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Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Nick Halter, Audrey Kennedy and Torey Van Oot.

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A guide to fun things to do in Twin Cities this weekend.

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Renee Good's family sues Trump administration, ICE agent

The lawsuits are an attempt to hold the feds "accountable" in civil court for both Good's death and the broader immigration enforcement blitz.

News

Renee Good&#x27;s family filed two civil lawsuits over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="her killing during Operation Metro Surge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-agent-shooting-south-minneapolis" data-vars-content-id="9d21a257-7a54-4089-a7bf-6c7b29850ffe" data-vars-headline="Renee Good&#x27;s family sues Trump administration, ICE agent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-agent-shooting-south-minneapolis" target="_self">her killing during Operation Metro Surge</a> — including one against six current and former Trump administration officials, as well as the ICE agent who shot and killed her.The big picture: The lawsuits are an attempt to hold the feds accountable in civil court for both Good&#x27;s death and the broader immigration enforcement blitz.<ul><li>The Trump administration has declined to criminally charge the agents who shot Good or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alex Pretti" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/25/minnesota-rare-legal-steps-investigation-alex-pretti-shooting" data-vars-content-id="9d21a257-7a54-4089-a7bf-6c7b29850ffe" data-vars-headline="Renee Good&#x27;s family sues Trump administration, ICE agent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/25/minnesota-rare-legal-steps-investigation-alex-pretti-shooting" target="_self">Alex Pretti</a>, and any state-level charges from the shootings would face legal hurdles.</li></ul>

Twin Cities weekend guide: "Paris Couture," Crypticon, fall fun

Calling all fashionistas: This new exhibition is sure to inspire your fall wardrobe.

Things to Do

Calling all fashionistas: The Minneapolis Institute of Art&#x27;s new exhibition is sure to inspire your fall wardrobe.What&#x27;s happening: Sunday marks the debut of &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Paris Couture" data-vars-click-url="https://new.artsmia.org/exhibition/paris-couture" data-vars-content-id="4684ef9c-a111-4633-ae4e-f93873eba717" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend guide: &quot;Paris Couture,&quot; Crypticon, fall fun" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://new.artsmia.org/exhibition/paris-couture" target="_blank">Paris Couture</a>,&quot; a showcase of more than 80 works of haute couture from Paris fashion museum Palais Galliera.

How third-party candidates could shape Minnesota's tight races

Independent, Green and Libertarian candidates are competing in several major statewide races this fall.

Most of Minnesota&#x27;s top statewide races this November have a third-party candidate in the mix. Why it matters: Even a relatively small share of the vote going to someone outside the two major parties can shape the outcome of a close race.

Twins autopsy: What went wrong, and what's ahead 

While there are promising young players, fans want to know if ownership will spend on free agents.

The faces of the people running the Minnesota Twins changed this year, but the results were largely the same: A late-season collapse took them out of the running for a playoff spot, just like 2024 and 2025.Why it matters: As the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Twins" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/26/minnesota-twins-2026-preview" data-vars-content-id="d3c57719-0632-418a-a01b-11beeaf4a328" data-vars-headline="Twins autopsy: What went wrong, and what&#x27;s ahead " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/26/minnesota-twins-2026-preview" target="_self">Twins</a> pack up their lockers after Sunday&#x27;s finale, big questions remain about the future of the franchise.

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Minneapolis

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="d45ef50f-e8a5-4afd-879c-253dd52745ae" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Minneapolis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in Minneapolis&#x27; North Loop neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

Cava restaurant chain finally enters Twin Cities  

Several more of fast casual Mediterranean restaurants are planned in the suburbs

Cava, the fast casual Mediterranean chain, opened its first Minnesota restaurant yesterday in Stadium Village near the U. Why it matters: Never heard of them? This is the company&#x27;s 500th restaurant, and the publicly traded chain did nearly $1.2 billion in sales last year. One could be coming to a strip mall near you.

