Cafe Astoria

As we are coming out of our cocoons and venturing back to a semblance of our former realities, everyone is at different points on the comfort scale. Maybe you are not ready for the full sit-down dinner experience? I know I have been hoping for even a lunch out with a friend and am finding limited options. We seem to have grown more comfortable with grab and go. But I am guessing I am not the only one craving a corner nook with a cup of coffee and a picture window to escape the four walls of home quarantine. Just a stack of magazines and a little bit of time to shake it up a bit.

Cafe Astoria in St Paul is that perfect pick-me-up whenever you are ready. I have not been there in over a year. But in the next week, when the temperature rises out of the single digits, it is a reassuring outing. For starters, it is in the most hidden corner of downtown St Paul on 7th Street. Just beyond the madness of the Excel Center and quietly nestled a few blocks from Irvine Park. It is a turn of the century brick store front in a triangle block dwarfed by 7th and Grand. Something you would stumble upon in the Village in NYC. A place about serenity and nearly nothing about being seen. 

But their incredible exotica is the craft of their drinks. Yes there are the token baked goods, oatmeal and huge selection of crepes. But they are merely filler to the works that come out of the espresso machine.

Let's start with the regular coffee menu. Of course Cafe au Lait, White Chocolate Mocha and a Matcha Latte. But I bet you weren't expecting a detour like an Espresso Banana Chocolate. From there, things only progress to more decadent. Maybe a Creme Brulee with caramel and vanilla. Or a Bee Sting with wildflower honey, bee pollen and chili! Or Leah's Happy Place with matcha, lavender and pistachio!! These aren't even the specialty drinks. Imagine Rainbow Lattes, Candy Cane, Pumpkin, or another 6 options. They come with a price tag, but I think if people are willing to shell out for craft beer and designer cocktails, custom coffee is worth the extravagance as well.

Check out their Instagram page and plan an AM or early afternoon rendezvous with a corner table and some Me-Time.

Cafe Astoria/ St Paul

 

Goodbye Mr Peanut

Sometimes I get nostalgic for things from my childhood, but not often. Especially as I get old, things blur and unless I have a photo, it comes at me in bits and pieces. But the Planter's Peanut Shoppe at the corner of 10th and State in Erie is a landmark that I recall vividly.

Partly because of it's location, it was where a bus dropped me off or where we met up. It was second only to the fountain a few blocks down at Perry Square. It was easily recognizable because of the ornate facade of the Renaissance Center building - but mostly because of the iconic Mr. Peanut icon that towered over the entrance on the 2nd story. It seemed giant to me in my younger years looking up. But then there was also the aroma of those nuts roasting that grabbed your attention as soon as you were within distance. Most kids would have been drawn to a candy counter down the street at Grants. But for myself, the pecans, walnuts and peanuts were preferred.

It seemed to always be a fixture as my trips back became less frequent. I bought a bag to bring home to Jeff on my last trip 3 years ago. It was as if it would always remain there in time. Just like Pulakos chocolates or Mighty Fine donuts.

 

Sadly, it has closed it's door at the end of 2020. Not so much a victim of a pandemic, but due to getting old and moving on. Annie Linebach, the proprietor since the mid 1970s was getting old. She let the lease expire at the end of this December. And then ironically died just this last weekend. 

I thought for sure I must have some photos of the old place on my many trips back in the last 30 years, but alas, can not find one. But here are shared a handful from the Erie History and Memorabilia feed. Along with the historical evolution of the Planter's Peanut Man that shadowed over the front entry. Buying a jar at the grocery store just does not compare.

 

 

Open to the Public

I am looking back at an old draft from a year ago. But it seems now is as relevant a time as any to revamp it. 

One of the many causes for celebration in each New Year is the roster for literature and music entering the Public Domain. It is a time when great pieces are released to the general public for free, regardless of royalties and estates which have bound them prior. These last two years have been banner landmarks in the US. The extended period is different from nation to nation. In the US it had been legal to enter the Public Domain after 75 years. But in 1998 legislation of the Copyright Extension Act changed that to 95 years. What that has meant, is that for the last period of 20 years, no great works have been able to enter circulation without royalty. That all changed last year. And if you continue backwards - that starts to place incredible works from the 1920s into the public hands.

