DeRUSHA Download: Sonder Shaker to close, William H. Macy in MN, The Curse of the Wait List
Plus State Workers Called To Office (sort of), Miami Reflections, Come with me To Greece
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: MIAMI MIAMI MIAMI
When I travel, I always do the “why don’t we have” game? Why don’t we have a late night party scene? More outdoor art spaces? Beautiful people walking around in bikinis? OK, it’s Minnesota, we know why we don’t have the last one. I really enjoyed our trip to Miami earlier this week (paid subscribers got full access to my recommendations yesterday) - but I can see why many wouldn’t. There’s a superficiality there: Minnesota’s income and outcome disparities tend to be more hidden, you can see the extreme wealth and the extreme poverty in Miami. But there’s also a cultural heartbeat: 34% of the city is Cuban, 25% Central or South American, 12% black. There’s a cool factor. Not sure if Sam will end up at Univ. of Miami (with its outdoor pool) or not - but I sure wouldn’t mind going back.
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?
William H. Macy Talks Whiskey To Me
Changes at Hippo Pockets, Summer Seasonals, Chef Shack Bay City
Eagan Restaurant Week Wraps this Weekend
The 50% Return To Office Debate
ONE MORE THING: The wait list hell
COME WITH ME TO GREECE!
Alyssa and I are hosting a group to Athens, Mykonos and Santorini from October 12th – 22nd- we have a few more spots on the trip. It’ll be WCCO Radio listeners and at least one person who read about the trip in the Download! Let’s do it! wccoradio.com/greece
YOU Support the DeRUSHA Download! Newsletter is always free - I’d be honored if you’d upgrade for $50/year to a paid subscription to support my efforts.
I TURNED 50 AND GOT AN MRI: I’m a published essayist! I guess I needed another outlet to share thoughts - thanks to Amy Nelson at NextAvenue.org for running my piece: READ: https://fluence-media.co/42d2FvA
SONDER SHAKER TO CLOSE, OPEN AS AN ITALIAN SPOT: Get that burger by April 19, May 1 Sonder will open again with more wine, more beer: “We're not trying to do super high-end, high price points. We're trying to do casual, approachable, authentic and just really, really good Italian,” said owner Erik Stadstad in MSP Biz Journal: https://fluence-media.co/42jeWzv
RAZAVA BREAD ADDS DINNER: Early dinner. Friday and Saturday only, Razava will be open from 7a-7pm (normally open until 3p). Flatbreads join the Fri/Sat party: wild mushroom, mackerel + ricotta, triple pepper chimichurri look good. https://fluence-media.co/4c3MPI9
HIPPO POCKETS GOES BRICK & MORTAR: The fun concept from Centro & Jami Olson will replace the old Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken in June around the corner from the Parkway Theater at 735 E 48th St. in Minneapolis. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4lk08IG
STEVEN BROWN TO OPEN PIZZA PLACE: I’m a big fan of the chef- owner of Tilia/St. Genevieve - Joy reports he’ll open in 2025, this project sounds like 2026 to me, but we’ll see. Marrone’s coming next to Lowbrow in Kingfield. STRIB gift link: https://fluence-media.co/444dt1p
WHAT’S NEXT FROM PAUL FLETCHER? The longtime Cities 97 host has been appearing on my show since he was laid off. This week was his finale … so what’s next? I suspect we’ll find out next week. We rank our favorite finales - https://fluence-media.co/42etyiK
DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS FOOD HALL COMING NEXT YEAR: I’ve written about the aggressive moves by Hempel in downtown Minneapolis. They’re bringing a food hall to LaSalle Plaza downtown with the owner of Market at Malcolm Yards. 16 restaurant stalls in the old Rock Bottom Brewery, 700 seats, don’t call it a food court, makes a lot of sense for the office AND pre-theatre on Hennepin or pre-sporting events. MSPBJ: https://fluence-media.co/4iK2Fdq
