DeRusha Download: Sorry I'm In Florida
I'm not sorry. Vibe Check at 3 New Sports Bars, a St. Paul Hidden Gem, Read to the End for Why I wish I was on That Delta Flight to Toronto
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: RUBBING IT IN
A work trip is so much better when it’s covering baseball, when it’s in Fort Myers, Florida, when it’s in the upper 70s and when it’s in the single digits back home. I don’t make the rules. I spent some time in Mini-Minnesota, Naples, which is amazing. Beautiful. Friendly. Complaining about the cold and surviving it is part of the magic of Minnesota. I’ve been working to embrace winter this year. But you know what: it’s easy to embrace 81° too. I’m home Sunday, when it’s 40° in MSP. You’re welcome for bringing the heat back home. Also how do you business travelers do it? I’ve been gone 6 days and I miss my wife! -Jason
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?
Congrats to Canada on Winning 4 Nations: you get to remain a country
Khue’s Kitchen Rises Again
New Restaurant From BLG’s Issac Becker & Nancy St. Pierre
Anthem Overload & other segments from my radio show on YouTube
Hidden Gem in St. Paul
My Comparison of 3 New Sports Bars
MY FAVORITE DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS HANG-OUT
Alyssa and I had a blast at Mara Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis last weekend. There’s a new Drink of the Moment: the Bijou, a bright, herbal, rum drink. Or just ask Tyler to whip up something cool - he wowed the women sitting next to us too. Yes, you can order a side pita. Don’t sleep on Mara for Sunday Brunch or Easter dinner either. Walk-in or book here: https://fluence-media.co/3TnEg3a (tell them you saw this in the Download!)
Thanks to Mara and Four Seasons Minneapolis for being partners of the Download
VIBE CHECK: NEW SPORTS BARS: Alyssa & I went to The Rabbit Hole, Game Time Sports Bar & Arcade, and Parlay. MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/41q3yRZ
AFTER A FIRE, KHUE’S KITCHEN RISES AGAIN: Opens Mar. 6 at MidCity Kitchen at 693 Raymond Ave in St Paul. Chef Eric Pham lost everything in a fire around the new year in his original spot. IG: https://fluence-media.co/4hEiOAz
ST. PIERRE STEAK & SEAFOOD RESERVATIONS OPEN: Snack Bar becomes St. Pierre, Nancy St. Pierre & Issac Becker are sort-of reviving Burch Steak. Opens March 11, reservations are up now. RESY: https://fluence-media.co/4gFBYEY
GO TO MANDALAY KITCHEN: Frogtown St. Paul has an incredible chef, Chris Tunbaw. A refugee from Myanmar, he arrived in St. Paul with his family when he was 10. You’re going to lose your mind over the tea leaf salad, one of the most amazing combinations of textures and flavors I’ve enjoyed. Green curry was spectacular, pork laab too,. Look at the red sauce in the egg dish above: Tunbaw took ginger, garlic, shallots, paprika, turmeric, and cherry tomatoes and pan-fried them before blending. Deep, rich, magical color and flavor. Thanks to my friend Bob Macdonald for taking me here. https://fluence-media.co/4kdqM5x
EL SAZON BRINGS TACO SHOP TO EAT STREET CROSSING: The food hall on Nicollet is getting a copy of the El Sazon from Eagan. Opens March 14.
BAR HARMONY OPENS IN MARCH: I love Cafe Harmony, a hi-fi coffee shop behind EQUIPMENT menswear in NE. Now they’re adding by-the-glass wine, beer and small plates Thurs-Sat, 5-11p. WEB: https://fluence-media.co/42Wcvnt
DIVE IN THIS WEEKEND
FASHION FIGHT NIGHT: FRIDAY. Sip ‘n’ Bloom has brought back this epic fashion show at Machine Shop. TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/4i32jh0
Bayport BRRRR Crawl: SAT 3-8pm. I love Olio & Manger - they’ve got the American Legion, Not Justa Bar and Woody’s Bar and Grill involved too. Tickets are $20 & get you discounts. https://fluence-media.co/412RGEi
Minnesota Ice Festival EXTENDED FRI/SAT/SUN: BOGO Tickets too and use my code MNICEVIP to save 20%. Great bargain for people who haven’t gotten out yet! https://fluence-media.co/48WsEu7
FROM FELON TO ZAZA: Amazing story from OG ZAZA’s Chef Joshua Hedquist. Download my long-form podcast with him and enjoy this weekend. AUDACY: https://fluence-media.co/4b1Ikgp SPOTIFY: https://fluence-media.co/4aYjdLI APPLE: https://fluence-media.co/41cZC7b
GRAND VIEW LODGE’S WINE WEEKEND: Last chance for tickets! You can just come up Saturday for the classes, or stay all weekend and really do it up. I’m moderating a chef’s panel. TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/40zAQO9
PARTY WITH ME TO FIGHT CANCER! “The Mix:” Party and raise some big money for my friends at Custom One Charities. Saturday, March 1. Great networking chance in the building biz https://fluence-media.co/4gYziDq
NEW: SAVE SAT AND SUN at MINNESOTA MONTHLY FOOD & WINE Experience at OMNI Lakes! 50% off March 22nd & 23rd tickets with code JASON.
WHAT AM I DOING THIS WEEKEND?
Saturday I host a fundraiser for Second Harvest Heartland at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers (lots of Minnesota money in Naples/Fort Myers, we’re trying to end hunger so we gotta shake some cash loose!) Sunday back home and going to the Timberwolves game Sunday night. No days off! What are you up to??
DeRUSHA ON AIR HIGHLIGHTS
I started live streaming video of the show on my X account @DeRushaJ. Derek Falvey is at 18 min in here: https://fluence-media.co/3X8okDe
Streaming on YouTube too: Twins New GM Jeremy Zoll: https://fluence-media.co/3XeR6Cm
Pablo Lopez talks cooking + opening day to me: WCCORADIO.COM: https://fluence-media.co/41o5xXc
ANTHEM OVERLOAD: What if we played it less? https://fluence-media.co/4k5wA0B (YouTube)
BYRON BUXTON DOESN’T WANT TO BE LIKE THE LEADERS OF OLD: Interesting comments about his younger years: https://fluence-media.co/3QrMBjM
Schools Shouldn’t Close For Cold: https://fluence-media.co/434Fu8A (YouTube)
PAT GAROFALO: Is he running For Senate? https://fluence-media.co/4gQKnVV
My Rant on People Who Back In To Parking Spaces: https://fluence-media.co/4k8nY9C (YouTube)
PREFER AUDIO ONLY? CHECK THE PODCAST: Apple Podcast https://fluence-media.co/3xTkkNu Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
ONE MORE THING
Surviving a plane crash is the best flex of all time. The best story. If I got bumped and missed the flight from Toronto that flipped - I’d be mad. You? Missed the story of all time - and the payday that’s here and will grow. Tracy Perlman & I talked about it on the show: https://fluence-media.co/4bdlRgt
I thought that Canada’s victory meant that they won Minnesota! I’m ready to wear the maple leaf!