1. 64 Twin Cities Living 2016-2017
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DINING
Now trending: the Twin Cities culinary scene.
Almost as if we were meant to be there all along, the
Twin Cities have settled into a seat at the head of the table.
Flourishing with five-star restaurants, hole-in-the-wall eateries
and beloved mom and pop signatures, we have been named
“America’s next great food city” by Saveur.
Our talent deep and the flavors delightful, it’s no wonder
why new restaurants have been popping up all over the city.
From Juicy Lucys and meal-worthy Bloody Marys to gourmet
four-course dining, local chefs are pushing the boundaries on
fresh, innovative dishes and flavors. Foodies from all over flock
to our varied, vibrant and ever-changing dining scene that has
awakened the attention of many—and by attention, we really
mean appetite.
Although we consider all of our local chefs and kitchen
masters to be the best in the Midwest, there are three who
claim the highest of food honors: the James Beard Award.
Kicking things off was Tim McKee with his highly acclaimed
Libertine and other notable local establishments. Keeping the
stove hot was Alex Roberts of Restaurant Alma and Brasa
Premium Rotisserie, and Isaac Becker of 112 Eatery, Bar La
Grassa, and Burch Steak and Pizza Bar.
In 2016 Diane Yang of Spoon and Stable and Jorge
Guzman from Surly Brewing joined fellow five-time nomi-
nee Lenny Russo of Heartland, and Jamie Malone of the
long-awaited Brut sits amongst good company with two-
time nominees Paul Berglund of The Bachelor Farmer and
Michelle Gayer of Salty Tart. Winner, nominee or eagerly
awaiting to be discovered, it goes without saying that the
THE LAND OF
10,000 ADVENTURES
Around every corner you’ll find something new to explore. Be it buzzworthy
restaurants and boutiques or the great outdoors, it’s time to eliminate
“boredom” from your vocabulary.
Spoon and Stable
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Twin Cities are home to countless culi-
nary creators and innovators.
Settling back into his saddle in the Twin
Cites is Gavin Kaysen, chef and owner of
the James Beard Award finalist for Best
New Restaurant, Spoon and Stable. Locals
and foodies everywhere line up at the
19th century-old stable-turned-eatery and
enjoy seasonal cuisine with roots in local
Midwestern culture and the technicality of
classic French cuisine.
As a Food & Wine Best New Chef,
James Beard Rising Star Chef, Michelin
Star recipient, former executive chef to
Café Boulud in New York City and (most
importantly) Minnesota native, Kaysen
provides sophisticated dining in a homey
atmosphere. Another hotspot that contin-
ues to generate much-deserved attention is
Heyday, headed by another Food & Wine
Best New Chef, Jim Christiansen. Here
you will find original, creative and exqui-
sitely flavorful fare in shareable portions
that highlight traditional Nordic roots.
With the plethora of restaurants that
keep appearing on the Twin Cities scene,
locals have a hard time deciding where
they choose to empty their pocketbooks
and fill their bellies.
Scena Tavern and Italian Eatery both
offer traditional Italian fare with culinary
heart in the Uptown and Lake Nokomis
areas. Welcoming guests with authentic
hospitality, Restaurant Alma offers farm-
fresh scratch fare with an affordable wine
list. HauteDish was one of the first to enter
into the now-popular North Loop and is
housed, along with others, in a charming
and historical industrial atmosphere.
Check out Be’Wiched Deli for a New
York-style rye sandwich, enjoy hearty
gourmet pies at Black Sheep Pizza, tuck
in your lobster bib at Smack Shack, or dive
into a tasty adventure at Ramen Kazama.
Discover ultra cool ice cream flavors at
Milkjam Creamery (lactose-friendly too),
or tear into a crispy piece of fabulous fried
chicken at Revival on Nicollet Avenue.
Kitty-corner from the St. Paul Farmers
Market, Saint Dinette serves everything
from gourmet seafood dishes to delightful
bologna sandwiches, while Pizzeria Lola
offers one-of-a-kind Korean-inspired pizzas
that raise the bar on wood fire pies. From
the owners of Muddy Waters in Uptown,
Dark Horse Bar and Eatery delivers healthy
bar food in Lowertown St. Paul. The Salt
Cellar is another successful venture in the
nearby Selby area, and recent renovations
have perfectly preserved the 1920s feel of the
iconic Commodore Bar and Restaurant.
Keeping us grounded, of course, are the
many local restaurants that found their
home here long before the Twin Cities
were ever known for food. Walk or drive
too fast, and you’ll miss the small façade of
one of Minneapolis’ best breakfast joints.
