Minnevangelist’s Ashlea Halpern put together some fun content for Explore Minnesota’s new Enter Your Dream State campaign, highlighting things to do in every corner of the state. In the metro area, she shouted out….
🍴 Two new restaurant concepts (Mara and Socca Cafe) from celebrated chef Gavin Kaysen at the Twin Cities’ first five-star hotel, the Four Seasons, opening next month.
🍜 Some favorite eats at the Mall of America, including the char siu ramen from Ichiddo Ramen and fruity Mexican paletas at La Michoacana Purepecha.
🎸 A slate of outdoor concerts, starting with Rock the Garden at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (June 11), a two-stage extravaganza featuring food trucks, beer tents, and co-headliners Sleater-Kinney and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; and Festival Field at Surly Brewing, which has booked top acts for August and September. The latter’s billing reads like a who’s who of indie rock greats: Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine, The Decemberists, The National, and Tenacious D. (Barry Judd would be impressed.)
🎭 At the storied Guthrie Theater, the programming runs the gamut: Mark your calendar for Emma (June 18-Aug. 21), a screwball romp based on the novel by Jane Austen; Sweat (July 16-Aug. 21), Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about race, immigration, and America’s disappearing middle class; and Qui Nguyen’s Vietnam-themed comedy Vietgone (Sept. 10-Oct. 16).
For more Twin Cities ideas, check out the full metro area guide at Explore Minnesota.