• Order business cards
• Order a banner
• Organize new shipment of tees
• Purchase table and chairs for festival
• Find mannequins to display tees at festivals

I could go on for a LONG time and, with the weather we’ve been having lately, it’s hard to get motivated to get all of this done. But then we remember why we do it: to help our nonprofit partner, Minnesota Computers for Schools, provide less fortunate students with access to technology. When we stop and think about kids trying to succeed in school without having access to a computer, it makes it pretty easy for us to hunker down and get to work because we know that the more shirts we can sell, the more we can help this awesome organization change the lives of students throughout Minnesota.

Mickey’s was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 as the only building of its kind in the state of Minnesota.

Things didn’t turn out the way we imagined and Katie got stuck inside the canvas top. There isn’t enough room inside the apartment to put the tent together, so we’ll give it a shot outside.

Aside from trying to put the tent together, we got busy pulling stock and getting ready for the first festival in a couple weeks.

On our first Panda In The City outing in Minneapolis we stumbled onto this group of people jammin’ out on the Stone Arch Bridge. My sister Bridget, who was on panda duty, hopped in and busted out her best moves which were so awesome that we started a dance party right there on the bridge.

[Taken by CityPages]

[Taken by [Clint] on Flickr]

[Taken by epiøne on Flickr]

[Taken by cewoldt on Flickr]

[Taken by Jon Larson on Flickr]

[Taken by koni-omegaman on Flickr]

[Taken by cewoldt on Flickr]

[Taken by Bobby Khan Photography on Flickr]

[Taken by smcgee on Flickr]

[Taken by damonlynch on Flickr]

[Taken by aepoc on Flickr]

[Taken by Chris Boeke on Flickr]

We’ve had the opportunity to catch up with a few of the schools that have purchased equipment from MCFS and have been so inspired by their stories. One of the schools, Washburn High School, purchases computers from MCFS to use in its Check and Connect program. Check and Connect is a one-on-one mentoring program for ninth and tenth graders who are in danger of failing out of school.

The students in the program often don’t have access to computers at home – which poses a major problem because these days, a student must be able to type papers, do research online, submit homework via email and sometimes even take classes online. Not having access to a computer at home presents these at-risk students another barrier to success in school.

Check and Connect purchases computers from MCFS to allow their students to use during school – and check out during the evenings and weekends – so they can complete homework and develop the necessary computer skills for success in school and in the workforce.

Listening to stories like this, and seeing the impact that MCFS has on students in Minnesota fuels us. That’s why we donate 10% of every shirt you purchase to support MCFS and amazing programs like Check and Connect.

[Taken by [Clint] on Flickr]

[Taken by wleif on Flickr]

[Taken by menlo on Flickr]

[Taken by Midwest Cargo Cult on Flickr]

[Taken by keithjsemmelink on Flickr]

[Taken by MNFISH on Flickr]

[Taken by moiht on Flickr]

[Taken by Urban Camper on Flickr]

[Taken by sribha_jain on Flickr]

[Taken by Victor Keller on Flickr]

[Taken by shane422 on Flickr]

[Taken by Lucie Maru on Flickr]

I’ve always wondered whose face was looming on the outside of the Guthrie. I did a little research and discovered that it was actually the portrait of the theater’s founder. The Guthrie Theater was founded by Sir William Tyrone Guthrie in 1963. In memory of him and his accomplishment the outside walls of the new Guthrie Theater along the river is where his image is one of several emblazoned on the exterior walls. In the words of artistic director Joe Dowling, “a permanent reflection of the incredible spirit of openness and respect for the art of theater that [Guthrie] found here in the early 1960s and that continue to delight and amaze me every day.”

1. Free Thursdays as the Walker

2. The Happy Gnome

3. Gold Medal Park

4. HauteDish

5. Taco Taxi

What are some of your favorites? Where else should we go?