Since this is the time of year when most of us could all really use a cup of coffee to get through our days, I give you another coffee shop on the #mnbucketlist. This one is in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood and serves up so much more than caffeine. I was initially introduced to Groundswell at the Annual Union Depot Bake Sale (1st, 2nd, and 3rd year). Scoring myself handfuls of their “Minnesota Nice” cookies, the ones with icing and a state shaped cutout on top, I didn’t realize they had a physical location until I went with my friend and fellow Minnesota helpmate, Matt. Groundswell and its mission to use high quality coffee roasters and source anything it can locally, started as a ‘resurrection project’ in 2009. In 2011, the place suffered a collapsed ceiling but reopened a few months later; in 2012 it expanded and added a bakery and cultivated a space where artesian crafts could be met with artful coffees. Speaking of artful creations, they have some really incredible pastries like the ginger-honey cake with fresh clementine curd, lavender fig scone with lemon honey icing and the candied bacon chocolate chip donut muffin with bacon streusel. Don’t let the confections fool you, they are quite known for their brunch. Think brioche French toast with lingonberry and champagne caramel for Valentines and the house lox and cream cheese breakfast sandwich for Easter. As a fun added bonus, they even have trivia every Tuesday night. Do you have a favorite neighborhood gem that should be on the bucket list?