It's Pride weekend in Minneapolis and the patios are finally open. George and Laura run down the can't-miss events June 26-30, plus where to eat plant-based between sets.
George: —and I'm telling you, Laura, I almost wore shorts to the studio today.
Laura: George. It's June twenty-sixth. You should've worn shorts a month ago.
George: Ope, I know, I know. But you know how I am. I keep a flannel in the car till the Fourth of July just in case.
Laura: That is the most Minneapolis thing you've ever said and we've done... what, fifty episodes?
George: At least. Hey, real quick before we get rolling — patio weather is officially HERE. Like, here here.
Laura: Finally. I sat outside last night with a seltzer and didn't need a jacket. That's the bar.
George: That's the bar! That IS the bar.
Laura: And speaking of bars... Pride weekend, my friend.
George: Oh, it's gonna be wild down at Loring Park.
Laura: Festival Saturday and Sunday. Four stages. I looked it up — like six hundred fifty vendors?
George: Six fifty plus, yeah. That's a LOT of folks.
Laura: And the parade Sunday, down Hennepin, eleven to two. Free. Bring water, bring sunscreen, bring a friend.
George: Bring a friend who knows where to park, is what I'd say.
Laura: Okay that's fair.
George: And then Friday night — tonight, if you're listening day-of — the Beer Dabbler is at the Sculpture Garden.
Laura: Wait, tonight tonight?
George: Six to nine thirty. Like seventy Minnesota breweries and cideries. It's basically the Pride kickoff party.
Laura: Seventy? George. That's not a tasting, that's a commitment.
George: You pace yourself. You're a professional.
Laura: I am NOT a professional. I am a woman who likes one cider and a pretzel.
George: Honestly, same energy.
Laura: Okay so patios, Pride, Dabbler... what about people who actually wanna eat something green this weekend?
George: This is your lane. Take it.
Laura: Okay so — quick shoutout to our sponsor, mplsvegan.com. Real ones. If you're new to the plant-based scene in the Cities, that's where you start.
George: They've got the whole map basically.
Laura: They do. And patio-wise? J. Selby's in St. Paul has been my pick lately.
George: Over on... is that off Grand?
Laura: Snelling. C'mon, George.
George: Snelling. I knew that.
Laura: Sure ya did.
George: Hey now—
Laura: I'm teasing. J. Selby's, the dirty Selby's, you cannot go wrong. And then over here on this side of the river, Herbivorous Butcher in Northeast.
George: I will admit — I'm a meat guy, you know this — but their stuff? It's good. It's REALLY good.
Laura: See, that's growth.
George: That's growth.
Laura: Reverie in South is doing the patio thing. Hard Times, if you wanna feel like you're nineteen again.
George: Hard Times has been around longer than some of our listeners have been ALIVE.
Laura: Probably true. Trio Plant-Based if you want a sit-down. Hello Pizza if you want a slice and don't care that it's vegan.
George: That's the trick with Hello — you don't even clock it.
Laura: Exactly. And The Herbalist if you wanna feel fancy.
George: The Herbalist is spendy though, right?
Laura: It's a treat spot. Anniversary, birthday, "I got the promotion" — that kind of night.
George: Okay. Noted.
Laura: But here's where I push back on you a little, George.
George: Oh?
Laura: You always wanna do the "let's grab a burger and a beer" patio. There is a WHOLE other Twin Cities patio scene that is plant-based and chill and you keep defaulting to the same three spots.
George: Okay, that's... that's a fair hit. That's a fair hit.
Laura: Branch out, neighbor.
George: I'll branch out. I'll go to Reverie this week. Put me on the record.
Laura: On the record. Recorded.
George: Now — speaking of new stuff opening — Killen's Irish Pub.
Laura: Oh yeah, this is the one over by Target Field?
George: Old First Draft Tap Haus space. They opened mid-June. Perfect timing because—
Laura: —Twins are home this weekend.
George: Twins are home ALL weekend. Rockies in town. Friday seven ten, Saturday six ten with a Buxton bobblehead—
Laura: Buxton bobblehead?!
George: Buxton bobblehead, Saturday.
Laura: Okay that one's mine. I'm going.
George: And then Sunday day game, one ten. Classic Sunday at Target Field.
Laura: Day game, sunscreen, walk over the Stone Arch after. That's a perfect Sunday.
George: You know what, I'd add — Mill City Farmers Market Saturday morning, eight to one...
