The Almanac extends a giant “Youbetcha we thank you” to all those who generously donated during last Tuesday’s “Give to the Max Day” charitable event. You helped us raise over $1,200 in individual donations plus matching grant funds from board members of the Saint Paul Almanac for a total of $2,426 in just 24 hours!
Our goal is to work mutually in Saint Paul communities to support a diverse, connected, and engaged city of people around local literature and art. Arcata Press organizes the Saint Paul Almanac as a people’s meeting space for sharing the stories of our community through our annual book, public readings, community editor mentorship program, and other activities that showcase and honor local, diverse voices and artists. This Tuesday is Give to the Max Day. Please visit our website on Tuesday and contribute to our important work. A gift of $25 makes a big difference.
At the Saint Paul Almanac, we know we all do better when we know each other. Our goal is to use storytelling to help everyone in Saint Paul become friends and neighbors—one big block club of Saint Paulites that understand and support each other in good and difficult times. The Almanac creates spaces to enable people to share the stories of our community—an annual book, our website, public readings, community editor mentorship program, and other events that showcase and honor local, diverse voices and artists.
The Saint Paul Almanac continues its year-round literary celebration of Minnesota’s capital city with the acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams. The second season of the eclectic series, curated by Tish Jones, will be presented on Monday, November 8, 2010 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Café, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. The Jams will continue on the second Monday of each month through July 2011.
Our beloved loons and human snow birds are starting to migrate now, and we hope they stay safe from the miles and miles of oily Gulf Coast waters. The hunting season of our other state bird—the mosquito—has come to a welcome end and—whatcha know?—the long fall shadows of tree limbs extend on our Saint Paul sidewalks like stills from a Tim Burton movie. This blog includes new Almanac writing from David Mura, Janet Preus, Linda Kantner with memory support from Jane Sevald, and Norita Dittberner-Jax.
This is our fourth edition of the Pig’s Eye Post. Last week, we told you we were looking for your best “Minnesota Nice story.” And it’s been a busy week. Not only did the President visit our city, we also received a stunning entry from Louis DiSanto. Don’t let Louis’ “Yes We Already Have” attitude put you off because we’re still accepting entries. Coming Almanac events include Polly’s Coffee Cove (Oct 26th), the Mad Hatter Coffee Cafe and Teahouse (Nov 13th), and Common Good Books (Nov 15th).
Workers performing advance utility relocation work in preparation for light rail construction in Lowertown have stumbled across what local authorities believe may be a long lost royal complex that is likely the final resting place of Boreas the Brrrave. It is not unusual for the refuse of bygone eras to turn up during large scale excavations such as that which has been taking place in Lowertown this past summer. Similar work on the Hiawatha Line in Minneapolis uncovered scores of bottles, household items and more than a few horseshoes. The quality, variety, and sheer volume of items discovered beneath 4th street have, however, prompted calls for a halt to further work on the project – if only temporarily.
Well, we’re back, with more events and literature from the capital of Minnesota Nice, Saint Paul. The Almanac is looking for your best “Minnesota Nice story”. We’ll send the winner either a copy of the 2011 Almanac and/or a T-shirt and we’ll send the runner-up whatever the winner didn’t want. The Saint Paul Almanac’s Celebration through Stories readings are ongoing until early December in coffee shops around the city. And more, in the third edition of our blog.
The first of a brand new series of Saint Paul Almanac Lowertown Reading Jams takes place on Monday, October 11th, from 7:00-8:30pm at the Black Dog Cafe. Curated by Deborah Torraine, the theme of this reading jam is “The Sacred.” Deborah says that when she reads the word “sacred,” she stops to re-read it again because at first glance it looks like the word “scared.” Also reading will be Dara Beevas, Natalie Delgado, Q, Nimo Farah, Shane Hawley, Sheronda Orridge and Mickey Rich.
Welcome to the second edition of the Pig’s Eye Post, the Saint Paul Almanac weekly blog. For those of you who think our blog name is some cute and folksy Midwestern farm thing that we thought up while milking Bessie a couple of mornings ago, let us tell you that—you betcha—we’re going to shock the lint off your socks! Also in this edition: Upcoming Almanac Events, Also Happening this Week in the City, New Almanac writing, Saint Paul Facts and, of course, some shameless begging.
It has been a busy end of summer for the Almanac! In August we launched our new website, with the most comprehensive City Guide to St. Paul available anywhere on the Internet. In September we held a glorious launch celebration for the 2011 Saint Paul Almanac at a packed event in Lowertown that included readings by a host of contributors from all corners of the city—even the mayor! And this month we launch our new blog, Pig’s Eye Post!
Now in its fifth year, the Saint Paul Almanac again offers its eclectic and quirky mix of essays, history, reviews, photography and poetry about all things Saint Paul, written by the people who know and love the city best. On Thursday, September 16, at 6 p.m., contributors, editors and fans will come together to celebrate the launch of the 2011 Saint Paul Almanac at its annual Celebration through Stories.
Help us to SAVE OUR STORIES by supporting Saint Paul Almanac’s literary and visual artists, and filmmakers.
We need your contributions so we may continue our work. Thank you!