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Saint Paul’s got some great ongoing exhibits this week, plus this coming Friday (March 5th) marks the monthly First Friday Art Crawl in Lowertown, which is a great way to kick off your weekend!

They Played for the Love of the Game (through August 20th)

In honor of Black History Month, the Ramsey Country History Society celebrates the outstanding athletes involved in the Twin Cities’ Negro Baseball Leagues in the ’40s-’60s. The exhibit, They Played for the Love of the Game, traces the history of the African American players and explores why the Negro League was formed and how American sports were altered after Jackie Robinson broke the color barriers. The exhibit runs through August 20th. While you’re there, be sure to check out other ongoing exhibits at the Landmark including Henry P. Bosse’s Views of the Upper Mississippi and Uncle Sam Worked Here, an interactive interpretive exhibit that gives visitors a glimpse into federal courts, wartime activities, prohibition, Immigration and more that occurred in Landmark Center over the past 105 years.

RCHS Exhibit Gallery, Landmark Center, 75 W Fifth Street, St Paul
8-5pm Monday-Friday, Thursdays until 8pm, Saturday 10-5pm, and Sunday 1-5pm

Illo Minn: Volume Two (through March 6th)

Attention design geeks! Head over to the College of Visual Arts before March 6th to peruse the prowess of 28 commercially active Minnesota illustrators. This biennial exhibition features one original work from each artist, along with a custom created Munny doll by each as well. What’s a Munny, you ask? It’s a vinyl figure that comes as a blank canvas for anyone to work their creative magic on; Munnys are customizable versions of the collectible, artist-designed Dunnys that always seem to get custom toy lovers in a tizzy. The illustrated munnys will be sold in a silent auction that will raise funds for the CVA scholarship fund. Artists involved in the show include local favorites such as Allen Brewer, Mike Carina, DC Ice, Adam Turman and many, many more. The exhibit runs through March 6th. Free and open to the public. (Cover art pictured by Andy Powell)

CVA Gallery, Western Avenue North in St. Paul (on the corner of Western and Selby avenues)
Gallery Hours: Wed & Fri Noon-6pm / Thurs Noon-8pm / Sat Noon-4pm

Lowertown First Friday Art Crawl (March 5th and every first Friday of the month)

Head to Lowertown this Friday night for the next installment of the First Friday Art Crawl,  featuring artsy exploration, live performances, food and drink specials, and plenty of creative hobnobbing! Participating galleries and art spots include the Tilsner, Jax Building, Lowertown Lofts, Northwestern Building, Northern Warehouse, Peach Gallery and the AZ Gallery. After art crawlin’ to your heart’s content, head down to Lowertown’s happenin’ hot spot, the Black Dog Cafe for a glass of vino, a peek at original art pieces, and tunes from the Fantastic Merlins. Cap things off with late night happy hour at Barrio where $5 margaritas and cheap snacks abound. Lowertown First Fridays Art Crawl runs every month from 6-9 pm at various venues in the St. Paul’s Lowertown district. (art pictured by Kara Hendershot)

6-9pm, March 5th, Lowertown St. Paul, Various Locations. Click HERE for the First Fridays blog.

Do you fancy yourself a photographer? Or do you aspire to be one? Do you have a digital camera, some time, and a little creativity? I think you do!

As you probably don’t know, I myself am a photographer. I can spend a whole day driving around town, snapping photos of strange people, places and things and have a great time doing it. I can also go into my own backyard and capture something artistic and cool with a few clicks of a button. Seeing art in the mundane is really not as hard as it seems. You just have to look! Art is in nature, it’s in the urban landscape; it’s in architecture, every day life, and yes, even in your own backyard.

This week I was inspired by an outdoor fashion shoot in a local park that a group of artists I work with at l’etoile magazine did (will post a link to that once the final photos are edited and placed in a layout). It captured the essence of the Minnesota winter and it reminded me of all the spectacular photo opps that the snowy season holds — even though I myself often balk at the idea of venturing out into the frigid, frozen tundra. I figured if a wispy model can stand out in the snow in a white fur mini-dress for that long, I’ve got no excuse not to get out and shoot a bit myself…bundled up of course!

