The Essential Dear Dara: Writings on Local Characters and Memorable Places

by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

A portrait of a place and its people through the writings and musings of one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved and prolific writers.

For 25 years, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl has been a fixture of Twin Cities life, telling the stories of our people, places, and (sometimes delicious) things. If journalism is the first draft of history, what Dara does—reported features and essays—are more like the first draft of culture. What do we see looking back at a quarter-century of Dara? A place brimming with unforgettable Minnesota 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 Twin Cities and Minnesotan.

Most great cities have a great columnist. Jonathan Gold said that Los Angeles was the real topic of his food writing, coming into specific view wherever he shone his flashlight and raised his spoon. New York City had Jimmy Breslin and Dara’s early writing hero, Joseph Mitchell, each of whom expressed something essential about their city through the tales of sports heroes, skid-row charmers, and mobsters. Dara’s Twin Cities is just as evocative, but of course completely different. It is a must-read for people who want to meet the people in that neighborhood of four million souls who call the land in and around the upper Mississippi home.

Revisit Dara’s favorite stories from the last 25 years, including columns, profiles, and restaurant reviews from the pages of City Pages , Minnesota Monthly , Mpls.St.Paul Magazine , Gourmet , and Saveur . Each piece includes a brief introduction putting the piece in context and explaining why Dara considers it among her quintessential contributions to Minnesota life and culture. Together these works capture the art of this essential columnist, food writer, and voice of the Twin Cities. They also show a Minnesota rarely seen, one where a writer’s enthusiasm, humor, passion, and curiosity are rewarded with secrets and wonders.

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2023

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read! I learned some things about my community (I'm from the suburbs but live in Minneapolis now). It made me want to look some things up (see below) and also do some things (have my first Jucy Lucy in years, try the Sioux Chef, be more deliberate about planting my yard for pollinators, read some Kate di Camillo, etc.) I had heard Dara on MPR, mostly re: food, so it was fun to see her range. I have more pride in MSP now too! :) Some internet follow-up:
- "The Miniature Dogs of Lucy Francis": see some here https://www.instagram.com/lucytheresa...
- "Con Artistry": Mark Forgy maintains a web site about Elmyr de Hory: https://myelmyr.net/
- "Primeval Connection": See Kristen Lowe's work here: https://kristenlowestudio.com/home.html
- "Called Out": Monique Venne and Linda Wilcox are still presiding at Compassion of Christ Catholic Community, which I hadn't heard of despite living in Prospect Park for several years: https://compassiontc.org/
- "Sooki & Mimi": Google Maps says it's permanently closed :(
- "The Ghost in Room 308": not clear from the interwebs whether the Calumet Inn is still open :/

[Toni Azad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed her articles in a variety of places over the years. She can make anything interesting. This was a fun compilation. Definitely recommend to anyone who has enjoyed her writing or who would like reading about the people and places in MN. Also interesting to learn more about her life and how she arrived in MN.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Dara.

[Kim Krohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful review of the Twin Cities area by a talented writer. I will likely gift it many times and even reread it myself!

[Leslie (updates on SG) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I live in Boston, I have sometimes read Dara's essays on the Minneapolis food scene over the years because she is a witty writer who went to my high school. This collection of essays demonstrates the breadth of her writing (or perhaps the breadth of nouns), and her empathy with her interviewees. Her advice for interviewing and reviewing restaurants are illuminating, but I'd like to rearrange the essays chronologically to trace her development as a writer. The most affecting section, however, may be the Introduction: it makes me grateful for how Minnesota saved her and allowed her to write stories that make her readers laugh, cry, or think.

Memorable quotes:

[Parenting] is a series of minute, constant, intolerable failures, interleaved with exhaustion, and punctuated by moments of heart-rending cuteness that somehow add up to general success. The success, of course, doesn't come from anything one does, but because of nature's plan: The kids grow.

I, a longtime critic, believe anyone can criticize work - but if you try to keep someone from making their work at all, that's a dirty trick. Actually, it's unforgivable.