Minneapolis – Introduction to a Surprisingly Vibrant City

Minneapolis – Our first travel adventure during COVID-19

Back in February 2020 I signed up for a yoga training that I had been trying to schedule for over a year. I was so excited to have a weekend available to finally get this training done. However, it was in Minneapolis, not exactly a booming vacation destination from my bucket list. I was going for business reasons though, so flights were booked and Peggy decided she would meet me there to explore “Up North”.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – In my comprehensive travel list, part of it came from “The 24 Most Breathtaking Places in the US”. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin is on it. When else was I going to get close to Wisconsin? Plus, the quest to see all 50 states….

Sadly, in May the training was moved online due to continuing Covid restrictions. We were so sure that the country would absolutely be reopened by then, we kept our reservations. Naturally, we were wrong. Most states were barely into Phase 2 by the time our departure date approached.

Then, a mere 4 weeks before our trip, the horrendous George Floyd murder occurred in Minneapolis. With protests and riots, we were completely unsure of what to expect. But slightly hesitant, off we went for a little Sisbehaving.

Downtown Minneapolis

The Marquette in downtown Minneapolis was our urban paradise for the first two days. Centrally located, close to shopping, and coffee, and nightlife; it was also reasonably priced. Compared to quite a few places we have traveled, Minnesota proved to be rather inexpensive.

ssn – The Marquette was beautiful and our corner room had fabulous amenities and views down 7th St and Marquette St. The hotel’s restaurants and bars were closed, unfortunately, because they looked fantastic. The hotel is attached to IDS Center (the tallest building in Minneapolis) through Crystal Court and connected to shopping by the Skyway System, the enclosed pedestrian walkway that connects the entire downtown.

Nordstrom Rack and Walgreens were right next door. We also were slightly giddy to discover the Mary Tyler Moore statue was at the end of our block. Our mom loved MTM and her show was definitely a childhood memory for us. The city of Minneapolis has amazing street art and city beautification efforts including some notable and well-known murals we were looking forward to. Some we would manage to stumble on by accident.

What we soon, frustratingly, discovered is that we were there for the high season of road construction. I mean, it makes sense, short warm weather season and freezing winters means that they have to get as much done over the summer as possible…but it was EVERYWHERE we went. Torn up streets and sidewalks, and closed roads. Our rental car was parked, and we focused on walking distance locations for food and beverages.

Happy Hour

Peggy had made reservations at the Union Rooftop bar where our plan was Happy Hour upon arrival, craft cocktails and appetizers.

The rooftop was beautiful, but hot and sunny. They have a retractable rooftop, so we were unclear as to why they hadn’t extended it for a little cover, but this is not a fantastic spot if you are sensitive to the sun or heat. No umbrellas for the table either. The tuna poke was good and the drink menu was varied, but we didn’t last long under the June sun, but loved the atmosphere that this rooftop bar provides.

Happier Hour

We headed across the street for The Capital Grille and a little air conditioning. We know, it’s a chain and we don’t normally do chains. But 1) it was close, 2) it was open, 3) air conditioning. But we found so much more…the Stoli Doli – a big glass dispenser filled with huge pineapple chunks and Stoli vodka. Mike, the bartender, was funny and attentive, and was from Duluth, our Saturday destination.

He filled us in on Duluth and then recommended while in Minneapolis we not miss the gay bar across the street, The Saloon; and then filled us with a couple more rounds of the Stoli Doli, because it was simply fabulous.

Happy Hour Keeps Getting Happier

Great plan for our next stop, until we discovered that next door was an Irish Pub. Ok, maybe it wasn’t exactly right next door, we detoured slightly up the block to see The Orpheum, discovered the “Baby, I’m a Star” mural, and THEN we discovered the Irish Pub. And how do you not love a good Irish Pub?

There is nothing to not love about an Irish Pub as a pre-game for a gay bar. So, the Irish pub became a stop over and relief from the summer heat on the way to The Saloon.

And then the real truth hit us in the face. . . it was NOT an Irish pub, but a Scottish Pub, MacKenzie Pub next door to The Orpheum. Not even sure I knew that was a thing, but there we were, pulling a one and done prefunc drink in a Scottish Pub.

Guinness (see…seems Irish) on Tap, and the downtown requirement of a long bar and a brick wall, and clearly a locals’ standard haunt; and a fantastic back patio behind the bar, and overlooking the aforementioned mural.

Our great-grandmother would have approved, or at least that’s the story we are telling today.

Happiest Hour

We were on our way to get to The Saloon before cover charge time. With a $7 special bucket of Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonade, we were set. SET! The Saloon servers were super friendly! We loved the seven different bar rooms, each with a different feel, plus an outdoor seating area. The Saloon had something for everyone including a slightly crazy night life!

Peggy manages to find yet another bartender with knowledge to share about Up North, and I head out to the patio to find more friendly patrons willing to share stories and experiences.

Minnesotans are definitely friendly and helpful, dontcha know.

ssn – why didn’t we find the buckets first?? That would have saved us 1) sweating our not-used-to-humidity asses off and 2) an all-you-can-do-is-laugh-about-it Stoli Doli bill…LOL, although we did love those! The bartender at The Saloon told us there were 27 shots in these buckets, while I’m sure he was exaggerating, they were worthy!

Food!

We managed to crush the first night, but definitely needed some food. Several amazing options were listed as open for Phase 2, and while burgers were tempting, Dong Hae listed Korean BBQ and sushi.

One thing that has been missing in my world during the Covid Quarantine has been sushi, I just don’t like it as much to-go as I do at a sushi bar. Dong Hae was fantastic.

Pork Belly and Ribeye on the grill, great Kimchi and pickled variations on the side, we also split a sushi roll and an order of shrimp tempura. Everything was amazing. So glad we chose this option. This was an amazing meal.

Thus ended a perfect evening, a little tipsy, a little full, and a happy heart!!!

Follow along on the rest of the trip

• Day 2 in Minneapolis
• St. Paul to Duluth
• Bayfield, WI