Even if Jason DeRusha weren’t an early bird to begin with, as an anchor on WCCO’s morning and mid-morning shows, he is now. (As in 2:28 a.m. wake-up call, early.) While Minnesotans know him best for light-hearted segments like “The Good Question” or his current foodie one “DeRusha Eats,” he has convened every type of story in Minnesota, from the joyful to the tragic. If anyone knows the spirit of the Twin Cities, it’s DeRusha.

Kelly A. Pederson

What made you first interested in journalism?

I’ve wanted to be a journalist since I was a kid. I grew up watching the news every night with my family in suburban Chicago, but I vividly remember watching live coverage of the Tiananmen Square uprising and sitting in my living room as journalists are standing there reporting what I knew was going to be in the history books someday. It blew my mind to watch that live coming into my house in my middle class suburb of Chicago. I knew I wanted to be apart of that. I love history, I love telling stories, and that’s really what we do every day. I’m one of those lifers where, from a very early age, this is what I wanted to do.  

When you were first starting out, did you think that you’d be here in the Twin Cities still?

The Twin Cities have a national reputation, so when I started as a reporter in the quad cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois, and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we of course knew the Twin Cities had a reputation of having really high quality TV newsrooms, so I was always interested in coming here, but I never would have guessed that here I would be, almost 15 years later in the Twin Cities.

I think a lot of people in my business end up coming here and think, “Oh, I’ll be here for three years or five years …” That’s kind of how television news works, spend a couple years in one city and then move onto a big city, but when people come here they tend to fall in love with it. It’s a great place to live and a great place to work.

What was your first impression of the Twin Cities?

When I first moved here, my wife and I got married in the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. So it was 1998, and here I am, this 23-year-old kid standing at the front of one of the nation’s most beautiful churches and the longest aisle you could imagine, my wife-to-be to have to walk up. And that’s the memory.

You know, we took our wedding party pictures in the sculpture garden across the street, which is one of my favorite places to bring people in the Twin Cities. The sculpture garden is so cool. Right? I mean, you have the skyline right there, you can walk to the Walker of course, which is right there, but to have all of these crazy, beautiful, thought-provoking sculptures smack in the middle of downtown Minneapolis is pretty cool.

This year, we went to visit the sculpture garden in Washington, D.C., and I thought, “Oh, it’s going to be pretty good,” right? “It’s in Washington, D.C.” It’s nothing. It’s tiny compared to our sculpture garden, which really is fantastic.

After all of the stories that you have done for the Twin Cities, is there one that you still come back to time after time?

Unfortunately the story that is seared in my mind the most is the worst thing I ever had to cover here,  which is the 35W bridge collapse. I was one of the first reporters on the scene that night. We saw the worst thing that’s ever happened in the history of the state on that night. But we also saw the best, that people regardless of their politics or their race or their background, they jumped in to help, and you saw an incredible response that night that I’ll never forget.

You’ve seen so much of the community here. How would you describe it?

Minnesotans genuinely are friendly and helpful people, so I think of our community as active, friendly, helpful and extremely proud of where we live. if you ask a Minnesotan to tell you about their favorite place to go in their city, you better be in a comfortable chair to hear all of the things they’re going to tell you. People love this place. I know everyone thinks that people love where they live. But I’ve lived in different cities—it’s not always the case. People here are really proud of this state. They’re proud of the natural beauty; they’re excited about the fact that we’re starting to get more national attention for our museums and our restaurants and our beers and our spirits. People are really proud.. That pride is infectious. As a newcomer, you start … It’s hard not to fall in love with it.

Kelly A. Pederson

What do you like about the Twin Cities as far as a place to live?

You’ve got everything you could want here. You’ve got great culture; you’ve got all the sports teams, the professional and the college. I would say that the food scene we have today, I would put up with just about any city in the country. Plus you have all of the urban amenities, and you’re a 20-minute drive from a gorgeous lake—no matter where you live here, you’re 20 minutes from a gorgeous lake. You can enjoy the beautiful nature that you have here in Minnesota as well as the nightlife, the culture, the sports that come with the big city. It’s a very unusual combination. I have kids now, so the schools are amazing here; the neighborhoods are fantastic. I live in a block that has about 15 kids who line up at the bus stop. I mean how great is that when you have kids, where you have that kind of environment for them to grow up in?

