Thrillist: The Best Winter Activities To Remind You Minnesota Is Actually The Best

It's a good thing I love being a Minnesotan, because I'm really becoming an expert in activities to do here. 

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

Close on the heels of my Thrillist roundup on best non-holiday related Minnesota activities, I've compiled a new roundup of more active hobbies to undertake at this time of year. Skijoring, curling and ice fishing snuggle up with extensive samplings of locally distilled cocktails and lavish foraged tasting menus to give you a jump start on your best winter ever. Click on this link to read the full piece, and let me know - what else do I need to do in the next few months? Email me at compendiummpls@gmail.com, or follow me on Instagram for a deeper dive into some of these awesome activities.

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Summer is easy to like. It’s got sunshine, water sports, and the built-in nostalgia of time off from school. But winter? That takes some more gumption to appreciate. While other parts of the country are either freaking out over a light snowfall or counting down the days ’til spring, living in Minnesota -- where temps are regularly below freezing and the average annual snowfall is more than 70 inches up north -- means you learn to relish the freezing weather rather than hide from it. With the right mindset, winter is secretly the best time of the year, with plenty of cold-weather activities in the Twin Cities and around the state to keep you active and engaged with your fellow Minnesotans. From dog sledding to ice sculptures to a truly epic foraged tasting menu, we have a little bit of everything here to help you brighten up the coldest months.

Train your dog for extreme winter sports
It’s pretty well known by now that Minnesota has some of the best park spaces in the country, and snow on the ground shouldn’t stop you from enjoying them -- in fact, it can be a bonus. If you live near the Twin Cities and have a dog weighing over 30 pounds, visit the Three Rivers Park District with your pooch to try out dog sledding or skijoring (which is like dog sledding but on skis instead of sitting down on a sled). Need an introduction from a knowledgeable expert first? The Loppet has ongoing workshops about how to get started with your dog, including training and command tips.

Create your own ice sculpture tour
For some DIY fun this winter, spend an afternoon appreciating Minnesota’s most badass seasonal artists: ice sculptors. Last year was a banner year for Twin Cities ice sculptures thanks to the Super Bowl, but you can still find plenty of impressive work at places like Urbana Craeft Kitchen in Bloomington, which sports a beautifully detailed ice bar on the patio; The Lexington in St. Paul, which has a rooftop ice bar, miniature curling tables, and a perfectly Instagrammable throne made of ice; and more to be announced as temperatures drop. For the insider’s scoop, be sure to follow Liam Flahive, one of the top local ice sculptors whose work will be featured around the area this winter.

Warm up with a cocktail from a local distillery
Cold winter nights (and days) call for drinks that will warm your belly, and thankfully there’s a bevy of distilleries around the Twin Cities that allow you to sip liquor that’s locally-made. Head to Norseman and sample their original vodka, a chameleon that can shine in many kinds of cocktails (or upgrade to one of the aquavits, if you’re hardcore). Du Nord is a family-owned distillery that sources all their grain for distilling from local farms, including the award-winning Apple du Nord, a spirit made from heritage Minnesota apples grown on a nearby orchard. Tattersall’s spirits and liqueurs can be found in bars all over the Twin Cities, but make sure to visit their brick and mortar location to taste some of their more unusual options like grapefruit crema, orange crema, or sour cherry liquors. And Crooked Water, the first certified female-owned spirits company in the country, may not have a public distillery space yet, but you can find its spirits at venues like the Lora Hotel, Day Block Brewing, and Nightingale.

Sample a limited-edition winter beer for a good cause
Christmas may be over, but that’s no reason to forget about the giving spirit of the season. Finnegans, the local beer brand that changed the game by pledging to donate 100% of its profits to charity, lets you support community food banks as you sip. And just in time for those short winter days, they’re introducing “Dark Week,” when they’ll release one of eight limited-edition dark beers every night for a week, with flavors like a dark chocolate mint stout and oatmeal spruce tip porter. The beers will be available on tap at their new multi-level facility in downtown Minneapolis for a special one week-only event (January 13-19), with select flavors available for sale later on by the bottle.

Attend the world’s largest ice fishing contest
Since 1991, the Brainerd Jaycees have spent every winter planning and executing the world’s largest ice fishing contest. (Last year’s event drew 12,000 anglers.) This year’s contest will be held on January 26 on Gull Lake, 10 miles north of Brainerd, and is free for spectators to attend (or $50 if you want to enter), although you can always purchase a raffle ticket to support the Jaycees’ charitable causes. If you can’t make the one-day tournament or are a first-timer, check out Sportsman’s Lodges three Minnesota locations for one-day trips that include a heated fish house and transportation to and from the ice. For a long-weekend experience, the family-run Brindley’s Harbor Resort in Walker has ongoing ice fishing operations on Leech Lake (famous for its jumbo perch) through mid-March (with a two-night minimum). Whichever you choose, make sure to watch Grumpy Old Men beforehand to get in the right mindset.

Join the Luminary Loppet
If you’re mourning the long darkness that is Minnesota winters, why not make some light yourself? That is exactly the mission of the Luminary Loppet, one of the Twin Cities’ most special annual winter events, where attendees take a nighttime walk on top of the frozen Lake of the Isles to enjoy art, performances, and the cozy ambiance of hundreds of glowing luminaries glittering in the snow. Sights include landmarks made of ice (think a frigid replica of Stonehenge), fire dancers, and regular snack stops (including hot cocoa to keep you warm). Registration is capped for the February 2 event, so make sure to reserve your tickets ($28 for adults) ahead of time to guarantee entry to a true winter wonderland.

