Thrillist: 7 Cold-Weather Destinations You Need to Visit This Winter

Feeling a little shut in this winter? 

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

Consider a change of scenery and check out some of the best U.S.-based winter destinations you can enjoy to get away from home but still have that snowy winter experience. I rounded up 7 awesome options across America for intrepid travelers. Check out my recommendations and let me know - where else would you add to this list? Click here for the article, or see my copy below.

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In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget that winter has a lot more to offer than candy canes and Christmas trees. But our country is full of cold-weather places with unique ways to embrace the winter season that go beyond your local ski slope or ice skating rink. Yes, this could be the year you hit wooded trails via snowmobile, relax in hot springs in the shadow of a mountain range, or take an actual horse-drawn sleigh ride -- all you need is a free weekend, some willing family members or friends, and a warm wardrobe. So if you’re ready to book a trip, add one of these destinations to your winter itinerary.

Experience The Great Northern festival 

Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota
Chalk it up to hearty residents used to living through heavy snow and extreme cold, but no state does winter like Minnesota. If you want to hit all the best parts of the season in one go, there’s no better time to visit than during The Great Northern festival. This 11-day winter extravaganza (January 23-February 2) includes a long list of seasonal fun on both sides of the Twin Cities. In Minneapolis, make sure to attend the Loppet Winter Festival, where you can walk on Lake of the Isles at night to see candlelit ice sculptures in the Luminary Loppet or play kubb, a Swedish outdoor lawn game, in the world’s largest winter kubb tournament. If you prefer a higher octane event, head to the US Pond Hockey Championships, where you’ll witness the best of the best from this proudly Minnesotan sport compete to win the Golden Shovel. 
 
On the other side of the river, at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, families should plan to attend one of the scripted parades, such as the King Boreas Grand Day Parade, which celebrates the coming of winter. Sledding lovers shouldn’t miss the Vulcan Snow Park, and all attendees should make sure to see the ice palace -- one of the most unique and artistic elements of the annual festival -- as well as the ice sculpture garden and ice bars lit up at night in Rice Park. And don’t forget that winter is also a great time to enjoy other parts of the Twin Cities, like the frozen waterfall at Minnehaha Regional Park. 

Ring in the new year with a polar plunge 

Portland, Maine
Many wintery-weather states hold polar plunges every year, but Maine might win the prize for the most committed to this chilly ritual. Several of its cities celebrate the new year in freezing fashion; the most famous being Portland’s January 1 Lobster Dip, a 30-plus-year tradition and day-long extravaganza that includes a free buffet and live music. In order to run straight into the cold Atlantic ocean, dippers must raise a minimum of $100; raise more and you can bring home sweet lobster-themed swag. Even better, all the proceeds go to support the Maine chapter of the Special Olympics, meaning you can start the year with your karma on point.

After your plunge, swing by The Holy Donut for their delicious treat that is, uniquely, made with potatoes, or Tandem Coffee for a strong cup of coffee and a slice of delicious kabocha squash custard pie. Stay at the surprisingly affordable Press Hotel or the charming Portland Harbor Hotel in the Old Port, where you can walk the district's beautiful cobblestone streets and soak in the history of the city’s oldest neighborhood. Tour the Victoria Mansion to see one of the most beautifully preserved examples of Italian Villa-style architecture in the US. If you’re more ambitious, check out the Portland Trails website to find a diverse network of urban and rural paths where you can take in the wintry wonderland surroundings. And since a trip to Maine isn’t complete until you’ve eaten lobster, head to Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room for the baked stuffed lobster that has been blowing minds since 1898.

Let an animal drive you around 

Whitefish, Montana
Plenty of winter songs reference sleigh rides, but we’re going to guess you’ve never actually been on one. Change that this year with a trip to Whitefish, Montana, where you can go on a traditional horse-drawn sleigh ride -- or even go dog sledding. Winter Woods Dog Sled Tours runs sleds pulled by beautiful Alaskan huskies for $90 per person, in small groups limited to four people or less, while Dog Sled Adventures Montana offers three tours a day (call for a price quote). Or stay at the Bar W Guest Ranch to partake in the on-site sleigh rides ($55, which includes a hot beverage) and dog sled rides. 

