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🪩Concerts, Comedy & NYE Parties

🪩Concerts, Comedy & NYE Parties

Your weekly scoop of MN Food + Fun

Joe Carmack
December 30, 2025

That’s a wrap. Big thanks for an incredible first year. The Hotdish was opened up and [mostly] enjoyed over 7,100 times this year, which still blows our minds. We’re hoping to 4× this little side project next year, so if you’re up for it, we’d love you to share it with anyone who could use a little more fun + food in their life.

Cheers to an amazing 2026!
-Joe & Haley

Your Weekend Forecast

Dude Perfect Tour @ Target Center

7/26

It’s a Carmack favorite! It’s one of those shows you’ve got to plan ahead for, since it doesn’t come through town often and the seats will fill up fast. Live arena show built around trick shots, team challenges, and over-the-top competitions from the YouTube crew known for mixing sports and comedy. The floor turns into a rotating series of games, stunts, and surprises that keep things moving.

The Twin Cities Auto Show

1/3 - 1/11

This indoor car show boasts hundreds of vehicles from sedans and SUVs to luxury rides and EVs all under one roof. You can walk around, check out tech updates and classic models, and see features like off-road builds and electric vehicle zones. All the makes in one place without hitting a bunch of dealerships.

Comedy: John Mulaney

1/9 - 1/11

It’s a stand-up show where the comedian runs through his usual mix of monologue, stories, silly observations and pre-taped sketches with some musical bits thrown in. Expect sharp, funny takes on everyday nonsense from someone who’s clearly spent a lot of time thinking about awkward life stuff.

Winter Ice Sculptures @ MIA

1/8 - 1/31

Ice sculptures inspired by pieces from the museum’s collection fill the outdoor courtyard, turning familiar art into something temporary and a little unexpected. You can wander outside, then head in to see the originals in the warmth of the indoors, making it an easy winter stop that works for all ages.

Nordic Soundscapes Festival

1/3 - 1/17

It’s a string of orchestral performances focused on music from Nordic countries, mixing well-known masters like Sibelius and Nielsen with newer Nordic voices. The hall’s spaces take on a cozy winter feel with cultural touches and seasonal treats alongside the suites and concertos played by the Minnesota Orchestra.

Dinner at Aster Cafe feels like stumbling into a neighborhood secret that just happens to sit along the river. The room is cozy without trying, the patio view does a lot of the work, and the menu leans comforting but thoughtful. The apple bacon bleu flatbread gets ordered a lot for good reason, and the brisket tacos show up tender, smoky, and unfussy. It’s the kind of place where you linger, talk slower, and don’t feel rushed to clear the table.

After eating, slipping next door into the River Room to hear Thomas Sticha perform makes the night feel planned without being rigid. The space is intimate, with close-up sightlines and sound that stays warm instead of overwhelming. Expect country-folk storytelling, familiar influences, and an easygoing crowd that listens. As the night stretches on, the energy shifts naturally into something looser, carrying things from live music into a late-night dance floor without changing locations or moods.

We acknowledge our Up Yonder has been a little more down-home the last few weeks, but let's face it: hasn't exactly been road tripping weather. Not to worry! We're whipping up something special for you next week. In the meantime, here's a handful of local ways to boogie-woogie on down this New Year’s Eve.

🪩Minnesota’s Top NYE Parties🕺