By Kerry Roberson

Whether you’re here to cheer your heart out at the Twin’s games, visit a few college or shop ‘til you drop at Mall of America, the MetroTransit Blue and Green Line lights rails are one of the best ways to get around the Twin Cities. Both the Blue and Green light rail stations begin at Target Field and go to the same stops until they get to the U.S. Bank Stadium. At the U.S. Bank Stadium, the light rails split, wishing each other a farewell as they go their separate ways.

The Blue Line travels through Minneapolis and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, ending at Mall of America in Bloomington, while the Green Line travels through St. Paul and ends at the St. Paul Union Depot Station.

Tickets for both of these light rails are inexpensive, and their convenient stops take you to the best hangout spots in town. Avoiding taxi prices, traffic and parking fees are just a few reasons why everyone loves the Twin Cities light rails.

Target Field
There is no better way to get to Target Field to cheer for the Twins baseball team than on the light rail. Both the Blue and Green Line light rails stop right at Target Field, making it one of the easiest places to get to in the Twin Cities. Nearby is the Target Center, which is has been recently remodeled to become an even better venue for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Minnesota Lynx and touring entertainers.

Hennepin Avenue
This light rail stop is surrounded by restaurants, theaters and bars making this the stop for visitors looking for a fun night out. The gourmet Brazilian Steakhouse restaurant Fogo de Chao and Seven Steakhouse Sushi and Rooftop are both right along the light rail, making them some of the most upscale options while touring this entertainment district. After dinner, explore one of Minneapolis’ many theaters. Skyway Theater, Brave New Workshop and the Orpheum Theater, which is part of the Hennepin Theatre Trust District. Between all of these venues, your music, comedy and theatre needs are covered. After all the excitement of the night, relax with a cocktail at one of the surrounding dive bars or kick the night up a notch with one of the dance clubs like Jetset Bar, Aqua Nightclub and Lounge and Deja Vu.

Nicollet Mall
The Blue and Green Line light rails drop off thousands of passengers on the Nicollet Mall every day. Along the 12 blocks, only pedestrians and public transit can cross the tree-lined lane. Both big brands and Minneapolis-unique names occupy Nicollet’s shopping, and large corporate businesses like Target, fine dining restaurants, music venues like Orchestra Hall, and an amazing nightlife are found here as well.

U.S. Bank Stadium
This is the final stop before the Blue and Green Line light rails go their separate ways, and it’s right across the street from the largest completed construction project in Minnesota, the U.S. Bank Stadium. Besides hosting some of the world’s largest entertainers and sports events like the X Games, this 65,000-seat stadium is home to the Minnesota Vikings football team.

Photo courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

After the U.S. Bank Stadium, the Blue and Green Line go their separate ways. The Blue Line continues on through Minneapolis, stopping at all the hottest spots, giving visitors the chance to experience Minneapolis before ending at Mall of America.

METRO Blue Line

Cedar Riverside
On Riverside Avenue you can find a host of ethnic food at places like the Ethiopian eatery the Red Sea or the Lucky Dragon, a Chinese restaurant. The presence of Augsburg University and surrounding small time businesses, independent coffee shops, bars and theaters keep the area teeming with activity.

Minnehaha
For those who want to step back from the busy city life and get back to nature, Minnehaha Falls Regional Park is the place to go. After visiting the stunning 53-foot waterfall, you can grab a po’boy at the seasonally open Sea Salt Eatery, rent a bike from Wheel Fun Rentals or start up a game of ultimate frisbee on the surrounding fields.

Lake Street/Midtown
The Lake Street/Midtown area is full of color and bursting with flavor. Independent restaurants, clothing stores and candy shops line the streets, each with their own flare of creativity. At the heart of it all, is the Midtown Exchange, a multi-level building that houses the Midtown Global Market where you can find foods, clothing, jewelry and more from around the world.

Airport Terminals 1 & 2
The Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport brings global travelers to Minneapolis each day. Both Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) and Terminal 2 (Humphrey) have a light rail stop in their lower levels, making getting out of the airport and to your destination in Minneapolis and St. Paul a breeze.

