Visit Lake Street Blog
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!
Sears reunion at the Global Market
September 18, 2009
Yesterday was a very fun day at the Midtown Global Market. Over 60 former Sears employees, who used to work in the building back when it was a large Sears store and warehouse, had a reunion. They got to reminisce on old times, got a delicious lunch from the Global Market restauranteurs, and got a tour of what the building has now become — not just the Global Market, but also Allina headquarters, dozens of apartments and condos, and a Hennepin County Service Center in the basement. It was a moment when we could all reflect on what a hole the closing of Sears left in this area, and how far we’ve come since then. Be sure to check out the video above!
Hola
September 17, 2009
Hello and welcome to Visit Lake Street’s new blog! Here, we hope to keep you up to date on the latest Lake Street news and events, help you keep track of new features on the site, and give you lots of ideas for things to see and do on Lake Street. You can also keep track of us on Facebook and Twitter. Questions and comments are always welcome!