Indulge in Minnesota-style comfort food
When the temperature drops, you crave dishes that are warm, filling, and maybe a little indulgent (thanks to that forgiving bulky sweater you’ll be rocking all season). The comfort food at Hazel's Northeast has made the family restaurant a Minneapolis staple for over 50 years with a menu that is creative without being intimidating. Some of the best current dishes are regional specialties, like gumbo made with wild rice (which is only grown in the state), classic Swedish meatballs (just like those famously made by the local Scandinavian immigrant community), and the ultimate Minnesota culinary invention -- a smoked cheddar-stuffed juicy lucy burger that will knock your socks off. A bit of advice: get to Hazel’s earlier than you want to eat, as the wait for a table is often long.

Explore the Excelsior Ice Castles
If you’ve been there/done that with St. Paul’s Winter Carnival, consider venturing further to Excelsior for their even more intense ice castle experience. As opposed to the former’s traditional, square-shaped construction with ice bricks, these ice castles are larger, more abstractly shaped, and ever-growing. Each one is created via an elaborate sprinkler system that makes over 20 million pounds of ice and grows an estimated 12,000 new icicles daily. The result is a fanciful, fairy-like design, which features grown-up play areas like caves and slides to explore, as well as entertainment such as fire shows and star-gazing parties. Better yet, ticket prices (you reserve an entrance time in advance) never top $16 on weekends, making this is an affordable date night option. Opening day is expected for January 11 -- dependent on when the weather gets cold enough, so remember to dress warmly. Oh, and build in some time to stroll through quaint downtown Excelsior to enjoy views of Lake Minnetonka while you’re there.

Splurge on a foraged tasting menu
Foraging is all the rage on the coasts, but it’s always been tough to find foraged foods at Minnesota restaurants (especially at this time of year). That is no longer the case with the chef’s tasting menu experience at Cosmos in Minneapolis, where diners can enjoy multiple courses featuring delightfully customized ingredients like maitake mushroom steaks hand-picked by Chef Timothy Fischer from his privately-owned land in Northern Minnesota. Standout dishes from a recent visit included a stunning charcuterie board piled with local meats and cheeses; the aforementioned maitake mushroom, which was smoked in a globe; and some delicate, perfectly fried smelt fished from Lake Superior. Choose from the five-course tasting menu in the dining room for $75 or the seven-course “Chef’s Table” menu served right in the kitchen for $150. (The wine and liquor pairing is an additional cost). Sure, it’s pricey, but you’ll get to chat up some of the smartest culinary staff in town and savor one of the best meals you’ll eat all year.

Take a day trip to Duluth
Minnesota’s veritable winter wonderland doesn’t get better than the gorgeous coastal area around Duluth that abuts Lake Superior. There are plenty of great outdoor experiences available in this city year round, but for winter fun, entrust yourself to the care of experienced professionals to maximize your activities. Day Tripper of Duluth’s winter tours include fat tire biking through the steep hills of this area or snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The Duluth Experience also offers those activities plus curling lessons, photography workshops, and a nighttime bike ride that includes a visit to a local brewery. Post-workout, end your day trip with a visit to Vikre Distillery for a cocktail made with liquor utilizing hyper-local ingredients, like sumac and cedar in their Boreal gin.

Cozy up to an outdoor fire
One of the best features of Minneapolis bars and breweries is that plenty have outdoor fire pits at this time of year. Our favorite is the Nomad World Pub, where you can get an affordable local brew and a cozy outdoor fire, plus a poppin’ salsa night complete with live music on the first Friday of every month. If that sounds a little too cosmopolitan for you, head across the street to Palmer’s Bar, a cash-only hidden gem that doubles as a time machine. The watering hole, which dates back to 1906, offers live music nightly ranging from jazz to hair metal and a large patio with fire pits out back that even (or especially) your grungiest friend will love.

Perfect Non-Boozy July 4 Treats + June-only Hotel Deals

When the world heats up, you need something to cool you down. 

Who loves supporting #Minnesota business? 

One of the joys of being a blogger is that occasionally someone offers to send you product samples. These can be hit or miss, but there have been a few I've tried in the past few months that have been really special, and I have to share them with you! I have vetted each of these brands and they are things that I love to support with my own time and money, so know that I'm not schilling any weird stuff that I don't actually use. As a disclaimer: all products were initially sent to me free to try, but all opinions listed here are true and are my own.

Popsicles - Jonny Pops

First up: Jonny Pops. I am not a dessert person, not by a long shot - I'll take a cheese plate over a piece of cake every day of the week. But I got a few different boxes of these to try and let me just tell you they are GOOD. Really good. Each popsicle is creamy, smooth and bursting with flavor. The ingredients are quite clean for treats; for example, the list on the Strawberries & Cream flavor includes strawberries, heavy cream, cane sugar, purified water and salt - that's it. They're great for portion control (if you want that kind of thing), but you'll probably just end up bingeing through a box at a time because they're too delish to put down. My resident chef is as much (or more) a fan as I am, and we've become lifelong customers since trying them.

Honestly these are SO delicious. I cannot rave enough #sorrynotsorry.

