The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

I have learned many things after only two days in Rome.

I have learned, for instance, that I, who think of myself as a forthright women — pushy, even — have nothing on the people here who will grab a stranger’s arm and lead her into a restaurant or insist on turning heat on in her hotel room when it is already 80 degrees.

Back on October 23, a reader wrote to tell me that she and a friend had gone to Blackbird and while the overall experience was wonderful ("Both our meals were quite good -- [my friend] nearly licked her plate -- and I like that it's in my neighborhood, friendly service, etc."), they were soured by the fact that they were charged $1.50 apiece for a couple slices of bread with foil packs of chilled butter.