Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Beer flows at the Blue Nile
TOM HORGEN, Star Tribune
As the beer gods would have it, the Twin Cities are now home to quite a few boutique beer bars -- places where a good brew is as coveted as a fine wine. While these spots stand out among metro bars, one destination sticks out even more.
It's not everywhere you can order a premium Belgian beer with a plate of Ethiopian food, but the Blue Nile isn't your average bar. After more than a decade on East Franklin Avenue, it still looks like an Ethiopian restaurant hiding behind a Mexican facade, and it still offers great live music, from African and Caribbean to hip-hop and spoken word.
But how did an Ethiopian restaurant end up with one of the best beer selections in town? Owner Fahmi Katabay points to one man: His bartender, Al.
Al McCarty came looking for a job in the late '90s, intrigued by the restaurant's East African cuisine and worldly music. When Katabay put him in charge of the restaurant's bar, McCarty felt like a kid in a candy shop -- or in this case, a beer lover in charge of drinks.
The craft-beer revolution was just catching steam here. There was no Bulldog, Happy Gnome or Muddy Pig yet. McCarty points to only the Bryant-Lake Bowl and a couple of other bars as craft-beer havens. Regardless, he started asking the local beer distributors for the good stuff: Belgians and boutique American brands.
He only had 10 taps and a couple of big coolers under the bar, but McCarty worked with what he had. Today, he changes the tap selection regularly and has about 50 bottled beers, many of them imports. He does carry Miller and other mass-market beers -- club nights demand it -- but he stacks those bottles on their sides, packing them in to save room for the good stuff. He dreams of installing another 20 or so taps to compete with other beer bars, many of which have 25-plus.
One of his proudest moments was in 2002, when he took a perennial mainstream beer off the tap line: "I dropped Budweiser and replaced it with Maredsous, a Belgian Abbey beer. We got rid of the most ubiquitous beer in the world for a family-owned brewery."
Katabay said McCarty is like family and he supports his bartender's ambition. Plus, the range of beers matches nicely with the restaurant's mix of spicy meat dishes.
However, Katabay joked, "I did not think he would take it to this extent." McCarty will even age certain bottles, allowing the beer to develop more flavor (this works best with darker beers, he said).
He's had release parties for local breweries such as Surly. Lately, he's been trying to introduce a Sri Lankan beer called Lion Stout to the large African-Caribbean crowd that comes in on Thursdays for reggae night. They drink primarily Guinness Extra Stout, which is similar.
McCarty also pushes the importance of serving beers in their proper glassware to amplify the taste and aroma. Of course, some people would rather chug straight from the bottle. But sometimes, he'll get a novice beer drinker who wants to experiment with taste and presentation. And that makes this beer crusader feel good, as if world peace were next on his checklist.
"Every once in a while, you make a little difference," he said.
thorgen@startribune.com • 612-673-7909
As the beer gods would have it, the Twin Cities are now home to quite a few boutique beer bars -- places where a good brew is as coveted as a fine wine. While these spots stand out among metro bars, one destination sticks out even more.
It's not everywhere you can order a premium Belgian beer with a plate of Ethiopian food, but the Blue Nile isn't your average bar. After more than a decade on East Franklin Avenue, it still looks like an Ethiopian restaurant hiding behind a Mexican facade, and it still offers great live music, from African and Caribbean to hip-hop and spoken word.
But how did an Ethiopian restaurant end up with one of the best beer selections in town? Owner Fahmi Katabay points to one man: His bartender, Al.
Al McCarty came looking for a job in the late '90s, intrigued by the restaurant's East African cuisine and worldly music. When Katabay put him in charge of the restaurant's bar, McCarty felt like a kid in a candy shop -- or in this case, a beer lover in charge of drinks.
The craft-beer revolution was just catching steam here. There was no Bulldog, Happy Gnome or Muddy Pig yet. McCarty points to only the Bryant-Lake Bowl and a couple of other bars as craft-beer havens. Regardless, he started asking the local beer distributors for the good stuff: Belgians and boutique American brands.
He only had 10 taps and a couple of big coolers under the bar, but McCarty worked with what he had. Today, he changes the tap selection regularly and has about 50 bottled beers, many of them imports. He does carry Miller and other mass-market beers -- club nights demand it -- but he stacks those bottles on their sides, packing them in to save room for the good stuff. He dreams of installing another 20 or so taps to compete with other beer bars, many of which have 25-plus.
