The suspense is over! Como Zoo has been proudly been revealed as the winner of the Nickelodeon Parent’s Pick Awards ‘Best Tourist Spot’ in Minneapolis/St.Paul. After being nominated in early June alongside other popular Twin Cities destinations, it has been determined through online voting that Como Zoo is indeed the ‘Best Tourist Spot’ in the cities. Users of Nickelodeon’s online ParentConnect site were invited to vote daily during the race, and ultimately determined who would receive the awards. Como Park also gained its own praise in the Nickelodeon race – the destination was voted ‘Best Playground or Park’ in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Como Zoo, a family-friendly destination located in Saint Paul, MN, is open everyday of the year and features exciting and interactive exhibits that appeal to children and adults alike. Unique events and educational classes as well as daily favorites around the zoo such as the ‘Sparky the Sea Lion’ Show have thrilled guests for decades. Michelle Furrer, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s manager, expressed her thoughts on receiving the award. “Como Zoo is extremely proud to accept the Nickelodeon Parent’s Pick ‘Best Tourist Spot’ award. Here at Como we strive to make the Park, the Zoo & the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory a place where people can truly get closer to experience the animals and our beautiful plants and flowers. I think this award represents the quality of our exhibits, and the dedication Como has to making each guest’s visit a memorable one.”

Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Pick Awards identified winners for 30 categories in 52 major U.S. Cities. Categories included: best museum for families, best toy store, best place for pizza; and more. Users on Nickelodeon’s Parent Connect site were invited to vote daily for their favorites, and the winners were announced August 15th. The 2009 award winners will be featured on ParentsConnect throughout the upcoming year.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Background: For over 100 years, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Como Zoo in Saint Paul, Minnesota has charmed, educated and entertained millions of children and adults while fostering an appreciation of the natural world, helping to make Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open 365 days; 10am-6pm from April 1-October 1 and 10am-4pm from October 2-March 31. The free Como Shuttle operates weekends 9:30am-6:30pm Memorial Day to Labor Day. Admission to both the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is always free and a voluntary donation is appreciated. For more information, visit www.comozooconservatory.org

ParentsConnect Background: Featuring the tagline "We're not perfect, we're parents," Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect is the online resource providing parenting advice and community, celebrating the reality of parenthood and making parents' lives easier. Geared towards parents with kids of all ages, from babies to teens, the site offers unique features like personalized profiles that help parents connect with each other; advice from top-tier parenting experts; a digital multi-media scrapbook; seasonal crafts, recipes and activities; a weekly meal-planner; a weekly newsletter focusing on the behavior and development of your child; and guest celebrity editorials. Each age-related section on the site provides users with daily content to help them through both large and small parenting challenges.

Introduced by St Paul Fire Department Chief Tim Butler, SPFD Firefighter Al Boney gives a presentation on the historic role of black firefighters in St Paul. [Watch the Video...]

Did you know that you can go to any Saint Paul Fire Station to get your blood pressure taken? Stop by between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Let's keep Saint Paul residents healthy!

The National Weather Service updated their forecast yesterday. The Mississippi River is currently at 11.78 feet.

NWS projects that we will reach 14 feet, minor flood stage, by Friday afternoon and 17 feet, major flood stage, by Sunday afternoon. NWS predicts we will reach 19.8 feet on Wednesday. At 18 feet, water begins to encroach on Shepard and Warner Road. Due to the prediction of an 18 foot flood level by early next week, the City of Saint Paul is closing Shepard and Warner Road between Eagle Street and Hwy 61 beginning on Saturday morning.

Jackson and Sibley Streets between Kellogg and Shepard will also be closed. The City’s Public Works Department will begin hauling materials over the weekend to build a temporary levee at Jackson and Sibley on Shepard, which will protect the Lowertown neighborhood to over 25 feet.

Kellogg Boulevard, from Wall Street to Broadway Street will be restricted to one lane of traffic in each direction due to flood protection work.

The best points of entry for downtown will be from I-35E and from I-94. MnDOT will display messages on their existing variable message signs, information regarding the closures on the northbound lanes of I-35E south of the river and, if needed on the westbound lanes along I-94 beginning Saturday morning.

Visit www.stpaul.gov/floodprep for current information on the flood preparation and information from the National Weather Service. For up-to-date information on road closures go to www.stpaul.gov/roadclosures .

Also: Saint Paul city officials brief the media on Mississippi River flood updates. Emergency Management Director Rick Larkin, Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hahm and Public Works Director Bruce Beese speak.
Click below to watch the press announcement:

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[Watch the Video...]

