Getaways
In Greater Palm Springs, every traveler belongs. Explore a vibrant oasis where inclusivity and individuality shine beneath endless blue skies — and mark your calendars for November 6–9 to join us for Greater Palm Springs Pride,an annual celebration of love, joy, and community.
PLAY. NAP. REPEAT.
Volume 30, Issue 789 • August 21-September 3, 2025
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor Noah Mitchell 612-461-8723
Editorial Assistant Linda Raines 612-436-4660
Editor Emeritus Ethan Boatner
Contributors Lakey Bridge, E.B. Boatner, Natasha DeLion, Alyssa Homeier, Terrance Griep, Shane Lueck, Elise Maren, Jen Peeples-Hampton, Linda Raines, Aspen Rush, Gregg Shapiro, Randy Stern, Susan Swavely, Natalie Trimble, Sommer Wagen, Carla Waldemar, Todd P. Walker, Emma Walytka, Spencer White
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ADMINISTRATION
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Founders George Holdgrafer, Stephen Rocheford
Inspiration Steven W. Anderson (1954-1994), Timothy J. Lee (1968-2002), Russell Berg (1957-2005), Kathryn Rocheford (1914-2006), Jonathan Halverson (1974-2010), Adam Houghtaling (1984-2012), Walker Pearce (1946-2013), Tim Campbell (1939-2015), John Townsend (1959-2019), George Holdgrafer (1951-2024), Julie Dafydd (1951-2025)
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BY NOAH MITCHELL
Advocating for Autumnal Absences
Fall may not be a traditional time to take a vacation, but there are a lot of reasons to reconsider that assumption.
You may be worried about missing fall in Minnesota, which some would argue (at least I have) is our best season. If that’s you, consider a trip to northern Minnesota, or elsewhere in the nearby, northern Upper Midwest. That way, you can still get away from home without sacrificing your enjoyment of the fall colors.
In this issue, we have a feature on Wilderness Inquiry, who help organize inclusive outdoor expeditions, including for LGBTQ+ groups. We also have a feature on Duluth Superior Pride and how best to take advantage of your time there if you choose to make a visit there your fall getaway.
If you’re planning on heading anywhere other than northern Minnesota, fall is a great time
to travel for you, too. The weather has cooled off in most warmer locations, so your vacation won’t be ruined by plastic-melting, egg-frying summer temps. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy your destination with smaller crowds and a fuller wallet than if you had traveled during a busier, more expensive peak season.
Or, if you weren’t planning on traveling at all, here’s a reason to reconsider that: getting your
money’s worth out of your PTO! Unless you’re in a role that’s both liveson-the-line critical and understaffed (air traffic controllers, I’m looking at you), I’d strongly recommend taking your time off before it expires. If your number one priority is productivity, consider that some time off to destress will probably help you to focus better and increase your output when you return. For the rest of us: some time off work sounds nice, doesn’t it?
Admittedly, starting to plan a fall getaway in late August doesn’t leave a lot of time to get something before Thanksgiving sorted out, particularly if you had a longer trip in mind. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying to get something on your calendar, though. Even taking a Friday off and getting away for a long weekend could create memories that last a lifetime.
Photo courtesy of BigStock/mavrick
BY E.B. BOATNER
Not Enough on Your Plate, Yet?
Among the articles printed in The New Yorker’s centenary issues is a particularly thought-provoking one: Kathryn Schultz’s “The Really Big One” from the July 13, 2015 issue.
One of many aspects of earthquakes Schultz imparted was, “Every fault line has an upper limit to its potency, determined by its length and width, and how far it can slip.” Familiar San Andreas’s upper limit is somewhere around 8.2. Nothing you want to be strolling on, but the Richter is a logarithmic scale, and Schultz stresses that 8.2 is only 6% of the rumble in Japan in 2011. (Tsunami? Fukushima? 18,000 dead?)
No one 45 (now 55) years ago had even heard of the Cascadia subduction zone, mainly because belief in Earth’s tectonic plates didn’t take hold until the mid-1960s. Earthquakes happen frequently along the Ring of Fire — that band of subduction zones circling the globe from New Zealand to Indonesia to Japan, Alaska, and on down the west coast of the Americas to Chile — but not every area hews to the same time schedule. While small quakes are routine in Japan, the Juan de Fuca hasn’t produced any within written history. This oceanic microplate, located between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, is currently being subducted under the North American Plate at the Cascadia subduction zone along the coasts of Washington and Oregon.
A breakthrough came in the 1980s when geologist Brian Atwater and grad student David Yamaguchi considered Washington’s Ghost Forest of red cedar skeletons on the Copalis River. Their tests showed that the trees had died from saltwater — simultaneously. The trees’ final rings dated to 1699, while growing seasons indicated annihilation between August 1699 and May 1700. The salt-water death is more horrifying when considering the cedars weren’t assaulted by a giant wave, but were subducted — sucked under water to their heights, held — then popped back up.
Corroboration lay 5,000 miles to the west. The Japanese have kept tsunami records since 599 AD, and listed the specific day a 600-mile wave struck the coast, with no discernible origin — no quake.
In a 1996 issue of Nature, seismologist Kanji Satake and colleagues matched a 9 p.m. January 26, 1700, a magnitude 9.0 quake with the Pacific Northwest’s sudden land and coastal forest subsidence, figuring it took 15 minutes for the eastern half to strike the Northwest coast, and 10 hours for the other half to cross the ocean to Japan on January 27, 1700.
In 1964, Chief Louis Nookmis, Hun-ay-aht First Nation, related an old tale of Vancouver Island’s Pachena Bay people, of a nighttime land-shaking. Another tribal account related, “They sank at once,
all were drowned, none survived.” A time was pinpointed, old tales were validated.
Schultz describes paleoseismologist Chris Goldfinger’s lab at Oregon State with its freezerfull of 4”x5’ cylinders containing seafloor samples tracing back 10,000 years. From these, it was determined that during this period, the Pacific Northwest has undergone only 41 subduction zone earthquakes, or 243 years on average for the Cascadia subduction’s recurrence level. This is only an average, but it would indicate that from the cataclysm in 1700, we’re now 315 years into a 243-year cycle.
What has changed in the past decade in light of our new knowledge? A quick online search showed it would seem to be “not much.” This is not to ignore the ShakeAlert Early Warning (EEW) and some increases in early warning systems, but a catastrophe of this magnitude leaves little margin. A first warning will be a “compressional wave,” highfrequency and fast-moving, audible to your dogs — but not you — detected 30 to 90 seconds ahead,if warning systems are in place. Enough time to shut down power plants and railways and alert hospitals. But if you’re able to race to your car, others will to theirs, all clogging the same roads out. Once the dogs start barking, it’s probably already too late.
BY CARLA WALDEMAR
For a decade, i.e. — restaurant shorthand for Italian Eatery — served as a beloved venue for a sizeable chunk of South Minneapolis. Then you-know-what struck, and onsite dining died.
Today, the good news is that the clever people-pleasers behind Travail have reopened its doors, swept off the patio, and filled the ample floorspace with neighbors and destination diners alike, thanks to a right-sized menu spotlighting classic Italian favorites gently filtered through a new, creative lens.
The generous patio was full-full-full when we arrived, while the indoor seating environment lent an all-weather, calm-yet-upbeat aura. Lots of credit goes to a well-trained corps of servers, duded out in glad-to-see-ya smiles and Hawaiian shirts. (Well, we’re not far from the sandy beaches of Lake Nokomis.)
My companion sipped a crisp Piedmontese white wine from the café’s allItalian list, while I imbibed a smooth blend of cedar-finished Bourbon stirred
Viva Italia
with blood orange and bitters, $14, as we turned our attention to the menu.