Named one of America’s top 25 small towns by Architectural Digest, Whitefish has a lot to offer beyond the outdoors. If you’d rather stay in town, check out The Firebrand Hotel, where you can snuggle up at the cozy Firebrand Lounge for elevated comfort-food snacks like wild mushroom poutine, campfire bison sliders, or huckleberry mud pie. Treat yourself to a mind-blowing tasting menu at Cafe Kandahar or French-style pastries and breads from Fleur Bake Shop. Enjoy the extraordinarily detailed bronze sculptures created by -- and eclectic artistic pieces curated by -- Sunti Pichetchaiyakul, an acclaimed portraiture sculptor, at Sunti World Art Gallery. Whitefish is also only a 35-minute drive from Glacier National Park, so seize the excuse for a day trip to see stunning winter mountain vistas at one of the country's top national parks. 

Get cozy at a hot springs spa 

Nathrop, Colorado
Winter in Colorado might be most famous for its ski slopes, but there’s another great reason to visit in the colder months: the state’s preponderance of mineral water hot springs, making for a naturally luxurious spa experience. Located a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Denver, the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop allows year-round access to revitalizing, natural pools of odorless, 140-degree water. Basic one-day access starts at $20-$25 to use the multiple hot-springs-fed soaking pools and the Chalk Creek springs. You can scale up from there to attend the day spa where you can access treatments, a juice bar, fitness center, and the Japanese-style cascading pools. You can also, of course, stay overnight at the resort in rooms that range from standalone cabins to cliffside guest rooms with views of the Rocky Mountains.
 
Make sure to reserve time while in Nathrop to saddle up with Colorado Trail Rides in nearby Buena Vista to experience Colorado’s winter landscape by horseback. Ogle glittering gems and gold prospecting equipment at The Rock Doc, which claims to be the largest mineral shop in the Rockies. Before you leave, snack on delicious handcrafted goat cheese from Jumpin’ Good Goat Dairy -- and buy some extra to pack for your return home.

Celebrate the season at Winter Blast Weekends 

Detroit, Michigan
Experience the renaissance of one of America’s great Midwestern cities up close and take an affordable weekend trip with Detroit’s Quicken Loans Winter Blast Weekends. Every year, over four weekends in January and February, this free event series takes over downtown’s Campus Martius Park with activities for every family member and interest level. Experiences include ice skating, zip lining, live concerts, marshmallow roasting, eats from local food trucks, even a giant slide made of snow. (The 2020 weekend dates will be announced on November 19.)

Beyond the festival (or if you can’t attend during one of the four weekends), there’s plenty to do in Detroit indoors during wintertime. Soak in the 65,000-work collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts or pay homage to the city’s roots as the birthplace of automotive manufacturing at The Henry Ford museum. Shop for timeless, Detroit-made goods at Shinola; get hearty Carhartt workwear in the city in which it was founded; or press your own vinyl at Jack White’s legendary Third Man Records store. And make sure to groove over to Hitsville USA, the home of the Motown Museum, which looks back at the record label that gave us legends like the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross.

Go on a romantic getaway

Lake Placid, New York
You might know the region surrounding Lake Placid as the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics (it even brands itself as the winter sports capital of the world), but it also contains excellent resorts. About a five-hour drive north of New York City, you can escape to a romantic wintery wonderland at places like High Peaks Resort, which features amenities like indoor pools, Norwegian kicksled rentals, spa treatments, and the historic Dancing Bears restaurant. If you want to really splurge, check out the gorgeous Whiteface Lodge, where active couples can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and free ice skating. If you’re more of a lodge-bound traveler they’ve got activities for you as well, like cozy bonfires, hot tubs, and a luxurious on-site spa to truly treat yourself. 
 
