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Lake Street is “Best Of the Twin Cities”
April 21, 2010
City Pages’ Best of the Twin Cities 2010 just hit the Internet, and as usual Lake Street and its businesses cleaned up in many categories, well over a dozen this year. We’re here to guide you through all of them!
People & Places
First, and my personal favorite, Metro Transit Route 21 takes the win for best bus route. “If you want to ride a bus and get somewhere, it’s the 21 or nothing, the bus line that’s about the journey as much as the destination.”
Best Place to Hang Out with the Kids: Midtown Global Market. “The perfect distillation of Lake Street’s entrepreneurial immigrant surroundings.”
Best Lake: Lake Calhoun. We’re lucky to have such a nice slice of nature so close by!
Shopping & Services
Best Used Bookstore: Magers & Quinn. “The Uptown anchor has it all: an attractive space, roomy layout, friendly staff, and convenient hours.”
Best Mystery Bookstore: Uncle Edgar’s. Easy choice here!
Best Bike Shop: Freewheel. Their Midtown shop has been a great addition to the Greenway.
Best Store for Sex Toys: Smitten Kitten. Again, who else could you possibly choose?
Food & Drink
Best Japanese Restaurant: Fuji-Ya. The Twin Cities’ first Japanese restaurant is still on top!
Best Wine List: Barbette. They got their win for a great selection of sparkling wine.
Best Pizza: Galactic Pizza. Everyone loves the superhero deliveries and the electric cars they arrive in!
Best Taco: Carne Asada from Los Ocampo. “The asada, ordered “Mexican-style,” comes with a tight little pile of grilled steak, diced onion, and a bunch of bright-green cilantro resting cutely atop two soft, warm corn tortillas, flanked by lime wedges and a little spray of thinly sliced radishes.” Wow, that sounds good. You can find them both in the Global Market and at their own spot on Chicago & Lake.
Best Burrito: Pineda Tacos. It is indeed huge and delicious, and you have two chances to get one on Lake Street, at Hiawatha and at 3rd!
Best Happy Hour: Il Gatto, in Calhoun Square. Great deals on wine, well drinks, and domestic tap beer.
Best Neighborhood Bar: Merlins Rest. Good whiskey, beer, pub quizzes, traditional British pub food…what more could you want?
Arts & Entertainment
Best Improv Comedy Theater: ComedySportz, in Calhoun Square. 20+ years and going strong, with many chances for audience participation!
Best Stage Design: Joel Sass, the Jungle Theater. “Joel Sass took the reigns of the theater in 2009…and showed that his own considerable talents stretched to design as well.”
Best Midnight Movie: The Room at Uptown Theatre. Sounds delightfully disastrous.
Best Storytelling Event: Two Chairs Telling. “ Once a month, two skilled spoken-word performers are given a stage together, and everything else—the themes addressed, the tone, and the stories told—is up to the pair to decide.” This series started at the Jungle years ago and is now hosted by our friends a few blocks to the north at Open Eye Figure Theatre.
That’s all we spotted this time around! If we’re missing any, be sure to let us know in the comments. And think of this as a great reason to try out anything you see here that you’ve meant been meaning to go (or go back!) to.
Weekend on Lake Street, 4/16-4/18
April 15, 2010
This coming weekend promises to be a big one. Saturday will be Hymie’s last day at their current 33rd & Lake location. Don’t worry, they’re not going far! In a few weeks they’ll be up and running at 39th & Lake, right next to the Blue Moon. The picture there is their new sign at In the meantime, they’ll be going out with a bang, as Saturday is also National Record Store Day. They’ll have big sales and many live performances throughout the day. Buffalo Moon, Jezebel Jones & Her Wicked Ways, Stepped Reckkoner, Ford Road Five…the list goes on. Not to be missed by any vinyl fan.
Extreme Noise Records is getting in on the Record Store Day fun as well. They’ll be opening early, at 9:00 AM, with breakfast treats from Cake Eater Bakery for their customers. Veggie dogs and soda will be available for those who come in after noon. They’ll have plenty of deals and special Record Store Day releases, too.
