The Cabooze
917 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; 612-338-6425
Anyone who attended the University of Minnesota in the last 30 years knows this West Bank landmark—open since 1974—which packs in fans of modern rock, American roots, jam, hip-hop, and other genres Wednesday through Sunday. While it never had a problem drawing in a music-loving crowd, the recent face lift and disappearance of indoor smoking has made the ‘Booze a more pleasant place to take in local music.
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The Freight House
305 S. Water St., Stillwater; 651-439-5718
Nestled on the St. Croix riverbed in historic Stillwater, it’s long been a favorite spot among families for daytime eats, but The Freight House also boasts an evening happy hour with cheap drinks and appetizers, a picturesque deck (the perfect setting for sipping a beer in summer months), a gazebo bar, and a fun late-night atmosphere. The building was originally slated as a freight depot in 1883 and is now recognized on the National Registry of Historic Places. Historic black-and-white images and wooden-plank floors give the interior a nostalgic charm, but it’s the outdoor view that really draws the crowd.
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The Halftime Rec
1013 Front Ave., St. Paul; 651-488-8245
Old-timers will tell you that the Halftime Rec, once
the bar for live Irish music in the Twin Cities, lost some of its soul when it converted its back music room to a country-western theme. Others—namely those who like country music, blues, and bluegrass—will tell you the scene has never been better. The Rec still has its famous bocce ball courts downstairs, and weekend nights are standing-room only drinkfests with plenty of dancing. For nostalgia’s sake, the Rec does still book the occasional Irish band, and there’s Guinness on tap every night for anyone who wants to cry in their beer.
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The Hat Trick Lounge
134 E. 5th St., St. Paul; 651-228-1347
Located deep in the heart of downtown St. Paul—so deep that there isn’t much else going on around it—The Hat Trick Lounge is a no-frills watering hole catering to the hockey and slow-pitch softball set. On Friday and Saturday nights, however, one of the place’s neatest “tricks” is that it books some surprisingly good local music acts in a variety of genres, from blues, funk, soul, R & B and psychadelia to bluegrass, Texas swing, and the occasional acoustic fingerpicker or guitar-strumming troubador. The beer selection leans toward the cheap and watery, and the food is either fried or grilled, but the vibe is friendly and there’s always a game to watch.
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The Liffey
175 W. 7th St., St. Paul; 651-556-1420
Step into downtown St. Paul’s The Liffey, Kieran Folliard’s pub named after an Irish river, and absorb the authentic Irish spirit. The interior comes straight from “back home,” with a 100-year-old wood floor salvaged from Irish buildings, Irish-handcrafted woodwork and painted glass, and horseshoe-shaped bar. Snug booths and hightop tables make the place perfect for toasting friends, or a date, with Jameson or Guinness. On weekends, bands such as the Saint Dominic’s Trio and Wild Colonial Bhoys serenade the crowd—patrons hear U2 and Van Morrison, as well as the tin whistle. The beautiful terrace is open May through October, weather permitting, and happy hour is more accurately called happy hours—specials run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Liffey’s not just for the Irish, and not just on St. Patrick’s Day, luckily.
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The Local
931 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 612-904-1000
For four years running, The Local has poured the largest volume of Jameson Irish Whiskey in the world. If that doesn't tell you what kind of fun you'll have at this downtown Irish pub, we don't know what will! Head there for happy hour and you'll find numerous young professionals (ahem, Target employees) enjoying the carved wooden scenery and a nice, refreshing pint. During the summer, the outdoor patio is a prime people-watching spot, so getting a seat can be a challenge. Those with patience will however be rewarded
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The Record Room
701 First Ave, Mpls.; 612-332-1775
Prince’s Purple Rain helped make First Avenue the music icon it is today. In turn, the allure of First Ave. gave birth to a tiny punk club inside its walls known as the 7th Street Entry, which has since grown into an established, albeit cramped, venue consistently featuring up-and-coming acts from around the world. Lost in the shuffle, unfortunately, is its upstairs dance club, The Record Room. Formerly dubbed the VIP Room, The Record Room plays host to highly affordable dance shows that run the gamut from hip-hop to dubstep to drum ‘n bass to anything thing under the sun that gets your feet moving and your booty shaking.
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The Red Sea
320 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; 612-333-3349
Tired of just eating burgers with your beers? Sure, you can still get the typical chicken and fries meals at The Red Sea, but when there’s a selection of authentic African treats, why bother? Spicy, saucy meats and colorful vegetarian dishes complement the Ethiopian wines and beers. Or go for a classic domestic or imported beer for just $2.50 during Happy Hour. The music is about as varied as possible—from hip-hop to ethnic grooves—but the atmosphere is consistently comfortable and welcoming.
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Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Ave., Mpls.; 612-333-7499
The Triple Rock has to be the most sophisticated punk rock club in the lower forty-eight. Maybe it's because its co-owner, Dillinger Four guitarist Erik Funk, learned after years of touring that the creed of a punk rock club is a noble thing but playing, drinking, and eating in them can suck. So the T-Rock serves up great vegan chili (with other great vegan and vegetarian menu items), the bartenders, fully sleeved with tats, are polite, and the place is clean. This is a punk bar you can feel comfortable popping into (even with nice clothes on), and no one's gonna beat you up. Nevertheless, both the bar with its jukebox and the concert hall are infested with plenty of, as Glenn Danzig said, f$%#@n' attitude. It's the center of the punk universe during its two-for-one Tuesdays. Live music nearly every night.
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Tuggs Tavern
219 SE Main St., Mpls.; 612-379-4404
Young bargoers and college coeds venturing outside their Dinkytown haunts love Tuggs for its “beer rockets” (tabletop beer towers that dispense half a dozen glasses of brew), cheap starters, and weekday specials—not to mention the beautiful view of Minneapolis’s skyline and the sparkling Mississippi River. If a tower of beer doesn’t tickle your fancy, sample one of the refreshing Deckside Sippers, including a hand-squeezed lemonade drink that’s infused with fresh strawberries and Bicardi Limon. And during summer months, Tuggs offers the best seat in the house for St. Anthony Main’s Summer Music Series.
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