech about how after all that our cities went through this past winter with the Federal Occupation, and the resilience the People of Minnesota showed, choosing here as the first location in the United States for Beyond Walls was rather a no-brainer.

The idea is to make a human chain connecting us all across the world. The piece in Minneapolis is located on Boom Island, directly across from the downtown skyline. It was all cordoned off, and kind of hard to tell what it was a picture of when you were on grass level with it. We were climbing up on swing sets, and considering climbing a tree to see it better, when we were told a drone would be capturing it all from above.

A whole bunch of people showed up on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon with a million other things going on in town. It was Prince Celebration week too, and downtown was filled with purple people dancing in the streets, so it was impressive that this many people showed up to make a human chain.

There was a tent where Saype was answering questions and taking pictures, and he told us that he was photographing peoples’ hands, so that any one of our hands might end up being the hands featured in a huge mural in another state going forward. How cool is that?

It reminded me of when we made the giant human monarch butterfly in Powderhorn Park this winter, where what seemed like a bunch of chaos was going to become something utterly beautiful. Not only the art work, but the people coming together again to show our community and solidarity. And I had to laugh, because Minnesotans are getting so much better at holding hands with strangers after all we’ve been through this year. No big deal! (It’s worth noting here that Saype self-finances all of these projects … donations are welcome at his website!)

We all lined the paths leading up to the mural, and couldn’t really hear what was happening with the one microphone and the wind blowing. A drone would fly overhead and we’d all yell and wave, and then stand there holding hands some more. For a while.

Once all sides of the mural were lined with people holding hands (in what will eventually be the largest human chain on Earth), it was time for what Saype said was his favorite part. When the people come together and walk across the mural, it becomes theirs. Ours. We are linked with the other 21 cities that came before us, and we are the first of what will be 14 locations in the United States. It felt special, and the people were happy to oblige with loud revelry for the drones flying overhead to capture it all.

The paint is made of biodegradable materials that will not harm the nature it occupies, and thus it’s kind of like the sand mandalas that Buddhist monks create … it’s only here for a short time. It will wash away and become a memory, but also an invisible link connecting us with the rest of the world, hand in hand.

Beyond Walls might wash away faster than it otherwise might, because there is rain in the forecast all week long. I’d encourage you to get out, support a small, preferably immigrant-run business for a meal, and head to Boom Island to see a piece of a global phenomenon in your own city’s backyard. Asap!

Thank you to Saype for choosing Minneapolis for this wonderful work, and for being so obviously moved by our city and its people. We are truly all one, borders are man-made, and we ALL need each other. Let us truly strive to live our lives beyond walls. Together.

GO!

Beyond Walls - The Saype Mural in Minneapolis

Boom Island

724 Sibley Street NE

Minnepolis

Until it washes away.

Their work continues. The work continues for all of us. Things have mellowed out from the complete horror movie that it was earlier this year, but our neighbors continue to need help after all of the damage that was done. Smitten Kitten has rent lists that STILL need to be taken care of, as people were out of work for so long while they were in hiding from ICE. You can still help directly by going to their Venmo here, at the top right of their website. You could also buy things from Smitten Kitten, because with all of their work to help our cities, they couldn’t focus as much on their business. We need to help them as well. Because they are HEROES.

I stopped in to give my thanks and respect in person, and was truly honored to meet the shop owner, J.P. Pritchett. I actually felt emotional as I met them, because I followed them every day of the Occupation - and still - and to give a handshake and a hug for all they’ve done felt long overdue. What a true pleasure to make their acquaintance, and what good people. (Note the Battle Of Minneapolis shirts! Bootleg Rage!)

Smitten Kitten’s care for their neighbors is evident everywhere you look. There is a machine for Narcan and Fentanyl test strips right outside the door.

There is a little shelving unit full of things for people to take if they are “broke and hungry”. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.

There are little pamphlets for all of those sex-related questions that you might want to know, but are afraid to ask.

I’m actually surprised at how many grown adults have never been in a sex shop. Sexuality is a part of everyone’s lives, and it should not still be so taboo for some people to talk about. People giggle and get embarrassed about sex stuff, when there really is no need. Everyone does it. Smitten Kitten is a great starter shop for those people, and are proud to call themselves the “Friendliest sex shop in the country.” I believe it.

