Our First Scout Meetup + Trails, Art, and Mother’s Day Markets

Happy Tuesday, friends! I’m keeping this intro short and sweet this week, but I do have one exciting update you won’t want to miss.

First Scout Meetup on the Horizon!

I meant to share this with you last week—over 70% of you voted in favor of an in-person Scout happy hour!

Since then, we’ve already locked in a spot at Arbeiter Brewing Co., who generously offered to host us. We couldn’t be more excited. Arbeiter has a real commitment to building community in their neighborhood, which makes it a perfect fit for our first gathering. They also have award-winning beer (and tasty NA options)!

I’ll share more details next week on the date, time, and how you can help shape our first gathering. Can’t wait to hang out with you!

TRIVIA

After a brief period of hibernation, trivia is back this week.

ADOPT PETS

Say hello to Gentry, a gentle Retriever/Hound puppy with soulful eyes. Star, a playful and loyal Pit Bull/German Shepherd mix, is eager for a new friend. For those seeking a laid-back companion, Steven is a two-year-old Domestic Shorthair who loves relaxing in the sun.

HELPING HANDS HUB

Green Guardians MN builds resilient neighborhoods through environmental action. Join their Lake of the Isles Cleanup on May 10th to help keep local waters clean and connect with neighbors over a morning of service and snacks. Clean up with your neighbors

Loaves & Fishes provides free, healthy meals where they’re needed most, combating hunger through food rescue and community partnerships. Volunteers are needed to help prep and serve meals to neighbors facing food insecurity in Minneapolis. Start prepping & serving

CAPI provides for the immediate and essential needs of immigrant and refugee communities in the Twin Cities. They have several ways to get involved and are always looking for help at their food shelf. Get involved

Catholic Charities Twin Cities works to fight poverty and promote justice in Minnesota. They need volunteer sewists to mend clothing for people experiencing homelessness, restoring dignity and extending the life of essentials. Learn more

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Have an opportunity you’d like to share with everyone? Drop us a note at hello(at)twincitiesscout.com

TRAIL GUIDE

Three new trails for you to explore this week, including two at Afton State Park!

Want to feature an event with a poster? Reach out to hello(at)twincitiesscout.com

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair returns Mother's Day weekend (May 10-11, 2025) for its second year. Enjoy 160+ artist booths, botanical marketplace, music, food trucks, and craft beer in this free celebration featuring local and national artists across various mediums. Get the full details

Attend the free LGBTQ+ Outdoor Experience Recreation Fair on May 10, from 12-3 PM. Hosted by Wilderness Inquiry & Queermunity, this event highlights outdoor activities and wellness for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. Enjoy giveaways, vendors, a gear swap, and guided activities in a welcoming space. Learn more

Note: Several readers asked for a way to easily tell if an event is free and/or dog-friendly. So this week, you’ll notice events have been annotated with emojis:

🆓 = free event admission
🐕 = dog-friendly (qualifiers like patio-only will be mentioned in the event description)

Find it helpful? Hate it? Either way, let me know! Your feedback makes this newsletter better.

Wednesday (5/7)

Thunderbolts*, Riverview Theater – Catch the exciting film 'Thunderbolts*' on the big screen, showing at 1:30pm, 4:15pm, and 7pm. Movie times

Bike Month 2025: Twin Cities Group Ride & Celebration, Dual Citizen Brewing (🆓) - Celebrate National Bike Month with a casual group ride and community celebration! Participants will start from either the Federal Reserve building in Minneapolis or the Historical Streetcar Station in St. Paul and meet up at Dual Citizen Brewing. From 4:30-7:30pm. More deets

Brew Babies, Wandering Leaf Brewing Co. (🆓 🐕) – Bring your little ones and make friends from 5-6:30pm. Meet up

Poetry Lovers Converge, Golden Valley Library (🆓) - Everyone is invited to read original or favorite poems, or just listen. In all languages, for all ages and all authors. 6:30-8pm. Learn more

The Weight of the World: An evening with climate writer Mary Annaïse Heglar, Bell Museum (🆓) - Join author and storyteller Mary Annaïse Heglar as she discusses the climate crisis and helps us imagine a just climate future. 5-8pm. Get your free tix

Thursday (5/8)

Courtroom Concert: PaviElle French, Landmark Center (🆓) – Midday concert with acclaimed vocalist at 12pm. Hear live

Maple Grove Farmers Market, Church of the Open Door (🆓) – Outdoor market season with local vendors, 3-7pm. Fresh picks

Arbeiter Tap Take Over at UofM Campus Club, Campus Club – Exclusive beer lineup and live music from 4pm. Learn more

Early Evening Jazz: The Willie August Project, Berlin MPLS (🆓) – Enjoy mellow jazz at 4:30 pm. No cover. Jazz fix

Plant Bingo!, BlackStack Brewing (🆓) – Play bingo to win houseplants! Fun starts at 6pm. Win plants

Ghost-Note, Dakota – Soulful funk grooves led by Robert “Sput” Searight, 6:30pm show. Funk edge

The Barber of Seville, Ordway Music Theater – Live opera classic begins at 7:30pm. Opera tix

Friday (5/9)

