I was SO looking forward to this festival as I love Asian food. The quality of the food was very…read moregood and the ViP bag & pin were cute but tickets at $85 for two was high. But the food prices were through roof. When your only options for wontons is one for $4.00 and $18.00 for 8 is unreasonable. Can I get 2 for $7.00, so I can have other small tastes of other food? $21.00 for a cup of beef ramen (commemorative noodle cup which is very cute-see photo)? The drinks were also pretty highly priced. Mt other feedback was the security check. We paid for VIP tickets and expecting a VIP entrance. Nope, everyone goes through the same line which OK, I get it, it's police policy. However, the officer went way too far in searching. Not only did he pull my wallet out, he started opening up my wallet and looking though the compartments. What was he thinking he'd find? No wonder the line was long and we were there right at 4:00 pm. And I wasn't the only one, another guest commented on the extra security needed because she had never had her wallet inspected either. Probably won't return, unless, it can become a "tasting menu" vs. $70 for 3 dishes.

Ah, Panda Festival 2026 at the Mall of America. I believe this is the second year they have had…read morethis in Minnesota. We missed out last year because the tickets sold out (my fault), but we made sure to attend it this year. Here is the good, bad, and the ugly from our adventure. We, as in me, my wife, and 11 year old daughter, made it our mission to make it this year. I got the 1000 am check in time, and paid for 4 tickets to PANDA FEST 2026! This was the earliest check in time for day 2, Saturday, August 1st. Luckily we didn't get tickets to day 1 on Friday, because it rained almost all day. Saturday was rain free, but a bit warm. The temp was in the high 80's. The 4th ticket went unused because my daughter's friend didn't make it. We made sure we arrived about 20 minutes early, because I had no idea where to park. The event was in the far north parking lot of the MOA (Mall of America). I was happy to see that there was plenty of parking about 2 blocks from the festivities, and the parking lot was enormous. We walked to the entrance, and there was already a long line that had formed, and it was pretty regulated with the typical cattle guard fences and MOA security overlooking everything. We didn't have to wait long, and the MC of the event got on her "toy" bull horn and welcomed everyone to the second annual Panda Festival. The countdown started, and everyone shuffled through the security checkpoint that was manned by MOA personnel, and Bloomington Police Officers. This was a pretty secure checkpoint that looked like Terminal One of the MSP airport. Yes, they even had metal detectors, and all bags/purses were checked. No vapes, lighters, guns, or weapons, outside beverages or food were allowed in. But no worries, it looked like a few vapes were tossed on the ground before the check in. Confession time. I'm a retired copper of 30 years, and always carry a knife on me. Today was no exception. I figured my chances were about 50/50 on whether my very expensive knife was going to trigger the metal detectors. But I decided to play the odds, and then flash my Police ID if the detector went off. I'd hand over the knife, but return later to get it after we left the venue. However, I passed through the metal detectors no problem, despite having my cell phone, and a janitor sized keychain on my belt loop. Read that as you may, but methinks the sensitivity of the metal detectors were set a bit too low. Anyway, we passed the checkpoint, got our collectable panda pins, and the inflatable panda headbands. It was a nice touch that the headband station had hand pumps to pump up the headbands. My daughter loved the headbands. Now, it was time to eat! If you are a foodie, this was the place to be. Evidently there were over 80 food vendors here, and the variety was enough to satisfy almost everyone. We started off with 2 fruit juices since it was pretty hot out. The two juices were okay, and set us back about $10 a piece. We then decided to get something to eat. My daughter (who took all the pictures, thanks Dixi!) got some fresh fruit that was caramelized in a sugar shell. I got a marinated steak skewer that was about 14 inches long that was pretty fatty (very fatty) but tasted pretty good. The wife abstained from eating but got a potato tornado drenched in blue Taqui dust later (didn't like it). We then proceeded to check the rest of the place out, and I won a trivia contest that yielded a bamboo Vietnamese rice hat for the daughter. Then we ate more food. The highlight was a weird concoction of an ice cream cone that was shaped like a question mark that my daughter had seen on YouTube. It was messy, but tasted pretty good. She also had a conversation with the YouTube influencer that was there, so she was happy about that. We lasted about 2 1/2 hours due to the heat, but managed to visit the entire venue, albeit about $150.00 lighter, much to my chagrin. We had fun, ate a lot, but it was not cheap. Case in point: a panda container of fresh watermelon juice set us back $25. The average cost of a single item was around $15. With that said, the best deal was a Thai style papaya salad made to order for $10. It was very good, and was good for about 3 servings. All in all, we had a good time, but it was expensive. Will we go next year if Panda Festival comes back? Probably. This place made bank, and it was a huge crowd. A word of advice: Don't do the VIP treatment. It's not worth it, and basically gets you a slightly shorter line on entrance, a small swag bag, and more access to the port a potties. Shell out for the general admin tickets. The line goes quick. All in all we had a good time. Thanks to the kiddo for the pictures taken, and she got interviewed by a reporter from the Star Tribune on camera. Expensive, but it was an experience.

