Category: Happy Hour

Learn some etiquette on money, jokes and personal space with the Sunday queens

By Dilame Lindmeier

Every two weeks at CRAVE American Kitchen, located on Hennepin in downtown Minneapolis, drag queens touch up the finishing details of their costumes and performers let down their hair—or take it off – for a drag queen Sunday brunch.

Whether you’re a college student or simply a person interested in a new weekend activity, you can get front-row tickets to witness and experience the Twin Cities’ vibrant LGBTQ+ culture while sipping the bottomless mimosas. But first, let’s go over some basic etiquette.

Tip #1: Do not touch the performers.

If you meet a drag queen before or after the show, don’t touch their hair or grab at their outfit. Drag can easily be damaged, so it is important to leave those queens alone. Drag queens are still people, y’all. You wouldn’t just start touching someone’s hair or grabbing their outfit, so don’t do it to a drag queen.

Tip #2: Bring your cash and let it rain.

Though drag queens are typically paid a set fee for the hours they perform, a significant amount of their wages come from the generosity of their attendees. Be sure to tip your queens, especially when they’re going the extra mile to put on a good show with kicks, splits and costume reveals.

Tip #3: Respect people’s autonomy.

Follow the queens’ lead when offering money so you respect their bodies. Hold out the tip if they’re taking them or leave it on stage afterward. If the queens reach to take your dollar, do not grab them, and hold them captive. (Remember: No touching.) If you put money in your mouth, don’t expect the drag queen to use their mouth to take it from you. Unless they hold their panties open to allow you to tip them into their undergarments, don’t reach your hand there. Bottom line: don’t tease with your dollar and try to have a moment. Just enjoy the time and be considerate of the queens and audience members.

In Minnesota, winters can feel like a lifetime. As the temperatures drop,  getting out of the house seems harder. The thought of the cold wind hitting your bare cheeks or shoveling out your car from the nights before snowfall are some things that might discourage your decision to leave the house. Some people enjoy winter, but if you are one who does not, you’ve come to the right place for a few ideas on how to have fun on the weekend when you’d rather stay inside. 

Try something from this list:

1. Cardamom at Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is a great place to spend a winter day if you love art. You can see their exhibits at a low price of $10 for students and $15 for adults. But the real treat is its Mediterranean restaurant, Cardamom where you will find an outdoor bar made of ice that is a must-see. The bar offers fun unique cocktails and mock-tails such as the Pajaro a featured cocktail made with barrel-select Ezra Brooks Bourbon. Just make sure to catch it before it closes. The bar is open in January and February, Thursday through Sunday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

2. A drive to Trollhaugen for Friday night Ski 

Take a trip with some friends to Trollhaugen Outdoor Recreation Area in Dresser, Wis., to hit the slopes! Trollhaugen has late-night skiing and snowboarding on Friday nights starting at 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Live music also starts at 10 p.m in the chalet. A lift ticket for the whole night costs $24, and if you don’t own your own gear, don’t worry, they’ve got you covered. Ski and snowboard rentals are $33 apiece. It is about a 58-minute drive if you follow I-35 N from Minneapolis. 

3. Finnish Bistro 

This bistro is a little gem in Como, St. Paul. It includes a full coffee bar and a great menu that features Finnish dishes along with a bakery offering gluten-free options. This bistro also has live music three or four days a week. It is a great free event to chill out and drink some coffee with friends. You can find the events here. 

4. Outdoor Skating 

If you have a pair of ice skates put them to use at a free outdoor ice rink. Outdoor rinks are located all throughout the Twin Cities, and most of them are open until 9 p.m. Some stay open until midnight. If you or your friend don’t have skates Groveland rink offers FREE rentals in St. Paul. You can also rent hockey sticks and pucks there. So get outside and enjoy the ice! 

5. Album Tier List With Your Best Friends

Do you want to stay home and not spend any money? Do you love music? Try a tier list! Get your friends together, choose your favorite album and make a tier list of all of the songs. It’s the perfect way to stir up some friendly controversy and have fun at the same time. My friends and I did this on the release day of the SOS album by SZA. It has now turned into a tradition. All you need is a small whiteboard or a piece of paper and a speaker. If you want to make it even more fun get a bottle of wine!

What can you do when your heart says yes, but your wallet says no?

We’ve all been there: excited to relax with some well-deserved fun after a long week of work, school or both. But let’s face it, most of the time “let’s do something fun!” is just a euphemism for “let’s spend some money!” And sometimes your bank account just won’t allow it. So here are five ways to have a good time on those weekends between paychecks.

