The Ultimate B+C Guide to the Makers of Minneapolis

Annie D'Souza
Nov 12, 2014

If the only thing you know about Minneapolis is that it’s frozen from November to April, let’s change that. Like the people who call it home, the City of Lakes isn’t flashy or trendy — at least not in the usual sense. More often than not, the beloved Midwestern city just does what it wants, builds what it wants and makes what it wants without too much regard for the trends of the moment. Pickling everything in the garden? That’s just what people do in the summer. Flannel? We need it to keep us warm all winter. Biking? I mean, how else would you get places? But somewhere along the way, it’s like the trends started quietly aligning with those farm-to-table, flannel-wearing, bike-crazy ways. If you find yourself in this incredible city of makers, here are 21 ways to make the most out of your visit.

1. The Commons Hotel: Minneapolis is bursting at the seams with cool makers, but the hotel scene doesn’t always match up with the character of the city. Affordable boutique hotels are hard to come by, but The Commons is a great option if you don’t go the Airbnb route. The designer geek chic theme is spot-on throughout, and the location on the University of Minnesota campus makes downtown and the up-and-coming Northeast neighborhood extra accessible with public transit. Best of all, it’s budget-friendly.

2. Le Méridien Chambers Hotel: If you want to stay in the heart of downtown, Chambers is the place. This luxury art hotel is minimalist and modern, with an attached art gallery to roam in your spare time. In the winter their outdoor courtyard transforms into a frozen ice bar, complete with warm blankets and big bonfires.

What to Eat

3. Travail Kitchen + Amusements: Technically, Travail isn’t in Minneapolis, but rather in the nearby suburb of Robbinsdale, but it is, without a doubt, the most inventive dining experience in the metro. Travail is molecular gastronomy at its best — all of the mad scientist flavorbombs, none of the uppity attitude. The only thing they serve is an always-changing 10-course tasting menu ($110 for two people), so if you want to order a la carte, you’ll have to go to their equally delicious sister restaurants, The Rookery or Pig Ate My Pizza.

4. Patisserie 46: There are no words to describe how much love you should feel for pastry master John Kraus. He’s probably responsible for 40% of this writer’s annual carb intake, from rustic, flaky, ham and gruyere croissants to decadent desserts that look way too pretty to eat. And as with so many Minneapolis chefs, he’s ridiculously talented yet ridiculously humble. (Photo via Eliesa Johnson)

5. Pizzeria Lola: Betcha didn’t know that Neapolitan pizza is a huge thing in Minneapolis. There are a lot of delicious pizzerias, but Pizzeria Lola regularly ends up at the top of the list because, well, many reasons — but let’s start with two. First of all, the chef and owner Ann Kim is a certified pizzaiola (that’s like a cicerone or sommelier of pizza). Second of all, her pizzas are incredible, especially the Lady ZaZa with Italian red sauce, house-made kimchi, Korean sausage, serrano peppers, scallions, sesame and soy chili glaze. Or the one shown above, with Iowa-made La Quercia prosciutto and eggs.

6. Birchwood Cafe: Two words for you — savory waffle. More words for you — farm-to-table, bike-friendly and totally Instagrammable (it’s like the City of Minneapolis in restaurant form). Their savory waffle features a rotating cast of seasonal ingredients, so it’s a surprise every time. Last week it was a pumpkin, amaranth and gruyere waffle topped with red onion jam, apple cinnamon butter, bacon lardons and a sunny-side-up egg. P.S. In Uptown, Heyday is another solid brunch pick with Bloody Marys to spare.

7. Parlour: Many Minneapolitans would tell you that you simply have to eat a Jucy Lucy (the Twin Cities’ infamous molten cheese-stuffed burger at Matt’s Bar), but there’s an even better burger at Parlour. This dark, sexy cocktail bar boasts a greasy, dare-I-say perfect burger. If you often gravitate toward red currant preserves and fancy cheeses on your burgers, forget that. There’s none of that involved in this one. It requires no condiments whatsoever. In fact, if you even think about asking them for ketchup, this writer will reach through her screen and wag her finger at you in disapproval. In addition to this burger, you’ll find casual bar food paired with high-end booze, while their sister restaurant upstairs, Borough, has a more upscale menu that’s also worth a try.

