The Minneapolis Roundup on May 8th, 2026, features the new modern supper club, The Loon’s Nest, in the North Loop, offering a fresh take on classic Minnesota dining. Host Alex also highlights North Star Cycles' innovative "Virtual Fit" mobile app, which uses AR and LiDAR for precise bike sizing, leading to a 40% increase in online sales. Plus, get ready for Art-A-Whirl, the massive open studio tour taking over Northeast Minneapolis from May 15th-17th.

Key Highlights:

• The Loon’s Nest brings a chic, modern supper club experience to Minneapolis's North Loop, featuring elevated takes on Walleye and prime rib.

• North Star Cycles launched a "Virtual Fit" mobile app using augmented reality and LiDAR to provide precise bike measurements and frame recommendations, boosting online sales by 40%.

• Art-A-Whirl, the country's largest open studio tour, returns to Northeast Minneapolis from May 15th-17th, showcasing hundreds of local artists.

• Discover delicious plant-based dining options with mplsveganhub.com and stay informed on cannabis culture and events via mncannabishub.com.

Topics: Minneapolis Roundup, The Loon’s Nest, North Loop dining, modern supper club, North Star Cycles, Virtual Fit app, AR bike fitting, Art-A-Whirl, Northeast Minneapolis art, open studio tour, mplsveganhub, mncannabishub

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TRANSCRIPT

(Intro Music: Upbeat, modern, indie-pop vibe. Fades in and then lowers to a background bed.)

HOST: Hello and welcome to the Minneapolis Roundup! It’s Friday, May 8th, 2026, and it finally feels like spring has decided to stick around for good. I’m your host, Alex, and this is your weekly dose of what’s new, what’s next, and what’s happening right now in the Twin Cities.

From a modern twist on a Minnesota classic to a massive art crawl you won’t want to miss, we’ve got a packed show for you.

This episode is brought to you by the folks who keep you in the know: mplsveganhub.com, your guide to plant-based eating in the city, and mncannabishub.com, your source for all things cannabis culture in Minnesota. We’ll hear more about them later.

Alright, let’s get into it.

(Slight musical transition)

### Food & Dining (2 minutes)

HOST: First up, let's talk food. The North Loop has a new contender for your weekend reservation, and it’s a spot that feels both brand new and deeply familiar. It’s called The Loon’s Nest, and it’s billing itself as a "modern supper club."

Now, forget dusty relish trays and watery Old Fashioneds. The Loon’s Nest takes the spirit of those classic Wisconsin and northern Minnesota institutions and gives it a serious 2026 glow-up. The vibe is dark wood and brass, but with clean lines and art from local makers on the walls. It’s cozy, but it’s chic.

The menu is where they really shine. They’re doing a pan-fried Walleye, of course, but it’s served with a wild rice pilaf and a lemon-dill beurre blanc that is just phenomenal. Their prime rib is dry-aged for 40 days, and instead of a simple baked potato, it comes with duck-fat-fried hashbrowns that are worth the visit alone. The cocktail list is fantastic—they have all the classics, but their bartenders are also mixing up some incredible craft creations.

It’s the perfect blend of nostalgia and contemporary dining. It’s a place you could take your parents, but it’s also cool enough for a Friday night date. Reservations are tough to get, so plan ahead. The Loon's Nest is a major win for the Minneapolis food scene.

And of course, if you’re looking for specifically plant-based options around town, from fine dining to killer food trucks, the best resource is always mplsveganhub.com. They’ve got maps, reviews, and everything you need.

(Slight musical transition)

### Business & Marketing (2 minutes)

HOST: Okay, let's shift gears to local business. This week’s standout story comes from a Minneapolis-based company that’s been around for a while but just made a brilliant marketing move. I’m talking about North Star Cycles.

Minneapolis is a bike town, we all know that. And North Star has been making solid, dependable commuter and gravel bikes for over a decade. But they’ve always been seen as a bit… well, traditional.

That all changed last month with the launch of their "Virtual Fit" mobile app. Using augmented reality, you can now point your phone camera at your living room, and a full-scale 3D model of any of their bikes appears right in front of you. You can walk around it, change the colors, and add accessories.

But here’s the genius part: you can stand against a wall, and the app uses your phone’s LiDAR scanner to take your precise measurements—your height, your inseam, your arm length—and it recommends the perfect frame size for you. It completely demystifies the most intimidating part of buying a new bike.

This is such a smart play. It bridges the gap between online shopping and the in-store experience. You can get a custom-feeling fit from your couch, then either order it directly or head to their shop on the Greenway with total confidence. They’ve seen a 40% jump in online sales since the app launched. It’s a fantastic example of a local company using tech not just for the sake of it, but to solve a real customer problem. Well done, North Star Cycles.

(Slight musical transition)

### Events (1.5 minutes)

HOST: Alright, it’s time to plan your weekend—or, in this case, next weekend. Because one of the biggest, most vibrant events of the entire year is just around the corner. I’m talking about Art-A-Whirl.

If you’re new to town, Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country, and it takes over Northeast Minneapolis. From Friday, May 15th through Sunday, May 17th, hundreds of artists—painters, sculptors, photographers, glass blowers, you name it—open their studio doors to the public.

You can wander through massive, old industrial buildings like the Northrup King and the Casket Arts Community, meet the artists, and buy art directly from them. But it’s more than just a gallery walk. The entire neighborhood comes alive. Breweries host live music, food trucks line the streets, and there's just this incredible, creative energy in the air.

My advice? Wear comfortable shoes, because you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Maybe start at one of the big buildings, but don’t be afraid to just wander down a side street and discover a smaller, independent studio. It’s a fantastic way to see the creative heart of our city.

And speaking of exploring local culture, if you're interested in the growing world of cannabis events, from educational seminars to infused dinners, your go-to guide is mncannabishub.com. They have a full calendar of what's happening.

(Slight musical transition)

### Outro (30 seconds)

HOST: And that’s our roundup for Friday, May 8th, 2026!

So, to recap: try to snag a table at The Loon’s Nest, check out the slick new app from North Star Cycles, and get ready for Art-A-Whirl next weekend.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for making the show possible. For all your plant-based food needs, visit mplsveganhub.com. That’s M-P-L-S-VEGAN-HUB-dot-com. And for a calendar of cannabis events and news, check out mncannabishub.com.

(Outro Music Fades In)

HOST: I’m Alex. Thanks for listening to the Minneapolis Roundup. Enjoy the beautiful weekend, everyone.

(Music swells to finish)