We need to talk about Lindey’s in Arden Hills. Have you been here?! A short distance from Bethel University, Lindey’s isn’t just a throwback to a northwoods, 1950’s supper club – it IS a northwoods, 1950’s supper club. The location, a product of those begotten years, with it’s mid-century cabin decor, knotted-cedar paneling, and stone […]
Well hello, hot weather staple! Ice cream is my go-to in the sometimes unforgiving Minnesota heat. And there is no better place to kick it off than Nelson’s Ice Cream in Stillwater. Started in 1923 as the Seven Corners grocery store, owned by John Lustig, it was the place for top-heavy, cold ice cream. After […]
I’d like to preface this by saying that Main Street Farmer Eatery in St. Michael is not only one of the best kept secrets in the west metro but also my mom’s favorite restaurant.Top-notch and exquisite but hidden, Main Street still finds a way to stand out. You can find it nestled on County Road […]
Can we just talk about breakfast for a second? Early summer mornings need hot coffee, heavy portions and quick service. This is where Copper Lantern in St Cloud comes in. Originally opened as the 14th Country Kitchen in the Minnesota-Wisconsin franchise in 1966, the restaurant featured the $.80 Country Boy Burger with fries and cole […]
Do you love caffeine, ice cream and the 1990s / 2000’s television show, Friends? If that’s a resounding, YES! then Central Perk in St. Cloud was a must. Orange couch included, the coffee shop is off St. Germain Street in the Regency Building, across from the Paramount Theatre in the former home of the old […]
One of my last stops during the #MNGFO2017 (Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener) was the Olde Brick House in St. Cloud. While I came for whiskey and chips, it was central Minnesota’s only traditional Irish Pub’s history that stole the show. At the corner of Sixth Avenue and First Street South, the building dates back to […]
For as long as I can remember, this historic, hole-in-the-wall, messy, legendary St. Cloud staple has been on my bucket list. Val’s is famous for their generous portions of greasy fries, sugary shakes and made to order burgers. Home in a 490-square-foot building that was originally a Pure Oil gas station, Val’s Rapid-Serv opened on […]
The next stop of my #MNGFO2017 adventure was Anton’s. A family-owned steakhouse in Waite Park that is a cross between a riverfront log cabin and a full service speakeasy. Which totally makes sense given that it is right off Sauk River and was an actual speakeasy during Prohibition. Built in the 1920’s by Cy Brick, […]
Whenever I plan to stay in a different town, I always make finding a bakery a priority. Coming into St. Cloud for the 2017 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener, I immediately began my quest. Lucky for me, the Dutch Maid Bakery off St. Germaine Street on the east side of the city fit the bill. As […]
It is my personal belief that that only way to make it through mid-weekdays, happily, is by chocolate. You may disagree, and that’s okay; more chocolate for me. Speaking of, I give you Mademoiselle Miel in St Paul. Founded in 2011 by Susan Brown, MM moved to its current location, a small storefront and showroom […]
Airy, warm, cozy Minnesota days like today deserve a beautiful place to spend them. Enter MERCY at the Le Meridien Chambers hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Nestling into the former home of Marin Restaurant & Bar, and D’Amico Kitchen before that, Mercy is named after youngest daughter of co-owners Abby Rakun and Chef Mike Rakun’s. The […]
With Valleyfair opening soon it seems like the perfect time to tell you about their brand-new ride. Located just next to where the Enterprise, now retired, was. Soaring in at a whopping 230 feet, the North Star is the second tallest ride in the park, with the Power Tower in first at 275 feet. Easily […]
Welcome to Tobies. Open 24 hours and hailing as Minnesota’s famous halfway stop (between the Twin Cities and Duluth), they include an ice cream parlor, banquet hall, lounge, tavern, diner, boutique and gift shop, convenience store, gas station and, last but not least, a bakery. One with a national reputation, and a line out to […]
When you think about Canal Park and what you love about it, you may reminisce about the Ariel Lift Bridge glowing in the sunlight, meandering through Bayfront Park, the busy lake walk and masses of seagulls, grabbing donuts at Crabby Ol’ Bills, watching the ships come in, visiting the Maritime Museum or having dinner at […]
Va Bene Caffe, Berarducci’s Italian Restaurant is a quaint restaurant with warm, yellow walls off East Superior Street in Duluth. They have an open kitchen giving the place a welcoming but balanced ambiance. Think romantic date night meets sidewalk café. Intimate but airy, the classic Italian eatery has become the sweetheart of the Northshore crowds. […]
Originally funded as a kickstarter campaign in 2012, Blacklist Artisan Ales was founded by childhood friends Brian Schanzenbach and Jon Loss, and later TJ Estabrock. Starting out contract brewing with Dubrue Brewing Company, a space it couldn’t use for a taproom because it was 4 feet too close to a church. A fire next door […]
How stinkin’ cute are these? They came from Amazing Grace Bakery and Café! If you find your way to Duluth, through Canal Park, make your way to the basement of the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace. Originally built in 1909, the eight story warehouse held furniture until after WWII and the Great Depression, then became a manufacturer and […]
This next #mnbucketlist stop really needs no introduction. Known affectionately by their popular, eclectic, one-of-a-kind mugs, the Duluth Grill in Duluth has amassed a significant following via word-of-mouth. With it being the best kept secret in town, you would be hard-pressed to find a more iconic symbol for Duluth. Another favorite among Duluthians with lines out […]
Opened in 1994, Lake Superior Brewing Company is Minnesota’s oldest micro brewery. A legend in its own right, Lake Superior Brewing Company is a commercial microbrewery in the Northland, starting back in the early 1990s. Duluth’s original craft beer began with a few homebrewers improvising traditional recipes for ambers, pale ales, and stouts. Beginning with […]
In continuing with my off-the-beaten-path approach, I give you the Duquette General Store. Up Highway 23 from the Pine County Historical Society and History Museum, Duquette is a small unincorporated community, built on an early Indian village site. Located along the BNSF Railway, then the Great Northern Railway that runs with the Willow River, it […]