Al’s Breakfast is reportedly the nar-
rowest restaurant in Minneapolis, but this
60-year-old diner continues to serve up
MyTake
DIANE YANG
As executive pastry chef at highly
acclaimed Spoon and Stable in
Minneapolis’ North Loop neighbor-
hood, Diane Yang has staked her
reputation as one of the area’s des-
sert masters around modest, modern
and mouthwatering creations. Her
career in the kitchen has seen her in
area restaurants such as La Belle Vie
and Solera, and earned her a Charlie
Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in
the Twin Cities in 2013.
“I have a huge sweet tooth. I end
every meal with something sweet.
After high school I was introduced to
beautiful cakes and delicious plated
desserts and from there I just knew
I wanted to keep making delicious
sweets. I love making people smile,
and everyone should at the end of a
great meal.
“My desserts are sweet enough to
consume everything on the plate and
be happy, but not so sweet that you
feel guilty after finishing it all. My des-
sert menu changes seasonally. My
pastry sous chef and I find time to sit
together and figure out what’s in sea-
son and we try to use the best quality
ingredients we can find.
“I love the Twin Cities dining scene
because we have such a variety of
food to offer here. I have a favorite
restaurant for every craving! (For
late night dining, 112 Eatery; for pizza,
Pizzeria Lola; for sweets, Patisserie 46
or Salty Tart.) It’s a small dining scene
and everyone supports each other.
“The Twin Cities have some of the
best parks and lakes around. You can
grab your favorite food and go out for
a picnic and enjoy the beautiful scen-
ery. I’ve gone to a few other cities and
like them, but I come back to the Twin
Cities because it’s satisfying here.”The Bachelor Farmer
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3. 66 Twin Cities Living 2016-2017
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big taste with its bacon waffles and mas-
sive blueberry pancakes. Both Matt’s Bar
and 5-8 Club claim invention rights to
the cheese-stuffed burger that ranked on
TIME’s list of the most influential burgers
of all time; whether you choose the Jucy
Lucy at Matt’s Bar or the Juicy Lucy at 5-8
Club, you can’t go wrong. Mickey’s Diner,
which you might recognize from appear-
ances in “The Mighty Ducks,” “Jingle
All the Way” and “A Prairie Home
Companion,” has been serving up savory
burgers, old-fashioned malts and breakfast
24 hours a day for nearly 80 years.
For those who prefer red meat and
potato dishes, don’t worry. For steak, chops
and other quality cuts of meat, Murray’s
is famous for its Silver Butter Knife strip
sirloin while Manny’s is known for large
portions of dry-aged, center-cut beef,
hand-trimmed by master butchers. Since
1910 Jax Cafe has been perfecting their
steak and seafood dishes, and locals line up
for their impressive Sunday brunches.
Beyond meat-centric restaurants, there
are a variety of other hot spots that fea-
ture flavors from all around the world.
For fine dining before an opera at the
Ordway, reserve a table at The Capital
Grille, indulge in classic French cuisine at
Meritage in St. Paul, or let Minneapolis’
Zelo take your taste buds to Italy with
any one of their traditional dishes.
Kramarczuk’s represents traditional tastes
of Eastern European deli food, while
Upton Forty-Three goes beyond lingon-
berry and lutefisk dishes and serves up
sophisticated Swedish cuisine.
On the go? No problem. Food trucks
hit the streets May through October, as
Mother Nature permits. Populating curb-
sides in Minneapolis and St. Paul, these
wheels cook up everything from burgers
and báhn mì to sushi and po’boys. These
have become so popular that a number of
trucks have added brick-and-mortar spots,
including Smack Shack, Hola Arepa, Foxy
Falafel and Vellee Deli.
There are also a number of farm-
to-table, sustainable restaurants that
inhabit the area, from Heartland
and Spoonriver to W.A. Frost and
Birchwood Cafe. Chopping up meat-free
staples is The Herbivorous Butcher, a
vegan butcher shop that recently opened
and provides small-batch, locally sourced
and all-natural meat alternatives. Or, if
you consider yourself a master chef and
would rather cook up some of your own,
the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Mill City
farmers markets have a wide variety of
local, tasty and always fresh supplies
during the warmer months.
Although we pride ourselves on tradi-
tional northern cuisine, there are many
places in the Twin Cities where local meets
global. Minneapolis’ Eat Street is exactly
how it sounds. Here you can eat your way
through 17 blocks of Nicollet Avenue lined
with Asian, German, Greek, Latin and
Middle Eastern restaurants.
