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Aquatennial kicks off July 18–26 with Milk Carton Boat Races and the Torchlight Parade, while Minnesota Yacht Club Festival brings The Lumineers, Matchbox Twenty and The Strokes to Harriet Island. Plus Rondo Days, Minnehaha Falls Art Fair, Saints and Lynx home games, and the best vegan patios.
Your Twin Cities weekend rundown for July 17, 2026: Aquatennial kicks off, Harriet Island goes big with the Yacht Club Festival, and Rondo Days lands at Penumbra. Plus vegan patio picks from mplsvegan.com.
In this episode:
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George: —and I'm telling you, Laura, the second that sun hit my face on the Stone Arch this morning, I knew. Patio szn. Officially.
Laura: George, it is JULY. Patio season started like two months ago.
George: Okay but there's regular patio season and then there's THIS week. Aquatennial week. The whole city just... exhales.
Laura: Fair. Fair. There is a specific frequency the Cities hum at in mid-July, I'll give you that.
George: See? See, you feel it too.
Laura: I said "fair," don't make it a whole thing.
George: Too late, I'm putting it on a t-shirt.
Laura: Ope, and now we're monetizing my feelings, cool cool cool.
George: Alright, alright. So — quick weather read. Warm, sticky, that classic Minnesota summer swampiness. Sun's out through the weekend as far as I can tell.
Laura: Which means every single patio from West 7th to Uptown is gonna be packed shoulder to shoulder by five o'clock Friday.
George: The people, Laura. So many people.
Laura: You LOVE the people. Don't start.
George: I love the IDEA of the people. In practice I want a two-top in the back with a breeze.
Laura: That is the most George sentence you have ever said on this show.
George: I contain multitudes. Speaking of — Aquatennial actually kicks off tomorrow. July 18th through the 26th.
Laura: Yes! And free, which — bless. In this economy.
George: Milk Carton Boat Races are back at Bde Maka Ska. Sandcastle competition same day.
Laura: The Milk Carton Boat Races are legitimately one of the funniest things this city does. Grown adults in a vessel made of garbage.
George: It's civic engineering at its purest.
Laura: Civic engineering. Okay.
George: And then Torchlight Parade Wednesday the 22nd. Seven-thirty on Nicollet Mall.
Laura: See, that one I love. That one hits. My mom used to take us to Torchlight when we were little.
George: Yeah?
Laura: Yeah. We'd walk down from — we were over on the north side then — and she'd let us get one of those big pretzels and we'd sit on the curb and just... watch. It's a core memory.
George: That's beautiful.
Laura: Don't get soft on me.
George: I'm ALREADY soft. That's my brand.
Laura: Marketing check, marketing check.
George: Okay so before we get too far — heads up, this whole weekend is also Yacht Club Festival. Harriet Island. Today through Sunday.
Laura: Right, and that lineup is... a lot. Like, in a good way?
George: The Lumineers. Matchbox Twenty. The Strokes. The Black Keys. Cage the Elephant.
Laura: George. That is a millennial fever dream. That is somebody's 2011 iPod on shuffle.
George: It really is. And Semisonic and Yam Haus repping the locals.
Laura: Semisonic on Harriet Island, in July, at sunset? Come on.
George: You're gonna go?
Laura: I'm THINKING about it. It's spendy though.
George: It's spendy, yeah.
Laura: But look — if you're a person who wanted to be at that show in 2003 and life got in the way, this is your redemption arc.
George: Redemption arc. Okay.
Laura: Meanwhile over in St. Paul, Rondo Days is Saturday. Penumbra Theatre, noon to seven.
George: Tell me about Rondo Days. I know the basics, but you grew up around this stuff.
Laura: So — Rondo was the historic Black neighborhood in St. Paul before I-94 got plowed right through the middle of it in the fifties and sixties. Whole community, uprooted.
George: Right.
Laura: And Rondo Days is the celebration of that neighborhood. The people, the music, the food, the culture that survived all of it. It's joyful. It's not a somber thing. It's a party with a memory.
George: I love how you put that. A party with a memory.
Laura: If you've never gone, this is the year. Penumbra hosting is perfect too.
George: Noted. Adding to the list. And then there's Minnehaha Falls Art Fair running Friday through Sunday too?
Laura: Yep. Friday three to eight, Saturday ten to seven, Sunday ten to five.
George: You could genuinely do a different thing every hour of the weekend.
Laura: You could burn yourself OUT trying, is what you could do.
George: Ope, true.
Laura: Pace yourself, people. Pick two things. Maybe three. Not seven.
