Saturday morning as the Gunflint Green Up was about to begin and in spite of four inches of fresh snow, which had fallen during the night, an estimated four hundred and seventy five tree planter armed with planting equipment fanned out over the site of last springs Ham Lake Fire. By noon as the planters stopped for their lunches the sun had come out the temperature risen and most of the snow had melted. Nancy Seaton, Gunflint Committee Chairperson proclaimed, "that the weather had turned into a great day for planting."

Vicki Grassl, from Pine City Minnesota, and who was staying at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B claimed that she and her friend Debra Erickson from Wyoming Minnesota planted well over three hundred trees. Another guest at a Poplar Creek, Steve Alderson, from Minneapolis, and who in the 1960's was a fishing guide on Sag Lake felt that by participating in the tree planting help him to reconnect with his earlier life, "I feel like I really belong to the Trail," Alderson said after a day of tree planting.

While the final number of trees planted has yet to be totaled it is estimated that the Gunflint Green resulted in the planting of some 40,000-50,000 young red and white pines trees.

According to Dennis Neitzky, Gunflint District Ranger-USFS, who assisted the Gunflint Green Up Committee in coordinating the tree planting, "the project was a huge success and a was great start in renewing the forest burned over by last year's Ham Lake Fire."

New Ulm's May Basket is full again this year! Morgan Creek Vineyard celebrates their 10th season! Hat's Off to them! (and you...see what Gary and Ramona have to say below) The Wanda Gag House and Putting Green Eco Center begin their summer hours and there is Shakespeare in the Park. Not to mention, as far as openers, the Brewery offers their extended tour hours. And The Bohemian? Well, you know, always full of surprises, call for our stimulus packages to stretch those anticipated extra dollars. 866.499.6870.

The Historic Water Street Inn, will have it's annual Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday May 11th from 9am-4pm. Cost of the event is $19.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 12 & under, and 5 and under eat free. As an added bonus the Inn is offering a special for mothers, Stay either Saturday the 10th or Sunday the 11th and receive a complimetary Sunday brunch for 2. Space is limited and reservations are required.

The Historic Water Street Inn
101 Water St. South
Stillwater, MN 55082

651-439-6000

http://www.waterstreetinn.us

At Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B the snow is slowly disappearing. In sunny places it is all gone. However in the woods and where it is shady several inches of snow remains. Also there is still snow along the Banadad Ski Trail but not enough left to ski. With morning temperatures in the low twenties it will be awhile before the few remaining snow patches in the woods leave us.

As for the Lake ice, not even the smaller lakes such as Road and Swamper, which are among the first to open, have even started to lose their ice. I suspect it will be at least the second week in May before the ice is off most of the lakes and even then many of the larger lakes might still be cover with ice. So folks- look for a late fishing opener!

Morgan Creek Vineyards is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with its opening as a Mai Fest celebration. On Saturday, May 3, the first 50 customers of the season will receive a free garden hat. There will also be music at the winery from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Become a Case Club member and received a 25% discount on a case purchase. Plan to spend the weekend in New Ulm (Morgan Creek is 11 miles outside of this charming town), and stay with us at the Auf Deutsche Bed & Breakfast. If you book for both Friday and Saturday, May 2 & 3, receive a 10% discount by mentioning "R&R at the B&B".

How exciting for those receiving the tax rebate to learn that it is being dispersed earlier than expected! This is a win/win situation. Before gas prices increase for the summer come visit New Ulm and stay with us at the Auf Deutsche Strasse Bed & Breakfast for two consecutive nights and receive a 10% discount. Mention "R&R" when reserving at our "B&B". Relaxation and Rejuvenation at a discounted price!

Charlie’s Pub features live music every
Friday & Saturday nights from
7:30 to 11:30

May 2 & 3 Tom Dahill
Tom Dahill is one of the best entertainers playing Irish Music. He'll have you singing the party piece you practiced since you were a kid or dancing an Irish jig for the first time in your life. Tom is a well rounded performer and very easy to work with"
"His show is spontaneous and flows with the mood of the audience. From quite ballads to the rowdy and comical, and on the political, songs woven together with rich Irish stories that lead you through the culture and robust life of the Irish."

