The651.com

Becky Sturm is owner/founder of StormSister Spatique, a local beauty boutique.  StormSister Spatique has been featured in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, METRO Magazine, Minnesota Monthly, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press and various blogs.  Once you cross over the Smith Avenue High Bridge, it sits next to Capital View Cafe.   At first glance, you might miss this small storefront located on the West Side of Saint Paul.  Once you step in, you will see why it’s a gem — product junkies beware!  StormSister is filled with comforting products for your skin, body and mind — all products that Becky stands behind.  With warm weather upon us, its time to buff, exfoliate and cleanse.  What are you waiting for?  See below for comments from StormSister owner, Becky Sturm on why she loves Saint Paul and her recommendation for summer products!

Being a small business owner, it very important for me to spend money with other small businesses in my community.

Becky Sturm, Owner of StormSister Spatique

Most of my weekends include: the Saint Paul Farmer’s Market in Lowertown and a stop at my favorite bread bakery, located on the West Side, BC2 Bakery — their sourdough could certainly compete with the original in San Francisco.

I have been a resident of the West Side for 22 years; my husband and I have raised both of our sons here.  I love living so close to the river and to downtown.  It is the perfect community.

My oldest son Brett, recently graduated from College of Visual Arts and my youngest son, Bailey, is a high school student at River’s Edge Academy.

Living on the West Side with its large Hispanic population, has given me the opportunity to enjoy some of the best, authentic Mexican cuisine available in the U.S.  Just head down Cesar Chavez Street and you will find several!  I have a weakness for guacamole, so I always have a hard time deciding between the ones served at Barrio and El Burrito Mercado.

Living just over the river from downtown, it’s a quick five-minute ride to amazing museums, theaters, and one of my favorite dining establishments — Meritage.

Meritage Crepe Stand

A stroll downtown wouldn’t be complete without a stop into Candyland.  Oh Candyland, you and your tantalizing Chicago mix (caramel, cheese, and real buttered popcorn)!

Finally, that beacon of light on West 7th, Mickey’s Diner — the perfect middle-of-the-night cultural experience after much imbibing.

Having grown up in my grandmother’s beauty shop and then spending 23 years in all aspects of the salon/spa industry, it was time to follow my true passion, retail.  So, I took a break and started StormSister Spatique online in 2005.  Then, late in 2006 I had decided I really missed that intimate relationship I had with my clients and opened up StormSister Spatique’s storefront in my neighborhood on the West Side.

What’s the deal with StormSister Spatique and PEZ?  Click here to learn why!

My head-to-toe beauty must-haves for summer include:

Greenbody Greenplanet haircare by local hairdresser, Lorri Weisen.  When you use organic, chemical-free ingredients you not only enhance your own well-being, but the environments!

NONTOXIQUE hand and footcare by local manicurist, Sheila Mossberg.  NONTOXIQUE will help you get your hands and feet looking more youthful and glowing with their age-defying ingredients.

Organic Tinted Lip Balms by Badger.  These shimmer lip balms will keep your pucker moist and colorful during the hot summer days.

I heart Saint Paul!

StormSister Spatique is located at 635 South Smith Avenue in Saint Paul, combines luxury spa products in an artsy boutique setting.

Phone:  612-716-5480

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.

This weekend, a jazz drummer returns to his hometown, a renowned guitarist takes up the Haiti cause, and a ’60s soul singer is still hot.

Matt Slocum

Friday & Saturday: Matt Slocum Trio
One of St. Paul’s prodigal sons has returned – as a big-time jazz composer and drummer from the Big Apple. Though he was born and raised here, Matt Slocum has never performed in the Twin Cities until now. After high school, he went out of state to study, subsequently doing session work on both coasts and eventually moving to New York. He’s on the road promoting his debut recording of originals, Portraits, released just last month. Expect lush instrumentation, soulful saxophone, and intellectual subtleties. (9 p.m. Fri. & Sat. $15. 18-plus. Artists’ Quarter, 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 651-292-1359. www.artistsquarter.com”.)

illo Minn

Friday & Saturday: Illo. Minn: Volume Two

The opening party was last Thursday, but there’s still time to check out the must-see show if you didn’t make it out. The ROBOTlove-sponsored show features 28 local illustrators and two pieces from each, including their individual takes on the beloved Munny doll. (Though the dolls were purported to have sold during Thursday’s silent auction.) Next Thursday, hear from illustrators including DC Ice, Adam Turman, Nancy Carlson, Andy Powell, and Eric Hanson during a panel discussion. (Noon-6 p.m. Fri. Noon-4 p.m. Sat. Discussion: 6-7:30 p.m. next Thu. Exhibition runs through Mar. 6. Free. College of Visual Arts, 344 Summit Ave., St. Paul. 651-224-3416. www.cva.edu.)

Syl Johnson

Friday & Saturday: Syl Johnson
Soul singer/guitarist Syl Johnson has been around since the late ‘60s, when he made a name for himself with socially-conscious lyrics and a smooth, Al Green-esque voice. His vintage soul has since resurfaced via samples in classic hip hop tracks from the likes of Public Enemy and Wu-Tang Clan. Either way, his voice is sure to stir some familiarity within you. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat. $12-15. Wilebski’s Blues Saloon, 601 N. Western Ave., St. Paul. 651-228-9959.)

