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Longfellow Nokomis Messenger visits Glaciers Cafe
October 14, 2009
The Messenger has a great look at Glaciers Cafe in its October issue. Glaciers is a fairly recent addition to the 27th & Lake area, having started in the suburbs and moved into the Resource Center building in November. In the article you can read about how Glaciers has adapted its menu to fit their new home (one way: more vegetarian offerings), and about how they make their delicious custard. I also have it on good authority that the slider mini-burgers are fantastic! You can find the story on page 8 of the October 2009 issue.
Craftsman gets national attention
October 12, 2009
It’s not every day that the Washington Post writes about Minneapolis, so it’s worth sitting up and taking notice when the food critic pays a visit. Tom Sietsema recently paid a visit to The Craftsman, one of Lake Street’s fine dining restaurants. He admits to being a bit skeptical at first, but The Craftsman quickly won him over with its charcuterie dish, which is a mix of different sausages. “While charcuterie has become the molten chocolate cake of dinner introductions from coast to coast — ubiquitous, in other words — the arrangement at Craftsman reveals surprising personality and a sense of place. Rabbit terrine finds chopped rabbit bundled in house-cured pancetta. Duck liver mousse, whipped up from fowl from northern Minnesota, is sweetened with local apples and pears rather than booze. There’s dry-cured ham, too, aged by the restaurant, and salami, one of the trickiest specialty preserved meats to do well.” Sounds like a must-have on the next visit!
Your Weekend Entertainment, Oct. 9-11
October 09, 2009
TGIF! We may get a little snow on Saturday, but that’s no reason to avoid the Midtown Farmers’ Market. It’s open 8 – 1 on Saturday. “Come to get your carving pumpkin and bobbing apples and your last stores of market produce before the winter!” Live music and storytime with East Lake Library is in the cards.
Looking indoors, at the Midtown Global Market, the Twin Cities Birth & Baby Expo is on Saturday from 10 – 5. There will be over 50 confirmed exhibitors, goodie bags for the first 350 visitors, door prizes, and a “Meet the Doulas & Midwives” event at 11:00 AM.
The next day, it’s time for Sunday brunch! Each Sunday, a chef from a Midtown Global Market restaurant will prepare and sell brunch in the Market’s Central Plaza. This week’s brunch comes from Pham’s Deli, serving Vietnamese pho and traditional beef noodle soup.
Live music? We’ve got that too. At Old Arizona, at 28th & Nicollet, The Wreck performs, with guess Scott Moses Murray, at Saturday starting at 8:00 PM. The Wreck. is an eclectic cover band, ranging from Blues, R&B, and straight up Rock and Roll, both older and newer. Very focused on Fun. $5 cover.
Bryant Lake Bowl is musically inclined too, with a CD release celebration show for Vicki Emerson & the All Man Band on Saturday at 10:00 PM. Says the Twin Cities Daily Planet: “You want be at the Bryant-Lake Bowl on Saturday for Vicky Emerson if you appreciate gifted singing and songwriting in the genre you could call country soft-rock. Emerson’s talent transcends category: strong artistry, plain and simple.”
Also at the BLB this weekend: Master Works: The Goya Plays and Last Laugh on Friday, Clementown and In the Weeds on Saturday, and The Importance of Being Earnest on Sunday.
Some author readings at Magers & Quinn this weekend. Saturday at 7:00 PM, Erinn Batykefer reads poetry from Allegheny, Monongahela, and Greg Sanders reads from his collection of interrelated stories Motel Girl. And Sunday at 7:00 PM, Matvei Yankelevich and William Waltz read from their new poetry.
And last for this entry, but not least, Saturday from 11 – 3, Ingebretsen’s hosts Dog Day! A Benefit for the Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota. It includes a Dog Sweater Fashion Show. Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota (HSDM) dogs and their owner will model their matching Norwegian sweaters, designed and knit by Paul Robinson. Paul’s dog sweater knitting pattern will be on sale and Paul himself will be there to advise knitters on how to fit and knit a Norwegian sweater for their dog.
Lyndale Tap House opens to good reviews
October 05, 2009
The already thriving dining & nightlife scene in the Lyn-Lake area just got another strong entry, with the Lyndale Tap House opening last week. It’s at 2937 Lyndale Ave. S., the former home of jP’s American Bistro.
The Star Tribune’s Rick Nelson attended opening night, and by the looks of things had a good time. “Value prices, big smiles, tons of beer choices and a knockout roast beef sandwich. Yeah, the Lyndale could definitely grow on me.”
