Minneapolis Roundup

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Three times a week, the Twin Cities in 12 minutes. Real restaurants you should try, real local business news, real events worth your weekend. Sponsored by mplsveganhub.com and mncannabishub.com — for serious Minneapolis business owners, also brought to you by Quiet Coyote (quietcoyotemn.com).

  1. 1d ago

    Twin Cities Book Festival, Black Business Weekend & Hemp Ban Update

    This week on Minneapolis Roundup (Nov. 2-8), the markets move indoors, Black Business Weekend arrives, and two new restaurants open. We also cover the latest on the federal hemp ban and what it means for Minnesota. In this episode: Winter farmers markets: Mill City Farmers Market is in the Mill City Museum lobby on Sat. Nov. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Minneapolis Farmers Market on Lyndale has Winter Market days Nov. 7-8, opening at 8 a.m. St. Paul Farmers Market hours are posted, but check its November dates before you go. Rain Taxi's 26th annual Twin Cities Book Festival: Sat. Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Union Depot in St. Paul. Meet Minneapolis lists it as free. Black Business Weekend, Nov. 6-7: the MN Black Chamber's Strengthen the Strong Summit, the 6th annual Black Business Ball at Quincy Hall (tickets from $225) and the Best of Black Business Awards ($25). New food: Stelline, the Travail team's Italian spot in Northeast's old Stargazer space, and Martiya, a fine-dining Somali restaurant on Lake Street from Afro Deli owner Abdirahman Kahin. Live music: The Damned and Sleep at First Avenue, L7 at the Fine Line, Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Fitzgerald, Joy Oladokun at the Palace and KATSEYE at Target Center. Sports: the Timberwolves host the Bucks (Nov. 2) and Jazz (Nov. 8). The Wild host San Jose (Nov. 6) and Tampa Bay (Nov. 7). Family theater: the world-premiere musical Twelve Kinds of Ice at Children's Theatre Company, running through Nov. 22. Cannabis corner: Congress reportedly delayed the federal hemp ban from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11. We cover the 0.4 mg THC limit, the risk to Minnesota breweries and the legal market passing $250 million in its first year. Sources: Mill City Farmers Market Minneapolis Farmers Market Event List St. Paul Farmers Market Twin Cities Book Festival Meet Minneapolis: Twin Cities Book Festival Spokesman-Recorder: Black Business Weekend Nov. 6-7 First Avenue Calendar Target Center Events Grand Casino Arena Events Children's Theatre Company: Twelve Kinds of Ice Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: The Feed Fox 9: Federal Hemp Ban Delayed MPR News: Minnesota Breweries and the Hemp THC Ban Office of Cannabis Management Bulletin Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: ...so I've got the whole thing planned. Patio season kickoff. Sunshine, cold drinks, sitting out on West 7th till the sun goes down... Laura: George. George: Yeah? Laura: It's November second. George: Okay, but hear me out... Laura: No, no, hold on. I walked here this morning and my fingers went numb. Patio season is OVER, babe. It's done. It went up north for the winter. George: I know. I know. I wrote it all down back in the spring and just... never let go of it. Laura: Very Minnesotan of you. Hanging onto summer with both hands while it's leaving. George: That's what we do, though! My grandpa had his lawn chair out in the driveway every year until it physically snowed on him. Laura: And that is EXACTLY the kind of story I'm gonna stop you on, because we have a real week to talk about. A big one. George: Fair. Okay. Welcome to Minneapolis Roundup, everybody. It's the week of November second, it's cold, and Laura's right, as usual. Laura: Write that down. George: So the weather, real quick. I'm not gonna pretend I have a forecast, but you all know what early November feels like here. Gray mornings. That crunchy-leaf smell. Somebody on your block has already got the snowblower out, just looking at it. Laura: Just staring at it. Like a pet. George: Just checking on it! Laura: Honestly though? I kinda love this part of the year. A crisp walk on the Stone Arch Bridge, bundled up, the river's all steely... that's a whole vibe. George: It is. The Greenway too. Fewer people, quieter, you can actually hear your own bike. Laura: Okay so. Since the patios are closed, the markets went inside. You want me to do it? George: Go for it. Laura: Mill City Farmers Market moved indoors, into the Mill City Museum lobby. You go in off 2nd Street. It's the first and third Saturdays, nine to one, so this week that's Saturday, November seventh, and then the twenty-first. George: Oh, that's nice. That lobby's a good spot for it, too. Laura: Then the Minneapolis Farmers Market over on Lyndale has Winter Market days Saturday the seventh AND Sunday the eighth. Opens at eight a.m. George: When's it close? Laura: They don't say! The calendar just doesn't list a closing time. George: So get there early. That's the play. Laura: That's always the play. And St. Paul Farmers Market lists hours... Saturday seven to one, Sunday eight to one... but their site doesn't confirm November dates, or when their outdoor season wraps up. So please, check before you drive over there. George: Don't be the guy standing in an empty lot holding a tote bag. Laura: You've been that guy. George: I have been that guy. Okay, food! And I've gotta say, there's some exciting new stuff. Laura: There is. Start with Stelline. George: Yeah, so Stelline is a neighborhood Italian place in Northeast. It's from the Travail team, and it's in the old Stargazer bar space. Opened October first. Handmade pasta, cocktails. Laura: Handmade pasta in November. That's exactly what I want. George: Right? A big bowl of pasta when it's dark at five o'clock... Laura: Okay don't remind me about the dark at five. George: Ope. Sorry. Laura: And then the one I'm REALLY excited about. Martiya. George: Tell me about it. Laura: So Martiya is fine-dining Somali food, on Lake Street near Nicollet. And it's from Abdirahman Kahin, who's the owner of Afro Deli. George: Oh, the Afro Deli guy! Laura: The Afro Deli guy. It was reported as new back in early October. And I love that, George. Somali food has been part of this city for a long time. Seeing somebody take it to a fine-dining room on Lake Street? That's a big deal. George: It really is. Lake Street has... honestly, a l...

