By the Numbers: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Tulip Gardens – Chaska, MN

By the Numbers: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Tulip Gardens – Chaska, MN

by | Apr 27, 2025 | events/locations, evergreen

Photograph by Caitlin Abrams

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This spring, visitors in droves will make a pilgrimage to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum looking for the sorely needed color explosion that only MLA’s sprawling tulip displays can provide.

“People think of tulips as perennials, but they’re not really, anymore,” says Arb senior gardener Aimee Thuen. “We consider them annuals. So, every year, a new display and color design gets planned. We cherish them for their short season, then we say goodbye when they’re done.”

That means even though the tulips bloom for just about four weeks (mid-April to mid-May, peaking around Mother’s Day, depending on the weather and snowpack), monitoring the Arb’s tulips is actually a full-time job. Throughout the summer, the gardening team researches new varieties and color schemes for all the tulip-adorned spaces on the grounds and then spends hundreds of hours planting bulbs in the fall before the ground freezes. They devote winter and early spring to protecting the precious bulbs and shoots—which are “like a salad bar for critters,” according to Thuen—by putting up deer fences and spraying an organic solution that makes them taste bitter to deer and rabbits. But it’s all worth it when Chaska suddenly looks like a scene from a postcard of Amsterdam and the promise of warm days returns.

 

108

Number of tulip varieties in this spring’s display, with a color scheme that includes citrusy oranges, yellows, and greens, plus a smattering of purples as a complement. “Green flowers are fairly rare,” senior gardener Aimee Thuen says. “But one of the varieties we’ll use, Green Mile, it’s green and yellow, and the petals open up a bit to be almost lily shaped.”

2005

Year tulips first became one of the Arboretum’s spring draws, coinciding with the opening of the Oswald Visitor Center and the current Annual Garden. In 2014, the tulips were endowed by Corrie Beck. The endowment supports the cost and planting of all the new bulbs.

100,000+

Approximate number of visitors who come from all around the state (and beyond) to see the tulips in bloom.

500

Hours it takes the 40-plus-person staff, plus dozens of volunteers, to plant the new bulbs each October.

40,000

Number of tulips that bloom each year—find 20,000 in the main Annual Garden space and the rest sprinkled among gardens near the Oswald Visitor Center, the gatehouse, and the Highway 5 entrance.

7,000

Space, in square feet, the tulips take up throughout the Arb’s grounds.

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Location

 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

3675 Arboretum Drive

Chaska, MN

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ICYMI: New Uptown cafe & store celebrating Asian culture opens – Minneapolis, MN

ICYMI: New Uptown cafe & store celebrating Asian culture opens – Minneapolis, MN

by | Apr 27, 2025 | shop/share

Moona Moono

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Black sesame lattes and jiggly cat jellies touch down in Uptown.

Yuzu poppy seed donuts and strawberry Bogart’s Doughnut Co.are brightening up the corner of Hennepin Avenue and 31st Street, where Moona Moono, a new retail shop and café that celebrates all things Asian and Asian American culture, opens this weekend. If there’s an antidote to the perpetual Uptown dead-or-alive discourse, it’s got to be this: An airy, thoughtful space stocked with kawaii-driven home goods and K-beauty treasures, with a little café tucked in the back serving black sesame lattes and snacks. You heard the donut news here first: Moona Moono is collaborating with Anne Rucker of Bogart’s Doughnut Co. on two exclusive flavors for the café (yuzu poppy seed and brown-butter matcha).

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Moona Moono owner Angie Lee, previously a branding and marketing executive, transplanted to Minnesota from New York during the pandemic. At the time, she was working for Samsung and traveling frequently to Asia. She noticed that many of the trends, themes, and flavors emerging on the continents were surging in popularity on the U.S. coasts, but less so in the Midwest—that’s how she found inspiration for Moona Moono. “Everyone looks at the same internet, same social media, so they all have the same desires,” Lee says. “Everyone wants to try that crazy banana milk latte that you can fly to Korea and get from the 7-Eleven. Everyone wants to try the jiggly desserts. But the fact that it wasn’t here—not because there wasn’t a demand for it—that’s kind of where I had this idea.”

