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The picturesque area of east central Minnesota just got even more interesting after its local craft beverage producers decided to team up. Several breweries, wineries, a distillery and a cidery make up the East Central Beverage Trail, bringing visitors and locals their favorite craft beverages with the backdrop of Isanti, Pine, and Kanabec counties. The trail consists of eight locations with their own specialty creations. Just take your pick, and you’re on your way.

New partnership brings organized approach to small and midsize trade shows. 

This week, hundreds of local young professionals will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to escape the stresses and responsibilities of their day to day lives, no paid time off or carry-on needed. For those strapped with all-too-common student loan debt, SoFi, a national personal financial services agency focused in lending and wealth management, will be hosting Debt after Dark—on them.

On Saturday, June 16, thousands ignored the rain and scorching heat to check out the Walker Art Center’s 20^th annual Rock the Garden music festival. As the local beer flowed, fans swarmed the museum’s hillside and iconic sculpture garden to soak in a diverse lineup of local and international acts including headliner Father John Misty, Feist, Chastity Brown, Kamasi Washington and P.O.S. (and a surprise guest appearance from Current DJ Mark Wheat). But what exactly goes into planning the Walker’s biggest event of the year?

Food trucks may be mobile, but they aren’t going anywhere, since their popularity only seems to grow with each season. A New Jersey hotel is getting in on the fun! Along with over 18,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, Embassy Suites by Hilton in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, offers the Grain & Cane “Gastro Truck” as a fun option for a mid-meeting break or post-event dining option.

The family-focused, Wisconsin-based Great Wolf Lodge opened its first resort in Wisconsin Dells in 1997. Over the next two decades, it slowly expanded with more properties around the Midwest, moving into the Northeast, South, West and Canada. And this summer, the greater Chicago area will get its first resort from the brand.

Grand View Lodge, Spa and Golf Resort will debut a new 60-room boutique hotel in May 2019. Additionally, two new real estate developments are already underway and will soon begin welcoming owners and overnight guests. A new wedding chapel and recreation center and is expanding its spa facilities as well.

Lela Restaurant has rolled out new lunch and dinner menus, created by new executive chef Thomas Orbison.

Chef Orbison discovered his passion and talent for cooking following his career in the United States Air Force. “After six years in the military, I developed a passion for cooking and moved to Paris to study at Le Cordon Bleu, which is like Harvard for chefs,” said Orbison.

Now that he’s back in Minnesota for the first time since 2004, Orbison is excited to launch some new entrees in the southwest metro.

Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitors Association has recognized George Glover as a “Hospitality Hero” award winner.

2017 was a big year for the Twin Cities. Flying, flipping and spinning daredevils flocked to Minneapolis to compete in ESPN’s X Games, Super Bowl preparations were underway and, according to a study released today by Meet Minneapolis, 2017 brought a record number of visitors to town.