Gay Friendly Minneapolis

Three-day convention in Minneapolis this winter, and your boss handed you the winning ticket? Don't rush to look for a way out, just yet - in a few minutes, you might even decide to put in a request for an extended stay.

It is true that up in Minneapolis, winter temperatures can dip well below zero, and men have been known to chip off their frozen beards after only a few minutes outdoors, in this ice bastion. So can you really blame Minneapolitans for building their own 'tunnel in the sky', a seven-mile-long network of elevated skyways which crisscrosses above sixty prime real-estate blocks in the heart of the city? A handful of die-hard winter-hardy locals scoff at the very idea, saying this sheltered lifestyle will end up making them soft -- though some might be inclined to bet on the opposing view.

Take February in Gay Minneapolis, these days - why would anyone in their right mind brave the below-zero wind chill and over-the-knee snow -- still pristine white and powdery soft in these parts, to be sure! Why, indeed, when the comfy bubble-world of the skyways will save your tush from frostbite and take you clear across Gay Minneapolis to any and all business and frolic-worthy venues you can think up?

And there is plenty to do and see in the well-kept-secret heaven for gay men and lesbian women, from theater and classical music, to funky dining venues and let-it-all-hang-out strip clubs. For an absolutely irresistible gay destination add the following, shake, and pour: the proximity of Minneapolis' twin - St. Paul, which offers yet more (and bigger) of the same - and the Mall of America for those mad shopping sprees you've been putting off far too long.

No wonder so many gays call Minneapolis home - the thriving GLBT community has found a general sense of inclusiveness in Gay Minneapolis. With the second-largest per capita GLBT population in the U.S. and the third largest concentration of same-sex couples, Minneapolis ought to be on any gay and lesbian traveler's itinerary. The GLBT community is naturally integrated in the urban social fabric, so visitors and newcomers need not chase for gay friendly neighborhoods - just about any district and establishment in Minneapolis will make them feel right at home.


Gay Friendly Hoels in Minneapolis

Just as you would expect in a GMBT-integrated city, the abundance of gay-friendly hotels makes for easy choice in accommodation. A few of our favorites include the Graves 601 Hotel - probably one of the hottest, most fashionable hotels in town. Each of the Graves' 255 guest rooms has a 42-inch plasma screen television, glass-etched, handcrafted headboard (be careful you don't crack your head open on the glass if you're getting rough in the sack) and glass pedestal wash basin in the guest bathrooms. This is a New York style hotel in the heart of Minneapolis - who would have thought!

Internationally branded hotels like the Hilton Minneapolis find appeal with the gay businessman - facilities such as a Business Center, wireless access and similarly targeted services one would expect of a larger convention style property. The Victorian brick building blends nicely into the old-world architectural style while standing erect - 25 stories above downtown. The hotel is conveniently connected via skyway to the Minneapolis Convention Center, making it an ideal base for those participating in some of the world-class conventions this great city plays host to. The Orchestra Hall, Guthrie Theatre, Walker Art Center, shopping, and restaurants are within walking distance - do the Convention Center by day - and the arts by night!

Discerning gays seldom settle for anything but the best, often choosing boutique hotels or quaint guesthouses, and Gay Minneapolis offers several top-heap choices, including the Chambers Minneapolis. A benchmark of hospitality, this boutique hotel has been making waves since its introduction. Their penchant for art is hard to miss as you walk straight into an art collection set up in the lobby to fire up the neurons in your artistically-endowed brain half - art implosion and then some! Dubbed as "the ultimate luxury art hotel," the "art-of-architecture" design is found throughout this sleek, sophisticated property. Let your taste buds be worshiped by the tantalizing creations of celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten who takes on design cuisine at the Chambers Kitchen.

For a full list of our gay friendly hotels, click on the "hotels" tab under the City Directory found on the left side of this page. Do you prefer a particular type of hotel - click on that type in order to shorten your list and make finding your perfect hotel match even easier.


What to See and Do in Gay Friendly Minneapolis

Before the skyway system was built, the frosty reputation of Minneapolis kept many a thin-blooded visitor away during the five-month-long winters. Today, Gay Minneapolis can be explored via the interconnected network of passageways linking the Convention Centre, hotels, restaurants and retailers - making this one of the largest daytime shopping centers in the Twin City area. Did we say shopping? That's right -- Minneapolis has some of the best, with about seventy shopping centers and malls located within a ten-mile radius. The Nicolet Mall is still a favorite with the locals - choose from the likes of Nieman Marcus or Saks, and some of the niche shops - always staffed by super friendly help. (612) 375-2200

Bohemians, including bookworms and music lovers who are also fans of incense-burning will be glad to hear about the quaint Electric Fetus, where you can browse through limited stocks of recordings by local artists. (612) 870-9300.

For those in need to update their wardrobe, there is no better place than Minneapolis - pay no sales tax on clothing anywhere in Minnesota! And - if you're looking for something bigger (we know - there are a lot of size queens out there) - the Mall of America is located just outside the city in Bloomington, at Interstate 494 and Highway 77, five minutes from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and 15 minutes from the downtown areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul. With more than 500 stores, 14 cinema screens and an Underwater Adventures Aquarium, you could fit seven Yankee stadiums inside this place!
Not only does Minneapolis straddle the Mississippi (head to head with its twin St Paul), it also lays out no less than twenty-four natural lakes. Any wonder the root of its name comes from the native Dakota word for 'water' - 'minne'; and that it is known as The City of Lakes? If you visit before or after the snows, you should not forego a nice long walk in the fresh air around the lakes - there just aren't many places like this left in the world. Slip into your well-worn sneakers and go for a heart-pumping jog after your daytime meetings - guaranteed to inject the extra shot of energy you'll be needing later, on your late-night club circuit.

