Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: The Holiday Flower Show Opens – St. Paul, MN

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: The Holiday Flower Show Opens – St. Paul, MN

Make your reservations now!

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is open everyday from 10am – 4pm

Some important things you’ll want to know before your visit: Reservations are required for both members and nonmembers at this time. Reservations are currently available by clicking Here.

All reservation holders should check-in at the Visitor Center glass doors with their bar codes. Click Here for a map.

Due to physical distancing guidelines we are currently limiting capacity. Advanced reservations are available on a first come, first serve basis. Due of maintaining our capacity limits, late arrivals will be denied access. Please plan accordingly.

Posed photography is not allowed at this time. This includes family photos, senior photos, engagement photos, dance photos and wedding photos. No photo permits are being sold and masks are required both inside and outside.

Como Live

 

About

Mission: “To inspire our public to value the presence of living things in our lives.”
One of the last FREE zoos in the United States, Como is home to a wide array of animals and plants and welcomes visitors 365 days a year. Located right next to Como Town Amusement Park, Cafesjian’s historic carousel, and Como Park, the Zoo and Conservatory are great fun for visitors of all ages.
Some of Como’s main attractions include a world-class polar bear exhibit, Polar Bear Odyssey, which opened to the public in 2010. The exhibit is home to the zoo’s twin polar bears Buzz and Neil and features over 13,000 square feet of outdoor habitat. The zoo is also home to a collection of large cats, hoofstock, wolves, birds, primates, gorillas, orangutans, seals and sea lions, and several other aquatic animals. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory features six indoor gardens and several outdoor spaces, displaying thousands of beautiful plants each year. For more information about our attractions and to plan your visit, view our visitor guide at: Como Zoo Conservatory.

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Tonkadale Greenhouse:  Last Minute Elegant Holiday Decoration Ideas – Minnetonka, MN

Tonkadale Greenhouse: Last Minute Elegant Holiday Decoration Ideas – Minnetonka, MN

Tonkadale Greenhouse is located in a quaint residential community in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Offering an extensive selection of plants and flowers, including annuals and perennials, herbs, vegetables, succulents, African violets and tropical plants. Specialties include indoor plants, container gardens, and custom designs for every season. The experienced and knowledgeable staff will guide you and inspire you as you build your holiday creations. Visit the greenhouse and take a quiet stroll. Pet the cat. Take a deep breath and enjoy the smell of the soil, the fresh plants and the new flowers.

About

Tonkadale Greenhouse has called Minnetonka home since 1947. The original owner, Robert Anderson, started the business as a breeder of specialty African violets. At that time, the business consisted of one 18’ x 100’ structure. Anderson developed 200 new cultivars during his career and was considered a pioneer in the African violet breeding community. To expand the business, Anderson began producing spring bedding plants, an evolution that continues today. The business was purchased by Bill and Shirley Maruska in 1978. The greenhouse facility was completely rebuilt in 1998 and the business began to grow.

In April of 2016, Jessie Jacobson (Bill and Shirley’s granddaughter) purchased Tonkadale. Jessie lives in Minnetonka with her husband Luke, two young children and dog, Bucky. Jessie loves to garden with her family and invites the community to enjoy her gardening journey as well. She is passionate about getting children involved in gardening!

Longtime customers remember the quirkiness of the “old” Tonkadale, but embrace the new Tonkadale and look forward to the future. Newcomers are delighted by the size and scope of the greenhouse and leave feeling refreshed and inspired.

Tonkadale Greenhouse

Open Daily 9-6pm

3739 Tonkawood Rd, Minnetonka, MN

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Guthrie Theater Wurtele Thrust Stage: A Christmas Carol – Minneapolis, MN

Guthrie Theater Wurtele Thrust Stage: A Christmas Carol – Minneapolis, MN

A Christmas Carol

by CHARLES DICKENS
adapted by LAVINA JADHWANI
directed by JOSEPH HAJ

Wurtele Thrust Stage

A Timeless Holiday Tale

A miserly and miserable man, Ebenezer Scrooge greets each Christmas with “Bah! Humbug!” until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. In Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, the three spirits show Scrooge happy memories from his past, difficult realities from the present and a grim future should he continue his closed-hearted ways. This world-premiere adaptation stays faithful to the text and invites audiences to experience the wonder of the holiday season through all-new scenery, costumes, props, lighting and sound.

