Recent content from Connie Nelson
Review: 'Little Nothing,' by Marisa Silver
FICTION: "Little Nothing" is the tale of a tiny girl born to elderly peasants who goes through many metamorphoses.
British psychologist wants to put you on 'fast track to happiness'
British psychologist and professional coach Robert Holden will speak at St. Louis Park event on how to " follow your joy."
How to reduce pain and gain flexibility with simple movements
Feldendkrais increases flexibility with light, easy, soft, slow and smooth movement.
What is a metabolic assessment, and how can it help you lose weight?
Knowing how many and what kind of calories you burn can help jump-start your workout.
Looking to lose weight? Here's how a nutrition assessment can help
You needn't be an elite athlete to get your goals, diet and activity evaluated by the EXOS-Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Minneapolis.
Woodbury's CycleBar spinning workout tones your arms and your legs
Boutique gym offers spinning combined with upper-body exercise.
Mpls. meditator helps Stillwater prisoners find moments of Zen
For the past 17 years, Patrice Koelsch has been bringing quiet to a chaotic world.
New Minneapolis rowing gym delivers 'one-and-done workout'
There's a revival in rowing. We tried out a class, and here's what we found.
Snow? Cold? Now? What should Minnesota gardeners do?
Coaxed by way-too-warm weather (we've been running 10 to 20 degrees above normal), buds are breaking and tulips are popping out of the ground. Now cold and snow are in the forecast.
New Twin Cities gym offers aerial fitness. Yes, you can do it.
What it is: A new kind of aerial fitness class that uses hammock-like slings to provide support and resistance and get your workout off…
Accidental historian: New Brighton teen captures Minneapolis in the '70s
It was 1968 and Mike Evangelist was 14 when the self-described nerd from New Brighton hopped a bus with a buddy and headed to downtown Minneapolis. The 11-mile trip changed his life.
Twin Cities area kids show how they're making our world better
Essays by Twin Cities area elementary school students reveal all the many things they're doing to make a difference.
New York Times now dissing Minnesota's beloved Honeycrisp apples
In 2014, the New York Times christened the grape salad a quintessential Minnesota Thanksgiving recipe. Now the paper has dissed the darling of the apple world — the Minnesota-developed Honeycrisp.
Star Tribune weekday comic pages will replace 'Stone Soup' with 'Big Nate'
Hang onto your hat: There’s going to be a change in the Star Tribune’s daily comics. Jan Eliot, creator of the comic strip “Stone Soup,”…
One Day University in Minneapolis offers college-level classes without the cramming
Brian Little has had a distinguished career, teaching at Harvard, Oxford and McGill. Still, he loves what he calls “professing” so much that his postretirement…
Review: 'The Dust That Falls From Dreams,' by Louis de Bernières
FICTION: The dramatic life of an English family unfolds during World War I.
Canoeing through historic lands, Montana's Missouri River Breaks
A guided trip through the Missouri River Breaks of Montana offers adventure and history in an unspoiled landscape.
Minneapolis shirt designer wants guys to lift their style game
Jason Hammerberg grew up in a typical Duluth family, the youngest son of an engineer dad and nurse mom — who loved to shop. That,…
A wet spring sets Minnesota gardens up for growth – and potential problems
As a Minnesotan, I feel a tad guilty for complaining about the weather — unless it’s 20 below. But I have to admit that our…
Day trip to Pepin, a star on Wisconsin's 'West Coast'
Pepin offers a day's worth of adventure — from four-star food and wine to quaint museums and art-inspired stores. Though it's less than 70 miles from the cities, the Wisconsin village can seem a world away.
Twin Citians, grab your rakes and go to it
Knowing when to rake is part art, part patience. “If you rake too early, you can harm the tiny grass plants,” said Sam Bauer, a…
Architects: Invest wisely in your nest
Who doesn't want to feel at home in their home? Regional architects weigh in on how to make choices you'll be happy with for the long haul.