If you aren’t feeling sporty and want to leave your hotel, the Lake Placid Olympic Museum is an excellent (and warm!) way to spend a few hours. Don’t miss the chance to ride the unique and recently renovated toboggan chute, which starts at a height of 30 feet and lands you right on frozen Lake Mirror. For hyper-local food and drinks, head to Taste NY Cafe at Whiteface Mountain, which only serves products from New York State. Order everyone’s favorite meal of the day (breakfast, of course) all day long at The Breakfast Club, Etc. And if you need more ideas of what to do while you’re there, check out Thrillist’s roundup of the best winter activities in Lake Placid.  

Hit the trails to enjoy unspoiled winter views 

Hayward, Wisconsin
The town of Hayward in Northern Wisconsin might not be at the top of most vacation bucket lists, but you might want to bump it up there during the quieter winter months. Nestled near an 850,000-acre national forest, the Hayward Lakes area offers access to hundreds of miles of hiking trails year round. There are trails for every level of ability and activity interest, including hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and even snowmobiling -- which lets you quickly traverse wide swaths of pristine forest. Rent a snowmobile from Hayward Power Sports ($269 gets your your own vehicle for seven hours), or if you feel more comfortable riding with an experienced guide, book a two-person, four-hour guided snowmobile tour for $349 through Runamuk Rides. 

After you’ve worked up an appetite on the trails, savor hearty steaks and walleye filets at The Ranch Supper Club. Find time to drive by the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame to take an Instagram-worthy selfie with the Shrine to Anglers, a four-and-a-half-story tall fish sculpture that you can climb to enjoy panoramic views of Hayward Lake. Make or paint an ornament at one of the classes at Out of the Woods Winery or Farmstead Creamery and Cafe. Or if you’d rather shop for crafts than create them, stop into Morrow’s Native Art to buy delicately handcrafted items made by local Native American artists. As for where you'll sleep, stay at the Spider Lake Lodge for a homey log cabin feel with a Twin Peaks aesthetic, or nestle in at the historic McCormick House, both of which include breakfast with the price of the room.

Thrillist: How the East African Community Enriches Twin Cities Culture

This is a big one for me. 

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

As long-time readers know, I've been writing for Thrillist for a couple of years now. Most of what I've had the chance to write has been listicle style roundups, but I was recently afforded the chance to write a focus piece on the East African community's deep roots in the Twin Cities. I take this opportunity very seriously and am so grateful for the chance to detail a positive, beautiful community I've admired deeply ever since I first moved to Minneapolis. 

As usual, the editors clipped some of my writing without getting a chance to share the whole thing. If you want to read their published version, please click here (and please do click! I want them to see this story getting lots of eyeballs). I have included my full copy below so readers can see the portions they cropped at the end, which includes more detail from Ifrah Mansour and about the current state of the community. 

Please give this lots of reads on the Thrillist travel site and encourage them to provide more coverage like this! There are so many hidden communities in the middle of our country who are thriving and doing amazing things, and they deserve to be covered as such. I appreciate your support! 

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Steam rises from a cup of cardamom and clove tea. Fragrant fish curry bubbles. Meat kebabs sizzle next to a half-dozen flaky, golden sambusas. This doesn’t sound like a typical meal you’d get in the Midwest. But, in fact, this kind of cuisine is common in East African restaurants in Minneapolis, the new vanguard of ethnic dining in the Twin Cities and the most visible element of a thriving immigrant community. 

With Ilhan Omar making waves in the national political arena as the highest profile member of Minnesota’s House of Representatives in Congress, it’s time to acknowledge that she is not an anomaly. For the last 30 years, a robust, diverse group of East African immigrants from Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya has happily called the Twin Cities home -- and their roots run deep. 

“The next place to experience Somali culture outside of Somalia is definitely Minnesota,” said Jamal Hashi, owner of Safari Restaurant and several other business ventures. “This is our home. A lot of us don’t know anywhere else.”

