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For the upcoming class of 2011, if you’re like me, the same thoughts that are rushing through my head are rushing through yours.  The time is drawing near when future college decisions are crucial.  Most likely, your parents have been asking you questions along the lines of, “What majors are you looking into?” and “What colleges do you want to tour?”  All of these questions and thoughts can be very stressful, but the best time to start looking at colleges is this summer.

The transformation from high school to college is not easy.  Thoughts run through your head such as: fitting in, class size or even just navigating through campus. Can’t high school just be a bit longer?  Well, although some of us may not be ready to turn the page and graduate from high school, a lot of us are.

A perfect opportunity to look at a few of the many private colleges St. Paul an Minnesota has to offer is during the Minnesota Private College Week, which is coming up on June 21st through June 25th.  This week is dedicated to let college-seekers check out and gain helpful information on seventeen colleges!  Go with your parents or friends, and take a road trip to any private college of your choice!  Now don’t worry, this week is totally chill and is very hands on.  There are campus tours and general information sessions.  They are offered twice daily, so don’t stress if you’re late.  They last for about three hours each.

If you visit http://www.mnprivatecolleges.org, you can not only learn about the academic programs, international study opportunities, student organizations, athletic programs, but you can also register online to let the colleges know you’re coming!  They give as scheduled visits and our job is to just show up!  How easy can it get?  Click here to check out their Facebook page!

The colleges in St. Paul that you can visit are:  Hamline University, Concordia University, Macalester College, St. Catherine University, Bethel University, College of St. Scholastica, and University of St. Thomas.  A recent visit to  St. Thomas as part of  a Junior College Tour Day was a very pleasant experience.  It is prominently located in the residential area of Summit Avenue.  It is Minnesota’s largest independent university and has a great overseas study program.  How cool would it be to take a semester in Rome or Paris?  The campus seemed very collegiate and reminded me of being  in the East Coast!  Also, the student body was quite helpful and thoroughly answered any of my questions, no matter how many!

Congratulations to all new high school graduates and good luck on exploring your future college.  It may seem overwhelming at first, but an exciting new challenge that will pay off in the end.

As Brett Favre piles up victory over victory for the Vikings and the new Gophers stadium, “The Bank,” piles up national accolades, there are several opportunities to take in football in the capital city on a crisp Saturday afternoon this fall.

Saint Paul is home to a slew of liberal arts colleges and many people have said, “We’re like Boston, without the snobs!”

Snobs or not many of these schools have football programs and beautiful venues to get away to on a Saturday for a few hours of gridiron fun with the family.  And unlike the football played in Minneapolis, the outings in Saint Paul won’t sack your wallet.

Check out a game for free at MAC this Season.

Macalester College, located at 1600 Grand Avenue, plays football in Macalester Stadium, built in 1965.  While the 4,000 seat stadium has seen its fair share of football, the field itself was renovated from grass to turf just a few years ago.   A trip to Macalester Stadium will cost you nothing at the gate–that’s right it’s free.  And while you won’t find Dome Dogs, you will find a Scot Dog reasonably priced at $2.  Another great perk is the aromas that waft over the field throughout the game from the nearby St. Clair Broiler.  It’s great marketing for one of Saint Paul’s finest diners and will likely draw you in for a post game meal or beverage.  Catch Macalester playing Martin Luther on 10/24 or Hamline on 11/7.

Just down the street is O’Shaughnessy Stadium at the University of St. Thomas which was built in 1947.  Tickets for a Tommie game will run you $7 for adults and $4 for children age 5-17–the wee ones are free!  Indulge in some sweet corn, or a frothy cup of hot cocoa on a brisk Saturday.  Old Tommie gear from various sports is usually being sold so if you’re an alum or just in need of some purple in your wardrobe, buy it here for cheap.  Talk about the game afterward at Tiff’s–a Tommie hang out just a few miles away on Ford Parkway.  The Tommies play Augsburg on 10/31 and Northwestern on 11/14.

Lastly, Concordia University boasts the newest football stadium experience in Saint Paul at Sea Foam Stadium.   This $14.5 million stadium holds 3,500 spectators.  You may wonder later in the season what the large marshmallow is off of Hamline and 94.  It is in fact a temporary dome that will cover the field and allow for temperature control usage in the cold winter months.  The Concordia Golden Bears play Wayne state on 10/31 and Bemidji State on 11/7 at Sea Foam Stadium.

So enjoy Favre this season as he leads the Vikings to victory and take in a Gopher game if you can, but when it comes to quality time with the family or friends for a small amount of ching, find your way to one of these stadiums above and see how football is played Saint Paul style.

When I was once looking for a time and place to escape my daily routine and sort through my thoughts, a friend told me about a labyrinth on the campus of Concordia University. For some unknown reason I did not visit the labyrinth then, but I finally sought out the labyrinth on a recent sunny Saturday.

Tucked between buildings on campus, this gem of a labyrinth would be easy to miss. There isn’t an updated Web site for the labyrinth and it’s not on the campus map, so finding it took a bit of detective work. (See below for info on how to get there.) When I finally found it, I was the only person around and the row of buildings behind me blocked traffic noise from Hamline Avenue, creating what felt like my own private sanctuary.

The entrance of the labyrinth at Concordia University.

The labyrinth didn’t look like much at first and needed a bit of upkeep. I expected a large, dramatic-looking maze and instead found something about the size of my house’s small guest room. Still, I appreciated its simplicity and discovered its beauty during my walk. At the entrance was a sign explaining the labyrinth’s purpose and history:

“Labyrinth: An age-old ceremonial path of relaxation, inspiration and wisdom. It is a meditative walk of peace that is both simple and complex. The design of this 7-pathed Minoan labyrinth is based upon 3,000-year-old paintings from the Mediterranean island of Crete. The path leads to the center and returns here.”

As I began walking the path, which changed back and forth between dirt, straw, and stone, providing a variety of visual texture, I noticed the various grasses and flowers planted to shape the labyrinth. Chives sprouted bright green with lavender flower balls on top. Surprisingly, such a modest labyrinth still took me about 20 minutes to navigate. (It can take as short or as long as you want, depending on how quickly or slowly you want to walk—and think.) My usually fast walking pace slowed with my breath as I realized that all I needed to do was be right here, right now.

Afterward, I headed to the Tea Garden (1692 Grand Ave.) for a glass of jasmine bubble tea and time with a good book – a relaxing and restorative afternoon in the heart of St. Paul.

Getting there: Coming from 94, exit Snelling and go south. Turn left (east) on Marshall Ave., then left again on Syndicate St. N, one block past Hamline Ave. The parking on Syndicate is free, but there isn’t a lot of it, so go when class is typically out of session, like on a weekend. Facing Luther Hall, walk slightly to the south until you see an opening in the grass before the Student Union building. Make your way through campus, walking west, until you start getting close to another set of buildings lining Hamline Ave. Look to your right as you approach the music center and tucked between buildings, look closely and you’ll see the labyrinth.