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Minneapolis Aquatennial returns July 18-26 with the Torchlight Parade and a new Lake Nokomis floating-lantern night market. Plus Twins vs. Angels, Lynx vs. Liberty, Bouncing Souls at First Ave, Asia Village in Blaine, and Diane Moua's Northeast expansion.
George and Laura round up the week of July 8, 2026 in the Twin Cities — festivals, ballgames, farmers markets, new food halls, and the cannabis supply crunch.
In this episode:
Sources:
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George: —and I'm telling you, Laura, I walked over the Stone Arch Bridge this morning and it was already warm at like seven a.m.
Laura: George, you say that every July like it's a shock.
George: Ope, I know, I know. But there's something about that first real patio week that just... hits.
Laura: It hits because you finally stopped wearing that fleece vest. Be honest.
George: Okay, fair. Fair.
Laura: The Cities in July, though? Yeah. It's the good stuff.
George: So look — Aquatennial is basically right around the corner. July 18 through the 26th.
Laura: Wait, already? Where did the summer go.
George: I know. Torchlight Parade down Nicollet on the 22nd, Aqua Block Party on the 19th...
Laura: The Milk Cart Boat Races are back too, right?
George: Milk Cart Boat Races, yep. Same day as the block party.
Laura: I love that we have a whole civic tradition of racing boats made out of milk cartons.
George: It's Minnesota, doncha know. That's just what we do.
Laura: Don't. Don't do the voice.
George: I wasn't doing a voice!
Laura: George. You were doing a voice.
George: Okay maybe a little voice. Moving on. There's also a new floating-lantern night market at Lake Nokomis this year.
Laura: Wait, floating lantern? Like on the water?
George: On the water. That's the whole pitch.
Laura: Okay THAT I'm showing up for. That sounds gorgeous.
George: Right? Bring a blanket, bring a friend, done deal.
Laura: Before we get too deep — this weekend, though. What's actually happening THIS weekend.
George: Big weekend, actually. Minnesota Country Club Fest is out at Harriet Island.
Laura: Friday and Saturday?
George: Friday and Saturday, yep. Beach Boys, Trampled by Turtles, Charley Crockett.
Laura: Trampled by Turtles on the river? Come on.
George: See, that's the lineup where you go, alright, somebody planned this.
Laura: That's a whole vibe.
George: And Twins are home this weekend against the Angels, Friday through Sunday.
Laura: Target Field on a warm July night is a top-five Minneapolis thing.
George: Top three for me, honestly.
Laura: Okay what are your top two then, because now I need to know.
George: I did that to myself. Uh — Stone Arch at sunset, First Ave when the crowd's really into it, and Target Field. That's my three.
Laura: See, that's a real answer. I'll allow it.
George: And speaking of First Ave — Bouncing Souls on Saturday.
Laura: Ope, that's gonna be sweaty.
George: Very sweaty. And then Sunday it's Paul Oakenfold and The Crystal Method.
Laura: Wait — those two on the same bill?
George: Same bill.
Laura: That's a time machine. That's a straight-up 2001 time machine.
George: I mean, I'll go.
Laura: Oh I know you'll go.
George: And Lynx are home Saturday too, against New York.
Laura: Lynx-Liberty at Target Center? That's the ticket of the weekend.
George: You think that beats the Twins?
Laura: George. Yes. It's not close.
George: Okay, noted.
Laura: Lynx have been the story of the summer and you know it.
George: You're right, you're right. I'll take the L on that one.
Laura: Thank you.
George: Okay — food. Let's talk food.
Laura: Yes. Because it is farmers market weather.
George: Mill City is going Saturday, eight to one, down by 2nd Street.
Laura: That's my Saturday. Every Saturday.
George: And St. Paul Farmers' Market in Lowertown, same deal — Saturday morning, Sunday morning.
Laura: Don't sleep on Midtown either. Midtown's open like five days a week right now.
George: Wednesday through Sunday, yeah. Over on East Lake.
Laura: That one's underrated. Really underrated.
George: Have you been to that new Asia Village out in Blaine yet?
Laura: Not YET. But it's on the list.
George: 125,000 square feet. In the old Northtown Mall.
Laura: That's not a food hall, that's a food kingdom.
George: And it's got the first 85°C Bakery Cafe in Minnesota.
Laura: Okay, real talk — I don't know what 85°C is.
George: Oh no.
Laura: What. Educate me.
George: Honestly? I only know it's a huge Taiwanese bakery chain. Beyond that... I got nothing.
Laura: Good, at least we're both dumb together.
George: Learning in public. That's the show.
Laura: Anyway, we're going. Field trip.
George: Field trip. And downtown St. Paul got a new coffee shop too — River Valley Coffee, in the Lowry Building.
