Light and Nature Art Opening at Washburn Lofts, April 16

Opening Reception Thursday, April 16, 5-7pm

Washburn Lofts Lobby and Great Room, 700 S 2nd Street

Karl Herber was born the youngest of five kids in 1971 and has long felt like the odd one. Through art and photography, he has learned to embrace those qualities that make him who he is. A year spent in Austria during college laid the foundation for his development as an artist. There, he studied German, art history, printmaking and photography. Over the following thirty-plus years, he has worked as a professional photographer, won awards, and exhibited and sold work in Europe and the United States.

He currently lives in Minneapolis, in a house filled with light and art, and two tall women who inspire him to be better each day. As an avid Nordic skier and runner, he can appreciate the change of seasons and morning light; enough to offset the effects of screen time and monitor glow.

Wild Fennel

Garden Art Fling at the Flux Arts Building, April 11

Rooster Quilt by Tina Rohde of WonderWeavers

Garden Art Fling at the Flux Arts Building, April 11, 10:00a-5:00p

Join local artists for spring fun focused on gardens! The Flux Arts Building will be full of artists both downstairs and upstairs in the Art to Change the World headquarters. 

• Make and Take activities include Flower Weaving, “Trash Flowers,” make your own clay vase, build your own mini Bookshelf and more - music and snacks, too! Clay Squared will have a 50% off instock tile sale.
• Garden Swap: Bring seeds, seedlings and small garden tools and/or just take what you need from the swap table!
• Garden Art Exhibit upstairs in the Art to Change the World Headquarters featuring shaped garden art.
• Art in the shape of squares, circles, hearts, hexagons, triangles, etc., all in the theme of things you can see when you are in a garden. Check out this beautiful garden display made by multiple Art to Change the World artists. These items will also be for sale, along with seed balls and plants. Questions on the upstairs activities? Contact Denise at MNdreamArt@gmail.com. 

Artists displaying in the Hub of the Flux Arts Building include:

Lola Alexander / Holley Wlodarczyk/Garden Variety Art / Catherine A. Palmer / Laura Burlis / Becca David / Jillian Collins / James Smead / JobyLynn Sassily-James / Margo Ashmore / Meg Volkman Daoust / Christina Buelow / Tina Rohde/Colleen Shaskin WonderWeavers - Storytellers

The Flux Arts Building is located at 2505 Howard Street NE Minneapolis. Questions? Contact Layl at Layl@claysquared.com

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Additional info re: the Garden/Art Swap at the Garden Art Fling 

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Do you have extra seedlings or seeds? Garden tools that you don’t use anymore? Are you looking for some free additions to your garden? Come to the Garden/Art Swap at the Garden Art Fling!

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Advance drop-off available: Thursday and Friday, April 9 and 10, 11am to 5pm, or bring your items during the swap event. No new drop-offs after 3pm Saturday, April 11. 

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Materials accepted:

Seeds, seedlings (clearly labeled), small plant starts (clearly labeled in containers no bigger than a few plants each), art/decor for the garden, small garden-themed art for indoors, garden and house plant books, gloves, kneeling pads, plant markers, small trellises and supports, small hand tools, materials for making weather resistant garden art.

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If you would like to offer plant divisions that the recipient can arrange to dig up, prepare a note with your contact info. If you are looking for gardening help, prepare a note with your contact info. If you bring found objects or other supplies for garden art, please check back toward the end of the event to take back what’s left over.

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Not accepted: No large tools, no chemicals, nothing requiring electric power or gasoline. Nothing bigger than an individual can carry. Please save your pots and larger tools for the traditional neighborhoods’ garden tool swap later in spring. Info on this event will be provided at the Garden Art Fling.

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You do not need to bring anything in order to take, or to take anything if you just want to contribute. 

Reach out to Margo Ashmore for questions about the Garden/Art Swap: margo@margoashmore.com

Upcoming Programming at the Mill City Museum

The Mill District of Minneapolis is home to the Mill City Museum, a historical treasure part of the Minnesota Historical Society. Here's a sampling of upcoming events:

Millers’ Tour Multiple dates - A 60-minute guided tour including many of the nooks and crannies of Mill City Museum.

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Thursday, April 9 / 7pm-8 pm
Book Launch: “Making Mill City: Flour and Fortune in Minneapolis” with Author Robert Frame III
Join author and historian Robert M. Frame III for an illustrated presentation to celebrate the publication of Making Mill City: Flour and Fortune in Minneapolis, a richly illustrated history of the flour factories that transformed the milling industry worldwide—and forever changed the culture and architecture of Minneapolis.

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Sunday, April 12 / 1pm-2pm
Season’s Eatings: Spring
Spring is in the air and Mill City Museum staff invite you to the Baking Lab to celebrate the season! Visitors will be able to sample a lemon poppy seed Bundt cake recipe from the book Bundt Cake Bliss by Susanna Short and explore the history of the famous Nordic Ware Bundt cake pan.

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Friday, May 1 / 6pm-8:30pm 
Pot Likker: Food, Memory, and the Art of Nourishment
This intimate, hands-on gathering brings together food, storytelling, and art to explore how everyday cooking carries memory, culture, and care. Hosted in collaboration with Chef Lachelle Cunningham, who is featured in the Women With Taste exhibit, the evening centers on pot likker, a deeply nourishing broth rooted in Black food traditions and shaped by generations of ingenuity.

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Saturday, May 2 / 10am-1pm
Pearl’s Garden Family Day
Celebrate the recent release of the MNHS Press children's book Pearl's Garden and the first day of the spring outdoor Mill City Farmers Market with author and artist Carolyn Olson. 

