Map it out and curl jam: Your weekend planning guide
Feast your eyes on a rare book of maps or ring in the new year with world-class curlers.
From free events to family fun to adults only, here's a roundup of events to get you out of the house — or not.
Free: A rare book of maps
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Cartography lovers, head on over to the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota, stat.
A rare book that contains what's believed to be the world's first printed maps is now on display in the library's Bell Room through the end of January.
The library is only open Mondays through Fridays but appointments can be requested (subject to staff availability).
For families: Christmas redux
Christmas ain't over yet — at least not at the Glensheen Mansion in Duluth.
Christmas tours continue through the end of this weekend at the 39-room mansion. See 25 Christmas trees and 15 fireplaces all decked out for the holidays.
Tickets are $15 for adults (13 and up), $14 for seniors or $45 for families (two parents or guardians, plus children in the family 17 or younger).
For adults: The butler did it
Take part in a real-life game of Clue at the Beltrami County Historical Society's History Mystery Thursday. The plot:
"A brakeman was found dead next to the tracks behind the Great Northern Depot. Detectives determined the death was a murder and traced it to somewhere inside the depot.
Six local, historical figures were present at the time of the murder and all are suspects. Was it the notorious lumberjack and gambler? Was it the librarian waiting for a train? Or did another suspect do it?"
Note: As of Wednesday morning, all spots had been reserved, but the BCHS said that if some of those reservations weren't paid for soon, they would become available Thursday. You can also ask to be put on a waiting list.
Indoors: Curl Jam
See some of the best curlers in the world in action this weekend at the ASHAM U.S. Open of Curling at Fogerty Arena in Blaine.
It's one of the last chances for U.S. teams to accrue points for a chance to advance to the world championships.
The bonspiel, free and open to the public, will feature teams from the U.S., Canada, Switzerland and China.
Games start Friday morning and continue throughout the weekend.
A bonus for spectators: giveaways on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Outdoors: NYE by candlelight
Ring in 2016 by taking a New Year's Eve candlelight walk at Fort Snelling State Park or Lake Carlos State Park.
At Fort Snelling, participants can hike miles of trails, toast marshmallows and more. The event runs 4 to 8 p.m.
At Lake Carlos, participants can walk or snowshoe the trails and warm up by one of the fires. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m.