So, dear readers, I propose this:

Get out and snap some winter-inspired photos. They can be of anything or anyone. They can range from snow covered trees to sloppy streets to icy slopes and everything in between. What does the Minnesota winter mean to you? Tell us in your photo!

Send up to three photos to me at kate@letoilemagazine.com with the subject line “WINTER WONDERLAND” and I’ll post them here in a couple weeks. I’ll even pick one winner to be interviewed about their work on the651.com AND I’ll whip together a cool St. Paul prize package as well.

Here are a few wintery shots by me, to get the ball rolling:

The Ordway’s got a sizzlin’ season of performing arts still ahead this Winter! From music to dance to opera, the Downtown Saint Paul performance center is the heart of what’s hot in this cold, frozen tundra we call home. Check out our picks for the upcoming couple weeks and check the Ordway’s site for even more!

HEART FOR HAITI BENEFIT CONCERT

Fri, February 12, 2010, 7:30 PM
Ordway McKnight Theatre

Ticket Price - $30

The Ordway joins forces with the greater Twin Cities’ theater community to help those affected by the recent Haiti earthquake. The special musical revue will feature over 20 arts organizations along with some of our most coveted local actors, singers and performers. The Heart for Haiti Benefit Concert, will be directed by Bob Neu (Minnesota Orchestra), Jake Endres (The Theatrical Music Company) and James Rocco (Ordway Center) and FOX 9’s Robyne Robinson is scheduled to emcee the event. All proceeds will be directly donated to Feed My Starving Children and The Clinton Bush Haiti Relief Fund.

VOCALESSENCE: SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK

Sun, February 14, 2010, 4:00 PM
Ordway Main Hall

Grammy-nominated a cappella vocal group Sweet Honey in the Rock teams up with the VocalEssence Chorus and conductor Philip Brunelle for an soulful meld of blues, spirituals, gospel, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies, and improvisation inspired by African American legacy and traditions.

DANCE BRAZIL

Fri, February 19, 2010, 7:30 PM
Ordway Main Hall

Artistic director Jelon Vieira busts out with a spicy contemporary dance extravaganza that will surely entice! For over 30 years DanceBrazil has been inspired by the traditional Afro-Brazilian Dance and Capoeira movement in choreography; a culturally significant style that marries contemporary dance and sound in a brilliant cacophony of grace, tradition, and seductive pizazz.

For more events at the Ordway, including a number of world music events, MN Opera performances and more visit www.ordway.org

Sing Renaissance Music with the Rose Ensemble and Voces8!

Warm up your vocal chords and head on over to the Landmark Center this Tuesday to join in on a special performance/workshop with the Rose Ensemble and Voces8! Attendees are invited to sing along with the musical luminaries, who will be performing classic, old-timey tunes. Don’t worry, experience is NOT necessary, but we would recommend downloading and printing the scheduled tunes HERE before hand.  Fun for the whole fam, or for those who want to experiment with new sounds alongside some of the best musicians in town.

Tuesday, Feb 2nd, 7-9pm, Landmark Center, 75 W. 7th Street, St. Paul, Free

History of Hip: Yesterday’s Tomorrow

The MN Historical Society futurizes 2010 with its cool and educational series, “History of Hip,” at the Turf Club’s Clown Lounge. Focused on the oddball predictions of days gone by, this event will have you laughing along with Historian Brian Horrigan and blogger Matt Novak, who will highlight trends in science fiction and share their thoughts on the subject. Personally, we were hoping there would be flying cars by now!

Tuesday, February 2nd, 7:30-9pm, Turf Club (Clown Lounge), 1601 University Ave, St. Paul, $6

Minnesota Opera presents Roberto Devereux

The first installment in the Minnesota Opera’s Tudor Trilogy, this Bel Canto tradgedy retells the treacherous tale of Queen Elizabeth and the object of her affection, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. While his heart belongs to another, Elizabeth stops at nothing to keep him for herself, going so far as to force his lover to marry another. Dramatic shenanigans ensue, and the rest…well, you’ll just have to find out for yourself at the Ordway! A free prologue beginning one hour prior to each opera performance offers an entertaining and informative half-hour with Artistic Director Dale Johnson or other artistic staffers in Ordway Center’s mezzanine lobby.

