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Many thanks to those who support the Franconia Sculpture Park. This place continues to amaze. Just west of Taylor’s Falls, in Franconia Township (Shafer, MN technically…where MN Hwy 95 and US 8 meet) this place is the earth-loving St. Croix version of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Super kid-friendly. Full of wonderful art by great artists like Robert Ressler (his work Sturgeon shown above), Mark di Suvero, and Kari Reardon (her work The Big Game is somehow a very serious and massively fun all at once.) And, chances are good you can watch real art being created on-the-spot. Bring a picnic and visit any time dawn-to-dusk. Open 365 days a year. And, don’t forget to stuff the donation box on the porch of the Info Shack.
Photos © Aaron Smith. Art © the artists.
The Minnesota State Fair called out and we answered, “yes.” Twice this year. In between bites of uncountable delicacies, this study of fair typography was undertaken.
Equal parts mini golf, Mother Nature’s Son and little sister of the Walker Sculpture Garden, Big Stone Mini Golf just west of Mound, MN off of Cty. Rd. 110 is an awesome day tripper excursion that shouldn’t be missed. Eye-opening for both kids and adults, the 13 holes of meandering putt-putt golf are carved into gardens and farm land in Minnetrista and just a few feet from the Dakota Trail HCRRA bike path that connects in Wayzata to other Hennepin County trails.
A beautiful mix of sport, nature and creativity, Big Stone includes wandering chickens and petting ponies, crafty art for sale, and unique sculpture and landscape art on each hole. Our favorites are #7 – dubbed “Holey Ship” in homage to the nautical, yet angelic architectural structure in which the hole is played; #10, which is at its most impressive when the sunflowers through which you spiral are at their tallest; and #13 – the last hole – that asks you to slow down and wait for your ball to finish its trajectory as it floats through a mini stream cut into the top of a huge stone. If you tire of waiting for your ball to finish its course, take a break at the giant checker board or visit the barn animals nearby. Refreshments and energy fuel for your return bike ride are available at the club house. Definitely worth the trek. (Photos taken with an iPhone!)
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Kudos to Morissey Hospitality Companies for a day well spent at their annual golf event at Stoneridge benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs Twin Cities. Thanks to the Flaherty clan for carrying me through 18 and for the moment captured here. Posted from iPhone.
The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn are an awesome clan of jazz musicians we stumbled upon in a recent trip to NYC. This one was shot, as you will see, in Central Park near the Group of Bears statue (which is not their usual post – they seem to prefer the Bethesda Fountain or Promenade). Shot with a Canon CyberShot pocket cam.
