Things to do in the Greater St. Cloud Area | St. Cloud Shines

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“All work and no play” doesn’t sound like much fun.

But how would we know?

Greater St. Cloud has so much to do—day and night, season after season—that we always find reasons to play. Lots of them, so pace yourself.

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#StCloudShines Stories

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Apr 8

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Apr 6

The Paramount Center for the Arts (@paramountartsmn) is turning 💯 years old this year! And in true century-birthday fashion, they're celebrating all year long... Check out the link in our bio for how you can join the fun!

What are your favorite memories of the Paramount? Share below! 🥳

#StCloudShines #ImDOWNtown

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Mar 26

Did you know that many of the engines that power #ArcticCat snowmobiles, side-by-sides, at ATVs are built right here in Central MN? The engines built at St. Cloud Arctic Cat are sent to the company’s manufacturing facility in Thief River Falls, to be installed in the machines built there.

Arctic Cat opened its facility in St. Cloud in 2007 as its manufacturing center for the engines that power its ATVs. In 2014, Arctic Cat began building its own snowmobile engines there, too. In fact, St. Cloud is known as the engine manufacturing center of excellence.

David Jensen, Senior Operations Manager explained that “Central Minnesota is an excellent place to do business. Our local officials have created a very business-friendly environment that is supportive of our needs as a manufacturer, and we have a wealth of talent available to support our workforce needs. St. Cloud is ideally located with access to major highways and transportation thoroughfares, supporting the inbound freight to feed our manufacturing and allowing us to easily deliver completed engines to our sister facility in Thief River Falls. The region also provides an attractive quality of life for our employees, whether they enjoy outdoor excursions, the arts, or just a good hockey game!”

Many of us drive out on 94 or over by St. Augusta without even noticing that Arctic Cat has a corporate facility right here in Central MN. “The most exciting aspect of being located in St. Cloud is the people! We are fortunate to have a talented and passionate workforce in St. Cloud, and ready access to talent through institutions like St. Cloud State University and St. Cloud Technical & Community College. And we’re surrounded by a business-friendly and supportive community.”

If you’re a lover of Arctic Cat or even just the equipment they build and sell - you might be glad to know they’re hiring! Check out the #LinkInBio for details!

“We are proud to be a part of the community here. We want everyone to know that when they ride an Arctic Cat vehicle, its engine was likely built right here in St. Cloud! We take pride in our work and our community.”

...just another fun way to see how #StCloudShines

📸 @kwphotos

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Mar 23

If you know a person, business, initiative, club, volunteer, group, etc. that has an amazing story and shows how #StCloudShines, we invite you to PLEASE #ShareYourShine with us by clicking the #LinkInBio and telling us more!

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Mar 21

As we’ve seen throughout the month of March, inspiration from strong, smart women can come from all industries, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. And in Central MN, it can come from any age - like Yuli - a 13-year-old entrepreneur.

In August 2020, she started her own business, @yulis._.happyshop - and as of March 1st, you can shop her Etsy store. “I have always had a passion for art; I could sit at my desk for hours crafting. But seeing my sister get a job and earn her own money made me want to do the same so I could learn about business and have a little freedom.” 🌈✨

Yuli is a 7th grader at South Jr. High. Her favorite sport is dance and in her free time, she walks the aisles at our local craft shops - @@craftsdirect, @hobbylobby, & @michaelsstores. “I always have loved making crafts! I actually used to sell paintings as well but those didn’t do too well. When I first made a rainbow keychain I loved them so much! After making rainbows for a couple of days I decided I wanted to start my own business. I sell my rainbows as keychains, earrings, and hair clips. The rainbow keychains are my favorite since it’s what got my business started, but I do love the boho-style and have started creating macrame keychains as well. My macrame keychains are my newest product. I hope to expand my products to shirts as well!”

Like any smart entrepreneur, Yuli considered her market and competition, “I didn’t really know anyone around here who sold the rainbow keychains, so I felt like my product was unique.” At just over 6 months old, Yuli has seen impressive growth. “The first out-of-state order I got was North Carolina, and now I’ve sent my products to 26 different states!”

“I would say my favorite part about my business is when someone sends me a DM (direct message) saying that they loved their order! I also just love having other small business friends who are my age because it’s so much fun supporting each other.”