One of the more hilarious protests this past winter were the Dildo protests. Boxes of old dildos were passed out, and people would throw them at ICE at the Whipple Building as they passed. It’s hard to look at a dildo protest as anything but peaceful … and total comedy. Smitten Kitten has you covered whether you’re throwing them or using them for your own pleasure.

This is a very well-stocked sex shop and they have everything from the fun glow-in-the-dark condoms, party pasties, and excellent greeting cards …

… to the more hard-core stuff for the more hard-core people. You feel at ease right away, open to ask questions, and know that the staff here are not going to judge.

Pride Month has just kicked off, and Smitten Kitten is a great place for all of our LGBTQ+ friends to gear up with whatever they need. This store is trans-owned, and everyone I met completely lived up to the friendly claim … you will feel comfortable no matter your sexual inclinations.

In the middle of all of the trauma our cities endured this winter, Smitten Kitten always kept their sense of humor. They held a Performative Mayor Contest, where people dressed up like the Performative Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, in a park nearby. Not only was it high comedy, it raised even more money for the mutual aid funds. These are my kind of People. Seriously, follow Smitten Kitten on Instagram, they are good times. When they talk about the People of Minneapolis, and give out awards like the JFK Profiles in Courage Award, these are the People my mind immediately goes to. Most everyone found their ways to help however they could, but Smitten Kitten truly went above and beyond … and continue to do so today.

This is a great time to stop in yourself to say hi and thanks. Or to order something from them wherever you are, or to contribute to their rent lists that still need funding. It’s not only Pride Month, but this coming Sunday is Open Streets Lyndale, where no cars will be on Lyndale from 22nd to 42nd Streets. Smitten Kitten is right at Lyndale and Lake, so you can wander in and check it out in the festival atmosphere that is Open Streets. They really do deserve your high five - and business.

Thank you, truly, madly, deeply, to Smitten Kitten and their tireless, awesome staff who all made such a difference during the terrible Operation Metro Surge. They are all Community Heroes, and I will never forget how a sex shop helped lead the fight against The Man - and won. Respect. Forever. Love you, Smitten Kitten!

GO!

Smitten Kitten

3010 Lyndale Avenue South

Minneapolis MN 55408

#(612) 721-6088

Open every day until 8 pm

Mutual Aid Fund Donations HERE!

Read more

There is a nice building at the center of it all, with the usual stuff you can find at these kind of parks. Taxidermied local animals in display cases, information about the flora/fauna of the region, a little gift shop area, maps, bathrooms, all that jazz.

The main reason I wanted to hit this park was the Treetop Trail. They’ve built a treetop level walking path, and I love that kind of thing. Especially when it’s paved and easily accessible like this one, so I can get my Mom out into the forest with no problem. It’s fun to be up there in the treetops, walking along and listening to all the birds …

The end of the trail has a bench and binocular things to better see all of those native birds. We heard and saw about a dozen different birds along the trail, because I had my Merlin app along and we were identifying them all. Bird nerds.

The Treetop Trail is pretty short, honestly, so enjoy it for the little bit you’re up there, is what I’m saying. I kind of pictured it going through the whole park and along the river, but that is not the case. Scared of heights people need not worry - it’s not that high, and you’ll be done in five minutes.

They also have a great playground for the kids, and you can walk over the top of it from the Treetop Trail. The kids we saw were going crazy for it.

You can take an elevator down to the river level, and then you come out right next to the Mississippi River, where families were wading and enjoying the cool water.

The Coon Rapids dam is right there, so you found a bunch of people fishing there. It must be a good spot to grab them as they come over the falls.

This is a pretty mellow part of the river, so wading is no problem, and it just feels relaxing to watch the river roll on by on a beautiful day. It was also nice to be near the water, as there was a nice breeze … which we would wish for when we ventured deeper into the park to explore.

