Bob "RealMan" Timm

My mother gave me a great appreciation for the Fine Arts. She, Sofia, was very active in Fargo and she was the President and Manager of The Fargo Fine Arts Club House. Her love for the Arts gave all us "kids" the same appreciation she had. Although my oldest brother is a physiologist he is a very talented artist with a canvas and has had excellent success of late selling his work. My other brother is very gifted at creating jewelry. I and my sister are a little lacking but we both love the theater and more.

As small as Minot ND is it also has a great appreciation for the arts. Minot was the first City in the state to have a full time director for it's Area Council of the Arts and I believe it may still be the only one in the State. One of the members of the Council is the Mouse River Players Community Theater. I stopped by last week to see what was happening and I also took a couple of pictures. It's not much to look at from the outside but the all volunteer crew does a great job inside. This day they were building a new set.

This is the Mouse River Players Community Theater 35th year. To view the upcoming season take a look at their web site at www.mouseriverplayers.org or better yet come and see a play this season. I also need to mention a wonderful friend of mine and a GREAT friend of the Arts, Arlene Saugstad. She has been such a great contributer the Mouse River Players named their main stage "The Arlene". Arlene is a joy to all so I will end with Thank You Arlene!

The 55th Annual Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion is this weekend so I expect all Active Rainers to jet right out for the weekend. This is a GREAT family event that lasts all weekend. I will tell you more in a minute but first check out these pictures.

This event is HUGE! It covers many acres and includes 100's of Steam Engines, Tractors, Locomotives, Ships, Steam Shovels, a Steam powered Merry-Go-Round, a Mill, and so so much more. This event is held just outside of a small town of about 20 people and about 30 miles from Fargo ND and Moorhead Minnesota.

Much of what to take in is included in the gate fee including rides on the beautiful Steam powered Merry-Go-Round, and rides around the grounds on the Steam Locomotives. I encourage you to go to their website and find your way around (it's kind of a hard site to find the good pictures). The Steam Tractors are just awesome, they are so huge.

In addition to the Steam Machines there are many vintage gas powered vehicles to see to. Oh and don't forget the FOOD! It's even better then State Fair food and it's a whole lot less expensive too! You can even purchase flour made right there from these antique steam machines. It's so cool AND family friendly.

Bob Timm, Minot ND Realtor

This post is for ALL Realtors as well as folks moving to Minot North Dakota.

A lot of people, myself included, like to hunt for bargains so as community promoters (Realtors) we should be able to tell clients where the bargain shops are. I work with a lot of young families due to the Minot Air Force Base and these kids can use all the help they can get. I also work with some very affluent people and they often ask where they can donate items that they have updated or items they just don't use. Everybody can use a Thrift Store for one reason or another.

I found a neat site that can inform you of Thrift Stores in your area. It's called ThriftShopper.com. It's not perfect, It missed three in Minot ND but it's a start.

In Minot North Dakota the thrift shops are: 1) The Restore 112 2nd Ave SW 2) Dakota Boys & Girls Ranch 1206 S Broadway 3) Goodwill 1405 S Broadway 4) Salvation Army 1933 S Broadway 5) Seventh Day Adventist Clothing Center (they give there clothes away here) 10 17th Ave SW, around the corner from the church 6) Building Bridges on the corner of 1st Street and 2nd Avenue SE

Bob Timm, Minot ND

Things have been so crazy busy here in Minot I have not been able to keep up with my goal of sharing one great thing about Minot North Dakota every day. Therefore I will share a few thing today just to get caught up. Speaking of "GREAT", last Thursday was the 20th Annual "The Great Tomato Festival".

Picture courtesy of KXMC-TV News in Minot

The Great Tomato Festival is a wonderful event that is put on by three different groups in town, The Minot Public Library, The Western Plains Opera, and The Taube Museum Of Art (pronounced Taw-bee). Each year the thee groups and many volunteers get together and put on this event. Although they all work together all the proceeds benefit one of the groups for that year and then it rotates each year. This year it was the Minot Public Library and they netted about $40,000.00. Just think of what a boost that is to the local library.

The event features a diner with the menu being of one huge grilled on the spot pork chop, a stuffed tomato, pasta, home made style biscuit, desert and beverage. There is a silent auction with items from many, many local vender's and performing artists. One of the coolest donations this year was a 1990 Jaguar XJS Coup Rouge Addition (it was a beautiful machine). All the while a cool Jazz band is playing and you can just enjoy visiting or even get up and dance. I am only guessing but I would say there was a thousand people present.

It's really a fun time and I hope to see you there next year. Coming up next for a great time is the Norsk Hostfeast which I have blogged about in the past. Please click HERE to learn more.

Bob Timm, Minot ND

One thing well worth blogging about within Minot North Dakota is an event called The Norsk Hostfest. The Scandinavion heritage of this area is emphesised through out the Minot community but this event in particular brings us visiters from all around the World. This event is much like the State Fair in the manor that it hosts many top billing stars over the 10 day period of celebration. Also it is held on the North Dakota State Fair Grounds. The only thing missing is the carnavil rides. However the carnavil atmosphere is present as venders bring, make, and sell their items of Scandinavion interest. This is an event for the entire family with activities running all day long and well into the night.

Just how BIG is the Nork Hostfest? Royalty of Norway attend it. Not only is every hotel/motel room booked far in advance but many local folks rent rooms and RV parking spaces. The demand for lodging is so great for the Norsk Hostfest that it creates a demand in Bismarck ND one hundred miles away so don't leave the planning for the last minute. You will enjoy this event even if you are a German like me, after all aren't we all Irish on St. Patrick's Day?

I certainly can not tell you nearly as much about the Norsk Hostfest as the people who operate it so please visit their website at http://www.hostfest.com/ today. If you do not have a high speed connection and a ton of memory you may want to turn the sound off for this site.

Bob Timm, Realtor, Minot ND 701-720-8513