Hell's Kitchen

Looking for last-minute New Year's Eve reservations? Look no further!

Let's get real. Many of us are the wait-till-the-last-minute types when it comes to booking those special holiday reservations. Well, friends, fear that procrastination bug no longer: We've scoped out some of the Twin Cities' top restaurants that still have seating available. Whether you're loo ... More >>

End of the World Last Supper

Local Frames: New videos from Dark Dark Dark, Night Moves, Guante & Big Cats!, and more

As the Twin Cities music scene grows, more and more artists are creating music that demands our attention. Combine the music with talented filmmakers locally and beyond, and you have a fruitful mix of distinct skills that generates more locally connected music videos than ever before.While it's impo ... More >>

Rupert Angeleyes on promoting himself and polishing turds

See Also:Sleeping in the Aviary interview 1: On Maroon 5 and Googly GuySleeping in the Aviary interview 2: On burritos and touringMore than likely, Rupert Angeleyes is a local musical project that doesn't mean anything to you (yet). But that's no testament to a lack of musicianship, commitment or en ... More >>

Pleasure Horse on South Dakota, not being "100% honky" and country's evolution

See Also:Night Moves members say goodbye to Flying Dorito Brothers on Friday (INTERVIEW)Pleasure Horse is a new local '70s outlaw/cosmic country style outfit. Four of the six members of Pleasure Horse grew up in South Dakota and attended college there -- which lends to their affinity for, and the qu ... More >>

Dessa leads Sing Out for Kids benefit lineup, new album details [INTERVIEW]

See Also:Dessa develops a lipstick for charityDessa just can't help herself when it comes to charities. The maven of Minneapolis hip-hop has just announced a partnership with community-based social service agency the Southside Family Nurturing Center. Seriously, these Doomtree kids and their project ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: TC Jazz Festival, The Walkmen, Halloween, Alaska, John Prine

A summer weekend is not complete without a festival/block party happening. St. Paul will be hosting the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in and around Mears Park. Heart and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts bring a taste of nostalgia to the suburbs at Mystic Lake, while Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees play ... More >>

[Queer] PROM 2012

Magic Castles release "Death Dreams" video, touring with Brian Jonestown Massacre

A ideal day such as this one is the perfect time to check out the blissful, sunny psych-pop featured in Magic Castles new video "Death Dreams." The local group playfully lists their sound as "mysticore," and that ambiguous description suitably fits their leisurely, psych-rock sound. The group ju ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: St. Vincent, Father John Misty, Girls Got Rhythm Fest, Daughtry

Girl power without the Spice Girls is alive and well these days, and the Amsterdam Bar and Hall will be celebrating this weekend with the Girls Got Rhythm Fest in St. Paul. If you're feeling young, stop by Station 4 to check out pop-punk group Go Radio with This Providence; if not, St. Vincent and C ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Neon Indian, Retribution Gospel Choir, Culture Cry Wolf, Loudon Wainwright III

Looks like spring has brought a flurry of creativity with five local bands releasing albums this weekend starting with The Shiny Lights, who pulls members from many of other local bands in town. Other CD releases include The Lower 48, Pennyroyal, Big Villain, and Dave Olson; that's enough new music ... More >>

Lovely Dark on nature and Territories' evolving sounds

There's no way to avoid indie rock if you're from the Twin Cities, but delve a little further into the scene, and there are subtleties that separate the sounds. Take Minneapolis' Lovely Dark's organic sound, which originated as a bedroom experiment. On their new album Territories, the band explores ... More >>

Devil's Advocate has an opening date

Plagued by delays, the new Devil's Advocate in the former Inn/Hell's Kitchen space is getting closer to opening its doors. After some construction snafus, including a severed floor joint that caused the kitchen to sink into the basement (and you thought you had a rough work day), the space has been ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Guster, Caroline Smith, First Aid Kit, Ferry Corsten

With the change in weather, there is a need to shake off the winter blues and socialize more. Headlining the Dakota fresh off their tour is Davina and the Vagabonds, while Guster share the stage at The Pantages with comedian Jeff Garlin. If you don't have tickets to the First Aid Kit at the Cedar Cu ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Needtobreathe, Fanfarlo, Nada Surf, Bowerbirds

​A big focus of Weekend Checklist is local music, because there is so much good local artists in the Cities, but we often forget that Minneapolis and St. Paul is not always a flyover area for national artists. This weekend we welcome to Fanfarlo, Bowerbirds, Nada Surf, and Needtobreathe; a few of ... More >>