Even better? The Jonny Pops brand is 100% local to Minnesota, so by buying a box you'll be supporting the local economy and gaining a fab new dessert all at once. Each popsicle stick is stamped with a positive message that you can read when you finish the popsicle portion, which makes eating them super fun, and the mission behind the company - to pay it forward in the world by spreading more kindness, love and cheer to all - is one that I can 100% support. These are great for all ages and events, and I definitely recommend you pick up a box (or three). Surprisingly my favorite flavors are the fruity ones; I'd go straight for the Mangoes & Cream, Strawberries & Cream, or the Cherry Chocolate & Cream for a perfect summer treat. I've bought many, many boxes of these since my initial sample, so trust that these are worth having. The Jonny Pops website has a fab tracker to find their products near you; you can click here to access it and get a box! 

Cold Brew Coffee - Blackeye Roasting Co.

I also had the opportunity last spring to tour the new roasting and canning facility for Blackeye coffee, which was not only fun but really informative. Since their process is proprietary I wasn't able to take photos or videos to share, but it's a really innovative process that keeps the coffee super fresh and single-sources the process. As these coffees are bottled hot you can drink them right off the line, or wait until they're nice and cold for a chilly caffeine jolt that's perfect for hot summer days. I will add a disclaimer that the caffeine content of these bad boys is no joke, so definitely pace yourself as you work through each flavor. Flavors include White Chocolate, Nitro Cocoa, and plain ol' Nitro Cold Brew. I found the Nitro Cocoa to be the most palatable, but they're honestly all good (even a little dessert-y).

I sure hope they offer these sample boxes to the public because this was so fun!

One of my favorite parts of touring Blackeye's facility was getting to meet the founder of the brand and hear his clear vision for Blackeye. This is one smart cookie, and the way he is scaling and expanding is truly impressive. In the few months since I toured they've expanded from convenience store markets to Target - no small feat - and demand seems to keep on growing. They've got a crack team and I definitely recommend getting a tour if you're ever able to squeeze one in. Blackeye has a single skyway level storefront in downtown Minneapolis that's fun to visit and learn more about the brand, and is now sold in stores throughout the Midwest including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana - so if you're hoping to get a summer road trip under your belt, make sure you grab a few of these to stash in the car on the way.

Blackeye is already being sold in Target, so make sure you grab some cans next time you're there!

Blue Velvet Cake - Radisson Blu Bloomington

Finally, the Radisson Blu - Bloomington is celebrating their fifth anniversary in business this June and has all sorts of crazy deals on offer. First it was a $5 hotel room flash sale (yes, you read that right); there have been all sorts of other special offers available throughout the month, and you still have time to check them out! Follow them on social media (Twitter or Facebook) to stay in the loop. And if you happen to be dining at their excellent on-site restaurant (a long time fave in both the Bloomington and downtown Minneapolis locations, I've had countless happy hours at both), FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, you'll want to grab some of their blue velvet cake in honor of their fifth birthday. It's probably the most over the top cake I've ever had and the buttercream frosting is as authentic as it gets. For the smurf in your life, consider getting a slice before the end of June and the special is no longer available. 

#buttercream, #amirite?

From their press release: Radisson Blu Mall of America is calling all guests to join in the 5th Birthday celebrations with its “Celebrate Your Unbirthday with Blu” package available for booking now through Saturday, June 30. The package features a number of party favors to help guests create their own birthday or unbirthday celebration in room, including two slices of FireLake’s Blu Velvet Birthday Cake for a sweet treat; a present-shaped piñata; birthday hats; and additional party flare and room décor. The package starts at $209 per night plus tax and is available for booking on Radisson Blu Mall of America’s website.

For more information or to make a reservation, guests are invited to visit: https://www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-mall-of-america. For more information regarding FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, please visit: http://www.firelakerestaurant.com/.

The Best Books I've Read in 2017 (So Far)

As usual, I have set several lofty reading goals for myself for this year.

Quite the productive reading weekend thanks to the storm! #rainydays #shelfie #library #books #brainfood

A post shared by Becki Iverson (@beckiiverson) on Jun 11, 2017 at 1:44pm PDT

If you follow my book recommendations you know that I am obsessed with Goodreads - I have no idea how I would track all of the great reading I do over the years without it! This year I've had the good fortune to join a fabulous book club that is reading its way around the world, beginning with the Middle East. It's called Around the World in 80 Books (anyone can join! click here to find the group) and I highly recommend it - I've tremendously enjoyed the pieces we've explored so far, especially because even for an avid reader like me, it has pushed me to pick up and research things I never would have found on my own. It's free, it's easy, and it's so inspiring!

Since I seem to be crushing my target of reading 100 books this year, I thought it would be great to break up the top books with a review of the first half of the year. Wherever you're at in your reading journey, I'd highly encourage you to pick up one (or all) of these - they may seem random but they have a lot to offer! And if you want even more suggestions, follow along my blog's Books page (link here) or check out my post on the best books I read in 2016 (link here).

Most Helpful for Challenging Societal Norms: Happy City by Charles Montgomery 

I've recently been very interested in the politics and process of city planning and community layouts, and there was no better introduction to that subject than this beautifully written book. Charles Montgomery leaves no stone unturned in his new vision for how our urban centers could work. He truly inspired me to remember that every single thing in our lives is designed (and designed for a reason) - while this can feel defeating, it also means that it can always be changed. I really appreciated that Montgomery is not afraid to be blunt and straightforward about some of the most harmful aspects of traditional urban design, especially in the form of racism and classism. The good examples he uplifts of cities who are thoughtfully innovating for the future are truly well-rounded. For example, they always include provisions for the traditionally most reviled among us (say, drunk homeless people) in innovative, loving ways that provide spaces for all citizens - and isn't that what we say we want our societies to be in the first place?

