Friday, August 27, 2010

A Staycation

Alright, so yesterday was a heavy post kind of day... I try to keep things light and airy around here, but it would be a lie if I said that every day is all sunshine and rainbows. So thanks for all of your kind/thoughtful comments yesterday!

I think we are due for something a little lighter today, though!!

Today, 3 fabulous bloggers will be arriving in Minneapolis for a little blogger's rendezvous. Mandy, Kyla, and Nora are all Minneapolis-bound, and I am so excited to show them my city!!

I have thought long and hard about what all I want to show them. I mean, we can't do it all in one weekend, so I had to be a little bit selective. Here is what I have come up with, in bullet point style!
  • A Mexican Fiesta at Casa de Lisa on Friday night so they can check out my shoe-box of a condo (which I have a love/hate relationship with, depending on the day). The menu will feature Vegetarian Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Chips, Guac, and Salsa - and of course, Margaritas! Crossing my fingers that it all turns out!
  • On Saturday we'll check out the Mill City Farmer's Market. It just happens to be Salsa Fest this weekend!!! Holy cannasta, people, I am excited. Words can't describe how much I heart salsa!!!!! And I know Nora adores it, too, since she is a fellow Mexican food fan!
  • I am going to re-create one of my Lisa/Andrew dates for them and introduce them to Wild Rumpus, which is THE coolest kid's book store. No, none of us have kids, but that doesn't mean they won't get a kick out of this place. After that, I plan on taking them to Sebastian Joe's, which is a local ice cream place. All of the ice cream is home made and absolutely delicious. I love the raspberry chocolate chip flavor and Andrew always gets Oreo ice cream (which is amazing - my gluten free heart aches a bit over the fact that I can't have it...). If the weather is agreeable, we might take a walk around Lake Harriet - which is one of the lakes where I log a whole lot of miles!
  • On Saturday night, we might take in a free concert at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. The genre for Saturday night's concert is "French Gypsy Jazz". What that means is beyond me. Maybe my music teacher aunt & uncle could explain? But you know what - "French" is in the genre name, so sign me up! I can't properly explain what this bandshell is like, so here is a pic I found online...

  • On Sunday we'll check out the Sculpture Gardens which features the infamous Cherry-on-a-Spoon Sculpture, which Minneapolis is known for.
  • We'll cap off the weekend on Sunday night by going to the Minnesota State Fair, aka the Great Minnesota Get Together (or the Great Minnesota Sweat Together), where we'll attend a Brandi Carlile concert! She is one of my favorite artists so I am SO excited to introduce the girls to her soulful voice!

I hope that the ladies get a feel for Minneapolis based on the attractions I will be showing them! I am really excited to 'play tourist' this weekend and see/do things I wouldn't usually do!

Have a fabulous weekend, dear readers! If I was coming to your city to visit you, what would you include on the list of things to do?

26 comments:

Charbelle said...

OH YAY!!!! This is going to be so much fun!!!! Sounds like such an awesome weekend!! That band shell is amazing!!! How did the 13 go this morning?

Becky said...

Ahhhh! So jealous! You all are going to have a great time! :)

There are lots of things to do in this area - maybe we'll have to explore that option in the spring! :)

abbi said...

Have a fabulous weekend. Looks like you are going to be a fabulous host - all your locations look great. Best of luck in the man department...I have no experience there (husband was literally my first boyfriend at age 21) and can't really offer any advice, thus the reason for lack of comment!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

What a great weekend you have planned! I'm so jealous! If bloggers were coming to my city I would definitely take them to our downtown Farmers Market on Saturday morning because, in my opinion it is really awesome! Then that night we might head back to the downtown area for the nightlife! :) Have fun!

I'maNolaGirl said...

I love Minneapolis! This sounds like such a great weekend! Mmmm... Sebastian Joe's. I had this banana ice cream with chocolate chips - it was AMAZING!

Have so much fun!!!

Heather said...

Sounds like it's going to be an awesome weekend!! Have fun and enjoy!

Jess said...