Mall of America
The last stop on the Blue Line takes you to the largest entertainment and retail center in North America where you can spend the whole day visiting more than 500 high-end chain stores, the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and dozens of restaurants, gaming experiences and interactive attractions. The Mall of America also hosts performances, meet and greets, book signings, competitions, family-friendly events and more on a regular basis, so check the calendar to plan a day of fun.

The Green Line takes visitors through the University of Minnesota, to the state capitol building, all the way to the Union Depot, where you can stroll through the artist venues of Lowertown.

METRO Green Line

West Bank, East Bank and Stadium Village
These trio of stops are home to the University of Minnesota, a college with a wide range of academic degree options and the Minnesota Gophers athletics teams. With the dining, shopping and nightlife areas of Dinkytown, Stadium Village and Seven Corners you’ll find plenty of things to do, and that’s not including what’s on the campus itself, like sports games, exhibits at the Weisman Art Museum, ballets at Northrop Auditorium, plays at Rarig Theatre, and more. 

Snelling Ave
Here lies the Midway Shopping Center where you can find a plethora of restaurants, coffee shops and retailers to visit. From Snelling Ave, you can take a short bus ride down Snelling to visit Hamline University, another one of the state’s top liberal arts colleges, or you can go to the State Fair grounds where you’ll find the Great Minnesota State Get-Together during the last two weeks of summer and a variety of events such as the hip hop festival Soundset, Oktoberfest, the Minnesota Horse Convention and more throughout the year. 

Victoria Street
Surrounding this station you’ll find the Frogtown and Rondo neighborhoods where African, Asian, European and South American immigrants have called home since the 1860s. This area still continues to be one of the most diverse areas in all Minnesota where you’ll find a host of different ethnic restaurants, stores, small businesses and festivals. You can access these neighborhoods by stopping on the Lexington, Victoria or Dale Street stations.

Central Station
History, science and the magic of performing art all come together in this neighborhood. The Minnesota Children’s Museum, Xcel Energy Center and Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, where the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Opera also perform, keep the city of St.Paul chock-full of never-ending fun.

Union Depot
Hop off the light rail here and you’ll find much more than just the old train station of Union Depot. You’ll also find Lowertown, also known as the Artist District because of the many artists that have left their marks with galleries, art shows, dining and more. In Lowertown you can also find the Saint Paul Saints’ baseball stadium, CHS Field, as well as Mears Park, Lowertown Landing, Saint Paul Farmers Market and stores teeming with locally made originals.

Askov Finlayson

Inspired by all things Minnesota, this North Loop boutique features clothing and accessories for the modern Midwest man. Plus, you can peruse the Warby Parker eyeglasses display for a new look.

» 204 N. First St., Minneapolis, 612-206-3925, askovfinlayson.com

Hammer Made

This stylish men’s outfitter has carefully crafted men’s dress shirts, sweaters and more in three Twin Cities locations.

» Galleria, 3380 Galleria, Edina, 952-681-2534; Mall of America, 60 E. Broadway, Bloomington, 952-854-9097; Ridgedale Center, 12401 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka, 952-546-1341, hammermade.com

Martin Patrick 3

Featuring furniture, men’s apparel, accessories and home decor, Martin Patrick 3 has all the bases covered in
men’s fashion.

» 212 Third Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612-746-5329, martinpatrick3.com

By Aubrey Schield

“Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd…” You know how it goes. It’s always fun to join in with your fellow fans in everyone’s favorite baseball tune at a Twins game at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. Even those who don’t consider themselves die hard fans of the great American pastime will enjoy an afternoon or evening watching the Twins with a refreshing drink and hot dog (or Cracker Jacks if you adhere to the rest of the song) in hand.

A Twin Cities resident for most of my life, I’ve gotten Twins game days down to a science. With a few key ingredients, as well as tips, you’ll be attending one of our team’s games like a local, and enjoying a few of my favorite watering holes along the way.

Getting to the Game

Transportation to Target Field is as easy and breezy as a Minnesota summer day. If you don’t mind paying for parking, head to ABC Ramps, located on the northwest edge of downtown Minneapolis. Event parking ranges from $9 to $15, and Ramp A is connected to Target Field via skyway—talk about convenience.

