May 2015

The Mill City Museum is a must-see in Minnesota located in Minneapolis. The museum was built into the ruins of the former largest flour mill in the world. Found at the historic Mississippi Riverfront, the museum is a place for visitors to learn about the intertwined history of the river, the city, and the flour industry. It’s perfect for class field trips, a day with the family or renting for private events. Here is a look at what you’ll get to experience during your visit at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.

About the museum

The Mill City Museum works to preserve the state’s past, share its stories and connect people through history. It was designed by Austrian engineer William de la Barre and it was completed in 1880 in which it was

Restaurant Alma is Minneapolis’ best place to eat for those that love fresh, organic, seasonal, local ingredients in their food. It’s a restaurant serving dinner only but they are open 7 days a week. They’ve been open since 1999 as a casual fine dining restaurant in the area. Enjoy eclectic American cuisine, a rustic historically preserved building and warm hospitality.

You’ll notice beautiful exposed brick, the open beam ceiling, the concrete floors showing off the original space and an open kitchen. The gentle lighting offers an intimate feel and the banquette seating makes it perfect for families or groups. If you want to dine at truly elegant restaurant with amazing flavors, check out Restaurant Alma in Minneapolis.

What to expect

The

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), Special School District Number 1 is an amazingly large district, serving more than 36,000 students with almost 100 public schools. Since we understand that nearby schools are important to home values, we’d like to introduce you to the city’s schools and allow you to get to know them a bit better.

We start with May’s School of the Month ― Andersen United Community School. Both an elementary and middle school, Anderson teaches kids in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade.

The first thing you should know about Andersen is that it has a dress code. Children in the lower grades, Pre-K through 4th grade are required to wear navy blue tops and khaki bottoms. In the 5th through 8th grades, students wear black tops and

The University of Minnesota was established in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis in the late 1800’s. The Golden Gophers added additional campuses in the 20th century which created an even larger institute of higher learning for students interested in the field of research.

Academic Programs

Offering both an undergraduate and graduate program, the highly educated professors truly care about each student and welcome the opportunity to assist in helping each one achieve his or her goal.

It’s a Beautiful Life

Located on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, the University of Minnesota allows students a beautiful and tranquil location to unwind with over 800 student groups currently offered. The University also offers several

La Belle Vie is a top choice in the Twin Cities area for dining. This restaurant provides plenty of excellent choices with an elegant atmosphere. They have been given an award of excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine and Zagat. If you enjoy traditional French-Mediterranean cuisine, you will want to dine at La Belle Vie.

The Menu

You will find an a la carte menu and a tasting menu at La Belle Vie. The tasting menu includes three different choices:

• Tasting Menu $75 with an added wine flight for $48
• Chef's Tasting Menu - $90 with an added wine flight for $65
• Grand Tasting Menu - $145 with an added wine flight for $75

Each tasting menu is a bit different and provides many great options, such as:

• Caviar
• Brie
• Halibut

The spring homebuying season is well under way and the low inventory of available homes is creating hot seller’s markets in many Twin Cities metro region suburbs. Here in Minneapolis we’re sitting on only a 2.5 month inventory of homes so multiple offers on homes in decent condition and located in desirable neighborhoods are getting multiple offers.

The News for Minneapolis Home Buyers

We wish we had better news for you but if you were timing the market, trying to get in when prices were at rock bottom, you missed it. Prices are still on the rise in Minneapolis and, as mentioned above, sellers are in the driver’s seat in many instances.

Inventories are down in all of Minneapolis’ neighborhoods. What this means for you, if you’re just now

Pork enthusiasts looking for a hearty meat menu in Minneapolis look no further. The Butcher & the Boar will leave you satisfied while still begging for more at the same time.

Polished reputation

After seeing all the awards The Butcher & the Boar have won throughout the years, who wouldn't want to try it out? Within the past five years, they have been semifinalists for the nationally prestigious James Beard Foundation award.

Energetic ambience

As you walk in to The Butcher & the Boar, you are greeted with friendly staff. The place is always busy, and with the beer garden's assortment of beers and bourbon/whiskey flights, it's easy to see why.  As you wait for your food, gaze into the open kitchen and see the hard work and enthusiasm that is

Winter has passed, and the sweetness of spring is definitely in the air. It’s time to get out in the community and visit the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.

To Market, To Market We Go

The Lyndale Market is open seven days a week, Monday through Sunday from 6am to 1pm beginning April 25th through the month of October. The Hennepin Avenue Market is open on Thursdays from 6am to 6pm beginning May 7th and also running through October.

The Market is open rain or shine. Don’t worry there are never cancellations here! You won’t get wet underneath their famous red sheds, either.

What You Can Expect

The excitement of the growing season is underway and those tender early seasonal items are ready to make their way to your home. The market is now

If you won’t have cash to pay for that Minneapolis home you’re looking for, you’ll need a mortgage and, for that, you’ll need good credit. Well, you’ll need good credit if you want the best rates and terms on your loan and the lowest monthly payments possible.

The first task on a lender’s to-do list when faced with a loan application is to pull the applicant’s credit reports and determine his or her credit score. This score is produced by Fair Isaac Corporation, and is known as your FICO® score. This score not only reflects your credit risk but will be used in the determination of the interest rate you’ll be offered.

 What’s a FICO Score?

 FICO® credit scores range from 300 to 850, and they are calculated from the data in your credit reports.

The Basilica of Saint Mary is a beautiful building in Minnesota for people to gather of all faiths and races. It’s a place of refuge for the poor, a center for the arts and a place dedicated in growth and social well-being for the community.

They celebrate weekend Eucharist, Christmas and Easter, baptisms and funerals, as well as wedding. All people are welcome here from any race, financial status, those living in the suburbs or the inner city neighborhoods.

There are over 6,700 families that are members here and several outreach programs to help those in need in the community. Here is a look at what you’ll find at the Basilica of Saint Mary.

About the Basilica

The Basilica of Saint Mary is a traditional church with a modern message. It’s