You mention the food scene: How did you get started out as a food critic?

Basically I’m an example of somebody who started a Twitter account about food: You know how people say, “Oh, Twitter is just people tweeting pictures of what they had for lunch?” I was tweeting those pictures, and people seemed interested in it, and so I did more of it and more of it. Then I judged that cooking competition (for Minnesota Monthly in 2008). …

In 2008, 2009, I started doing restaurant reviews of suburban spots. Over the years I’ve tried to apply the perspective of an eater and a journalist to my food writing. I’m not a cook, although my wife and I like to cook at home. I’ve never worked at a restaurant unless you count the concessions stand at a swimming pool that I was the manager of when I was in high school. I just try to learn and ask questions and to ask more questions and try to come at it from that perspective.

I’m always thinking of the person who’s eating out. I’m not writing for the chefs; I’m not writing for the culinary community. I’m writing for the average person who might be spending $80 on a babysitter, $10 to park the car and $100 on a special dinner. That’s who I care about.

And on your rare days off, what do you do?

I love riding my bike. This is something I’ve really started doing these past couple of years. We have an incredible network of trails, even in the suburbs in the Twin Cities. I can ride my bike from my suburb all the way down to downtown Minneapolis on a bike trail, which is pretty crazy if you think about it. But I like to ride my bike through the Elm Creek Park Reserve and around to the Coon Rapids dam. We’ll do that as a family as well, so that’s fun for us.

You know, a calm day off for the DeRusha family would be an absolutely insane, jam-packed day for most people. My wife works at home—she’s a financial analyst for a bank—so the weekends come around and she’s ready to get out. We’re not a big, hang-out-on-the-backyard, kind of family. We like to get out and explore and be doing things in the community.

Sponsored by Pedal Pub Twin Cities

Minneapolis and St. Paul are full of bustling scenes—the dining scene, the arts and culture scene, the nightlife scene, and especially in the warmer months, the outdoor scene. We have the big names in each, of course, but to really get a sense of the Twin Cities and to meet new people, don’t overlook the hidden gems. Here are five of our top picks:

Pedal Pub Twin Cities

Sip some suds with new friends with Pedal Pub Twin Cities. Pedal Pub gives you a couple of hours of cruising around Minneapolis and St. Paul to visit some of the best spots around town for a beer or drink.

Buy an individual seat on a mixer tour and meet people who are interested in some of the same things you are: good drinks, Twin Cities living, a bit of fresh air and fun. With seven routes across both metros, you’re bound to find a new hangout spot for later and meet someone to go to it with. If you want to create a customized tour with family, friends or coworkers, check out their private events, too.

Taste Twin Cities Food Tours

Food is one of the great uniters of life. Join a public tour by Taste Twin Cities and walk along the scenic Minneapolis riverfront, in Northeast Minneapolis, around either downtowns, or even in the skyways. (Trust us—the skyways have their own ecosystem, and it’s largely centered around food.) Once the food is served, conversations starts flowing. Also check out their themed public bus tours on pizza and wineries or their private tour options.

Open Mic Nights

Open Mic nights combine local sound, local venues, and of course, local artists and art appreciators. For poetry, one option is to go to Kieran’s Irish Pub in downtown Minneapolis every fourth Tuesday for Poetry SlamMN!; you might even get picked as one of the five random judges. Moto-I has one of the biggest music open mics in the city every Tuesday, but for something more intimate, where performers come to play and chat, try The Warming House. Don’t forget about comedy; the weekly one at Comedy Corner Underground is always a good option.

Social Dances

The Twin Cities have a bounty of social dance places where you can move to the beat, no shoes required. Of course we have hopping night clubs, but for ones that can give you a taste of salsa, ballroom, swing and more.

Check out places like Tapestry Folkdance Center, with drop-in and beginner classes for line dancing, international dances, ballroom parties, and more; the popular Mediterranean Cruise Cafe, which offers late night Salsa Saturdays; and one of the favorites, St. Paul’s historic Wabasha Street Caves for swing dancing. (Find even more places in our roundup.)