Snowy Minnesota might seem an unlikely destination for people born in one of the hottest, driest climates on earth, but it’s turned out to be an excellent choice for several reasons. Most of the first wave settled here as refugees after the Somali civil war started in 1991, placed by the U.S. State Department as part of the VOLAG program in which voluntary organizations sponsor refugees for their first point of entry to the United States. Minnesota has an unusually active concentration of VOLAG groups, including Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities, and World Relief Minnesota; these groups are also responsible for Minnesota’s high population of refugees from other regions too, such as the Hmong or Liberian communities. Once in the U.S. and on their feet, refugees have the option to move; thanks to the strength of programs in Minnesota that help refugees resettle and the growing numbers of friends and family moving to the state each year, most decided to stay and grow roots. 

Abdirahman Kahin, founder of the enormously popular fast-casual fusion restaurant AfroDeli, agrees. “I immigrated, but there are a lot of kids who are born in this country,” Abdirahman Kahin said. “Right now those who are under 15 outnumber the older ones. Minnesota is very lucky to have those kids for the future.”

By all signs, the community is thriving. From a scattered handful of menu-less restaurants in the mid ’90s there are now hundreds of modern eateries serving traditional food from East African cultures. Fusion dishes -- like African-spiced pastas, fast-casual gyros, Somali steaks, and spicy keke noodles -- are selling out in downtown skyway eateries. Retail outlets selling handmade clothes, halal meats, and bulk spices are in almost every urban and suburban area, and customers can even bargain for their prices just as they would in an open-air market back home. 

These businesses have found great success with their Minnesotan neighbors thanks to their appeal as a unique cuisine that has approachable crossovers with familiar favorites like Indian or Italian food. Somalia’s rich history in particular as an important hub for international trade over many centuries, and as a former Italian colony, makes its cuisine an approachable new fusion option with a twist; an apt parallel would be the way that French baguettes turned into banh mi in the hands of able Vietnamese cooks while Vietnam was still colonized. It also turns out that Minnesotans have a much higher appetite for spicy food and rich flavors than stereotypes would suggest. 

“The food I'm making is for everybody but the people I keep in mind most are people who have never had Somali food before,” said Hashi. “That's what motivates me to stay in the industry.”

Kahin has had the most high profile career of late through AfroDeli, a fast-casual restaurant that aspires to be the Chipotle of African cuisine. AfroDeli’s stunning success demonstrates the high demand for African food despite the stereotype that Minnesotans shy away from spice and flavor.

“A lot of people were saying, before I opened, that Minnesotans won’t try spicy food or African food, but we proved them wrong,” Kahin said. “Everyone is amazed how much business we have from the Minnesota community. I thought there was a way to serve this food to everyone, to the large public and package it in a way they can understand. African food is no different than Indian food or Chinese food or Mexican food.”

Part of that success lies in the attention to dining trends and palates that both Hashi and Kahin have expertly navigated. 

“There’s a big shift in the last 10 years from fast food to fresh ingredients, organic food, healthier food,” Kahin said. “The spices East African cuisine uses are the healthiest -- like cardamom, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, which all help fight disease. We use a lot of organic and buy from local farmers when we can. Our meat is halal, so is killed humanely. We have only one freezer at the store for French fries. You can’t find a single microwave in our restaurants.” 

In his nearly 20 years in business, Hashi has also seen big changes.

“People are more educated about what they eat and you don’t have to advertise thanks to Twitter or Yelp,” Hashi said. “It’s a great advantage. The key has been providing an amazing experience that will translate to a new loyal customer. The level of palates have changed, the generations have changed, and for the better. As a chef, nothing remains the same.”

It turned out the biggest hurdle was just getting started. The first restaurants operated the way they did back home; for example, written and printed menus were not available and customers had to ask what the kitchen had on hand to place an order. Many dishes utilized ingredients unfamiliar to diners born and bred in Minnesota. The experience could be intimidating, but with a little organization and innovation any concerns were quickly put to rest. 

