FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SagatagSam]

Hi SJU gang,

I'll be making the journey to Collegeville for the first time this weekend and would appreciate any guidance you can provide re parking, don't miss spots for meals (I like craft beer and the kinds of food usually served at brewpubs), how early I need to get there, and anything else that might be helpful for someone who's only been to your state one time before.

Very excited to have you up to Collegeville! While I don't get up for tailgates as often as I'd like, I have a few things to share about my favorite parts of campus that you can take advantage of if you are so inclined. My general advice is to get there plenty early--meaning no later than 9 a.m.--this will, generally, give you plenty of options for parking on the main campus. Plus, it gives you the chance to walk around campus (if you're a walker).

Here are a few places worth checking out:
1) St. John's Abbey Church - The architectural focal point of campus. You can see the big concrete brute as you come into campus from the interstate.


2) The Great Hall - A 30 second walk west of the Abbey Church - it dates back to the mid-1880s when the church and attached quadrangle were completed (and was the largest structure completed west of the Mississippi at the time). Inside the Great Hall there is an information desk that sells Johnnie Bread, which is made fresh on campus.


3) Lake Sagatagan - The largest of six lakes on campus. No motorized watercraft are allowed on this lake. A perfect spot to find a bench (on the grassy hillside on the northwest side of the lake near Emmaus Hall) and take in the sunrise with a cup of coffee. Across the lake you will see the Stella Maris Chapel.


As for the specifics of local food outlets, I'm going to defer to the guys that actually live local nowadays, because most of my references are going to be pretty dated (and mostly cheap pizza for college students from Gary's Pizza). I've seen that there's a microbrewery in St. Joe that occupies the old police station--Bad Habit Brewing Company (http://www.badhabitbeer.com/)--which I would like to try next time I'm in town.

[DuffMan]

Bad Habit is good, though it's been a few years since I was there (before it moved to the cop shop location).

[DuffMan]

Ron,

I'll point you to this (rather crappy) Campus Map.

Like Sam said, if you arrive on campus early, parking shouldn't be too much of an issue.  Otherwise, you'll end up in a field and they'll bus you into campus.  I'll stick to football-related advice, though if you want to explore campus, it's a beautiful place.  So, on the map:

#15 is the Warner Palaestra.  There is a entrance gate through here.  There is also a main gate on your left if you walk on the main road past the Palaestra towards the churuch.  Now, where you're going to want to head is #11--it's closer than it looks on the map.  If you're in the Palaestra lot, it's up the stairs and across the road.  This is the designated tailgate lot.  Folks will be pregaming quite early, and you'll certainly be welcomed, fed, given beers, and BSd with.  Hopefully, some guys here will pipe in with their tailgate location #s so they're easy to find amongst the crowd. 

I'm not local, so I can't comment on local establishments.

[Ron Boerger]

Ron,
When are you coming in, and where are you staying?

The deal with my lovely wife was I could do this as long as it was on the cheap, so it's all about using free nights and airline points.  In late Friday, that night at the Residence in St. Cloud, then back to the MSP Hilton before leaving Sunday around noon. 

Very much appreciate the advice offered so far.  It looks like a lovely campus so I will plan to get there early!

[84SJU]

Noon start?

[DuffMan]

Noon start?

Yes, thanks for the reminder.  I would have screwed that up.

[repete]

Wish I could be there but with wife on other coast I will be introducing two grands to another season of Johnnie football remotely.

Hope this construction doesn't mess too many folks up.

https://dot.state.mn.us/d3/i94/collegeville/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3aI048OTTft8Euju_J7aUeC3yWgcAQFHjU7HkW9PVZoun91W67XXoLfsM

[OzJohnnie]

2) The Great Hall - A 30 second walk west of the Abbey Church - it dates back to the mid-1880s when the church and attached quadrangle were completed (and was the largest structure completed west of the Mississippi at the time). Inside the Great Hall there is an information desk that sells Johnnie Bread, which is made fresh on campus.

Are we sure about this claim?  San Francisco was post gold-rush, flush with cash and had over 230k residents in 1880...

Not to disparage you or the SJU guides, but arial pics of SFO in 1880 show some pretty big buildings.

[OzJohnnie]

Noon start?

3am.

[SJU13]

Ron - There's 3rd Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring as well as a couple of breweries in Saint Cloud (I've only heard of Beaver Island). Bad Habit is next to most of the eats you'll find on College Ave. Gary's pizza and Bo Diddley's are likely going to be your best bet for food to enjoy at the brewery. Been a minute since I've been in the area and I know there's been some changes.

