Good morning, South Metro.
What’s inside:
Lakeville roads: $393M asset, 333 miles, $1-2 maintenance vs $60-88 rebuild
Minnesota Burger Week: August 10-16, three south metro spots, $10 burgers, app check-ins to win
Food Truck Festival: 20+ trucks Friday in Eagan, free entry, vegan/GF options
Bike2Camp charity ride, mushroom hunt at Burnsville Pride & yoga in the lavender fields
APEX Drivers Challenge, Just Between Friends kids sale & Music in Kelley Park August 6-8
The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley is unusual among American zoos. Why?
Get the Updates You Want
Know More. Save More.
MyDEA puts your energy information at your fingertips, helping you make informed decisions about your electric use.
Track energy costs down to the hour
View daily & monthly energy use
Compare usage trends over time
Set up alerts for unusually high usage
The more you know about your energy habits, the easier it is to make informed decisions about your home.
Explore MyDEA today and take charge of your energy use.
Want to reach 66,000+ south metro residents? Advertise with South Metro Scoop
Lakeville's Streets Are Worth $393 Million
Turns out the city's most valuable asset is the 333 miles of road under your tires, and engineering staff just showed the council how a little upkeep now dodges huge rebuilds later. Cheap maintenance runs $1 to $2 a square foot, while a full reconstruction hits $60 to $88.
$10 Burgers Land in the South Metro for Minnesota Burger Week
The first-ever Minnesota Burger Week runs August 10-16, and three of our spots are in. Grab the free app, check in at 5 or more places, and you're entered to win the grand prize.
South Metro Scoop is free and always will be. If you want to help keep it going, you can chip in below. Every bit helps.
Train, Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere (Prior Lake)
Train rolls into Mystic Lake Amphitheater this Sunday at 6:45pm to celebrate 25 years of "Drops of Jupiter," with Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson along for the ride, so grab your people and sing every word under the summer sky. Grab your seats.
Thursday, August 6th
Huge Kids’ Sale, Just Between Friends (Apple Valley)
Shop thousands of kids’ items at 50 to 90 percent off retail during this three-day sale, with free admission when you reserve a ticket. Shop the sale.
Blood Drive at The Well (Rosemount)
Give the gift of life at this Red Cross blood drive, helping local hospital patients access lifesaving blood products. Give back.
PT on the Patio at Babe’s with Chad Johnson (Lakeville)
Enjoy free live music, games, prizes, giveaways, and a chance to win music festival tickets, a camper rental, or a flyaway trip. Win some perks.
Crushed Glass and Resin Suncatcher Workshop (Rosemount)
Make a colorful custom suncatcher during this relaxed 6:30 p.m. workshop at Tops Pizza, $55. Get crafty.
Friday, August 7th
Bike2Camp 2026, Harry Anderson Legacy Ride (Apple Valley)
Take part in this multi-day charity ride honoring Bike2Camp founder Harry Anderson, with registration available at bike2camp.com. Ride for good.
Food Truck Festival (Eagan)
Come hungry for more than 20 food trucks, plus vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, beer, wine, and seltzer at the free Festival Grounds event. Come hungry.
Music in Kelley Park (Apple Valley)
Bring a chair and enjoy free live music from Power of 10 under the summer sky from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bring a chair.
Saturday, August 8th
APEX The Plains Drivers Challenge #2 (Rosemount)
Test your driving skills in timed challenges like the Stop Box, Reverse Slalom, Crazy 8’s, and the Gauntlet at Dakota County Technical College. Test your driving.
Late Summer Ease, Outdoor Yoga at The Lavender Barnyard (Farmington)
Slow down with grounding outdoor yoga in the lavender fields at 11 a.m., $30. Stretch outside.
Fabulous Foraging, A Burnsville Pride Mushroom Hunt (Burnsville)
Learn to spot chanterelles, chicken of the woods, and other fungi during this inclusive, beginner-friendly mushroom hunt at 1 p.m. Go foraging.
The Playground Hangout Pack, Southern Social (Eagan)
Bring yourself, your dog, or both to this summer meetup with Anytime Puppy Playground, optional food and drinks, and reservations encouraged. Bring the pup.
Saturday Night Acoustics with Me and Mr. Wright (Apple Valley)
Hear smooth vocals and soulful guitar during this free patio show at Bogart’s from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Hear them play.
Rosemount BYOC Music in the Park (Rosemount)
Grab a cooler and lawn chair for a relaxed evening of live music and dancing with the Stone Daisy Band at 7 p.m. Dance in the park.
How did you like this week's edition of the South Metro Scoop?
Stay tuned for our next newsletter going out every Monday & Thursday morning.
— Brady Greenbush
Publisher & Editor