Recent content from Amelia Rayno
A tour of civil rights landmarks reveals what's changed, and what hasn't
From Memphis to Atlanta, towns surrounding landmarks tell a story.
L.A., El Salvador are mirror images of poverty
Thousands of miles separate two cities where injustice looks the same.
The pandemic abroad: When the airport closes before you can catch a flight home
Before it had confirmed cases of the coronavirus, El Salvador began responding swiftly and aggressively. I didn't make it out in time.
The forgotten roots of — and responsibility for — a diaspora
Whatever it is the U.S. doesn't want today, it's a boomerang in part, as evidenced by a visit to the site of a 1981 massacre in El Salvador.
A special kind of madness: Following Final Four in Central America
Our former college basketball writer is nowhere near the event that once controlled her life every March. But she's doing her best to keep up, even if means some serious improvising.
Twin Cities chefs taking hot cocoa to a whole new level
With chocolate, the opportunities are endless.
Bubbly made easy with this quick guide to the most popular sparkling wines
Champagne, Cava, Prosecco — our bubbly guide has you covered
3 Minnesota distilleries concocting whiskey with bold new flavor profiles
Pop quiz: What does whiskey taste like? Characteristics that come to mind likely include rich and oaky, smoky and smooth. Spirits boasting notes of vanilla, caramel…
How Kim Bartmann became the Twin Cities' most unapologetic restaurateur
For three decades, she's remained relevant in a changing industry, now overseeing 10 different restaurants.
8 great fall trips, from close to home in the Midwest to worldly escapes
Use this guide to plan your fall getaway.
Charcoal is trendy ingredient at Twin Cities restaurants, but comes with risk
Welcome to the dark side of cocktails and lattes.
The Frank and Amelia show: Inside the marriage of WCCO's power couple
The duo behind the Twin Cities' No. 1-rated news show juggle nightly broadcasts, parenting and life outside the studio.
Mary Alton, longtime attorney, mediator and teacher, dies at 71
Hours before Mary S. Alton died following complications with emphysema, her son, Joseph, bent by the hospital bed. His brothers, Adam and Charlie, making the…
Does service in Twin Cities restaurants still matter?
How we dine out is changing, as fine dining turns casual and tableside service gives way to counter service, touch screens and even self-service.
New, improved Mortimer's touts pinball, classic cocktails and live music
New owners have spruced up the Minneapolis dive bar.
Lemon Grass owner to debut new Southeast Asian restaurant in Golden Valley
The new spot comes from the owner of a Brooklyn Park restaurant that is widely recognized as boasting some of the Twin Cities' best Thai food.
10 must-eat foods at St. Paul's two massive Hmong markets
From papaya salad and stuffed chicken wings to spring rolls and pho, the two St. Paul Hmong markets offer a taste of Southeast Asia.
Educator Marilyn Bangtson Wilhelm, a beloved 'Sarge' in the classroom, dies at 88
Several former students from more than 30 years back formed a group text to mourn her loss.
New Iron Range-inspired restaurant to open on Grand Avenue in St. Paul
After closing Sunrise Market and Cafe, owner reopening space as a restaurant called Iron Ranger.
Will work for beer: Twin Cities brands, breweries collaborate for special suds
Instead of coffee mugs, firms are promoting their brand name with customized craft beers.
5 new Twin Cities restaurants make their debut in a busy week for openings
From Parlour St. Paul to Grand Catch, there are suddenly a lot of new places to eat in the Twin Cities.
Meet the baker behind the cookie that became a viral sensation
How kitchen wizard Alison Roman broke the internet.
New York chef returns to Minnesota to open Italian restaurant on Grand Avenue
Hyacinth will take over Golden Fig's old space in St. Paul.
Castle Danger, winner of the Ultimate Beer Bracket, basks in the glow of glory
We talk victory with Castle Danger, the brewery that downed Surly in our second Ultimate Beer Bracket.
From 2018: Castle Danger is the Ultimate Minnesota Beer Bracket champion
The Two Harbors brewery's massive upset win over Surly crowns it king of Minnesota beers.
Former Legends Bar & Grill in Minneapolis to become barbecue restaurant
The former Legends building is getting new life, via some love from its neighbor.
