Fun & Affordable Ideas in Minneapolis This Summer

Rise Bagel Co. is filling a hole, so to speak, in northeast Minneapolis' breakfast scene, serving up organic artisanal bagels prepared Old World-style with modern twists. The bakery, which was opened in 2017 by sisters Kate and Jen Lloyd, crafts all of its bagels from scratch in house within the company's renovated 20th-century candy factory bakery and cafe space. Bagels are available plain or in flavors like poppyseed, rosemary, and everything seasoning, served up with clever cream cheese flavors like horseradish or salted maple or spreads like hummus or vegan butter. All-day breakfast items include classic bagel breakfast sandwiches and creative concoctions like the Migas, which stuffs a bagel with pico de gallo, corn tortilla strips, and an organic egg. Lunch deli sandwiches are also available, along with espresso-based beverages from local roasters Dogwood Coffee and Bootstrap Coffee Roasters.

Address: Rise Bagel Co., 530 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Phone: 612-354-3349

Veronique Wantz Gallery is a lovely fine art gallery in Minneapolis' North Loop, opened in 2013 by French-born art industry veteran Veronique Wantz, who brings more than a decade of work as a curator and antique dealer in Paris to her operations. The gallery was opened in 2013, striving to showcase contemporary art works by regional, national, and international artists at various points in their careers. Artists represented by the gallery include Alain Ballereau, Allison Johanson, Juliane Shibata, GUAXS, and Concrete Pig, working in diverse media ranging from canvas and sculpture to glass, textiles, and mixed media. Solo and group exhibitions are presented throughout the year, along with special events like seasonal salon exhibitions and opening evenings.

Address: Veronique Wantz Gallery, 901 N 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Phone: 612-254-2838

Zen Box Izakaya is a charming Japanese comfort food destination in Mill City, opened in 2012 by executive chef John Ng and his wife Lina Goh. The restaurant is known for its excellent ramen selections, ranging from traditional tonkotsu ramen to selections like kimchi-infused ramen or mapo tofu mazemen. Rice and noodle dishes include chicken teriyaki donburi, pork yakisoba, or Japanese-style karaage curry, paired with shareable snacks like charred seaweed edamame, takoyaki octopus dumplings, and a selection of sashimi. Small plates range from tantan chicken wings and bone-in beef short ribs to avocado tempura and fermented soybean omelettes. At lunch, diners can enjoy bento boxes pairing favorites like salmon teriyaki or atsuage tofu with edamame, gyoza, and miso soup.

Address: Zen Box Izakaya, 602 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415, Phone: 612-332-3936

The Minneapolis Institute of Art is one of Minneapolis' premiere fine arts museums, located across an eight-acre campus in Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood. The museum is one of the nation's largest art museums, originally opened in 1915 within a landmark Neoclassical-style building. Visitors can explore the museum for free daily, with the exception of ticketed special exhibitions presented throughout the year. More than 80,000 artworks and artifacts showcase more than five millennia of human cultural history, spanning pieces from the Americas, Africa, and Oceania and showcasing one of the nation's most comprehensive collections of Asian art. Exhibits highlight paintings, photography, prints, decorative arts, and architectural works, including significant collections of jade, bronze, and ceramic works. Behind the museum, Target Park showcases additional collections of contemporary art statues and bronze works.

Address: The Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404, Phone: 612-870-3000