Last call for Dinner with Colleagues

Dinner with Colleagues registration will be closed at noon on Wednesday, October 9th to allow hosts to finalize reservations.  As of this afternoon, two venues have no attendees, just hosts!  Don't let them dine alone, sign up now.

If you're not in the mood for supper, how about happy hour?
Stop by the St. Cloud Library before 9pm for a lime green wrist band.  Dinner with Colleagues hosts will have wristbands on hand for you as well.  The wristband is your ticket to Wednesday only MLA exclusive specials at these downtown St. Cloud eateries:

• Howies: $5.99 select appetizers and $3 20 ounce taps
• Mexican Village: show your wrist band and receive free fried ice cream with an adult entree 
• Red Carpet Martini Lounge: $5 Signature Martinis from 4-8pm
• House of Pizza: $2 1 topping flatbreads, $3 select appetizers from 4-6:30 and 8-11
• Green Mill: $5.99 select appetizers, $3 rail drinks, and $3.50 tall taps from 3-6 and 9-midnight   
• DB Searles: $3 domestic bottles and $3 rail drinks all night in the 1st floor pub
• Nick's 3rd Floor: 20% off entree
• BoDiddley's: 30% off any sub. pita or gyro from 4:30-8pm 

Free at Last: Journey of Hope

You won't have to travel far to see this art exhibit; it's on display on the first floor of the convention center through October 31st! The 60 works, including weavings, crafted handbags, ceramics, drawings, and paintings, were all created by recent immigrants who live in the greater St. Cloud area. Created during a Hands Across the World program in conjunction with 5 local artists, the artwork and 14 accompanying biographical essays tell the often traumatic and emotionally turbulent stories of their immigrant experiences.

Stickwork @ CSB/SJU

Photo Credit: Tommy O'Laughlin

If you're driving to Saint Cloud from the west on I-94, you'll want to take a short break on the exit to Saint John's University to check out Lean On Me, a Stickwork sculpture created in September 2012 by Patrick Dougherty with the help of several campus and community volunteers.  Approximately 30 minutes west of the convention center and less than a minute south of the interstate on the entrance road to SJU, Lean on Me is made of natural materials from the Saint John's Arboretum with inspiration from the Stella Maris Chapel overlooking Lake Sagatagan.

Around the Cloud

  Picture it, 8:30 on Friday night.  You’ve had a great time at the conference, a great time meeting new friends and talking shop.  You don’t want the good times to end.  What to do?  Pull out our cell phone or tablet or iPod or laptop and look up aroundthecloud.org.    

   You’re bound to find a band playing nearby, or mosey on over to the Paramount and check out the Minnesota Disability Mural and Story Project Exhibit.  With free classes and workshops, theater, music, dance, and art all in one spot you’re only problem will be choosing what options to check out!  Perhaps you should book your hotel room for one more night to experience all that is around the cloud.

Around the Cloud

Quarry Park & Nature Preserve

Quarry Park is the most unique county park in the United States. It features:

 

§  Granite reflecting pools

§  A swimming hole 112 feet deep

§Hiking

§  Mountain bike paths over billion-year-old bedrock

§  Trout fishing

§  Rock climbing (on specific dates)

§  Ski trails

§  Pools popular with scuba divers

§  Stacks of Granite rock mixed with a dense forest.

Quarry Park currently contains 684 acres, it has much to offer for those who love the outdoors.

 

Munsinger Gardens

 

 

Immerse yourself in a truly unique botanical experience. Awaken your senses. Delight in the natural beauty. Located along the Mississippi River across from St. Cloud State University, Munsinger and Clemens Gardens invite you to stroll the winding paths and brick pathways as you experience this dazzling St. Cloud treasure.

Stearns History Museum

The Stearns History Museum was organized in 1936 by a group of area citizens. In 1973, it began shaping itself into a professional museum.  Later in 1982, groundbreaking took place for the current facility.  Today it is a nationally accredited museum, serving the people of Stearns County and drawing visitors from all over the U.S. and world.

The museum is located in a 100-acre nature park with flower gardens, ponds, walking trails, abundant wildlife, and a skateboard park.  It offers exhibit galleries, a research center, historical archives, meeting rooms and a children’s play area.  Throughout the year, the Museum presents exhibits, programs and activities that educate, entertain, and inspire.