Brunch and Bowling | A Weekend in Minneapolis
When Minneapolis was announced as the host city for the inaugural Nerdcon: Stories, it didn't seem like the most obvious choice. I've traveled to more "destination" cities like LA and San Diego before for conventions, but never anywhere too far north. Regardless, I was excited to spend some time in Minneapolis during the con. I haven't traveled extensively in the midwest, so Minnesota is some uncharted territory.
Unfortunately, thanks to the nature of conventions, we didn't have a ton of time for sightseeing. We still managed to find some cute places to eat, though. One of my favorite spots in town is Hen House, a bar, bakery and breakfast joint just a few blocks from the convention center. My friends and I had some killer omelettes and mimosas between sessions on Saturday morning. Hen House is known for their giant cinnamon rolls (which are heavenly), but the crown jewel of the menu in my mind is their hash browns. Crisp, delicious, and very filling. I'm a sucker for some good potatoes. Our first breakfast was so good, we decided to come back for more on Sunday.
On Saturday night, we headed over to Brit's Pub for dinner and drinks. Most pubs in America are pretty interchangeable in my mind, but Brit's local charm and great selection of pub grub sets it apart. They have a great selection of local brews and to sip on their awesome roofdeck. We had some great weather all weekend and were happy to take full advantage of it.
Brit's also has a super cool green rooftop for lawn bowling and the occasional screenings. Sadly, no one was out bowling that night, but I would happily go back for a round the next time I'm in Minneapolis. We did get to catch an amazing sunset on our way out, which perfectly complemented the old-timey streetlights on the rooftop.
Of course, what would a weekend in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area be without a cheeky trip to that great monument to Capitalism, the Mall of America? My friends and I actually did a good deal of shopping between MoA and the the flagship Target in downtown Minneapolis. Although we decided to pass on the amusement park, we did score some pretty great deals (no sales tax on clothing in MN!) and put a few miles on our boots. Nick Cannon also happened to be shooting a segment for TeenNick at the mall that afternoon, so we were in good company.
Sure, most of my non-convention time in Minneapolis was spent eating or shopping, but I still had a great time. I'll most likely be back next year, hopefully with a bit more time to explore the city.Have you been to Minneapolis? What are some of your favorite spots in the city? Give me some recommendations for next year in the comments!