Switching gears, Earth Day is also coming up soon, and Midtown Global Market hosts their celebration on Saturday. Visitors are invited to meet the local farmers and producers who bring the food to their tables. Experts will also be on hand to offer guests energy saving tips and ways to “green-up” their every day lives. This year will also feature a Recycled Art Fair. All entries must be made up of at least 75% recycled materials. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place and all artwork will be on display at the Market through May 17.
And right there down on the Greenway, it’s Freewheel’s Bikers Bazaar Craft Fair. Over 20 localartists and crafters selling everything including, upcycled bike part jewelry, baby clothes, handmade wooden utensils, zines, paintings, hair accessories, bags and much much more.
Theater
Patrick’s Cabaret holds the Somewhat Sci-Fi Variety Show Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. “An evening of hip-hop modern, singing, waacking, performance art, comedy and freestylin. All works inspired by science fiction culture.” Cathy Wright, Bryce Davidson, Manboy(Erik Stoeckler), Anne Johnson and Nora Figi, Laura Rademacher, Tony Larson, B-Boy J-Sun, Laura Kirkeby, Hannah Lund, and Arturo Miles perform.
At Bryant Lake Bowl, The Harty Boys in The Case of the Limping Platypus returns from its popular Fringe Festival run, with one show on Friday evening, and two on Saturday. Both nights, it’s followed by a new incarnation of Dykes Do Drag, “a Savers fashion show in Genderbenderville.” And Sunday evening, it’s the second performance for C-SICK, about the journey of Polly, one of over 5 million people infected with Hepatitis C.
And don’t forget about Pangea World Theater, co-hosting Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba along with Teatro del Pueblo. It’s playing for two more weekends at SteppingStone Theatre in St. Paul.
Music
Sauce Spirits & Soundbar has The Bitter Spills on Friday night, with Matthew Ryan and Brandon Sampson. Saturday it’s Estate with Beatrix *JAR and DJ Denver Dalley, and Sunday night it’s Sarah Winters, with Nikki Schultz, Greg Reese and Derek Luttrell.
Weekend on Lake Street, 4/9 - 4/11
April 08, 2010
A big event for Lake Street this weekend is Saturday’s Start Up in Uptown Shop & Walk. “As part of a partnership between the Uptown Association and the American Heart Association, Uptown Minneapolis will host a day of shopping, dining and relaxing to encourage everyone to ‘Start!’ living a healthier lifestyle by walking a little each day.” Dozens of businesses are offering discounts, and the first 200 people to check in at Cowboy Slims at 1320 W. Lake St. will get free gift bags and maps! Check out this Uptown Association webpage for a list of participating businesses, what they’re offering, and to download a free bus pass.
Theater
On Friday, Bryant Lake Bowl an offerings of Mint, presented by the Flower Shop Project, and a new edition of La Vie Theatre’s stand up comedy show Last Laugh. Saturday features Creative Laughter Club House for kids K-6 at noon, and another serving of Mint in the evening. Then on Sunday it’s the first show of C-SICK, “a haunting and enlightening journey of Polly, one of over 5 million people infected with Hepatitis C.”
A few blocks north of Lake Street, Frank Theater puts on Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis in the Open Eye Theatre space on 24th St. “Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes one morning to find that he has been transformed into a “monstrous vermin.” Life just isn’t the same after that.” The Star Tribune has the write-up.
And this one’s in St. Paul: our friends at Pangea World Theater are co-producing The House of Bernarda Alba. “Five daughters are forced into mourning by their mother. One by one they make a bid for freedom, with tragic consequences. Don’t miss Lorca’s critically acclaimed masterpiece brought to life by Pangea World Theater and Teatro del Pueblo.” Check the webpage for details.
Music
Sauce Spirits & Soundbar features Farewell Milwaukee, with Brian Just Band, Unwed Sailor, and Backstories, on Friday night. Saturday night it’s The Rockford Mules, with The Gleam and Crossing Guards. And Sunday it’s Central Division, with The Wiitala Brothers, Ten Ton Bridge. Doors at 9:30 for all shows, Friday and Saturday with a $5 cover, Sunday free.
