Labor Day Staycation: A Weekend in Grand Forks

To me, August feels like electricity before the storm, fever before the break—the quiet accumulation of summer busyness, culminating in one weekend: Labor Day. Most people head out of town, hit the lake, or do something special to mark the “official” end of summer. Me? I had to stay in town for work.

At first, I was a little bummed—my friends were gone, my family was at my aunt’s lake place in Minnesota, and I would’ve given anything to be near the water.

But once I accepted that Saturday was a workday, I realized I had Sunday and Monday all to myself. Okay, I thought. There’s plenty to do in Grand Forks. I’d grown used to solo adventures—honestly, I’d come to enjoy them—and I decided that Sunday, my first real day off, would be filled with all my favorite things.

Pecan Oatmilk Cortado: the drink of the season

Foggy Streets & Fall Beats

I woke up early, ready to get ahead of the day. I opened the Target app and let them know I’d be picking up my grocery order soon. A notification popped up: Would you like to add a Starbucks drink to your order? I noticed their fall menu had just dropped, so I scrolled through the options. If you know me, you know my go-to Starbucks order is a Flat White. But the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado caught my eye, and I went for it instead.

I threw on a flannel shirt and biker shorts, my hair still frizzy and braided from the night before. Sunglasses on. As I drove across town, I noticed a veil of fog hanging low over the streets. Spooky, I thought.

I picked up my order and took my first sip of coffee before even leaving the Target parking lot. Smooth, hot, and just sweet enough—yum. I kept sneaking small sips on the drive back, but I wanted to save most of it for the walk I was about to take.

Back at my apartment, I unpacked my groceries, grabbed my headphones, and set out for the Greenway. Lately, I’d been curating an Apple Music playlist for Fall and Halloween, aptly named 🍂Falloween🌕—a mix of cozy classics and haunting modern hits. Think the smoky groove of Dusty Springfield’s Spooky intertwined with the bluesy tension of Hozier’s It Will Come Back. Today felt like the perfect day to give it a proper test run.

The Greenway

The Tease of Time

It was supposed to be hot today, and I wanted to get out before it got too unbearable. When I stepped outside into the bright sun, I felt the whisper of early-morning coolness, but the air was already steeped in humidity. Summer’s fever had not yet broke. I walked a few blocks to the Greenway. Usually, I take the paved path, but today I wandered through the wet grass near the river. I made my way to the bank, onto the dock, and paused to gaze across the Red River, watching cars cruise over the bridge connecting Grand Forks to East Grand Forks. The brown, muddy water moved like molasses—so slow it almost seemed stagnant. Not quite the body of water I had in mind for a long weekend, but it would do.

Back on the grass, the morning dew soaked into my Nike Air Max shoes. Once white in color, they’ve since faded into a weathered light gray. I tried to preserve their freshness, but these shoes are well-traveled—across the UK and Canada, through the Pacific Northwest and Tennessee, and along this very same route in every season over the past two years.

I noticed the first flicker of yellow leaves—a small scattering in the enormous thicket of green trees that lined the riverbank. They glimmered with the hint of a new season. Some had already fallen, curled up and lonely on the vast carpet of grass. It felt early for the leaves to be changing, but I didn’t mind. I wish it could be Autumn all year round.

As I walked, a quote I once read by author Jedidiah Jenkins came to mind: “The routine is the enemy of time.” He explains that once your brain establishes a routine, it goes on autopilot—the alertness fades, the fascination with how the world works slips away. In other words, if you’re not experiencing new things, your brain isn’t slowing down to process and explore.

Routine deletes time, like the click of this very button on my keyboard as I write. I’m constantly trying to find ways to make time slow down. To be present. To absorb every moment, every season. The secret? Discovery. It doesn’t have to be extreme—sometimes it’s as simple as taking a different route on a walk or ordering a new kind of coffee. Small shifts, but enough to break up the monotony. Enough to tease your mind.

Favorite brunch spot: The Spud Jr.

Mimosas, Memories & Mini Treasures

I returned from my walk, showered, and got ready to meet my little brother Marc, who happened to be visiting from Fargo. I chose The Spud Jr. for its brunch and bottomless mimosas—I knew he’d like it there. It’s become my go-to brunch spot in town: laid-back pub vibe, solid menu, and especially good mimosas and Bloody Marys. I ordered the Eggs Benedict Arnold; he went with waffles.

In some ways, Marc feels like my twin. He’s only a year younger than me, and we share this odd frequency where we instantly get each other’s obscure childhood movie quotes. His humor is particular, but it’s one I understand perfectly. He listens without judgment, though not without sly remarks—just enough to break the tension and lighten even the most serious conversation.

We mostly rehashed old family stories. Like the time when we were kids and Dad accidentally slammed his finger in the car door that wouldn’t close. Marc had just tried to point out the problem at the exact moment Dad gave it one last hard slam. Painful then, but funny now.

Wild Bergamot

Marc headed back to Fargo, and I decided to check out a new shop that had just opened on 32nd Ave called Wild Bergamot. I’d spotted it on Instagram and thought it looked cool. The moment I walked in, I knew I liked it—filled with carefully chosen accessories and giftables, unique pieces you don’t come across just anywhere. I grabbed a card for a baby shower and found myself drawn to a little table full of perfumes and lip balms. One item especially caught my eye: a sleek aluminum case covered in pink florals and a skull, labeled Date Night Kit. Intrigued, I opened it to find a small tube of lip tint and a travel-sized bottle of TokyoMilk perfume. I loved it immediately and decided I needed it.

On my way out, I chatted briefly with the owner, congratulating her on the opening and telling her I’d been waiting for a store like this in Grand Forks. Clutching the small white paper bag with its beautiful black logo, I meant every word.

Downtown Grand Forks

Ticket for One

When I got back to my apartment, I felt a little sleepy and decided to lie down. But then I remembered I wanted to catch Caught Stealing at the River Cinema Theater. Hmm, maybe tonight, I thought, still half-drowsy—possibly from the heat or the mimosa at brunch. I checked the showtimes: the next one started in 15 minutes. Wanting to get the most out of my day, I got up, grabbed my keys, and headed out.

I love going to movies alone, especially on days and times I know won’t be busy—like a Sunday afternoon on Labor Day weekend. No popcorn, no drinks, just the movie. I sank into a luxury seat, immediately reclined, and turned on the heat option, ready to settle in.

The first time I ever went to a movie alone was a couple of years ago, back when the AMC Classic was still open on 32nd Ave. It was Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid. I remember feeling silly at first—like a bit of a loser walking in all alone. No date, no friends. But once I settled into my seat, in a nearly empty theater, I felt this surprising sense of freedom and anonymity. Like, if I wanted to go do something, I could just do it. I didn’t have to wait until my friends’ schedules aligned—or until they even wanted to do the same things as me. It sounds small, but it was an unexpected gain of independence.

Vest Day Ever

Magic in the Mundane

Time and money don’t allow me to get out into the world as often as I’d like, but I find ways to explore and appreciate my own town. I have my rituals—the simple things that bring me joy: coffee, walks, sifting through treasures at a new shop. Novelty doesn’t have to be extreme. You know when people ask what your favorite day ever is? I could never really think of one. It always seemed too difficult to pin down. But now? I can honestly say this was one of my favorite times I’ve ever had. There was nothing particularly extraordinary the day—but I found small ways to make it feel special, as if I were experiencing Grand Forks for the very first time.