11th Annual Great River Coalition Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk/River Clean Up, April 18

Family- and dog-friendly Earth Day event on April 18 supports pollinators, healthy riverfront habitat, and community action

As spring approaches, the Great River Coalition invites the community to celebrate Earth Day in support of pollinators at the 11th Annual Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk and River Cleanup on Saturday, April 18, at Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley Street Northeast. Participants can run or walk the scenic 5K or volunteer for the organized river cleanup, helping protect pollinators and support a healthier Mississippi River. Learn more and register.

The event welcomes families and dogs and features Earth Day festivities including live music, kids’ activities, educational booths, prize drawings, and bee-themed photo ops with a selfie station and mascots. Pollinator costumes are encouraged, with awards for standout looks.

Hosted in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, National Park Service, and Mill City Running/St. City Running, the Bee Run/Walk brings together runners, walkers, volunteers, and environmental advocates for a morning of fitness, fun, and hands-on stewardship along the Mississippi River corridor.

Since 2016, the Great River Coalition has raised funds for pollinator plantings along the Mississippi River and built public awareness about the urgent need to protect native pollinators amid climate and environmental change. Native species, including the federally endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, continue to need expanded habitat and food resources.

Why Pollinators Matter to the Mississippi River Ecosystem

• Strengthen habitat corridors: The Mississippi is a natural travel route for species; pollinators help keep connected habitat patches blooming along the way.

• Boost biodiversity: More native flowers means more insects, which means more food for fish and wildlife.

• Prevent erosion: Pollinators help native riverbank plants reproduce, and those deep-rooted plants hold soil in place so less washes into the Mississippi.

• Support cleaner water: Healthy riverfront vegetation slows stormwater and traps sediment and pollutants before they reach the river.

• Feed wildlife: Pollination boosts seeds, berries, and fruit that feed birds and other animals, supporting the whole river corridor.

• Signal ecosystem health: When pollinators decline, it can be an early warning sign of habitat loss, pesticide exposure, or stressed soils and water.

“Great River Coalition is working to expand the habitat for our pollinators. If you walk along our Minneapolis riverfront, or travel around the state, you’ll see the limited food resources that sustain our pollinators as they travel along the Mississippi River. The erosion created by the lack of grasslands contributes to soil and water pollution, and encourages invasive species. The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, Minnesota’s state bumblebee, is critically endangered. We aim to bring awareness to the vital role pollinators play in the health of our riverfront communities, our state, and our planet.” Board President Diane Hofstede

Event Details

PRICE: $40 in advance, $45 on Race Day. Free for kids’ race (ages 6 and under) and River Clean Up volunteers. Includes family-friendly activities and a celebration of Earth Day.

Register: raceroster.com/events/2026/111846/earth-day-5k-bee-runwalkriver-cleanup

The 5K will start at 9am. The kid’s race, with goodie bags, will begin at 8:30am — children must be age 6 or under and must be registered before the event, either online or in-person with registration of walker or runner. The River Clean Up begins at 9:30am. Volunteers register online before the event. 

Prizes:

• HD Flat Screen Smart TV
• Four tickets to MN Vikings game at US Bank Stadium, Row 12, End Seats (End Zone, Facing Minneapolis, value $600 +). Date to be determined.
• And much more!
• Costumes are welcome. Prizes for the best! Name your team!

The Great River Coalition are change agents and advocates for policies and initiatives that honor the historic, commercial, environmental, and spiritual significance of the Mississippi River. To carry out its mission, the Great River Coalition collaborates with local businesses, organizations, and government agencies to engage, educate, and plant pollinator plantings in our communities. For 11 years the Earth Day 5K Bee Run Walk and River Clean Up has brought thousands of people, built awareness, education and interaction with our Mississippi Riverfront partners, local and National groups. Great River Coalition members and partners take action by testifying at public hearings, publishing impactful comments about riverfront impacts, and building relationships. As a member-supported 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, the Great River Coalition relies wholly on support from members, donors, volunteers, and sponsors.

Facebook: facebook.com/GreatRiverCoalitionMN, Instagram: instagram.com/greatrivercoalition

Graze Food Hall by Travail to Host MN Bars Bake Sale March 21

Over 40 Home Bakers - All Proceeds Donated To The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund To Help Local Restaurants

 

Graze Food Hall by Travail is hosting MN Bars Bake Sale on Saturday, March 21, from 12pm to 2pm with a DJ playing from 2pm to 4pm. Over 40 local home bakers are coming together to benefit The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund, which preserves the heart of Minnesota’s food culture and serves those who often serve us.

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“Building community is very important to us at Graze, and we are honored to help bring this event to life to help our restaurant community,” said Molly Herrmann, director of operations at Graze Food Hall by Travail.

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Each baker is bringing at least three dozen bars, and the event will feature celebrity bakers, such as Zoe Francois of Zoe Bakes, chef/TV host Andrew Zimmern, and singer/songwriter Jeremy Messersmith, making “Star Bars,” which will be sold separately in a pack of six.

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Guests are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets to guarantee bars don’t sell out. Tickets are just $4 and can be purchased online. A limited number of tickets will be available in person at the bake sale.

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“There is nothing more quintessentially Minnesotan than gathering a room full of bakers to help a neighbor,” said Zoe Francois, owner of Zoe Bakes. “We’re supporting the restaurant folks who nurture our community and need our love!”

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The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund is an act of preservation for the Minnesota restaurant community. Many small restaurants don’t have large enough platforms to ask for meaningful help, even though they have been directly and negatively impacted by actions this past winter. The Salt Cure Fund is a collective of local food advocates and industry professionals who have partnered with trusted community organizations, like The Minneapolis Foundation, to ensure that direct, critical aid gets into the right hands. Despite the fund recently hitting over one million dollars raised, applications for grants through the fund have already surpassed four million dollars, and time is running out to make an impact.

