First comes a deep sigh. Then, “We are sad to say that due to the bad economics that are going on, the Historic Anderson House has had to close its doors.” So says the recorded message at the telephone number of the Wabasha hotel, known for its abundance of cats. Built in 1856, it had been the oldest operating B&B in the state until it closed recently.

I only stayed at the Wabasha hotel once, but it was, as they say, a night to remember.

I’d fled from a hearby loud rental house squeezed between a working railroad track and a busy street, knocked on the locked door of the Historic Anderson House and was delighted when the front desk clerk, who was closing down for the night, welcomed me in. She suggested I stay on the second floor — people checking for ghosts occupied the top floor– and offered a cat to keep me company. I wasn’t visited by apparitions, but the plump cat did its part to interrupt my sleep; she wanted to sleep on my head. I viewed this as a sign of affection and found it sweet rather than annoying.

I’ll hold fast to the final sentence of the recorded message: “Hopefully one day you will be able to come back again.”

Get a head start on St. Patrick’s Day with Milwaukee’s annual parade, which takes place this Saturday at noon. The celebration features Cleveland bagpiper John Coleman, who enjoyed 40 seconds of fame when he was suspended from his bagpiper unit for waving at President Obama during the inaugural parade.

If St. Paddy’s isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other reasons to check out Wisconsin’s largest city, including a visit to architect Santiago Calatrava’s magnificent Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum. For more tips, click here for the Star Tribune’s weekend guide.

If there’s a time to make the long snowdrift-dodging drive to Fargo, this weekend is it. On Saturday, the 9th annual Fargo Film Festival - which offers an array of experimental, animation and documentary work and includes a “Native American Voices” category - will air its best works.  Chief among them is the animated film “I am so Proud of You,” by Oscar-nominated director Don Hertzseld. The documentary “Abel Raises Cain,” about infamous comedian and prankster Alan Abel, won the best documentary prize in Fargo. Also in Saturday’s lineup is “Fritz: The Walter Mondale Story” by Twin Cities documentarian Melody Gilbert.The festival actually opens today with a pre-party at the Silver Moon Super Club (for those who want to skip out of town early). Each day, there will be panel discussion with visiting filmmakers. Best bet for a bed check: Go to the Hotel Donaldson, a sleek boutique hotel in downtown Fargo with flat-screen TVs and original art.

What are you doing this weekend? If you have an idea for a current or future weekend pick, let us know.