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City Cast Twin Cities

Sean McPherson

Anna Weggel

Tiffany Bui

Adam Sage

City Cast Twin Cities Contributors

In Minnesota, the State Fair dominates August with the same thoroughness that the holidays dominate December. The month belongs to the State Fair mascots Fairchild and Fairborne. We will lean heavy on State Fair recommendations for our monthly guide but we’ll also pepper in some recommendations for those who want little to do with the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

 is one of my favorite parts of the state fair every year. The event features some of the best dock diving dogs in the world jumping up to 30 feet into a swimming pool to catch their favorite toy. The full-time traveling stunt show that puts on the performance only utilizes positive reinforcement training and prioritizes the health and happiness of their dogs, so you can be sure all the furry friends are having as much fun as you are.

 Get there early to snag a drink from the adjoining beer garden – last year I got a dill pickle lager garnished with a baby dill pickle and a cheese cube. Shows happen every day of the fair at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. at the North Woods Stage.

This one is definitely not for everyone, but another pet-related event I check out every year is the 

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Surgery Suite

. The first time I saw it, I was flabbergasted, grossed out, and completely drawn in. There is a set of bleachers sitting in front of a trailer with a long glass wall and a sterile hospital room inside. You can sit and watch a veterinarian perform spaying and neutering surgeries on cats and dogs while narrating the play-by-play into a 

. Surgeries occur daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. at 1681 Murphy Ave.

I’m going to make this really simple for you. You’re gonna need to get yourself a 

, and a fresh lemonade every year that you go to the fair. I realize that is a frosty root beer pictured above, and yes, that would be a sufficient substitute for a delightful lemo. I will happily allow either.

Listen to me when I tell you that I was a vegan for two years and a vegetarian for four and I 

 sandwich every year at the fair. That simple, drippy, flavor-bursting sandwich is nothing short of elite. Did you know that Turkey To Go used to have a shop in the St. Paul skyway? When I worked at MPR, no less? What a dangerous and delightful time in my life that was!

Once you’re stuffed, please – for me – get yourself to 

. A bonus will be your clothes smelling like pork smoke while you wait in line. Gosh I love the fair. See you there? 

 Use this packing list if you have small ones like me:

Wagon (not only for carting your kids around, but having built-in seating for them while they eat!)

A pack of wipes – for sticky hands, sticky butts, and sticky attitudes

Comfortable shoes on every member of your crew

Hats and backup hats in case something happens to the first hats

Falcon Heights is best-known as the home of the Minnesota State Fair and for good reason: the fairgrounds make up almost a quarter of the city! But, given that we are celebrating the area, we want to offer a couple of non-state fair options in the vicinity. As I gathered intel from my Falcon Heights insiders the same recommendation came up: “don’t visit during the fair”. It’s just a reality that it’s not worth navigating fair traffic for attractions that are open year-round. But, these are some great spots for pre-fair and post-fair visiting.

 - Celebrated Ethiopian cuisine served up in a cozy neighborhood spot with an amazing patio equidistant from the Como Zoo and the fairgrounds.

 - The Como Zoo is a treat all around but the crown jewel is the year-round natural oasis of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. To have a spot this soothing, restorative, and accessible 365 days a year is one of the most tangible draws to this part of town.

 - Nelson Cheese and Deli makes some of the most delicious sandwiches in the Twin Cities and the folks who love them will happily engage in fisticuffs to protect their honor. The spot is located diagonally from the State Fair and the team from Nelson’s elects to close up shop during the fair rather than counter-program. But once you can find your way to Nelson’s it’s an absolute slam dunk of a sandwich.

Don’t get adventurous. Nelson’s strong suit is deli mainstays done just right: I’m a sucker for the California Club or the Chicken Little.

