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🛷Steaks, Slides & Sleigh Rides

🛷Steaks, Slides & Sleigh Rides

Your weekly scoop of Twin Cities fun.

Joe Carmack
December 17, 2025

Consider this your warning. Winter break is coming, and despite all the presents, the kids won’t entertain themselves for long. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be serving up a double portion of kid-friendly activities to help you keep them entertained.

And, if you know of any good ones we should cover, do us a solid and send them our way!

Godspeed,
-Joe & Haley

Your Weekend Forecast

The Wiz at The Orpheum

12/16 - 12/21

A lively, reimagined take on a classic story comes to the Orpheum, blending soul, gospel, and R&B with bold costumes and inventive staging. It’s familiar enough to feel nostalgic, but fresh in the way it updates the music and energy for a modern audience. Expect big dance numbers, standout vocal moments, and a production that feels theatrical without taking itself too seriously. A solid pick for a night of downtown theater that doesn’t feel stuffy.

Charlie Berens

2/1

A stand-up show built around Midwest humor, drawing on small-town life, family dynamics, and those everyday moments that feel oddly specific. It’s relaxed, relatable, and more about storytelling than flash. Seats are filling quickly, so it’s shaping up to be a full house.

Ice Castles

Opens 1/16

A winter-only attraction built entirely from ice, featuring glowing tunnels, frozen towers, slides, and sculpted walkways that feel straight out of a storybook. It’s part art installation, part outdoor wander, and best enjoyed bundled up exploring the details and lighting after dark.

Music Under the Glass

12/18

Live, local music fills the tropical gardens with a mix of blues, bluegrass, and mellow ballads—an easy way to shake off the winter blahs and warm up. It’s a relaxed setting where you can wander, listen, and linger, with beer and wine available if you feel like a drink.

RugLife @ The Weisman

Now - 12/28

An easygoing way to slow down during the holiday season, centered on intricate textile art and the stories woven into it. The space encourages lingering and looking a little closer, offering a quiet contrast to the rush of errands, gatherings, and end-of-year noise.

Kendall’s brings that classic Minnesota supper club feel without feeling dated, leaning into comfort, consistency, and a room that’s easy to settle into. It’s the kind of place where conversations linger over dim lighting and familiar flavors. Prime rib is a go-to here, especially on weekends, but the walleye is another favorite that keeps locals coming back. It feels relaxed and unpretentious, making it easy to slow the pace of the evening and actually enjoy dinner together without feeling rushed.

After dinner, things shift outdoors for a low-key, seasonal experience built around horse-drawn sleigh ride through Bunker Hills Park. You’re bundled up, riding along wooded trails with just enough quiet to make conversation feel easy. It’s simple and old-school in the best way, more about being present than being entertained. The gentle pace, fresh air, and shared novelty make it a natural way to stretch the night without forcing anything too structured.

Winter break is coming fast, which means it’s time to plan ahead before the kids start climbing the walls. For this week’s Up Yonder we’ve pulled together a few ideas to keep them entertained while school’s out.