Each starts the night with some introductory lessons, and then from there, you can dance the night away and mingle when you want to take a break from the dance floor. People who go know it’s called social dance for a reason, so you’ll find that people are usually more than willing to say hello or even share some moves.

Outdoor Yoga

Through September, Mill City Farmers Market is hosting semiweekly outdoor yoga, courtesy of Alchemy 365 and YogaFit. Bring a mat or just go on the grass and stretch out, and meet other people who like to hit refresh in the same ways you do. Make sure to check out the farmers market before or after.

Spring has (finally) sprung, and we know that means one thing: farmers market season. Mill City Farmer’s Market (MCFM) is back for its 13th season in downtown Minneapolis with 21 new vendors. Located between the Guthrie Theater and Mill City Museum, you won’t be able to miss this unique outdoor experience that caters to every palate every Saturday, May through October, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Each of the 60-plus local food and drink vendors has its own personal flair, but here are five musts to make your stomach growl and leave your mouth watering. So bring your trusty tote and mighty appetite; you’ll want to take some of these goods home with you.

The Bolt Coffee & Juice Bar

Don’t miss a single Saturday morning memory!  Consider shuffling your tired feet to The Bolt Coffee & Juice Bar for that liquid lightning. The certified organic and fair trade peace coffee, espresso drinks, tea, and fresh-squeezed juices will jolt you awake, keep your droopy eyelids peeled and ensure your full enjoyment (and consciousness) at the MCFM.

Burning River Farm

Burning River Farm has been with MCFM since the beginning. Their 15-acre farm located in Frederic, Wisconsin, uses no herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and their aim at all things “fresh” doesn’t stop there. Burning River Farm is also a “Certified Naturally Grown” farm—a farmer-centric alternative to the USDA Organic label. Find your favorite vegetables, salad mixes and field-grown greens from a vendor you can feel great about.

 Mrs. Kelly’s Tea

Courtesy of Mrs. Kelly's Tea

Mrs. Kelly’s Tea at the Mill City Farmers Market.

Mindy Kelly focuses on simplicity in her tea blends. She sells dozens of different black, green, oolong, and white teas along with must-have tea accessories, sweeteners and gift certificates. The tea leaves come from commendable tea farms with humane working conditions and no pesticide use. Mrs. Kelly’s tea blends have taken top awards around the metro including “Best Tea of Show” at Calhoun Coffee Fest and “Best Natural Product of Show” at the Twin Cities Food & Wine Show.

Solomon’s Bakery

Dark pumpernickel, marble rye, and potato rosemary rolls. Whole wheat, sunflower wheat and seven-grain sliced bread loaves. Breakfast pastries, quiche, cookies and more. Are you hungry yet? Solomon’s Bakery and its small staff of six bring a wide selection of savory and sugary goodness to hungry customers. Need a recommendation? Take a chance on the chocolate- and almond-filled croissant.

Red Table Meat Co.

Courtesy of Red Table Meat Co.

A selection of meats from Red Table Meat Co.

Red Table Meat Co. is a one-stop-shop for all your pork needs.  Founders Mike Phillip and Kieran Folliard promise customers heritage breed hogs from six small and sustainable Minnesota and Wisconsin farms to provide the best of the best. Since 2016, three products have received a Good Food Award: a spicy fennel and garlic salami called “Big Chet’s,” a cooked smoked ham called “The Royal,” and a dry-cured smoked ham called “Speck.” Whether your meat of choice is aged six weeks or six months, you’re guaranteed to find “Good Meat Here.”

Ah. Mothers. The women who truly keep the world spinning. Celebrate the mothers in your life by treating them to one of the Sunday brunches below. Whether you’re looking for something fancy or something a little more on the casual side, Minneapolis and St. Paul have plenty of options for you and your loved ones.

Café & Bar Lurcat

For an elegant brunch, enjoy a three course brunch at Café & Bar Lurcat in Loring Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—the special is $35 for adults and $12 for children.

Nicollet Island Inn

Make a reservation at Nicollet Island Inn in Minneapolis for a five course brunch that includes items like fresh pastries, eggs benedict, mushroom gnocchi and chocolate mousse. The brunch is $48 for adults, and a three course kid’s menu is available for $18.