🥒 Sean’s first, second, and fifth food stops at the Minnesota State Fair

Now if you do choose to go to the fair, I have a couple recommendations for stops:

The State Fair should be a cross-stitch of old standbys and brand new experiences. As you move out of your deep-fried twinkie stage and into your goat cheese and peaches phase, it’s important to find a constant that really works for you year in, year out. Having a couple standbys really helps smooth out the edges when one of the new foods is an absolute dud.

 - Lay down a first layer of deep fried goodness on Liggett at the long-running Ole and Lena’s booth. This is a great first food because it’s an only-at-the-fair type of experience and there’s rarely a long line.

 - A pickle dog sounds terrible on paper, but thankfully we don’t eat it on paper. This is a pickle spear lotioned up with cream cheese and wrapped in pastrami. I know it sounds gross. It’s not. It’s a cold food and it’s not deep-fried. It’s practically health food. I know the State Fair is really getting underway when I feel the snap of that dill pickle through the pastrami covering. Trust me.

 - The International Bazaar can often be the worst bottleneck at the State Fair with lines clogging up in the small market stalls area as well as the large stage that greets you upon entering the Bazaar but I’d walk through much more to make it to my beloved Mediterranean Lemonade from Holy Land. Imagine a lemonade slushy that is supported by mountains of freshly chopped mint. It is hydration with style and I don’t go to the Fair without picking one up.

 I find Park & Rides kind of overrated and confusing. Driving to the Fair is a fool’s errand and I’m not always game for a big bike ride home after a day of mischief at the fair. My preferred mode of transportation is the 

. Park up in Highland and get on the bus when it’s empty and enjoy a stress free ride to the fair. It’s a short ride and you’ll get dropped off at the main gates on Snelling for an easy arrival. I don’t want to sugar coat this: it’s going to take a long-ass time to get a bus going back home and your bus is going to be absurdly full. So make sure you have a pair of headphones and a bottle of water while you wait on Como. 

There are, in fact, other things happening besides the fair. These festivals, hopefully, involve less sunscreen and animals giving birth.

 (Aug. 6-16) is a testament to the diversity and breadth of the Twin Cities art scene. The 11-day festival features a series of one-act plays spanning venues across the cities. There’s a whopping 560 performances in all, and “performance” doesn’t really capture the various acts that will take the stage.

 If you’re feeling overwhelmed by choosing from more than 100 shows, it can be fun to settle in at one venue all day and watch everything they have in a row. If you do that – bring snacks and don’t forget a potty break between shows!

 reminds us that we’re never too old for a book fair. Shop from Black booksellers, meet authors, and attend panels. Everyone is welcome, and tickets are free. (Aug. 22)

 unites ceramic lovers across the country at Northern Clay Center. You can shop from 15 nationally recognized artists and see some clay throwing in action. I can’t resist cute pottery, so I think it’s worth skipping the first few days of the fair to pick up a mug or bowl. (Aug. 28-30) –

podcast contributors the impossible: choose only two foods and two activities at this year’s fair. Here's what made the cut!

Five of our eight contributors picked cheese curds as a must eat, so let's just get it out of the way: you're getting cheese curds, and you know it. Em Cassel and Kirstie Kimball are both loyal to the 

 curds in the Food Building, while Hans Buetow wants his hot enough to scald, with a full smorgasbord of dips including garlic, ranch, even the ketchup-soaked "sacrifice curd." Tane Danger and Pavielle French agree with their whole cheese-loving hearts.

Once you've paid the cheese tax, the field opens up. Sam Choo swears by the 

in the Food Building, smothered in sautéed onions and provolone, chased with whatever weird new flavor 

 ice cream folks have dreamed up. Kirstie's second pick is the grilled peach with goat cheese from the Produce Exchange, with one caveat: go in the first five or six days, before the peaches get soft. Em pairs her curds with the giant egg roll on a stick from Que Viet (she says the lines are shorter than they used to be), Tane heads to 

, and Roseanne Pereira makes the case for the deep-fried green pepper rings at 

, a charming change of pace from the usual fried fare. PaviElle’s second pick is a pronto pup with ketchup and mustard (NOT a corn dog) because it's browned more and tastes almost like a hush puppy. And Hans grabs corn on the cob dipped in butter on the way out. Good job, team!

