Minnesota Weather

For minnesotans and their favorite topic... the weather.

[mnweather]

Worst of MN Public Art - Congrats East Bank Station!

I am of the opinion that the East Bank station art, designed by Nancy Blum, is arguably the worst public art in the Twin Cities. I work nearby, so I am certainly strongly biased, but I think it is AWFUL. I imagine the thought process going something like this. The most prominent station in our state's Flagship Research University campus, huh... How's about a random text dump of trig functions!! Oh, and some random pattern created by a 5 year old on spirograph! This artist was paid many thousands of dollars for this design, just to go through the motions on effort. Seriously.

http://www.metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Current-Projects/Central-Corridor/Stations/East-Bank.aspx

The artist needed to walk about two blocks around the area and see the "Wall of Discovery" on the scholars walk between the EE/CS and MechE buildings to find an example on the other end of the spectrum. The piece exhibits notes and sketches of research done by the University faculty. It's so cool.

http://www.scholarswalk.umn.edu/

Worst of all, she's not even from Minnesota. Sorry Nancy, I've looked up some of your other work. You are a fantastic artist. In fact, you designed the West Bank Station, and it's pretty cool. This was not your best work.

Agree? Disagree?

[mnweather]

Lakemaid beer was using drones to deliver to people on ice shanties.... But the FAA ruined all the fun.

[mnweather]

Bailey the dog has some thoughts about this early January cold spell.

[mnweather]

The winter-time surfers of Lake Superior. Dec 30th, -13F outside. They surf at stoney point, which is 15 minutes up Highway 61 (yes, the Bob Dylan one) from Duluth.

[mnweather]

In January, Minnesotans are known to become jealous of their freezer.

[mnweather]

Top 5 Minnesota Weather Memes of 2013

This blog only existed for about 1/12th of the year, but that doesn't mean we can't make a best of 2013 post! This post is according to views on the blog, Facebook and imgur.

#5) Friend in Florida

#4) Walruses from Fargo

#3) Bad Neighbors

#2) It's da wind

#1) Mild Salsa

Stay tuned for more memes, bold in the cold, cultural gems, fashion advice and other programming in 2014!

[mnweather]

Overheard at the Minnesota Department of Revenue... Are you guilty of this one?

[mnweather]

Merry Christmas. For those of you in a warm climate, you know this is the one time of the winter you wish you were freezing like us. Enjoy the weather!

Photo by: Michster

[mnweather]

From Downtown Minnesota, enjoy Christmas eve.

Original image from: http://www.elegantcookie.com/Minneapolis-Christmas/Christmas-Stockings.html

[mnweather]

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

- Robert Frost

Poem: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171621

Photo: Theodore Wirth Park. Minneapolis, MN. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/theodore-wirth-park-in-minneapolis-a-users-guide

[mnweather]

First day of winter? How 'bout a beer.

It is Saturday, December 21st, the first day of winter. Here in the North Star State, it's time to shift from tolerating cold, to endurance mode. Our nordic ancestors have taught us many ways to endure this weather. Some might say the Germans got it correct. Drinking copious amount of beer. The advent of winter means we will start seeing "winter" beers on the shelves of our local liquor stores. Today we showcase four beers made in Minnesota, by Minnesotans, for Minnesota weather.

Summit Winter Ale

Summit is the grandfather of the craft beer movement in Minnesota. Founded in 1987 in St. Paul. They make a classic Winter Warmer ale. A good choice for beginners. Easy to find, widely distributed.

Schell's Snowstorm

Schell's is the oldest brewery in Minnesota and has been run by descendants of August Schell in New Ulm, Minnesota since 1860. Every year they release a beer under their Snowstorm label. It is a new recipe every year. This year the beer is a Belgian Style Golden Ale. Schell's is widely distributed, and should be easy to find. Want to impress your Grandpa? Show up with a case of this along with a 6-er of Schell's Deer Brand this Christmas.

Fulton Worthy Adversary

Fulton Brewery was one of the first  kids on the block during the current craft beer revival back in 2008. Located in Minneapolis, the brewery can be found next to Target Field. The founders are a bunch of Saint John's Johnnies, so you can trust that they know a thing or two about beer. They are most famous for their IPA, Sweet Child of Vine. Worthy Adversary is a Russian Imperial Stout and is going to be as dark as they come. Worthy Adversary will be a bit harder to find, so you might want to head directly to the Fulton Tap room in the North Loop to get yourself one on draft.

Indeed Stir Crazy

Founded in 2011, Indeed is a toddler compared to the rest of the breweries on this list, but don't let that keep you away. They brought in a former Town Hall Brewery brewmaster to their Northeast Minneapolis location to ensure they got out of the blocks at a sprint. Intricate artwork adorns all of the cans produced by Indeed and Stir Crazy is no exception. It is another Winter Warmer ale, like Summit's Winter ale. This is our personal favorite and if you are only going to try one of these beers, make it Stir Crazy. This beer should be easy to find in most Twin Cities liquor stores, look for the label pictured above.

Remember to support these classic Minnesota breweries and budding entrepreneurs by drinking local this holiday season!

[mnweather]

Minnesota cultural gems.

Minnesota. Isn't that the city where the Vikings play? A common mistake due to the all of the sports teams in Minneapolis/St. Paul being named Minnesota Twins/Wild/Vikings/Timberwolves. You will occasionally hear this on a national sports broadcast. Thankfully a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah put a reference to this into recording and released it on the song Outta Town Shit (audio).

The business community is throwing money at fixing this identity crisis, MinnPost covered this a few years ago during the Republican National convention. 

Signing off from beautiful Downtown Minnesota.

[mnweather]

Minnesota winter fashion.

Pair of choppers. Ever wonder about those stylish gloves your grandpa used to wear? They're choppers. The must have fashion accessory. Mittens with an outer layer, generally leather, preferably moose. A wool liner goes inside.

Be real Minnesotan lumberjack and buy moose hide choppers from Henry's in Ely, Minnesota. Or at least a t-shirt.

[mnweather]

In January, the sunny days can be the worst.

[mnweather]

Featured Minnesota weather music.

Kid Dakota - 10,000 Lakes

Though a South Dakota native, Kid Dakota (Darren Jackson) has captured the essence of the best and worst of life in depths of winter in this song.

This song may be the closest thing you can get to feeling Minnesota.

[mnweather]

The year of 1996. Every mother in Minnesota. Minnesota nice.

[mnweather]

Minnesota Hall of Shame - The Holidazzle Parade

Minnesota has many cultural gems. Like most traditions created in the 1990s, the Holidazzle parade is not one of them. The schedule has been mercifully slash for the 2013 season, and the future of the parade is (thankfully) in doubt. While an image search reveals some fantastically lighted floats, buses and other objects, in reality the modern Holidazzle amounted to small groups of people, ordained in a string of Christmas lights, meandering down the street.

Standard holidazzle experience: Arrive in Downtown Minnesota on the Nicollet Mall. Complain about parking costs. Get front row spot on the street. Realize it is freezing, move into a building. End up in a five deep crowd gathered in a skyway. Catch a glimpse of someone wrapped in Christmas lights. Wait three minutes. Head to the car. Swear you will never go again.

Holidazzle, you won't be missed.