In a light-hearted way to get to know and appreciate the Twin Cities a little better, we select a theme each 
week, then visit related Twin Cities sites throughout the week along with the question, ‘Where is HomesMSP?’ on HomesMSP’s Facebook page.
Follow at http://www.facebook.com/HomesMSP, or check here for a summary. Click on the photos below for a full size photo and more info.
Where is HomesMSP?
Week of October 3, 2010 – New Hope
Where is HomesMSP? Fat Nat’s Eggs in New Hope is breakfast heaven… located in a strip mall in the south east corner of Winnetka & 36th… it can be very busy on the weekends so go early!
Where is HomesMSP? The New Hope Ice Arena has 2 rinks and a walking track…it is open Monday through Friday with events and practices scheduled everyday…call to find a time to visit…
Where is HomesMSP? at the Cake box in New Hope… cakes & cookies made from scratch… specializing in wedding & birthday cakes… and always delicious…
Week of September 27, 2010 – Crystal
Where is HomesMSP? The Crystal Community Center is a place where people can enjoy themselves through recreational activity and social interaction and many programs her…it is also the home of the Crystal Friendship Center for seniors.
Where is HomesMSP? Bassett Creek Park in Crystal has almost everything you need in a park…basketball,hockey, playground, tennis, disc golf, baseball/softball and even a dog park.
Where is HomesMSP? Afghan Restaurant is located in an unassuming strip along Bass Lake Road in Crystal, MN, between Broadway and Highway 81…it has a cozy, homespun atmosphere…and the owner who greeted me was very friendly.
Where is HomesMSP? At Becker Park in Crystal…this park features softball field with bleachers and lights…fenced basketballl courts…access to trail system…playground…and an activity center with a stage..it is home to many activities including movie in the park durning the summer!
Where is HomesMSP? Crystal Shopping Center is the area’s leading shopping venue located on the corner of Bass Lake Rd and W Broadway…it features over 45 stores and has something for everyone
Week of September 20, 2010 – Apple Orchards
Where is HomesMSP? Aamodts’ Apple Farm is a favorite family destination for fresh Minnesota apples and fall fun in Stillwater… Pick your own, or purchase your favorite apple varieties inside the apple barn…just a short drive from Minneapolis/St. Paul… http://bit.ly/deuZqR
Where is HomesMSP? Deardorff Orchards…Scenic 100 acre apple farm in Waconia…Pre-picked or Pick-Your-Own juicy apples from 5,000 apple trees in 15 varieties…Historic barn, fresh cider, animals, hayrides, pumpkins, gifts, baskets, fall decor.
Where is HomesMSP? In Belle Plaine at Emma Krumbee’s take a wagon ride into the beautiful apple orchard to pick your own apples…the whole family will have a great time with tractor-drawn rides into the apple orchard, fun farm games, pick your own pumpkins and much more!
Where is HomesMSP? Pine Tree Orchard is located in White Bear Lake just northeast of the Twin Cities…during the fall they offer weekend entertainment, pony rides, wagon rides, and a corn maze; pick your own pumpkins, a large variety of apples, homemade bakery products, caramel apples, fresh cider, gifts and more!
Where is HomesMSP? At Applewood Orchard in Lakeville…the first trees were planted in 1995 and they grow many Minnesota varieties… the most popular is the variety wthey call ‘apple candy’, better known as Honeycrisp… Come visit with your friends and family to pick some of your very own! They have continuous hayrides on the weekends
Minnetonka Orchards in Minnetrista has been family-owned and operated for more than 30 years… offering apples, cider donuts, cider brats and gifts in their barn… pick-your-own apples, hayrides, corn maze, kids play area, live entertainment…
Afton Apple in Hastings is celebrating with Apple Fest… cider pressing demonstrations, live music, chain saw carving demonstrations, fireworks… huge corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo, cow train rides, playground… apple fritters and donuts, fresh cider…
Week of September 13, 2010 – St. Louis Park
Where is HomesMSP? St. Louis park is home to The ROLLER GARDEN it has been entertaiing families since 1943…it is family owned, operated and so much fun…
Where is HomesMSP? Westwood Hills Nature Center is a 160-acre natural area featuring marsh, woods and restored prairie…and provides homes for many animals including deer, fox, mink and owls. Wood chipped, boardwalks and hard surface accessible trails are open from dawn to dusk year-round.
