![Brianna Sudrla, center, of Chicago reacted after buying a "real Minnesota snowball" for $1 from a vending machine in the alley behind the Hewing Hotel. Also pictured is Slyssa Raiola, left, of Minneapolis and Beau Lemire of Chicago. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE ï anthony.souffle@startribune.com The first-ever (known) snowball vending machine - a machine that sells real, hand-packed snowballs to Super Bowl visitors - attracted customers who purchased them for $1 Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 in the North Loop](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/N6EHKSUJWJ3J7PX3AREMU3RZTA.jpg?&w=1080)
A dollar could buy a bag of chips, a pop — or, at a vending machine in the North Loop, something colder and much more perishable.
In an alley behind the Hewing Hotel, a new machine is dispensing temporary souvenirs: "Real Minnesota snowballs."
"Hand-packed by real Minnesotans. Take one home. Throw it at a friend," the machine reads.
Nick Nelson is one of those real Minnesotans. He and other staff at the advertising agency Space150 came up with the idea a couple of months ago and have spent the past week packing and canning snowballs. The cans are dated, indicating snowball freshness.
"You have to know when your snowball was made," said Nelson, who has become a snowball expert. He uses his bare hands, covered in wax, to pack them and lets the snowballs sit for 24 to 48 hours in a shed to dry out before canning them.
Many of the customers buying canned snowballs Thursday afternoon were locals, like Sara Whicher, who lives in Minnetonka.
"My first snowball purchase in my life," Whicher said. "First and last."
Whether people toss their snowball, use it in a drink or leave it in the fridge, the purchase is for a good cause, Nelson said, with all the proceeds going to local nonprofit Wilderness Inquiry.
!["Real Minnesota snowballs" sat for sale for $1 from a vending machine in the alley behind the Hewing Hotel. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE ï anthony.souffle@startribune.com The first-ever (known) snowball vending machine - a machine that sells real, hand-packed snowballs to Super Bowl visitors - attracted customers who purchased them for $1 Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/UZEEFLRFCZU3KV6TL2SG737PUA.jpg?&w=1080)
