Giving Back to the St. Cloud Community During the Holiday Season

In this season of joy and giving thanks, let’s all take a moment to think about what we can do to help out those less fortunate than ourselves.

Volunteering during the Holidays doesn’t take a great deal of effort–you can even participate right in your own community. Today, right now, you can go and give your time and/or money to these worthy institutions and know that you’re making a positive impact on your world:

Place of Hope Ministries

Place of Hope is one of the most well-known shelters in St. Cloud, and they’re always looking for volunteers to help them expand their ministry and donations to assist in the reintegration of their wards back into society. Razors, soap, coffee, men’s and women’s clothing, and children’s toys all are needed, and nothing will go unappreciated this Holiday season. View the full list of items needed on their website.

St. Cloud Catholic Charities Food Shelf

The St. Cloud Food Shelf is a great charity designed to help the disadvantaged feed their families. Whether homeless or just worrying where their next meal is coming from, Catholic Charities will help our disenfranchised see a better tomorrow. You can donate either your time, your money, or your non-perishable food items here.

St. Cloud VA Health Care

Thanks to programs like Heading Home: Minnesota’s Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, the number of homeless Veterans in Minnesota has seen steady decreases in the last few years. As host to one of the largest VA Hospitals in Minnesota, St. Cloud sees an above average population of veterans, and the VA hospital offers many great ways to give back this Holiday season. Anyone over the age of 13 can donate time spending time with veterans playing games, visiting, cooking, going for walks, assisting with chapel services and much more. The VA is also looking for a variety of goods varying from personal hygiene items to bingo prizes. Learn more at stcloud.va.gov.

Tri-County Humane Society

It’s not just those who walk on two legs and have mastered fire that need your help this winter, our four-legged friends need love too! The Tri-County Humane Society is always looking for new volunteers, and they’ll accept help from anyone as young as ten years old (with an adult). Think of it: everyone loves puppies, right? So why not put your intrinsic human desire to cuddle puppies to use as a fun family bonding experience with your kids? If your kid is a teenager, they can volunteer on their own as soon as they’re 14, so come on in!

We all have a lot to be thankful for, even in such an objectively terrible year as 2016, but the Holiday season isn’t  merry and bright for everyone. Amid all the festivities, let’s not forget the hungry, the poor, and the huddled masses in our own community. While you prepare for the Holidays, make some time to give back to your community.

How do you give back during the Holidays? Comment below.

Explore the Sculpture Walk in St. Cloud

Whether you have been attending Summertime by Lake George, visited downtown hotspots, or went on the search for some new PokeStops, it’s very likely that you have seen some of the beautiful sculptures on your strolls around the community. These wonderful sculptures are a part of Sculpture Walk St. Cloud going on over the next year.

Crazy Dog Dance by Keith Raivo

The Sculpture Walk is a year-long exhibit featuring 12 temporary and large-scale sculptures on loan to the St. Cloud community from regional artists. In addition to the 12 sculptures on loan, the Sculpture Walk also features two permanent sculptures downtown. These beautiful pieces come from local hometown artists as well as artists from across Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota.

Hey Mary Lou by Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby

Look for the nostalgic Hey Mary Lou! on Lake George, the thought-provoking Yosemite across from Waldo’s Pizza, and the vibrant Metamorphosis outside the Black Box. Check out the whimsical Butterfly Dress on the corner of 1st Street South and 6th Avenue South. Discover the sculptures that you are drawn to and the pieces that inspire your creative journey. Explore how these artistic creations change the urban landscape of downtown St. Cloud and your view of your community.

Yosemite by Aiden Demarais and Tim James

Sculpture Walk St. Cloud is co-sponsored by United Arts of Central MN and the St. Cloud Arts Commission. It was made possible by funding from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Central Minnesota Arts Board through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Seed by Sam Spiczka

Visit the Sculpture Walk website for an interactive story map of the entire route. St. Cloud community members can also vote to select a sculpture for the People’s Choice Award. The winning artist will receive a $500 stipend. Voting closes on September 30. Take advantage of our crisp end of Summer / beginning of Fall weather and explore the community to see what inspires you!

St. Cloud Hotspots for Pokémon Go! Players

Ever since the release of the first Pokémon games 1996, Pokémon has become a cultural phenomenon. In the last few years, the game has taken a bit of a popularity dip— that is until the recent release of Pokémon Go this July. The mobile app has become the fastest growing iOS and Android game to reach No. 1 in terms of revenue, achieving the feat less than a week after its July 6th release date.