One of his proudest moments was in 2002, when he took a perennial mainstream beer off the tap line: "I dropped Budweiser and replaced it with Maredsous, a Belgian Abbey beer. We got rid of the most ubiquitous beer in the world for a family-owned brewery."
Katabay said McCarty is like family and he supports his bartender's ambition. Plus, the range of beers matches nicely with the restaurant's mix of spicy meat dishes.
However, Katabay joked, "I did not think he would take it to this extent." McCarty will even age certain bottles, allowing the beer to develop more flavor (this works best with darker beers, he said).
He's had release parties for local breweries such as Surly. Lately, he's been trying to introduce a Sri Lankan beer called Lion Stout to the large African-Caribbean crowd that comes in on Thursdays for reggae night. They drink primarily Guinness Extra Stout, which is similar.
McCarty also pushes the importance of serving beers in their proper glassware to amplify the taste and aroma. Of course, some people would rather chug straight from the bottle. But sometimes, he'll get a novice beer drinker who wants to experiment with taste and presentation. And that makes this beer crusader feel good, as if world peace were next on his checklist.
"Every once in a while, you make a little difference," he said.
thorgen@startribune.com • 612-673-7909
What to do in Minneapolis/Twin Cities while you’re waiting for the Republican National Convention
Los Angeles Times staff writer Christopher Reynolds gives an entertaining and informative guide to the Twin Cities for John McCain. For those who struggle to tear themselves away from political news updates on TV, here are some simple suggestions for what to do and where to eat and drink in the Twin Cities while you wait for the GOP convention to begin.
Five Popular attractions in Minneapolis-St. Paul:
1. Walker Art Center
2. Frank Gehry’s Weisman Museum
3. Midtown Global Market
4. Cathedral of Saint Paul
5. Mall of America
Music during the Republican National Convention:
The Twin Cities Daily Planet has the lowdown on all the music events going on in the area during the convention. Read: Music to ripple through Twin Cities during RNC
Where to eat and drink: Gayot’s Hot 10 Restaurants in Minneapolis list includes Alma, Chambers Kitchen, Good Day Café, Heidi’s, Meritage, Modern Café, 112 Eatery, Red Stag Supperclub, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge and Town Talk Diner. Meanwhile the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine has an extensive dining guide and bars + nightclubs guide to get the locals’ dish on where to go.
Five Popular attractions in Minneapolis-St. Paul:
1. Walker Art Center
2. Frank Gehry’s Weisman Museum
3. Midtown Global Market
4. Cathedral of Saint Paul
5. Mall of America
Music during the Republican National Convention:
The Twin Cities Daily Planet has the lowdown on all the music events going on in the area during the convention. Read: Music to ripple through Twin Cities during RNC
Where to eat and drink: Gayot’s Hot 10 Restaurants in Minneapolis list includes Alma, Chambers Kitchen, Good Day Café, Heidi’s, Meritage, Modern Café, 112 Eatery, Red Stag Supperclub, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge and Town Talk Diner. Meanwhile the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine has an extensive dining guide and bars + nightclubs guide to get the locals’ dish on where to go.
Skyway art celebrates new immigrants
MINNEAPOLIS - A busy downtown Minneapolis skyway has been transformed into a celebration of Minnesota's newest immigrants.
The "Speaking of Home" public art project features 23 family photographs of immigrants and other new Minnesotans. The photos are printed on 10-by-13-foot sheets of white transparent fabric and installed consecutively in the skyway window frames.
Artist Nancy Ann Coyne collaborated with the latest Twin Cities residents to create the project. It's one of the official events celebrating Minnesota's 150th birthday.
The project is installed inside the 150-foot skyway connecting the IDS Center and Macy's department store. It's visible to pedestrians passing below on Nicollet Mall.
The display runs through October 31st.
The "Speaking of Home" public art project features 23 family photographs of immigrants and other new Minnesotans. The photos are printed on 10-by-13-foot sheets of white transparent fabric and installed consecutively in the skyway window frames.
Artist Nancy Ann Coyne collaborated with the latest Twin Cities residents to create the project. It's one of the official events celebrating Minnesota's 150th birthday.
