Download: Happy Thanksgiving!! I've got Black Friday / Small Business Saturday IDEAS
The Short Holiday Season Starts NOW
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: I MISS THE SALE PAPERS
Good morning! Hope you’re enjoying this newsletter while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. I have many memories of hanging out with my family, pouring over the sale papers all stuffed into the Thanksgiving edition of the newspaper. I’ve barely forgiven Target for going to a digital ad each week (in fairness, I did save $250 on a Dyson I bought this week) but I’m sending this newsletter early and a bunch of gift guides out to you in hopes of filling some of that gap. Hopefully I can provide some inspiration for gifting - we can do our best to support local and support artists in this season of giving. Thank you for reading and reacting and sharing this fun little side project of mine! - Jason
Share the download with someone who likes to be in the know and on the go!
HOLIDAY GIFT CARD GUIDE: TONS of Black Friday deals at local restaurants. My bonus gift card guide at MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4fUosgy
CHRISTMAS AT MARA - BRUNCH WITH SANTA
BOOK NOW for brunch with Santa Sunday and Next Sunday, December 1 and 8, 10am-2pm. RESERVE HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4hOgI1g.
Live Carving Station, Eggs Made-to-Order and you’ll love the dessert buffet with Bûche de Noël, gingerbread cookies and a chocolate fountain! PLUS make the Mara Bar your pre or post-Timberwolves game or North Loop shopping stop. The service is unreal and the cocktails are better than ever!
I love having Mara / Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis as a Download Partner!
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?
Changes at Alma - plus a long-form podcast
Black Friday + Small Business Saturday Ideas
Saturday Dumpling Co. opening date set
Holiday Bonus Gift Cards List
KARYN TOMLINSON PODCAST: I talked with Myriel’s chef/owner for 50+ minutes about her relationship with farmers, being named Food & Wine Best New Chef, and what’s next for her. https://fluence-media.co/4fYGzlO
BLACK SHEEP PIZZA DOWN TO O.G. SPOT: Visited with Jordan Smith, who had visions of opening a bunch of spots, has now closed St. Paul and Eat Street closes Saturday after a 10 year lease. Jordan’s a great guy - Black Sheep is still my fave - he’s 64 and wants to maximize the North Loop spot and his Storm King BBQ Brewpub.
HOLIDAY POP-UPS HAPPENING NOW: Paid subscribers got this list first! Open now: Red Cow, Hotel Emery, and I’m updating the guide to holiday pop-ups at restaurants and bars at MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/3CCqVOu
BLACK COFFEE FRIDAY: Houston White celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the Get Down Coffee Shop, also the reopening of the FRESH Barber Shop in Camden/North Minneapolis. 10 am - 3 pm, free drip coffee, banana pudding and sweet potato pies, DJ. https://fluence-media.co/3Z6eD8p
RESTAURANT ALMA: Bar Alma to become an event center. Alma was opening the cafe as a bar during dinner service - that’s over. So much demand for private events, they’re going that route. Daytime Cafe is unaffected. https://fluence-media.co/3CJNyRd
ALMA TURNS 25! I had a great, long sit-down with Alma owners Alex & Margo Roberts. We dug deep on the early days of the restaurant and how they met. Search DeRusha Eats wherever you get podcasts, or click here to listen: https://fluence-media.co/3CCf2bm
OPEN OR COMING SOON:
PARLOUR EXCELSIOR: Opened on Water St. Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Just 75 seats, new cocktails, same food as Parlour North Loop. It’s adorable - enter in the back alley.
