Walkin’ Around Checkin’ Stuff Out. #6
I’m reminded why I draw…
I draw to record things…things I see, things I do. Sometimes those drawings take on a bigger meaning when the thing I’ve drawn is no longer around. Happens with restaurants quite a bit. Suddenly that drawing is a record of something that is gone, and oftentimes the drawing becomes special to the people connected to it.
That was the case with the Dragon City drawing I did for the East Lake Checklist. The restaurant had been in the family for generations. Family members migrating to the United States got their start in that restaurant. The grandson of the owner contacted me and ordered 10 canvas prints for family members. I guess that little drawing means more than just a photo.
I will always only draw for myself, but it’s nice when a simple little drawing makes a deeper connection with people.
Dragon City Cafe. Minneapolis, MN
Eat Street Crossing.
Eat Street Crossing. Minneapolis, MN
Very cool new food hall opened on Eat Street a while back and we finally had a chance to check it out.
I’m not usually a fan of food halls because I know a food court when I see one, but this place is different. The space is an absolute blow-away. I think it used to be an ice storage house (from when they’d cut chunks of ice off the frozen lakes and store them in buildings like this, I’m guessing all year long until the next freeze), and they’ve opened the space up with brick and beautiful exposed rafters. It’s very cool.
The sushi sandwiches are amazing…we liked them so much we went back a few days later to get more.
Oh, and all of their bottles of wine are $25. Score.
Sandy’s Tavern.
Sandy’s Tavern. Richfield, MN
If you’re looking for Wagyu beef burgers, Sandy’s is not your spot. If you’re looking for a dive bar burger, specifically an olive burger (green olives, American cheese and sour cream, trust me…you want one) in a converted old house with decor that hasn’t been updated in 40 or 50 years, you’ve come to the right place.
We were a little thrown-off by the full volume death metal playing, but hey…it’s a dive bar.
Our server (decked out in black leather jacket, short black skirt and the expected piercings and tattoos) gave us a short history of her life: This was her first job years before she ran off touring the country with bands as a groupie. “The rock and roll and drugs caught up to me, so I came back. But this is good for my career as an entertainer…I’m a dancer and adult movie actress.”
So, yeah…there’s no Wagyu beef at Sandy’s, but the tater tots are amazing.
Bars Of Northeast Minneapolis.
Northeast Minneapolis is known for its neighborhood dive bars. I decided I’d better draw all of them.
These are the watering holes my relatives killed time in, and time isn’t the only thing these bars have killed…brain cells and livers also come to mind.
Mayslack’s Bar. NE Minneapolis, MN
Known for its roast beef sandwich…because you need something to soak up the booze and a giant roast beef sandwich is as good as it gets.
They also have live music and I had to good fortune of playing many a crazy set at this place.
The 1029 Bar. NE Minneapolis, MN
Known as a “cop bar”, the 1020 is also known as the bar with bras pinned to the ceiling. And no, you can’t just bring in a bra to be hung from the ceiling, you need to take it off for all to see before the bartender will hang it.
Shouldn’t someone call the cops on such activity?
(More Northeast bars to come in next weeks email.)