Recent content from Richard Chin
Party City to shutter hundreds of stores across the U.S., including 10 in Minnesota
The party supply company told employees on Friday that it's going out of business.
Looking for games to play with family at Thanksgiving or Christmas? Here are some hilarious choices.
The best family games for the holidays range from boop to Scribble Hips and Klask to Telestrations.
Art exhibit at St. Olaf College is devoted to people who failed to become president
The yard signs representing unsuccessful candidates document defeat and redemption.
The polls say the presidential election is a dead heat. But online bettors are leaning to Trump. Who's right?
A University of Minnesota professor says polls are more accurate than so-called prediction markets.
Does booze relieve pain? U researchers test inebriated Minnesota State Fair patrons to find out.
Researcher Jeff Boissoneault also has created a virtual reality bar for his drinking experiments.
Groundbreaking Hmong TV news anchor returns to the Twin Cities
Chenue Her will co-anchor the Fox9 morning show.
Anoka player piano restorer shows silent films accompanied by 108-year-old photoplayer
Nate Otto shows silent films accompanied by a rare, vintage instrument that combines piano, pipe organ and percussion.
Sharing the magic of movies – from the back of a bike
A Minneapolis man projects family-friendly films in Twin Cities parks.
Why are there fewer reports of UFOs from Minnesotans?
A reporting app suggests our state is flyover country when it comes to flying saucers. Could it be because of our weather?
Should athletes pray to win a game? A praying, preaching, putting Minnesota pastor answers.
"I think God is a part of both victory and failure on the course or in a game," he said. We wondered: Even the Vikings?
A gay, multi-ethnic, farming family is part of Minnesota's emerging polyamorous community
The rural household is part of a nonmonogamous movement that some say is going mainstream.
I stayed at the fanciest hotel in Minnesota – with my dog
My rescue mutt and I were welcome at the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis.
University of Minnesota professors gene sequenced a corn dog. Guess what they found.
There is actually corn in the Minnesota fair favorite, but what about that "dog" part?
Walz is a longshot to be the VP pick, according to bettors
Prediction markets and oddsmakers place the Minnesota governor as about the third likeliest choice.
![The Twin Cities Unicycle Club compete at Unicon, an international unicycle convention and competition in Bemidji.
] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavin](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ETEMMENYUZCERLXH5DT655VZFI.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
For two weeks, Bemidji became the world unicycle capital
One-wheeled hockey, basketball, even sumo wrestling lured competitors from around the globe to compete in this Minnesota town.
What's the latest light show in town? Fireflies at the Arboretum.
Conditions are just right this soggy midsummer to see the quiet magic in after-hours viewings.
Flooding results in a visit to Valleyfair by kayak
Three local paddlers visited the amusement park — part of which is closed to visitors — without ever touching land.
Fake 'baseball radio ASMR' podcast with deep Minnesota roots wants to help you sleep
It's boring. It's imaginary. And it's designed to make you nod off — or at least relax.
'Research corndog, do not eat': World's first genetic sequencing of a corn dog to take place at the State Fair
University of Minnesota researchers will use a fair staple to drive interest in a real scientific study.
Minneapolis dog masseuse shows how to rub your pup the right way
A massage does more than just pamper an aging dog. It can help keep it active and relaxed and help you bond.
What is a St. Paul sandwich, and why can't you get one in St. Paul?
The sandwich, which has been named Top 10 in the country, has a convoluted backstory and a surprisingly good taste.
T-Wolves tips: How to ride the Minnesota sports roller coaster
This team has us going up and down and spinning around. How should we handle this week? Here are some tips.
St. Paul's Arborators play in the treetops: 'We're the world's only tree-climbing brass band'
They play traditional polkas, waltzes and marches in unusual locations — like the tops of trees.
University of Minnesota bug experts say we should be eating insects
Find out why we should opt for six-legged snacks at the "Minnsect Show" this weekend.
This Star Tribune reporter didn't even survive the audition for 'Survivor'
After a few hours in line at the Minneapolis Convention Center, he bailed. But hundreds of others who stuck it out never got to audition for the reality TV show.
Can sitting in a giant wooden orb improve your sleep, immune system and memory?
Our hard-boiled reporter test drives the first "harmonic egg" in Minnesota.
Requiem for a piano: Hundreds a year are being trashed in Minnesota
Despite efforts to rehome them or harvest parts, most of the once-beloved behemoths still end up in the dump.
Since 1980s, Brainerd man has taught his dogs to get beers from the fridge
Kris Scheller has earned many TV appearances with a series of black Labs, all named Sport.
![Nickelodeon Universe. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Thursday, June 2, 2016 Jess Nelson, MOA case manager, Oasis For Youth, walks through the](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/QJCOZT7T2GDRUXT5FLPZPJGYRA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Not going anywhere for spring break? Try these fun Twin Cities area family activities
Get slimed, grab a joystick, brave a cold plunge.
Minn. supporters of Ukraine mark a grim 2 years in war with Russia
The supporters vowed to fight on and made a plea for continued U.S. support.
At-home mortality tests offer to predict how many years you have left. Our reporter checked some out.
Our anxious reporter tries to determine how long he's got. Should you?
Coffee and cats are coming to St. Paul's Grand Avenue
A planned coffee shop will feature a den with a group of resident cats.
