Sure, there are technically 90 days in December, January, and February…but if you don’t start counting until Dec. 2, that makes 89 days of meterological winter, so in honor of our first frequency, let’s go with that!

All winter long, The Current will help you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities. Each Monday throughout the season, you’ll find one or more new posts all about enjoying the best that Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding communities have to offer.

Below is a schedule, which we’ll update with links as the features publish. Get ready to make the most of Minnesota’s quintessential season!

December 6: Holiday shows

Jay Gabler picks ten theater, dance, and music shows that celebrate the joy of the season.

December 13: Gift shopping 

Minnesota musicians tell Lianna McLernon where they like to shop locally for special gifts. Also, Sheila Regan shares a guide to Minnesota makers you can support.

December 20: Movies to watch before Oscar season

This is the time of the year when studios release their most prestigious products, hoping for maximum Oscar season visibility. Jay has your viewing guide, while Michelangelo Matos has a history of how soundtracks and shopping malls grew up together - in Minnesota.

December 27: Going out on New Year’s Eve 

What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Sheila Regan and Jay Gabler highlight over a dozen festive ways to say so long to 2021.

January 3: Winter music magic

After last year’s lockdown, local artists will be resuming their tradition of holing up for residencies and other unique shows - or, at least, trying to. Cecilia Johnson has the latest information.

January 10: Getting outdoors

Hygge isn’t just about warm socks and a good book, it’s also about embracing the outdoors. Lydia Moran and Jay Gabler share some ideas for how to shake a leg and see some trees. Also, Jade clues you in on some of the winter months’ most-anticipated album releases.

January 17: Setting the stage

With holiday confections in the rear view, theaters save their seasons’ most ambitious works for winter. Jay helps you choose which shows to see.

January 24: The Great Northern 

The Great Northern is Minnesota’s megamix of winter fun. Cecilia shares an inside scoop.

January 31: City of Lakes Loppet 

The City of Lakes Loppet is no joke, and you’ll need an invigorating playlist to get you pumped up. Youa Vang has you covered, with a little help from her friends.

February 7: Dining with conscience

Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner spot or just hoping to try something new, this is a good time of year to scan the local food scene. Mecca Bos highlights eight establishments nourishing body, mind, and conscience.

February 14: New local brews 

Ahead of the Winter Beer Dabbler, Louis Livingston-Garcia helps you suss out the latest and greatest in Gopher State beer.

February 21: Minnesota art experiences 

The dog days of winter (or should that be the cat days?) are the perfect time to take a staycation to a local museum. Lydia Moran highlights essential shows to take in.

February 28: Hygge hot spots

Whew! After such a busy winter, it’s time for some pre-spring R&R. Jay shares ten cozy spots to curl up in the Cities.

About our art

Marlena Myles, a digital artist based in St. Paul, created the spirited moving graphics for our winter guide.

About the below illustration she writes, “oftentimes, Minnesotans complain of Winter Wind's bitter embrace, for good reason! But every now and then, Winter Wind takes mercy on us, creating a gentle arena for snowflakes to fall as we enjoy moving on the ice; this gentleness we capture in snowglobes to enjoy in the warmths of our homes, to remember when Winter Wind's bitterness returns.”

About this illustration, she writes, “the long dark nights of Minnesota winter open our eyes to the wonders of the starry sky and the thrills of chasing the Aurora Borealis.”