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Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Hometown Version: Giant Polar Bear in White Bear Lake

By
Real Estate Agent with Boardman Realty Minnesota License#90858

beaBuying a car in the north and east Twin Cities metro usually means a trip down Highway 61. It is the mecca of new and used cars! Ever since I can remember one a huge Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distraction, the big polar bear at Polar Chevrolet, has been greeting auto buyers from the shore of Goose Lake just outside of the city of White Bear Lake. There were years where the polar bear donned sunglasses and a painted swimsuit in the summer or a scarf to ward off the winter cold but this year he is just bare.

For nearly half of a century, the giant bear has towered over cars enticing buyers and delighting youngsters. As toddlers, my own kids loved to pass the bear as we traveled up from North St. Paul to Forest Lake. From time to time we still take the slower route up Hwy 61 when returning from Maplewood Mall or my Keller Williams office in Vadnais Heights. It is always fun to pass by and wave at the huge bear!

Other Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions:

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and  need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet.  I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2007 Teri Eckholm  http://www.terieckholm.com/

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Posted by

Teri Eckholm. REALTOR with Boardman Realty, is a native Minnesotan who has lived and worked in the Minneapolis St Paul metro all of her life. She specializes in lakeshore homes, acreage properties and first time home buyers but assists anyone making a move in the north and east Twin Cities metro.

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give Teri , a call or visit her website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report She specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2019 terieckholm.com

 

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Comments(14)

Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Teri, I love your "artful distractions" series and you have so MANY, they are all terrific.  This one looks carved as well and he's certainly happy :)!
Dec 01, 2007 12:54 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Carol--I think he is made of stucco...definitely not carved. He is HUGE! I think about 3 stories tall but it is hard to estimate as he sits up on a building. That line running throught the sign below the bear is a powerline.
Dec 01, 2007 01:11 PM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Teri,

After reading your many posts on the subject I've got to say you have some really creative people in MN. You must have snow by now from what I saw in the news a little earlier today.

Dec 01, 2007 03:33 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Teri...... this is a neat series. I hope you don't get so much snow that it would cover that polar bear.... lol

jeff belonger
Dec 01, 2007 05:29 PM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI
I'm selfish.  I receive pure pleasure from reading your articles and learning so much about your are!  Thanks Teri, keep`em coming!
Dec 01, 2007 09:38 PM
Susie Roscoe
Signature Realty Associates - Brandon, FL
Real Estate Specialist | Brandon, FL
Teri - I love all t he character these artful distractions offer.  My kids would love them too.  As a matter of fact...we were excited to see SANTA CLAUS yesterday in our ventures around Brandon yesterday.  He was standing on the side of the road waving at cars...it was GREAT!  As far as permanant distractions, I really can't think of any unless you can include the golden arches!  LOL 
Dec 01, 2007 10:49 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Lynda--We do have some creative Minnesotans! This guy was constructed in 1964. There are few new ones...Unless you count all of the Peanuts characters throughout the city that were decorated and sold to construct a memorial to Charles Schultz.

Yes the snow lovers are happy! An early snow after many wimpy winters...We will have the first real white Christmas in years! There was between 6-8 inches in our area. The kids can't wait to ski/snowboard on the real stuff!

Dec 02, 2007 12:28 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Jeff--OK after many wimpy winters we did get a real snowfall yesterday but to cover the bear? Oh my...I certainly hope not as he is huge and on top of a building! Thanks for the comments!
Dec 02, 2007 12:30 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Kris--I am so glad you enjoy the "fun" posts! Each of our areas is so unique...Relocation buyers get a little glimpse into some of the things unique in our communities!
Dec 02, 2007 12:33 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Susie--Yeah we have a few of those "golden" distractions in MN too...Not too artistic or unique though. In the 1980's and early 1990's there used to be a very old outdoor McD playground in Roseville, MN with a Hamburglar jail jungle gym, a Fry kids seesaw and a Grimace slide. It was pretty unique but I think they built an indoor playarea and made it a parking lot!

As for waving Santas...They are pretty distracting but fun for the holidays. Gets the kid in all of us excited for the holidays. We had orange trucks with plows, sand and salt yesterday to get rid of the distracting white stuff. :)

Dec 02, 2007 12:45 AM
Sandra Cummings
William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT
Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut
Teri - I simply love that polar bear! These are so much for to look at. I'm really enjoying this series.
Dec 02, 2007 01:47 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Sandra--Thanks!! There aren't too many more "Giant" ones in my market area...but some smaller unique distractions to continue the series! :)
Dec 02, 2007 01:54 AM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor

Teri,

it is always good to see how you enlight and write a blog from something, you always provide plenty of good information for your state and that makes you very knowledgable, that's why readers love your blogs.

Ray Saenz

 

Dec 02, 2007 03:52 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Ray--These posts are just for fun but since I have lived in the Twin Cities all my life, I guess they are informative too! Thanks for your comments.
Dec 05, 2007 09:04 AM