  2. 4d ago

    Twin Cities Halloween Weekend: Pillsbury Ghost Hunt, First Ave & More

    It's Halloween weekend in the Twin Cities. George and Laura cover ghost hunts, costume parties, the last outdoor farmers market of the season, new places to eat, and a local brewery fighting to keep its home. In this episode: Mill City Farmers Market holds its last outdoor market Sat., Oct. 31. The indoor winter market at Mill City Museum starts Nov. 7 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) and continues Nov. 21, Dec. 5 and Dec. 19. St. Paul Farmers' Market in Lowertown (290 E. 5th St.) runs Saturdays 7 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Check its site for the season end date. Halloween events: the Pillsbury Club Ghost Hunt (Fri., Oct. 30, 9-11 p.m., 100 E. 22nd St.) and the St. Paul Halloween Bar Crawl (Sat., Oct. 31, 4-11 p.m., starting at Alary Kitchen + Bar). Día de los Muertos at 175 Cesar Chavez St., St. Paul: a community ofrenda and face painting Sun., Nov. 1, plus mariachi and a $25 dinner Mon., Nov. 2. Live music: The Tallest Man on Earth at the Palace Theatre (Oct. 30), First Avenue's Halloween Party and Costume Contest with over $1,000 in cash prizes (Oct. 31), and Allison Russell at First Avenue (Nov. 1). New food: Picco Pizza + Gelateria at 455 Simpson St. near Allianz Field, from the Midway Diner owners, and Eggflip/Sushiflip at 800 Nicollet Mall. Sisyphus Brewing & Comedy may have to move or close. Its owner says Dunwoody College won't renew the lease, which ends January 2027. Sports and cannabis: Minnesota United hosts San Jose on Decision Day, Nov. 7. The Timberwolves and Wild are back home soon. Minnesota's licensed cannabis market sold about $250 million in its first year. Sources: Mill City Farmers Market Indoor Winter Market St. Paul Farmers' Market Fox 9: 5 things to do this weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 First Avenue: The Tallest Man on Earth Songkick: Allison Russell at First Avenue BroadwayWorld: Twelve Kinds of Ice at Children's Theatre Company A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater Minnesota United 2026 MLS schedule Timberwolves vs. Milwaukee tickets Wild vs. San Jose tickets Star Tribune: Picco Pizza and Eggflip/Sushiflip openings Fox 9: Sisyphus Brewing could close over Dunwoody lease dispute Star Tribune: Minnesota's first year of cannabis sales Star Tribune: Federal hemp-derived THC ban Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: ...no, I'm serious. I went into the front closet this morning and dug out the big coat. The BIG one. With the hood. Laura: George. It's the end of October. In Minnesota. Who exactly are you performing this for? George: Nobody! Me! It's a ritual. You reach in the pocket, there's last year's glove, a receipt from, like, February... it's a whole emotional journey. Laura: It's a coat. You put it on. That's the journey. George: See, this is why nobody lets me be poetic. Laura: Okay, welcome in, everybody. Fair warning: George is in mourning today. George: I am. Patio season. Gone. Well... MOSTLY gone. Laura: Mostly? George: There's always one more weekend where somebody's sitting out on a patio in a stocking cap, holding a hot drink with both hands, pretending it's fine. That's us. That's who we are as a people. Laura: That's YOU. I'm inside. I'm at the table by the window. I can SEE the patio. I'm enjoying it from there. George: Respectfully, that's cheating. Laura: Respectfully, I can feel my toes. George: Fair. Okay, so, weather... Laura: Layers. That's the forecast. It's the last weekend of October, so it could be sweater weather, it could be "why is the sky doing that." You dress like an onion and you peel as you go. George: The onion method. My mom swore by it. Every Halloween growing up, the costume had to fit OVER the snowsuit. I was a pirate one year. Really a puffy pirate. A pirate who'd been through some things. Laura: Every Minnesota kid has that picture. Mine was a princess in moon boots. Very regal. George: Which is perfect, because it's Halloween weekend, and there is a LOT going on in the Cities. Laura: There is. But first, food, 'cause I'm hungry and you promised. George: I did promise. Okay, a couple new spots. Over in the Midway in St. Paul, by Allianz Field, there's Picco Pizza plus Gelateria. It's at 455 Simpson Street, and it's from the folks who own Midway Diner. Laura: Wait, didn't Midway Diner just open? George: Last month! So same owners, two places in two months. That's ambitious. Laura: Pizza and gelato in one stop, though? I'm not mad at that. George: And downtown, Eggflip slash Sushiflip has a new spot in the U.S. Bancorp Center, 800 Nicollet Mall. Korean-style egg sandwiches, poke, and... deep-fried sushi rolls. Laura: Ooh. Okay. George: Deep-fried sushi, Laura. I don't know how I feel about that. It feels like a crime against the fish. Laura: Oh, NOW you've got standards? George. You go to the State Fair and eat things on a stick that shouldn't be on a stick. You've deep-fried things that were already deep-fried. George: That's... that's different. That's tradition. Laura: It's the same thing with better marketing. Go try the roll and then come back and tell me. George: Okay. Fine. I'll report back. Laura: Now, on the plant-based side... this is my favorite time of year for that stuff, honestly. Cold weather, cozy food. J. Selby's over in St. Paul is my comfort pick. You walk in hungry, you leave happy and kinda sleepy. George: The good kind of sleepy. Laura: The BEST kind. And in Northeast you've got Herbivorous Butcher, the vegan butcher shop. Stock up before the holidays and nobody at Thanksgiving has to know. George: Oh, they'll know. My uncle will know. My uncle can smell a vegetable from across the room. Laura: Your uncle will go back for second...

