DeRusha Download: Sweater Weather?
Oktoberfest, First Look At Boketto, Martini For Cancer Research
Big week for our family: our high school senior Sam just turned 17 (chose to go to Pittsburgh Blue for dinner), and Alyssa and I hit our 26th wedding anniversary (we chose Oro by Nixta)! We had crews in our house all week tearing out carpet and putting in new flooring. It’s the season of change - get the 80’s out of here and bring on the sweater weather! Reach out anytime at Jason@JasonDeRusha.com
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MARTINI AT MARA FOR CANCER RESEARCH: Alyssa & I love hanging out at Mara at Four Seasons Minneapolis - get there ASAP for Julian’s Martini. Inspired by Julian Golden, who lost his brief, but brave, battle with leukemia shortly before his fourth birthday. Julian’s dad, John, created this drink as a fundraising effort to benefit Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Mara Bar is donating 20% of the proceeds from Julian’s Martini to Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Mara by Gavin Kaysen is a DeRusha download partner, I’m also donating the revenue from this ad to CCRF.
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD:
First look: Boketto in St. Louis Park
Paul Fletcher (formerly Cities 97) appears on my show
Cool Jim Beam Whiskey Dinner
Best Cheeseburgers in Town
Hi-Fi Wine Bar Opens Saturday
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: When is it enough?
I visited Black Walnut Bakery this week and spent some time talking with Sarah Botcher. She’s a genius, her pastry is so good, she should be in the mix for national James Beard Awards. But when I told her I felt that way, she scoffed. “I have enough,” she said. Her business is up year-over-year, it’s up in a manageable way, and she was most proud of the fact that her employees smile when she sees them every day. They’re happy. She’s happy. Customers are happy. It’s enough. It’s something I’ve been thinking about as a Type-A, always pushing and grinding person. When is it enough? More - more - more. Do you really want that promotion at work - or is it enough? When will you be satisfied - and when should you push for more? THIS is work-life balance to me: it’s when you realize - it’s enough.
NATIONAL CHEESEBURGER DAY: The Blois Olson list did what Blois’ lists do… fire people up. It’s a good list actually. @bloisolson: https://fluence-media.co/3B5hvdo. Here’s the backstory on seven top burgers in town followed by my list of favorites via MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4aNRvj8
YELLOW RIBBON RIBFEST & CAREER FAIR: National Guard readiness center in Arden Hills SATURDAY! Minnesota Building Trades Career Fair from Noon-2pm, Rib Tasting Competition from 3-5:30pm. Live music starts at 1p: $5 beer and $3 for a rib is bonkers! https://fluence-media.co/4dRc8NF
BOKETTO: So I was concerned the marketing of this place was “a pile of nonsense.” We went on Tuesday night to a VIP menu tasting, and the food was well-executed, the vibes were chic and Miami-like. Not the North Loop, the 394 Loop in SLP. My first thoughts via MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4deqrL5
JIM BEAM WHISKEY DINNER: Knob, Bookers, Old Grand Dad, Basil Hayden’s - great pours with fab food at Town Hall Brewery this Wednesday, Sept. 25. I went last year - it’s a bargain for the price. TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/4ewpTkv
DERUSHA RECOMMENDS: Paid susbcribers got a list of spots we’ve visited and enjoyed over the past couple weeks. PREVIEW: https://fluence-media.co/3ZvQgmt
URBAN HISTORIANS AT METEOR BAR: This hits all my niches: cocktails, dive bars, urban studies: Bill Lindeke and Andy Sturdevant talk history, Meteor provides drinks. Stephanie March and Steve Marsh host - they’re two different people. TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/4gpFd4n
IT’S OKTOBERFEST SEASON
FULTON: WSJ just shouted-out their Oktoberfest beer. Friday/Saturday and Sept 27/28 https://fluence-media.co/3ZlUKvU
BAUHAUS SCHWANDTOBERFEST: Saturday Noon - 10p https://fluence-media.co/3Zsej5V
