A tale of two light shows

When the world is dark and dreary, we crave holiday lights.

And so, we seek out light shows to bring the family to. This year we were lucky enough to hit up two fantastic shows.



The last few years, we've greatly enjoyed the light show at the University of Minnesota campus put together by the engineering students. Using thousands of LED lights and rocking music, the 25-minute show is not-to-be-missed. We take the lightrail down, with a thermos full of hot cocoa. It's a holiday treat.



This year, my dad introduced us to this great light show in Cambridge. The lights are spread out along the entire yard of this home near Moon Lake. Turn on the radio station and you can hear and see. We loved it!

Outside or Inside in March: A Cure to Cabin Fever

I wrote a guest post over at Family Fun Twin Cities. Check it out! And be sure to explore this wonderful blog that's a great resource for Twin Cities families!

Live nativity at Edina church

I wanted the kiddos to really picture the Nativity, and so we hunted down a live nativity. Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina has a small one that was fun for us to drop by one Sunday morning.

The narrator read the story of Jesus' birth from scripture. We arrived in the middle of one reading and stayed through the reading of another. There was a break in the middle, so the whole thing took about 15 minutes. We loved the warm fire, and appreciated the hot drinks and cookies available under the tent.

Don't miss this Christmas light show

Nezt year, plan to head down to the University of Minnesota Campus to check out this great 15-minute light show.

Created by University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering students, the 2014 show was bigger and better than the year before with more than 100,000 LED lights, 400 individual controllable lights and 450 microcontrollers.

Lights surrounded the semi-circular Civil Engineering Plaza. The whole thing was synchronized to music composed and performed by University of Minnesota students for a 360-degree sensory outdoor experience. New features in 2014 were a giant 22-foot lighted tree, an 8-foot 3D snowman sign, and an 8-foot-by-6-foot lighted M. The light show was presented by the Tesla Works student group.

Shows were at 5:30, 6, 6:30, 7 p.m. on the Civil Engineering Building Plaza, 500 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis.

We loved it! The music selection was rocking, and the lights were magnificent. We rode the train down so we didn't have to worry about parking and enjoyed a nice walk. I brought hot cocoa in a thermos and some snacks. It was a great night out for the family.

Girls Night Out @ Vinaigrette

Grab your book club (or another group of girlfriends) and head over to Vinaigrette Gourmet Olive Oil and Vinegar Shop (locations in Minneapolis and Minnetonka) for a fabulous evening out.

We bought our books, of course. And salads that the shopkeeper provided dressing for. When he saw that we had a gluten-free pumpkin pie, he brought over an amazing Fig Balsamic Vinegar that added the perfect dash of pizzazz!

There's a small area in the back of the shop that was perfect for our group of 7. At the very back, a table was set up before we arrived for us to spread out our potluck dinner on.

At Vinaigrette, we were encouraged to try everything there, and so we did our best! 

Balsamic vinegar with blueberries... raspberries... pomegranate... cherries. Ooo la la! Golden balsamic vinegar. California chardonnay, cabernet, and champagne. (Fit perfectly with our books and wine night!).

Then there were the olive oils... Basil... Chili... Garlic... Lemon ... Tuscany herb... Rosemary... Lime... A bit of heaven. 

We learned that we had just missed the release of a bunch of new flavors by a few days. I guess it's just incentive to return!

Top Quality Vinegars:

18 year aged Balsamic vinegar, Balsamic vinegar with Fig, Balsamic vinegar with Pear, Balsamic vinegar with Raspberry, Balsamic vinegar with Cherry, and Golden Balsamic vinegar. We also offer California Chardonnay, Cabernet and Champagne vinegar. - See more at: http://www.vinaigrettemn.com/_o/index.html#sthash.qcNsUZ3f.dpuf

Even the art for sale on the walls is amazing!

Owners Richard and Sarah Piepenburg are passionate about food and cooking. As they say it on their web site:

"...on one of our trips back to Northern California for tours through the wine country, we had an epiphany. One of the wineries had started to grow olives on their property, and offered samples of olive oil and wine vinegar along with their wine tasting. We loved it! The first dinner we prepared with the oil, vinegar and wine we had tasted then purchased was amazing! - See more at: http://www.vinaigrettemn.com/_o/about-vinaigrette.html#sthash.reByzJQy.dpuf

As time went on, we thought about all the different oils and vinegars we had fallen in love with and thought “wouldn’t it be fun to be able to taste Greek olive oil beside an Italian olive oil and really decide which one we preferred”.