Since I have returned to living without a car (essentially for my day to day needs at least) a few years ago, I have been SO much happier and healthier. Restricting our cities to be built for cars is honestly tyrannical, and Happy Cities lays this reasoning out in compelling detail. I would urge everyone to give this wonderful book a shot and open their minds to the possibility of living differently from what conventional wisdom dictates. There are so many more ways to enjoy a rich, vivid life that have nothing to do with working thousands of hours of overtime and spending half your day commuting in a car. Definitely check this little gem of a book out!

Most Unexpectedly Spiritual Science Book: The Soul of An Octopus by Sy Montgomery

This is one of the most marvelous little science books I've ever read. It takes a very humanistic, Krista Tippet's On Being approach to zoology by focusing on the octopus (although plenty of other animal information is included as well) through our understanding of the octopus's consciousness. The book reads almost like a memoir, following Montgomery through her travels, her personal interactions with the octopuses (which is correct as opposed to octopi for the plural - little known fact), and other bits of knowledge about the ocean that she weaves in through the central location of the Boston Aquarium.

I've always really struggled with zoos and aquariums as "homes" for wild animals - I think it's rather cruel - but Montgomery makes quite the case for it here, describing how much safer and long lived the animals are as well as the kinds of care they receive that they never could in the wild. She also details how many octopuses (and other fish) are released, if possible, back into the wild before the end of their life so they are able to complete and breed naturally. There is no doubt that the keepers working with them are very committed to giving each a safe, happy life, and that they are imminently qualified to do so. This book lets you peer "behind the curtain" of a zoo/aquarium's operations, and it was really interesting.

Animals tend to get the short end of the stick in measuring intelligence and that is a shame. Montgomery does a wonderful job of explaining how smart octopuses are and how little we are able to comprehend their consciousness - after all, they are composed completely differently from us and have a completely different perspective on the world. There is no denying that octopuses are smart though and that they have distinctive personalities. For anyone who wonders about animal consciousness and eating meat, this will be striking.

The Soul of An Octopus is a wonderful read, especially because it closer ties us to a species not like our own. With the advance of climate change and other multi-national issues facing us, it will take all of earth's creatures respecting and caring for each other to make it through. The Soul of An Octopus really helps bridge the divide between humans and cephalopods, and it's a fascinating walk through their underwater world.

Most Societally Necessary: Hunger by Roxane Gay 

Roxane Gay is such an important writer that I'm not sure how to even review her bibliography - it's really in a category all its own. I adored Bad Feminist, but Hunger is so different, such a unique piece of work, that it's hard to categorize. It's far and away the best thing I've read either about obesity or sexual assault and related PTSD, but also includes so many important details about life as a woman, as a woman of color, as a woman of size (not just heft but height), as a daughter of immigrants (I could go on and on).

There is so much incredible detail wrapped into this book, truly encapsulating an intersectional experience and indirectly demonstrating why it is so hard to talk about intersectional issues. Which part of yourself and your identity does each of your experiences belong to? Which parts of your identity are more important? Are resources equally available to help you depending on race or gender or socioeconomic status? How do you move through pain? How does pain tangentially affect other areas of your life? How do you forgive yourself? Once you've started to heal from your pain, how do you leave it behind after you've carried it for so long?

There are so many rich, rich things to glean from this book, and I think every citizen should read it to have a more compassionate and comprehensive understanding of life as a woman who is obese, survivors of sexual assault, and an enormous range of related things. Roxane is so incredibly brave for writing and sharing this honest, raw book. I can't recommend it highly enough or thank her enough for writing it. We needed it and didn't even know it.

Best History Book: White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg

Talk about timely! This book could not have been published at a more opportune moment. Nancy Isenberg has written an absolutely riveting, thoughtful, highly necessary piece on the history of class in America and how it intersects with race issues. This should be required reading for every citizen. There is no way for us to solve the problems we are facing without understanding where they come from, and Isenberg starts at the very beginning. How many people know how classist the initial immigrants to America were? Or that the constitution was initially set up to base citizenship on property ownership, an influence that colors our view of people living here today? Or that the bungling of Reconstruction post-Civil War was not just devastating for former slaves but also for the white Southern poor?

The research here is exhaustive and truly spectacular, and Isenberg's pointed, clear, riveting writing is perfectly aimed to strike the heart of American mythology about progress and fairness. Although unfortunately named, White Trash is a book that will be a standard in learning about American class and race history for decades to come. If you found yourself questioning the results of the election or have a hard time understanding why white poor people tend to vote or act as they do, this is a great place to start. Also related in fictional form that is a great followup: Strange As This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake, about the lives of coal miners in West Virginia.

Funniest: You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson

I discovered Phoebe Robinson through the podcast 2 Dope Queens, and I'm SO glad I did. Not only have I now been introduced to Phoebe's solo podcast Sooo Many White Guys (best. intro. song. everrr.), but she is absolutely hilarious, so thoughtful and well rounded, and is single-handedly helping (at 2 Dope Queens with Jessica Williams) to create an innovative new space for comics of color. In other words: all she does is win win win no matter what.

