December 2014

So, are the kids driving you nuts yet? Ah, take heart Mom or Dad – it’s almost over and they’ll soon be back in school. If you want to help them work off some of their pent up energy as we wind down the holidays, how about a day or weekend family trip? Read on for some ideas.

Stillwater

A quick 30 minutes east of the city will put you in just about everyone’s favorite Minnesota city, Stillwater. If you want to make a weekend of it, there are plenty of bed and breakfasts and other lodging opportunities in this adorable town.

Bring the skis, though, because you’ll want to check out the trail at Brown's Creek. Nearly six miles long, the trail is suitable for all skill levels.

 When you’re done being outdoorsy, Stillwater offers a plethora of

Minneapolis is a busy place during the winter season. It’s one of the best places to live in the winter season due to the plethora of winter recreational activities to enjoy. People are active with snowmobiling, skiing, checking out the Como Zoo’s Polar Bear and so much more. Here is a look at the favorites around Minneapolis during the winter.

Skiing & Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most popular winter recreational activities in Minneapolis. You’ll find people enjoying the slopes whether they are beginners or experienced. Within an hour of Minneapolis you can try amazing hills like Afton Alps, the largest local hill and Theodore Wirth, a small hill located in the city. For a serious mountain experience, check out Lutsen

Minneapolis coffee shops are rather busy in the winter season. It’s the perfect place to warm up on a chilly afternoon, a place to sit and catch up with friends in the evening or a place to bring a laptop and catch up on some work.

Most of the coffee shops here serve something to eat with their huge drink selection. Whether you are looking for something unique and hidden or everyone’s favorite coffee shop, here is a look at some popular coffee shops in town.

Uncommon Grounds Coffee House – 2809 Hennepin Avenue

Located in an old mansion, the Uncommon Grounds Coffee House is in an 1877 Victorian House. You’ll love their plush emerald green booths and the shaded outdoor patio on warmer days. It’s located in the heart of Uptown and offers

Located in south Minneapolis is the Longfellow neighborhood. It sits between the Mississippi River and the Light Rail. It’s a residential neighborhood, moderately expensive, quiet and peaceful for couples and families. Immigrants once lived in Longfellow after leaving cramped neighborhoods east and south of downtown Minneapolis.

Since streetcar lines were laid connecting downtown Minneapolis to southern suburbs, it was easy for them to move to Longfellow and the area became home to the working class and small family homes. Here is a look at Longfellow today.

Location

The neighborhood is situated between 38th Avenue and Haiwatha Avenue as well as 34th Street and 27th Street. This includes everything in the triangular area south of 27th street

Homebuyers are told to worry about what might be wrong with a house they’re considering purchasing and, for good reason. Who knows what lurks behind the walls and for how long it’s been lurking? This is why the professional home inspection is just about standard in any purchase.

Unfortunately, the inspector can’t see inside the walls, so that fear remains. What he or she can see, however, goes on the inspection report and then becomes a tool to help the buyer whittle down the price of the home.

If you take care of known issues in your Minneapolis home for sale, even the small ones, before putting the home on the market, you’ll do away with many issues that would otherwise end up on the inspection report thus protecting your asking price.

Here

Located in southeast Minneapolis is the Seward neighborhood. It is part of the Longfellow community bordered by Hiawatha Avenue to the west, the Mississippi River to the east, Interstate 94 to the north and Midtown Greenway to the south.  It’s a residential area with many single-family homes and residents enjoy scenic trails and local cafes. Here is a look at life in the Seward neighborhood of southeast Minneapolis.

About Seward

Seward is a residential neighborhood with a section of industrial area at Hiawatha Avenue and 27th Street. The commercial area of this neighborhood is at Franklin Avenue where many small coffee shops and restaurants are located. There is one public school located in the neighborhood, easily accessible highways and

The latest Minneapolis housing market stats are out and the median sales price in the 13-county metro area in November was $205,000. I thought it might be fun to take a look at just what that amount of money will buy in Minneapolis.

Como

Priced right at $205,000, this large Como home was built in 1939 and features not one, but two kitchens. It holds 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in 2,240 square feet of living space.

Given its size and the fact that it’s within walking distance of the university, you can no doubt imagine the possibilities for this home if you purchase it as an investment.

Elliot Park

Condo living is a great way to get into homeownership without all the maintenance chores involved in owning a single-family home. The Skyscape in

With the colder weather here, people are more interested in spending time indoors. The winter blues are hard to beat but Minneapolis offers a ton of great options to keep you warm and allow you to have fun despite the weather.

In downtown Minneapolis are the skyways that are a great way to avoid going outdoors. It’s the largest indoor system in the world with shopping, offices, restaurants and more. Here is a look at some of the top spots for lunch in the skyway.

Dave’s Downtown – 900 2nd Avenue South, Suite #230

The perfect lunch spot at the skyway is Dave’s Downtown, serving up healthy options on a budget. You can get wraps and sandwiches for under $7. They offer daily specials on sandwiches, pastas and off the grill items. You can get a

Did you know that there are some Minneapolis bars that only few know about? These bars are hidden away or a little more of a secret to most. Sometimes they are hidden in plain sight or beneath the city streets.

You may already spend time at these bars regularly without realizing they may be hidden to the masses. Here is a look at some secret bars in Minneapolis.

Marvel Bar – 50 North 2nd Avenue

The Marvel Bar is located beneath The Bachelor Farmer and has a cool secret entrance. You have to walk down 2nd Avenue North, towards the back of the building, and then on your left you’ll take the stairs down an illuminated staircase to the patio with the taupe-colored door. From there, head down the hallway to the purple door to find the entrance to

What to do to ring in the 2014 holidays in and around Minneapolis? We've put together this handy guide for you.

December 10 and December 12

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be rolling through Minnesota from December 9th – December 13th. Billed as “rolling fundraising event,” the LED-bedecked locomotive travels across the United States and Canada, raising money, gathering donated food and holding concerts in the boxcar.

Catch the train tomorrow, December 10th at the CP facility on Central Avenue in NE Minneapolis. It arrives at 8:30 p.m. and the concert runs from 8:45 until 9:30.

If you miss it, the next stop is in St. Paul at Union Depot. It arrives at 6:00 p.m. on December 12 and the concert begins at 6:30 and ends at 7:15.