Park Tavern has been a dining and entertainment tradition in St. Louis Park for over 50 years…if you are looking for a casual place to eat or want to have fun with friends or co-workers, the Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center is the perfect gathering place for your group!
Excelsior & Grand is located in the midst of a bustling, friendly urban neighborhood that features some of the best in Twin Cities restaurants, recreation, nightlife and shopping…just a short distance from Uptown and the Lakes with convenient access to Metro Transit buslines and the freeway system.
The West End is located in St. Louis Park…an exciting new mixed use development that includes restaurants, movie theatres, shops and a grocery store.
The Twin Cities is known for its trails… in fact, Minneapolis has been named America’s most bike friendly city and Minnesota has more miles of paved rail-to-bikeways than any other state. Cedar Lake Regional Trail, which passes through St. Louis Park on its way to downtown Minneapolis features the newly restored Lilac Park along the way…
Week of September 6, 2010 – Minneapolis public art
Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank… relief sculptures designed by Warren T. Mosman, who headed the sculpture department at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, frame the main entrance to this Art Deco building completed in 1942… now a Westin hotel… at the corner of 6th and Marquette
Joe Mauer… Joe Mauer statues have been all around downtown Minneapolis this summer in honor of 50 seasons of Twins baseball… after his statue is gone, the other sculpture you see in this photo will remain in front of the IDS Center on Nicollet Mall…
Fifth Street Towers… Minneapolis public art sculptor Doug Freeman‘s Family welcomes you on the street in front of Fifth Street Towers at 100 S Fifth…
Botero… larger-than-life Dancers by famed Columbian artist Fernando Botero can make you smile as you make your way down Washington Ave at 5th St near the old depot…
Mary Tyler Moore… one of Minneapolis’ most famous women was the television character Mary Richards, “who can turn the world on with her smile”… portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore in the 1970’s… immortalized throwing her beret at the corner of Nicollet Mall and 7th St…
Paul Granlund… ‘The Birth of Freedom’ by this prolific Minnesota sculptor bursts into life in front of Westminster Presbyterian Church on Nicollet Mall at 12th St… over 650 works of art, sculptor-in-residence at Gustavus Adulphus College for 25 years…
Peanuts… created by Minnesota’s favorite cartoonist, Charles Schulz… St. Paul sponsored ‘Peanuts on Parade’ beginning in 2000, with public statues appearing on its streets for 4 years… two are now in the park across from their sponsors, the StarTribune at 425 Portland Ave…
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden… one of the Twin Cities’ real treasures and home of the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry… over 40 works of art on permanent display in this 11-acre public garden… always free, open daily 6 am to midnight on Vineland Place across from the Walker Art Center…
Week of August 30, 2010 – Minnesota State Fair
Skyglider… love taking the Skyglider between the north entrance and the grandstand and dangling my feet as I look down over the fairgrounds… great way to start and/or end the day, like an aerial trolley ride to and from the heart of the fairgrounds…
Salem Lutheran Diner… a staple at the MN State Fair for over 60 years… the place to stop for a homestyle breakfast, lunch, dinner and their famous Swedish egg coffee… everything made from scratch… in the northeast part of the fairground at the corner of Randall & Cosgrove, near the Fine Arts building and Progress Center… try their meatball sundae…
Midway & Kidway… with over 60 rides to choose from plus a dozen other attractions throughout the fairgrounds, you could spend most of the day with your feet off the ground…
Turkey to Go… I suppose it’s not ‘real’ fair food because it’s not on a stick, but Turkey to Go is so tender and juicy it practically melts in your mouth… by the all-you-can-drink milk stand… now also a street cart on Nicollet Mall
Free Performance Stages… free performances throughout the day on multiple stages throughout the fairgrounds… in addition to the main stages, don’t overlook the smaller ones listed on the inside of the daily schedule… we got free books and CDs at the Carousel Park stage!