The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway is ideal for an al-fresco outing. Make it a group thing -- gather your gay friends together for a marathon dare across the ten-square-mile park system. This 50-mile route was designed with parkways for cars, a bikeway, and a walkway running in roughly parallel paths. Take a rest at the Minnehaha Falls - the only waterfall on the Mississippi, a natural wonder on the two-mile-loop St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail.

Good kissing places in Gay Minneapolis include some very special bridges - this city has more bridges than any other river community in the United States. The oldest and among the most romantic is the first suspension bridge built from Nicollet Island to what is now the hip gay heaven on Hennepin Avenue. Erected in 1855, it combined with the 1853 bridge from Nicollet Island to the other side of the river to complete the first permanent span across the Mississippi.

Drama lovers rejoice! Minneapolis is reportedly the third-largest theater market in the country, attracting landmark performances from Hairspray to Rent - Broadway shows are always making a stop in Minneapolis. Smaller and independent performances - including some gay themed shows can be seen at the newly rebuilt Guthrie and three additional venues in Hennepin District Theater - the State, Orpheum, and Pantages.

Art and entertainment events are plentiful throughout the year. Catch the Minnesota Fringe Festival in August - it runs for up to eleven days during the first half of the month and is the largest non-juried performing arts festival in the United States. As a lover of art, you will need several days to peruse the nearly one thousand creative displays and choose from hundreds of shows.

June is Gay Pride Month in Minneapolis, and the 2006 Minneapolis Pride Celebration was the third largest in the United States, with an attendance of 435,000. To share in the celebratory spirit of the next Gay Minneapolis Pride, contact Prideline: (612) 305-6900.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul LGBT Film Festival celebrates its 19th year of bringing thought provoking, entertaining and challenging queer films to the Twin Cities. The program was first presented under the auspices of Film in the Cities (FITC) with the assistance of filmmaker, curator, author and archivist Jenni Olson who had been programming the Lavender Images series at the University of Minnesota. Contact (612) 627-4431 for details on future events.


Dining and Nightlife in Gay Minneapolis

Downtown Minneapolis, with dozens of eateries and bars on Nicollet Mall alone, is a vibrant and safe place to let loose. The area is split into several districts, each with a distinct flavor. A young, creative clientele heads out to neighborhood bars and brewpubs in Uptown, Northeast and Lyn-Lake.

Gay Minneapolis is buzzing with unique restaurants, bistros and casual eateries. Whether you favor good old American fare, fusion, Chinese or Indian cooking, settling on just one could become a daily dilemma. New eateries spring up nearly every week, driven by Minneapolis' insatiable hunger for excitement and innovation.

One of our favorites is Cafe 28 - recently opened in what once was the historic Linden Hills fire station. Menu focuses on sustainable agriculture and locally grown produce. Wine is served and one of the best beer lists in the city is offered here. If you like fish, come in on a Friday evening for the 'fabulous' Fish Fry. For a full list of our gay friendly restaurants in Minneapolis, click on the "Restaurants" tab under the City Directory on the left side of this page.

Still not sure about going to that Minneapolis convention? A trip to Gay Minneapolis - whether it be for business or pleasure - is a trip that you won't soon forget!

Gay Nightlife in Minneapolis

The Warehouse District is the center of Minneapolis nightlife, where upscale bars, dance clubs and hip food finds line the streets. The Hennepin Theatre District is home to plenty of nightspots to accommodate the theater-going crowds.

The Riverfront District straddles the river and is one of Minneapolis' newest hotspots, with trendy wine bars and off-center nightlife, where Gay Minneapolis frequently converges. With dozens of gay bars and clubs to choose from, you will have a hard time cruising the town in just one night.

The professional set flocks to Boom in the St. Anthony district, done up in austere blonde wood and brushed steel, with mile-high pressed-tin ceilings. While there is no dance floor, music videos play non-stop on giant wall-mounted screens. Attracting a mixed clientele (for some, a tad on the pretentious side) of gays, lesbians and straights, Boom has been praised for bringing diversity to the E. Hennepin scene, a part of town that is growing exceedingly hip and happening.

For the amusement park approach to entertainment, complete with drag shows, male strippers and lots of leather, step into the Gay 90's at 408 Hennepin Avenue - still hip and happening in the new millennium. Have your pick of three dance floors, but careful with those cute males in the crowd - they are often straighter than you might like. You will run into a mixed crowd here - after-hours college students, gay men and lesbian hipsters, and every gay man's worst nightmare - straight hicks from suburbia. The music goes from Soul, R&B to Electronica and Techno, and the drinks are big and strong.

A classic dive on the Gay Minneapolis scene, 19 Bar was the first gay bar in the city. With $2.00 domestic taps and $8.00 pitchers, it is the place to go for the gay man feeling cruisy and counting quarters. If what you want is a place for conversation with no pretense, 19 Bar does the trick.

Level Nightclub, a favorite of the gay crowd, has been resurrected from an old club called The Rouge, famed for its cheeky decadence. The new incarnation will not disappoint those seeking refined 'sleaze' and beautiful people!

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