“I've had a lot of naysayers,” Hashi said. “I wanted to make a fast casual to serve non-Somalis Somali food. Everyone was backing away. I believed in it anyway, and it was 98% non-Somalis who came to eat. Everyone said that Minnesotans don’t like spicy food. What a lie – it blew my mind.”

Especially exciting are younger members of the community, who are bringing new technology and awareness to the East African experience. This includes the restaurant review and payment app Tavolo that innovated in-touch screen ordering and cashless transactions; the Top Figure podcast, providing entrepreneurship advice to aspiring young innovators; and artists like Ifrah Mansour, whose heartbreakingly funny performances provide a respectful, open place for the community to share their experiences.

“My art is inspired by my lived experiences and that of Muslims and refugees, particularly the diaspora community,” Mansour said. “This means that my art speaks to the experience of what it means to be American and an immigrant refugee Muslim woman, and all of the complexity that comes with that.”

Mansour has partnered with some of the most vaunted arts and cultural institutions in the state, including the Guthrie Theater, Children’s Theater Company, Minnesota Historical Society, Walker Art Museum, and Minnesota Institute of Arts (MIA). Her work couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

“What I accidentally started, this conversation of learning the most painful part of your history and unearthing it, is something that we right now as a state, a country, a nation are also unearthing,” Mansour said. “We are also at a crossroad of do we continue the ways we were? Or do we go on this uncharted path to really see the histories we came from, including the histories our ancestors ripped off of the page?”

But life as an East African refugee, of course, has its challenges. Beginning life in a new country is always difficult, but especially so when the climate, language, and dominant religion is so visibly different from where you came from. Kahin has been especially active in fighting the message that the refugee community is a burden, testifying before Congress in defense of their economic contributions. 

“I try my best not to create political response pieces, but I happened to have these works that were ready,” Mansour said. “It’s interesting because our audience came with their rage and anger, but we were able to inspire people to say, ‘Here we get to calm down, we get to be human and listen a little bit.’”

There are the monthly profits that Kahin reinvests into his community, the vital conversations through artistic performances and talkbacks as Mansour has led, and the resources and research that Hashi has compiled to publish a book about Somali history and educate Americans about their past. No matter the avenue, this resilient, vibrant community is committed to embedding even deeper in the fabric of America. 

“Especially the last two years, there has been a lot of talk about immigrants and how we take jobs,” Kahin said. “I want to go against that narrative, telling the truth that we are creating jobs and adding value to the economy and to the market. We are expanding with the U.S. businesses. We are an asset, not a liability, to the economy. They all agreed, Republican and Democrat, that immigrants are a vital part of small business in America.”

Explore more about the East African community in Minnesota buy paying a visit to these restaurants, museums, and markets.

Safari Restaurant

Phillips West, Minneapolis

The restaurant that introduced Somali food to the U.S.

One of the first Somali restaurants in the United States, Safari created several iconic dishes that have now become menu stalwarts around the globe. Top recommendations include the chicken fantastic, a revelatory interpretation of Somali pasta; the roasted goat cutlet, a traditional dish with flavorful goat meat; or the foule mudammes, an appetizer of steamed tilapia with spinach and savory olive oil. 

Fasika

Midway, St. Paul

Setting the standard for Ethiopian and vegan cuisine

This legendary stop at the corner of Snelling and University is many people’s first exposure to East African cuisines. A pillar of the Ethopian dining scene, it’s also an excellent option for vegan and vegetarian diners who struggle finding good options in group settings. We haven’t had a bad dish here; go for any of the sampler platters to try a little bit of everything. 

AfroDeli

Downtown Minneapolis and Downtown St. Paul

The Chipotle of African food you won’t be able to stop ordering

Chipotle better watch out; this African fusion fast-casual restaurant is taking over skyways throughout the Twin Cities. You can’t go wrong with any dishes, but the gyros and sambusas are second to none. Go big or go home with the full veggie platter, which never disappoints. And make sure to stop by the new downtown Minneapolis location opening this October, the first time AfroDeli is making it to the heart of the west side of the Mississippi. 