I was really excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint. It reads just like Robinson speaks, full of her vernacular - it's like you're having a direct one-on-one conversation with her. This casual feel allows her to really dig in to meaty issues but with humor and finesse, and she has a lot to add to many conversations (particularly around intersectionality and feminism) that are vital to our progress today. I feel like for women of color (WOC) this book will feel familiar - none of the issues Robinson discusses will be new ones - but they still might be a hilarious new spin on old woes. In particular, I adore her clever way of abbreviating words. It's a little jarring at first but once you're in on the joke it's really charming and adds a lot of modernity to the feel of her work.

As a white woman, I found a lot of what she said to be important information to me and in learning to listen to other voices and to respect/understand/honor the differences between us. For any ladies who went to the women's march and want to learn more about intersectionality and some of the specific difficulties WOC face today, this is a great primer - I'd encourage you to pick it up.

Best Book for Women: Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu 

Forget Lean In; THIS is the book that every woman needs to read. Drop the Ball is a magnificent testimony to all the ways that women convince ourselves that we fall short and torment ourselves with unnecessary and unrealistic expectations. It is perfect for anyone who is too busy in their day to day and struggles to to find time for their real priorities (so... everyone?) and for those with a fierce imposter syndrome. Drop the Ball is a perfect piece demonstrating that women need to get out of our own way in order to lead happier, healthier lives. Dufu's insights are so much more realistic and nuanced than Sheryl Sandberg's; I'd love to see more books by realistic, intersectional women like this be published.

There are a few flaws with the book that are minorly addressed but could use more treatment. The entire concept is really based on a heteronomative, committed partnership - there's not a ton of language in here for non-CIS relationships or for single people. Although these items are not often explicitly addressed, however, I still think there is a lot of wisdom that can be gleaned here that is still useful for anyone falling outside of a heteronormative partnership, and much of this advice is even more vital in that context. For example: don't be afraid to recruit a "village" to help you. Build and maintain a network to call upon. Release your facade of perfection and meet people honestly with where you are truly at, and accept help when it is offered to you. Build strong relationships with others (especially other women). Be straightforward about your expectations and clear about your needs when you make a request. Stand up for yourself. Practice self care.

I cannot rave enough about Drop the Ball. It reflects a lot of conversations my partner and I had when we first lived together, and I wish I had had a book that so clearly laid out ways in which I was not only failing myself, but failing him. We need to have higher expectations of our partners - it is insulting to treat them like mindless creatures incapable of helping around the home. We need to have higher love for ourselves - we deserve time to rest and recuperate from our busy and stressful lives. We need to get off the perfection hamster wheel - it's unrealistic and completely unnecessary, and life is way too short to get caught up in keeping up with appearances.

What kind of world could we make if women really freed ourselves from the chains of eternal domesticity, learned to accept a little mess here and there, and instead focused our time and energy on our real passions and drive to improve society? It's an attainable fantasy, and the only people in our way is ourselves. Stop preventing yourself from finding peace and success. Read Drop the Ball - it is vital for women of any age and their partners should read it too for insight into why their S.O. has the expectations they do/is societally conditioned the way they are. I adored this book, and you and your partner will too.

Best Graphic Novel(s): The March Series by John Lewis 

I am so, so inspired by this wonderful series. Whoever suggested John Lewis make his story into a graphic novel is seriously a hero. I've studied the civil rights movement all my life, but something about the visual nature of this series really hit me in a way that all the thousands of textbook pages I've read never has. The art in these is truly gorgeous and I really got engaged and emotional with this story. Even in just black and white, the drawings are visceral, active and engaging, and they will keep you riveted to the narrative from start to finish. Book 3 is especially spectacular, and I promise it will keep you riveted to each page.

It's so easy to forget what happened (even in recent history) to get us to today, and the unimaginable pain the civil rights marchers went through is rendered here in astonishing, vibrant life. I highly recommend this to everyone - I think anyone can find some great, inspiring lessons here.

To the publishers: Please don't stop with this series! There is so much more of this story to be shared. I would love a graphic novel series like this on other marchers and activists, maybe Angela Davis and Cesar Chavez next?

Most Insightful: Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss

I have always had somewhat of an unfair aversion to Tim Ferriss (I can't explain it, he just turns me off a little), but I couldn't resist the idea of this new book with interviews from the super successful of every stripe. I'm so glad I read this! It took a long time to get through but there is so much great information packed into these short interviews. They're funny, heartwarming, inspiring, and will kick your ass into gear towards accomplishing your goals.

In fact, this is one of the few books I would recommend re-reading and revisiting, as one pass through alone won't allow all of the great information here to really sink in. There is something in this book for everyone, from elite athletes to military personnel to comic strip authors, world renowned novelists, great chefs and titans of tech and industry. It's truly an all-encompassing book and I would highly recommend this for anyone who feels a little stuck or uninspired in their life. If you can't find anything in these hundreds of pages to cheer you, nothing ever will!

And if you're a podcast devotee like moi, check out Tim's podcasts (which each of these excerpts in the book is culled from). They're free master classes from the best in the world at their respective crafts - great for taking a long walk or run and doing some serious contemplating!

Best Memoir: The Return: Fathers, Sons, and the Land In Between by Hisham Matar

This book was one of our book club choices and it was so incredibly informational. I didn't realize how little I knew about Libyan history until I picked it up, and it's fascinating. Hisham's story of his search for his father is devastating and presumably unending, but through his grief he has managed to create a gorgeous testimony to the value of Libya, of the reason to fight for your freedom, and the ideal that sacrifice is worth it if the end goal benefits everyone.

