Indie bookstores in North Dakota are open for business — even in a pandemic. They’re getting creative, offering curbside pickup, front door delivery service, and personal shopping for gifts and care packages so we can all shop responsibility and practice social distancing. (And yes, it’s totally acceptable to give a care package to yourself. You’ve earned it. We’ve all earned it.) You can also order titles you want and they’ll ship them to you. If there’s not an indie booksto

There’s something soothing about skipping the big box stores and opting for indie crafts, art shows and handmade gifts this Christmas. The gifts are unique, your dollars support a small businessperson and the shopping experience often includes fun extras like mulled wine, beer, live music, and entertainment to keep the youngest shoppers transfixed. As an added bonus, you can usually meet the artists and makers to get the story behind the gift you’re giving and learn how it wa

For an in-depth look at the largest city in North Dakota, check out Fargo Food Tours. This Fargo walking tour just launched this spring and it’s a great way to experience the history, culture and food scene at street level. Well, mostly at street level. You do go underground to one of the most cleverly hidden restaurants in downtown Fargo at one point. The three hour walking tour explores six iconic Fargo restaurants and eateries every Saturday during the spring, summer and f

Want to enjoy espresso in a church where Tedddy Roosevelt once worshipped, sip tea in a hidden courtyard or fund a nonprofit with your morning coffee purchase? Then put these North Dakota coffee shops at the top of your list. There are lots of places to get a great cup of coffee (or tea or hot cocoa, if that’s your thing) in the state. These spots offer a little something extra — an inspiring atmosphere, unique menu offerings or a chance to give back — with your drink order.

People often ask me where to eat when they visit Fargo. Getting requests like this from other writers, travelers and complete strangers is one of the best things about this job, because I get to show off where I live. This city has an excellent, constantly evolving food scene and there’s no shortage of choices. I love it when visitors ask me to recommend a few dishes I really like, because that’s a totally different list — and one I don’t get to share often. All lists are sub

I love being a travel writer. I am profoundly, almost stupidly grateful that I get to do this for a living. I was filling up travel journals, taking hundreds of photos and chatting with locals long before I ever realized it was actually a job. It was a huge relief to create something useful with that information, instead of just terrifying my family and friends with the promise (or threat!) of looking at 1,200 photos of my trip to Japan. I’ve gotten better at editing since th

Hey #PrairiePeople, there’s a new event in Fargo and I think it’s gonna be pretty fabulous. It’s called the Fargo Spring Wing Fling. Eight Fargo-Moorhead restaurants, Shotgun Sally’s, Brickhouse Taverns, Dempsey’s Public House, Herd & Horns, Labby’s, Rookie’s, Sickie’s Garage and Sidestreet, will offer wings for you to try. The rubs and sauces they create will only be available at the event. You can sample them all and vote for your favorite. There’ll also be a beer garden, f

“We love films because they makes us feel something. They speak to our desires, which are never small. They allow us to escape and to dream and to gaze into the eyes that are impossibly beautiful and huge. They fill us with longing. But also. they tell us to remember; they remind us of life. Remember, they say, how much it hurts to have your heart broken.” ― Nina LaCour, “Everything Leads to You” What are you doing March 15-19? Meet me at the Fargo Film Festival. I’ve said i

Forget the roses — Prairie Style File readers want decadent desserts, local craft beer, a romantic getaway and a cooler full of aged parmesan for Valentine’s Day. (And not necessarily in that order.) And that’s why we all get along so well. The most recent #PrairiePlaces Twitter chat just confirmed that I really do have the best readers in the world. From sexy restaurants to sleepy prairie town getaways, their picks are definitely not just for couples. Here are a few reader s

I had one of those weeks this week. Between computer problems, impossible to find sources, rescheduled meetings and odd editorial requests, everything was taking about ten times as long as she it should have. It was apparent by Thursday morning that, while I was fully caffeinated and more than ready to work, nobody else was. So I said “screw it” and built snow art instead. It was awesome. Let me back up for a second. My high school friend Katie runs a marketing agency in Mahn

