Daily Archives: October 7, 2024

Travel/Food

Top 5 things to do during fall in Minnesota

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By: Kumari Mia Wijetunge

Highway 61 in Fall, Minnesota by: Sharon Mollerus courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Fall is a very colorful and festive time of  year in Minnesota. Whether you enjoy the local festivals, hiking through the vibrant landscapes, or picking pumpkins, Minnesota offers something for everybody!

  1. Seeing the colorful leaves by the North Shore

One of the best ways to experience Minnesota’s fall scenery is to go up to the North Shore of Lake Superior. The scenic drive across Highway 61 offers breathtaking views of the colorful trees against the sparkling lake. Popular spots like Split Rock Lighthouse and Tettegouche State Park provide many hiking trails and lookout points, perfect for spotting all of the beautiful colored trees and the wildlife Minnesota has to offer.

2. Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Fall in Minnesota wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a pumpkin patch. Many farms in Minnesota open their fields for pumpkin picking and offer a fun experience for the whole family to enjoy. Places like Afton Apple Orchard and the more northern, charming Pine Tree Apple Orchard not only provide pumpkins but also corn mazes, hayrides, and plenty of freshly baked goods.

3. Explore State Parks

Minnesota is home to many state parks that come alive with fall colors. Parks like Gooseberry Falls and Itasca State Park offer amazing views, animal sightings, and hiking trails. If you’re looking to hike, bike, or enjoy a picnic surrounded by the colorful leaves, these parks can provide the perfect day to experience the fall weather.

4. Attend a Fall Festival

Fall festivals in Minnesota are an awesome way to take in the fall season, celebrating everything from harvests to the local arts. The Minnesota Harvest Festival & Ghost Stories, in the Twin Cities, is a highlight, varying from farm activities to crafts and live music. Other festivals, like Applefest, in La Cresent, which mainly focuses is apples, also has everything from arts and crafts to pie eating contests. These events are a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

5. Experience State Fair’s Fall Activities

Though the Minnesota State Fair is mostly known for its end of summer fun, many of its attractions and vendors continue to celebrate during  fall. Keep and eye out for events at the fairgrounds, like apple and pumpkin-themed dishes to local crafts. The fair’s iconic food vendors often showcase seasonal flavors.

Books/Art

Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History’

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By: Baarika Suresh

Donna Tartt is an absolute genius. Her use of the English language is absolutely extraordinary. She can write about the most profane subjects without the reader even realizing as her diction blooms over the darkness of her writing. Reading one of her books such as ‘The Goldfinch’ or ‘The Secret History’ is like entering into a world of its own.

She published her first and most famous book, ‘The Secret History’ in September of 1992. It is told from the perspective of Richard Papen, a transfer college student to a liberal arts college in Vermont. He befriends Bunny, Camilla, Charles, Henry and Francis, the only others in his classics class as well as the teacher, Julian, and finds out that they are more than meets the eye.

Henry and his gang live in a world in their heads away from the mundaneness of their lives. Richard is a shell of a man who, like a chameleon, fits in with his surroundings yet he struggles to fit in with this group. He tries to prove himself, but in the end falls into their trap.

‘The Secret History’ is 544 pages divided into only 8 chapters. I think this makes the story flow more smoothly. The characters develop so beautifully and are described so realistically that I could tell you all about my good friend Richard. Tartt gives her characters such humanistic characteristics, and they are so easy to empathize with.

The book is a masterpiece and you should definitely read it. To really understand Tartt’s mastermind, you must read at least one of her books. My first recommendation is obviously ‘The Secret History’ but ‘The Goldfinch’ is also a gem. ‘The Goldfinch’ was also scheduled to become a movie but never became one because the producer Tartt was working with passed away. It is about a boy who comes into possession of a painting after a terrorist attack in an art museum that killed his mum.

I would give ‘The Secret History’ a 10/10.

Football, Scoreboard/Schedule, Soccer, Volleyball

Sports schedule for: Oct 7-12

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  ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 12
MONDAYOCTOBER 7
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
TBDGirls Soccer SectionsTBD
4:00pm2:45pm | 5:30pmJV Football vs. KennedyKennedy High School
B: 5:30pm JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm4:30pm | 8:30pmVolleyball vs. JohnsonJohnson High School
TUESDAYOCTOBER 8
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
WEDNESDAYOCTOBER 9
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
B: 5:30pm JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm4:30pm | 8:30pmVolleyball vs. Holy AngelsAcademy of Holy Angels
TBDBoys Soccer Sections TBD
TBDGirls Soccer SectionsTBD
THURSDAYOCTOBER 10
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
4:00pm2:00pm | 6:00pmFootball vs. WashburnGriffin Stadium
7:00pm5:15pm | 9:00pmGirls Swimming and Diving vs.  Tri-City UnitedHumboldt High School
FRIDAYOCTOBER 11
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
SATURDAYOCTOBER 12
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
B: 8:00am JV: 8:00am V: 8:00amVolleyball TournamentV: Benilde St. Margaret’s JV/B: Harding High School
TBDBoys Soccer SectionsTBD
TBDGirls Soccer SectionsTBD