I was introduced to Smashburger on a trip to Colorado, and then was pleased to learn there are several locations here in the Twin Cities area.
Smashburger is like it sounds – fresh ground beef smashed on the grill, to the point that it extends beyond the bun on all sides. The menu includes several burger options, including one locally named. Here, it’s the Twin Cities burger. In Denver, it’s . . . take a guess.
The other great thing about Smashburger: make sure to order Smashfries, not regular fries. These are seasoned with rosemary, olive oil, and garlic.
Both the burgers and the fries tend to get a bit on the juicy/greasy side – enough that you’ll need to wash up afterward – but the flavors are still more than worth it.
There are also chicken sandwiches, which I haven’t tried yet, and probably won’t since I like the burgers too much.
Smashburger is a hybrid fast food – you order at the counter and get number; food is delivered to your table in a few minutes.
Mouth-watering Omaha Steaks
Showing posts with label Twin Cities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twin Cities. Show all posts
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Sports: our teams aren't all losers
As sports fans, we sometimes like to joke – or seriously complain – about how big of losers our favorite teams are.
If you look at the numbers, though, the picture isn’t quite as bleak as one might imagine.
Let’s start with the Vikings, who I refuse to spend three hours a week with these days. Through last season, their all-time regular season record, excluding ties, is 426-355, a .545 winning percentage. Not bad, really. Throw in the playoffs, and it dips to .538 with a 445-382 mark.
Through 2013, the Twins – since they became the Twins and not the Senators – stand at .498 with a 4,204-4,243 record. As recently as two years ago, they were above .500 all-time.
The Wild, who haven’t been around as long, are chugging along at 431-381 (again excluding ties, which there are a lot of in hockey) for a .531 mark.
Finally, the Timberwolves have actually won 731 games in their existence with 1,107 losses for a .398 percentage. I would have thought it to be much worse, given all the miserable seasons and should-have-been-lottery-draft-picks.
Bottom line: they’re not so bad. The competitive balance of pro sports is so strong that you have to be really awful for a long time, and even then you win 4 out of 10.
If you look at the numbers, though, the picture isn’t quite as bleak as one might imagine.
Let’s start with the Vikings, who I refuse to spend three hours a week with these days. Through last season, their all-time regular season record, excluding ties, is 426-355, a .545 winning percentage. Not bad, really. Throw in the playoffs, and it dips to .538 with a 445-382 mark.
Through 2013, the Twins – since they became the Twins and not the Senators – stand at .498 with a 4,204-4,243 record. As recently as two years ago, they were above .500 all-time.
The Wild, who haven’t been around as long, are chugging along at 431-381 (again excluding ties, which there are a lot of in hockey) for a .531 mark.
Finally, the Timberwolves have actually won 731 games in their existence with 1,107 losses for a .398 percentage. I would have thought it to be much worse, given all the miserable seasons and should-have-been-lottery-draft-picks.
Bottom line: they’re not so bad. The competitive balance of pro sports is so strong that you have to be really awful for a long time, and even then you win 4 out of 10.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Running: best photos from Twin Cities Marathon
Been digging through all the cover of the Twin Cities Marathon and 10 Mile races.
Here's just a terrific set of photos from the Pioneer Press/Twin Cities.com. Oh, the joy and the pain!
Some other interesting ones:
• Photos along the way
• Chewbacca costume
• Dave Ryan show
• narrative of the 10-Mile
Here's just a terrific set of photos from the Pioneer Press/Twin Cities.com. Oh, the joy and the pain!
Some other interesting ones:
• Photos along the way
• Chewbacca costume
• Dave Ryan show
• narrative of the 10-Mile
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Running: favorite moments in the Twin Cities 10 Mile
• The weather: despite gloomy predictions, it opened up into perfect running weather, at least most of the morning.
• The start: I was concerned our corral would go out too fast, but they didn’t. Twenty yards in, I thought “This will be easy.” Nice confidence-builder.
• It must have been easy. I was unofficially timed at 0:00 flat for the first mile (forgot to start my watch).
• Crossing the Franklin Ave. bridge, with the sun just starting to peek out, was a peaceful scene.
• Even more spectacular, approaching St. Thomas – against the sun with many runners’ breath visible in the crisp autumn air.
• The “Holiday Road” music blasting at Summit and Oxford was a great lift. Thanks.
• I wanted to yell something like “Lower my taxes!” while passing the governor’s mansion, but somehow missed the opportunity.
• On the final descent past the cathedral, one guy had a camera and was shooting pictures on the run. Hope he got some good ones.
• The sweat check and pick-up was remarkably efficient and well organized. Clearly, this wasn’t a government-run operation.
• Carrie Tollefson: the lady had a baby four months ago, ran a full marathon today in just over three hours, and a few minutes after that did a full media interview on the big screen without a huff or puff. I was impressed.
Best of all: sharing the last 7 miles with the Twin Cities Marathon course. It was like getting to run a marathon but cheating. And it was like running the junior varsity race and then settling in to watch really good runners finish.
• The start: I was concerned our corral would go out too fast, but they didn’t. Twenty yards in, I thought “This will be easy.” Nice confidence-builder.
• It must have been easy. I was unofficially timed at 0:00 flat for the first mile (forgot to start my watch).
• Crossing the Franklin Ave. bridge, with the sun just starting to peek out, was a peaceful scene.
• Even more spectacular, approaching St. Thomas – against the sun with many runners’ breath visible in the crisp autumn air.
• The “Holiday Road” music blasting at Summit and Oxford was a great lift. Thanks.
• I wanted to yell something like “Lower my taxes!” while passing the governor’s mansion, but somehow missed the opportunity.
