the insider blog
Home >
/ Entertainment

Category Archives: Entertainment

Stock up Downtown: 1 Farmers Market + 2 Grand Forks

June 19th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
FarmersMarket

Interested in doing some shopping but still want to enjoy the beautiful summer weather? Then you really need to check out the region’s top Outdoor Farmers Market! It takes place every Saturday through September, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Town Square (corner of DeMers Avenue and 3rd Street). Vendors sell everything from fresh produce and flowers to home baked bread and pies to handmade jewelry and pottery. You’ll also be able to enjoy an array of tasty food truck fare and great live entertainment on the Square’s main stage. If you’d like to learn more about how our fabulous Forks were founded, guided Historical Walking Tours, hosted by the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre, are held at 1 PM during every Farmers Market beginning in July.   While in the area, make sure to explore both of our beautiful downtowns (Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota) and discover all they have to offer. Below are some suggestions for a day or two of fun.   Downtown Adventures            Take a stroll through streets that lead to places where past and present meet.       Historic buildings house 21st century businesses. Attractive public art captures the spirit …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Events, Shopping, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags:

Hear great songs under grand skies

June 8th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
7688603438_0f6171da2c_k

Nothing beats listening to great live music, on a beautiful summer evening, under our simply grand skies.  If you agree, we’ve got some awesome news from you…the popular North Dakota Museum of Art Concerts in the Garden Series is back again this summer!   Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket, plus several of your friends.  All the fun takes place in the Museum’s sculpture garden, on the University of North Dakota campus, located at 261 Centennial Drive. Tickets are $10 at the door and free for those 12 and younger. There will also be food and beverages available for purchase, including local grass-fed hamburgers, vegetable skewers, nightly specials, root beer floats, beer and wine.   Dates, along with scheduled artists, are as follows:   July 5, 2017, at 6 PM: Christopher Paul Stelling, New York, NY There is a fearless quality to the music of Christopher Paul Stelling.  He’s been described as having a voice that sounds both old and young, an effortless yet intricate finger-picking guitar style and lyrics that are both dramatic and intensely confessional. Stelling released his newest album, “Itinerant Arias”, in May and unlike previous records, it finds Stelling backed by a band.   …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, shows and concerts, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Take the Grand Tour

June 5th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
15700562391_7912ece0c2_z

Whether you’re a lifelong resident, new-to-town or just visiting, our new Downtown Walking Tours will teach you all about our Simply Grand Forks! Listed below is information for this summer’s schedule. Best of all, every excursion has a special theme that makes each one unique.   June 10, 10:30 AM to 12: 30 PM, Town Square – ART OF DOWNTOWN GRAND FORKS                                                                                                                   Special feature: Public art located throughout downtown Grand Forks, including art-related events and projects inspired by local and regional artists.   June 24, 4 to 6 PM, Town Square – BEER & SALOONS OF GRAND FORKS  Special feature: Grand Forks has had a rich history involving beer, saloons and alcohol. This tour will include stops at local establishments that may require guess to be 21 years of age or older.   July 29, 3:30 to 5:30 PM, Town Square – GRAND RIVER CITY OF THE NORTH                                                                                                                                      Special feature: Our Red River of the North is the largest northern flowing river in the northern hemisphere. Grand Forks was founded, named and earned national attention because of our river; so, this tour is dedicated to the unique relationship our community has with our nearest body of water.   August 19, 1 …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Events, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Summer breezes bring #SimplyGrand times

May 25th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
AWW

I know it doesn’t officially begin until June 21 but in Nortakota, any temp above 70 equals summer!  While there may be many, here are my top five seasonal outdoor to-dos:   GREAT BUYS UNDER GRAND SKIES.  Formerly known as Art Fest, Art on the Red 2017 will fill downtown Grand Forks and East Grand Forks with over 150 vendors selling everything from pottery and jewelry to kettle korn and fry bread tacos.  There’ll also be a beer garden and live music.  It all takes place June 10 & 11, 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.   LISTENING SESSIONS.  If you’re a fellow music lover, definitely add the Happy Harry’s Blues on the Red Summer Music Series to your calendar.  It takes place the last Saturday of June, July and August in Town Square.  From 5 to 10 PM, hear some of our region’s top blues musicians while enjoying tasty eats and drinks served up by Brick & Barley.  Admission is free but the food and brews are extra.   NAVIGATING THE GREENWAY.  Strolling our beautifully groomed Greenway trail system is a perfect way to enjoy a sunny day. My favorite spot …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Events, Shopping, shows and concerts, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spend a SimplyGrand day in the Galleries

May 18th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
7688603438_0f6171da2c_k

Founded in the mid-1970s, the North Dakota Museum of Art began as the University of North Dakota Art Galleries, a temporary exhibition space primarily for the benefit of university students.  Then in 1981, the North Dakota State Legislature designated the University Galleries as our state’s official art museum. With its expanded mission came a new name: the North Dakota Museum of Art (NDMOA).   NDMOA currently collects contemporary, international art in all media.  It is charged with both gathering and displaying the visual history of the region.  The museum is also assembling a survey collection of contemporary Native American art, starting with the early 1970s when the movement emerged.   If you’re a fan of all things far out and fabulous, you definitely need to pay a visit to NDMOA, especially to check out the Barton Lidice Benes permanent exhibit.  Ranging from a mounted giraffe and warthog to tribal masks and antiques, this eclectic collection will leave you awestruck.  Acclaimed artist Barton Benes gifted the contents of his New York apartment to the museum, which includes over $1 million in African, Egyptian and contemporary art. Through tremendous fundraising efforts, NDMOA raised the money to dismantle his apartment in New York …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Dining, Entertainment, Events, shows and concerts, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Ideas for a SimplyGrand Mother’s Day

May 11th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
Happy Mothers Day pink heart cupcake on white cupcake stand with greeting gift tag against a feminine pink background, with copy space for your text here.

