This Fresh Forkin’ Friday is the day that I’m feeling like a good kicky margarita for early afternoon happy hour. Where will you find me? Perhaps I’ll be copping a squat with some co-workers at Masa on the mall, there’s a luscious cucumber one on that menu. Maybe I’ll sneak over to Barrio for the always delicious blood orange Macho Camacho. And there’s a chance I’ll slip into the cool environs of Rosa Mexicano, not for that slushy pink thing, but for the La Anitgua … chocolate infused silver tequila with bitters and an orange twist, not really a margarita but oh so good.

*****

OPENS

Chatime Tea is open at the Mall of America. It’s a bubble-tea story they’re telling, which might be a chewy-refreshing break from your usual shop n’ smoothie afternoon. And starting next week it will offer specialty drinks made with Japanese matcha green tea, which is an antioxidant kick in the pants.

VOLDEMORT SAYS … there is some good chewy gossip coming on Monday….

*****

Here’s a fundraiser you can get behind: Bacon Fest is happening this Sunday! Benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the fest is being held from 1-6pm and includes an appearance by The Bacon Trolley, a bacon blue ribbon challenge, bacon ice cream, bacon bloody marys, and a full pig roast just to round out the porky menu. Tix are $20 with beverage and space is limited because the event is in a private residence. Backyard bacon party!

*****

Why not join the Fellowship of the Fresh and get some serious karma points. Second Harvest Heartland is looking for volunteers on Sundays this summer at the Minneapolis Farmers Market to help set up donation sites, manage the booth, and help shoppers who want to donate fresh food to food shelf. Do it. I just did.

*****

The FOURTH OF JULY is happening in the middle of the week which means that all those usual cabin-goers will be  flooding your fests! If you can’t get out of town, why not get west of town and take in the Arboretum’s celebration which includes a Dirt-O-Rama exhibition, big time garden maze in which to lose your kids, a bog walk around some wetlands and more. You can order a “flower-pot” picnic meal (sandwich, chips, apple, cookie, soda) for $8.95 ahead of time so that’s it’s a get and go kind of day! Then at night you can smoosh yourself into the crowds in Excelsior for the fireworks show, because it’s really good.

*****

This Saturday is the opening celebration of the Nelson Cultural Center at the American Swedish Institute. The new modern Swedish cafe Fika will be open and there are rumors of meatballs on a stick. Those are rumors worth checking out.