St. Paul Almanac Release Party and Fundraiser

With rare exceptions, like, say, when there's a political convention in town, St. Paul tends to get the short shrift from the media. While Minneapolis gets all the attention, St. Paul residents quietly put up with it; they're well aware of their city's charms and don't need outside recognition or validation. They do, however, need some sort of guide to all its myriad events in order to keep up, and that's where the St. Paul Almanac comes in. Now in its third year, the handy volume contains a datebook for jotting your schedule and notes; maps; extensive event listings plus those for restaurants, museums, bookstores, historical sites, and more; and a wide variety of short writings on the city, including poetry, memoir, and a church-cookbook Jell-O salad recipe. Sharing their stories are lifelong residents, new arrivals from other states, and immigrants from countries such as Somalia and Laos. There are memories of bygone days, odes to neighborhoods and businesses, and ruminations on winter. There's a piece on the Minnesota RollerGirls and an interview with the founder of the black film series at Golden Thyme Coffee Café; a profile of a Latina immigration lawyer and an essay featuring Mustache Jim, master barber at Heimie's Haberdashery. The 2009 St. Paul Almanac provides a diverse overview of all things Pig's Eye, and will be of great use to residents, Minneapolitans, and, should they decide to show, all those tourists lured here by the RNC. The release party will feature food, poets, and music on an outdoor stage.
Sat., Sept. 27, 12-4 p.m., 2008