The 2017 Stanley's Beer and Bacon Fest was another success!…read more The weather was amazing this year (80 degrees and sunny), so it was easy to toss back many different beer samples. I thought there was a good selection of local and national breweries. Adam H, Trevor H, Shelby M, and I were ready at the gates when they opened a few minutes before 2pm, and we did a good job hitting all the vendors we were interested in. I really liked how the bacon vendors were spread out this year - it helped keep the bacon lines manageable. That said, I do agree with others that for a fest that has bacon in the name, there really isn't that much bacon to be had. Adam H. and I knew this from last year, so we made sure to eat some lunch before attending. The lines were manageable and everyone could get their fill. It was also fun that there were a few special releases throughout the afternoon. There were several merchandise vendors that I mostly ignored, except for the MN lottery booth. I won a $5 scratch off and ended up up by $10! My only criticism is I wish there were more places to rinse out your glass and buy water. Overall, such a fun event!

Wow! This is a must do for the spring! It exceeded my expectations. It was great that everyone was…read moreable to mingle before the gates were officially open to where the beer tents were. Tent upon tent of beer samples of all types. I personally prefer a lighter and fruity beer. I love that at this time of year many of the breweries are offering summer beers so I had a heyday with it all. The Yelp Coozies were a hit. I'm glad I had one it was so hot out my beer would've not tasted the same. Everyone in our group kept getting asked "where do I get one of those"?!? I love that they had bacon tents mixed in with the beer. The bacon was a great way to cleanse my palate lol. The herbivorous butcher even have a tent for the vegan bacon they offer. I was thrown off how it was cold though. It's my first time eating Fakin. Old Dutch was giving out mini bags of chips. The Bacon food truck looked like it had a phenomenal BLT but I was full from the beer and didn't try it. Shout out to Hormel for the free bacon coupons. Also shout out to Kara for the tickets to this awesome event. I have recruited a ton of friends that want to go next year.

Beautiful day at the Hopkins Food Truck Festival! My husband enjoyed the craft beer while I kept…read moreto my current restrictions, but the sunshine, food trucks, and fun made it a perfect afternoon. I even won a $1 scratch ticket from the Minnesota Lottery. Thanks, Yelp!

The day was absolutely beautiful! The crowds, of course, we're pretty long. Thankfully most of the…read morefood we tried ended up being worth it at least! There was live music, and a lot of "yard" style games to play for families. One of the best parts was being able to see all of the doggos! Made me wish I could have brought mine along. Definitely a great way to spend an afternoon!

Panda Fest is one of those events where you should come hungry. With perfect weather, it was easy…read moreto spend a few hours wandering through dozens of vendors featuring everything from dumplings to Korean corn dogs, chili garlic noodles, mochi donuts, ramen-coated corn dogs, and plenty of other Asian street food favorites. The biggest highlight is the variety. There are enough unique options that everyone in your group can find something different, making it more of a food adventure than just grabbing lunch. Most portions are perfect for sharing, so you can sample your way through the festival instead of filling up at the first booth. A few lines are unavoidable for the most popular vendors, but they move fairly well and are worth the wait. If you're looking to try a wide range of Asian-inspired street food in one place, Panda Fest delivers. I'd happily make another trip the next time it comes through town.

I was SO looking forward to this festival as I love Asian food. The quality of the food was very…read moregood and the ViP bag & pin were cute but tickets at $85 for two was high. But the food prices were through roof. When your only options for wontons is one for $4.00 and $18.00 for 8 is unreasonable. Can I get 2 for $7.00, so I can have other small tastes of other food? $21.00 for a cup of beef ramen (commemorative noodle cup which is very cute-see photo)? The drinks were also pretty highly priced. Mt other feedback was the security check. We paid for VIP tickets and expecting a VIP entrance. Nope, everyone goes through the same line which OK, I get it, it's police policy. However, the officer went way too far in searching. Not only did he pull my wallet out, he started opening up my wallet and looking though the compartments. What was he thinking he'd find? No wonder the line was long and we were there right at 4:00 pm. And I wasn't the only one, another guest commented on the extra security needed because she had never had her wallet inspected either. Probably won't return, unless, it can become a "tasting menu" vs. $70 for 3 dishes.