Feb 2, 4, 6, and 7, 7:30pm (2pm Sun), Ordway, 345 Washington Street, St.Paul, Tickets from $20. For more info or to purchase tickets visit www.mnopera.org.

Juried Student Exhibition

Head to the College of Visual Arts this Thursday to take in the work of the art school’s best and brightest! In a blind review process, the best works have been selected by an outside panel of jurors and exhibited in the CVA Gallery. While the official opening reception was last week, this week you’ll be privy to a panel discussion about the work with the students themselves. A great opportunity to seek out fresh, up and coming artists. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a new favorite!

Thursday February 4th, 6-8pm, CVA Gallery, 173 Western Avenue North, St. Paul, Free

The Schubert Club Courtroom Concert

This week, the Landmark Center offers a lunchtime respite with the next event in their Courtroom Concert Series. Hosted by the Schubert Club and locally-based composer, Randall Davidson, you’ll experience sweet sounds of the classical variety from top local performing artists. Guests are encouraged to bring lunch, or to purchase a sandwich at Anita’s Cafe located on the ground level of the Landmark. Quite a spectacular way to break up the day, if you as us!

Thursday, Feb 4th, Noon, Landmark Center, Courtroom 317, St. Paul, Free

Nestled on West 7th Street just stone’s throw from the peeling facade of the Landmark Brewery, lies the delightfully arty mom n’ pop joint, Mad Hatter Coffee Cafe & Teahouse. After seeing St. Paul Arts and Culture guru, Joe Spencer, post a cute pic of his teacup (which came complete with an hour glass, see image to the right) a couple weeks ago I knew I had to make a stop at Mad Hatter at some point.

Today after a lunch meeting at Babani’s with charming local musician and McNally Smith educator Jeremy Messersmith (who by the way, is putting out a new album this Spring), I figured there was no time like the present to pop into Mad Hatter for a coffee and bit of wi-fi action. Upon entering I was happily greeted by the motherly 60-something proprietress who asked me what I’d like before I even had my jacket off. The tiny cafe has only a few tables, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in personality. The high ceilings, the beat up hardwood floors, the quirky art hung salon-style throughout the place, and even an upright piano displaying hand-written sheet music for “Oh Susannah.” There’s an honor-system book exchange shelf. There are homemade scones, cookies and cakes. It feels homey, it feels like St. Paul.

With light snow swirling outside the floor to ceiling windows and light classical music playing in the background I sip my Mexican Mocha while the owner and her silver-haired friend work over a crossword puzzle and chuckle softly about life. The small adjacent gallery space is a bit askew, and they tell me they are in between shows, though I probably wouldn’t have noticed. The place has a lived-in, cozy atmosphere that almost makes me feel like I’m visiting someone’s home. While I’ve been here, a regular stopped in for a quick cup of soup on the fly, and the owner’s son stepped out onto the doorstep to see him off with a wave and a smile. The place closes at 1pm but I’ve been assured that I mustn’t worry, though I’ll likely leave soon so as not to impose. I certainly wouldn’t want to wear out my welcome at this lovely little spot. I’ll definitely be back.

Mad Hatter Coffee Cafe and Teahouse is open Monday-Friday 8am to 1pm and Saturday 9am-Noon with live Bluegrass music from 6:30-8:30pm every Thursday.

943 7th Street West, St. Paul, (651) 227-2511

‘Animal Dreams’ at The Grand Hand Gallery

The Grand Hand opens a new show this weekend with a fun reception on Saturday evening. See the animal-themed work of painter Adu Gindy, whose colorful abstract figure works incorporate a sense of whimsy with a folk art meets Basquiat twist; and potter Aaron Sober whose imaginative salt-fired ceramic pieces use surface design to tell darkly graceful tales of  the woodland. Gindy’s work is in numerous collections, including the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, and the Walker Art Center, while Sober is a graduate of Macalester College and Penland School of Crafts, he relocated from Minnesota to Maine.  Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, conversation and great art!