Enjoy the weekend!! It sounds like you and your guests are going to have a great time! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Emily Jane said...

You'll have a great weekend!

I'm heading to my blogger meetup on Friday in Chicago - can't wait :)

Marlys said...

Great picks, Lisa! We will anxiously await your recap! Have fun!

Leigh said...

That sounds like a fabulous weekend! I hope you have lots of fun and your Mexican feast turns our well tonight!

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

I love LOVE being a host to people coming to Boston (though staying at my house is stressful but if I just get to show people around I like that haha). Usually when people come to Boston I take them to Boston Common, maybe we do the swan boats, and we walk around that area a bit. I also like to take them to places outside of the city that they wouldn't see if they weren't with a local- it depends on the person though and what they like :)

I missed your post yesterday so this is my delayed apology about "flash." Guys (or people) make absolutely no sense sometimes, but hopefully its all going to be worth it in the end!

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

sounds like a fun weekend! i am jealous! if you came to visit me.. probably would take you downtown and visit the small but nice farmers market that is next to the tridge.. take in a breakfast downtown and look at some of the neat shops. after that possibly a boat ride or a drive somewhere else where there is cool things to do! ;) but perhaps the nature center would do for a cool hike.

Zaneta @ Runner's Luck said...

It sounds like you've got a very very fun schedule planned out for the weekend!! Can't read all about it :D

Amber said...

I'm jealous of all you lovelies spending the weekend together - but you were right this post TOTALLY made me want to come visit you!!

You are going to have SO MUCH FUN!

If people came to visit me it would HAVE to be in the summer. Kamloops isn't a huge city so there's not a ton to do, I'd say I'd take them for a float down the river. It's the "Kamloops" thing to do and then go to Music in the Park. There's free music in the park EVERY night during the summer!

crystal said...

I love that you picked the "not for tourists" places in Minneapolis to show them! It sounds like a great weekend :)
Oh, and of course I am totally jealous that you get to see Brandi!! What a perfect way to end a fun weekend. I cant wait to hear all about it!

Stephany said...

Ah, so jealous about this. You're going to have a blast. :) Have fun playing tour guide!

Anonymous said...

sounds like you have a well planned weekend! have a wonderful and safe time!

Cheers!

Cherry Blossoms said...

Have a great time! I would love to book a pool cabana at one of the many beautiful resorts we have and have a lovely ladies afternoon by relaxing at the pool.
PS: Enjoy Sebastian Joes for me!

Abby said...

Sounds like such a fun weekend, Lisa! Wow!! Sounds like a perfect weekend :) You deserve it, for it's been a rough few weeks!!

Have a great weekend and enjoy! :)

Also, seeing that picture of Lake Harriet made my heart melt a little. I miss the chain of lakes!!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

If you were coming to my city, I would have you over for a dinner party!!

Lisa-Marie said...

Have huge amounts of fun Lisa! x

Oh said...

You guys must be having so much fun!Take lots of pictures!
And hey, I didn't know about the cherryonaspoon sculpture - very cool.
When you come to STL, Nor will keep you hopping but you have to see two of our fave bookstores - The Bookshop and Left Bank Books.

Enjoy!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

What a glorious weekend you had planned. Here's hoping you got to do it all and enjoy every waking moment of it. Can't wait for a recap post!

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

OMG, that sounds like an amazing weekend you had planned for your visitors. Can't wait to hear how it turned out! Nice planning.

I'd take visitors to Pre's trail and Pre's rock (bc he's a legend here) and Hayward Field. Then we'd hike up one of the local peaks to get a great view of the city. We'd have dessert at this fabulous place called Sweet Life that even does a lot of gluten free and vegan desserts. And there would probably have to be a little Saturday market stop somewhere in there and finally a trip to the ocean, which is just an hour away.

Mandy said...

You were an amazing hostess and I had such a wonderful time. Seriously I loved everything we did! You picked perfectly -- Minneapolis is a wonderful city.

Nora said...

Can I come back now!? ;-) I miss you (and your city) already!