April 2016 St. Croix Valley Magazine

In the April issue find out who was voted the best of St. Croix Valley in the Homes category, taste the Carribean at Hudson's San Pedro Cafe and take a look at the work of two local artists.

As a kid, Mary Jo Van Dell enjoyed drawing. The Stillwater resident had dreams of becoming a Hollywood makeup artist. “But always in the back of my mind, I wanted to paint,” she says.

 

Some might ask: What do a Caribbean island and Hudson have in common? Thanks to restaurateur Pete Foster, the two unite at the San Pedro Cafe, a spot favored by locals for its unusual flavor combinations and a warm, relaxed atmosphere.

 

On January 23, Lift Bridge Brewery held a limited-run release of its double-barrel-aged Silhouette, a strong Russian Imperial stout aged in old whiskey barrels.

 

As part of Scandia’s Vinterfest January 29, local businesses put on a hockey tournament fundraiser for the new outdoor rink, especially designed for those who “never hung up their skates.”

 

The Minnesota Ironman Bicycle Ride will return to the Washington County Fairgrounds on April 24 for the 50th riding of the annual opener to the road-riding season.

 

Each spring the St. Croix Valley Studio Tour connects artists with their admirers, and as in years past, the 2016 artOPENer doesn’t disappoint, showcasing local art with an eclectic behind-the-scenes tour that opens studio doors to the public.

 

If you’re dreaming of a romantic getaway with captivating colors and quaint allure, you might not have to look further than your own yard. Bring the enchantment of Europe to your home, inspired by an English garden design.

 

Our Best of the St. Croix Valley celebration continues this month with all of the winners in our homes-related categories. That’s right: Last October, you voted, and last month we presented the majority of winners in the readers’ choice survey.

 

Cindie Sinclair always considered herself an artist. She just never knew that her art would involve flowers. “I have always been an artist at heart, I just never found the right medium,” Sinclair says.

 

Bob White used to page through outdoor magazines, looking at the illustrations. “While the stories were compelling, the artwork reached out and grabbed me,” White says.

 

The Midwest might be considered flyover country by some, but for migratory birds like the osprey and spotted sandpiper that winter in Costa Rica, the Midwest is a flyway to their summer home in the St. Croix Valley. The St.

 

For the past 16 years, book lovers from across the Midwest have made their way to Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais for a long weekend of reading, discussion and scenery.

 

Lauren Greenberg enjoys a break from the Minnesota winter in Puerto Rico with one of her favorite magazines.

 

After a successful first year, the Afton Farmers’ Market will return to Afton Town Square Park this summer. The market offers the unique items of 12 to 20 vendors from 4 to 7 p.m. each Thursday, June through October; local farmers and artisans are featured.

 

During the Mississippi River flood of 1965, 12 motorcyclists decided to ride 90 miles in the rain down Highway 61 to Winona to help sandbag the town.

 

Celebrate Earth Day and enjoy the great outdoors at the fourth annual Earth Day Birding Festival at Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center in Hastings. The event, held 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.