Wiping Out Thousands revive David Bowie's "Let's Dance" live

​Wiping Out Thousands' considerable prowess has exploded in a whirl of color, synthesizers, and menacing beats over the past couple months. Just in case there was any doubt of this local electro outfit's legitimacy in a live setting, here's a recording from last weekend's gig at Hell's Kitchen, wh ... More >>

Summit Unchained #9-Dunkel Weizen to be released this week

It's been two and a half years since Summit Brewing Company released Kölsch, the first of its Unchained Series beers, in August 2009. Since then the succession of beers conceived, controlled, and coaxed into being by Summit's crew of brewers has produced some of the most adventurous beers to come o ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: "Are You Local?" Showcase, Punch Brothers, Galactic, Buddy Guy

​SXSW is right around the corner. And though the yearly music trade festival in Texas is definitely not happening here, there are several events that serve as our local equivalent. The first is the Vita.mn Are You Local? showcase tonight at First Avenue. A couple CD release shows to note this week ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: The Melismatics, Get Cryphy, Dropkick Murphys, Orgy

​It's been said many times that the Twin Cities are a breeding ground for musicians.  This weekend alone we have five CD releases from locals; some, like the Melismatics, are veterans in this game, while others like the Readygoes are just getting their start in the scene. No matter where thes ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Heartless Bastards, Martin Zellar, O.A.R, The Darkness

​ "My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary." - Martin Luther

Top 10 bloody Marys in the Twin Cities

The only classy way to start drinking before noon​Hippocrates, that same genial fellow who gave us the doctors' oath to first do no harm, was one of the first in recorded history to set forth the idea that "like cures like." This in time evolved into such things as a literal belief that if yo ... More >>

T.Q.D. drops new album Taketh Away at Hell's Kitchen

​After taking some time away from music last year, T.Q.D. of the Background Noise Crew sat down and wrote his latest album Taketh Away in under a month. "I don't like to work on things slowly. My attitude is, let's get it done," says The Quiet Dude. "I've never made an album this fast. I know what ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Augustana, The Current Birthday Party, Beer Dabbler, Los Campesinos!

​"Winterlude, Winterlude, oh darling Winterlude by the road tonight Tonight there will be no quarreling Everything is gonna be all right"-Bob Dylan

Weekend Checklist: Jack's Mannequin, Black Church Service, Mint Condition, TC Hip-hop Awards

​ A cure for cabin fever is a weekend full of music.

Weekend Checklist: Howler, Allstar Weekend, Friends Like These, Farewell Milwaukee

​Paraskavedekatriaphobia - the fear of Friday the 13th, but don't let that stop you from going out and seeing good shows this weekend!

Devil's Advocate, a new downtown restaurant, now has a name and a chef

Will the Devil's Advocate be a great new downtown neighborhood bar?​Erik Forsberg's new gastropub being planned for the former Inn/Subo/Hell's Kitchen space in downtown Minneapolis will be called Devil's Advocate, the Downtown Journal reports.  The restaurant is expected to open as a pub-type ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Wu Tang, Buffalo Moon, Keri Noble, Kevin Bowe

​ Start the year off right with a weekend of local music.

New Year's Eve Checklist: Dawes, MOD SUN, Prof, The 4onthefloor

​Your guide to all the best musical events happening on New Year's Eve.

Grown and Sexy New Year's Eve

Weekend Checklist: Dark Pony, Animal Lover, Joey Ryan & the Inks, Dream Crusher

​A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together. - Garrison Keillor

Barrio drops Open Table reservation system, switches to Eveve

Barrio left Open Table for Eveve this week.​Open Table lost another Twin Cities customer Monday. Barrio's three restaurants--in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Cocina del Barrio--switched their online reservation account to local company Eveve, which has been steadily siphoning off the company's b ... More >>

Hell's Kitchen considers a bakery

​While returning from a bakery seminar, Cyn Omer plunked out an impassioned blog post on a plane. Her plaintive question, if we build it, will you come?It looks like Hell's Kitchen is considering a bakery. Here's how the idea came about.

Iron Fork competition crowns a winning chef and best bartender

Deliciously cut-throat competition​The 2011 Iron Fork competition kicked off Thursday night with a bartender competition and finished off by crowning a new chef champion. Restaurants from all over the Twin Cities shared samples of their dishes at International Market Square in Minneapolis as guest ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Hanson, Hawthorne Heights, Haley Bonar, Hastings 3000

​This weekend was brought to you by the letter "H."

