DeRUSHA Download: White Lotus & Friendship, RIP David Burley, Podcast with Gavin Kaysen

Uptown life!? Plus My thoughts on Non-Profit CEO Pay, Sea Salt Opens Today

Apr 11, 2025

DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: MID-LIFE FRIENDSHIP

No spoiler here, but the finale of The White Lotus showed a kind of friendship that I sort of wished I had: the old friendship. Something about longevity that makes friendship different. The three middle-aged women are not the kinds of friends that we would choose as adults - the narcissistic actress, the everything’s perfect closeted-Trumper, and the trainwreck.

My takeaway: going through stuff together, even from a distance, matters.

Stephanie March

[

Pickle by Steph March

] and I talked about this on my radio show this week about some of the lessons on friendship from this trio. You can talk about feelings. You can have friends who are flawed and are different from you. You can surround yourself with interesting people without needing to agree with all their opinions or choices. We seem to think friendship is about having things in common, but I think we undervalue just going through it. The time served. It’s not nothing. Have a great week! The audio is linked or just click the podcast below! - Jason

This publication is supported by you! Every free subscriber helps; every paid subscriber gets bonus posts and my gratitude for helping make this worth it for me!

TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?

Two sudden losses in the hospitality community
Signs of Life in Uptown
Adventures in Restaurant Naming
4 Things To Do This Weekend
Substacks to add to your list

COME WITH ME TO GREECE!

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 Download reader! Let’s do it! wccoradio.com/greece

RIP DAVID BURLEY: A gut punch and a shocker - the co-founder of Blue Plate Restaurant Co. (The Freehouse, Edina Grill, Highland Grill and more) was killed by an accused drunk driver while riding his vintage motorcycle near Hudson on Sunday. Burley was just 58-years-old. MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4cl8wDq

RIP TOM BERG / FALLING KNIFE BREWERY FOUNDER: Star Tribune says they think his heart gave out - Tom Berg was one of the giants of our local beer scene. STRIB [gift link] https://fluence-media.co/3EpN2sx

CONTROVERSY OF SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND PAY: You may have seen social media posts, I share my thoughts as a board member on how much a non-profit CEO should be paid: YOUTUBE: https://fluence-media.co/3XPzddB

AN UPTOWN OPENING: Moona Moono has a grand opening on Saturday - a coffee shop and Asian-American/Asian retail store. It’s in the former Paper Source at the corner of 31st and Hennepin. MENU: https://fluence-media.co/4iZdiZZ

SEA SALT OPENS TODAY: https://fluence-media.co/3RLHYBQ

CARNIVAL BAR: The new concept from Mr. Paul’s in their back room -opens Thursday. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/4i8HArS

“Walking into Bar Brava was a breath of fresh air that had an immediate familiarity and open-arms quality to it, the kind of hospitable warmth I can’t remember the last time I felt at a wine bar in the states.” -
The Ross Report
visits Minneapolis and captures the magic of Bar Brava. READ: https://fluence-media.co/43E4yne

MY FAVORITE WINE BARS: My picks for Nouveau, Still young, Vintage and Road Trip wine bars in print, now online at Minnesota Monthly: https://fluence-media.co/44eiZhU

MARA MAKES BRUNCH SPECIAL: Do you have Easter plans yet, or a spot for a graduation celebration? The Four Seasons Minneapolis is both special - and OURS! Don’t just think of it as a spot for visitors! How fun would a family grad brunch be? Private dinners are a great celebration too. RESERVE: Mara’s TOCK Page
DeRUSHA is proud to have Mara by Four Seasons Minneapolis as a Download partner.

OUR RESTAURANT OWNERS NEED GOOGLE: To the surprise of no one, Big Star Tipsy Taco Bar was not appreciated by the Chicago trademark owners of Big Star, also a taco restaurant, and they have a new name. Hey Y’All Tipsy Taco Bar. This follows Bar Siena (now Hendrix and Siena) which upset a Chicago trademark holder. See my preview of… Hey Y’All: https://fluence-media.co/4lqYSDE

KHUE’S KITCHEN: Alyssa & I went last night - loved it. Quick like Chef Eric’s family’s Quang; high technique refined from his years at Spoon & Stable. Named for his mom, she would approve. Writing about it for MNMO - soon!

WHAT AM I DOING THIS WEEKEND?

Friday - helping raise money for veterans housing at the Housing First MN Foundation Gala. Saturday: hanging at Groove Lofts apartment and having dinner at Spoon and Stable. Sunday is open

WHAT COULD YOU DO THIS WEEKEND?

Record Store Day [MNMO | MSP MAG] SATURDAY
Twin Cities Auto Show - This weekend + next [WEB]
Utepils 5k Run for Beer: Saturday 11a [TIX]
Minneapolis Vintage Market: SUNDAY (free noon-4p, gotta reserve tix tho)