Skip to Content
Opinion

Hope You’ve Got a Long Weekend. If Not, You’ve Still Got This Friday Open Thread.

What on your minds this Friday, Racket pals?

9:47 AM CDT on June 30, 2023

Wouldn’t you rather be watching a laser show?

|Jingda Chen

Well, there's sure plenty to talk about this long 4th of July weekend.

As we celebrate (or don't) an always fraught holiday, the city of Minneapolis is making some *extremely Minnesotan voice* interesting choices. Taste of Minnesota returns this weekend, which means "downtown Minneapolis is back" again, etc. But the Stone Arch Bridge will be closed before sundown (a decision made without community input, and apparently not made by the MPRB), signaling that not everyone is welcome to our "revitalized" urban space. And though I've personally never been a big fireworks guy, it's hard to get excited about a big civic laser show on Boom Island.

In short, Independence Day is dumb, the rulers of downtown Minneapolis don't care what you think, and, uh, laser show. On the plus side, a long weekend (if you're fortunate enough to have one) gives you plenty of time to catch up on any Racket stories you missed.

As always, talk about whatever you want in the comments. We'll be back on Wednesday, which seems like ages from now.

More Stories

Every Movie Review Racket Published in 2026

Here you go: a running compilation of Racket's capsule film reviews.

November 3, 2026

Is Minnesota in Danger of Flipping Red?

Plus ranking burgers and sandwiches, wooing developers, greenlighting data centers, and spotting so many moose in today's Flyover news roundup.

November 2, 2026

Sushi by Baaska Has a Permanent Home, Scott Ja-Mama’s Says Farewell, and More October Restaurant News

Plus the return of Mandalay Kitchen and Momo Sushi, goodbye to Xela's, and an uncertain future for Sisyphus.

November 2, 2026

She’s Green, TC Book Fest, Queer & Funny Improv: This Week’s Best Events

Plus a party for the reunification of Nicollet at Lake Street.

November 2, 2026

Dejected MN Job-Seekers and Other 20-Somethings Unload to the Times

Plus deporting refugees to random countries, Demuth drags Swifties, and get ready to vote in today's Flyover news roundup.