Dodge Nature Center

I have this picture framed and hanging in one of my treatment rooms at the office. Many people are surprised to realize it was taken in here in West St. Paul.

It's the Dodge Nature Center, a 360 acre working farm, nature preserve, and apple orchard located on Marie Avenue. 60,000 students a year visit Dodge.

Dodge nature center offers a variety of programs to serve the community. Many are geared towards kids such as day camps, after school programs, and a preschool. Adult programs generally have a green theme such as environmental effects on mining and global warming.

Dodge is truly a gem in West Saint Paul.

The Bulldog Lowertown

Lowertown has a new tenant, the Bulldog Restaurant and Bar. It opened in late October and so far has been enjoying nice crowds and in my opinion a pretty good vibe. I stopped in after voting on Election Night with a friend but we found every table occupied and all bar stools filled. Even though no place was available to sit, our bartender was quick to see us and pour us a couple of the more than one hundred kinds of beers available here.

My friend and I own a business together and had some things to discuss. The Bulldog is a lot of things but quiet and intimate it isn't. We decided to head across Mears Park to LoTo (as in LowerTown) to finish our meeting in a more relaxed vibe where we could carry on a more serious conversation. I've always like the food and atmosphere at Loto and the service has never let me down.

Overall The Bulldog is a nice addition to St. Paul's Lowertown and is a nice compliment to nearby rock club Station 4, dance club Rumors, and upscale LoTo. Add in the fact that they are all within a short walk from each other and you'll find that Lowertown may be finally coming together as a nightlife destination for the Twin Cities.