STATE WORKERS CALLED BACK TO WORK 50% OF THE TIME: My reaction via DriveTime on YouTube: Scroll ahead to 2:05:00 or click: https://fluence-media.co/4jqO9r5
SUMMER SEASONALS ARE OPEN: Via Strib: “Conny’s Creamy Cone, the local soft-serve ice cream stand on Dale Street in St. Paul, is now open, twisting and dipping all your favorite flavors. Cup n' Cone in White Bear Lake is also up and running for the season. The stand where sprinkles aren’t just an adornment is a surefire mood brightener every time.” https://fluence-media.co/3QPHwSU
CHEF SHACK - JAPAN-STYLE: Reservations open in Bay City, WI for Chef Shack - Friday/Saturday/Sunday. Chef Carrie and Lisa are back from wintering in Japan - expect Wisconsin organics featuring Italian and Japanese expressions. Our spirit is full and we are thankful to meet other chefs, artisans, hotel and home-stay owners, and many farmers. This has enhanced our view of Chef Shack “Omotenashi”. RESERVE: https://fluence-media.co/3TX41aO
ONE MORE WEEKEND OF EAGAN RESTAURANT WEEK: THREE MORE DAYS for Eagan Restaurant week - it ends Sunday! MY LADY & THE TRAMP VIDEO: https://fluence-media.co/4kJb6qQ. Sign up for free to check-in at 20+ local restaurants, earn points, and enter to win a gift card. Here’s the info: https://fluence-media.co/3STZNQO
TRAVAIL DUEL MENU: Travail’s current generation of chefs reminds me of the spirit we saw 15 years ago. Such a great sign for success even as the Collective expands into Italian Eatery, a rebirth/growth of Pig Ate My Pizza, and Stargazer. Our style editor and I wrote a She said / He said piece for MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/41KQUMF
WHAT AM I DOING THIS WEEKEND?
Friday night going to check out the new Bar Harmony near Surdyk’s and spend the night in our Groove Lofts cabin in the city. Saturday night celebrating a nephew’s birthday. No clue Sunday - what should we do?
WHAT COULD YOU DO THIS WEEKEND?
FULTON PINEWOOD DERBY: Sat Noon-5p https://fluence-media.co/3DJUfnb
SPRING OPEN STUDIO: Holland Arts Sat 10a-3p https://fluence-media.co/4iKGioh
GALLERIA FLOWER SHOW: Expect crowds through Apr 6 https://fluence-media.co/3XxpE2N
RED BULL BC ONE CYPHER: Breakdancing competition Saturday night. Tickets: https://fluence-media.co/3FU9H0p
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE WCCO RADIO YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
WHY DID IT TAKE THE TWINS SO LONG TO ANNOUNCE THEIR TV CHANNEL? Michael Rand talks TV/streaming: https://fluence-media.co/3QSAiNQ
WILLIAM H. MACY WANTS YOU TO CALL HIM BILL: He sat down with me for an extended chat about the whiskey/spirits he’s a spokesdude for: Woody Creek Distillery. Audacy: https://fluence-media.co/3DIDSHz
COLLEGE TUITION IS BONKERS: Part of my ENOUGH segment - fun stuff: https://fluence-media.co/41NmWJ6
AUDIO PODCASTS: Subscribe via Apple Podcast https://fluence-media.co/3xTkkNu Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
ONE MORE THING
Sam got wait-listed at 5 different colleges this week. We are in a crazy time where kids at the elite end of the spectrum all apply to the same group of schools. He’s the student body President, 36 ACT, tons of AP classes, and every high school in America has one or two of him. There are 20,000 high schools. He’s in at plenty of great schools, got rejected at a couple I thought he’d be a lock for (you’re on my list Georgetown and Vanderbilt), but the wait list is a special kind of hell. You’re good enough to get in - but maybe you’re from the wrong state. The wrong major. The wrong gender. The wrong essay topic… who knows. It’s why it’s better to win the Bronze medal than the Silver: the Silver medalist can almost taste it. Almost.