Couple display the art of gardening
A creative couple rely on a unique form of organic design to turn their front yard into an award-winning destination.
Back-yard bounty
A passionate, learn-as-you-go gardener reaps the fruits of many years of labor in his Edina yard.
St. Paul city garden is front and center
A learn-as-you-go gardener transformed a small city lot into an imaginative, innovative garden.
How to shop the Home + Garden Show
You’ve always been able to pick up a chili dog and, say, a bottle of hot sauce, some jewelry cleaner or a ShamWow at…
Meet the community builders
In their winning United Way-Star Tribune essays, Minnesota students show us the simple, often sweet ways they've changed their worlds for the better.
Winter's early arrival puts a chill on home chores
Winter's surprise arrival caught many of us with a "to do" list that wasn't quite "done." But there are very good reasons to tackle some chores, no matter how unsavory the thought of battling the cold, snow and ice might be.
In Phoenix, a hike a day
The Valley of the Sun's many parks, preserves and peaks make for happy trails.
Spruce up your holiday table
Set a fresh and family-friendly Thanksgiving table by using what you have around the house.
Star Tribune Greengirls host a plant swap May 18
It's time for your plants to get growing: The annual Greengirls garden swap happens next weekend.
Greengirls are back online to talk about gardens
It's official: You can rake. Just ask the Greengirls, the Star Tribune's garden bloggers, who are making their season debut.
'Rhymes With Orange' comes to the Star Tribune's comics pages
Starting today, "Rhymes With Orange" by Hilary Price will be featured in the daily paper. Her punchline-driven panels (which she refers to as a "gag strip") also will appear on Sundays.
Who needs these 20 things when you have a smartphone?
The smartphone era has lightened our loads. Here's a quick look at 20 things we no longer need to lug around thanks to smartphones
Dances with buffalo in South Dakota
Once simply a tool to manage the herd, the annual Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park has become a Wild West show.
Harriet: Jewel in the crown
It's the gem in Minneapolis' sparkling chain of lakes, mixing big-city splendor with small-town charm. An added bonus: It has its own little elf.
Do It Now: Rake those leaves
If you have a thick layer of leaves, don't let them stay on the lawn. They can mat down over the winter and cause your…
Living Green
What exactly is being "green?" And if it's so good, why aren't we doing more of it? Here's how we all can live greener -- and why we should.
The accidental prairie advocate
With the publication of her fourth book, a local garden writer solidifies her support for growing native plants.
They dared to dream of a better world - and won
The students who wrote the winning essays in the "Dare to Dream" contest have big plans for improving their communities.
Record heat is putting on the growth
Some plants are loving the heat, even if you're not.
Bunnies aren't pestering gardens, yet
Early spring has spared the tulips, but given them plenty to eat.
What's in, what's out in kitchens and baths
A national trendspotter sees a resurgence in remodeling and a renewed focus on nesting.
Sex-up gardening? This Aussie is trying
Garden design has never been a sexy subject. But a horticultural hottie is poised to change all that. This year, he launched yet another venture: a new HGTV show, "The Outdoor Room With Jamie Durie."
Gardening for the general good
A nationally known entomologist has become a vocal advocate for using our gardens as places to preserve biodiversity.
Before & After: Kitchen
An outdated kitchen gets a contemporary update without adding square footage or moving walls.
Seeding the future
George Ball is bullish on gardening. But then, he ought to be. Ball is the chairman of Burpee Seed, one of the nation's largest seed, plant and supply companies. We talked to Ball - in English with a smattering of French - about "catalog creep," our hunger for new plants and the explosive growth in gardening.
Como show features flowers on film
Denise Rouleau and Mark D. Roberts weren't intending to mark the end of an era. They just wanted to put together an exhibition of photos of Como Park's Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, one of their favorite places to shoot.