Metromix’s Chris Kallal was there too, and was similarly impressed. “My verdict? If you’re looking for a new bar, a new hangout, the Taphouse is the place. If you’re looking for a great sandwich and good beer selection, ditto. If you’re looking for an adventerous culinary experience, this may not be the place for you. But try the beef. Really. You won’t be disappointed.”
Sounds good to me!
Your Weekend Entertainment, October 2-4
October 02, 2009
Let’s start with the big one, the Taste of Lake Street, this year being held inside the Global Market, on Sunday from 1 – 5 PM. Featuring food tastings from 40 Lake Street area restaurants plus wine & beer tastes. Local musicians and raffle and door prizes will also be part of the event, and all the proceeds go to Minneapolis food shelves. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door so buy yours now!
Elsewhere, there are plenty of theater options to choose from. The Jungle Theater play Mary’s Wedding is still running strong into its third weekend. Patrick’s Cabaret has Kinetic Kitchen on Friday and Saturday, a dance-filled piece. A few blocks north of Lake Street, Open Eye Figure Theatre hosts Mark The Encounter, a new one-man show that explores the positions of power in one on one communications. Bryant Lake Bowl, as usual, has a lot going on, with Master Works: The Goya Plays and The Underpants Show on Friday, In the Weeds and musicians Timber Timbre + Ghostband on Saturday, and The Rockstar Storytellers: Horror & Mystery on Sunday.
And there are only a few weeks left now until the Midtown Farmers’ Market closes for the year, so enjoy it while you can! This Saturday will have storytime with the East Lake Library at 10:30, and live music at 9:00 and 11:00. And after the Market, go south a few blocks for the annual Corcoran Neighborhood Book Sale, from 9:00 – 4:00 on Saturday at 3451 Cedar Ave. S. The sale will offer thousands of quality, low-price books as well as baked goods and raffle drawings. Don’t miss it!
And speaking of books, at Magers & Quinn this weekend, Bill Voedisch reads from his new book about his cat, Citizen Mitten Friday at 7:30, and on Saturday at 7:00, J. P. White reads from his novel Every Boat Turns South.
Heavy Table visits Safari Express
September 28, 2009
A must read from Heavy Table critic Lori Writer, as she visits Safari Express’s chef and co-owner Jamal Hashi. Jamal talks about the history of Somali food, takes the reader shopping as he picks out his favorite ingredients, and gives a delicious-looking recipe for mango curry chicken. The best part? He finds what he needs all within the Global Market!
Your Weekend Entertainment, September 25-27
September 25, 2009
Happy Friday! It’s feeling a lot like fall this week, and Lake Street is just as jam-packed with entertainment as ever. Let’s see what’s in store.
First, there’s Bryant Lake Bowl. The sketch comedy show Department of Redundancy Department plays, fittingly enough, twice, Friday and Saturday at 7:00 PM. Friday at 10:00 there’s a spoken word showcase, Saturday at 3:00 a “Good Ol’ Variety Show“, Saturday at 10:00 some indy-folk music from artist Ben Connelly, and Sunday at 7:00 it’s Funny Farm, a subversive take on children’s entertainment set at the State Fair.
Just a couple blocks down the road, it’s the second weekend for Mary’s Wedding at Jungle Theater. “The year is 1914, and a young bride-to-be dreams one last night of love and war. Even with an ocean between them, Mary and Charlie inhabit each other’s dreams. But as the dark clouds of World War 1 gather overhead, the strength of their bond is about to be tested. This moving and magical play is a love letter to the power of memory, hope and innocence…” Check out the review from the Star Tribune.
A bit further west, Magers & Quinn has an interesting author discussion happening on Saturday at 7:00. History professors Eileen McMahon and Theodore Karamanski will be discussing their new book North Woods River: The St. Croix River in Upper Midwest History, about the river that serves as a boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Looking to the east, the Midtown area has a lot going on too. Let’s start at the Midtown Global Market. This Saturday is the annual Midtown Yoga Festival, which goes from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. There will be a lot going on, with free yoga classes, demonstrations, chair massages, and more! See the festival’s website for the full schedule. And the next day, it’ll be time for Sunday brunch! This week’s brunch comes from Michelle Gayer and The Salty Tart, so you know it will be a treat! Sunday brunch lasts from 11:00 – 2:00.