From the spot-on list of shareable starters ($14-21), I insisted on a plateful of arancini, which I’d learned to love last month in Sicily. There, those cheesy rice sculptures were the size of tennis balls; these, golf balls — an easier-to-manage deviation, and delicious, especially when dragged through a dish of creamy cheese sauce. Or succumb to the house ricotta, mussels in Limoncello butter or variations of raw seafood.
Salads beckoned next ($14), but we sped straight on to the real reason for our visit, the roll call of house-made pastas ($17-24), sized for sharing. I’m ready to believe you can’t go wrong with any of them — which only makes deciding all the harder. Burly bucatini or wide ribbons of pappardelle? Simple pomodoro and cheese on spaghetti, or gnocchi fancied up with Genovese pesto, pine nuts and aged ricotta?
Thanks to the tutelage of our in-the-know waiter, we chose the mushroom cappelletti and fought to lick the plate. The noodle cook had mastered the fine line between limp and chewy, delivering strands of perfect, Goldilocks-quality firmness/tenderness.
Arancini, Ricotta Cavatelli, Trottole.
They’re washed in a whiskey-shoyu sauce which I’d feared would overwhelm us with salt, but nay, swore our waiter, who’d staked his life on the promise I wouldn’t notice. And I didn’t. Blended with crème fraîche and Parm-like Grana Padano cheese, it simply and easily warmed our souls. The promised mushrooms, big and earthy, completed the presentation, proving that, as the man said, less is more. Same with the lumache number, starring bouncy shrimp in a Madeira and sausage-y ’nduja cream.
On to the mains (six proteins, $25-35). We shared an order of short rib, tender and ready to flake simply by verbal command (okay, almost). It shared its rich, intensely meaty flavor with a dose of sweetsour agrodolce, all spilling onto a scoop of root veggies and a shower of pine nuts. Comfort food supreme. (And that’s what basic Italian cooking is, in a nutshell.) Or choose a pork chop, chicken, NY strip or fish. And maybe dither over a list of sides, which seemed like overkill, given the swell plate presentations.
Of course, there’s a dessert menu lurking in the shadows ($7-15). The usual tiramisu or chocolate torte, a lemon tart, and my choice — tonight, or anytime I spy it on a list of sweets — affogato. It’s a dollop of vanilla ice cream in a cuplet of espresso — and here, overkill, alas. The scoop was as huge as a tennis ball, where a golf ball is the norm, and for a good (balancing) reason. But what kind of food grumbler am I, whining over Too Much Ice Cream?
So, scratch that and simply act on the good news: the restaurant i.e. is back in business, under new, and terrific, management. Benvenuto, amici!
Italian Eatery
4774 Cedar Ave. S (612) 201-8397
italianeaterymsp.com
From Runway to Runway: Ethan
Mundt’s Journey from ‘Drag Race’ to ‘Project Runway’
Can a drag queen also become a breakout fashion designer?
Since 2009, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”has grown to be an illustrious calling for professional drag artists seeking career success and stardom. With over 17 seasons, as well as copious spin-offs and international franchises, the trajectory of a drag queen in 2025 has crystalized into one specific track: get cast on “Drag Race,” come back for “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” snag a role on an “RPDR” live tour or Vegas show and … that’s it.
While many queens have parleyed their success on the show into new ventures — like Season 5 and All Stars 7 Winner Jinkx Monsoon’s multi-show stint on Broadway, or All Stars 3 Winner Trixie Mattel’s makeup and YouTube empire — finding long-term career success beyond the RuPaul’s Drag sphere is a journey into unusual territory. Recent years have put drag artists in the crosshairs of several targeted political disinformation campaigns rooted in homophobia and transphobia, and putting a drag queen on American television is a political statement of its own.
For Ethan Mundt, the artist behind Utica Queen (named after his hometown in Winona County, Minn.), life after Season 13 of “Drag Race” has included making a name for himself as both drag performer and drag designer, and if you watched Season 13, you wouldn’t be surprised. On top of sharing his
Photo by Sam Quinn
unique and bubbly personality as an artist in the Werk Room, Mundt’s career on the show was arguably defined by his imaginative style and breathtaking garments, especially those he designed on set.
Since his departure from the reality competition, Mundt has continued to catch the eyes of fans with stunning, elevated fashions appearing on both Utica Queen herself and her sisters in the drag scene, on and off the “RPDR” stages. Mundt’s drag designs stand out with dramatic silhouettes and a refined point of view, becoming works of art of their own. Lavender Magazine even covered a costume installation featuring and curated by Mundt at the Rochester Art Center in 2021.
Rather than making his inevitable return to the world’s biggest drag reality competition series, Mundt has instead set his sights on the world’s biggest fashion design competition, “Project Runway.”
“I thought to myself, ‘Okay, if fashion is my M.O., and I’m doing this every day … What is The Fashion Show of the World?” Mundt says. “And that was ‘Project Runway.’”
Many budding designers might feel apprehensive about creating high fashion under the watchful eye of a reality camera crew, but Mundt has the benefit of previous experience. Season 13 of Drag Race was filmed during the height of the pandemic, and a particularly taxing filming schedule became a crash course in How to Succeed in Reality Television.
“We got some of the toughest, but most put-together, energy from [“Drag Race”] that taught us how to efficiently get our storylines across,” Mundt says.
Additionally, while “Drag Race” is a multifaceted competition of acting, improv, comedy, design and more, with challenges pulled directly out of other competition shows like “Project Runway,” the latter is solely focused on garment-making. For a drag queen designer used to doing everything at once, Mundt felt he had more time than ever to creatively let loose.
“All I had to do was go sew. It was everything,” Mundt remarks.
For many, the intersection of drag and fashion may seem obvious from the outside. Both require technique, an eye for style and no small degree of labor to
do successfully. Now, having begun his foray into the world of fashion, Mundt sees both drag and fashion as two different expressions of creativity. The greatest difference between the two is audience and intention.
“Drag is very present,” Mundt explained, “Fashion is just a different kind of present — immediately present, behind the scenes, making every detail. And the other is literally under a spotlight.”
Since the filming of “Project Runway,” Mundt thinks carefully about the philosophies behind designing for drag versus fashion. As a drag creator, Mundt aims to create highly structural and show-stopping pieces that may only be worn for one weekend or one performance. As a designer, he’s challenging himself to channel those same vibrant and sculptural impulses into fashion accessible to the masses.
Presently, fans can look forward to watching Mundt tackle the challenge of translating drag into mainstream fashion, a predicament he felt privileged to be in. In many creative pursuits, it’s easier to tone things down than it is to add more. Going into the show, Mundt felt confident that the worst critiques he’d get were “too much” or “too drag,” which, for a drag designer, isn’t necessarily a negative.
Outside of the show, Mundt continues to pack his schedule with sewing, and fellow drag queens remain a core facet of his client base.
“I want to make sure that drag is one of the pillars of [my fashion], the core,” Mundt says. “There is such power in the drag community, and it’s what inspired this whole journey to begin with.”
When asked about what excites him most about bridging the gap between “Drag Race” and “Project Runway,” Mundt gushes with excitement for his drag designer colleagues and hopes that his time on-screen will inspire them to make a similar leap into mainstream fashion. The goal, at the end of the day, is to pave a new career path for drag artists around the world.
“As amazing an opportunity this is for me, this is for ‘the girls,’ you know?”
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Doing “Honey Don’t!”: An Interview with Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke
Non-traditional married couple Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke (Google it!) are on a roll with the queer noir film “Honey Don’t!” (Focus/Working Title). The second installment in co-writer/director Coen and co-writer Cooke’s lesbian trilogy, following 2024’s “Drive-Away Dolls,” “Honey Don’t” also stars Margaret Qualley (who also had a lead role in the aforementioned “Dolls”). While “Honey Don’t!” has a similar comedic tone found not only in its predecessor but also in numerous Coen brothers movies, it also takes a much darker and more unsettling turn at the end. Nevertheless, it’s worth watching for Qualley’s outstanding performance, as well as seeing Chris Evans half-dressed for most of the movie. Coen and Cooke were kind enough to make time for a Zoom interview in early August.