One warning from Winter Keefer: skip the savory waffle cones and the apple donut ham grinder. You've been warned.

Animals dominate this category. Hans walks the barns and times it to catch the 4-H events, especially kids showing off outfits made from their own sheep's or llama's wool. Winter goes for the alpaca dress-up contest. Sam prefers the llama costume contest and the 4-H musical. Tane ends his day at the Coliseum watching whatever horse show happens to be on.

For the arts-inclined: both Winter and Roseanne endorse the seed art, and Roseanne always catches the butter sculptures. Tane makes sure to see shows at the Minnesota history stage and the arts and culture theater.

Kirstie's pick is the sleeper hit of the bunch: union bingo at the Labor Pavilion on Dan Patch and Cooper. PaviElle recommends 

 over by the 3M area off Dan Patch (she worked there for nearly a decade), where you can catch scientists doing tricks with dry ice. Then, she says stick around for kid karaoke and watch little kids belt out '80s songs they've never heard, reading the lyrics as they go, like Toto's “Africa”.

Em's strategy: bike to the fair and go early. We’re talking in by 9:30-10 a.m., out by 2:30-3 p.m., before the crowds swallow Dan Patch Avenue. And a neighborly PSA from Sam: if you're parking in Midway, pull up close to the other cars. Don't leave a half-space only a scooter could enjoy.

In Minnesota, the State Fair dominates August with the same thoroughness that the holidays dominate December.

August Guide: 44 Fair Tips + Other August Essentials for the Twin Cities

August Guide: 44 Fair Tips + Other August Essentials

Twin City Guides

 hot summer. Here’s the good news: it’s cooler by the lake. We’ve got you covered with a rundown of the Top 5 beaches in the Twin Cities. And more important than the rankings, we let you know the vibe at each of these beaches so you can find the one that is right for you! Looking for a secluded beach on the banks of the Mississippi where you can read a book and escape the city? Read on. Looking for a multi-purpose beach that can pinch hit for other water activities thanks to an adjacent splash pad? We have that too. Stay beaching, friends.

 An expansive beach with ample sand surrounded by beautiful walking paths and a truly impressive playground 25 minutes away from Minneapolis in Plymouth.

 Families who want space to spread out and have their own space.

The park is an entertainment smorgasbord with boating classes, live entertainment, and more.

 12 p.m.-8 p.m. May 23-July 31, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.

 A family-friendly beach in the heart of the East Side of St. Paul.

 The multi-activity family: great paths for bike rides and jogs, a nearby playground for the little ones and a beach for everyone.

The nearby splash pad is a joyous alternative for water-hesitant kids.

Given that’s an unofficial beach, feel free to make your own hours but always swim at your own risk.

A perfect, unofficial sand beach on the West Bank of the Mississippi in South Minneapolis. Prepare for a mini-hike on steep terrain to get there but be rewarded with a pristine beach on the mighty Mississippi when you arrive.

The lone beach lover who doesn’t love the stagnant nature of lake water and prefers the roll of the Mississippi.

The beach might be light on amenities, but it’s also light on people. Perfect for an afternoon spent reading a paperback between some cool off sessions on the river.

If you are looking for the cleanest waters in the Twin Cities you can stop looking, you’ll find them at Square Lake.

The clean-water enthusiast who wants to see the bottom of the lake and see an army of lifeguards keeping the beachgoers safe.

The beach has ample parking, ample staff, and enough beach terrain for everyone to enjoy their own little corner, and the quality of the water can’t be beat.

The quintessential Minneapolis beach: a mud pit, a sauna, and folks from all walks of life enjoying a great beach together.

Every single human being on the planet. This beach will restore your faith in humanity one splash at a time.