The former Paper Source spot at a time when chef Ann Kim’s Korean American restaurant, Kim’s, was still open. The two had connected over Instagram, Lee says, and Kim (who owns the building) loved her concept for the space. When Kim’s closed, Lee was disappointed, as she felt the restaurant and the shop had great content synergy between them, though she understood the decision. Ultimately, though, she thinks the audiences for both spaces were different, and that Moona Moono can thrive all the same. “With anything that changes your situation, you kind of go, Wait, is this necessarily bad, or is this different, right?” she says. “Now I’m realizing, no—things are just different, but it’s still doable.”

She’s not the only small business owner fighting for Uptown, either. Healing takes time—in the in-between, there are matcha donuts to be had.

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Location

Moona Moono

3048 Hennepin Avenue South
Uptown, Minneapolis, MN

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Minneapolis Skyline Minnesota Colourful Vintage Minneapolis Sweatshirt

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ICYMI

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Winter Restaurant Week is Almost Here! Twin Cities, MN

Winter Restaurant Week is Almost Here! Twin Cities, MN

by | Feb 23, 2025 | eat/drink, evergreen

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The Farmer and the Chef: Farm Fresh Minnesota Recipes and Stories

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Twin Cities: Where to Get Thanksgiving Dinner

Twin Cities: Where to Get Thanksgiving Dinner

by | Nov 24, 2024 | eat/drink

Wise Acre

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Take the weight of cooking off your shoulders and be thankful for these delicious meals.

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The food & dining blog

by Mpls.St.Paul Editors

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6Smith

If the words “Thanksgiving buffet” pique your interest, you may want to go to 6Smith. Spend your Thanksgiving at their dining room or bar and enjoy a chilled seafood bar, roasted salmon, filet mignon, fresh salads, and the staples like roasted turkey, herb stuffing, pumpkin pie, and more. $76 per person, kids 5-12 $36. 294 Grove Ln E., Wayzata, 952-698-7900, 6smith.com

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Animales

Mix it up and get your BBQ on this Thanksgiving with Animales BBQ. Pick up a Thanksgiving package or let Animales handle the 20-pound smoked turkey. $55 for turkey and gravy, $160 for Thanksgiving package. Bauhaus Brewlabs, 1315 Tyler St NE, Mpls., 612-400-2153, animalesbarbeque.com

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Breva Bar and Grill

Gather your family and friends and make a reservation for groups of 6 or at Breva. Their menu features Turkey Breast Roulade, focaccia stuffing, green beans almondine, candied sweet potato brûlée and pumpkin cheesecake with chantilly cream for $32 per person. 1115 2nd Ave S, Mpls., 612-353-6207, brevabarandgrill.com

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The Buttered Tin

Choose between a selection of 10 different pies and three cakes to add to your Thanksgiving dessert table. Orders are available for pickup at both the Minneapolis and St. Paul locations from Nov. 23 to 27. St. Paul and Mpls., thebutteredtin.com

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Chloe by Vincent and EaTo

These two Minneapolis restaurants work together to bring you everything but the turkey. Choose between the Petite Package for $140, the Full Feast for $195, or mix and match your own side dishes and desserts through a la carte. Place your order by midnight on November 22, and pick up at Chloe by Vincent or have it delivered on November 27. 700 S. 3rd St., Mpls., app.table22.com

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Cooks | Bellecour

Save time in the kitchen and order delicious food from Cooks | Bellecour to pick up November 26 or 27. Choose from a pumpkin mousse pie, brie en croute, and black pepper garlic dinner rolls that will make your guests ask for more. St. Paul, Edina, North Loop, cooksbellecour.com 

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Chowgirls

From maple-brined turkey to chocolate peanut butter pie, there is something for everyone. Order by November 23, and choose pick up or delivery for November 27. 336 Hoover St. NE, Mpls., chowgirls.net

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Create Catering

This Thanksgiving meal kit comes with turkey, creamy brussel sprouts gratin, roasted heritage squash, and more. Choose between a meal for 2+ diners or 4+ diners, and pick up on November 27 between 3–6 p.m. 1121 NE Jackson St., Suite #145, Mpls., createcaters.com