Gregg Shapiro: I’d like to begin by asking you both to say something about the inspiration for “Honey Don’t!”
Ethan Coen: We were inspired by all those noir movies and all the kind of hard-boiled literature that all those movies were based on: Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler. Those writers and the movies that are associated with them.
Tricia Cooke: We were inspired by all the 1950s and 1940s noir and thought there should be more queer noir.
EC: And one more thing. There’s a John Houston movie called “Fat City.” It’s about the kind of hardscrabble California, not glamorous California. It’s kind of bare-assed, depressed California; in the case of that movie, Stockton. In the case of our movie, Bakersfield. But it’s a great movie, it’s very different, generically, from our movie, but it made an impression on us.
TC: “The Long Goodbye” was (also) a huge source of inspiration for us. How Robert Altman used the score throughout the movie. That was something that we had written into our movie, (that the Carl Perkins song) “Honey Don’t” would play throughout, although it didn’t [laughs]. But there were other ways that we borrowed from “The Long Goodbye.”
GS: Margaret Qualley, with whom you both worked on “Drive-Away Dolls,” is playing the titular character in “Honey Don’t!” What is it about Margaret that makes her appealing to work with more than once?
TC: She’s a great actress. She can take, from what we’ve seen, any part and really run with it in a really interesting way. She makes interesting choices, and she’s easy. We all get on really well. She’s playful and she’s playful when she approaches a part. I think she’s easy to work with. She’s easy for other actors to work with.
EC: She just brings the stuff to life. You don’t catch her acting. It’s just like, “Oh, wow, cool.”
GS: The queerness in the movie extends beyond Honey and her various lovers, including MG, played by Aubrey Plaza. Please say something about why you also included the cuckolded Mr. Siegfried, a queer male character played by Billy Eichner.
TC: I have a lot more gay male friends than lesbian friends [laughs]. They’re familiar to me. We wanted someone to be emotional in a way that it felt like if it were a male couple, that would be interesting. You don’t see that so much in noir. We wanted to change the gender norms in noir. We thought that having him there would be interesting.
EC: Not that we said this to each other when we were writing it, but I think we just imagined a queer world. The private detective is queer; that’s not a big deal. One of the clients is queer, not a big deal. People are queer. Not universally, but the world is almost all queer.
GS: Tricia, Honey constantly must remind the flirtatious, obnoxious Marty, played by Charlie Day, that she’s queer. Is this something you’ve dealt with in your own life?
TC: [Laughs] Sure! I mean, not over and over again. But men are constantly … I’m an elder now, but certainly back in the day, guys hit on you and you’re constantly having to say, I’m queer. No, I didn’t have someone like Marty in my life who just didn’t get it. But different men throughout history. I have an unconventional private life. Ethan’s my partner, Ethan’s my husband. So, I kind of live in this world where people aren’t sure what’s what.
GS: Reverend Drew, played by Chris Evans, who, to the delight of many gay fans, I might add, has an extended scene in a jockstrap, is a drug dealer, in addition to being a preacher. Is this a play on “religion is the opiate of the masses” being taken to another extreme with the addition of actual drugs?
EC: I don’t think we were literally playing on or thinking about that expression.
TC: I like it!
EC: We were just making him sleazy.
TC: I think Jim Jones and maybe Jimmy Swaggart were two people in the back of our heads. Jim Jones and the Kool-Aid and all that. Cult lead ers tend to influence their flocks in so many different ways.
GS: One of my favorite relationships in the movie is that of Honey and her assistant, Spider, played by Gabby Beans. Their exchanges reminded me of the noir movies from the past. Fasttalking and talking over each other. Was this your intention for those scenes?
EC and TC: Yeah!
EC: (In) those movies, frequently, the private eye has the wisecrack ing secretary …
TC: … assistant who often helps solve the crimes and often is as com petent, if not more competent, than the detective. That’s definitely what we wanted to do. I’m impressed that you knew Spider’s name because it’s never mentioned. Honey never refers to Spider as Spider, but we liked the name.
GS: Ethan, in the past, you’ve talked about how you and Joel couldn’t have made “Drive-Away Dolls,” and likely by extension, “Honey Don’t!” because you’re both straight. And yet, Coen Brothers movies, such as “Miller’s Crossing,” which you cowrote, and “Hail, Caesar,” which you co-wrote and co-directed, had queer characters.
EC: That’s true. They weren’t central characters, and they were kind of broader characters. In our movies, the central characters are a little more grounding in stuff we really know, and the peripheral characters less so. In our movies, Trish and mine, in these two movies, the gay characters are definitely front and center. It’s kind of a different thing.
GS: Without giving too much away, it’s been a while since we’ve seen a fictional queer serial killer. At this time, when the LGBTQ community is at risk and under scrutiny from conser vative forces, are you at all concerned about a backlash or the response to this character?
TC: It’s make-believe. It’s not real. Maybe when we’re writing it, we were like, “Do we want to make it about her hatred of weak women? Does that say something about lesbians?” But I don’t think it does. I think she’s just off her rocker, and anyone can be off their rocker. I think the far-right or conservative Christians want to paint us as demented and not stable, but that’s just not the truth. I hope there’s no backlash.
EC: The story says her craziness is connected to her victimhood; she’s an abuse victim. It’s not related to her sexuality.
GS: Is there another Coen/Cooke collaboration in the works?
TC: We’re writing different things together. Ethan’s writing his own stuff. He writes with Joel. Hopefully, one day, something else will get made. Ethan and I wrote something with our daughter. All those things are out there, and hopefully they’ll get made soon.
Writer Tricia Cooke, actor Margaret Qualley and writer/director Ethan Coen on the set of their film.
BY GREGG SHAPIRO
Q-Music: Not just another Post-Pride Playlist
When I first stumbled across queer folksinger Willi Carlisle via his 2022 album “Peculiar, Missouri,” I was gobsmacked. Carlisle seamlessly blended his Missouri roots into music that drew on Americana and country as much as it did traditional folk, while incorporating his personal identity. His exhilarating 2024 follow-up, “Critterland,” was as close to perfection as possible and qualifies as the singer/songwriter’s best album. Carlisle’s latest, “Winged Victory” (Signature Sounds), gets off to a rousing start with “We Have Fed You All For 1000 Years,” and includes a wonderful cover of Lavender Country’s “Cryin’ These Cocksucking Tears.” As Carlisle wrote in the liner notes, “these songs feel poised on the edge of the apocalypse, written in a country that is falling into the sea,” and that tone is maintained on the title song, “Wildflower Growin’” and “Work Is Work.”
“Ratchet,” the fantastic 2015 debut album by queer singer/ songwriter Shamir, found a place on many end-of-the-year “best of” lists. Since that time, the NB artist has released six more full-length albums, including their latest “Ten” (Kill Rock Stars). Available on orange vinyl, the album is said to be their last as they explore other creative outlets. The 10 songs on “Ten” are examples of the way that Shamir has moved in different directions following the release of “Ratchet.” While there aren’t any electronic dance beats to be found, there is still much to admire, including the joyously rocking celebration of camaraderie on “I Love My Friends,” the electrified, spiritual quest of “Die,” the acoustic romance of “Offline” and the flood of emotions in “29.”
Frankie Grande, the older, gay, half-brother of Ariana Grande, is not in an enviable position. Seriously, would you want to be the half-sib of one of the biggest stars of the 21st century? Nevertheless, Frankie gives his all on his long-awaited debut album “Hotel Rock Bottom” (Casablanca/Republic). Available on rainbow splatter vinyl and separated into top and bottom sides(!), the album is a well-timed dance party beginning with “Rhythm of Love,” an uplifting club banger. “Sex Shop” is a suggestive as its title suggests, “Boys” is a threesome anthem, musical inferno “Hotter Than Hell” somehow manages to reference Dante, “Music and The Noise” is custom-made for tea dance and, in an unexpected sobering turn, the title track addresses the issue of recovery.
