Minnesota Tips

Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge in Minneapolis

Tendermaid-Lone spinoff of the regional loosemeat sandwich shop.  Loosemeat is like taco meat on a bun but they usually call it a burger.  Since 1938!-217 4th Ave NE, Austin, MN, United States, Minnesota (507) 437-7907

Brainerd, MN

Eats-

The Barn-711 Washington St, Brainerd, MN 56401-diner with some very rich food and pies.  Sadly the Sawmill inn down the road, almost a hundred and ten years old closed.  The barn also has maid rite loosemeat sandwiches.

Yesterday’s Gone Bar & Grill-219 S 9th St, Brainerd, MN 56401-(218) 824-2050-Looks sort of like a 1980s applebees but great burgers, Patty melt and onion rings and cheese fries.  Also Pool table.

Arcade-Big Jays Pizza Arcade-217 S 7th St, Brainerd, MN 56401-Arcade with pizza.

Brooklyn Park, MN (Greater Minneapolis)

Eats-

Wagners Drive In-7000 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 Burgers and more with car service.

Note-if you are a fan of caves check out the Minnesota Cave Preserve

Le Roy, MN

Sweets Hotel-Vintage small hotel with a cool old dining room bar/restaurant.-128 W Main St, Le Roy, MN 55951

Luverne, MN

Eats-

Tasty Drive Inn- 804 S Kniss Ave, Luverne, MN 56156  (507) 283-8317-A little hard to find current info in 2023.  Was called JJs Tasty drive in but on the big g its just this.

Rochester, MN

Home of the Mayo Clinic

St Paul, MN

Profane Existance has some punk and hardcore events listed.

Live Music-

Turf Club-1601 University Ave W at: Snelling Avenue, St Paul-tel: (651) 647-0486 in the Hamline-Midway Neighborhood. Also check out the Clown lounge downstairs.

Every year in Minneapolis they hold a winter carnival with lots of things made out of snow.

Years ago like the cow parade in New York City, St. Paul had numerous snoopys all over town to honor Charles Schultz, a hometown guy.  There are 40 left and you can find them here. (click on Convention and Visitors Bureau).

The mall of the americas has an indoor amusement park that is Nickolodeon themed.

Record stores-
Eclipse Records-1692 Grand Street, St. Paul

Hotels
Radisson Riverfront Hotel, 11 East Kellogg Boulevard, (651) 292-1900. revolving rooftop restaurant in house. A  skyway connects the hotel to the rest of the city’s hub.
St. Paul’s Best Western Kelly Inn, 161 St. Anthony Avenue, (651) 227-8711,  near the State Capitol. Doubles from $95.

EATS-

Casper’s and Runyon’s Nook –492 Hamline Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116  (651) 698-4347-this place gets high ratings for their burgers, good looking rings and they have a small bowling alley too. And Juicy Lucy Sliders! and some fancy cheese curd variations.

Mancini’s Char House-531 West Seventh Street, (651) 224-7345, neighborhood steak house and a retro lounge often offering live music. Relatively inexpensive and great garlic bread.
Cossetta’s, 211 West Seventh Street, (651) 222-3476, southern Italian cuisine served in a cafeteria- style space. Dinner for two with wine runs around $30.
Mickey’s Diner, 36 West Seventh Street, (651) 222-5633, 24 hour service. all-day breakfast, burgers and malts.

Half Time Rec-1013 Front Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55103 (651) 488-8245-home of the paddy shack burger, topped with pickled green tomato.

Saint Dinette-261 E 5th St, Saint Paul, MN 55101  (651) 800-1415-Fancy place with a good burger

THE TAVERN ON GRAND– 656 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105 (651) 228-9030 Famous for the regional specialty Walleye sandwich, plus apple crisp

Dari-ette Drive-In – 1440 Minnehaha Ave E, St Paul, MN 55106 (651) 776-3470-Italian take on the Old timey drive in restaurant and ice cream shop with a meatball sandwich, the regional “Gondola” sandwich and burgers too and probably the cheapest banana split anywhere.

DeGidio’s Restaurant & Bar-425 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102  (651) 291-7105-Classic italian with a specialty “hot dago” sausage sandwich, with free herb bread with garlic butter and classic prohibition era booths.

Skinner’s Pub– 919 Randolph Ave, St Paul, MN 55102-(651) 291-0146-Neighborhood pub with pizza and tacos.

Minneapolis-BARS CLOSE AT 2 AM!!!

Local events found at the Current

Nicollet Avenue between 14th and 28th street is known as Eat Street with more than 50 restaurants of all cuisines.

Best Attraction-
The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices, has closed and its collection donated to the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.  Only a few of the items are on display there.

Arts Center-Fallout Urban Art Center-2609 Stevens Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408  (612) 462-3873

Eats-

Band Box Diner -729 S 10th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 332-0850-Cool as hell old diner that says hamburgers on the outside.  Not sure if the burgers are good or not but A plus for ambience.
Bryant Lake Bowl-A combination bowling alley restaurant/bar/theater offering food, alcohol and live theater and music performances.   810 West Lake Street – Minneapolis, MN 55408 -612-825-3737

5-8 Club – 5800 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55417-Another claimant to the Juicy Lucy orgin story-they have the Saucy Sally which is stuffed with special sauce.  Super YUM! (612) 823-5858
Matt’s Bar, 3500 Cedar Ave S, Mpls., 612.722.7072
Home of the Original Jucy Lucy, a double cheeseburger piled with fried onions
Murrays steak house-$$$$-26 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402-from the outside, it looks like a place that time forgot with an incredible sign you will want to take pictures of.  Not cheap, but you can get deals here at lunch and happy hour, and a ceasar or house salad comes with all. Specialty of the house is the charmingly named Butter knife steak.
Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge-1900 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418, 612-788-9069, Huge Tiki bar  with Tiki Drinks, Fried asparagus, fried Cheese curds, Fried Mini hot dogs, candy bars, and pickle roll ups, salami and cream cheese wrapped around a pickle.

Parlour-730 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 354-3135-Trashy travel hates gastropub joints, but this burger looks good as well as being voted one of the best.
The Wienery- 612-333-5798 ,  414 Cedar Ave.,Minneapolis, divey hole in the wall that serves  all sorts of crazy hot dogs with fresh cut as you order toppings.  Only open til six pm!!!!!  And closes earlier on weekends. But they have a dog and french fries called the drive in with chili and cole slaw

Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit-2300 Northeast University Avenue,Minneapolis, MN 55418 (612) 781-3860-german stuff, including the meterwurst, a 3 foot sausage

Al’s Breakfast-Classic diner- 413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612) 331-9991 only open til 1 pm but they are open for dinner late night on friday and saturday.

Clubs-

Secret Headquarters at Betty Dangers Country Club-2501 MARSHALL STREET NE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55418 -in the original location of Pscho Suzis, once an A&W, with hipster mini golf and a ferris wheel.  The original owner wanted to sell, unclear the future.
7th Street Entry-First Avenue and 7th Street-701 1st Ave N,tel: (612) 332-1775  Another club with a Prince connection, this live music/dance club was featured in Purple Rain and has lots of great bands too.

Band Clubs-

Fraternal Order of Eagles #34– 2507 East 25th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406 Open to the public with pulltab machines and karaoke and lots of live music

Fine Line Music Cafe-318 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN (612) 338-8100-Local and National acts.

Reverie Cafe + Bar – 1931 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 353-5252
Terminal Bar-409 Hennepin Ave E, 612-623-4545-Best venue for local acts.
Triple Rock-629 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis. -new venue