The Minneapolis Edit
Hey friends, welcome back to The Minneapolis Edit! This week, we’re turning the thermostat down but the vibes way up. From fire-lit patios and Vikings watch parties to the Rice Park tree lighting and a new dance floor heating up the North Loop—there’s plenty to love about November in the Twin Cities. Plus, a look at what it now takes to buy a “normal” Minnesota home (spoiler: a six-figure salary), and a few riddles to keep your brain warm, too.
Local Faves
Fires & Flurries: 5 Patios That Prove We Don’t Hibernate
From Linden Hills to St. Louis Park, these spots turn winter into a warm-hearted sport.
I know. It’s not snowy yet. I’m just primin’ the pump for ya.
It’s getting colder. I will embrace the cold. I will enjoy the flying fluffy goodness about to descend upon us (positive affirmations work, I swear). I also have self-diagnosed Raynaud’s, so when my fingers turn a pale shade of yellow, I promise I’m not half-dead, just halfway committed to Minnesota living.
And with that being said, here are five restaurants and breweries determined to keep us outdoors, and prove once again that Twin Citizens don’t hibernate, we get hardier. Between fireplaces, heated domes, and even warmer hearts, these spots have us covered — literally.
The Essentials
THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES
🏈 Vikings vs. Bears Watch Party at Wooden Ship Brewing
📍 3300 W 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410
🗓️ Sunday, November 16 | Kickoff at Noon | Happy Hour 12–3 PM
$2 off all pours during the game
Grab your game face (and your gloves), because this Linden Hills favorite is flipping on the big screens and lowering the bar tabs: $2 off all pours during 12–3 PM Happy Hour. Community is in the DNA here—think high-quality craft beer, warm Minnesota hospitality and a “we’re in this together” kind of vibe.
🎁 Dayton’s Holiday Market
📍 700 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
🗓️ Opening Friday, November 14 | Open Wed–Sun through December 30
🕐 Hours: Wed–Sat 10 AM – 6 PM | Sun 11 AM – 5 PM
Free admission
The iconic Dayton’s building transforms into a winter wonderland filled with local makers, handmade gifts, and the kind of twinkle lights that make you believe again. From cozy knits to holiday cocktails, it’s an instant serotonin boost wrapped in nostalgia.
✨ Vibe check: If the North Pole and the North Loop had a baby, it would look like this.
🎄 Rice Park Tree Lighting Ceremony
📍 109 W 4th St, St. Paul, MN 55102
🗓️ Saturday, November 15 | Ceremony begins at 5 PM
🎶 Live music, cocoa, and caroling | Free and family-friendly
Kick off the holiday season under the glow of thousands of lights in one of St. Paul’s most magical spots. The official lighting of the giant Rice Park tree happens just after sunset — a perfect excuse to pull out your warmest mittens and lean all the way into Hallmark movie energy.
🌟 Insider tip: Grab a cocoa from The St. Paul Hotel’s pop-up stand and stick around for spontaneous caroling — it happens every year.
💃 Dance at AVA
📍 923 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
🗓️ Saturday, November 15 | Doors at 9 PM | 21+
🎧 DJ lineup: rotating Twin Cities + national sets | Cocktails & light bites available
The North Loop’s sleek new lounge is giving Minneapolis nightlife a major glow-up. Two levels of luxe vibes, a neon-lit dance floor, and a crowd that refuses to let daylight savings win. Dress code: somewhere between “fashion week” and “first snow chic.”
🔥 Mood: Think Studio 54 meets Scandi minimalism — the perfect Saturday reset before winter really hits.
New Headphones
Friends, this may be a shocker, but I don’t have anything deep to share with you this week! I’ve just been plugging away at work, at life, and the only wild event was that my Beats headphones snapped in two mid–lifting session at the gym
I did what any modern problem solver would do, and reached out to social media hive. Within hours I had a crowd-sourced recommendation for JBL headphones, on sale for $44 dollars, and had them in my mailbox the next morning. That’s it. That’s whatchu get this week.
But also, the headphones sound amazing and they don’t slip off my ears like my old pair. So if you’re shopping for early holiday gifts…
Real Estate Market
Six Figures to Feel “Normal”? What It Now Takes to Buy a Home in Minnesota
The housing headlines might sound intimidating, and I’ll be the first to admit it’s maybe not as easy as it once was to buy a home. That being said, I’m a bit of an eternal optimist, or perhaps I’m just stubborn, either way… there are ways to get you into the market without selling the family farm or taking out a 100-year mortgage (just sayin’).
Because terrible puns are a public service
THIS WEEK'S BAD JOKES
❄️ I’m born in clouds and land without a sound. Each of me is one-of-a-kind.
Answer: A snowflake
🌉 I run through the Twin Cities, crossed by bridges every day. I can freeze at the edges but never truly stop.
Answer: The Mississippi River
🚗 I wipe tears I don’t cry, squeak when it’s cold, and battle salt and slush so you can see.
Answer: A windshield wiper
💌 Ready to love where you live (or find what’s next)?
If you didn’t know, Perfect Match Properties is the real-estate arm behind The Minneapolis Edit—and one of the Twin Cities’ most trusted boutique teams.
Whether you’re dreaming about your next neighborhood, wondering what your current home might be worth, or just exploring what’s possible, we’d love to earn your business.
Thanks for being part of The Minneapolis Edit.
Let’s fall in love with the city all over again, shall we? ❤️
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