Looking for some summer or fall road trip inspirations? The Growler has you covered with these Heartland destinations. ■ ■ ■ West on I-94: Lake Sakakawea State Park near Pick City, North Dakota Stretching 178 miles in length from Williston, North Dakota, to the Garrison Dam near Pick City, North Dakota, Lake Sakakawea is a … [ Read more]
Five State Parks across the Heartland for your road-tripping pleasure
August 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Smaller Towns, Vibrant Sounds: Exploring the music scenes of Greater Minnesota
August 3, 2018 by
Some music venues advertise thousands of seats and state-of-the-art light shows. Others double as sports arenas. And then there are those that offer pottery classes or operate out of someone’s living room. While the Twin Cities house some of the state’s most iconic music venues, Minnesota’s small towns are the perfect places for discovering vibrant … [ Read more]
Best in Show: Four State Fair judges reveal what it takes to bring home a ribbon
August 1, 2018 by
Most people associate the Minnesota State Fair with seas of sweaty bodies, rickety Mighty Midway rides, and the inevitable fried food hangover induced by delicacies like Pronto Pups, cheese curds, and a beautiful union resulting in something called the “Pizzarito.” Yet its core purpose remains the same after more than 150 years: to celebrate the … [ Read more]
A Pocket Full of Rye: How a lowly, northern grain is mounting a comeback through whiskey
July 31, 2018 by
Stalks of rye bob in the summer breeze in a field near Cambridge, Minnesota. It is a cereal grass in the wheat family—seeded in the fall, it stays green and patient throughout the winter, then skyrockets in the early spring. It shoots up from the gray, powdery soil, gets a deep tan, and then grows … [ Read more]
Main Street, Minnesota: a three-day journey through windmills and water towers, into the heart of the state’s small towns
July 31, 2018 by
Milk at Carl’s Corner in Essig, Minnesota, is 80 cents a glass, $1.50 if you want a large—which, from a quick survey of the wood-paneled dining room, several patrons do. We’re on day two of our three-day road trip from Lake City to Luverne. Normally, this cross-Minnesota trek would take four, maybe four-and-a-half hours to … [ Read more]
Artist Profile: The expressive needleworks of Alanna Stapleton
July 30, 2018 by
Embroidery: thread and needle poking and punching fabric, decorating tea towels and making ordinary pillows cheeky. While some might dismiss the medium as nothing more than a hobby, hand-stitched clothes and boots unearthed by archaeologists date the origins of embroidery back to 30,000 B.C. Artists like Alanna Stapleton take it one step further, elevating the … [ Read more]
Tim McKee announces Market House Collaborative, a new food hall for Lowertown St. Paul
June 29, 2017 by
Chef, restaurateur, and current fishmonger Tim McKee, flanked by chef Lenny Russo, and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, chatted Wednesday afternoon with a group of reporters about McKee’s upcoming Lowertown project, Market House Collaborative. “I grew up in St. Paul. I’ve always had a special affinity for St. Paul,” McKee said. “I’ve been watching the … [ Read more]
