Three queer dance party series that help us celebrate queerness year-round—here’s a bit about who they are and where you can dance next. WORDS BY ISABELLE WATTENBERG Daddy Issues Attend a Daddy Issues dance party (and you should!) and you’ll be welcomed into an inclusive, come-as-you-are, decked-out space with music…
Metalsmith Betty Jager has always done it her own way. WORDS BY KATIE DOHMAN Betty Jager grew up in Tacoma, Washington, with her mom, a teacher, and her dad, a construction worker, and three siblings (all older), framed by the ocean, mountains, and woods. They didn’t have a lot of…
An Opera Theatre proves opera isn’t a drag at all—and drag can hit the high notes, too. WORDS BY KATIE DOHMAN When you think spectacle, storytelling, and strong identity when it comes to defining or describing arts disciplines, you may think of opera. Or you might think of drag. But…
Krista Burton’s new book, Moby Dyke, explores: Where are the remaining lesbian bars—and what does it mean when lesbian bars disappear? WORDS BY KATIE DOHMAN “Honestly, there is nothing like being a room full of people where you feel safe and completely comfortable to be your authentic self—and those spaces…
Lowertown and the livin’ is easy… Summertime in Lowertown is a vibe like no other. Just around the corner from Mears Park and down the street from CHS Field, you’ll find Dark Horse Bar and Eatery for all your patio needs. Often dog-friendly (check for hours) and with its own…
Seeking a Fitzgerald-era St. Paul spot? Look no further. The corner of Selby and Western is the king of all patios and the best place to get a taste of old-school St. Paul high society. For a special occasion—which, really, can be any occasion—hang, W.A. Frost’s Garden Patio is one of the…
A tour of nine local courses—and a sneak peek of what’s to come—from American Mini Golf Alliance co-founder Tom Loftus. WORDS BY MARTIN DEVANEY When it comes to the short game, Minneapolis’ Tom Loftus has a long resumé. Along with his wife, Robin Schwartzman, Loftus runs the website A Couple…
Meet the team who thinks spooky szn should be year-round. WORDS BY PATRICK STRAIT There is no wrong time of the year to be scared. Or so says the gang at Nowhere Haunted House. Equipped with everything from your haunted house staples, such as zombies and killer clowns, to more…
A few minutes with a very busy Anna Becker, NEMAA executive director, on the state of the top arts district in the USA according to USA Today WORDS BY KATIE DOHMAN It’s two weeks to Art-A-Whirl and Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) executive director Anna Becker is standing on a…
Mapping out your whirling weekend. WORDS BY DISPATCH STAFF Whether you’ve been going since the beginning or you’re just now ready to discover the many studio gems scattered around Northeast Minneapolis, here’s a list of some of the places to try to cover during your Art-a-Whirl weekend. Because the festival…