  3. 6d ago

    Minneapolis Halloween Weekend: Revival Returns, Modern Times Closes

    Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so the whole weekend in Minneapolis and St. Paul is one long party. George and Laura cover the best Halloween shows, the last outdoor farmers market of the year, new and closing restaurants, local sports, and where Minnesota cannabis stands after its first year. In this episode: Mill City Farmers Market holds its last outdoor market Saturday, Oct. 31, 9am-1pm. Indoor winter markets start Nov. 7 in the Mill City Museum lobby, on the first and third Saturdays through April. Halloween picks: the Twin Cities Horror Festival at the Crane Theater runs through Oct. 31. Also Wobbleween at the Armory, Skalloween with Space Monkey Mafia at the Turf Club, Festival de las Calaveras at Hook and Ladder, and First Avenue's Halloween Party and Costume Contest. Live music and theater: Dweezil Zappa's "DZ20: Like Father, Like Son" (Oct. 28) and The Tallest Man On Earth (Oct. 30) at the Palace Theatre, plus the world premiere of Twin Cities Ballet's "Phantom of the Opera" at the Fitzgerald Theater. Sports: Minnesota United hosts Sporting Kansas City at Allianz Field Oct. 28. The Wild host the Islanders Oct. 29 with a Blaze Orange Hat giveaway. The Timberwolves start a franchise-record eight-game homestand Nov. 8. Revival fried chicken returns under Jester Concepts (owners of Borough and Parlor). It opens Nov. 9 at 730 Washington Ave. N. in the North Loop. Chef Baaska Tegshbileg is moving the Sushi by Baaska omakase pop-up into the former Zen Box space at 602 Washington Ave. S. It's opening soon. Modern Times Café in south Minneapolis will close at the end of 2026 after nearly 16 years. During January's immigration enforcement surge, the café switched to free and donation-based meals. Minnesota cannabis sold more than $250 million in its first year of legal retail and brought in $45.6 million in tax revenue. The federal hemp-THC limit has been pushed back to Dec. 11, 2026. Sources: Mill City Farmers Market FOX 9: Things to do in Minnesota The Current: 2026 Twin Cities Halloween Concert Calendar First Avenue: Dweezil Zappa First Avenue: The Tallest Man On Earth First Avenue: Twin Cities Ballet's Phantom of the Opera Minnesota United 2026 Schedule Minnesota Wild Giveaway Schedule FOX 9: Timberwolves 2026-27 Schedule FOX 9: Revival Opening Date in the North Loop Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: Sushi by Baaska FOX 9: Modern Times Café Is Closing Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management: First-Year Results Forbes: Hemp THC Ban Delayed Until December MPR News: Minnesota Breweries and the Hemp THC Ban Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: Okay but hear me out. You throw a blanket on the chair, you get a hot cider, and it's still patio season. Laura: George. It's the end of October. George: I know what month it is. Laura: You were talking about Memorial Day weekend in the car. Memorial Day! That's seven months out! George: I'm a planner, Laura. Patio season in this town is a state of mind. Laura: Oh, a state of mind. Tell that to my fingers. George: Okay, fair. Fair. Welcome to Minneapolis Roundup, everybody. It's officially jacket weather, and the patios are... let's say they're winding down. Laura: Winding down. Some of 'em are already stacking the chairs, babe. George: Which is why this week matters. It's like the last good porch week before we all go into hibernation mode. Laura: See, that I'll take. That's the real Minnesota move. You squeeze every last drop out of fall before it gets dark at like 4:45. George: Don't remind me. Laura: You started it with the patio talk. George: Okay, so, let's get into it, 'cause it's a BIG week. Halloween's on a Saturday this year. Laura: Which means the whole weekend is Halloween. Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Everybody's in costume for three days straight. George: And Saturday morning, before any of that, Mill City Farmers Market's doing its last outdoor market of the year. Saturday, October 31st, nine to one. Laura: Ooh. Last one outside? George: Last one outside. Then they move indoors starting November 7th, in the Mill City Museum lobby. First and third Saturdays through April, same hours, nine to one. Laura: Okay, I love that, 'cause the Mill District in the morning, right by the river... and then you're like a two-minute walk from Stone Arch Bridge. George: That's the move! Market, then you walk the bridge, look at the falls, pretend it's not cold. Laura: You're gonna pretend. I'm gonna wear a hat. George: What about St. Paul, though? Or the Lyndale market? People always ask me about those. Laura: Yeah, what are their late-season hours? George: Honestly? I don't know. I tried. Their sites were still showing last year's schedule, so I'm not gonna guess on air. Check their official pages before you go. Laura: Look at you, admitting you don't know something. George: It happens! Once a year. Mark your calendar. Laura: Okay. Food. Let's talk food, 'cause I'm hungry and it's your fault. George: How is that my fault? Laura: You said cider. Now I want everything. George: Okay, so, first one. Revival is coming back. Laura: Wait, the fried chicken place? George: The fried chicken place. Now, I've got memories of the old Revival, I'm telling you, there was this one night... Laura: Okay, hold on, before you go down memory lane. It's under NEW owners, right? George: ...Yes. Yes it is. Laura: So it's not exactly the old Revival you're getting misty about. George: You're ruining my story. Laura: I'm saving your story! Who's running it now? George: Jester Concepts. Same folks who own Borough and Parlor. They're openi...

