Worth It

The Minnesota Star Tribune•www.startribune.com

There’s a reason compasses always point north. The North Star State is the land of 10,000 possibilities. That’s where the Minnesota Star Tribune comes in. Each week, the people who know our state inside and out will reach into the spaces you might not know to share the stories worth your attention, the places worth a look, the events worth your time – and money. We’re cutting a path through the woods. Come follow us.

Last refreshed: July 23rd, 2025 at 8:53 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Minnesota Yacht Club Festival guide, the rise of buy-now-pay-later and the grossest lake in MN

Going to the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival this weekend? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know. People are using buy-now-pay-later to afford things like groceries – but at what cost? Plus, Mendota Heights neighbors are battling a bird colony polluting their lake with poo. But a solution to this crappy situation is proving difficult. Read more about Minnesota Yacht Club , buy-now-pay-later loans , and Lake Augusta . This week our guests are music critic Chris Riemenschneider , bu...

Jul 18, 2025•33 min

“Cabaret” at the Guthrie, 100 years of Gatsby and the most vital restaurants in MN

We’ve got the inside scoop on why the Guthrie’s “Cabaret” is one of their best productions in years. “The Great Gatsby” turns 100 – is it worth another read? Plus, we’ll tell you about the Culinary North Stars that are pushing the boundaries of the Twin Cities’ dining scene. Read more about the Culinary North Stars , Gatsby’s centennial , Gatsby remixes and the Guthrie’s production of “Cabaret” . This week our guests are taste editor Nicole Hvidsten , general assignment reporter Zoë Jackson , in...

Jul 11, 2025•33 min

Gourmet cotton candy, paddles in the Twin Cities and the best music venues in MN

This Fourth of July weekend, our music critic breaks down the best concert venues in town and takes us backstage at a Dylan concert. We’ll tell you where to stay cool with cotton candy-topped beverages and help you find a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard route through the Twin Cities’ most interesting waters. Read more about the best concert venues , gourmet cotton candy , and paddling urban lakes and rivers . This week our reporters are music critic Jon Bream , food and drink reporter Joy Summers ,...

Jul 04, 2025•26 min

Changing gayborhoods, women’s rugby championships and a walk in the park in MN

It’s Pride weekend, and there are 10,000 ways to celebrate - our team has your weekend plans on lock. We’ll get you caught up on local women’s rugby just in time for the championship final this weekend. The story of the closure (and reopening) of 19 Bar is a window into the history of an important gayborhood in Minneapolis. We’ll tell you about it. Plus, what it’s like to walk Minneapolis from the tippity top to the very bottom. This week our reporters are general assignment reporter Zoë Jackson...

Jun 27, 2025•34 min

Clawcades, Grandma’s Marathon and mapping queer history in MN

Happy Pride Month! We’ll hear stories from an online map that’s documenting stories of LGBTQ and Two Spirit people in Greater Minnesota. Grandma’s Marathon is this weekend and we’ll take a closer look at the one hill runners will have to face to finish. We’ll show you the line between legal and illegal e-bikes. And, we’ll get the inside scoop on the clawcade craze. Are we OK with these little casinos for kids? Read more about the Greater MN queer history map , Lemon Drop Hill , e-bikes , and cla...

Jun 20, 2025•35 min

Downtown St. Paul eats, college grads job hunting and uncovering Dakota history in MN

Our food expert shares her insider’s guide to the best food in downtown St. Paul – morning, noon and night. The job market is hard for everyone right now, but especially for recent college grads. We’ll get the full picture of what’s going on. Plus, we’ll tell you about a new place in southern Minnesota that uncovers a fascinating piece of Dakota history. Read more about what to eat in downtown St. Paul , unemployment among college grads and a groundbreaking archaeological find in Southern Minnes...

Jun 13, 2025•30 min

Celebrating Prince Week, a giant pencil, pool parties and women’s sports in MN

We’re talking about some of the best ways to kick off a great summer. It’s the unofficial Prince Week in Minnesota, but the celebrations are legit. We’ll be your guide to the purple festivities. The state health department has cracked down on unlicensed pools and hot tubs, so what does that mean for your pool party plans? Plus, why a thousand people visit a 20-ft pencil every June and the winning Minnesota women’s sports teams to watch this summer. Read more about unofficial Prince Week , unlice...

Jun 06, 2025•34 min

Dirty sodas, bike race boycott and summer concerts in MN

If you’re a fan of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” or just a tasty drink enjoyer, we’ll give you the deets on where to find a dirty soda. Tensions between the US and Canada spill over into a bike race in Grand Marais, and a couple of local $10 cereal brands are flying off the shelves. Plus, an amphitheater near St. Cloud worth checking out for summertime jams. Read more about dirty sodas , cereal upstarts , a dip in Canadian tourism and the Ledge Amphitheater . This week our guests are taste...

May 30, 2025•36 min

Tourist traps, Timberwolves and remembering George Floyd in MN

In the mood for a drive? Before you head out on your next road trip - we find a couple places worth stopping for. We’ve got the essential guide for casual Timberwolves fans and we find out what’s stinking up some northern lakeshores. Plus five years later, the facts of George Floyd’s murder remain the same, but some are changing the story. We’ll find out more. Read more about the Timberwolves bandwagon , piles of carp , best tourist traps , and revisionist history . This week our guests are spor...

May 23, 2025•39 min

Your ultimate paddling guide, great theater and the cost of kids in MN

Whether you kayak, canoe or paddleboard - or you want to - we’ll hear the best paddling routes to try in the Twin Cities metro. There’s a new show about a real-life Minnesota woman-cowboy-detective from the 1800s. Plus, why you should think “salvage” for home remodeling and the cost to raise a kid here. Read more about “ Whoa, Nellie! ,” our ultimate paddling guide , salvaging for your home and how much it costs to raise a kid in Minnesota . This week our guests are built environment reporter Gr...

May 16, 2025•35 min

Human guinea pigs, controversial fishing tech and the best patios in MN

Spring weather is here and we’re ready for it. Our expert foodie shares her tips for enjoying restaurant patio season, including how to do it on a budget. We’ve got a handful of reasons why Detroit Lakes is worth a look this summer. Plus, fishing drama and the pros/cons of being a human guinea pig, for science. Read more about the best restaurant patios in the Twin Cities , where to eat in Duluth , fishing tech controversy , a tech-free fishing spot and joining research trials . This week our gu...

May 09, 2025•32 min

Buying a home, the best pho and thrifting for crafters in MN

We’ve got ways to win the cutthroat home buying game in MN. Plus we’re taking you inside the best places in the Twin Cities for Vietnamese food and the old-school fabric warehouse that’s an extravaganza of sewing supplies for DIY fashionistas. Our expert on going out also brings you a couple of fun, only-in-Minnesota things you can do exclusively this weekend – find out what they are before it’s too late. Read more about the fabric store Minnesotans are flocking to, trends in housing and the loc...

May 02, 2025•32 min

Worth It (Official Trailer)

Your time is limited. Your money is, too. So how do you know what’s worth it? The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Nicole Norfleet and Aaron Brown curate a weekly guide to the Minnesota stories and happenings worth your time, attention – and money. The cool suburban stop for gourmet cotton candy, the new spot to farm camp, the best place to see a concert – and the venues to avoid – it’s all here on Worth It. The show launches May 2nd, wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the show now so you never miss...

Apr 16, 2025•1 min

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