City Employee Salary Notification

Minnesota state law - Chapter 156 of the Session Laws of 2005 - requires that "a city or county with a population of more than 15,000 must annually notify its residents of the positions and base salaries of its three highest paid employees. For the City of Saint Paul, titles and salaries as of February 1, 2009 are: Chief of Police - $136,315, City Attorney - $133,513, and Deputy City Attorney - $135,469.

Date of Publication: January 15, 2010

Saint Paul city officials brief the media on Mississippi River flood updates. Emergency Management Director Rick Larkin, Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hahm and Public Works Director Bruce Beese speak. [Watch the Video...]

The Annual Sidewalk Poetry Contest will accept submissions through March 28. Winners have their work stamped into city sidewalks. Watch this video to learn more about the project. For guidelines and online entry: www.stpaul.gov/poetry. [Watch the Video...]

Hello friends,

It seems as though our local music community emigrated for the weekend down to Austin for the South by Southwest conference, but lucky for us we have a bunch of national touring shows in town and an exciting reunion show all this weekend in Saint Paul. Two of the Ordway’s season highlights are happening in the next week; the annual Firkin Fest over at the Happy Gnome, and all weekend there are terrific neighborhood bars to gather with your pals to watch college basketball.

Lets get to the highlights…
Firkin Fest at the Happy Gnome
Ready to get your firk on? The Happy Gnome’s Firkin Fest features a variety of cask conditioned beer from your favorite craft breweries. Saturday, March 20, starting at 1pm, the heated tent will open for mass consumption. Entrance is $10 in advance/$15 at the door. Drink tickets will be available inside for tastes. Tickets are $1, tastes are 4 oz. This tasting event gives you the opportunity to meet some of your favorite brewers and try unique, one-o- a-kind beer.

http://thehappygnome.com/2010/01/catherines-birthday/

The Soviettes Reun ion at the Turf
My friends over at L’etoile wrote it best, “If you were into the local music scene, oh, say, six or seven years ago, you undoubtedly remember the feisty pop-punk stylings of girl-fueled group, The Soviettes. One of the best local bands to grace the scene (in our humble opinion) the Soviettes made a quick but memorable imprint on Minneapolis with their catchy anthems and sassy punk rock swagger. This reunion show comes with an extra added bonus too: the gang will be releasing LP IV, a fiery collection of b-sites and rarities. Also on the bill are Soviettes member's current projects including The Gateway District (featuring guitarist Maren Macosko), Awesome Snakes (Annie Holoien and Danny Henry), and That's Incredible (Susy Sharp). We're crossing our fingers that this reunion isn't just a one time thing, and that we'll be privy to new Soviettes material in the near future. Please?”

http://www.myspace.com/thesoviettes
August Osage County at the Ordway – through Sunday
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this show since their season was announced last year at this time. I’m even going to take a break from the best basketball weekend of the year to sneak off and see this show. Steppenwolf's AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is a grand, gripping new play which tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead when the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with Violet (played by Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons), a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of this storm. AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is a rare theatrical event - a large-scale work filled with unforgettable characters, a powerful tale told with unflinching honesty. It won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, and earned this from the NY Times, "AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is flat-out, without qualification, the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years," and Time Magazine named AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY the "#1 Show of the Year!"

http://ordway.org/performances/0910/august-osage-county.asp
Five for Fighting at the Fitz - Saturday
Singer/songwriter John Ondrasik has spent the past decade writing terrific songs (including the Hoppity Song – for anybody with the For the Kids Album) that include social messages and make an emotional connection. The singer/songwriter’s fifth album under the Five for Fighting banner, Slice, stretches a bit to include his love for classic R&B on songs like Love Can't Change the Weather and even firing up a Marshall stack on Transfer. Lyrically, he gives shout outs to his family, friends and personal heroes, from fitness pioneer Augie Nieto to American servicemen serving around the world.

http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/events/#fighting

Black Eyed Peas at the X - Monday
I’m not really a giant fan of the Black Eyed Peas, but I am going to get over to see this show, because by all accounts they put together a terrific live show. With 6 Grammys to their name, they’re in town to support their multi-platinum No. 1 album, “The E.N.D,” featuring chart topping singles, “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas will replicate the party vibe of a hot dance club (complete with guest DJs including will.i.am).

http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/events/detail.jsp?EVENT_ID=834