Of “Piqued” (Independent Project Records), the final solo album by the late singer/songwriter and For Against front-person Jeffrey Runnings (who died in March 2025), the artist said that “it wasn’t made for anyone, it wasn’t even intended to be put out; it’s a record for its own sake.” Nevertheless, we should be glad that this posthumous release is seeing the light of day. Runnings defined the music as “a mostly instrumental hi-fi/lo-fi baroque mashup with early 4AD,” which certainly comes through on opener “Batman Forever.” But there is also a strong Joy Division/early New Order energy that runs throughout, especially on “Just Before Nothing,” “Demolition Blast,” “The Courage of Voluntary Trees,” “Threadbare” and “Mayfair,” while “Heretofore” is in a league of its own.
“I’ve Had a Love” (FrankDain.com), the second album by gay cabaret artist Frank Dain, and his first in 24 years(!), is dedicated to his late husband of 33 years, Bill Sensenbrenner, whom he lost to COVID in 2021. Such information makes this collection of familiar material a bittersweet affair. Dain, the editor of “Cabaret Scenes” magazine, is well acquainted with the genre, and both his performance and song selection reflect that fact. Recommended tracks include “It’s A New World,” “But Beautiful,” “No One Ever Tells You,” “Sleepy Man” and “Some Other Time.”
Frankie Grande. Photo courtesy of Ilich Mejía
Willi Carlisle. Photo courtesy of Jake Lanier
BY LINDA RAINES
In the Good Old Summertime, the Minnesota State Fair is the Season’s King
The Minnesota State Fair. Four words that bring beaming smiles of anticipation to the faces of almost everyone in our great state as we cruise into the final days of summer.
Affectionately referred to as the “Great Minnesota Get-Together,” the fair brings together thousands of people from every corner of the state in a swirling mass of humanity that has one common goal in mind — cramming as much food, fun and excitement as possible into 12 golden days at the end of August. From admiring prize livestock to devouring every kind of food on a stick imaginable to rocking out to great music in the Grandstand to schlepping back to their car or the transit bus with sleepy children and a bucket of Sweet Martha’s cookies in hand, it’s what so many folks look forward to all year.
Let’s face it … while there are many attractions on offer, one of the biggest anticipations is the food, and nobody does food quite like the Minnesota State
Fair. After all, when you announce that you’re heading out to the fair, what’s the first thing that your friends often ask? That’s right: “What are you planning on eating this year?” The obvious answer, of course, would be “Everything!”
In addition to the tried-and-true classics such as Sweet Martha’s, mini donuts, cheese curds, Pronto Pups and fresh French fries, the fair always has new and unique delights to tempt the taste buds.
Here are just a few of the newest delectable culinary tidbits awaiting you this year as you walk through the turnstiles.
Cheese curds are one of the undisputed kings of the fair, but they don’t have to be the same old, same old … try LuLu’s Public House’s newest offering of Caprese Curds. They take mozzarella cheese curds, bread them with Italian seasoning and deep fry them, then serve them over a bruschetta-flavored blend of tomatoes and basil, drizzled with balsamic glaze and a side of crostini for scooping up all of the goodness.
In the mood for something a little meatier? Try the Hula Kalua Pork from RC’s BBQ. Inspired by the traditional flavors of Hawaiian Kalua pork, this is slow-smoked pork collar caramelized with Hawaiian barbeque sauce and served atop a charred banana leaf. Sides are banana chips and Japanese quick-pickled cucumbers and finished with a sprinkle of coarse red sea salt. It’ll have you doing the hula down Dan Patch Avenue for sure.
Of course, after the main courses, you can’t forget the delightful sweets that tempt the tastebuds, and the fair has plenty of goodies awaiting!
If you’re one of the lucky folks who is celebrating your birthday during the State Fair (or even if you aren’t!), then Kora & Mila’s Cookie Dough has you covered with their Birthday Cake Cookie Dough On-A-Stick! This tasty treat boasts scratch-made cake batter cookie dough covered with a crunchy cake confetti shell and topped with rainbow sprinkles. Pop it on a stick, and it’s a celebration for your tongue.
Or how about a sweet and fluffy confection called the Croffle Cloud? Courtesy of Spinning Wylde, this air-light delight consists of a croissant pressed in a waffle iron and topped with fresh whipped sweet cream, a sticky drizzle of fruit purée and a cloud of cotton candy. Three flavors will be sure to please anyone.
After filling your belly with a cornucopia of sinfully delicious food, sitting down to digest might sound like a plan, and what could be better than taking in a concert while you do it? The Grandstand Concert Series has lined up a fantastic set of musical artists this year that should appeal to anyone’s taste.
The Great Minnesota Get Together kicks off with Old Dominion taking the stage on Thursday, August 21, with their clever lyrics, infectious sound and hook-heavy songwriting that
has made them one of Nashville’s hottest bands. The weekend really gets rolling on Friday, August 22, when multi-talented Meghan Trainor and special guest ellis hit the stage, and then on Saturday, audiences will be treated to The Current’s Music On-A-Stick Show 2025, which will feature Atmosphere & Friends: Minnesota with Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Lupe Fiasco, The Pharcyde and DJ Abilities. Doors open at 4 p.m., so make sure you don’t miss a thing! Sunday’s Grandstand offerings are two acts that our community knows well — Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls will be rocking out on their Yes We Are Tour! These Grammy-winning musical powerhouses will be sure to put on a concert to remember, so get your tickets early. The entertainment just keeps on rolling through the week, with Monday showcasing the Happy Together Tour 2025 featuring The Turtles, Jay and the Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues and The Cowsills. Then Tuesday heats up as Def Leppard brings the pyromania to the Grandstand along with special guest Brother Cane. The vibe keeps right on coming through the week as Wednesday sees Hank Williams Jr. take the stage with his signature sound, accompanied by special guest Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Thursday welcomes the Steve Miller Band with special guest The Rascals, then The Avett Brothers with special guest The Milk Carton Kids rounds things out on Friday. Three-time Grammy award-winning rap superstar Nelly takes the stage on Saturday, along with special guests Ja Rule, Mýa and Ying Yang Twins.
Continued on page 20
Birthday Cake Cookie Dough On-A-Stick, Hula Kalua Pork, Caprese Curds, Sweet Martha’s Cookies, Croffle Cloud, Giant Slide, Indigo Girls.
Are the exciting rides more your thing? The fair has a multitude of thrills and chills for the whole family. The more adventurous will want to check out the Sling Shot, the Rock-Climbing Wall, the Skyscraper and Turbo Bungy in Adventure Park, while the littlest family members will find laughter aplenty at Kidway, with the Kiddie Bumper Boats, Charlie Chopper, the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Apple-Go-Round.
Of course, the Mighty Midway is always a huge draw! The Iron Dragon Roller Coaster, Music Express, Zero Gravity, Kamikaze and others will result in screams and laughter lasting well into the night.
No trip to the fair would be complete, though, without taking the plunge down the Giant Slide! This family favorite has been a staple on the fairgrounds for over 50 years and promises to remain so for decades to come.
No matter your reasons for joining the happy throngs filling the streets, the Great Minnesota Get Together has something for everyone, so come on out and join in the fun. It’s 12 days of unabashed indulgence, a chance to hang out with neighbors from one corner of the state to the other before the snowflakes start to fly. It’s truly an experience that you don’t want to miss.
See you at the Fair!
