My idea of heaven...


Visiting a friend who lives in St. Paul...I am very jealous and find myself wishing mightily that the winters in this town could be just a wee bit more bearable.

I am in St. Paul Minnesota right now, visiting a friend of mine, also a writer, who has recently moved here from Des Moines.

If it weren't for the fact that winters in the Twin Cities are deeper, longer, and colder even than Rochester, I would live here. These two cities are my idea of heaven.

First of all, there's The Loft -- the largest and best literary center anywhere as far as I am concerned. There's something wonderful going on there nearly all the time. It's in the same building housing The Minnesota Center for Book Arts, as well as the independent press, Milkweed Editions. There's a wonderful coffee shop downstairs, and they even offer free wireless internet. If I could have even a small apartment nearby, I think I would spend most of my life in that building!

Sandy lives just a few blocks from Grand Avenue in St. Paul. I took a walk there last night. It's a wonderful avenue lined with funky shops and restaurants and even a very large independent bookstore -- called Bound to Be Read -- that has free live music on Saturday nights. Yes, that's my idea of heaven -- to be in walking distance of a large independent bookstore.

Another thing that is wonderful about this area -- an amazing assortment of alternative publications. You can't go anywhere without encountering them -- all free. I am filling my suitcase with them.

I may have to re-think my belief that I could never live in a place that's even colder than Rochester!

Posted: Sun - June 13, 2004 at 02:20 AM          

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