Minnesota Monthly

01/24/2025

SKOL! Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has been named 2024 NFL Coach of the Year by The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). 🏈🔥

After leading the team to a 14-3 season in 2024, O'Connell became the first Vikings head coach to win 13 or more games twice. On the same day as the PFWA recognition, O'Connell was also listed as one of five finalists for The Associated Press' Coach of the Year, to be announced Feb. 6.

The Vikings and O'Connell agreed to a multiyear contract extension earlier this week.

Tap here to revisit our conversation with Coach O'Connell from the September/October issue of Minnesota Monthly: https://shorturl.at/2c8Zs

✍️: Alesha Taylor
📸: Nate Ryan

01/24/2025

Leopard print is back—again. At the link below, our style editor dives into the divisive history of this resilient trend, from its first runway appearance by Dior to modern-day styling tips. 🐆

https://shorturl.at/t9KBH

📸: (1)Jeff Kravitz, (2) Appassionata 2.0

01/23/2025

If climbing a frozen quarry using sharp, metallic claws sounds thrilling, Duluth Ice & Mixed Fest is for you. 🧊 🥶 The event (hosted by Duluth Climbers Coalition and Midwest Mountain Guides) will take place Feb. 1 at Quarry Park in Duluth, promoting ice climbing for attendees of all ages, genders, and walks of life.

To learn more about this extreme winter sport and plan your visit to the festival, tap here: https://shorturl.at/av3vn

✍️, 📸: Chris Pascone

01/23/2025

❄ Giveaway Alert! ❄ Minnesota Ice is gifting three lucky winners a set of four tickets! Like and tag one friend on this post to enter the drawing.

If you aren’t a winner, you can still grab the last few tickets here: bit.ly/4alArCh

The three winners will be drawn in 24 hours—contacted via socials and emailed their tickets, (giveaway ends January 24 at 11 am).
📸: Minnesota Ice

01/23/2025

Xelas by El Sazon, the latest venture from Chef Cristian and Karen de Leon, is now open in Stillwater. The restaurant focuses on authentic Mayan-inspired dishes, with smoky spices, bold flavors, and salsas that shine. 🔥

Read Food Editor Jason DeRusha's full review here: https://shorturl.at/rIQ3W

📸: Xelas by El Sazon

01/22/2025

There are 11 Minnesotan restaurants and chefs among this year's James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists, including Bûcheron, Vinai MN, Mucci's Italian, and others. 👏
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Food Editor Jason DeRusha has the scoop on all local semifinalists here: https://shorturl.at/AqYmV
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📸: Kevin Kramer

01/22/2025

Get ready, foodies—Minnesota Monthly’s 30th Food & Wine Experience, presented by J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, will be here before you know it!
This year, we’re bringing together some of Minnesota’s tastiest culinary heavyweights to serve up samples of their most drool-worthy dishes. Curious who’s in the lineup? Here’s a sneak peek at some fan-favorites joining us for the event!
Head to our website to grab you tickets, and to check out the lineup of restaurants, wineries, shops, and more that will be helping us to make this year's event unforgettable:
https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/food-wine/food-wine-experience-exhibitors/

01/21/2025

The Great Northern, the Twin Cities' annual 10-day festival celebrating the beauty of winter in Minnesota, kicks off this Thursday. ❄️⁠
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The festival will offer a variety of multidisciplinary programming daily through Feb. 2, including sauna experiences, community conversations around climate change and the environment, art installations, and more.⁠
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Tap here for a preview of what this year's festival has to offer: https://shorturl.at/QIAVT
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✍️: Macy Harder⁠
📸: Jayme Halbritter

01/21/2025

Three new concepts from well-known Twin Cities chefs and restaurateurs are coming to Graze Food Hall by Travail: Umami by Travail (feat. dumplings from Saturday Dumpling Co.), Tixtli by Nixta, and Caja Fried Chicken by the creators of Alma and Brasa. 🔥

The just-opened Umami by Travail is the first of the new spots to be available in the food hall—but guests can expect to try the other two vendors in February.