Twin Cities houses a lot of breweries. I'm partial to those in NE Minneapolis and there's usually some good eats nearby.

The spots to check out on campus seem to be covered. Safe travels and you'll have to let us know what ya think of Collegeville.

[MadRedFan]

Ron,
When are you coming in, and where are you staying?

The deal with my lovely wife was I could do this as long as it was on the cheap, so it's all about using free nights and airline points.  In late Friday, that night at the Residence in St. Cloud, then back to the MSP Hilton before leaving Sunday around noon. 

Very much appreciate the advice offered so far.  It looks like a lovely campus so I will plan to get there early!

Fisher's Club in Avon - about 5 miles up the road from SJU - is a classic "supper club" on the lake. Awarded best walleye in MN a couple years ago. I like the bluegill too and the broasted chicken is nice. Also steaks and sandwiches. Halfway decent crafts on tap too. We go frequently when at our cabin, and there's usually a Johnnie contingent there post game. In St. Joe, remember Bad Habit Brewery has no food service, nice place to go, but you have to carry in food if you wish.  Across the street is highly regarded Krewe restaurant, Creole and Cajun but lots of choices. Bello Cucina is a decent Italian place with a nice patio dining area, lots of choices and good wine list. Both Krewe and Bello right downtown and across from Bad Habit. Also a new distillery in St. Joe, Obbink Distilling, just north of downtown across Hwy. 75.  Smallish tasting room, craft cocktails, outside patio.

Edit - now that I see where you're staying, you're close to Anton's, also a classic log cabin supper club right on the Sauk River, usual supper club fare, a very nice comfortable place. Another favorite of ours.

[sjusection105]

Ron,
When are you coming in, and where are you staying?

The deal with my lovely wife was I could do this as long as it was on the cheap, so it's all about using free nights and airline points.  In late Friday, that night at the Residence in St. Cloud, then back to the MSP Hilton before leaving Sunday around noon. 

Very much appreciate the advice offered so far.  It looks like a lovely campus so I will plan to get there early!

Tailgate lot spots #18-23. We'll be there by 8:30AM. I'll put a couple IPAs in the cooler for you.Free food, free beer and banter should qualify for "on the cheap". Words to live by, "Momma ain't happy, then nobody's happy"

[SagatagSam]

From the athletic department on Twitter (@SJUjohnnies):

Making the trip to Collegeville Saturday? Interstate 94 between the St. Joseph & SJU exits (160 & 156) is undergoing major repairs that impact both eastbound & westbound traffic. This project will impact travel until late September.

https://dot.state.mn.us/d3/i94/collegeville/index.html

[AO]

2) The Great Hall - A 30 second walk west of the Abbey Church - it dates back to the mid-1880s when the church and attached quadrangle were completed (and was the largest structure completed west of the Mississippi at the time). Inside the Great Hall there is an information desk that sells Johnnie Bread, which is made fresh on campus.

Are we sure about this claim?  San Francisco was post gold-rush, flush with cash and had over 230k residents in 1880...

Not to disparage you or the SJU guides, but arial pics of SFO in 1880 show some pretty big buildings.

The Johnnie archives has a note
"It was said to be the largest educational building west of Chicago and in fact west of the Mississippi River"  That sounds more plausible.

In other news:
MIAC Pick-Ems
Welcome back pickers, big slate for week 1, mostly using the Massey lines, especially for games where I'm biased.

Week 1 September 2nd

Non-Conference: 2pts
#4 Trinity (+6.5) at #6 St. John's
Concordia @ UW-Eau Claire (+3.5)
Northwestern (+23.5) @ Augsburg
Central @ St. Olaf (+25.5)
Buena Vista (+35.5) @ Gustavus
Crown (+28.5) @ Hamline
Minnesota-Morris (+24.5) @ Macalester

Other games: 1pt
Black Hills State (+20.5) @ St. Thomas
#3 Mary Hardin-Baylor @ #23 UW-River Falls (+20.5)

[SagatagSam]

"It was said to be the largest educational building west of Chicago and in fact west of the Mississippi River"  That sounds more plausible.

Ok, so I left a teeny tiny modifier that somewhat substantially changed the context of the claim. That's twice in the same week I've been dinged. Gotta clean that s*** up.