Minnesota State Fair August 21 to September 1, 2025 mnstatefair.org
Meghan Trainor, Def Leppard. All photos courtesy of the Minnesota State Fair
Duluth Superior Pride: A Weekend Getaway to Make Your Heart Gay
As summer comes to a close, many folks are looking for one final hurrah to end the season on a sunny note. Luckily, Pride doesn’t end in June. The Duluth Superior Pride Festival is hosting a weekend full of fun, queer activities for you to enjoy. So go ahead and plan your Labor Day weekend escape just two hours north, and end your summer right at Duluth Superior Pride!
Duluth Superior Pride will take place from August 28-31. There are tons of cool events to check out for the festival — guests can expect a little bit of everything, from drag shows to youth dances to a Pride KinkOff Party to a Coffee & Conversation event and beyond. Check in on their schedule at duluthsuperiorpride.com for the full hour-by-hour rundown.
The main events, of course, are the Duluth Superior Pride Festival at Bayfront Festival Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the
Pride Parade at Tower Avenue in Superior, Wisc., beginning at noon. This festival is a massive celebration with vendors, food and, of course, tons of community bonding. Grab your flag, don your favorite pride fit and get ready for a weekend of celebration! Both of these events are free and open to the public.
Duluth Superior Pride highlights and celebrates the identities and lives of two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people, and states on its website:
“The mission of this organization is to serve the people of the Duluth-Superior area community’s diverse sexual and gender identities by organizing safe and inclusive events that celebrate equality and self-expression.”
But the fun doesn’t stop at the pride festival! You can make a whole weekend getaway out of your trip to Duluth by checking out some of the fun things happening in town! Duluth is full of cool events, exciting attractions and interesting history.
To start, if you’re looking for a great spot to grab dinner while you’re in town for the festival, check out Bulldog Pizza
City of Duluth. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Jacob Boomsma. LGBTQ group of friends. Photo courtesy of BigStock/Alessandro Biascioli
& Grill, a local favorite for generations, or Blue Rock Grill, a neighborhood staple for a bite to eat and a glass of wine, a cocktail or a smooth whiskey.
To get a little energy in the morning before you start all your Pride festivities, grab a coffee at Dovetail Café, which is known for its specialty coffee, local arts and live entertainment, or a decadent craft coffee treat at 190° Coffee & Tea.
Of course, there’s also the Duluth Playhouse, a stunning theater that art-lovers from all over the country come to see every year. As one of the nation’s oldest non-profit theaters, if you love the theater, you can’t miss checking it out. While there are no shows on Labor Day weekend this year, you can still see the beautiful playhouse (and maybe even start planning your next trip)!
And before the weather gets too awfully cold (because let’s face it, the freezing temperatures are just around the corner!), hit the water and explore the vastness of Lake Superior and the intricate waterways of the St. Louis River Estuary. Whether you’re looking to go paddleboarding, fishing or sailing, or you just want to lie out on one of the beautiful freshwater beaches, there’s something for everyone in Duluth.
In fact, “Park Point Beach, located on the longest freshwater sandbar in the world, offers plenty of picnic tables, sandy beach for sandcastles, sand volleyball courts, a playground for the kids and, of course, the refreshing waves to take a dip,” according to Visit Duluth.
If enjoying the water without going in the water is more your thing, you can also watch the ships come in at the Canal Park Shipping Canal, one of the most popular attractions for both visitors and locals alike. Gaze at some of the 900 vessels that travel underneath the aerial lift bridge annually … and make sure to take pictures!
Don’t miss out on the best way to end your summer: visiting the Duluth Superior Pride Festival over Labor Day weekend. And check out all the fun things to do in the city while you’re there!
Around here, life is SWEET!
Welcome to Westopolis – the closest neighbor to downtown Minneapolis! Offering outdoor adventures, delicious dining and cool attractions, we’re THE sweet spot for experiencing the entire metro region.
BY SOMMER WAGEN
How Wilderness Inquiry Helps Everyone Return to Nature
The nonprofit organization has spent half a century making sure everyone can get outdoors, regardless of ability, identity or circumstances
Anyone from Minnesota can attest to the unique outdoor experiences the state has to offer, not to mention our outdoorsy culture. Summer days are spent up north at the cabin, and the Northwoods blaze to life in oranges, reds and yellows every fall. Even the bitter cold of winter can’t deter us from lacing up our skates and heading out for some pond hockey.
But not everyone can own or rent a cabin, or can afford to take time off from work for an outdoor getaway. Folks who use wheelchairs may not have access to certain activities, transportation or assistance to get them outdoors. Some may not feel safe going out on their own, but don’t have people like them to go adventuring with.
That’s where Wilderness Inquiry comes in.
Since the 1970s, the nonprofit based in Bloomington, Minn., has been working to provide more equitable access for people facing barriers to getting outdoors, starting with people with disabilities and later expanding to include other groups. Their philosophy: “all people [can] enjoy and benefit from shared wilderness experiences,” per their website.
“There’s a long, long history of discrimination and intentional, forced exclusion from nature and natural spaces that goes far beyond just recreation,” says Cyri Tjaden, Wilderness Inquiry’s senior manager of extended and career pathways programs. “You think about how this country came to be and the forced removal of Indigenous people from their lands. I think that nature, getting to experience time in nature and all of its wonderful benefits, is an essential right.”
Wilderness Inquiry acts as a resource for individuals and groups with marginalized identities and experiences seeking outdoor adventures. They’ve facilitated simple trips to local parks and natural areas (“You can find nature in your backyard,” Tjaden says) as well as international expeditions to New Zealand and Tanzania.
For trips to the Boundary Waters, which are popular in the fall, Wilderness Inquiry provides free equipment and gear. They also provide financial assistance for trips whenever possible, and trips are always led by someone who shares the identity and/or experiences of a trip group.
canoe in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on a Wilderness Inquiry five-day paddle and camping adventure. Photo by Eva Flood for Wilderness Inquiry. Yoga and Kayak adventure explore Lake Superior's south shore and surrounding areas; participants on Wilderness Inquiry's Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Apostle Islands. Photos by Steven and Jeannie Peterson for Wilderness Inquiry
According to the American Psychological Association, time spent in nature has a host of benefits, including improved attention and mood and lowered stress. The University of California-Davis attests to lowered heart disease risk and vitamin D exposure that boosts the immune system.
These benefits are particularly important to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC folks, and everyone facing systemic oppression. Experiencing and anticipating discrimination on top of concealing one’s identity for safety and tackling barriers to access are all sources of “minority stress.” Dr. Arlene Geronimus of the University of Michigan describes the resulting “weathering” effect as “the way that oppression and marginalization physiologically erodes your body systems, your organs, and eventually you.”
While time spent outdoors isn’t a panacea to systemic oppression, it can serve as an escape and a reminder of the magic and beauty of our planet. Wilderness Inquiry compounds this with the magic found in community.
“Shared community and shared identity can be really wonderful places for people to find safety,” Tjaden says.
Tjaden adds that these are common things people praise in their post-trip evaluations with Wilderness Inquiry.
SAY TO BEING YOU! YES
“We often see a commentary on being in nature, stepping away from phones and screens, and seeing people they knew already or maybe just met accomplish really difficult challenges with positive attitudes, and digging deep into who they are,” she says.
If you’re looking to get your family (whoever that may be), friends, youth group, community group, company, etc., outside this fall, Wilderness Inquiry is ready to help. Tjaden says even a cold call can get the ball rolling, but more information can be found on their website.
Tjaden says Wilderness Inquiry is always looking for new trip opportunities, but that developing a custom trip may take longer.
There are also lots of ways to connect with Wilderness Inquiry and its mission without going on a trip. Even those with minimal outdoor experience can join the team as a seasonal trip leader, thanks to their extensive training program and dedication to increasing staff diversity.
The discoveries to be made in nature are endless, but Tjaden emphasizes how people discover their own resilience on Wilderness Inquiry trips — an important reminder for marginalized folks of all backgrounds.