Try the Black Forest Inn, El Nuevo
Mariachi, Evergreen Chinese, Harry Singh’s
Caribbean, Quang’s, Jerusalem’s Restaurant,
Pho 79, Tibet Kitchen and more. And if
you need more, visit the Midtown Global
Market where flavors from all continents
come together under one roof.
Sample East African cuisine at Safari
Express, Korean food at Rabbit Hole, or
Spanish and South American cuisine at
Sonora Grill. For more of a taste of Latin
America, head to District del Sol in West
St. Paul. The neighborhood is home to the
best Cinco de Mayo festival in the cities, as
well as excellent, authentic food at El Burrito
Mercado and Boca Chica Restaurante,
among others.
SHOPPING
Made famous by the nation’s first and
largest shopping malls—Southdale
Center and Mall of America, respec-
tively—the Twin Cities offer something
for all shoppers. From Uptown to down-
town and all around town, the Twin
Cities tempt pocketbooks with indepen-
dently owned boutiques, quaint shops,
national retailers, outlet centers and a
wide range of indoor and outdoor malls.
With no sales tax on clothes and shoes,
Minnesotans will stop at nothing to get
the best steals on the best deals.
Whether you want to leisurely peruse
or spend a day power shopping, you’ll find
what you need here. From home goods to
apparel, electronics to beauty, hobby shop-
ping and even grocery shopping, the Twin
Cities is the epicenter of the latest trends
and one-of-a-kind goods.
Downtown Minneapolis has over eight
miles of skyway that connect much of its
downtown retail, including perhaps two of
the biggest draws, a multi-level Macy’s and
a two-story Target. Here you can shop till
you drop, even in the chilly winter months
without wearing an extra layer.
Downtown also offers a mix of name
brand and independent shops, including
rare and used books at James and Mary
Laurie Booksellers, high-quality mens-
wear at Hubert White, souvenirs at Love
From Minnesota, and beauty products and
treatments at Juut Salonspa.
Minneapolis’ North Loop neighbor-
hood has made the ultimate transfor-
mation from industrial railroads and
factories to a high-end shopping district.
Spend a day or two admiring the artistic
beauty of the one-of-a-kind shops and
boutiques that continue to pop up in this
neighborhood.
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Ladies first: Grethen House sells upscale
clothing and accessories by highly sought-
after designers, Lolë provides quality
apparel ranging from everyday casual to
active wear, and Statement Boutique offers
affordable, unique jewelry.
For the men, MartinPatrick3 sells goods
for the modern, well-dressed man, while
Askov Finlayson was built around a core
appreciation for superbly constructed, time-
less men’s pieces. Situated next to each other
in the same building are the iconic Detroit-
based watch brand Shinola and the Seattle-
based provider of bags and sportswear,
Filson. There are a variety of other spots for
home goods, antiques and art as well.
Uptown, located just minutes from down-
town Minneapolis, is known for its laid-back
atmosphere and the fashion-forward hipsters
and young professionals that frequent its
streets. Found at the intersection of Lake
Street and Hennepin Avenue sits Calhoun
Square, home to retailers like CB2, H&M,
Timberland and Kitchen Window.
Grab a breath of fresh air outside the
square’s doors where you’ll find nationally
recognized retailers such as Apple, The
North Face, Goorin Brothers Hat Shop and
John Fluevog Shoes. Locally owned shops
can also be found along the streets—there’s
Proper & Prim, which sells unique, on-trend
youthful women’s pieces; Phenom, a sneak-
ers, streetware and lifestyle shop; Magers
and Quinn, a bookstore selling hard-to-
find editions as well as current titles; and
Knight’s Chamber for the modern man.
When you’re ready, head on over to
Grand Avenue in St. Paul where more
than 30 blocks from the Mississippi River
to downtown are dotted with shops and
hidden treasures. Get lost in the stacks
and find a good read at Garrison Keillor’s
Common Good Books or find ones for the
kids at Red Balloon Bookshop.
Let the kids run wild at Creative Kidstuff
while you go crazy over culinary products at
Cooks of Crocus Hill. Find functional and
wearable art at The Grand Hand Gallery,
women’s apparel at Evereve and ath-
letic wear for any adventure at Lululemon
Athletica, The North Face and Patagonia.
Discover the many treasures tucked away
in smaller neighborhoods that are perfect
for a quiet afternoon of window-shopping.
At the intersection of Selby and Snelling
avenues, you can find books, stationery,
apothecary and goofy gifts at Patina, or his-
toric antique pieces at Drawbridge.
