Red white and blue popsicles
Though our country may be whipped up in a not-delicious state of divisiveness, it's going to be a great weekend to sit together and oooh and ahhh over our freedoms to do so. Fly your flags to celebrate a new ice cream shop, the continued ramen invasion, or just the simple idea that is pizza for peace. Be cool when your niece belts out Hamilton all weekend, yeah?
OPENS
>> Pracna on Main is indeed open once again on the historic St. Anthony Main riverwalk. Apparently there are drinks and libations flowing at the umbrella patio tables and there's a new and limited food menu that is just being offered to get them going, and will likely change and evolve as the summer moves on. That little dark bar has a spot in my heart and I would be fine with Heggies and cans of Gain Belt Nordeast for days. Smart for the oldest restaurant on the oldest street in Mpls not to miss this gorgeous summer we're being handed.
>> Ippindo Ramen House has opened up near the U of M campus on Washington, with a slick design and fast service style which is great for your undergrad. Along with plenty of bowls of ramen, you'll find soba and udon noodle dishes along with dumplings and buns that will help fill you up on a student's budget.
>> Blackeye Roasting Co opens their first retail spot today, in the former Bull Run coffee shop on 38th and Chicago. The 30 seat cafe will sport 10 tap lines pouring nitro, cold press, kombucha, house horchata, along with all the regular coffee jazz. Now, let's get that skyway location moving, hmmmm?
CLOSES
>> While there's no word on exactly when Salsa a la Salsa in Uptown will close, it seems inevitable as Game Sports Bar has said they've bought the space and hope to open by early August. The new venu aims to be "Minnesota's premier gay sports bar", which makes me want to crack wise about medaling in Real Housewives drinking games, but that's just the gay sports in my own house. But maybe this idea can actually work in that spot.
COMING SOON
>> Couldn't be happier to announce the homecoming of La La Homemade Ice Cream to Uptown. Jennifer Lisberg is refurbishing the old Shoe Zoo space, just down from Truce Juice on Hennepin, and creating a old-timey soda fountain with sodas and floats made-to-order with housemade syrups and fountain seltzer, some 16 flavors of housemade ice cream, sorbets and alternative milk options served in cones, cups, and sundaes. Also look for frozen desserts like ice cream cakes, bars, ice cream sandwiches, along with baked goods, pies, cakes, cookies, and brownies, plus coffees, teas, and other hot/cold drinks. The store should open this month, but you'll be able to get a little preview of what's to come as Lisberg scoops her wares at local events: find her at the Loring Music Series on July 6 & 20 and Aug 21 at the Tilia Block Party.
>> And CRAVE will be opening in the Eden Prairie Mall, in the former Biaggi's location. The monster 10k foot space should be ready and open by November.
>> Y'all heard that Gavin Kaysen was taking over Blue Point in Wayzata, yeah?
NEWS
>> Did you have any idea that Restaurant Alma was selling their tasty baked goods on Thursdays at the Northeast Farmers Market? And did you know that if you go and hang out for HH at Alma, you might get some sneak advanced tastes of what their new restaurant will be like, as in a delish savory kouign amann and some lamb meatballs? And were you aware that you should get in there one more time to seal the memories, because they'll close on August 12 and likely not open again until November? Now you know.
AGENDA
>> Happy 4th! Looking for some tasty times that might lead up to the big sky fire show? You could spend the big bucks and grab a table on Sea Change's patio for three course lobster dinner overlooking the Stone Arch, or you could hoof it down to Marshall and join the Brau Bros. Brewery seafood boil celebration on their rustic patio. If you're just thirsty, you can get a free beer for flying the USA colors on your body (two beers if you sport patriotic foundation garments) at Inbound BrewCo in the North Loop, or you can sip on some Waconia wine and take in the show on a blanket in the vineyard at Sovereign Estates.
>> You say you want all the glory and freshness of a pizza farm, but not so much the farm part? City slickers will welcome this little "pizza farm" happening at the Food Building on July 7. It's free to go, and bring a blanket to chill on the grassy knoll next to Draft Horse, because the producers will be kicking out $9-$11 pizzas made with flour from the coming Baker's Field flour mill, cheese from Lone Grazer, and meats from Red Table all out of Northern Fires mobile oven. Also, beer from ABle Seed House and a meat raffle! Heckuva Thursday night on the "farm".
>> Let's get the Bastille Day parties on our cal, and pledge to celebrate them hard, so that we don't have to live through a #Frexit, no? Meritage is partnering up with Alliance Francias to throw a tres chic soiree on Sunday July 10. French crepes will be flung, there will be french beers, French wines, French fries, and perhaps French dressing and of course Nico the French sommelier of Meritage in all his finery. Go mon ami, go.
>> Just in case your backyard cookout this weekend doesn't meet expectations, know that Strip Club is throwing their second summer party on July 12, this time it's a Ribs n' Tacos shindig. Chef JD Fratzke will be slow roasting a whole lamb, bbqing up some pork ribs and making one mean mess of a taco bar for you. This one will be a buffet situation for $38, starting at 6pm, and the drinks will flow all night long whether you opt for the $20 beer option or just go cash bar.
>> All we are saying, is give pizza chance. :) Actually, all we are really saying is, let's come together in the name of peace and eat some pizza and be humans of the world together. We can do that at Pizza Nea on July 14 and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Orlando shooting victims fund. There will also be silent auction items, a DJ, and future friends.
>> Get it on your calendar lovelies, Toast & Taste in The Garden is one of the tastiest and most gorgeous fundraisers of the year on July 27. The benefactor, and the setting, is the bucolic grounds of the MN Arboretum which is a wonderful place to take your overcrowded brain and just be. Also, a 3 mile trail for the jogging, and a hedge maze in which to lose your kids. I love this place, my family loves this place, come out and eat a HUGE amount of good food and drink (Alex Roberts is cooking AND talking, also: Saint Dinette, Spoon and Stable, Lucia's, Prairie Dogs, and more!) so we can all have nice things like this.
