I’ve found considerable solace in simple pleasures lately, and pedaling a bicycle is one of the purest of them all. Perhaps whirring along on two wheels can bring you some contentment, or even jubilance, this summer too. Enjoy this Outdoor Guide: Biking Edition
Bike Camping & Touring: Gear Guide
July 1, 2020 by
For those looking to up the ante in their biking, “bikepacking” takes road biking and backpacking to a whole new level. But in order to be successful, it’s essential that you’ve got all the right gear. Here, we’ve got everything you need from bikes to bags to shelters, plus a handy directory to all the … [ Read more]
Explore Minnesota’s Mountain Biking Trails
July 1, 2020 by
Despite our unmistakable lack of actual mountains (sorry Eagle Mountain, you’re an overgrown hill), Minnesota has been home to a rich tradition of mountain biking dating back to the early ‘90s. Our state’s emphasis on conservation and the outdoors has created a robust network of trails that crisscross the state and metro area, while advocacy … [ Read more]
The Beginner’s Guide to Bike Camping & Touring
July 1, 2020 by
When your long-distance rides just aren’t long enough, it might be time for you to tackle a multi-day bike camping tour. But be warned, there’s far more to touring than just crushing mileage. In fact, many cyclists, even extremely athletic ones, struggle with the transition. You’ll have to adjust your equipment, your riding style, and … [ Read more]
8 Twin Cities Metro Area Destinations Worthy of an Afternoon Bike Ride
July 1, 2020 by
Minneapolis (and St. Paul, if not by name then by dint of proximity and association) often comes out on top of lists of the most bike-friendly cities in America. Great bike lane and bike path infrastructure, relatively flat terrain, and a general ease of access to necessities by bicycle contribute to routinely high rankings … [ Read more]
Growler Giveaway: Win an unforgettable outdoor experience with Kerfoot Canopy Tours
June 30, 2020 by
You could win a high-flying outdoor adventure package from Kerfoot Canopy Tour!
The Growler’s Tourism Guide 2020: A Townball Tour in Southern Minnesota
April 3, 2020 by
Find more great travel ideas in The Growler’s Tourism Guide 2020 My wife is, let’s say, baseball-tolerant. She’d never watch a game on TV but is more than happy to head out to the park to soak in one of the 60-or-so days when it’s actually enjoyable to be outside in this state. And we’ve … [ Read more]
38 Days of Mays: On his last stop before the big leagues, the Say Hey Kid spent five legendary weeks as a Minneapolis Miller
February 24, 2020 by
Taft ‘Taffy’ Wright ripped a line drive into deep right-center field at Nicollet Park in Minneapolis on a brisk May afternoon in 1951. It was a typical blast from the Louisville Colonels’ hard-hitting slugger. A towering shot with extra-bases written all over it, the ball practically at war with gravity, begging to leave the ballpark. … [ Read more]
Face Time: LGBTQ pro wrestlers are shaking off old stigmas and changing the game
December 27, 2019 by
On a Saturday night at a F1RST Wrestling show at the Uptown VFW, 20-year-old Devon Monroe is going toe-to-toe with arguably the biggest name in independent professional wrestling: Joey Ryan. Monroe, who is openly, proudly gay, is sporting flashy rainbow hologram tights, and flying around the ring like a seasoned veteran, while the crowd is … [ Read more]
From Zero to 629.4: Surviving the North Star Bicycle Race — Part 3
November 29, 2019 by
I thought I knew what pain was. I was wrong. Just outside of Two Harbors, I was facing wind gusts of 20–35 mph as I moved one painstaking mile marker at a time. Everything I owned was wet, and my ass felt like ground beef. I had cried in a Kwik Trip that morning, almost … [ Read more]
Back to the Earth: When it comes to after-death care and burials, green is the new black
September 30, 2019 by
It might not be the most pleasant topic to think about, but it is a part of life: we are all going to die. But how can we die better? Many Americans are reflecting on this question and recognizing that their carbon footprint extends past death, shunning traditional burials in the process. Over half (53.8%) … [ Read more]
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Chris Qualley
August 29, 2019 by
Chris Qualley is mostly your normal type of guy. Grew up in Lakeville, now lives in Otsego. A wife, four kids, and a puggle named Dolly. A solutions manager at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, which isn’t the sort of job title that begs explanation from the people he meets. Recently organized a funeral for … [ Read more]
Curtain Call: Tipping the cap to Minnesota’s first Baseball Hall of Famer, Charles Albert Bender
July 12, 2019 by
The thing about Major League Baseball history is that there’s *a lot* of it. With much of it taking place in the part of the past that gets called “yore” and all the players and observers being completely dead for a while now, certain “firsts” are up for debate. For every one Mendoza Line (definitely … [ Read more]
Chips On Their Shoulders, Parks In Their Hearts
July 2, 2019 by
The cast of characters who created Minneapolis’ parks could be their own mutton-chopped version of “Parks and Recreation” There’s a lot of green in Minneapolis—6,800 acres of parks, to be exact. Fifteen percent of the city is parkland and 96 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Minneapolis’ 180 park properties have … [ Read more]
G.O.A.T. in MPLS: The two transcendent seasons of Elgin Baylor
July 2, 2019 by
In 1958, the once-proud Minneapolis Lakers, basketball’s original dynasty, the winners of five National Basketball Association championships, had fallen on hard times. The team was on the brink of bankruptcy, had the worst record in basketball, and didn’t even have their own arena. But their reward for falling lower than they’d ever fallen before was … [ Read more]