If you're wondering why Qaddafi had to be removed from power and where Libya can go from here, Hisham has several thoughts to share. I learned so much about North Africa and life under a dictatorship in this lyrical, lovely little book and I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a primer on what is happening there. There are shockingly few great books about Libya and North Africa in general (tends to be the case when an entire generation's worth of writers and artists are imprisoned by a ruthless dictator... but I digress), so it behooves you to really savor the lyrical prose and rich history Hisham presents here.

Best Business Book: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

I was NOT expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Being somewhat of a hippie liberal, it's easy to hate on big corporations and think of them as greedy, soulless entities. That understanding, however, ignores the fact that behind every corporation is a very human, very fallible founder, who has made many tradeoffs to help realize their vision. Shoe Dog is so much bigger than being a book about Nike and touches on life, exploration, vision, determination, problem solving... I could go on and on.

Whether you love or hate Nike (particularly its sweatshop legacy), it's impossible to deny the complete revolution Nike created in the shoe industry, all of which started with a simple and noble mission to help provide better shoes made explicitly for the American body. What Nike is today is obviously far more complex than that initial vision, but there are good and bad things to all sides of that story. Be warned that this is a book solely from the perspective of the founder, Phil Knight, so it is going to be overly celebratory. Knight casts himself as the downtrodden, underestimated hero of this story, and it's a compelling narrative (although admittedly lopsided).

If you are able to set aside any concerns you might have about that, this will be a romping good read. It also really humanizes the kind of decisions corporations have to make that aren't always well publicized or explained amidst controversial media uproars. What good are corporations able to do overseas outside of eliminating their sweatshops? What kind of impact and ripple effect can a company have on something as simple as re-working the chemicals in a processing element in order to make a whole industry safer? Who preys upon the corporation itself?

Shoe Dog is a really interesting exploration of these questions and so much more. Anyone interested in creating a start-up or learning more about the interior mechanisms of corporate manufacturing should pick this up. It's not only inspiring, it's enlightening, and you will absolutely fly through it.

Unleash Your Inner Viking with Circus Juventas' Nordrsraga

 Nordrsraga is a little punk, a little sexy, and a whole lot of rock and roll.

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

What's dark and flies and is sparkly all over?

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

Why that would be Nordrsraga, the latest show from the Twin Cities' resident circus arts school, Circus Juventas. I've written about Circus Juventas before and how cool their work is - I mean honestly, what a fun way to get kids both interested in exercise and in touch with their bodies - but this year's annual extravagant performance reaches a whole new level for them.

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

The only Circus Juventas show I've had the pleasure of attending previously was Peter Pan, which was obviously well suited to the circus format. Let me tell you: Nordrsraga blows Mr. Pan straight out of the water.

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

Nordrsraga loosely tells the story of Norwegian mythology by following Thor (who we may all remember with the big hammer?) as he sets on a quest through the nine worlds to retrieve his stolen hammer Mjölnir from his malicious brother Loki. Thor is joined on the quest by an impressive young boy named Leif (who we find out later is Thor's long-lost son). Together they journey through the monasteries of Midgard, the ice realm (Niflheim), the sunny land of elves (Álfheimr), the dark land of the dwarves (Svartálfaheimr), the fearsome land of the giants (Jötunheimr), the land of fire (Muspelheim), and all the way down to the foundation of the tree of the world itself, Yggdrasil. Many mischiefs follow Thor, Leif and their companions, but by the end of the show Mjölnir is returned and all is righted in Asgard.

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

At around three hours long (yes, be prepared!), Nordrsraga has to be filled with feats of bad-assery in order to keep you engaged, and don't worry: it does. Among the incredible tricks are a Viking ship suspended from the ceiling, with trapeze artists plunging off of it; some really gorgeous fire choreography including a full size, flaming sword wielded by a totally badass fire maiden; a series of tightrope walks; giants walking on stilts; elaborate trampoline choreography; and much more. My favorite though were two series of truly spectacular ribbon acrobatics that managed to be both heart pounding and graceful at once. These performers are true athletes regardless of their ages, and I had the best time seeing their skill levels blend throughout the story. I wish I had a cast list (I couldn't find one), but I have to give a strong shout out to the performers who played Thor and Leif. Both were spectacularly fit and clearly understood the art of over-the-top showmanship, reveling in their physicality and giving the audience a truly fiery, engaged performance from top to bottom.

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

If you're not familiar with Norwegian mythology, I would recommend doing at least a cursory glance through Wikipedia before hitting Nordrsraga. You can get the gist of the story if you don't, but it really helps to engage with the narrative if you already know which creatures are which. There is also not a lot of narrative here to help you and no program to reference, so if you're more of a story person than a visual person, it definitely helps to have done some prior research. I'd also recommend getting some snacks - three hours is no joke! - and bringing a cushion for the stadium seating, which can get a little uncomfortable after a performance that long.

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

Last weekend I celebrated my birthday, and I cannot express how exciting it was to check this show out at that time. I'm half Norwegian, so this mythology is something I find highly comforting, fascinating, and under-appreciated. It was so cool to see the legends of my ancestors wrought in glittering detail under the big top for Nordrsraga, and I'd highly recommend it for viewers of any age.  For more information or to buy tickets, click on this link.

Photo courtesy of Circus Juventas. 

Thrillist: The Definitive List of Summer Movies in St. Paul and Minneapolis

Are you broke? 

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

If you are (like many of us), you need free things to do that are also fun. Thank goodness it's summer so there are a plethora of options available at your fingertips.

