THE SETUP. I’ve prepared an itinerary for my girlfriend, Robin, and her son, Cole. They’re quintessential New Yorkers--the stereotypical investment banker’s wife and child. When they come to town, it’s important to showcase the best our cities have to offer. If I want them to have a great time, there are two itinerary essentials: fine dining and superb shopping. I’ve created an itinerary that includes some of the best activities in both categories for moms and kids.  

FRIDAY

6:00 p.m. Collect Robin and Cole from airport. Take them to Town Talk Diner. A co-worker’s son owns this underrated treasure. Comfort food and adult milkshakes are a must after a long flight. Cost: $65.00.
9:00 p.m. Take the gang to Izzy's for ice cream. Izzy’s is so good, they’ve heard about it in Brooklyn. Cost: $12.00.

SATURDAY

9:00 a.m. Stand in line, grab breakfast at Victor’s 1959 Café. Head to the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre for performance followed by a Puppet Making Workshop. Cost: $30.00 breakfast; $20.00 for show and workshop.
1:00 p.m. Drive to Nordeast for lunch at Punch Pizza. Walk to Bibelot and Pacifier, shop. Cost: $40 lunch; $160 at the stores.
3:00 p.m. Hop in the car and head to Edina. Visit BeBe Babble. Stop at France 44 to buy wine and cheese for later. Continue to Spirit Kids and Hot Mama. Pick up shirts for ourselves and the kids. Walk over to Edina Creamery for ice cream. Small shoppers always enjoy ice cream after a day of boutiquing! Cost: $250 for wine, cheese, ice cream and trendy t-shirts.
5:00 p.m. Drive home through Bryn Mawr’s Theodore Wirth Park. Stop at the Quaking bog. Head to Victory Parkway. Stop at the Loring School playground.
7:30 p.m. Take kids to 112 Eatery for dinner. The kids will love the fries in the cone and sharing the chicken for two. While very trendy, 112 is also surprisingly kid-friendly.  After a delicious dinner, we go home and put the kids to bed. Robin and I talk and catch up. We can unwind and drink the wine we bought from France 44.  Cost: $95 on dinner and parking.

SUNDAY

10:30 a.m. Take kids to Good Day Cafe for brunch. My son loves the pigs in a blanket.  Hop on 394E and head downtown. Enter the skyway (always a hit with visitors) and go to Macy's. Take photos with the Mary Tyler Moore statue for my blog--we can laugh about them later. Cost: $45 brunch; $10 parking.
1:00 p.m. Head over to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to burn off breakfast and take photos of the kids on the spider swing.  On the way back to the car, stop at Candy Land and grab some Chicago mix to take back to Brooklyn. Cost: $20 for popcorn and candy.
2:30 p.m. Head home for a quick nap. Pack.
4:00 p.m. Early dinner at Quang. Kid-friendly and mom-approved, it’s an affordable pre-flight option. Cost: $35.
6:00 p.m. Take Robin and Cole to airport.

GETCONNECTED
Town Talk Diner
2707 E Lake St, Minneapolis
(612) 722-1312

Izzy’s
2034 Marshall Avenue, Saint Paul
(651) 603-1458

Victor's 1959 Cafe
3756 Grand Ave S., Minneapolis
(612) 827-8948

The Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater
1500 E Lake St., Minneapolis
(612) 721-2535

Punch Neapolitan Pizza
210 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
(612) 623-8114

Bibelot Shops
300 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
(612) 379-9300

Pacifier
310 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
(612) 623-8123

Bebe Babble
3904 Sunnyside Road, Edina
(952) 922-2020

France 44 Wines & Spirits
4351 France Ave S, Minneapolis
(612) 925-3252

Spirit Kids
4940 France Ave S., Edina
(952) 922-8588

Hot Mama
3940 W 50th St., Minneapolis
(952) 920-9070

Edina Creamery
5055 France Ave S., Minneapolis
(612) 920-2169

Theodore Wirth Park
1339 Theodore Wirth Pkwy., Minneapolis
612 230-6400

Quaking Bog
Theodore Wirth Parkway and Glenwood Ave., Minneapolis
612 370-4903

Victory Parkway

Loring School Playground
2600 44th Ave N, Minneapolis
(612) 668-2060

112 Eatery
112 N 3rd St., Minneapolis
(612) 343-7696

Good Day Café
5410 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis
(763) 544-0205

Macy's
1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
(612) 375-2200

Mary Tyler Moore Statue
Nicollet Mall at Nicollet and 7th St.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Candyland
27 S 7th St, Minneapolis
(612) 332-7752

Quang Pastry & Deli
2719 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis
(612) 870-4739