🐈‍⬛ Modern Times is back

Post Modern Times Cafe Is Reopening

After seven months of operating under a free and donation-based model, owner Dylan Alverson says prices are returning to the menu at Modern Times Cafe; they’ll still be serving some free meals, just at a capped amount each day. The cafe reopens on Wednesday, Aug. 26. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

• The impact of free food: On today's episode of the podcast, Alverson relayed multiple stories of how operating as a free restaurant created a "space of true equality" like he has never seen. Customers who haven't had the opportunity to go to a restaurant in years would break down crying in the booths after being treated to a meal and an hour of being treated with dignity. Alverson said the restaurant has made over 30,000 meals since transitioning to the free and donation-based model in January.
• Going forward: After giving away free food for seven months, Alverson says that "making the worst business plan ever" has put the restaurant in a better place financially for this time of year than it has been since the pandemic. As donations have slowed, Modern Times will be giving away 25 free meals per day in order to keep the free food flowing for the long term. While the cafe will be known as "Modern Times" again, they will continue to house their philanthropic program under the name "Post Modern Times."

RIP, BGP: After almost 50 years and multiple generations of family ownership, the Big Green Pepper stand will not be slinging raviolis and stuffed peppers at the State Fair this year. When Margaret Barret applied to pass ownership of the Pepper onto her son (as her father did to her), the State Fair denied her application and ordered the family to pay someone to demolish the concrete pepper-shaped structure. You can still get some treats from the neighboring Strawberry Patch though, which is owned by the same family. [Racket]

Storytelling through food: BIPOC Foodways started their Immigrant Kitchen series to give immigrant women a platform to tell their stories and share their culture through ticketed home cooked meals. Now those stories are also being told in print, as BIPOC Foodways just launched their new zine, Matriarch. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

• On today's episode of the podcast, hear more about the Immigrant Kitchen series and the Matriarch zine from BIPOC Foodways founder Mecca Bos.

Not a serial killer: Minneapolis Police recently discovered three bodies in three days in various Minneapolis waters, but officials have determined that the incidents were not connected. [MPR News]

No permission needed: Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise reduced the cost of a contract with Flock Safety before signing, which allowed him to install the license plate reader cameras without input or approval from the county board of commissioners. Some residents say the reduced cost was an intentional move to avoid public input. [Sahan Journal]

NIL money: If you had piles of money thrown at you while you were a college student, how would you spend it? A few Gophers football players who have found themselves in that exact situation gave pretty varied answers: a defensive lineman bought a speedboat, a running back is buying his childhood home, and a linebacker said "the biggest thing in my life is I can go to a restaurant and get an appetizer now." [Pioneer Press]

Monday, August 24

• 🖤 My Chemical Romance: Long Live the Black Parade | Target Field
• 🏀 Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries | Target Center
• 🚲 FTW (femme/trans/women) Group Bike Ride to the Lynx Game | Perennial Cycle
• 🎞️ My Own Private Idaho in 35mm | Trylon Cinema
• 🍑 Stealing Beauty | Parkway Theater
• 🚲 Solidarity Ride (Part of Black Bike Week) | Venture Bikes
• 🌭 Summer Service Industry BBQ | (sign up for location)
• 😂 Uproar Comedy Open Mic | Bryant Lake Bowl

Tuesday, August 25

• 🏭 Nitzer Ebb with Rhys Fulber and Sam Woodman | Turf Club
• 🎸 Mo Lowda & The Humble | Fine Line
• 🕺 The Blues Brothers | Parkway Theater
• 🚲 Black Women to the Rescue (Part of Black Bike Week) | Venture Bikes
• 🧵 "Living Threads" | Rosalux Gallery
• 🆓 Northeast Run/Walk Club | Bar Oscar
• 🆓 Old Town Tuesday Night Jam | Whiteys Old Town Saloon

• Tool and Die Maker / Tooling Specialist at Nordic Ware | $26–$36 per hour
• Canoemobile Outdoor Leader at Wilderness Inquiry | $19–$20 per hour
• Internal Audit Deputy Director at Ramsey County | $114k–$172k per year
• Brand Creative Content Writer at Second Harvest Heartland | $72k–$80k per year
• Manager of Marketing at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities | $58k–$66k per year