Alison & Robert
Things To Do
Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge
This is one of Alison's favorite places in the Twin Cities. Rob and Alison used to live nearby in college and would go on walks here. If you'd like to make a day or evening of it, grab dinner at a restaurant on St. Anthony Main. We recommend Aster Cafe or Hideaway. When you're done eating, walk across the bridge, go into the Guthrie or look at the ruins of the Mill City Museum. You'll walk past these as you get ice cream at a Twin Cities staple - Izzy's located at 1100 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415. This is also a biker friendly bridge so grab a NiceRide to take in the views. There are a lot of trails that follow the river!
CanCan Wonderland
We really, really hope that it doesn't rain during our wedding weekend, but if it does, you should check out CanCan Wonderland. It's an indoor art installation carnival. There are boozy milkshakes, vintage arcade games, and a mini-golf course where each hole is done by a different local artist. Our favorite is Grandma's Living Room!
Restaurants Nearby Graduate Minneapolis
If you're staying at the hotel in our block, you'll see there are a lot of restaurants nearby. Here are a couple of recommendations that you can walk to: Punch Pizza - Brick oven style and super good! Stub and Herbs - Beer and bar food that's pretty good and is a favorite with the college students. We went here before Rob tore his ACL our junior year so proceed with caution... Afro Deli: You go up to the counter to order and everything is sooo good. Alison always gets the Chicken Fantastik and you won't be sorry.
Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis
The Sonder Shaker - Very Instagram worthy and food is good. The owners used to be regulars when Alison worked at Keegan's and they are great people who just opened this in the last year. It's already super popular. Hai Hai - Modern Asian food. You can come here for brunch or dinner and you will not be sorry. I recommend trying to make a reservation, because especially at night it can get really busy. The cocktails and atmosphere are really fun and the food is great! Young Joni - More pizza! This is another new and fun place that does a great job with pizza and Italian food and shows off how this neighborhood is changing. Reservations would also be a good idea.
Restaurants in Downtown Minneapolis
These restaurants are on the fancier end, but super good if you want to take some time to check out the really good food scene on Friday before the wedding! Bar la Grassa - This is is where we go for every anniversary, because it's soooo good. Favorite Italian food in the city. You can get any pasta and you'll love it, but get the soft eggs and lobster bruschetta. We didn't believe it would be good either, but it's our favorite part. Red Cow - This is a local chain with the best burgers. More laid back than BLG and just as good. You could come here for brunch also! Barrio - Lots of fun margarita's and you're right on Nicollet Mall which they've done a lot of great work with. This is just a short walk from the Light Rail also, so you won't have to drive if you're staying at the hotel. The Local - Next door to Barrio and a cool authentic Irish pub.
Lake of the Isles
This is our favorite of the Lakes - though if you have time you can also look at Bde Maka Ska (formerly Calhoun) and Harriet - they all connect. If you're interested in going on Friday night, you could eat at Burch Restaurant first, get Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream (get Nicollet Ave. Pothole for your flavor) and walk around the lake. The houses are huge and you get a good view of the city and there are lots of dogs to pet.
Walker Art Center
Take a look at the sculptures for free! If you want a beer after, you can easily walk to Sisyphus Brewing!
Minnehaha Falls
This is one of our favorite places, and we go every year! It's great, because you can really make the walk what you'd like - the falls are right at the beginning so you can just take a look or you can walk farther if you'd like. If you are more like Alison and less into hiking, you can also eat at Sea Salt eatery which is located right in the park.
Keg and Case Market
Another good option for if it's raining. This is an indoor market with great food and local vendors. The Bogarts Donuts are so good, and Revival has really good southern food. Fun fact: we go here almost every Thursday for trivia in the upstairs brewery.
Bryant-Lake Bowl & Theater
Another good option for if it's rainy or too hot out. The food is actually pretty good here and it has a really fun nostalgic feel.
Surly Brewing Co.
Really great food, really good beer and our favorite brewery tour we've been on here. They tell you some interesting beer information, but mostly they cut to the chase and give you a lot of samples. Plus you get a free beer after just for having gone on a tour. Then you can enjoy the beer while sitting by the fire or eating some of the food!
Insight Brewing & Taproom
A favorite! We came here as part of Rob's birthday celebration last year.
Bauhaus Brew Labs
Really good beer and has awesome indoor and outdoor seating!
Dangerous Man Brewing Company
This place is smaller and gets busy, so beware, but we love the beer!
Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge
This place is one of our favorites. From college on, we try to spend one of the first really good patio days enjoying a tiki drink on this patio (let's be honest sometimes it's 40 degrees out and not really patio weather). Either way - this place is awesome. It's a 1960s tiki bar with pizza and tiki drinks. You'll love it inside and outside and find the drinks and food oh so fun.
Betty Danger's Country Club
This is the newer sister restaurant to Psycho Suzi's and really close by. It's a country club theme with tequila drinks, tacos, a Ferris wheel that you can drink on, and minigolf. We try to go at least once a year for the carnival vibe (and the tequila, let's be honest).