Miracle of Birth… the most popular free exhibit on the fairgrounds, this agricultural education exhibit is the birthplace of approximately 200 animals including calves, lambs and piglets during the fair’s 12 day run… just east of the coliseum…
Creative Activities… I am amazed how many outstanding items are displayed each year… last year over 7300 items of the finest needlework, handcrafts, baking and canning were exhibited and the cases are filled again this year… by the main entrance on Snelling
Week of August 23, 2010 – patio dining
Joe’s Garage… one of my favorite Minneapolis rooftop dining spots, in the little ‘triangle’ across from Loring Park with a view of the Basilica… delicious bistro flavors from around the world, great burgers, salads, potatoes-mashed & fries… at 1610 Harmon Place, Minneapolis 55403
Jax Cafe… this long-time NE Minneapolis classic is like stepping back in time… or onto the set of Mad Men… enclosed courtyard patio with fresh trout stream… classic supper club with Frank Sinatra crooning in the background…
Muffuletta in idyllic St. Anthony Park… focus on freshly prepared food from local farms… relax on the patio deck overlooking the beautiful historic Carnegie library… 2260 Como Ave, St. Paul…
Sea Salt Eatery… a wonderful little surprise tucked into Minnehaha Falls Park in South Minneapolis… order your tasty fresh fish at the counter (menu is bigger than you would expect)… then relax on the patio, pick up an ice cream cone for dessert, stroll over to the nearby falls…
Black Forest Inn… this distinctively muraled Eat Street destination has been serving fresh German food and homemade spaetzle for 45 years… clink and drink on their patio… at Nicollet and 26th Street in south Minneapolis…
WA Frost… this elegant restaurant is housed in a historic turn-of-the century building in St. Paul’s Ramsey Hill neighborhood near the St. Paul Cathedral… delicious upscale American cuisine, but what makes it such a memorable destination is its exceptional historic ambiance blended with the food and drink… at the corner of Selby and Western…
Week of August 16, 2010 – on vacation
Week of August 9, 2010 – museums
Science Museum of Minnesota… Minnesota’s favorite museum features dinosaurs, fun hands-on exhibits for the kids… current extraordinary Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit… on the riverfront in downtown St. Paul at 120 W. Kellogg Boulevard, across from the RiverCentre… http://bit.ly/avfl5A
Minnesota Children’s Museum… the new exibit at the Minnesota Children’s Museum is The Wizard of Oz it features replicas of sets and costumes…science lessons and a trip down the rainbow… in downtown St. Paul on the corner of 7th and Wabasha…
Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis… the only museum in North America dedicated exclusively to the preservation and presentation of Russian art and artifacts… set in a striking old Spanish mission style church it showcases extraordinary works of art seldom displayed in the United States…
The Bakken Museum… explore dozens of exhibits at this one-of-a-kind museum… learn about electricity and magnetism and how they have influenced history and benefit how we live today… located in a 15-room tudor house on the west shore of Lake Calhoun…
Mill City Museum… Minneapolis grew up around flour mills along the Mississippi and was known as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World”… at its peak the Washburn A Mill, site of the museum, was the most technologically advanced and largest in the world… don’t miss “Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat”, Kevin Kling’s humorous whirlwind history of Minneapolis…
American Swedish Institute… both a magnificent 33-room historic mansion and a showcase of current and historic Swedish art and culture… on Park Avenue in south Minneapolis…
Weisman Art Museum… one of the Twin Cities’ most recognized landmarks, this distinctive design by architect Frank Gehry is open during an expansion to be be completed October 2011… perched on the east bank of the Mississippi River on the University of Minnesota campus you can get a rush just driving by, but it’s interior space is also worth a visit… collections of 20th century and contemporary art, including Georgia O’Keefe’s famous ‘Oriental Poppies’… free admission, closed Mondays…