  4. Oct 26

    Twin Cities Halloween Weekend: PopUp Bagels, Martiya, Flip Phone XXL

    Halloween weekend lands on the Twin Cities with new restaurant openings, a stacked First Ave calendar, and the final outdoor farmers market of the year. Here's what's actually worth your time Oct 26 – Nov 1, 2026. In this episode: PopUp Bagels opens its first Minnesota shop in the North Loop's Saxon building at 107 3rd Ave N. Martiya, a halal Somali-diaspora restaurant at 3036 Nicollet Ave., hits its grand opening Nov 1 after an Oct 1 soft open. Saturday Oct 31 is the FINAL outdoor Mill City Farmers Market of 2026, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., with St. Paul Farmers' Market in Lowertown still running weekends. First Avenue week: Shakey Graves with Wild Pink, All Them Witches, Sienna Spiro, Amble, and Flip Phone XXL Halloween on Friday. Palace Theatre in St. Paul hosts The Dresden Dolls, Dweezil Zappa, and The Tallest Man on Earth. All four home teams play: Timberwolves host the Warriors (Wed) and Clippers (Fri), Minnesota United takes on Sporting KC at Allianz Field, and the Wild face the Islanders at the newly renamed Grand Casino Arena. Guthrie Theater is running "Kunene and the King," directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, on the McGuire Proscenium through Nov 8. Minnesota's OCM has issued 402 cannabis business licenses as of Oct 12, with new retailers including Lindstrom Canna, Handled With Care, Willow Street, and Tonka Dispensary; Nawal Noor of Noor Companies named a 2026 TCB Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. Sources: Mill City Farmers Market St. Paul Farmers' Market — Lowertown First Avenue Palace Theatre listings (JamBase) Guthrie Theater 2025/2026 season Timberwolves tickets Minnesota United tickets Grand Casino Arena naming-rights announcement Meet Minneapolis Halloween guide Mpls.St.Paul Magazine — new restaurant openings 2026 TCB 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year finalists MN Cannabis Hub — OCM midyear 2026 update Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: —and I'm telling you, I walked out this morning without a jacket and immediately regretted every life choice. Laura: George, it is the end of October. In Minnesota. George: I know, I know. Laura: You've lived here your whole life. George: Laura, I was born here. In this city. I should know better. Laura: You should. George: But the sun was out, you know how it does that trick in late October. Laura: That trick where it looks warm from your kitchen window and then the wind off the river smacks you in the face? George: That is the exact trick. Laura: Yeah, that trick is older than both of us. George: Ope, you got me there. Laura: "Ope." Already. George: Four seconds in. Laura: Record pace. George: Okay so, big weekend coming up though. Halloween weekend, the Cities are gonna be... a lot. Laura: A LOT. George: In the best way, mostly. Laura: Mostly. I did see the Minneapolis Halloween Bar Crawl is happening Saturday downtown. George: Of course it is. That thing is like, a staple at this point. Laura: It is a staple. And listen, if you've never done one, it's fun. If you've done five of them... George: Maybe stay in with pop and a candy bowl. Laura: Pop and a candy bowl. Yeah. George: Before we get too deep though, can we talk food? Because I actually have news. Laura: You have news? Real news? George: Real news. PopUp Bagels is opening up in the North Loop. Laura: Wait, the bagel chain? George: The bagel chain. First Minnesota location, over in the Saxon building on 3rd Ave North. Laura: Opening when? George: This month. October. So like, imminent. Laura: Huh. George: You don't sound thrilled. Laura: I'm not UNthrilled. I just... we have bagels here, George. George: We do have bagels. Laura: We have a lot of bagels. George: Fair. Laura: Does the North Loop need another spendy breakfast option? George: Hey. "Spendy." Nice. Laura: Don't change the subject. George: I'm not. I think competition is good. And I'll try it. I'll report back. Laura: Please do. The other new one I'm actually excited about is Martiya. George: Oh yeah, on Nicollet? Laura: 3036 Nicollet. Halal, Somali-diaspora restaurant. They soft-opened October 1st, grand opening is next weekend. George: November 1st. Laura: Right. George: That is the kind of opening I actually get excited about. New restaurant from the community, telling a specific story on the plate. Laura: Yes. George: Not another... bagel. Laura: You're mad about the bagel now? George: I'm not mad about the bagel! I'm just saying. Laura: Okay. George: You can be excited about Martiya AND curious about a bagel. Laura: That is a very Minnesota-nice compromise. George: Thank you. Laura: Speaking of Nicollet energy though, how are our plant-based people doing right now? I feel like fall is when the vegan spots really shine. George: Oh for sure. Soup weather. Carb weather. Laura: J. Selby's over in St. Paul does fall so well. The comfort food menu, the room... George: That room is cozy. And Reverie, over in south. Laura: Reverie's great. George: Hard Times Cafe if you want the full... punk basement in a sweater kind of experience. Laura: "Punk basement in a sweater." That's accurate. George: And Herbivorous Butcher up in Northeast obviously, if you're doing a Halloween party and you need to feed people without, you know, actually feeding people meat. Laura: Right. George: Their deli case saves a lot of...

