We’re going to need a bigger bucket.

When we saw that the world was going to end again — Dec. 21, according to the “Maya Apocalypse” doomsayers — we thought this would be a good time to come up with a St. Paul Bucket List, a must-do of only-in-St. Paul experiences that everyone should check off before the world comes to an end.

And we thought we’d be able to list the top 10 ideas and call it a day.

But we got more than a dozen suggestions from readers just about pre-Armageddon meals you should eat in St. Paul.

So even if you won’t have time to do it all by Friday, we decided not to limit our suggestions to just 10.

First of all, you shouldn’t die hungry. Many people thought a last meal would be a good way to go out with a bang, and suggestions for ideal venues in St. Paul included Mancini’s, Red Lobster, Sakura, Cafe Latte, Swede Hollow Cafe, Day by Day Cafe, Serlin’s Cafe and “the ultimate St. Paul bar,” Sweeney’s Saloon.

Some people specified particular dishes or beverages, including tea at the St. Paul Hotel, pizza at the original Carbone’s, pizza at the original Red’s Savoy, a Coney Island at the Gopher Bar, the chicken potpie at the Lexington, Vietnamese food on University Avenue, the schweinshaxe at the Glockenspiel, Flat Earth beer and the Nookie Supreme at the Nook. (“It’s not as dirty as it sounds, but it’s almost as satisfying.”)

But the joint that got the most votes as the place everyone should go to before they die is the venerable Mickey’s Diner. Unfortunately, no one could seem to agree on what you must eat there. Suggestions included the Mulligan stew, the Sputnick burger, the Potatoes O’Brian and the bean soup (“Diced ham hock gives it the flavor.”)

“You eat that soup and you feel like you’re in a Robert Crumb cartoon,” according to St. Paul resident Eric Foster.

One suggestion specified the time that one should visit Mickey’s: 3 a.m.



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SIGHTS TO BEHOLD

There’s also a long list of must-see attractions in St. Paul: the State Capitol grounds, including the Capitol building, the Quadriga statue on top of the building and the naval gun from the USS destroyer Ward, which fired the first American shot of World War II; the newly renovated Union Depot; the Como Zoo and Conservatory, with a walk through the gardens and a visit to the polar bears; the History Center; the James J. Hill mansion; the Science Museum; and the burial mounds at Indian Mounds Park.

Everyone also needs to visit the Cathedral of St. Paul, arrange a historical tour of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and listen to the Gregorian chants and the chamber choir at the Church of St. Agnes, according to our readers.

Georgia Finnegan Amdahl is the development officer at the Landmark Center, and she emailed to say everyone must tour the Landmark Center before

it’s too late.

Jora Bart is the public relations manager for the Xcel Energy Center. Guess where she said everyone should attend an event before he or she dies?

“I’d like to see a Wild hockey game before I die,” said Dennis Finn, 70, a Hastings resident who has lived most of his life in St. Paul. “And I’d like to see the Minnesota Vikings win the Super Bowl before I die.”

Other potential activities that were suggested for the bucket list: Seeing a St. Paul Saints game, going to a “Prairie Home Companion” performance at the Fitzgerald Theater, attending a free lunchtime Schubert Club Courtroom Concert at the Landmark Center and taking a gangster tour.

Carolyn Hunt, a St. Paul native who now lives in Minneapolis, called to say she has terminal cancer and would like to see the Winter Carnival ice sculpture and torchlight parade with her children and grandchildren before she dies.

We’d also suggest taking part in the Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt as a do-it-at-least-once St. Paul experience.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

St. Paul resident David Downing suggested visiting Mounds Park and contemplating the view of the Mississippi River to appreciate the history of transportation in St. Paul, including the barges on the water, the trains along the tracks following the river, the trucks and cars heading down Warner Road and the planes flying from Holman Field.

A concert or opera or play at the Ordway, golf at the Highland or the Phalen golf courses and a movie at the Grandview or the Highland theaters are on the list suggested by a St. Paul resident Cathy Wick.

The 70-year-old Wick, a Mac-Groveland resident for 46 years, also suggested driving down Summit Avenue from the Cathedral to the Mississippi River and taking in the overlook over the river, driving down the twisty hill on Snelling Avenue above West Seventh Street and participating in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Irish or not.

Wick also suggested spending an hour at the Ax-Man Surplus Store on University Avenue to “find a personal use for at least 10 items.”

“Oh, I do love my city,” Wick said.

We do, too.

And one final thing to do before you kick the bucket: subscribe to the Pioneer Press.

Richard Chin can be reached at 651-228-5560. Follow him at twitter.com/RRChin.