Restaurant Roundup: Sea Salt's last service 

Bewick Cafe — pronounced like "Buick" — is now open in the former Groundswell space in St. Paul.

Food and Drink

Bewick Cafe — pronounced like &quot;Buick&quot; — is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="now open" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bewickcafe.com/" data-vars-content-id="16a1b3e6-a6d1-4ea9-b71c-0c065f427073" data-vars-headline="Restaurant Roundup: Sea Salt&#x27;s last service " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bewickcafe.com/" target="_blank">now open</a> in the former Groundswell space in St. Paul. Expect both classic and unique brunch dishes, like a &quot;breakfast spaghetti&quot; and spicy sunbutter sandwich.<ul><li>Kyle&#x27;s thought bubble: I tried it! Run — don&#x27;t walk — to try their cardamom bun.</li></ul>

New Vikings stadium foods stick to the classics 

Vikings fans headed to Sunday's home game may want to bring an antacid along with their appetite.

Vikings fans headed to Sunday&#x27;s game may want to bring an antacid along with their appetite.Driving the news: U.S. Bank Stadium just introduced around 20 new concession items for the upcoming Vikings season, and this year&#x27;s theme appears to be classic artery-clogging stadium fare.

How to enter a Minnesota State Fair food contest

Entering the fair's food competitions is free, friendly and surprisingly easy.

Objectively, my parents&#x27; homemade pickles are the best in the world.<ul><li>This year, I set out to prove it by helping them enter the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Minnesota State Fair&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/08/28/minnesota-state-fair-food-guide-2026-best-worst-pickle-pie-hmong-corn-dog" data-vars-content-id="b580aee1-ac18-4b9a-80d2-1cf0ba25bfc2" data-vars-headline="How to enter a Minnesota State Fair food contest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/08/28/minnesota-state-fair-food-guide-2026-best-worst-pickle-pie-hmong-corn-dog" target="_self">Minnesota State Fair&#x27;s</a> pickle contest.</li></ul>The big pickle: Turns out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="submitting your homemade vittles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mnstatefair.org/competitions/creative-activities" data-vars-content-id="b580aee1-ac18-4b9a-80d2-1cf0ba25bfc2" data-vars-headline="How to enter a Minnesota State Fair food contest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mnstatefair.org/competitions/creative-activities" target="_blank">submitting your homemade vittles</a> at the Great Minnesota Get-Together is free and fun, with categories for all tastes of culinary creatives.

Yemeni cafes are growing across the Twin Cities

At least five Yemeni shops have sprung up in the Twin Cities since 2025.

Move over, pumpkin spice latte — one of the hottest new coffee trends comes from Yemen.The buzz: In recent years, Yemeni-American cafe chains — including <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Qahwah House" data-vars-click-url="https://qahwahhouse.com/" data-vars-content-id="3fd638ef-c8d0-4da4-9e01-b98bdedc4d51" data-vars-headline="Yemeni cafes are growing across the Twin Cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://qahwahhouse.com/" target="_blank">Qahwah House</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Qamaria" data-vars-click-url="https://www.qamariacoffee.com/" data-vars-content-id="3fd638ef-c8d0-4da4-9e01-b98bdedc4d51" data-vars-headline="Yemeni cafes are growing across the Twin Cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.qamariacoffee.com/" target="_blank">Qamaria</a>, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Haraz Coffee House" data-vars-click-url="https://harazcoffeehouse.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorAPHjJ676lGpVjllchwZX3uUiyQQ1lzdtBZEwzF4rjdkF__SEF" data-vars-content-id="3fd638ef-c8d0-4da4-9e01-b98bdedc4d51" data-vars-headline="Yemeni cafes are growing across the Twin Cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://harazcoffeehouse.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorAPHjJ676lGpVjllchwZX3uUiyQQ1lzdtBZEwzF4rjdkF__SEF" target="_blank">Haraz Coffee House</a> — have percolated out from suburban Detroit to the Midwest and the rest of the country.

