Mike Marcotte

01/26/2025

Andrea used my birthday freebies guide to get free Buffalo Wild Wings, a free bagel with cream cheese at Bruegger's Bagels, and a bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes! Scoring free food and discounts is easy. Start here: https://givemethemike.com/the-best-birthday-freebies-in-the-twin-cities-2025/

01/23/2025

Wednesday is our weekly date night! Cody and I started with dinner at a Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Top 50 Restaurant, Black Duck Spirits & Hearth in Northeast Minneapolis. Everything — from the beets to the pierogis to the smash burger — was incredible. We had even better company going with Jason and Marcus! Then it was off to see the North American Tour premiere of Parade on Broadway at Hennepin Arts. We found out our seats were next to KSTP’s news director, Kirk, and his amazing wife, Denise! You can catch my review of the musical today on Twin Cities Live around 4:20.

01/22/2025

Palm Springs photo dump. We already have our 2026 trip booked!

01/16/2025

This is my new home for the next few days. Sun and 71 degrees! Visit Palm Springs

01/15/2025

The Jewelry Exchange Hackensack doesn’t sound right!

01/11/2025

Do you have a birthday this year? Yes? Well then get free stuff! I updated my list of freebies.

Do you know of others? Comment below!

From a bottle of wine to car washes, get the best freebies you can snag on your birthday from businesses in the Twin Cities.

01/04/2025

If you need to recycle Christmas lights, here's a list of Minnesota cities accepting them.

There's no fee to recycle string Christmas lights in Minnesota.

01/01/2025

One of the most clicked pages on my website is a list of Minnesota slang words and phrases. I also get a lot of suggestions about new words to add, and I included a few options below. Do you use these?

"Washday": day to do laundry or dishes or shower
"You don't say"
"Welp I suppose": as in, “Welp I suppose I should get going”
"Nuker": slang for microwave. As in, "Put that in the nuker"
"Loosie Goosie"
"Oh, gosh no!"
"Worsh": as in, “I’’m gonna go worsh the clothes”
“What fer?”
"Ruff" or "Rough": how to pronounce roof
Reversing North and South as directions: as in someone from the Cities saying, "I have to go up to Rochester this week" or "I'll be going down to Duluth"

If you want to sound like a native Minnesotan, use these terms.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! I'm grateful for everyone who likes and comments on my posts. If you're new to me and my page, take a moment to read my story. Comment below with what content you want me to post more!

After losing both parents by age 25, Mike Marcotte was diagnosed with epilepsy. Although unsure when a seizure could happen, he doesn't stop.

12/31/2024

I ended the year with a new car! It’s a 2025 Mazda CX-70 hybrid electric vehicle. And my last car, which was over in miles, was accepted without a penalty! Walser Automotive Group

12/30/2024

✨ DRIVE THRU LIGHT SHOW IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA ✨

✨ Havana Lights in Owatonna features 100,000 lights and is open through January 5!
✨ It's a drive thru display open 7 nights a week from 5-10 pm
✨ They are collecting money, cat food, litter, beds and cat toys for Helping Paws of Southern Minnesota

Get the address on the Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide, presented by Desrochers Realty Group - eXp Realty : https://givemethemike.com/minnesota-holiday-lights-2024/

12/30/2024

We had the most lovely meal at Giada De Laurentiis’ restaurant in Scottsdale. Luna By Giada was well worth it! The focaccia bread, the arugula salad, the scallops — everything was so good! And if you ask, you can use the most fantastic pepper grinder I’ve ever seen!

12/29/2024

Who says you have to take lights down after Christmas? Holiday Lights on Bloom in White Bear Lake is on through February 7! Check it out every night from 5:30-9:30 pm.

Get the address on the Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide, presented by R.F. Moeller Jeweler. GiveMeTheMike.com

12/29/2024

A beautiful sunset in Paradise Valley, Arizona!

12/28/2024

Cody, my friend Judy, and I have an annual tradition to spend an evening with Jodi Livon when we are in Arizona! This year, her whole family joined us as we celebrated Hanukkah and the Shabbat. We also had a viewing party to watch Cody’s interview on the news Friday. Always good to see you, Jodi!

12/28/2024

There are plenty of light shows going over winter break! Check out this interactive map with 175 displays thanks to The Winery at Sovereign Estate.

Christmas light displays around Minnesota and Wisconsin, presented by Winter Lights at Sovereign Estates in Waconia. Learn more at https://www.sovereignestatewine.com/spirit-of-winter. Find the 2024 Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide at https://givemethemike.com/minnesota-holiday-lights-2024/

12/28/2024

Cody and I spent 2024 eating at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Top 50 Restaurants! During the course of the year, we made it to 41 of the 50 spots! Here's a review of one of the best that Cody and I visited with TJ from KS95 and her husband. You can read all of my reviews on Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's website: https://mspmag.com/eat-and-drink/eating-the-msp50-mike-marcotte/

TOP 50 RESTAURANT REVIEW
Oro by Nixta
Northeast Minneapolis

There’s something special in the water near the intersection of 2nd Street & 13th Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis. Within feet of each other, you’ll find Ann Kim’s staple, Young Joni, Yia Vang’s up-and-coming Vinai, and Gustavo Romero’s Oro by Nixta.

Oro by Nixta made the news often in 2024. They were a finalist for a James Beard Award – consider them the Oscars for the restaurant community – and Bon Appetit named them one of the 20 best new restaurants of the year.

I attempted to get a table before all the headlines, and it was difficult! Months in advance, I booked out a Thursday night in early October.

You should know that at the heart of Oro by Nixta is corn. It’s used in just about everything on the menu. Every dish has a story from Chef Gustavo – and everything is crafted so beautifully. No wonder why it’s one of the best new restaurants in the country.

Most everything on the menu is shareable. Our table got the Guacamole ($15) that’s served with tostadas and the option to add salsa humito, tatemada, or crudo.

Whenever I see Esquites, I’ll get an order. Sweet local corn is combined with heirloom Mexican corn and tossed in a garlic aioli, cotija cheese, and a chile piquin for $12.

Long after my visit, I’m still thinking about the quesabirria ($18). Peterson Farm beef highlights this cheesy mess. It’s a must get.

Other taco options include a tortilla crusted mahi, Berkshire pork carnitas, braised carrot, and if you’re adventurous, beef tongue.

We did also order the Pollo Con Mole ($26) and the Barbacoa whole lamb shank ($35), which were both good, but we all agreed that ordering a bunch of different tacos is the way to go here. The tacos are very reasonably priced, too.

Just like the Esquites, I’ll always order Tres Leches Cake. The fresh mango adds a nice touch. If you’re looking for the best Tres Leches in town, stop by 112 Eatery or Cafe Latte.

Parking at Oro by Nixta is on the street – they don’t have a parking lot. However, it wasn’t hard for us to find a spot about 2 blocks away. There aren’t meters in the neighborhood, either. The hardest thing you’ll experience is finding a reservation.