St. Genevieve

St. Genevieve in St. Paul will be offering a two course brunch menu ($31 for adults and $12 for children) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Menu items include parfait of king crab and avocado, hen egg en cocotte or a grilled hanger steak. View the full brunch menu here.

McCormick & Schmick’s

For a classy buffet-style brunch, book a table at McCormick & Schmick’s in downtown Minneapolis for $59 for adults and $19 for children. Buffet includes a seafood bar, carving station, omelet and crepe station, and desserts such as chocolate dipped strawberries, carrot and vanilla cupcakes, and house-made biscotti. View more menu options here.

The Copper Hen

For those with a busy Mother’s Day schedule, make a reservation at The Copper Hen which will be serving a brunch buffet from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Brunch items include cheddar biscuits and sausage gravy, a farmhouse salad, bread pudding, and chicken pot pie and baked macaroni and cheese, both served after 3 p.m. View the full brunch buffet menu here.

Groundswell

For more of a laid-back option, Groundswell in St. Paul will be serving a special Mother’s Day brunch featuring sweet and savory menu items along with some chef specials from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are available for groups up to 12 people. 

Psycho Suzi’s

Treat your mother to bottomless tropical mimosas or a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar plus a Mother’s Day brunch buffet at Psycho Suzi’s in Northeast Minneapolis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Psycho Suzi’s recommends reservations, but buffet tickets will be available upon arrival as well.

Esker Grove

For a floral twist to a Mother’s Day brunch, visit Esker Grove (voted one of the best brunch spots in Minneapolis) inside the Walker Art Museum which will also be featuring a floral pop-up shop from Honeycomb Collective, adjacent to Esker Grove. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Betty Danger’s Country Club

Psycho Suzi’s sister restaurant, Betty Danger’s, will be offering a brunch buffet special for $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids. Besides enjoying brunch staples, guests are invited to ride the Danger (Ferris wheel) and play mini golf. Buffet tickets will be available at the door, but Betty Danger’s strongly encourages guests to make reservations. You can make your own here.

St. Paul Grill

The classy St. Paul Grill will be offering mothers and their families a la carte brunch between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Brunch items include salted caramel bourbon banana waffle, lemon ricotta pancakes, lobster scramble and vanilla bourbon French toast. You can view the full brunch menu here.

Like many holidays in the calendar year, Mother’s Day can be over-commercialized. But does it really hurt to get a little reminder to celebrate one of the most important bonds in life? Blood related or otherwise, mothers can make such a difference in everyone’s life, so make some time to show them just how much you love them with these events around the Twin Cities.

Woman Power

This trio of events is all about mom and woman power. Listen To Your Mother (May 10) reflects on the trials and treasures of motherhood with live, onstage readings. Minneapolis’ takes place in the historic Riverview Theater, but these events are also happening across the continent. Two days later, the Minnesota Lynx are taking on the Chicago Sky. Ok, game day is the day before Mother’s Day, and it’s not necessarily Mother’s Day-themed, but we would have egg on our face if we didn’t mention some of the strongest women in the state as they warm up for a run at a fifth championship title in the last eight years. As Mother’s Day wraps up on Sunday, May 13, go to the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant for Soul Women: Three local vocalists are going to bring the house down.

Get Active, Get Outdoors

On Mother’s Day, moms get in free at the Minnesota Zoo, and they are also treated to discounts at the gift store and IMAX Theatre. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is always free, and while they don’t have long outdoor trails filled with sea otters, farm babies and Asian wild horses or a red panda on their Tropics Trail, they have a special Mother’s Day bonsai show in addition to their polar bear, great apes and spectacular conservatory.

On May 12, you can get your hands dirty with the Three Rivers Park District’s Mother’s Day Weekend Tree Planting. Otherwise, on Mother’s Day, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary’s special Mother’s Day Wildflower Walks at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. will get you outdoors in nature as will the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s 1,200 acres and vibrant tulip show. For a different change of pace outside, take advantage of the DNR’s Take a Mom Fishing Weekend, where moms can fish without a fishing license all weekend—children under 16 can always fish without a license—or go on one of the first Mississippi River tours of the season at Paradise Charter Cruises. For the really active, run or walk a Mother’s Day 5K together.