This is one of the most selectively-shaded beaches on Earth; there’s plenty of spots for those who want to sunbathe and those who prefer to stay pale all summer.

Nobody calls it Cedar Lake East Beach besides the internet. Call it Hidden Beach. Call it Nude Beach. Better yet, just head over there and call it your favorite beach.

It’s been a historically hot summer. Here’s the good news: it’s cooler by the lake.

Top 5 Twin Cities Beaches

We’ve been putting a spotlight on the West 7th neighborhood in St. Paul this month so we’ve crafted some fun questions that rely on your knowledge of our capital city. Good luck to you!

We’ve been spotlighting on the West 7th neighborhood in St. Paul this month so we’ve crafted some questions that rely on your knowledge of our capital city.

Do You Know Saint Paul?

We spent our June spotlighting Northeast Minneapolis and it was amazing. I’ve spent lots of time in Northeast but I haven’t dug in this deep in the past decade and I was so floored by all the amazing things happening in Northeast. I 

 with Ward 1 Minneapolis City Council Member and President Elliott Payne, we taped a 

. It was a joy to shine a light on this section of town and we thank everyone who shared their recommendations with us. We asked a bunch of questions about Northeast during the month to bring you a set of on-the-ground tips you’d be hard pressed to find on the internet. We made a 

 with some of our top-line conclusions but we wanted to flesh it out a bit more right here. Enjoy!

NOTE: We are certain we missed a lot of great places. Every corner of Northeast is full of spectacular offerings and we weren’t able to cover all of them. If there’s a spot missing that we need to know about, 

I’ve spent lots of time in Northeast but I haven’t dug in this deep in the past decade and I was so floored by all the amazing things happening in Northeast.

Your Insider’s Guide to Northeast Minneapolis

Your Insider’s Guide to Northeast

James Napoli

July will happily remind you that summer is a marathon 

a sprint. There’s a lot to do and you can’t do it all. Heed the advice of my co-worker Tiffany and remember that sometimes doing nothing and taking a weekend to recharge is absolutely the right move.

When you are properly recharged, we’ve got some great recommendations for the month. Paddle the Minnehaha Creek, take in a backyard show, pick a berry, and ride the light rail to a buzzy brewery. That and more is waiting for you in our July guide!

🏡🎸 James’s Guide to Backyard Shows

One of my favorite things about summer in the Twin Cities is the DIY backyard show scene. Not a bar, not a club – someone's actual yard, with a PA, a crowd of neighbors, and music that punches way above what you'd expect from a residential block. Here’s a few series worth knowing about in July.

 on Goodhue Street in St. Paul has been hosting backyard concerts since 2014. Shows start at 7:30 p.m., you bring your own chair and drinks, and 100% of the gate ($15 per person suggested) goes directly to the artists. In July they're featuring Obi Original (July 11) and Quietchild (July 18), and City Cast is a proud media sponsor. Kids are welcome!

 – a queer, sister-run urban farm – is hosting a free "Music on the Farm" residency with LAAMAR and special guests on Thursday evenings. The July 16 show features LAAMAR and friends, with a food truck rolling in at 5:30 p.m. and music from 6 to 7:30 p.m. It's family-friendly, it's free, and you're literally sitting in a vegetable farm watching live music. Hard to beat that.

, a music collective in Minneapolis, is running a stacked slate of $15 shows throughout the month – four dates in July alone, each with deep lineups of local acts. Check July 10, 17, 18, and 24 for bands you'll be glad you caught early.

 The Grand Oak Opry and California Street Farm are both BYOB, so make sure to pack a cooler. All three series sell out or fill up fast through word of mouth, so follow them on Instagram for announcements. 

