Welcome back, friends. Somehow we’re already near the end of summer, which means The Great Minnesota Get-Together, the State Fair, kicks off this Thursday. Even with the fair going on, there are plenty of other events to check out this week and next. I hope you find something in the list we put together that feels worth showing up for.

I’m in Denver this week, sneaking in one last bit of time off before starting a new job next Monday. The mountains are beautiful, but honestly, I miss Minnesota. It feels like home now. For the first time in my life, I feel really connected to a place. So when I read Rosie Spink’s latest essay, it hit me. She writes about my Millennial generation’s restless attraction to nomad culture and infinite options. Her point is that while it’s tempting to chase endless options, the real depth comes when you commit to one place and accept it as it is, imperfections included:

“The richness and meaning arises in part from choosing it at the expense of all other places you could be and things you could be doing. Accepting a place’s shortcomings, the things it lacks, and its imperfections is essential to appreciating everything it does have to offer.”

Along those same lines, writer and biologist Spencer R. Scott makes a strong case for becoming a “person of place.”

“One of the larger projects of our modern society and economy is a project of dislocation and disconnection. The more we can untether people into individual units, the easier it is to mobilize them for maximal utility to the market. Most of us are not people of place, we are people of a market. Many move away from our hometowns, we follow opportunity to college or for a job to maximize our economic/career opportunities. Most people do not use their place-based identity as the prism they bend all decisions through, and most people do not integrate into the places they inhabit.”

That line about rootlessness stuck with me. So much of modern life pushes us to keep moving, to be marketable, to stay unanchored. But after a while, that rootlessness can feel like weightlessness. Choosing to stay put, to pay attention, to invest in where you are—it grounds you in a way hustle culture never will.

“Becoming a person of place makes long-term investments desirable, because the future becomes more valuable to you. Those who have committed to a place, an ecosystem, a community, feel those as an extension of themselves.”

“They cheer for their place like a favorite sports team, they envision its success beyond and after themselves. To the unpracticed this may sound scary, to tether your heart and being to something you can’t fully control. But down that path lies great reward. There are particular joys afforded to being a member of a community, of finding esteem in your peers, of contributing what you can, of seeing wildlife thrive, fruit drip from trees, of being helped by your neighbors when in need, of tangibly witnessing the results of your efforts.”

And here’s the part I love: Scott doesn’t leave it as some poetic idea about belonging. He makes it practical. Belonging isn’t just a nice feeling—it’s a set of choices, the actions you keep repeating, the small things you do where you live.

“Join a climate group, run for something, try to improve your neighborhood in one single way, then keep going. Entangle yourself with your community and local ecosystem. They need you, and you’ll need them.”

That’s why I love this city. The Twin Cities aren’t just where I live; they’re where I’m starting to put down roots. When you show up for your neighborhood, your local businesses, your parks, your people—the place starts to reflect you back. That’s the heart of what we’ve been striving to build here: to give you excuses to dig in. Places grow richer when we commit to them, and if we’re lucky, they commit back.

— James

P.S. Keeping the rest of this issue condensed this week. The usual format will return next Tuesday.

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The Luminary Arts Center will come to life with performances from the vibrant immigrant and refugee communities in the Twin Cities at CAPI’s Give & Grow Annual Event on Sept. 11! Get your tickets now

Wednesday (8/20)

Summer at The Cedar #7: Ukrainian Village Band, 6–8pm at The Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls
Spirited Ukrainian roots and dance music at this free outdoor concert finale.

WEN Clothing Swap: Fall Edition, 6–8pm at UMN ReUse Program, Mpls
Swap sustainably—bring or browse clothes at this eco-friendly event.

MidCity Farmers Market, 4–8pm at 693 Raymond Ave, St. Paul
Come on out to Puzzle/Game Swap - Round 2 at this week’s market.

Nokomis Farmers Market, 4–8pm at 5167 Chicago Avenue, Mpls
Weekly farmers market with produce, vendors, and lively community atmosphere.

Thursday (8/21)

Minnesota State Fair, All day at State Fairgrounds, St. Paul
Twelve days of food, rides, concerts, and classic fun.

Campfire & Curiosity with a Naturalist, 5:30–7pm at JD Rivers’ Garden, Mpls
Family campfire fun with snacks, bug hunts, and garden exploration.

Open Doors on Grand Avenue, 5–7:30pm at Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Enjoy shops, food, and outdoor live music in vibrant Grand Ave.

