The State Fair is winding down (loved it!), the way we think of summer is too (great times/too much rain), and I’m ready for fall layering weather (my fashion ethos is layers). It’s a transition time: get those kids back to school, watch for new restaurant openings, try not to get too worked up in election season. Here we go! Big updates here! Let me know what you think: Jason@JasonDeRusha.com!
This newsletter will ALWAYS be free - but I do send subscriber only posts - more photos, more depth, more hot takes. If you’re into it - smash the subscribe button.
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD:
Staycation Report
Barcelona Wine Bar Opens
DeRusha’s Best Banana Bread + Chocolate Chip Cookies
Save Money on Appliances at Warners’ Stellian
Podcasts for the weekend
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE
Taking risks and having fun. The spirit of entrepreneurship is taking risks. I’m lucky enough to have one of my best friends also be a strategic advisor, and Lauren Pradhan has pushed me to think about what my goals are and also stretch a bit to try things that are fun. After I bought my own billboards, Lauren suggested I sponsor some of the State Fair blue ribbon competitions. I picked the banana bread (no nuts) and chocolate chip cookie competition. I had nothing to do with judging - I just give a special rosette (a big ribbon) and I threw in a $25 cash prize.


The winners couldn’t have been more amazing: two first time winners! Carol, 81-year-old grandma who lost her husband this past year and entered because her daughter pushed her to and Madeline, a 26-year-old freight supervisor who loves to bake cookies with her housemates. I have recipes from both winners on wccoradio.com [banana bread] [chocolate chip cookie] and interviews with both women are linked below.
Take the risk. Enter the contest. Sponsor the thing. Thanks Lauren!
If you’re looking for a speaker on food, media, career changes or current events: please reach out! Jason@JasonDeRusha.com
Thank you to the influx of new subscribers! Forward this to a friend - they can subscribe at bit.ly/DeRushaDownload!
THE OFFICIAL DERUSHA STATE FAIR GUIDE
My running list of BLUE RIBBON WINNERS, what to maybe eat, and what to skip: https://fluence-media.co/4fSFA7b
My new food guide organized by location: with all my writing at mnmo.com/Jason
And my list of the new State Fair drinks (the only list organized into type of beverage!): https://fluence-media.co/3yD0wOL
CLASSICS/FAVORITES: Sick of the NEW NEW NEW! My work from the print edition of Minnesota Monthly: https://fluence-media.co/3SMCSpW
Save up to $1200 instantly! My washing machine was on the wrong side. And it’s 18 years old. The door got in the way. I love the service and the deals at locally-owned Warners’ Stellian. Glad to have the Warner Family as a DeRusha Download partner! Sale prices up to 50% off + at their website! Follow Warners’ Stellian Instagram to see how they solved our problem! Or visit a store and tell them you saw this in the Download!





BARCELONA WINE BAR IS OPEN: Late night (1am) food and drink in the North Loop! Tapas-style from Alex Dayton (The Dough Room, Red Wagon Pizza, Aliment Pasta)! About 50 wines by-the-glass, many new to our market, all $14 or less? I may be in love. Duffey Lofts. RESERVE/MENU: https://fluence-media.co/3XzCb6p
BOKETTO TO OPEN IN TWO WEEKS: The new steakhouse from Kaskaid Hospitality (CRAVE, Butcher’s Tale) will open September 14. “Polished Modern.” WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/3X5FMr6
ANN KIM CLOSED KIM’S: I wrote about the closing and the factors that went into it for Minnesota Monthly. Will we see a unionization effort at Young Joni or Lola? Or is this less of an issue since the legislature got rid of “junk fees” which essentially mandates a return to traditional tipping? We’ll see. MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/3WVfNCK I will say the online discourse about labor unions is idiotic and the rabid anger towards restaurant owners is ridiculous. And the offline anger about unions is equally hysterical. Adam Platt wrote about this as well at TCB: https://fluence-media.co/4cMJyvB
STAYCATION SCHEDULE: We spent last Saturday night at a downtown Minneapolis hotel, and visited 6 different Minneapolis restaurants and coffee shops over that time! Thanks to Hotel Ivy for the night in one of their renovated rooms (they renovated them all), I detailed my weekend in a post just for paid subscribers. (Yes you can visit 8 different restaurants, bars, coffee shops in 24 hours.)
DERUSHA’S BEST BANANA BREAD:WCCO RADIO: https://fluence-media.co/4dzcTL0
DERUSHA EATS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE: 26-year-old Madeline Poultridge works by day as a freight supervisor but also is an artist and a creative person. Just an awesome powerhouse of a woman - great interview - she could have brought me some cookies, though. WCCO RADIO: https://fluence-media.co/3MnoH7h
WEEKEND PLANNER:
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL: Sat, Sun, Labor Day: https://fluence-media.co/4cKcAf6
STATE FAIR: Sat, Sun, Labor Day
LABOR DAY EVENTS: Via AFL-CIO: https://fluence-media.co/3yVyu1e
DRIVETIME WITH DERUSHA ON DEMAND
LT. GOV. PEGGY FLANAGAN: Will she run for Governor if Gov. Walz becomes VP? https://fluence-media.co/4e3NV6s
REP. ANGIE CRAIG: Wouldn’t we get better government if we had more toss-up districts like hers? https://fluence-media.co/3AK7ySJ
NEW U OF M PRESIDENT: Protests, Palestine, Safety, Affordability- Dr. Rebecca Cunningham takes my questions. https://fluence-media.co/3T7EBq4
WHAT DID I CALL THE PEOPLE FIGHTING A NEW ST. THOMAS ARENA? Great chat with UST Basketball coach John Tauer https://fluence-media.co/4cKwuXl
LIBERTARIAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Chase Oliver joined me at the fair: https://fluence-media.co/4g34dyc
ANDREW ZIMMERN’S STATE FAIR COMPLAINTS: Parking, pricing, and what building needs a re-do. https://fluence-media.co/4dGZiRR
SUBSCRIBE TO THE DRIVETIME WITH DERUSHA PODCAST!
Apple Podcast https://fluence-media.co/3xTkkNu
Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
We upload every segment so you can listen on your own time!
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