The project is installed inside the 150-foot skyway connecting the IDS Center and Macy's department store. It's visible to pedestrians passing below on Nicollet Mall.
The display runs through October 31st.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Metromix Twin Cities
Another interesting link for finding entertainment, restaurants and other fun things do along with the educational, networking and relationship building that you do while at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Minneapolis, October 20-22, 2008
http://twincities.metromix.com/
http://twincities.metromix.com/
Spa at the Airport
We'll all want to linger a while longer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport if plans materialize for a spa for travelers. The airport could have a 5,000-square-foot wellness center in time for September's Republican National Convention. The center is to be part spa--including hair and nail care, plus massage--part medical clinic, with a health practitioner available to diagnoze and treat basic illnesses. Visit http://www.mspairport.com/ for more information.
Start scheduling those October 2008 pre-AMTC manicures now and post AMTC massages before you return home!
Start scheduling those October 2008 pre-AMTC manicures now and post AMTC massages before you return home!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Minneapolis Fountains Poised to Make a Splash
STEVE BRANDT, Star Tribune
Water will shoot up from marsh grass, from the shells of river mussels, from a cleft in a giant boulder. Sculpted fountains will represent city water as ice and as a cloud of gas.
And if the designs for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's 10 controversial drinking fountains capture the public's fancy like he hopes, you'll hardly be able to take a walk in the City of Lakes without running into a fountain offering city water.
The designs for $50,000 artist-designed bubblers were unveiled with ceremony Tuesday at the Guthrie Theater, which overlooks the site of the city's original water intake -- before a typhoid outbreak forced it upstream.
"The good news is people are talking about water in Minneapolis again," Rybak said before the unveiling, a reference to the criticism he's taken for the cost of the fountains.
Arts advocates say the project -- half from property taxes, half from water charges -- is a continuation of the city's ongoing public arts program, which has brought the city projects ranging from an oversized bunny sculpture at E. Minnehaha Parkway and Portland Av. S. to artist-designed manhole covers.
The program has its roots in a perennially broken water fountain at Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, a onetime porn palace on Lake Street. That got the theater's artistic director Sandy Spieler musing on the world's water supply, quality and ownership.
"We forget when we bow to take a drink where it is coming from and where it is going," she said. Her watery explorations led to a theatrical work and eventually got the ear of the city's First Spouse, Megan O'Hara, and through her, Rybak.
Spieler worked with a team to design one fountain, to be installed on the plaza next to the Guthrie. On Saturday at 3 p.m., Heart of the Beast also will dedicate a replacement of its own fountain.
Other artists and locations chosen by a selection panel include Mayumi Amada, Northeast Community Library; Lisa Elias, two designs on Marquette and 2nd Avenues; Douglas Freeman, Plymouth and Penn avenues; Gita Ghei, Sara Hanson and Jan Louise Kusske, Midtown YWCA; Seitu Jones, Dinkytown; Andrew MacGuffie, Mozaic development in Uptown; Peter Morales, Ancient Traders Market on Franklin Avenue; and Marjorie Pitz, Nicollet Mall.
None of the designs is ready for installation. Five still need sponsors who will agree to clean them daily and pay for the costs of fall draining and spring pressuring, a restriction set by the City Council. Billed as lasting for 25 years, the designs are getting a rigorous examination for sustainability from sculpture conservator Kristin Cheronis. She looks at factors that undercut durability, such as incompatible materials, and watches for unsafe features such as projecting points.
"Sometimes she has hard questions," said Jones. "She sees things that sometimes we don't see. She sees art in a whole different way from an artist."
Some City Council members initially questioned the initiative, with issues ranging from cost to maintenance. But Rybak eventually got his way, arguing that the project will promote city water at a time when public consumption of it is shrinking, leading to higher water rates.
Rybak said he's hoping that the city's investment in public fountains will stimulate a public demand for like investment by private developers and landowners.
And if they're looking for designs, Spieler, who sat on the selection panel, said she could refer them to "so many beautiful designs" that didn't make the cut.
Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438
Water will shoot up from marsh grass, from the shells of river mussels, from a cleft in a giant boulder. Sculpted fountains will represent city water as ice and as a cloud of gas.
And if the designs for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's 10 controversial drinking fountains capture the public's fancy like he hopes, you'll hardly be able to take a walk in the City of Lakes without running into a fountain offering city water.
