The Winter Machine

Today may be the only day left to see the ice sculptures in Rice Park, downtown St. Paul.  It is going to warm up a bit.  Honestly most years we have some kind of a January thaw. 

The winter carnival is in full swing and no one has found the medallion.  As for today's clue the only thing I can think of that can be harvested from a watery field is wild rice. . . and we have a Rice park with a place to stay right across the street.  Not  trying to start any rumors . . . would they hide the treasure right in Rice Park? 

[Click on photo to embiggen]

ice wall - Rice Park

 It is Winter carnival time and I am looking forward to a weekend full of carnival events in addition to house hunting with clients and putting a new listing on the market.  There are a ton of events this weekend.  I plan on watching the parade and I will probably check out the ice carving contest in Rice Park.  The winter carnival grand day parade starts at 2:00 this afternoon but the route is a little different this year because of construction downtown.  The parade will start on the corner of Smith Avenue and West 7th and go east and end at 5th and Market street downtown otherwise known as Rice Park.  The official map states that the parade will disperse on Kellogg Blvd., yet they show the parade route ending at Rice park.

Parade Route

If you don't know the area watch the signs because parking on the street requires a permit.   There is a huge parking lot next to the Xcel center, and there is the Xcel center ramp and the ramp at the six street station. 

 It must be time for the Saint Paul Winter Carnival it is the only time when St. Paulites are asked to keep their hands off of the snow.

Please Don't Touch Snow Blocks

This snow block is in Rice Park and I saw one in front of Mancini's with a do not touch sign on it. The snow blocks are cool I get why people want to touch them.  I love the winter carnival.

 We have a nice little downtown with a mix of old and new.

St. Louis Church & The Pointe

Public Skating at the Landmark Center

The skating rink it new and the landmark center is old.

Mickey's Diner

You can never have too many pictures of Mickey's diner. 

Downtown Minneapolis is pretty neat too. 

These are some treasures I found last weekend when I spent some time going through old files.  I found a treasure trove of marketing materials for projects that did not go as planned.   I have kept some of the marketing materials from the downtown St. Paul condo projects because they can come in handy for marketing ideas when I list a condo for resale.  

I did not have the heart to toss out the marketing pieces I found from the projects that were never built.  The builders would host these big open houses for Realtors with food and wine and they would answer our questions and send us on our way with marketing materials, business cards and price lists.  It seems like just yesterday . . .and it has been some time since I have been wined and dined by a builder. 

The past

We do have plenty of housing downtown, 65 condo type units on the market, starting at a mere $35,000 and on up to 2.8 million dollars.  I have a wonderful unit at the Rossmor that we are running a special on this week.

 The weather got nice and cold just in time for Red Bull Crashed ice.  If you have not had a chance to stop by or maybe you could not get near it because of the traffic there is this giant chute filled with ice by the Catherdral and people are skating down it hence the words ice and crash. 

Today is day 3 of the 3 day event and the final race starts at 7:00 PM, the gates open at 4:00 and this is a free event so you can bring all 12 of your children and the neighbors kids too. 

It really isn't my kind of event but I may stop by later today and take some photos because I like to take photos.  If you plan on checking it out keep in mind that the most important part of any sport is drinking beer and the closest bars are on West 7th street.  Please come on down and drink up but don't pee on the sidewalk or park in Irvine park without a permit.

Burger Moes on West 7th is ready for you 

Rice park in downtown St. Paul was named one of America's top great spaces by the America Planning Association.

"Rice Park is a counterpoint to its busy surroundings. Its period lamps, statuary, benches, center fountain, and adjacent national landmark buildings lend a European feeling to the space. Trapezoidal in shape with two diagonal walkways, the park serves as much as a pathway and shortcut as it does a lunch stop, festival grounds, and outdoor sanctuary. Rice Park has undergone far-reaching changes since its establishment in 1849, when Minnesota was still a territory."

As a child I enjoyed going to the library and getting books and sitting in the park and reading them.  As an adult I enjoy eating lunch in the park, the holiday lights, people watching, dog walking and the events, like the Saint Paul Winter Carnival which starts on January 26th this year even if we still don't have any snow.  

Park Benches and Flowers

Holiday Lights with the landmark center in the background

The fountain and statue of "The Source" 

The park can be reserved for weddings and other events.  Contact St. Paul Parks.