Twin Cities

Axios Twin Cities

It’s a packed weekend in the Twin Cities. Here are five things to do:

🔥 Watch hot air balloons float over the frozen St. Croix River at the free Fire and Ice Winter Social in downtown Stillwater tonight and tomorrow.

Bonus: show up early on Saturday for free ice cream. 

🛷 Bring your decorated sled, helmet and signed waiver to the Art Sled Rally in Powderhorn Park on Saturday. No registration required. Free. 

🍺 Skip the home brewing kit for Build-a-Beer at Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative on Saturday, where guests create their own infused beer. $10-$12. 

⛸ Enjoy the variety show Latins on Ice on frozen Lake Nokomis this weekend, where five local performers reflect on their Minnesota winter experiences. Free.

 Of note: The Art Shanty Projects on Lake Harriet wrap up this weekend. Free. 

5 winter weekend happenings in the Twin Cities

Watch hot air balloons float over the frozen St. Croix River.

Illustration of an animated neutral emoji changing into a smiling-with-sunglasses emoji.

It’s a packed weekend in the Twin Cities. Here are five things to do:🔥 Watch hot air balloons float over the frozen St. Croix River at the free <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Fire and Ice Winter Social" data-vars-click-url="https://events.discoverstillwater.com/event/fire-ice-winter-social-2/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://events.discoverstillwater.com/event/fire-ice-winter-social-2/" target="_blank">Fire and Ice Winter Social</a> in downtown Stillwater tonight and tomorrow.<ul><li>Bonus: show up early on Saturday for free ice cream. </li></ul>

Things to Do

Axios Twin Cities, anchored by Torey Van Oot, Nick Halter and Audrey Kennedy, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard

A number of restaurants are opening in the Twin Cities next month. These are the five we'll be watching:

Noa: The former Mission American Kitchen in IDS Center is now Noa, a California-inspired eatery serving burgers, street tacos, maki and more. 

It opened for lunch Jan. 18, but will expand to dinner service in February. 

Tono Pizzeria and Cheesesteaks: The duo behind Frank and Andrea in Dinkytown is expanding Tono into a fourth location in Woodbury. 

Ties Lounge & Rooftop: The four-story building on Nicollet Mall will feature Italian food from Joey Meatballs on the main floor, with plans for a mezzanine lounge and rooftop patio. 

Asa's Bakery: The Twin Cities stand serving bagels and bialys — a round, chewy roll with an indentation filled with cooked onions — is moving into the former Sassy Spoon in south Minneapolis. 

Mochi Dough and Bober Tea: The Singapore-based franchises will bring Instagrammable Japanese-inspired donuts and boba milk tea to a single Dinkytown location. 

Restaurant roundup: 5 Twin Cities spots opening in February

Peep this spot for Instagrammable donuts and boba milk tea.

A restaurant with blue booths and wooden tables. Plants hang from the ceiling.

Noa opened in IDS Center this month. Photo courtesy of Noa

A number of restaurants are opening in the Twin Cities next month. These are the five we&#x27;ll be watching:<a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Noa" data-vars-click-url="https://noaminneapolis.com/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://noaminneapolis.com/" target="_blank">Noa</a>: The former Mission American Kitchen in IDS Center is now Noa, a California-inspired eatery serving burgers, street tacos, maki and more. <ul><li>It opened for lunch Jan. 18, but will expand to dinner service in February. </li></ul>

Food and Drink

Southwest Minneapolis' France 44 is planning a big expansion, including a patio deck for private and pop-up events. 

What's happening: The Minneapolis Planning Commission approved requests related to the popular liquor and gourmet cheese shop's renovation plans at a meeting Monday night. 

Details: The proposed expansion, first reported by Southwest Voices, would include a "lounge area, classroom with demonstration kitchen, restroom, as well as an outdoor herb garden and outdoor deck," according to documents submitted to the city. 

The addition would add a total 8,807 square feet to the Linden Hills shop, with space for both customer-facing and behind-the-scenes operations.

What they're saying: "This new space will be geared towards ticketed events: corporate team-building classes, private rentals, pop-up wine bars," France 44 owner Rick Anderson told Axios. 

The shop will also offer professional certification courses, including possibly the advanced WSET Level 3 qualification for wine professionals and enthusiasts. 

Editor's note: This story has been updated to further clarify France 44's plans for professional certification courses. 

France 44 plans expansion with patio for private events

The proposed addition would add more than 8,000 square feet to the Linden Hills shop.

Rendering via Minneapolis Planning Commission

Southwest Minneapolis&#x27; France 44 is planning a big expansion, including a patio deck for private and pop-up events. What&#x27;s happening: The Minneapolis Planning Commission approved requests related to the popular liquor and gourmet cheese shop&#x27;s renovation plans at a meeting Monday night.

