Things to Do in Minnetonka

When Mercedes Austin sees a piece of artwork, her imagination immediately breaks it down into pixels and rebuilds it as a tile mosaic. Recently, she executed this process by making a mosaic of a wall mural: She fabricated jagged tiles, arranged them to resemble the original, and grouted the piece together. The resulting mosaic speaks to her intuition as an artist, and also to the years she’s spent honing the craft.

At Mercury Mosaics’ studio, Mercedes and a team of “tile elves” share their passion in two ways: through mosaic classes and custom installations. Classes explore all facets of mosaic creation, from cutting and gluing to grouting tiles into a pattern that resembles a real-life object or fuzzy television screen. Installations, which are fully customized to the client’s specifications, add a distinctive flair to commonly tiled areas such as bathrooms, backsplashes, and fireplaces.

The instructors at Bodyblast Studio wrap fitness, personal growth, and entertainment into tidy one-hour classes centered on pole fitness, Latin-inspired dance moves, or competitive martial arts. Ladies-only pole-fitness classes utilize poles for leverage and stability as bodies swing and slide their way to a healthy sweat in routines designed to strengthen the core and upper body. Exercisers teach imaginary rivals a lesson they won’t soon forget as they pummel the air with swift kicks and punches in tae kwon do classes, and hearts race through the hip-churning steps of Latin-inspired Zumba dance classes. For a more calming exercise, balance a lopsided aura with a Vinyasa flow yoga class that links mind and body with conscious breathing.

A spring-loaded hardwood aerobic floor keeps steps peppy and reduces strain on joints during all-out workouts or dance sessions. Brass poles and glossy kettlebells reflect the colorful lights flashing overhead as hit dance tunes blast through the speakers of a full sound system.

US Air Force and Army veteran SGT Tim Peterson designs military-inspired workouts with a team of instructors trained under a meticulous 12-month curriculum. He leads one-hour boot-camp workouts, motivating 5–20 participants to race through a series of full-body exercises that boost heart rates and draw sweat to the surface by promising it a warm sweatshirt to sink into. Sergeant. Peterson mixes up each session, coupling military-style calisthenics with yoga, or speed training with kickboxing. In addition to the group sessions, he also works one-on-one with guests during personal-training sessions, honing in on muscle groups to work out and shouting at specific joints that underperform.

The Des Moines Home & Garden Show helps homeowners revitalize their home and hearth, exposing them to new products, styles, and techniques for remodeling their homes, lawns, and neighbors' driveways. During the four-day event, hundreds of exhibitors and experts divulge their knowledge on topics ranging from landscaping to security systems, and celebrity designers such as Rachel Kate—a top finalist on HGTV's seventh season of _Design Star_—dole out sage advice on the event's stage. Guests can also peruse furniture built by local artisans or harvest inspiration in the greenery of seven featured gardens.

Nestled within the third floor of Mall of America, the Amazing Mirror Maze’s twisting, reflective paths wind through a 2,500-square-foot labyrinth brimming with disorienting mirrors arranged beneath archways flecked with colorful diamonds. These endless passageways fade into the distance, reflected eternally to befuddle guests and throw off internal navigation systems. Visitors snake their way through these gargantuan halls and attempt to defeat the maze and shake the oddly familiar-looking people that have been following them since they arrived.

Since 1970, Skateville Family Rollerskating Center has facilitated friction-free entertainment on a classic indoor wooden rink. Multicolored lights tumble from retro fixtures high above the skating surface, swathing skaters in incandescent hues and mirages of Mardi Gras beads. In addition to hosting guests during open-skate hours, the family-owned roller arena gathers classes and groups together for field trips and fundraisers. The snack bar's hot dogs and soft drinks keep skaters energized, and an onsite arcade keeps hands from whining about all of the foot-centric entertainment.