Alice in Chains at the Roy - Sunday
I saw the second generation Alice in Chains a couple of years ago and I admit I had pretty low expectations, but I was curious what the band would sound like without Layne Staley. For the first half of the show I was flabbergasted that they found thee vocal clone of Staley in William DuVall. For the second half, I was impressed that the band wasn’t just phoning in the museum performance for the check, they were really engaged and their new tunes were quite impressive. While critics generally praised the album, their commercial success was nowhere close to the glory days of the band. Give them credit for sticking with it, and I’d recommend you give their concert a try, I think you’ll be impressed.

http://www.theroy.org/events/detail.jsp?event_id=575

Thanks for taking the time to read my note again this week. Let me know if you have any tips and please share with any friends who you think might enjoy it. If you get this from a pal and would like to sign up dial up http://stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=58 and click on the picture of the dude (me) with an orange slice in his mouth.

Have a great week!

Joe

Hello friends, Before I get into the fun stuff for the next week, I have to take a minute to mention the amazing evening of music at Saint Paul Central last night. It was an inspiring evening from a terrific group of young artists whose leadership is at least as their music. The Heiruspecs Scholarship Fund was inaugurated last night with a ton of music and wonderful variety. Of course there was all of the delicious hip hop that you'd expect, but as the endless list of guests joined the band on
stage, there were snippits of folk, rock, funk, spoken word, and even some terrific old school stuff. They announced from the stage that they planned for this to be an annual event to raise money for their new scholarship fund. Do yourself and the community a favor when you see this event come around next year and buy a ticket - it will be one of the best shows you see.

Now lets turn our attention to next week where we have another poetry contest from Saint Paul's innovative project led by resident genius, Marcus Young, an all-women poetry slam, a 24 hour play project, a summer-camp fair, and some terrific concerts in Saint Paul's best loved venues.

Sidewalk Poetry - Volume III

4 years ago, Marcus Young was considering the Artist-in-Residence post he was about to assume, and over brown bag lunches, he was sharing with me his concept of The City as a Book. He shared the idea that in the nations most creative and innovative city, Saint Paul wouldn't be idealized as a city paved in gold but rather a city paved in poetry. I admit that at the time, I had a difficult time envisioning a tangible interpretation of this ideal. However, with Marcus's artistic leadership, a lot
of support from Public Art Saint Paul, and the help of our Public Works department, our fare City is launching the 3rd year of Sidewalk Poetry. Literally thousands of poems have been entered into a juried competition where the winners have their poetry stamped into some of the many replacement panels of sidewalk in our neighborhoods.

Saint Paul sidewalks are paved with poetry! The Department of Public Works and Public Art Saint Paul invite residents to enter this unique annual contest. Winning poems will be permanently published in city sidewalks. We are looking for short poems that provide a delightful moment of outdoor reading. Poems maybe uplifting, funny, thoughtful...anything appropriate for the general public. There's a poet in each of us, so we encourage everyone to enter.
http://stpaul.gov/poetry

All Women's Poetry Slam at Peach Gallery

Punch Out Poetry is a new addition to the Twin Cities Slam Scene. The folks at SlamMN couldn't be more delighted to be welcoming them to the fold. Punch Out Poetry (or POP, which I must say is an awesome acronym) will be hosting several slams over the next few months, all of which are open to women and those who live their lives as women. The very First POP Slam will have three rounds. A one minute, two minute and three minute round, in that order. The very first Punch Out Poetry Slam will also
serve as a fundraiser for the local poets attending the Women of the World Poetry Slam. There will be a bake sale and other fun items to bid on/purchase. Rockin' Good times are assured.
7pm doors and sign up 7:30 Show time
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=329182041795

Hiding in the Open at History Theatre - Opens Saturday

For many years Sabina Zimering, a successful eye doctor in Minneapolis, held a secret close to heart. Then she took a class at the Loft Literary Center and her amazing story of escape and survival became a truly compelling book. Sabina, a Polish Jew, had come of age as Hitler and the Nazis rose to power. When Poland was invaded Sabina and her sister survived the horrors of the Holocaust by disguising themselves as Catholics from Poland while living in Germany! Along the way they had to rely on
one another and their quick wits to keep them safe and sane as the world around them crumbled. Local theater artist, Kira Obolensky, took this memoir material and helped adapt it for the stage. The show opens on Saturday and runs through 3/21.l
http://historytheatre.com/