The game works by using your phone’s GPS system. Instead of moving a virtual person across a map, you move yourself around an actual map and use GPS to meet your goals. You can visit virtual gyms to battle other players, or PokéStops to retrieve more Pokéballs, eggs, potions and more. The real fun comes from finding actual Pokémon to catch for yourself— all as you travel in real-time!

There are multiple ways to locate Pokémon in the game. Using the “nearby” button in the bottom right corner of your screen will tell you the top nine Pokémon in your current location. By walking about, they will eventually pop up on your screen and you can catch them with Pokéballs.

You can attract Pokémon by locating a PokéStop and placing a “Lure Module” on it. While you’re at it, you could throw down a lucky egg for good measure, doubling your experience points while you catch the dozens of Pokémon that come to you.

Many players, however, don’t want to walk around for long periods of time to find their favorite Pokémon without some sort of a plan. As the game is growing in popularity, many players look for local hot-spots around to find the best characters, training facilities, game extras, and more. Here are the top six Pokémon Go hot-spots in the St. Cloud area:

Lake George - Hundreds of people flock here every day, knowing that its location is by far the best to play Pokémon Go. Lake George is a beautiful place to walk around and hatch your eggs. It is also a good idea to hunt for rare characters here, as it is usually flooded with multiple Lure Modules from other players.

St. Cloud State University - With over 30 PokéStops throughout campus, SCSU has been jam-packed with poké-players as they keep an eye out for rare sightings. With Fall semester starting up again, you will likely see many students catching Pokémon on their way to class.

Munsinger Clemens Gardens - With nearly two dozen PokéStops to swipe through and three of its own gyms, it’s no wonder why this location makes the list. Gather some friends and take a trip to the beautiful gardens; you’re bound to find more than picturesque sights.

Downtown St. Cloud - While strolling around Downtown, don’t forget to pull out your phone and check for wandering Pokémon! With the dozens of Pokéstops and pools, you’ll find plenty of Pokémon to catch.

Buffalo Wild Wings Parking Lot - After catching numerous Drowzee’s, you will be amazed at how many rare Pokémon there are in this single parking lot. You’re sure to grab some great finds, just watch out for cars!

Beaver Island Trail - While you take a stroll or hit the trail for your run next to the Mississippi River, leave your app open to find some new Pokémon, as well as gaining distance for your eggs to hatch.

These are just a few of the hidden gems that lay within St. Cloud’s borders and dozens of others are out there just waiting to be found. If you want to stay connected with other Pokémon Go players in St. Cloud, check out the Pokémon Go - St. Cloud, MN Facebook group.

Always remember that with playing Pokémon Go, please do not trespass to find new hot-spots of your own. Always be aware of your surroundings, and turn off the app when you are driving. Stay safe, have fun and go catch em’ all!

Did any of your favorite locations miss the list? Comment them below!

St. Cloud Summer Fun on the Cheap

In a community where the weather can change faster than a road can close for construction, Summer is a cherished season. As we find ourselves halfway through the summer, many are scrambling to fit in some last-minute fun, though don’t want to drain their bank account in the process. As the last few Summertime by George Concerts come closer, check out our list of inexpensive summer activities around St. Cloud:

Outdoor Endeavors at St. Cloud State

The sports facilities and recreation department at St. Cloud State University is a great resource for inexpensive activities in the area. The department is not limited to SCSU students; many of their programs are open to the public:

• Climbing Wall - during the summer, the climbing wall is only open to group reservations. If you are looking for a new group activity, this can be the perfect option.
• Canoeing/Kayaking - SCSU offers rentals, shuttle service, tours, and lessons to the community. Pricing varies by group size and rentals.
• Lake George Boathouse - The SCSU Center for Paddlesports Instruction, Education, and Safety offers canoeing and stand up paddleboarding (SUP) instructional programs on Lake George. An hour rental is only $8!

Music in the Gardens / Release of the Butterflies

If you love music and butterflies, there is one event this summer that is perfect for you: the Music in the Gardens Concert & Memorial Release of Butterflies. This event is sponsored by the Central Minnesota Arts Board and presented by Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society and the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra. It takes place at Munsinger Clemens gardens July 24th. Butterflies will be distributed at 2 PM with a short program and the release to follow. At 3 PM, the Music in the Gardens Concert will begin, featuring Dennis Warner. The event is free to the public. Butterflies may be purchased at www.quietoakshospicehouse.org for $25 and root beer floats will be served by the Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society for just $1.