Tap here to read more about the new spots: https://shorturl.at/lnjzc

✍️: Macy Harder
📸: Graze Food Hall by Travail

01/20/2025

Looking for fun winter ideas? Discover Hudson WI has got you covered!

Read on for a variety of hotspots, like Pier 500 which offering dining inside an igloo:
bit.ly/4h9HpMU

📸: Erik Mickelsen

01/20/2025

Week 1 competitions have ended, and the second week of voting begins today in Minnesota Monthly's Breakfast Bracket Challenge, presented by COUNTRY Financial!
Did your favorite make it to the second round? Remember to vote every day this week to support your breakfast spot of choice and ensure they're in the quarterfinals next week.

Cast your vote here: https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/breakfast-bracket-challenge/

01/19/2025

Sip, savor, and slay! ⁠
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New to Food & Wine this year is our Drag Show Brunch. Join us at Kyndred Hearth Restaurant on Saturday, March 22, for delicious food and a dazzling good time at this premier show. Tickets will include a mouthwatering menu, cocktail options, and high-energy performances filled with stunning looks brought by Minnesota’s fiercest queens.⁠

To grab your tickets, head to https://events.humanitix.com/food-wine-experience

01/18/2025

The Minnesota Ice Festival is your chance to embrace frosty fun! Read on below to learn more about all the different activities and vendors that will be at this year's festival.

The Minnesota Ice Festival opens Jan. 10 at TCO Stadium, featuring the World’s Largest Ice Maze, ice slides, food trucks, ice bars, and more!

01/18/2025

Back by popular demand, Pazzaluna's pop-up dining series will return later this month. 🍝 After closing in 2020, the beloved Italian restaurant introduced pop-ups in its former St. Paul location last October. ⁠
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This round of pop-ups kicks off on Jan. 30, running Thursdays-Saturdays for three consecutive weeks. The prix-fixe menu will include classics like Chicken & Saffron Risotto, Homemade Gnocchi, and more.⁠
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Tap here for more details (and to make your reservations): https://shorturl.at/9xJpy
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📸: Courtesy of Pazzaluna

01/18/2025

Did you know? The St. Louis Park Parkettes, inspired by the New York City Rockettes, served as the official cheerleaders for the Minnesota Vikings from 1964-65 and again from 1967 to 1983, leaving a lasting legacy in Minnesota history. Their unique contribution as high school danceline girls remains a cherished part of the state's sports culture.

The St. Louis Park Parkettes organization was unique—as high school dance-line girls, modeled after the New York City Rockettes, this prestigious group of teenagers were the official cheerleaders for the Minnesota Vikings in 1964-65 and again in 1967 through 1983. From 1973 to 1976, at 15 to 18 ye...

01/17/2025

Join the American Heart Association - Minnesota for the 2025 Go Red for Women Evening of Empowerment on February 20th at Quincy Hall!

Event details: bit.ly/3WfvO74

📸: American Heart Association - Minnesota

01/17/2025

Owamni - By The Sioux Chef is rolling out some updates for the winter season. ❄️🍽️ ⁠

The acclaimed Minneapolis restaurant will introduce weekend brunch service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting this Sunday, Jan. 19, serving Game Sausage Benedict, Corn Cakes, and more. Additionally, the waniyetu (winter) dinner menu is now available.⁠
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Plus, the restaurant is debuting the 10-week Turtle Island Dinner Series later this month, a ticketed event that will celebrate new visions in decolonized cuisine with special guests and an 8-course tasting menu.⁠
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For more details about what's new at Owamni, tap the link below.

Plus: a look at the new winter menu and forthcoming 10-week dinner series

01/16/2025

Minnesota Ice is the official Guinness World Records® title holder for the largest ice maze, now featured at The Minnesota Ice Festival!

With tickets 50–80% sold out, don’t miss your chance to experience this record-breaking event—buy them today: bit.ly/4alArCh

📸: Minnesota Ice