🫐 Anna’s Guide to Surviving Berry Season

When you find out you’re going to have kids – you worry about all the wrong stuff. What if they puke on me? (Not a big deal.) I might not like changing diapers! (It’s actually kind of cute.) What if they don’t like me? (HA! I’m like Beyoncé to them.) What I could not see coming … not from a million miles away … was the BERRY BUDGET. I shiver to think about the amount of money we’ve spent on berries for these children. This summer, we’re trying to take matters into our own hands by planting a berry garden on the side of our house, and it’s been educational, but it only yields a small fraction of what these kids can eat. And I’m not alone.

 on parents nationwide who feel like they're going broke buying berries for their kids. Strawberry prices have climbed from roughly three times the cost of bananas in 1990 to about five times as much today, and at a pound a week, that adds up to around $182 a year, before a single blueberry enters the picture. One mom told the Post she watched her twins demolish ~$30 of fruit in a single day. That has absolutely happened in my house.

 to talk about berry picking in our area this summer. Pick-your-own berry farms let your kids eat their weight in fruit for a flat admission fee instead of a per-carton markup, and you get a fun family outing out of the deal too. Here's where to go!

For Families Who Want the Full Experience

 in Hastings if your kids need more incentive than "we're going to pick berries now." The farm offers picnic tables and a small petting farm, plus the Berry Barn has snacks, ice cream, and shady areas for when little legs get tired. Strawberry season typically runs through mid-July, with picking open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until the fields are picked clean. Since hours are weather-dependent, it's worth a quick call ahead before you load up the car.

If your family doesn't mind a slightly longer drive, 

 in North Branch has been family-run since 1981 and is known for some of the sweetest strawberries around. Their season runs roughly mid-June through mid-July, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. U-pick strawberries run $3.60/lb, and they take cash, check, and card. This year's cold spring means crops came in lighter than usual, so call their berry report line before you drive out as fields have been known to sell out by early afternoon.

in Northfield is one of the only certified-organic u-pick operations in the state. What they're known for is blueberries: they grow 14 different varieties across 4.5 acres, with picking typically running July into early August. Hours shift week to week depending on ripeness, so sign up for their email list or check their site morning-of.

Some berry farms also sell young berry bushes and starter kits if your kids get inspired to grow their own. Little Hill is a good source for this, or my family’s favorite – 

. Raspberries and blackberries are the easiest entry point since they're hardy and will spread readily (you’re welcome, neighbors!). Blueberries are trickier and need specific soil conditions, so they're more of a next-level project.

Pick-your-own season is short and weather-dependent, so the best strategy is to call ahead, bring your own buckets if you have them, and build in a snack break. A little ice cream goes a long way toward turning "berry picking was fine" into your kids begging to go back next weekend, and your wallet will thank you compared to another co-op grocery run. 

💦 Adam’s Guide to Getting Out On the Water

Something about Minnesota that blows my mind every summer is that there's not really anything in our rivers and lakes that wants to kill you (I grew up in Florida). July is my favorite month of the year to take advantage of our wonderful, nonlethal waterways and go paddle or just float down a river. There are plenty of options just a short drive away, or right in the Twin Cities.

Slowly float down three miles of the Apple River in Somerset, Wisconsin in either a tube or a 

and get picked up by a shuttle at the end of your journey courtesy of 

The cattle tanks are 500-gallon tubs that were designed for cows to drink water out of, but they also work as clumsy boats to get four to six people down the river. They know exactly what they're selling at River's Edge, as they rent custom tubes designed to hold your cooler.

 sits in Minnesota's driftless area – the southeastern part of the state that wasn't flattened by glaciers thousands of years ago. As you float through the beautiful Cannon River Valley, you'll be surrounded by rolling hills and sandstone bluffs. Rent a tube through Welch Mill and they'll take care of shuttling you up the river so you float back to where you parked your car.

Minnehaha Creek flows 22 miles from Lake Minnetonka to Minnehaha Falls, and you can paddle all of it in a six to nine hour stretch if conditions are right and you're up for the challenge. There are many spots along the creek to get in and out, so you can do a shorter stretch as well. A popular two to three hour route involves putting in at Utley Park Dam in Edina and paddling until Longfellow Lagoon in Minneapolis. You're on your own if you're paddling the Minnehaha Creek though – so bring your own tubes or canoe, be prepared to portage, and check the flow rate of the creek on the 

 website to make sure conditions are safe.