Sizzlin’ Summer Art Crawl

For the eleventh year, the St. Cloud Art Crawl will be presenting it’s Sizzlin’ Summer Crawl on August 12th. As always, this event is free to the public and will feature hoopers, fire breathers, musicians, artist demonstrations, and a ton of local artists. Stop by Saint Germain Street in Downtown St. Cloud to check out this local favorite.

Activities at the Great River Regional Library

Looking to take up a new hobby? Or maybe you want to fine-tune your skills or join a new club. Either way, the Great River Regional Library offers many fantastic activities throughout the summer to keep you and your family busy. Activities are available for all age groups - from toddlers to seniors. Whether you’re looking for gardening advice, a storytime activity for your kids, or somewhere to find fun game night or movie night activities, your local library is all the further you need to look.

The 2016 St. Cloud GREATER Photo/Video Contest

Looking for a new creative and adventurous project for the summer? Consider entering the 2016 St. Cloud GREATER’s Photo/Video Contest! Explore all that the community has to offer, and show us your perspective of St. Cloud. What makes St. Cloud your choice community to live, work, and play in? Remember that creating a photo or video portfolio is like telling a story: pick a theme, develop characters, set a tone, and make it cohesive and complete.

Need some ideas to get you started? Find a theme to focus your contest portfolio. Pick a theme of composition, subject matter, or emotion. You can also think about focusing on nature, an urban landscape, or on people. For more ideas, brainstorm with some of the questions below:

• What does family time mean to you?
• Why do you love your community?
• What stands out to you about the community?
• What emotions do you want to convey this summer?
• What are your favorite St. Cloud celebrations, and why?
• What do you find satisfying about your neighborhood, business, or school life?
• What pictures flash across your mind when you think of community?

To enter the contest, submit up to nine photos by 4:30 p.m. on July 29, 2016. Winners will be announced on September 12 at the St. Cloud City Council meeting. Winning photos and videos will be featured across the community at the St. Cloud Public Library, St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud City Hall, the official city website, and the St. Cloud Area Visitor’s Guide.

For a comprehensive list of details and guidelines, check out 2016 St. Cloud GREATER Photo and Video contest. Grab your camera, and show us what you think makes St. Cloud a great place to Live, Work, and Play!

SummerTime by George 2016

Nestled in downtown St. Cloud, the super successful SummerTime by George concert series welcomes visitors to its sixth year. The event is only getting more popular with last season’s record attendance of 116,400 over the summer. The season’s most popular show, headlined by The Fabulous Armadillos on August 26, held a record-sized crowd of 19,400 people last year.

The fun continues this season in what is sure to be the biggest and best set of musicians and performers. Take a glance at the list below:

The SummerTime by George! 2016 Concert Lineup

• June 15: Headlining will be Justin Ploof and the Throwbacks. They will be performing an assortment of music from the 1960s to the 1980s, based off their show at Pioneer Place on Fifth. The opening act will be the Cole Porter Band.
• June 22: Headlining will be the Lamont Cranston Band, a blues group based in Hamel, Minnesota. Opening will be the Levi Pelzer Band.
• June 29: Headlining will by Chris Hawkey, a solo country musician, who was unable to play due to rain last year. The opening act will be Lola Cherry.
• July 6: Headlining will be the Collective Unconscious and the Fabulous Armadillos who will be performing an Eagles tribute together. The opening act will be Patchouli & Guitarra.
• July 13: Headlining will be Belladiva, a group of singers, dancers, and musicians based in the Twin Cities, who will be performing a rock and roll show. Opening will be Pandemic.
• July 20: Headlining will be Matt Velline and Friends. They will be performing a classic country show with music from the likes of “Waylon, Willie, Tanya, Merle, Patsy, and more.” Opening will be Sawyer’s Dream.
• July 27: Headlining will be Minneapolis-based band, Maiden Dixie, a pop, rock, and country band. Opening will be Going to the Sun.
• August 3: Headlining will be Pamela McNeil with a Fleetwood Mac tribute. The opening act will be Sena Ehrhardt.
• August 10: Headlining will be Mike Sterling with a tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” The opening act will be Andy Austin.
• August 17: Headlining will be “The Voice” alumni Kat Perkins. The opening act will be Harper’s Chord.
• August 24: Headlining will be Collective Unconscious performing a tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. The opening act will be Canoise.
• August 31: Headlining will be the locally beloved Fabulous Armadillos for the last show of the season. The opening act will be Walter’s Wheelhouse.

In addition to the music of these incredible local and regional musicians, Summertime by George will feature fun activities for kids, creative art vendors, and a wide selection of local food options that is sure to satisfy every member of your family.

For more details on the event and on each musical act, visit the Summertime by George Schedule.