rakemag New Year’s is one of those holidays where you can find yourself in a roomful of friendly strangers. In recent years, though, we’ve come to view it more like Thanksgiving—it’s so much more fun to be with people you know and love. Well, Debbie Duncan certainly qualifies. She’s one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved … Read more
If you want a wild bash with the lampshade-wearing and the drinking-champagne-out-of-a-shoe, look elsewhere. (Above, maybe.) For one thing, this civic cavalcade, formerly Capital New Year, is being held three days early. (The official auld lang syneing falls inconveniently on a Tuesday, and gosh, that’s a weeknight—though if you have to work Wednesday, you should … Read more
Here’s a kid-friendly (not too late into the night) way to celebrate the New Year on the actual holiday, on the west side of the Mississippi. Well, actually right in the Mississippi. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is pitching their tent on Nicollet Island. Skating, skiing, sledding, hayrides, and more are the order of … Read more
Close readers of this magazine know how we are obsessed with the Chicago-style hot dog. We’re pleased to report that The Wienery and Joey D’s have been joined by a serious contender in this life-sustaining work—and in the heart of sausage country, Nordeast! Uncle Franky’s is the real deal, working from the foundation of an … Read more
THE RAKE: What is the scoop you’re most proud of? Sid Hartman: The two biggest ones were about Ara Parseghian and Bud Grant. In 1975 I got the scoop that Parseghian was leaving as football coach of Notre Dame and that he would be replaced by Dan Devine. And in 1983 I reported first that … Read more
What is this we Dakotans hear about you folks wanting to move your football team to South Dakota [“Gopher Football: New Stadium or We’re Moving to Yankton!”, The Rake’s Progress, October]? Don’t we have a say in this? We don’t want your team. You may be having a good season but it will probably be … Read more
The idea that other regions of the country contain more grandiose beauty per acre than does Minnesota is hardly to be disputed [Good Intentions, October], but the sublime vision lauded in the review of the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s show is also distorted and pretentious. As a landscape artist who’s chosen to live here precisely … Read more
I’m with you: The smoke has got to go [Good Intentions, November]. My deep disgust for breathing other people’s poisonous crap, not to mention the stinging eyes, stinky clothes, achy head, and nauseous stomach that result from the poison keeps me from enjoying a multitude of otherwise fabulous venues here in the Cities and I’m … Read more
I enjoyed your November 2002 issue very much, especially the piece regarding Supervalu’s stock collapse and subsequent local media (under)attention [“Superdevalued,” November]. How-ever, I must admit that my favorite part of the magazine was a bit more obscure. One of your contributing editors, responding to the question on “Thanksgiving side dishes we avoid,” offered “Long … Read more
Adam Minter’s piece on Supervalu was very interesting and dramatic, and it got me talking with my broker. There doesn’t really seem to be a way out of this paradox: If investors get more information, they sell in a panic. If they don’t get the information they want, they still sell in a panic. It’s … Read more