As Lin-Manuel Miranda's blockbuster musical about the Founding Fathers and Mothers draws tens of thousands of theatergoers to the Orpheum Theatre, restaurants in the Minneapolis entertainment district are getting into the spirit. Or, make that spirits. The Founder's Fizz at FireLake includes gin, lime juice, simple syrup and soda water. Or you can order the Dueling Sangrias — "Hamilton red and Aaron Burr white," according to server Karissa Tricas. At Brazilian eatery Fogo de Chão, you can sample The Rum Where It Happens. "It's somewhere between a margarita and mojito," said general manager Eliseu Ziger. Or try the Burr-Berry Wheat beer at Rock Bottom Brewery, infused with a blackberry essence. Mercy, across the street from the Orpheum, went full "Hamilton" with a three-course menu. Executive chef Ben Spangler culled the recipes of Thomas Jefferson's cook, James Hemings, who is considered America's first French-trained chef. The older brother of Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave and mistress, he cooked a reconciliation dinner for Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton in 1790. Patrons can choose between chilled asparagus or white bean and ham hock soup for the first course, Boeuf a la Mode "Pot Roast" or lobster mac and cheese for the second. The dessert is "1800's Snow Egg": vanilla ice cream in a poached meringue, served with brandied cherry sabayon. Yum.ROHAN PRESTON
A 'Strangely Fine' reissue
It's not the new album the band has hinted at for what feels like most of the 2010s, but Semisonic announced plans to reissue its best-loved '90s record to mark the 20th anniversary. A deluxe edition of "Feeling Strangely Fine" will be released Oct. 19 — including a first-ever vinyl version — with four bonus tracks, new artwork and liner notes. Among the unreleased songs is the wistful gem "Long Way From Home," which the band revisited during three sold-out performances of "F.S.F." last December at First Avenue and the Turf Club. Semisonic kicked off a PledgeMusic campaign to market the record directly to fans. In addition to the usual posters, T-shirts, etc., the bonus options include music lessons with bassist John Munson or drummer Jake Slichter ($400) and even a house concert by the band ($15,000). As for an all-new record, there's still no formal hint yet of its arrival. If you were a band that hasn't put out a record in 17 years, though, a semi-ambitious reissue campaign seems like a good way to fire up the old machinery and reconnect with old fans.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Sally ho
Five local artists and arts organizations have been announced as winners of the Sally Awards: Gao Hong, the Carleton College instructor who is a master of the Chinese lute, or pipa; the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, which joins more than 70 volunteer instructors and 1,000 students to explore the rehabilitative possibilities of the written word; Maia Maiden, a leader of the local dance community for two decades; Mizna, the St. Paul-based organization that uses the arts to combat anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric, and Washburn High School's Blackbox Acting Program, which helps students of various backgrounds create original theater pieces. Established in memory of philanthropist Sally Ordway Irvine, the awards will be presented, along with $1,000 checks, Oct. 15 at Ordway Center.R.P.
Funny money
A 19-year-old legal assistant from Galesville, Wis., was named the Funniest Person in the Twin Cities at Acme Comedy's annual competition Tuesday. Aidan McCluskey outscored four other finalists with a short set that included a clever bit urging folks to treat homeless people with the same compassion they show dogs. McCluskey, who only started doing stand-up five months ago, received a $1,000 check. "I've never had this much money at one time," he said after the show. "I'll probably blow it on something stupid."
NEAL JUSTIN
Clothes make the Superstar
"Eighteen or 19 years ago I played at the Teen Fair," Har Mar Superstar recalled Sunday at the State Fair. "And I ran around in my underwear and I got banned." The Teen Fair is history, and so is Har Mar's banishment. In his return engagement at the fair's Bandshell, he reprised the song during which he'd gone all Fruit of the Loom — "Power Lunch." What was the real-life Sean Tillmann wearing this time when he sang it? A sweatsuit emblazoned with a reproduction of the packaging of Ramen Noodles. Chicken flavor.
