DeRusha Download: Happy New Year!
What are you doing? What to Expect in 2025!
HAPPY NEW YEAR from suburban Chicago! After family Christmas in MN last weekend (and we hired a Limo Van to take the family & kids to see lights) we came to IL to hang with family and cousins and laugh a lot with our teenage sons. It’s been a blast. Hope you’ve found some time and rest and peace and are ready to dive in to 2025!! We’re getting a “cabin in the city” downtown Minneapolis and I’m launching a new brand, logo and website! Merch? Product line? Clothing? Liquor? Who knows! I’m open to ideas! Thank you for reading!! -Jason
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: 2025 PREDICTIONS
An end to “junk” fees will mean widespread “credit card fees” and price hikes
Vinai, Bucheron, Diane’s Place and Dario will be in the mix for Beard Awards
Divided state government will irritate most and delight some as nothing gets done
I will turn 50 on January 24
My most anticipated coming restaurants: Bar Siena in Hopkins, Rabbit Hole sports bar, Italian Eatery 2.0 by Travail. I’m calling it: Sameh Wadi’s Saffron 2.0 won’t appear until 2026.
We’ll see more marketing around “seed oil free” and “no added sugars”
Downtown Minneapolis will see a resurgence while downtown Saint Paul will fall deeper into despair unless government calls workers back
What do you predict? Reply and I’ll share yours next week!!
Share the download with someone who likes to be in the know and on the go!
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?
New Year’s Eve Party Ideas & Special Menus
10 Years of 1010
10 Years of Surly Beer Hall
Bar Siena is testing
LIZZ Winstead and podcasts
10 YEARS OF 1010
You want allocated bourbon? Special barrel releases? Mark your calendar for January 6 - 10. My friends Jack Goldenberg + Don Hanson are celebrating 10 years at 1010 Washington Wine & Spirits near the Guthrie.
They’ll have a free raffle that includes a Kaprizov jersey, Wild tickets, a golf bag - so much fun all week long. News will drop on their Instagram - or just stop by. IG: https://fluence-media.co/4iN4SoN
Thanks to 1010 for being a DeRusha Download Partner!
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY IDEAS
Full list at MNMO Mag: https://fluence-media.co/3BCAtJg
Friday) Hewing Hotel - F*ck it, We Ball! Pre-NYE Party: TONIGHT/FRIDAY, 10:00 pm – 1:00 am $25 - $35. Hewing Hotel has teamed up with MPLS HOUSE for music, drinks, the hottest DJs in town.
MARA BAR AT FOUR SEASONS: New Year’s Eve Party: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. FREE! Mara Bar takes over the lobby of Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis with a Champagne Bar and BELLOSOUND DJ. Midnight Toast compliments of Moët Hennessy; Open to the public. No reservations needed.
KEEPER'S HEART NEW YEAR'S EVE MASQUERADE PARTY: Mask contest at 11pm, Entry from 9pm-1am, with a set by DJ Nick starting at 9:30pm. $20
ICEHOUSE NYE PARTY: 10p - 1a: $10 advance, $20 doors, InMotion is a monthly themed dance party hosted Icehouse bartender, Jaboidia!
CONFLUENCE HOTEL ROARING 20’S NYE PARTY: Hastings, 8:30p-12:30a. Roaring ’20s or cocktail outfit and live music from the 8-piece band ‘Shirts and Skins,’ DJ, dancing, and a midnight champagne toast. Ticket price includes appetizers, desserts, party favors, and exclusive access to the Speakeasy. $95.
CAN CAN WONDERLAND NYE Extravaganza: 7p-1a. Tarot readers, live music, free champagne toast at midnight. $20 entry.
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA Gershwin NYE Countdown: Rhapsody in Blue performance on NYE starts at 8:30p and tickets include a champagne toast.
TOTALLY RAD NYE AT FIRST AVE: Transmission DJ / icon Jake Rudh hosts an 80s themed First Ave NYE Countdown party. Doors at 9pm, 18+.
MASA & AGAVE: NYE Kick Off Party 5pm - 9pm, $65 pp, Includes open bar, unlimited taco bar, chips, guac and salsa bar, elote bar, churro bar. NYE Countdown Party - $75 pp, 10pm-2am Includes open bar, DJ, taco bar, bottomless chips, guacamole & salsa bar, elite bar, churro station.
NEW YEAR’S EVE RESTAURANT SPECIALS
BULL’S HORN DIVE BAR NYE PRIX FIXE: 3 courses for $18: wings or curds, burger and chips, pudding. Kitchen open 4p-9p.
P.S. Steak, BOROUGH, Butcher & the Boar, Parlour: Special menus at each spot including large format steaks at PS, oysters at Borough, Prime Rib at PS, 2 Parlour Burger combos.
TATTERSALL NEW YEARS EVE, 4pm-9pm: Specials include crab cakes, tattersall shrimp cocktail, walleye, NY strip and free toast of sparkling wine for diners 21+.
SURLY BEER HALL TURNED 10: December 19, 2014. Hard to believe it’s been a decade of the “destination brewery” and the Surly Beer Hall. Here’s my 2015 story from WCCO (Kylie and I look so young!) YOUTUBE: https://fluence-media.co/3VQkEp0
DIANE’S PLACE: I don’t think it’s online yet, but Dara’s review of Diane’s Place in the January Issue of Mpls StPaul is perfection. Nails how great it is, how special the service touches are, and Diane’s unique contribution to our food world.
BAR SIENA: Testing in Hopkins with takeout over the next couple nights. PREORDER: https://fluence-media.co/3PbYjhQ
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FEEDS!
LISA DEMUTH on Republicans NOT sharing power in the house: https://fluence-media.co/3BN8dDG
LIZZ WINSTEAD: MN Comedian on 2024 and her show in town. https://fluence-media.co/3PcvaDm
2025 SPORTS PREDICTIONS: Dave Schwartz https://fluence-media.co/40beh2a
We upload every segment of my show - so you can listen to a full hour or whatever you enjoy. It’s automatic if you subscribe via Apple Podcast https://fluence-media.co/3xTkkNu Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
I also have a separate podcast on food - DeRusha Eats. There are 3 seasons - with interviews of local chefs, owners, farmers - all sorts of cool stuff. This season I’m focusing more on long-form discussions with people I find interesting. You can get that via Apple Podcast: https://fluence-media.co/4abZxT9 and Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3Vu2Gtc