Open Arms

Volunteering is an important part of my Minneapolis experience. But I've been remiss in detailing some of the volunteer opportunities I've taken advantage of, which I'll try to remedy going forward. The Twin Cities is, by far, the most dedicated volunteer community I've ever lived in, and that is but one of the many reasons I love calling this place home. 

Today members of my chapter of the Cargill Women's Network volunteered for a couple of hours at Open Arms of Minnesota. Our chapter has also been involved in the Cargill Giving Garden, which supplements Open Arms' own farming with additional produce each summer. This was the first time, however, that we'd volunteered at the kitchen on Bloomington Ave, and as you can see from the pictured smiles, we had a wonderful time. 

Suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of a life-altering disease is exhausting both physically and financially. Individuals struggling with MS, cancer, HIV, and other debilitating conditions often do not have the resources, energy, or support to shop for or cook the nutritious meals their weakened bodies need to fight their respective conditions. This is where Open Arms meets a very specific, visceral need. Open Arms serves nutritious, diet-specific meals to 800+ clients (and often their dependents and caregivers) a week. These aren't one-size-fits-all meals.  The recipes are created with the help of chefs and dietitians, focusing specifically on treatment side effects and the needs of immune-suppressed individuals.  Additional care is paid to the comfort aspect of meals, with special care paid to cultural differences. Volunteers help out at several points in the story, lending a hand at the farm in St. Paul, prepping ingredients in the kitchen, and delivering the meals to clients.

Our group of 18 split between several stations in the kitchen, some of us slicing homemade bread, others preparing fresh green beans, some shredding newly roasted chickens.  These weren't ingredients plopped out of a can.  These were ingredients you'd use to feed a sick friend.  This is food you'd take care to prepare, and that's one reason Open Arms is so special.  It's clear the meals are an act of love and support for individuals who may frequently feel maligned and alone. 

Whether you're an individual interested in delivering meals, a gardening enthusiast with skills to lend, or you're planning a group volunteer event, Open Arms offers fantastic opportunities to serve those struggling in our own backyard. 

Foxy Falafel

This spot has been on my to-do list for awhile. And had I realized how 1) delicious and 2) cheap it was, I would have explored sooner! Tucked away on Raymond in St. Paul, Foxy Falafel is just plain adorable. Originating as a stellar food truck that popped up at farmers markets around town, the restaurant is now a permanent hub for anyone who needs a crispy falafel (chickpeas sprouted in house!) fix.

We arrived around 6:30 pm on a Tuesday and there were several empty tables (made finding a spot easy, but I'd prefer to see a great place like this hoppin' at suppertime).  You order up front, a combo of options (salad, sandwich, or platter) that you grace with either falafel or meat. The salad was $8, a mere $2 more than a meal at Subway.  Make the exciting choice.

I chose the beet falafel on a greek salad and it was perfect.  The crispy yet dense falafel balls were hot and wonderfully spiced and the harissa on the side added just enough kick. My friend, Kim, ordered the turkey shwarma and she didn't offer me a bite so I'm assuming that's a too-good-to-share choice. We noticed the happy hour special too late; $.25 falafel balls seem almost criminal.  Can I buy $20 worth and just freeze those babies? With two other falafel flavors to try (traditional and curry), I'm envisioning many an evening of falafel balls, beer, and walks around the not-far-away-at-all Como. The cauliflower steaks and baba ganoush look like appetizers worth tackling, too. And the $1 off sides (and $1 pickle plate) make happy hour that much sweeter.

On our post-supper walk, Kim and I each commented on how good our supper was, "man, that was fantastic!" We'd talk about something else for awhile and then one of us would say, "boy, that was really good." One of those spots that inspires constant accolades, which means we'll need to be constant patrons.

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Rusty Taco

It's rare that I'm wandering across the river. I'm usually in the St. Anthony Main area with a purpose. But a day off left me with time to kill and the desire to wander so I popped into a few shops and, as luck would have it, noticed Rusty Taco about the time my stomach started growling.

This place is cheap! I happened to be there on a Friday during Lent so the fish tacos were a whopping $2.  On any other day they clock in at $3, still respectable.  I had a grilled fish (with the addition of avocado for $0.35) and a pulled  pork for lunch and that was plenty for me. Seeing as the national chain originated in Texas, I expected the pulled pork to be a bit better but it was overly sweet for me.  The fish, however, was great! And the salsas were good enough to justify a bowl of chips next time (free refills). With beer and cheap tacos available, I'm assuming this place is doing just fine with the college crowd. But even if you're a solid decade out of college, like me, this is a great spot for a quick bite.

