What Do We Do This Weekend Now That the Mini Donuts are Gone?

Thursday, September 10th

Surly takes over FireLake

FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar at the Mall of America will host a Surly tap takeover Thursday, featuring rare and special issued kegs. A reception held in the evening will include small plate pairings of Surly brews and Minnesota flavors by Chef Paul Lynch. The tasting menu includes beer braised pork belly paired with Surly 8, Juicy Lucy sliders paired with Furious, and a dark chocolate mousse with almond Anglaise paired with Surly’s Darkness.

Friday, September 11^th

Opa!

Celebrate Greek food, music and culture at this year’s Taste of Greece, held at Saint Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis. The weekend long festival will include tasty offerings like spanakopita, souvlaki sandwiches, lamb kabobs and Greek wine, among many others dishes. They may even light something on fire.

Saturday, September 12^th

Summit Backyard Bash

Summit will host a giant backyard concert to celebrate its 29th anniversary on Saturday, with none other than The Suburbs headlining. There will also be specialty beers on draught and cask, food trucks like World Street Kitchen, Black Forest Inn and Bennett's Chop and Railhouse, and a long line-up of musical acts. Summit will donate 50% of tickets sales to MN Music Coalition.

Pizza camp, it’s a thing!

Minneapolis Pizza Club and Grown Up Club are hosting an over night pizza camp for grown ups at the Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement in Maple Plain. There will be good, old fashioned summer camp activities like archery and canoeing, live entertainment and, of course, lots of pizza.

Beer and bacon, need we say more?

Sample hundreds of craft brews and nosh on bacon-inspired dishes from local restaurants like Pat’s Tap, Libertine and The Rabbit Hole, all at Target Field. Breweries include Lift Bridge, Urban Growler, Lucid and many more. There will also be live music, interactive games and even a photo booth.

Celebrating 20 years of good, real food.

Sunday, September 13th

Happy Anniversary Birchwood

Birchwood Cafe celebrates 20 years with an all-day, family friendly outdoor bash. Owner Tracy Singleton and chef Marshall Paulsen invite everyone to join them at this over-the-top block party, which will include live music emceed by Jim McGuinn and Sean McPherson of 89.3 The Current, puppet shows, and some of that wholesome Birchwood food cooked on open grills. Chef Shack and Café Racer will also pull up their food trucks and Surly, Sweetland Orchard, Peace Coffee, and MPLS Tap will pour some beverages so we can all raise our glass to 20 more years.

Brasa serves for Youth Farm

Local favorite Brasa, along with several other Twin Cities restaurants, will host a farm-to-table style fundraiser at Youth Farm’s West Side site. Proceeds will benefit Youth Farm, which provides year-round programs for youth development.  Dinner will include appetizers by Common Roots Cafe, a three-course meal by Brasa, desserts from Alma Pastry Chef Carrie Riggs, wine by The Wine Company, and seasonal brews from Fulton Brewing and Fair State Brewing Cooperative.

Bartender battle

This Sunday, the Iron Bartender 2015 four-week competition kicks off at The Pourhouse in the Lumber Exchange Building. Bartenders from Marvel Bar, Tattersall, Parlour and more will compete to the death…ok, maybe just to determine whose cocktails are the best in the land. Tickets available at the door.

Stephanie A. Meyer / Eater Twin Cities

Monday, September 14^th

Travail does Thai

The party keeps going with a Thai pop up at Travail. Travis Stanfield will wow the audience in true Travail fashion with dishes like Jungle Curry with Quail, Crispy Pork with Chinese Broccoli, and Deep-fried whole fish. They promise something sweet to end the night. Cash only.