Category: travel
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Eating at Owamni changed how I think about food
When many people think of traditional native cuisine, fry bread comes to mind. While it’s a popular food, it is the food of survival, an innovation, borne in response to forced relocations and resulting injustices. What we often don’t think about is the foods that are truly native to the Americas, such as potatoes, beans,…
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Honest thoughts on the food at Owamni
Owamni sits overlooking the waterfront in Minneapolis. I arrived to this indigenous cuisine restaurant in the early evening hoping to beat the rush. And it was perfect, because I could see the many reservations being prepped. Being a solo diner, I was seated at the bar, with a full of the kitchen. I looked over…
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Backstory Coffee in Minneapolis fuels my imagination
As I looked up the coffee shops I ought to try in Minneapolis, I came across Backstory. The name alone was reason enough to pique my curiosity. I decided to visit their location inside The Duffey. I got up to the front of the line and felt spoilt for choice with the baked goods on…
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Fairgrounds Coffee in Minnesota is for the young at heart
When you walk into Fairground Coffee in Minneapolis, you will enter a fun, lighthearted theme coffee shop. After winding past the sitting area and into the line, you will notice small elements that are nods to carnivals. The swing set and décor is fun, but the shop doesn’t take theme into overdrive on the menu.…
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I underestimated Minneapolis in the summer
I showed up to Minneapolis to attend a conference for work. I was not at all excited about the location chosen, but I went anyway. I apologize Minneapolis, you are beautiful in the late spring and early summer. I sat next to a fellow diner, in town for 24 hours, who eagerly soaked up everything…
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Quick stay at The Renaissance Minneapolis, The Depot
The Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot is located in downtown Minneapolis. I got there by taking the train and then making the short walk from the stop. After checking in, I headed up to see my room. The bed was firm, and I slept with no problem. I was happy to have a work station,…
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The hotel TV
It’s almost a requirement at this point. I enter the hotel room and flip on the TV. I flip through all of the channels and watch all of the shows I don’t make time to watch at home. Seeing Beat Bobby Flay on TV could almost lead to a Pavlovian “you are on vacation now”…
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In memoriam to my favorite part of the hotel experience: The mini shampoo
As a child, my favorite part of staying in a hotel was getting the tiny bottles of shampoo. It was like a free souvenir (that my parents definitely paid for). As an adult, I continued to revel in having the little takeaways from my journeys. Only now, that is becoming a rarer and rarer pleasure.…
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You look like a tourist
It is often used pejoratively. “You look like a tourist.” It means that you look like you don’t know what’s going on, or you stand out too much from the local culture. Which, if you are in fact a tourist, both things are likely true of you. When I travel, I do my best to…
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Barcelona has a tourist problem
Imagine. You just got settled in for your dream Spanish vacation. You are excited to explore the historic streets of Barcelona. Of all the things that could happen during your trip, you never imagined that being the target of protests would be one of them. Recently, Barcelona locals, and those in other Spanish cities, have…
A Wren Says 