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A guide to fun things to do in Twin Cities this weekend.

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Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Nick Halter, Audrey Kennedy and Torey Van Oot.

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Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha to close for 2 years

The Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha Creek will close for two years

News

The heavily used Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha Creek will close on March 2 for major rehab and won&#x27;t reopen for two years. Why it matters: This <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/nicollet-ave-bridge/" data-vars-content-id="83be5056-132c-4258-a23b-05cf3b99ffdd" data-vars-headline="Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha to close for 2 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/nicollet-ave-bridge/" target="_blank">project</a> will send the roughly 14,000 vehicles that use the bridge on an average day to nearby streets, and also re-route users of the highly popular Minnehaha Parkway below.

Minneapolis weighs penalty for hotels that housed ICE agents

Two downtown hotels could lose their liquor licenses for possibly housing ICE agents during Operation Metro Surge.

The Minneapolis City Council could decide Thursday whether two downtown hotels should lose their liquor licenses for possibly housing ICE agents during <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Operation Metro Surge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/12/trump-ice-metro-surge-ends-minneapolis" data-vars-content-id="54e61ac8-1bf8-48ca-998c-5be6e77cca6d" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis weighs penalty for hotels that housed ICE agents" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/12/trump-ice-metro-surge-ends-minneapolis" target="_self">Operation Metro Surge</a>.Why it matters: Hospitality advocates say revocations would send a chilling message to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a hospitality industry facing uncertainty" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/04/hotels-suffer-ice-agents-protests-vandalism-events" data-vars-content-id="54e61ac8-1bf8-48ca-998c-5be6e77cca6d" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis weighs penalty for hotels that housed ICE agents" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/04/hotels-suffer-ice-agents-protests-vandalism-events" target="_self">a hospitality industry facing uncertainty</a> in the aftermath of the Trump administration&#x27;s deportation blitz.<ul><li>But some hotel employees and union representatives argue federal agents&#x27; presence created safety concerns that justify a city intervention.</li></ul>

Minnesota's Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women's hockey win

Minnesotans have several more shots to make the podium before the Games wrap Sunday.

Sports

The Minnesotan-powered <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. women&#x27;s hockey team" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" data-vars-content-id="6f9ab92b-7911-4285-aa44-bb55e7b6acec" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women&#x27;s hockey win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" target="_self">U.S. women&#x27;s hockey team</a> toppled Canada in overtime to win Olympic gold Thursday. Why it matters: The dramatic 2-1 victory is golden redemption for a team of stars — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eight of whom have Minnesota ties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" data-vars-content-id="6f9ab92b-7911-4285-aa44-bb55e7b6acec" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women&#x27;s hockey win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/06/minnesota-olympians-womens-hockey-milan" target="_self">eight of whom have Minnesota ties</a> — that came up short four years ago.<ul><li>The all-North American final — which ended on a sick dangle by Megan Keller — doubled as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="made-to-order marketing material" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/21/pwhl-olympics-womens-hockey-minnesota" data-vars-content-id="6f9ab92b-7911-4285-aa44-bb55e7b6acec" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s Olympic gold drought ends with thrilling women&#x27;s hockey win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/21/pwhl-olympics-womens-hockey-minnesota" target="_self">made-to-order marketing material</a> for the fledgling Professional Women&#x27;s Hockey League.</li></ul>

Restaurant Roundup: Dahlia debuts, Hey Y'all closes, Company Bar moves in

Here's some of the food news you may have missed this month.

Food and Drink

Plenty of restaurants have made moves in the new year. Here&#x27;s some of the food news you may have missed this month.

Exploding trees in Minnesota's cold snap: Fact vs. fiction

Tree sap expands when it freezes, creating internal pressure. But does it cause trees to explode?

Climate

It&#x27;ll be so cold in Minnesota that trees might explode…<ul><li>Or so certain click-hungry <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="online meteorologists" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/maxvelocitywx/posts/pfbid02VmtRVE1WEkU1UMGZofbdpyCwcJ6Eq4z3pB2BnF6E5F8qhrazAYDKhSFcSr6vftcNl?rdid=82yH8r4SNxhGjfPm#" data-vars-content-id="fb189c3e-1327-4f18-8ebd-e947ff57c471" data-vars-headline="Exploding trees in Minnesota&#x27;s cold snap: Fact vs. fiction" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/maxvelocitywx/posts/pfbid02VmtRVE1WEkU1UMGZofbdpyCwcJ6Eq4z3pB2BnF6E5F8qhrazAYDKhSFcSr6vftcNl?rdid=82yH8r4SNxhGjfPm#" target="_blank">online meteorologists</a> would have you believe.</li></ul>Driving the clicks: Friday&#x27;s forecast daytime high (-7) would be the coldest in seven years, according to state climate records.