Thus, the idea for Vinaigrette was born. We started looking into getting the variety required to really do side by side comparisons. The tasting experience is what we wanted to share with our family and friends. We wanted to get the freshest, best tasting product at a reasonable price with unmatched customer service.

At Vinaigrette, we provide a retail experience that is unlike anything many people have seen. We can tell you when the olives for our oils were harvested and pressed. You can taste an Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Syrian, Tunisian and Californian olive oil side by side to see what you prefer. We go beyond just extra virgin olive oils - our fused oils allow you an even richer tasting experience. Try different flavors like Basil, Garlic, Lemon, or Orange (to name just a few) and decide what you like and decide how much you would like to purchase while standing right in the store! Our balsamic, flavored balsamic and wine vinegars are unparalleled, and you get the same tasting experience - you taste and decide what you like.

We look forward to seeing you at Vinaigrette to find oils and vinegars to tap, taste and treasure for years to come."

IF YOU GO

Vinaigrette • 5006 Xerxes Avenue South • Minneapolis, MN 55410-2226 • 612-922-9192 • Email: info@vinaigrettemn.com

Vinaigrette • 5006 Xerxes Avenue South • Minneapolis, MN 55410-2226
612-922-9192
Email: info@vinaigrettemn.com
Hours: M-F 11-7, Sat. 11-7, Sun 11-5

Top Quality Vinegars:

18 year aged Balsamic vinegar, Balsamic vinegar with Fig, Balsamic vinegar with Pear, Balsamic vinegar with Raspberry, Balsamic vinegar with Cherry, and Golden Balsamic vinegar. We also offer California Chardonnay, Cabernet and Champagne vinegar.

Exquisite Extra Virgin Olive Oils:

California, Egyptian, Greek, Italian Organic, Italian Unfiltered, Spanish, Syrian, and Tunisian.

Fused Extra Virgin Olive Oils:

Basil, Chili, Garlic, Lemon, Orange, Oregano, Porcini Mushroom, Rosemary and Truffle.

- See more at: http://www.vinaigrettemn.com/_o/index.html#sthash.qcNsUZ3f.dpuf

Top Quality Vinegars:

18 year aged Balsamic vinegar, Balsamic vinegar with Fig, Balsamic vinegar with Pear, Balsamic vinegar with Raspberry, Balsamic vinegar with Cherry, and Golden Balsamic vinegar. We also offer California Chardonnay, Cabernet and Champagne vinegar.

Exquisite Extra Virgin Olive Oils:

California, Egyptian, Greek, Italian Organic, Italian Unfiltered, Spanish, Syrian, and Tunisian.

Fused Extra Virgin Olive Oils:

Basil, Chili, Garlic, Lemon, Orange, Oregano, Porcini Mushroom, Rosemary and Truffle.

- See more at: http://www.vinaigrettemn.com/_o/index.html#sthash.qcNsUZ3f.dpuf

Top Quality Vinegars:

18 year aged Balsamic vinegar, Balsamic vinegar with Fig, Balsamic vinegar with Pear, Balsamic vinegar with Raspberry, Balsamic vinegar with Cherry, and Golden Balsamic vinegar. We also offer California Chardonnay, Cabernet and Champagne vinegar.

Exquisite Extra Virgin Olive Oils:

California, Egyptian, Greek, Italian Organic, Italian Unfiltered, Spanish, Syrian, and Tunisian.

Fused Extra Virgin Olive Oils:

Basil, Chili, Garlic, Lemon, Orange, Oregano, Porcini Mushroom, Rosemary and Truffle.

- See more at: http://www.vinaigrettemn.com/_o/index.html#sthash.qcNsUZ3f.dpuf

Day trip: Ride along the Cambridge-Isanti Bike Trail

Take a day-trip up to Isanti County, Minn. and check out the Cambridge-Isanti Bike Trail. It runs from the soccer fields on the north side of Isanti to the southern edge of Cambridge. With the toddler in a bike seat and the 5-year-old in a carrier on a super windy summer day, it took us about 1/2 hour to traverse the trail one-way.

Tailgating at the soccer fields

We made sure to stop at the Congressman Oberstar overlook midway to appreciate the bogwalk.

You'll go through corn fields, wooded areas and swamp. Enjoy the wildflowers, butterflies and songbirds.

