The Washington County Parks Division on Sunday will begin accepting reservations for the 2011 season for its campsites and picnic shelters at Lake Elmo and Big Marine park reserves, and on Monday for sites and shelters at the Cottage Grove Ravine and St. Croix Bluffs regional parks.
In-person registration will begin at 9 a.m. both days. Online and telephone reservations will begin at 11 a.m. both days. Campgrounds will be open from April 29 to Oct. 23.
The Equestrian Center campground at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve will be available until Thanksgiving Day.
Weekend reservations will require a minimum of a two-night stay and must include Friday and Saturday. A three-night stay will be required on holiday weekends. Single campsites, group campsites and sites for the disabled can be reserved, but are not guaranteed. Picnic shelters will be available to reserve from May 1 to Oct. 1.
To make an in-person reservation, stop by the Lake Elmo Park Reserve, 1515 Keats Av., Lake Elmo, or the St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, 10191 St. Croix Trail, Hastings. To make a reservation online, go to bookyoursite.com/lakeelmo or http://bookyour site.com/stcroix. To make a reservation by phone, call 651-430-8370.
STILLWATER
Local mystery writers featured If you can knock off work a tad early, head over to the Dock Cafe for the Totally Criminal Cocktail Hour. Held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, the event features local mystery and thriller writers who discuss their works, answer questions and autograph copies of their books.
Wendy Webb, author of "The Tale of Halcyon Crane," will be featured Wednesday. Richard Thompson will appear in February and former Star Tribune columnist Joe Kimball will appear in March at 425 Nelson St. Cost is $10, which includes appetizers. For information call 651-430-3385.
Happy New Year, Russian style Celebrate the Russian New Year with a sleigh ride, Siberian vodka and music. The Outing Lodge in Stillwater will serve caviar on blinis (light pancakes), herring, Ukrainian borsch, Caucasian pheasant with brown rice, roasted nuts and haricots vertes in white-wine tarragon sauce. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at 11661 Myeron Road N. The cost for dinner is $180 per couple. Sleigh rides also will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m. by reservation. Call 651-439-9747.
