Bloomington

CONvergence 2012: Wonder Women

38th Annual MayDay Parade and Festival

The 39 Steps

Joe Chvala lends distinct touch to 'You're a Good Man Charlie Brown'

​One of the things that has made Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strips and characters so popular over the past 60 years is that we all have a bit of Charlie Brown in us, and Lucy, and Snoopy, and Linus, and Sally, and Schroeder (and Pig Pen for that matter).This universal quality is on display in ... More >>

Twin Cities restaurants offer Thanksgiving Day options

On a holiday that's all about food, why not let the professionals do the cooking? Whether you're hosting notoriously judgmental family members or looking to start a new lower-key Thanksgiving tradition, choosing one of the many Twin Cities restaurants that offer Thanksgiving Day meals just might be ... More >>

Ed Fong of David Fong's: Chef Chat, Part 2

Ed Fong in his own restaurant​Yesterday, Ed Fong gave us a sense of what old- time Bloomington was like before it was officially a city, and how his family appealed to its citizens with both Chinese and American offerings.Ed is the oldest son of the eponymous founder of David Fong's and now runs t ... More >>

Grand Szechuan opens second location in Plymouth

A new Szechuan in the 'burbs​When the former chef at Little Szechuan decamped to Bloomington's Grand Szechuan in 2009, his decision caught the attention of the Twin Cities Chinese-language publications and the foodie press: Chef Luo Guanghe left the St. Paul stalwart and took several staff members ... More >>

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A new Szechuan in the 'burbs​When the former chef at Little Szechuan decamped to Bloomington's Grand Szechuan in 2009, his decision caught the attention of the Twin Cities Chinese-language publications and the foodie press: Chef Luo Guanghe left the St. Paul stalwart and took several staff members ... More >>

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon June '11

Republic, Wise Acres, and more opened this month.​NOW OPEN Republic (221 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis) Candy Alley (4813 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis) Casper & Runyon's Nook (reopened at 419 Hamline Ave. S., St. Paul) Bullfrog Cajun Bar (1111 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis) Bread & Pickle (Lake Harri ... More >>

We Are the Willows tour diary, Vol. 10

​The Blacksheep Cafe in Springfield, Illinois is one of the shpookiest places I've played.  It's all boarded up on the outside and is all graffitti'ed up on the inside.  It's like shredder's lair  If it weren't for Kirk and Dustin's tunes being so nice I would have been shakin' in m ... More >>

Stephanie Travetta Moreland charged with stashing fur coat in underpants

Bloomington PDStephanie Travetta Moreland hid a fur coat in her underpants for three days.​The Alaskan Fur Company wanted its coat back, and Bloomington PD figured they knew who had it. But Stephanie Travetta Moreland wasn't in the mood to cooperate. So she spent three days in jail over the ... More >>

Da Afghan RIP

After two decades in business, Da Afghan is gone. ​We wondered what was up when we couldn't reach 'em by phone last week and now Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine has confirmed our worst fears: Da Afghan has closed. A sign on the door that previously read "temporarily closed," now reads "permanent ... More >>

"Honesty" sculpture built from dollar bills is stolen

Photo by John IlgOne art patron did not get the message of John Ilg's "Honesty."​Artist John Ilg built his sculpture "Honesty" as a kind of test of viewer willpower. And the piece -- a mesh wire frame with the word "HONESTY" spelled out in 316 loose dollar bills -- enjoyed several showings wit ... More >>

Twin Cities' best suburban restaurants

Nick VlcekSzechuan at Tian Jin: Worth a trip to the suburbs.​This week's Dish features Travail Kitchen and Amusements, whose unique, gourmet gastropub fare makes it worth the drive to Robbinsdale from elsewhere in the metro. If you live in Minneapolis or St. Paul, here are four more foodstuf ... More >>

Nigel Barker visits the MOA today

​Fans of America's Next Top Model take note: Nigel Barker, a.k.a. the judge with the most reasonable ego and best fashion sense is in Bloomington today at the Mall of America. Be sure to look your fiercest, or pack your bags and head home.The photographer, model, and reality television judge for 1 ... More >>

Best new patios

Michelle LeonUptown Cafeteria's new Skybar is king!​We all have our favorite standbys for outdoor drinking and dining--W.A. Frost's lush garden patio, the busy sidewalk seats at French Meadow, or the Dennis Rodman-drawing roofdeck at Stella's. But have you checked out the breezy surrounds at t ... More >>

What the fudd is up with Fuddruckers?

