This week on Minneapolis Roundup, host Alex dives into the North Loop's hottest new restaurant, Hearth & Ember, led by Chef Anya Sharma, which is already the toughest reservation in town. Discover how local beverage company Superior Sips is crushing social media and landed a massive distribution deal with Lunds & Byerlys. Plus, get the scoop on Walker After Hours: Solstice, an immersive art and music event transforming the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden on June 20th.

Key Highlights:

• Chef Anya Sharma's new North Loop restaurant, Hearth & Ember, offers unique wood-fired global cuisine and is quickly becoming the city's most sought-after reservation.

• Superior Sips, a local non-alcoholic botanical beverage company, secured a major distribution deal with Lunds & Byerlys, showcasing effective social media marketing.

• Mark your calendars for Walker After Hours: Solstice on Saturday, June 20th, an immersive art and music experience at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

• The episode explores the best of Minneapolis food, local business success stories, and can't-miss summer events.

Topics: Minneapolis Roundup, Hearth & Ember, Superior Sips, Walker After Hours: Solstice, North Loop dining, local business, social media marketing, immersive art, Minneapolis events, non-alcoholic beverages, Chef Anya Sharma, Minnesota culture

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TRANSCRIPT

(Intro Music - Upbeat, modern, indie-pop feel - Fades slightly to background)

ALEX:

Hey, what's up, Twin Cities! And welcome to Minneapolis Roundup, your weekly guide to what’s new and what’s next in our amazing city. I’m your host, Alex, and it is a beautiful Friday, June 5th, 2026.

The sun is out, the lakes are calling, and the city is buzzing. This week, we're sinking our teeth into the North Loop's hottest new restaurant, shouting out a local beverage company that's absolutely crushing it on social media, and getting you tickets to the can't-miss art event of the summer.

This episode is brought to you by our fantastic local partners: mplsveganhub.com and mncannabishub.com. More from them in a bit.

Alright, let's get into it.

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### 1. FOOD & DINING

ALEX:

First up, let’s talk food. If you've tried to get a dinner reservation in the North Loop lately, you've probably run into a wall of "booked solid." The reason? A new spot called Hearth & Ember.

Located just off Washington Avenue in a beautifully renovated brick warehouse, Hearth & Ember is the brainchild of Chef Anya Sharma, who you might remember from her incredible work at Spoon and Stable a few years back. The entire concept is built around a massive, custom-built, wood-fired hearth that is the literal and figurative center of the restaurant.

This isn't your standard steakhouse. Sharma is using the open flame to create dishes with a global flair. We're talking smoked duck breast with a cherry-za'atar glaze that is just unbelievable. Or the coal-roasted carrots, which sound simple, but they come with a spicy harissa yogurt and a sprinkle of dukkah that will change how you think about root vegetables forever.

The design is stunning—dark woods, warm copper accents, and a patio that is already the place to be seen this summer. The cocktail program is equally on point, with smoke-infused whiskeys and bright, herbaceous gin drinks.

It’s ambitious, it’s delicious, and it’s the toughest table to get in town right now. So set your Resy alerts, plan a month ahead, or try to sneak in at the bar right when they open. It is absolutely worth the effort.

And hey, if you're looking for plant-based fire, don't forget to check out the incredible map of vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants all over the cities at our sponsor, mplsveganhub.com. They've got the scoop on everything from casual eats to fine dining.

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### 2. BUSINESS & MARKETING

ALEX:

Alright, let's shift from the plate to the portfolio. Our local business win of the week goes to a company that you are definitely seeing all over your feeds: Superior Sips.

Superior Sips makes these incredible, non-alcoholic sparkling botanical drinks. Think of them as craft cocktails without the booze. They use Minnesota-sourced ingredients like sumac, spruce tips, and wild bergamot to create these really complex, refreshing flavors. Their top sellers are "Boundary Waters Breeze" and "Iron Range Sparkler."

But their product is only half the story. Their marketing is a masterclass for any local startup. The founder, Jenna Olson, has built a massive following on TikTok and Instagram by being radically transparent and genuinely entertaining.

She’s not just posting glossy product shots. She’s taking you with her while she forages for ingredients along the North Shore. She's doing hilarious "man-on-the-street" taste tests in Loring Park. She’s showing the messy reality of a production run at their Northeast Minneapolis facility. It feels real, it feels authentic, and people are connecting with it.

And it’s working. They just announced a massive distribution deal that will put Superior Sips in every Lunds & Byerlys across the state by the end of the summer. It's an amazing story of a small local brand leveraging social media to build a passionate community that turned into huge commercial success. So next time you're at the store, grab a four-pack. You’ll be supporting a great local business that’s doing everything right.

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### 3. EVENTS

ALEX:

Finally, let's talk about what you should be doing. Summer in Minneapolis means art, music, and being outside, and one event is rolling all of that into a single, perfect night.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 20th, for Walker After Hours: Solstice.

The Walker Art Center is transforming the entire Minneapolis Sculpture Garden into a massive, immersive experience. They’re working with local projection artists to turn the Spoonbridge and Cherry and other sculptures into living canvases of light.

As you wander through the garden, you’ll find different zones with their own vibe. There will be multiple stages featuring live sets from incredible local electronic artists and DJs—I hear Orion's Belt and DJ D.LUX are on the bill. There will be pop-up bars from breweries like Fair State and Indeed, a whole fleet of food trucks, and interactive art installations you can actually engage with.

It’s not a concert, it’s not just an art show… it’s a full-on sensory experience celebrating the longest day of the year. Tickets are on sale now and they are moving fast, so don't sleep on this one. It's going to be the most Instagrammable night of the entire summer, guaranteed.

And speaking of great local happenings, for a complete guide to 21-plus gatherings, including the latest on cannabis-friendly events, new consumption lounges, and industry meetups, you have to check out our sponsor mncannabishub.com. They are your go-to source for the legal cannabis scene in Minnesota.

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### 4. OUTRO

ALEX:

And that is our roundup for Friday, June 5th, 2026!

So, to recap: make that reservation at Hearth & Ember, follow Superior Sips and buy their stuff, and grab your tickets to the Solstice party at the Walker.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for making the show possible. For the absolute best in plant-based eating, from food trucks to tasting menus, visit mplsveganhub.com. And for everything you need to know about cannabis culture, news, and events in our state, head to mncannabishub.com.

I’m Alex. Thanks for tuning in to Minneapolis Roundup. Get out there and enjoy this beautiful city. We’ll catch you next week.

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