Minnesota Monthly

01/10/2026

A pulse check on local shopping—from legacy Minnesota brands to long-awaited national arrivals. We break down the newest openings and what’s coming soon across the metro. View the full list at the link below. 🛍️

https://shorturl.at/T1eFF

📸: King Brothers Clothiers, coming soon to 50th & France

01/09/2026

In moments of deep loss, Minnesotans show up for one another.

From bookstores and museums to cafes and community centers, spaces across the Twin Cities and beyond have opened their doors to offer safety, care, meals, and connection following the death of Renee Nicole Good.

Our latest story highlights these acts of solidarity—along with resources for those seeking help, legal guidance, or ways to support Renee’s family.

Tap the link to read more.

On Jan. 7, 2026, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in south Minneapolis—a moment that has since shaken Minnesota and ignited national debate.

01/09/2026

Looking for free winter fun in Minneapolis? Meet Minneapolis rounded up the best no-cost ways to enjoy the season—for kids and adults alike! ❄✨

Read more:

Minneapolis is filled with free ways to experience the season - outdoor festivals, beautiful snowy hikes, a frozen waterfall, and museums.

01/09/2026

Minneapolis R&B musician Johnnie Brown is hoping live music venues, like his newly opened Brownstone Jazz Club, will help revitalize Uptown’s nightlife scene. “I really want to give young artists a place to play—I want to share the stage with them,” Brown says. He also wants to be a resource for up-and-coming musicians in an industry where getting a foot in the door can feel impossible. 🎵

Read more about the Brownstone and its founder here. ⬇

The R&B musician hopes Brownstone Jazz Club will help reinvigorate the neighborhood's nightlife and lift up young musicians.

01/08/2026

“The new Saffron honors the soul of the original while looking forward.” —Sameh Wadi

Saffron is rising again in the former Young Joni space, with live-fire cooking, modern Middle Eastern flavors, and a deeply personal vision from Sameh and Saed Wadi. 🔥

Tap the link to read Jason DeRusha's scoop.

It's happening! Sameh Wadi first told me he was going to re-launch the restaurant he opened when he was a 23-year-old in 2024. He and his brother Saed closed out 2026 by buying the former Young Joni building in Northeast Minneapolis, and now they're confirming that Saffron will rise again on 13th Av...

01/07/2026

Low ticket alert! We are almost sold out of Saturday VIP tickets to the 31st Annual Food & Wine Experience. Thousands gather every year to sip, savor, and celebrate at our Food & Wine Experience, presented by J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Tickets are now 26% off with code CHEERS—but not forever. Make sure you’re part of it and secure your tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/food-and-wine-experience-2026?discountcode=CHEERS.

01/07/2026

Start the year wild. Expansive landscapes and free-roaming wildlife await in the Black Hills & Badlands. Wander serene and snow-dusted trails and unwind with winter sunsets.

🛣️ Choose your wild: shorturl.at/7ywcV

📸 Travel South Dakota

01/06/2026

Discover how Mayo Clinic is redefining what’s possible in orthopedic care—from one-step cartilage restoration to cutting-edge technologies that speed recovery and improve outcomes.

Read more into surgical innovations that are keeping Minnesotans moving 👇

How Mayo Clinic is using advanced technology to help people move better, recover faster, and live stronger through orthopedics

01/06/2026

A village of 20 colorful ice shanties will pop up on Minneapolis’ Lake Harriet (Bdé Umáŋ) later this month as part of the annual Art Shanty Projects, a celebration of community and creativity meant to brighten the frigid days of a Minnesota winter. ❄

Click here to read about some of this year’s shanties and plan your visit to the icy village. ⬇

Art Shanty Projects returns to Minneapolis’ Lake Harriet January 17 through February 8 with creative structures, performances, and more.

01/05/2026

Alexandria is staying busy this winter with two new festivals—SNØfest and Beat the Winter Blues & Jazz Fest! ❄️

From outdoor fun to live music, these events are bringing the energy all season long. Read more and plan your visit with Explore Alexandria MN →

Embrace the chill in Alexandria this winter where cozy cabins, icy lakes, festive events, and snowy adventures await.

01/05/2026

The Guthrie Theater's production of "Somewhere," running now through February 1, follows a family's Broadway dreams—and the way urban development threatens their home—in 1950s New York. 💃⁠
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Read Jerrod Sumner's review:

A drama by Matthew Lopez covers the Broadway dreams of a 1950s New York City family, as urban development threatens their home.

01/02/2026

Writer Megan Padilla takes us on a visit to North House Folk School, a Grand Marais institution where traditional northern crafts are kept alive—from boatbuilding and baking to weaving and woodcarving. ⁠
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Tap the link to read more about the folk school and how it brings Grand Marais residents and visitors together for cultural events and traditions.

Founded in 1997 on the Grand Marais harbor, North House Folk School is best known for teaching traditional northern crafts through some 350 classes annually. But its greater draw is as a community hearth on the shore of Lake Superior.