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I was sitting on the front porch of my 100-year old St. Paul house the other day feeling really good about the place I call home. My friends who live elsewhere often laugh when I tell them, ” I should have grown up in St. Paul!” There is a nice, relaxing feel to our city and something so incredible about the community itself. I was thrilled when I was asked to write a blog for this site because the city means so much to me. It is home.

Many times when you plan a vacation, it is to getaway and enjoy some different scenery. You can get that right here… closer to home. One thing I truly enjoy is all the options we have to eat great food in the city of St. Paul. I have had some fantastic meals lately so I must share some ideas with you if you are planning a “staycation” and want to treat yourself to an evening out on the town without breaking the bank.

If you are hankering for a burger, two places come to the top of my mind. One of them is Groveland Tap on St. Clair at Fairview. It is a great neighborhood pub that serves Summit beer ice cold and then fires up the grill to make you a delicious burger. If you are a vegetarian, they make a fabulous veggie burger as well.

Just a quick bike ride away is another fun place called the Blue Door Pub on Selby at Fairview. We biked there with some friends recently and enjoyed the great, energetic ambiance and a yummy meal, too. There is something about those neighborhood places. You feel so relaxed and it seems like you are getting away.

If you want a place with an unusual fair, try Cheeky Monkey on Selby between Dale and Western. They opened up a few months ago and have an eclectic menu that is really unique. I highly recommend the homemade chips.  You can share a basket of them with the whole table. After you order, you can sit down on a comfy couch or curl up to the fireplace on a cooler day. The red paint on the walls with the framed “monkey” artwork adds to the whole experience. It’s one place you don’t want to miss out on if you come to St. Paul!

If you are looking for a fun place to go with your family, the Chatterbox Pub in Highland Village should be on your list. They have comfy tables and plenty of board games and activities to help make a dinner out…a real family evening of fun. It’s a popular hangout for Highland families.

If you are making it a “dinner and movie” evening, be sure to check out what’s playing at the Highland Theater in Highland Village or the Grandview Theater on Grand near Fairview. I know they don’t have the stadium seats that the suburban theaters do, but you can’t beat their old time feel and I can vouch for the fact that the popcorn is much better at these theaters….not too much salt! It’s important that we keep these last two St. Paul movie theaters in business so buy a ticket and some popcorn and sit back and enjoy the show.

If you need to keep kids busy during the summer, my son absolutely loves the St. Paul Saints baseball camp. Check their website for upcoming camps. They even have one in the winter. They go over the fundamentals and give aspiring Joe Mauers some great tips on technique.

As summer winds down, I am gearing up for hockey season and the return of the Minnesota Wild. Talk about a great staycation. We have been season ticket holders since the beginning and going to a game is a like a vacation in itself. We usually catch dinner on West 7th and then head to the game. It is a party-like atmosphere in the stands and when the buzzer sounds at the end of the 3rd period the party continues in downtown St. Paul.

I know I sound like a cheerleader for my city but I can’t help it. It’s a good place with great people. Why go anywhere else when a good movie or game and a great meal are calling you? Bon Appetit!