The parade culminates in a ceremony on the pond in Powderhorn Park. Two hundred dancers, puppeteers and musicians partake in the pageant which tells of the symbolic return of the Sun to the sleeping Tree of Life. Festivities at Powderhorn follow.

The May Day Parade starts at Bloomington Ave South and 25th St East at 1:00pm this Sunday and ends at Powderhorn Park at 3:00pm. The ceremony begins at 3:30 in the park. A map of the exact route is available at In the Heart of the Beast’s website. If you have a little extra time, you might also consider volunteering for the event. It will earn you a free t-shirt, and even better, a ticket to one of In the Heart of the Beast’s mainstage performances.

Designs were released today, and you can view the photo gallery here, courtesy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. One of the cooler features of this new park will be the “knotholes” along one side, placed such that pedestrians can catch a view of the game from outside, without buying a ticket. The new stadium will also feature wider seats, more aisles, and no less than FOUR retail shops inside.

Construction is set to begin this August, and the park should be open for business in 2010.

Go Twins!

Nightclubs:

The Lounge (Downtown)

Visage (Downtown)

Envy (Downtown)

Foundation (Downtown)

Bar Fly (Downtown)

And for those who eschew dancing, a few happening restaurant bars in which to model your hip threads amongst the pretty people:

Chambers (first floor AND the Red White & Blue bar up on level five) (Downtown)

Solera (Downtown)

Bellanotte (Downtown)

Chino Latino (Uptown)

Figlio (Uptown)

The Independent (Uptown)

Have fun, and remember, taxis are plentiful, both in Downtown and Uptown throughout the weekends, so if you drink, use them!

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) is a top art museum with collections ranging from Ancient China to contemporary American artists. Sculpture by Degas, Rembrandt’s "Lucretia", Van Gogh's "Olive Trees" , and an interior by Frank Lloyd Right are all part of the museum’s permanent collection. Organized by geographical origin as well as by time period, the MIA allows its visitors to flow from Ancient Egypt to tribal West Africa, and on to displays of Mayan textiles and Native (North) American bead work.

The finely chiseled marble of Raffaelo Monti's "Veiled Lady" never fails to amaze me. Likewise, the clarity and vibrance of Jean-Leon Gerome's painting "The Carpet Merchant" calls me back for another look nearly every visit. Other favorites include the period rooms, found throughout the museum in grouped with art from the same era and region. Above is a detail of "Jade Mountain Illustrating the Gathering of Poets at the Lan T'ing Pavilion" (artist unknown). Below is a detail of "Mountain Journey" by Tony Berlant.

The MIA has several recurring special events. Saturday mornings include live music courtesy of radio station City’s 97’s Acoustic Sunrise program. Thursday evenings make an excellent date night, with extended hours and lectures and classes aimed at an adult audience. Knowledgeable volunteers staff Art Carts displaying art and artifacts that can you can touch most Sundays. Families, welcome anytime, will especially enjoy the 10-12 Family Days put on each year. These events combine art projects, dance, theater, storytelling, music and other creative interpretations on a theme.

Food and drink are available at the ArtsBreak Coffee Shop and ArtsCafe Restaurant housed within the MIA. Outside food and drink is welcome in the seating area adjacent to the coffee shop. The Family Center provides a wonderful sanctuary for visitors with young children to recharge, have a snack, and play with art-inspired toys. Strollers are available free of charge (all backpacks, including baby-carrying backpacks, must be checked before entering the galleries).

The MIA is located at 2400 Third Ave South, across from Steven’s Square Park. Museum hours are 10-5 Tues, Wed, and Fri; 10-9 Thurs, and 11-5 Sun. The MIA is closed Mondays. Daily admission is always free, as is parking in their ramp. Certain touring exhibits require an admission fee; inquire at the information desk.

Spring has almost reached us here in chilly Minneapolis, and what better way to celebrate than with a flower show? The Macy's – Bachman's annual show is here, and unlike past years, you can actually view the flowers while you shop! For the first time in Macy's (formerly Marshall Field's, formerly Dayton's) flower show history, the displays are integrated into the first floor retail area, rather than confined to the eighth-floor auditorium.

So now you can browse shoes, cosmetics and flowers all at once, and you don't have to wait in any lines!

This year's show is called “Gadina Africana,” and highlights music and artwork of Africa in addition to the flowers and foliage.

This event is free and open to everyone, and runs at the downtown Macy's store through April 7^th.

Macy's Downtown

700 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55402

612-375-2200

The wall of Uber Bags is a perfect example—ranging from sleek to funky, all beautiful, all up to the task at hand--these diaper bags prove that just because parents are (or soon will be) toting a bag five times the size of their pre-baby carryall does not mean it needs to be covered with ducks or look like an ugly piece of luggage.

Weather you are a mama, papa, or a baby-adoring friend or relative, you will find plenty of endearing and unusual baby and children’s clothes, some made exclusively for Uber baby. Uber Baby’s gift section, which will be expanding this fall, carries high quality toys and well-chosen books for both parent and child. The last time I was in I found myself laughing out loud reading "Haiku Mama" by Kari Anne Roy. A Dad’s Only section ensures gender equity in parenting equipment.

The Expecting Uber Baby wing features trendy and pert maternity clothes. Lacy lingerie, fashionable swimsuits, sassy tees announcing “Yes, I’m Pregnant” are a few of the items that caught my eye.