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“While raising a million bucks is a huge feat, the need far surpasses that,” said Stephanie March, co-founder of The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund. “In fact, we are currently working hard to distribute all the money we've collected quickly to help restaurants pay rent and payroll, so every dollar donated back stretches the mission to more restaurants.”

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Follow @grazenorthloop on social media or visit grazenorthloop.com for more information and a full list of upcoming Graze events.

Theatre in the Round Presents Conscience - a Story About Margaret Chase Smith, March 27-April 19

Theatre in the Round Players will present Conscience, a thought-provoking historical drama by acclaimed playwright Joe DiPietro. Performances run March 27 through April 19, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets 

Conscience tells the inspiring true story of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman elected to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, who in 1950 stood alone on the Senate floor to publicly challenge Senator Joseph McCarthy and the fear-driven politics of McCarthyism. Her courageous 'Declaration of Conscience' speech was a defining moment of political integrity—one that came with personal and professional cost but continues to resonate with striking relevance today.

Conscience is a stirring portrait of moral courage and the power of conviction—an intimate arena theatre experience that confronts history, politics, and the human heart with honesty and insight. This timely production invites audiences to reflect on leadership, integrity, and the responsibilities of public service.

SHOW DETAILS

Content Notice: Strong language; recommended for ages 13+

Audio-Described Performance: Sunday, April 12 at 2:00pm

Pay-What-You-Can Performance: Monday, April 6 at 7:30pm

Miller Lite’s Free Rides Program Returns to Minneapolis for St. Patrick's Day

Those in the Mpls/St. Paul area can visit the Metro Transit website to review routes and plan their St. Patrick’s Day travel. 

Molson Coors is once again partnering with Metro Transit to activate its Miller Lite Free Rides program for St. Patrick’s Day in the Twin Cities. Minnesotans will have access to fare-free public transportation from 6pm on Tuesday, March 17 to end of service on all Metro Transit routes – both buses and light rail.

Since its debut in Milwaukee in 1988, Free Rides has provided nearly 10 million rides nationwide through partnerships with local transit agencies.

St. Patrick’s Day Free Rides kicks off the 2026 program, which will extend to additional markets during major holidays and community events throughout the year. Further details will be released later in the year.

In 2025, Molson Coors partnered with local transit agencies in eight cities to provide fare-free rides on three different occasions. Last year, the program provided more than 29,000 rides in the Twin Cities area.

To help increase access to free rides on St. Patrick’s Day, Metro Transit has also partnered with the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), to provide transportation in the southern portion of the Twin Cities.

Twin Cities Restaurants Announce Exclusive Specials for March ‘Eat for Impact’ Initiative

During the month of March, restaurants and community members across the Twin Cities are coming together to show how everyday food choices can become powerful climate action. Through familiar flavors and environmentally-friendly creativity, the Eat for Impact initiative is creating greater access to planet-friendly foods and demonstrating how local decisions can generate measurable global environmental benefits.

Nine local restaurants have created exclusive pro-climate, plant-based dishes that promote a healthier, more sustainable food system, which will be on their menus all March. Each featured meal reduces environmental impact while showcasing the creativity of plant-based ingredients. The specials include:

• Namaste Cafe

  • Roasted-Spice Pesto on durum wheat pasta with Fiery Spring Vegetables: Freshly roasted spices are blended into an aromatic, creamy pesto that coats our pasta, finished with a turmeric-chili sauté of fresh vegetables.

  • Bold All Almond Masala Tofu: Our signature and customer favorite Creamy Masala Curry, prepared with a velvety almond masala sauce with tofu cooked in a rich and aromatic curry prepared with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green peas (Gluten Free).

• Salt & Flour

  • Shaved Fennel & Citrus Salad: Fennel, spinach, orange, mint, chili oil and maldon salt

  • Winter Greens & Lemon Bucatini: Bucatini, olive oil, kale, spinach, swiss chard, sun-dried tomatoes, preserved lemon, toasted pine nuts

  • Mango Sorbetto: Macerated mangos, cane sugar, distilled water

• Food on the Fly

  • Crispy Tofu Tacos: Crispy marinated tofu tossed with savory taco seasoning and served in flour tortillas with citrus cabbage, pineapple salsa, and a refreshing strawberry vinaigrette.

  • Bulgogi Bowl: Jasmine rice with Thai basil aioli, topped with house-made ferments, fresh vegetables, plant-based beef bulgogi, and a savory butternut squash “egg yolk.”

• Hamburguesas El Gordo (two locations: Minneapolis and St. Paul)

  • Hamburgesa Fresca: Beyond meat, avocado, pickled peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, onion. mayo, ketchup and mustard.

  • Tacos Vibrantes: Vibrant tacos made with seasoned and fried soy curls, cilantro, onion, and avocado. Lime and salsa to taste.

• Sawatdee Thai Restaurants (three locations: Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Maple Grove)

  • Khao Soi Tofu: A Northern Thai noodle soup made with fried tofu, egg noodles, coconut milk curry broth, and napa. Topped with crispy fried noodles, red and green onions. 

  • Naked Tofu: Fresh tofu, mushrooms and dry chilis in a sweet sauce. Topped with cilantro and fried garlic. Served with rice.

• Hope Breakfast Bar

  • Specials to be announced soon!

At the end of March, a comprehensive climate report will be published about their impact. This report will highlight the greenhouse gas savings from all participants, including restaurant sales, and any additional food-related efforts from partners like climate offices, community events, and local businesses. Check out the website to learn more.

