This week on the Minneapolis Roundup, discover Hearth & Harbor, Chef Anya Larsen's stunning new Nordic-Midwestern restaurant in the North Loop. We also celebrate Faribault Woolen Mill's successful 'The Boundary Waters Line' collaboration with Hygge Form, which sold out in 72 hours. Plus, get ready for Art-A-Whirl, the country's largest open studio tour happening this weekend in Northeast Minneapolis.

Key Highlights:

• Chef Anya Larsen's new North Loop restaurant, Hearth & Harbor, offers elevated Nordic-Midwestern cuisine centered around a wood-fired hearth.

• Faribault Woolen Mill's 'The Boundary Waters Line' collaboration with Copenhagen's Hygge Form sold out online in under 72 hours.

• Art-A-Whirl, the nation's largest open studio tour, invites visitors to explore hundreds of artist studios in Northeast Minneapolis this weekend.

• The episode also highlights local sponsors mplsveganhub.com for vegan dining and mncannabishub.com for cannabis events.

Topics: Minneapolis, North Loop, Hearth & Harbor, Chef Anya Larsen, Faribault Woolen Mill, Hygge Form, Art-A-Whirl, Northeast Minneapolis, open studio tour, local business, food, events

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TRANSCRIPT

### Minneapolis Roundup Podcast Script

Episode Title: The North Loop's New Flame & Art-A-Whirl Weekend

Air Date: May 06, 2026

Host: [Your Name]

Total Estimated Run Time: 6 minutes

(Intro Music - Upbeat, modern, indie-pop feel - Fades in and then fades to background)

HOST: Hello Twin Cities and welcome to the Minneapolis Roundup, your weekly dose of what’s good in Minneapolis. I’m your host, [Your Name], and it is a gorgeous Wednesday, May 6th, 2026. The trees are finally full, the patios are packed, and there is a definite buzz in the air.

This is the show where we cut through the noise to bring you one great story from the world of food, one from local business, and one can't-miss event to put on your calendar.

And a quick shout-out to our sponsors who make this all possible: mplsveganhub.com and mncannabishub.com. We’ll tell you more about them later.

Alright, let's get into it. First up, food.

(Transition Sound - A gentle 'swoosh' or a subtle restaurant ambiance sound)

HOST: If you’ve walked through the North Loop lately, you’ve probably seen the lines and smelled the woodsmoke coming from a stunning new spot on Washington Avenue called Hearth & Harbor. Folks, the hype is real.

Opened just three weeks ago by Chef Anya Larsen, who cut her teeth in some of Chicago’s best kitchens before coming home, Hearth & Harbor is her vision of elevated Nordic-Midwestern cuisine. And it is a vision. The whole concept is built around a massive, custom-built wood-fired hearth that you can see from every seat in the house.

The space is minimalist but warm—lots of light wood, cozy sheepskin throws on the chairs, and a beautiful bar serving incredible cocktails made with local spirits.

But the food… the food is the star. Chef Larsen is taking ingredients we all know and love and transforming them. The standout dish everyone is talking about is the Smoked Walleye with foraged ramps, a delicate dill foam, and crispy potato pave. It’s Minnesota on a plate, but in a way you’ve never experienced. They’re also doing incredible things with vegetables, like fire-roasted carrots with a whipped goat cheese and honey from the restaurant's own rooftop beehive.

Reservations are basically impossible to get right now, but they do keep the patio and a few bar seats open for walk-ins. My advice? Get there early, put your name in, and go for a walk by the river. It is absolutely worth the wait.

And of course, for all the amazing plant-based dining our city has to offer, from food trucks to fine dining, you have to check out our friends at mplsveganhub.com. They are the ultimate guide to vegan eating in the Twin Cities.

(Transition Sound)

HOST: Alright, next up, let’s talk business. This week’s win comes from a name you definitely know, but they’re making waves in a whole new way: Faribault Woolen Mill.

Now, we all know and love their iconic blankets. They’ve been a Minnesota institution for over 160 years. But a legacy brand can sometimes struggle to stay relevant with a younger, global audience. Well, Faribault just pulled off a marketing masterstroke.

They recently launched a limited-edition collaboration with ‘Hygge Form,’ a super-trendy, minimalist design house based in Copenhagen. The collection, called ‘The Boundary Waters Line,’ featured a series of blankets, scarves, and throws using a new, lightweight merino wool in these gorgeous, muted, earthy tones inspired by the North Shore.

Instead of just putting it on their website, they executed a flawless digital campaign. They partnered with major design influencers in both Scandinavia and the U.S., focusing on storytelling. The visuals were stunning—shot on location near Lake Superior, emphasizing craftsmanship, heritage, and that quiet, cozy, ‘hygge’ lifestyle.

The result? The entire collection sold out online in under 72 hours. It was a brilliant move, connecting a historic Minnesota brand with a modern, international aesthetic. It just goes to show you that heritage and innovation can be a powerful, and profitable, combination. A huge win for a local legend.

(Transition Sound)

HOST: Finally, let’s talk about what you should be doing this weekend. And honestly, for the second weekend in May, there is only one answer: Art-A-Whirl.

If you’re new to town, Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the entire country, and it happens right here in its birthplace, Northeast Minneapolis. This Friday through Sunday, hundreds of artists—painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, glass blowers, you name it—will open their studio doors to the public.

It’s not just about looking at art; it’s about meeting the people who create it. You can wander through massive, old industrial buildings like the Northrup King Building or the Casket Arts Complex, see where the magic happens, and buy a piece of art directly from the person whose hands made it.

On top of the art, there’s live music, food trucks galore, and special releases at all the local breweries in the neighborhood. It’s a massive, vibrant, community-wide celebration of the incredible creative spirit we have here.

My pro-tip: wear comfortable shoes, bring a tote bag for your purchases, and maybe start with a plan, but be fully prepared to abandon it when you discover something amazing down a random hallway. It’s the best way to experience it.

And while you're planning your weekend activities, remember that for a complete calendar of cannabis-related events, pop-ups, and educational sessions around the state, the best resource is mncannabishub.com.

(Outro Music - Fades in softly)

HOST: And that’s our roundup for this week! Get out there and try to snag a seat at Hearth & Harbor, celebrate the success of Faribault Woolen Mill, and absolutely lose yourself in the creative energy of Art-A-Whirl this weekend.

The Minneapolis Roundup is brought to you by our fantastic sponsors. For the definitive guide to plant-based food in the cities, visit mplsveganhub.com. That’s M-P-L-S-vegan-hub-dot-com.

And for everything you need to know about cannabis culture, news, and events in Minnesota, check out mncannabishub.com. That’s M-N-cannabis-hub-dot-com.

I’m [Your Name]. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll catch you next week with more of what’s good in Minneapolis.

(Outro Music swells to finish)