One of the year’s most inspiring public art projects, Mural at the Market, got its start with the help of young artists from the seminal Juxtaposition Arts center in North Minneapolis. According to teen painter Bereket Adamu, the first fresco to appear at the Farmers Market Annex was an abstract representation of the “push and pull between being an agricultural space and living space.” That contrast can be experienced in the market as well. When browsing vendor stands, keep your eyes peeled for homegrown vegetables, bags of wild rice hand-picked by Autumn Harvest Ojibwe Wild Rice, generous slices of Southern-style peach cobbler from Lutunji’s Palate, and—our personal favorite—cricket protein cookies from Harmony Cricket Farm.

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Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

Ashley and Aaron Schram, the tireless entrepreneurs behind Schram Vineyards and Schram Haus Brewery, are on a mission to give Minnesota wine a makeover. The couple produces 11 vinos on the North Loop premises of AxeBridge Wine Company. Connoisseurs can sample half of ’em during a one-hour, $30 tasting session (reserve your spot here) or head straight for the bar to order off the tap lines. Join the AxeBridge Wine Club for access to special quarterly releases, including innovative blends of cold-hardy Minnesota grapes and vivacious California varietals. Hot tip: AxeBridge is a five-minute walk from Stillheart Distillery & Cocktail Lounge, the newest drinkery from the folks behind Lawless Distilling and downtown’s first proper distillery.

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Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

This BIPOC- and woman-owned boutique is the best new reason to get lost in the Skyway. Located in the IDS Center, the store was brought to life by Sabrina Jones, founder of natural skincare line SJC Body Love, and Angela Lamb-Onayiga, founder of handmade Nigerian clothing-and-accessories company TiAngy Designs. The co-op showcases goods from each of their respective brands, as well as Haitian-made clothing from MyIslandRoots. The women are introducing a thoughtful selection of community-minded books, premium wig and hair products from Lush Crowns, and special events like readings and live mural paintings. Hot tip: Downtown workers should chase their visit to Sistah Co-Op with a stop at Crystal Court, the IDS Center’s newly renovated indoor park featuring modular furniture and a calming reflection pool.

Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

While co-owners Jade Patrick and Cassie Carner won’t celebrate the 10th anniversary of Gamut Gallery until 2022, art hounds can get an early start on the festivities at the C4W:2021 show, running from September 10 to October 9. Guest curator Cándida González, a queer, non-binary visual artist and consultant for St. Paul nonprofit Forecast Public Art, combed through 197 submissions from the gallery’s annual open call, allowing the exhibition’s theme of resilience to reveal itself organically. Notably, the indie art space provided sponsorships to 48 BIPOC artists—cementing its role as an important cultural arbiter paving the way for fresh voices sharing essential perspectives. Following the conclusion of C4W:2021 be sure to visit the website for their latest exhibition, rotating every five weeks.

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Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

The second act of Soul Bowl chef Gerard Klass started as a pop-up but found a permanent home in downtown’s ever-evolving Graze Provisions + Libations food hall. We speak from personal experience as transplants when we say that B.A.D. Wingz’s namesake chicken wings are so good, they can make a Buffalonian weep. But the cravings don’t stop there: Klass also works magic with cauliflower “wingz” and plant-based “nuggetz,” the latter sourced from one of our favorite vegan spots, The Herbivorous Butcher. Get something for everyone in your party with a Mix & Match Combo or make B.A.D. Wingz the first stop on a broader food-and-drink crawl. All-day brunch cafe, It’s 7am Somewhere, is another noteworthy newcomer at Graze, and new brewpub-and-barbecue joint StormKing is just two blocks away.

Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

The “J” in J. Atelier, a home goods boutique that opened in November 2020, represents its three founders: Jacqueline Fortier, Julia Olmstead, and Jennifer Liang. The co-owners’ keen curatorial eye is on full display via their lovingly restored antique rugs, handwoven baskets, weathered pottery and picture frames, shabby-chic tassel pillows, and moody vintage paintings. Hot tip: The shop is currently open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but if you plan your visit for a Saturday afternoon between 12 and 4 p.m., you can also hit up J. Atelier’s delightful next-door neighbor ŪMEI. Founded by Susan Brouillette, the homewares and stationery store specializes in imported Japanese goods like washi tape, donabe pots, and shapely Takazawa candles.