Forest Bathing, 6:30–8pm at BF Nelson Park, Mpls
Guided, meditative walk in nature to reconnect and recharge.

Plant Bingo!!, 6–8pm at Blackstack Brewing, St. Paul
Play bingo, drink beer, and win houseplants—RSVP required.

Makers Night, 6–8:30pm at American Swedish Institute, Mpls
Bring a project, share creativity, and connect with fellow makers.

Friday (8/22)

Canning 101: Relish the Process, 10am–12pm at MN Landscape Arboretum, Chaska
Learn canning with hands-on recipes and samples included.

Pop-Up Produce Market + Dodge Nature Center Shepard Farm Discovery, 3–6pm at Shepard Farm, Cottage Grove
Youth-run produce market with farm tours and local food celebration.

Break the Bubble, 6–9pm at Dual Citizen Brewing Co., St. Paul
Large social mixer to meet new people without the pressure of networking.

Saturday (8/23)

Hmong 50 Festival, 11am–10pm at MN State Capitol, St. Paul
Celebrate 50 years of Hmong heritage with music, food, and fashion. Runs through Sunday.

Wild River Poetry Walk, 8am–10pm at Wild River State Park
Self-guided walk featuring site-specific poems along the St. Croix.

U-Pick + Open House, 9am–1pm at Get Bentz Farm, Northfield
Pick dye plants, tour the fiber mill, and shop yarn.

SUP Lesson for Women, 9–11am at Fish Lake Regional Park, Maple Grove
Learn paddleboarding with gear included; welcoming to beginners.

Silent Book Club Mpls, 12:15–1:30pm at Bear Cave Brewing, Hopkins
Bring your own book. Enjoy some silent reading time & chatting afterwards. All are welcome!

Letter Writing Social Hour, 1–2:30pm at Arvonne Fraser Library, Mpls
Supplies and stamps provided—rediscover the joy of snail mail.

Seeds are Da Bomb, 1–3pm at Fort Snelling State Park
Create seed bombs while learning about pollinators and biodiversity.

River at Risk: An Escape Room Without Walls, 1:30–4pm at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Brooklyn Park
Outdoor puzzle adventure to “save” the Mississippi River; $15.

Bikes and Botany, 2–4pm at Hosmer Library, Mpls
Bike tune-ups and produce giveaway in a community garden.

Fitzgerald Walking Tour, 4–5pm at Cathedral Hill, St. Paul
Walking tour marking 100 years since Gatsby’s release.

Rain Or Shine: Monologues on Turning Days Around, 7–8:30pm at Bryant Lake Bowl, Mpls
Performers share funny and heartfelt bad-day stories.

Sunday (8/24)

Yoga at the Market, 9–10am at Kingfield Farmers Market, Mpls
Begin your day with a casual, all-levels outdoor yoga class. Free and open to all levels!

Cedar Lake Trail Bike Ride, 1–4pm at Burnes Park, Hopkins
Group 16-mile ride across trails and bridges with city views.

Mississippi River Day Canoe Trip, 1–5pm at Harriet Island, St. Paul
Beginner-friendly paddle down the Mississippi River with Wilderness Inquiry.

Strings Attached: An Indie Orchestra Experience!, 5–8pm at Parkway Theater, Mpls
MVO Crewtets join local indie artists for an epic mash-up of soaring strings and captivating tunes.

Monday (8/25)

Natural Dye: Fresh Flowers, 6–8:30pm at Silverwood Park, St. Anthony
Dye cotton using farm-grown blooms; all supplies included, $34.

The Park Makers Table, 6–8:30pm at WaterWorks, Mpls
Relaxed drop-in for art, crafts, and inspiration in the park.

Immigrant Kitchen: Afghan Edition, 6:30pm at Oro by Nixta, Mpls
Afghan hosts share food and cultural stories. Hosted by BIPOC Foodways Alliance and Immigrant Kitchen.

Tuesday (8/26)

Fix-It Hub, 4–7pm at St. Anthony Library, St. Anthony
Skilled volunteers help fix broken items—learn repair skills.

Sustainable Shades: Dyeing Wool with Food Waste, 5:30–8:30pm at LAB MPLS, Mpls
Hands-on workshop with fiber artist Natalie Shekey creating natural food waste dyes on local wool, plus appetizers included.

T-Shirt Upcycling, 6–7:30pm at Elliot Recreation Center, Mpls
Upcycle old tees into new wearable styles; no sewing required.

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