THE UNHEALTHY ENTREPRENEUR — A CAUTIONARY TALE WITH A HAPPY ENDING – PART 4

Snippets and Links to Local Services for Healthy Support, Useful Distractions and Fun — Fourth in the Series

Coffee, Tea & Thee

The Coffee Shop NE – A relaxed nook with organic coffee, eats, art, literature and music events.

Serving certified fair-trade organic coffee, a wonderful selection of teas and other beverages, as well as featured flavors and signature drinks.  Breakfast, lunch, internet (lots of plug-ins), sweets, and grab ‘n go.  Open-mike nights and live music.  Plenty of parking and weather permitting outdoor seating (summer) where they welcome your pooch too.  http://thecoffeeshopne.com/   2852A  Johnson St NE, MPLS.  6 miles from UEL

 Kopplin’s Coffee – An independent cafe decorated with local art serving house-roasted specialty coffees & baked goods.  A unique family-run gathering place where both neighbors and coffee aficionados feel at home. Offering house-roasted beans of exceptional quality and character, award-winning pastries and bread from Rustica Bakery and Patisserie 46, and light snacks from The St. Paul Cheese Shop.  Their passion for brilliant coffee and aesthetic make our café the perfect place to connect, share experience, relax and revive.  https://www.kopplinscoffee.com/   2038 Marshall Ave, St Paul   2 miles from UEL

 

Get-Up, Go Out, Help-Out

Many charitable nonprofits have no paid staff and are run entirely by volunteers.  Helping others is proven to have positive effects on a volunteer’s mental health.   Since there are tons of local nonprofits, finding a volunteer opportunity is pretty easy to do.  The issue is finding an opportunity that fits your needs and interests.  To help you find that perfect volunteer opportunity in your area, here are three websites you can use to search and contact.  https://wiredimpact.com/blog/websites-to-help-you-find-volunteer-opportunities/

 

Your Boots are Made for Walking

Minnesota Walking Meetup – A friendly group, with walks at a moderate pace.  No kiddos or pets, just adult people.  Meet new walking buddies and explore parks and natural areas in the Twin Cities metro area.  With over 7,000 members, you are certain to make new friends, and perhaps run into old ones.  Many organized events; Nordic walking, birding hikes, local park trails, or Meetup designed this platform to make it easy for you to set up your own walks; determine a day/time, decide on a location, how to meet, and post the information on the Walking Meetup home page.  https://www.meetup.com/walkers-575/

St. Paul Hiking Club – Since 1921, the St Paul Hiking Club has been a valuable and unique asset to the people of the St. Paul area.  If you enjoy the outdoors, like viewing scenery, the progression of local architecture, and want to share the company with others who desire staying physically fit, our club may be right for you (minimum age is 18 years old).  This is your invitation and there is no fee for guests.  These folks party and recognize one another’s birthdays.  Hikes are scheduled for every Sunday afternoon.  https://www.stpaulhike.com/

Running on Empty?

…Not here.  Run MSP: The Best Local Run Groups in the Twin Cities – is an excellent resource highlighting the Fitt’s best-pick local running groups.  You are certain to find one that suits your pace, schedule and route.  Shoes just out of the box, or a new pair every quarter, you will be welcome here.   https://fitt.co/twin-cities/articles/run-your-city-local-run-groups-twin-cities  

 

It’s What’s for Dinner

French Meadow Bakery & Café − Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or simply looking for your next breakfast/lunch/dinner/brunch destination, French Meadow has killer everything, from omelets to entrees, this farm-to-table fave also has the bragging right of being the first bread bakery in the country to be certified organic.  Four locations around town. https://www.frenchmeadowcafe.com/

​The Bachelor Farmer – an exploration of Northern food, featuring local ingredients according to the rhythm of the season. Our winters are long, but from constraint is born creativity.  Within a year you’ll encounter pickled strawberries and grilled venison giving way to pasture-raised chicken and simply presented vegetables in their prime.  Their whole animal butchery program, in-house forager, and emphasis on biodynamic winemakers are all signs of their work to make every meal served an expression of place.  They are commitment to stewardship of the North, working with farmers who share our concerns and practice sustainable agriculture so our home can be experienced and enjoyed for generations to come.   https://thebachelorfarmer.com/

Common Roots Café – This café is not only serves hand-crafted food that is good for you, it is good for others too.   They make every decision based on a commitment to supporting local farmers, operating in an environmentally sustainable way, and providing a living wage and benefits for employees.  “Food grown/raised within 250 miles of our cafe.   Much of the local produce we buy is also organic. Almost all of the dairy products and flour we use is local, and we never serve meat that isn’t local and either grass-fed or free-range.”  https://www.commonrootscafe.com/

Wise Acre Eatery – It’s just good food made with love, from scratch, every day.  Their talented culinary team strives to bring guests back to this old standard of cooking using the season’s best from their very own farm. The restaurant has become the quintessential neighborhood place for casual everyday comfort, including full-service coffee bar, bakery, breakfast, lunch, dinner, frozen custard, beer, wine, and weekend brunch with take-away options throughout the day.  http://www.wiseacreeatery.com/

 

Can We Talk?

