Things to do for Families
Top pick: Craft'za in Minneapolis
Runner-Up: Santa arrives at the Mall of America
Whether you're ready for it or not you might as well accept it, winter is here. While the turkeys are still frozen in our freezers (or still at Cub) Santa is on his way... to Mall of America that is for the Santa Arrival Celebration. He's officially arriving on Tuesday, the 12th at 6pm in the rotunda. There will be a celebration with some music, don't get too excited, it's by the Teddy Bear Band. However their will be treats handed out by Nestle Tollhouse. The arrival signals the beginning of the Santa photo sessions at the mall. If you want to maximize on your time you can schedule an appointment with Santa in the Macy's court otherwise it's on walk-in, first come, first served basis in the Sears court. If you had your thinking caps on while reading that, yes two Santa's so you might want to avoid running into the other court with small kids or perhaps have a good story in the hopper (oh no, honey that's just Santa's brother, Fred Claus from that horrible movie).
Cinderella is opening at the Children's Theatre this week and will run through the holidays. This isn't your Disney Cinderella, rather this comical theatre play for all ages is a bit more slapstick and raucous, definitely more fun. Tickets will run you $30 - $50 depending on where you sit.
A Christmas Carol is opening at the Guthrie this week as well. This is the 39th running year of this play at the Guthrie. Tickets will run a bit higher at $34 - $85 per person depending on where you sit and when you go, also standard child discounts will not apply to this production due to the extremely high demand. In related news the Guthrie itself will be playing the role of Scrooge in keeping with the production's theme for the remainder of the holidays.
Midwest Home & Holiday Show starts this Friday, the 15th and runs through Sunday at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Lots of vendors and experts will be on hand to help you do everything from trimming the tree to completely replacing your flooring, all depending on how inadequate for having family over you feel. The tickets are $12 a person but 17 and under are free.
Things to do for Adults
Top Pick: Lift Bridge Commander Release Party
Nothing better to celebrate than a new brew than with a few, Lift Bridge is hosting on The Commander Release Party Saturday, November 16th from 3pm to 10pm. Commander is described as an "English-Style Barleywine ale brewed with an excessive malt bill and subtle, sweet cardamom." The Ale is aged in bourbon barrels that have been shipped directly from Kentucky shortly after being emptied. The result is a 12.5% ABV which the brewery reminds you to drink slowly and in small portions to "best enjoy" it... and to also stop yourself from behaving like a lunatic. With your ticket you'll get a sample and a glass to keep and there will be contests, including one for best moustache and food. Tickets for the party can be found here and will run cost you ten $10 or $16 for a bottle of your own included.
Summit Firkin and Meet the Brewer at Grumpy's at Roseville on Friday, November 15th at 3:00pm. A firkin Bière de Garde Firkin with Grand Marnier will be available in small portions for tasting and the brewer, Jeff Williamson will be on hand to meet and greet. The firkin is described as "a medium toasted French Oak that's soaked in Grand Marnier and has the same malt characteristics of the beer. Cherry, caramel, and a hint of chocolate, vanilla, orange and smoky wood." Also Grumpy's has a sandwich to pair with the drink and that's a La Turquie Commercial, a French take on a hot turkey sandwich served on a croissant with brie, oui, oui!
Stanley's on Wheel's 3rd Anniversary is being celebrated all week long, until Saturday. Stanley's, of Stanley's on Wheels food truck fame will have $3 Summit Taps and $3 Prairie Cucumber Vodka drinks on special during the week.Things to do for Foodies
Top pick: Pizzeria Lola Anniversary Surly Event
One of the best pizzerias in the Twin Cities is celebrating it's 3rd year anniversary this week as well and features some great events. Indeed brewing is also featured as a tap takeover but the night gaining the most buzz has got to be Thursday. Starting at 5pm one of the best pizza shops and one of the best brewers in the Twin Cities will collide into the Pizzeria Lola Surly Tap Takeover. Pizza from contest winner's ideas for the most metal pizza will be on hand for tasting as well as several taps from Surly. Admission is free.
