Beautiful fall evening to enjoy vendors showcasing their craft beer and wines. Roseville has a…read morebeautiful park system very well manicured and clean. A nice sized crowd turned out and people seemed to be enjoying themselves chatting and mingling. There was a huge band playing some 70's musics with a full horn section. Giant Jenga and the game where you pound a nail into a slab of wood not sure what it is called Hammicker Slamicker or something like that...hahaha by the time I played I had already indulged so forgive my memory. There was a breathalizer on display so you could test how inebriated you may be. I thought this was a great idea. They should be in every drinking establishment out there. He explained that it does not cost the bar a thing to put in and it is affordable for people to use 2.00. Me thinks much better than a DUI. The boys in uniform were right there when you left wishing you a good evening as this was held in a parking lot adjacent to the police station. I got an opportunity to try some beers I would not normally sampled and leaned about some local breweries and wineries. Some I can remember are Lucid, Summit, Big Wood, Barley Johns, Rush River, Burning Brothers, Tin Whiskers, Bent, Mankato Brewing, Insight, Brau Brothers, Sidhe and Granite City. They were all very generous with the pours and happy to speak with you about the product. The wineries that showed up were slim and a bit stingy with the sample amount. So was not a good evening for wine but no shortage of beer. It was a great event with proceeds supporting the local community by providing clean, safe, park facilities for the residents.

For the past 3-6 weeks, my wife has been trying to convince me that we should buy a home in…read moreRoseville, where she works, instead of staying in downtown St Paul. Events like 'Tapped and Uncorked' work in her favor. Tapped and Uncorked was a great way for a couple of Twin City Transplants like ourselves to get up to speed on local microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries. It didn't take us long to discover new, local favorites such as the pumpkin ale created by Tin Whiskers (the secret is in their blend of spices). It was like drinking fall on tap. Everything we tried from Northern Vinyards Winery, in Stillwater, was a hit. This included the house red, house white, and house rose. We also fell in love with Yellow Belly Cider from Sapsucker Farms because its neither too sweet nor too dry. The secret? Minnesota apples? Hmm. Food at the event was provided by food trucks. Our favorite was A Cupcake Social, which made two special cupcakes for the event. I was disappointed when I saw that the Tot Boss food truck was there, but that we didn't see it. Perhaps they didn't make it? The event was well organized. The music was excellent and there was plenty of space to mill around. Had there been seating, more than six tables, and more than two fire pits, we probably would have stayed all night. Instead, we found ourselves wandering home shortly after dark with a bright smile and wine-warmed bellies. Next year, I definitely plan to bring folding chairs and a jacket (based on weather) so that we can spend more time enjoying the samples, the music, and the company. The location of the event is ideal because there is plenty of parking, party area, and access to clean public bathrooms. As a transplant to the Twin Cities from Wisconsin, it might not surprise you that I'd give an event like 'Tapped and Uncorked' five stars. On the other hand, I know how beer tastings should be done... and that this event surpassed my expectations. Given that this is only the event's 2nd year, I expect that it'll only get better in 2016.

Here's what I love about living on the north side:…read more Every year, the July Fourth weekend is like a post-apocalyptic wasteland movie from the 1980's. With more important things to occupy their time, the MPD don't really bother too much with fireworks violations, so pretty much all weekend stuff is splodin' somewhere. This past Sunday, July 6th, I had settled in to watch a movie, and from the couch I started seeing explosions through the blinds on the front window. I went out to sit on the lawn and see what was going on. From across the street and behind the alley my neighbors were setting these off. They must have spent close to five hundred dollars in Wisconsin last weekend. People driving down the street stopped and got out of their cars to watch. These are the photos of the highlights. I cannot believe they didn't set anything on fire. Man, I love my neighborhood.

this place is a whole vibe. i felt like i was transported to halloweentown it was like a whole…read morelittle village. minus all the mystical creatures & whatnot. the set of the hayride and walkthroughs were so good. tween friendly scary and very crowded. don't get me started on the farm fresh donuts!!! MUST TRY. we also tried the orea churro which was gross without the strawberry sauce. mac & cheese + italian boss grilled cheese. i didn't like either of those. but the popcorn chicken was so yummy and the loaded fries with popcorn chicken & bacon bits. crispy bacon. mini donuts always hit & the mini donut cream soda was actually pretty good!

Always love dead end hayride! Super great actors that scare the begeebers out of you! Thank you so…read moremuch Yelp for the fun experience!

My first visit to the Heights was great. I've been wanting to check it out for a while now as I…read moregenerally love movies and the charm of the older theaters. The staff were really nice and warmly welcomed me! I purchased my tickets at the theater as well as popcorn, matinee price was $10, not bad. There is only 1 screen at this theater. Seats were fairly comfortable - reminds me of the former Main Theater seats. The policy trailer was even entertaining. It wasn't too busy when I went so parking was very easy. Generally worth checking out movies here!

The theater has an organist playing prior to showing movies. The seats are comfortable and the…read morefurnishings are from when theaters were elegantly decorated. The place is clean, friendly staff, and munchies. The sound is excellent. Worth the drive for a date or unique older films showings. Love this place.

Fun spot to bring kids! There were so many baby animals and we got to hold goats, chicks and…read morepuppies. There was a corn pit that kids absolutely loved and a nice variety of food trucks for any taste. Definitely worth a stop if you live in the cities!!