The Somali Museum of Minnesota 

Midtown Phillips, Minneapolis

Swing by for a 101 introduction to the history of Somalis in Minnesota

The home of Somali arts in Minnesota, the Somali Museum is a one-stop shop for learning about Somali arts and culture. It was universally recommended as a safe, approachable place to learn about this community.  

The Minnesota Historical Society 

Downtown St. Paul

Hear firsthand accounts from East African people’s perspective

MHS is the largest local historical society in the United States. They’ve recently partnered with members of the Somali and Oromo ethnic communities to record their stories and compile an exhibit about their experiences. Come for the impressive work MHS has done; stay for the personal narratives that give firsthand accounts of profound stories. 

The African Development Center

Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis

An innovative, one-stop service for African immigrants for finances, art and more 

The ADC’s visionary leadership has transformed the East African community, providing business loans, meeting space and organizational help for fledgling organizations, as well as important educational services for recent immigrants. ADC fills the gap left by dwindling governmental funding and provides vital services to immigrants from many parts of Africa. 

The Red Sea

Cedar Riverside, Minneapolis

A friendly performance space with an awesome happy hour

A wicked happy hour, ongoing live music, and a large, friendly dance floor are not the only qualities that recommend the Red Sea. It also has a deep reservoir of affordable Ethiopian cuisines for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Make it a part of a tour of the Cedar Riverside neighborhood, where many of the Somali and Oromo community members are concentrated. 

Karmel Mall

Whittier, Minneapolis

A must-stop for an authentic Somali tea and shopping experience

No trip through the East African experience is complete without a stop at one of the malls hosting an authentic shopping experience. A host of specialty imported goods you can’t find anywhere else, including prayer rugs, spices, and handmade clothes, are packed together. Make sure to pick up some Somali tea (reportedly among the best in the Twin Cities) when you stop by. 

Becki Iverson is a Thrillist writer and an ardent lover of the Twin Cities. You can follow her wide-ranging passions on her blog, Compendium, or on social media on Instagram @beckiiverson or Facebook. When she's not exploring the local food and arts scene, Becki can be found at her day job in marketing for the AEC industry at Faithful+Gould in downtown Minneapolis.

Steel Magnolias Has a Heart of Gold

The air was thick with nostalgia as the audience settled into their seats. 

Photo by Dan Norman

After all, you'd have to live under a rock not to remember the infamous 1989 film featuring a veritable who's who of a pillar pre-#metoo feminine Hollywood. I mean how can you forget a cast starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, AND Julia Roberts?!

Photo by Dan Norman

But forget we did as the lights lowered and the stage turned to reveal the cozy home salon of Truvy in the Guthrie's lovely stage production of the same name. It's hard to compete with a movie as iconic as Steel Magnolias was, but the Guthrie succeeds in spades (perhaps partially because several of the production team leaders have never seen the film themselves). It's a softer, warmer play than we often see at the time of year that seems to usually call for heavy dramas as dark as the sky outside, and it was a welcome ray of sunshine on a Tuesday evening.

Photo by Dan Norman

Steel Magnolias is simply a story about life, centered in the salon of Truvy. A local hairdresser whose shop is the heart and soul of the social life in a small Louisiana town, Truvy is deliciously owned by Austene Van in one of my favorite roles I've ever seen her play. The story follows the conversation of Truvy's regular clients M'Lynn (Melissa Maxwell), Clairee (Amy Van Nostrand) and Ouiser (Sally Wingert) as their lives pass through deaths, new jobs, trips, romance and more. A central figure is Shelby (a radiant Nicole King), M'Lynn's daughter who is plagued by severe diabetes, as she gets married and starts her family. Shelby's delicate health is a marked contrast to the spunky and hearty Annelle (Adelin Phelps), Truvy's assistant and a newcomer to the town.