St. Paul's winter parking trial gains traction in second year

The city is trying to end snow emergencies as we know them.

St. Paul officials learned enough from last winter&#x27;s experiment with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one-sided street parking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/01/31/st-paul-trial-parking-pilot-snow-emergency-one-sided" data-vars-content-id="b9f2160c-a7c2-4bcc-ac8e-5d0f0d4cba31" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s winter parking trial gains traction in second year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/01/31/st-paul-trial-parking-pilot-snow-emergency-one-sided" target="_self">one-sided street parking</a> to know they like it — even if the season wasn&#x27;t very snowy.Why it matters: St. Paul has launched its second winter of testing a snow-plowing strategy that could all but eliminate the need for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="costly and disruptive snow emergencies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/03/11/st-paul-one-sided-street-parking-snow-winter-weather" data-vars-content-id="b9f2160c-a7c2-4bcc-ac8e-5d0f0d4cba31" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s winter parking trial gains traction in second year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/03/11/st-paul-one-sided-street-parking-snow-winter-weather" target="_self">costly and disruptive snow emergencies</a>.

Missing from winter so far: The sun

The Twin Cities winter is off to a gloomy start.

The holiday season may have been merry, but it certainly wasn&#x27;t bright. By the numbers: The Twin Cities hasn&#x27;t had what the National Weather Service deems a &quot;clear&quot; day since Dec. 20.

Cold, snowy start to winter could be an appetizer of what's to come

The early snow could be an appetizer for a harsh winter

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="snow and cold of the last week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/25/first-snow-holiday-travel" data-vars-content-id="425bdf7d-4580-40ea-ba24-46a9309c169a" data-vars-headline="Cold, snowy start to winter could be an appetizer of what&#x27;s to come" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/25/first-snow-holiday-travel" target="_self">snow and cold of the last week</a> appears to be the opening salvo in what could be a harsh Minnesota winter.State of play: Nearly 8 inches of snow has already fallen in the Twin Cities, and forecasted highs in the mid-teens on Wednesday and Thursday are about 20 degrees below normal for early December.

Season's first snow could gunk up holiday travel

After the snow, temperatures are expected to plunge.

The rain in Tuesday&#x27;s forecast will to turn to snow at night, bringing the Twin Cities its first accumulation of the season — right in time for peak holiday travel.The latest: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Weather Service" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/NWSTwinCities/status/1993269913289392388" data-vars-content-id="43b312ce-2147-47ad-b5fe-db9598bfa6fb" data-vars-headline="Season&#x27;s first snow could gunk up holiday travel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/NWSTwinCities/status/1993269913289392388" target="_blank">National Weather Service</a> has expanded a winter storm warning to cover the Twin Cities because a system it&#x27;s been tracking has shifted south.<ul><li>It expects most of the metro will get to 4 to 6 inches of snow by Wednesday morning, with higher totals in the northern suburbs and central Minnesota.</li></ul>

Late first freeze highlights Twin Cities' lengthening growing season

This year was the second-longest growing season since 1938.

Fall&#x27;s first freeze arrived Friday, ending one of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="longest growing seasons" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/09/30/heat-wave-could-hit-twin-cities-with-a-record-90-degree-temperature-on-friday" data-vars-content-id="1c401d04-b081-46f6-94cc-57d0e191ffb4" data-vars-headline="Late first freeze highlights Twin Cities&#x27; lengthening growing season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/09/30/heat-wave-could-hit-twin-cities-with-a-record-90-degree-temperature-on-friday" target="_self">longest growing seasons</a> in the Twin Cities&#x27; recorded history.By the numbers: 199 days passed between spring&#x27;s last sub-freezing temp (on April 8) and Friday&#x27;s 30-degree low.<ul><li>It&#x27;s the second-longest growing season <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="since 1938" data-vars-click-url="https://mrcc.purdue.edu/newclimate/station/seasonal-statistics" data-vars-content-id="1c401d04-b081-46f6-94cc-57d0e191ffb4" data-vars-headline="Late first freeze highlights Twin Cities&#x27; lengthening growing season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mrcc.purdue.edu/newclimate/station/seasonal-statistics" target="_blank">since 1938</a> — topped only by 2016&#x27;s 220 days — and well above the historical average of around 167 days.</li></ul>Between the lines: Historically, a 199-day growing season would be more typical of Kansas City than Minnesota — but &quot;it&#x27;s where our Twin Cities climate is quickly headed,&quot; meteorologist Sven Sundgaard <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wrote for Bring Me The News" data-vars-click-url="https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-weather/frost-finally-hits-twin-cities-ending-one-of-the-longest-growing-seasons-on-record" data-vars-content-id="1c401d04-b081-46f6-94cc-57d0e191ffb4" data-vars-headline="Late first freeze highlights Twin Cities&#x27; lengthening growing season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-weather/frost-finally-hits-twin-cities-ending-one-of-the-longest-growing-seasons-on-record" target="_blank">wrote for Bring Me The News</a>. <ul><li>&quot;Will our climate mimic Kansas City&#x27;s in 30 years or 70 years?&quot; he added. &quot;That&#x27;s the real question.&quot;</li></ul>

