23 April 2010

Events Roundup: Kick off Springtime and Support Your Local!

We've got a big weekend ahead of us here in Minnesota's capital city of St. Paul, and a lot of events that won't take more than a bus ride or a choice parking space and a good pair of sneakers to visit.  Here we go!

Friday, 23 April, from 6-10pm
Saturday, 24 April, from noon-8pm
Sunday, 25 April, from noon-5pm
This tour of the Lowertown area of St. Paul covers three of my favorite things about St. Paul: the access to public art, free shuttle rides, and cool old buildings and spaces.  It's a fantastic opportunity to meet local artists and see where they work, what they do, and how they do it.  Kudos to all of the artists to have opened up their studios to any and all who come by - I'll try to stop by this Saturday or Sunday!

Saturdays 6-11am
Sundays 8am-1pm
The St. Paul Farmer's Market opens this Saturday, 24 April, for their 2010 season!  They'll be open until the end of November.  Hey - if you're already in Lowertown for the Art Crawl, check it out!  Grab a bag of fresh-from-the-garden produce and head into a warehouse to check it out.  There's also great people-watching, a good selection of produce and fresh flowers, and occasionally street musicians and performers.
Check out the website for more locations and dates.  Farmer's markets are a great way to support the local economy, and stay a little more green.  Buying local cuts down on shipping and production costs.  And it's good for you, too.

Saturday 24 April, 1-6pm at The Bottling House
I know I was highlighting St. Paul, but don't be afraid of the twin across the river.  On Saturday in Minneapolis, MNfashion Week is sponsoring the Alter/Nation event, promoting the creative reuse of garments otherwise thrown away or forgotten in the back of the closet.  CounterCouture hosts, along with Ever After Gowns, Anthem Heart, Yelp, taj salon & spa, Je Ne Regrette Rien and I’ve Got Your Style, with the help of volunteers.
The event includes, but is not limited to, a clothing swap, formal dress donation, on-site tailoring and alterations, fashion shows, live screen printing, and even hair and make-up.  Check out the link (above) for more info on the Facebook event page!

MNfashion Week is going strong!
Check out  the various event continuing through this weekend, culminating in Christopher Straub's premiere of his new collection at the St. Paul Hotel on Sunday night.  (Yes, the Chris Staub from Project Runway - he's local!)

At any rate, even if it's raining, there's plenty to do!  So go out, explore the capital and its twin, and support your local!

by Maggie
(cross-posted in Maggie's Etsy team blog, HandmadeMN)