  5. Oct 23

    Twin Cities Weekend: Sylvan Esso, PopUp Bagels, Martiya & Cannabis 402

    Flannels are back out, the river looks like pewter, and we've got one of the last outdoor Saturdays on the calendar. George and Laura run the Twin Cities weekend of Oct 23–25, 2026 — markets, music, food, sports and cannabis. In this episode: Last outdoor Saturdays at Mill City Farmers Market (9a–1p), Midtown at the Hiawatha LRT (9a–2p), and St. Paul Lowertown (7a–1p, running through Nov 22). Sylvan Esso at First Avenue — Fri Oct 23 & Sat Oct 24, with papa mbye and Brotherkenzie opening; Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen at the Palace Theatre Friday night. Vegan rundown: J. Selby's, Herbivorous Butcher, Reverie, Hard Times, Trio Plant-Based, Hello Pizza, The Herbalist — plus the mplsvegan.com guide. Martiya, a Somali-diaspora halal spot at 3036 Nicollet Ave, soft open all month with a Nov. 1 grand opening. PopUp Bagels opens its first Minnesota shop in the North Loop's Saxon building at 107 3rd Ave N — bagels for ripping and dipping, no knife required. Home sports: Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors Sun night at Target Center, Vikings vs. Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minnesota United vs. Sporting KC midweek, Wild vs. Islanders Thursday at Grand Casino Arena. Family picks: Trick or Trolley on the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line, Halloween at the Hills in Linden Hills Park, and the Hmong Arts Celebration at Mall of America. Cannabis corner: 402 licenses issued statewide via the Office of Cannabis Management, 23 retailer licenses, and Twin Leaf Cannabis at 2640 Hennepin Ave tracking for a November open. Sources: Mill City Farmers Market St. Paul Lowertown Farmers Market Twin Cities Farmers Markets 2026 Guide Sylvan Esso at First Avenue Palace Theatre Calendar Guthrie Theater — Kunene and the King Visit Saint Paul Events Fox 9 Weekend Guide Timberwolves Schedule (CBS Sports) Minnesota Wild Schedule (Star Tribune) Twin Cities Restaurant Roll Call (Star Tribune) MSP Mag — New Restaurant Openings 2026 Medical Alley Studio 84 (Star Tribune) Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: —and I'm telling you, I pulled a flannel back out of the closet this morning. Full flannel. Laura: George, it's late October. You're not pulling it out, it's been out. George: Okay, fair. Fair. But there's a difference between the lightweight October flannel and the one I grabbed today, which is like... blanket with buttons. Laura: Blanket with buttons. George: Blanket with buttons. Laura: That's a bit. You should put that on a shirt. George: I might. How's your week been? Laura: Good, honestly. Crisp. I did a walk on the Stone Arch Bridge Tuesday and it was that... that specific light where the river looks like pewter. You know what I mean? George: Oh, I love that. Yeah. Laura: Just gorgeous. Cold on the ears though. George: Ope, that's the season. Laura: Ope, there it is. George: I didn't even plan it. Laura: You never do. It just leaks out of you. George: Alright, so. We're on the back half of October, we got a real weekend ahead, lot to get into. You wanna start with markets or music? Laura: Markets. Because we're running out of outdoor Saturdays and people need to hear that. George: Yeah, that's a good point. Laura: Mill City is still going tomorrow, 9 to 1, down at 2nd Street. They shift to the indoor winter rhythm after this stretch, so if you want that last outdoor-under-the-bridge feel, this is kinda it. George: That's the one by the Guthrie, right? Right along there. Laura: Mm-hmm. George: I love that market. I always say I'm going for one thing and I come home with... I don't know, a jar of jam and a loaf of something. Laura: A loaf of something. George: A loaf of something! Laura: Midtown Farmers Market is also open Saturday, 9 to 2, right by the Hiawatha light rail stop at Lake Street. That one I love because it's just... neighborhood. It feels like the neighborhood. George: Yeah, Midtown is the real one. And then across the river— Laura: St. Paul Lowertown, yeah. 7 a.m. to 1. And they're going all the way through November 22 this year, so our St. Paul folks get a little more runway. George: 7 a.m., though. Laura: 7 a.m. George: Who is at a farmers market at 7 a.m.? Laura: People who've already had two cups of coffee and want the good tomatoes. George: You betcha they do. Laura: And honestly, late October tomatoes? Those are the sweet ones. Last of the vines. George: That's the stuff. Okay — food. Can we talk food? Laura: Please. George: Because the sponsor segue is right there. Our friends at mplsvegan.com — go check their guide, they stay on top of the plant-based scene better than anybody. But I wanna know, what are you eating this week? Laura: Honestly? I did J. Selby's twice. George: Twice? Laura: Twice, George. Don't judge me. George: I'm not judging! I'm impressed. That's a St. Paul run both times? Laura: Both times. And listen, when it gets cold like this, that menu just hits different. Comfort food that doesn't sit on you like a brick. George: See, I'm a Herbivorous Butcher guy when the weather turns. Something about Northeast, walking in there, the smell of all that... I don't even know what to call it— Laura: Deli? George: Deli! Thank you. I literally forgot the word deli. Laura: You forgot the word deli. George: It's been a week! Laura: Have you been to Reverie lately? George: Not in a minute. Should I? Laura: You should. South side, cozy, exactly the kind of place where you can sit for two hours with a book and no...

