Photo by Ted Bradford

​This place suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. It's an Ethiopian restaurant, it's a lounge, it's a bar for beer geeks, and it's a nightclub. And although it doesn't excel in any of these functions, the Blue Nile succeeds at all of them. The food is good and reasonably priced, the tap selection is eclectic and carefully chosen, and the environment may be shabby but the layout encourages comfortable socializing. You can belly up to the bar to watch the scene or cozy into more private booths and create your own vibe with your friends.

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Photo by Ted Bradford

​Gluek's is one of those places that has been a part of the scenery in downtown Minneapolis for so long that it has begun to disappear into the backdrop--but it's a resilient fixture to be sure.  The stone façade, vaulted ceilings, and detailed woodwork give the accurate impression of a place that has a lot of history.  Built in 1902, the Gluek Building has been home to a bar and restaurant for nearly a century.  After struggling through Prohibition, the business was sold in 1933 to the family that has owned it--through four generations--ever since. Tragically, a fire gutted the building in 1989 leaving nothing but the walls.  It was reconstructed immediately and designed to recreate the original design as closely as possible.  To this day, Gluek's feels so much like an old German beer hall you wouldn't know you were in Minneapolis in the 21st century if it weren't for the televisions and the view of Jimmy John's on 6th street behind the stage.

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Photo by Tadson

​Bunker's Music Bar and Grill
761 Washington Avenue N.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.338.8188

Bunker's floats on the outskirts of downtown like a satellite tethered by Washington Avenue.  If it weren't for the neon sign on the corner of the building, this well-established Minneapolis venue would disappear into the backdrop of the warehouse district.  And, on the chilly, windy autumn night that I ventured out, the corner of 7th and Washington felt particularly desolate. But I could hear the insulated thump of rock music from down the block and as I locked up my bike I could see that, despite appearances to the contrary, a decent crowd had come to see G.B. Leighton.

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Photo by Peter Lee

Roe Family Singers

​Freelancer Ted Bradford is on a quest to find music venues that offer recurring house gigs and provide patrons with a place to not only catch great local music, but to kick back, relax, and enjoy the ambiance. The first stop on his journey of Twin Cities clubs was the 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis.

I dropped in at the 331 Club this past Monday night to catch some of the Roe Family Singers. I haven't been to the 331 very often, but I've always been fond of its style and atmosphere. The thick blue drapes covering the walls and the high-backed red vinyl booths create a casual elegance that is softly accented by the glowing light fixtures lining the room (they look like they were borrowed from an art deco movie theater, but are actually just upside down lamp shades). And, just to add a little Northeast Minneapolis artistic detail, there are two very interesting paintings on display that always generate compelling conversation. A little investigation revealed that the drapes are in place as much for acoustic reasons as aesthetic, but that only reinforced my appreciation for the space; a nice blending of form and function.

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