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em cassel

@biketrouble.bsky.social
6.1K followers 703 following 770 posts

a guy drops one piece of ham in the snow and he never hears the end of it. co-owner/editor of @racketmn.com, em@racketmn.com. (she/they)

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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 2h
not to be dramatic but i need one of you to buy me this $100 fighting pike crop off of ebay
a black tee shirt with the minnesota fighting pike logo on it. the caption reads "there's still a market for original minnesota pike merch, like this t-shirt that's currently going for $100+ on ebay."
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
man larb rocks so much, spicy salad has to be one of the best categories of food the human race has ever invented
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
here's something that's brought me a lot of joy over the last two weeks while apparently pissing off some of my neighbors lol
racketmn.com
An Interview With the Person Who Put Hundreds of ‘Wedding Crashers’ DVDs in South Mpls Little Free Libraries - Racket
'It is 100% a queer art installation,' Sable Adelaide tells us.
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Bitch McConnell @verifiedalex.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I know all 61 of my Bluesky followers have been waiting with bated breath for my return to hyper local journalism so here it is… I went to the buckthorn singles thing. Thanks for letting me write for u @racketmn.com 🫶🏻 racketmn.com/minneapolis-...
racketmn.com
I Went to the Minneapolis Buckthorn Removal Singles Club and All I Got Was a Beautiful, Wholesome Morning - Racket
Maybe the real Minneapolis Buckthorn Removal Singles Club was the friends we made along the way
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
i love this story so much :) minneapolis is good, buckthorn is bad :)
racketmn.com
I Went to the Minneapolis Buckthorn Removal Singles Club and All I Got Was a Beautiful, Wholesome Morning - Racket
Maybe the real Minneapolis Buckthorn Removal Singles Club was the friends we made along the way
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
i’ve seen the better part of two seasons now and i’m ready to say that television peaked with columbo
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Matt Keliher @mattkeliher.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Andrew Zimmern, writing in the Racket, about antitrust enforcement, independent businesses, and monopoly power? Be still, my heart. This rules!
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mollypeonies @mollypeonies.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
NEW! How MPD Built a Police Surveillance Operation Around Renee Good’s Memorial — and What It Cost the Community MPD dedicated 101 personnel to a memorial deployment where just seven people were holding vigil. It was part of a four-day MPD operation that generated $1.92 million in overtime.
thisisbydesign.com
How MPD Built a Police Surveillance Operation Around Renee Good’s Memorial — and What It Cost the Community
Records reveal a coordinated system of drones, city cameras, command-post intelligence, body-worn and helmet cameras, person and vehicle checks, and evidence preservation around the memorial site as p...
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BikeMN @bikemn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
@biketrouble.bsky.social is quickly becoming the official bike adventure journalist for the state of Minnesota. Read this if you haven't. It's 👌 racketmn.com/race-across-...
racketmn.com
Mud, Rocks, and Mental Anguish: A Novice Mountain Biker Attempts the Race Across Duluth - Racket
You can mountain bike 40+ miles across Duluth. But should you?
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jabberwoCKY @ckyonwords.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This is an awesome story and you should read it. You should also probably subscribe to @racketmn.com if you do not already do so.
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
DNF'd my first race ever... unfortunately i had already pitched writing a feature about it. such is life!!! to quote @usefulnoise.bsky.social, anyone can write about *finishing* a race. and it turns out i had a lot to say.
racketmn.com
Mud, Rocks, and Mental Anguish: A Novice Mountain Biker Attempts the Race Across Duluth - Racket
You can mountain bike 40+ miles across Duluth. But should you?
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
exactly
a beautiful all-city bicycle leans up against a piece of plywood with "smut" spray painted on it in a lovely font
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Natalie Weiner @natalieweiner.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
obsessed with this from @racketmn.com. one of my core principles is that we need like 20x as much scene/street style photography from media outlets as we have. it's so wonderful racketmn.com/enjoy-43-lov...
racketmn.com
Enjoy 43 Lovely Portraits of Minnesotans Thriving at the 2026 MN State Fair - Racket
At the Great Minnesota Get-Together, humanity shines as bright as the midday Midway sun.
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Racket @racketmn.com · 04/09/2026
The Minnesota State Fair, running now through Monday, is the greatest place on earth. We sent the reliably excellent BUMP OPERA to capture photographic evidence of that fact✨
racketmn.com
Enjoy 43 Lovely Portraits of Minnesotans Thriving at the 2026 MN State Fair - Racket
At the Great Minnesota Get-Together, humanity shines as bright as the midday Midway sun.
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Lily @lilywrites.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
i wrote this!!
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
i love this story so much—here, have a gift link!!!
racketmn.com
How Michelob Golden Light Became Minnesota’s Signature Summer Beer - Racket
Our state's go-to macro lager is more than a lawnmower beer: It’s a testament to the quirks of Minnesotan life.
