A Recent Exhibit Showcased 'Portraits' at Norway House

John Kaul has been witnessing history at the Minnesota State Capitol for half a century as a staffer and lobbyist, but this spring he turned his lens on others as the photographer in a featured exhibit at Norway House in Minneapolis.

We began our conversation with a couple of confessions: I’m Norwegian and I think I’m on the wall. "You’re on the wall, one of my honored journalists," Kaul said. "It's 40 pictures of people, interesting people I’ve known. Some famous, some are not." Some are candid images and others are people he pursued.

“It’s good to be back in our Gallery," adds Christina Carleton from Norway House. "Normally, we’d be welcoming and opening doors to visitors in person, but with Zoom and YouTube, we can have these exhibits through virtual tours through the comfort of your home or cabin. The silver lining is we have been able to reach more people throughout the world who can see what we’re doing here at Norway House."

Nordic Waffles founder Stine Aasland aims to convey the comforts of her Norwegian home in the waffles she makes, using her mother’s now-famous recipe. Thinner than Belgian waffles, the Scandinavian variety is served with myriad toppings. To taste them is to love them. Good thing we have the recipe.

Heard of the Scandinavian tradition of julebukking? Before you decide it's terrific or terrifying, brush up on what in tarnation it is in this primer.