Zoo Animal

Saturday: Zoo Animal, Hildur Victoria, Ten Centuries, Telepathos
Runners-up in City Pages’ Picked to Click in 2009, minimalist grunge-pop trio Zoo Animal are one of the hottest local acts in town coming into 2010. The band will be joined by some other up-and-comers – folksters Hildur Victoria and nu-gazers Telepathos. The new two-piece from Bill Caperton of Ela, Askeleton and One for the Team fame, Ten Centuries, also performs. (9 p.m. $5. 21-plus. Turf Club, 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul. 651-647-0486. www.turfclub.net.)

'Transylvania Television'

Saturday: ‘Transylvania Television’ Meet-and-Greet
Meet the cast and producers of Transylvania Television, a “retro monster comedy that’s not really for kids.” The show, about a television station run by monsters in the Carpathian Mountains, was conceived of by a Minneapolis-based filmmaker Michael J. Jeagle and special effects guru Gordon Smuder. We’re hoping to spy some of the Henson-esque puppets. (4-8 p.m. Sat. Free. Source Comics and Games, 1601 W. Larpenteur Ave., Roseville. 651-645-0386. www.sourcecandg.com.)

Hungary

Sunday: Urban Expedition: Hungary
If you’re looking for something a little more family-oriented, round up the kids and head to the Landmark Center for this event showcasing the best in Hungarian culture and customs. Everything from art and dance to food and music will be represented. (1 p.m. Sun. Free. Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul. 651-292-3293. www.landmarkcenter.org.)

Details Style Lab

Sunday: Charity Salon Service Jam for Haiti
The ever-charitable folks at Details Style Lab are giving you the chance to get pretty – for a good cause.The salon and spa host a charity salon service jam for one day only, with all proceeds going to White Bear Lake’s Healing Haiti organization. Call now to make your appointment.(Sun. Noon-5 p.m. Details Style Lab, 346 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 651-251-8700. www.detailsmn.com.)

Peter Lang

Sunday: Haiti Recovery Benefit Concert
Renowned acoustic guitarist Peter Lang is behind the latest Haiti concert in the Twin Cities. He’s joined by an impressive group of national and local blues and folk acts, including Pat Donohue, Peter Ostroushko, Nikki and the RueMates, Phil Heywood and others. The proceeds go to benefit the Friends of the Orphans organization, which provides pediatric medical care and run an orphanage in Haiti. (2-6 p.m. Sun. $50 suggested donation. Wellstone Center, 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul. 651-482-1703. www.friendsoftheorphans.org.)

"Under ther Cherry Moon"

Monday: “Under the Cherry Moon”
A little-known film directed by and starring Prince and Jerome from the Time, Under the Cherry Moon is receiving a rare screening thanks to underground film collaborative Trash Film Debauchery. The duo play gigolos who swindle rich women out of money; things get complicated when Prince falls in love. The romantic comedy-meets-drama-meets-musical film was best-known for its soundtrack, Parade, which featured the Prince hit “Kiss.” Unlike Purple Rain, the only performance by Prince in the film is for “Girls & Boys.” Prince is our hometown celeb, so it’s kind of required viewing. (10 p.m. Free. 21-plus. Turf Club, 1601 University Ave W., St. Paul. 651-647-0486.)

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

I’m a tried and true Saint Paul girl. I grew up in Highland Park, went to High School at St. Paul Central, and have worked and played in pretty much every nook and cranny of our fine capitol city. My career as an arts writer, photographer, curator, and general arts instigator has led me through the Twin Cities and beyond. However, the streets of St. Paul are the streets that I will always consider home.

From the bustling shopping mecca that is Grand Avenue to the festive and colorful borough of Saint Paul’s West Side, and from the classic, tree-lined scenery of Summit Avenue to the beautiful architecture of Downtown — Saint Paul is truly a place to live a charmed life. We revel in our gorgeous parks and the rampant bits of lovingly maintained green space that pepper the city from end to end. We are constantly encouraged to learn about and appreciate our rich history, as a city, and as people, with unparalleled cultural and educational resources. Our arts community thrives and flourishes, feeding off its own creative energy and inspiring new artists to join its ranks each day.

Last weekend I fell in love with St. Paul all over again. My evening began at the Fitzgerald Theater, with a dazzling performance by the Classical Ballet Academy and Ballet Minnesota, as part of the Minnesota Dance Festival. Dozens of darling children graced the stage with rousing theatrics and whimsical choreography, followed by a progressive lineup of pre-teens to young adults whose talents seemed to almost trump themselves with each act. Ballet Minnesota finished the night with a mesmerizing performance of La Bayadere, a production filled with glittering ballerinas and brilliant movement. The intimate theater set the backdrop perfectly; it’s no surprise that Ballet Minnesota has pegged the Fitz as its new home.

My night continued at Lowertown’s AZ Gallery, where the College of Visual Arts was holding its annual thesis show, which runs through May 31st. The impressive work by this slew of young emerging artists was inventive and eclectic. I ended up buying a piece of work from 2003 CVA grad D.C. Ice, an AZ Gallery resident artist. Next on the itinerary was a bottle of red wine and some experimental music at the cozy Black Dog Cafe, followed by a late-night burger at Mickey’s Diner.

My experience in Saint Paul last Friday was a lovely and memorable. The kind of night I know can be re-created 1000 different ways this summer — for you, and for me. I want you to use STAYcation as your personal concierge, a resource to inspire you to live that “charmed life” that I previously mentioned. Please come back often, I’m so excited to tell you all the city’s secrets!