“I see a lot of ‘I didn’t know that I could do that. I’m so proud of myself,’” Tjaden says.
Autumn, after all, is the season of transformation. On your next trip outdoors, who knows what you’ll find.
The Caribbean, Your Way
Before you’re buried in parkas and pumpkin spice and the bitter temps settle in, take the cue to plan a warmweather break. Fall is your window to beat the winter rush and grab the best flights, rooms and rates for a Caribbean escape.
Now’s the perfect time to book your island adventure. Airline routes are expanding, resorts are sliding into shoulder season with better offers and fewer crowds, and Delta is adding nonstop flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul to St. Maarten, San Juan and Grand Cayman, and all three destinations can be reached in under five hours. The weather’s right too — fall and winter highs sit comfortably in the low 80s, with warm breezes and steady sunshine. No layover, no parka, no problem.
I’ve visited each island in this guide and can tell you they all offer something different. One destination is built for active travelers, another draws food lovers, and one offers a calm, upscale escape. Think of this as a personality profile with palm trees. Match your travel style to the island that fits, and you’re halfway packed.
St. Maarten
This is the island where French finesse meets Dutch efficiency, and everything moves at a pace set by sunshine. St. Maarten gives travelers two cultures and 30-plus beaches, whether you’re wandering the boardwalk in Philipsburg or hopping a quick ferry to St. Barts for the day. For a deeper dive into island culture, costumes and the story of Carnival, make time for a stop at the We Culture Museum.
The Match: Insta-minded explorers chasing culture, coastline and something to post.
Nest
The Holland House in Philipsburg is right on the beach, steps from shopping, and easy to access from the cruise port. Rooms are modern, the staff is sharp and the ocean-view breakfast might convince you to linger longer than planned.
Savor
The food scene here blends Caribbean heat with European technique. Start your day with a flaky croissant from Chez Fernand Bakery in Marigot. For a taste of the flavors of the island, head to Captain’s Rib
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. Photo courtesy of BigStock/Debbie Ann Powell. Puerto Rico skyline on Condado Beach. Photo courtesy of BigStock/SeanPavonePhoto
Shack on the Dutch side for grilled ribs, fried plantains and some of the best johnnycakes on the island. This is where locals and visitors line up for bold flavor without the fuss.
Roam
Sign up for the 12 Metre Regatta and climb aboard a real racing yacht from the America’s Cup. You’ll take an active role crewing the boat alongside fellow travelers, racing against another team as you slice through the water with views of the island coastline. It’s fast, physical and a brag-worthy story to take home … and also one of the most memorable excursions I’ve taken as a travel journalist.
Belong
While the island doesn’t have a huge LGBTQ+ nightlife scene, it does have a reputation for ease and openness, especially on the Dutch side. Beach bars in Simpson Bay tend to be welcoming and unbothered, and St. Maarten’s PRIDE Celebration is held in November and continues to grow each year with parades, pool parties and community events that reflect the island’s laid-back spirit.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan has a rhythm of its own. Palm trees sway next to colonial architecture. Cobblestone streets lead to bars, galleries, bakeries and bright bursts of street art. It’s a place where history and nightlife live side by side.
The Match: Social scouts who snack, sip and never call it an early night.
Nest
The San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino sits right on Condado Beach, making it easy to go from city to resort without needing a plan. The rooms have recently been renovated and many now have private balconies. The pool area offers shaded cabanas, great service and plenty of space to relax and unwind. To kick off your day, a morning poolside yoga class is offered to guests.
Savor
Start your day with breakfast at Cosecha, where fresh local ingredients and ocean views are always on the menu. Terrazzo is the spot for a poolside lunch and an easygoing cocktail hour, with simple plates and a lively bar scene. In the evening, head to Azure Lounge for dinner and try the chicken tikka masala with saffron rice and grilled naan.
Old San Juan invites you to wander. Start with the Spoon Experience walking food tour to sip, sample and hear the stories behind signature dishes like mofongo (mashed plantains filled with meat or seafood), alcapurrias (fried fritters stuffed with beef or crab) and Cubana sandwiches (a pressed sandwich with roast pork, ham and cheese). Next, stroll blue cobblestone streets to the old city walls and explore El Morro, a 16th-century Spanish fort with sweeping ocean views. Then head to Calle San Sebastián and seek out La Factoría — a set of interconnected cocktail bars under one roof, each with its own mood. Order a Lavender Mule or Guanábana Milk Punch and settle in to watch locals and visitors pass by.
Belong
San Juan leads the Caribbean in LGBTQ+ openness — and you’ll find the most happening scene around Condado and Santurce. Stop by Oasis in Condado for drag brunches and sunset drinks. Santurce’s La Placita neighborhood turns into a block party on weekend nights with live music, street bars and pop-up events. The newly rebranded Kweens Klub (formerly Circo Bar) in Condado hosts drag bingo and themed parties that draw locals and visiting tourists. For a nod to history, check out Casa Orgullo (Edificio Comunidad de Orgullo Gay) in Río Piedras — Puerto Rico’s first gay community space, now marked by a mural you can view from the street.
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman moves at a calm, polished pace. The beaches are wide, the ocean clear and the snorkeling delivers. It’s the place to go when you want soft sand, strong coffee and no rush. Think upscale and relaxed, with room to explore when you feel like it.
The Match: Chill chasers who like polished edges and plenty of personal space.
Nest
Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman brings a modern, design-forward feel to the island. Rooms are bright and elevated and the on-site dining options are strong. For a sunset cocktail or sushi, the rooftop Pom Pom at the hotel delivers small plates and tropical views worth the trip. The beach is nearby, and you’ll find loungers, umbrellas and calm water whenever you’re ready to float.
El Morro Fortress, San Juan. Photo courtesy of BigStock/gnives50. Tropical pond in Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park of Grand Cayman . Photo courtesy of BigStock/joymsk
Roam
Savor
For a true taste of local life, head to Heritage Kitchen in West Bay, a colorful, no-frills spot serving fresh-caught grouper, conch fritters and coconut mahi-mahi. While exploring the island, don’t miss the roadside jerk stands for smoky chicken with plenty of spice. Near Seven Mile Beach, Ms. Piper’s Kitchen + Garden offers a backyard atmosphere and dishes like empanadas, seafood tagliatelle and sticky toffee cake made with Seven Fathoms rum. These two goto spots show what Caymanian food feels like when serious flavor meets local roots.
Roam
Start your day at Stingray City, a shallow sandbar where you can wade into turquoise water and interact with gentle southern stingrays. Then head inland to the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park to stroll shaded trails and spot the rare blue iguana. On a calm day, dive or snorkel through Cayman’s clear reefs at Starfish Point — a favorite for its calm water and namesake sea life.
Belong
There isn’t a dedicated gay nightlife hub in Grand Cayman, but the island has evolved into a place that welcomes LGBTQ+ visitors. Same-sex activity is legal, and civil partnerships have been recognized since 2020. Expect inclusive mixedcompany patrons at spots like Next Door Cocktail Bar and Anchor & Den.
Your Island, Your Match
Your getaway should fit you, not the other way around. The right island match means more than sunshine and poolside photos. It’s about slipping into a place that fits your pace, where the rhythm feels right from the moment you arrive. So, whether you’re up early and exploring, sleeping in with no agenda, or chasing local bites and bars, there’s a Caribbean destination ready for you. Pick your vacation persona, then pick your place.