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Dahlia

Secure some Turkey Day delicacies, including green bean casserole danishes, sweet potato layer cake, and apple pie snickerdoodles. Pick up from Wild Grind Coffee on November 26 from 12–2 p.m. or from Venn Brewing on November 27 from 4–6 p.m. Mpls., eatatdahlia.com/thanksgiving

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D’Amico

Order a freshly prepared meal by noon, Nov. 24, including seasonal favorites such as turkey, wild rice salad, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and more, and pick it up November 27. The meal feeds about six people for $265, with four optional pies at an additional cost. Multiple pickup locations available, 612-238-4444, order.damicocatering.com

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Food Gallery Catering

Order the Thanksgiving Ultimate Feast meal kit by November 22, which includes turkey, masked Yukon gold potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more. The kits are available for pick up or delivery on Fridays leading up to Thanksgiving and November 27. 2010 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls., foodgallerycatering.com

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France 44

Available for pick-up from both locations, this meal order covers everything, including optional appetizer add-ons like cheese boards and wheels of soft cheeses. Turkeys come whole and uncooked from Ferndale Farms, or are available in select raw or confit cuts from Wild Acres. 4351 France Ave, S., Mpls., and 1674 Grand Ave., St. Paul, france44.com

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The Grocer’s Table

Preorder by November 17 and choose from a selection of appetizers, main dishes, desserts, brunch items, and cocktail mixes. You can pick up your delicious goods on November 26 and 27 by 5 p.m. 326 Broadway Ave. S., Wayzata, thegrocerstablemn.com

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The Howe Daily Kitchen and Bar

Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, oh my! On Thanksgiving, dine at Howe’s for $24 per adult and $12 per kid from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 3675 Minnehaha Ave. S., Mpls., howempls.com 

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Kendall’s Tavern and Chophouse

Join Kendall’s Tavern and Chophouse in Coon Rapids from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for their Thanksgiving buffet. Featuring handcarved meats and selections from their tarvern menu available and pricing starting at $39.95 for adults, $19.95 for children from 4-11 years, and kids under 3 eat free. 12800 NW Bunker Prairie Rd., Coon Rapids, 763-951-7225, kendallstc.com

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Lela

Head to Lela for a Thanksgiving brunch or dinner. The brunch buffet is $55 per adult and $22 per 5- to 12-year-old with multiple tasty looking stations, and dinner is $45 per person for a three-course tasting menu (roasted turkey or braised short ribs?). 5601 W 78th St, Bloomington, 952- 656-5980, lelarestaurant.com

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Mara

Order Thanksgiving to-go or enjoy the buffet in the dining room at Mara. If you go the to-go route, choose from meals that serve 4–12 people and pick up on Thanksgiving Day. 245 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., exploretock.com/mara

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Mason Jar Kitchen and Bar

Savor time with friends and family and order the Thanksgiving feast, which includes herb-roasted sliced turkey, traditional sage and rosemary stuffing, candied yams, and more. If you’re just looking for dessert, check out their pie menu. Order by November 26 at 3 p.m. and pick up November 27 from 1–6 p.m. or November 28 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. 1565 Cliff Rd., Eagan, masonjar.kitchen/thanksgiving-feast-2024 

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Meritage

Get some Thanksgiving cooking help from Meritage, a St. Paul mainstay since 2007. Grab a quart or two of pumpkin soup at $28 each with pickup on Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 410 Saint Peter St., St. Paul, 651-222-5670, meritage-stpaul.com

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Mill Valley Kitchen

With only 48 hours notice, Mill Valley can fulfill your holiday catering needs. Pick and choose per person platters, sides, and desserts, which are available November 1–January 31. Rochester and St. Louis Park, millvalleykitchen.com 

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Paris Dining Club

Opt for a French twist on Thanksgiving with Paris Dining Club’s apéro, a spread of pre-dinner snacks along with an optional Bloody Mary mix. Starting at $35, choose delivery or pick up your order on Nov. 27 from 3-5 p.m. 414 3rd Ave. N., Mpls., parisdiningclub.com

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Parlour St. Paul

Whole pumpkin and Dutch apple pies are available for preorder at Parlour St. Paul. Pick up November 27 between 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 267 7th St. W., St. Paul, exploretock.com/parlour