Great little community event at Island Lake Park. It was super hot out yesterday, but still…read morebearable. Plenty of parking at Deluxe Check or the surrounding lots. Attractions: Smallish carnival- most of the rides are for younger kids which is nice for us. Fun Slide, mini cars, spinning dragons etc. Lake Johannah Fire Station open house with lots of freebies, fire tucks, water hoses, education etc. Nice little open house. Parade Vendors Food Vendors Jump Station for the kids- $5 Some of the prices are ridiculous for things. $7 for a lemonade and $3 for a refill. Good turn out. Nice community event.

Fun free event for the whole family...I was there yesterday and they had an AMAZING band playing…read morecalled THE POWER OF 10. I had so much fun dancing! Loses one star from me because of the expensive food truck items and lemonade...also everything is cash only...so bring cash! There is an ATM on the ground but there's a $3 fee!

What a fantastic atmosphere to experience! I was lucky enough to be able to make it out to Crashed…read moreIce this past Saturday for the first time and what a hoot it was! The view of the Cathedral and Crashed Ice track is absolutely breath taking when you're walking up to the event. I had to stop and take a couple of pictures because it was just too beautiful not to do so. I'm so happy I was able to watch Cameron Naasz take the World Championship title for Team USA for the first time in Crashed Ice history. The energy was electrifying, and although I had never watched this sport in person before, I got so fired up. The two downsides were parking and the protestors standing right outside of the event. We were luckily able to find parking not too far away from the Cathedral, but there were people who had to pay upwards of $15 just to park in a lot or ramp. The roads were packed and the crowds from Crashed Ice didn't help the traffic. The protestors turned a lot of people off and sparked several arguments to start up. Despite the negatives, I do believe Crashed Ice was an event worth attending. Everyone was amped up and I couldn't help but feel the team spirit after the big win. The warm weather contributed to an even larger crowd this year, and I loved it. I didn't even have to wear a coat! In addition to that, we got free Red Bull and Beef/Turkey jerkey after the race (they only gave it out before and after the race...NOT during). What could be better than that?

Red Bull Crashed Ice is the most worthless, useless, irritating event to grace the Cathedral steps…read more I am originally from St. Louis and New Orleans, and moved here about a year and a half ago. Living in the shadow of the Cathedral has been wonderful, and the view of the city assures me that this is the best place to live in the Twin Cities. But the event is a complete waste of time and space. The construction is one thing, but to take away parking from residents without providing an alternative is another. Parking becomes an issue for two weeks, and for what? So we can all gasp at a bunch of hockey players racing down a track while paying $10 for mediocre (at best) fried foods and no outside drinking? And why can't you drink outside? How uncivilised. The fact that nobody is drinking while watching this event makes me even more dumbfounded as to why anyone attends and sticks around. St. Paul is a great city, full of wonderful events and great people. But this event is a stain on the city.

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.

We went to check out the ice festival in Eagan that has the longest ice maze. This festival runs…read morefrom January 10 to February 16, depending on the weather of course. Tickets can be purchased online or the box office. We had purchased a deal online and waited for someone to come to the box office in order to redeem the voucher. After waiting for 10 minutes, the guard let us through the gate to talk to the ladies that works for the event. Ice maze was fun, for all ages. There's a warming house that sells hot and cold beverages and alcohol. Variety of food trucks, ice skating rink, and slide made from ice. The maze has a scavenger hunt throughout, there's 12 names to look for and you'll get a prize at the hut near the skating rink. Definitely recommend to check out.

