The Magic Door Bed & Breakfast

The Magic Door is a stately, three story Victorian located on a spacious corner lot, just two blocks from downtown Northfield. It was built in 1899 by Henry Boe, the owner of one of Northfield's first hardware stores. The house had been both a private residence and a triplex before I purchased it in February 2001 to create my bed & breakfast.

Featured in Minnesota Monthly magazine as one of nine great weekend getaway B&Bs.

Featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Travel Section as a favorite retreat for a romantic weekend. The Magic Door has a "reputation for amenities & attention to detail."

The three room inn is quaint and relaxing with beautiful, unique furnishings, designer towels and bedding, quality mattresses and newly remodeled bathrooms. As an experienced B & B patron, I have strived to create the type of place I personally would love to frequent by providing all the amenities I hope to find during my travels and getaways. It is not only my home and my business, but an expression of my personality and spirit of hospitality. The Magic Door  is open! I hope you will come and experience it.

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Northfield is a friendly, historic town situated 35 miles south of the Twin Cities on the Cannon River. It is home to St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges, two top-rated schools that draw students from all over the country. In addition to the attractions and activities available year round on each campus, Northfield also offers many recreational opportunities such as biking, canoeing, golfing, and hiking in the nearby Big Woods State Park. The downtown area contains many well-preserved historic buildings that house restaurants, shops, antique stores, and the town's museum.

After feasting on a delicious and bountiful homecooked breakfast, you can relax in your private whirlpool or sit back and enjoy a movie from our extensive movie selection. The leather couches in the parlor are the perfect place to settle down with a good book, play a game of cards or Scrabble, or simply share some conversation and a cup of tea.

Just a short walk takes you downtown for dining, shopping, or a visit to the local museum, bakery or coffee shops. Stroll along the riverwalk at sunset, or sip a glass of wine on the outdoor patio of a local restaurant.

The Magic Door is perfectly located; close to everything yet peacefully removed from downtown traffic in a quiet and charming residential neighborhood.

Air Conditioning - cable TV with DVD
Extensive Movie Selection - Mini-fridges - CD Players
Afternoon fruit & cheese tray
Robes/Hairdryers - Cozy Parlor - Sitting Nook
Front Porch Seating
Bottomless Cookie Jar - Complimentary wine, beer & sherry
High-speed wireless internet connection

Of the city's numerous annual events, The Defeat of Jesse James Days, a four day festival in early September, attracts the most visitors and publicity. The celebration ignites the town with a carnival atmosphere and features a daily parade and re-enactment of the famed James Gang robbery attempt of the Northfield Bank in 1876.

For a small town, Northfield offers quite a variety of casual dining options. In addition to American cuisine, and the numerous pizza venues you'd expect to find in a college town, we also have Indian, Mexican, and Asian restaurants. Just three miles south in Dundas, you'll also find a charming, little French bistro with a romantic, fine-dining atmosphere. The Downtown area is quaint and inviting, featuring a wide variety of unique shops, a coffee house, ice cream parlour, bakery, museum and even a town square. It's a great place to wander around, shopping, snacking...relaxing by the river. Live music is often available downtown at the Tavern Lounge, The Contented Cow, and The Grand Event Center, and also in nearby Dundas at Dawn's Corner Bar. The colleges frequently offer free concerts throughout the year, as well as sporting events, lectures and seminars. Theater performances are presented by the Northfield Arts Guild and other independent theater groups. For a complete list of local events, contact the Northfield Chamber at (800) 658-2584 or check their websites: www.northfieldchamber.com or visitingnorthfield.com. For local events and information: northfield.org.

Northfield Highlights

• Picturesque, historic downtown area
• St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges
• The Cannon River
• Shops and Antique Stores
• Hiking, Biking, canoeing & golf
• Snowmobiling & skiing
• Numerous Parks
• Carleton's Japanese Garden & Aboretum
• The Christmas Festival
• The Winter Walk

"Our room was so delightful we didn't even go out for dinner! So pretty, so comfortable, and every amenity one could imagine - why go out?!" Adina & Kevin Overbee St Paul, MN

"Thank you for the amazing food and hospitality. The room is exquisite. Of the B&B's we have traveled, we've found yours to be the most relaxing and inviting." Quinn & Amy Bissonette Stewartville, MN

"As frequent patrons of B&B's.. and the former manager of a gourmet restaurant and B&B.. I can confidently declare The Magic Door to be exceptional! It's like taking the best luxuries at each place we have stayed and combining them all in one perfect room!" Kimberly & Christopher Mikla Stillwater, MN

Travelers' Reviews for The Magic Door on BedandBreakfast.com

From 1-35 or Hwy 3 take 19 east into Northfield.
Turn right on Division.
We are on the corner of Ninth and Division

From 52 take Hwy 19 west.  It turns into Division St. when you get into town.  Proceed through the downtown area, pass the Econo Foods on your left, to the corner of Ninth and Divison. 

Theater/ Arts

Oliver Twist, ArTech, April 27-28, May 4-5, 7:30pm, $6 adults, $4 students, on sale at ArTech front desk and at the door, seating is limited.

