I have spent the better part of my adulthood as the writer in my family. This designation, while a privilege, is not without personal anguish. I have had the unique opportunity to tell others stories, write the congratulatory toasts, departing words, and put to paper heartaches that were not mine alone. If you have followed […]
If you are looking for a tough (but quick) hike in southern Minnesota, look no further than John A. Latsch State Park. Located just 12 miles northwest of Winona, the roadside park functions primarily as a wayside on U.S. Route 61, which runs between the Mississippi River and the base of three steep bluffs. The […]
My grandfather is dying. They say six months if we’re lucky. I have known death all my life though this is the first time I have had advanced notice. Maybe it’s because I am his namesake. For whatever reason, I am allotted borrowed time. Time to ask him about every photo he has hanging on […]
When I was asked to check out the Safari North Wildlife Park in Brainerd, I jumped at the chance. First, I have spent my entire life passing through Brainerd and I had no idea something so cool would be hiding in plain sight (I mean, besides Paul and Babe), and second, I will look for […]
Growing up in Minnesota, I spent most of my time in the Northwoods. My parents were adamant about safety, education, and conservation. We were required to take DNR courses on things like lawful hunting and fishing, and recreational vehicle and firearm safety. Enter, Mantrap Valley Conservation Club and Auxiliary. The MVCC is a favorite in […]
When I can’t decide what to read, I head to places that allow me to comb through shelves of books I’d never find myself gravitating toward otherwise. Enter, Magers and Quinn. With a brick-and-mortar location in the heart of Minneapolis’s Uptown neighborhood, it is one of the largest independent bookstores in the Midwest. Think of […]
There is something about a small-town ice cream parlor; the smell of warm saccharine wafting in the air, cheery staff that make servicing swaths of people look like a breeze, and an invitingly dim-lit patio ushering you in as a summer day comes to a cool. Selma’s Ice Cream Parlour in picturesque downtown Afton fits […]
Guest Post: Did you know that Minnesota became the 32nd state of the union on May 11, 1858? Did you also know that I came into the world, meant to usher in travelers to the Two Harbors area, 101 years later? It’s true! You can’t make this stuff up! Since everyone else is telling you […]
Imagine, if you will, a stroll down Lyndale Ave. Without warning, it begins to rain. You dash off on to a side street to escape the weather and come to find yourself down a staircase and into a bookstore. You shake the droplets and look around. Each corner of the worn-in lower level comes complete […]
If you are like me, you are longing to patron your favorite places, especially those that feel like a home away from home. That is the Minnesota History Center (and Historical Society) for me. I was lucky enough to head to the basement during graduate school to see all the incredible artifacts for archival research. […]
My bucket list always includes a long lineup of books by Minnesota authors and books about Minnesota itself. Every time I head to the woods, or pack for a road trip, I head to a local bookstore and scour the shelves for the next home-away-from-home favorite. The staff at Zenith Bookstore in Duluth have always […]
My favorite time of year to eat ice cream is in winter. Call me crazy but there is nothing better than matching cold with flavor AND you don’t have to worry about it melting! Enter, Love Creamery. Located off Superior Street in Duluth’s up-and-coming Lincoln Park area, you can find Love next to Corktown Deli […]
The Zenith Bookstore in West Duluth is a worn-in, well-loved bibliophiles paradise. It is located just off the highway in a former liquor store next to Beaner’s Central coffeehouse, now Wussow’s Concert Cafe. You can’t miss it, just look for the vibrant and inviting mural of a collection of books painted by local artist Tom […]
During the winter, social media feeds are filled with two groups of people, those that have mastered skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, and other cold-weather endeavors with the smiles and hordes of gear to prove it, and those that stay inside. There isn’t often a medium. I find myself to be someone who falls in the […]
When it comes to tiny breakfast joints, Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown takes the cake. Ubiquitous in the list of iconic places in the Twin Cities, the narrow stop is a whopping 9 feet long and 10 feet wide. Al’s serves made-from-scratch breakfast fare, sass, and cramped quarters. Paying homage to their history and neighborhood, you […]
Whenever my mom gives a recommendation, I go out of my way to indulge. She has an eye for finding diamonds. This time, she had me head to the Tipsy Chicken Kitchen and Cocktails and it did not disappoint! Tucked away in a strip mall on the edge of Elk River, Tipsy has an old-farmhouse-meets-retro-rustic […]
GIVEAWAY! This time of year, I am constantly having visions of all the fun things I am planning to do over the summer. Hike the North Shore, lay on the beach, and more than anything, get on the water. I have a feeling some of you might feel the same as I do. Because of […]
When it comes to my favorite places, Kramarczuk’s Sausage Company tops the list. The eastern European restaurant and deli began in the East Bank-Nicollet Island neighborhood and has become one of the most chosen places for freshly baked bread, pastries, smoked sausages, and stewed cabbage. A local institution of the Northeast part of the city […]
The Buttered Tin is a warm and welcoming corner café and bakery in Saint Paul, just up the block from CHS Field and the Union Depot. A Lowertown neighborhood staple since 2013, the place has a line out the door – with good reason. As soon as you walk in, you will be greeted by […]
Another tradition to add to your holiday docket; The European Christmas Market in St. Paul. Located on the East Plaza of Union Depot, it is a traditional, charming, and festive open-air Market that is reminiscent of the Cologne Christmas Market in Germany, the Tuomaan Markkinat in Helsinki, the Viennese Dream Christmas Market and Salzburg Christkindlmarkt in Austria, the Christmas in Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Christkindesmäkir in Strasbourg, […]
