Welcome to the Twin Cities for this year’s Women’s Final Four! Here are some local names and terms to get familiar with as you navigate the tourney, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the rest of the area.
PAIGE BUECKERS: She plays for Connecticut. She’s from here. She rules. We wish the best of luck to all the participating schools but anyone from here who says they’re not rooting for her at least a little bit is lying to you.
ONE OF US: This is where we note that whether you lived in Minnesota for 20 years or 20 minutes, you’re One Of Us. We don’t make these rules, we just observe them. Chris Pratt and Winona Ryder were both born here. We’ll never let you forget it even if they don’t remember it.
DRIBBLE DRABBLE: Surly’s women brewers (Shannon Stroh, Paige Hiber, Julia MacLean) brewed this citrusy pale ale exclusively for this year’s Final Four. We’re introducing it on March 31st at the Taste of the Twin Cities benefit on the U of M campus. You’ll also be able to find it across Minnesota beginning this weekend. Some locations include:
- Gardens of Salonica, Minneapolis
- The Market at Malcolm Yards, Minneapolis
- 8th Street Grill, Minneapolis
- The Marquette Hotel, Minneapolis
- The White Horse, St. Cloud
- Zorbaz, Gull Lake
- Local 218, Brainerd
- Boulder Tap House, Baxter
- Drafts, Crookston
- Union Pizza, Fergus Falls
- Up North Pizza, East Grand Forks
BLUE LINE: This is the train that connects Minneapolis and the Mall of America. Guy Fieri hasn’t opened his MOA chicken finger restaurant yet, but you can drown that crushing disappointment with a Surly at many of the fine bars and restaurants located there and along the route.
LINDSAY WHALEN: She coaches the Minnesota Gophers women’s team. She led them to their only Final Four appearance as a player in 2004. She was a member of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx championship dynasty. She’s also from here. She also rules.
HALLOWEEN BLIZZARD: If you find yourself in a small talk jam with a local, just say “Halloween Blizzard, 1991, go.” Congratulations on the next 15 uninterrupted minutes of rich Midwestern accents.
MAYA MOORE: Cornerstone of those Lynx teams. First ballot hall of famer. She doesn’t just rule, she might be an actual superhero.
WISCONSIN MARTINI: It’s a beer with 2-3 olives in it. Some call it a North Dakota Martini but Wisconsin is closer to Minneapolis and they’ve been ornery ever since the Packers ate it in the playoffs yet again. We’ll give them this one.
CHERYL REEVE: She’s the coach and GM of the Minnesota Lynx and the head coach of Team USA. As you might have gathered, she rules too.
SURLY BEER HALL & SURLY PIZZA UPSTAIRS: Our hours are 3-9pm Thursday, 3-11pm Friday, 11am-11pm Saturday, and 10am-3pm for Sunday Brunch service. We have 40 beers on tap. Try one. Hell, try two. We have plenty. Food’s damn good, too.
Thank you for coming to town.