You can find Yuli’s products on her Instagram, TikTok, and her Etsy Shop (#LinkInBio) - where she has nothing but glowing, 5-star reviews. #StCloudShines

📸 @kwphotos_

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Mar 15

Brian Mozey is a prep sportswriter for the @sctimes. He covers seven local high schools and their athletic programs year-round. His writing career started in college at Iowa State University and has taken him all over MN, to a co-op with The Boston Globe, and here - to St. Cloud - when he accepted a job in January 2020. But in the last year, Brian pivoted (like the rest of the world), and began a different writing topic - Crushing Cabin Fever.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US and Minnesota, my job changed quite a bit because sports were put on hold. Due to this change, I started to help out on the news desk more ... Sports came back in the fall and this winter, but I wanted to continue working on some news stories because I enjoyed it. The Crushing Cabin Fever series came from the overall feeling of winter, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, and wanting to find a way to enjoy life with the circumstances minimizing what we can do. When the calendar flips to November and December, there’s a huge smile on my face because I enjoy everything there is about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Once those months go away, there wasn’t much I was looking forward to for the other winter months. I wanted to find a way to continue putting a smile on this community and also give people something to do or look forward to for the rest of the winter. That’s been the fun part about the Crushing Cabin Fever series because it’s not just my suggestions, but the entire community.”

“The best part of this series has been learning from the community. I’m rather new to this city and there are plenty of traditions and activities that I’m not aware of that make the St. Cloud area special. I’ve received emails and phone calls from members of the community wanting to suggest places, recipes, or activities that have become traditions for their family and this community.”

“I want to say thank you to everyone who helped provide information for this Crushing Cabin Fever series because your help has started this series on the best foot. I appreciate everyone’s passion for these cities and their love for their communities.” Click the link in our bio to read the whole series! #StCloudShines

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Feb 21

“We want to bring to life the heritage of New Orleans right here in downtown St. Joe. Combining a whole lot of passion with recipes passed down from generation to generation, our mouth-watering fare brings the culture and flavors of NOLA to Minnesota.” That’s @krewerestaurant - a Cajun, Creole, Italian, Vietnamese, and Irish-influenced restaurant in their first year of business - owned and operated by Mateo Mackbee.

The name itself is a homage to the groups of people who create the floats for Mardi Gras, “We use it as a way to say this “Krewe” is a group of people who have come together to make a creative experience! I grew up in MN but my mother was born and raised in New Orleans so we spent our summers growing there. My grandfather was a chef on a cargo ship that traveled from the port of New Orleans to locations around the world and when he was home, he would always be cooking for us.”

Krewe is a community-driven establishment that places great importance on being welcoming to everyone. Their restaurant is also a teaching kitchen that provides opportunities for marginalized communities in food and food-related industries. “We believe we can bring an elevated space with great food, awesome cocktails, and a great atmosphere that is loved by all.”

There are a few things that make Krewe unique - in addition to their menu. For example, their ingredients incorporate ingredients that are fresh and in-season. “Our service style is more of an experience than most places in the area as well. We encourage our guests to share food and enjoy conversation while eating.” And because “food is meant to be savored and shared” staff delivers food to the table as entrees are cooked are completed, rather than when the entire order is ready, so you can share and savor each dish while it is hot and fresh.

“My favorite menu item is probably the red beans and rice. It just tastes like home to me. The flavor and texture connect me to my mother and grandfather. It just gives me a feeling in my soul. We bring a cuisine that is not only unique to the Central MN Community but unique to our state as a whole.”

#StCloudShines
📸: @kwphotos_

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Feb 13

@daisyadayfloral opened in June 1992 in Sartell. Tom and Renee Omann purchased a building - previously a home - that they renovated. Just 4 years later, their daughter Tracy opened a second location in St. Joseph.

“One day my Dad noticed a daisy garden stake in the backyard - he pulled it out and handed it to my Mom and said, ‘Here’s a daisy for today’ - and that inspired her to name the shop Daisy a Day. We are a family born and raised in Central MN, and our family and community ties have kept us in this area. Now my daughter comes and helps at the shop and enjoys it, too.”

Renee Omann set a high standard for her floral business and led by example when it came to friendly, caring customer service. “I like to think I’m following in my mom’s footsteps by leading with my heart. We hear about someone who got bad news, or someone going through a hard time - and we try to send flowers, donate, or give back in any way we can. We have always felt it’s important to help bring smiles to our communities - but we’ve seen the impact of that even more in the last year.”

Although Daisy a Day’s Sartell location is no longer open, Renee still works part-time for her daughter in the St. Joe shop. “We still have customers of Mom’s who come in… and when they visit and she’s not here, they’re so kind to share stories of how special she is and all she did. She and I both feel we were meant to be in this line of business; people come in our door as customers, but leave as friends.”

When you visit their shop, you’ll find an abundance of beautiful, fresh flowers and green, blooming plants - but you might be surprised by the fun home decor, jewelry, apparel, and accessories they also have! “We like to be a shop for so many special occasions - new baby, birthday, prom, anniversary, wedding, celebration of life, and the ‘just because’ moments. We also do residential and event decorating.”

“I have so many flowers I love - the blush champagne alstroemeria, gerbera daisy, and double rose lily… my passion for design and helping others is why I truly love what I do.”

#StCloudShines

📸 @kwphotos_

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