The Wake

You know you’re from Minnesota when the seasons change during the course of one lecture. Watching the faces of students coming out of a lecture on Oct. 11 was entertaining. Some were shocked, others angry, and a few were filled with excitement. When these students went into class, it was fall. When they came out, it looked more like February.

While most would agree that October is too early for snow, true Minnesotans know that anything is possible. A scene like this quickly brings to mind the infamous Halloween Blizzard of 1991, which serves to easily identify the out-of-state students. But if you are in fact one of those out-of-towners who does not remember this Midwestern milestone, here it is. It started during the afternoon of Oct. 31, 1991 and over the course of the next three days, the Twin Cities were buried in 28.4 inches of snow.

Obviously, this year’s off-season flurries were nothing to that extent and melted away instantly, but the cold temperatures hung around. Some students took advantage of this and used the shivering student body to advertise, handing out free cocoa along with an informative flyer about their group or cause.

Winter is definitely right around the corner and the jury is still out on questions such as ‘how cold?’ and ‘how long?’ However, if you believe everything you read, you may want to look for a warmer coat. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which is available online at www.almanac.com, winter in the Midwest this year will be colder and bring more snow than is normal. The coldest temperatures will occur from late December until mid-January and then freeze us again in mid-February. The most snow will fall in early December, all of February and early March.

Regardless of whether winter is long or short, cold or mild, it will be here soon and will hang around for months. During that time, the Twin Cities area, as well as the state, is filled with opportunities to take advantage of the season we love to loathe.

Ice Skating — The Depot on Washington Ave in downtown Minneapolis is a classic Twin Cities location. Admission is $8 and on select weekends, they are open as late as 1 a.m.

Skiing/Snowboarding — Minnesota is home to plenty of powder, but a few of the main draws are Buck Hill in Burnsville ($24 for a day, not including equipment rental) or Afton Alps in Hastings, which offers college students a discount of $3 off on Wednesday nights (prices range from $25-$35). Also, if you’re looking to take a quick trip, Spirit Mountain in Duluth would be a good place to start ($20-$45, depending on length of stay). All of these locations have websites for more information.

Winter Carnival — From Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, St. Paul shows off its cold weather version of the Aquatennial and brings us the Winter Carnival. From sculpture to snow slides to hot dish tents, this is truly a winter tradition that should probably be visited as least once by anyone wanting to call themselves a Minnesotan. For more information on the festivities, visit www.winter-carnival.com.

Christmastime — The Holidazzle is a beloved holiday tradition. Running from Nov. 24to Dec. 23, Nicollet Mall brings fairy tales to life in the form of a parade. Bundle up, grab some coffee, line the streets and wait for your inner child to come to life! Also, Macy’s eighth floor auditorium chooses one famous children’s story and brings that world to life for the public to walk through. Past stories have included “The Wizard of Oz,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and even “Harry Potter.” This year “Mary Poppins” rings in the holiday season.

Want to stay warm? — If frostbite isn’t your cup of tea, the Twin Cities is filled with indoor activities as well. Theaters, art galleries, museums and shopping are abundant. www.twincities.com is a good place to start if you are looking for some ideas.

Have fun and stay warm!