This story is a part two of a two-part series on CBD and hemp underwritten by J.C. Younger. The Growler maintained editorial control over the content. Afew hours north of Minneapolis–St. Paul, a hockey player-turned-CBD hemp farmer named Patrick Finnegan has his mind set on being part of the leading vanguard of his industry. Finnegan … [ Read more]
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Field of Dreams: CBD hemp farmers like Patrick Finnegan of Two Harbors are changing the face of Minnesota agriculture
August 11, 2020 by
CBD, From Seed to Salve: Stigma, a Minneapolis-based CBD store, emphasizes its supply chain and local pedigree
July 31, 2020 by
This story is a part one of a two-part series on CBD and hemp underwritten by J.C. Younger. The Growler maintained editorial control over the content. We wanted to be the Summit Brewing Company of the cannabis industry in Minnesota,” says Josh Maslowski. Maslowski is the owner of Stigma Hemp, a Minnesota-based company that sells … [ Read more]
Crist Ballas, The Mad Scientist of St. Paul
February 24, 2020 by
By the stairs leading down to Crist Ballas’ lower level hangs an old, beaten to hell movie poster for “Frankenstein.” Crist’s boots thud down the stairs before me, with soles so thick he could stomp a truck tire flat. His boots are the only intimidating thing about Crist. He is a peach of a man … [ Read more]
Hot Stuff: Finding the source of Minnesota’s thermaculture boom starts with a trip to the Iron Range
January 27, 2020 by
Deep in the remote Iron Range of northern Minnesota on the shores of Lake Vermilion sits the quiet town of Tower, population of about 500. The Minnesohhtan accents here are as thick as they come—right on Main Street, Uffda Thrifts & Gifts shares a building with UBetcha Antiques & Uniques. The town has a rugged, … [ Read more]
Minnesota’s Ron Swanson: Former Minnesota Twin Glen Perkins talks life after baseball at his woodshop and brewery
December 23, 2019 by
We pull into a driveway of former Minnesota Twins pitcher Glen Perkins’ 100-acre Lakeville farmstead, Gala Farms, on a crisp December day. He jumps out of his blue Ford Raptor to greet us, sporting a gray, half-zip hunting sweatshirt, khaki-colored winter hat, and a scruffy beard. He looks less like a millionaire former pro athlete … [ Read more]
The Growler’s 2019 Culinary Gift Guide
November 18, 2019 by
During the holiday season, our culinary horizons broaden a little bit—from entertaining to gift-giving, the kitchen is front and center for these winter-time festivals of feasting. Here are some choice picks plucked from the shelves of some of our favorite retailers in Minneapolis–St. Paul. Exotic Wood Utensils | The Foundry Home Goods | $4–$10 … [ Read more]
The Growler’s Holiday Guide 2019
November 6, 2019 by
It’s time to take the easy (but soulful!) way out, harness the power of this guide, and have yourself a very, very happy 2019 holiday season!
Craft Culture: The Surprisingly Uplifting World of Taxidermy
September 30, 2019 by
Speaking solely from personal experience, my basic notions of taxidermy have historically gone arm-in-arm with sport hunting, starting at the army of deer mounts lining the walls of the northern Wisconsin bar I recently found myself in (28 heads!) and ending with the tragic tale of Cecil the lion. But the practice stretches far beyond … [ Read more]
‘Every Tractor Has a Story’: Al Deiss is on a mission to restore heirloom tractors to their former glory
August 29, 2019 by
Every tractor has a story.” Al Deiss smiles a bit under his salt-and-pepper mustache and puts his hands in his pockets as he tries to find the words to describe the tractor culture he’s spent decades preserving. “Ask about someone’s tractor, and you’re going to learn more than you ever expected to,” he says. He … [ Read more]
Iron Woman: American Skillet Company and FeLion Studios’ Alisa Toninato forges a career in cast iron art
August 1, 2019 by
Two summers ago, five days past her due date, Alisa Toninato stood at the outer edges of an iron pour in Cambridge, Wisconsin. She was uncomfortable, and not just because her daughter, Rhea, wouldn’t arrive for another week. She wanted to get in on the action. “Of course I didn’t leather up,” Toninato says. “But … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Heritage Wooden Looms and Toys at BEKA, Inc.
July 2, 2019 by
If you live long enough, you’ll see that what goes around comes around,” says Jamie Kreisman, co-founder and president of BEKA Wood Products on Selby Avenue in St. Paul. On a recently gentrified street lined with residential homes and storefronts, the spot doesn’t look like much from the outside—just a plain brick facade with green … [ Read more]
Cooke Custom Sewing: Handsewn outdoors gear for the harshest elements
May 29, 2019 by
It just works.” That’s Dan Cooke’s response when asked why the hand-sewn camping gear he’s been making for 38 years continues to have such an enthusiastic and dedicated following. “When you have a car, it’s the little things that start to fail. By the end, you just have four wheels to take you from A … [ Read more]
Designs for the Greater Good: John Dwyer champions architecture that responds to human needs, not just wants
May 3, 2019 by
John Dwyer designs buildings that do more than provide shelter or inspire people to snag a selfie to post on Instagram. He designs buildings that serve his community. Dwyer’s approach as an architect can be seen in all of his work, from a Northeast Minneapolis live/work space that weaves a creative, minimalist gallery space into … [ Read more]
Get in the Van: VanGo Automotive’s vintage camper van rentals are one-size-fits-all
April 29, 2019 by
Drive far enough down West 7th Street and you can find pockets of St. Paul that haven’t yet fallen in step with the capital city’s gentle amble toward modernity. Past the faux food trucks and industrial upcycling, you’ll find steakhouses that still sport cigar burns from “legitimate businessmen” and lunch-counter diners with checkerboard on the … [ Read more]
Phil Vandervaart: The Sign Painter of Minneapolis
April 24, 2019 by
That’s the thing about sign painting. I don’t have a job that I go to clock in and do my work and leave. I create. I have to hustle all of these jobs and I have a lot—like, I have six or seven,” Phil Vandervaart tells me from inside his South Minneapolis garage, which serves … [ Read more]
