🏳️‍🌈 Pride parties, Sunsetmaxxing, Cat Tour

Around The Twin Cities This Week

• Catspotting: Want to look at people’s cats through their windows? That’s exactly what you can do at the ninth annual cat tour, hosted by Wedge LIVE. Walk around South Minneapolis with a crowd of neighbors; cheer when you see a kitty. Wednesday, Mueller Park from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Watch our show live: City Cast is taking the stage at Pilllar Forum for a live podcast taping. Hear all our hot takes, gaffes, and uncontrollable laughter in real time. We’ll be joined by the Pilllar crew to chat Northeast Minneapolis news and gossip. Thursday, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Sunsetmaxxing: Party on the Walker Art Center’s terrace through the evening. You can enjoy the setting sun with DJ sets, cocktails, and a custom airbrushed T-shirt. Thursday, 6 p.m.
• Porchfest szn: The porch-as-stage festivities move on over to the Lynnhurst neighborhood in Minneapolis this week. You know the drill: wander around the neighborhood and enjoy some live music on somebody’s front steps. Thursday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Celebrate Pride: Is country music gay? Musician Emmy Woods thinks so. Catch Woods and other performers at Country Queers Make Do on Friday. Jump into the celebrations this weekend at the TC Pride Festival in Loring Park, or the Minneapolis People’s Pride in Powderhorn Park. I know you like a patio – take the party to the Icehouse on Sunday.

Frontlines: During Operation Metro Surge, Minneapolis Council Member Jason Chavez was frequently seen on the streets monitoring immigration enforcement and talking to neighbors. Chavez joins today’s show to talk about how ICE is still quietly detaining residents. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities / Minnesota Reformer]

Flag fracas: After a local poll showed half of Minnesotans approved of the new state flag design, we asked for readers’ thoughts. Some of you rep the new flag proudly. “I love the new flag. I wear a pin of it on my coat,” Lyndsey C.R. said.

Some have now soured on the old flag. “Despite being relatively neutral on the new flag I have developed an immediate distrust of anywhere and anyone flying the old flag. It now reads as something like the Confederate flag to me and I have an immediate feeling of revulsion looking at it,” Kendra F. said.

And some of you think we all should probably focus on something else. “I do not think the flag should be one of Minnesota’s top political issues. We have bigger problems to solve,” Joey D. said. “But if we are going to debate it, I think the new flag is a boring but responsible solution. It removed a symbol that caused real harm, replaced it with something neutral, and moved Minnesota toward a cleaner and more durable design.”

Thanks to everyone who wrote in.

Another scandal at CTC: An ex-stagehand at the Children’s Theatre Company has been indicted on two counts of child pornography. The theater said Ricky McAllister, the former employee, hasn’t been with the company since June 2025 and McCallister is not accused of abusing any students. In 2019, the theater settled with former students who alleged experiencing sexual abuse in the 1970s. [MPR News]

Seen by you: I asked for pictures from your neighborhood walk, and Debra D. delivered. Thanks Debra! Can you guess what neighborhood the snapshots above are from? Reply to this email to let me know.

Cuts incoming: St. Paul is predicting a $26 million budget deficit for 2027, the largest in recent memory. Mayor Kaohly Her partially blamed the rising cost of fuel and other operational expenses. The Pioneer Press’s Fred Melo describes the situation this way: “St. Paul is facing a pandemic-level financial challenge, but this time with no federal bailout in sight.” [Pioneer Press]

Monday, June 22

• 🆓 FIFA World Cup Watch Party | Utepils Brewing
• 🆓 City Cast Co-Working Pop-Up | Pilllar Forum
• 🆓 Justin Ellis presents The Cruelty of Nice Folks | Magers & Quinn
• 🆓 Uproar Comedy Open Mic | Bryant Lake Bowl
• 🆓 Red Planet | MetroNOME Brewery
• 🎵 John Pizzarelli Trio: Dear Mr. Bennett | Dakota
• 🎸 Dexter and the Moonrocks | Fine Line

Tuesday, June 23

• 🆓 Free Coffee Courtesy of City Cast | Pilllar Forum
• 🆓 The 5th Annual Two Spirit Powwow | Minneapolis American Indian Center
• 💃 Beginner Social Dancing: Rumba and Salsa | Eastside Food Co-op
• 🆓 Off The Dock: Lasse + KCMO | Indeed Brewing
• 🍻 Trouble Brewing for Craft Beermakers | Bryant Lake Bowl
• 🎸 The Melismatics and Che Arthur | 7th St Entry
• 🎷 Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra | Jazz Central Studios

• President at Augsburg University | Salary not specified
• TV Reporter News at KSTP-TV | $38.46 – $45.67 per hour
• Zoo Campus Security Officer – Evening Shift at Minnesota Zoo | $23.61 – $32.54 per hour (PT)
• Green Tech Institute Lead Instructor and Manager at MIGIZI Communications | $60k – $70k per year
• Shop Manager at Wildflyer Coffee | $56k per year