Get Artsy

Creators Space in St. Paul has a handful of crafty classes for Mother’s Day the entire weekend you can do with your mother, such as painting a flower still life, making herbal healing salve or even painting a portrait of your pet. If you’re on the west side of the cities on May 13, St. Louis Park’s Pinot’s Palette offers an all ages (13-plus recommended), no-experience-needed, discounted art class with available refreshments—and your mom will get to sip on a free mimosa—while you paint Van Gogh’s “Daisies and Poppies.” If you have a child ages 7 to 15, check out Mother’s Day Tea at Way Cool Cooking School for a morning of baking goodies for a tea with mom.

It’s Showtime

With such a bustling arts and culture scene, check out these performing arts options you can treat your mother to. On May 12, see the decadent and emotional opera Thäis in St. Paul, or see the St. Paul Ballet all weekend in their 1920s adaptation of Bizet’s “Carmen.” At the Guthrie, they’re doing the classic “Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner?” among other shows, and for a whole family affair, consider the Children Theatre Co.’s whimsical “Lorax” or the high energy “Newsies” at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. (For a taste of both of the latter, check out our reviews here and here, respectively.) And, of course, who could forget the St. Paul Civic Symphony’s annual free Mother’s Day concert? This year it features Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” at the Landmark Center at 1 p.m. on May 13.

Getting Gifts or Time Together?

The day before Mother’s Day, JB Hudson Jewelers on Nicollet is offering an upstairs children’s beading clinic where they’ll make a bead bracelet for mom with a personalized metal charm, and downstairs in the main area, the Mother’s Day trunk show will be out and glimmering. (In short, the perfect way to either get a last minute Mother’s Day present or bring her along so there’s no guessing what she likes.) Another pre-Mother’s Day event that could either be a gift, bonding or both are the Mother’s Day Arrangement Classes at Block Studios on May 10 where she can take home a vase of flowers specially arranged by you.

It’s time to paint the town red with the 23rd annual Art-A-Whirl. Scratch that. It’s time to paint the town every color found inside Crayola’s 64-count crayon box. You know, the box that every kid in class with the standard 24-count box (me) was jealous of. I mean, it had the Macaroni and Cheese and Purple Mountains’ Majesty colors and the sharpener on the back. Come on, it was like Christmas morning for kindergarten art projects.

Covering Northeast Minneapolis in a blanket of creativity Friday, May 18, through Sunday, May 20, the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association’s (NEMAA) Art-A-Whirl will give visitors a chance to view the creations from more than 650 artists at more than 50 locations, including Vevang MPLS, Solar Arts Building, Casket Arts Building and many, many more. A full list of participating locations can be found on the 2018 Art-A-Whirl map.

But it doesn’t stop there. Art-A-Whirl, which happens to be the largest annual open artist studio tour in the U.S., will also give art enthusiasts the opportunity to view demonstrations, mini workshops, installations and special exhibitions during the artists’ open studio tours. And the best part about all of this is the price of admission: free. Visitors can go to one, two or all three days, view as much art as they want, all for $0.00.

Trolley Rides

And don’t let the anxiety of trying to find parking put a damper on your plans. Free trolley rides will run all weekend, picking up and dropping off visitors approximately every 15 minutes at a number of locations spread across the event.

First Trolley Departs:
Grain Belt Studios
Friday, May 18: 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 19: noon
Sunday, May 20: noon

Last Trolley Departs
Grain Belt Studios
Friday, May 18: 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 19: 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 20: 5 p.m.

A full list of trolley stops can be found here.

Dining

All of this art observing will no doubt leave you hungry and thirsty. Fortunately, there are plenty of dining options just blocks—or even steps—away from participating locations. Chow down on a plate of Red Stag Stroganoff or roasted half chicken at Red Stag Supperclub—one of the brainchild’s of James Beard Award semifinalist Kim Bartmann. Or quench your thirst with a slew of craft ciders at Sociable Cider Werks.