Coming to the plate: Target Field unveils new food options
The Twins concessionaires unveiled a variety of new and returning menu offerings to be served during the 2018 Major League Baseball season on Monday while the team was playing in Pittsburgh.
3 Twin Cities bars where you'll find the latest drink trend: Low-proof cocktails
Here’s the predicament: you’re meeting friends at a hot new bar and you want to partake — but you also have a 6 a.m. workout…
Beer bracket drama as reigning champ Schell's falls, Surly barely hangs on
Surly beat rival Summit by only 57 votes to advance to the Foamy Four.
Finnegans debuts new brewery and taproom in downtown Minneapolis
The charitable brewing company finally has its own facility after 17 years in business.
Day trip from Las Vegas: Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park sparks a hunt for a hidden cave
On the hunt for a hidden cave in a red-rock landscape of strange, rugged beauty.
Bacon flights and smoking cocktails are star attractions at new Stillwater restaurant
The opening of Brick & Bourbon continues the food and beverage growth in the charming riverside town.
Beyond the Irish pub: A neighborhood by neighborhood crawl for St. Patrick's Day
On March 17, we're all a little bit Irish, too many of us to fit into an Irish pub. But no worries, with this guide to interesting neighborhood venues to explore.
Vote for your favorite Minnesota breweries in our Ultimate Beer Bracket
Last year Schell's shocked the beer scene, taking down Surly. What's on tap this year?
How Schell's beat out the favorites in last year's Ultimate Minnesota Beer Bracket
The state's oldest brewery stunned beer fans with upset after upset in our inaugural brewery competition.
New south Minneapolis restaurant celebrates soul food, funk music
Funky Grits is expected to open April 1.
How to throw a star-studded, Champagne-filled, award-winning Oscar party
With just a little planning — and this script full of ideas — you can pull off your own star-studded affair.
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Surly teams with First Avenue for nightclub's own new beer: +1 Golden Ale
The light-bodied ale will debut at the club on March 22.
How I lived it up in Vegas without breaking the bank
When you play your cards right, you can return from Sin City with money to spare.
New globally influenced restaurant opens in Duluth's former Original Coney Island
Martha's Daughter is the brainchild of a chef who has worked at the acclaimed Mission Chinese restaurants.
You'll really want to eat your veggies at these Twin Cities restaurants
These days, produce is more fab than drab, with colorful, inventive and seriously tasty plates hitting menus.
Kitties with a side of coffee: Minneapolis' first cat cafe opens
At the Cafe Meow, there is a coffee side and a cat room, where only 10 to 15 people are allowed at a time, so reservations are encouraged.
LoLo American Kitchen owners opening new Southern-style restaurant in downtown Stillwater
Pearl & the Thief is expected to open this April.
Spring in Fort Myers, Sarasota and Tampa offers more than baseball
Going to Fort Myers for the Twins' spring training? Here are some curveballs to expand your horizons.
St. Paul Downtown Airport lands new restaurant, Holman's Table
The St. Paul airport is for private planes only, but the public can access the restaurant.
Enjoy a real cold one at these 12 Twin Cities ice bars
Where else but the North serves up frozen cocktails at a frozen bar?
St. Paul's Tori Ramen expanding to Minneapolis with upscale noodle shop
The new restaurant will go into the former Victory 44 location this spring.
Super Bowl stadium food: From New England clam roll to South Philly pork sandwich
Big-ticket holders will see some new items, plus old favorites for the Big Game on Feb. 4.
What will you be drinking? 8 Twin Cities cocktail trends for 2018
Here's what's hot, and what's not, for the new year.
We ignored an Irish pub in Wayzata – and its fans took us to task
When McCormick's was left out of a story on the Wayzata food scene, its popularity with locals became clear.
Minnetonka getting new burgers-and-boozy-shakes restaurant by owners of Copper Hen
Eat Street's Copper Hen will debut its "brother" restaurant this summer, calling it Copper Cow.
High-profile openings, closings on tap for Minnesota restaurant scene
Coming With its refreshed look complete, Nicollet Mall will soon be getting a major new culinary landmark driven by a major local name. Andrew Zimmern…
With lots of hot new restaurants, Wayzata is suddenly 'the place to be'
In the past year, five eateries and a boutique hotel have opened, transforming a once-sleepy suburb into a culinary destination.
