Welcome back, everyone! I hope you’re doing well. Since the last edition, we’ve grown to nearly 700 subscribers—thank you for being here & for sharing the newsletter.
Exciting things are on the horizon, and I can’t wait to share them with you in the coming weeks. At the heart of it all is a belief that we are human beings, not human doings. We all crave connection—to know and be known—and true flourishing comes from nurturing curiosity, speaking truth courageously, & showing up with presence.
Yesterday I stumbled across this quote on Karol Coffee Co.’s website & was excited to share it with you:
“Faced with the sacredness of life and of the human person, and before the marvels of the universe, wonder is the only appropriate attitude.” —Karol Wojtyła
Here’s to a week filled with wonder!
🥾 Trail Guide
Spring is (maybe?) just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to dust off your hiking boots and recharge in nature. Here are three trails to explore this week:
Lake Normandale Loop Trail | Normandale Lake Park | 2.1 miles | 59 ft elevation gain -This surprisingly scenic trail will make you forget you’re still in the city. Fully paved and easy to navigate, it even features a delightful waterfall along the way.
Lake of the Isles Loop | Minneapolis | 2.7 miles | 26 ft elevation gain - I walked this loop last week with my doggo while listening to a podcast on Dostoevsky and nihilism (the walk? Highly recommended. Nihilism? Not so much). The stunning houses along the route almost make up for Minnesota’s lack of mountains.
Wood Lake Nature Center | Richfield | 1.8 miles | 3 ft elevation gain - A gentle hike that immerses you in nature and abundant wildlife. My favorite part is the land bridge crossing the lake—a peaceful spot to pause and watch birds going about their day, blissfully unaffected by life’s chaos. Keep an eye out for two signs featuring quotes from Mary Oliver and Wendell Berry. Pro tip: wear hiking boots—muddy spots are likely this time of year. Shout-out to reader Aaron V. for recommending this gem!
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Check out the events section below for what’s happening around the Twin Cities this week.
📱 Tech-Wise
Speaking of getting outside, let’s talk about what often keeps me from spending time in nature: my phone.
For a long time, I felt ashamed about how much my phone distracted me. But then I had an epiphany: massive corporations with billion-dollar budgets and teams of brilliant people are working tirelessly to make our devices as stimulating as possible. Their bottom line depends on convincing us that what’s on our screens is more rewarding than the physical, embodied world around us. When you think about it that way, it’s no wonder setting boundaries with our devices can feel so hard.
Once I realized this, I stopped beating myself up and started experimenting with ways to build a healthier relationship with my phone. Here’s one practice that’s been surprisingly effective:
Turn your phone to grayscale.
Our brains are wired to respond to bright colors—they activate the reward system and keep us hooked. Switching your phone to grayscale makes everything less visually stimulating (and less addictive). Want to give it a try? Here’s how to enable grayscale on both iPhone and Android. If you’re curious about the science behind this, check out this fascinating study where pharmacy students reduced their attraction to smartphones by using grayscale. Their written reflections on the experiment are particularly eye-opening.
Whatever steps you take, remember to be kind to yourself along the way. ♥️
🐾 Pets of the Week
Charlie is ready for the lakes to warm up so he can go swimming.
Meet this week’s adorable companions who are ready to find their perfect families:
Koda: A Catahoula Leopard mix who thrives in quieter homes (no cats, please!) and will be your loyal, loving companion.
Charlie: A playful Labrador/Shepherd mix bursting with energy. He’s looking for an active family to join him on adventures and endless games of fetch.
Shabat: An adaptable sweetheart who fits right in with both busy households and serene environments.
❓Trivia
Which Minneapolis park is home to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, the oldest public wildflower garden in the U.S.?
If you’d like to feature an event, reach out & say hello.
Had a great time at Silent Book Club Mpls last Saturday.
I went to a Silent Book Club Mpls meetup for the first time last week. 110 of us met at Wicked Wart Brewing, silently read our own books for 45 mins, and then spent 20 minutes sharing our books with others at our table. Highly recommend attending next month’s gathering if you’re into books.