The Twin Cities have long been known as an arts mecca. It’s a community that values the freedom of expression, and events such as Art-A-Whirl are just one of the many pieces of that creativity puzzle.

Join the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for its “Stars of Spring” show as it celebrates not only its 60th year anniversary, but its ranking as the country’s top botanical garden in the 2017 USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards as well—an honor that’s well-deserved and easy to see why if you’ve ever spent any time walking through the 1,200-plus acres of gardens, tree collections, prairie, woods and trails.

To commemorate such momentous achievements, Duane Otto, the mastermind behind the arboretum’s tulip collection for the past three decades, has carefully crafted and tended to a panorama of petals that features 38,000 budding tulips in brilliant and vibrant shades of blue, lavender, violet, pink and silvery white spread out over a number of gardens across the grounds.

Where to find them:

• Griggs Annual Gardens: 10 beds with 20,750 bulbs
• Gatehouse Entry Garden: 5,200 bulbs
• Morgan Terrace Gardens: 200 bulbs
• Home Demo Garden: 1,000 bulbs
• Snyder Building Spiegel Entrance Garden and Terrace: 1,200 bulbs
• Flagpole Bed outside Snyder Building: 750 bulbs
• Snyder Sidewalk Bed: 800 bulbs
• Oswald Visitor Center Entry: 3,600 bulbs
• Terrace Gardens
• 60th Anniversary tulip garden

When:

Visit Thursday, May 10, 5:30 p.m. for a first-look preview. Tickets are $10 member, $20 non-member, $5 children ages 15 and under. Also included in the price of a ticket are light refreshments, expert talks on tulips and an informal garden tour. And if you can’t make it for the preview event, don’t fret. The show will go on for as long as the weather cooperates throughout the season. If you’re just looking to visit the arboretum and not partake in the event, general admission tickets run for $15, and children 15 and under get in free.

The “Stars of Spring” show is the perfect way to bid winter adieu for a handful of months and welcome what’s sure to be another spectacular Minnesota spring and summer.

Let’s get one thing clear: Hiking is a big deal in Minneapolis. As you probably know, there are many benefits of taking the dirt-trail less traveled. Aside from the obvious peace of mind, tranquility and thigh burn, hiking is a great way to experience the great outdoors while staying close to the city.

Sure, many cities in America have urban hiking trails, but few have as many trails as Minneapolis. Maybe that’s why Minneapolis has been named one of the best places to live by Outside Magazine time and time again.

We’ve rounded up some of the best hikes in the city and surrounding area that will satisfy your hiking itch. Even better, most of these hikes can be reached by city bus or light rail. While you’re at it, check out our guide to hiking in St Paul. 

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden 

Molly O.

Summer at Eloise Butler

The gold standard of urban hiking, the trails of Eloise Butler take hikers through a web of scenic Minnesota low-land. Park your car at Eloise Butler (or, better yet, take the city bus there), and set off on one of the many trails that meander through untouched ponds and vibrant marsh ecosystems. If you take the hike in the summer, the buzz of the freeway will soon fade away, replaced by the hum of frogs and cicadas.

Minnehaha Falls Regional Park

Kyle Smelter

Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls Regional Park has something for everyone—including the hikers who want to escape the buzz of the city but also want to end up at a cool urban eatery afterward. Starting at the Minnehaha Falls picnic area, the trail drops visitors into rolling, bucolic wonderland that includes over 10-miles of trails and handsome views of the 53-foot-tall Minnehaha waterfall. Even better, you’ll end up right where you started, at the crux of Minnehaha Falls and the adjacent Sea Salt Eatery. The crawfish po’boy is always worth the wait.

Carver Park Reserve

Allan Tokuda

Carver Park Reserve Canopy

Boasting the most trails in the west metro, Carver Park is a great place to spend an afternoon. If you go at dusk, you’ll no doubt be joined by local swallows and perhaps even a bald eagle or two. Take in Minnesota’s diverse swampland from Carver Park’s boardwalk—a 1,700 foot floating boardwalk that will transport you in the eerie tamarack swamps.

