"Lily," by WACSO

By Meredeth Barzen

While the Twin Cities certainly isn’t lacking in talented pet artists (see: pooch painters Stray Dog Arts and Lintu Art)—or talented artists in general, for that matter—one has emerged who stands out from the crowd for his stylized, hyper-local treatment of the people, places and pups that populate our fair cities. WACSO (stands for Walkin’ Around Checkin’ Stuff Out)—a.k.a. Robb Burnham—takes inspiration from everything around him, as his name would suggest. Often, it’ll be the fuzzy face of a four-legged pal, but you’ll see local landmarks like restaurants, architecture and adorable old men on benches represented in his work as well. WACSO will draw your dog if you’d like him too—but he won’t take any money for it, just a suggested $100 donation to a pet rescue (check out this recent portrait of his neighbor, M.A. Rosko’s dog Munter.)

"Munter," by WACSO

“I get a lot of requests from strangers all around the country, which was a bit odd at first because I would really rather meet the dog in person, but I’ve got it down to where I ask them to send me as many photos of the dog as they can. That gives me a pretty good idea of what the dog is like,” Burnham says of his commissioned dog drawings. “I don’t want payment for these drawings so I ask for a donation to be made in my name to a shelter/rescue. I’ll send them a hi-resolution file that they can print however they would like. People have made T-shirts, calendars, mugs … I just had a woman use my drawing to get a tattoo of her dog that passed away. It looked awesome, and I think it was great therapy for her.”

Here’s a look into the philosophy and process that is WACSO:

"Sharing the Bed" by WACSO features the artist's own dogs, Frankie and Grady.

Do you have any dogs?

I have two dogs: a female English bulldog named Frankie and a little block-of-cement French bulldog named Grady. Frankie likes to watch TV—in fact, if the TV is off, she’ll yip until the TV is turned on, and she’ll actually growl at the mugshots they show on news programs. She knows who the bad guys are; it’s pretty funny.

What’s your favorite dog-friendly spot in town?

Sitting outside at Java Jack’s Coffee Cafe is awesome.

Do your dogs make it into your drawings?

Yes, I constantly draw my dogs.

How long have you been drawing?

I’ve been drawing all my life, but didn’t really get serious about it until about five years ago.

Your work really celebrates the everyday and the local—what is it about those subjects that compels you to portray them?

I like everyday things. Life isn’t all about taking big vacations and going to exotic locations. We’re surrounded by all kinds of cool everyday stuff; we just have to stop and look for it. I had done a drawing of the Blackbird Cafe a while back because it’s a cool place. Well, sadly, it burned down recently—such a drag, but I started getting messages from people requesting prints of the drawing. It was really cool to see what that drawing suddenly meant to people and the importance of appreciating and celebrating the things we have.

"Dog in a Coffee Shop," by WACSO

What sorts of characteristics make you want to draw a certain dog? Physical traits? Personality? Setting? Owner?

I’ll draw any dog; they are all awesome. Think about it: You can be having the crappiest day of all time and see a dog and smile—what else can do that?

Why do you like drawing dogs in general?

The dog drawings just seem to make people happy. They make me happy drawing them … I laugh most of the time I’m drawing.

How long does it take you to do a drawing?

It’s hard to say how long a drawing takes; I lose track of time, but I’ll usually do dozens of drawings of a dog before I get the one I like best. Sometimes the best version is the first one I draw and sometimes it’s the last.

How do you decide what form it’s going to take (i.e. single-line drawing, detailed, with or without color, etc?)

I will usually do a few different styles; one-line drawings, a more refined style, add color, etc …, and see which I like best when I’m done.

"Shaggy Dog #3," by WACSO

Do you approach strangers and ask if you can draw their dogs? Are they usually game, or do you ever get resistance?

I’m a pretty shy person. I don’t mind talking to the dogs; it’s owners I have trouble with.

Where can people find your work?

Become a fan of my Facebook page! It’s now dedicated to just my dog drawings. I try to put up a new one every couple of days. You can also check out my Web site, which has all of my drawings.

What do you like about the Twin Cities?

The Twin Cities are fantastic—love it here. Tons of dogs, tons of places to walk dogs and the people are cool. I even dig the winters—all those dogs in boots and outfits crack me up.

By Meredeth Barzen

It’s that time of the year when Twin Citians start getting the itch to get the heck out of Dodge. The dog moms at Sidewalk Dog are no exception, and since we can’t all escape to some tropical paradise, we’ve been thinking about taking a weekend up north—warmth provided not by proximity to the equator, but by the company of our four-legged best friends. And so, we provide to you some ideas for dog-friendly lodging when you decide to load the Weimaraner into the station wagon and soak in some new, snowy scenery. And, since we’re having a hard time relinquishing the whole “tropical vacation” idea, a recipe that will transport you in spirit to a warmer clime. And remember to pack the blender.