BY E.B. BOATNER
Books
“The Build-A-Boyfriend Project”
Lying’s rarely good, to others, or oneself. Eli Francis is a slow learner. But stuck as an assistant at Vent, never a writer as he’s been promised, Eli’s desperate for change. When his roommates fix a blind date with shy, awkward Peter Park, the results are so awful that Eli’s boss spots an article. Eli’s to use simulated dates for a humorous piece. Eli agrees, but secretly begins another, chronicling Park’s raising as a queer Korean in a small, Alabama town, while realizing his own growing feelings for Peter. But the editor’s obtained the faux “Build-a-Boyfriend” piece. It’s just what he wanted, and Peter recognizes himself as Eli’s bumbling Galatea “boyfriend.” Trust: Difficult to build, even harder to mend once shattered. Will the pieces come together?
“A Queer Case: A Selby Bigge Mystery”
Bank clerk Selby Bigge looks to be just another worker ant among London’s toilers, retiring daily to his shabby bedsit. And he is — until nightfall, when he joins other queer denizens trolling in the shadows. One evening’s encounter is with Patrick, son of banking millionaire Sir Lionel Duker, and suddenly Selby is immersed in an entirely new world; dining at the Ritz on foods he’s never tasted, lavish birthday parties at the Duker family mansion on Hampstead Heath with the aging Sir Lionel and his splendid young wife, Lucinda. (Do you spot a thickening plot?) A strangled corpse in the billiard room makes everyone a suspect, and Selby is motivated to find a killer to protect his own secrets. London, October 1929 … what might next go awry?
“Rough Pages”
The disappearance of two middle-aged bookshop owners endangers Andy Mills’s adopted family and can scotch the nearly-completed adoption of baby Rina. It’s the early 1950s; homosexuality was a crime, gay publications were deemed immoral across the board, and mailing such material by subscription was a federal offense. Lavender House butler Pat, a volunteer at Walt’s bookshop, now fears for the whole family; many suddenly have much to lose. Andy’s search reveals that the shop’s been entered, and the subscriber list is missing. Further exploration indicates a mysterious memoir with Mafia connections, and a leeching lady reporter appears who can embroil Andy with his ex-police chief boss, reveal his whereabouts to all the boys in blue, and destroy Andy’s happy life at the Ruby, patron Elsie’s San Francisco gay club.
“E is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey”
If you aren’t yet acquainted with “E,” here’s a golden opportunity. Issued by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust and produced in creative partnership with The Edward Gorey House (the said “E”’s former home in Yarmouth Port, Mass.), of which writer Hischak is the curator, and in which materials in this book are curated. If you don’t know Gorey’s books (yet), you’ve unknowingly seen his art — on book jackets, intros to TV shows, on stage in scenic designs. Among his 100-plus books?
“The Gashlycrumb Tinies,” “The Hapless Child,” “The Doubtful Guest,” “The Curious Sofa,” “The Willowdale Handcar.” So much darkness and uncertainty gathered in one volume to accompany through these darkling, uncertain — and far less humorous — days. At 5.56 pounds, it’s cheaper than chuck eye steak.
The Major Flex
Do you consider this 2025 Range Rover Sport a serious flex?
First of all, what do you consider a “flex”? One of the definitions of the word refers to a colloquialism for “showing off.” Is that really a bad thing? It depends on your worldview and place in society.
If you find yourself around the WNBA, some of our favorite athletes roll around in a Range Rover of some sort — most likely the Sport. This also applies to a lot of professional athletes of all genders and gender expressions.
Add entertainers, executives, financial and sales professionals to the long list of people who flex in their Range Rover Sport.
Why is this British midsize luxury SUV such a flex?
Let’s go back about 55 years to when the first Range Rover debuted in the UK. No one considered that the original luxury SUV would attract the landed gentry with properties of massive acreage, mansions and servant quarters. Eventually, the lore of the Range Rover’s capabilities found owners in the cities as well as the British countryside.
Then, the brand expanded across borders and oceans. It became the stuff of legend. Range Rover expanded its range from a two-door SUV to a four-door version. Then, a few more lines of smaller SUVs — each one with a purpose and a specific audience. All of which saw multiple corporate ownership changes and evolutions in design language.
The Range Rover Sport is the second-from-top entry in the sub-brand’s lineup. Sub-brand? Range Rover is now considered its own brand within the Land Rover family, controlled by Tata Motors.
You can say that this is a complicated backstory. Yet, we have the result that a desirable vehicle attracts a lot of well-heeled consumers. Ones with impeccable taste, without the massive Rolls-Royce budget.
About the 2025 Range Rover Sport, it fits within the brand’s current design language. Not exactly upright, but it offers presence. The details are contemporary, clean and subtle, with flash glass, retractable door handles, a thin grille with LED headlamp units and horizontal LED tail lights. The finishing touch is a large tailgate that opens wide and high.
Our Autobiography example offers an elevated feeling with a wide choice of paint colors, the option of a contrasting roof color and a wide selection of wheels. In this case, this Carpathian Gray paint finish fits this vehicle perfectly, even with dark-finished details. As well as the 23-inch dark-finished alloy wheels with carbon fiber inserts from Range Rover’s bespoke specification program, SV.
Stepping inside, you are treated to a cabin that we would describe as “sumptuous minimalism.” The entire aesthetic is clean with plenty of open space in various places. The two-tone Light Cloud and Ebony leather upholstery is complemented with piano black and an antique brass-like finish throughout the interior. These are the qualities you will find in the Autobiography trim.
The driver sits behind a stylish cockpit, starting with a very informative and well-organized fully digital instrument cluster. It offers no gimmicks with superb graphics and layers of information. Most tangible controls are found on the steering wheel. The shifter is a shift-by-wire actuator that is chunky and easy to use.
Practicality is impeccable inside the 2025 Range Rover Sport. The Autobiography trim adds a small cool box for your drinks inside the center console. On the dashboard is a large 13.1-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen that is a hub for all information, entertainment and various vehicle controls. There is wireless smartphone mirroring available for additional connectivity options. Sound is emitted through a multitude of speakers powered by the Meridian 3D Surround Sound System.
The seating is comfortable for five people across two rows. Front seats offer a mix of comfort and support, with a lot of adjustments available. They are also heated and cooled with a massage feature. Rear seat room is great with excellent entry and exit through the rear doors. For cargo space, you get 31.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up. They can be folded down for longer and larger items up to 118 cubic feet, according to Range Rover.
Underneath the hood of our Autobiography tester is one of four powertrains available on the 2025 Range Rover Sport. This is a plug-in hybrid that combines the Ingenium turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder internal combustion engine with an electric motor, a battery pack fed by a J1772 CCS plug, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. All told, we’re talking 543 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.
About the PHEV system, you can recharge your 2025 Range Rover Sport at a DC Fast Charger. Charging speed is slower compared to a full batteryelectric vehicle, but you can recoup energy back to the battery in around an hour. Range Rover states that it has a range of 53 miles of battery-only driving at a full state of charge.
Driveline performance was fantastic. It was quite rapid and effortless off the mark, regardless of power source. Cruising is relatively quiet and smooth. There was no hesitation when transitioning from electric motor to gasoline engine. You can turn up the wick through the Terrain Response 2 drive mode system. This is switchable between a sportier mode to one that can take you off-road.
Community Connection brings visibility to local LGBTQ-friendly non-profit organizations. To reserve your listing in Community Connection, email advertising@lavendermagazine. com.
ANIMAL RESCUE
Second Chance Animal Rescue
Dedicated to rescuing, fostering, caring for, and adopting out dogs and cats into forever homes.
P.O. Box 10533 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 771-5662 www.secondchancerescue.org
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Quorum
Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce working to build, connect, and strengthen for a diverse business community. 2446 University Ave. W., Ste 112 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 460-8153 www.twincitiesquorum.com
ENVIRONMENT
The Nature Conservancy
TNC is an environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. 1101 W. River Pkwy., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291 (612) 331-0700 minnesota@tnc.org www.nature.org/minnesota
EVENT VENUES
Landmark Center
A classic venue, with a grand cortile and beautiful courtrooms, accommodates celebrations of all sizes.
