Things To Do
50th & France
Walking distance to Phil & Sarah's new home (come say hi!) - 50th & France has lots to offer and many favorites. Stop by Bellecour for a warmed chocolate croissant and iced vanilla almond milk latte, Red Cow for a great happy hour and countless beer selections, AMA for our favorite sushi rolls in town, or Coconut Thai for drunken noodles and curry. 50th & France has a newly renovated movie theater and lots of local & big box retailers to shop through.
Southdale area
Shops galore on this side of town between the Galleria and Southdale shopping mall. Activities include bowling at Pinstripes, putt putt golfing at Centennial Lakes or arcade games at Dave & Busters in Southdale. On any given weekend between May-October, weather permitting, you'll likely find Steve Gaertner sitting out on the Ciao Bella patio enjoying a Cosmo and the red pepper linguini with scallops or tomato/avocado flatbread. Orange Theory Fitness and Barre3 are both family favorites and often offer first time visitors a free class.
Lake Harriet + Linden Hills
Check out this 2.8 mile loop around Lake Harriet in South Minneapolis. If you're looking for a longer loop to run/walk/bike, Lake Harriet connects to lake Bde Maka Ska (3.2 mile loop) & Lake of the Isles (2.7 mile loop). The Bandshell houses Bread & Pickle which serves locally farmed and sustainable picnic foods, and local craft beer & wine - grab a bite and post up at one of the picnic tables along the lake. Don't skip the truffle popcorn. Walk over to the Linden Hills 'Downtown' area to visit some of the small and local shops in the neighborhood. Some staple restaurants include Martina (Argentinian), Tilia (American Bistro) and Rosalia (Pizza). Wild Rumpus is a longtime favorite bookstore that has a wide variety of animals within the store - cats, chickens, lizards, birds, critters and much more! Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream is a non-negotiable if you're in the area - Sarah's go to is Pavarotti (banana, chocolate + caramel) and Phil's is Raspberry Chocolate Chip.
Saint Anthony Main + Stone Arch Bridge
Beautiful area to walk along the Mississippi riverfront and enjoy the Minneapolis skyline as you walk across the Stone Arch Bridge. The Saint Anthony Main side offers some great brunch spots such as Aster Cafe, Alma, or Pivo Riverplace (formerly Wilde Cafe). Urban trail area within Father Hennepin Bluff Park that takes you down to the water's edge. The downtown side is where you'll find the Mill Ruins Park along with a farmer's market within the Mill City Museum on Saturdays from 8am-1pm.
North Loop
Also known as the Warehouse District, the North Loop is a vibrant neighborhood known for its cool start-up vibe, innovative restaurants, and hip bars. Hit up the Puttery for an immersive mini golf experience or Thr3 Jack for golf simulators. Catch a show at Acme Comedy Club, listen to live music at Bunker's, or play pickleball at Minneapolis Cider Company's taproom, reserve a court in advance! Grab a drink at Hewing Hotel's rooftop bar, Cuzzy's dive bar or Bev's Wine Bar. Favorite eats that require reservations: for Italian head to Bar La Grassa (orange gnocci) or Snack Bar (pickled cauliflower salad, schupfnudeln and white sauce pizza). Billy Sushi and its speakeasy Billy After Dark, Porzana for the butternut squash sea bass and steak, Spoon & Stable for consistently delicious staples, Sanjusan for Japanese-Italian fusion (try to the seafood bolognese) but be sure to save room for an after-dinner Japanese whisky upstairs at Gori Gori Peku.