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Racket @racketmn.com · 02/09/2026
While Mich Golden sales represent just a sliver of AB InBev's $59 billion annual revenue, the beverage giant keeps churning out the product, almost exclusively to satiate demand in Minnesota.
racketmn.com
How Michelob Golden Light Became Minnesota’s Signature Summer Beer - Racket
Our state's go-to macro lager is more than a lawnmower beer: It’s a testament to the quirks of Minnesotan life.
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ashley fairbanks @ziibiing.com · 01/09/2026
“I have never awarded a prize to a queer sex shop. That is a surprise.” -Martin Schultz, former head of the EU
martin schultz
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
i know i am getting old because i need to turn on subtitles whenever there is one (1) british person in a movie
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Fossilized Tree Sap @amberrl.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I went to Racket's birthday party and bought a copy of their book. Then, each of the cofounders wrote me a profound, deeply personal note about our relationship. I'm sharing them here even though none of it will make sense to any of you.
Inside cover of the Racket book, signed by the four cofounders.

“Keep trying new things.” —Jess
“Never stop chasing your dreams.” —Jay
“This item is not for resale.” —Keith
“Have a good summer!” —Em
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Nissa Mitchell @nissamitchell.com · 31/08/2026
I did it again! Here’s your guide to all the new state fair beers!
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Keith Harris @usefulnoise.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Folks, I am levitating after meeting so many great people and catching up with old friends at the @racketmn.com party. We're so lucky to get to do this.
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Racket @racketmn.com · 28/08/2026
We are LIVING for everyone's Minnesota State Fair selfies in The Shirt. Please keep 'em coming!!!!
a man stands in a shirt that reads "if this flag offends you, i'll help you pack," and which has a picture of the new minnesota state flag on it. the sleeves have been cut off, VERY deeply. he's giving peace signs in front of the minnesota republican party state fair booth. two men pose for a selfie; the one of the left wearing a shirt that reads "if this flag offends you, i'll help you pack" and has a picture of the new minnesota state flag on it.a man in a selfie wears the same shirt as in the previous photos. the text from his post reads "in better news, got my first high five for my racketmn.com shirt."
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
racket publishes the funniest, most brutally honest, and most accurate new state fair food reviews every year! i am NOT biased!!!!
racketmn.com
The Best, Worst, and Most Middling New Foods of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair - Racket
The return of our peerless, pitiless Scarf!, Shrug, Skip system.
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sarah @sarahcastic.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
unmissable every year, my favorite part:
It’s Just Plain Fucking French Fries
Price: $9 to $20 at Solem's French Fries
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Racket @racketmn.com · 28/08/2026
Let's gooooooo:
racketmn.com
The Best, Worst, and Most Middling New Foods of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair - Racket
The return of our peerless, pitiless Scarf!, Shrug, Skip system.
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Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈 @rossraihala.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I wrote about @racketmn.com, who celebrate five years in business with a new book and a party tomorrow night. Gift link:
twincities.com
Racket, the website founded by former City Pages staffers, turns five and publishes new book
They’re celebrating with a free party at Arbeiter Brewing Company in Minneapolis.
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Adam Wells @adamwells.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Ok so, this shirt was a HUGE hit at the fair. I've never been stopped more for anything remotely as much as people of all ages stopped to compliment this shirt. @racketmn.com if you find a vendor at the fair to sell these next year, they'll sell like Amish Donuts.
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Racket @racketmn.com · 25/08/2026
Bus Rapid Transit is a gift to Minneapolis filmgoers.
racketmn.com
I Took the E Line From Southdale to St. Anthony Main and Watched 4 Movies in Less Than 12 Hours - Racket
Bus Rapid Transit is a gift to Minneapolis filmgoers.
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
wasn’t sure if knox was going to like having a brother, turns out knox is obsesssssed with having a brother
a wildly patterned shepherd mix and goofy tan pit mix sit next to each other on the couch a wildly patterned shepherd mix and goofy tan pit mix sit next are being walked by a man wearing flip flops😒a wildly patterned shepherd mix and goofy tan pit mix have a ferocious battle in the living room a wildly patterned shepherd mix and goofy tan pit mix are photographed in the side mirror of a car poking their heads out of the rear window
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
i am legitimately so sad about this. the fair not only gave the big pepper, one of its more iconic-looking booths, the boot, they MADE THEM HIRE SOMEONE TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING.
racketmn.com
State Fair Boots the Big Pepper, a Family-Run Biz for Nearly 50 Years - Racket
They even had to hire someone to demolish the Pepper, which was a permanent structure on the fairgrounds until this year.
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
our intern, clare, wrapped up her summer with racket with this compassionate, thoughtful, and heartbreaking on-the-ground story about the closure of pig's eye and the people it impacts. i look forward to emphatically recommending her for every job when she graduates in a few years!
racketmn.com
The Final Days Inside St. Paul’s Pig’s Eye Encampment - Racket
Racket interviewed over a dozen displaced residents, volunteers, and advocates to better understand the real-life impact of cities sweeping away those experiencing homelessness.
