Thanks to the RNC, this Labor Day weekend is about so much more than back to school sales, grilling out, and bemoaning that you can’t wear white again until spring. Here’s some cool events that didn’t make the A List, but are definitely worth checking out.

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On Sunday afternoon, Nicollet Mall will be flooded with people of every political stripe in a one-of-a-kind celebration of liberty. "Forget the partisan posturing," declares their website. "Let's get together, as Americans of all walks, all dispositions, all shapes, sizes and configurations, and walk, ride, crawl, limp, skip or float down Nicollet Mall."

After the parade, folks will gather in Loring Park for a concert featuring Dillinger Four, Retribution Gospel Choir, Happy Apple, Vampire Hands, STNNNG, and more. All of the festivities are free and open to the public.

Prior to Sunday's festivities, we took a moment to ask Liberty Parade organizer Chris Pennington a few questions about his unique approach to interacting with the RNC.

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This week's flyer of the week is for the Military Special show this Saturday at the Hexagon Bar, which is also a celebration of this up-and-coming band's promising debut EP. Military Special will be playing with Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, Nobot, and Plastic Chord.

Wrecked beyond reconstruction? Author Thomas Frank discusses how conservatives wreck and rule our government.

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City Pages and Cloud Cult are giving away a pair of tickets for tomorrow night's show at the State Fair Grandstand, where the psychedelic folk pop band will be opening for Gnarls Barkley. Click here to go to our Promotions page and register for your chance to win.

I'm not going to lie: I didn't go to a show on Friday night. It was weird, since Friday happens to be one of the prime nights to catch live music in this town, and it gave me a slightly off-kilter feeling for the rest of the weekend. Just as the shakes were about to set in on Saturday, though, I made my way down to the Hexagon Bar and was delighted by a series of surprises.

The first surprise, actually, wasn't so delightful. When I pulled up to the Hexagon, I was greeted by a giant crowd that flooded onto the patio and out into the street, and the doorman was actually turning people away. It was a sight I had never seen at the Hex before, and I'm convinced that it was mostly due to a couple of well-read local blogs who let slip that both P.O.S. and Vampire Hands were slated to play unannounced sets.

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You have a best friend, don't you? The kind of person you can call up and say, I'd really like to have a drink, and they'll say hey, that sounds great, actually. Why don't we get some cream cheese wontons, too?

You should. I do.

So I rode over to the Red Dragon, purveyor of fine and not-so-fine-but-plentiful liquor to meet Julie at an obscenely early hour. When the sun's still streaming through the stained glass at the front of the dining room there's something that feels positively sinful about drinking your first fishbowl full of rum.

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Via

Democrats looking to self–medicate, release anger, or just have a good time should fit in at this fundraiser.

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Fellow nerds, I am tired of hearing you whine about how expensive Ren Fest is. Here’s how to enjoy Disney-fied 14th Century kitsch for cheap.

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