Your Minnesota weekend: Perfect for staying in or exploring

Flooding along Minnehaha Creek
Bike riders tackle a flooded path along Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 1, 2014. The creek burst its banks in numerous locations after torrential rain.
Hart Van Denburg/MPR News

Wx: Summer forecasts to be believed?

We may have endured more rain the first part of Saturday, but meteorologist Paul Huttner says those who scheduled that big graduation party for Sunday will be happy they did.

As the front sweeps east, clearing will move across Minnesota Saturday afternoon and set up for a bright sunny cooler and less humid Sunday.

Weekend split, season's first 90s now in sight?

Summer Season Forecasts: Can you believe them?

Watch

The forests, lakes and small towns of northeast Minnesota have growing appeal to filmmakers who are flocking to the region to shoot small-budget movies.

That, along with some state incentives, is luring filmmakers to Minnesota.

The FX series "Fargo" is already on its eighth episode. If you need to catch up before the next episode, we've been recapping them on our Statewide blog.

Fargo
Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard, Kate Walsh as Gina Hess in 'Fargo.'
Chris Large/FX

Explore

If you missed Harmony in the Park on Thursday night in Minneapolis, you can catch it Sunday in Mankato.

The lineup features the Minnesota Valley Chorale, the St. Peter Choral Society and the Mankato Riverblenders Barbershop Chorus.

Classical Minnesota Public Radio says the event is free and open to the public and are perfect for all ages. There's plenty of seating at each venue, so bring your folding lawn chairs or a blanket and your picnic basket and join us for a great evening of music in the great Minnesota outdoors.

This summer there will be plenty of opportunities to see theater.

Driveway tour
A crowd gathered in a small St Paul park to see "Tucker's Robot." The show is part of Open Eye Figure Theatre's Driveway Tour. The show draws thousands of people every summer. Many are seeing a show for the first time ever.
Euan Kerr/MPR News

In coming weeks a number of Minnesota theater groups are hitting the road, taking shows far and wide in what likely will be big payoffs for little theaters on the routes.

Open Eye Figure Theatre is one group that is bringing shows to the neighborhoods.

The shows often bring neighbors together, said Michael Sommers, Open Eye's Artist-in-Residence.

From driveways to Chinese restaurants, Minn. theaters hit the road

Food

The author of "Cooking with Fire" was in the studio this week and we have a list of recipes you can cook outdoors this weekend -- weather permitting.

Appetites: Don't play with fire, cook with it

Beer and carrot cake
Michael Agnew, a cicerone, beer author and member of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild, says beer pairs well with desserts. A combination he likes is Steel Toe Size 7 IPA with carrot cake.
Jennifer Simonson/MPR News

Ryan Huseby, acting general manager at St. Paul's Happy Gnome, gave us his top five beers of the moment.

"There's so much great beer out there right now, locally, nationally and internationally, that we really can't settle for something that's not that great. Being local doesn't overcome mediocrity," he said.

5 beers you should try right now

Food at grocery store
Nutrition labels are seen on food packaging on February 27, 2014 in Miami, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

There can be a lot of confusion about what we should and shouldn't eat. The Daily Circuit talked to some guests this week that helped debunk some nutritional myths.

"It is more consumerism and media and things of that nature that are trying to make things change," said Dianne Neumark-Sztainer of the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health. "Our basic advice has really stayed the same about eating close to the planet, eating fruits and vegetables, eating whole grains, avoiding highly processed foods, avoiding foods that are high in sugar. Eating foods that have a lot of nutrients for not so many calories."

Food science isn't as confusing as it looks

Top Coast lectures

If you couldn't make it out to Top Coast Festival last weekend, you can still listen to the lectures.

Maggie Koerth-Baker
Maggie Koerth-Baker, science editor at BoingBoing.net, ponders how to answer a question posed by an attendee after her symposium titled Bioethics: What Are the Limits of Human Experimentation? MPR held its first Top Coast Festival on Sat. May 31 and Sun. June 1 at the University of Minnesota.
Jackson Forderer for MPR News

MPR Top Coast Festival: Maggie Koerth-Baker on medical ethics

MPR Top Coast Festival: Ezekiel Emanuel on why health care costs so much

MPR Top Coast Festival: Mark Leibovich on 'This Town'

MPR Top Coast Festival: Paul Tough and Richard Louv on children and character

MPR Top Coast Festival: Aneesh Chopra on technology's future