Learn about places, people and events in the St. Paul area through these timeless stories, many of which are told from a personal perspective.
We live and work in our readership area and are proud to highlight happenings in our amazing cities.
People
Storm chaser: One woman’s fascination with the raw power of nature
When the calendar flips from April to May, Valarie Namen starts to get a bit antsy. It’s not from spring fever. No, it’s quite the opposite. She wants bad…
Meet Treehouse Mary: An Octogenarian who lives among the birds and the squirrels
Mary Nelson was 75 years old the day she abruptly decided that the towering 60-foot-tall oak tree in her backyard needed a treehouse. The tree, she estimated…
Jolly Huntsmen polka band named to MN Music Hall of Fame
After performing European polka in the region for 60 years plus – nearly their whole lives – three South St. Paul natives are about to be inducted into the…
Remembering Rudy Lange: A veteran with a passion for pigeons
In the early 2000s, you could often find Rudy Lange at Central Square Community Center enjoying a game of cards. Although his 80-year-old hands likely…
Nature
An up-close look at our national mammal: the American bison
For the first time in nearly 150 years, American bison are once again roaming the prairie along the Mississippi river. Our nation’s national mammal was reintroduced…
‘The Sap is Running’ Maple syruping: the true harbinger of spring
It’s Saturday, Mar. 25 and I’ve just come inside from tapping four large maple trees in my backyard.
“Well?” asks my wife before I’ve even kicked…
Otter sighting in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
The North American river otter is one of nature’s most playful mammals to observe. Watching them slide down a slippery riverbank or slope…
Paddling with the Pelicans
Come October, the skies will be thick with migrating birds and waterfowl winging their way south along the Mississippi River Flyway, which follows the…
Urban Explorer
An ode to Mickey’s Diner
The corner of West Seventh and St. Peter streets just hasn’t been the same since 2020, when COVID-19 took down one of St. Paul’s most iconic institutions: Mickey’s Diner. No longer do we see the warm glow of…
A must-do summertime experience
What has five humps, stands 50 feet tall and is the color of a sun-kissed lemon? Since you glanced at the photo accompanying this article, you know the behemoth in…
Urban Explorer: St. Paul Winter Farmers Market
After jamming a few quarters into the parking pay station, my wife and I leaned into the frigid winter wind and made our way through the corridor of tall, downtown…
Historical scavenger hunt at the Central Library
The next time you visit the George Latimer Central Library you should check out something other than a book, namely its exquisite…
History
The history of Kaposia Days
The year was 1976 and communities across the country were busy planning celebrations to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial. Old Glory was flying everywhere, and…
Kaposia: the meaning behind the name
The Dakota Village of Kaposia is more deeply threaded into the tapestry of South St. Paul history than any other prominent person, place or event. The name…
A sticky situation at Stickney: Safety issues plagued South St. Paul’s first school building
You’ve heard of school closures in Minnesota due to blizzards and extreme cold. But what about high,,,
Back in Time: Winter daredevils
Now that a chill is back in the air, scores of people will soon be zipping around the city’s outdoor skating rinks…
A glimpse into the past: the Ryan Hotel
In the summer of 1885, St. Paul welcomed the opening of what was arguably the most elegant hotel in the Twin Cities: The Ryan Hotel. Located in the heart of the…
A St. Paul oddity: The mysterious case of the missing Eighth Street
Those new to Downtown St. Paul quickly discover two key streets as navigational aids: Robert Street and Seventh Street. Both dissect the city – and each…
The significance of the Armour Gates
It’s been 33 years since the wrecking ball tore into the long-vacated remains of the Armour & Co. meatpacking plant in South St. Paul. Swing after swing, the once…
Time marches on: A look at the historic clocks at Union Depot
The two clocks in the Head House at Union Depot have marked the passage of time for a full century, each tick serving as a bridge between the past and the…
Viewpoint: Reflections on St. Paul’s historic airport beacon
Our apartment faces east from downtown St. Paul and the summer sunrise pours in, bringing a fine long view of the Mississippi River curving southward toward New…
The nation’s first cheerleader had SSP roots
Attend most any sporting event – from junior high on up to the pros – and you’ll find a cadre of enthusiastic…
A St. Paul Original: the Marvy Barber Pole
It used to be that men got their hair cut and women had their locks styled. While those lines have blurred considerably in the past 50 years, many professional barbers are quick…