2020 opened up the doors for so much material. With the advent of the film industry, we start seeing the original classics by Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy. In music, the greats by the Gershwins and Irving Berlin start appearing: Fascinating Rhythm, Lady Be Good, What'll I Do. We have George's classic Rhapsody in Blue and operas like Turandot by Puccini. From literature great works by Agatha Christie, AA Milne and HG Wells. Noel Coward's Hay Fever and O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms.

2021 continues these great works. The Great Gatsby enters by Fitzgerald and also Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Incredible songs like Sweet Georgia Brown, Manhattan by Rodgers & Hart and more Gershwin & Berlin along with Duke Ellington. Since this was also the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance - we start seeing the music of Ma Rainey, Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton. An abundance for sure.

This is a reminder to myself to celebrate these landmark works each year with the turn of the calendar. The world is so complicated now with streaming services and royalties. Even artists sometimes do not have the rights to their own creations; see Taylor Swift. This is a great time to revisit classics that were stepping stones that got us to today. Do an easy Google search to see the impact 95 years has made.

 

Best Book You Didn't Know You Needed

I had meant to post this before the New Year, but with everyone coming out with the Best Of... lists, now seems as good a time as any. Let me preface by saying that I am not a reader by any means. I have tried several times as a resolution and failed at just as many. Music, plants and cufflinks are better diversions for me. In terms of a book, one that brings me joy or practicality is better than one of fiction. Perhaps it was the daunting number I read in High School and College that have exhausted me later in life.

But cookbooks are intriguing to me and of use. I especially enjoy magazines at grocery stores with seasonal recipes. And I also get a kick out of the "dinner spinner" on All Recipes to find a creative way to empty out the fridge. There are certainly tons of great bread and baking cookbooks. But this book rises to the top time and time again.

Small Batch Preserving by Ellie Topp and Margaret Howard

I had originally stumbled upon it in search of ways to take advantage my crop from the cherry tree each summer. There were only so many ways to bake up a pie or crumble. This book took me into some incredible adventures of cherry BBQ sauces and boozy maraschino cherries. 

The draw was the concept of small batches! My mom would always put up quarts and quarts for storage in the basement. I have neither the room or patience for such large quantities. This book is notable for small batches of maybe 4-5 pints that can be processed in a single large sauce pan. It gives me just enough to last a season with a few jars to pass on to friends. The list of chapters is also surprising...

The jams and jellies are plentiful. But every few years I get a craving to try something else. For pickling, I have put up some great diversions like Lemon Green & Yellow Beans or Pickled Mixed Winter Vegetables with cauliflower, carrots and even okra in the mix. There is one for a Pickled Pumpkin with cloves and gingers that teases me each year.

Chutneys are another variation that both Jeff and I enjoy. Something more acidic with the vinegar and savory spices.They smell great around the house as they boil down. And I love putting them with things from roasts to cheese & crackers.

There is even a chapter on the back with salad dressings, desserts and I even tried an Apple Cheddar soup this Fall. This quarantine season brought on the following preserves for the long winter. #ChunkyAppleButter, #TomatillaMexicanSalsa 

An #ApplePlumChutney that was all things Fall with a hint of curry. #KiwiAppleChutney that was an amazing surprise and will be back. #CranberrieswithPort that made for an amazing holiday addition. And just this week, a #CherryHazelnutCompote with red wine that is killer on all the sweetbreads I will be making this winter. The book is incredible beyond words and for anyone even thinking of dabbling over a sauce pan, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

 

Legos as an Art Form

This is an old archived entry that was never published from over 6 years ago. I am cleaning up old posts and was intrigued enough to revisit it instead of deleting it.

It caught my attention because yesterday, we spent some family time with good friends and of course the two girls have vast amounts of play things. And among them are LEGOs which continue to breed, thrive and multiply into billions of small pieces and models. There are sets for those who want Fairy Princesses and others for those who want adventures of Science or Space. There are also Retro collectibles for those adult geeks who hold tightly to their own childhoods.

But this post goes yet a level above that, seeing them as a true art form.