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Pub 42

Enjoy a Thanksgiving Day Buffet from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. that costs $33 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under, and free for kids six and under. If you’d rather stay cozy in your home, order a take home Thanksgiving dinner by November 26 for $115 that feeds 4–6 adults and can be picked up between 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Thanksgiving. 7600 N. 42nd Ave., New Hope, pub42.com 

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Red Cow

The Red Cow meal kit, launching Nov. 5, features Thanksgiving favorites, including roasted turkey breast, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. Order the $285 kit by November 25 and pick up November 27. Uptown and Rochester, redcowmn.com

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Rustica

From now until November 20, preorder pumpkin pie, potato rolls, molasses crinkle cookies, and much much more. Pick up your mouth-watering goodies at their Minneapolis location on November 27 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 3224 W. Lake St., Mpls., rustica-holidays.square.site

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Stanley’s NE Bar Room

Turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and rolls will be served at Stanley’s Thanksgiving dinner alongside their regular menu from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults can gobble up this meal for $15, and seniors and kids under 12 for $12. 2500 University Ave. NE, Mpls., stanleysbarroom.com 

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St. Paul Grill

St. Paul Grill will be hosting three-course prix fixe meals in their stunning space inside the St. Paul Hotel from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Adult pricing starts at $39.95, kids $24.95. Reservations recommended! 350 Market St., St. Paul, 651-224-7455, stpaulgrill.com

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Surly Brewing

If beer is a non-negotiable for your Turkey Day experience, Surly has the perfect meal kit for you. Snag three pounds of their lemon-brined turkey with jus, white cheddar mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and more. Top it all off with a 750 mL bottle of their 2024 Feastbier. Additionally, Surly will be matching donations to Second Harvest Heartland up to $5,000, details for donating can be found on their meal kit order form. $225 per package. 520 Malcolm Ave. SE, Mpls., surlybrewing.com

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Tattersall Distilling, River Falls

Just across the border, head to Tattersall River Falls and for a buffet filled with traditional Thanksgiving fare. From 11 a.m to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, enjoy meals at $35.95 per person. Kids 16 to four eat for $17.95 and under four eat for free.1777 Paulson Rd., River Falls, Wisc., 534-248-8300, toc.com

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Travail Collective

Pick up a Thanksgiving dinner for six to eight people on Nov. 27 from 2 to 6 p.m. Included with the turkey, sweet potatoes, potato pave, creamed spinach, and green bean casserole are cooking and assembly instructions, all for $300. 4134 Hubbard Ave. N., Robbinsdale, 763-535-1131, travailkitchen.com

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Tria Restaurant

If a three-course Thanksgiving prix fixe menu is up your alley, head to Tria. From 11 a.m to 3 p.m choose from their options from the traditional turkey or mix it up with walleye and beef bourguignon. $49 per adult and kids under 12 for $24. 5959 Centerville Rr, North Oaks, 651- 426-9222, triarestaurant.com

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Tullibee at the Hewing Hotel

Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in style at Tullibee, nestled inside the North Loop’s Hewing Hotel. The coursed, family-style menu can be modified for vegans upon request. $65 per person. 300 Washington Ave. N., Mpls, 651-468-0400, hewinghotel.com

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Wildfire Eden Prairie

Head to Eden Prairie for a Thanksgiving Day dinner featuring turkey, salmon, beef, and all the traditional side dishes you can think of. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., $69.95 per adult and $29.95 for kids. 8251 Flying Cloud Dr., Eden Prairie, 952-914-9100, wildfirerestaurant.com

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Wise Acre

Order from Wise Acre’s heat and serve menu to make Thanksgiving a breeze. Each menu item, from their turkey breast and legs to their Vikings and Goddesses pies, can be ordered a la carte to create the custom table spread of your Turkey Day dreams. Get your order in by 6 p.m. on Friday, November 22. 5401 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls., 612-345-2577, wiseacreeatery.com

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Grocery Stores

Cub

With three take-home dinner options for both large and small gatherings, pop over to your nearest Cub store to make dinner as easy as heating and serving. Options include turkey breast for six, spiral ham for ten ($129), or a whole bird for the dinner that feeds ten ($159), with classic sides like dinner rolls, sweet and mashed potatoes, gravy, and more. Order online, over the phone, or in-person at the deli at your local Cub. Multiple metro locations, cub.com

