Join us on October 11 for a mix and mingle event with Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl in celebration of her book release, The Essential Dear Dara: Writings on Local Characters and Memorable Places. Stephanie March will host a Q&A session with time for your questions at the end. The Essential Dear Dara will be available for purchase and signing, courtesy of Magers & Quinn Booksellers, as well as complimentary light bites and cash bar available. This event is open to the public; RSVPs requested.

About The Essential Dear Dara

For twenty-five years, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl has been a fixture of Twin Cities life, telling the stories of our people, places, and (sometimes delicious) things. Together, Dara’s writings reveal a place brimming with unforgettable eccentrics—from libertarians at the gas station to Aquatennial Queens to artists working in the medium of dog hair. A place full of culinary adventurers and ambassadors—the Ann Kims, Sean Shermans, and Juicy Lucys in our midst. A place profound and complex—from George Floyd Square to the shores of mighty Lake Superior. A place uniquely Minnesotan.

Revisit more than two dozen cherished stories from Dara’s career, including columns, profiles, and restaurant reviews from City Pages, Minnesota Monthly, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Gourmet, and Saveur. Each piece includes a brief introduction exploring why Dara chose it to be among her quintessential contributions to Minnesota life and culture. Together these works capture the artistry of this voice of the Twin Cities, where a writer’s passion, humor, and curiosity are rewarded with secrets and wonders. This is a must-read for those who want to meet the people in that neighborhood of five million who call the land in and around the upper Mississippi home.