Secrets of the City

From Jason’s Station, a report on one of the oddest ordinances I have ever heard of, prohibiting drinking while standing outdoors on a city-approved patio seating area! It is bad enough that this 20-year old ordinance is still on the books, it seems city inspectors are enforcing the policy, which is up for review later this month. I (ahem) played a role in some of those patios opening, I’d like to be able to wander out on them with an adult beverage now and then.

What do you think, MNSpeakers?

The Deets has complained about the Hamm’s Beer sculpture in downtown St. Paul, a sculpture with some history to it. (And, as I have written, a bear with some history to it.) Now The Deets finds what he considers a fitting tribute in Tower, Mn.

What other local characetrs deserve tributes like this, and what tribute would be appropriate?

Everybpdy’s talking about Donny Dirk’s Zombie Den, a new bar on 2nd St. The Star Tribune features it in a story. Johnny Northside took a peek in. Metromix offers photos. Extreme Ash samples the drinks, which I hope don’t taste like Smarties crushed up with rum, as with the sister bar, Psycho Suzie’s. Anybody else sample this place yet?

James Norton from The Heavy Table offers up an impassioned celebration of local beer, and condemnation of restuarants that don’t carry it: We make good artisan beer, right here in the Upper Midwest. There’s no excuse for not offering at least one solid local beer, regardless of how high-class your restaurant may be — in fact, the higher class your restaurant, the more you should grasp the marketing and moral appeal of supporting someone who’s laboring passionately — around the corner! — to make a world-class brew.

Foodie File reports that the Oceanaire is in Chapter 11.
Heavy Table tries out the 112 Eatery.
Iggers eats as Brasa St. Paul.
Lazy Lightning tries pizza at Ramy’s.

KARE11 runs a story on Pedal Pub, the bar that’s basically a big, multi-user bike. I can’t stop being tickled by this.

The University of Minnesota’s new football stadium is officially dry — as are all other sports venues on campus. The university’s Board of Regents today approved a proposal to ban all alcohol sales at the university’s new football stadium, a prohibition that will be extended to all other sports arenas on campus. Le sigh. via Strib

The Business-Journal reports: University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks will ask the school’s governing body on Friday to disallow alcohol sales in the new TCF Bank Stadium.

I can’t really see a problem in this. After all, people don’t usually like to drink at sporting events.

Wine drinking has moved online in Minnesota, with Sacre Bleu doing full on wine blogging; but for those who partake of the grape, there is also Sorella, Solo Vino, and the Botle House, among others. Where do you go for your wine needs, and what have you been drinking?

The Court of Appeals has ruled that a man who was alone, drunk, and in his car can be charged with a DUI. Daryl Fleck was found asleep in an assigned spot at his apartment building by the police, and subsequently blew a .18. He was charged with two counts of first-degree driving while impaired for being in physical control of a motor vehicle while drunk. Crazy?