Minnesota Parent: Camp Fair at Como - Saturday

I know this falls outside of my normal list of event recommendations, but it's top of mind right now for my family and perhaps its something that you're starting to think about as well. What are your kids doing this summer? There are week-long day camps or an all-season sleepaway experience (does that mean your kid would be in a survival course for the duration of the summer?), from day camps for arts to computers to horses, and more. The annual Minnesota Parent Camp Fair is timed for the high
season - when many of us are eager for information and struggling to make a decision. It's one-stop shopping for all your summer options: Como camp, music, art, science, computer, sports camps and more.
http://www.mnparent.com/index.php?publication=mn_parent&page=287

DJ Andrew Broder at the Turf - Monday nights

The Turf Club has the outstanding Monday night stand of Jazz music from Fat Kid Wednesday and they've turned Monday nights into an institution at the storied University Avenue music club. They are adding to to that success by putting another Monday night stand in the upstairs room - its a DJ night with local music-adventurer Andrew Broder. With a host of new albums that delve into the realm of ambient music just outside the mainstream, his newest outings are in turntable work. Every Monday night
he brings his eclectic sensibilities to these free weekly DJ sets at the Turf. Its been going on for a couple of weeks now and I hope it lasts for a long while. Check it out!
http://turfclub.net/ [ http://turfclub.net/%20%20 ]

One, Two, Three & Burgundie with Didier Petit

When Didier Petit was here last time, I missed the show and wasn't able to go. This time around, not only is he back, not only is he having two shows, not only is he collaborating with terrific local musicians, but he's also making dinner! That's right, this is a charismatic French cellist with a sound that, for those with adventure in their hearts, is going to cook dinner. Tuesday night, is just the show... well, I shouldn't say "just" a show, he is collaborating with Nathan Hanson, Milo Fine,
and Viv Corringham. And on the second night (actually the better night in my opinion), he's playing with JT Bates and Adam LInz, AND he's cooking. Tix for music with dinner are only $20: Concert only for both nights are $7.
http://blackdogstpaul.com/events/news-185.shtml

Alright friends, that's all the internets are giving me space for today, so I have to close out. Have a great weekend and please pass on any recommendations you have for next weekend!

Rock,

Joe

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The City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department has closed the athletic fields surrounding the Oxford Community Center. Following several tests, the soil was confirmed to have materials that contain levels of contaminates that are above the acceptable Recreational Soil Reference Value and are considered potentially hazardous. The fields will remain closed until additional tests are conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health and the City’s environmental consultants.

The materials were found shortly after site work began on the athletic fields as part of phase six of the overall construction and renovation project. Initial tests discovered suspect materials in the soil that were located on both the upper and lower fields of the site. Following the findings from the lower field, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) was contacted and a Voluntary Inspection and Cleanup program application was submitted. Additional tests have confirmed the materials contain contaminates, specifically high levels of lead, that are considered potentially hazardous.

The Oxford Community Center opened in the summer of 2006, featuring the renovated Jimmy Lee Recreation Center and new indoor Great River Water Park. The recent findings do not affect the indoor facility, so indoor programming and use will continue. A fence and signage will be placed around the affected outdoor area, and all the outdoor facility use will be suspended until further testing can be conducted.

A community meeting will be held April 19 at 6 p.m. to discuss the status of the project and most current related information.

Residents with questions about lead can visit the Ramsey County Public Health website: http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph

Oxford Community Center is located at 270 Lexington Parkway North, Saint Paul 55104
Map of Affected Area (with location of fencing)

The Recovery Act called for a new temporary program - America's Recovery Capital (ARC). ARC loans are designed to provide some temporary relief for viable small businesses with immediate financial hardship. SBA will not be ready to accept loan packages from lenders until June 15.

[Additional info...]

City employees celebrated Black History Month in February. In the second of three events Officer Benny Williams covers the history of Black Police Officers in Saint Paul and Angelique Kedem explains the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. [Watch the Video...]

The Saint Paul Police Foundation presented the City with a $500,000 check to mark the completion of private fundraising for SPPD’s Safe City Initiative. The program includes a network of surveillance cameras along University Ave. and around downtown. [Watch the Video...]

The Annual Sidewalk Poetry Contest will accept submissions through March 28. Winners have their work stamped into city sidewalks. Watch this video to learn more about the project. For guidelines and online entry: www.stpaul.gov/poetry. [Watch the Video...]

Saint Paul Public Works asks residents for help in reporting potholes in this light-hearted video. [Watch the Video...]