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Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

In nearly two decades as the music director of the vaunted Minnesota Orchestra, Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä has led historic performances in Cuba and South Africa, a Grammy-winning rendition of Jean Sibelius’ iconic First and Fourth Symphonies, and a Beethoven survey that was so well-received, it earned our orchestra a lengthy feature in the New York Times. Alas, the 2021-2022 season will be Vänska’s last before he takes the reins at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea. We plan to bid him adieu from a prime seat in Balcony A (the season finale is Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, Symphony of a Thousand, from June 10-12, 2022). Hot tip: If you’re orchestra-curious but don’t know much about Shostakovich and Prokofiev, ease in with gateway tickets to the Movies & Music series. At these wildly popular events, the orchestra live scores a film projected above them. This season’s lineup includes Black Panther, Toy Story, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

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Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

Marriott’s $86 million dollar renovation of the luxurious Rand Tower Hotel has a stunning new centerpiece: the Rand Tower Club. The glamorous 120-seat restaurant and bar, slated to open fall 2021, has a retractable patio roof that showcases the landmark building’s Art Deco architecture. Its swanky interior pays tribute to the golden era of aviation and Rufus A. Rand, the gas baron and pilot who inspired the hotel’s name. The dinner and cocktail menu, meanwhile, draw inspiration from the Le Cordon Bleu training of chef Andy Vyskocil. Hot tip: Don’t miss the jaw-dropping lobby, which features a serpentine staircase carved from marble and strapping bronze sculpture by Norwegian artist Oskar J.W. Hansen. Be sure to visit the website to sign up to receive details on the official opening.

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Photo Credit: Rand Tower Hotel

After closing its downtown space for much of the pandemic, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts is shifting from virtual programming back to in-person activities. The initial focus will be free Saturday pop-ups. The events, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekend through October 30, include gallery tours, hands-on activities, special guests, and discounts in the gift shop. More immersive workshops in paper marbling, book binding, and letterpress will also resume. Hot tip: Enter the secret code “OPENDOORS” at MCBA’s gift shop to get 10 percent off your order—plus a coupon for Day Block Brewing, a pizzeria and brewpub just a few doors down. Stop by The Greenery en route; the Ojibwe-owned plant store stocks the loveliest selection of flora to liven up any home. Check out the Minnesota Center for Book Arts website for future tours, special events and activities following the conclusion of the Saturday pop-ups.

Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

Prolific chef and restaurateur Daniel Del Prado (Sanjusan, Colita, Martina) has teamed with culinary whiz Shawn McKenzie on a new food concept for the Walker Art Center, Cardamom is a natural progression of McKenzie’s Turkish menu at Café Cerés. Think: easygoing counter service coupled with unique fare like tuna tabbouleh; a fried chicken sandwich topped with pickled zucchini and harissa honey; and unbelievably delicious Mediterranean corn massaged with rose za’atar, serrano, lime labneh, and feta. Check out the Walker’s newest exhibitions after your meal; calendar-worthy highlights include a highly anticipated David Hockney retrospective (December 18, 2021 to August 21, 2022) and mid-career survey of the Ethiopia-born, Harlem-based abstract painter Julie Mehretu (October 16, 2021 to March 6, 2022). Hot tip: For free admission to the galleries, time your visit to Target Free Thursday Nights every week between 5 and 9 p.m.

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Photo Credit: Cardamom, Anne Victoria Photography

Just in time for its 15th anniversary, the Guthrie Theater has installed a family-friendly series of free selfie stations along its eye-catching exterior. Instagrammers are encouraged to snap a #GuthrieSelfie in front of a colorful rainbow-gushing umbrella, heart-shaped peacock feathers, and a dog-friendly “Woof-da!” mural complete with a faux fire hydrant. For a more dramatic backdrop, the phrase All the World’s a Stage has been stenciled across the mint-green staircase leading up to the building’s glassy entrance. Theatergoers will find plenty to love about the upcoming season, too: The headliner includes the touring production of Heidi Schreck’s What the Constitution Means to Me, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony nominee for Best Play. The show runs from September 20 through October 24 and stars TV and Broadway actress Cassie Beck (High Maintenance, Shameless, The Humans). If you’re catching this after October 24th, be sure to visit the Guthrie website for new show offerings.

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Photo credit: Carly Macgowen

One of the Midwest’s most anticipated openings, Owamni is the first restaurant from Sean Sherman, a.k.a. The Sioux Chef, and his business/life partner Dana Thompson. The contemporary-chic space serves more than refined meals; it’s part of Sherman’s broader plan to strip away centuries of colonial influence and reclaim Indigenous food. To that end, none of Sherman’s dishes are made with dairy, cane sugar, or wheat flour (an interesting juxtaposition considering its Mill District location). Instead, he tells the story of Indigenous culture and cuisine through his house-stuffed game sausage, conifer-preserved rabbit, bison tartare, and delectable blue corn “mush” topped with wood ash and hazelnuts. Of special note is Owamni’s sacred location overlooking Owámniyomni, or St. Anthony Falls, making it the cornerstone attraction at downtown’s new three-acre Water Works park. The grassy public space plans to host Dakota language classes, interpretative plant exhibits, and other free programming in due time.

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Photos credit: Owamni, John Yuccas and Heidi Ehalt