  6. Oct 21

    Gophers-Iowa, Wolves Home Opener, Mill City Market & Revival Returns

    Your Twin Cities weekend playbook for October 24-25, 2026: border-battle football, a downtown sports triple-header, markets in full fall swing, and two restaurant stories worth your attention. In this episode: Gophers football vs Iowa for Floyd of Rosedale at Huntington Bank Stadium, Sat Oct 24; Vikings vs Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium, Sun Oct 26 noon kickoff; Timberwolves home opener vs Toronto Raptors at Target Center, Sun Oct 25 at 6pm. Mill City Farmers Market is open Saturday 8am-1pm at the Mill City Museum ruin courtyard (750 S 2nd St), running outdoors through the end of October. Saint Paul Farmers' Market in downtown Lowertown is open both days this weekend - Sat 7am-1pm and Sun 8am-1pm at 290 5th St E. Martiya, a halal Somali-diaspora restaurant at 3036 Nicollet Ave, is in a monthlong soft open now with a Nov 1 grand opening; Revival returns to the North Loop this month under new ownership. Live music: Juvenile (10/21), Palace (10/22) and Sylvan Esso (10/23 + 10/24) at First Avenue; Zac Brown Band at Target Center Fri 10/23; Indigo Girls with Linda Perry at the State Theatre, Fri 10/23. Stage: Kunene and the King at the Guthrie's McGuire Proscenium through Nov 8, closing weekend of The Sound of Music at the Orpheum through Oct 25, and Red Richardson at Acme Comedy Co. Tue/Wed. Family + culture: free Hmong Arts Celebration at Mall of America Sat noon-5pm, 44th & France Trick or Treat 1-3pm, and Thrill Uptown's synchronized Thriller dance 3-6pm; the monthlong Twin Cities Vintage Fall Crawl hits 16 women-owned shops through Oct 31. Cannabis + business watch: OCM's first Resource and Hiring Fair at UROC on Thu Oct 22, 2-6pm, with ~$10.9M in FY26 CanRenew grants coming; context on Anoka's government-run dispensary; plus Twin Cities Business tracking a potential Minneapolis bathhouse concept. Sources: Mill City Farmers Market Saint Paul Farmers' Market Downtown Saint Paul - Farmers Market Twin Cities Vintage Fall Crawl Hmong Arts Celebration + weekend events Saint Paul Art Crawl recap First Avenue calendar Minneapolis weekend sports + concerts Guthrie Theater 2026-2027 season Acme Comedy - Red Richardson Twin Cities Halloween events guide Timberwolves 2026-27 schedule 2026 Minnesota Lynx season Martiya + 2026 restaurant openings Revival North Loop opening date The case for a Minneapolis bathhouse OCM Resource and Hiring Fair Anoka government-run cannabis store MPR News - Anoka municipal dispensary Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: — okay but you gotta admit, the light this week has been just... chef's kiss. Laura: George, you ALWAYS say that about October. George: Because October ALWAYS does that. Laura: Fair. It's that golden hour that starts at like, three in the afternoon. George: Right? And it holds. It just holds. Laura: Mm. I walked the Greenway yesterday and the maples by the tunnels were ridiculous. Like, actually ridiculous. George: See, that's what I'm saying. We're in that pocket. Laura: Pocket season. George: Pocket season. Laura: Okay I'm stealing that. George: Take it. It's yours. Though — ope — I will say, the mornings? Sharp. Laura: Yeah, that bite is real. George: Had to dig the vest out. Laura: The vest. Of course. Minnesota's official unofficial uniform. George: Hey — the vest earns its keep. Laura: It is pretty spendy if you buy a nice one, though. George: Oh for sure. Mine's about fifteen winters deep. Laura: Fifteen winters. George. George: She's held up. Laura: Okay well while you were out there patting your vest, people with lives were figuring out their weekend. George: Rude. Laura: I'm just saying — a LOT going on this Saturday. George: Yeah, let's... let's lay it out. Because honestly my calendar looks like somebody spilled it. Laura: Mine too. So — Saturday is Gophers Iowa. George: Big one. Laura: Huntington Bank Stadium, border battle, floating pig trophy energy. George: Yeah, Floyd of Rosedale. Always weird, always great. Laura: Then Sunday the Vikings are home against the Colts, noon kickoff — George: — noon which is NICE because then your whole day's not blown. Laura: Exactly. And then Timberwolves home opener Sunday night. George: Wait, that's this Sunday? Laura: Sunday the twenty-fifth, Target Center, versus Toronto. George: Okay I did not have that on my radar. Laura: See, this is why we do the show. George: This is why we do the show. Laura: So Sunday is basically a sports triple-header if you can swing it. George: You could legitimately not leave downtown. Laura: You could, yeah. Walk from U.S. Bank over to Target Center, grab a bite, you're set. George: Beautiful. Just a beautiful problem to have. Laura: A beautiful problem. George: Can I ask you something, though, as a true Minnesotan? Laura: Mmhmm. George: Do you actually care about football, or are you just being polite? Laura: George. I care in October. I'm honest about it. George: Okay, that's fair. Laura: In August? Not really. In October when the leaves are doing their thing and there's a crispness? Yea...