The world's greatest?​Regular Hot Dish reader and Fuddruckers fan (I know this describes a lot of you) Sam sounded the alarm last week when he noticed the always-busy burger joints seemed to be disappearing. The Bloomington and St. Louis Park locations had replaced their bright yellow signs wi ... More >>

Twin Cities theater this weekend is all about the musical

by Lauren B. PhotographyThe cast of "Always & Forever" say it with a song​It's a busy weekend, particularly considering the fact that we're in the afterglow of the Fringe, when local stages tend to be dark and theatrical options fewer than the usual dizzying gamut. As fate would have it, we're ... More >>

Gail Gagne's sexual assault trial moved to November

Photo by ericmcgregorGail Gagne, with a wrestler's pedigree, was the weight room supervisor at Credin-Derham HallThe case of the Creditin-Derham Hall student befriended and then allegedly bedded by Gail Gange, has taken another twist. Her trial on sexual assault charges, which was to have started n ... More >>

D'Amico's Parma 8200--see the sneak-peak video

Parma, meet Bloomington at D'Amico's newest eatery​ Gray skies have you hankering for chicken Parmesan or pasta carbonara? Parma 8200, D'Amico's newest venture, is having its soft opening tonight. We gave you a few details about the place earlier this week, but if you want a sneak peak at ho ... More >>

Taste of Chocolate photos to sweeten your day

Feast your eyes on these gourmet sweets from Sunday's event

International Ski Jumping Competition

Feast your eyes on these gourmet sweets from Sunday's event

Warrant out for wrestler Gagne's granddaughter in sex crime

Gail Gagne is charged with two counts of third-degree criminal-sexual conduct with a Cretin-Derham Hall student.

Sofitel's Chez Colette giving complimentary chocolate today

Chez Colette in the Bloomington Sofitel Hotel wants to woo you to its premises with chocolate today.

At CONvergence, the weird gets weirder

Minnesota's gathering of the geeks turns into the (LAN) party of a lifetime

Mischke show notes: April 20, 2009

Join the conversation with TD Mischke on today's 'In The Stream' live from 2 p.m.- 4p.m.

Wrestling legend Gagne won't face charges

Wrestling legend Verne Gagne's deadly assault on a fellow resident at the Bloomington care facility they lived in won't result in any criminal charges, the Hennepin County Attorney's office said today.

Prepare for next week's Pancakestravaganza

Have your cakes and eat 'em too during next week's specials at Blue Plate restaurants and IHOP.

Ridding the Twins stadium of stank

Friday's five most fascinating stories printed on wood pulp.

Growing pot: a life sentence?

... More >>

Doomtree Blowout tickets on sale now

Get them while they're hot-- tickets for the annual Doomtree Blowout are now available at several area record stores

Grill Crazy

Q Fanatic is one of the state's best BBQs

RNC protest planner (with music)

Q Fanatic is one of the state's best BBQs

Breakfast of Champions 7/3: Arresting visuals

Q Fanatic is one of the state's best BBQs

Five Places to Watch Fireworks

Q Fanatic is one of the state's best BBQs

Readers respond to "Moles Wanted"

Q Fanatic is one of the state's best BBQs

New Chef Rising

Love Relocates a Great Chef to Minnesota and the Mall's Napa Valley Grille

Everyone Goes to the Mercado

Love Relocates a Great Chef to Minnesota and the Mall's Napa Valley Grille

Like paper in fire: effort to stop smoking ban thwarted

Love Relocates a Great Chef to Minnesota and the Mall's Napa Valley Grille

Gabby Goes Down

A prolific con man gets his day in court and 37 months in state prison

Gimme Shelter

Budget cuts and Bush are leaving victims of domestic violence out in the cold

The Waiting Game

Budget cuts and Bush are leaving victims of domestic violence out in the cold

Is Brainerd the New Napa?

Budget cuts and Bush are leaving victims of domestic violence out in the cold

Because I Said So

Budget cuts and Bush are leaving victims of domestic violence out in the cold

A Lion in the Path

The cougar's comeback gets stopped dead in its tracks

The Tardy Bell

Thoughts on its long-lost power

Readers' Picks

Your favorite places to eat, shop, and play!

The Last Picture Show

Movie theaters used to have majestic screens, rocking chairs, and real butter. Some still do.

And Topping the List: A Lump of Coal!

Movie theaters used to have majestic screens, rocking chairs, and real butter. Some still do.

1996 Best Of Twin Cities Readers' Poll

Movie theaters used to have majestic screens, rocking chairs, and real butter. Some still do.