The Royce Files

Basement suite of Black Building now home to an escape room I sauntered through the general public levels of Fargo's Black Building the other day. It has been a while since I visited the old digs of HCC and Bertrossa's. As of 2018, the building is going through some more renovations and restorations thanks in part to the Kilbourne Group. The first 2 floors plus the basement collectively had been known as Elm Tree Square since before I was born I suspect (1972 to be exact). A faux Victorian style still permeates the basement area. Now missing are the fountain and a tenant for the cafeteria that Bertrossa's previously held. When on, the fountain was very noisy. One of the local escape rooms take up most of the basement suites: https://puzzledescaperooms.com/ . I think also saw a psychic parlor- but that may be one of the escape room stages. A dozen years ago I did a concert here for a coffee shop that was hoping to revive its fortunes in the Elm Tree environs. HCC ren...

The Mayor enjoys a hot dog The weather has been extremely kind in these parts. Sure we got our share of ice and snow, but this season the intensity of winter did not appear. On the doorstep of spring we'll be peering into a 70(F) degree day for St. Pats. It is time to eat the hot dogs again! Yep, it seems there is a certain time of year where I don't crave those franks- but now I do. And so does a Chinese aquaintence of mine. Fortunately for my birthday, my MFB (mostly Finish bride) bought be a copy of Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog . This is a volume for Chicago dog enthusists. I count myself as one. I think I read most it before the new year. Although I am not sure I'll be visiting Chicago any time soon. Crazy as it sounds, I came across a blog post by musician Phil Wickham proclaiming the joy visiting a Nashville hot dog emporium called Hot Diggity Dog. You can read it here . I have not met Phil yet. He does not travel much to our open plains. But if he does I...

T he last few years I have developed a taste for the Chicago Hot Dog . This is sort of like the Whopper of the hot dog world- a dog with everything on it. A few places in town serve it- Bertrossa's Chicago Cafe (one of my favorite spots to eat in the downtown) and Orange Julius. I found a place in near downtown St. Paul that also serves up the Chicago and other Chicago culinary delights. I sometimes try to make my one knock off version with ingredients I can find. I have yet to find the sport peppers and poppy seed hot dog buns. It would also be great to find the neon green relish. Needless to say I try my best. I usual grill the cheap dogs (not the Vienna one's but I should find a natural casing one.) but today I steamed them like a street vendor. They were delicious- and go good with a beer.