"Our goal is to make more sustainable, plant-based options available and accessible. By making products that everyone finds delicious, we hope to be able to introduce more people to plant-based eating. Especially people who might not have given it much consideration before." Samo Newman, chef and owner at Food on the Fly

Eat for Impact is an international initiative developed by Planted Society, which empowers cities to leverage the power of plant-based solutions to reverse environmental damage, conserve natural resources, and build healthier communities. In Minneapolis-St.Paul, the initiative is being led by local group Wholesome Minnesota, which has a mission to accelerate plant-based food offerings in Minnesota’s institutions and create a healthier community.

Per Anna Larsson, volunteer with Wholesome Minnesota, “This initiative encourages people to try delicious food that is good for the environment and our health. As a climate educator, I know that shifting to a more plant-rich diet is an absolute requirement for a healthy planet. I’ve lived in Minnesota for over 20 years, and we have a strong tradition of care for the natural environment and a fantastic food scene – Eat for Impact brings it all together.”

Since launching in 2022, Planted Society has worked with more than 391 restaurants and has launched 23 different Eat for Impact initiatives. On average, each initiative saves an impressive 40,000 pounds of greenhouse gasses and 585,000 gallons of water*, highlighting the substantial environmental impacts of plant-based choices. Further, partner restaurants report an impressive increase in sales during the campaign month; some past Eat for Impact initiatives have generated over $76,000 in sales from plant-based specials, directly benefiting the local economy. It’s estimated that each initiative reaches an average of 600,000 individuals, sparking conversations and driving awareness far and wide. 

*Based on 2025 averages.

Kolman & Reeb Gallery Announces Suyao Tian's Exhibition, Where We Meet

 Artist Reception: Saturday, March 14, 6:00pm–8:00pm 

The Kolman & Reeb Gallery has announced its next Project Space Grant Exhibition, Where We Meet, featuring new work by Suyao Tian. This series of immersive water-based media paintings continues her exploration of layered forms that remain open to interpretation. Each painting feels both complete and evolving—like a moment within something still unfolding. In this way, the exhibition marks a point within Tian’s lifelong artistic journey.

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Suyao TianFor Tian, her paintings are not separate pieces, but a continuous body of work that began when she first started painting and will continue until she is no longer able to make art. Each painting becomes a marker—evidence of where she is along a path that has no fixed endpoint.

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For this exhibition, Tian’s process begins outside the studio, where walks through neighborhoods and natural landscapes become inquiries, guiding what later unfolds on the canvas. Rather than trying to capture literal scenes, she reduces her observations into simplified lines and structural elements. This process includes both meditation and investigation—a way of thinking through place and perception.

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Material experimentation is central to her work. Ink, acrylic, and natural pigments, including handcrafted and internationally sourced materials, create images that shift from dense saturation to translucent washes, building depth and movement within fluid, biomorphic structures. Forms merge and dissolve without settling into fixed identities.

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Embedded within many compositions are subtle “hidden figures.” Viewers may glimpse a face, a mother and child, or another fleeting image depending on their perspective. Tian intentionally leaves these forms undefined, inviting interpretation rather than imposing meaning. Cultural background, memory, and lived experience shape what emerges, making the viewer a co-creator in the act of seeing. In this way, the work continues beyond the studio and into each viewer’s experience.

At the heart of Where We Meet is the concept that there is no clear beginning or end, no strict boundary between living forms and the spaces they inhabit. Everything unites—just as each painting merges into the next within her lifelong continuum of making.

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Per Anita Sue Kolman, founder and co-partner of Kolman & Reeb Gallery, “Suyao’s work embodies the spirit of the Project Space Grant. Her dedication to process and experimentation, combined with the openness she invites from viewers, creates an exhibition that feels both intimate and expansive.”

Gallery curator and co-partner Jodi Reeb added, “What moves me about Suyao’s paintings is the space they create. They ask us to slow down and look more closely. In that pause, something shifts—we begin to see connections we may not have noticed before.”

Suyao Tian is a professional artist based in the Twin Cities, MN. She serves as adjunct faculty at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, teaching Water-Based Media studio classes. Tian earned her BA from the University of Central Arkansas and her MFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is included in permanent collections such as the North Dakota Museum of Art and the University of Minnesota.

Kolman & Reeb Gallery is in Studio 395, Northrup King Building at 1500 Jackson Street NE. For more information, please visit: kolmanreebgallery.com or call 612-385-4239.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art and Minnesota Aurora FC Announce Partnership Connecting Art, Sport, and Community

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) has announced a multi-faceted partnership with Minnesota Aurora FC, a community-driven, women-led soccer club, that brings together visual art, design, and athletic movement in a new collaboration rooted in Minnesota’s creative and cultural life.

For its fifth season, Aurora’s jersey will become art in motion. Designed by Mia, in collaboration with local artist and educator Lindsay Nohl, the kit celebrates Minnesota through original artwork that moves with every sprint, pass, and goal. Nohl, a professor at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and an accomplished creative leader, partnered with both teams to create a design that transforms the field into a public gallery. Nationally recognized for past jersey releases, Aurora continues to treat its kit as more than a uniform. It is the most visible expression of the club’s identity and a powerful canvas for storytelling.

Lindsay Nohl

The collaboration unites two women-led, community-driven institutions that share a belief in Minnesota as a creative and cultural capital. Together, Mia and Minnesota Aurora FC will create experiences that bridge art and sport, expand audiences, and deepen community connection through storytelling, design, and shared public moments.

“Art doesn’t live in just one place, and neither do our audiences. We believe deeply in Minnesota and in the organizations that shape its cultural life. By partnering with Minnesota Aurora, we’re inviting fans into new spaces — including the museum — through shared experiences that blend creativity, community, and sport.”                                           Katie Luber, Mia’s Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director and President

Minnesota Aurora FC, founded on the principle “For Community, By Community,” has built a loyal following around the joy of soccer as a collective experience—one defined by shared emotion, belonging, and celebration. 