Saturday, Jan 16th /5-8pm                                                                                                                                                                            Runs through Mar 7th

For more info visit www.thegrandhand.com

‘Robozoology’ at Nicademus Art

The opening reception for this show has passed, but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t stop in to check it out! Local illustrator, Chuck U, busts out a big, bold exhibit at the hip Saint Paul frame shop/art gallery. A longtime staple in the Twin Cities art scene, Chuck is known for his intricately designed rock and hip hop show posters and artistic album cover art. There’s no denying his signature style, which is consistently recognizable and impressive; deftly drawn lines that together present and almost psychedelic feel, though the artist’s humor is always front and center.

Runs through Feb. 9th                                                                                                                                                                                      Tues-Thurs 11-7pm; Fri 11-6pm; Sat 10-5pm; Sun Noon-5pm

For more info visit www.nicademusart.com

This weekend, St. Paul is packed with everything from circuit bending experimentation (TART and FoodTeam), a return from local punk rock heroes (Arcwelder), a new Leonard Cohen collaboration (Kid Dakota and the Fantastic Merlins), Turf Club’s annual blowout with three Turf favorites (Birthday Suits, Vampire Hands and The Blind Shake), and a local hip-hop illustrator’s first solo show (Chuck U).

Ryan Olcott of FoodTeam

THURSDAY: TART + FoodTeam at Big V’s
Call it what you like (math electro? Post-math?), but the music of local one-man projects TART (Phil Khalar) and FoodTeam (Ryan Olcott of the beloved 12 Rods) are equal parts cerebral and enjoyable. Khalar and Olcott both seem to approach sounds as bits and pieces of a whole, which are then constructed into cohesive, sonic compositions. TART is said to be based on the concept of blending beauty with noise, the electronic with the organic, and the sweet with bitter, while Olcott’s project involves what he calls “circuit bending,” or the de-programming of yesteryear’s forgotten consumer keyboards. Community!Fire!Exchange! opens. 9 p.m. $5. 21-plus. Big V’s, 1567 University Ave. W., St. Paul. 651-645-8472.)

Arcwelder

FRIDAY: Arcwelder at Turf Club
Punk-rock trio Arcwelder are one of those local acts that seemed on the verge to be the next big thing internationally, but they have always been beloved in their hometown. They even have a star on the hallowed walls of First Avenue. After forming in 1988, the band toiled on the road and in dank punk rock clubs until 1991, when none other than New Order named their song “Favor” as their pick for “Punk Rock Single of the Week” in NME. Before long, they were signed to hip indie label Touch and Go Records (also home to Shellac and the Jesus Lizard) in 1992, and enjoyed popularity culminating in an international tour with Jawbox in 1996. The punk rock heroes haven’t toured since, but have played the occasional local show. With haze-rock duo Gay Witch Abortion, Double Bird, and DJ Freddy Votel (former Cows drummer). (9 p.m. $6. 21-plus. 1601 W. University Ave., St. Paul. 651-647-0486.)

Kid Dakota

FRIDAY: Fantastic Friday Music Series at Black Dog Cafe
Innovative jazz-chamber band The Fantastic Merlins recently joined together with haunting indie-rock trio Kid Dakota to collaborate on a yet-to-be-released album of Leonard Cohen covers, How the Light Gets In. At this intimate, stripped-down show at Lowertown cafe Black Dog, the ensemble will preview the release before heading off to perform together in Paris. On the impending European tour, Kid Dakota says on its myspace page, “We will be returning to some of the places we played last spring and also finally making it back to countries that we haven’t visited since our 2004 tour with LOW (Yes, Im talking to you England and Ireland!). We will be touring with two fabulous bands from Berlin, Ter Haar and It’s a Musical.” Ingo Bethke opens; see below for more on happy hour specials. (8 p.m. Free. All ages. 308 Prince St., St. Paul. 651-228-9274.)

