Como Zoo unveils Como Harbor
The seals and sea lions that reside in the Como Zoo are getting a major habitat upgrade. The zoo will officially open Como Harbor, a $21 million reinvention of the pinnipeds exhibit, on Thursday. Eight seals and sea lions have moved into Como Harbor which features two saltwater pools with above and below-water viewing, shaded amphitheater and stage. Also opening is the new caf?, Pier 56, which gets its name from the year 1956 when Sparky the Seal Show started at Como Zoo.
The seals and sea lions that reside in the Como Zoo are getting a major habitat upgrade. The zoo will officially open Como Harbor, a $21 million reinvention of the pinnipeds exhibit, on Thursday. Eight seals and sea lions have moved into Como Harbor which features two saltwater pools with above and below-water viewing, shaded amphitheater and stage. Also opening is the new caf?, Pier 56, which gets its name from the year 1956 when Sparky the Seal Show started at Como Zoo.
Popular Paddle Share program on Mississippi River returns this weekend
The popular Paddle Share program returns this weekend. It gives adventure seekers a chance to kayak the Mississippi River without having to own or transport a kayak. You can rent one on site and hit the open water. FOX 9?s Shayne Wells shows us how it works.
The popular Paddle Share program returns this weekend. It gives adventure seekers a chance to kayak the Mississippi River without having to own or transport a kayak. You can rent one on site and hit the open water. FOX 9?s Shayne Wells shows us how it works.
Baby season has begun at Alpaca farm in River Falls
It?s baby season at Eagle Eye Farm near River Falls. The farm is primarily a home to Alpacas but also has Mini Highland Cows, Babydoll sheep and Kunekune pigs. This week, their first Alpaca baby was born and there are more on the way. The farm is open for public tours, though you?ll need to reserve a day and time in advance. They also offer Alpaca yoga on the farm and summer camp opportunities
It?s baby season at Eagle Eye Farm near River Falls. The farm is primarily a home to Alpacas but also has Mini Highland Cows, Babydoll sheep and Kunekune pigs. This week, their first Alpaca baby was born and there are more on the way. The farm is open for public tours, though you?ll need to reserve a day and time in advance. They also offer Alpaca yoga on the farm and summer camp opportunities
Vegan breakfast caf� opens in Downtown Minneapolis
There?s a new breakfast spot in Minneapolis serving up waffles, fluffy mini pancakes and Vietnamese coffee. Every menu item is vegan, gluten-free and nut-free. The Coconut Whisk Caf� is on Nicollet Mall near 9th St. S. The team behind the caf� are also the founders of Coconut Whisk vegan baking mixes. The caf� is open Thursday to Sunday 9am to 2pm. For more information visit: CoconutWhisk.com
There?s a new breakfast spot in Minneapolis serving up waffles, fluffy mini pancakes and Vietnamese coffee. Every menu item is vegan, gluten-free and nut-free. The Coconut Whisk Caf� is on Nicollet Mall near 9th St. S. The team behind the caf� are also the founders of Coconut Whisk vegan baking mixes. The caf� is open Thursday to Sunday 9am to 2pm. For more information visit: CoconutWhisk.com
St. Paul chocolatier combines love of bees and decadent treats
The craft chocolate market is booming, but a St. Paul chocolatier was way ahead of the trend. Ten year ago, Susan Brown started blending honey from the St. Paul hives she keeps with single-origin chocolate to create the decadent Honey Bon Bons that have landed her in Forbes Magazine and The New York Times. She owns Mademoiselle Miel, a chocolate shop in Downtown St. Paul that has beehives on the roof.
The craft chocolate market is booming, but a St. Paul chocolatier was way ahead of the trend. Ten year ago, Susan Brown started blending honey from the St. Paul hives she keeps with single-origin chocolate to create the decadent Honey Bon Bons that have landed her in Forbes Magazine and The New York Times. She owns Mademoiselle Miel, a chocolate shop in Downtown St. Paul that has beehives on the roof.
Twin Cities Auto Show returns in new location
The Twin Cities Auto show has taken a detour. Instead of packing the Minneapolis Convention Center with the latest and greatest vehicles, they?ve taken over the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. With more room to spread out, they?ve added features including a Truck Track and Monster Trucks, some of which you can take a spin in. Many State Fair food vendors are also opening up for the event including Sweet Martha?s Cookies.