What to Drink

8. Spyhouse Coffee Roasters: Minneapolis was recently named one of America’s best coffee cities by Travel + Leisure, in part thanks to this local roastery. Spyhouse has three different outposts around the city, but the new mothership in Northeast is the best when it comes to atmosphere. It’s a huge converted warehouse and has that edgy industrial thing down pat. Oh, and the coffee is on point, too… so chances are you’ll want to move in.

9. Five Watt Coffee: Five Watt’s incredible menu of coffee cocktails will make you forget all about your double-raspberry-nonfat-latte ways. The Kingfield is made with vanilla, Big Watt coriander bitters, espresso, milk and black Hawaiian sea salt. Stop in during Sunday Service (10 a.m. – noon) and you’ll enjoy your coffee with an oatmeal bar and live music on Five Watt’s house organ. (via The Midwestival)

10. Indeed Brewing: Minnesota’s been going through a kind of craft beer renaissance over the past couple of years. There are dozens upon dozens of new breweries to visit in Minneapolis, so we struggled to narrow it down to just one. In addition to cozy Indeed Brewing (order the Midnight Ryder Black Ale), there’s Dangerous Man Brewing, Fulton Beer, Harriet Brewing, LynLake Brewery and so many other cold ones to be had. You might as well make a crawl of it… and once Surly‘s Disneyland-scale destination brewery opens up, you should add that to the crawl, too. (via Indeed Brewing)

11. Marvel Bar: One thing Minnesota does better than pretty much anybody (except Wisconsin) is a dive bar. Marvel Bar is the opposite of that — a North Loop speakeasy for cocktail savants. Ask them to make you a punch, try one of the boozy masterpieces from the menu or learn how to make your own at one of their cocktail classes.

12. Norseman Distillery: The distillery boom followed the brewery boom, and you can find a lot of fledgling makers currently paving the way. Norseman Distillery is a favorite, currently offering five hand-crafted spirits made by one man and his two (canine) boozehounds. Tasting tours are offered regularly if you sign up on the website. (via The Midwestival)

Where to Shop

13. Forage Modern Workshop: This South Minneapolis shop is a central hub for Minnesota-made home furnishings and gifts. A few notable local offerings include fine leather goods by Spring Finn + Co., mid-century sideboards from Eastvold Furniture, blankets from Faribault Woolen Mill and handmade backpacks by Viska. It’s impossible to leave empty-handed. (via The Midwestival)

14. Cliché: The fashion-obsessed should head to this little boutique that always keeps Minneapolis-made designer threads in the mix. You’ll find wearables from local makers like Hackwith Design House (who also dabbles in tasseltry), Amanda Christine and more. And while you’re in the Uptown neighborhood, make sure to explore the Chain of Lakes… not necessarily a “maker” highlight, but it’s a must.

15. Wind + Willow Home: Araya Jensen makes covetable hand-dipped wooden servingware and painted soft goods. She just opened a studio in South Minneapolis in November, and you’re going to want to see her work her magic firsthand. Her unexpected color schemes are always flawless, as you can see in our interview with her last April. (via The Midwestival)

16. Askov Finlayson: The North Loop neighborhood is perfect for a shopping spree, starting at this men’s boutique. It’s all Northwoodsy threads and American heritage brands, so no matter your gender, you will want all the things. Once you’re done there, head to Arrow, The Foundry, Grethen House and Martin Patrick 3.

What to Explore

17. Light Grey Art Lab: You’re definitely going to the iconic Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, too… but we wanted to highlight this little gallery, because it puts on some of the coolest underground art events in the city. You’ll find pop-up markets, game nights, 24-hour comic book lock-ins, motivational poster shows, workshops and more.

18. Mill City Farmers Market: This farmers market doesn’t stop when the snow starts to fall. You can still snag all kinds of maker goodness throughout the winter at their indoor markets every second Saturday of the month from November to April. Depending on the time of year, you’ll feast on local cheese, chai-spiced mini donuts from the Chef Shack food truck, salumi from Red Table Meat Co, Tibetan momos (yak potstickers) from Gorkha Palace and so much more. You’ll have to roll yourself home before you even get to the vegetables.

19. LAB MPLS: For you DIY lovers out there, LAB MPLS offers fun workshops partnered with local makers. Their events range from beauty recipes, calligraphy, cocktail shakedowns, art projects and floral arranging.

