One of the vexing problems with summer here in Minnesota is that we really pack a lot into these months. If you like to try to do “it all,” this becomes an overwhelming problem. My remedy is to try for the recreational version of multitasking. In this case, you can visit one of the spots here in town, hang out with friends in a casual atmosphere, and watch a movie — all while remaining outdoors and on a reasonable budget (if desired). That’s right, I’m talking about the summertime joy of outdoor movies. The number of places that offer outdoor movies in the summer is really quite amazing, so I thought I’d try to list some of the places that we can catch them.

• Solera offers movies on their roof on Sunday and Monday nights. May 13 - September 2
• Stevens Square Park was named Best Place to Watch a Movie Outdoors by the Citypages. Music and movies are offered on Wednesday nights. June 13 - August 1
• Minneapolis Parks and Rec shows shows music and movies in Loring Park on Monday nights. July 16 - August 20
• Brit’s Pub shows fairly new releases on their lawn bowling green on Monday nights. August 6 - September 3

That’s just a starter set. Please use the comments section to add the spots I’ve missed!

Metro Transit is running a promotion called 21 Hop+Shop.

21 Hop+Shop gives you great discounts at more than 80 businesses between Lake Calhoun and the Mississippi River along Lake Street.

Route 21 takes you to it all – with frequent service every day. Just show a transit pass at a participating business and start saving!

The interactive map is pretty neat. You can also download a PDF version to keep for your reference.

Some of the discounts you can get are 10% off at any Lake St Dunn Bros. location, a free glass of house wine or tap beer with any food purchase at Amore Victoria, $25 off your joining fee at the Uptown and Midtown YWCAs, BOGO bowling games at Bryant-Lake Bowl, BOGO tapas at La Bodega, BOGO tickets at the Jungle Theater, some sort of deal on pretty much everything at the Midtown Exchange, $2 off mainstage shows at In the Heart of the Beast, and on and on.

Personally, I’ve pretty much only been riding the bus between Uptown and downtown. I keep saying to myself that I could at least make the leap and venture down Lake Street. So now I really have incentive, because the first thing I could think of that I would ride the 21 to would be to Midtown Exchange to eat. Worst case scenario, I lose a dollar between the discount and the bus fare. But I feel like a conscientious citizen because I didn’t drive (although I could have maybe ridden my bike instead, but you know what I mean).

I couldn’t find anything that indicated that this is a limited time offer, so it looks like you can hop and shop indefinitely.

(via ljtwincities)

Is there any Twin Cities establishment that hosts more block parties than BLB?

Bands! Doomtree, Koalas, Ouija Radio, Awesome Snakes, Solid Gold, and The Alarmists.

Also, modern dancers doing Human Bowling. And, as always, the party will be emcee’d by Foxy Tann with her Whambamthankyouma’ams. Because it wouldn’t be a block party without Foxy Tann. What does she do during the winter?

Saturday, September 16, at Bryant-Lake Bowl, from 5-10:30pm.

I’m participating in The 3 Day next weekend, along with a team of 9 other girls called Team Boobylicious. For those of you not in the know, it’s a 60-mile walk covering a span of three days, and all of the proceeds go to benefit the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. We love boobs so much that we set our team fundraising goal at $30,000. It’s within reach, so we’re making one final push this Sunday to see how close we can make it.

Join us for some bowling! Our last bowling fundraiser brought in close to $1500, so we thought we’d give it another shot! The more money we raise, the closer we come to a cure for breast cancer.

Bowling for Boobs II

Sunday, August 13th
5-8 pm
$10/adults and $5/kids all you can bowl

We’ll be taking over Park Tavern in St. Louis Park - here’s a map. Park Tavern’s donated the use of all 20 of their lanes, so there should be plenty to go around for everyone. Bring a friend or two or 43 and we’ll have a good time, all while raising money for The 3 Day. The bowling alley serves food and drinks, so bring some money for that, too, if you think you’ll get hungry or thirsty.

Feel free to email me or comment here with any questions. And if you stop by, mention you saw the info here and I’ll hook you up with a little somethin’-somethin’. If you need a flyer that’s suitable for printing, I can definitely provide that, too!

Help us save boobs. Come bowl. Or just hang out. We’re entertaining.

In case you weren’t aware, Pride is this weekend!

I can barely keep track of all that’s going on, and I’m sure I don’t even know the half of it. Here are a few of the things I know of so far:
Read more

Local blogger Wendy of twodolla.org is Bowling for the Cure to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk.

All this is going down this Saturday, April 22, at St. Bernard’s Lanes in St. Paul. Take your kids from 4 to 7 pm. Take yourself (if you’re over 21) from 8 to 11 pm. Your $15 donation (or $7 for kids) gets you all-you-can-bowl, shoe rental, bingo, “and more!” They’re raffling off some sweet prizes, too.

Click the picture to embiggen or visit Team Boobylicious for the details.

I’ve never been to a wedding in the Twin Cities area, but I imagine there’s a wealth of interesting places to get hitched (or to have a reception). Since I’m in the beginning stages of wedding planning (for my man and I), I’m curious about the possibilities.

One thing that has sprung to mind has been an elegant ceremony and reception at the Conservatory’s North Garden. Of course, that’s a big price to pay to have 35 guests, and we don’t want a wedding large enough to warrant the larger gardens. We’re definitely on a budget, and I’d prefer an indoor wedding and reception, since I prefer predictability (and we might get married in the winter).

Of course, another idea thrown about has been renting several lanes and shoes for all at a bowling alley, buying a lot of beer and pizza, and ushering in our new life together wearing matching bowling shirts, so I don’t know if “elegant” is necessarily what we’re going for.

Greg tells me Virgin Mobile is throwing a “free bowling/marketing whore party.” Here’s the scoop:

MINNEAPOLIS
PAYGOIST BOWLING PARTY SUMMER 2005
You are invited…

Escape the summer heat and enjoy FREE BOWLING in air-conditioned bliss, courtesy of Virgin Mobile.
Join Virgin Mobile Insiders and their friends.
FREE FOOD AND DRINKS!
FREE GIVEAWAYS!

Don’t miss out on all the fun…

Who: Virgin Mobile Insiders and Friends
What: A Rockin’ Summer Bowling Party
When: Saturday, Aug 6th, 7-10 pm
Where: New Hope Bowl
7107 42nd Ave N
New Hope, MN 55427
Why: Virgin Mobile loves you!

RSVP to this event ASAP by sending names to minneapolis@virginmobileinsiders.com
See you there!
–Virgin Mobile

Hey, it’s free stuff. In college, the sure fire way to get students to show up for stuff is to provide free food.