Kare11
Where will Charles Barkley eat in Minneapolis?
Some famous Minneapolis chefs, and a fan-favorite pizza place are all extending invites after a viral TV moment.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minutes after the Minnesota Timberwolves punched their ticket to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals, a very short exchange between NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley and Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards spawned an unofficial tourism slogan and intense speculation about the best local restaurants.
Charles Barkley: “I have not been to Minnesota in probably 20 years.”
Anthony Edwards: “Bring ya a**.”
Barkley: “Can you send me a list of good restaurants? We’re going to be there for like five days.”
By Monday morning, many on social media – including Explore Minnesota – called on prospective visitors and NBA fans to “Bring ya a**” to the state.
Meanwhile, the request from Barkley for a list of “good restaurants” led to numerous suggestions, invitations from local chefs and rampant speculation about where he – and the NBA on TNT crew – might end up.
“I was watching it with my 12-year-old and my wife,” said Gavin Kaysen, chef/owner of Spoon & Stable in the North Loop. “The next thing I know, my phone is next to me and it’s just going ‘beep, beep, beep.’ I’m like, ‘I’m just going to let it go.'”
A few minutes later, Kaysen realized that his friend, celebrity chef Bobby Flay had offered a viral endorsement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Chuck.. Spoon and Stable in Minneapolis.. best restaurant in town,” Flay wrote.
That single post had more than 100,000 views by Monday morning.
Erdahl: “Bobby Flay has just a little bit of pull?”
Kaysen: “A little bit of pull, that’s what I wrote back. I said, ‘The king has spoken, so now you know where to come Chuck.'”
Even if the TNT crew doesn’t make it to Spoon & Stable, Kaysen says the boost from the Timberwolves playoff run has been huge, and hectic.
“Even today, we’re getting emails from the Dallas Mavericks Executive Team to book whole rooms in our restaurant,” he said. “It just feels very much like how the Super Bowl felt, but instead of having a year to plan it, we have a day and a half to plan it.”
Kaysen says Mara, another one of his downtown restaurants, already hosted the Denver Nuggets, but it’s his sports-centric catering business, KZ Provisioning, that might ultimately give him an inside track.
Kaysen: “Andrew Zimmern and I created this company 8 years ago, and we cook for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Wild and the Lynx. We’re behind the scenes, we’re in the locker rooms, we’re with the players.”
Erdahl: “So you’re slipping Ant a list (of restaurants)?”
Kaysen: “Yeah, we already slipped him the list. We said, ‘Here you go. Just forward this message.'”
Across the street, another local chef, David Fhima, already knows he’ll be feeding Barkley in at least one respect.
“I’m exciting to show him what’s happening in the arena,” said Fhima, who is executive chef for the Timberwolves concessions throughout Target Center. “I’m excited to show him what’s happening in the restaurants. He has come to our restaurants, actually.”
Despite Barkley’s claim that he hasn’t been to Minnesota in 20 years, Fhima says the NBA Hall of Famer actually ate at his namesake restaurant, Fhima’s, a few years ago during the NCAA Final Four in Minneapolis.
“(Barkley) and my son were partying a little I think,” he said, with a laugh. “There’s a photo on his Instagram. It’s there, you can see it!”
Fhima says he’s not sure if Barkley will return, but he’s excited for the week ahead regardless.
“We hope he comes to us, we hope he comes to other wonderful restaurants as well,” Fhima said. “But you can’t miss. Everywhere from downtown, to the North Loop, to the suburbs, we have some amazing restaurants.”
And many of those restaurants have already been feeling the love from fans.
“Normally on Sunday we have 90 orders. Last night it was like 210,” said Kai Glinsek, manager of Parkway Pizza in Northeast Minneapolis. “The cool part was, everywhere I went, everyone was watching the game.”
The local pizza place may not have the fine dining prestige, or pedigree, of some other restaurants, but it does have a famous ‘Honk if you love Naz Reid’ sign outside.