SURLY FEST: Saturday 11a - Midnight https://fluence-media.co/3BcZ1Id
UTEPILS: Saturday 11a-11p (free before 2p) https://fluence-media.co/3XvdG93
FORGOTTEN STAR BREWING: Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Fridley! https://fluence-media.co/3ZPKsEP
October 5:
Travail / Nouvelle Oktoberfest: German-style food stations, stein hoist competition, live music by Dr. Keilbasa, https://fluence-media.co/3XiH5mV
Earl Jam: Earl Giles has live music, food, drinks, kid and pet-friendly, starting at 11am. FB EVENT: https://fluence-media.co/3zk7clb
MY GUIDE TO NYC: My favorite bagel, pizza, coffee, cocktail and restaurants in New York City. Free subscribers got a preview in their email - here’s a direct link https://fluence-media.co/4dWdhmX
FOOD WRITING BY FRIENDS
SMALL HOURS WINE BAR OPENS SAT: Steph March on wine pro Sarina Garibović and singer-songwriter Sam Cassidy. “It challenges you to re-think hospitality: Instead of walking into a place to Get What You Want, it's more akin to walking into someone's home and being available for what they have created to share with you. If you come open and ready to explore and expand your world, you won't be disappointed.” MSP MAG: https://fluence-media.co/3XQ17Xa
5 NEW RESTAURANTS FROM SUMMER: Good idea by the Strib food team: they highlight 1881 by Lake Elmo Inn, Tap In, Black Duck Spirits & Hearth, Tender Lovin’ Chix, Dexter’s (you’ve read about them all here too!) https://fluence-media.co/4e9w7Hx
ST. PAUL RESTOS TO CELEBRATE AT: Jess Fleming with a great list from budget to splurges - I love Brunson’s, Meritage, Estelle. Pajarito, Red Rabbit, Saint Dinette, all on our rotation too! GIFT PI PRESS LINK: https://fluence-media.co/3BaYTc8
WEEKEND PLANNER:
My weekend: Friday we’re celebrating some family birthdays at home, Saturday I’ll be at the Yellow Ribbon Career Fair / Rib Fest, hoping to get to Fulton Brewery for Oktoberfest, Sunday night is a dinner a friend bought at a fundraiser for M Health Fairview Children’s Hospital!
OPEN STREETS WEST BROADWAY: Saturday 11am, Lyndale to Penn: https://fluence-media.co/3XORYhM
AVANT GARDEN at the WALKER: https://fluence-media.co/3XOQYtZ
DRIVETIME WITH DERUSHA ON DEMAND
PAUL FLETCHER BACK ON RADIO: with me! We rank cheeseburgers + Taylor Swift songs. https://fluence-media.co/3XNhJyU
MN LYNX FEVER: Carley Knox, Lynx President of Business Operations gets us geared up for Playoff Game 1 Sunday: https://fluence-media.co/3B73c8q
STOP THE BLUE LINE LRT EXTENSION: Can we? https://fluence-media.co/47whpYm
WHO HAS THE BEST MAIN STREET IN MN? Osseo? Anoka? Hopkins? https://fluence-media.co/47AqZcL
MALLORY WEGGEMANN, MN PARALYMPIAN: Inspiration - Perseverance, struggle in athletics and in her husband’s fertility. https://fluence-media.co/4e8Ia7W
GRAND AVE ST. PAUL - ALIVE OR DEAD? Cool talk with Peter Kenefick, Emmett’s Public House + Saji-Ya. https://fluence-media.co/3Zu80i2
BEST COMMERCIAL JINGLES: We have fun, fun, fun: https://fluence-media.co/4gv85Im
SUBSCRIBE TO THE DRIVETIME WITH DERUSHA PODCAST!
Apple Podcast https://fluence-media.co/3xTkkNu
Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
E-MAIL:
Andrea Gaitan in St. Paul writes: “I would say I am a combo of only trying new places and not going back for date night and then having the local faves. I live in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood in St. Paul so my go-to’s are: Chips Clubhouse, Master Noodle, On's Thai and Taco Libre. Love your newsletter, thank you!” Andrea- you have great taste, that’s a fab roster. You also have great taste in newsletters!
Gary in Golden Valley wants to know: “Love our new home, neighbors, neighborhood in general, but continue to be frustrated by the lack of new and existing and restaurants in the area. Would love to get some explanation why St Louis Park, for example, opens new restaurants seemingly every other week but GV does not.” - SLP to me seems to have more commercial real estate than Golden Valley, and not a ton of movement. It’s a good question!
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