Weekend Checklist: Peter Wolf Crier, Ani DiFranco, Mayda, Rural Alberta Advantage

​This change in weather must have brought along a wave of creativity...more CD releases this weekend!

Weekend Checklist: Kramarczuk's Kielbasa Fest, PROF, Halloween Alaska, Shiny Toy Guns

​Sandal weather is almost over, but sweater weather is almost here!

The Hot Dish's top 10 summer posts

​Happy Labor Day weekend! Some may call this the unofficial end of summer, but let's not be hasty. We still have a few weeks of warm weather left, and you can even relive the best of summer by catching up on our most popular Hot Dish posts, including guides to the State Fair, a look at Minneso ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Mary Jane Alm, Peter Wolf Crier, Pizza Luce Block Party, Brandi Carlisle

​"In summer, the song sings itself."-William Carlos Williams

Meritage and Hell's Kitchen drop Open Table: The exodus begins?

Lars LeetaruLocal restaurateurs switch to an Open Table alternative. ​A recent Dish column looked into online reservations' impact on Twin Cities restaurants. While many restaurants, especially those that are new, off the beaten path, or have many seats to fill, are benefiting from using the ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Jimmy Eat World, Arctic Monkeys, Memory Lanes Block Party, Soundset

​An extra day to the weekend?  We'll take it!

Patisserie Margo's Zuppa Englese Torte: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 28

A perfect 10 in taste and looks...​The Zuppa Englese torte at Patisserie Margo has a gorgeous multilayered construction that amazes the eyes and seems more precise and perfect than the original Italian treat. When translated, it means English soup, which one theory says came about when Italian che ... More >>

Dolsot Bibimbap at Dong Yang Oriental Food: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 31

Kei TerauchiDolsot bibimbop: the food pyramid in a stone pot​It may be true that fast food provides you the most calories per dollar. But you are paying for processed fat and starch flavored to taste acceptable to the tolerant palate. If you are looking to fill up on healthy and full-flavored ... More >>

Piccolo's scrambled eggs with pigs' feet: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 32

The elegance of eggs​Doug Flicker has a reputation as one of the best, if not the best, chefs in town. Those who know food, like other chefs and serious food followers, watch his every move. He's earned that respect by cooking his food his way, even if it might not appear to be what's popular with ... More >>

Travail's fried chicken: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 34

​Even those who have lived in New Orleans for decades, where fried chicken is an art form, might find themselves losing years of their lives trying to prepare the dish at home, always feeling some sort of disappointment at the results. It's not always easy to pinpoint what is wrong. Was the batter ... More >>

Urban Eatery's Asian pork sliders: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 37

Take that, White Castle!​To think that we once satisfied our late-night snacking urges with the mushy blandness of the White Castle slyder, a meal that's perfectly content to be seasoned with nothing more than steamed onions. Sure, there's comfort to be found in the squishy buns and flat mea ... More >>

Isles Bun & Coffee's Puppy Dog Tail: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 38

Kei TerauchiFollow the finger for yummy tails​The morning commute is a struggle. With my hair still damp and stomach empty, I head out to catch the bus at Uptown Transit Station. As I sleepily walk down on Hennepin, a sweet and inviting aroma takes hold of all my senses. I look up and see a ... More >>

Szechuan Spice's Chicken with Double Chili Pepper: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 41

Mo PerryFiery goodness to make your tongue tingle​There is something other-worldly about Szechuan Spice's chicken with double chili pepper--a haunting quality that hovers on the periphery of your memory and manifests in periodic, sudden, urgent cravings. Maybe it's the chicken, lightly crisp ... More >>

Dancing Ganesha's Chicken 65: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 42

Colorful and tasty too​Good smells waft down Harmon Place when you open the doors to Dancing Ganesha and grab a seat at the bar, it only gets better. Pass by the elephant and settle in to watch the dual TV's -- one showing a Bollywood musical and the other reprising a cricket match with the West I ... More >>

Ashley Gold talks about debut EP and upcoming album release show

​Ashley Gold is not your average folk-pop singer-songwriter. Her debut EP, Late Bloomer (set for release this Friday at Hell's Kitchen), is fair evidence of that. And as Gold sits across from me, sipping tea and chatting about her musical process, it becomes increasingly apparent that the peti ... More >>

Strange Perspective united by ghostly tales

Morbid hip hop and geek pop from Twin Cities duo