Fort Snelling 

Nature Nerd

Fort Snelling State Park

 Long before Minnesota received its statehood, Fort Snelling was a military outpost. During the Civil War era, it even served as a training ground for Union soldiers. Now, the trails—which traverse through the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers and link up to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge—will immerse you in this history and the decades of conflict between the colonizers and the rivers’ original settlers, the Objibwe people.

Murphy-Hanrehan Park 

Starting at the Old Cedar Bridge, the Murphy-Hanrehan trail system is an oasis for hikers and mountain bikers. You’ll link up with the Wood Duck trail which will lead you through some of the hilliest terrain in the Twin Cities. At 20 miles, Murphy-Hanrehan is one of the most diverse parks in the metro area, providing both hilly forests and flat marshlands. The diversity makes for some of the best bird watching in town. Expect to see blackbirds, blue herons and egrets on this hike.

It’s crazy to think that it has been two years since Prince passed away (where has the time gone?), but the Twin Cites are making sure that their iconic superstar is remembered. Check out these Prince events taking place around the Twin Cities this weekend:

Celebration 2018

No doubt the biggest—and most expensive—Prince event, Celebration 2018 will be hosted at the historic Paisley Park April 19–22 and will honor Prince’s life with live music, panel discussions and special presentations highlighting Prince’s talent as a musician, composer, producer, performer and filmmaker. Live performers include Sheila E. and fDeluxe, formerly known as The Family, and speakers include Brent Fischer, Steve Parke and more.

Paisley Park Presents ‘Prince: Live on the Big Screen’

Part of Paisley Park’s Celebration 2018, “Prince: Live on the Big Screen” will take place at the Target Center and feature remastered and never-before released audio and video of Prince. An all-star ensemble of musicians who knew Prince and worked with him will accompany the production. Originally planned for Saturday, April 21, the event will now take place on Friday, April 20 due to a Minnesota Timberwolves playoff game. Some people are upset with the change, but others are saying it’s a little gift to Prince, who was a big Timberwolves fan. Grab your last-minute tickets here.

Prince from Minneapolis: A Symposium at the University of Minnesota

An art exhibit that began back in Dec. 2017, “Prince from Minneapolis” will be featured at the Weisman Art Museum until June 17. The exhibit features work by photographers Allen Beaulieu, Nancy Bundt, Terry Gydesen and Robert Whitman during Prince’s early years as well as art that was inspired by Prince. From April 17–22, visitors can also see Prince’s legendary Purple Rain costume, thanks to the Minnesota Historical Society.

Prince Trivia Night 

Visit Shakopee BrewHall for Prince Trivia and even a festive purple beer, beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19. While you’re there, try some of their craft brews like Shakopee Red, Zephyr (a Grisette), or Hopped For Mama, an Imperial IPA.

Prince Rooftop Celebration- A Dance Party

Besides a Prince drag brunch (which is already sold out, although you may be able to snag a few last-minute tickets), Union Rooftop is also hosting a rooftop dance party Saturday, April 20. Don’t worry—in this wintery spring weather we’re having, the rooftop is still covered and heated. Beginning right after “Prince: Live on the Big Screen,” DJ Larry Peace will be spinning Prince records all night long. Buy your ticket for the event here.

Remembering Prince Coloring Party

For a quieter, creative event, join ColorWheel Gallery in Minneapolis for a Remembering Prince Coloring Party on Saturday, April 21, complete with refreshments, music and a gallery of Prince-inspired art. Coloring books will be available for purchase, too.

Is there anything better than a hot cup of coffee? Or your favorite iced espresso beverage crafted to perfection? The good news for all coffee lovers is that the Twin Cities have lots of independent coffee shops to choose from—and if you’re anything like me, you’ll have multiple favorites. Below is a list of ten coffee shops to visit in the Twin Cities:

Spyhouse Coffee

Undoubtedly a Minneapolis-St. Paul staple, Spyhouse Coffee Roasting Co. sells wholesale coffee beans and runs café locations in five neighborhoods—Uptown, Whittier, Northeast, North Loop and St. Paul—besides. I am partial to the Northeast location myself, with its deck, high ceilings, and plethora of seating options. I always get a Carmella (if caramel isn’t your favorite, their Spygirl latte is also a good choice with hints of honey and lavender). If you fall in love with the ambiance (and the coffee) like I did, check out Spyhouse’s coffee accessories and apparel online.

