Welcome to 2017, everyone! We’re in for another great year, and we can’t wait to spend it with you in downtown Minneapolis. There is so much excitement going on here, and I suspect our next trip around the sun will be just as much fun as 2016.
As usual, I’m looking forward to trying some new things (or revisit some activities I haven’t done in a while) in 2017, and for the third straight New Year I am sharing these downtown-centric resolutions with you. I went 6-of-7 in achieving my 2015 resolutions, and I was 4-of-6 in my list for 2016. Can I got a perfect 6-for-6 this year? I’m not sure, but I’ll give it the old college try.
Without further ado, here is my list of New Year’s Resolutions for 2017. I hope you enjoy, and I hope it sparks your interest in doing the same. Whether you’re interested in trying my list or making your own, we’re hopeful we’ll see you in downtown this year.
Win a lawn bowling match at Brit’s Pub
This is an ongoing attempt on my part to try and secure a lawn bowling victory. I only lawn bowl once or twice a year, and when I do it’s on a team that rotates players each week. I’m currently 0-4 in my lawn bowling career, and I plan to change that one of these years despite zero practice and very little opportunity to improve. The good news is whether you win or lose at lawn bowling, you certainly have a fantastic time throughout the evening. Brit’s Pub is such a fun place in downtown, offering great food, excellent atmosphere and one of my favorite skyline views from the lawn bowling rinks on the second floor patio. If you haven’t tried lawn bowling here or stopped in for Scotch Eggs, I recommend you give it a shot this year as well.
Eat at three downtown Minneapolis restaurants I haven’t tried before
In my continued attempt to try all the great food our city has to offer, I’m upping the stakes here and putting my new restaurant number at three. In the past I’ve said I’ll try at least one new place I hadn’t been before, but this time around I’d like to make the resolution a little more adventurous. There are so many great spots in downtown, and new places are opening more and more. I’m planning to get out and about even more this year, and with all the different food opportunities out there I should be able to surpass this number easily.
Make The Commons a regular destination for activities, lunch, etc.
The Commons is a great new addition to downtown. It’s so rare to be able to add a park in the middle of a city’s core, but here we are in 2017 with a chance to enjoy The Commons in full for the entire year. We were able to get a taste of what The Commons will be for our city last year, but in 2017 we’ll have it open for all seasons and we’ll be able to enjoy everything it has to offer along the way. I’m hopeful I will be able to use The Commons throughout my year, not only for events and programming we might host there along the way (like Northbest last year) but also as a place to grab a bite to eat and relax, enjoying the city and the views we have around us. We are fortunate to have this new park in our city, and I hope to take advantage of it here this year.
Become a regular for fitness in the downtown area
This one is two-fold. I am hoping I will be able to visit the fitness centers here in the downtown area throughout the year—we have exceptional options throughout our downtown including MDC members Life Time Athletic Club at Target Center, YMCA and YWCA. These are exceptional spaces to get a workout in, and the continued growth and improvement of our downtown fitness centers is a measure of the continued residential growth and development downtown. But I’m also hoping I will be able to do a little more outdoor running this year, which is a continued goal of mine. I want to make sure I take advantage of the great trails along the Mississippi Riverfront again this summer like I have in the past. We have great resources here for keeping fit, and I plan on using them.
Join the Super Bowl festivities in some capacity
Super Bowl LII will be here before we know it. After all, February 2018 is right around the corner. So as part of the downtown community, I hope to be involved in the Super Bowl in some capacity. Whether it be through committee work or one of the 10,000 volunteers that will be helping with making the Super Bowl run smoothly in our downtown, I’d like to be part of the fun. We really only get a chance at a Super Bowl once in a generation, and I’m excited we can all take some ownership in being part of 2018’s big game.
Take a tour in downtown Minneapolis….somewhere
There are tours all over the place in downtown, whether it’s through the Mill City Museum, a Hennepin Theatre Trust venue, the Made Here MN walking art galleries, riverfront historical tours, or even stadium tours, there is something for everyone here. I’m going to leave this one open-ended, but I want to try and find some place to go learn more about a piece of downtown that a might not yet know. It’s a fun and exciting way to get to know our city.
Well, there you have it. These are the goals I have set for 2017. I think they are achievable and attainable, and I’m excited to get started. If you have any thoughts on additional resolutions or want to share your own resolutions with me, email me atmremme@downtownminneapolis.com.
We look forward to seeing you this year. Remember to interact with us on social media and use the hashtag #DowntownMpls. We have a great city, and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings.
Cheers!