"Minnesota Aurora exists because this community showed up and believed in something different. This partnership is an extension of that spirit. We want our players, our fans, and our cities to see themselves reflected in the spaces we create, whether that's at TCO Stadium or at Mia."                                                        Saara Hassoun, President, Minnesota Aurora

The partnership further affirms Mia’s commitment to equity, representation, and inclusive storytelling in a highly visible public space. It speaks directly to the museum’s mission to celebrate creativity, elevate artists, and invite broader, younger, and more diverse audiences into meaningful cultural experiences.

Launch Details

As a part of this partnership, Aurora’s official kit reveal will take place on April 2, 2026. Mia and Minnesota Aurora will be giving away tickets to this event to 20 lucky fans through their social media channels. Additional details about the event are forthcoming.

2025 Recap from the February 25 Annual Meet Minneapolis Event

Credit: Coppersmith Photography

At its Annual Meeting on February 25, Meet Minneapolis reported 2025 performance results, significant progress on long-term strategy and major investments designed to strengthen the city’s visitor economy. Amid recent challenges that have required care and collective resolve, the organization emphasized its continued focus on securing future meetings, conventions and events which supports more than 31,000 tourism and hospitality workers and delivers meaningful economic impact for the city. 

Meet Minneapolis Key Performance Indicators for 2025*

Future Group Hotel Room Nights Booked: 532,100 

- Third consecutive year with more than 525,000 future rooms booked

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Minneapolis Lodging Taxes: $11.6 million 

- Second consecutive year with more than $11 million generated

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Minneapolis Convention Center Revenue Generated: $19.6 million 

- Third consecutive year with more than $18 million generated 

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Partnership Businesses: 493 

- 86 new partner businesses were added in 2025

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Tourism in Minneapolis directly supports hundreds of businesses and tens of thousands of workers – individuals whose livelihoods are built on the city’s ability to attract visitors and events. In 2025, Meet Minneapolis and its partners: 

• Brought more than 650 events to the city and region 
• Welcomed nearly 660,000 people to the Minneapolis Convention Center 
• Filled more than two million hotel rooms for the second consecutive year  

Per Melvin Tennant, President and CEO of Meet Minneapolis, “We are seeing the results of strong collaboration across our tourism and hospitality community. Tourism is an economic engine for Minneapolis. Every meeting we book, every convention we host and every event we attract sustains jobs and local businesses and generates critical tax revenue. Our focus is clear – increase visitation, support workers and keep Minneapolis competitive in an evolving meetings and travel landscape.”  

Launch of the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District 

In June 2025, the local hotel community and city leadership, in partnership with Meet Minneapolis, established the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District (MTID). The MTID is expected to generate approximately $7 million annually to support destination marketing, sales and event recruitment. In its first year, the MTID helped secure the Savannah Bananas for a high-profile Minneapolis stop and launched Winterapolis 2025-26, a targeted campaign designed to drive hotel room nights during the city’s slowest tourism season. This early momentum demonstrates how industry-led investment is strengthening the city’s ability to compete for meetings, conventions and major events while accelerating long-term growth. 

Destination Master Plan Momentum: Minneapolis as the #1 City for Women’s Sports 

Meet Minneapolis advanced a key priority from Destination Minneapolis: Charting the Future of Minneapolis Tourism, the city’s long-range tourism master plan aligning public, private and civic sectors around a shared vision. In October 2025, the organization launched Minneapolis: The #1 City for Women’s Sports, positioning the city as the leading U.S. destination for women’s sports based on decades of championship hosting, participation and competitive success. The initiative included a public announcement, a dedicated digital hub, a co-authored op-ed with Minnesota Sports & Events, and a stakeholder launch event. 

Key Future Bookings 

Meet Minneapolis secured more than 300 future events and conventions in 2025. Select future bookings: 

• American Choral Directors Association National Conference (March 2027) 
• United Methodist Church General Conference (May 2028) 
• Northern Lights Junior Volleyball Qualifier (March 2029 & 2030) 
• American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting (May 2031) 
• American Political Science Association Annual Meeting & Exhibition (August 2031) 

Marketing Agency of Record Search 

Meet Minneapolis launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a Marketing Agency of Record to lead a large-scale brand campaign launching in 2026. Supported by funding from the MTID, this effort represents a long-term investment in building a unified brand and demand marketing platform designed to inspire travel, attract meetings and conventions, and cultivate more ambassadors for Minneapolis. The RFP process is currently underway, with an agency partner expected to be selected later this spring.  

More 2025 Highlights 

• Best Week Ever for Minneapolis Hotels: On September 14-20, hotels in Minneapolis had their strongest week ever from a demand and room revenue standpoint, while also setting a new post-pandemic weekly occupancy record. The noteworthy hotel success was driven by many major events hosted throughout the city, including Farm Aid at Huntington Bank Stadium, and the North American Biochar Conference and World Workplace at the MCC.  
• Community Events Assistance Program: The Minneapolis Community Events Assistance Program launched in 2025. Minneapolis CEAP supports Minneapolis-based nonprofit organizations with financial assistance to help cover city-mandated service costs for community-driven events that support community engagement, cultural diversity, and the promotion of public events that enrich the lives of its residents and visitors. In 2025, 23 events were supported which attracted a combined one million attendees. 
• America’s Winter City: Winterapolis continued to serve as Meet Minneapolis’ signature winter leisure campaign in 2025, positioning Minneapolis as an inviting, active and culturally rich winter destination. The campaign was also adopted and amplified by a range of local partners, extending the reach of the messaging and reinforcing Winterapolis as a shared platform for celebrating and promoting winter experiences across the city. 
• Cultural Districts Tourism: To highlight the city’s designated Cultural Districts, Meet Minneapolis expanded this work through the Get Drawn In campaign, a multi-channel awareness effort designed to spotlight the businesses, culture and creative energy within each district. Across all tactics, the campaign delivered 3.2 million impressions and 27,600 clicks, reinforcing awareness of the districts and their role in strengthening Minneapolis neighborhoods. 
• Digital Engagement: The Meet Minneapolis website drew nearly three million sessions. There were also more than one million outbound clicks to partner websites. Social media channels generated more than 38 million impressions in 2025, and followers grew to more than 242,000 across all channels. 