You really can't go wrong with paddling the chain of lakes in Minneapolis. You don't need to book ahead of time as they never have a long wait for rentals at Bde Maka Ska (I walked up and rented a kayak with no wait time on Memorial Day). It's a really great day to paddle from Bde Maka Ska, through Lake of the Isles, through a gorgeous canal that connects to Cedar Lake, to land your boats and hang out at Hidden Beach for a while before heading back. If you've never done it, or just haven't done it in a while, 

They don't really keep track of how long you're out paddling on a busy day, so that $15 per hour rental price is more like a $15 flat fee to be out on the lakes for hours.

If you want to take lunchtime outside, I highly recommend buying a huge picnic blanket. Bigger than you think you’ll actually need; bonus points if it’s waterproof. (

, yes it’s from Amazon and I’m sorry.) It feels luxurious to have tons of room to spread out your dishes and even lay down!

Picnicking under the beating July sun is no fun, so I like to find wide open spaces with generous, shade-sharing trees. My go-to is by the 

; take a right out of the parking lot past the zen garden, where you’ll find towering trees to fit the whole family or friend group. You can traipse over the flower garden after. The 

 is a hidden gem with perfectly shaded rolling hills. It’s usually fairly empty and quiet, which also makes the park perfect for reading.

 If you’re looking for a picnic with a view, check out 

, aka the Minneapolis Lookout. The sunset over the Minneapolis skyline is gorgeous here, but don’t be surprised if you’re surrounded by idling cars of teens. Over in St. Paul, 

 by other people’s homes. The tucked-away triangular park really feels like a good secret.

It’s not summer without fresh-squeezed orange juice. The 

 sells it for a respectable price and it’s actually freshly made. If you’re in the mood to graze, consider a charcuterie board from 

 on July 18 on the State Capitol lawn. “This is your chance to connect with other Wikipedia editors and Wikimedia enthusiasts and maybe have a little potato salad,” the all-knowing backbone of the Internet tells us. Organizers do make the caveat that “in case of rain or mass civil uprising and protest”, the event will be rescheduled to August. You gotta plan for anything, I guess. 

🚆 Sean’s Poetic Guide to a Light Rail Brewery Crawl

It’s tear-in-the-beer time for breweries all over the Twin Cities. Late last month Bauhaus closed their doors and they are just one of many breweries that have made the decision to close up shop. Why are breweries closing? Pick a reason! The impacts of Operation Metro Surge, the 

 of drinking alcohol, rising rents. Suffice to say, there are a bunch of reasons to hang up the hops and can the cannery. But many breweries are still fighting the good fight and slinging celebrated brews. Let’s make sure the lager glass is at least halfway full and enjoy a Green Line-enabled brewery crawl. All the spots referenced are within a 15 minute walk of a Green Line station. We’ll be traveling from East to West starting in downtown Saint Paul, and the answers will be upside down at the bottom! 

You’ll find a tap room that’s spacious and pretty,

With world class brews, they are certainly brimming

Try the Mayhem & Mischief, it’s award-winning!

When making a list of iconic Minnesota breweries

And enjoy pizza inspired by those made in New Haven.

Why you’d skip this place remains a mystery

Of course they’re doing something right

We’ve got some great recommendations for July. Paddle the Minnehaha Creek, take in a backyard show, pick a berry, and ride the light rail to a brewery.

Your Guide to the Twin Cities in July

Denzel Belin

Roseanne Pereira

Hot dog fever hits the world hard circa Memorial Day every year and right now our temperature is rising. Our beloved Executive Producer Anna Weggel pulled her hamstring attempting to rapidly click on the recent 

 recommending the best grocery store hot dogs. We’ll let The New York Times celebrate the grocery store dogs; we’re going to focus on great, full-service dogs from all around the Twin Cities. And remember, this is strictly a hot dog affair! We’ll handle brats another day. So read on, dear friend, for our unranked favorite dogs in the Twin Cities.