First we enjoyed nature's sweet treat: raspberries along the path!

DQ is at 8th and Main Street in Cambridge

At the edge of town, we kinda lost the trail, but proceeded on roads until we wound up at Dairy Queen at 8th and Main Street. It was a great treat midway. If we would have had more time, we would have headed over to the Rum River Park to run around on the playground.

After working for the newspaper in Isanti County for 10 years, I'd followed the drive to install the bike trail between these sister towns, and it was very exciting for me to finally see the finished product and bicycle along it. It was bittersweet to realize that one of the main supporters, Congressman Oberstar, had died a few months earlier. I wonder if they'll change the plaque to honor him in a larger way on the bogwalk. His support was instrumental in getting federal money to help build the trail, which had been a dream of the Cambridge and Isanti school children for 25 years. (Read story in Isanti County News about the opening.)

In Isanti, maybe you'll be able to catch a soccer game. The BMX track and new cablewakeboarding are also pretty close, as is the playground at Bluebird Park. If you find you need another sweet treat, they make great pies at the Creamery in downtown Isanti (104 W Main St.)!

You're not a true Minneapolis resident until you've been to the Dandelion Fountain...

Last week, I learned that I couldn't be considered a true resident of Minneapolis if I'd never been to the Dandelion Fountain in Loring Park.

And so, off we went to check it out.

After a detour to the Chipolte in Uptown, we found (free) street parking and headed over to the fountain to check it out. (There is a Dunn Brothers on the south side of the park, an expensive restaurant, Loring Kitchen & Bar, with valet parking on the east side near the fountain, and the Cafe & Bar Lurcat on the north side, but Chipolte picnic-style was much more affordable.)

It is -- indeed -- awesome.

The kids had a great time wandering around it and splashing a bit. It was a hot summer day. And there was a fountain right there. How could you not get wet?

The Berger "Dandelion" Fountain has been a fixture in Minneapolis since 1975.  It was designed by Robert Woodward of Sydney, Australia.

Apparently, we almost missed seeing the fountain on, as it had been closed until mid-July 2014 to replace the fountain pump and filter. Benjamin Berger, a former Park Board Commissioner, donated the fountain, after being inspired by a similar fountain in Sydney, Australia.

Who was Ben Berger?
According to this Minneapolis Journal story: http://www.journalmpls.com/node/5625

Berger immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1913 at 16 and started working as a vendor on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad on the Minneapolis to Chicago run, according to his biography.

According to published reports, Berger rose to own the Minneapolis Lakers basketball team, the Minneapolis Millers hockey team, Schiek's Caf and a string of movie theaters. He founded and served as first president of Amicus, an organization helping prisoners and ex-convicts.

He also served on the Park Board.

... Berger was a fountain fan. During his travels, he saw a fountain in Sydney, Australia called "El Alemein." Built in 1961, that fountain commemorates the Australian Army's role in the World War II siege of Tobruk, Libya and the and the battle of El Alamein in Egypt.

"My dad fell in love with it," recalled Lawrence (Bob) Berger, Ben Berger's only son. His dad got the designer to make one for Minneapolis.

Bob Woodward's first fountain design, the El Alamein fountain at Kings Cross, which has become one of the symbols of Sydney and a model for thousands of similar fountains throughout the world. Photo: Landscape Australia. Click here for more on Woodward.

In 2007, the Save Berger Fountain group announced ambitious plans to raise $1 million to rehab the park's ailing dandelion fountain, rebuild the leaking basin, improve the plaza and reroute Loring Park walking paths. The block base is deteriorating, and it affects the flow of the water through the fountain. Designers originally had discussed using granite to create the base, with its small waterfalls and pools, he said. When the bids came in, the Park Board couldn't afford granite, so it bought brick instead.

There are 3 play areas on the east side of Loring Park, near the Dandelion Fountain. Plus, there's a pool.

Note the gorgeous flowers that border this play area for the younger set. We saw several butterflies.

DID YOU KNOW?
- Loring Park was created in 1883. 
- Originally it was called Central Park, but was renamed in late 1890 to honor Charles Morgridge Loring (b. 1833 -- d. 1922) who served as a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and who was the first President of the Board of Park Commissioners in 1883. Loring is now known as The Father of Minneapolis Parks. 
- It was not the first official park (that is Murphy Square on the Augsburg College Campus), but it was the first park in the system to have electric lights.
- The park is located on the former farm of Joseph and Nellie Johnson.
- The park today is 32.94 acres.  Shortly after the Board of Park Commissioners was created in 1883, the board purchased the initial 30.16 acres of land for $147,125.72.
- Although they look very much like loons in the water, they are actually Double-Crested Cormorants are smaller, all black in feather coloration.  Other frequent visitors are Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egret, and the diminutive Green Heron.