75 W. 5th St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 292-3228 www.landmarkcenter.org
GRANTMAKERS/FUNDERS
PFund Foundation
PFund is the LGBTQ+ community foundation that provides grants to students and grants to non-profits. PO Box 3640 Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 870-1806 www.pfundfoundation.org
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Aliveness Project
Community Center for individuals living with HIV/AIDS – on-site meals, food shelf, and supportive service.
3808 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55102 (612) 824-LIFE (5433) www.aliveness.org
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
Radio K
Radio K is the award-winning studentrun radio station of the University of Minnesota.
330 21st. Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-3500 www.radiok.org
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
MEDICAL SERVICES
Red Door Clinic
HIV and STI screening, treatment, education, and referrals. Doxy PEP, nPEP, PrEP, and Reproductive Health. 525 Portland Ave., 4th Fl. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 543-5555 reddoor@hennepin.us www.reddoorclinic.org
MUSEUM
Bell Museum, University of Minnesota
Discover Minnesota’s rich natural history through engaging exhibits, wildlife dioramas, and an exciting planetarium experience!
2088 Larpenteur Ave. W. St. Paul, MN 55113 (612) 626-9660 bellinfo@umn.edu www.bellmuseum.umn.edu
Minnesota Historical Society
Create your own adventure at MNHS historic sites and museums around Minnesota. www.mnhs.org
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Enjoy masterpieces from all over the world & every period of human history. Free admission daily!
2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 870-3000 www.artsmia.org
Science Museum of Minnesota
Mississippi Riverfront Museum featuring dinosaurs, hands-on exhibits, Omnitheater films, and interactive science performances. Café onsite. 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 221-9444 www.smm.org
PERFORMING ARTS
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
The nation's largest professional dinner theater and Minnesota's own entertainment destination.
501 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 (952) 934-1525 www.chanhassendt.com
Children’s Theatre Company
Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class family-friendly theatre for kids, teens, and adults.
2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 874-0400 www.childrenstheatre.org
Guthrie Theater
Open to the public year-round, the Guthrie produces classic and contemporary plays on three stages. 818 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 377-2224 www.guthrietheater.org
Minnesota Opera
World-class opera draws you into a synthesis of beauty; breathtaking music, stunning costumes & extraordinary sets. Performances at the Ordway Music Theater - 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (612) 333-6669
www.mnopera.org
Minnesota Orchestra
Led by Music Director Designate Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra, one of America’s leading symphony orchestras.
1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 371-5656, (800) 292-4141 www.minnesotaorchestra.org
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Leading performing arts center with two stages presenting Broadway musicals, concerts & educational programs that enrich diverse audiences.
345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 224-4222 info@ordway.org www.ordway.org
Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus
An award-winning chorus building community through music and offers entertainment worth coming out for! 1430 W. 28th St., Ste. B Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 339-SONG (7664) chorus@tcgmc.org www.tcgmc.org
RELIGIOUS
& SPIRITUAL
All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church
A welcoming, inclusive, safe place to explore and discover God’s love for ALL God’s children.
3100 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 824-2673 www.agcmcc.org
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
Everyone is welcome at Hennepin Church! Vibrant Worship. Authentic Community. Bold Outreach. 511 Groveland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-5303 www.hennepinchurch.org
Plymouth Congregational Church
Many Hearts, One Song; Many Hands, One Church. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. 1900 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-7400 www.plymouth.org
St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ
We are an Open & Affirming, Progressive Christian Community. Real Church. Real People. Real Life. 2129 Commonwealth Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 (651) 646-7173 www.sapucc.org
Westminster Presbyterian Church
An open and affirming congregation, welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. 1200 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 332-3421 www.westminstermpls.org
SENIOR LIVING
Lyngblomsten Community Services
Empowering older adults to live well at home through caregiver support, memory-loss enrichment, & wellness education.
1415 Almond Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 (651) 632-5330 www.Lyngblomsten.org/CServices
Senior Community Services
Providing non-medical services that meet the changing needs of older adults & support their caregivers.
10201 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 335 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1019 www.seniorcommunity.org/lav
SOCIAL SERVICES
Friends & Co
Fostering meaningful connections for older adults for 50+ years. Offering quick drop-in chat line, phone & visiting companionship services.
2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 260-S St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 721-1400
www.friendsco.org
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Serving all Minnesotans with individualized services that promote full and abundant lives.
lssmn.org | (651) 642-5990 | (800) 582-5260
Foster Care and Adoption | chlss.org | (651) 646.7771
PICS (Partners in Community Supports) | (651) 967-5060
Pooled Trust | (888) 806-6844
Supported Decision-Making | (888) 806-6844
TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Westopolis
Minnesota’s Sweet Spot! St. Louis Park & Golden Valley offer exceptional dining, attractions, shopping, hotels and event space.
1660 Hwy 100 S., Ste. 501 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 426-4047 www.westopolis.org
Our Range Rover Sport Autobiography is also equipped with a Dynamic Air Suspension system. It creates a smoother ride, no matter what surface you are on. The system also automatically adjusts the ride height, including lowering the vehicle when it is parked.
Maneuverability is superb, thanks to all-wheel steering. When turning the wheel, the rear wheels slightly adjust to tighten up the turning radius. The result was quite surprising and welcoming when parking. You can actually activate a parking assistance feature when the Range Rover Sport detects you attempting to park along the street. You also have the assistance of a 3D Surround Camera that appears on the Pivi Pro touchscreen.
When it comes to the brakes, they are simply great. In normal and panic stops, they modulate well and respond quickly. Pedal feel is just right.
For 2025, you can choose between four Range Rover Sport trim levels, starting from $83,700. This Autobiography PHEV tester came with a sticker price of $128,865.
The 2025 Range Rover Sport is definitely a major flex. It gives you automatic VIP status with its powerful driveline, sumptuous cabin and contemporary styling — all tastefully done.
Before you consider one, you have to ask yourself whether the Range Rover Sport is for you. If it is, then you can flex all the way to your Fall Getaway. Preferably at a luxury resort.
BY MARK SEGAL
How about Optimism and Gaming?
Optimistic — it seems that’s what I am, though I never would have thought so. But in these times, I find myself searching for whatever good I can witness, or looking to the past to remind myself how we’ve always managed to find our way out of whatever we’ve felt trapped by.
So how do I use my optimism? Optimism is hoping and believing in the best. For me, it starts with simply appreciating what I already have in my life. Just last week, my husband Jason and I celebrated our 21st anniversary. That alone feels miraculous — and, using that word “best” again, these have truly been the best 21 years of my life. How could my heart not beat brighter and stronger when I think of the man who has stood by me and dreamed alongside me every step of the way? If you’ve ever appreciated anything my work has accomplished, you can thank Jason — none of it would have been possible without him at my side.
Our life is full of surprises, too. Lately, he’s been trying to convince me to slow down a little. His latest idea? To turn me into a gamer. That’s right — a gamer. And to my surprise, I’m loving it! In case you’re wondering, the game I’m playing is “Astro Bot.” Of course, just when we think we’ve planned some downtime, new projects somehow find their way to our door anyway — that seems to be how life works.
Even with all that, we’ve created a new family rule: after dinner, we turn off the computers, ignore the phone and simply have family time. Jason, our (still-thinks-she’s-a-puppy) dog Zola and I cuddle up and stream something together — lately we’ve been hooked on the mysteries written by Harlan Coben on Netflix.
Those quiet, cozy evenings make it feel possible to get up the next morning and tackle whatever comes our way — to keep moving through this unbelievable chapter in history. Because no matter what the day throws at me, I know that later, I’ll be sitting with Jason and Zola, enjoying the simple gift of family time once more — and that is what keeps me hopeful.
OUR VOICES | MARK MY WORDS
Photo courtesy of BigStock/dolgachov
Photos by Randy Stern
