We’ll get there.

Firstly, I love going out for dinner. Honestly, this is something I probably do too often.  In order to maintain this high-flying lifestyle of the rich and famous I’ll often have to hit places that have good food specials with their happy hour or restaurants that have specials on certain nights. Other times I totally splurge and just go for it.

Either way, I say make my life easier!  

It appears mspmag.com has stepped up to the plate with their new feature ‘Our Take on the Local Nightlife Scene’ in the Arts and Entertainment section.

They break down searching by keyword, city/neighborhood, and features such as late night eats, happy hour, etc.  I was especially impressed by the ease of use and the neighborhood feature. This is service I could get used to. Check it out.

Has anyone had a good/bad eating experience you’d like to share? Is there any interest in the occasional restaurant review?

Enquiring minds want to know.

The Startribune reports Fairborne signed a petition that says ‘We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto … and any other similar proposals’ and quotes Fairborne as saying ‘Do we have to pin everything that happens on global warming? No, we need to have cooler heads.’

Cooler heads sounds reasonable, but I think I’d prefer squishy heads and cooler science.

How do you like your science?

From the article: ’The state Education Department on Monday directed a Minnesota charter school to “correct” two areas related to religion at the school on Monday.’ … ‘In an attempt to report about the new findings from the Department of Education, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS went to TiZA. While on school grounds, our crew was attacked by school officials. The two men were able to grab our camera and kept it until police arrived’

Initially, I was for the idea of charter shools, but in the last year or so I’ve come to have several gripes about the charter system. Most of the gripes are about what I perceive to be a lack of oversight.

Does the Tiza school kerfuffle reinforce my feelings about lack of oversight? I don’t know, but I can’t recall the last time a news crew was attacked by the staff of a traditional public school.

What do you think?

Well, the same thing almost happened yesterday in St.Paul. My wife is a teacher in Saint Paul, at what’s known as a ‘high needs school’, and has been for the last two years. We found out a few weeks ago that due to decreased funding her position was cut.

Her students found out yesterday and they almost walked.

With my wife’s teaching skills and education she’ll most likely get a position at another school. Also, with a baby coming along I’m of the opinion she might want to take the next school year off. Though, I doubt she will. She really wants to teach.

So here’s my beef. My wife has a masters degree in Education, she also finished a second masters program in ELL (English Language Learners), she’s had great work reviews, currently is teacher of the month, if one of the few teachers I’ve heard of that actually want to work in a high needs school, and yet she’s being cut. 

This just doesn’t seem like a smart move by the St.Paul school system.

Here we have a highly qualified teacher that is making a difference and yet she’s being let go.

So for you, dear readers, I have a loaded question.

What do you think is wrong with our Metro school systems?

Which is why this Saturday I’ll be attending the Ramsey County  Master Gardener’s plant sale in the morning and then heading over to Lake Phalen WaterFest for the early afternoon. 

A few of the WaterFest activities: On-the-water education in Wilderness Inquiry Voyageur canoes (Canoe rides!), Kid’s fishing lessons and stream monitoring, Rain garden tours,Raptors and other live animals, the Toonies Puppet Show, Native plant give-away, Powder Puff and 3M clowns and stilt walkers, and solar boat races.

Where else in town can I see raptors while getting advice on rain garden creation?

For this type of variety I’m willing to brave the clowns and stiltwalkers.

Anyone else want to go?

(Photo courtesy of cameraphone10000 / Mothers Day Sunset)

Today, I know that many of you were in conference rooms all #minnpost this and #minnpost that like a *bunch of nerds, but from what I can tell the rest of the world was out and about freaking out. 

Parking lots were full, lines were super long, and it seemed everyone had to get flowers for Mothers Day Then I spent the afternoon #tilling, #planting, #**, and #carryingFurniture for @abossyFriend.

Did anyone make it to the plant sale at the Arboretum?

(*Actually, I can’t wait to hear all about it)

(#** Twitter talk:minnebar)

In comes our favorite appliance store ApplianceSmart.
In the past we had used ApplicanceSmart a few times and been pleased with the quality and price.

Well, this time things started out badly and as is often the case when things start out poorly they only became worse. 

 The sales associate was hounding, which I can understand to a point since they are paid from commission, but he was new and not very knowledgeable on the products.

 Thent he lost our order, then he placed the wrong order, and finally he “upgraded” our fridge to a more expensive model for free.

Sounds good right? If only.

(more…)

Yo Spring, Happy Saturday.  ( <— seesmic video. )

Sure, I don’t have any actual power to decree a season, but that’s never stopped me in the past.

So, despite the recent weather’s attempt to bring us down, spring has triumphed. It’s time for the migrations to begin.

That’s right, I’m talking about the return of garage salers.  

We drove to the coffee shop this morning and there are garage sale signs popping up faster than tulips. I’ll bet you’ve seen them too. I’ll bet you may have even stopped.

Come on people, don’t be shy, it’s a guilty pleasure we all share. Let’s talk garage sale.

Each morning they’ve been featuring a young up-and-coming Minnesotan artist that is also a winner of the Schubert Club’s Bruce P.Carlson Student Scholarship.

From the MPR article: “The preliminary round competition typically draws more than 250 students competing in 15 divisions, split up by age and instrumentation. The youngest competitors are in junior high. The oldest are graduate students, but there a few out of college”

The talent level of these up-and-coming young artists is amazing and each day I have been delighted and impressed by the chosen material and the performace.

Show your support for Minnesota talent and give these young artists a listen.

Related:
The Schubert Club

Listen to the interviews on MPR’s website after they air.

( Photo, Stillwater High School violinist Emily Anderson, courtesty of MPR/Karl Gehrke ) 

From the Star Tribune: 76 cited for underage drinking at St. Paul party
 ”Eight to 10 officers converged on the bash about 12:15 a.m. as part of the police department’s ZAP (Zero Adult Providers) program, police spokesman Peter Panos said.

Unlike the busts often carried out by the multiagency patrols near the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Saturday’s crackdown was not a spontaneous event, but a result of advance tips and planning.”  *emphasis mine.

I have a few concerns and questions on this topic. 

1) They knew about the party in advance and didn’t bust it until after midnight?

 This reeks to me of a publicity stunt and, if true, it seems reckless. It’s possible the party had just started, but that wasn’t mentioned.

2) Does anyone really think that minors are partying more today than in years past?