"First Avenue is an institution. And within that institution was the institution of Conrad." 31 remembrances that portray the man behind the legend of the world's greatest stage manager. This is for the stage crew members everywhere. Gift link: racketmn.com/long-live-co...

Time for this week's movie listings!

"There’s really no one like him in this business," says Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn. "He was the first face of First Avenue for so many musicians and road people."

Drink union-made beer! It tastes better!

✊🍞🌹🍻

Let's keep going! 😤😤😤 racketmn.com/racket-sprin...

We're drinkin' union beers this month.

An $8 sandwich? In 2026?

In today's Flyover news roundup...

Article from the FIRST WEEK of Racket. "Yabba, dabba... dome home?" indeed.

Back on the market... 👀

Jeff Tweedy, John Darnielle, and dozens of friends and coworkers share their stories about a genuine local legend.

In today's Flyover news roundup:

Brewery gift cards, concert tickets, soccer tickets, Racket merch, and a whole lot more—join today and you're automatically entered to win!

"Long Live Conrad!" 31 remembrances of the legendary @first-avenue.com stage manager Conrad Sverkerson from Jeff Tweedy, @themountaingoats.bsky.social, Alan Sparhawk, @beachhouseband.bsky.social, Mason Jennings, Fancy Ray, and two dozen colleagues and loved ones. racketmn.com/long-live-co...

@racketmn.com is the best publication imaginable, subscribe today!

I subscribed during last year's sale right after moving to the Twin Cities. Racket has been invaluable to me for what's going on around town--it's got everything. Local politics, events, the best budget bites for lunch - $25 for a full year is a steal to support local journalism!

After dozens of interviews, we assembled this tribute to a true legend of the Minnesota music scene. RIP, Conrad.

INCREDIBLE progress after just 2 days. Sale ends June 1! racketmn.com/racket-sprin...

In today's Flyover news roundup...

Plus: 3 solutions to fix Stillwater.

Plus a possibly cursed 'Guys and Dolls' production, housing trends, and Metro Transit's new lost and found lockers in today's Flyover news roundup.

Support your local irreverent, err, independent journalism.

sorry to be annoying but i have often wondered to myself: why isn't stillwater..... nicer

Still plenty of time to get a hell of a deal on a subscription to Racket. Essential reading if you're in and around the twin cities!

This week's music calendar, hot off the press. (Or, you know, fresh from the "publish" button.)

Stillwater isn't successful because of modern planning. It's successful in spite of it, riding the coattails of its historic core and its natural setting. To the extent the city works, it works on the strength of antique bones, not 21st-century decisions.

If you live in Minneapolis-St. Paul and you aren't subscribed to Racket, why not?

74 new racket members in 24 hours!!! y'all kick ASS. help us keep filling that cartoon thermometer: racketmn.com/racket-sprin...

After 1 day, think we're gonna need a bigger membership drive goal... racketmn.com/racket-sprin...

In today's Flyover news roundup... racketmn.com/wait-so-what...

Half off *and* a chance at prizes?! You should click so fast if you aren’t already a member. From Freeloader Friday to Voices of the MN Occupation to a podcast about MN food and drink trends, they are creating and cultivating so much good stuff. Plus I love the totally not required annual report.

Hear from correspondents from around the state.

Do it, it’s cool!!!!

It's our biggest sale/raffle ever. Deal runs through June 1. Let's make like Zack Snyder and hit 300! racketmn.com/racket-sprin...

I did. You should too.

Support local news!!!!!

Go cancel that thing you feel conflicted about and spend that money on Racket instead

Plus rooftop putt-putt season at the Walker, a celebration of life for Conrad Sverkerson, Flop: A Small Press Comix Show, the MN Aurora FC home opener, and EVEN MORE.

IF YOU MOURN THE PASSING OF THE ALT-WEEKLIES ERA IT AIN'T OVER YET

The $5 a month I spend on Racket easily is the biggest bang for my entertainment and information buck, but new readers can get in on the fun for 💵 HALF PRICE 💵 for your first year and a chance at a bunch of prizes!

One of the best deals you'll see this year. $25 for a year's worth of Freeloader Fridays - so for 50 cents a week, you can have a one stop list every Friday of all the free things to do each weekend. Beats trying to find an unransacked City Pages box each week!

All the cool kids subscribe to Racket.

If you're in the twin cities you should be subscribed to @racketmn.com. I don't make the rules, I just enforce them.

So I can't subscribe here because I already do. But you should, freeloader Fridays, all the restaurant news, every concert listing, Weed reviews, the beer column... all of it is great content. And you can still win stuff after you subscribe! I have won concert tickets!

Very cool list of prizes, but more and more people are saying the the REAL prize is supporting a writer-owned, reader-funded media operation for the low, low price of $2.50/month. You hear similar things during other member drives around town, but we quite literally can't do this without you!

I’ve learned so much from @racketmn.com and I get so much joy from reading what regular commenters have to say! If you join today, you can get into the Friday open comment thread this week and sort through our nonsense!

Here's the deal: if you* subscribe to @racketmn.com today, I'll finally finish my piece on my favorite St. Paul happy hour food special of all time that I've been working on for them. *yes, you racketmn.com/racket-sprin...

racket currently has exactly 5,161 paying members. that is... genuinely amazing to me. we support ourselves and pay a host of local contributors with this thing we created almost five years ago. if you've ever wanted to join us, this is a great time to sign up. we couldn't do it without yr support.

It's Racket's biggest sale of the year! Become a member now and you can win MN Aurora FC tickets, Pride Beer Dabbler passes, and gift cards to local spots like Bench Pressed, Bull's Horn, and more!