A couple weeks ago I heard some hard rocking music emanating from behind Wandering Leaf Brewing Co. and got curious and hungry at the same time. I ambled over and discovered the sound was coming from the Nordic Dog food truck which was manned by Tom, the founder of Nordic Dogs. Tom recommended I try their signature item, the Nordic Dog. The dog itself is built from a Kramarczuk’s beef wiener in a lamb casing and it sits atop a locally made bun. The dog and the bun were sublime, but where Tom was really able to show off his culinary training and passion for all things Nordic was in the toppings. The standout topping was the lingonberry ketchup which was inspired by a huge reindeer sausage with lingonberry sauce that Tom had enjoyed while visiting Bergen, Norway. This is a powerful dog that bursts with flavor in each bite. If you want to order one in Norwegian, just say “Jeg tar den nordiske pølsen.” Simple!

This is a good spot for the vegan hot dog enthusiast in your life. You can make your dog vegan/vegetarian for a $1 upcharge.

Long live the classic Chicago dog. For me, this iconic hot dog preparation is the gold standard for an enjoyable hot dog experience. The poppy seed bun, the sport peppers, the celery salt, the tomatoes. It’s all a part of the magic. Be advised, the 620 Club veers slightly outside of the canonical Chicago dog but for my mind, the appeal remains. The bun is sans poppy seeds but it is toasted and buttery. The sport peppers have been replaced by banana peppers but it still works. It’s still a Chicago dog served up in a dark bar on W. 7th in St. Paul. As I pulled down a Summit EPA while my daughters worked on some cheese curds and a dog of their own, everything felt right in the world until that open top Shirley Temple took a nose dive for the floor.

The pro-order for two at the 620 is to get three hot dogs (Coney, Chicago, and Kogi) and an order of fries. Cut all the dogs in half and you have a delicious, perfectly-sized dinner for two.

 newsletter writer Roseanne Pereira used to work over at the St. Paul Meat Shop on Grand and she developed quite the taste for their hot dogs. On Grand Avenue I’d consider a $5 hot dog quite the steal and this one gets a stamp of approval not just for its price point but also for its simplicity. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel at every turn. A schmear of mustard and ketchup and a modest pile of sauerkraut on a toasty bun gets the job done.

The first remotely “elevated” dog I ever sunk my teeth into was the Kyatchi House Dog. Kyatchi is best known as a sustainable sushi restaurant for good reason; their sushi offerings are top notch. But their connection with Japanese culture goes deeper than sushi. Their always-evolving hot dog menu is inspired by the artisan hot dogs popular at Japanese ballparks. These three-to-four-bite hot dogs are perfectly crafted with an expert blend of flavors and add-ons. The best part is that you can order one or two in the midst of a sushi meal and add a different taste into the meal.

The hot dogs are spectacular but they are frequently outshone by the sublime scoop of Japanese potato salad they come with. Even if you don’t like potato salad, I promise you you’ll like this potato salad.

I tried to turn up my nose at our Executive Producer Anna Weggel when she doubled down on Denzel Belin’s suggestion that the $1.50 Costco hot dog combo belonged in this list. Costco is not chef-driven. Costco is not local. Costco is not inspired by the hot dog offerings at the stands at Yokohama Stadium. But, Costco makes a helluva dog at a helluva price. For 150 pennies you can enjoy a diet coke and a hearty dog and live to tell the tale of buying three bottles of Kirkland’s finest Prosecco, 25,000 cashews, a weird blanket that you plug in, and a gallon of artichoke dip.

Don’t just go to Costco for hot dogs. I’m told they have tires and vacations as well!

