Make Plans to Go to a Park
When are you going? This weekend? Next weekend? Text a pal and pick a date for the park because September is kind of a goldilocks month for getting outside in the Twin Cities. It's not too hot or cold, and it probably won't rain too much. Here in the metro area, it may be your last chance to comfortably wade through the ankle-deep waters of the Mississippi at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park to look for critters and crawfish and to get a great view of the Coon Rapids Dam.
You can also get up close to the Mississippi south of the Twin Cities – if you've been sleeping on Fort Snelling State Park, try heading over and walking the 3.8-mile Pike Island Loop. You'll get to walk around an island on the river, and it's so gorgeous and secluded that it's hard to believe you're right next to the airport. You might get to see some beavers cutting down saplings and swimming under the Pike Island Bridge as September is a busy month for them preparing for winter. You'll also get to see the Bdóte, or the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, which is a site of immense spiritual and historical significance to the Dakota people. On a clear day, you can see a distinct line where the brownish waters of the Minnesota clash with the relatively clear waters of the Mississippi. Seriously, make plans this month to get to one of these world-class parks that we have in our back yard. –Adam
It’s fall, gosh dang it
Don’t let the warmer-than-normal forecasts deter you from donning that flannel. I’m ready to let go of summer with these autumnal celebrations. We have an unbelievable number of Oktoberfests; you can don your lederhosen and enjoy giant pretzels at Utepils Brewing three weekends this month. SurlyFest, on Sept. 19, will feature live music from Gully Boys and others. For the competitive spirit, there’s a boot chugging contest. If you haven’t had enough hot dogs this summer, Insight Brewing is hosting Dogtoberfest, which promises “hot dogs falling from the sky.” The Germanic-American Institute also hosts their own celebrations in St. Paul. –Tiffany
Shop local for school supplies
I have the pleasure of editing each week’s Keep it Local newsletter and when one of our writers, Winter, recently told me she found the lunchbox of her dreams, it’s pretty much the fastest I’ve ever clicked on a link. As a mom of school-aged children, I want to challenge myself next year (because I failed big time this year) to shop local for school supplies. If it’s not too late for you to shop for your kids this year, or if you’re young at heart and can’t resist school supply shopping for yourself, check out Winter’s list of local shops that carry school supplies.
Whether it’s ArtStart & ArtScraps ReUse Center, Goodnight Moon Kids, Nu Look Consignment Apparel, Moon and Stars Children’s Boutique, or Golden Age Design, Winter had the best recommendations. And I look forward to spending my money at these local shops next year! –Anna
