Hubbuzz's Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN Blogs

How to Avoid the Swine Flu for Apartment Dwellers

CityBuzz — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:27:29 -0600

The ever-so-scary swine flu is really just an intense and elusive version of the regular flu that we have all had at some point in our lives. However, because the swine flu is more resistant to medicine and is highly contagious, it’s important for people to be aware of how to prevent any type of cold or flu—especially those living in close quarters with many other people, such as apartment renters.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe and healthy at your apartment this flu season:

1.) By far the #1 most important and effective way to prevent illness is to wash your hands. And not just after you go to the bathroom, either. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands after working out at the community fitness center, shooting pool in the clubhouse, using the business center computers or even just pushing the elevator buttons.

2.) It’s one thing if you want to cover your own apartment in germs, but PLEASE, if you have to cough or sneeze in the hallway, laundry room or any other public areas of your apartment building, make sure you turn your head into your elbow or shoulder! No, it is not sufficient to use your hand to cover your mouth because then you will spread your germs to the next surface you touch (unless, of course, you run straight to a bathroom to scrub your hands ?)

3.) Get a regular flu shot. There is much debate about what time of the season you should have the flu shot administered, but most health professionals agree that getting a flu shot is a solid step towards preventing illness. Go one step further and work with your apartment manager to organize a flu shot clinic at the community to encourage your neighbors to get one, too.

4.) If you live with roommates, make sure you all pitch in to clean your apartment at least weekly. Wipe down kitchen and bathroom counters with an anti-bacterial cleaner and a clean sponge and/or paper towel. Also, regular vacuuming and sweeping cuts down on dirt particles that can aggravate allergies (which cause sneezing and germs).

If you still get sick this fall, do your best to stay at home so you don’t infect your neighbors and/or co-workers! Don’t use the community amenities during your down time, including the fitness center, hot tub or TV/game room, and make sure to wash your bedding and toss your toothbrush once you’re back on your feet again.

And, if you're really worried about getting H1N1, maybe you should invest in a neat face mask like the one in this picture.

You can find more information about swine flu on the Center for Disease Control website.

Looking for an apartment to rent in Minneapolis-St. Paul? Search apartment rentals by neighborhood now on hubbuzz.com!

New map sites help you navigate your Minneapolis-St. Paul neighborhood

Murphy Applegate — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:25:39 -0600

I’ve noticed a lot of new mapping tools floating around the Web lately and a few of them seem like they would be very handy for people living in apartments and/or people who are living in a new city or neighborhood.

One is YardSaleTreasureMap.com which lets you enter an address, search radius and day of the week to generate a list and a map of local yard sales taking place around Minneapolis-St. Paul that day. The listings are pulled from craigslist ads and not only show the location of the sale but also details about what sort of items will be up for grabs.

If you have recently moved into a new house or apartment in Minneapolis-St. Paul and need some new furnishings this could be a very helpful tool that will save you time and money. And if you’re not familiar with Minneapolis-St. Paul, don’t worry, the site helps you map a route and lets you print directions so you don’t get lost.

Another great site is MapMyFitness.com which has a ton of fitness tools, including articles from popular fitness magazines, local running paths, fitness plans, and a ton of other cool tools for fitness buffs.

This tool would be especially helpful for someone who has just moved to a new Minneapolis- St. Paul neighborhood and needs to create a new fitness routine, or even for someone who travels a lot and needs to change their routine often for different locations.

You can also hook up with other members to join fitness groups in Minneapolis-St. Paul on the ‘community’ tab. There are so many links and resources on this site that you could spend hours browsing and planning. Related sites include MapMyHike.com, MapMyRide.com and MapMyTri.com.

Conny's Creamy Cone is a great neighborhood spot

Murphy Applegate — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:45:19 -0600

Looking for a new ice cream spot to help beat the summer heat? If you haven't already, go check out Conny's Creamy Cone on the corner of Dale and Maryland Roads in Roseville, MN. You can see photos of the little 'hood joint and read local reviews on yelp.com. Hubbuzz even has a photo of the shop on its Roseville neighborhood page!

Minneapolis is 2nd fittest city in America!

Murphy Applegate — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:34:38 -0600

Apparently the winter weather doesn't keep Minneapolis residents from living life to the fullest. According to a study conducted by the WellPoint Foundation, Minneapolis-St.Paul is the second fittest city in America. It out-ranked commonly-known healthy places like Denver, Phoenix and L.A. by several positions, and fell just shy of winning the gold medal which went to Washington D.C.

Minneapolis was given a wellness score of 72.1, a number that was decided upon after examining 30 factors like parkland acreage, death rate due to various common fatal diseases and access to healthcare and fitness centers.

It was decided that Minneapolis-St.Pauls' particular strengths included:

Higher median household income
Lower percent with disability
Lower death rate from cardiovascular disease

And its weaknesses included:

Lower percentage eating 5+ servings of fruits/vegetables per day
Fewer acres of parkland per capita
Fewer swimming pools per capita

So maybe if everyone could just work on eating more greens and write letters to their neighborhood Parks and Recreation departments to rally for more open space, Minneapolis-St. Paul just might make it to first place next year.