“I also have a connect in the neighborhood who actually has a friend that’s on the production of TNT and they are going to put a word in for me,” Glinsek said. “So I’ve got my finger’s crossed.”
And just in case Barkley and the TNT crew sees this story, Kai has three words:
“Bring ya asses,” he said with a laugh. “Bring ’em over here. You want to see the Naz Reid sign? You want to get some great pizza? Come on down to Parkway.”
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Sergeant Tony Bryand spent 10 months in the Middle East, and never got to see his stepdaughter perform – until Saturday
CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Few things match the mystery of the theater, or the warmth that comes from the holidays. At the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, that warmth was easy to spot Saturday night.
Hundreds gathered to watch the musical White Christmas, but for one person, the show wasn’t the most important part of their evening.
It was who would be there.
“Me and her have had a really good bond since I’ve came into her life,” Sergeant Tony Bryand said.
Sgt. Bryand has been away on deployment in Kuwait for the last 10 months, returning home just in time for the holidays. On stage, his stepdaughter, nine-year-old Jenalia, plays Susan Waverly.
“Me being gone is a big change, really hard on her,” Sgt. Bryand said, choking up. “Hard on me.”
During the preshow announcement, emcee Nancy Nelson walked out, set to announce the start of the show.
Instead, she was interrupted by Jenalia.
“On behalf of the theater, Nancy, we would all like to thank you for all you do!” Jenalia said, surprising Nancy.
“You should have them, and I know someone who wants to give them to you, darling,” Nelson said in response. “Turn around!”
In front of the crowd, Jenalia turned and saw Sgt. Bryand, running into his arms, reuniting the two after months apart.
“He has not seen her on this stage, in this show, but he will tonight!” Nelson said while the two embraced.
Sgt. Bryand sat and watched his stepdaughter perform during the show, the nerves he had conquered, and now reunited for the holidays.
“Gonna give her a memory, gonna give us a memory that we’ll never forget,” he said.
The road conditions were snowy and icy when the crash occurred.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. — One man was killed after his truck collided with another vehicle in Inver Grove Heights on Saturday afternoon, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The man was driving up the entrance ramp from Concord Boulevard to northbound Highway 52 when his truck lost control, said the state patrol.
His truck crossed over the northbound lanes of Highway 52 before colliding with another vehicle, said the state patrol.
The road conditions were snowy and icy when the crash occurred.
The state patrol identified the man who died as 74-year-old Willard Pohl of Inver Grove Heights.
The driver of the other vehicle and his five passengers, which included four children, were not injured in the crash.
The Red Bulls were deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, where they played a role in strengthening defense relationships with partner nations.
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division, known as the “Red Bulls,” has returned home after a 10-month deployment to the Middle East.
On Saturday, the second wave of over 550 Citizen-Soldiers reunited with their families at the division’s headquarters in Arden Hills.
This homecoming follows the first wave of soldiers who returned earlier this week, marking the end of a successful mission that began in February 2024.
The Red Bulls were deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, where they played a role in strengthening defense relationships with partner nations.
During their deployment, the Red Bulls conducted numerous military-to-military exercises with partner nation forces in the region. They also modernized the division headquarters with top of the line communications equipment. Lieutenant Colonel Jay Hackett, the Infantry Battalion Commander, expressed pride in the unit’s focus and dedication throughout the mission.
“They really took care of the mission, and more importantly, they took care of each other,” Hackett said.
The scene at the Arden Hills headquarters was filled with emotion as families eagerly awaited their loved ones’ return. One soldier, medic Kacie Lou, was greeted with warm embraces from her parents and grandparents. When asked about her first desire upon returning home, she humorously replied, “I want to go eat some tacos.”
Another returning soldier described the surreal feeling of being back, stating, “It’s unexplainable. I feel like I’m in a dream, and I don’t think it’ll really set in until tomorrow morning when I wake up in my own bed.”
The Red Bulls’ return marks another chapter in the division’s rich history of service. With roots dating back to 1856, the Minnesota National Guard has consistently answered the nation’s call, with more than 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen serving across 58 communities in the state.