A Gunflint guest and her four-legged friend enjoy one of the lodge's special dog-lovers' weekends.

Gunflint Lodge, Grand Marais:

The folks at Gunflint Lodge sure aren’t shy about broadcasting their doggie devotion: Five special dog lovers’ weekends throughout the year take care of that. The next one, March 18-21, will include will include dog massages, a dog photographer, a dog Olympics, dog socials, a skijoring demonstration and anything else your canine’s heart could desire. And even if you don’t stay over an officially dog-themed weekend, dogs are always welcomed with water bowls, treats and an extra throw sheet in each cabin before you arrive. Says owner Bruce Kerfoot, Gunflint’s doggie guests are “sometimes easier to host than people.”

Bluefin Bay

Bluefin Bay, Tofte:

Not only does Bluefin Bay have dog-friendly rooms, but some of them even include Jacuzzis and/or fireplaces. You and your pup will be welcomed enthusiastically at this shore-side getaway with treats at the front desk and affection for all four-legged guests. Bluefin has been pet-friendly since it began 25 years ago, and its new sister resort, Surfside on Lake Superior, has kept up the tradition with pet-friendly units of its own. Plus, there are plenty of places for Fido to roam on the North Shore, like Tofte Park (conveniently located right next to Bluefin), where dogs can actually take a dip in the lake—in the summer, that is. Check out Sidewalk Dog next month for more on Bluefin.

A Superior Shores lakehome

Superior Shores, Two Harbors: Stop by for a treat at the front desk on your way back to your rented condo at this lakeside retreat. Though many guests don’t realize dogs are allowed in certain rentals, owner Darrin Young often brings his border collie and golden retriever to work with him. Says Sidewalk Dog reader Jenn Reed Moses, “Superior Shores is awesome. My dog, who is scared of strangers, actually started putting her paws on the front desk to ask for treats—I was mortified, but the staff loved her and were great about it.”

One of Caribou Highlands' condo units.

Caribou Highlands Lodge, Lutsen:

This Lutsen getaway offers a number of dog-friendly rooms, and in the unlikely event that you get bored, can suggest lots of fun activities for you and your pups, like hiking up to the Poplar River, exploring the nearby state parks or skijoring. Caribou’s Martin Pettersson recommends “being proactive and making your reservations early, since the pet-friendly units are very popular and tend to fill up very fast.”

Stanley the Bernese at a Sea Villa townhouse.

Sea Villa Townhomes at Lutsen Resort, Lutsen:

These one- or two-story townhomes near Lake Superior’s shore tempt people with wood-burning stoves and a beautiful pool/whirlpool/sauna complex. Doggies are drawn to the walking trails and abundance of squirrels. This dog-friendliness was a crucial factor when Carol Taylor, who owns one of the Sea Villas, was shopping around. “Basically, if I couldn’t bring my dog [Stanley, a Bernese Mountain Dog], I wouldn’t want to own,” she says, adding, “Judging from the notes in my guest book, I can tell that being able to bring dogs to the villas is greatly appreciated.”

Sweetgrass Cove

Sweetgrass Cove Guesthouse & Bodywork Studio, Grand Portage:

Secluded on a lovely Lake Superior bay, this guesthouse welcomes well-behaved and “well-groomed” dogs—so it wouldn’t hurt to give Günther the Great Dane a bath before showing up. Though owner Rick Anderson’s beloved Irish terrier Lucy passed away recently, “Now more than ever,” he says, “I welcome my guests with dogs to remind me just how beautiful that relationship can be.” Great hiking trails and the very dog-friendly nearby town of Grand Marais make for a fun doggie visit, and ready access to a massage table makes your stay extra-relaxing.

Now where did you pack that blender?

Piña Coladas, SidewalkDog.com Style:

½ c. white rum

½ c. coconut cream

2 c. pineapple juice

4 c. ice

Blend until smooth, pour yourself a glass, and throw your dog a bone. Why should people get all the treats?

Pulscher's dogs Georgia (Vizsla, age 10) and Dixie (German Shorthair Pointer, age 5) making a VIP appearance at Nokomis community center.

By Meredeth Barzen

You know how it feels when you’re on a lovely little walk with your dog, having a grand old time and—EEEW!—you have to execute a very quick sidestep maneuver—or shove your walking companion out of the way—to avoid someone else’s dog’s poop.

“This is why people think dogs are a nuisance,” you say to yourself. But not only does failing to pick up after your dog make dog owners look like bad citizens; it’s bad for the water in our streams and lakes as well. That’s why the Minneapolis Park and Recreation board launched the “Canines for Clean Water” summer movie series—the most enjoyable way to crack down on improperly managed dog poop ever conceived.

A conscientious owner and her dog sign the Clean Water pledge at the Nokomis community center.

