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Back-to-school shopping is expected to squeeze families' budgets even more than usual this year.

The big picture: Families and teachers across the nation are bracing for bigger bills for everything from backpacks to tech products as inflation drives up prices on consumer goods, our education reporting partners at The 74 write.

Winter is coming, but there's still plenty of time to break a sweat outdoors in the Twin Cities before we say goodbye to warmer weather.

Here are a few classes around the metro to try out this month

🧘 Big River Yoga offers classes at Longfellow's Brackett Park on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings, while Radiant Life yogis bring their mats to Lake Harriett several days a week.

Sure, I could tell you about the trendiest events in the Cities this weekend. But this week, I'd like to highlight something near and dear to my heart: Corn Days.

The big picture: Corn Days is the annual festival in Long Lake, a town about 15 miles west of Minneapolis with less than 2,000 people.

This week's hot homes collection includes a Longfellow Tudor and a cozy Mac-Groveland bungalow.

4625 Grand Ave. S. - $310,000

Why we love it: Conveniently located near Lake Harriet and Minnehaha Creek, this updated bungalow features a stylish remodeled kitchen.

The "secret" speakeasy is growing in popularity again in the Twin Cities as people search for a unique way to enjoy a drink.

The big picture:  Speakeasies, which are "underground" venues inspired by illegal bars during the Prohibition era, traditionally serve craft cocktails and small plates at a higher price point, and are "hidden" inside existing venues.

📸 Check out 3D chalk art at the Downtown Art Street Festival on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. Tip: The pieces make for cool photo ops. Free.

🔮 Dive into the multiverse this weekend at CONvergence, a Minneapolis convention for fans of sci-fi, fantasy and alternate realities. $75.

The Mall of America turns 30 today, meaning it's officially too old to shop at its own Forever 21 store.

Flashback: An estimated 150,000 shoppers showed up for the grand opening on Aug. 11, 1992, the Star Tribune reported at the time. The crowd grew so large that the mall opened its doors earlier than scheduled — "as soon as the freshly mopped floors had dried."

Twin Cities breweries are rolling out THC-infused beverages. Here are three places to try the trending drinks.

What to know: The legal limit for edibles and beverages in Minnesota is 5 milligrams of THC. Though these are sold at breweries, THC beverages can't also include alcohol.