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Twin Cities’ 2021 Eater Awards Winners

 

 

Fashions’s Ever-Growing Obsession with Skiing Shows No Sign of Slowing Down

Fashions’s Ever-Growing Obsession with Skiing Shows No Sign of Slowing Down

FENDI

Highsnobiety: We’re flying through December, which means that the holidays are inching closer day by day – and so is ski season.

Personally, I’ve not been skiing since the humble age of 12, but will be making my anticipated return to the slopes in January. I may not be the best skier, but at least, I can be zooming down the snow in the best outfits.

I’ve spent the past few days researching my optimal snow steeze. This season, it seems as if brands have jumped headfirst into the snow, with multiple collections and must-have items available.

In terms of equipment, Saint LaurentPradaCELINE, and Dior all offer skis as well as snowboards, each priced way above a regular set, but arrives with logos and added luxury. Some even do helmets. Imagine queuing for the lift next to someone in a helmet decked out in Dior’s Oblique pattern.

Retailers such as Mytheresa have also jumped on the trend, partnering with Isabel Marant to create a “snow capsule” collection that features 33 80s-inspired pieces that work just as well in the slopes, as they do at the aprés ski with a cheeky aperol spritz in hand.

For something less subtle, look no further than Fendi. The label has continued to embrace logomania all year, especially with its Fendace collaboration, and has jackets, overalls, and more printed with its recognizable logo print.

Of course, we’ve also got the streetwear labels. A quick browse on StockX will generate plenty of snow-appropriate GORE-TEX jackets and Supreme collaborations with The North FacePalace fleeces that are perfect for layering, and you can also wear your Arc’Teryx whilst hitting the slopes – not just on your hikes.

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Prada Heritage PR 32PS 1AB5W1 Black Plastic Square Sunglasses Grey Gradient Polarized Lens

It goes without saying that winter fashion has drastically changed over the past few years, and skiwear has become yet another industry that has been luxury-fied by the big fashion players. I mean, can we talk about those Chrome Heart ski goggles?

But, if you’re still not convinced that the fashion giants do it best, classic ski labels such as ColmarPeak PerformanceHelly HansenColumbiaPatagonia, and The North Face will serve you well. They’re the true champions, and have been doing this for years.

Don’t forget to also get your hands on some Uniqlo heat tech, and some great goggles. At the end of the day you can look fantastic with your slope-appropriate steeze, but if you’re freezing, no one will envy you.

Virtual Cooking Class with Gavin Kaysen: Holiday Cassoulet with Toulouse Sausage and Duck Confit

Virtual Cooking Class with Gavin Kaysen: Holiday Cassoulet with Toulouse Sausage and Duck Confit

In our next GK at Home virtual cooking class, we’re making our favorite holiday dish: cassoulet! Comfort food with French finesse, cassoulet is a centerpiece-worthy supper whose preparation is done before your guests arrive.

Order our Ingredient Kit and you’ll build flavors with our housemade Toulouse sausages and duck confit. Link here for more information, and we’ll see you in the kitchen!

Holiday Cassoulet with Toulouse Sausage and Duck Confit

A classic, hearty French dish built on special ingredients and longstanding tradition, we’re so excited to share this special meal with you. It’s a perfect centerpiece to share with those you want to celebrate with this season. Our cassoulet will be accompanied by a citrus frisée salad for a complete meal for three to four people. Skills you’ll learn: searing, braising, rendering, cooking dried beans, building a mirepoix, supreming citrus, building a vinaigrette.

About

What is GK at Home?

GK at Home is a virtual cooking class program walking our audience through making some of Gavin’s favorite meals. Guests have the opportunity to add-on an ingredient kit to upcoming classes to simply their shopping. Cooking is about confidence and our audience always feels a new excitement to be in their home kitchen after each immersive experience.

Meet Chef GK

Gavin Kaysen is an award-winning chef and advocate for the culinary profession. He is the founder of Soigné Hospitality Group, a nationally recognized group of restaurants in the Minneapolis metropolitan area including Spoon and Stable, a 2015 James Beard Award Finalist for Best New Restaurant; Demi, an intimate 20-seat tasting menu experience; and Bellecour Bakery at Cooks of Crocus Hill.

He is also the co-founder of Heart of the House Foundation, a non-profit organization created to sustain the growth, health, and prosperity of the Soigné Hospitality family now and in the future. He supports the next generation of young culinarians refine their skills as one of the founding mentors of the nonprofit Ment’or BKB Foundation (formerly Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation), for which he currently serves as President of Team USA. Chef Kaysen is the proud recipient of two James Beard Awards: Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2008, and Best Chef: Midwest in 2018.

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