Mill City's Last Call, Cava Lands, Lynx Playoffs & MN Cannabis Turns 1

Your Twin Cities week in review for Sept 28, 2026: farmers markets in their final outdoor stretch, big food news, Lynx playoff basketball, and Minnesota's legal cannabis market hitting a major milestone. In this episode: Mill City Farmers Market's last weekend of the season — Sat 8am–1pm next to the Guthrie St. Paul Farmers' Market downtown still outdoors Sat 7am–1pm, Sun 8am–1pm at 290 5th St E Cava's first Twin Cities location opened Sept 24 — plus local plant-based alternatives Lynx vs. Liberty WNBA Playoffs Round 1 at Target Center; Minnesota is the #1 seed Flip the Script Fest LGBTQ+ film festival Oct 1–11; Twin Cities Oktoberfest Oct 9–10 at the Fairgrounds Foster the People + Goth Babe at The Armory Mon 9/28; Mico at First Avenue Wed 9/30 Guthrie's Waiting for Godot runs through Oct 11; Kunene and the King opens Oct 10 Minnesota's adult-use cannabis market turns 1: ~$150M in sales, 230+ dispensaries, 369 licensed businesses, 43% social equity licensees Sources: Mill City Farmers Market St. Paul Farmers' Market Twin Cities Geek — This Week in Geek Twin Cities Oktoberfest First Avenue Shows Guthrie Theater 2026-2027 Season Lynx vs. Liberty Playoffs Game 1 St. Paul Saints Home Games 2026 Minnesota United FC Season Axios: Cava enters Twin Cities Mpls.St.Paul Mag: New Restaurant Openings MPR News: Legal Cannabis in Minnesota Turns 1 TCB Mag: 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Winners Subscribe: mplsvegan.com Full transcript George: —and I'm telling you, Laura, I walked over the Stone Arch this morning and the light was doing that thing. Laura: That thing. George: You know the thing. Laura: George, "the thing" is not a weather report. George: Okay, okay. That low, gold, end-of-September light where the river looks like it's showing off. Laura: Now THAT I'll take. George: See? I can be descriptive. Laura: When pressed. When pressed. George: Ope, called out already and we haven't even said hi. Laura: Hi, everybody. George: Hi, everybody. Welcome back. Laura: It's the last Monday of September, which is wild. George: It genuinely snuck up on me. I still had the fan on last week. Laura: Same. And then this weekend I needed a hoodie by like… four in the afternoon? George: Yep. That's the tell. When the sun goes and the air just DROPS. Laura: That's Minnesota clearing its throat. Like, "hey, remember me?" George: "Remember me. I live here too." Laura: Uff da. George: So we've got a lot to get into today. Farmers markets are still going— Laura: Barely. George: Barely, yes. Lynx are in the playoffs. Laura: Skol Lynx. George: There it is. Laura: You knew it was coming. George: I did. And Cava finally landed here, which people have OPINIONS about. Laura: Oh, we're getting to Cava. We are absolutely getting to Cava. George: But first, real quick, shout to our friends. This show is brought to you by mplsvegan.com and mncannabishub.com. Two of the best local guides you can bookmark. Laura: Genuinely. Not just saying it. George: Not just saying it. Okay. Weather. Laura: Mornings are crispy, afternoons still let you sit outside if the sun's on you. George: That's my sweet spot, honestly. Laura: You LIVE for this week. George: I do. I really do. Patio with a jacket. Coffee that stays hot the whole time. Laura: Pop that stays cold for once. George: There you go. Laura: What? It's the season for it. George: I'm not correcting you, I'm ENJOYING you. Laura: Okay. George: So let's talk farmers markets, because we're basically on the last call. Laura: Mill City wraps up at the end of the month. George: Which is this week. Laura: Which is THIS week. So Saturday, eight to one, next to the Guthrie — that's your last shot in the good stretch. George: I love that market. The view of the river, the flour mill ruins right there… Laura: George is doing history brain again. George: I can't help it. That corner of the city TELLS you something. Laura: Oh no, the buildings are speaking to him. George: They ARE though. Laura: Okay, okay. And if you're on the East Side, St. Paul Farmers' Market downtown, Fifth Street East, Saturday seven to one, Sunday eight to one. Still outside. George: Free parking. Laura: Free parking, which in downtown St. Paul is basically a love letter. George: It really is. Laura: Grab your last tomatoes. Grab weird squash. Grab whatever's ugly and cheap. George: Ugly and cheap is the fall move. Laura: The ugly ones taste better. I will die on that hill. George: I don't know enough to argue. Laura: Good. Don't. George: Okay, food scene. This is where you've been vibrating. Laura: Cava. George: Cava is here. Laura: It's HERE, George. Axios had the report last week — first Twin Cities location opened the 24th, suburbs to follow. George: For folks who don't know, Cava's the fast-casual Mediterranean chain out of DC. Bowls, pitas, that whole thing. Laura: And the discourse has been… lively. George: Lively. Laura: Because half the city's like "finally," and the other half is like "we already have places." Laura: And, like… both are true? George: I was gonna say. Both can be true. Laura: I'll try it. I'm not gonna pretend I won't. George: Of course you'll tr...