20. Nordeast Makers: If you’re into getting your hands a little dirtier, Nordeast Makers is a brand new makerspace to flesh out your most awesome design ideas and make them happen using machines like their laser cutter.

21. First Avenue: Minneapolitans make a lot of music. Good music, too. Beyond Prince (the great and powerful), the city has been churning out world-class musicians like Poliça and Atmosphere for decades. First Avenue is the best big-small stage to see both the big names and the local acts that are just on the cusp of blowing the hell up. Soul-pop singer Caroline Smith and rapper Lizzo recently collaborated a gal pal show back in September (above). Watch out for both of them, world. (via City Pages)

We covered a lot, but there are plenty more makers to see in this booming city — what did we miss?

I Can’t Believe How Grown Up Blue Ivy Looked At ‘Mufasa’ Premiere

It's official: Blue Ivy looks totally grown up now — especially in her gorgeous gold gown at the Mufasa: The Lion Kingpremiere. It honestly feels like just yesterday that Beyoncé announced she was born, and now she's a star in her own right! She celebrated her Disney film debut with her family by her side on the red carpet (and everyone looking as gorgeous as ever).

While Jay-Z was one of the latest celebrities caught in the crosshairs of P. Diddy allegations, it didn't stop mom and dad from showing their unwavering support. The family put on a united front, smiling for the cameras and praising Blue's work on her latest Disney film, further proving that they're in this together. Here's everything we know!

Details about the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere

Beyoncé & Jay-Z Amazing Support Of Blue Ivy's Role In 'Mufasa'

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Blue Ivy stars in Mufasa: The Lion King as Kiara with Beyoncé voicing Nala again. The highly anticipated film will show Mufasa's origins from a young cub to the majestic king we've come to know, love, and mourn.

In this cute BTS clip, Beyoncé and Blue are initially shown in separate recording booths while the latter says, "Don't stare at me." It's a typical response all kids eventually give their parents, but it doesn't bother Beyoncé. She simply smiles and says, "I can't help it. You're just too beautiful girl." Still, she offers a bit of reassurance to Blue. "I'mma be right here closing my eyes."

Blue briefly talked about what it feels like to work on a movie by saying, "If I like told my younger self that I was in a movie, I'd like never believe myself."

The star couldn't help but tear up as she continued to watch Blue and said, "Give me a second. I'm still...just can't believe that's my baby." While sitting side by Blue, Beyoncé eventually turns to look at her to let her know she's "so proud of her." Even Rumi, Beyoncé and Jay-Z's youngest daughter, makes a quick appearance!

The Mufasa: The Lion King premiere occurred December 9 with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and grandma Tina Knowles standing by Blue Ivy's side. They looked stunning on the red carpet as they wore coordinating outfits. Although the ladies seemed to be present and excited, Jay-Z temporarily looked distracted while all of them were standing together (via PEOPLE).

If we had to guess, it may have something to do with the recent allegations connecting he and P. Diddy weighing on his mind. After the accusation went public, Jay-Z penned his own public statement and shared it to Roc Nations' social channels. The most heartbreaking aspect of it is realizing his children will be able to see everything.

"My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people," he wrote (via X). Only time will tell how everything pans out, but we hope this doesn't overshadow Blue Ivy's success, nor do we want to see people vilify her or her siblings for alleged misdeeds of Jay-Z.

At the end of the day, we're so proud of Blue for letting her light shine bright despite everything else!

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Paris Geller Is Actually The Best Gilmore Girl Of Them All

Ahhh…Paris Geller. Where does one even begin with the best Gilmore Girl whose name isn't actually Gilmore? The woman we all came to know and love. The purveyor of backhanded compliments, deadpan humor, the quickest wit one can imagine and an absolutely ungodly work ethic. The sole character of the series who I would 100% watch a spin-off of, and love every minute. Sure — she once said that everyone around her needed to be sterilized immediately. And that Rory’s boyfriend offers “nothing to women or the world in general.” And that she can “scare the stupid out of you. But the lazy runs deep.”