1. Go to a museum

The Minneapolis Institute of Art has free admission and a vast collection of artwork and artifacts, old and new. The museum’s permanent collection includes pieces that are thousands of years old, and features art from six continents. It proves to be a fun AND fascinating way to spend your day. 

Cost: $0

2. Bake a Pinterest inspired cake

All you need is a box of cake mix, frosting, cherries, food coloring and a plastic bag with a corner cut out as a makeshift piping bag, and voila! You will end up with a perfect, aesthetically pleasing, Pinterest worthy cake. OK, OK. It might not be perfect but it will certainly be tasty. And fun! (Pro tip: whip your store bought frosting with a hand mixer to get more bang for your buck.)

Cost:

Betty Crocker cake mix: $1.79

Betty Crocker frosting x2: $3.78

Market Pantry assorted food coloring: $3.69

Maraschino cherries: $2.49

Grand total: $11.75

3. Have a picnic

Something about eating lunch outside on a blanket just makes it taste better. You can have an Instagrammable picnic for under $20 easily with food from Trader Joe’s. Your menu: salad, French bread, marinated mozzarella balls, and, to wash it all down, bubbly ros​​é. TJ’s offers a variety of salad kits with dressing included for only $3.99. The French baguette pairs perfectly with the marinated mozzarella; you can dip your bread in the olive oil marinade, top it with the cheese, or both! And who doesn’t love rosé?

Cost:

French baguette: $1.99

Marinated mozzarella: $6.49

Salad kit (3.5 servings): $3.99

Brut Rosé French Sparkling Wine: $6.99

Grand total: $19.46

4. Try a free workout class

So many gyms have free trials/promotional “first class free” deals, take advantage! CycleBar, Orangetheory, and Pure Barre all offer one free class for first timers. Corepower Yoga offers a whole week of free classes for potential new members. Look up some fitness centers near you and you’ll be sure to find a deal.

Cost: $0

5. Throw a good old fashioned slumber party

I’m talking about a fort building, movie marathoning, truth or dare playing, classic slumber party! In order to really have fun with this you gotta commit to the bit. Invite your friends over, tell them to wear their best PJs, bring a sleeping bag, and then let your inner child run wild. Have each friend bring a snack of their choice for the group to share. 

Cost: 

Party size bag of Doritos: $5.99

Grand total: $5.99

For the weekend go-getters or the laid-back connoisseurs, check out some of the top coffee shops in Minneapolis & St. Paul.

Say you’re looking for the perfect spot to get some work done over the weekend. Or want a place to have a casual date. Then coffee shops are where you should be. They have the aesthetics for updating all your Instagram followers yet the practicalities for finally getting things done. Luckily for you, there are many options in Minnesota, specifically within the Twin Cities to choose from: 

Backstory Coffee Roasters 

@backstorycoffee on Instagram 

528 N Washington Ave Minneapolis, MN 55401 

The high ceilings in the new North Loop location are shared by coffee enthusiasts and residents of The Duffey apartments. This large space with a plethora of seating options is exactly what you need to tune in & get things done. But be sure you get there early. It fills up quickly! 

Spyhouse Coffee Roasters – Emery Hotel location 

@spyhousecoffee on Instagram

215 S Fourth St Minneapolis, MN 55401 

This beautiful coffee shop is located in the  Emery Hotel where it offers a dark, greenery environment that ensures productivity with convenient outlets, comfortable seating and long hours. If your date is going well, walk a few steps over to Giulia to get a bite of Italian cuisine located on the other side of the hotel. 

FRGMNT Coffee – St. Anthony Main 

@frgmntcoffee on Instagram

43 SE Main St Minneapolis, MN 55414 

Located in the massive Riverplace building on Nicollet Island, FRGMNT offers ample amounts of natural lighting with a range of seating options and quick service. 

Nina’s coffee cafe 

@ninascoffeecafe on Instagram

165 Western Ave N Saint Paul, MN 55102

This quaint and unique coffee shop provides a new experience that gives you a look into the history of St. Paul. With comfortable seating that seems to hug you in place and delicious breakfast options, you’ll surely want to stay forever. 

Dogwood Coffee

@dogwoodcoffee on Instagram

1209 Tyler Street NE Minneapolis, MN 55413

4021 East Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55406

825 Carleton St Saint Paul, MN 55114 

The three convenient locations in Northeast, East Lake, and St. Paul showcase fun, spunky work areas to promote productivity while keeping the mood uplifted and enjoyable. 

Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea 

@ourfairgrounds on Instagram

116 Third Ave N, MN 55401 

Fairgrounds is located around the Midwest, each venue with something new to offer. This playful space brings the customer in by the fun greenery, bright colors, and rope swings at the bartop.