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I’ve been calling Saint Paul, “Saint Small,” for quite some time now because every once in a while I experience a situation that makes me think the entire city of Saint Paul is the size of Rice Park.

What started as a simple trip to find a wedding band started a whole new Saint Small episode.

Case in point, last Saturday my fiance and I went to R.F. Moeller Jewelers to  pick out my wedding band.   We found my band in about 10 minutes (I’m not the pickiest person in the world) and then we just mingled around while our friend Jamie rang it up.  With one eye on the Gopher basketball game I noticed another sales rep talking to a guy about putting something on his significant other’s (SO) wish list.  I thought to myself “that damned wishlist marketing technique” but I also remembered the guy’s face.

We left R.F. Moeller and while we stood on the corner waiting to cross the street, I noticed the same guy from the store across the street on the sidewalk with his SO.  I lost track of where they disappeared to but we decided to poke our heads into Patina and see what they had for unique gifts–it was our anniversary and I needed a little something to say “I love you.”  As I perused the uniquely laid out store, I saw the same guy from R.F. Moeller, now with his SO shopping in Patina.  I thought it was kinda weird but not too crazy as the stores are simply across the street from each other.  This all happened around 2:00pm.

Fast forward through the rest of the day and right up to our 7:30 pm diner reservation at the Strip Club.  Yes, I took my future wife to a Strip Club for our anniversary–a Strip Club that serves fantastic New York Strips and Shrimp Risotto.  We had a great little table for two upstairs and as we ordered our beverages, I looked down to check out the crowd and atmosphere below.  To my amazement, it was the same guy from R.F. Moeller and Patina with his SO sitting directly below us at the Strip Club.

All sorts of thoughts permeated my brain–were they secret service, a crazy ex-boyfriend of my fiance’s stalking us or just another victim of SSS–Saint Small Syndrome.

I wanted to go down and say something to them but I thought, what if this guy was buying an engagement ring for his SO at R.F. Moeller and I come along as the schmuck stranger and blow his whole night.  Definitely not cool.  So I

waited and contemplated and watched them from above.  They were very into each other, she had a ring on her left ring finger, and they seemed to be into their wine.  I figured I had to say something.  We finished up our dinner and decided we had to say something.

We walked down the cool spiral staircase in the Strip Club and approached them at the bar.  I said, “You don’t know us but we’ve seen you at R.F. Moeller, Patina and now here.  We’re staying at the Holiday Inn tonight for our anniversary and if you show up there, we’re calling the cops.”  They started to laugh and we had a good chat about SSS and how we were all victims that day.

We went to the Holiday Inn and they never showed–thank goodness.

It just goes to show you that even when you’re on the off beaten path, people–even complete strangers, can and will find you.

You’ve dealt with everything this holiday season from long lines at malls to bumper-to-bumper traffic jams to ice cold temperatures to putting on a smile for holiday gatherings at the in-laws.  You’ve held up your end of the bargain and now it’s time for you–time to put a smile on that face, kick back with a frosty cold one and say good bye holiday blues.  Now the only question is where should you do it?

Well, you’ve come to the right place.  Look no further for your list of holiday brews to cure your holiday blues!

Senor Wong’s in Lowertown might just be the place for you.  Located on Kellogg Blvd behind Kellogg Square Apartments, Senor Wong’s offers locally crafted beers and imported beers from Asia and South America.

Asian beers include Tsing Tao (China), Singha (Thailand), Tiger (Singapore) , Lion Stout (Sri Lanka), Asahi (Japan), Sapporo (Japan) , Hitachino Ginger Brew (Japan) and Hitachino Xh Sake Cask Quad (Japan).  Latin American beers Corona Extra – Mexico City, (Mexico), Brahma – (Rio De Janero, Brazil), Negra Modelo – (Mexico City, Mexico), Pacifico – (Sinaloa, Mexico), Tecate – (Los Cabos, Mexico).