Week of August 2, 2010 – outdoor fountains
Centennial Lakes Park… take the kids and head for the fountains in front of The Centrum at Centennial Lakes Park at 7499 France Ave S in Edina… a great place to cool off before paddleboat rides…
Lyndale Park Gardens… love the spouting turtles of the Phelps Fountain in the Lyndale Park Gardens near Lake Harriet… the fountain was moved from downtown Minneapolis in the 1960’s… now a popular wedding spot… along Roseway Road (also W 41st St) between East Lake Harriet Parkway and King’s Highway (Dupont Ave S)…
Irvine Park… the fountain at Irvine Park is the centerpiece of the town square park in this quiet historic neighborhood just east of downtown St. Paul… one of the city’s most popular outdoor wedding sites… at 281 Walnut St…
Peavey Plaza… you can easily miss this downtown Minneapolis fountain because most of it is below street level… see the bronze tubes at the corner of Nicollet and 12th Street, feeding the waterfall below tucked into the SW corner of Peavey Plaza…
Spoonbridge and Cherry… this sculpture by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen is such an iconic symbol of Minneapolis regardless of the season that is is easy to forget that it is also a fountain in the summer, with water misting from its stem… at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden…
Loring Greenway… the bubbling fountain on Nicollet Avenue south of Peavey Plaza and 12th Street marks the entrance to the Loring Greenway, a pedestrian parkway stretching from Nicollet Mall to the Berger (dandelion) Fountain at Loring Park…
Loring Park… Berger ‘Dandelion’ fountain is a beloved city favorite, marking the connection from the Loring Greenway to Loring Park, which has been called “the best-located, best-financed, best-designed, and best-maintained public open space in America”…
Week of July 26, 2010 – farmers markets
Minneapolis Farmer’s Market… the granddaddy of them all, with roots going back to 1876 when Minneapolis’ first fruit and vegetable market opened at First and Hennepin… now open 7 days a week with over 240 vendors…
Sweet Corn and More… fabulous market open daily at Hwy 7 and Texas in St. Louis Park… buys direct from hand picked farms… everything fresh and delicious!
Midtown Farmers Market… all locally grown fruit & produce, flowers, arts & crafts… near Lake Street/Midtown light rail stop Tues 3-7 & Sat 8-1… no cash? use credit cards through a token system…
St. Paul Farmers Market… their Saturday-Sunday downtown Lowertown market focuses on locally grown veggies, flowers and fruit, not crafts… plus this market has tons of satellite market sites throughout the metro…
Mill City Farmers Market… showcases organic and sustainable products, including local lamb, chicken, trout, cheese, chocolate, different kinds of garlic… Saturday mornings only in downtown Minneapolis between Mill City Museum and the Guthrie Theater…
Uptown Market… one of the newest street markets in the Twin Cities, not so much a farmers market as a showcase of all things local… vendors include fine arts, crafts, jewelry and prepared foods in addition to local produce and flowers… Sundays 11-5 on 29th Ave S between Dupont and Lyndale…
Past weeks…
- Week of September 13, 2110 – St. Louis Park
- Week of September 6, 2010 – Minneapolis public art
- Week of August 30, 2010 –Minnesota State Fair
- Week of August 23, 2010 – patio dining
- Week of August 9, 2010 – museums
- Week of August 2, 2010 – outdoor fountains
- Week of July 26, 2010 – farmers markets
- Week of July 19, 2010 – public gardens
- Week of July 12, 2010 – local drive-in restaurants
- Week of July 5, 2010 – playgrounds
- Week of June 28, 2010 – on vacation
- Week of June 21, 2010 – charming neighborhood shopping destinations
- Week of June 14, 2010 – outdoor concert sites
- Week of June 7, 2010 – Minneapolis skyscrapers
- Week of May 31, 2010 – homemade ice cream
- Week of May 24, 2010 – Golden Valley
- Week of May 17, 2010 – bakeries
- Week of May 10, 2010 – nature centers
- Week of May 3, 2010 – restaurants/cafes in houses
- Week of April 26, 2010 – walking trails
- Week of April 19, 2010 – Mexican restaurants
- Week of April 12, 2010 – bridges
- Week of April 5, 2010 – noteworthy houses
- Week of March 29, 2010 – Christian church architecture