My 1st time at the Cedar Cultural Center, and I was blown away with a magically beautiful evening…read moreof music with voulouse + bad posture's farewell show. The volunteers were all so kind and friendly. There were snacks, alcohol drinks, and THC drinks available during the show. Seats were unassigned with no bad spot in the entire place. I can't wait to go back for another experience!

My sister and I saw Brent Cobb here after beer hopping on the green line earlier. We were the first…read moreones in and were next to the stage all night. I drank some beers and chai tea. They served the chai tea in regular breakable coffee mugs. Probably had lots of mugs to wash at the end of the night. They could have used more staff or volunteers as the beer lines were long. The place seemed like an alright venue for a concert.

Beautiful fall evening to enjoy vendors showcasing their craft beer and wines. Roseville has a…read morebeautiful park system very well manicured and clean. A nice sized crowd turned out and people seemed to be enjoying themselves chatting and mingling. There was a huge band playing some 70's musics with a full horn section. Giant Jenga and the game where you pound a nail into a slab of wood not sure what it is called Hammicker Slamicker or something like that...hahaha by the time I played I had already indulged so forgive my memory. There was a breathalizer on display so you could test how inebriated you may be. I thought this was a great idea. They should be in every drinking establishment out there. He explained that it does not cost the bar a thing to put in and it is affordable for people to use 2.00. Me thinks much better than a DUI. The boys in uniform were right there when you left wishing you a good evening as this was held in a parking lot adjacent to the police station. I got an opportunity to try some beers I would not normally sampled and leaned about some local breweries and wineries. Some I can remember are Lucid, Summit, Big Wood, Barley Johns, Rush River, Burning Brothers, Tin Whiskers, Bent, Mankato Brewing, Insight, Brau Brothers, Sidhe and Granite City. They were all very generous with the pours and happy to speak with you about the product. The wineries that showed up were slim and a bit stingy with the sample amount. So was not a good evening for wine but no shortage of beer. It was a great event with proceeds supporting the local community by providing clean, safe, park facilities for the residents.

For the past 3-6 weeks, my wife has been trying to convince me that we should buy a home in…read moreRoseville, where she works, instead of staying in downtown St Paul. Events like 'Tapped and Uncorked' work in her favor. Tapped and Uncorked was a great way for a couple of Twin City Transplants like ourselves to get up to speed on local microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries. It didn't take us long to discover new, local favorites such as the pumpkin ale created by Tin Whiskers (the secret is in their blend of spices). It was like drinking fall on tap. Everything we tried from Northern Vinyards Winery, in Stillwater, was a hit. This included the house red, house white, and house rose. We also fell in love with Yellow Belly Cider from Sapsucker Farms because its neither too sweet nor too dry. The secret? Minnesota apples? Hmm. Food at the event was provided by food trucks. Our favorite was A Cupcake Social, which made two special cupcakes for the event. I was disappointed when I saw that the Tot Boss food truck was there, but that we didn't see it. Perhaps they didn't make it? The event was well organized. The music was excellent and there was plenty of space to mill around. Had there been seating, more than six tables, and more than two fire pits, we probably would have stayed all night. Instead, we found ourselves wandering home shortly after dark with a bright smile and wine-warmed bellies. Next year, I definitely plan to bring folding chairs and a jacket (based on weather) so that we can spend more time enjoying the samples, the music, and the company. The location of the event is ideal because there is plenty of parking, party area, and access to clean public bathrooms. As a transplant to the Twin Cities from Wisconsin, it might not surprise you that I'd give an event like 'Tapped and Uncorked' five stars. On the other hand, I know how beer tastings should be done... and that this event surpassed my expectations. Given that this is only the event's 2nd year, I expect that it'll only get better in 2016.

