SEE WHO'S PLAYING U.S. BANK STADIUM 

In addition to being the home of the Minnesota Vikings (as we said earlier, SKOL!), U.S. Bank Stadium hosts major national acts like Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, AC/DC, and the Weeknd. This is where Taylor Swift played two nights of her "Eras Tour," and if you close your eyes and breathe deep, you can still smell the midnight rain. 

Actually, that might just be the sweat of 73,000 football fans. Either way, it's a great stadium. 

See our guide to making the most of U.S. Bank Stadium. 

PRETEND YOU'RE IN PRINCE'S "1999" VIDEO  

First, it was an armory. Then, it was the home of the Minneapolis Lakers (RIP, we'll never get over it). In 1982, Prince partied like it was 1999. 

And now? The Armory hosts EDM stars, pop singers and bands like Arctic Monkeys, Justice, Weezer, and Dua Lipa. A mostly-standing room venue, there are seats on the balcony levels, and, thankfully, never a long line for the bathroom.  

SAVOR FRENCH ONION SOUP AT CHLOE BY VINCENT

Soup hive, rise up! Chloe by Vincent, the reliable, upsacle-ish French spot inside the Canopy by Hilton, has the best French onion soup we've had outside Paris. 

Which makes sense; chef Vincent Francoual grew up in France, and started working in restaurant kitchens when he was a teenager. After a stint in Italy and another at New York's Le Bernandin, he brought his considerable talents to Minneapolis.  

Other hit dishes at Chloe include an indulgent croque monsieur, which comes with frites, and the steak tartare, which chef Francoual willingly admits has "a wee bit of ketchup."  

Come at happy hour, and you can get green peppercorn poutine and white-wine-curry-cream mussels for a steal.   

SOAK UP MINNEAPOLIS' BOOK SCENE 

Open Book's beautiful, light-filled space is a Midwestern hub of literary excellence. It's home to Milkweed Editions, an award-winning, independent publisher whose authors include poet laureate Ada Limón; Loft Literary Center, one of the nation's largest educational and gathering spaces for writers; and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, which celebrates letter pressing, bookbinding, and more.  

Open to the public seven days a week, you can buy a coffee at FRGMT, pick up a new read at the Milkweed bookstore, and go to the gallery at Minnesota Center for Book Arts – all in the same building.  

In town for longer? Consider a writing or paper marbling class or attend a reading.  

HOST A HAPPY HOUR AT MILLY'S WINE BAR 

Milly's isn't going to try to quiz you on whether or not that Bordeaux is from the left or right bank, nor are they going to judge you for not wanting whatever unfiltered, skin contact, oxidized thing your coolest friend thinks you should be drinking. 

No, Milly's has staked their reputation on being approachable, with fun, chatty descriptions under each of their menu offerings. They also offer many high-value wine flights, half-glass pairings that will give you different expressions of the same grape or style.  

For those who need to nibble while they drink, Milly's has a robust offering of affordable small plates, as well as cheese and charcuterie boards, sandwiches, flatbreads, and something called "an ultimate chocolate board," which isn't anything we'd turn down. 

BAKE LIKE A POTATO AT THE COMMONS 

The Commons is exactly what it sounds like — a wide-open green space for downtowners to gather. Spitting distance from U.S. Bank Stadium, it often plays host to game-day events, but also has a playground, dining spaces, a splash fountain, and free lawn games.   

Conveniently located right off the Metro Green Line, the Commons is the kind of place you can spend an entire lazy afternoon picnicking, reading, people-watching, and letting the sun bake you like a foil-wrapped potato. Just don't forget the SPF.  

GRAB A SOUVENIR AT GAMUT GALLERY

For over a decade, Gamut Gallery has been an important pillar of the Minneapolis art scene. Hosting both solo and group exhibitions from rising artists like Emily Quandahl and Leslie Barlow, the Gamut also has a gift shop with prints, ceramics, and other fit-in-a-suitcase originals.  

If you're more of a doer than a buyer, you can attend one of their classes, like a sip-and-paint with a live DJ. Groovy!  

PAIR YOUR PIZZA WITH AN EMPANADA AT BOLUDO  

Boludo's origin story is Minneapolis legend. It started at Martina — Daniel Del Prado's smash of a Linden Hills restaurant — when a pair of piping-hot empanadas oozing creamed leeks and gorgonzola practically broke the menu. These were not just any dough crescents sitting under a heat lamp; they were revelatory expressions of a humble snack food. So good they demanded their own restaurant.  

A year later, Boludo was born. Those creamed leek and gorgonzola empanadas are still on the menu, of course, as are more classic options, like beef picadillo and jamon y queso. 

But the pizza — football-shaped, crusty yet chewy, and perfectly topped — is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. Finish your meal with an order of churro donuts, wash it down with a couple glasses of Emilia Romagna lambrusco, then stumble back to your bed for a nice siesta. 

TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO SIMPLER TIMES

It's a red-and-white train car straight out of the "aw, gee" era, and we love it for that. Other things we love? The unironic patty melt on the menu. Being able to get a side of "angus beef." The guy in the backwards trucker cap flipping face-sized pancakes on a flat top while he makes conversation with regulars. 

Band Box is a diner. It's a landmark. It's a quarter-pound slab of Minneapolis history. It's the place where this guy rallied his troops, and we love it for that.  

DOUBLE YOUR NAAN AT SPICE AND TONIC

Don't be fooled by the unassuming exterior of Spice and Tonic. This narrow, cozy restaurant serves generous portions of North Indian classics like baingan bharta and chicken shai korma that are worth stopping in for. 

A short walk from the Guthrie, it's one of our pre-theater dinners of choice.  

CATCH A SHOW AT THE SOUTHERN 

Originally a turn-of-the-century vaudeville house, The Southern was, for a time, the sister theater of Stockholm's Södra Teatern (Southern Theater), the oldest theater in the Swedish city. Now that's sval (cool).   

These days, it's a hub for independently-produced shows from the likes of The Moving Company and Collide Theatrical. It's also one of the most beautiful venues in the entire city, with a charmingly old-school proscenium and intimate-yet-grand feel.  

SWING IT OUT AT MINNEAPOLIS PICKLEBALL CLUB 

Ah, pickleball — the peoples' racquet sport. With seven state-of-the-art courts, free parking for members, and a practice/warm-up area, Minneapolis Pickleball Club proves that this trendy sport is here to stay. 

There's even a rooftop lounge, so you can linger after your match and bask in that winner's glow. 

Find more places to play pickleball.  

PEOPLE WATCH ON EATO'S PATIO 

Picture yourself snacking on fried gnocchi, sipping a six-dollar glass of prosecco, and watching the world of Washington Avenue go by on a sunny sidewalk patio. Now go to EaTo, downtown East's approachable Italian palace, and make it happen.  

If you're more hungry than snacky, there's a full menu of reasonably-priced pizzas, pastas, and shareable dishes that will please even the pickiest eater. (Who can say no to cheese pizza puffs and spinach dip?) 

If you're feeling ambitious, order an entire pint of Sebastian Joe's ice cream for the table, then grab a bottle of vino at the in-house bottle shop to take home. Chefs kiss, belissama, etc.