Better Health & Living
Lazy Day Getaways-Right In Town
Our roving reporter scopes out your favorite summer activities and retreats
Published in Saint Paul, MN local METRO •METRO Spotlight •METRO Story •spotlight | 0 Comments, Talk about this article »
What’s your favorite summer thing to do in the Twin Cities?
“The great thing about the Twin Cities is that we have lots of lakes and lots of wind. I’m talking windsurfing and kite surfing. Once you get hooked, work is just another word for ‘wish it was windy today.’ Surfing without an ocean? Parachuting without an airplane? I go out to play when others go out just to look at the weather.”
Geoffrey Warner
Architect, Alchemy Architects
“Summer used to mean vacation. Now it means work. Every August, I produce the annual performance arts festival as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. I’ve played clowns, Scottish warlords, James Joyce—and even myself! This year, I’ll be spending the steaming hot month of August indoors dressed up as a giant half-human squirrel for a family-friendly show entitled An Inconvenient Squirrel. Now that I think about it, that is my summer vacation.”
Joseph Scrimshaw
Producer/writer/actor/director
“I love the Fourth of July celebration in Marine on St. Croix. We plant our lawn chairs out early or just lay out a blanket. There’s usually music at the Brookside Bar and Grill, where we like to eat, and then we get ice-cream cones from the Village Scoop behind the Marine General Store. It’s a classic, small-town, American celebration, and we wouldn’t miss it!”
“My favorite thing to do is take my nephew, Emmett, 3, and niece, Grace, 18 months, to the Como Zoo. We must visit the polar bears, whom Emmett affectionately named Otter and Teamwork. We’re also big fans of the merry-go-round. We usually end the day playing in the outfield of the softball diamond, ‘hitting the ball like Unc Brian’—even though I’m a pitcher who never gets to hit.”
Brian Whinnery
Pitcher, St. Paul Saints
“I root for the Minnesota Twins and the St. Paul Saints—nothing says summer better than a night at the ballpark. With two boys in baseball, I get my fill on a regular basis. Having a Dilly Bar or two with the team after the game always tops off an evening of fun.”
Mary Joyce Associate vice president of product development, International Dairy Queen.
What’s your favorite stay-at-home retreat in the Twin Cities?
“There are precious few places left in the Twin Cities that allow me to fantasize I’m in the wilderness and not at the mercy of mankind. Best are the public spaces along the river that are accessible by foot and boat. I am partial to the trails in Crosby Park where I can run my dogs, and if you have ever been on a boat along the Mississippi, you already know what I mean.”
Jon Oulman
Owner, Jon Oulman Gallery and Salon
“When I take the long way around Lake Calhoun with the sunroof open, I forget the ‘character-building experience’ of Minnesota winters. I’ve threatened to buy a sailboat to test the waters, but for now, I take in the action from the shore—plenty of dogs to pet and incredible people watching, and a cool beverage is always nearby at The View. When I have time, I like to do a lap or two around Calhoun on Rollerblades or kick it old school with friends on the south lawn, relaxing, throwing the ‘bee, and grilling out.”
Drew Beson
Sculptor
“Whether it’s to recharge my batteries, grab a bite to eat, meet a friend, or get some great writing done, hands down it’s the Open Book Building in downtown Minneapolis. I love hanging out and meeting people in the first-floor coffee shop, which has this amazing ambient space that just makes me feel happy and creative. I also like going upstairs to the Loft Literary Center and grabbing a chair to work, or I sit out on the deck. The whole building is full of light and peace and creativity, and it’s always new and different and interesting.”
Shawn Otto
Filmmaker
“Beautiful Minnehaha Falls is just a short walk from my house. On a nice summer day, I grab a soft-shell crab sandwich at Sea Salt and people watch. When I want to escape the happy crowds, I walk the trail from the falls to the river—the path gets more beautiful and less trodden the farther you go. By the time you’re near its end, you could swear you’re miles from the city.”
Ellen Stanley (aka Mother Banjo)
Singer/songwriter
“I love going to Thomas Beach or Lake Calhoun and dancing inside an adult-size hula hoop! Eyes closed, smile on my lips, hoop whirling and twirling, spinning positive energy around me—it’s impossible to be in a bad mood while you’re hooping! As a side benefit, my abs get tight and toned, and I burn calories. The best part, though, is the centering, meditative happiness it provides.”
Jessica Reiter
Hula hooping instructor, Harmony Hoops
“It’s the Mississippi River for me—there’s nothing like the enchantment of the river. I’m always amazed to slip silently into nature’s wooded sanctuary, right in the midst of 3 million people, where bald eagles, peregrine falcons, deer, beavers, and all manner of wildlife flourish. You can feel the lingering presence of early explorers, trappers, river captains, and Native Americans.”
Captain Jim Kosmo
Padelford Riverboat Company
Insider-Man Jay Gabler has two graduate degrees from Harvard, so you know he’s smart about fun.
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