Friday, May 16
Pork ’n’ Wine
WHAT: Pig & Pinot Patio Party
WHERE: Butcher and the Boar, Mpls.
WHEN: 4:30 p.m.
Kick off GrillFest weekend with Minnesota Monthly at the Pig & Pinot Patio Party at Butcher and the Boar. The restaurant’s famous patio will be packed with food lovers sampling Pinot from around the world, and the tasty bites are all about the pig: Think bacon shortbread, rib tips, and more. Go to minnesotamonthly.com to learn more.
Give It a Whirl
WHAT: Art-A-Whirl
WHERE: Northeast Mpls.
WHEN: 5 p.m.
Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country, with access to more than 500 local artists specializing in everything from furniture to fine art to photography. The fair runs all weekend long in Northeast Minneapolis, so spend plenty of time browsing around before you pick up the perfect piece to highlight your abode. Learn more at nemaa.org.
Saturday, May 17
Up in Your Grill
WHAT: GrillFest
WHERE: The Depot, Mpls.
WHEN: 1 p.m.
Get your grilling game on at the third annual Minnesota Monthly GrillFest at The Depot. Kick off grilling season by picking up barbecue tips, checking out the latest grills, and, of course, tasting summer wines, specialty beers, and delicious grilled food from the likes of Schell’s Beer, New Bohemia, and more. Go to minnesotamonthly.com for tickets.
Riverside Riding
WHAT: River Action Volunteer Event and Biking
WHERE: Boy Scouts Base Camp, Fort Snelling
WHEN: 10 a.m.
Do a little good for the riverside and get a bike-riding tour from an insider with this River Action Volunteer Event. A national-park ranger will lead a five-mile ride through Historic Fort Snelling, Hidden Falls, Minnehaha Falls, and Coldwater Spring, then take part in a volunteer project to restore a wildlife habitat. Bring the family but get a babysitter for the littlest ones: The ride and project are recommended for kids eight and up. Go to missriverfund.org to register.
Sunday, May 18
A Night of Recreation
WHAT: Aziz Ansari
WHERE: The Orpheum Theatre, Mpls.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
Looking for a laugh? Head out to see Aziz Ansari at the Orpheum, where the Parks and Recreation star is bringing his standup comedy act this weekend. His Modern Romance tour makes basic observations on relationships but also highlights the pitfalls of dating in the digital age. Don’t expect to feel good about your exes afterwards. For tickets, go to hennepintheatretrust.org.
One for All…
WHAT: The Three Musketeers
WHERE: The Guthrie Theater, Mpls.
WHEN: 1 p.m.
The Walking Shadow Company brings the swashbuckling musketeers to the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio stage in a new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ beloved book. Watch as d’Artagnan strives to fit in with the king’s Musketeers and win the heart of his beloved, with plenty of swordplay along the way. Go to guthrietheater.org for ticket information.