I recommend saving a buck (and doing the ozone a kindness) by using one of Metro Transit’s bus or light rail routes. Catch the Blue and Green line light rails for a quick and painless trip right up to the field’s entrance. Metro Transit’s Northstar also connects northern suburbs to Target Field. You can also use Metro Transit’s Park & Ride lots where you can park your vehicle for free and catch a bus into the city.

Pre-Gaming Spot

Located a few steps from Target Field, Kieran’s Irish Pub is the unofficial pre-game libations partner of the Twins. With a happy hour that runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, you can hit this pub before any game, whether an afternoon or evening slot. And in true Irish pub fashion, they boast a laundry list of draft beer that includes the Irish giants of Guiness and Harp alongside local craft brews. And there’s no shortage of whiskey either.

While I suggest saving your appetite for the mouthwatering concessions available at Target Field, Kieran’s menu might be too enticing to resist. In this case, order a round of Wee Burgers, the signature Chicken Shots (with your choice of honey whiskey glaze, buffalo sauce, dill pickle rub, curry seasoning or scorpion spice for an extra bite) or a couple plates of the corned beef poutine.

Game Time

It’s always a good idea to buy your tickets ahead of time so that you can reserve specific seats, but you can also roll the dice and purchase standing room tickets when you arrive at the stadium. Oftentimes they are much cheaper, and you can still find a good view of the action. I recommend buying standing room tickets on game days you know won’t be as busy, such as weekday afternoon games.

After finding your seats or the spot you’ll be camping out, check out the myriad food and drink options throughout the stadium. And don’t worry about missing the game while you venture for a bite to eat—Target Field has high definition screens throughout the concourse so that you won’t miss a beat. With hundreds of options, it’s a little overwhelming to decide what to get at first. While the traditional hot dog with mustard is my standby, several newbies to the concessions menu are standing out: Try the shrimp boil from 4 Bells’ stand; or check out Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen, which features chicken, beef or pork skewers and a standout sloppy joe; and Murray’s is churning out a smoked beef sandwich that’s to die for.

Rounding Third

No matter what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, there’s always reason to continue the celebration. Head over to Fulton Brewery, located just a few steps away from Target Field in the North Loop. Fulton is a brewery staple for Twins fans, and the crowd gathers quickly after the game, so get there as quick as you can to nab a table and order a round of locally brewed pints. If you have room for more food, Fulton hosts a rotation of food trucks right outside its front door.

After enjoying some beer at Fulton, head to its neighbor, Modist Brewing Co. for a miniature brewery crawl in the North Loop. Rated one of the best new breweries in the country by Beer Advocate in 2016, you’ll love Modist’s unique take on craft beer—their taps tout a salted caramel lager called “Smoove”, a dark rye IPA that goes by “Wasteland” and “First Call”, which is a cold pressed coffee lager. (I didn’t even know a coffee lager was possible.)

Tweet us your favorite Twins game day traditions @visittwincities!

By Charles Brandt

Many businesses large and small have come out of Minnesota over the years. Some have gone on to be develop into international giants, like Target and 3M, while others have maintained a local charm and are celebrated as cherished Minnesota icons. This entrepreneurial spirit continues today; Minnesota is still abundant with new businesses that are working on making their mark. On Saturday, April 15th, many of these local artisans and craftspeople will be showing off their goods at Lowertown Pop Minnesota maker-market in the Waiting Room at Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. Those in attendance will include local brewers, bakers, distillers, artists and musicians. Donut bites, craft beer, cool watches, artisan jewelry and apparel, and Bloody Mary mix are just some of the things you’ll find as you walk through the event.

Union Depot is still adding to the laundry list of local artists and businesses that will be joining for the event. Here is an up-to-date list of makers attending so far.

In addition to meeting some of Minnesota’s finest artisans, the proceeds of the event will be going to a good cause. The event will benefit River’s Edge Academy, a nonprofit organization that “challenges students to discover their greatness by learning through experience in a small, supportive community.” In fact, 50 percent of ticket sales will be donated to the River’s Edge Academy, while the other 50 percent will go to one lucky Minnesota Maker.