On Lake Street, the Midtown Global
Market offers a year-round farmers mar-
ket with vibrant multicultural shops and
goods, while Hymie’s Vintage Records is
your one-stop-shop for timeless tunes. Be
inspired, create crafts and play at Heartfelt
in Linden hills.
Grab your walking shoes, because we’re
headed to the nation’s largest mall: the
Mall of America, or MOA as locals call it.
Located 15 minutes south of Minneapolis,
Mall of America feature 520 stores, 50
restaurants and attractions galore; it is
a must-visit for any retail addict or avid
people watcher.
A recent $325 million expansion
includes a beautifully updated front
entrance, the 342-room JW Marriott, a
brand new food court on Level 3 and
more. Beyond Macy’s, Nordstrom and
Sears, upscale brands like Burberry,
Michael Kors and Stuart Weitzman can
be found in the mall’s South Avenue.
Check out stores like Fabletics, The North
Face, NYX Cosmetics and Build-A-Bear
Workshop or pace the mall’s four floors for
everything else you desire, from clothing,
shoes and accessories to beauty products,
toys, gadgets, home decor, gifts and more.
The shopping doesn’t stop there. Just
south of the cities is the first ever indoor
mall, Southdale Center in Edina, as well
as the nearby upscale center Galleria,
plus The Shops at West End in St. Louis
Park. Travel a little further and you will
find the Eden Prairie Center, Woodbury
Lakes, Rosedale Shopping Center, The
Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove
and the recently renovated Ridgedale
Center in Minnetonka. The Twin Cities
are also home to two great outlet malls:
Twin Cities Premium Outlets in Eagan
and Albertville Premium Outlets, both of
which offer top brands at savings of 25 to
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5. 68 Twin Cities Living 2016-2017
65 percent. Oh, and did we mention there
is no sales tax on shoes or clothing here?
NIGHTLIFE
Weekends are filled with a diverse selec-
tion of nightlife spots, from dance floors
to dive bars and swanky after-hours joints.
Don’t know where to start? Try 27 floors
up at Prohibition Bar at W Minneapolis-
The Foshay, enjoying a 360-degree view of
the city, or delighting in late night eats atop
Seven’s Skybar. Rock out underground
at 7th Street Entry or sip on a stiff one at
Uptown’s secretive speakeasy Volstead’s
Emporium. Whether you like to turn up,
turn down or just enjoy a night on the
town, there is certainly a spot for everyone.
Get the party going at Alibi Lounge and
The Exchange, a two-for-one Minneapolis
club for a sophisticated crowd. In St. Paul,
the Wabasha Street Caves feature historical
sandstone caves that were once home to
mobsters and speakeasies but now host a
variety of events, including swing dancing
on Thursday nights.
Another sweet spot is Honey, the New
York City-inspired club; The Loop where
a DJ spins every Friday and Saturday
night; or Aqua, the place to see and be
seen. Show off your post-win victory dance
after a game at Bar 508 or The Loon Cafe.
Slow things down at Bev’s Wine Bar in
Minneapolis or at The Artists’ Quarter in
St. Paul. Rouge the Lounge offers three
distinct atmospheres, luxurious couches
and hot DJ’s every Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. And open, if you dare, the
unmarked purple door underneath The
Bachelor Farmer where you’ll find Marvel
Bar, a speakeasy-type lounge that serves up
craft cocktails.
Known for its debut in Prince’s “Purple
Rain,” First Avenue & 7th Street Entry is a
music enthusiasts’ utopia. This bus depot-
turned-music club helped make artists
like The Ramones, Tina Turner and Run
DMC famous. Who will be next? Come
see for yourself.
For great music and food, The Dakota
in downtown Minneapolis hosts jazz and
other world-class musicians seven nights
a week. At the Varsity Theater you can
see everything from Baroque recitals and
modern dance to performances by new
artists; The Turf Club offers live music
from punk and bluegrass to jazz; Fine
Line Music Cafe showcases local and
national rock, folk and blues acts; and
for traditional American concerts, ethnic
music and dance performances, the Cedar
Cultural Center is the perfect place to be.
If you’d rather belly up to the bar, there are
plenty of places to do that too. Sample from
77 rotating taps and 250 types of whiskey at
The Happy Gnome; enjoy beer and lawn
bowling at Brit’s Pub; indulge in food and
fun drinks to match at Chino Latino, or sip
on housemade vodka at Moscow on the Hill.