The Charlie Awards is a twin cities awards presentation that celebrates the best and brightest in the Minnesota culinary world. Held on Sunday, November 17th at the Pantages Theatre starting at 3:30pm. Tickets for the awards, which include admittance to the after party in the Crystal Court are $35 a person. If you want to go VIP, there's a $125 option which also includes a VIP dinner after the after party so you can watch awards about food, have a few drinks and talk about food and then eat some food. VIP Dinner ticket holders also get a VIP seat and a SWAG bag, hopefully with some food inside.
Things to do for the Active
Top Pick: Save Sandstone MCA Climber's Fair
On Sunday, November 17th Vertical Endeavors in Minneapolis is hosting a charity fair from 6:30pm to 9:00pm to Save Sandstone. Proceeds will go towards purchase of a bouldering area in Sandstone, yep they're essentially buying rocks with it. This area is heavily prized by recreational rock climbers and was about to be sold and instead the owners have generously decided to sell to the MCA firstly, but they need to raise the funds. The ticket price is $10 and the evening will include door prizes and contests besides access to free climbing and equipment.
Athleta Diva Dish is being held at the Blaine National Sports Center on Saturday, November 16th at 9:00am. There is a 10k, 5k and a 5k walk. Sorry guys, this is a ladies only event. Activities for the Arts
Top pick: Spinning Plates Documentary
If you love food as much as I do, make sure you do not miss Spinning Plates. This documentary goes behind the scenes of three very different restaurants; La Cocina De Gabby a family owned and operated restaurant in Tucson, Breitbach's Country Dining which is a small town country diner in Iowa and world famous Alinea in Chicago, Illinois that I've been dying to go see this Fall but plans fell through, perhaps this Spring. As the trailer states, it's not about what you cook but why and the purpose of this documentary is much than exposition of successful restaurants as much as it is exploration of the very culture that surrounds cooking and dining out with the juxtaposition of these very different restaurants. Spinning Plates will be at the Lagoon Theatre starting Friday, see times here.
Shanghai Ballet is coming to the Orpheum on Tuesday, November 12th. The Shangai Ballet is a highly regarded dance institution and will bringing the Chinese fairytale, The Butterfly Lovers to life. Exquisite costumes and sets will immerse you a Chinese landscape that will hopefully allow you to be transported to a land far away where you can leave everything behind, like the ticket prices of $42 - 79 a person.
Unusual Activities
Top pick of the strange: Hello Kitty Denouement
This art exhibit features Hello Kitty in different art masterpieces. That's right, Hello Kitty painted into various artworks from Monet to Warhol. This interesting exhibition, Hello Kitty Denouement will open to display at the Burnet Gallery at Le Meridien Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis on Friday, November 15th and will remain so until early January. The opening reception will be held 6-9pm. The gallery is otherwise open daily from 11am - 9pm. I'll leave you with Hello Kitty and Jesus from the collection;
Runner Up for Oddball Event: Monkey Mind Pirates
Cap'n Fitz as he so calls himself teaches, with the help of his extremely creepy-looking monkey puppets that the monkeys of our mind can hijack our thoughts. So how can we free ourselves from these nightmares in muppet-form? By doing yoga, but of course! "Tap into the power of yoga, rock and puppets." Never thought I'd live to see the day to see those three nouns in the same sentence, the future has arrived. The Monkey Mind Pirates will be performing Saturday, November 16th in St Paul at the Wellstone Center. The event is free and is definitely geared towards small children without aversions to puppets.
God's Sketchbook of Creation is a very interesting event at the Instinct Art Gallery in Minneapolis. The basic premise behind the art created for the exhibit is that these were God's rough-cut ideas for species, ones that didn't exactly make the cut. The cost is free and runs from 6pm - 8pm each day though mid January.
On a final note, I started a twitter. Why? Well it's easier to keep up on all the cool stuff happening by following pretty much every food truck, brewery, magazine, newspaper, etc. in the Twin Cities and I do try to retweet the best looking stuff. So... if that sounds cool to you, check it out here at the handle MerryMinnesotan.
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