The Twin Cities Auto show has taken a detour. Instead of packing the Minneapolis Convention Center with the latest and greatest vehicles, they?ve taken over the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. With more room to spread out, they?ve added features including a Truck Track and Monster Trucks, some of which you can take a spin in. Many State Fair food vendors are also opening up for the event including Sweet Martha?s Cookies.
Barber to the sports stars opens new shop
Meleyen Tengben opened his first barbershop in Brooklyn Park three years ago and in that time has garnered a huge following, especially among pro athletes. For that reason, he wanted to open a second location closer to the downtown core. His new Uptown ?Meleyen?s Sports Barbershop? is located near Hennepin Ave and 28th St. You can follow him on Instagram to see his work and celeb clients who are always popping in: @MeleyensSportsBarbershop
Meleyen Tengben opened his first barbershop in Brooklyn Park three years ago and in that time has garnered a huge following, especially among pro athletes. For that reason, he wanted to open a second location closer to the downtown core. His new Uptown ?Meleyen?s Sports Barbershop? is located near Hennepin Ave and 28th St. You can follow him on Instagram to see his work and celeb clients who are always popping in: @MeleyensSportsBarbershop
New Twin Cities fitness trend alert: Sauna Gyms have arrived
The metro fitness scene is heating up. There are two new gyms, one that just opened and another opening soon, that offer infrared sauna workouts. Each sauna has a screen that plays different types of classes from H.I.I.T to Cycling and Yoga. The saunas are typically set at about 125 to 130 degrees. The idea of a heated workout is one that is catching on all across the country. Hot Worx is a fitness chain that started in the south. Right now, there?s a Hot Worx planned for Woodbury and another in Lakeville that opened in February. And there are more than a dozen licenses for future Hot Worx Twin Cities locations
The metro fitness scene is heating up. There are two new gyms, one that just opened and another opening soon, that offer infrared sauna workouts. Each sauna has a screen that plays different types of classes from H.I.I.T to Cycling and Yoga. The saunas are typically set at about 125 to 130 degrees. The idea of a heated workout is one that is catching on all across the country. Hot Worx is a fitness chain that started in the south. Right now, there?s a Hot Worx planned for Woodbury and another in Lakeville that opened in February. And there are more than a dozen licenses for future Hot Worx Twin Cities locations
Prohibition-style speakeasy opens in downtown Anoka
There?s a new hardware store in Anoka that doesn?t sell a single home improvement product. Instead, it?s a hidden bar reminiscent of the prohibition-era speakeasies from 100 years ago. It?s called ?The Hardware Store? and it?s only marking is a red light in an alley. When you walk in, there?s a wall full of vintage tools. Though the passcode can change, on this particular day you can get in by saying you?d like to buy a hammer. Inside, it feels like you stepped back in time with velvet seating and throwback portraits. As for the drinks, almost every ingredient in the craft cocktails is hand-made and don?t be surprised if the drink includes flames or even a smoker. They?re open Wednesday to Saturday.
There?s a new hardware store in Anoka that doesn?t sell a single home improvement product. Instead, it?s a hidden bar reminiscent of the prohibition-era speakeasies from 100 years ago. It?s called ?The Hardware Store? and it?s only marking is a red light in an alley. When you walk in, there?s a wall full of vintage tools. Though the passcode can change, on this particular day you can get in by saying you?d like to buy a hammer. Inside, it feels like you stepped back in time with velvet seating and throwback portraits. As for the drinks, almost every ingredient in the craft cocktails is hand-made and don?t be surprised if the drink includes flames or even a smoker. They?re open Wednesday to Saturday.
St. Paul woman who launched her own makeup brand, lands spot on TV show
St. Paul makeup artist, Tameka Jones was furloughed early on in the pandemic. She used that as inspiration to start a makeup line, something she?d always dreamed of doing. Her line of lipsticks and lip care is called ?Lip Esteem.? It?s plant-based and cruelty-free. Jones found all her own ingredients based on her experiences with the brands in the market right now. She wanted something moisturizing that would last. She?s been selling her products online and at Farmer?s Markets in the Twin Cities. Now she and her makeup line are being filmed for the 6th season of the TV show ?Small Business Revolution? that airs on HULU and Amazon Prime. This season will air this this fall. It?s focusing on Black-owned businesses in the Twin Cities.
