The June St. Cloud Sectional IS Coming!

Our thanks, yet again, to Connie Nelson for bringing us upcoming and positive Minnesota Bridge News!

 

 

Dream a Little! -- The June St. Cloud Sectional is Coming

If you are like me, you are experiencing severe bridge withdrawal pangs about now.  So, I thought I would write about better times ahead.  

We are still planning to hold our St. Cloud Granite City Bridge Sectional!

June 18-20! 

You may want to start planning your partnerships – and trip - now.  To entice visitors to our Sectional, here are a few additional “draws” of our area: 

 

Spectacular Gardens.  Before I moved to St. Cloud, I had never even heard of Munsinger Gardens.  Now, they are the FIRST place we take visitors from out of town.   A beautiful spot to visit, you can picnic along the Mississippi River, stroll through the tiered English-style gardens where each level has flower varieties of a singular hue, or see (and smell!) the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden with its 70 varieties of roses.  These gardens are open to the public year-round, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Best of all, they are free! 

Clemens Gardens is located @ 1301 Kilian Blvd., and Munsinger Gardens @ 1515 Riverside Drive SE, both St. Cloud.  They are adjacent, so you can park your car and see both.

Micro-Breweries.  Last year, a visitor to our Sectional asked about micro-breweries in the area and I wasn’t prepared.  I am ready this year!

1. 1. Beaver Island Brewing Co.  Located along the Mississippi River at 216 – 6^th Avenue South, their motto is “Dam. Fine. Beer.”  And, if you want to walk that growler off afterward, they are also located near the Beaver Island Walking Trail that winds along the Mississippi.
   2. Pantown Brewing Co. Located at 408- 37^th Avenue North, Pantown Brewing has two floors of seating and plenty of board games.  From others’ reviews, I understand their mulberry sour is something to try.  They will do tours, if you call ahead.  (As an aside, if you don’t know the history of St. Cloud’s Pan Town Car Company – once a rival to Ford Motor Company in Detroit, you could also head to the Stearns County History Museum.  It’s an interesting tale!)
   3. Bad Habit Brewing Co. As far as I’m concerned, this brewery deserves the “best name ever” award, as it is located in St. Joseph MN where the Sisters of St. Benedict have their monastery.  Very pleasant brewery, with a French bakery and Cajun restaurant right across the street.
   4. For something a little different, you can try Milk and Honey Ciders which prepares and serves hard ciders. Located just off I-94 by St. Joseph, Milk and Honey sits among country hills.  It offers pleasant inside or patio seating, perfect for a warm summer day or evening.

St. John’s Bible.  If you missed the St. John’s Bible exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute for the Arts, this could be your opportunity to see this hand-written and illuminated Bible – the first one done since the invention of the printing press.  The calligraphy and illustrations make each word, each sentence, each page stand out.  The Bible exhibit at St. John’s University, Collegeville, is open 10-4 on weekdays, and noon to 4 on Saturdays.

 Happenings. 

1. 1. Cloud Rox. If you are into minor-league collegiate baseball, St. Cloud offers The Rox.  Their games are always a fun time.  The Rox are playing away games on June 18-20, but if you want to come up the night before the tournament begins, they will be playing Waterloo IA at home on June 17th at 7:05 p.m. -- at Joe Faber Field at 5001 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud.

1. 2. Juneteenth Celebration. On June 19^th, the 24^th annual Juneteenth gathering will be held in St. Cloud.  If similar to previous years, this will include a free cookout, arts and crafts, as well as music at Riverside Park.  Juneteenth honors the anniversary of the official end to slavery in June 1865.

3.   On June 19^th at 7:30 p.m., a tribute show covering songs of Journey, Kansas and Foreigner will be held at Pioneer Place on Fifth at 22 – 5^th Avenue South, St. 3Cloud.  I understand the band - SFA and Gabe Jacobs - has a strong following in the Cities.  Tickets are $32.  You can find out more at http://www.ppfive.com. 

On both Friday and Saturday nights, the Pioneer Place also has free music in the Fireside Room of their Veranda Lounge (a wine bar), from 9 p.m. to midnight. 

 

If these “draws” aren’t enticing, just come for the great bridge!   Hope to see you there.