Minneapolis Parklet

    Walking the Green Path: Claiming Our Green Space

    Growing up I lived among gardens, something I didn’t appreciate until it was gone. Now I’m trying to learn how to grow these green spaces in the neighborhood.

    Split Rock Lighthouse Lit Up

    How to See Split Rock Lighthouse Shine Across Lake Superior

    High above dark grey waters, Split Rock Lighthouse stands as a testament to the danger and romance of sailing on the Great Lakes. Each year thousands of people visit this Minnesota icon but November 10th is the only day to see the lighthouse shining across Lake Superior.
    Sept 17 North Shore

    Walking the Green Path: Greener Paths at the Crossways

    Finding ingredients that have the least impact on our environment can be difficult. It takes the time, energy, and desire to find the information needed to make the right choice.

    Arctic Wolf

    Hanging Out on the Edge of the Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota

    Sometimes it feels like Ely’s purpose in life is to make people less afraid of the woods. Nestled on the edge of Superior National Forest, Ely is home to two internationally recognized wildlife centers, the Root Beer Lady Museum, and has more places to hike, bike, and paddle than you can cover in a lifetime.

    Community garden at butter

    Walking the Green Path: Being Counter Cultural

    At Butter, we try to be a daily advertisement for efforts to build community and restore our earth through the connections we make with each other, our food, and the world around us. Now, more than ever, this seems like a counter-cultural message.
    Doug at work in Piccolo

    At the Table with Piccolo’s Doug Flicker

    In this At the Table, we talk with Doug Flicker the owner and chef at Piccolo located in Southwest Minneapolis about what’s important and what it’s like to run a small highly acclaimed restaurant.

    Cucumber Lemonade

    Going Beyond the Stick to Find Food Worth Eating at the Minnesota State Fair

    There’s a lot worth eating at the Minnesota State Fair that doesn’t come on-a-stick. Check out all of Umami’s recommendations for finding everything worth eating and drinking at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

    The mantra at the Harriet is that a dish should fall into place naturally

    Falling for the Harriet Brasserie

    I’ve been crushing on the Harriet Brasserie for a few years now; dinner with friends, lunch with my mother, dessert with the kids, beer, and fries (with béarnaise for dipping) at the bar with my husband. If anyone asks about my dining preference, the answer is compulsory: The Harriet, of course!

    Split Rock Lighthouse

    The Sleepover: Late Summer Along the North Shore

    As you head along the North Shore from Duluth, you reach a fork in the road that sets the tone for your trip. On the right, the vast blue waters of Lake Superior reach out before you along the Old North Shore Road that winds it’s way leisurely along the shore on your left is Hwy 61 that whisks along.

    Northfield Olive Oils and Vinegars

    Northfield Olive Oils and Vinegars: Chemistry, Geography, and Making the Leap

    Gathered along the Cannon River, Northfield presents the quintessential Midwestern hamlet with pubs and restaurants with beguiling names like Froggy Bottoms Pub and tidy streets featuring artisan shops like Northfield Olive Oils and Vinegars.

    The Henry Ford Bungalow overlooks the Keweenaw Bay

    The Sleepover: The Keweenaw Bay in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

    For those seeking a deeper level of remoteness, a rustic nirvana awaits those who travel to Keweenaw Bay in Michigan’s the Upper Peninsula.

    The Arial Lift Bridge at dusk

    The Sleepover: Duluth’s Canal Park

    Nestled on the Southwestern tip of Lake Superior under Duluth’s iconic Arial Lift Bridge, Canal Park has become the city’s playground and a weekend get-a-way.

    Vikre is creating a new set of spirits from the flavors of the North Shore

    Vikre Distillery Creates Gins from the North Shore

    Tucked into a corner of Duluth’s Canal Park Vikre Distillery is creating a unique family of gins inspired by Lake Superior and the Northwoods.

    It takes thirty gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup

    From Tree to Pancake – Let’s go Maple Sugaring

    Some good friends invited me to help them make maple syrup. Seeing how real maple syrup is boiled down from sap is an eye-opening experience.

    Toast Wine Bar and Cafe in Minneapolis

    A “Toast” to Great Wine and Great Food

    As a new resident to the North Loop, in Minneapolis, my natural inclination as a foodie is to search for a place with great wine and great food. After walking around the neighborhood, I found Toast.

    Cookbooks

    Why Minnesotans Should be Ticked Off that the New York Times is Trying to Pin Grape Salad on Us

    There are a lot of good reasons why so many Minnesotans are ticked off that the New York Times is trying to pin one of the worst salad recipes ever made on Minnesota.