Had the pleasure to see The Rainmaker during its last week. The cast members did a fantastic job of…read moremaking you feel like you were right outside their door watching the drama unfold. Exceptional use of a small stage - the set was well laid out & realistic for a period piece. Theatre is well equipped and staffed with people who care that you have a good time. Sad to say I was excited to smell the popcorn when we opened the front door..you can take in to eat while watching the play however we devoured ours beforehand! Recommend this gem for a great date night.

Wonderful theatre here! Great box office staff (we bought tickets this time since the performance…read morewas in high demand) but have done rush tickets before and the box office staff was wonderful. This is the old movie theater that still has a lot of life to it! The productions are amazing and transporting! Concessions available before and at intermission (including beer, wine, pop, coffee, candy, and fresh popcorn)-which they allow you to take into the theater to enjoy.

I came across the African-American Museum by Truce Center while at Maplewood Mall. It is located on…read morethe first floor. The closest major store to it is Kohl's. I decided to check it out. I'm glad that I did. It was fascinating to learn about the African-American experience through the artifacts and items shown at this museum. From a 123-year-old Nigerian drum, to shackles used on African-Americans in cotton fields, it was a haunting, real experience. Music and pop culture played dominant parts in this museum's exhibits, from Shaft to Michael Jackson. It was cool seeing items that I saw as a kid, such as Michael Jackson figurines, end up in this museum. I spoke to the man who was there, who indicated that staff are continuing to receive more artifacts that are donated fairly regularly. He grew up in Maplewood where he and his peers got into trouble and didn't have a place to go. Truce Center wants to instill a place where kids can drop by and not get into trouble, while mentoring them to become strong individuals in the community. Truce Center wants to shed light on African-American history that isn't fully taught in school. I learned so much simply reading and looking at everything at this museum. I was enlightened and learned so much during my brief visit. This non-profit organization seems to be on the right track. If you are at Maplewood Mall and want a break from shopping, this museum is a decent alternative. I got more of a sense of this community and its history from an African-American perspective by soaking up the information shared at this museum. (12)

At the end of September, I dropped by Lighthouse Artspace in Minneapolis after work to take in the…read moreDisney immersive experience. I had booked my ticket online a couple of weeks before I was in town. I ended up with a packaged deal that was discounted. I got to get a bracelet to wear during the immersive show that lit up, flashed during specific projected screens, and prompted you to make a wish at some stage. I also got a poster to take home and a cushion to sit on during the show. It was my first time getting a cushion. It was fine and felt fancy. You don't really need one, though. The downside was trying to find parking. There was a business next to Lighthouse Artspace on the left that clearly said that you couldn't park there. Around the corner on the right, there was another business that had signs everywhere that said don't park if you're coming for Disney. I figured out that there is parking for those with a disability pass in front of the entrance. Otherwise, you park on either side of a lane. I parked closer to the road. If I had parked horribly, there would have been a three-foot drop. Thank goodness I did not experience an immersive rental car drop. I had a lovely woman greet me when I walked through the door. She scanned my ticket that I had on my phone. She was great letting me know where to go and where the washrooms were. This experience was awesome. There was so much history to absorb. I loved seeing Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse and learning about Walt Disney. I loved seeing figurines of various Disney characters, from Sebastian, to Elsa. It was cool reading up on each character, especially from a character legend. The immersive experience was excellent. It was beautiful and moving. I loved when bubbles were blowing everywhere. It was joyful seeing little kids running around, trying to catch them. It made me appreciate Disney and my love for various characters. There isn't a bad seat in the house. If you love taking photos, you have plenty of opportunities there. The downside was that you couldn't linger around to see the show again. You had to vacate, which was a bummer. You can typically stay longer at other locations, such as Toronto and Nashville. I hit the gift shop afterwards. Some things were super expensive, such as a full-zip Mickey Mouse hoodie for $80. I ended up getting a Mickey Mouse bag that came in handy as my personal item on the plane. It was bigger than my purse and was durable. I also got a Mickey Mouse plush. The staff at the gift shop were nice. I got my goodies in a paper bag. I paid with a credit card. Done! Other than the limited, weird parking situation, I had a wonderful time. I took in this Disney immersive experience a week before it closed for good. I used the washroom before I left. It was clean. No complaints. The coolest part was picking up Van Gogh magnets for free before I left. Nice! I look forward to returning with whatever immersive experience is next. I hope that parking improves by then. (417)

Disney Immersive…read more There is much to see including a photo op with Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse, a gift shop and a museum-like area showing how Disney films are made. In addition, there are tables where adults and older kids can give illustrating Disney-style a try. There are the light-up wristbands (an add-on) that are functional as a flashlight and fun as a personal strobe light that illuminates to match projected scenes. In addition, a few times during the experience the mirrored center of the room brings forth a cascade of bubbles. This got the smallest of patrons racing to the center, giggling gleefully and jumping up to pop and catch the shiny treasures. The show may be best suited for elementary-aged children and older ones as some of the younger kids will have trouble sitting still. It's about an hour of immersive plus additional time in the ante chamber. Encourage the littles to move and dance during the show. Also note that the floor projections have moving stars and other images that anyone can "chase" around the room. Little ones should become part of the music around them, reacting to fluttery butterflies, sizable snakes and favorite characters they recognize. Others watching quietly from one spot seemed unbothered by younger viewers who couldn't sit still. My husband and I both enjoyed the immersive experience. Good to know about Disney Animation Immersive Experience: * There is plenty of free parking in the ground lot behind the venue. It's a hike if you're bringing small children. * You can keep your light-up wristband or leave it to be recycled. * Beware overpriced concessions. 2 waters $8.62