Nestled in the trees along a quiet section of Minnehaha Parkway is a beautiful memorial that is such a natural part of the landscape, it’s easy to miss. I finally noticed this big rock as I drove by on my scooter several months ago and pulled over to investigate thoroughly stumped. How could I have missed this memorial for so long? It turned out to be a tragic story with a fairly recent...
In the poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the grandmother of Hiawatha is named Nokomis. Inspired by this poem, the City of Minneapolis renamed Lake Amelia “Lake Nokomis” in 1910.
Maybe I watched too many episodes of Cheers when I was growing up, but I love a neighborhood bar where I feel like everyone could know my name. That’s the feeling that you get from Sweet Peas. Located on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Sweet Peas has a classic bar menu filled with burgers, fries and sandwiches. They’ve added their own touch of intrigue with homemade tater tots (not for...
One of the things I love about the local eateries in Minneapolis is that they often have a story, and usually they are stories I didn’t know. Cafe Maude in southwest Minneapolis, for example, was named after Maude Armatage, a woman basically forgotten to history. Enticed to do a little Googling, I learned that Maude was considered a driving force in helping Minneapolis come of age in the...
The Best-Good Friend always has brilliant ideas. It was a crisp winter day when she suggested lunch at the World Street Kitchen, one of the best restaurants in Minneapolis. Featuring a seasonal menu that is inspired by the food served in street carts around the world, their lunch took me on a culinary vacation – my favorite kind of dining experience. We both decided on the Yum Yum Rice...
We stopped in at The Bad Waitress last year but didn’t stay, it was busy that night and we weren’t sure what we were in the mood for. Over the weekend we were looking for a great breakfast joint in Minneapolis, so we finally headed back to give it a try. Their setup is simple. Each table has menus and an order pad. Simply write your table name on a slip, add your order and its...
Wood Lake Nature Center was one of the first nature centers built in the Twin Cities. Dedicated in 1971, it was once a recreational lake surrounded by homes. The lake was drained of most of its water in the 1950s. Friends of Wood Lake (FOWL) was formed in 1991 and thanks to their advocacy and fundraising efforts, Wood Lake thrives in Richfield, Minnesota. Approximately 72,000 visitors enjoy the...
Sometimes despite my best efforts, my photos are an epic fail. Despite the bad photos, I hope that you will make a stop at Everest on Grand in St. Paul because the food will knock your socks off. I had a real itch this week for non-American fare, so we headed out for Everest’s delicious Nepali, Tibetan and Indian options. We started with the Veggie Momos. Momos are steamed dumplings made...
Whenever I talk to people about how much I love living in Minneapolis, I tell them about how our fair city was built preserving green space. Because of that, this nature girl doesn’t have to go far to enjoy the outdoors. The beautiful fall weather was perfect for a visit to Wood Lake Nature Center. This nature preserve isn’t in Minneapolis proper, but neighboring Richfield is as...
When you want a classic Italian dinner, it’s time to head to Fat Lorenzo’s. Fat’s has been in business for over 25 years and has won awards for their pizzas, we love getting those delivered. But tonight, we opted to dine in and took advantage of their 1/2 priced wine and beer special. We started our evening with the Garlic Cheese Bread served with their house marinara sauce. I...
After a long week, The Husband and I treated ourselves to a breakfast date at The Lowry. I left loosening my belt after overindulging, every bite was better than the last. I had the Breakfast Burrito (vegetarian). It came with hashbrowns, Wisconsin cheddar, scrambled eggs, black bean salsa, cilantro sour cream, and salsa roja rolled up in a soft flour tortilla. YUM!! The Husband ordered his...
I have been driving past the Carmelo’s sign for years, always meaning to stop in but never making the time. Last night that changed and I expect to be stopping there regularly from now on. A cozy little Italian restaurant on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Carmelo’s believes in the wholesomeness of homemade food. Making everything from scratch using recipes passed down through the...