Barrio Lowertown

FRIDAY: Lowertown First Fridays happy hours
Every first Friday of the month, Lowertown First Fridays open studio and gallery crawl takes over the district. (CLICK HERE for the651.com Arts writer Kate Iverson’s interview with Lowertown artist Rhea Pappus.) To keep art lovers well-fed (and well-lubricated), bars and eateries in Lowertown’s bustling entertainment district offers up a slew of happy hour specials. Black Dog Cafe has its daily happy hour from 4-7 p.m., which includes $3 Summit pints, $2.50 Grainbelt Premium bottles, and $4.75 house wine. (308 Prince St., St. Paul. 651-228-9274.) Mexican fusion bar and eatery Barrio is offering $5 small plates, two tacos for $5, $5 margaritas, $18 margarita pitches, and $3 taps from 2-6 p.m. & 10 p.m.-midnight. (235 6th St. E., St. Paul. 651-222-3250.) Gastro-pub The Bulldog has its happy hour from 3-6 p.m., including $1 off pints, wells and domestic bottles and half-priced appetizers. (237 E. 6th St., St. Paul. 651-221-0750.)

Art by Chuck U

SATURDAY: Robozoology at Nickademus Art & Framing
Local illustrator Chuck U is presenting his first solo show, and his collection of graphic, color-drenched paintings and prints. Chuck U (né Ungemach) has long been well-known in the local hip hop community for his posters and cover art, and their organic, hand-drawn feel depicts fiendish monkeys, monsters in top hats, and spewing furry snakes. True to Chuck U’s music roots, the opening reception will also include a live set from local Brit-popsters The Idle Hands. (Opening reception 6 p.m.-midnight. Sat. Ongoing through Feb. 9. Free. All ages. Nickademus Art and Framing, 225 N. Snelling Av., St. Paul.)

Birthday Suits

SATURDAY: Turf Club Blowout
Japanese metal two-piece Birthday Suits team up with psychedelic prog indie-rockers The Blind Shake and spaced-out noise rockers Vampire Hands for a solid night of noisy sounds to bring in the New Year. The annual blowout also serves as a sort-of Vampire Hands reunion as original member Colin Johnson returns for a one-off show - it just may be the last time you’ll see them all together again. (9 p.m. $6. 21-plus. 1601 W. University Ave., St. Paul. 651-647-0486.)

Star Tribune’s Chris Riemenschneider lauds St. Paul
St.Paul’s Lowertown entertainment district and music fests such Taste of Minnesota and Concrete & Grass get props in Chris Riemenschneider’s “Finding nine reasons to cheer Twin cities culture in ‘09″ from the Star Tribune.

Lowertown’s rebirth of cool
I already fawned over downtown St. Paul’s hot “new” nightlife district in a column in September, but three months later and 70 degrees colder, I’d like to more strongly state my fondness for eating Barrio tacos and drinking Bulldog beer under a starry night, listening to Romantica in Mears Park during the Concrete & Grass Festival.
(Too bad the new Twins park didn’t get built down there.)

Outdoor music cranked to 11
There were more block parties, themed fests, music-in-the-park series, and zoo and museum gigs of note this year, and best of all they lasted well into the fall thanks to the aforementioned Concrete & Grass and Vita.mn’s cool Movies & Music Series at the picturesque Lake Harriet Bandshell.
(All this, despite what the Aqua-tennial and Taste of Minnesota have done to music fests’ image in this town.)

When Local photographer Rhea Pappas graduated from MCAD in December of 2008, no one was surprised at how quickly she gained momentum. As a student, Pappas scored numerous awards and even taught at area high schools and at IFP (a job she still holds). Over summer break, she even taught community education in Duluth while living on a sailboat with her dog. Talk about dedication to the arts!

Upon graduation, the young photog (still just a mere 23 years old) scored her first gallery show in NYC; had her debut show in Minnesota; was sponsored by Aquatica Underwater Housing; and was accepted into the Northern Warehouse Art Collective in Lowertown Saint Paul, where she’s one of a group of artists who started the Lowertown First Fridays Art Crawl. With a style that seems to be one part surreal dream and one part poignant, real-life documentation, Pappas has, over the past year, turned her craft into an all-encompassing career that spans both the art world and the educational sphere.

We had a chat with this talented shutterbug about life in Lowertown, her art, and what’s on the horizon….

One of your main bodies of work is the underwater series. What inspired this and do you have any plans to do more underwater work?