The Minnesota Ice Festival is an absolute must-see for anyone who loves winter, art, and outdoor…read morefun! From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the stunning ice sculptures-each one more intricate and breathtaking than the last. The level of detail and creativity that goes into these frozen masterpieces is truly incredible. Beyond the sculptures, the festival had so much to offer. We enjoyed the ice slides (so much fun for both kids and adults!), sipped on delicious hot cocoa, and even tried our hand at ice carving. The atmosphere was lively, with twinkling lights, live music, and cozy fire pits where you can make s'mores and it easy to warm up when needed. They also have games made out of ice shuffle board, ping pong, air hockey and they also have ice skating The staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful, and despite the crowds, everything was well organized. Dress warmly-it gets chilly, especially at night-but that's all part of the magical winter experience.If you're looking for a unique and festive way to celebrate winter in Minnesota, this festival is well worth it. We went on a pretty warm day so unfortunately the maze was very wet lots of puddles We'll definitely be back next year!

Wow! What an impressive sight! I was in the area to see the next door Millennium Gardens, but…read moredecided to extend my visit by walking down the trails. I ended up at the Hilde Amphitheater. There wasn't an event going on at the time, but the facility still really impressed me! Gorgeous piece of architecture, but also a really well maintained lawn and surrounding grounds that looked like it could accommodate a considerable gathering of people. There's a fountain near the memorial plaque, along with some statuary and some cute music makers for people to play with. I was quite enamored by the multicolored mosaic animal statues (I had to snap a photo with each!) near one of the entrances. I noticed a couple of port-a-potties and many trash cans. Also the geese waddling about the grounds were kinda cute. I'll probably look online to see if they're having any upcoming events that interest me, because it'd be cool to show up for a performance!

Have been to a few events here and they have always been great! Recently attended an outdoor…read moreconcert and it was so much fun! The space is smaller so it felt more intimate than a traditional outdoor venue. The sound and lights were great! We were able to bring in our own lawn chairs and the drink options were very decently priced for a concert venue. They had a handful of food trucks on site. We were able to find free street parking nearby. All of the workers were very friendly and it was a great way to spend a summer evening in Minnesota!

Whoever set this up has never been to the legit ones in Nuremberg or Berlin. Way too narrow for…read morepeople to shop on both sides while having room for others to pass by in the center; only a couple hot wine vendors with ginormous lines, didn't see any warm pretzels (and those are like every third stall in Germany), and the majority of the crafters sold overpriced junk. So: no heart, no space, no cheer, no festive atmosphere. Just angry hordes jostling to get through. And BTW, if you're going to have too-narrow thoroughfares you need to prohibit strollers and have an area for people to ditch them.

Came here for this years Christmas Market on a slightly warmer than lately Saturday…read more As usual it's a gorgeous setup. The small huts and lights are just so aesthetically pleasing, and fun to walk around and peruse. We haven't had something we disliked food wise. It's all very good. A little spendy, be prepared for State-Fair level prices, but hey it's an event and at least they don't charge you to get in! The mulled wine or Glühwein as it's called is great. if you pick up a mug you can get cheaper refills. I've had the red but didn't get around to getting a cup of the white but I'd still recommend it to people who like sweeter wines. The shops are all really cute and have alot of good products. Think art fair, you can buy art, clothes, knick-knacks, Christmas decorations and more, homemade and super bespoke. We might swing back but if not we'll definitely be there to check it out again next year!

My 1st time at the Cedar Cultural Center, and I was blown away with a magically beautiful evening…read moreof music with voulouse + bad posture's farewell show. The volunteers were all so kind and friendly. There were snacks, alcohol drinks, and THC drinks available during the show. Seats were unassigned with no bad spot in the entire place. I can't wait to go back for another experience!

My sister and I saw Brent Cobb here after beer hopping on the green line earlier. We were the first…read moreones in and were next to the stage all night. I drank some beers and chai tea. They served the chai tea in regular breakable coffee mugs. Probably had lots of mugs to wash at the end of the night. They could have used more staff or volunteers as the beer lines were long. The place seemed like an alright venue for a concert.