Tis the season for Beer Festivals

Murphy Applegate — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:00:22 -0600

Interested in sampling some of the best imported and domestic beers around? Then don't miss the City Pages 17th Annual Beer Festival May 30th 5p – 9p.

Held at a new location this year (Downtown Minneapolis at 10th and Hennepin), this outdoor Beer Fest promises beer drinkers excellent brews, live music entertainment, and great people watching!

A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the St. Paul Jaycees, an award-winning volunteer organization that offers its members a chance to network while helping the community thrive.

Sound like an event you and your favorite drinking buddies are up for? Then mark your calendar now....you don't want to miss this fun-filled day!

Admission is $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $45 for VIP access, and $8 for designated drivers. For more information ,or to purchase tickets in advance, visit the City Pages website.

Click here for a map of Downtown Minneapolis.

The best Mother’s Day gift, guaranteed response

TipsnTricks — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:02:36 -0600

Go to your local bookstore.

Buy a copy of a Billy Collins book of poetry – check the table of contents to make sure it includes the poem, “The Lanyard.”

Choose a nice little bookmark, something that your mother will like.

Insert the bookmark into the book at the page where the poem appears.

Have the bookstore wrap this up, if you can’t do it yourself.

Buy a card.

Sign it with love.

It’s a guaranteed win.

No kidding.

Here are some flickr photos of a lanyard, in case you don’t remember making these in Cub Scouts or Brownies or whatever group you were in when your parents were still trying to socialize you.

Jazz up your next date

CityBuzz — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:38:56 -0600

Café Maude: Civilized Leisure – Bistro, Bar, Music

Looking for a great restaurant for your next date? Check out this fabulous bistro and bar in Armatage.

My friends have been raving about Café Maude for a while, so my boyfriend and I finally decided to try it for ourselves last week. We were looking for a cute restaurant with great wine, food and live music, and Café Maude certainly did not disappoint us.

Named after a local civic leader, Café Maude offers friendly and authentic service in a warm and inviting atmosphere. The live jazz music and flickering votive candles create the perfect ambiance for any date.

The Mediterranean-inspired food was delicious, flavorful and very reasonably priced. I highly recommend trying an order of the homemade fries with the grilled Hangar steak – you will not be disappointed.

Besides the incredible menu, I loved this restaurant’s attention to detail. I mean when have you ever received your bill in the pocket of a vintage library book or had a “Rubber Ducky Lemonade” served with a Peep on top?

We will definitely be returning to Café Maude again soon. If you decide to try it, be sure to make your reservation in advanced, because this popular place is especially busy on the weekends.

Café Maude
5411 Penn Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55419
612.822.5411
http://cafemaude.com/

Got Milk Mustache Mobile Tour comes to Minneapolis

apedog — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:25:45 -0600

WHAT:
For years, food scientists have attempted to manufacture new-age, wellness beverages. And though they’ve tried, none are as wholesome, naturally nutrient-rich and delicious as milk. Lowfat and fat free milk provides an array of wellness benefits in a single glass. Milk has been endorsed by more than 250 celebrities and its benefits are supported by hundreds of scientific studies.

From March to September, the national “got milk?” Milk Mustache Mobile Drink Well. Live Well. Tour is traveling coast-to-coast to reintroduce Americans to milk—a nutrient powerhouse. From May 19 to May 24, the Tour will be cruising through your city hosting FREE events to encourage Minneapolis area residents to live well.

MINNEAPOLIS AREA EVENT SCHEDULE & DETAILS:

Tuesday, May 19
Location: Peavey Plaza, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403 in the Loring Park neighborhood
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wednesday, May 20
Location: TBD
Time: 5-7 p.m.

Thursday, May 21
Location: Nestle Store, 1201 Larpenteur Ave. W. Roseville, MN 55113
Time: 5-7 p.m.

Friday, May 22
Location: Lakewinds Natural Foods, 17515 Minnetonka Blvd
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Time: 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, May 23
Location: TBD
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sunday, May 24
Location: Cub Foods, 2390 White Bear Ave N.
St. Paul, MN 55109
Time: 12-2 p.m.

On-site Activities:
At events, Minneapolis area residents can:
• Experience the “Wellness Oasis” and get tips on how to achieve wellness and balance in their life
• Receive health screenings from a registered dietitian
• Sample lowfat and fat free milk from Hastings Creamery, Kemps, Kwik Trip, Land O’ Lakes and Nestle
• Enjoy freshly made Soothie Smoothies
• Relax with five-minute chair massages from a licensed massage therapist
• Pose for souvenir Milk Mustache photos
www.whymilk.com for more information.

The What Else Show Featured in St. Paul Pioneer Press

sass — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:44:13 -0600

Read the article here!

U of M Basketball Great Trent Tucker

sass — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:47:57 -0600

Columnist Zach Eisendrath recounts the life of basketball great, Trent Tucker.

What else...

sass — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:01:15 -0600

Look no further...check out The What Else? Show starring current U of M students Zach Eisendrath and Travis Busch. It's a show about nothing - who doesn't love that?