St. Paul makeup artist, Tameka Jones was furloughed early on in the pandemic. She used that as inspiration to start a makeup line, something she?d always dreamed of doing. Her line of lipsticks and lip care is called ?Lip Esteem.? It?s plant-based and cruelty-free. Jones found all her own ingredients based on her experiences with the brands in the market right now. She wanted something moisturizing that would last. She?s been selling her products online and at Farmer?s Markets in the Twin Cities. Now she and her makeup line are being filmed for the 6th season of the TV show ?Small Business Revolution? that airs on HULU and Amazon Prime. This season will air this this fall. It?s focusing on Black-owned businesses in the Twin Cities.
Tulips bloom at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
The cool temperatures pushed the tulip bloom back at week at the Landscape Arboretum. But they?re blooming now, just in time for their busiest weekend of the year because of the Mother?s Day holiday. There are 39,000 tulips of several different varieties to see from the double tulip to the filled tulip. The design is planned almost a year in advance and the bulbs planted every October. The bloom will last for three to four weeks. All visitors must have a reservation to visit the Arboretum.
The cool temperatures pushed the tulip bloom back at week at the Landscape Arboretum. But they?re blooming now, just in time for their busiest weekend of the year because of the Mother?s Day holiday. There are 39,000 tulips of several different varieties to see from the double tulip to the filled tulip. The design is planned almost a year in advance and the bulbs planted every October. The bloom will last for three to four weeks. All visitors must have a reservation to visit the Arboretum.
From burgers to shakes; everything at Wayzata?s newest restaurant is plant-based
The man behind the ?Crisp & Green? restaurants popping up all over the Twin Cities has a new concept opening Thursday in Wayzata. It?s called ?Stalk & Spade? and it has all your typical burger joint menu items except they?re all plant-based. The restaurant in downtown Wayzata is the first location, but there are two more coming to Minnesota in 2021 and the company has plans to quickly expand beyond our borders. ?Stalk & Spade? is the country?s first plant-based burger franchise. Forbes Magazine referred to the founder, Steele Smiley, as the man who wants to build the plant-based McDonald?s of the future
The man behind the ?Crisp & Green? restaurants popping up all over the Twin Cities has a new concept opening Thursday in Wayzata. It?s called ?Stalk & Spade? and it has all your typical burger joint menu items except they?re all plant-based. The restaurant in downtown Wayzata is the first location, but there are two more coming to Minnesota in 2021 and the company has plans to quickly expand beyond our borders. ?Stalk & Spade? is the country?s first plant-based burger franchise. Forbes Magazine referred to the founder, Steele Smiley, as the man who wants to build the plant-based McDonald?s of the future
White Bear Lake theatre group gifted a vacation home
It?s been a challenging hear for performance venues who?ve transformed their business model to survive the pandemic. Many, like the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake turned to virtual performances, but still things were looking dire. That all changed when they were notified they?d been gifted an historic home on White Bear Lake formerly owned by the matriarch of the Johnson & Johnson family. When Betty Wold Johnson passed away, she left them her childhood home that had become a summer vacation home later in life. To say this was a surprise would be an understatement. Johnson had never been to one of their shows, but had taken a tour of the performance venue when it was under construction. The theatre says this gift will ensure their future and continued contributions in White Bear Lake. The home is already under contract.
It?s been a challenging hear for performance venues who?ve transformed their business model to survive the pandemic. Many, like the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake turned to virtual performances, but still things were looking dire. That all changed when they were notified they?d been gifted an historic home on White Bear Lake formerly owned by the matriarch of the Johnson & Johnson family. When Betty Wold Johnson passed away, she left them her childhood home that had become a summer vacation home later in life. To say this was a surprise would be an understatement. Johnson had never been to one of their shows, but had taken a tour of the performance venue when it was under construction. The theatre says this gift will ensure their future and continued contributions in White Bear Lake. The home is already under contract.
Rise Bagel Co. named one of the best bagels in America
Step to the side New York City bagels. It turns out, a Minneapolis bagel shop is churning out one of the best bagels in the country. Rise Bagel Co. is no stranger to lists, but their latest ranking by ?Food & Wine Magazine? is about as good as it gets. The magazine article picked the 50 greatest bagel shops from coast to coast. In the write-up, the author describes Rise Bagels as ?one of the finer home-baked bagels you'll ever try, shimmering, crisp on the outside, with just the right amount of soft interior.? Rise Bagel Co. is in the North Loop neighborhood. It?s open Wednesday to Sunday from 8am to 1pm.