The inspiration for the underwater work came from my previous project, Sister. People were telling me, “You need to photograph more in water.” Since this was my first time shooting in water, I definitely have a lot in store for 2010. I have some awesome collaborations, projects, and some huge shows coming up this year, all underwater.

You have a very interesting style of photography that often combines fashion editorial with photo journalism. How do you plan your shoots? Do you storyboard or plan out your shots, or do you just fly by the seat of your pants?

That’s a huge compliment, thanks! Usually I write first. I sit down and daydream while letting my mind go. This allows me to take in the images of my surroundings and mold it in my mind to a functional idea. Once this happens, all I have to do is set it up.

You also do photography workshops. Can you tell me more about that?

This year I am starting for the first time in the Twin Cities, a Photography Boot Camp. My new teaching studio is called: Rhe Pops Photo Ed, it’s starting here in February. I love teaching and it’s where my heart belongs. The one goal I wish to achieve in every class is to help inspire people to learn and create with photography in a way teachers rarely did for me. Otherwise, I do teach at IFP (independent Film Project) and love working with the organization greatly.

If you could shoot anything, anywhere, what would it be?

Right now I am on a family or adventure kick. I am really hoping to combine them both and shoot in Greece or France this year. Discovering my family from the past to present.  The image that started the project is of my mother in NYC.

You are also one of the ringleaders of the Lowertown First Fridays art crawl. How has that been going and what are your thoughts on Lowertown in general? How do the artists work together to draw attention to the district?

I think that Lowertown has been making a name for itself recently as others have been discovering it, but it’s been like this for sometime. I have only lived in Saint Paul about a year now, but it seems that my collaborations have been out of this world. The connections I have made down here have opened up many doors for me. When you think of all the artists who live in Lowertown, it’ll amaze you how many heavy hitters you’ll find. I’m 23 and due to the place I live I have had the opportunities to talk, show, and work with artists that show at the walker and international galleries. There is no other place in the state that has this kind of successful, high density area of working artists. All of us together make it worth while for people to come out and visit us with First Fridays and the Art Crawl. We respect each other enough to help and enjoy each other down here in Lowertown. That’s why four working artists (including me) wanted to start First Fridays.

Do you have any cool new projects coming up in 2010 that you’d like to divulge?

I would love to tell them all, but most of the really cool things are under wraps. I will say that I am in the works with a large gallery for a 4 month long show this summer, talking with specific fashion designers, and wanting to work with some larger events for developing promotional materials. I can talk about my new project on Ice Scuba Divers and also on the probability of a month in France sometime this summer for that family project I was talking about earlier. So, lots of stuff. You can keep up with new work on my flickr page.

What are your top 5 favorite things about Saint Paul?

Top 5… hmmmm….

1. The down to earth people and lack of pretentious behavior.
2. Lowertown- community is excellent (especially in the Northern Warehouse)
3. The Minnesota Boat Club and the Mississippi River
4. Great Waters, Sawadee, The Black Dog, Princess Garden, and Mississippi Market. Amazing food.
5. The respect for a living and breathing community. I love that things close at 9/10pm and people go to bed. Respect for self brings respect for the people surrounding you. St. Paul has got that down.

The Lowertown First Friday Art Crawl has been moved to the Second Friday (January 8th), this week only due to the New Year’s Holiday. The crawl runs from 6-9pm. Check out the Facebook page HERE for more info or visit the info page at MnArtists.org HERE.

Check out Rhea’s work on her website or flickr page.

Mark your calendars for every second Tuesday of the month through April! The historic Landmark Center has teamed up with the Saint Paul City Ballet to bring you “Ballet Tuesdays,” a free lunchtime ballet performance!

Running every second Tuesday of the month starting January 12th through April 13th, this special performance will take place over the lunch hour, inviting guests to bring a bag lunch or to purchase a tasty, freshly made treats from the popular Anita’s Cafe, located at the south end of the Landmark Center’s cortile.