The first is from an annual block building convention called Brickworld. It is not limited to just LEGOs, but any sort of building block fantasy that can be created. The model that dazzled me was from 2013 and was a scenic homage to the Wizard of Oz. It is a MASSIVE 10 panel diorama that features scenes from the classic film. It starts in sepia tones with Dorothy's farmhouse and ends in brilliant skylines of lit green for the Emerald City. Most amazing to me, are the motorized cyclone at 4 feet tall, the incredible Witches Castle (complete with Winkies) and a lush field of poppies. It was built by a team called VLug; 12 artists who meet at the convention and construct the entire work on site over a mere 48 hours. It is a process not unlike assembling the huge floats for the Rose Parade over a short window of time for the event. Watch the full narrative video of it below.

The 2nd exhibit takes it even a step further if you can fathom. An artist by the name of Nathan Sawaya uses LEGO blocks as the medium for his work where he has global displays in the US and Netherlands currently. They are mesmerizing and somehow a mix between life size sculpture and crop art. Most are monochromatic in a single color and rely mainly on shape and texture. I find them fascinating and look forward to seeing one of them nearby at the Walker in the hopeful future.

Sometimes "art" just commands our attention in the most unusual forms.

A Thanksgiving to Remember

I know this holiday has been a major time of reflection. Certainly the entire year of 2020. Made harder with heated pressure of new mandates while trying to balance old traditions and making choices that impact both yourself as well as those around you.

History can add insight or brevity if we are wise enough to pay attention. I found several features that took a glance back at where the entire world was 100 years prior. Making the same hard choices against a pandemic foe that we also knew little about....

It had the exact same National statistics of 200,000 dead since March. Mask mandates with cities in lockdown. Vaccines in stages of trials. The resemblances are uncanny. And yet until this last year, would any of us had dared to ponder these facts? They were also in the 2nd phase of the virus and conversations revolved around how to celebrate the holiday. Stay at Home and Stay Safe.

There was of course the same opposition from retailers who were taking huge hits financially. They had the same masses rallying around Freedom vs imposing restrictions; the Anti-Mask League of San Francisco! So many were arrested that when court citations became overwhelming, it was easier to give up. Resistance from both churches and sports fans. Nothing has apparently changed at all.

I am not here to either choose sides or point fingers. I am merely looking at history to glean what knowledge we should have learned already. If it continues to parallel, they experienced a huge 3rd spike in January after the holidays. One third of the world's population went on to become infected. If you are seeking such a thing as "herd immunity" you are an odds player. In 1918, it was not until 8 months later that the illness finally started to subside. While I am in the middle of this, another 8 mos seems interminable. We need to be smart human beings and mindful of us as a community is all I am saying. Be safe and Be well.

Original source: Thanksgiving 1918
 

Abandoned Pennsylvania

While Pennsylvania has been getting more than it's fair share of the news lately, here is another side of the Keystone State rarely seen.

I know from growing up there - it is a large acreage with centuries of history. It has survived many battlegrounds from Gettysburg and the early days of the Revolutionary War. It has seen the rise and inevitable fall of both the steel and coal industries. There are tales of natural disasters and civil crimes. I had postmarked this feature back at the end of summer. But ironically, now is a notable time to share it at large.

It is a collection of portraits that showcase 21 lost relics of PA history. Some are natural landmarks. Others are defunct factories that flourished and then faded. Others are abandoned cities that no longer exist. I remember seeing these as a child marking a borough - where a fledgling town was built on inspired industry that came, and then left a short decade later. There was often the requisite visit to old Titusville where the original oil industry began and relatives on my dad's side had roots. It is not unusual to sees stretches of abandoned homes tilting on their last legs and ceiling beams. One of the rented apartments we lived in was in this sad state on a last visit back. I have a love/ hate relationship with my heritage there that is also a mix of cherished memories and crumbling history.

Apparently on this official listing; each place still stands and is legally explorable. Coal mines, prisons and even lake resorts. They make for an unusual list of roadside rest stops across a broad landscape of many miles:

A deserted stretch of the PA turnpike that is 13 miles long with 2 tunnels

one of 2 massive blast furnaces at Homestead Steel in Pittsburgh

the infamous Kinzua Dam bridge that was toppled in a fierce tornado

Yellow Dog village in Western PA where a limestone Co. came and went in the 20s

Here is the complete list:

Uncovering PA: Abandoned Places