Introverted and feeling lonely? How small talk can help you fight loneliness.
Simple things like talking about the weather, giving a compliment or saying hello to a stranger can make you feel more connected.
Why would you set a cake on fire? To reveal a Taylor Swift Super Bowl surprise.
A Twin Cities baker's flaming cakes are selling like hot cakes.
What did newcomers to Minnesota miss? A real winter
To say you survived a Minnesota winter, you need to endure a few below-zero hardships, master the penguin walk and understand how a snow emergency works. Don't expect a T-shirt for making it through this wimpy winter.
Who made that footprint? These Minnesotans are experts in tracking animals
By identifying clues left by wildlife, they connect to nature and our past.
Want to be more active? Skip the overcrowded gym and try one of these Twin Cities walks
To get your new year off to a healthy start, we offer new, quiet, historic and classic routes.
How Como Zoo's 'Tiger Van' became a viral star on TikTok
A hat with ear flaps and a heavy Minnesota accent win in this Jet Car spoof.
The Twin Cities has a new taproom — for pop
Craft soda maker Northern Soda opens an N/A bar serving soft drinks on tap.
Come on down! You, too, can be on a TV game show
Is it more fun than staying home and yelling at the TV? Survey says: Yes!
A St. Paul porch held buried treasure. The surprise was who left it.
In a hollow column, a contractor discovered a bottle of whisky and a business card — his own.
A Rochester man has run every day for more than 52 years — mostly shirtless
"I like to do things consistently," says the man, who got a C in phy ed as a kid.
In St. Paul's boomer ballet class, you're never too old to plié
Ballet not only offers older adults a form of exercise, but it gives them a chance to create something of beauty.
2 kids, 2 adults hospitalized following carbon monoxide poisoning at Rochester hotel
Guests reported feeling lethargic after swimming in the pool, officials said.
Doll repair expert Carol Finwall, who healed hundreds of beloved childhood toys, dies at 86
"She was an artist. Dolls were her palette," her son said.
Minnesotans are top-ranked in a sport you may have never heard of
Puzzling, it seems, thrives in places where people spend a lot of time indoors.
What's the modern version of a needle in a haystack? Try a lost ring in a corn pit
Minnesotans are discovering that jewelry and corn pits don't mix.
This acting class has gone to the dogs
Minneapolis class teaches pooches how to pose for the camera.
What's it like to be an elite runner at the Twin Cities Marathon? A pro competitor answers our 26 questions.
We talked with professional runner Brittany Charboneau.
What to name your baby or your dog? Apple Valley consultant can help
Steph Coffield charges $50 to $600 for a customized list of names of anything needing naming.
Minnesota's weapon-wielding armored combat fighters are not your average geeks
These Minnesotans dress like knights and do battle with (dulled) swords and axes.
Some seniors take up pickleball — these Minnesotans are pole vaulting in their 70s
Mike Soule and Wayne Andersen prove that you're never too old to take a flying leap. The men, both 71, have rediscovered a sport they first tried more than a half-century ago.
Air conditioning you can wear: Our guide to personal cooling devices
Beat the heat this summer with neck fans, cooling vests and these other wearable devices.
Our reporter flew in a fighter jet before this weekend's Blue Angels show in Duluth
Reporter Richard Chin felt the need for speed ahead of this weekend's Duluth Air and Aviation Expo.
A U professor says humor — and certain cheeses — can help you be more creative
Improv comedy classes and certain kinds of cheeses may help you be more creative.
Stillwater's Main Street makes an appearance on 'Good Morning America'
It was featured in a segment that highlights iconic main streets across the country.
A field guide to fireworks to make you a pyrotechnic know-it-all
You can provide the commentary while watching a fireworks show.
Minnesota mini-golf with a twist is your summer fun destination
Big Stone in Minnetrista is part Stonehenge, part Flintstones — and there's a goat, too.
Man fatally shot in Minneapolis early Sunday morning
The victim's name has not yet been released; no arrests have been made.
![] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/FLY44TVKC64GBGVWA7ZT4OIFIE.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
These veterinarians are honored to do one thing — put ailing pets out of their misery
Veterinarians who specialize in at-home pet euthanasia find satisfaction in helping animals and owners.
What's more exciting than paddleboarding and easier than windsurfing? eFoiling
The electric-powered hydrofoils are the latest thing in personal watercraft.
3 guys rode nonmotorized scooters from Brainerd to Bemidji, and TikTok loved it
Friends pushed Razor scooters 100 miles along the Paul Bunyan State Trail.
Should men go shirtless in summer? When is it OK, and when is it not?
Dos and don'ts for male toplessness at the beach, the gym, the concert or the stadium.
![A rack of Nice Ride bikes at Marshall St. NE and Lowry Ave. NE Monday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER • Jeff.Wheeler@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/OB6C53YH5WWF53JUZZBPLKUJMM.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Who's playing with pricey, souped-up, super-fast Nerf blasters? Adults
Members of Minnesota's Nerf community collect and modify toys so that they can shoot a foam dart at more than 100 miles per hour.
Minnesota's state band — one of the last in the country — celebrates 125 years
The Minnesota State Band will give a free anniversary concert.
Gun and purse bingo fundraisers grow in popularity in Minnesota
The bingo events have taken in thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations, cancer research, town festivals, hunting teams and more.