(Sauce also features art this weekend. It has a Number 3 opening celebration early Saturday evening, featuring the works of Emily Hayes, Cassie Garner, and Jason Wasyk.)
Bryant Lake Bowl has some local music this weekend too. Saturday night it’s a CD release for Son of Lars’s new album, “The Ghost Cave of the Black Mountain.” The Daredevil Christopher Wright and Dewi Sant will be there too.
Get To Work!
In the Heart of the Beast Theatre needs help creating the MayDay Parade! They offer both a morning and an afternoon workshop Saturdays all through April, as well as evening workshops Tuesdays and Thursdays. Artists will help you select a theme and guide you in your work. Come to as many or as few workshops as you are able.
Other Ways To Party
Get to Old Arizona’s Spring Wine Tasting on Friday night. It’s an evening filled with palate-pleasing wines, fine cheeses and pintxos (small bites), while mingling with friends and neighbors in the intimate spaces of Old Arizona. All wines served during the evening will be available for purchase at the event. Like all events hosted by Old Arizona, profits from the wine tasting will go towards Old Arizona’s youth programs for teenage girls.
And on Saturday, celebrate Scottish heritage with a Tartan Day Party at Merlin’s Rest. Great music from local pipers, traditional Scottish foods, and drink specials!
Tragedy at McMahon’s
April 06, 2010
By now, everyone has likely heard about the horrible fire in the McMahon’s Pub building at 30th & Lake, that caused so much damage and was Minneapolis’s deadliest fire in over 20 years. We won’t go back through all the details here. Instead, we’ll direct you to McMahon’s homepage, to see their response to what has happened. Unfortunately, it appears the whole building will need to be demolished. But the McMahon’s team vows to rebuild, and has details about two upcoming fundraisers for the families who lost people. Our best wishes to everyone who is rebuilding after this fire.
Weekend on Lake Street 3/26-3/28
March 26, 2010
Theater
This is your very last chance to see Blithe Spirit at Jungle Theater! The show about a seance gone wrong ends its run on Sunday.
At Bryant Lake Bowl, Detour’s monthlong run closes with performances on Friday and Saturday. Later those same nights, it’s Villification Squares, where “the Vilification Tennis cast returns with its crazy popular game show theme! Enjoy a show that is all about your favorite game shows with a Vilification Tennis twist.” Then on Sunday, it’s The Rockstar Storytellers: Chick Lit, followed by Proletariat Bronze Variety Showcase Show, an evening of spoken word and special surprises.
Arts
Friday night features a gallery opening at Highpoint Center for Printmaking. South African Prints from the David Krut Print Workshop will debut from 6:30 – 9:00 PM. It will be on view through April 24.
After seeing some art, how about making some of your own? At Midtown Global Market on Saturday afternoon, Free Arts Minnesota invites families to create colorful murals during a special event focused on the theme of “Healthy Families.” One mural will be selected by a panel of celebrity judges to be spotlighted in a bus mural all month long, and the talented winning family will also receive a prize package.
Music
If it’s live music on Lake Street, it must be Sauce. Friday night, it’s the The Melismatics, with Virtual CH. Saturday, it’s Gospel Gossip, with Wussy, Zoo Animal, and Maudlin. Sunday, Hildur Vicoria plays, with Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps and Total Babe. All shows have 9:30 PM doors and are 21+; Friday’s and Saturday’s cost $5.
For live music of a rather flavor, head over to Old Arizona on Friday and Saturday nights. They’re hosting DV8D Septet, “an a cappella group specializing in an eclectic mix of pop, jazz, doo wop, and other genres of vocal music you know and love.”
The Triumphant Return of Kaplan Brothers
March 26, 2010
We just learned of some great news: Kaplan Brothers at 1414 East Lake will be reopening on Monday the 29th! They’ve been regrouping since December, when a nearby water pipe burst and flooded the store, damaging the building and a lot of the merchandise. It was an especially bad time for that to happen to them, since the weather was just really cold and bringing in people looking for hardy winter clothes. Thankfully, their commitment to remain on Lake Street was strong, and they’ve now gotten everything cleaned up and ready to go. Please drop in when they reopen and welcome them back!
