American Swedish Institute's Turnblad Mansion
The American Swedish Instituteis expanding its popular holiday programs to include a Mexican-themed table among the festively decorated rooms in its castle-like museum. Traditionally, the five Nordic countries (Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Denmark) set out holiday decorations and trees during ASI's two-month "Jul to the World" festival. In honor of the Mexican-American community in the nearby Phillips West neighborhood, the institute has invited Mexico to contribute a table.
The Turblad Mansion's historic kitchen also will be open to the public for the first time this year.
Other festivities include musical performances, a "Great Tomte Hunt," in which kids search for Swediah elves hidden throughout the mansion, artisanal sausage-making workshops with the chefs at ASI's award-winning FIKA cafe, and Wednesday evening theatrical performances on the stage of the mansion's charming ballroom theater. Evening glogg (mulled wine) tours are offered Wednesday and Friday evenings and hot chocolate will be served around an outdoor bonfire in the "Enchanted Forest."
The "Jul to the World" festival opens Sat., Nov. 9 with a day-long schedule of musical performances and creative activities. The festival continues through Jan. 5. To book group tours call 612-871-4907 or for a complete schedule of events go to www.asimn.org.