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” Albert Camus During a particularly fabulous #PrairiePlaces Twitter chat earlier this week, readers like you shared suggestions for how to beat cabin fever and fun ways to stay active during the winter. I learned about some cozy coffee shops and cool cross country skiing trails. They suggested two winter festivals, a few restaurants to try and even a haunted (?!) underground location. I thin

Fargo fashionistas, rejoice — another boutique is coming to downtown Fargo this summer! Kittsona will open a new North Dakota location at 610 Main Avenue in Fargo. (Yes, the name changed to “Kittsona” along the way.) The shop’s lease begins on June 1 and owners Nicole Johnson and Tessa Himey are hoping for a mid-July opening so they can take advantage of extra visibility during the Downtown Street Fair in July. The store will stock women’s clothing, shoes and accessories in

The Fargo Marathon returns this week! Even if you’re a dedicated non-runner like me, there are still ways you can get in on the event that attracted over 24,000 participants from all over the world last year and promises even more this year. Here are five of my favorite ways experience Marathon madness. Run: With a 5K, 10K, bike race, Marathon Relay, kids races, Half and Full Marathon on the schedule, there’s a race for everyone. You can register online here or register in p

The idea of just wandering off to a cafe with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for awhile is just bliss. J.K Rowling So I did what I do best — I want wandering to see where the afternoon would take me. I do this a lot when I’m traveling, but I’m still working on working a little serendipity into my every day life. It’s funny how when you relax a little, life gives you exactly what you need. I stumbled across a great new shop, which I’ll bring you in a pos

O’Day Cache is known for antiques and accessories from China and India, but it’s my go-to stop when I need unique gifts, something sparkly or a little touch of the exotic. It’s a tactile place, a treasure trove of silky scarves, chandelier earrings, bejeweled little trinkets and embellishments for your home and for your closet. It’s an excellent source for gifts, since it’s chock full of gorgeous things that nobody really needs (and therefore won’t buy for themselves), but th

If you’re into unique gifts, non-grandma-ish crafts and shopping that will make you smile, you have to check out the Grand Opening events at Unglued on September 6th, 7th and 8th. There are more than 60 local and regional artists represented at Unglued, and they sell the most transfixing assortment of gifts. It’s all handcrafted or vintage, but with a decidedly modern — and usually witty — edge. I have a personal weakness for the scarves and prints by local artists, but these

I was expecting Mezzaluna to be good, but I wasn’t expecting the best steak of my life! Sara and Eric Watson’s Balsamic Grilled New York Strip is a great example of what’s on their menu — flavorful, artisan food that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The steak (medium, if you’re curious) was perfection on its own (and I’m a girl who’s usually pretty ambivalent about steak) and the candied bacon and blue cheese on top made it seriously addictive. Derrick ordered it, but we co

If you’re out and about in Fargo this weekend, don’t miss the epic vintage sale, brought to you by The Green Room. The store pops up occasionally and features repurposed, salvaged and re-imagined home decor, gifts and art. Here are a few of my favorites. It has the vibe of a beautifully curated antique store, with all the dusty, rusty bits replaced with pretty, quirky things. I like how they stock pieces that are an equal mix of sweet… Photos #2 and #5 courtesy of Midwest Jun

Fargo Street Fair Broadway from Main Avenue to 6th Avenue North Thursday, July 19 from 10am-9pm Friday, July 20 from 10am-9pm Saturday, July 21 from 10am-5pm The Fargo Street Fair is one of my favorite Fargo traditions. For three days every July, Broadway is packed with little white tents full of art, crafts and activities. And the food — most of it concentrated around 2nd Avenue North — is always awesome. This year, I’m starting with my all time favorites;  gyros from Sa

In the time it took for me to grab an order of chicken tacos, I was invited to an art exhibit, got into a passionate discussion about butter fried corn tortillas with one of the cooks and talked started talking to Blake and Ashley, the couple ahead of me in line. After 20 minutes of chatting with them about golf, fashion, art and advertising I walked away with a ton of story ideas — including this coming Sunday’s Street Style post! —  and the feeling that I’d had a lunchtime