Weekend on Lake Street 3/12-3/14
March 12, 2010
Fork the Fire
First, a reminder about dining out for a great cause this Sunday. Go to restaurants participating in Fork the Fire to help raise money to support Heidi’s and Blackbird, the two restaurants destroyed in the fire at 50th & Bryant. Participating Lake Street places include Chino Latino, Il Gatto, Herkimer, Moto-i, The Craftsman, Burger Jones. Check Fork the Fire’s website for all the details.
Theater
This weekend brings with it a very active theater scene in the Lyn-Lake area. At Intermedia Arts, there are two shows remaining for NE 2nd Avenue, a compilation of characters that make Miami their home. “The work conveys, with poignancy and humor, the profoundly rich and textured mix of Miami, in which distinct Cuban, Haitian, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Jewish, LGBT and African American influences emerge yet, interestingly enough, often in ways that reveal evidence of, often denied, cross-pollination.” Check out the great review it got from John Townsend in the Star Tribune. It’s on Friday and Saturday night.
Blithe Spirit continues its run at Jungle Theater. The play, about a seance gone very wrong, has three weekends left to go. It’s received raves from both MinnPost and the Star Tribune.
And this weekend at Bryant Lake Bowl, Detour, an adaptation of Edgar G. Ulmer’s classic 1945 film noir piece, is on Friday night, as is Last Laugh, an exciting evening of stand up comedy presented by La Vie Theatre. Women Stand Up! A Comedy Cabaret is on Saturday night, and Macbeth: The Video Game Remix shows both Saturday and Sunday nights.
Music
Pangea World Theater hosts an acoustic show of traditional Irish music on Sunday night. Paddy O’Brien and Chulrua play old instrumental dance music of Ireland: jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, and slides. Chulrua translates fromthe Irish as “red back.” It was the name and distingushing feature of the favorite woulfound of ancient Irish hero Fionn MacCumhail.
At Sauce Spirits & Sound, Dearling Physique plays on Friday night, with Bella Koshka and Eric Lindley. Saturday night, it’s a CD release for Ernest Rhodes. One Be Lo, Wide Eyes, Gahed Indie, and DJ’s Last Word & oWrecks will also be there. And on Sunday, it’s Hardcore Crayons, with Tender Meat and Omnitrigger.
For the Kids
Over east, the East Lake Library hosts American Girl Stories on Saturday at 11:00 AM. For kids in kindergarten and up. Get to know your favorite American Girls. Kit, Kaya, Julie and their friends will come to life as we read about a different girl each month and discover history through their eyes with games and activities. This month is about Nellie, Samantha’s friend.
In Midtown, In the Heart of the Beast Theatre’s Saturday puppet show is Are You Thirsty?. Come explore a myriad of questions contained in a cup of water—one of the most precious and necessary shared resources of our planet. 10 and noon, with a make-n-take puppet workshop in between.
And over on West Lake, Bryant Lake Bowl hosts Creative Laughter on Saturday at noon. “A show for kids K-6 that creates an improv comedy experience with music, story, and movement. Come join John Haynes…formerly Mike of Martha and Mike’s Clubhouse for a show that will inspire you to creatively laugh.”
Odds and Ends
Old Arizona hosts a beer and cheese tasting on Friday night. Admission includes a tasting of no less than six varieties of beer, an assortment of imported and domestic cheeses and hot pinxtos (small plates . . . a little pinch of something). Full glasses of beer & wine may be purchased in the Café & Wine Bar.
And there are some good times this weekend at some of our local churches as well. St. Albert the Great continues their Friday fish dinners, with baked and fried tilapia, potatoes, meatless spaghetti, cole slaw, rolls, desserts and beverages. There’s bingo too! The dinners continue for three more Fridays.