Mother Dough, a new bakery by father-son restaurateur duo David and Eli Fhima, opened Tuesday in the former Peace Coffee spot in downtown Minneapolis. 

What's on the menu: Freshly made pastries, coffee from Folly Coffee Roasters, beer and wine, and "petite bites" like cheese platters and soup. 

Prices range from $3.50-$5 for pastries, and $8-$19 for plates.

I ordered croissants and harira, a savory, spicy Moroccan soup. I'd go again just for the soup's accompanying baguette. 

Visit: Mother Dough is open Tuesday-Thursday from 7am-2pm. Located on the ground floor of Capella Tower at 225 S 6th St., Minneapolis. 

A second location on the third floor of Capella Tower is set to open in March. 

New bakery Mother Dough opens in downtown Minneapolis

A second location is set to open in March.

A long wooden countertop with two men standing behind it. A menu and pastries are seen in the background.

Mother Dough took over the former Peace Coffee location in Capella Tower. Photo: Audrey Kennedy/Axios

Mother Dough, a new bakery by father-son restaurateur duo David and Eli Fhima, opened Tuesday in the former Peace Coffee spot in downtown Minneapolis. What&#x27;s on the menu: Freshly made pastries, coffee from Folly Coffee Roasters, beer and wine, and &quot;petite bites&quot; like cheese platters and soup. <ul><li>Prices range from $3.50-$5 for pastries, and $8-$19 for plates.</li></ul>

What's happening: The St. Paul Winter Carnival and Great Northern Festival are in full swing. 

A daily schedule of cold-weather programming takes over the Twin Cities through Feb. 6.  

Why it matters: The annual festivities are a yearly reminder of Minnesota endurance. It may be 10 degrees outside, but we can still have fun! 

How it works: The Carnival is primarily free and open to the public — bringing parades, competitions, music and more to downtown St. Paul. 

The Great Northern hosts cultural events across the Cities and partners with existing festivals, like the Carnival, for a curated, programming-focused experience. Most events require registration. 

Background: The Carnival was founded in 1886 after a reporter from New York called the city "another Siberia, unfit for human habitation." 

It's been held almost every year since then, proving that St. Paul can and will thrive during winter. 

Want to check out what's happening at both festivals? Here are our picks for the first weekend's festivities:

👑 For traditions: King Boreas Grande Day Parade.

Learn the legends behind the Carnival and cheer for newly crowned King Boreas and the Royal Family at the procession down West 7th St. in St. Paul. Saturday, Jan. 29. Free.

Flash forward: As is tradition, Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe will dramatically attempt to overthrow the King during the Feb. 5 parade.

❄️ For kids: The Vulcan Snow Park at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Slide down snow mountains, run through snow mazes, watch snow sculpting competitions and more at this all-ages event. Daily through Feb. 6. Free. 

🌷 For a reminder of spring: Jovan C. Speller & Andy DuCett: Conservatory.

This isn't your traditional greenhouse. Wedged in a downtown St. Paul alley, the artist-designed space is filled with hundreds of plants and surrounded by solid ice. Daily through Feb. 6. Free. 

The Walker Art Center's restaurant moves outdoors for a winter-inspired speciality cocktail menu, backdropped by a floral-filled ice sculpture. Now through Jan. 30. Free entry, reservations suggested.

🤫 For a unique experience: The Anechoic chamber experience in Orfield Labs.

Spend 30 minutes hearing nothing but your heartbeat in "The World's Quietest Place" — a room that completely absorbs reflections of sound or electromagnetic waves. Jan. 28, Jan. 31. $60. 

Ski through Theodore Wirth Park and take a mid-trail stop for breakfast by chef Karyn Tomlinson of Myriel. Waffles, hot ham and cheese buns, eggs, coffee and hot chocolate provided. Sunday, Jan. 30. $75. 

What to see at St. Paul Winter Carnival and Great Northern Festival

It may be 10 degrees outside, but we can still have fun!

The Ice Palace at the 2018 Saint Paul Winter Carnival. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The cold never bothered us anyway. What&#x27;s happening: <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="The St. Paul Winter Carnival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wintercarnival.com/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wintercarnival.com/" target="_blank">The St. Paul Winter Carnival</a> and <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Great Northern Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://thegreatnorthernfestival.com/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thegreatnorthernfestival.com/" target="_blank">Great Northern Festival</a> are in full swing. <ul><li>A daily schedule of cold-weather programming takes over the Twin Cities through Feb. 6. </li></ul>Why it matters: The annual festivities are a yearly reminder of Minnesota endurance. It may be 10 degrees outside, but we can still have fun!

Audrey Kennedy

Featured stories

What to see at St. Paul Winter Carnival and Great Northern Festival

5 winter weekend happenings in the Twin Cities

Restaurant roundup: 5 Twin Cities spots opening in February

France 44 plans expansion with patio for private events

New bakery Mother Dough opens in downtown Minneapolis