Uber Baby on 6001 Lyndale Ave South in Minneapolis. Hours are 10-5 Monday-Saturday and 12-4 on Sunday. A limited selection is also available through their website.

Can't decide what you want for dessert? Try Solera's “Dessert Tapas ($9), a smorgasbord of tiny treats that are both gorgeous and delicious. The Horchata shake features miniature balls of chocolate ice cream bobbing inside a cordial glass of rice milk, served with an itty-bitty straw. The Sueños follow; mouth-watering crisps filled with decadent fudge and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Perhaps the most visually delightful is a tiny, conical Mango Popsicle, served (as one might guess) on a bed of diced, fresh mango. The next item is my personal favorite: sweet and crispy Fig Fritters, prepared with ginger and apricot marmalade. Finally, one cannot overlook the citrus, cardamom-infused baby-Flan, which is both spicy and smooth at once.

If you can think beyond dessert, check out Solera's awesome selection of regular (non-dessert) tapas, many of which are also on special during their two happy hours, from 4:30-6:00pm and 9:00-11:00pm weekdays.

Solera Restaurant

900 Hennepin Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55403

612-338-0062

Sometimes you just need something sweet.

When I'm faced with the overwhelming desire for sugar and chocolate, I don't mess around with regular restaurants where the choices are likely to be slim and boring. I go to the experts at Zeno, one of the Twin Cities' few official dessert bars.

At Zeno, the options are varied and decadent. Whether you're in the mood for fresh-baked cookies, served warm with Kona-infused ice cream, or five-layer carrot cake dressed up with pineapple and walnuts, Zeno will not let you down. They take dessert seriously. Crème Brulee is flame-torched at your table. Chocolate-lovers will be equally pleased with the variety of forms in which their flavor is available. Choose from a chocolate layer cake, an espresso hazelnut chocolate brownie, and my personal favorite: the chocolate caramel truffle; a dense brick of fudge, caramel, nougat and ganache.

Zeno also has an extensive wine list and a full bar, from which they regularly produce a myriad of concoctions sweet enough to rival their desserts. Indeed, it is the first and only place I have ever seen a Tiramisu martini, made with Stoli Vanil, Bailey's, Disaronno and Kahlua.

As if all of this isn't enough to send you into rushing over to Zeno immediately, there's another thing you should know: Zeno boasts an eye-popping long happy hour, running from 3-7PM daily. During this time, that Tiramisu martini costs you only three bucks. They also have “bottomless” wine tastings for $10-20 per glass, and food specials.

Zeno Cafe, Uptown

Corner of Hennepin Ave and Lagoon

612-824-6300

Inlaid in the brick floor are installations of miniature sculptures by artist Sarah Sze. Made of everyday objects, the carefully arranged compositions are worlds unto themselves, evoking images of tiny universes or cityscapes. Entitled “Grow or Die”, three pieces make up the installation.

The wings of the conservatory feel like formal European gardens with successive walls of hedge or climbing vines separated by beds plants and flowers, both tropical and native. Cowles Conservatory is open 10:00 am--8:00pm Tuesday through Saturday and 10:00am-5:00pm on Sunday. The all-glass conservatory is located on Vineland Place in Minneapolis across from the Walker Art Center.

West Lake Street's newest hot spot is getting lots of attention and attracting huge weekend crowds for its neon-mirrored-Miami-Vice-themed décor and Scarface-inspired drink menu. The venue's appeal is directly related to its kitsch and tackiness, which, when compared to the ever-growing crop of “upscale” lounges in the Twin Cities, is positively refreshing.

In spite of the bar/club feel in this blinking-flashback venue, Restaurant Miami is indeed also a restaurant. If you wish to dine, however, I recommend visiting on a weeknight or early evening on the weekends, due to a kitchen that appears to bog down easily. The menu selection is heavy on fish and seafood, as one might expect, featuring playfully named creations such as Linguine Del Elián Gonzalez, tossed with scallops, mussels and shrimp in a lime-chili sauce ($15.) Popular appetizers include the expected Calamari ($8,) which was surprisingly fresh and crispy, and Caribbean Chicken Spears ($7,) served on a glittering bed of tiny, diced fruit pieces.

For whatever the food is worth, the real attraction of Restaurant Miami is the bar scene. It's new, it's hip, and it's full of beautiful people in designer dress, laughing and dancing over brightly-colored beverages, teetering under the weight of so much obligatory fruit garnish.

Oh, and did I mention the Scarface Lounge? Yes, that's the VIP area, available by reservation, and there one can lounge on blood-red couches while two flat-screens play a continuous loop of the movie Scarface. Now if that doesn't make a person want to take advantage of the lounge “bottle service,” I don't know what would. Alternatively, there is a wide selection of custom cocktails, all named for lines from the movie. Of course the most popular must be the “Say hello to my little friend...”

Despite a burning desire to stay open late-late-late, the owners of Restaurant Miami are currently only permitted to operate until 11PM on weekdays and 12PM on weekends, so get there early to take full advantage of your glorious, Miami-Vice flashback. Oh, and I almost forgot: if you spot some friends across the room, don't slog through the crowd to chat with them. Simply pick up the neon-under-lit phone on your table (or at the bar) and give them a ring. All tables have telephones.

Restaurant Miami

913 West Lake Street

Minneapolis, MN 55408

612-823-1985

Reservations recommended on weekends