The next time you're tempted to stop for fast food in the Northeast area (or St. Paul and now, Maple Grove), Rusty Taco is worth a stop for a fun alternative.

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Chimborazo

This must be one of those places everyone knows about but me. Because there's no way a reasonably priced, delicious, cozy spot like this could be a secret. And if that's the case, I'd like to fault the city of Minneapolis for not introducing me to this place sooner. Heavens. So many lost opportunities for Chimborazo empanadas!

I'm not sure that I've ever had Ecuadorean food before but this one bowl of soup made it clear I need a more intimate understanding of the cuisine. The picture doesn't do the flavor or the size justice.  This is Encebollado de Pescado, a fish soup with ahi tuna, cassava, onion and tomato, and topped with tostados.  I'd never heard of a tostado (and, I'll admit, I expected some kind of chip).  But it tasted like a roasted piece of hominy, and the waitress confirmed the similarity so I gave myself an internal high five for a good guess. This bowl was hot, hearty, and satisfying, with huge chunks of fish in a bowl that could have easily fed two people.  Instead of offering to share, I took half the bowl home and enjoyed it the next day for lunch.

The spot is cozy and occasionally crowded at prime supper times but the happy hour specials make the wait worthwhile.  One of their brunch specials, a trio of empanadas with potatoes and eggs, sounds like heaven on a plate.  We split a beef empanada to start and it was perfect! An empanada and a cup of soup would be a great (and cheap) dinner out, if you're interested in fun flavors that don't break the bank.

This is a Northeast Minneapolis gem and I expect to return often.

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Trail Mix 25K

I've enjoyed the Trail Mix 25K race on three prior occasions, all at the former Hyland Park location in Bloomington. It was a tough course in a convenient location so it was always a favorite. This year, however, the location changed! Despite the trek out beyond the Western Burbs (whoa!), I was excited to run the race at the new locale.

Lake Rebecca is an equally challenging trail, but different in that the hills were more frequent but less steep. The trail was wide the whole way so there was never any congestion or single track madness. The Trail Mix volunteers and aid station support are always great. Friendly folks offering me flat coke and m&ms will always get high marks. I'm a slow poke, especially on a trail run, so I'm sensitive to that enthusiastic support.  And for anyone who's interested in their first 25K, this would be a great one, especially if you're concerned about being on the slow side.  The 50K relay starts about an hour and a half after the 25K solo race, so by the time the slower 25Kers are finishing up, they're joined by a pack of other runners.  So even if you're bringing up the rear, you don't feel like you're bringing up the rear. ;)

Lake Rebecca was well worth the drive so I'd be happy to run that route again. And as long as you're the embrace-the-mud type, this spring run is a must for trail lovers. 

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Once

For anyone who has seen the movie (add it to your Netflix queue immediately if you haven't), there's a certain hesitance in thinking of Once as a musical.  The intimacy of a close-up seems like it would be lost in the expanse of live theater.  How do you translate all those heart-sparking moments, often communicated with a glance from a piano, to the back of the house? For one, you cast beautiful vocal talents and genuine musicians and you somehow (miraculously?) transform a stage into an intimate space where the audience feels equal parts privileged and guilty to eavesdrop on a love story.

The movie, Once, introduced me, and the rest of the planet, to Glen Hansard, already a well-loved Irish songwriter by people more in the know than myself, and Marketa Irglova, who together penned the music and lyrics for the musical. I've since seen Hansard in concert as well as obsessed over The Swell Season's haunting/rocking (how often do those go together?) melodies. So my love for the story, the music, and the personalities aligned with this Tony Award-winning musical set me up for some pretty astronomical expectations and I'm thrilled to note that I was not disappointed. This short run at the Orpheum is a must-see for anyone in need of a love story, a sweet song, or proof that the dreams that matter will be bolstered by those that love you.  So really, it's a must-see for everyone.

Following an improbable meeting of a down-trodden Dublin busker and a music-loving (and gifted) immigrant, the audience watches as our heroine nudges our hero back into songwriting. With each song the would-be lovers step a bit closer to a shared dream and the success of that dream is deeply woven into the strength of their connection. Are they soul mates? Mutual saviors at a specific point in time? How would the answers to either question impact a lifelong dream?

These actors aren't alone in their travels.  Far from it, they're surrounded by a community of musicians of such grit and talent, every duet is underscored by a beautiful chorus of warmth. Each actor plays their own instrument and there's no question that the heft of this story lies as much in the connection between our lovers and in the character of a Hometown (in this case, Dublin), as personified by a pack of Czech immigrants and native Irishmen and women who answer life's trials with music.

Once is only in town through April 6th so don't delay on this one! And if you're a student/educator, don't forget to take advantage of rush seats, available at every performance.

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