The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

My how time flies. It is almost August, the days are getting shorter, and the evenings of patio dining will soon be a distant memory. I still haven't made it back to my all-time favorite outdoor dining spot, the patio at the Black Forest Inn, for a mug of Pilsner Urquell, a pair of bratwurst

Tin Fish is open for the season, and on sunny days, the long lines are back at the Lake Calhoun Pavilion. These guys have the formula figured out: start with very fresh ingredients, and then prepare them as simply as possible. Prices seem to have gone up a bit since last year - as have seafood prices everywhere - but they are still quite reasonable: you can get a Mini Tin sandwich (two pieces of cod on a toasted bun) for $2.75 and a big