I am here in the coolest small town in America, Grand Marais, Minnesota. So says Budget Travel magazine. They have a point. Here at the very northern point of Minnesota along the Lake Superior shoreline, there is a town with some mighty fine restaurants, including the Angry Trout and the Crooked Spoon. I don’t know about you, but there will always be a place in my heart for towns where you can dream of having a little house on a very large body of water. Here’s the house:
As always in towns like this, I’m tempted to apply for a summer job at a place like “Best Donuts” or one of the fudge shops. I wouldn’t presume to think I could get hired at the Ben Franklin, which is clearly for year-round residents.
I’m on a bit of a “junket” with The Saint John’s Bible. I’m doing a talk tonight and a workshop tomorrow morning, before heading off to Kentucky for a visit with an old friend who lives in Louisville and a talk at Berea College. I’m being very well hosted by Bob and Ginny Padzieski. That photo at the top? That’s the view from where I’m staying. It’s only in the 30s here (going to be in the 60s at home today) but it’s a lovely day for knocking around a town as cool as this one.
It’s filled with people who walk with purpose (they’re wearing boots), many of them artists. Lots of the year-round folks chose to retire here, moving north from wherever they lived before. That is a particular type of person. Last night at a “grazing” fundraiser for the high school I met some of them. They all talked about how much is going on in Grand Marais, and how busy they are.
On the way home we passed this church, which has been converted into the home and art studio of Betsy Bowen, one of my favorite Minnesota artists. Right now I’m taking advantage of the free wifi in the very cool and well-appointed public library. But I’m itching to get back out there, for a little walk in the hills before lunch.
Oh, and there’s a food co-op. Where you can get stuff like the local jam I had for breakfast. Take a gander at these ingredients. That’s some zing.
