The Swedish-American Institute

Minneapolis and Saint Paul have their share of organizations celebrating Minnesotans' European heritage: the Germans have the Germanic-American Institute (where I work). The Danes have the Danish-American Center (where they have amazing Danish pancake breakfasts). The Norwegians have the Viking Age Club & Society - Sons of Norway (best name of them all!). And the Swedes have the Swedish-American Institute (nicest building by far).
On this sunny Sunday afternoon, I decided it was time to get in touch with my Swedish heritage, so I put on my Scandinavian sweater and checked out the Swedish-American Institute in Minneapolis (my sweater is actually Norwegian, so my ancestors are probably turning in their graves :-/).
The SAI is located in the former mansion of the Swedish newspaper tycoon, Swan Turnblad. He owned the Svenska Amerikanska Posten, which, due to the large Swedish population in the area and lack of competition, was a very profitable venture in the late 19th/early 20th century.

                                                   The Turnblad Mansion

                                                        Vaelkommen!

 

                                          Covered entryway and solarium

     Nordic figure carving exhibit - about as interesting as one would expect.

                 Swedish Consulate - also housed in the Turnblad mansion.

                                          Being Swedish in the solarium

                         Swedish kakelugn: ceramic tile fireplace/furnace

                                               Nordic wood figure exhibit

                                                Close-up of Kakelugn 

                                                     Dala horse exhibit

From the Mississippi to the Chain of Lakes

If you read my earliest posts, you are aware that I was living near the Mississippi River in Saint Paul when I first moved to Minnesota. However, in early January, I moved across the river to Minneapolis. Although I will miss seeing the grand Mississippi on a daily basis, I am excited about living close to the Chain of Lakes. These lakes are Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet, which are closely connected.

               
               My new apartment is so large, even my bicycle has its own room!

                     
 A visit to Lake of the Isles, about a 15-minute walk from my apartment

                         Some of the lovely houses surrounding Lake of the Isles

                  Lake of the Isles with a view of the Minneapolis downtown

                 Something very Minnesotan: a hockey rink on Lake of the Isles

Something very un-Minnesotan: one of the many villas on Lake of the Isles which looks more like it belongs on Lake Como in Italy

  My beautiful Fuji road bike - it was warm enough on this February day to take a ride around the lake.

My Employer: The Germanic-American Institute

I am finally getting the hang of posting regularly. Maybe I can make this into a proper blog, after all!

Since some of you may be curious as to how I am supporting myself financially (yes, I do in fact do more than ride my bike around and take pictures of the Mississippi River), I decided it was time to write about the Germanic-American Institute.

On a cold morning this past week after a mild ice storm, I noticed that the trees surrounding the GAI were particularly frosty and beautiful. I thought this was an ideal time to take some pictures of the GAI and its lovely yard. Unfortunately, there is a very unimpressive amount of snow in the yard, so you don't get to see the building framed in powdery piles of snow.

This is the Main Haus. Yes, they actually spell it that way, as cliche as it is. This is the building where I work.

 

 

 

The side yard of the GAI with frost-covered trees.

Another shot of the side yard including the trellis leading to the parking lot. This is where they hold outdoor events (Grillfest)

The frosty trees along Summit Avenue. This street stretches for several miles and is lined with mansions left over from the days of railroad and lumber barons. F. Scott Fitzgerald's family also
had a house on this street which has been converted into a museum.

Back parking lot of GAI and Carriage Haus. View of the St. Paul Cathedral.

Catching a glimpse of the St. Paul Cathedral on my way to the bus stop.