May 9 & 10 Paul & Lorraine
Paul and Lorraine have been playing Irish music together for a couple of years now, starting with the rouge folk band Folk UnderGround and then splitting off to form their own duo. Paul and Lorraine play Irish music. All sorts of Irish music. And Scottish music, and English music, some original music and a whole lot of songs where people get sent to prison in Australia forever. Something for everyone. Lots of Drinking, lots of lots of losing your love forever, plenty of Death, Doom and Destruction and Happy little nights in the Pub. Not to mention some of the best Irish Fiddle Tunes going.
They like to have fun. They like to take requests and will play just about anything, if they know just about half of it. Someday they will learn all the words to Puff the Magic Dragon. (Why this song is so requested in Irish Bars they do not know, but their audiences seem to love it and are happy to sing it. At least the first verse. Over and Over.) They will play the Unicorn song for free. Once If Paul has too much whisky, he will play Freebird for you. (This is sometimes more fun than it sounds. Trust them) they will play the Irish Washerwomen (Re-titled simply The Irish Song) at least once a set. (Again, trust them)

May 16 & 17 Mike Wallace & Joe Smith (Mike is ½ of “The Irish Brigade”)
Michael Wallace (Vocals, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Boudhran)

Born in limerick city Ireland. Mike began playing the guitar in 1965 and now plays guitar, bass, boudhran (The Irish Drum) and has an amazing vocal range he applies to a huge repertoire of songs. Michael moved to the United States in 1974 and had started the band The Irish Brigade by 1975 his time on the road with bands has been spent primarily and three bands Ireland’s Heritage, The Old Triangle, and the Irish Brigade. A consummate stage performer Mike has been happy to spend his time on stage with such great performers as Peter Yeates, Steve Mulligan, Joe Burk, Noel Hill, Paddy O’Brien, and Larry Nugent not to mention his original partner in The Irish Brigade Gerry Goodwin god rest his sole or current partners Sean Conway and Darren Crossey.
Mike has had the pleasure of recording many times with many of the great musicians he has set up pleasure to perform with over the years some of those recordings include The Pair of Us, Live at the Waterhole, One for the Road, Down in the Wee Room, Limrick Town, Three Sheets to the Wind, The Grand Affair, Better Late Than Never, and Live at the Half Time Rec. Although these recordings are primarily Irish music live band performances have always run from Irish to folk to country to rock-n-roll. Mikes personal influences like The Beatles, The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, Rory Gallaher and many others comes out in each live performance as the band moves from Irish ballot to the occasional rock or country classic that everyone sings along with. Somewhere between great music great friends on stage and in the audience all coming together to make a bit of magic is always clear watching Mike Wallace that he was meant to be on stage

May 23 & 24 Paul and Lorraine

May 30 & 31 Tom Dahill

The Historic Water Street Inn
101 Water St So
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-439-6000

http://www.waterstreetinn.us

The Deutsche Strasse Bed & Breakfast in New Ulm, MN, will make the early tax rebate a win/win situation. Stay with us during the month of May for two consecutive nights and you will receive a 10% discount. Be the early bird by traveling before summer officially begins and the expected gasoline cost increases. Mention "R&R" at the "B&B" when reserving to receive this discount.

The Loghouse & Homestead Bed & Breakfast is an elegant country inn cradled amidst 115 acres of fields, hills and maple woods, adjacent to nearly a mile of private lake shore. Luxury, pampering and privacy are its hallmarks. Located near Vergas, MN in picturesque Otter Tail County, this B&B is surrounded by more than 1,000 lakes, curving roads and rolling hills, free of billboards and full of wildlife.