Beat winter blahs at Theodore Wirth Park

CityBuzz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:44:02 -0600

Got a case of cabin fever? We did too... until we discovered the Theodore Wirth Park. This sweet retreat offers plenty of fun winter activities that will help you embrace the Minneapolis winter snow and ice.

Of course, for the young at heart there are plenty of places to go tubing or sledding. For those of you who are like myself and enjoy cross country skiiing, you'll love this park's 25 km of groomed trails. Don't have any skis of your own? Not a problem – the Theodore Wirth Chalet offers rentals for cross country skiiing, tubing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, all at a super reasonable price. It's also a great place to warm up over a cup of coffee or hot chocolate after a day in the snow.

Ever been snowshoeing? Neither have I! I asked a worker at the Chalet, and they explained that snowshoers are free to use the parks groomed trails, but usually find that the mountain bike paths are best for the sport. I have always been intrigued by it and plan on trying it next time I return.

Even if you don't snowboard yourself, you should really check out the Theodore Wirth Snowboard Park- complete with technical rails and jumps. If it looks like something you might want to try the park's veteran staff provides lessons.

However, Theodore Wirth Park is not the only park in the Minneapolis area offering exciting winter activities. Check out the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Website for more information.

Minnesota Zoo's 21st Annual Beastly Ball

Ostrich — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:42:32 -0600

Support the Minnesota Zoo by attending the Minnesota Zoo's 21st Annual Beastly Ball! This summer the Minnesota Zoo will welcome AFRICA!, a seasonal exhibit featuring ostrichs, zebras and giraffes. "A Fine Feathered Fancy Fete" is this year's Beastly Ball theme, celebrating the ostrich. Join us for a grand evening of partying, fantastic food, terrific auctions and a host of surprises for our guests. For more information contact Bridgette Rufledt, Special Events Coordinator for the Minnesota Zoo Foundation at 952-431-9310 or bridgette.rufledt@mnzoo.org

Where To Go and What To Do in Minneapolis and St. Paul

elizabeth — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:07:44 -0600

I recently visited Minneapolis with my family to check out my dad’s old stomping grounds when he was a high school boarder at St. Thomas Military Academy (originally located in St. Paul’s Summit University neighborhood where the University of St. Thomas is now located).

I asked my friend Stacie, a University of Minnesota alum, where we should go and below is what she had to say. She put together a great little guide - for visitors and locals alike:

Definitely visit Uptown Minneapolis - it's a funky artsy area with lots of amazing restaurants - you really couldn't go wrong. If you take Hennepin Ave into the area you'll see the streets are lined with cool shops and eateries. Once you get closer to Hennepin and Lake you should park and just walk around.

The lakes to the west of Uptown Minneapolis - Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles- are very fun...you can rent canoes, paddleboats, bikes etc. It's always packed with people bouncing around.

We did do this - we woke up early and rode bikes around all the lakes. And yes, it was packed with runners, bikers and rollar bladers. I was surprised to see so many bladers too, until I learned that inline skates were invented in Minneapolis. I guess that makes it a little less uncool. Jk jk. We rented bikes from the very nice people at Calhoun Cycles, located conveniently near Lake Calhoun.

Some good places to eat in Uptown Minneapolis include Zeno, D'Amico and Sons, Figlio, Chino Latino, Lucias and Pizza Luce. Also, Bryant Lake Bowl is a fun place to go because it's so full of character.

Another great area to go is St. Anthony Main in the St. Anthony Falls neighborhood. It's adorable. There is a cobblestone road that separates the local eateries and pubs from the Mississippi River. There are trolleys you can take and you can hop on the Heritage Trail that takes you across the river on the Stone Arch Bridge. It's very pretty and very ped friendly. There are other shops and eateries along Hennepin and 1st.

We had a beer at a couple of the bars on outdoor patios on St. Anthony Main – and then walked across the Stone Arch Bridge. From the bridge there is a great vantage of the Guthrie Theatre. Such a cool building!

Near Hennepin and 1st, we stopped at White Castle for old time sake. My dad said that they used to go there and just say, “I’ll take a bag”, meaning about 10 hamburgers. I didn’t feel that method of ordering still worked, so we tried it and he did have to clarify what he meant.

Downtown Minneapolis is glorious! Nicollet mall is ped friendly and full of great shopping and restaurants. You should play bocce ball on the roof of Brit's Pub. Restaurants in the area worth checking out are Zelo Café and The Local.

Lowry Hill is an artsy neighborhood sandwiched between Uptown Minneapolis and Downtown Minneapolis. You’ll find the Walker Art Museum and Sculpture Gardens. The Sculpture Garden’s are free and have lots of great photo opps.

In St. Paul, in the Summit University neighborhood, there a lot of local eateries on Selby Avenue (Between Dale St and Western Ave) including Zander Café, II Vesco Vino, WA Frost and A Piece of Cake Bakery. There are more great restaurants in the neighboring 'hood of Summit Hill – starting at Grand Ave and Lexington Parkway.