And at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 15th Ave. & 28th St., they’re having a 325th Birthday Bash for J.S. Bach on Saturday. It’s a fundraising dinner that will benefit. benefit the church’s sustainability strategy. Corned beef brisket and cabbage, smoked, dry-rubbed beef brisket, coleslaw, potatoes, root vegetables, salads and desserts. Tickets: $20 ($13 from every sale will benefit the long-term strategy of our mission.) Call 651-459-7277 with inquiries and for reservations.
Kalico Elephant to Midtown Global
March 10, 2010
Minnesota Monthly’s Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl has a great scoop today about a new Thai restaurant coming to the Midtown Global Market:
The restaurant will be called the Kalico Elephant by Naviya, and they plan to relocate in the former Jade restaurant space on the east side of the Midtown Global Market…They’ll be serving lunch, dinner, and hope to add both sushi and whole grain fusion pastas.
Great news for the Global Market and all of us who go there! A second sit-down restaurant will give people more dining options, and it can’t hurt that it’s a restaurant that many people have been missing and and are eager to see come back.
Weekend on Lake Street 3/5-3/7
March 04, 2010
Dancing!
Patrick’s Cabaret hosts a new entry in their Kinetic Kitchen dance series on Friday and Saturday night. It’s presented by Sarah LaRose-Holland. Featuring: Non Edwards Dance Works, Jeffrey Peterson, Kenna Sarge with Voice of Culture, and Cathy Wright.
Theater!
Jungle Theater is hitting the middle of its run of Blithe Spirit, about a seance gone very wrong. “Madam Arcati successfully conjures up the ghost of Charles’ annoying and temperamental first wife, Elvira, who decides not to honor the vow “until death do us part.†Instead, Elvira settles in to haunt the house—and her spouse!—in this sparkling comedy that celebrates the glamour of the 1940s and the timeless wit of Noël Coward.”
Bryant Lake Bowl’s early Friday show is Bottled Chicken Justice, a minimalist sketch show. “Welcome to a universe where clever, surreal, goofy and sometimes shocking humor is wrung out of the lifeless body of the rubber chicken, weighed on the scales of justice and bottled for your consumption.” Later that night, it’s The Underpants Show – A Tribute to THE POWER BALLAD! “Air guitar never looked so good.”
On Saturday, BLB has the start of the 4 weekend run of Detour, adapted from Edgar G. Ulmer’s classic 1945 film noir. And Sunday it’s Macbeth: The Video Game Remix, “Shakspeare’s classic tale of treachery and bloody destiny, warped into a world of group raids, power ups and multiplayer side-quests.”
Live Music!
Sauce keeps things hopping with These Modern Socks, The Sextons, and The Small Cities on Friday night, and F**k Knights, Reckless Ones, and DJ Skeleton Hand on Saturday night. Sunday is Mod DJ Night. $5 cover Friday and Saturday, free on Sunday, 21+.
And along with 4 pieces of theater, Bryant Lake Bowl has some music of its own. On Saturday night, The Debut is bringing their usual pop-rock charm and catchy songs, and along for the ride are local punk/R&B talents the Running Scared.
Books!
Uncle Hugo’s/Uncle Edgar’s will be hosting some book signing events on Saturday. Jeffrey Siger will be signing his 2 Greek mystery novels, Assassins of Athens and Murder in Kykonos. Erin Hart will be signing False Mermaid, third in her Irish series.
Kids!
In the Heart of the Beast Theatre’s weekly Saturday puppet show is Punch & Judy, “a twist of the traditional ‘Punch and Judy’ slapstick comedy celebrating old English folk tales.” Fifth of November Puppeteers performs. And don’t forget “Make-n-Take†workshop based on the puppet show at 11.
Fork the Fire
March 03, 2010
On March 14th, many restaurants across the Twin Cities are joining forces to support Heidi’s and Blackbird, the two restaurants that burned down in the big 50th & Bryant fire. Diners who eat out at these restaurants will be helping the cause themselves. Participating Lake Street places include Chino Latino, Il Gatto, Herkimer, Moto-i, The Craftsman, and Burger Jones. For the list of all restaurants and further details, check out Fork the Fire’s website, and the write-up about the event by Rick Nelson in the Star Tribune.
