2021 Annual Dinner

Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Dinner!

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Group of nine people — Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association receive 2021 Friends Group Partner Award

Steve Thorne received the 2020 Reuel Harmon Award (awarded in 2021 due to canceled event last year)

Three men standing — Our keynote speaker, Travis Novitsky (center), with P&TC president Brett Feldman and chair Bob Bierscheid

Man and woman standing — Social Hour (2023 will be at new indoor location)

Groups sitting at table — Outdoor dinner (2023 will be at new indoor location)

Man and woman sitting down at table — Outdoor dinner (2023 will be a new indoor location)

Two women sitting at table — Outdoor Dinner (2023 will be at new indoor location)

Two men standing — Social hour (2023 will be at new indoor location)

Group of people sitting at dining tables

Friends of Lake Maria State Park were the 2020 recipients of the Friends Group Partner Award, given this year due to canceled program last year.

Four people on stage — Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association receive 2021 Friends Group Partner Award

Colorful quilt and other items on display — Silent auction display from 2021

Silent Auction & Raffle

Online auction

Bid online now on great items. Online auction will be open from

Sept. 1 at 1pm – Sept. 8 at 5pm.

After the online auction closes, leading bidder notifications will be sent to the highest bidders informing them bidding continues at the live event. If no more bids are made during the live auction, then the highest online auction bid wins.

Screenshot of some of the online auction items

New Venue

Como Lakeside Pavilion

The event will be held within the open-air pavilion on the back of the historic building. This venue is open on 3.5 sides and overlooks Como Lake. Please dress for the weather.

There is ample parking on site.

Como Lakeside Pavilion (google map)
1360 Lexington Pkwy N
Saint Paul, MN 55103

Exterior of grand white building with red roof

The pavilion overlooks Como Lake.

Inside the pavilion

Man looking at camera with his camera set up behind him

Keynote Speaker

Travis Novitsky: The night sky on display

A proud citizen of the Grand Portage Anishinabe Nation and manager of Grand Portage State Park, Travis Novitsky will share his spectacular nature photography.

Travis has found peace and beauty in the night sky, which lately has been his prime subject. “I have experienced many nights where the silence is deafening,” he says. “To hear that silence you need to push everything out of your mind and let yourself truly be in that moment.”

Reuel Harmon Award

Steve Thorne: A champion of parks and trails

Steve Thorne was a deputy commissioner for the DNR who persisted to create several parks and trails.

Award Hall of Fame

Friends Group Partner Award

Friends of Lake Maria State Park

Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association

This year, we recognize both 2020 and 2021 recipients, since we were unable to gather last year.

Partner Award Hall of Fame

Plated Dinner

Social Hour with open bar is followed by a plated dinner, which includes a Harvest Salad of local ingredients, scallion mashed potatoes and a choice of:

Spicy Soy Stir Fry (vegan): Asian vegetable blend (water chestnuts, baby corn, mushrooms, spicy soy sauce, ginger sambal olek) over white Jasmine rice.
Grand Marnier Chicken: Herb-crusted sautéed chicken in grand marnier butter sauce, with chef’s choice of vegetable.
Almond Pepper Roasted Salmon (Seafood Watch & gluten free): Lemongrass and ginger beurre blanc, with chef’s choice of vegetable.

Plus, regular and decaffeinated Colombian coffee.