Minnesota Psychological Association – supports walk-in counseling centers providing free mental health services every weekday.  Any person who needs mental health counseling right away, with no appointment necessary, for free, can get services in Minneapolis and Saint Paul every weekday.  There are no barriers to service here – no fees, no copays, no sliding scale. Clients can even remain anonymous if they wish.  Locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul.   https://walkin.org/

Student Mental Health – Confidential individual and group counseling can be a helpful way to address problems related to life stress, academic difficulties, career concerns, and personal concerns such as relational difficulties or depression. A counselor will not try to “fix” your problems or make you do anything. Instead he or she can ask questions and make observations that may help you get new perspectives on your concerns, and new ideas on how to solve them.  http://mentalhealth.umn.edu/counseling/index.html

 

Taking Things In-Hand

Ingebretsen’s – lessons in these traditional household arts. Ingebretsen’s weaves traditional knit-and-stitch into a modular Scandinavian methodology.  Classes include cooking, crafts, culture, knitting, needlework and more.  Wood carving classes at this crafts and gift shop are also popular. Through your own hand carved artifacts, you’ll learn how the Vikings became great ship builders and wood workers.  https://www.ingebretsens.com/

Minnetonka Center for the Arts – Variety is where it’s at.  In the belief that the visual arts are indispensable to a healthy community, it is the mission of the Minnetonka Center for the Arts to provide teaching excellence, quality exhibitions and cultural enrichment for people of all ages,

interests, and abilities.  Art classes are just one way you can engage with the arts at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Explore one of our current exhibitions, try something new in a workshop, participate in an event like our book club, and more.  https://www.minnetonkaarts.org/

The Yarnery – Learn from fantastic instructors, The Yarnery offers a wide variety of classes throughout the year, with something for every level.  In addition to private lessons and classes, they offer Knit Together events which are free and open to all levels. These are social groups; you’ll certainly learn from each other as you talk knitting.  http://yarnery.com/

Merchant Leather – From a sunglass case to a wallet to a custom belt, learn everything you need to hand-cut, stitch and finish leather.  No prior experience needed.  All materials and tools included in every class.  Classes Vary and are ongoing.  http://www.merchantleather.com

 

Namaste it is Good for the Body & Soul

The St. Paul Yoga Center – Their mission: with a welcoming spirit, we offer yoga that fosters personal growth and transformation and is attuned to each student’s abilities.  The first yoga center established in Saint Paul, the center offers yoga instruction by some of the most experienced yoga teachers in the Twin Cities.  They remain dedicated to creating a safe learning environment for practicing yoga with depth and lightness, substance and joy.  They offer a yoga sanctuary to help you explore and re-discover your true nature.  https://stpaulyogacenter.com/

Boynton Health / U of MN – Boynton offers free yoga and tai chi classes during fall and spring semesters. Classes focus on stress management.  Beginners are welcome.  Yoga or exercise mats are recommended but not required for yoga class.  Class dates and times vary.  https://boynton.umn.edu/yoga

The YMCA – today’s YMCA is not your father’s YMCA.  Health and fitness, and swimming at an affordable rate.  Take a class, train with friends, work out—try it all. Have fun while gaining strength, endurance and increased energy.   The Y strives to help all ages learn how to swim and learn the skills needed to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for healthy living.  The Y is a nonprofit committed to helping everyone thrive at each stage of life.  With your membership, the Y has free child care while you work out.  25 locations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.  https://www.ymcamn.org/ 

 Expertise – A field of 103 martial arts instructors, were scored martial arts teachers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the 19 best martial arts teachers in Minneapolis.  https://www.expertise.com/mn/minneapolis/karate-taekwondo-martial-arts

Escape to a Stay-Cation

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory – Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is free and open to newcomers and frequent visitors alike all year long.  Operated by the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department, the zoo features a seal island, a large cat exhibit, a variety of aquatic life, primates, birds, African hoofed animals and a world class polar bear exhibit.  The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has two acres under glass with a number of different wings dedicated to a variety of plant life including bonsai trees, ferns, orchids and seasonal flowers.  Both are open year-round and are great escapes in winter.  https://comozooconservatory.org/

Science Museum of Minnesota – situated on the banks of the Mississippi river, the museum engages learners by sparking interest and supporting deep science learning through wonder, play, hands-on exploration, and experimentation.  Presenting real objects and phenomena, solid scientific research, and compelling stories and insights from diverse perspectives.  https://www.smm.org/

Minnesota History Center – Through inspiring exhibits, thought-provoking programs, live performances, and action-packed discovery, the History Center feeds your curiosity about Minnesota’s stories, people, and places.  https://www.mnhs.org/historycenter

  

Let’s Go to the Mall!

Sea Life Minnesota – Sea Life brings you closer than ever to thousands of sea creatures including sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, jellyfish, seahorses and more.  Take a guided Behind-the-Scenes tour and go above Shark Cove and the 300ft long Ocean Tunnel, visit the Food Prep Kitchen and Water Quality Lab and learn what it takes to create an ocean in Minnesota.  https://www.mallofamerica.com/directory/sea-life-minnesota-aquarium

FlyOver America − a flight simulation ride that brings guests on a breathtaking aerial tour of some of the greatest landmarks and regions throughout the United States, in virtual flight technology.  The attraction is a fully immersive experience including wind, mist and even scents.  https://www.mallofamerica.com/directory/flyover-america

Rock of Ages Blacklight Mini-Golf – Get in touch with your playful side, putting your way through different eras of music, starting in the ’50s all the way up to present time. There are 18 holes of fun-filled golf, sure to challenge and delight.  https://www.mallofamerica.com/directory/rock-of-ages-blacklight-minigolf