One of the best free things to enjoy in the summertime in the Twin Cities is the extensive outdoor movie series. I mean outdoor picnics, steamy screenings, shared enjoyment of some of the most palatable films ever made - what's not to love?

My latest piece for Thrillist compiled all of the movies available this summer in St. Paul and Minneapolis. It's an exhaustive list - seriously guys, they knocked this out of the park - so make sure to head over to Thrillist and check it out! It includes classics like the original Star Wars, Rogue One, Hidden Figures, Fences, 42, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Clueless, and way, way more. You can find the link here.

Full Circle Theater Fleshes Out 365 Days/365 Plays

This truly diverse undertaking tackles representation of all stripes. 

Photo from MN Playlist

If you haven't heard of Full Circle Theater yet, you could be forgiven. The new-ish venture from a vanguard of Twin Cities theater legends including Rick Shiomi, Martha B. Johnson, Harry Waters Jr., Stephanie Lein Walseth and Lara Trujillo, Full Circle Theater has only been around since 2015 and is currently on its second production.

But no matter, because there is ample time yet to see the close of this second show by June 11 and bask in the promise of a company that is truly working to fill the gaps in representation in our local theater scene.

365 Days/365 Plays is currently showing at the Penumbra with a cast as close to a rainbow as you'll ever see. Don't let the lengthy title scare you; 365 Days/365 Plays is a selection of 46 plays of a larger project by Suzan-Lori Parks, who in the early 2000s committed herself to writing one play per day for a whole year. The result is a surprisingly rich diary of sorts that chronicles the ebb and flow of emotions, cultural observations and insights traversing one black woman's view of the world for an entire year. The selections here have been updated slightly to reflect a more 2017 sensibility and range through all sorts of subjects, from relationships to fairy tales to political observations to simple down home stories. Some are imaginative, some are realistic, and most completely redefine your expectations of what a play can be. A couple of favorites? A truly gallows humor look at mother/daughter relationships in The Executioner's Daughter; the wry indictment (and comedic skewering) of white Christian America in Flag Waver; and a haunting insight into the mind of a serial killer in the chilling Veuve Cliquot.

Direction for these plays is split between each of the founders of Full Circle Theater, and it succeeds surprisingly well. The pace between plays is extremely short and the production clips along at only two hours despite the amount of subject matter being tackled. While this could have been a hot mess, I really enjoyed the rotation between perspectives of each director. It really inspired me to look deeper into 365 Days/365 Plays and to challenge myself to more similar projects. It's amazing what can be created when a person sticks to a discipline of creating something every day, and I'd love to revisit the original text. I do wish there were a little more explanation of why each piece was chosen, as there doesn't seem to be an overarching main theme to really tie them together, but the show is still quite enjoyable without it. The cast is truly interchangeable and works extremely well as a team. I won't pull them out individually here, but I do encourage you to go see the piece and the way they interact. It's a real collaborative effort, and I think many companies could learn from their clearly excellent rehearsal practices and streamlined performance manner.

Costumes, sets, lighting and sound are generally kept simple to allow for quick transitions between the many plays. The set reminded me of Mu Performing Arts' trademark simplicity with its restrained collection of boxes, ladders, and painted walls, but was kept interesting by being used in unexpected ways (for example, a seeming platform is actually a box that actors pop out of) and kept lively by an endless rotation of clever props. Each show has a track of sound effects and separate lighting wash to distinguish it from the previous, and the attention to small details between characters and settings for each piece really does make each play feel like it exists in it's own separate context.

365 Days/365 Plays is an excellent primer for diversifying your expectations of what can be done on stage and how. Not only is it a fascinating glimpse into the playwright's psyche, but it's really a workshop for creatives on representation, jump-starting one's imagination and bringing together a team to work in a truly collaborative manner. There are so many great elements in each brief vignette of 365 Days/365 Plays that I could see being carried on into a more full-fleshed production of it's own, and I hope the founders at Full Circle Theater continue to develop these concepts into more shows. In a region that is under some hotly contested disagreements about representation and perspective these days, I definitely encourage all theater-goers to attend 365 Days/365 Plays to see an example of a company that is doing diversity right. You still have a week to go see this show at the Penumbra before it closes on June 11; please don't miss it! Find more information and buy tickets by clicking on this link.

Also, I'd be remiss to omit a PSA for two amazing community discussions coming up this week. TONIGHT go to Mixed Blood Theatre Company at 7 p.m. to join ALMA for a conversation about the Ordway's production of West Side Story and the local casting controversies with that production. On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., join the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers for an in-depth conversation with Joseph Haj and Dominque Serrand about the hotly debated production of Refugia at the Guthrie, which recently closed. Both look to be productive conversations about future productions in the Twin Cities and both are free to the public; don't miss out! 

Brownbody CoMotion's Profoundly Moving "Quiet As It's Kept"

When is the last time you saw African dance performed live? How about on ice skates? 

Photo courtesy of the Million Artists Movement

For most people the answer to the first question is likely rarely; the answer to the latter is almost always never.

Thanks to Brownbody CoMotion, that no longer has to be the case. Running for only three more days before it closes, Brownbody CoMotion is telling the history of African Americans from the Reconstruction Era on through interactive monologues, dancing and ice skating at the Highland Arena in St. Paul. The show is split into two parts: a locally created (by Thomasina and Charles Petrus) piece called Quiet As It's Kept, and a second act filled with translated choreography including Give Your Hands to Struggle, Walking with 'Trane, and A Journey to Solace. It's a truly collaborative effort, with the former a locally developed production; the latter an adaptation of choreography produced by NYC-based dance collective Urban Bush Women; and all performed by long-time ice skaters (some of whom came out of retirement) from around the country.