This place is 3 stars. The bartender was lovely. The beers were cheap and tasty, I had the organic…read moreBlack IPA and the Cherry Chouffe which comes in a 8 oz pour because it has a high ABV. Both were delicious. I like dark beers and these two didn't make me feel fatigue or heavy / bloated. The vibe is a little grunge, a little beer hally, and a little rock all combined into one. They have a ton of live music throughout the month although my trip, which was 530pm on a Tuesday didn't include any. They have a garden / smoking section out back with 3-4 picnic benches that felt really huge. I could definitely come back and would even consider a show here. Reason why I knock it down from 3 stars to 2 is because when we walked in, one of the managers gave us such a dirty look. And when we said hi, he gave a half hearted smile and turned back to doing his audits. Sure, everyone has a bad day. And perhaps he was reacting to something different. Nevertheless, I was ready to get my drink and be out. Was hungry and wanted food but decided rather spend my money elsewhere.

Great bar and intimate concert venue to visit for local talent! Drinks are cheap and the venue has…read moreboth standing and sitting room. Bar and concert hall are somewhat divided, and there is a cover for concerts (usually $10-$15). Service with the bartenders was great, I'd definitely visit again to see some local talent or go for happy hour!

I finally made it to Turf Club!! Doors were # 7:00 glad i got there @ 6:30 to grab one of the last…read moreparking spots in the back lot. The door gal was friendly. The...Stamp(?) person inside the door was friendly too. I really like the digs and the layout. I did not check out downstairs. Music sounded great & its a pretty intimate setting. The back door dude was friendly when i asked if i could leave that way? He said i could, but i couldnt get back in. Then when i went to leave,he held the door as he said: making sure nobody is hanging out back here. I dont know when but definitely looking forward to my next Turf Club gig!

It has been 8-years since I visited this venue. The Turf Club is an established staple to MN as…read moreit's part of First Avenue on the Saint Paul side. I was pumped when my upcoming wedding band Clean Plate Club (CPC) got to open here which is my reason for visiting. I'm not much of a concert girly so this was a big step for me. There is a tiny parking lot in the back, otherwise, a few blocks down in the residential streets there is complimentary parking - just ensure you follow the sign rules as it goes by odd and even sides based on the date. To lead with parking confusion is why I'm giving this venue 4 stars. Walking as a single woman for a night show by University is not something I would ever suggest unless you have a buddy with. For this venue, I would recommend the buddy system or Uber. The venue has a normal bouncer, ID check and tickets can be purchased in advance via the AXS app or onsite. Once inside, the venue is breathable and long. The stage sits at the opposite side of entry and there is a long bar on the side wall, a few tables in the back, and then standing room for most concerts. My friend and I ordered a drink from the bar and then weaseled our way to the front to support CPC. The sound, lighting and stage was the best! We had a great time. Looks like there is a basement here (I never visited it) and that food is served. Also can't speak for this but something to look into. Thanks, Turf Club!!

Visited during bingo night, and wow--it was packed and very loud. If you're looking for a quiet…read moredinner, keep that in mind. I ordered the Birria Pizza. The birria beef was flavorful, but there was a little too much avocado crema for my taste, and the consommé didn't have much flavor, which was disappointing since that's usually one of the best parts of a birria dish. My mother-in-law ordered a rice bowl and said it was huge but had way too much rice compared to everything else. My partner had the Alfredo, and that was probably the favorite at our table. It was creamy, tasted great, and I liked that they used cavatappi pasta instead of the usual fettuccine. We skipped appetizers and dessert this time. Overall, the food was decent but didn't really wow me. I'd give it about 3 out of 5 stars. The Alfredo was a pleasant surprise, but the loud atmosphere and a few misses with the food would make me think twice before coming back during a busy event.

What I will say about the Full Tilt Tavern was that this place was nearby my hotel and I wanted a…read moreplace to check out and watch the Twins game. The staff here was very friendly as well as the guests and the food. Food prices were pretty fair the drink prices were a little Sky High for what they were. Wait times were not bad at all and I do love the amount of interaction that is involved with the store with all the games that are also featured here too. My one big gripe about this place is that the games itself are overly expensive and I understand that they give you "bonus credits" for what you spend when you initially get your card. I only put $10 in but I only played a few games since that's all that I could afford. Mainly I just enjoy playing all the pinball games which I was sucker for. It's got a great sports bar atmosphere but expect to possibly spend about $80-$100 if you're coming here with friends . It's a fun time but it's enough to break the wallet a bit