Dec. 2008: Minneapolis man double-decks the halls
A Minneapolis man decorates his home with childlike glee, a well-trained eye and two, count 'em two, Christmas trees.
The end is near!
You can see the end of the gardening season from here. Here's what with three top gardeners in the Twin Cities are doing to get their gardens ready for winter.
New film reveals the power of plants
Writers cringe when you say, "I saw your story," because it means you didn't actually read it. But I can say -- with a clear conscience -- that I saw Michael Pollan's book, "The Botany of Desire," because his 2001 bestseller has been brought to the small screen in a two-hour documentary.
Explaining the forest through the trees
Jeff Gillman, a research scientist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, is known for his myth-busting books. His latest explores the complex relationship between trees and humans.
The fall five
Instead of including the 40 or 50 things you should do, we've zeroed in on the five chores you really need to do to put your yard and garden to bed. Nightie night!
Subscribe to style
We all have our favorite shelter mags. But translating those glossy pages into real life isn't easy.
Guru busts organic myths
All that's organic is not necessarily green, says a University of Minnesota researcher and author.
Julia Cobbs: Sofa, so good
Julia Cobbs has made a name for herself - well a first name, anyway - as one of the girls of gossip on the popular drive-time show "Lori and Julia." We talked with the impish, energetic and talkative talk-show host about her Sundays at home, why she downloaded Led Zeppelin and what's stuffed under her sectional.
Ash borer treatment is not yet necessary
Yes, you should be concerned about emerald ash borer. But don't grab for an insecticide yet.
Before & After
A kitchen in St. Louis Park loses that '70s look and gets a stylish, same-size makeover.
Window dressing
Use the bounty of nature - and your own back yard - to create picture-perfect window boxes that will last from harvest to the holidays and beyond.
Read it & reap
You don't need to wait until the harvest moon to start harvesting fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs. Our quick-hit guide will help you get the most from your garden.
'Pandora' frees power of story
A rip-roaring adventure story that moves from pre-World War I England to the Congo. Populated with eccentric characters, this lively novel is practically a parody of itself -- and that's a good thing.
'Freya' discovers self, Iceland
BOOK REVIEW The discovery of a family secret sends a reclusive Icelandic woman on a journey to the past. While well-written and entertaining, the book is not without flaws.
Set for plant swap? What to know before you go
Most of us get the bulk of our plants at garden centers. But you can save a few bucks and spice up your shopping by going to one of the many plant sales or swaps.
One of easiest ways to go green
Compost keeps yard and kitchen waste out of landfills and makes one of the best natural soil amenders.
What not to do in your yard and garden right now
There always are plenty of spring chores to tackle. One of the most difficult? Waiting.
2008 show: Hot, hot, hot
Hot. Hot. Hot. That's not the forecast; that's a description of 2008's Macy's-Bachman's flower show.
Project in a pot
You can grow your own salad if you have somewhere to put a pot and at least six hours of sun a day.
A new version of 'house keeping'
In a sign of the times, a St. Paul home and garden show adds foreclosure to its workshop topics.
Home shows don't need big-name stars to draw DIY crowds
When the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show got its start 75 years ago, it featured beauty pageants, vaudeville acts and big-name stars -- Liberace, the Lennon Sisters, even Frank Sinatra.
Macy's annual spring flower show rises to occasion
The annual spring flower show will return to its home on Macy's eighth floor.
Mary will remain a mystery
Even 130 years after her death, former First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln remains inscrutable.
A New York state of mind
Interior designer Andrew Flesher built his own Little Apple atmosphere in a converted Minneapolis hotel.
More from Star Tribune
- Effort to tie local Republicans to Trump backfiring
- Trump wanted less-attractive women fired, employees said in court records
- Minnesota Opera's 'Romeo and Juliet' is first-rate production of second-rate opera
- This year, newspaper endorsements may still matter
- State, students are surprised as Regency beauty schools close
- Twins lose home finale, and 100th game of the season
