Clogtown: Visit The 2020 Ice Castles!

Minnesota Winter! I recently made the decision to get my Mom out of her nursing facility (long story, bad care, she didn't belong there, I couldn't leave her there, here I am), to be her caregiver myself. We're going to figure it out day by day (and I'm hoping she'll soon take to the idea of being a Venice girl ...), but for now I'm here in the thick of winter for the first time in 25 years. Rather than freak out, I've decided to embrace it and go full on Winter Lover. Today that meant that my friend Tonya and I took her daughters to visit the Ice Castles, this year in New Brighton, Minnesota. And WOW!

We went during the day, and it was not nearly so cold because the sun was high and the skies were clear ... and I think the Castles create a barrier from the wind, so it's not that bad except on your feet. But still, bundle up!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today meant that kids were out of school and grownups were out of work, so there was a good crowd there, but they had timed tickets, so it never felt too packed (unless you met a pack of kids in one of the narrow tunnels - someone had to back up). There were two slides, a little one for little kids and a big one for everyone. They give you a little blue sled and off you go ... short but fun!

There's a little snack truck for hot drinks to warm you up, and sweet treats for the kids to beg for. They even have hand warmers for sale, but they weren't necessary today.

It was so bright you had to wear shades, but I imagine the Castles might be even better at night, as they're all it up and probably pretty dreamy. I can see it being a popular date spot, for sure.

The Ice Castles (and I kept telling the little girls that they HAVE TO watch the movie Ice Castles - "They forgot about the roses!") really are a winter wonderland, and with all of our new snow, they sparkle and dazzle like in the movie/s Frozen 1/2 ... and there's even costumed Elsa and Anna walking around to take photos with the kids (and a few Dads that I saw too).

I was thinking a lot about Dr. King today, because he really is the reason we were able to go to this frozen attraction today. We all know him best for his I Have A Dream speech, and it got me to thinking that cool things like this all started with someone's dream as well. They bring people of all ages, races, religions, whatevers together, united in the name of fun and beauty. Ice Castles might not be the obvious choice of a way to honor one of our greatest leaders, but the thought was definitely there - and discussed.

Thank you to Tonya, Elsie, Inga, and the staff and creators of the beautiful, super Minnesotan Ice Castles visit for MLK, Jr. Day - we loved it. Let It Go!!!

Ice Castles
1500 Old Highway 8
New Brighton, MN 55112
Ice Castles Minnesota

A Golden Weekend In Venice

Once upon a time, there was a nearly perfect weekend in Venice, California. There was an October heat wave, making it an almost unheard of 95 degrees at the beach. Many were heard to be complaining ... but when there's talk of early flurries in the rest of the country, I count my many blessings. Heat is one of them (though I too have been doing rain dances).

We beat it on Friday night by seeing Frozen on the Santa Monica Pier. The Front Porch Cinema series has begun, and you can check out movies under the stars and over the waves for the next few Fridays. The kids knew every single word and the grown-ups enjoyed feeling cooler.

There was no place else in the city to be on Saturday besides the beach. Even being fully submerged in the water, one still felt hot, but it was extra-awesome down there because all the tourists have left for the season, and we had Playa de Los Amigos pretty much all to ourselves. The skies were so blue and bright, they almost hurt to look at, but I entertained myself for quite a while just watching the cloud formations take shape while I hallucinated from the heat. Check out these birds! Sky paintings.

My dear little buddy Beckett turned 2, and we celebrated with a spin around the neighborhood aboard his little birthday train express. All the kids loved it, especially when the guy did doughnuts in the road.

The grown-ups were not successful in getting the conductor to cruise us down Abbot Kinney with out open bottles, but not for lack of our trying. It's not really street-legal, I guess ...

Saturday night found us back at Foodshop, celebrating the birthday of our dear Sweet D with the delicious burger night, and a slew of fine friends. The greatest of times.

Sunday ... Nothing. But. Beach. What else? We're so lucky to have this divine splendor right there for the enjoyment, and Sundays are the best days to revel in all its glory.

Top it off with a little Chez Jay sunset dinner, and you're talking about a weekend for the books.

And we all lived happily ever NOW!