Mom loved and raised you…time to raise the bar and show her just how much you appreciate and love her back! This Sunday, May 14, is Mother’s Day and the perfect chance to express your feelings. In case you forgot or haven’t figured out yet what to get her, here are just a half dozen suggestions:   One can never go wrong with dinner and a movie.  Take her to a special Mother’s Day Brunch at Hilton’s Garden Café, Ground Round, Eagle’s Crest Grill or Aroma Café at Ramada.  Follow that with a matinee of the popular new Amy Schumer-Goldie Hawn mother-daughter flick, “Snatched”, at River Cinema 15 or AMC Classic 10 Theater. A bouquet is ok but how about putting a new spin on it?  Escort mom to All Season’s Garden Center, tour her through the amazing greenhouse and then let her pick out a planter or two for her garden or patio. Is mom an 80s rocker babe, by chance?  A gift certificate from Darkside Tattoo plus tickets to the Poison concert, May 27, at Alerus Center, would be “nothin’ but a good time” for her. She put Pampers on you as a baby; so, pamper her with …

Posted in: Dining, Entertainment, Shopping, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Another #simplygrand giveaway

March 18th 2017 | Posted by julier | 2 Comments

Email
POISONgiveaway2017Feature

  Looking for a good time? Sorry, can’t do anything about that. But if you win our next big giveaway…it’ll be Nothin’ but a Simply Grand Time!   Wanna know how to enter? Visit the Convention & Visitors Bureau on Facebook and/or Twitter and post or message us why you want to win tix and you will be eligible to win: 4 awesome floor seats to Poison and Tesla, May 27, at Alerus Center + a $200 gift card to Canad Inns Destination Center, good for lodging and/or dining at any of their on-site restaurants.   This rockin’ event is already selling out fast; so, why are we doing this? That’s an easy question to answer. Because we think our social media friends are #SimplyGrand!  

Posted in: Dining, Entertainment, Events, shows and concerts, Travel & Tourism
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Great events are springing up at Alerus Center

March 12th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
Untitled-2

No need for April showers…the Alerus Center is already blooming with simply grand happenings before, during and after that time! Grand Forks’ premiere entertainment and convention facility will be hopping, over the next five months, with a variety of different events.   March 21-23 | 24th Annual ArtWise Elementary Art Show March 25 | 2017 Healthy Living Expo March 31-April 2 | 2017 Home Design & Garden Show April 8 | Gardening Saturday April 15 | 15th Annual Kids Easter Egg Scramble April 22 | Harlem Globetrotters April 22-23 | Red River Valley Motorcyclists 2017 Motorcycle Show May 20 | Anything Goes Community Rummage Sale & Flea Market May 27 | Poison & Tesla July 8 | Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus Live   For more information, including ticket/admission prices, go to www.aleruscenter.com.   If you’d like to grab a bite to eat or perhaps a cocktail before or after your event, there are several awesome spots nearby to indulge and imbibe. Just some of them include: Aalto’s, Tavern United and l’Bistro all next door at Canad Inns Destination Center; 1000 Degrees Pizza; Grand Junction Subs; Tim Horton’s; Speedway 805 Grill & Bar; The Red Pepper and Aroma Café at Ramada. …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Events, shows and concerts, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Get uncorked in Forks

March 2nd 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
7742572134_34dc13fa28_z

Who doesn’t enjoy sipping flavorful wines on a beautiful summer day…especially when you’re able to view wonderful works of art and do some shopping at the same time? If that sounds like your cup of tea (or grapes) too, make sure to mark your calendars and/or plan your trips to Grand Forks now for our 2017 Art & Wine Walks!   The Downtown Development Association and Public Arts Commission are proud to announce dates for the 11th season of Art & Wine Walk. This distinctive event happens four times through the months of April and October: April 22; June 17; August 19 and October 28. It will run from 1 to 5 p.m. and takes place solely in Greater Grand Forks’ beautiful downtown district. To begin, simply head to either the Blue Moose Bar & Grill (East Grand Forks) or Brick & Barley Bar & Restaurant (Grand Forks) to purchase your wristband and map of participating businesses. The cost is just $20, which is quite a deal considering you get four hours of both great entertainment and fine wine!   I’ve always considered myself more of a sweet girl — at least when it comes to my wine choices — …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Events, Shopping, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

SimplyGrand ways to romance your valentine

February 12th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
Heart

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Don’t have any plans yet with your significant other? Well then, you best read on! Luckily, Greater Grand Forks has lots of great date options and here are my Top 5:   ON THE BOARDWALK.  Drive your date to the East Side for a flick and some food.  Start out the evening with an early showing of the critically acclaimed romantic musical, “La La Land” at River Cinema 15.  Afterward, journey across the street to Blue Moose.  Located on the popular Boardwalk dining district, it’s the perfect spot for a juicylicious burger, some sweet ‘n’ sassy Norwegian barbecue ribs or comfort food at its finest: homemade chicken pot pie.  Quench your thirst with a choice of close to fifty brews of beer in their Back Forty Bar. UPSCALE DOWNTOWN.  The Toasted Frog is the best place around to get pickled.  By that, I mean their martinis and deep-fried cheesy pickles will make your head spin.  Then stroll hand-in-hand down the block to Sky’s for a 5-star dinner with your 5-star sweetie that includes champagne cocktails, jumbo lump crab cakes, filet mignon with peppercorn sauce and a chocolate espresso ice cream cake drizzled with hot fudge …

Posted in: Dining, Entertainment, Lodging, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,