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
it is true that i liked bill's. it is also true that a friend sent me a photo of a $14 trout dip (it appears in the story) so skimpy that i actually laughed out loud.
racketmn.com
5 Things to Know About Bill’s Bait Shop, Centro Restaurant Group's Northwoods Nostalgia Bomb - Racket
Good decor and great walleye in south Minneapolis.
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Racket @racketmn.com · 12/08/2026
The new Asian superstore is worth a trip to Blaine.
racketmn.com
How to Spend a Day at Asia Village - Racket
Eat, drink, and shop your way through Blaine's new Asian superstore.
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neuse river hag @neuseriverhag.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
i love being a @racketmn.com subscriber lmfao
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Mara Abolish I.C.E. @mauratwit.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
A concentration camp will begin hiring and operations in Minnesota next week. A concentration camp will begin hiring and operations in Minnesota next week. A concentration camp will begin hiring and operations in Minnesota next week. A concentration camp will begin hiring and operations in Minnes
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
i'm like, more upset about this than i have been about any restaurant closure in the last year. i love revol greens :(
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
what's your favorite restaurant that opened in st. paul this year?
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
racket is five years old!!! i find that fact very hard to swallow and yet it’s true. here’s our fifth annual report to prove it. i feel very, very lucky that this is my job and my life!!!
racketmn.com
Racket’s Year in Review: August 2025-July 2026 - Racket
Let’s dig into the facts and figures from Racket’s fifth year of operation.
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
checked off three more national parks with my family this week: yosemite, sequoia, and kings canyon✨ i’ve got 20 down now, 43 to go!!!
lanky she/they stands atop a massive downed tree in sequoia national parklanky she/they stands on a shadowy trail in front of a big ol’ domelanky she/they sits on a slab of rock next to a flowing stream
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Jay Boller @jayboller.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I've spent the last two weeks talking and learning about fish. My findings:
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
i've been thinking about babes in bikeland so much since racing it (my first alleycat!!!) almost two weeks ago. so i wrote about experiencing babes as a rookie, why this race means so much to so many people, and why, if it returns again in 2027, you should *definitely* register to ride.
racketmn.com
Inside the Return of Legendary MPLS FTW Alleycat Babes in Bikeland - Racket
Or: How I learned to stop worrying and race my first alleycat.
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C Colin Cox @ccolin.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I love their pierogi--just like my grandma made. No other place in the area comes close.
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
alternate headline: pierogi and potato pancakes and pączek, oh my!
racketmn.com
At the Reimagined Black Duck, You'll Find a Menu That Would Make Babcia Proud - Racket
A trip to Poland inspired chef Jason Sawicki to reconnect with his roots—and reinvent his restaurant.
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
i’ve been obsessed with MPLS piecycle club’s posters for years, and i’ve been delighted to see more and more cut-paper collage ride call art from them. i chatted with co-founder levi mills about how AI sucks and making stuff with your hands rules! their next family-friendly ride is this saturday :)
racketmn.com
MPLS Piecycle Club Promotes Group Rides With Adorable Antidotes to AI Art - Racket
Creating community with a little help from cycling squirrels, dancing bears, and anthropomorphic loaves of bread.
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Mara Abolish I.C.E. @mauratwit.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Our beloved neighborhood cafe & music venue Pillar Forum has been shut down by the City for fire code violations. They were working on the problem but the City decided they can’t host music anymore. Pillar was there for us every day during the Surge. Chip in a couple bucks so they can pay staff.
gofund.me
Donate to Save PILLLAR Forum: Keep All-Ages Music Alive in Minneapolis, organized by Corey Bracken
Hi, my name is Corey, I'm the owner of PILLLAR Forum. Today I… Corey Bracken needs your support for Save PILLLAR Forum: Keep All-Ages Music Alive in Minneapolis
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taylr @taylordahlin.com · 14/07/2026
really low for all of mpls to make any kind of parallels about omar fateh's scandals and graham platner's scandals. you you can't compare someone who raped a woman and who also had a nazi tattoo to fateh, what the fuck
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Naomi Kritzer @naomikritzer.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Maine Public Radio's coverage of the killing by ICE this morning. It sounds like ICE is once again claiming that the victim tried to run them over, so just as a reminder, every time they've claimed this, it's been a lie. www.mainepublic.org/maine/2026-0...
mainepublic.org
Developing: 26-year-old Colombian man dead in ICE shooting in Biddeford
Federal, state and local law enforcement had closed off the scene of the shooting, which occurred before 8 a.m. Monday. Details were still emerging but state officials said an unidentified man was sho...
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em cassel @biketrouble.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
i cannot emphasize how easy it is to get to wells roadside by bike from south minneapolis now that the north cedar lake trail is finally open again! so... i had to write about that in addition to hot dogs. bikes: good. hot dogs: good.
racketmn.com
You Need to Fill Out Your Glizzy Passport - Racket
If you've yet to get to Wells Roadside, this is the month to do it. If you've already been to Wells Roadside, this is the month to go again.
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