It’s hard to pass up Ideal Diners vibrant marque off Central Avenue. This Northeast Minneapolis landmark was built in 1949, touting iconic slogans like, “where regular people feel special, and special people feel regular” and “14 Stools, 1 Counter, No Bathroom.” Both irrevocably true. For decades, Ideal has been THE quintessential city breakfast spot. Owned […]
The Twin Cities 400 Tavern in North Minneapolis is an expansive restaurant and bar inside the Marriot. Located in an industrial area off of Broadway, the restaurant was formerly Scalzo’s Italian Grille, and prior to that, the Itasca Room at the Ramada Plaza Minneapolis (now the Marriot). It is named for the Twin Cities 400 […]
GIVEAWAY! Read on. What better way to start the weekend than to take a trip to the farmers market, chat up some local growers, bakers and artisans and return to the kitchen to make fresh, straight-from-the-garden favorites? The Abundant Kitchen allowed me to do just that and so much more! Located in downtown Buffalo, The […]
Benedict’s, in the Promenade of Wayzata, is the latest from Mike Rakun, chef-owner of Mercy Bar & Dining Room in Minneapolis. One of the newest on the Wayzata restaurant scene, and already a serious favorite of mine. Sure, they serve the traditional breakfast fare, BUT they throw in their own twist! They have all kinds […]
Madden’s Golf Course in East Gull Lake, Brainerd has a long list of accolades including being rated one of America’s Top 100 Greatest Public Courses. The Classic, Madden’s bar and grill located next to the clubhouse is one of the most popular restaurants in the Brainerd Lakes area and was even rated #3 in The […]
Housed in what looks like a 1970s living room, St Paul’s BlackStack Brewing is just outside of Can Can Wonderland. The giant venue is a renovated warehouse, complete with high ceilings, industrial windows, mid-century modern couches, tables and chairs. They also have an entire wall of board games. Loung-y with a side of pizzazz. Pull up to […]
You may know MN Nice Cream as a little food truck on Instagram but what you may not know is that they just opened up a brick-and-mortar cafe in Northeast Minneapolis. Located in the former home of Empire Coffee across the courtyard from Able Seedhouse + Brewery, MN Nice Cream serves up ice cream tacos […]
Gorman’s Restaurant in Lake Elmo has been around for more than 36 years. Ed and Kathy Gorman originally bought the (former) White Hat Restaurant in 1980, changing the name to its current moniker 20 years later. Gorman’s is brimming with historical photos and antiques. The walls are covered in historical pictures, dating back to the 1800s, framed in original […]
Northeast Minneapolis plays hosts to a pretty hefty number of groundbreaking, good-time places, faces and intoxicating liquor joints. Well, it just got better. Brother Justus Whiskey Co. is a brand new, underground distillery that promises to put Minnesota whiskey back on the map. “Back,” you say? Why yes, didn’t you know that Minnesota made some […]
Lake Monster Brewing started around 2013 and moved into an old railway exchange building in an industrial area of St. Paul in December of 2015. Housed in a 100-year-old, red-brick railroad exchange warehouse on Vandalia Avenue, the 10,000-square-foot space has high ceilings and plenty of open seating. Resting in between I-94 and University Avenue, you […]
This past weekend was the 70th Annual Paul Bunyan Days Festival in Akeley. Some say 68th, some say 69th, but most residents say 70th and I tend to follow local lore. The large, crouching Paul Bunyan statue created by Dean Krotzer has become Akeley’s claim to fame. The mythical lumberjack is directly tied to Akeley’s […]
Eastside is located in the eastern downtown neighborhood in Minneapolis. Located in the ground level of the Latitude 45 apartment building off Washington Ave, this modern, upscale establishment is characterized by its tile floors, industrial chic architecture, high top tables, white oak bar top, and a drink ledge that allows you to gaze at Eastside’s […]
COOK is a small, made-from-scratch, Korean-influenced eatery in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood of St. Paul. Commonly called out as one of the best brunch locations in the Twin Cities, COOK serves up a new take on fan favorites like short ribs eggs benedict, Korean pancakes, curry carrot cake muffins, bi bim bop, and breakfast nachos, mac […]
If you are in the mood for a little retro with a dash of glamour, you’ll want to check out BANK in downtown Minneapolis. Filled with historical significance, BANK resides in the early 20th century Farmers and Mechanics Bank building that is now part of the Westin Hotel. Swoon-worthy spiral staircases, the original vault turned […]
This perfectly iced beauty hails from Jay’z Bakery off Atlantic Avenue in Dassel. Jay’z is owned by Jason and Mona Zimmerman, who together have 38 years experience in the bakery profession including at SuperMoms, Inc, where they met. They offer a wide variety of bread, buns, bagels, cookies, pies, cupcakes and, yep you guessed it […]
On my way out of town, I had to check out the Chief Kandiyohi Statue. Located off Becker Ave in Willmar, the big, golden Chief stands 17 feet tall above his 7 foot tall pedestal. This image became the Kandiyohi County Bank symbol in 1915 although there never was a real Chief Kandiyohi. The icon […]
Ward 6 Food & Drink off Payne Avenue in St. Paul opened in December 2012. Unfortunately, it is set to close on June 3rd. Named for its location, residing in the sixth of the capital city’s seven political districts, Ward 6 sits in a 128-year-old building once served as a taproom for the nearby Hamm’s […]
What better way to finish a day of fishing than with a drink that plays to it? Enter the Reel’em In Italian Soda at the Kofe Shop in Spicer located just down the road from Green Lake. This blue beauty is complete with Swedish Fish and a bobber to top it off! The Kofe Shop […]
During Minnesota’s Governor’s Fishing Opener, Green Lake was filled with anglers, cameras, onlookers, dignitaries, politicians and me. All expected. Although, I was quite surprised to see so many American white pelicans. In the past, the giant white birds and their brilliantly orange bills, once-rare to Minnesota, were a threatened species. From 1878 to 1968, Minnesota […]
Jake’s Pizza and Restaurant was a must-stop during the #MNGFO2018. Located in downtown Willmar, around the corner from Foxhole Brewhouse, Rosita’s and The Goodness Coffee House, Jake’s Pizza is a local favorite. From the spacious layout, accommodating for big groups after games or celebrations, to the thin crust, cheesy, melty pizza masterpieces, Jake’s really delivers. […]
