A Bug-Themed Birthday Party On The Jordan Pond...

CC is the daughter of two Jordan residents who are very involved in making their neighborhood a better place. She lives on the Jordan Pond and has a fascination with insects. So, for her 8th birthday party, CC wanted to celebrate with a bug theme. A local guy called "Bruce The Bug Man" was supposed to be the entertainment, but at the last minute Bruce couldn't show. Into the void of leadership stepped yours truly...

After the kids went bug-hunting I helped with insect identification and a little talk about box elder bugs, bumble bees and the biggest prize of the hunt: what appeared to be an emerald ash borer. If it wasn't an ash borer, well, it sure was pretty and sparkly and emerald-colored. CC had a brand new bug book with thousands of illustrations--in color--to help identify bugs.

Then came the entertainment: me eating bugs. I chowed down on some silkworm pupae which were obtained from Bangkok Market and canned crickets served with wild rice and black bean sauce. The crickets came from a Hmong-owned store in St. Paul's Frogtown. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain bamboo caterpillars and ant larvae. But the show went on, anyway, because THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

The surprising part is not that I ate insects but how many others were willing to take a chance and try some, too. This video captures the moment.