Highland Aquatic Center: Great pool and splash pad

Looking for something that a 2-year-old and 5-year-old will both love? Take them to the Highland Park Aquatic Center in St. Paul. They'll both have a blast!

There were 2 water slides in the little kiddo area, and both my kids loved them. Plus there was a fish with fountains sprouting out around it, and other fountains on either side. The pool bottom sloped in this area and got to about 2 feet in the deepest part. On the other end was a deeper pool area with basketball hoops where some older kiddos were hanging out. Those that wanted the full pool experience had the pick of two other pools: a 50-meter, 8-lane lap pool with a 2-story water slide and another with water slides, climbing wall and diving boards. PLUS there was a splash pad in the middle of it all.

Highland Park Aquatic Center really seems to have a little bit of everything! All they're missing that other water parks have is a lazy river. At the age my kiddos are, this place suits us much better than either Cascade Bay in Eagen or Bunker Hills in Blaine (neither of which have much for the smaller kids). I also heard that it's more fun than the Richfield Aquatic Center, but we haven't been there yet.

They also have a row of cabanas and plenty of shaded areas so you don't have to worry about sunburn. And one Friday a month, admission is just $2.

There are 2 waterslide options for the little kiddos.

The splashpad stayed open during the 20-minute break that started at 2:25, giving the kiddos something to do.

Verdant Tea - What a neighborhood gem!

Slow it down with a cup of tea at Verdant Tea off Franklin in Minneapolis. (Building was formerly home to Seward Co-op.)

Or, a jar of craft root bear brewed by a 17-year-old. (Seriously!)

Or, a glass of kombucha, perfectly flavored.

Or, drinking chocolate.

Or, micro-brewed chai.

Or... Well, there are a lot more "or"s. You might need to go to Verdant Tea frequently! Don't forget to use your mobile Chinnook Book coupon before it expires in August.

With a group, you can try a little bit of everything. Left to right: Craft root beer, drinking chocolate, hibiscus tea, and kombucha mimosa.

Want the Kombucha recipe?

Kombucha Mimosa Recipe

Tall glass – no ice
4oz Orange Juice
2-4oz Sparkling Water
8oz Classic Lychee Kombucha
orange wedge (optional)
dash of coriander bitters (optional)
In a tall glass, combine orange juice and sparkling water.  Top off with Lychee Kombucha, and garnish with an orange wedge and a few drops of coriander bitters.

This summer, you'll want to order the Root Beer Float!


Tree Fort Soda was founded just this year by Eva Duckler, who just weeks ago graduated from high school and is already starting up her own craft brewery business with the goal of bringing nuance and complexity to American classics like Root Beer and Cola. Her experimental Botanical Brews have been turning heads at the tea house all spring. This summer, you can enjoy the root beer paired with  Sweet Science Vanilla Ice Cream.

Bring an appetite, because you can order delish food from Birchwood Cafe at Verdant Tea!

IF YOU GO:
2111 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

(612) 223-8907

http://minneapolis.verdanttea.com

Raptor Center good for short visit

There are some amazing birds at the Gabbort Raptor Center in St. Paul. But your visit will only take about a half hour, unless you plan it for a day when they're holding a special event.

We brought the preschoolers there on a spring day in April 2014. They hold tours every half hour, and each lasts no more than a half hour. As we waited for our tour, we checked out the few displays in the lobby and the gift shop, and looked over some books in one corner.

The majority of the tour takes place right here in this short hallway, which offers a close view of 4 birds of prey that have been rescued and rehabilitated.

The tour introduces you to four birds of prey that have been rescued and now live in a permanent displays on the main level. Then they brought us through the cages in the back, but there weren't many birds there. The Raptor Center will have that part of their building closed later this year for remodeling.

Despite the short tour, the place was fascinating to see.

This is the second section of the tour, the part that brings you through the cages where more animals live in the fresh air. This part is schedule to be remodeled this year.

http://www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu/
(612) 624-4745
1920 Fitch Ave, St Paul, MN 55108