Canada won't play Minnesota's wildfire smoke blame game

Experts say smoky summers are now the norm in Minnesota, and preventing wildfires pose challenges.

Minnesotans are inhaling <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="another plume of smoke from Canada this week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/08/wildfire-smoke-minnesota-air-quality-2025" data-vars-content-id="250458ca-9b1a-403c-b6fc-f5297c75a4a7" data-vars-headline="Canada won&#x27;t play Minnesota&#x27;s wildfire smoke blame game" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/08/wildfire-smoke-minnesota-air-quality-2025" target="_self">another plume of smoke from Canada this week</a>, and an attempt to blame Canada&#x27;s handling of wildfires is being met with eye-rolls north of the border.Why it matters: Experts say smoky summers are likely the new normal in Minnesota and many parts of North America unaccustomed to dealing with the haze as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climate change" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/25/extreme-wildfires-doubled-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="250458ca-9b1a-403c-b6fc-f5297c75a4a7" data-vars-headline="Canada won&#x27;t play Minnesota&#x27;s wildfire smoke blame game" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/25/extreme-wildfires-doubled-climate-change" target="_self">climate change</a> turns the continent&#x27;s forests into tinderboxes.

Potential downpours headed for the Twin Cities

Some area of the metro could get 4 inches or more

A deluge of rainfall is heading toward the Twin Cities today, adding to what has been a gloomy start to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="summer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/08/wildfire-smoke-minnesota-air-quality-2025" data-vars-content-id="b9705069-657a-42cf-a41e-3768f94df340" data-vars-headline="Potential downpours headed for the Twin Cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/08/wildfire-smoke-minnesota-air-quality-2025" target="_self">summer</a>.Why it matters: While this might be great for our lawns, gardens and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;June gloom&quot; revelers" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/kystokes?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" data-vars-content-id="b9705069-657a-42cf-a41e-3768f94df340" data-vars-headline="Potential downpours headed for the Twin Cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/kystokes?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">&quot;June gloom&quot; revelers</a>, it&#x27;s been a downer for those of us who like to soak up the sun.

Weather fans fire risk across Minnesota

The state has battled more than 1,100 blazes so far this spring.

&quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fire weather" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/20/wildfires-fire-weather-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="0ec165d0-ca88-47c4-93a8-916184709c7d" data-vars-headline="Weather fans fire risk across Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/20/wildfires-fire-weather-climate-change" target="_self">Fire weather</a>&quot; is happening more often, including in parts of Minnesota, a new analysis found.Why it matters: Hot, dry and windy conditions can cause small sparks to spread. As the recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="blazes near Duluth demonstrated" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/05/21/minnesota-wildfire-containment-grows-despite-windy-weather" data-vars-content-id="0ec165d0-ca88-47c4-93a8-916184709c7d" data-vars-headline="Weather fans fire risk across Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/05/21/minnesota-wildfire-containment-grows-despite-windy-weather" target="_blank">blazes near Duluth demonstrated</a>, the result can have devastating effects.

What to expect for Minnesota air quality this summer

Plan for more smoky skies overhead — and for the first time, air alerts from blowing dust.

Minnesotans can expect to experience more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="crummy air quality days" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/01/28/air-quality-minnesota-polution-worsens-smoke" data-vars-content-id="a0db76fe-cf56-4806-a308-637620f476b7" data-vars-headline="What to expect for Minnesota air quality this summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/01/28/air-quality-minnesota-polution-worsens-smoke" target="_self">crummy air quality days</a> than usual in the coming months. The big picture: A hot, dry spring and summer raises the risk that wildfires in Canada and elsewhere will saddle the state with smoky skies, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency meteorologists predict.

Climate 🌿

Winter whimpers as warm air arrives in Minnesota

Exploding trees in Minnesota's cold snap: Fact vs. fiction

St. Paul's winter parking trial gains traction in second year

Missing from winter so far: The sun

Cold, snowy start to winter could be an appetizer of what's to come