Recently, Minnesota has seen a beer
boom with over 50 craft breweries in
the Twin Cities area alone. You can
brewery hop between 612Brew, Bauhaus
Brew Labs, Dangerous Man Brewing
and Indeed Brewing Co. in Northeast
Minneapolis. Locals rave about Surly
Brewing Co., not only for their beer
but their food too. In St. Paul you’ll
find arguably the state’s most famous
brand, Summit Brewing Co., while in
Minneapolis there’s Fulton Brewery that
opened the city’s first official taproom.
If dinner and a movie have become
routine, mix things up with these unique
spots around the city. Watch in amaze-
ment or sing along as piano players duel
at The Shout House; settle into a couch at
FIRST AVENUE & 7TH STREET ENTRY
Since 1970 this venue has served as host to the ever-changing, ever-thriving live music
scene in the Twin Cities. The distinct black building located a short walk from Target Field
and Hennepin Avenue houses three stages, all of which see hundreds of touring artists
throughout the year. First Avenue & 7th Street Entry received a musical stamp of approval
from Minnesota’s very own Prince, who made the club his regular venue and testing ground
for new material in the 1980s. Through the years performers have graced the stages and
left their permanent mark on the club in the white stars that pepper its exterior.
Spotlight
Cooks of Crocus Hill
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6. www.visit-twincities.com 69
The Chatterbox Pub and show off your
Nintendo skills, or engage in a heated
game of Battleship; bowl retro-style at
Memory Lanes; catch a Vegas-style drag
show at Gay ’90s; or take in an indie flick
at Uptown Theatre or Lagoon Cinema.
SEASONS
We Minnesotans refuse to stay indoors and
risk a case of cabin fever despite brisk win-
ters. Time and time again Minnesota has
been placed atop the list of healthiest cities
in America, and for good reason. With
year-round outdoor recreation like skiing,
snowshoeing and skating in the winter,
plus running, cycling, kayaking and hiking
throughout the rest of the year, we take full
advantage of all four seasons.
In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, natural
beauty abounds even in the middle of the
city—and it’s especially wonderful in the
spring and summer months. With average
temperatures in the 70s and 80s, locals run,
bike, skate and walk our many city parks
and trails, while water lovers canoe, kayak,
fish, sail and swim in the abundant lakes,
rivers and creeks.
Start at Lake Calhoun in Uptown,
where a view of the Minneapolis skyline
is in sight from the beach, then travel to
Minnehaha Falls, where a 53-foot urban
waterfall flows into Minnehaha Creek.
The Mississippi riverfront offers miles
of trails and scenic shoreline that run
through both downtowns, plus riverside
shopping and dining in neighborhoods
like St. Anthony Main. The Twin Cities
come alive during the summer months
with outdoor events such as Minneapolis
Aquatennial, Basilica Block Party and the
highly anticipated Minnesota State Fair,
which brings each summer to a close.
Vibrant oranges, yellows and reds color
the landscape in the fall, and residents
across the state celebrate this picturesque
season. You’ll still find us around the lakes
and parks, as well as taking in the colors
at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife
Refuge in Bloomington and the Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum in Chaska.
In October the Twin Cities Marathon,
known as one of the most beautiful urban
races in the country, winds from downtown
Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul. Spend
a leisurely afternoon strolling through one
of the many apple orchards and pumpkin
patches outside of the metro, including
Applewood Orchard in Lakeville and
Whistling Well Farm in Hastings.
By December, locals look forward to
fresh snowfall, which brings snowmobiling,
skiing, snowboarding, and when the lakes
freeze over, ice fishing, skating and hockey.
When the holidays draw near, downtown St.
Paul’s Rice Park becomes a mini Rockefeller
Center, complete with a skating rink, daz-
zling lights and our very own giant pine tree.
In January, teams from all over com-
pete in the country’s largest pond hockey
tournament, the U.S. Pond Hockey
Championships, held on Lake Nokomis.
As the month rolls on, the century-old
St. Paul Winter Carnival keeps the season
exciting with snow and ice sculptures, a
parade, beer dabbler and citywide medal-
lion hunt, while Minneapolis illuminates
during the City of Lakes Loppet, an urban
cross country ski festival.
Once the snow melts, green buds
burst on trees and flowers bloom and
it’s time to start all over. Outdoor attrac-
tions such as Historic Fort Snelling and
Oliver H. Kelley Farm open their doors
to visitors once again. Trails surrounding
Minneapolis’ Chain of Lakes sees runners,
inline skaters and cyclists, while parks fill
with families and another year of life in
the Twin Cities emerges.
Winter Fat Biking
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