The designs for $50,000 artist-designed bubblers were unveiled with ceremony Tuesday at the Guthrie Theater, which overlooks the site of the city's original water intake -- before a typhoid outbreak forced it upstream.
"The good news is people are talking about water in Minneapolis again," Rybak said before the unveiling, a reference to the criticism he's taken for the cost of the fountains.
Arts advocates say the project -- half from property taxes, half from water charges -- is a continuation of the city's ongoing public arts program, which has brought the city projects ranging from an oversized bunny sculpture at E. Minnehaha Parkway and Portland Av. S. to artist-designed manhole covers.
The program has its roots in a perennially broken water fountain at Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, a onetime porn palace on Lake Street. That got the theater's artistic director Sandy Spieler musing on the world's water supply, quality and ownership.
"We forget when we bow to take a drink where it is coming from and where it is going," she said. Her watery explorations led to a theatrical work and eventually got the ear of the city's First Spouse, Megan O'Hara, and through her, Rybak.
Spieler worked with a team to design one fountain, to be installed on the plaza next to the Guthrie. On Saturday at 3 p.m., Heart of the Beast also will dedicate a replacement of its own fountain.
Other artists and locations chosen by a selection panel include Mayumi Amada, Northeast Community Library; Lisa Elias, two designs on Marquette and 2nd Avenues; Douglas Freeman, Plymouth and Penn avenues; Gita Ghei, Sara Hanson and Jan Louise Kusske, Midtown YWCA; Seitu Jones, Dinkytown; Andrew MacGuffie, Mozaic development in Uptown; Peter Morales, Ancient Traders Market on Franklin Avenue; and Marjorie Pitz, Nicollet Mall.
None of the designs is ready for installation. Five still need sponsors who will agree to clean them daily and pay for the costs of fall draining and spring pressuring, a restriction set by the City Council. Billed as lasting for 25 years, the designs are getting a rigorous examination for sustainability from sculpture conservator Kristin Cheronis. She looks at factors that undercut durability, such as incompatible materials, and watches for unsafe features such as projecting points.
"Sometimes she has hard questions," said Jones. "She sees things that sometimes we don't see. She sees art in a whole different way from an artist."
Some City Council members initially questioned the initiative, with issues ranging from cost to maintenance. But Rybak eventually got his way, arguing that the project will promote city water at a time when public consumption of it is shrinking, leading to higher water rates.
Rybak said he's hoping that the city's investment in public fountains will stimulate a public demand for like investment by private developers and landowners.
And if they're looking for designs, Spieler, who sat on the selection panel, said she could refer them to "so many beautiful designs" that didn't make the cut.
Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Another Guthrie Destination
It took first-time restaurateurs Nuntanit Charoensit and Kong Tiyawat to take advantage of what seems to be a prime dining location. The storefront kitty-corner from the Guthrie Theater now hums with their new Kindee Thai Restaurant.
That's Charoensit, a Bangkok native, cooking with her crew behind a great-looking copper-lined bar (the warmly contemporary room -- with prime Guthrie views -- was designed by Thai architect Jiroj Ittiwetchai). Charoensit is cooking the food she said she grew up eating: ground chicken seasoned with mint and lime and rolled into lettuce cups, delicately battered and fried hard-cooked eggs, spicy soups laced with galangal and kaffir lime leaves, super-spicy rice noodles, several curry variations and a few vegetable stir fries -- all served with an eye toward good looks and clean, bright flavors. Top price is $14, and beer and wine should be on their way.
719 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, 612-465-8303, kindeethairestaurant.com. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
That's Charoensit, a Bangkok native, cooking with her crew behind a great-looking copper-lined bar (the warmly contemporary room -- with prime Guthrie views -- was designed by Thai architect Jiroj Ittiwetchai). Charoensit is cooking the food she said she grew up eating: ground chicken seasoned with mint and lime and rolled into lettuce cups, delicately battered and fried hard-cooked eggs, spicy soups laced with galangal and kaffir lime leaves, super-spicy rice noodles, several curry variations and a few vegetable stir fries -- all served with an eye toward good looks and clean, bright flavors. Top price is $14, and beer and wine should be on their way.
719 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, 612-465-8303, kindeethairestaurant.com. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
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