She may, in fact, be the only character whose absurdity warrants such unhinged comments, and I am so here for it. You may be reading this because you too believe that Paris Geller deserves way more praise than she receives. Or you hate her. Or perhaps you don’t even know who she is. Regardless, allow me to delight you with the many — shall I say — unique musings of my favorite Gilmore Girls character, and explain exactly why Paris was not only what the cult-classic show needed, but the feminist icon TV needed, too.

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So let’s start from the beginning. Paris Geller (played by Liza Weil) joined the GG crew in Season 1, right as Rory Gilmore (the show’s sort-of protagonist) walked into Chilton Academy, a private school where Paris was attending, for her first day. A far cry from Rory’s relatively timid and soft-spoken personality, Paris tore up the screen with her high-strung personality and immediate rivalry with Rory (Rory did not feel the same), who Paris viewed as the only candidate who could possibly challenge her spot at the top of the class standing. As the year progresses, the two become friends, which of course Paris still highly questioned.

The rest of their high school experience is plagued with repeated ups and downs, from Paris’s parents’ highly publicized divorce to their joint student government campaign and, most notably, Paris’s C-SPAN meltdown, courtesy of a Harvard rejection fueled by what she can only assume to be wide-spread knowledge that she lost her virginity. Despite losing the Valedictorian slot to Rory (which Paris comes to terms with after finding out Salutatorians tend to be more successful), Paris walks across the graduation stage and accepts her diploma from the school’s headmaster, to which she iconically quips, “no hard feelings.”

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Fast forward to Paris’s first year at Yale, a school she knew Rory was attending but had no intention of ever seeing again. Not to the surprise of Paris’s life coach, the two frenemies were placed together as suitemates, a pairing that ultimately served as a catalyst for lifelong friendship. Throughout college, Paris pursues pre-med and pre-law degrees, joins the Yale Daily News alongside Rory, dates an elderly professor (he passes away, leaving Paris to grieve), moves on with the editor of the Yale Daily News, Doyle McMaster, and potentially saves Rory from abandoning Yale forever by admitting to Lorelai that Rory is the only person who ever listened to her, challenged her and motivated her.

Paris then proceeds to become the editor of the Yale Daily News, a position in which her power-hungry tendencies took full-force, resulting in a forcible resignation, kick Rory out of their shared apartment, let Rory move back into their shared apartment (now with Doyle), be accepted to a slew of prestigious medical and law schools. She ultimately chose to attend med school and break up with Doyle, to which he refused, and tells Rory that they’re on their own but she can still do great things (Of course this doesn’t last, the two are meant to be best friends.)

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Somehow this doesn't even scratch the surface of the character of Paris. As you can tell, Paris is a fiercely loyal, protective woman who fights for herself to no end. She (literally) doesn’t care what other people think (so long as they’re not within her immediate circle) and never stops pursuing her dreams, no matter how many times she probably should have. She is the epitome of feminism in modern television — perhaps taken to an extreme — and serves as a necessary counterweight to Rory’s floundering sense of self.

So long as she keeps her need for perfectionism in check, Paris has one of those few personality types whose wild ambition and outspokenness is directly beneficial to her success, a success that she, and only she, can define. Sure, she has an exaggerated sense of self-importance, but when balanced by Rory’s soft-but-straightforward approach, Paris can quickly reset, reevaluate and move forward.

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That's the thing with Paris — she’s always moving forward. She doesn't get into Harvard? Tough. She takes a few days to wallow before considering her other options: Yale, Columbia and Princeton. She doesn’t know whether to choose med school or law school, so she takes stock of her bearings, reflects on her past dreams, and makes a clear, concise decision that she moves forward with.

Her brutally honest nature (both internally and externally) is exactly why Paris works. She’s generous when needed, comfortable with giving tough (and oftentimes tougher) love, is able to express vulnerability with the people she loves, doesn’t allow outside influences to affect her path and never let’s someone (especially a man) tell her she’s less than (*cough, cough*—Rory). For an early 2000s show, she showed women that there is power in education. There’s power in stepping away from a caretaker role. There’s power in expressing your opinion, no matter your age.

Image via WB

There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s inspired countless women over the years — after all, she’s inspired me! Even though she’s had her controversial moments, she’s always been a cheering voice for women, even if it’s behind her resting grimace. For these reasons, and so many more, I am hereby deeming Paris Geller the best of Gilmore Girls — the heroine, perhaps, and a feminist icon to all.