Photo by Dan Norman

I won't spoil the poignant ending for those unfamiliar with the show, but I am happy to praise the rich, nuanced chemistry this colorful cast brings to the stage. Wingert is hilarious as usual and a comedic star every time she appears. Nostrand has a very Shirley MacLaine delivery and I found her wry and delightful. I wanted Maxwell to have just a titch more gravitas as M'Lynn, but she brought a warmth as Shelby's mother that was beautiful to behold. Phelps is a total stitch as the bumbling, earnest Annelle, and I would have loved to see even more of her throughout the show. And as mentioned above, hats off to Austene Van for her beautiful performance as Truvy, the stylish and beating heart of Steel Magnolias. Van is our local Regina King and I adored seeing her in such a soft, plush role. It fits her like a comfy dress you never want her to take off.

Photo by Dan Norman

Speaking of style, the 1980s period-perfect costuming designed by Kara Harmon is delicious front to back. You'll get wigs, shoulder pads, ornate belts, and all the hairspray you can handle, and I couldn't get enough. Narelle Sissons' sturdy scenic design gives us a literal 360 degree view of Truvy's salon, which rotates on a turnstile from season to season and feels like a cozy alcove we all share in confidence. Cat Tate Starmer's lighting design perfectly enhances that feeling with a warm glow, and Jane Shaw's subtle sound design provides just the right mood. Hats off to director Lisa Rothe and this all female production team (called out in the program with photos! - a detail that I loved) for a beautiful, feminine production that is appealing to audiences of all gender identities and persuasions. I can attest that my husband (who has not seen the film either... maybe it's not as universal as I always thought?) was apprehensive about enjoying this show as we first sat down, but left with glowing words by the time it ended, so I know that this is one that can cross gender lines.

Photo by Dan Norman

One of the things I think that gives Steel Magnolias such staying power is its (regrettably, still,) unusual focus on the lives of ordinary, every day women. There are no kingmakers or harlots or business titans here, just a group of ladies living their mundane lives in camaraderie and gratitude. It's still so rare to see stories about everyday ordinary people that don't involve some overstated, manufactured point of interest (like a murder or winning the lottery), and especially so when the protagonists are all women. It was a real pleasure to hear a celebration of the little things in life, and a reminder of how far technology has removed most of us from the joys of physical connection and companionship - a habit that perhaps we should reclaim. After all, how many of us walk into a beauty shop these days and actually (gasp!) talk to each other? Steel Magnolias is a psalm for the soul, a beautiful meditation of the little ways we can all mean very much to each other, and I couldn't recommend it enough. This is a lovely option for a holiday gift, a trip with the gals in your friends or family circle, or even a date night the special guy in your life will connect more to than he'd admit. Click here for more information or to get tickets before Steel Magnolias closes on December 15.

Photo by Dan Norman

Pipeline is a Devastating Indictment of Our Educational System

Is it the "kids these days" ... or is it the grownups? 

Photo courtesy of Penumbra. 

What would you do to give your child the best chance in life?

Would you move to a new city? Pay for a private school education? Work extra shifts so you can afford to enroll them in extracurriculars? Leave an abusive or destructive relationship to model a safer, happier life?  Engage them in social activism?

There are a lot of things parents try to give their kids a leg up, but the truth is that a lot of a child's success has to do with kids themselves and variables outside of a parents' control. Some children thrive in a traditional academic environment and others need a more abstract, hands-on approach (helloooo Montessori). Some are self starters and others need firmer guidance. Some are social butterflies and some thrive when they're on their own.

So what do you do if your kid is "othered"? What do you do if your kid is underfunded? What do you do if your kid is unseen, or even worse, is seen as the "only" of their kind?