LEGO® Lab, St. Anthony Library - Have fun building at 4:30pm. All ages of kids welcome, no registration required. Build
Sunset Yoga, Silverwood Park - Yoga class w/ Laura Singh at 6pm. Bring props if available. Stretch
Trivia Night, Minneapolis Cider Co. - Test your knowledge at 7:30pm. Game on
Social Good Exchange, Dual Citizen Brewing - Connect with social impact leaders at 5pm. Appetizers provided, drinks for purchase. Connect
Archery in the Parks, Whittier Recreation Center - Free youth & family archery program at 5pm. Equipment provided. Register
Women, Woods and Wine Hike, Eastman Nature Center - Enjoy a leisurely hike with other women at 7pm. Bring your own wine. Hike
Guest Selector Series ft. Bennett Johnson, Small Hours - Enjoy curated wines & vinyl at 7pm. Info
Trivia Night, BlackStack Brewing - Trivia with prizes at 7pm. Trivia time
First Take: Open Mic Night, Minneapolis Cider Co. - Musicians' open mic night from 7pm to 10pm. Info
Drink for Dogs: Underdog Rescue, Unleashed Hounds & Hops - 10% of sales support Underdog Rescue, starting at 4pm. Register
Early Evening Jazz: Tres Elements, Berlin - Enjoy jazz trio performance at 4:30pm. No cover charge. Listen to jazz
Sober Soirée, Earl Giles - Social gathering w/ Lucille’s Events & NA drinks at 5pm. Check it out
Board Game Night, St. Louis Park Library - Board & card games for adults at 5:30pm. Game night
Printmaking: Press It Real Good, 113 N Washington Ave - Learn linocut printmaking at 6:30pm. Live music. Get creative
Madeleine Peyroux & Bettye LaVette, The Parkway Theater - Jazz & soul concert at 7:30pm. Tix
Dead Man Winter & Little Fevers, First Avenue - Americana & indie rock show at 7:30pm. Tix
Sauna w/ Little Ember Co, Cedar Lake - Wood-fired sauna sessions from 6:45pm. Sweat it out
When You Trap a Tiger, Jaycees Studio Theatre - Theater Mu presents Korean folklore-inspired play at 7pm. Tix
Wolves vs. Pelicans, Target Center - Cheer on the Wolves at 7pm. Tix
Concerto Dance: Seasons, Southern Theater - Modern jazz dance performance at 7:30pm. Tix
Paola Angeli w/ Crystal Myslajek, The Cedar Cultural Center - Sardinian experimental guitarist performs at 8pm. Tix
Products Band, Palmer's Bar - Indie rock showcase at 8pm. Tix
S'mores on the Patio, Minneapolis Cider Co. - Free s'mores at 8pm. Get s’mored
Maple Fest, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - Learn about maple trees & enjoy pancakes from 8:30am. Celebrate maple
Lowertown St. Paul Farmers' Market - Shop local produce from 9am to 1pm. Info
Saturday Morning Yoga, Union Depot - All-levels yoga class at 9am. BYO mat. Stretch
Silent Sauna Session w/ 612 Sauna Cooperative, Lake Nokomis - Quiet sauna experience from 9:30am. Limited to 8 people. Relax in silence
Spring Open Studios, Holland Arts - Explore 40+ artist studios from 10am. Info
Mogi Bagel Pop-Up, Brühaven - Grab bagels from 11am. Bagel time
Baked Goods Pop-Up w/ Jer Bear Bake House, Marigold Mpls - Grab some bagels & pastries starting at 11am. Check it out
Video Game Day, Inbound BrewCo - All-day gaming event w/ trivia & live music from 11am. Game on
Nature's Stewards, Mississippi Gateway Regional Park - Learn about animal habits & help get trails spring-ready at 1pm. Get cleanin’
Maple Syrup Festival, Eastman Nature Center - Explore maple syrup making from 1pm. Register
Learn Laser Engraving, George Latimer Central Library - Intro to laser engraving at 2pm. Try new tech
flipturn w/ Arcy Drive, Palace Theatre - Indie rock concert at 7:30pm. Tix
Kelly Moran, Berlin - Experimental pianist performs at 8pm. Tix
Late Night Lounge: echo, Berlin - DJ set blending diverse genres at 9:30pm. Have fun
Waterfowl Walk, Mississippi Gateway Regional Park - Search for migrating birds at 8:30am. Spot wildlife
Minneapolis Vintage Market, Machine Shop - Shop vintage goods from 11am. Shop
Homegrown Hangouts: Women Owned Businesses, Lucille's Bottle Shop - Showcase of local women-owned businesses from 11am. Hang out
Dungeons N Dragons w/ Tower Games, Minneapolis Cider Co. - Free D&D adventure for beginners at 1:30pm. Play
Social Justice Through Art, North Regional Library - Learn about artists who addressed social issues with their work + create your own, at 2pm. Make art
Wolves vs. Thunder, Target Center - Cheer on the Wolves at 8:30pm. Tix
Retro & Board Game Night, Gambit Brewing - Play classic video games & board games from 4pm. Game night
Block Printing Craft Night, Inbound BrewCo - Create your own unique block print from 5pm. Get crafty
Seeds of Resilience: Future Visioning, Resource - Make art & chat about climate solutions on 3/25 at 6pm. Join in
Sushi by Baaska, Bar Brava - Sushi pop-up on 3/25 at 9pm. Reserve
Craft Night, Arbeiter Brewing Company - BYO craft social on 3/26 at 6pm. Craft together
Break the Bubble, Dual Citizen Brewing - Make new friends on 3/26 at 6pm. Connect
Minnesota Frost v Montreal Victoire, Xcel Energy Center - Cheer on the Frost 3/26 at 7pm. Tix
Minnesota Frost v Toronto Sceptres, Xcel Energy Center - Cheer on the Frost on 3/30 at 12pm. Tix
Rondo Community Music Series: Marie Chanté, Walker|West Music Academy - Poetry & music on 4/5 at 7pm. Feel inspired
Movies Made (right) Here, Nicollet Island Pavilion - Watch a classic baseball film in a park on 4/6 at 3pm. Watch free
Hope you enjoyed this week’s edition! Feel free to reply to this email to let me know your thoughts or just to say hi. Have fun out there! 🤙
