This was a rough summer, but hilarious. Pictures!
We recently went to the Toast of the Townhouse 2012 drag pageant. The Townhouse has a reputation as a dive bar, but the drag can be surprisingly good. The roster at the Gay 90’s is more static, so the new talent tends to appear at the Townhouse first.
This year’s winner was Brandonna Dupri. Pictures!
The Aquatennial fireworks started as I took off for St. Paul.
Grimes’ Oblivion played on the radio.
What a perfect way to begin a night.
It’s July 4th and I am on a dirt road in the middle of freaking nowhere.
This is on the tail end of a journey that started five hours earlier in Minneapolis.
Due to some hang-ups with my German passport, we spent Pride 2012 in Chicago.
I’ve been to Cologne, Amsterdam, New York, Philly, Vegas, etc. as a child, but this was my first time as an adult in a big city other than Miami.
Let’s just say that Minneapolis feels a lot smaller now.
I was thrilled to finally get asked on a date. We agree to meet at the Bulldog Bar for a drink. I text my date when I park, and he tells me that he got a table outside.
My date is sitting by himself when I get to the side of restaurant. I say hi and sit down. He lights a cigar.
It’s intimidating because my date is a former New York investment banker and a bit intense. The conversation was alright, but after about 45 minutes my date tells me that he has movie tickets and has to run.
I say goodbye, go home, and walk my dogs.
I’m turning 26 in about a month and I’m ending the year on a rather unexpected note. This past year was marked by transitioning from law school life, a failed relationship, my burgeoning corporate career, and being fabulous.
So the group went to the 331 Club, which is right down the street from my apartment in Northeast Minneapolis.
It’s a very claustrophobic place. Hipsters are everywhere with crazy tattoos, backpacks, and scruff. I was surprised by how loud the music was and how pushy the people were. The hipsters just shoved their way through the crowd in a manner that would cause some Basketball Wives drink throwing at the Gay 90’s.
I’m intrigued by the pioneers statue at Boom Island Park.
The statue is a reminder that there are many people have greater problems and challenges than I do. It also reminds me that I have opportunities which others don’t have and that there is no excuse not be great. I think it’s time to get an inspirational poster and an Oprah bob. Hallaleu.
Kristin and I had brunch at the Lowry Diner, which is a new-ish restaurant near the Scottish Rite Temple.
I had my very first bloody Mary at brunch, which was way too spicy for me. Kristin had to finish it.
So I recently discovered that buying a mint plant is cheaper than buying the pre-packaged mint from the grocery store. So I bought one (or nine) mint plants.
I got the mint plants at Home Depot. They just happened to be running a crazy 50% off sale on all herbs, so I picked up a few plants.
Another night at the Gay 90’s in downtown Minneapolis. Lawd. Paul got a workout when they played the Macarena.
So HLP invited Eric and I to Mac’s Industrial Sports Bar in Northeast. It was my first time there and I was not prepared for the bathroom:
Yes, that is a Hello Kitty shower curtain as a stall door in the men’s bathroom. What the fresh hell?
Oh, and let’s not overlook the fact that someone took the time out of their day to scrawl graffiti on the underside of the toilet seat. Stay classy, Minneapolis.
I get to work remotely about four days a week, which is fabulous.
One of my favorite cafes to work from is the Freight House Dunn Brothers. This is the view from my table:
I’ve been taking the dogs to Boom Island Park more frequently now. It’s a newly renovated park in Northeast Minneapolis and it’s sparse enough that I don’t have to worry about too many other dogs.