• On the final descent past the cathedral, one guy had a camera and was shooting pictures on the run. Hope he got some good ones.
• The sweat check and pick-up was remarkably efficient and well organized. Clearly, this wasn’t a government-run operation.
• Carrie Tollefson: the lady had a baby four months ago, ran a full marathon today in just over three hours, and a few minutes after that did a full media interview on the big screen without a huff or puff. I was impressed.
Best of all: sharing the last 7 miles with the Twin Cities Marathon course. It was like getting to run a marathon but cheating. And it was like running the junior varsity race and then settling in to watch really good runners finish.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Running: anticipation for Twin Cities 10 Mile
I wonder what the neighbors think. It’s 44 degrees Wednesday morning. I’m out standing in my driveway in a t-shirt and shorts from 6:30 to 7 a.m.
That’s because I’m training for the Twin Cities 10 Mile. The running will be easy. Two things I’m not good at are waiting and being cold. I expect that I’ll have to multi-task and do both at the same time Sunday morning; that’s why I’m practicing.
My back hurts when I stand in the same spot too long. I doubt they’ll let me bring a lawn chair into the starting corral. So I’m on the home stretch of training for this event. I’ve got over 800 miles of running (or jogging) logged this year. Now the difficult part: the pre-race wait. Dressing appropriately for running and waiting are different things.
I’m also trying to plan ahead. Usually I don’t like to wear a cap running, but Sunday I will because we will be running into the sun. That’s another thing about running: it goes better when I can see where I’m going.
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Why am I doing this?
That’s a question that pops into mind every once awhile. In this case, I can certainly do it cheaper and more conveniently – I can run 10 miles for free any day I choose around home, and without waiting.
Here, it’s the spectacle of the event itself. Almost 10,000 runners crowded into city streets. Something beyond my usual choices, something way beyond my comfort zone. Going to the extreme (when I got this wild hair two years ago, it was “I run 3 miles a day, no problem going 10.”) Not much different, right?
Then add in the start and finish points: the Metrodome, a much better and more valuable facility than many people give it credit for; and the state capitol, where I went in sixth grade to see the golden horses (and maybe learn something).
I’ll either be hooked beyond hope and back every year, or satisfied that this was my one and only entry into a race of this proportion. We’ll be like wildebeests rushing across the Serengeti, which brings up the disturbing question: if someone goes off course and into the river, will we all follow?
That’s because I’m training for the Twin Cities 10 Mile. The running will be easy. Two things I’m not good at are waiting and being cold. I expect that I’ll have to multi-task and do both at the same time Sunday morning; that’s why I’m practicing.
My back hurts when I stand in the same spot too long. I doubt they’ll let me bring a lawn chair into the starting corral. So I’m on the home stretch of training for this event. I’ve got over 800 miles of running (or jogging) logged this year. Now the difficult part: the pre-race wait. Dressing appropriately for running and waiting are different things.
I’m also trying to plan ahead. Usually I don’t like to wear a cap running, but Sunday I will because we will be running into the sun. That’s another thing about running: it goes better when I can see where I’m going.
-------------
Why am I doing this?
That’s a question that pops into mind every once awhile. In this case, I can certainly do it cheaper and more conveniently – I can run 10 miles for free any day I choose around home, and without waiting.
Here, it’s the spectacle of the event itself. Almost 10,000 runners crowded into city streets. Something beyond my usual choices, something way beyond my comfort zone. Going to the extreme (when I got this wild hair two years ago, it was “I run 3 miles a day, no problem going 10.”) Not much different, right?
Then add in the start and finish points: the Metrodome, a much better and more valuable facility than many people give it credit for; and the state capitol, where I went in sixth grade to see the golden horses (and maybe learn something).
I’ll either be hooked beyond hope and back every year, or satisfied that this was my one and only entry into a race of this proportion. We’ll be like wildebeests rushing across the Serengeti, which brings up the disturbing question: if someone goes off course and into the river, will we all follow?
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Running: one week to Twin Cities 10-Mile
The training is done, except for some tapering. I’m not going to get any better any more.
This will be the largest race I’ve ever been in by far, so we’re trying to figure out some of the logistics of getting where we need to be on time. We can dress for the weather, the running will be relatively easy – it’s getting there (and home) without turning a 10-mile run into a 20-mile walk.
This was the race I eyed up a couple years ago as interesting because of its attractive course – from the Metrodome (while there still is a Metrodome) to the state capitol, two TC landmarks.
We’ve done a couple 10-mile events, a half marathon, and a few long training runs (9.5 yesterday). Finishing shouldn’t be an issue, and time is only a minor goal. I’m looking forward to the experience of everything about it, including the entire TC Marathon weekend.
I still want to do some more waiting practice, because that’s the part that is most difficult. Usually, I can step out the door and start running. Waiting for some time, especially if it’s cold, is a whole challenge in itself.
This will be the largest race I’ve ever been in by far, so we’re trying to figure out some of the logistics of getting where we need to be on time. We can dress for the weather, the running will be relatively easy – it’s getting there (and home) without turning a 10-mile run into a 20-mile walk.
This was the race I eyed up a couple years ago as interesting because of its attractive course – from the Metrodome (while there still is a Metrodome) to the state capitol, two TC landmarks.
We’ve done a couple 10-mile events, a half marathon, and a few long training runs (9.5 yesterday). Finishing shouldn’t be an issue, and time is only a minor goal. I’m looking forward to the experience of everything about it, including the entire TC Marathon weekend.
I still want to do some more waiting practice, because that’s the part that is most difficult. Usually, I can step out the door and start running. Waiting for some time, especially if it’s cold, is a whole challenge in itself.
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