Most of the Ballet Tuesdays performances will feature Saint Paul City Ballet’s Company of dancers, who will twirl about for your entertainment and at the same time educate you on various aspects of ballet and preview upcoming performances.   The kick off event on January 12th at Noon features Saint Paul City Ballet’s Bruce Larson North End Outreach program, who will preview select works-in-progress from their spring show.  The students are from Washington Technology magnet and are under the direction of Bridget Higgins, Saint Paul City Ballet Outreach Director. February and March 2010 performances will include excerpts from the Company’s Sister City tour to Manzanillo, Mexico, this winter as well as the Company’s performance at the Ritz in March.

The series runs every second Tuesday of the month through April at Noon. The event is free and open to the public. Upcoming performances include:

Tuesday, Jan 12th

Tuesday, Feb 9th

Tuesday, Mar 9th

Tuesday, Apr 13th

The series will return September 14, 2010 and run the second Tuesday of the month through May 10, 2011.

For more info visit www.landmarkcenter.org

Saint Paul is home to some of the most grandiose lighting displays in the state! Our fair city’s historical roots and decadent architecture offer the perfect backdrop for twinkling, colorful lights and festive displays of holiday cheer. Take an evening off from your frenzied preparations to immerse yourself in the seasonal visual delights of Saint Paul.

Summit Avenue

A wonderful driving or walking tour to do at any given time of the year, lights or no lights, Summit Avenue is the city’s most beautiful street. Lined with historic manses of many different shapes, sizes and styles, this old-timey Ave hits the mark on outdoor holiday decor like none other. Start your tour on Snelling and Summit and slowly wind your way towards Downtown St. Paul. Once you pass Lexington Avenue, the most iconic Victorian-era homes begin to appear (including the Governor’s Mansion, 1006 Summit, just off Dale) and it is here that the holiday spirit of the wealthy rears its competitive head — much to the visual delight of us common-folk. Towering pines strung with thousands of sparkling lights, glowing displays and over-the-top props dominate the grounds of many of Summit Avenue’s most note-worthy residences. Many of which, I assume cost more to power every season than I made in 2009. Tip: I certainly don’t condone walking too far in this weather without a full-on snow suit, so do the drive and perhaps pull over once you get in the thick of it for a brisk walk-about.

For more info on Summit Avenue click HERE.

Rice Park

What’s more iconic than the twinkly lights in our capital city’s own Rice Park? A glowing centerpiece to Downtown Saint Paul’s historic streets, the Rice Park display features a gigantic tree lit with thousands of energy-efficient LED lights alongside holiday decor and dozens of other glittering trees in the park - fittingly powered by Xcel Energy, of course. To make matters more dazzling, the lights are set to go into a sparkle-frenzy for five minutes each hour. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful structures in the Downtown area such as the Saint Paul Hotel and Landmark Center, this “town square” is the epitome of winter wonderland. And with the annual Wells Fargo Winterskate just adjacent, you can don your cutest/warmest holiday-wear for a romantic spin or three around the rink, complete with the glitzy park as your backdrop. Skate rental is a mere $2 per person, free if you show your Wells Fargo check or credit card.

For more info on Rice Park and Winterskate click HERE

Linder’s Garden Center

Now this is marketing at its prettiest. Family owned St. Paul staple, Linder’s Garden Center once again goes nuts with their lighting display, which is practically on the verge of being visible from outerspace. Over 150,000 lights make up this stunning display, which is run by a custom-designed computer program that controls the movement and sparkle-value of the extravaganza. And while your there being mesmerized by the fantasy of it all, you may as well pop in and buy a poinsettia or two to jazz up your own holiday display — which is guaranteed to be no where near as cool as this one.

For more info on Linder’s lighting display click HERE

Lake Phalen

In the Summer months, Lake Phalen plays host to the bikini-clad babes and muscle bound crotch-rocket riders that routinely cruise its perimeter, and on the flip side, the holiday season finds the lake ringed in glittering lights and impressively dazzling displays. A drive-through experience that costs $10 per car on Friday-Saturday and $8 Thursday-Sunday, this visual marvel donates all its proceeds to a number of charities focused on fundamental community needs such as food, shelter, education, and the environment. You’ll leisurely coast around the lake oohing and aahing over the over-the-top installations, which may be just the right recipe for a cute date night or a family outing. The best part? You needn’t leave the cozy confines of your car.

For more info on the Phalen lights click HERE