George: Pick two, drink water, wear the hat. That's my Aquatennial survival guide.
Laura: The hat is non-negotiable.
George: Okay — food. Let's get into food. Because if you're doing all this outdoor stuff you need fuel.
Laura: You need fuel and you need it FAST because you have things to do.
George: Exactly. And I gotta plug our sponsor here — mplsvegan.com. If you're plant-based or plant-curious in the Cities, that is the map.
Laura: It really is. That's how I found half the places I love.
George: Okay so — patio move, plant-based, this weekend. Where you sending people?
Laura: J. Selby's in St. Paul, easy. Get the Dinger, thank me later.
George: The Dinger changed my life. I am not being dramatic.
Laura: You are always being dramatic.
George: About this? No. About this I am understated.
Laura: Oh, understated George. My favorite George.
George: Okay what else. Herbivorous Butcher over in Northeast — perfect if you're grilling this weekend and want to bring something that'll actually convert a skeptic.
Laura: Their ribs. Their RIBS, George.
George: I know.
Laura: I brought those to a cookout last summer and my uncle — my uncle who deep-fries turkeys for sport — my uncle said, and I quote, "these are pretty good."
George: That is a Michelin star from that man.
Laura: That is THREE Michelin stars from that man. He does not give compliments.
George: Okay who else. Reverie Cafe if you want that classic hangout energy.
Laura: Reverie is a whole vibe. Their patio in the summer is unmatched.
George: Hard Times if you want, you know, Hard Times.
Laura: If you know, you know.
George: If you don't know, go find out. It is an experience. A true Twin Cities vegan cafe institution.
Laura: Trio Plant-Based if you want something a little more sit-down-nice.
George: Trio is so good. And they've got that patio situation.
Laura: Hello Pizza for a slice. The Herbalist if you want to try something new.
George: Okay wait — I have to admit something.
Laura: Oh?
George: I have never been to The Herbalist. I keep meaning to. I have not made it happen.
Laura: George. You talk about the vegan scene every week.
George: I KNOW. I know. It's on the list. This weekend, maybe.
Laura: Put it on the calendar. Right now. In the show notes energy.
George: Consider it noted. Publicly. On the podcast. Held accountable.
Laura: We'll follow up next week. If you haven't gone I'm calling you out.
George: Fair. Fair.
Laura: And listen — if you're heading down to Rondo Days or Minnehaha, you're already in easy reach of a bunch of these spots. Plan the day.
George: Great tip. Farmers market first, patio lunch, festival, patio dinner.
Laura: Speaking of — Mill City Farmers Market Saturday, eight to one. Down by the Guthrie in the Mill Ruins area.
George: One of my favorite places on this earth.
Laura: Genuinely one of the best farmers markets in the country and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
George: The gloves are off.
Laura: And St. Paul Downtown Market's going, Kingfield's going, Linden Hills — all the neighborhood markets are in full swing.
George: This is peak season. Tomatoes are about to be UNREAL.
Laura: Tomato season, George. TOMATO season. We are three weeks out from perfection.
George: You betcha.
Laura: I saw one you betcha.
George: It slipped out. It was organic.
Laura: Uh huh.
George: Okay, cannabis corner. Which — quick shoutout — mncannabishub.com is our other sponsor and honestly it's how I keep up with what is happening in this weird, fast-moving Minnesota market.
Laura: It's a lot to track. Bless them for tracking it.
George: So — actual news this week. Kind of a big one. There's a testing lab crunch happening.
Laura: Right, I saw this. Legend Technical Services shut down their cannabis testing side in mid-June.
George: Which dropped Minnesota from five certified labs to four. Three fully licensed.
Laura: And retailers are already reporting thinner shelves because product is sitting waiting on lab results.
George: Yep. Bottleneck.
Laura: OCM hasn't publicly commented as far as I've seen. But if you're wondering why your usual gummy isn't at your usual shop — that's probably why.
George: It's not necessarily the shop's fault. It's upstream.
Laura: Which means be nice to your budtender. They're navigating this too.
George: Minnesota nice at the counter, please.
Laura: Always Minnesota nice at the counter.
George: Also worth flagging — OCM's petition window for new cannabinoid products and categories is open through July 31, four p.m. If you're in the industry, mark it.
Laura: That's a real deadline. Two weeks.
George: Two weeks-ish. And I'll toss another one in — there's a wild story out of Osseo.
Laura: Osseo?
George: The city of Osseo paused their planned municipal dispensary. As in, city-owned dispensary. After they already spent seven hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars on a building.
Laura: WHAT.