Quixotic Coffee

Located right in Highland Park in St. Paul and dangerously close—across the street—to Patina and Half Price Books, Quixotic Coffee is small, cozy and aesthetic. In fact, the actual definition of “quixotic” is “exceedingly idealistic.” The definition continues with “unrealistic” and “impractical,” but that just isn’t true of Quixotic Coffee. Their roomy wooden booths make for good studying or productivity spots, and their salads are almost as good as their lattes. And who said coffee shops couldn’t sell beer and wine, too? If its later in the evening and coffee is out of the picture, order a beer on tap instead.

Café Astoria

If the look of your latte almost matters as much as the taste, you’re in the right place. Café Astoria has gone viral for its extravagant, colorful, gold leaved lattes and mochas—perhaps you’ve seen this video? Located on West Seventh Street in St. Paul, you’ll be Instagramming your creation before you even take a sip.

Claddagh

The charming atmosphere of Claddagh Coffee will make you fall in love right away. If you aren’t in the mood for a specialty latte, go for a lavender lemonade or a hot tea, instead. For larger tables or a dimmer ambiance, take your drink downstairs to the lower level; it’s tiny but cozy. Look for the coffee shop’s notebook if you have comments about the coffee or would simply like to share a line from your favorite song or poem.

The Café Meow

Cats plus coffee? Yes, please! Relatively new to Uptown, the Café Meow allows guests to play with cats while they drink their coffee or espresso drinks. Be warned though—lots of people are interested in this concept, so you might have to wait a little while to play with the cats. Read more about Visit Twin Cities’ experience at Café Meow here.

Nina’s Coffee Café

Located in Cathedral Hill on Selby Avenue, Nina’s Coffee Café is a cozy coffee shop. Tables fill up fast on the weekends with college students and professionals trying to get work done, but if you get a spot try one of their vanilla lattes (Nina’s serves Spyhouse Coffee). And if you stick around for lunch, their sandwiches are to die for. Plus, a whole entire wall is taken up by a painted bookcase—you can’t get cuter than that.

Five Watt Coffee

Located in the Kingfield neighborhood of Minneapolis, Five Watt is known for mixing coffee with bitters and the end product is more delicious than you think. Try The Kingfield, with vanilla, Five Watt coriander bitters, espresso, milk and black Hawaiian sea salt, or the Big Easy with cold press, chicory and nutmeg simply syrup, black walnut bitters and cream.

Dogwood Coffee

Besides selling wholesale coffee, Dogwood Coffee has three locations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area—East Lake, Uptown and St. Paul—so you have choices when it comes to sipping your favorite caffeinated beverage. If you go to the East Lake location, check out the new wallpaper designed by Flavorpaper and art by local artist John Alspach.

Cahoots Coffee Bar

Unassuming, a little quirky, but definitely a Macalester-Groveland favorite, Cahoots Coffee Bar is located right off of Snelling Avenue and offers coffeehouse staples (plus some great specialty options like a Lavender White Mocha or Raspberry White Mocha), but also a Mediterranean platter, stuffed grape leaves, a hummus place, daily soups and fresh bakery items. Find a spot indoors or, in nicer weather, take your coffee outside behind the shop in Cahoot’s little garden patio.

Rustica Bakery

Rustica has two locations, one in Uptown Minneapolis and one in Eden Prairie, and serves specialty coffee beverages all day and award-winning baked goods from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. everyday. Although the Eden Prairie location is out in the west metro (which can be a commute for some), the bakery is located in the historic Smith Douglas More House right off of Eden Prairie Road—the character of the house inside and out make this a worthwhile destination, even if it is just for coffee.

If you’re up for coffee and an adventure check out these other coffee shops located in the outskirts of the Twin Cities: Black Sheep Coffee Café in South St. Paul has live bluegrass music on most Saturday mornings, Mocha Monkey in Waconia won an award for “Best Coffee Shop in Minnesota” and The Daily Grind Espresso Café in Stillwater is attached to a bookstore, so grab a new book to enjoy before you choose your morning coffee.