What's your take on Paris Geller? Let us know in the comments, and sign up for our email newsletter for more pop culture musings!

Header image via Netflix, Warner Bros

This post has been updated.

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Lane Kim's Treatment On "Gilmore Girls" Is The Ultimate TV Tragedy

Gilmore Girlstakes up more of my brain space than I'd care to admit. The show is undeniably great. I mean, there's a reason it's become an absolute cultural phenomenon! The banter is witty and memorable, the Stars Hollow, Connecticut setting is warm and friendly, and the character dynamics feel natural and comforting. All of these elements combined create the perfect comfort show thatI personally rewatch again and again. However, despite having an overall positive opinion of the show, there is one bone I have to pick with it. This grievance makes my blood boil and keeps me tossing and turning at night.

While I can't pose my all-too-important question to the creators of the show, I will ask it to you, reader: Why in the world was Lane Kim's storyline such a travesty? Considering the show is not shy about uplifting and celebrating Rory (despite her many mistakes) it feels especially unfair how short of a stick Lane (played by Keiko Agena) truly got. Here are my unfiltered thoughts on the subject.

Lane deserved better after a life of seeking independence

Photo via WBLane Kim's Treatment On "Gilmore Girls" Is The Ultimate TV Tragedy

Throughout Lane's formative teenage years, she was forced to hide her true identity and interests in order to appease her mother. From hiding CDs in her floorboards and changing her clothes when she got to school, Lane was under a lot of pressure to keep her mom happy, while still trying to figure out who she was. Her mother even kicked her out after finding out about her "secret life," causing Lane to have to move into Rory's dorm. Rory, on the other hand, had a mother who supported her every dream and who she could be fully herself with.

I'm not sure why only one of these two besties got to live out their dreams, but if it did have to play out this way, it should have been Lane Kim. Given how difficult her upbringing was, couldn't the show have given her a win by having *her* be the one who gets to follow her dreams?

Lane's love life is lackluster

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Once again, the show propped up Rory and gave her not one, not two, but three love interests. Whether or not you love all three of them, we can all admit that each boyfriend was compatible with Rory in their own way, and helped her learn and grow. Lane, however, did not get this. Her first boyfriend, Dave, is great. He's kind and sweet and understanding of her family situation, but the show breaks them up because they can't handle being long-distance. (Technically, we know actor Adam Brody had to leave for The O.C. but where is the justice??!)

After Dave, it all goes downhill from there for poor Lane. She ends up with Zack, who isn't bad but isn't great. And, as soon as Lane is finally getting to pursue her passion by going on tour with her band, she finds out she and Zack are pregnant. Considering how long Lane dreamed of getting to be her authentic herself and openly express her interests, it feels cruel that this twist of fate took it away from her at this exact moment.

Lane made the best of her situation

Image via Neil Jacobs/Netflix

Despite Rory having almost every opportunity available to her, we find out in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life that she is making bad decisions (like, er, sleeping with an engaged man) and is struggling to find her way. Lane, on the other hand, has made the best out of the cards she's been dealt. She's still married to Zack, is taking care of her twins, and has even kept music in her life by joining a band. I can't help but think if Lane can forge ahead despite all of her unfortunate circumstances, how fantastic could her life have been if the writers had served her just a little bit more good fortune?

Lane could have served as the role model so many girls needed

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Lane's experience mirrors many Asian-American girls' lives. She had a strict upbringing and struggled to strike a balance between fitting in with her American peers and forming her own identity, while still trying to manage her mother's expectations of who she should be. As an Asian-American, Lane's experiences mirrored many of my own, and, at a time when there was such little Asian representation, this was extremely impactful.

With the lack of representation at the time, it was even more important that Lane was dealt an ending that she and her viewers could be proud of. Instead of turning her into somewhat of a cautionary tale, her story could have been utilized to empower an audience of individuals who saw themselves in her. For that reason, Lane's treatment on Gilmore Girls will never quite sit right with me.

What do you think about Lane Kim's storyline on Gilmore Girls? Let us know in the comments and check out our guide to Where Is The Gilmore Girls Cast Now? to keep up with your favorite Stars Hollow residents (even if they're not in Stars Hollow anymore).

Lead image via Warner Bros

This post has been updated.

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