To access the 2025 Meet Minneapolis Annual Impact Report, please go here.  

To address the challenges that Minneapolis has faced in the past few months, Meet Minneapolis launched the MPLS for MPLS marketing initiative to remind the local community and visitors of ways they can help support our local businesses and neighborhoods. More recently, the Go. Gift. Give. campaign was unveiled to encourage people outside Minneapolis (within driving distance) to support the city by coming in, buying gift cards and showing up for local businesses. 

*Regarding the audit line of our news release, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) performs “agreed upon procedures” in testing results for our KPIs in Future Room Nights and Partnership Retention concurrent with a financial audit. Results are released at the same time and are presented to the Meet Minneapolis board in April. MCC Revenue and Lodging taxes are not tested as those numbers are provided by the City.

Mpls St.Paul Magazine Winter Restaurant Week is Feb 23-March 1

Make your reservation and support our local restaurants!

Restaurant Week is your invitation to dine out, discover something new, and support the local restaurants that make the Twin Cities such a great place to eat.

From February 23–March 1, enjoy mouthwatering two- and three-course prix fixe menus from the Twin Cities’ top chefs, priced from $15 to $50. With over 80 incredible restaurants to choose from, there’s something for every taste and every budget!

View all the options!

Every reservation helps sustain the chefs, servers and teams behind our vibrant food scene.

Recap of the February 19 Minneapolis Downtown Council 70th Annual Meeting

Civic Leaders Showcased 2025 Accomplishments and What’s Next in 2026

Yesterday, February 19, the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District hosted its 70th Annual Meeting at The Armory. With approximately 1,000 guests in attendance, civic leaders relayed the collective wins of 2025, revealed key data points, and set the stage for what’s next for Minneapolis - fueling growth and building a stronger, more dynamic and thriving downtown.

Speakers included Adam Duininck, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District; Matthew Caldwell, CEO of Timberwolves and Lynx; Tom Pohlad, Minnesota Twins Chair; and Isaac Thompson, CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra. The event was emceed by WCCO Radio’s Vineeta Sawkar with entertainment provided by Ashley DuBose. 

Per Adam Duininck, “What we heard at today’s meeting is exactly why downtown Minneapolis must be the place. When business leaders, residents, and community partners come together, momentum follows. Downtown is not standing still - we are advancing foundational safety, accelerating residential growth, and amplifying our cultural vitality. As the world watches what Minneapolis does next, they will see a community building downtown by design - with intention, with partnership, and with an irresistible vibe.” 

Below are key messages and data points shared during the event: 

Investments and Leadership

• More than $230 million in new construction permits were issued.
• Key investment examples included updates and redevelopment at U.S. Bancorp Center, Sheraton Minneapolis Downtown, Loring Green Condominiums, SPS Tower, and LaSalle Plaza. Additionally, the 20 Washington and 365 Nicollet buildings were sold.
• The reimagining of the First Avenue entertainment district will include a $30 million investment, reinforcing downtown’s position as a premier arts and culture hub.
• Downtown Minneapolis experienced nearly 60 ribbon cuttings and new business openings in 2025 as well as the appointment of eight new CEOs leading downtown companies. 

Return-to-Office and Growing Foot Traffic

• Sixteen of the 20 largest downtown employers now have return-to-office policies in place, with Tuesdays through Thursdays as the busiest days.
• Downtown workday foot traffic has climbed to approximately 80% of pre-pandemic levels. 

Transit Investment

• The METRO E Line marked a $60 million investment in public transit, delivering service that is 20% faster.

Cultural Vitality and Major Events

• In 2025, more than nine million people attended sports, concerts, and special events in Downtown Minneapolis. Highlights included:
  • U.S. Bank Stadium hosted 162 events, drawing 1,032,877 attendees.
  • The pre-Broadway debut of Purple Rain at the State Theatre, the first pre-Broadway launch in Minneapolis since 1997.
  • Twin Cities Pride welcomed 650,000 attendees.
  • The Taste of Minnesota hosted 125,000 guests.
  • The St. Patrick’s Day Parade returned to Nicollet Mall for the first time since 2019.
  • Other events that collectively drew hundreds of thousands of visitors included North Loop Christkindl, Luminescence, Stone Arch Festival, Dinner du Nord, and the Warehouse District Live Block Party.

Safety and Social Impact

• A new First Precinct location opened.
• The addition of late-night ambassadors (7pm–3am) in the warehouse district decreased violent crime by 55%.
• The Minneapolis Police Department hired more than 100 new recruits, cadets and transfers while also adding 68 community service officers.
• Our Downtown Ambassadors provided 80,000+ hospitality assists.
• More than 3,700 livability wellness checks were conducted.
• 24,000 youth were supported by services.
• Medica invested in emergency short-term food relief, activating hundreds of community members to pack enough food for 10,000 meals, while also supporting long-term systemic change efforts.