Laura: On the ground floor?
George: Ground floor, yep.
Laura: Good. West 7th and downtown St. Paul needed more good morning options.
George: And the big one — Diane Moua's Hmong American spot in Northeast? Planning to roughly double in size.
Laura: Get OUT.
George: I know.
Laura: That is one of the best restaurants in the city right now.
George: And she came out of Spoon and Stable, Bellecour — she's the real deal.
Laura: Watching her build that place has been one of my favorite Twin Cities stories of the year.
George: Same. Genuinely.
Laura: Okay — this is where I have to plug our friends.
George: Do it.
Laura: If you are plant-based, or plant-curious, or just wanna eat well — mplsvegan.com.
George: The best map of the vegan scene in the Cities. Hands down.
Laura: J. Selby's over in St. Paul. Herbivorous Butcher in Northeast.
George: Reverie. Hard Times. Trio.
Laura: Hello Pizza. The Herbalist.
George: You basically can't have a bad meal at any of those.
Laura: Bold claim, George.
George: I'll die on that hill.
Laura: I'll actually back you up on Trio. Trio's patio is a summer move.
George: See? Consensus.
Laura: Rare on this show.
George: Very rare.
Laura: And speaking of patios — Uptown's been busy already.
George: Uptown, NE Arts District. The Greenway's packed with bikes at like nine at night.
Laura: The Greenway at dusk is such a Minneapolis thing that I don't think people appreciate.
George: I take it for granted. I really do.
Laura: Try explaining it to someone from a city without one.
George: You just can't.
Laura: Okay — cannabis corner.
George: Cannabis corner. It's, uh... it's kind of a weird moment.
Laura: Yeah, walk me through it. Because I've been hearing "shortages" but I don't fully get it.
George: So — Minnesota's licensed testing labs went from five to three.
Laura: Wait, what happened?
George: Legend Technical Services stopped testing back in mid-June.
Laura: Ope.
George: And when your testing capacity shrinks, everything downstream slows down.
Laura: So the retailers are just... sitting there waiting on lab results?
George: Basically. That's why shelves have gaps.
Laura: That's frustrating.
George: And OCM has only issued 240 licenses so far out of like 3,541 applicants.
Laura: Hold on — 240 out of thirty-five hundred?
George: Out of the fall 2024 preapproval round and the general cycle that closed this March.
Laura: That's a lot of small businesses stuck in limbo.
George: And the legislature pushed the NEXT round of new licenses out to July 1, 2027.
Laura: Wait — 2027?
George: 2027.
Laura: George, that's a full year away.
George: Full year.
Laura: That's rough. That's really rough for anybody trying to open a shop.
George: It is. And I think it's the part of the story people aren't tracking.
Laura: Yeah, everybody's watching dispensary shelves and missing the bigger squeeze.
George: For folks who wanna actually keep up with all this — mncannabishub.com.
Laura: That's the one. Real information, actual local reporting.
George: And meanwhile if you're just shopping — you got Wildflower in the North Loop.
Laura: Stigma for THC beverages, which honestly, patio season? That's the move.
George: Simply Crafted in Northeast.
Laura: Green Goods down in Bloomington.
George: Edina Canna.
Laura: So the shops are open, just — be patient if your specific thing isn't stocked.
George: Be patient, be nice to the budtender.
Laura: Minnesota nice extends to the dispensary.
George: As it should.
Laura: Okay — one takeaway for people this weekend. What are we telling them?
George: Alright. Here's mine — pick ONE thing outside this weekend. Just one.
Laura: One thing.
George: Country Club Fest, Twins game, Lynx game, farmers market, whatever. Just don't spend the whole weekend inside.
Laura: That's a good one. Because these weekends go fast.
George: They go so fast. And then it's the State Fair and then it's over.
Laura: Don't say that. Don't put that energy out there.
George: I'm just saying.
Laura: My add — if you're doing a market Saturday, walk it. Don't drive if you can help it.
George: Ooh, good one.
Laura: Parking downtown on a market morning is not it.
George: Not it at all. And the walk over is half the fun.
Laura: Half the fun.
George: Alright — that's the show, folks.
Laura: Big thanks to our friends at mplsvegan.com — go find your next favorite spot.
George: And mncannabishub.com for keeping you in the loop on all of THAT.
Laura: Get outside. Be kind. Tip your servers.
George: Skol, be good to each other, catch you next time.
Laura: Catch you next time.
Three times a week, the Twin Cities in 12 minutes. Real restaurants you should try, real local business news, real events worth your weekend. Sponsored by mplsveganhub.com and mncannabishub.com — for serious Minneapolis business owners, also brought to you by Quiet Coyote (quietcoyotemn.com).