The 115 acres is a wildlife refuge that attracts both the four-footed type and a myriad of birds. Loons nest in a secluded cove, heralding the arrival of spring with their haunting call. A pair of eagles, whose nest can be seen across the lake, cause anxious cries of alarm when they soar overhead looking for prey. A wetland dubbed the "Beaver Bog" and another called "Peepers Pond" have been preserved. Sixty acres of woods are enrolled in a Sustainable Forest Program and 20 acres of fields are covered by Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM).

The Loghouse & Homestead is a one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast, combining the beauty and peacefulness of the land with luxury amenities and personal attention. It is set apart enough to "be away" but still accessible to a wide range of area activities and events. Visit us online at: Loghouse & homestead B&B

SCVRTA will be holding a sustainability luncheon for hospitality and tourism businesses on May 14th at the Historic Water Street Inn.

The Title is “Sustainable Tourism: Greening and Marketing Your Business”

Residents of the St. Croix Valley and throughout our region are increasingly passionate about ensuring they are living green. They’re seeking experiences from businesses and communities and events that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and stewardship of natural resources.

The luncheon will provide hospitality and business owners a broad overview of how to build a green business, get green certification, and how to market their business to tourists seeking a greener experience.

Wednesday May 14, registration begins at 11:30 am, lunch and presentations from noon to 1pm. SCVRTA members rate is only $18.

The Water Street Inn
101 Water Street So
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-439-6000

Each week Chef Isaac and staff creates a four-course dinner menu, each course paired with a specially selected glass of wine.
Wednesday nights for $29.95 per person
Served from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, reservations suggested.
Not valid with any other special offers.
Starter
Grilled Caribbean Skewers
beef, lamb, chicken
Salmon Creek, White Zinfandel; California
Salad
Blood orange and walnuts
Gabbiano, Pinot Grigio; Italy
Entree
Rum glazed pork chop with couscous and carrots
St. Hallet "Poachers Blend" Semillion-Sauvignon Blend; Australia
Dessert
Nutmeg Beignets with cinnamon ice cream
Cinnamon Frappe
CinnamonIced coffee dessert drink made with DeKuyper cinnamon schnappsdiv

The Historic Water Street Inn
101 Water St. South
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-439-6000

Barry Nelson - vocals, guitar, mandolin, and tin whistle
Born in Belfast Co. Antrim Ireland. Barry has been playing music since his early teens performing in Ireland, England, Denmark, and Sweden currently based in Ireland. He has crisscrossed the U.S.A. many times from Cape Cod to Florida, Maryland to Minnesota. He has played with Coribb Folk, Pennywhistle, and as a solo artist for the former Irish Prime Minster Albert Reynolds and President Ronald Regan. He is never short of a toast, song or story so come listen sing and party with Barry Nelson. This is a “don’t miss” show so come in and catch Barry and a special guest at work, call it that work or not it’s a lot of fun to watch listen and sing a long.

Music starts at 7:30pm both Friday & Saturday. No cover charge. No reservations. First come, first serve.

The Loghouse & Homestead Bed & Breakfast on Spirit Lake is an ideal place for birdwatching, thanks to the nearby wildlife refuges and the abundance of bird houses and bird feeding stations on the property. One bird in particular that can be found there is the Golden-winged Warbler.

Public domain image courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Golden-winged Warbler is a bird with unique yellow markings on both the males and the females, covering their crown and wing patches. These birds nest on the ground instead of in trees, often in open, scrubby areas. They are ranked under the 'Near Threatened' conservation status mainly due to habitat loss.

Want to see a Golden-winged Warbler for yourself? You can find this bird, and many more, while staying at the Loghouse & Homestead Bed & Breakfast Inn.

Mother’s day brunch, served from 9am-4pm Sunday May 11th. Cost is $19.95 for adults, $10.95 for kids up to 12 years of age, and under 5 eat free. Reservations suggested. Here’s a look at our menu.

The Historic Water Street Inn
101 Water Street So
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-439-6000

Bad weather… is good weather watching at Solglimt! Our guests that have braved the elements and have come to stay with us are enjoying the spring fling that Mother Nature is giving us.