Those are some of the questions asked in the recently closed play Pipeline at Penumbra Theatre Company. I am not sure how I missed the opening in early October, but I sorely regret seeing it so late in the run (and therefore being unable to spread the word to others). A new script penned by up and coming theatrical darling Dominique Morisseau, Pipeline examines what happens to kids presented with a fraught educational dichotomy: attend an underfunded, underperforming, sometimes dangerous school where the student body looks like you; or move away from your community to attend a more elite institution where you will never quite be like the other students.

It's a much harder dilemma to solve than one might think, and it was powerfully and emotionally portrayed here by Kory Pullam as the title character Omari, a teen student at an elite school who runs away after a confrontation with a teacher. His mother Nya, a teacher herself (played movingly by Erika LaVonn), has been raising Omari on her own for several years and has no idea how to find or help him. It's not the first disciplinary action he's incurred at the school. Nya would like to have him attend the school she teaches at despite its flaws, but Omari's father Xavier (I saw understudy AJ Friday at my performance, and he played it quite cerebral), who is in a much better economic situation, patently disagrees. Orbiting this molten core are Omari's girlfriend Jasmine (a spot on Kiara Jackson); the security guard Dun who has a secret connection to Nya (a magnetic Darius Dotch); and a very complex white teacher Laurie (strongly portrayed by Melanie Wehrmacher).

Although technically an accessory to the story, Laurie was a very interesting character for me as something of a foil to Omari, despite the fact that they never had scenes together. I come from a long line of public school teachers who have taught in majority-white school populations, and although they love their jobs they universally agree that between shrinking budgets, ignorant administrations and the rapidly changing behavior of students, the profession just ain't what it used to be. I recognized a lot of conversations I've overheard those family members say come through Laurie's mouth (although their observations were much less crude). That said, it's impossible to view Laurie without the lens of her racial power, and you're left consistently uneasy with her actions despite understanding them. On paper is she right? Maybe. But does she really understand what her kids are going through day to day? Is she the best person to be guiding them through some very difficult problems? Does she really know what's best for them? Doubtful.

So what does a mother like Nya tell a son like Omari when he hits a teacher like Laurie? Teens can't be right all the time, after all, and violence isn't a solution to your problems. But was Omari wrong in feeling targeted by his teacher? How does an isolated student adequately protect themselves from a teacher who has the upper hand on race, class, and professional authority? The fact that we can ask such complicated questions is a testament to this dynamic cast, who hit a wide range of tough emotions across the spectrum of the show. This is clearly a story they wanted to tell, deeply and richly, and it showed throughout the performance.

School integration has become an exceedingly hot topic of late, but no one seems to have the answers. Are students of color safe in environments when the vast majority of their teachers and fellow students are mostly white? Do we return to an updated version of "separate but equal"? What if we start integrating white students into schools where they'd be the minority, other than placing the burden on students of color? Perhaps most importantly: what if we stopped tying the quality of a child's education to property values in the neighborhood they happen to live in, and instead paid the same amount to educate all kids regardless of where they live?

These are really hard questions, and their answers matter. The achievement gap between students of color and white students is yawning wider every year, especially in places like Minnesota. I'm not sure that Pipeline provided any answers to the problem, but it did provide a vital context (especially for audience members new to this subject) that moved the problem from the ivory tower directly into our laps. This isn't just a question of improving test scores; it's a failure that can have dire consequences on a child's chance at attending a good college, getting an economically supportive job, buying a home, or even going to jail. I'm grateful for playwrights like Morisseau who insist on focusing our gaze on the plight of students desperately trying to navigate impossible circumstances and the parents and teachers who don't have answers either. I hope we find a more equitable way to educate our children. The world will need all of them if we're going to make it through the next few decades.

Pipeline is sadly closed, but please head to the Penumbra's website anyway (click here) to learn more about their upcoming plays. Penumbra is a consistent local favorite of mine, and their work is vital for telling stories that might otherwise go unheard. And if the subject of school integration, the achievement gap, the school to prison pipeline, and educational justice interests you, please read this excellent Washington Post article about a school system in Ohio currently grappling with this very issue. It's beautifully written and provides further detail about how these problems have been approached and what might work in the future.