Restaurant Roundup: Barrel Theory's move, Maison Margaux's casual additions

Plus: What's next for the former Swede Hollow Cafe.

The former Lake Monster Brewing space at Vandalia Tower in St. Paul won&#x27;t stay closed for long.Driving the news: Barrel Theory Beer Company has announced it plans to move in, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Pioneer Press reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.twincities.com/2026/08/31/lake-monster-brewing-closes-barrel-theory-beer-company-to-take-its-place/" data-vars-content-id="6f0efc51-fc54-42be-8f48-92108bf1dbf7" data-vars-headline="Restaurant Roundup: Barrel Theory&#x27;s move, Maison Margaux&#x27;s casual additions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.twincities.com/2026/08/31/lake-monster-brewing-closes-barrel-theory-beer-company-to-take-its-place/" target="_blank">the Pioneer Press reports</a>.

How local restaurant owners redirect surplus food across Minnesota

Minnesota Chick-fil-A restaurants have helped turn surplus food into nearly 500,000 meals.

Partners

<div data-sponsor-disclosure="&quot;{&quot;logoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://images.axios.com/VMddfzj_Dfr0qdWc-lp-_dDf4Zo=/2026/08/28/1787939682869.jpg&quot;,&quot;headline&quot;:&quot;A message from: Chick-fil-A&quot;}&quot;"></div><div style="display:none"></div>Minnesota food shelves were on track to hit a record 9 million visits in 2024 as high food prices drove more people to seek support.That demand has increased pressure on the community organizations working year-round to help Minnesotans access food.The story: Hunger is a year-round challenge that requires ongoing support — but local businesses can play a practical role in strengthening that network.

Minnesota THC makers hold out hope for federal lifeline

A proposed one-month reprieve could create an opening for a broader fix.

Minnesota makers of hemp-derived THC seltzers and gummies are holding onto hope that Congress will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reverse a looming federal ban" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/10/shutdown-deal-kill-minnesota-thc-seltzer-edible-industry" data-vars-content-id="8c993550-a717-46c4-8229-756aaec9c807" data-vars-headline="Minnesota THC makers hold out hope for federal lifeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/10/shutdown-deal-kill-minnesota-thc-seltzer-edible-industry" target="_self">reverse a looming federal ban</a> on their products — even as the legal limbo prompts some to scale back operations. Why it matters: The new federal policy, set to take effect in mid-November, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="would deal a serious blow" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/10/shutdown-deal-kill-minnesota-thc-seltzer-edible-industry" data-vars-content-id="8c993550-a717-46c4-8229-756aaec9c807" data-vars-headline="Minnesota THC makers hold out hope for federal lifeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/10/shutdown-deal-kill-minnesota-thc-seltzer-edible-industry" target="_self">would deal a serious blow</a> to the state&#x27;s booming low-dose edibles market. <ul><li>The change could mean more financial strain for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="craft brewers, who&#x27;ve relied on the drinks to offset slumping booze sales," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/06/26/craft-beer-minnesota-declines-thc-cocktails" data-vars-content-id="8c993550-a717-46c4-8229-756aaec9c807" data-vars-headline="Minnesota THC makers hold out hope for federal lifeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/06/26/craft-beer-minnesota-declines-thc-cocktails" target="_self">craft brewers, who&#x27;ve relied on the drinks to offset slumping booze sales,</a> and fewer options for consumers. </li></ul>

Vote: Pick what new Minnesota State Fair foods Axios will try on day one

Axios Twin Cities readers are calling the shots on our annual opening-day food adventure.

State Fair

Audrey here! For the last five years, I&#x27;ve been the one choosing what new Minnesota State Fair foods the Axios Twin Cities team should try on day one of the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

Food and Drink 🍽

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Minneapolis

Cava restaurant chain finally enters Twin Cities

Restaurant Roundup: Sea Salt's last service

New Vikings stadium foods stick to the classics

How to enter a Minnesota State Fair food contest