This Saturday at the Midtown Farmers’ Market, it’s Native American Day Celebration. “Come enjoy exhibition dancing by the Native Pride Dancers, the music of Blue Dog, cultural activities, children’s activities, and free t-shirts while supplies last!” The Market starts at 8:00 AM, and the Native American festivities at 11:00 AM.
Ingebretsen’s Scandinavian Gifts & Deli has some fun stuff happening on Saturday as well. Starting at 1:00 PM, Detta Juusola of Detta’s Spindle will demonstrate spinning dog hair into yarn. She also has some hands-on materials for children and adults who want to try their hand at spinning for themselves. And then, from From 3:30 – 5:00, Jan Zita Grover, author of A Home for Dakota will read from her book. A Home for Dakota is the story of a shelter dog and the young girl who realizes that she capable to taking care of a dog with many challenges. The artist’s model for Dakota will be joining Jan.
And finally, if you love vintage records, this is your lucky weekend! Hymie’s Vintage Records at 33rd & Lake is having a huge sale on Saturday, with all records costing only $1! That includes LPs, 45s, 78s, and more. The sale will go from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Figlio becomes Il Gatto
September 24, 2009
Rick Nelson has the scoop. Figlio closed down last weekend for a big remodel, and when it opens back up in November, it will have a new name: Il Gatto. (“The Cat” in Italian.) We miss Figlio already but hope that with the reimagining of the space, Il Gatto can give Calhoun Square and Uptown a new jolt of energy!
Lake Street’s Newest Pupuseria
September 21, 2009
A new place for authentic, made-from-scratch Mexican food just opened at Bloomington & Lake. El Centro Pupuseria can now be found at 1532 East Lake Street. Heavy Table’s Lori Writer recently visited, and she liked what she saw (and tasted):
“El Centro’s pupusas are very good, better than most, and their tostones, Panes de Pollo, fresco, and horchata are outstanding. I can’t wait to try everything else on their menu.”
And to drink?
“The horchata rice drink is rich and creamy, with flecks of vanilla. The fresco fruit drink is light and refreshing, with traces of strawberry and pineapple pulp.”
Always good to see another Lake Street entrepreneur serving up fresh, authentic meals! Be sure to check them out.
Your Weekend Entertainment, Sept. 18-20
September 18, 2009
Lots of things to do this weekend! Let’s start with Jungle Theater. Their new play, Mary’s Wedding, opens tonight, and runs through October 25. The show’s unique approach to choreography has already drawn notice, with articles in both the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press, and should be a treat to see.
Also on the theater front, we have the Here Now Show at Patrick’s Cabaret, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM. This cabaret performance features: Tristan Koepke- dance Kari Mosel- dance theater, Undela- music, Bryan Gerber- dance/video/photography, Phil Belknap- I R Gadgetar, and James Holdman- percussion. Check the website for more details.
Intermedia Arts has a big event this weekend as well: the B-Girl Be Block Party 2009! It’s “an all day festival that brings international, national and local female hip-hop artists together in Minneapolis for music, dance, live mural painting, film and an art marketplace.” It goes from noon – 10 PM, rain or shine. Check the site for the schedule and to buy tickets.
And this will be a good weekend for farmers’ markets, with not one but two to check out. The Midtown Farmers’ Market is on Saturday from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. This week, the market celebrates its annual Preserve the Harvest Day. They’ll “have demonstrations of root cellaring techniques, pickling and canning, fermenting, drying, and other ways to extend the season and make the most of the late summer bounty that now fills the market. There will be samples of preserved foods to try and handouts with recipes and tips.”
On Sunday, we move further west for the Uptown Market. This will be the last Uptown Market of the year, so don’t miss it! They’ll have four blocks of local artists and small businesses selling affordable, handmade art, clothing, and prepared foods. Stock up on summer produce and bring home fresh, locally grown flowers! And be sure to come hungry and try a hot dog from the Magic Bus Cafe and some treats from the new Sweet Shack (Chef Shack’s new rig making its Twin Cities debut.)
If it’s a good meal you’re looking for, how about Sunday brunch at the Midtown Global Market? Every Sunday from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, a chef from a Midtown Global Market restaurant will prepare and sell brunch in the Market’s Central Plaza. This week’s brunch comes from Lorenzo Azria of A La Salsa, who always has something delicious cooking in his kitchen.
Have fun dining, shopping, and playing on Lake Street this weekend!
