St. Anthony Park Garden Club
Magical Gardens of Provence
Guest speaker: Author, horticulturist and award-winning garden writer Gail Hudson. 6:30 p.m. meeting; 7 p.m. social time; 7:30 p.m. program on Tuesday, Feb. 4, St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, 2323 Como Ave. Enter the building via Luther Place door.
Bell Museum
2088 Larpenteur Ave. W. See website for regular museum hours and registration: bellmuseum.umn.edu.
Space Fest
The seventh annual Space Fest that explores the chaos of the cosmos starts off with a star party from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, and continues with in-person presentations and hands-on activities from 10 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16.
Weather permitting, solar observing is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A special storytime at 10:45 and at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday features the book “Rocket Says Look Up!” by Nathan Bryon.
Monarchs and Milkweed
A Story of Survival exhibit, continues during regular museum hours through June 8. Travel across the seasons of a calendar year to discover how the insects and plants grow and interact, culminating in a massive butterfly migration that crosses a continent.
Community sing
7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17. Join musician Dan Chouinard and singer-songwriter Ann Reed for a sing-along on the third Monday of the month in the parish hall at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 2136 Carter Ave. It is not a choir and all singing abilities are welcome. Free.
boréal Art Loft
Ann Sisel is the February featured art loft artist at 2276 Como Ave. Discover Sisel’s drawings, paintings, garden gel prints, sculpture and weaving during boréal regular business hours: Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Paul Parks and Recreation
Find the most current information on Como ski and ice-skating rinks at stpaul.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation.
Northwest Como
T. Swift Era with Kidcreate Studio
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays from Feb 3 through March 3 at 1550 Hamline Ave N. Youth ages 5-12 to can immerse themselves in creativity inspired by Taylor Swift’s music and style: drawing, painting and sculpting. $75 to $112. Register at stpaul.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/activities-events.
Langford Park
Parent and Child Cooking Class
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays from Feb. 6 through Feb. 27 at 30 Langford Park. Participants will celebrate Latino culture and flavors as they learn to prepare classic dishes such as empanadas, arepas and sopes. $30-$45 (one child per adult). Register at stpaul.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/activities-events.
North Dale
Craft time for adults
6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 1414 St. Albans St. N. through Feb. 27. A space for adults to start or finish a project. Materials available: coloring utensils, jewelry materials and tools, laminator, fuse beads, paper and a Cricut machine. Free.
Women’s Drum Center
Drum Basics: 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, at 2242 University Ave. W. Explore both hand and stick drumming utilizing easy, energizing exercises to build skills. The focus is on having fun. Instructor: Jo Klein. Drums provided. $15. Register at womensdrumcenter.org
Como Zoo Conservatory
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily at Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Drive. Free. A voluntary donation of $4 for an adult and $2 for a child is appreciated.
Valentine’s dining experience
Various times and settings on Thursday, Feb. 13, Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15 in the gardens inside Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. $190 per couple. Online reservations required and typically fill up fast: comozooconservatory.org/como/2025valentinedinner/
Music Under Glass
Upcoming concerts in the Sunken Garden from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free.
• Jeff Ray with Mikkel Beckmen, Wednesday, Jan. 29.
• Switchgrass, Sunday, Feb. 2.
• Sarah Morris + Matthew French, Wednesday. Feb. 5.
• Mary Cutrufello, Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Bouquets
7 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. An after-hours benefit featuring wine, beer and food. $85 general admission. Register early, as this event often sells out quickly: comofriends.org/events/bouquets.
Senior Strolls
4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 and 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Special time reserved for adults ages 55 and older. Check in at the main Visitor Center entrance. Admission is free, but reservations required: comozooconservatory.org/como/senior-strolls.
Ramsey County Libraries
Wednesdays with a Scholar
2:30 to 4 p.m. This is an online class offered using Zoom. Register by calling 651-724-6001 (ext. 2) or online at rclreads.org. Free.
• Hubert Humphrey’s Quest for a More Just America with James Trub, Wednesday, Feb. 5.
• Running Uphill: A Minnesota Theater Memoir with Sally Childs, Wednesday, Feb. 5.
• The St. Croix River Watershed with Angie Hong, Wednesday, Feb. 19.
• Saving the Dakota language with Šišókadúta, Wednesday, Feb. 26.
• Medical Experimentation and the Price of Saying No with Carl Elliott, Wednesday, March 5.
Ramsey County Historical Society
St. Paul Building Permit Collection
The Permit Collection is now available online at rchs.com/collections. Index cards and permit files for
St. Paul houses and buildings from 1883 to 1975 contain the dates and costs of original construction along with the names of owners, architects and contractors.
There are various fees for time-limited access to the collection, and a video provides directions on how to use the site. For example, St. Anthony Park history seekers could take a virtual index card stroll along historic Commonwealth Avenue to find the home owners, early developers, construction costs and contractors during the early 1900s.
Minnesota History Center
North Star Voices
Diversity and the Outdoors. 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 345 Kellogg Blvd.
W. Dudley Edmondson, a Duluth-based author, photographer and advocate, explores the intersection of race, representation and environmental stewardship, as he shares powerful and inspiring stories from his book “People the Planet Needs Now.”
The book is about Black and Brown scientists and activists whose lived experiences and groundbreaking work offer new perspectives on addressing the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. Free. Registration is recommended, but not required: mnhs.org/events/3107.
Free Thursday Nights
4 to 8 p.m. through Feb. 27 at the History Center. Visitors can explore a variety of exhibits, including “Our Home: Native Minnesota” and “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation.” Parking is also free.
Senior activities
The St. Anthony Park Area Seniors calendar for February features a mixture of in-person and virtual activities. Unless specified, registration is not necessary. Office phone number: 651-642-9052.
In-person activities include:
• Visual journaling: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24 at Centennial United Methodist Church, 2200 Hillside Ave. A visual journal is a creative combination that might include written words along with sketches, doodles, pictures, illustrations and scrapbook. Supplies are provided. To register, email [email protected].
• Pound Fit: 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 2200 Hillside Ave. Email [email protected] to register.
• Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance exercise class. 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Feb. 4 through Feb. 27 at Lauderdale City Hall, 1891 Walnut St. Email [email protected] to register.
• Game day: Coffee and board games. 10 to 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, and Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Centennial United Methodist Church, 2200 Hillside Ave.
• Handiwork group: 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Feb. 13, at St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Ave. Bring your own supplies and drop in to knit, crochet, embroider and socialize with your neighbors. Contact the office for more information.
• Poetry group: 9:30 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, at 2200 Hillside Ave. Contact office for more information.
• Equal Portions: A catered luncheon presentation on cybersecurity. Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 2136 Carter Ave. Contact office to register by Feb. 12.
Virtual:
• Lunch Bunch: Socializing and BINGO. Noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Call the office for Zoom link.
Kathy Henderson lives in St. Paul and is a freelance writer for the Bugle.