If you’re looking for that trip around the world but can’t afford it after all that Christmas shopping, grab any of the beers above and sink into the Asian or Latin culture.

Across town at the corner of Selby and Fairview is the Blue Door Pub.  The “Blue Door,” as the locals call it, offers some great brews on tap including:  Surly Furious,  Lift Bridge’s Farm Girl, Summit Extra Pale Ale and Summit Oatmeal Stout.  Additional seasonal beers rotate through the Blue Door including, Bell’s Two Hearted IPA, Summit Winter Ale, Summit Scotch Ale, Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale and Widmer Brrr.  This shoe box of a restaurant offers great burgers to complement your frosty brew and a great neighborhood feel.

Back in the West end area of Saint Paul is the oldest bar in Minnesota known as The Spot Bar.  This bar is a major dive but one of those bars you grow to love and a staple of the neighborhood.  Mike O’Toole has owned the place for over 25 years and you can strike up a conversation with just about any of the regulars inside.  Beers on tap are pretty simple including Premium, Summit Extra Pale Ale, Leinenkugel’s, Michelob Golden Draft Light and Guinness but they are incredibly cheap.

On the east side is Saint Paul’s only Strip Club–get your mind out of the gutter, I wouldn’t send you to a REAL strip club to cure your holiday blues.  This is a meat and fish place, with a fun name and the bar is fantastic.  Tucked under the second floor balcony, the Strip Club bar has a smattering of beer options to choose from including the North Coast Pranqster Golden Ale on tap, a bunch of Budweiser, Miller and Coors products in the can,  some more sophisticated canned beers in Lion Imperial Lager, Tilburgs Dutch Brown, Scaldis Noel $12.50.  If you’re looking for something in a can, there are some unique choices such as the 11.2 oz Wittekerke or the 22 oz Sapporo.  The Strip Club also has what they refer to as large format beers including Avery Imperial IPA (22oz), La Chouffe Houblon (750ml) and Delerium Nocturnum (750ml)–the last two will run you $25 apiece.

Finally, if you want a little education with your beer, you may want to consider a tour at the Summit Brewing Company.  You can get a tour of the brewery over the holidays on Tuesday Dec 22 & 29 and Thursday Dec 31 at 1pm.  Call 651.224.BREW to get on that tour list.  Summit is Saint Paul’s largest functioning brewery located on Montreal Circle.  Get an inside look at how their brewery works from brewing to packaging to sending it out for purchase.  Taste their delicious brews after the tour.

So, I hope you have a chance to get out in Saint Paul to enjoy some brews to drowned those blues.  There are many unique places but remember drink responsibly and never drink and drive!  Happy Holidays.

While planning my upcoming trips (plural!) to the Minnesota State Fair, I was thrilled to realize that (although tasty and tempting), a fair adventure doesn’t have to be ALL about fried things on a stick. I definitely plan to attend the Minnesota Cooks events Sept. 1, when nearby farmers and chefs from restaurants all over the Twin Cities will pair up to create seven 45-minute cooking shows using Minnesota-grown ingredients.

JD Fratzke, executive chef at St. Paul's The Strip Club

Starting at 9 a.m. and running until 5 p.m. next Tuesday, you can watch chefs from Common Roots Café, Red Stag Supper Club, The Craftsman, Birchwood Café, The Strip Club, Trotters Café, Spoonriver, and others, as they create dishes like grilled pork loin with heirloom tomatoes, polenta with smokey black eyed peas, grilled lamb, and local corn grits with sweet corn, tomatoes, and tarragon. Need your taste buds ask for more?

Along with delicious, local eats, you can also learn about sustainable, green living at the Eco Experience Sustainability Stage. Every day at the fair, there is programming at this stage running from 9:30 a.m. until after 6 p.m. Check out topics like how to reduce your carbon footprint, solar on a budget, rain gardens, bike commuting, and keeping your home clean and green. Download a PDF of the schedule here.

See you at the fair!