The651.com

BT MCing the Gear Daddies at the MN Zoo

From the station that brings you the “Cities Sampler” each year, we recruited BT to share his St. Paul sampler with us. Check out what BT likes to do when he’s not flippin’ disks on the Cities 97 Morning Show!

Honestly, the border pendulum swings both ways between citizens of our respective Twin Cities, but I’d have to say the weight falls a bit heavier on the west-to-east equation.  Here’s what I mean.  Sure, you’ve got a ton of St. Paulites who freak out heading westward into the “MinneApple” (as God-awful a catch-phrase as ever created), but frankly I think the percentage of Minneapolitans who can’t cross the river into the Capital City without acquiring a case of hives or conniptions is substantially larger.  So I’ve made it one of my missions in life to quell the unease and discomfort of those affected thusly.  Attention residents of the (also known as) “Mill City.”  You do NOT need a passport to cross the border into St. Paul!

All of St. Paul is cool in my book, but for today I’ll do a two-neighborhood “Cities Sampler,” if I may, and will begin with a focus on Lowertown.

One of the prettiest urban parks in America is in St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood – Mears Park.  Now, I have a water feature in my backyard (I like to

BT with Tim McNiff of KARE 11 at Gilda's Club Golf event

garden), so one of my favorite aspects of the park is the man-made stream that runs right through it.  Perfect spot to chill and read a book.  Kids love to play around the burbling water, surrounded by beautiful trees and plantings.  Make it a ‘two-fer’ and take in Mears Park while enjoying the ‘Concrete and Grass Lowertown Music Festival’ that’s coming September 11th through the 13th.  You’ll enjoy music on two stages, free of charge, ranging from The Schubert Club and the Minnesota Opera to Romantica and local blues legend Spider John Koerner - all the while soaking up a great city experience and a neighborhood that’s truly on the upswing.

Make sure you devote some additional time while you’re in the neighborhood to stroll around and enjoy a beverage or meal or both in one of the Lowertown nightclubs, bars and restaurants.  The area started tipping more so into becoming a real

BT in studio with Vikes Cheerleaders

‘destination location’ once The Bulldog and Barrio opened on the north side of the park on 6th St., just off Wacouta.  Those two joined a group of establishments that already included Innuendo and Rumours Nightclub, Station 4, Trattoria da Vinci, The Hat Trick Lounge and many others.  Just park your car and walk around – like Uptown in Minneapolis or Rush St. in Chicago, that’s what a destination location is all about – and it’s happening in Lowertown.  Families strolling in the park.  People in venues that literally spill out onto the sidewalk.  Not to mention the Farmer’s Market just a couple of blocks from the park.  Even die hard St. Paul pals of mine who haven’t been to Lowertown in a while are surprised when they’ve paid a recent visit!  This is all real urban, my friend – and real fun.

Next, off we go to the Highland Park vicinity.

There’s a whole lot of ‘best of’ happening in St. Paul, as we segue to a brewery that’s cranking out a lineup of some of the best beers and ales that you’ll find anywhere – Summit Brewing on Montreal Ave. near Highland Park, right on the bluffs above the Mississippi River.  The good folks there will give you a tour of the facility and explain the whole brewing process, from kettles to bottles – it really is quite educational - and then provide a tasty sample or two for those of age when the tour concludes.  If it’s just you and a buddy, or if you want to bring a larger group, just peek at their website or buzz them an email and set it up.  They also provide their large indoor gathering space, or “Ratskeller” for use by charities and organizations in the area.  Great beer.  Civic minded attitude.  Sweet.  My kind of company.  Did I mention great beer?

Get out there and soak in all that St. Paul has to offer.  East-side-best-side!  Make it an extra special ‘St. Paul Staycation’ with an overnight or two at the lovely St. Paul Hotel, celebrating its 99th year this year!  My buddy David Miller’s the G.M. there, and he and his crew will take good care of you.  Cheers!