WRAD PIZZA: Opened Tuesday in Graze Food Hall. https://fluence-media.co/4i4ONdP
SATURDAY DUMPLING CO.: Opening Saturday at 11am in NE Mpls! https://fluence-media.co/3OsB96x
XELAS BY EL SAZON: opening in early December in Stillwater [Details in MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4fHxQEM]
LOS OCAMPO: Opening delayed until Dec 2 in Merriam Park, St Paul. 2186 Marshall Ave. https://fluence-media.co/3VeABFd
DeRusha’s Bites is presented by Room & Board - see how they transformed my living room on my Instagram or read more about the process at JasonDeRusha.com
SUPPORTING, EXPERIENCING + SHOPPING LOCAL FRI + SATURDAY
50th & FRANCE TREE LIGHTING: SATURDAY 3 - 6pm - Carolers, sleigh rides with store receipt, tree lighting at 5:30pm. Some of my favorite stores in that area: Flirt for lingerie (Jessica is amazing), Billy Reid (Kristin the manager is an amazing stylist), SENTi (Jen Knoch has curated amazing products and scents), Bumbershute (Kathryn and Anthony are two of Alyssa’s favorites). Restaurants are great too: Pajarito, Edina Grill, Mr. Paul’s, Mothership Pizza Paradise, Dexter’s…
NORTH LOOP: Fashion central for us: Requisite is Alyssa’s #1 stop - Libby has a great eye, Jaxen Grey is one of my top places for clothing, Martin Patrick 3 which is amazing for gifts, barware, and beautiful clothing (20% off storewide - exclusions apply on Black Friday). Visit 12 spots on Small Biz Saturday, enter for a chance to win $1200 in gift cards.
EXCELSIOR: Christkindlsmarkt in Excelsior Friday & Saturday
SAINT PAUL EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKET: Outdoor open-air market at Union Depot. 70 vendors, holiday train. https://fluence-media.co/4ePXt50
GALLERIA: Free valet parking on Black Friday https://fluence-media.co/3Ot1mSE
MALL OF AMERICA: Opens at 7am Black Friday, Debut of the Minneapolis Craft Market MOA Market: 40 local artists and makers
Minneapolis Chriskindl Market at North Loop Green: FREE! live music, kids’ activities, food & shopping from 30 local vendors representing 15 countries. Friday 4p-9p, Saturday 11a-9p/ Sunday 11am-7pm Details: https://northloopgreen.com/events/christkindl-market/
GLOW Holiday Fest at CHS Field in St. Paul: https://www.glowholiday.com/st-paul
The Dayton’s Market on Nicollet: 100 entrepreneurs Open daily 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm IG: https://fluence-media.co/48Oju2B
Holiday at IDS from Mpls Craft Market: Open everyday but Monday 11a-5p https://fluence-media.co/4fKiBuk
DERUSHA’S HOLIDAY GUIDES
Thank you for all the great feedback on my ultimate holiday gift guide for fashion and food lovers. Highlights:
FASHION FOR MEN AND DADS
Jaxen Grey is where I do most of my local shopping. Woodbury, Galleria, Ridgedale and North Loop. Shop online
Billy Reid: Great store at 50th & France, ask Kristin for fashion advice, she’s the best. BillyReid.com Spend $400, save 20%; $800 save 30%.
Todd Snyder: I wish we had a store here - but I shop online at Todd Snyder all the time. I like this Crewneck in bisque 30% right now
J. Crew: I know! J. Crew is back! 50% off most everything Great prices, terrific style and quality too. I have a lot of these Secret Wash cotton poplin shirts.
Madewell: Both Alyssa & I shop at Madewell, great basics, terrific denim. 40% off everything right now. Madewell.com
And have you shared my guide to volunteering over the holidays?
GIVE CLOTHES: Woodbury Foundation Winter Clothes Drive
Thru December 20 - link to drop-off locations. Seeking new and gently used winter clothing for local students in need. Winter coats and snow pants: 4T, 5/6, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16, 16/18; Youth sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL; Adult size small and medium; Black is preferred for snow pants.
WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND
Seth is back from NYU for a quick weekend and my parents + brother are visiting for Thanksgiving, we’re hosting. Beef roast + shrimp instead of turkey.
Black Friday we’re hoping to visit Black Coffee Friday and hit the downtown Minneapolis markets and then at night we’re going to Jingle Giles at Earl Giles.
Have a Holiday idea? Reply to this or email Jason@JasonDeRusha.com