Northfield High School Spring Play, 4/28-29m 5/4-5, High School Auditorium, 8pm

Senior Show #2, Flaten Art Museum/Dittman Center, St Olaf College,  workds include paiting, drawings, photography, installation, sculpture, ceramics and video, May 6-14, openeing Reception: May 6th, 2-4 pm

All Senior Show, Flaten Art Museum, St Olaf, May 22-27

Music

At the Contented Cow:

Every Monday:  Northern Roots Session, 7:30pm, Study Hall, 9:30-12

Every Tuesday:  Acoustic Jam Session, 7:30-10

Every Wednesday:  Traditional Irish Music Session

5/11  New Moon Trio, 5-7, Fred the Bear, 11-1am

5/12  Jim Lenway, songs of the 60's & 70's, 5-7, Jon Larson, 8-10:30

5/16  Alison Rae, 10-12

5/17  Syttende Mai with Multe, great traditional Nordic music, 5-7, Ian Alexy, 8:30-11

5/18  Carleton Jazz Piano Studio, 5-7, Why Not?, 8-11

5/19  Steve Parry, 6-7:30

5/24  Dylan Fest, more than 20 musicains and bands gather to pay tribute to MN legend Bob Dylan on his 71st birthday, 6-midnight

5/25  Carey Langer, six decades and seven styles of music, 5-7, Spruce Top Review, 8-10:30, Fred and the Bear, 11-1am

5/26  Joe Kroc and Nate Johnson, 5-7, Potluck and the Hot dishes, 8-10

5/30  Alison Rae, 10-12

At The Tavern Lounge, 8/8:30pm- 11/11:30pm:

5/10  Mark Mraz, "the Piano Man"

5/11  Sasha Mercedes, chick singer, songwriter, guitarist from the shores of Lake Superior

5/12  Jon Manners, guitarist

5/17  Ian Alexy, singer/ songwriter/ guitarist

5/18  Matthew Griswold, acoustic folk/rock/pop

5/19  Relativity, favorite local trio

5/25  Art Vandalay, American/ roots music

5/26  Bonnie and the Clydes, songs from the late 60's, early 70's

5/31  Mark Mraz, "The Piano Man"

At Froggy Bottom's:

Thursdays:   Karaoke/ DJ Music

5/11  Whisky Trick, 9:30

5/12  Chad Johnson and Russel Franek, 9:30

At the Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls:

5/12  Girl's Day Away/ Michael Loonan, shop for local handcrafted gifts and clothing.  Live music from 1-4, 10-5pm

5/13  Mother's Day Special/ Don Paulson, live music and a wine flight, ballads and bluegrass

5/19  2nd annual Cannon Falls Veteran's Memorial Benefit with music by Tim Brown, silent auction, $1 of every glass of wine sold benefits the memorial fund, grilled food, wine samples and live music.

5/20  Andrew Walesch, 2-5

5/26  Lingua Luna, Minneapolis based comtemporary folk trio, 1-4, Reno Sweeny, 30's and 40's revival band perform a mix of jazz standards and originals, 5-8

5/27  The  Average Janes, tunes from the 70's through today, 2-5

at Hogan Brothers Acoustic Cafe:

5/12  Deeley Susienka, singer/ songwriter/ guitarist, 6-8

5/18  Barb Piper, modern folk, vocals/ guitar, 6-8

5/19  Tuition Daddies, jazzy tunes,  6-8

5/31  Saint Anyway, country/ bluegrass, 6-8

at The Upstairs Reub ('n Stein)

5/11  Ova Yonder, winner of Carleton's battle of the bands of 2011, features a full horn section, 10-1am

5/15  The Ted Pretzel Experience, "bring your dancing shoes", 10-12

5/25  The Wreckless Band, classic and current rock to country and Christian, "powerful and edgy",  9-midnight

at The Grand Event Center:

5/11  Sweet Stasch and the GNO dancers, (part of Girl's Nite Out- see below),  $10 in advance, $12 at the door, tickets available at The Eclectic Goat and Sister's Ugly or online at thegrandnorthfield.com

5/12  Willie Murphy, piano man Wille and the Angel-Headed Hipsters bring seasoned blues to the Grand, 8:30, $10

5/17  Northfield Wine Club, Summer Sippers, 7-9, free and open to the public

Other Stuff:

5/11  GIRLS NITE OUT, downtown Northfield, gather your girlfriends for a fun night of shopping, giveaways, hors d'ouvres and refreshments at downtown shops, boutiques and restaurants.  The evening peaks with performances and fun at the Grand Event Center with the G.N.O. dancers and Sweet 'Stache. , $10 in advance, $12 at the door, tickets available @ thegrandnorthfield.com

5/12  Concert:  Andrea Een, Grieg and Norweigan Flok Music, First United Church of Christ, 7:30

5/14  From Inspiration to Illumination:  An Introduction to the Saint John's Bible,   Weitz Center for Creativity, Carleton, 7:30, free

5/20  Dr. Sketchy Marvelous Tales, The Contented Cow, Join Dr. Sketchy and sketch.  Types of media allowed: preferably dry but tidy, no cameras.  No easels or drawing boards supplied, so bring your own.  Models are supplied - artists with instinctively good lines and body awareness, ranging from burlesque dancers, roller derby girls to belly dancer and sideshow type folk.  Event may often feature more than one model in various stages of undress or costume.  Experienced and beginning artists alike are welcome to complete in irreverent contests for fanciful prizes.  Food and cocktails are available.  Must be 21 or accompanied by an adult.  No reservation necessary, but seating is limited.  $7, students $5, 2-4pm

5/20  Northfield Troubadors Men's Chorus Annual Spring Concert, Bethel Lutheran Church, 3pm

5/22  Photographer Doug Ohman, Northfield Public Library meeting room, 7pm