The classic Easy-Bake Oven is inspiration behind new south Minneapolis bakery
It's an ode to the humble beginnings of proprietor Kristy Dirk, who, like many pastry chefs, started her baking "career" with the culinary toy.
How Eric Dayton convinced Minnesotans — and rest of country — to embrace the 'North'
Eric Dayton wants all Minnesotans to take pride in our state's true North spirit
Step up your Vikings tailgating game with these insane 'meat necklaces'
Throw out those lame pretzels, and add meat to your gameday snack necklace.
Fun and food head to Lyn-Lake corner in Minneapolis with Hasty Tasty
A long-dormant corner of the busy Lyn-Lake intersection has been revived. Hasty Tasty (701 W. Lake St., Mpls., thehastytastympls.com), a restaurant and bar…
Winter doesn't faze 87,000-square-foot aquaponics farm in St. Paul
Three-plus months after debuting in its new, vastly larger location, Urban Organics continues to expand.
How the night before Thanksgiving became the 'biggest drinking day of year'
Also referred to as Blackout Wednesday or Black Wednesday, Drinksgiving was coined about a decade ago.
Cancun-area travelers weigh concerns about tainted alcohol, violence
Playa del Carmen charms, despite the recent worries that have travelers thinking twice about visiting.
One of Minneapolis' last 3.2 dive bars reopens with new concept, stronger beer
Family photos hang on the walls. Longtime inside jokes have references on the menu. Nods to Doug Flicker’s past are everywhere at Bull’s Horn Food…
New cocktail bar and lounge will take over the former Nye's site in Minneapolis
A Nye's "regular" is opening Sonder Shaker, featuring a small menu of laid-back sandwiches and oysters to pair with the drinks.
After 46-year run, Pepitos in south Mpls. could close following string of hardships
Beloved Mexican restaurant up for sale amid owner's health struggles.
What's the rush? MSP Airport offers many reasons to linger
We’ve all experienced the maddening roller coaster that is airport security. One day, you speed through the screening machines in 15 minutes flat. The next,…
From the Travel Desk: Joys of reliving a former stamping grounds
It was the kind of experience I travel for. Each dish, artfully composed, was better than the last. The togarashi-spiced salmon crudo. The chimichurri octopus.…
Prep the hammerschlagen! Your guide to Oktoberfest parties in Minnesota
Not every international holiday is embraced by Minnesotans. There's something about Oktoberfest, though — and we suspect it's the beer.
Waterfront restaurant by 'Sioux chef' company to open on original Fuji-Ya site
Owamni: An Indigenous Kitchen will open as the featured full-service restaurant in the first phase of the upcoming Water Works project on the Mississippi River.
Sift Gluten Free bakery opening brick-and-mortar location soon in south Minneapolis
South Minneapolis is poised to get a new gluten-free bakery and a new juice bar. Sift Gluten Free (4557 Bloomington Av. S., Mpls.,
New frozen treat emporium with vegan ice cream and crepes coming to Mpls.
Crepe & Spoon is set to debut sometime in December.
Eclipse fever? Next total solar phenomenon will be visible from U.S. in 2024
The sailboat we were on drifted further into Cape Cod Bay as the clear skies slowly became hazy. My travel companion and I were just…
Indoor food truck restaurant opens in St. Paul with 20-pound ice cream sandwiches
The new 8,000-square-foot Seventh Street Truck Park houses various food trucks serving different menus.
Big Fat Bacon purveyor 'commands the room' from her wheelchair
A Maplewood businesswoman takes a "brains-on" approach to running the Big Fat Bacon booth at the fair.
Mesmerizing rolled ice cream craze arrives in Twin Cities with 2 new shops
The rolled ice cream craze has officially hit the Twin Cities, and it's doing so with a bang as two specialty shops for the trendy food are debuting this weekend in St. Paul.
Seven Steakhouse gets a makeover thanks to acclaimed Minneapolis chef
Sameh Wadi of World Street Kitchen and the former Saffron has revamped the massive restaurant's menu and look.
Top restaurateurs in Twin Cities see gems in old dive bars
The trend of top-notch chefs embracing the bars comes as costs of outfitting a commercial kitchen rise, casual dining grows in popularity and a hunger for nostalgia builds.