Dog-themed movies (“Because of Winn Dixie” and “Scooby Doo” are past examples) are shown at a handful of Minneapolis’ lovely parks, and dogs and their people can show up a little early to participate in some fun dog-friendly activities and take a pledge to keep dog poop off the ground and out of the water. Plus, your signature (and your dog’s paw print) earns you a free water bottle from the Park board.

“Objectives (of the program) are to get dog owners to understand the negative impacts of dog poop on water quality (not to mention aesthetics and the ability to walk barefoot or not get dog poop on your shoes), as well as have dog owners make or renew their commitments to bag up dog poop and put it in the trash,” says MaryLynn Pulscher, who coordinates the environmental education programs for Minneapolis Park and Rec.

She points out that more than 100,000 dogs call Minneapolis home, and that create an estimated 41,000 pounds of solid waste every day. According to Pulscher, the park board has to close down a swimming beach if it tests for more than 1,260 E. coli—a pile of dog poop contains millions of the nasty little critters. That means that if you leave your dog’s doo doo to wash into a lake even once, you could ruin some serious summer fun for others.

There are only two more movies left for this summer, so catch them while you can: on August 25, “Beverly Hill Chihuahua” is showing at Painter Park on Lyndale Ave. and 34th St. (Canine Companions will be holding a dog-wash before the movie, which starts at dusk.) And on August 26, “Bolt” is playing at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (on the east end of the Stone Arch Bridge), and Wild Honey and the Locusts will be playing live beginning at 7 p.m.

And please, for the reputation of dog owners everywhere: bring an extra baggie on your walk.

By Meredeth Barzen

What better way to weather the beautiful (though lesser-known) Dog Days of Autumn than to pack up the car and take a road trip to one of Minnesota’s myriad dog-friendly vacation spots? In nearly every part of the state, you’ll find lodging that would love to accommodate you and your dog.

The Outing Lodge interior is rustic and cozy.

Start in the South, with Red Wing’s Moondance Inn. The Inn’s 1904 Victorian rental house is a spacious, no-frills, private country getaway for you and your four-legged pals. Upriver, Stillwater boasts The Outing Lodge, where owner Carlota Estevez’s chocolate lab accompanies guest pooches on miles of wooded walking trails surrounding the lodge.

For rugged dogs who love to romp, Lake Superior is the place to let loose. The Inn on Lake Superior really rolls out the welcome mat with a check-in goody bag, which includes a tennis ball, a bandana, an “In case I get lost” dog tag, treats and a list of local pet services. Also in Duluth is Fitger’s Inn, where vacationing dogs find a dog bed, bowls for food and water atop a water-resistant mat and a welcome treat waiting for them.

The picturesque shores of Bluefin Bay.

Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery and Cottages in Lutsen is always looking for guest dogs to keep Jazmin the Shih Tzu company, and Bluefin Bay gives them space to roam right on the shores of the Great Lake.

For those heading out west, Mulberry Row in Detroit Lakes is home to Ebby, a chocolate lab/weimaraner mix who sometimes writes about her visiting friends on the B & B’s Web site. And for dogs who really want to see “Up North,” the Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais is always pet-friendly, particularly during special “pet-lovers” weekends.

Then again, for Twin Citians who want to save gas money but still get away, downtown Minneapolis offers two dog-friendly

W Hotel in the Foshay Tower has a complete menu of pet services.

hotels: The Chambers (for fancy-pants pets), and the brand-new W hotel, where dogs are supplied with their own concierge.

Now there’s no excuse not to scour the state with your canine playmate. Get packing!

Now that Jessica Lange, her labrador and family have moved on from their 2-acre home in Stillwater, MN, there is a new trend rising up to put the town, once famous for its wall-to-wall antique stores, back on the map: dog-friendly shopping.

Ali and I hit the Stillwater Main Street with Luc and Indie for nearly 90 minutes of shopping bliss in truly unique shops, chatting with owners and patrons and getting great pets all along the way. This was shopping heaven!

Our first stop was at Jake’s on St. Croix, a Genuine Neighborhood “Life is good®” Shoppe, owned by husband and wife Dog Lovers, Peter Grimes and Jen Stewart (pictured right with Luc and Indie). Their two dogs, Tua and Molly, usually accompany them to work. You’ll know you’ve reached the dogs when you stumble upon their very own Life Is Good branded beds at the front counter.

The shop is full of clothing and gear for people and dogs that spread optimism to people every day through uplifting quotes and the signature caricature of the company’s leading man, Jake, displayed on almost every product.

Then we hit up Rose Mille and Collaborations Boutique where we also found out that Art-n-Soul welcomes dog, too! Tuckered out from all the excitement, we headed to our lodging for the night at the Outing Lodge at Pine Point – also dog-friendly. Whew! A full weekend and a weekend full of fun — with our dogs! Happiness.