Litt Pinball Bar has become one of the ultimate destinations for pinball lovers in the Twin Cities, but it could probably do a brisk business on its hot dog menu alone! Our contributor Denzel Belin swears by the Don Pickles which brings together cream cheese, pastrami spice, and dill pickles. All their hot dogs cost $10 and are served with kettle or tortilla chips. The dogs run the gamut from the traditional to the utterly unhinged and they make for a perfect breather from any pinball gaming you’re throwing your laundry quarters into. Plus, if you are looking for a vegan dog it’s just a $2 upcharge. 

Please ask the LITT staff to bring back the Black Olive Mayo hot dog they used to have. Perhaps if enough of us ask, they’ll heed our requests and get that masterful dog back on the menu.

You can’t tell the story of sausage in the Twin Cities without tipping a hat to Kramarczuk’s. I’ll be honest, there is so much to get on the menu at Kramarczuk’s that it’s easy to forget that they serve up a delicious, simple hot dog. So if you can pull yourself away from the allure of pierogies and sausage rolls, it’s worth grabbing a dog.

It’s not really a Twins game if you don’t make it to section 101, 112, or 312 and order a hot dog. Play ball!

When I think of hot dogs in the Twin Cities, I immediately think of The Wienery. During my University of Minnesota days, this was the spot to splurge on a Friday lunch. The spot is located next to The Cedar Cultural Center and it oozes Minnesota history. To plop down on one of those stools with a Maxwell Street and an order of their unbelievably fresh fries is an essential Minnesota experience. The Wienery is the genuine article and always needs a spot for consideration in the Twin Cities hot dog pantheon.

Hot dog fever hits the world hard circa Memorial Day every year, and right now our temperature is rising. From Nordic Dogs to 620 Club, The St. Paul Meat Shop, and others, these are our favorite full-service dogs from all around the Twin Cities.

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Em Cassel

Goodbye school, hello mosquitos. It’s June in the Twin Cities and it’s time to have a real heart-to-heart with your calendar. Without proper planning, summer will come and go without you floating on the lake, watching a movie outside, or eating a hot dog in a park. Our advice to you is to find a couple non-negotiable, must-do events, write those in thick black ink on every calendar, and then start having fun.

 is the biggest marathon in Minnesota. My neighbor Michelle has run it many times and she says the big pull is the location and the parties. The marathon absolutely dominates the Twin Ports for the third weekend of June. Some of the biggest acts in Minnesota play at Bayfront Festival Park which is one of the most breathtaking places to see a live performance in Minnesota. With acts like Hippo Campus, Charlie Parr, The Music of Prince with members of the New Power Generation, and more, it’s worth going even if you don’t lace up your HOKAs. The route doesn’t permit many great spectator spots so our recommendation is to start training now. While you’re there, make sure to get a Cajun Finn “jean jacket style” from 

 and grab a Bent Hop Golden IPA before you head back to the Twin Cities. –

There's some really excellent hiking to do and sights to see within an hour drive of the Twin Cities. Willow River State Park might be in Wisconsin, but it's only a 45-minute drive from my neighborhood in Northeast Minneapolis. There's an excellent 4-mile round-trip hike to the waterfall from the 

. Whichever trail you pick, at the end of the hike you'll find multiple tiers of waterfalls cascading over three ledges nestled in a 200-foot gorge. Plus, this park holds a special place in my heart as the first place I saw a reptile after moving to Minnesota from Florida!

Bring a swimsuit! There's plenty of shallow pools created by the multi-tiered waterfall, and the brisk water from the river is a great way to cool off before walking back up. Note that there won't be a lifeguard present as it's not an officially-designated swimming area, but the locals definitely treat it as such.

Another fantastic hike to try this month is at Interstate Park on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Here, you can tie together four short trails along the St. Croix River that each showcase different, beautiful parts of Minnesota's geological history for a ~4-mile total hike. Park at the 

Our advice to you is to find a couple non-negotiable, must-do events, write those in thick black ink on every calendar, and then start having fun.

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