Step to the side New York City bagels. It turns out, a Minneapolis bagel shop is churning out one of the best bagels in the country. Rise Bagel Co. is no stranger to lists, but their latest ranking by ?Food & Wine Magazine? is about as good as it gets. The magazine article picked the 50 greatest bagel shops from coast to coast. In the write-up, the author describes Rise Bagels as ?one of the finer home-baked bagels you'll ever try, shimmering, crisp on the outside, with just the right amount of soft interior.? Rise Bagel Co. is in the North Loop neighborhood. It?s open Wednesday to Sunday from 8am to 1pm.
Sea Salt Eatery opens for the season
After a shortened season last year, Sea Salt Eatery is back on schedule. The seafood restaurant that?s tucked in Minnehaha Regional Park, opened less than a week ago. Unlike last year, you can order at the counter and most of their menu items are back including the Shrimp Po Boy, which wasn?t on the menu due to a shrimp shortage. The eatery is open seven days a week from 11am to 8pm.
After a shortened season last year, Sea Salt Eatery is back on schedule. The seafood restaurant that?s tucked in Minnehaha Regional Park, opened less than a week ago. Unlike last year, you can order at the counter and most of their menu items are back including the Shrimp Po Boy, which wasn?t on the menu due to a shrimp shortage. The eatery is open seven days a week from 11am to 8pm.
Inside the new O'Shaughnessy Distillery before it opens in Prospect Park
One of Ireland's top whiskey makers is moving to Minnesota to be part of the O'Shaughnessy Distillery. It's taking shape in Minneapolis' Prospect Park Neighborhood with plans to open this summer. Shayne Wells has a preview of what's to come with this destination distillery.
One of Ireland's top whiskey makers is moving to Minnesota to be part of the O'Shaughnessy Distillery. It's taking shape in Minneapolis' Prospect Park Neighborhood with plans to open this summer. Shayne Wells has a preview of what's to come with this destination distillery.
Paisley Park welcomes fans on anniversary of Prince's death
Paisley Park welcomes fans on the fifth anniversary of Prince's death.
Paisley Park welcomes fans on the fifth anniversary of Prince's death.
It?s farm babies time at the Minnesota Zoo
The Farm Babies are back at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Unlike last year, you can visit the animals in-person this time around, though they?re still offering virtual content as well. Farm Babies runs through May 16th. This year they?ll have lambs, piglets, calves, llamas, chicks, and more. To reserve your day and time visit: www.mnzoo.org
The Farm Babies are back at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Unlike last year, you can visit the animals in-person this time around, though they?re still offering virtual content as well. Farm Babies runs through May 16th. This year they?ll have lambs, piglets, calves, llamas, chicks, and more. To reserve your day and time visit: www.mnzoo.org
Twin Cities disc golf pro opening third Minnesota course
The sport of disc golf spiked in popularity during the pandemic. It?s an approachable sport to try since you don?t need clubs or a cart and it?s outdoors with plenty of space to socially distance. One year ago, pro disc golfer, Cale Leiviska opened two new 18-hole courses in Clearwater. Now he?s getting ready to open a third, less challenging course, in the same area. They?re all part of the Airborn Disc Golf Preserve, which offers championship caliber courses on the former Driftwood Golf Course site on the banks of the Mississippi River
The sport of disc golf spiked in popularity during the pandemic. It?s an approachable sport to try since you don?t need clubs or a cart and it?s outdoors with plenty of space to socially distance. One year ago, pro disc golfer, Cale Leiviska opened two new 18-hole courses in Clearwater. Now he?s getting ready to open a third, less challenging course, in the same area. They?re all part of the Airborn Disc Golf Preserve, which offers championship caliber courses on the former Driftwood Golf Course site on the banks of the Mississippi River
Local stylist rolls out swanky salon on wheels
A Burnsville hairdresser is taking her salon on the road. After the pandemic shut down her business last spring, she didn't waste any time purchasing a trailer and converting it into a glamorous beauty parlor on wheels. Susan Chin owns The Chandelier Suite Hair Boutique. Her swanky mobile salon was designed with bridal parties in mind, but could also work for events like prom and little princess birthday parties. For more information visit: Www.thechandeliersuite.com
A Burnsville hairdresser is taking her salon on the road. After the pandemic shut down her business last spring, she didn't waste any time purchasing a trailer and converting it into a glamorous beauty parlor on wheels. Susan Chin owns The Chandelier Suite Hair Boutique. Her swanky mobile salon was designed with bridal parties in mind, but could also work for events like prom and little princess birthday parties. For more information visit: Www.thechandeliersuite.com