Photo courtesy of Brownbody 

Quiet As It's Kept is a clear focal piece of the entire performance. The audience is immediately led behind the arena under a gorgeously backlit tree of ancestors into a room filled with relics and reminders of the Reconstruction Era. Most of these visual cues, (which include stocks, clear signs of poverty, and outright lynching photos) leave little to the imagination. Before the performance even begins the audience collectively participates in a physical greeting to the ancestors. Thomasina, clad as Ida B. Wells, then leads the audience with Charles through a piece that is part dance, part drums, part monologue and part song, incorporating quotes about the time period, songs and dance of the era, and an overwhelming sense of legacy. Quiet As It's Kept then transitions the audience from the relic room into the arena itself, where original musical compositions (performed live) are complimented with a strikingly literal dance on the ice. Thomasina sings the skaters literally into the strange fruit they are born of in a gorgeously chilling invocation of Billie Holiday, and music and red and blue lighting are interspersed with the sound of gunshots, sirens and a single word: GUILTY.

Photo courtesy of Brownbody

The twisted movements and broken angles of Quiet As It's Kept's choreography are echoed in the second act's dance pieces, which more literally translate dances normally performed on land onto the ice. This obviously creates some awkward moments for those who are used to the more lyrical, balletic ice skating of the Olympics or Disney on Ice. In fact at times it's downright uncomfortable to watch - these performers do not glide or passe, they score and chop and hack at the ice, burning through their pieces in a blaze of passion. There are no swan-like, extended limbs slowly floating through the air here; these are dances of twisted angles, more like a peregrine falcon searing through the air as it seeks its prey (or escapes becoming prey of its own). It's a totally unique experience and unlike anything I've ever seen, and it definitely forces the audience into a very thoughtful consideration of our cultural expectations of certain sports and gestures, and of our own preconceived notions of what art (or ice skating or dancing or....) is "supposed" to be.

Photo courtesy of Brownbody

Brownbody has been around for some time but unfortunately dormant for the last few years. They have returned this year as partners with Urban Bush Women dance to help create these unique pieces and perform community outreach, such as giving free skating lessons to students of color. Brownbody's mission statement says that it aspires to:

1. Make the ice welcoming to communities of color by opening the rink doors and telling stories of significance.
2. Show that the ice is a medium for more than jumps, spins and sparkly costumes.
3. Bring stories from the edges to the attention of the mainstream, to expand horizons and change perspectives.

If last night's performance is any indication, Brownbody has succeeded at these goals swimmingly. This CoMotion piece is a truly intersectional work, a fact attested to by the artists in the talk-back after the show. Several (many of whom are veterans who have worked in ice skating and the arts for decades) said that this was unlike any experience they've ever had, truly collaborative and intentionally intersectional, and that although it was more difficult than previous work they have done, it was also the most meaningful career experience they've had so far. Several young black women in the audience said they were inspired to learn to skate after never having considered it before, and it was clear that this was a truly unique experience for the audience as well. I love Brownbody's mission (in fact I wish we had a whole lot more Brownbodys shaking up every industry!), so I do hope they are able to continue performing with a shorter hiatus this time in between pieces. Representation is so incredibly important, as is having a deep understanding of history. Brownbody CoMotion has provided both representation and history in spades here, and it was clearly a profound moment for many in the audience.

Photo courtesy of the Million Artist Movement

An additional testament to Brownbody's holistic approach to their subject? The lobby and arena are filled with power tree quilts from the Million Artist Movement (MAM), a project that "believes in the role of Art in the campaign to dismantle oppressive racist systems against Black, Brown, Indigenous and disenfranchised peoples." Community members work together to create individual works of art about their experience and beliefs on quilt squares, which are assembled and displayed as full size quilts with the power tree symbol at the center. The power tree is described thus:

"The strength of a tree is in its roots; the same is true for the movement. Therefore the roots represent the critical work that we must do to be grounded; 1) Explicate/Claim/Reclaim our narratives, 2) Honor and remember stolen lives, 3) Recognize and learn from our REVOLUTIONARIES, SHEROS, AND ANCESTORS." 

So far the MAM is based in the Twin Cities, and I'm sure it will spread further soon. For more information (and you want more details, it's amazing): click here.

Photo courtesy of Brownbody

It's such an interesting time to have debuted Quiet As It's Kept. With storms brewing over the Ordway's production of West Side Story, the Guthrie's questionable production of Refugia, and the brouhaha over the soon to be burned Scaffold at the Walker Art Center, there is quite a conversation happening in the Twin Cities over literal depictions of racial trauma. What sets Quiet As It's Kept apart from the aforementioned pieces is that it is the only one written, created and performed by and for audiences of color, in this case specifically to African Americans. Quiet As It's Kept is filled with troubling, dark subject matter, but it never enters the realm of the macabre or tasteless because this is simply a case of people telling their own story. There were many references to the ancestors, invocations for them to join us, and an overwhelmingly long eye towards history throughout the piece as it unfolded. This solid foundation of self-identity grounds Quiet As It's Kept and leads it to being a powerful statement for audiences of any stripe that will leave you much to ponder for days after you see it. For more information or to buy tickets (this only runs through June 4 so get your tickets now!), click on this link.