George: And lined up a four million dollar tax abatement bond.
Laura: Hold on hold on hold on. A city. Bought a building. To sell weed. And then... paused?
George: Paused.
Laura: Oh, Osseo.
George: It's a cautionary tale for any Minnesota city thinking they're gonna wade into the retail side of this.
Laura: Because retail is HARD. Even for people who do retail for a living.
George: And weed retail specifically is a totally different animal.
Laura: You cannot just city-council your way into being a dispensary operator. That is a real business.
George: That's the whole story right there.
Laura: I feel for whoever has to explain that budget line at the next council meeting though.
George: Uff da.
Laura: UFF da.
George: Okay — if you're patio-shopping cannabis wise, quick reminders. Wildflower in the North Loop is a great walk-in. Simply Crafted over in Northeast.
Laura: Stigma if you're doing THC beverages, which — genuinely great move for a hot patio day.
George: Green Goods down in Bloomington, Edina Canna in Edina if you're southwest metro.
Laura: A little seltzer, a little shade, a little Semisonic wafting over from Harriet Island. That's a Saturday.
George: That's the dream Saturday.
Laura: Please know your limits and please don't drive. Obvious but important.
George: Always important. Never not important.
Laura: Take the light rail. It EXISTS. Use it.
George: Weekend vibes real quick — what's the move?
Laura: Okay, my honest move? Mill City Market Saturday morning. Coffee, tomatoes, maybe some flowers.
George: Classic.
Laura: Then over to Rondo Days in the afternoon. Then dinner on a patio. Probably J. Selby's if I'm on that side of the river anyway.
George: That is a PERFECT day. A+.
Laura: What's yours?
George: I'm doing Minnehaha Falls Art Fair Friday evening. Then Saturday, Aquatennial stuff at Bde Maka Ska — I gotta see the milk carton boats, it's a spiritual obligation.
Laura: Spiritual obligation.
George: And then Torchlight Wednesday. Non-negotiable.
Laura: Also — if you're at First Ave this weekend, quick heads up. Tonight it's the Janet Jackson dance night, "Miss Jackson If You're Nasty," nine p.m.
George: Iconic.
Laura: Saturday is Club XCX, also nine. And Wednesday the 22nd, Lucero at seven-thirty.
George: Great range from that room this week.
Laura: That's First Ave. That is exactly what First Ave does.
George: Sports quick — Saints are home all week at CHS Field.
Laura: Louisville tonight through Sunday, then Columbus starting Tuesday.
George: CHS Field on a summer night is one of the great Minnesota experiences.
Laura: Lynx are home Saturday at seven, Target Center.
George: LYNX. Skol Lynx.
Laura: That's not — that's not what we say, George.
George: I know but let me have it.
Laura: Let him have it, folks.
George: Twins on the road. Home the 24th vs the A's.
Laura: And Loons next home game is the 25th at Allianz vs Vancouver.
George: Okay one quick food-news bite — Asia Village opened last month up at Northtown in Blaine.
Laura: Yes, one hundred and twenty five THOUSAND square feet.
George: 85 Degrees is in there, Hokkaido Ramen House, a bunch of vendors.
Laura: If you have not made the trip north yet, this is a good weekend for it. It's a whole day out.
George: And also, hot ice cream tip — Bogati opened in Hopkins in June. Ecuadorian ice cream with cheese on top.
Laura: Cheese on top?
George: Cheese on top.
Laura: I'm listening.
George: I have not tried it yet either.
Laura: Two admissions in one episode, George.
George: I'm being HONEST with the people.
Laura: The people appreciate it.
George: Okay — takeaway. If you take one thing from this episode.
Laura: One thing.
George: Pick a festival, pick a patio, plan them together. Don't just wander. This week has too much going on to freestyle.
Laura: That's a real one. Anchor your day around one thing and let everything else orbit it.
George: Yes.
Laura: And — my add — leave room for the accidental thing. The neighbor you run into. The little band playing on a corner. Don't overschedule.
George: That's the better version of my advice.
Laura: That's why I'm here.
George: Alright — that is our show. Thank you as always to our sponsors — mplsvegan.com for keeping the plant-based map current, and mncannabishub.com for making sense of a market that reinvents itself every eleven minutes.
Laura: Both worth bookmarking. Genuinely.
George: Get outside this weekend. Drink water. Tip well. Say hi to somebody at the market.
Laura: Be nice to your budtender. Be nice to your bartender. Just... be nice, generally.
George: Minnesota nice. It's a whole thing.
Laura: It is a whole thing.
George: Catch you next time, Minneapolis.
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).