Presale tickets are $10 each ($15 at the door).
Free admission for children ages 5 and under.

Lowertown Pop Demonstration Schedule

11 a.m. –  Moxie Malas
Find meaning behind different gem stones and learn to use aromatherapy stones.

11:30 a.m. – Fast Mary’s
Craft a delicious Bloody Mary and use it in your cooking.

Noon –  Anywhere Apparel
Versatile apparel for travel includes a men’s jacket that transforms into a backpack.

12:30 p.m. – Essence One
Enjoy their aromatherapy products for your health and wellbeing.

1 p.m. Isyoma Designs
Multi-functional clothing that doesn’t skimp on style.

1:30 p.m. – Angie’s Hats
Make a hat fit for the Kentucky Derby.

2 p.m. – Beth Soma Style
Learn how to harvest birch bark for one-of-a-kind projects.

2:30 p.m. – Tonja’s Table
Recipes featured in food blogger Tonja Engen’s book.

3:00 p.m. – BET Vodka
Learn how to make three spring and summer cocktails.

3:30 p.m. – Hagen and Oats
“Two sisters and some tools” making custom wood decor.

By Aubrey Schield

Perusing the bookshelves at my favorite book store just got even better, thanks to a gourmet restaurant. Barnes & Noble Kitchen, located within the Edina Galleria location has officially set the bar for bookstores. And it’s a high one.

I’ve always been prone to spend hours inside these bookstores, leafing through favorite authors’ new works, reading back covers and skimming prologues. While I enjoy searching for hidden titles in used bookstores like Magers & Quinn and Half Priced Books, sometimes it’s nice to pick up a slightly-more-expensive copy of a new bestseller. Barnes & Noble’s expansive stores and lengthy inventory make them perfect for these outings, and now their recently renovated location in the Galleria amps it up even further with the unveiling of the Barnes & Noble Kitchen.

The location has an airy aesthetic, reminiscent of an Apple store. While I rather enjoyed getting “lost” within the claustrophobic shelves of Barnes & Nobles’ yesteryear, I figure the sleek interior design mirrors changing times, and it’s something I could get used to. Not to mention, it gives you full view of the shopping section from your table in the Kitchen.

With seating for only 100 (they have tables, bar stools and loungy seating for all types of relaxation), the Kitchen is intimate, despite its modern feel. You would assume this is a seat-yourself situation. And you’d be wrong. With the exception of the walk-up coffee and libations bar, a host will seat you in the dining section. And while the atmosphere and service are top brass, the menu is really the thing that shines.

I visited the Kitchen to see for myself what all the hullabaloo was all about. Let me tell you, it wasn’t for nothing. The menu was crafted by a man named Sheamus Feeley—you may recognize the name from his Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch restaurant in California. Feeley’s menu features ingredient-driven, American fare with a perfect balance of Midwest approachability and five-star-restaurant extravagance.

I ordered the hummus plate as an appetizer and was pleasantly surprised by homemade hummus (my waitress told me they go heavy on the tahini, making a uniquely creamy version) and homemade lavash toast. And though Twin Citians have been gushing about the brisket burger (and for good reason, it’s delicious), I decided to try the salmon, which is served on a bed of tabbouleh salad and punctuated with a basil, pesto-like dressing, next. To call this food fresh would be a terrible injustice. The Kitchen is so dedicated to using brand spanking new ingredients that they don’t even have a freezer. (Well, they do have a tiny one to store ice cream that gets dolloped on a seasonal fruit crisp.) To top off my dining experience, I had the butterscotch pot de crème dessert. The creamy, delightfully sweet dessert is perfect for two (I still have leftovers waiting for me at home).

As you may have guessed, the price tag is not quite as friendly as the wait staff. While the Barnes & Noble Kitchen might look like a studying college student’s dream, the price point is, unfortunately, it’s most obvious gourmet restaurant calling card. However, this shouldn’t be an issue for folks shopping in the Galleria, where high-end brands like Tory Burch and The North Face find a home.

Overall, I highly recommend the recently opened Barnes & Noble Kitchen. Everything off the menu is good, and dining with a new book in hand is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Now let’s hope they open another location soon!