St. Paul Art Crawl 2025, Wards 1, 3, and 4  (🆓)- Weekend-long art galleries and music spaces, from Friday through Sunday. Discover St. Paul art 

Arboretum Plant Sale, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (🆓) – Annual plant sale features expertly chosen plants and flowers, 8am–4pm. Also on Saturday. Shop plants

Block Printing Class, Simply Creative – Make your own printed canvas bag in this beginner-friendly class at 6:30pm. Try block print

St. Paul Saints vs. Buffalo Bisons, CHS Field – Come out to fireworks night, first pitch at 6:37pm. Get tickets

Allison Russell and the All Returners Tour, First Avenue - Grammy-winning artist Allison Russell blends folk, jazz, and soul in genre-fluid music that celebrates survival and liberation. 7:30pm. Get your tix

Søndergård, Fliter and Mozart, Orchestra Hall – Classical music experience with pianist Ingrid Fliter at 8pm. Classical bliss

Sugarcoat, Mishi Mega, and Linus, 331 Club – Local bands perform live, 10pm. Catch the bands

Saturday (5/10)

Self Guided Mother's Day Wildflower Walk, William O'Brien State Park (🆓 🐕) – Take a beautiful wildflower walk, 8am–3pm. Flowers hike

CAPI’s Unity In Motion 5K, West Palmer Lake Park – Celebrate community and healthy living at this event! Proceeds support CAPI’s mission to empower Minnesota’s immigrants and refugees with vital resources and opportunities. Race times: Miracle Mile 9:00am, 5K 9:30am, CAPI-bara Crawl 10:45am. Get registered

Springtime on the Farm, Oliver Kelley Farm – Explore a working farm with the family, with a food truck, plant sale, and more. From 9am–4pm. Farm day

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair (🆓 🐕) – Experience over 180 artists, live music, food trucks from 10am-7pm! Also on Sunday. Art outdoors

Minneapolis Vintage Market, St. Louis Park ROC (🆓)– Open-air market featuring vintage finds and local sellers from 11am-4pm. Vintage shop

Milton Square Mother's Day Market, Marigold Milton Square (🆓) – Tastings, sales, local goods for moms starting at 11am. More info

SpringPOP! Community and Maker Market, Springboard for the Arts (🆓) – Community market and pop-up with over 35 artists, starts at 12pm. The deets

Asian Phoenix Fest, Arbeiter Brewing Company (🆓 🐕) – Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with food trucks, craft market, performances, 1-5pm. Fest details

Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV), The Parkway Theater - Catch this classic on the big-screen in a comfy venue. Doors open at noon, film starts at 1pm. Get your $7 tickets

Book & Brew: Parks & People Coloring Book Launch, Waldmann Brewery (🆓 🐕) – Coloring book launch event for all, from 2-5pm. Dogs allowed on the patio. Color together

Sunday (5/11)

Mother's Day Weekend Art Festival Pop Up, Mall of America (🆓) – Artists from top local festivals show works, 11am. Festival finds

Momacita Market, Graze Food Hall (🆓) – Celebrate mom at this special market, 11am. Mom shop

Mother's Day Market, Surly Brewing Co. (🆓 🐕) – Outdoor market, book fair, seltzer flight for moms, 11am–4pm. Surly event

Moms, Music & Makers, Insight Brewing (🆓 🐕) - Enjoy a curated market with drink specials and three sets of acoustic tunes in a beautiful outdoor patio, from 1-9pm. Learn more

Sanctuary City, Theater in the Round - A play exploring themes of love, longing, and belonging in an unwelcoming country, as two teenagers navigate life, friendship, and immigration challenges in New Jersey. 2pm showing. Get your tix

St. Paul Saints vs. Buffalo Bisons, CHS Field – Sunday baseball, first pitch at 2:07pm. Get your tix

Monday (5/12)

Gentle Yoga Flow, Silverwood Park – Relax with foundational yoga, all levels, 6:30pm. Yoga time

Uproar Comedy Open Mic, Bryant Lake Bowl (🆓) – Free open mic for comedy lovers, show at 7pm. Laughs open

Puppy Playtime and Smol Dog Night, Unleashed Hounds and Hops (🐕) – Puppy and small dog social night, 5pm. Dog hang

Attack on Titan - Beyond the Walls World Tour, Orchestra Hall – Immersive symphonic concert experience, 7:30pm. Epic anime

Tuesday (5/13)

Taco Tuesday, BlackStack Brewing (🐕)– Get three tacos and a beer for $14, 4:30–9pm. Dogs allowed on the patio. Taco night

Silent Book Club, Inbound BrewCo (🆓 🐕) – Enjoy quiet reading and a drink 6–10pm. Read & sip

Paint & Sip Class With Your Bearded Artist, The Gnome Craft Pub – All skill levels welcome! 'Swirling Mountain Tops' on canvas, 6pm. Paint & sip

Buffalo Show, Bryant Lake Bowl – Celebrate indigenous blues, music, and storytelling at 6pm. Learn more

Southside Aces: A Night in New Orleans, Dakota – Celebrate 20 years of New Orleans jazz with Twin Cities favorites, 7pm. Jazz night

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