  7. Oct 19

    Martiya on Lake St, Sylvan Esso at First Ave & MN Cannabis Hits $250M

    Your October 19–25, 2026 rundown for Minneapolis–St. Paul: a huge Lake Street restaurant debut, Film Fest closing weekend, Sylvan Esso at First Ave, and Minnesota's licensed cannabis market crossing a major milestone. In this episode: Martiya opens at Lake & Nicollet — Afro Deli founder Abdirahman Kahin's first full-service, upscale Somali-diaspora restaurant (soft open Oct 1, grand opening Nov 1): "Lake Street deserves the best." Stelline Italian Kitchen takes over the former Stargazer space with fresh pastas and small plates. Twin Cities Film Fest closes its 17th year Oct 15–24 at Marcus West End and Mann Edina 4 — 110+ films including Martin McDonagh's "Wild Horse Nine." First Avenue Mainroom: Juvenile (Wed 10/21), The Palace (Thu 10/22), Sylvan Esso two-night run (Fri 10/23 + Sat 10/24). Farmers markets still open: Mill City (Sat 9–1), Midtown (Sat 9–2), St. Paul Lowertown (Sat 7–1, Sun 8–1). Theater & comedy: "The Sound of Music" at the Orpheum (Oct 20–25), Paul Mecurio at House of Comedy MOA (Oct 23–24), Randy Feltface at the Fitzgerald (Oct 25). Home games: Timberwolves vs Toronto (Oct 25) and Golden State (Oct 28), Wild host Edmonton (Oct 27) at Grand Casino Arena, Minnesota United vs Sporting KC at Allianz Field (Oct 28). Minnesota's OCM: licensed cannabis market clears $250M in year one (~$150M adult-use, ~$100M medical, $45.6M tax revenue through July 2026); first Resource & Hiring Fair Thu Oct 22, 2–6pm at UROC. Sources: Mill City Farmers Market Midtown Farmers Market St. Paul Farmers' Market MSP Magazine — Twin Cities farmers markets Twin Cities Film Fest Minnesota Monthly — Film Fest guide Meet Minneapolis calendar First Avenue calendar Hennepin Theatre Trust Star Tribune — Minnesota Wild schedule Timberwolves schedule Allianz Field events Star Tribune — Martiya opens on Lake Street Star Tribune — Restaurant roll call Minnesota OCM — one-year sales update Marijuana Moment — Minnesota cannabis sales Minnesota OCM — Resource & Hiring Fair Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: ...okay so I just walked over the Stone Arch Bridge and I'm telling you, Laura, the light on the river right now? Laura: Mm, the October light. Yeah. George: It's that gold hour where everything looks like a postcard your grandma would send. Laura: George. Your grandma sent you postcards? George: She did. From like, Duluth. Which was two hours away in reality but she treated it like a world tour. Laura: Up north adventures. George: You betcha. Laura: Okay but we're not here to talk about postcards. We're here because it is a WEEK in the Cities. George: It is a week. Laura: Film Fest closing weekend, Sylvan Esso at First Ave, farmers markets still kicking before the real cold hits— George: And a brand new restaurant on Lake Street I need to tell everybody about. Laura: Oh we're getting there. Pace yourself. George: Fine. Laura: What is the weather actually doing this week? Because I almost wore the big coat yesterday and then I was sweating by noon. George: Classic Minnesota October. You dress for one season, you walk outside into a different one. Laura: Right. George: It's been that kind of in-between where mornings are jacket weather and afternoons are, like, "oh I didn't need any of this." Laura: And then by Thursday it drops. That's what October does. George: It'll drop. Laura: Enjoy the gold while you got it, folks. George: Which is a perfect excuse to talk farmers markets, because they are winding down. Laura: They are. Mill City is still open Saturdays nine to one, under the Guthrie. George: Love that spot. Laura: Midtown Farmers Market, Market Plaza on East Lake, Saturdays nine to two through October. George: And over the river— Laura: St. Paul Farmers' Market in Lowertown. Saturdays seven to one, Sundays eight to one, still rolling through the fall. George: Seven. In the morning. On a Saturday. Laura: George, that's when the good stuff is there. George: I know. I know. Laura: You go at eleven and all the squash is sad. George: You go at eleven and all the squash is JUDGING you. Laura: Exactly. George: Okay now can I do my restaurant thing? Laura: Please. George: Martiya. Lake Street and Nicollet. Abdirahman Kahin — the Afro Deli guy — he just opened his first full-service upscale spot. Soft open was October first, grand opening November first. Laura: And this is big. Because he's calling it the Twin Cities' first upscale Somali-diaspora restaurant. George: Yes. And the line in the Strib piece that stuck with me — he said "Lake Street deserves the best." Laura: Mm. George: Which is just — think about what that stretch has been through the last few years. Laura: Yeah don't get me started. George: And here is a guy who built Afro Deli from a counter spot and is now putting a special-occasion room on Lake Street for a community that, as he put it, hasn't really had one. Laura: And it's not just a vanity project, right? That area needs the investment and the signal. George: Big signal. Laura: I'm putting Martiya on the list. George: Also — Stelline. Italian Kitchen. Opened October first in the old Stargazer space. Laura: Fresh pasta, small plates. George: Yeah. Haven't been yet. I'm not gonna lie about it. Laura: Okay.

