It's gonna be May

Have a better weekend in Minnesota 

View this email as a web page April 29, 2021 Outta the way spring, summer weather's coming through! We're expecting highs in the 70s and 80s across the state on Saturday. Don't let it go to waste! Here are some events and guides to having a great time outside — as well as some online events for when it gets rainy Sunday. You're vaccinated. Congrats! Now what can you do safely? The latest data from the Minnesota Health Department shows that 42 percent of those 16 and older have been fully vaccinated. If you're in that growing group, here's a helpful guide on what is safe to do, and which activities you should still be careful with. Art Hounds: 'The Art of Possibilities' This week the Art Hounds have sniffed out: A fine arts exhibition from Courage Kenny, a one-man comedy show in Lanesboro about chef James Beard, and a pandemic YouTube special from Minneapolis stand-up comic Ali Sultan. Pandemic-fueled surge in visitation to BWCA expected to continue More than 165,000 people visited the Boundary Waters last year — a 16 percent jump over the previous year — as people sought refuge in the isolated wilderness from the COVID-19 pandemic. Outfitters say early reservations suggest this summer could be even busier. So if you're interested in your own BWCA adventure, be sure to get your permit, come prepared and leave no trace. Community events, online and in-person We're likely to see more of a mix of virtual and in-person events this summer. Here are a few to check out this weekend: Online:  Duluth Homegrown Music Festival | Virtual Art in Bloom | Minnesota Music Summit | Dress 4 Colour Fashion Show |  Live from Med City In-person:  Spring Fling Day in Rochester | Under the Canopy Music Series (they're sold out for this weekend but check out their future shows!) | Monticello Craft Fair | Family Funday at North Mississippi Regional Park | Twin Cities Vintage Fest Up your grill game If you haven't already, this is the perfect weekend to bust out the grill for some summer time snacking. Here are a few recipes from The Splendid Table to help you earn the title of grill master: Pork skewers with maple-mustard BBQ sauce, Union Hmong Kitchen marinade, charred summer squash, paella on the grill, chicken thighs with herb salsa, grilled salmon skewers. Ask a Bookseller: Two great picks from the professionals This week we have two reading suggestions from professional bookworms:  Kalima Desuze of Café con Libros in Brooklyn, N.Y., recommends a Jamaican-inspired YA fantasy novel that just hit the shelves on April 20: "Witches Steeped in Gold" by debut author Ciannon Smart. And Dana Welshans of Snowbound Books in Marquette, Mich., found herself surprised and delighted by the thriller "Picnic in the Ruins" by Todd Robert Petersen. Go on, get your hands dirty: Gardening guides Gardening season is starting to bloom in Minnesota. Here are a few guides we put together from seasons past to help you prepare for your best garden yet: Your gardening questions, answered |  Gardening experts offer summer tips | Tips and tricks for prairie gardening |  Guide to a bee-friendly backyard |   9 summertime gardening tips In Focus: Stopping anti-Asian American hate in Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has been tracking an uptick in anti-Asian incidents since the start of the pandemic. But this community has endured the effects of racism since long before COVID-19. Watch a recording of our panel discussion on what's being done in Minnesota to stop it, and what needs to be done still. Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101