I wish all the parks had maps, and also warning about the scale of things. I went to a new park in Minnetonka (Lone Lake Park, I hate you.) last year with my Mom, and the grade of the hill was SO STEEP, I would have had to call 911 to help us if a stranger guy had not come along. Like INSANE pushing a wheelchair with an adult in it, but there was no warning that a truly vertical hill was coming. I’m still mad. Mississippi Gateway doesn’t have any huge hills that I saw, but it also doesn’t have many maps that I saw. You just had to guess which way to go. And it was HOT. Thank goodness for this little message in chalk someone had left behind …

It’s mostly open prairie and woods, with a bunch of bike paths circling the whole thing. We had a nice moment in the woods along a little creek, just listening to the birds and the water trickling along. Forest Bathing is very important, both for your body and your soul. Do it as often as you can. Remember to BREATHE it all in deeply - while we have it.

Mississippi Gateway Regional Park is only about 20 minutes from Downtown Minneapolis … you can see the city from the main drag. I don’t often find need to go to the North suburbs, but this is a great park that isn’t very far to go, and a nice way to change things up and get out of the city - barely - but it feels like you did. We’re very lucky here in Minnesota to have all of these incredible natural resources, and I couldn’t love them all more. Summer has begun, and I intend to be outside as much as I possibly can. See you out there!

GO!

Mississippi Gateway Regional Park

10360 West River Road

Brooklyn Park MN 55444

(763) 694-7790

You knew it was going to be a special play when you entered the auditorium. The stage was set in a full nature tableau, with indoor furniture set about, letting you know that the action would be taking place in both places in an ultra-creative fashion. The trees were so realistic looking, my Mom thought they were real. The Guthrie is world class at everything they do, and the set was utterly beautiful.

We got there early because my Mom is now disabled and we always need a little extra time. The wheelchair accessible seat was right in the front row, so though that is a perk, it’s also a little obvious when we were crying our eyes out as we ultimately did. We attended a Sunday matinee, and the house was packed, and it wasn’t all little women in there either.

As mentioned, we’ve all seen many, many versions of this story. In fact, as I sat down to write this, the 1933 version with Katharine Hepburn as Jo is playing right now as I type on TCM - and my Mom is again thrilled. The Guthrie’s version is like none other, as it’s living literature. The characters both narrate the action and recite their lines, moving the action along as its words are being spoken. The cast is entirely great, with each actor fully embodying their roles, even as they’re not all the traditional appearing characters. The woman who plays Louisa May Alcott/Jo is Isabella Star LaBlanc from the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota tribe - a spectacular Native actor in the part! I love it so much.

*(photo from The Guthrie)

We have a soft spot for Little Women also because my Mom’s Dad, my dear Grandpa Olson, was named Laurie, after the boy that Jo (and then Amy) loves in the book. Daniel Petzol played this Laurie as both hilarious and endearing, and I could see my Mom fully immersed - and maybe getting a little crush. Audrey Parker plays Amy, and is equally hilarious in her role. Stephanie Anne Bertumen is Meg, and plays her as the vain older sister of yore, only with comedic chops too. The dear sister Beth is played by Meg Heinecke, and I’m tearing up again thinking about her dear lost soul. I think this might be the best acted play I’ve seen at The Guthrie, and that’s saying something. (It’s also a delight to go see the view of Downtown Minneapolis from the infinity bridge at intermission).

As a female writer, of course I’ve long identified with the character of Jo March, for both her love of writing, but also for her spunkiness, and refusing to accept that she can’t do the same things that boys/men can - and usually better. In these times, when men are once again trying to oppress women and keep them down, we’re just simply not having it. From Jo to me and all the women in between and after, we are all just as good or better as the men who would try to put us in our places. Those days are numbered … and utterly ridiculous. As real men know.

Every emotion one can feel is pretty much felt in this wonderful staging of Little Women, and I can’t encourage you enough to go see it while you can, whether you’ve seen it 100 different ways or none, I promise you will come out of this one smiling. Minnesotans are very easy to get to give standing ovations, but the one they received after this performance was wholly deserved. Bravo! Brava! Go.

• PS - everything in the gift shop is great too.

GO!

Little Women

Guthrie Theater

818 South Second Street

Minneapolis MN 55415

(612) 377-2224