Hidden entrances, secret passwords, strong drinks: once an illicit way obtain alcohol during Prohibition, a century later, speakeasies have been reimagined as stylish spaces to enjoy craft cocktails. As I mentioned in my post about the best distilleries in the Twin Cities, I am very much a cocktail person, and speakeasies appeal to my love of history and penchant for the dramatic.
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is serving up 1950s nostalgia, romantic comedy, and beloved tunes like "We Go Together" and "Greased Lightening" in their current production of Grease. Inspired by the 1972 play and the 1978 Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta film adaptation, the story of retro teenage romance has timeless appeal, whether you know all the songs by heart or you're encountering Danny, Sandy, and the Pink Ladies for the first time.
Seven years after quitting my paralegal job, things are still chugging along at Stacy Inc. Over the past few years, I've settled into a groove of covering the Twin Cities food scene for the Heavy Table, Eater Twin Cities (recently reorganized as Eater Midwest), and Racket; writing about food and travel for various web publications; a part-time paralegal gig; and copywriting work for clients in the tourism industry (although that aspect of my work has decreased over time for a variety of reasons).
Afternoon tea is fun treat, with fancy china, tiered trays of beautiful desserts, and often, a unique, historic setting. Ready to settle in for an afternoon of tea, treats, and conversation? Here's where you can find afternoon tea in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the Twin Cities suburbs.
There's a good reason Minnesota's football team is named the Vikings—the state is home to more Nordic-Americans than any other state. About 28 percent of Minnesotans, or over 1.6 million people, have Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and/or Icelandic heritage. Even if you don't have Nordic roots, Minnesota's wooded landscapes and chilly winters evoke the Nordic countries, and Nordic-inspired cuisine, minimalist design, and hygge appeal to people of all backgrounds.
I love compiling my annual "best things I ate" post because it's a chance to relive the year's most memorable moments. 2024 included trips to Japan and Montreal, an exquisite kaiseki meal and Laotian feast in Minneapolis, and everyday delights like a top-notch plate of truffle fries and an amazing chocolate croissant. Here are the culinary highlights of my very tasty 2024.
You may have spotted Jono Pandolfi Designs dinnerware on season 3 of The Bear. You might have noticed the mention in Wirecutter's review of the best dinnerware sets. Maybe you've even seen it on this blog, serving as a backdrop for kimchi fried rice. Jono Pandolfi ceramic stoneware has a minimal, modern feel and was originally designed for restaurant use.
'Tis the season for holiday gift guides—from bloggers, magazines, and online publications. My annual made in Minnesota gift guide reflects my personal tastes: think earrings and chocolate. If that's your (or your loved ones') jam too, I hope you find something here to add to your holiday gift list.
Do you like buying presents for frequent travelers that will actually get used? Are you a travel lover whose friends and family are asking you for gift ideas? Here's a practical-minded travel gift guide ranging from stocking stuffers to splurges, based on my experiences as an avid traveler.
I know that fried rice is typically a dish thrown together with leftover rice and whatever vegetables and proteins you have on hand, but I can't handle that sort of ambiguity. I didn't actually get around to making kimchi fried rice—despite my longtime love of kimchi and rice—until I sat down and wrote a recipe.
Some people love beer, others prefer wine, but my drink of choice is a craft cocktail—I think that's due to the fact that I didn't really start drinking alcohol until my late 20s. My favorite place to enjoy craft cocktails is straight from the source: at a local micro distillery. Minnesota is home to over 30 micro distilleries, which typically have tasting rooms where you can purchase cocktails, tasting flights, and bottles of spirits.
Mike and I spend our weekends running in opposite directions (literally in my case: seven miles on Saturday and three miles on Sunday). After one too many weekends when the only significant chunk of time we spent together was grocery shopping, we realized that we needed to prioritize time with each other. So we instituted a standing coffee date on Sunday mornings.
Instead of choosing one full-sized espresso drink, a coffee flight lets you sample three or four miniature-sized beverages. Ready to start sipping? Here's where you can find coffee flights in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs.
As I've previously mentioned, since I'm a self-employed freelancer I have the flexibility to workation, or combine my workdays with vacation activities when I'm away from home. Mike's recent team work week was the perfect opportunity to workation in Boston's Seaport District—accommodations and his expenses were already covered, so we only had to pay for my flight and meals.
This is my 12th annual summer recap post—I've been writing them every September since 2013. They've become a nostalgic throwback to a time when blogging was a more personal medium, when the text...
On a recent trip to Montreal, I discovered an amazing Canadian invention: all dressed potato chips. The flavor combines a bunch of common chip flavors into one, and instead of tasting weird or muddled...
The Minnesota State Fair is known for deep-fried food, including cheese curds, Pronto Pups, pickles, cookie dough (one of my faves!), and candy bars. But what if deep-fried food isn't your thing? No...
Most coverage of the Minnesota State Fair is food-focused, although the live entertainment, farm animals, butter sculptures, crop art, and Midway rides also garner plenty of attention. Something that usually doesn't get mentioned is that State Fair is great destination for history buffs—the Minnesota State Fair dates back to 1859, and many of the fairgrounds' buildings were constructed in the 1930s and 1940s. From a walking tour to free museums, here's how to nerd out on history at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
I go to the Minnesota State Fair for many reasons: nostalgia, the live entertainment, the livestock, the educational exhibits, the display cases full of prizewinning knitwear. But mostly, it's about the food.
My two-week trip to Japan was one of the best travel experience of my life. From fabulous food to serene temples, my time in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka changed how I think about the world, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to experience Japanese culture. Here are my tips for making sure your trip to Japan goes as smoothly as possible, from planning and packing to navigating mass transit and restaurants.