  8. Oct 16

    Twin Cities Oct 16: Saint Paul Art Crawl, Front Porch Pies, Spark MN & Stelline

    George and Laura break down the Twin Cities weekend of October 16–18, 2026: art crawls, horror fest, a vegan bakery finally getting a storefront, Travail's new pasta spot, Somali diaspora fine dining, and a cannabis milestone up in Mille Lacs County. In this episode: Saint Paul Art Crawl Fri–Sun across 31 venues, billed as the longest-running art crawl in the U.S. Twin Cities Horror Festival XV opens Fri Oct 16 at 6pm at The Crane Theater in NE Minneapolis. Front Porch Pies, the vegan bakery, opens its first retail shop at 3008 36th Ave S (former Savory Bake House space). Stelline Italian Kitchen — Travail Collective's new NE Minneapolis spot at 1304 NE 2nd St, pasta-forward with grilled salmon and duck confit. Martiya, Abdirahman Kahin's first full-service halal restaurant serving Somali diaspora cuisine, soft-opened Oct 1 with a Nov 1 grand opening. Spark MN in Milaca opened Oct 10 as Mille Lacs County's first adult-use rec dispensary; Minnesota's licensed market has topped $250M in year one per the Office of Cannabis Management. Live music at First Avenue: Judah & The Lion (Fri), Daði Freyr (Sat), Medium Build (Sun); Minnesota United FC hosts St. Louis City SC Sat at Allianz Field. Guthrie's "Kunene and the King" through Nov 8; Children's Theatre "Pinocchio" closes Oct 18; Mill City, Midtown, Kingfield and St. Paul Lowertown farmers markets all open this weekend. Sources: Saint Paul Art Crawl guide Twin Cities Weekend Family Guide (Horror Fest, Great Pumpkin Fest) Zombie Pub Crawl Minneapolis First Avenue JamBase: First Avenue listings Guthrie Theater Children's Theatre Company MPR News Shortlist Minnesota United vs. St. Louis City SC Minnesota Wild schedule Vikings vs. Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium Stelline & Front Porch Pies openings Star Tribune: Martiya soft opening MJBizDaily: Minnesota cannabis market Spark MN opens in Milaca Mill City Farmers Market St. Paul Farmers' Market Midtown Farmers Market Kingfield Farmers Market Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: ...and I'm telling you, I walked down Nicollet this morning, Laura, and the trees are just GOING. Laura: Going how? Peak going or past-peak going? George: Peak. Like, that stop-you-on-the-sidewalk peak. Laura: Okay, George, you say that every October. George: I do NOT say that every October. Laura: You absolutely do. George: Okay... maybe I do. But this year it's for real. Laura: Uff da. Here we go. George: Don't uff da me. The light hits the Stone Arch and it's just... I don't know. Painted. Laura: It is nice down there. I'll give you that. George: Thank you. Laura: But you've been romantic about that bridge since like 1998. George: Longer than that, probably. Laura: So we're not doing patios today, I take it. George: Ope, patios? Laura. It's jacket season. Laura: Some folks are still sitting out, bundled up. I saw it on Hennepin yesterday. George: Yeah, with the heaters cranking. Those are the real ones. Laura: The real ones, doncha know. George: Alright, so this weekend... there's actually a LOT going on. Laura: There's a lot going on. The art crawl is the big one for me. George: Saint Paul Art Crawl, right. Friday through Sunday. Laura: Thirty-one venues. Three one. George: Which is... wild. For a weekend. Laura: They say it's the longest-running art crawl in the country. George: Is it? I didn't know that. Laura: Yeah, that's the pitch anyway. Been going forever. George: Huh. I always just wandered in without knowing. Laura: That's the move though. You walk Lowertown, you walk West Seventh, you see what's open, you talk to the artists. George: West Seventh has become something, hasn't it. Laura: George. It's ALWAYS been something. George: Fair. Laura: You just discovered it recently. George: Rude. Accurate, but rude. Laura: I'm just saying. George: Okay, if people are hungry out there, let's do food corner. We gotta talk Front Porch Pies. Laura: Oh, finally opening the retail shop! George: Yeah, vegan bakery, 36th Ave South. Over by where Savory Bake House used to be. Laura: I've been waiting for this. I used to order from them pop-up style for a while. George: And they're good? Laura: George. GOOD. George: Okay, you're selling me. Laura: Like, the crust is the thing. Vegan crust is usually sad. George: Usually a brick. Laura: Usually a brick. Theirs is not a brick. George: Alright. So if you're over south this weekend, that's the stop. Laura: That's the stop. And honestly pair that with Trio. George: Trio Plant-Based. Laura: Full brunch energy. You can make a day of it. George: Make a day of it. And shoutout as always to our friends at mplsvegan.com — if you want the whole plant-based map of the Cities, that's where it lives. Laura: They've got everybody. J. Selby's over in St. Paul. George: Hard Times Cafe for the night owls. Laura: Herbivorous Butcher in Northeast — classic. George: Hello Pizza, Reverie Cafe, The Herbalist... Laur...

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About

Three times a week, the Twin Cities in 12 minutes. Real restaurants you should try, real local business news, real events worth your weekend. Sponsored by mplsveganhub.com and mncannabishub.com — for serious Minneapolis business owners, also brought to you by Quiet Coyote (quietcoyotemn.com).

Information

  • Creator
    Jaycub's Jammin Media
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    107
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Minneapolis Roundup. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Minneapolis Roundup