Residential Stability and Public Enhancements

• Downtown’s residential base remains strong with 60,689 residents living downtown, holding steady over 2024. 
• Leaders are exploring ways for downtown residents to have a formal voice in the Downtown Improvement District through a Residential Expansion Project.
• Green spaces in downtown received a $5.1 million investment to sites including Elliot Park, Franklin Steel Park and North Loop Park. Plus, more than 18,000 trees and flowers were planted.

Hands-on Activities for All Ages at Mill City Museum’s STEM Family Day, Feb 28

Guests can learn how science shaped the Twin Cities

Science, technology, engineering, and math have all played key roles in the history of Minneapolis. On February 28 from 11am–3pm, the Mill City Museum, 704 S 2nd Street, invites guests to its annual free STEM Family Day to get a hands-on look at how the field has affected the Twin Cities riverfront.

The day’s program will feature fun and educational activities and demonstrations from notable STEM organizations in Minnesota and Minnesota Historical Society staff. Families can learn the history of STEM in the Twin Cities and get a glimpse of the important work being done locally in the field.

Guest Organizations include:

●      General Mills Grain and Flour Quality Lab

●      Minnesota Raptor Center

●      National Park Service

●      Minnesota Herpetological Society

●      Geological Society of Minnesota

●      American Chemical Society - Minnesota Local Section

Mill City Museum STEM Family Day 

Join My Very Own Bed on March 7 for an Evening of Music, Community and Impact - Because Every Child Deserves a Bed of Their Own

An evening of music and generosity benefiting My Very Own Bed
March 7, 7:00–9:30pm, at Nicollet Island Pavilion

My Very Own Bed, a Minneapolis nonprofit that provides children transitioning into stable housing with new beds and Dream Kits, will host its second annual Bed Rocks fundraiser on March 7. This year’s event moves to the Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power Street, offering more room to celebrate a growing mission and deepen the organization’s impact. Bed Rocks aims to raise $120,000 to provide more Twin Cities kids with comfortable places to rest and call their own. Learn more and register.

The Power of a Good Night’s Sleep

Many children in the Twin Cities sleep on the floor or share a bed, making it difficult to get the rest they need to grow and thrive. Studies show that quality sleep improves focus, memory, problem-solving, mental health, and physical well-being. Receiving a new bed provides immediate benefits, helping kids succeed in school, build relationships, and feel happier and healthier. 

Since 2014, My Very Own Bed has provided more than 11,000 children with new beds and Dream Kits, complete with bedding, pillows, books, and stuffed animals. 

After receiving their new beds, parents have said:

• "She is sleeping well, going to school, and playing with friends. Teachers have noticed a difference.”

• "My five year old makes his own bed. I was shocked. He cleans his room. He is normally all over the place but now he has ownership and a change of attitude. Coming from the shelter and sleeping on the floor to this - it gives the kids some dignity and some security and something of their own."

• "It really made them feel loved because this is a new state and a new house for us. It really helped them get comfortable. They feel like they have their own rooms now."

Live Music and Entertainment for a Cause

With a goal of providing 2,100 children with new beds and Dream Kits in 2026, Bed Rocks plays a crucial role in expanding My Very Own Bed’s impact. This vibrant event, designed for adults in the community who want to make a meaningful difference in children's lives, will feature:

• A program and live auction hosted by comedian Miss Shannan, one of the few Black women working in the United States professionally as a Certified Benefit Auctioneer. Host to countless corporate and charity events, Miss Shannan's storytelling, comedy, and infectious smile make her performances unforgettable. 

• Live music by Brass Messengers: A sprawling fun factory of ten musicians based in the Twin Cities, known for creating joyful noise. Their sound ranges from inspired originals to globe-spanning sing-alongs and reimagined covers, all rooted in a distinctly homegrown Minneapolis street music spirit.

• Delicious appetizers, free NA cocktails, and a cash bar.

• An online silent auction starting on March 2.

Price: $50 for individual tickets, $500 for a table of 8
Silent Auction: Begins March 2 – participation does not require event attendance.

Warm and Tender Comedy, The Cake, Opens Feb 20 at Theatre in the Round

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) will present The Cake, February 20 to March 15. 

In this sweet comedy by Bekah Brunstetter (This is Us), Southern baker Della is content with her life and world of sugar and flour - until she’s asked by her late best friend’s daughter to bake a wedding cake for her… and her future wife.

What follows is sweet, sad, sensual, and absurd as three women must reconstruct their deepest selves – or lose the people they love most. As they navigate sex, marriage, moral codes – and the fraught politics of cake – they bump up against unquestioned patterns, unspoken desires, and the hilarious contradictions of a life lived honestly.

Directed by Jennie Ward, this warm and poignant comedy invites audiences to the kitchen table for a story about hearts and beliefs colliding — and reminds us that sometimes the sweetest acts of courage are also the most human.

The production features Jenny Ramirez as Della, Daniel Stock as Tim, Via Logan as Jen, Natavia Lewis as Macy, and Kjer Whiting as George. 

The creative and production team includes Stage Manager Indigo Cabanela-Leiseth, Assistant Stage Manager Taylor Koehler, Set Designer Keven Lock, Lighting Designer Todd Reemtsma, Costume Designer Emma Shook, Prop Designer PJ Graber, and Sound Designer Jennie Ward.

A Pay-What-You-Can performance is scheduled for Monday, March 2 at 7:30pm, and an Audio-Described performance will be held on Sunday, March 8 at 2:00pm (email tix@theatreintheround.org to RSVP).

2022 DMNA Volunteer of the Year Winner Continues Volunteerism in Spain

Wanda covers graffiti before fresh, colorful images are applied.

