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Created: 05/01/2009 7:05 PM KSTP.com |
WINDLER: Chik's Pics - May is Here!
I'm not sure if it's because of the weather, but I'm a little surprised that it's May already! I suppose it is about time...after all, the grass is now green, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and the trees are leafing out. Take a look at the weather this past week with my latest "Chik's Pics" blog. Want to read my previous blog?
Monday, April 27th, 2009 - Golfing at the TPC Twin Cities Monday was the kickoff to Play Golf Minnesota Week. Though the weather was cloudy, cool, and breezy...there were still players out on the links! I snapped some shots of some morning play at the TPC Twin Cities, when the temp was still only around 40! The high was just 53 degrees, and that actually occurred at just past midnight. The daytime high was 52. either way, it was 10 degrees below normal! At least the soaking rain we got on Sunday was starting to turn the grass green at long last!    Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 - Spring Flowers at the U of M St. Paul Campus Tuesday I saw my first spring blooms and just had to stop and take some pics to feature as the "Chik's Pics" of the day. It was sunny and beautiful with a high of 62 degrees. I saw trees blossoming, daffodils blooming, and some other yellow flowers smiling in the breeze at the U's St. Paul campus in Falcon Heights. I love when the colors of spring suddenly burst onto the scene...and this was my first taste of what's to come. Another thing I noticed....while the flowers and trees are such a gorgeous sight to me, they're also the signal of sky-high pollen. Trust me, I'm married to an allergy-sufferer, and he's been miserable lately!    Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 - April Showers Rain Down on the Cities We got a one-day respite from the pollen on Wednesday as some rain washed it away. The much-needed rain only amounted to about .03" during the day...but we added another .14" during the evening and night. Every little bit helps us out. We're still around 1 1/2" BELOW normal for the year. And from the Twin Cities down south along the Mississippi, we're in a "Moderate Drought" according to the US Drought Monitor. So every little bit will help! The high managed 56 degrees...cooler than normal because of the clouds and showers.    Thursday, April 30th, 2009 - Drying out at Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis Thursday, we woke up to fog and mist and loads of clouds. Around noon, a quick passing shower gave us a quick drink of water. Right after the rain moved out, I took my "Chik's Pics" out at Peavey Plaza. A concert was in intermission at Orchestra Hall, so there were lots of people lingering outside. Along Nicollet Ave, the Farmers Market was underway...and I took my first farmers market pics of the season! By afternoon, the clouds started to break up and the wind started to pick up! We had a midafternoon high of 63...accompanied by northwest wind gusts to 37mph!    Friday, May 1st, 2009 - Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in St. Paul's District del Sol Today, we turned the page on our calendars and said happy "May Day!" And though Cinco de Mayo is technically 4 days away, the Cinco de Mayo festival got underway (festivals on weekends draw bigger crowds, which explains the date discrepancy!) I stopped by just before the festival got underway, but there were already people arriving and getting ready for an evening of fun, food, and Mexican music and culture. I recently discovered the District del Sol when I was searching high and low for frozen plantains. My husband makes an amazing dish with rice, black beans, smoked sausage, and fried plantains, but we hadn't found the plantains in any of the grocery stores where we usually shop. That's when I let my fingers do the walking...or should I say Google-ing? Bingo...I found El Burrito Mercado on Cesar Chavez street in St. Paul. If you go to the Cinco de Mayo festival, stop inside El Burrito Mercado or one of the other Mexican grocery stores that line the District del Sol. You'll be treated to some wonderful food as well as a great taste of Mexican culture! Not only did I find plantains, but I also picked up some of the house-brand tortillas and tried some of the homemade bakery goods. YUM! You can bet there will be plenty of people enjoying the fine weather tonight and tomorrow as the Cinco de Mayo festival continues! And though today's high of 59 fell short of the "normal" high of 64, it was still nice to walk down Cesar Chavez street and enjoy plenty of the sun in the District del Sol!
   It's such a great time of year now that so many outdoor events are scheduled each weekend! Though I won't be able to make it to the Cinco de Mayo parade Saturday morning, I'm going to try to bring my little girl Austen to Sunday's MayDay parade at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis. Hope to see you there, have a great weekend, and Happy May! P.S. Give me a holller if you know of a great outdoor event! I'm always looking for new places to explore and photograph! Thanks as always for reading my blog! -Chikage
Do you have a picture-worthy spot in the Metro you'd like me to visit? Drop me an email and tell me where and why you'd like your spot to be featured on-air and online. By the way, if you want to share your pics with us, just click the link below.
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