Kowalski’s

Order your Thanksgiving meal, sides, or just your pies from the folks at Kowalski’s. Items can be picked up in store, delivered, or through curbside pick-up. Specific pick-up times and date ranges apply for each option. Their small turkey dinner serves four to six and is $150. Multiple metro locations, kowalskis.com

Lunds and Byerly’s 

Lunds and Byerly’s has options for all your dinner needs, from a full meal for ten to just a turkey. Orders must be completed by November 27, available while supplies last at select stores. Full turkey dinner starts at $119 for three to five people. Multiple metro locations, lundsandbylerlys.com

Wedge Co-Op

From now through November 22, order cooked turkey, sides, and dessert. You can pick up your food from their Lyndale or Linden Hills location November 26–28. Lyndale and Linden Hills, wedge.coop

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Minneapolis, Minnesota Turkey Trot Squad Thanksgiving 2024

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ICYMI

GLOW Holiday Festival Season Opens – St. Paul, MN

Sneak Peek: Minnesota Vikings to Launch “International Collection” of Unisex Outerwear

Sneak Peek: Minnesota Vikings to Launch “International Collection” of Unisex Outerwear

by | Nov 3, 2024 | style/mode

Minnesota Vikings to Launch “International Collection”

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The limited-edition collection, designed in collaboration with Leah O’Connell, Chelsea Adofo-Mensah, Fanatics, and NFL-licensed fashion house The Wild Collective, includes three jacket styles inspired by London street style.

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Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: The Minnesota Vikings announced a new, limited-edition collection of outerwear, called the “International Collection.” The launch, which comes on the heels of the recent Vikings game in London, merges signature London streetwear style with classic sportswear silhouettes to create more high-fashion alternatives for traditional fan gear—designed to wear on and off the field.

More than a year in development, the collection is a collaboration between Leah O’Connell and Chelsea Adofo-Mensah (who are married to Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, respectively), global sports merchandise platform Fanatics, and The Wild Collective, a fashion and lifestyle sportswear brand. The three-piece outerwear line consists of unisex jacket styles.

“The Vikings portfolio of fashion options for fans today is one that already delivers broad options, but we wanted to tailor that London street style vibe to Vikings fans and create pieces that can be worn not only on game day but every day,” says Adofo-Mensah.

The line—comprised of a shearling fur leather jacket, a starter-inspired bomber jacket, and a denim work jacket—embodies a different feel compared to gameday gear typically seen on fans. Instead, subtle, “if you know, you know” nods to the iconic Vikings culture like leather embossed logos, vintage-inspired patches, even an embroidered bird’s eye view of the Vikings field (found on the denim jacket)—done in a versatile and neutral color palette.

“We’re always looking for vintage treasures on Etsy or eBay. The nostalgia of high-end ’80s and ’90s, well-made garments have been a major source of inspiration,” says Adofo-Mensah.

Additionally, the art showcased in the Vikings stadium and facilities also served as guiding forces for the mixed-media designs of the jackets. “Art and fashion in the Twin Cities often get overlooked by the rest of the country,” says O’Connell. “There’s a real craving for high fashion here and we tried to identity a different genre of fanwear beyond the traditional sweatshirts, jerseys, and T-shirts by bringing a high-end fashion approach to the market.”

Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell also note the influence of how players’, WAGs’ (wives and girlfriends), and stakeholders’ style continues garnering more attention and eyeballs now more than ever, with fashion becoming a valuable player in professional football. “There’s been a rising interest and awareness of what everyone is wearing—getting off the plane, leaving the games, etc.” says Adofo-Mensah. “Fashion is shifting and being dictated by the cultural zeitgeist of where we are at now and we wanted to bring that to the Twin Cities and blend that with an international feel because that’s direction the NFL is trending.”

The international collection (starting at $200) is on sale now. Limited units will be available online and in-store at the Vikings Locker Room stores at Eagan Viking Lakes, Mall of America, and U.S. Bank Stadium. shop.vikings.com

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