Longtime Mill District resident Wanda Ortiz-Maysonet has spent a great deal of time in Spain over the past years. When she's in town she gives freely of her time, and that volunteer spirit is alive and well in Spain where she continues her work, proudly representing Minneapolis while helping improve Spanish communities. Wanda said not long ago very few people there knew about Minneapolis, but now they have great things to say about Minneapolitans.

Wanda been working with volunteer group Asociacion Ambiental Costa del Silencio Limpio in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. They began in September 2023 when the president of their association, Hannelore Ottevaere, posted on Facebook that she was looking for help to clean up around the neighborhood. Since Wanda had already been doing that on her own, it was a perfect opportunity to join forces and she become vice president of the group. Per Wanda, "I believe what we have accomplished is pretty remarkable!"

Wanda, Hannelore Ottevaere, president and founder, and Marcia Hernandez, Secretary, attend a City Council meeting at Arona City Hall where their group was recognized for their work.

The start of their mission in 2023.

Through social media, they recruited more volunteers and have about 60 now. "We have people from many different countries, the majority retirees who spend their winters in Tenerife. I’m the only American, and we have people from Italy, Belgium, Uruguay, Germany, Austria, Cuba and a couple from Spain. It seems that volunteerism is not as big a thing with the locals," observed Wanda.

The group concentrates on trash pickup, graffiti removal, and they even installed a Little Free Library (a concept that originated in Minnesota). They've repaired children’s playgrounds and a mini golf course, and have painted murals on old abandoned advertising walls.

Above, the abandoned advertising wall before the project, and below, the completed project.

Learn more about their work on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube - check out the results of their efforts! Always the volunteer, Wanda also maintains the group's social media channels.

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Editor's note: One thing that stands out to me is the absolute joy this work brings to the volunteers. Cheers to Wanda - I feel so very fortunate to know her! :)

Children’s Theatre Company announces Forts! Build Your Own Adventure An Interactive Experience, Feb 13-April 5

Coming to Children’s Theatre Company (CTC), 2400 3rd Avenue S, February 13-April 5 - Forts! Build Your Own Adventure, an interactive experience!

Pull back the curtains and there you are - surrounded by old sofas, crazy lampshades, piles of blankets, and towering towers of cardboard boxes! It’s like the coolest attic you’ve ever seen, where everything’s up for grabs. Use whatever you want to build…whatever you want - the tallest fort, the longest fort, tons of cozy little forts… Quick, someone hands you a flashlight - what will you do? In Forts! you make it all happen. This experience is best enjoyed by all ages. 

 

Per Rick Dildine, CTC Artistic Director, “Forts! celebrates the power of imagination in its purest and most exhilarating form. From the moment you step inside, you’re transported into a world of boundless possibility - playful, inventive, and alive with creativity. We’re thrilled to invite families into an experience where play leads the way, creativity is limitless, and every child becomes the architect of their own adventure.”

Forts! creator Julie Ritchey adds, “Twenty years ago, as a student at Northwestern University, I did a research presentation about Children's Theatre Company. The thought that Forts!, a piece I am so proud of, will be presented at CTC, a company I have so long admired, is a true full-circle moment. I am overjoyed and honored to bring Forts! to Minneapolis, and I can't wait to see what the imaginations of the incredible CTC audiences build!”

 

Tickets for Forts! may be purchased at childrenstheatre.org/forts or by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400. All tickets are $30.

 

There will be weekday sessions available during Spring Break (March 17-April 3). School groups interested in attending Forts! can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org for more information.

 

Forts! has a run time of 60 minutes with no intermission, and is best for all ages.

Puppy Cuddle Returns to Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, February 12

Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!

Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center invites the public to a special Puppy Cuddle event featuring adorable, adoptable pups from a local animal rescue organization. From 11:30am to 1pm on Thursday, February 12, attendees can enjoy stress-relieving snuggles, learn about adoption opportunities, and support a great cause. A $5 donation is suggested to benefit Healing Hearts Rescue. Cash, credit and Venmo accepted, 100% of donations will go to Healing Hearts Rescue.

Healing Hearts Rescue is a volunteer-based nonprofit dog rescue dedicated to changing the lives of animals by finding them safe and loving homes. 

The Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center is located at 505 Nicollet Mall, Suite 100, directly across from the Nicollet station.

Waning Gibbous Moon by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

I took this photo this morning (February 2) at 7:30am, two minutes before sunrise. The full moon was yesterday and you probably remember that the sky was cloudy in Minneapolis all day, and it was snowing in the morning when the moon was moving across the sky to set below the horizon. So I was pleasantly surprised to see the moon high in the sky over downtown when I went to our exercise room in the condo for my morning routine. I cut that short and went out on our community deck. This image was taken toward the end of the photo shoot. For the previous hour I had been using my camera for all the shots before, and after this one as the moon descended and eventually went out of view behind this building. The lights on the Gold Medal Flour sign had been on until about 7:25am. I am always very pleased when I can capture a photo of the moon balancing on top of a building. Not only does the moon rise and set in a different location every day of the year, but the weather frequently interferes with getting a good image, like yesterday’s weather.

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Recently I've been experimenting with comparing the quality of the iPhone photos to the photos taken with the camera. The iPhone that I have can taken photos that are 48 MB in size. My camera weighs in at 45 MB in size. For posting on social media I don’t think the difference in quality of the image is noticeable because the image is at a very reduced size and never shown at its full 100% dimensions. But for any photo that I want to print the camera does a better job, primarily because I think the lens is much better on the camera. On the iPhone, when the image is printed at 300 DPI and at its full size - which is about 26.8 x 20.1 - I have found distortions in some areas of the image, especially closer to the edge. You don’t necessarily see those distortions in a photo posted on social media.

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You can see more of my work at ricrosowphotography.com and pricekrishnangallery.com.