The Twin Cities — St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota — are known for their vibrant, hospitable culture and indomitable spirit of fighting injustice, similar to Seattle in many ways. Whether you’re planning to make the move or going on a friendly visit, there is much to love about The Star of the North’s two major cities.
Minnesota is considered one of the most Queer-friendly states in the US, with robust legal protections and human rights laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender. In 2023, it passed laws that protect access to gender-affirming care and prevent authorities from enforcing other states’ laws on Minnesota soil, thus making Minnesota a Trans sanctuary.
Queer spots
Though most of Minnesota is rural, the most Queer-friendly area is the Twin Cities. A majority of LGBTQIA+ businesses and spaces are located in or around Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis, the city’s most prominent gayborhood, host to the annual Pride festival for over 40 years. Other gayborhoods include the neighboring North Loop and Uptown in South Minneapolis.
One cool LGBTQIA+ hangout spot in St. Paul is the Black Hart of Saint Paul, located on University Avenue. The Queer soccer bar has become popular with Trans people in the area, especially on Tuesday, karaoke night.
In Minneapolis, The 19 Bar in Loring Park was founded in 1952, making it the oldest Gay bar in Minneapolis and one of the oldest in the US. The 19 is also a very popular spot with Trans people.
Aside from bars, there are businesses such as Queermunity on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown. It’s a café and gathering space that opened in 2023 and hosts community and mutual aid events.
Arts
Loring Park and the vicinity also boast an established and lively art scene. The Walker Art Center and its famous sculpture garden are connected to Loring Park by the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge, created by Iranian American sculptor Siah Armajani, who also commissioned a poem about the bridge by Pulitzer Prize–winning Queer poet John Ashbery. The bridge features two interlocking curved arches meant to resemble a handshake.
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, connected by the bridge, features more than 60 installations, including Hahn/Cock, a giant blue rooster sculpture by German artist Katharina Fritsch. The most well-known sculpture is the giant Spoonbridge and Cherry, depicting a bent metal spoon holding a cherry at its tip. The piece was created in 1985 by Coosje van Bruggen and her husband Claes Oldenburg.
The city itself has a rich history in pop culture. As the birthplace and home of R&B musician Prince, it proudly pays homage to the late singer. Prince performed regularly at the First Avenue music venue, which became the site of his 1984 film Purple Rain. After he died in 2016, the club painted a gold star on the exterior to commemorate him.
Another beloved musician from Minnesota is folk singer Bob Dylan. Though he is from Duluth, his work is still celebrated as a part of Twin Cities culture. In downtown Minneapolis, at the intersection of South 15th Street and Hennepin Avenue, you can find a kaleidoscope mural depicting Dylan during three stages of his career, titled The Times They Are A-Changin’ in reference to his 1964 hit song.
Aside from music, the iconic hat toss from the opening of The Mary Tyler Moore Show was shot on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. The scene, symbolizing the character's independence, became a landmark television moment for 1970s feminism. It is immortalized not only on film but also bronze, with a statue of depicting the hat toss in the exact spot it was shot in.
A favorite recreational pastime of mine is listening to Broadway musicals. You can find various Broadway productions in the downtown Minneapolis theater district on Hennepin Avenue. Three major theaters are the Orpheum, the State, and the Pantages. There is also the Guthrie for those who enjoy classic plays.
Attractions and events
When it comes to tourist attractions, the Mall of America is without a doubt one of the Twin Cities' most recognizable landmarks. Located in Bloomington, it is the largest shopping mall in North America, at 5.6 million square feet and over 500 stores. The mall features an indoor theme park and an aquarium. Additionally, it is home to one of 16 Rainforest Café locations across the United States.
Currently, all the major sports teams play at different arenas. For MLB, the Minnesota Twins play home games at Target Field in the North Loop — not to be confused with Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, home to the NBA team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Outside of Minneapolis, there’s the Grand Casino Center in downtown St. Paul, home to the NHL team, the Minnesota Wild. Last but not least, we have the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings at the US Bank Stadium.
If you plan on visiting the Twin Cities in the winter, first of all: good luck. Second, you should check out the Winter SKOLstice event, held every year in Eagan outside the Vikings’ training facility. It entails outdoor activities such as ice skating, sledding, and pond hockey (a form of ice hockey played on a frozen pond or lake), as well as live music. If that’s not your style, you could relax around the bonfire in a Warming Haus and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. One of the coolest things about SKOLstice is the many ice art installations, such as sculptures and a large maze. The event is free of charge and worth checking out.
For those who can’t brave the cold, the Minnesota State Fair may be your thing. It opens in Falcon Heights around August. You can expect fair food, roller coasters and other rides, and concerts. The fair also hosts the Minnesota Dairy Princess Program, a most Midwest beauty pageant, in which one lucky contestant will be crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way. During her one-year term, she will serve as the official goodwill ambassador of the Minnesota dairy industry and will have a bust of her head sculpted from butter.
Also in Falcon Heights is the annual Oktoberfest. German ancestry is a large part of St. Paul’s cultural identity, so it doesn't skimp when it comes to Oktoberfest. You’ll find all the beer, food, live entertainment, and dancing that make this event one of the top five Oktoberfests in America.
Food
Speaking of food, the Twin Cities have no shortage of great restaurants and cuisine. In the Diamond Lake neighborhood is a historic bar and grill known as the 5-8 Club, home of the Juicy Lucy, is an inside-out cheeseburger, in which the cheese is stuffed in the center of the patty rather than on top — a contribution to American food culture worth trying at least once. (Another good burger place is The Lowbrow in King Field.)
For excellent pizza, there is Fat Lorenzo’s, Good Times, and Pizza Luce. For those looking for a classic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, Wrecktangle is the spot. Carbone’s is also worth dining at. Its Italian fries made from pizza crust brushed with garlic butter, topped with mozzarella and Italian seasoning, are to die for.
In the league of sandwiches, no one does it better than Caffrey’s Deli & Subs. This independently owned sandwich shop is found on Lyndale Avenue near Wrecktangle. Its sandwiches are a little pricey, but you’ll learn why as soon as you take your first bite. (Other good sandwiches include Victor’s 1959 Café, a Cuban restaurant serving the best cubanos in town.)
If you’re in search of Latin American dining experiences, I suggest going to Café Racer, Iconos Gastro Cantina, or Hola Arepa for authentic Venezuelan-style street food. If you want to experience the delicacies of Spain, there’s an excellent tapas restaurant called Rincón 38.
In the mood for vegan? Try Trio Plant-Based and Reverie Café + Bar. Trio is a 100% plant-based soul food restaurant; Reverie is a vegan diner, located in a colorful brick building with comic-style murals.
Owamni by The Sioux Chef is another notable location worth dining at. It’s an Indigenous restaurant with a unique menu that uses ingredients only sourced in the state. The bison is costly, but I have heard people say good things about it.
In terms of Japanese cuisine, Kiyatchi is the place for high-end sushi. My number 1 pick for ramen in the Twin Cities would be Kazuma: on top of serving authentic, handmade, and (most importantly) tasty ramen, Matthew Kazama, the owner, is a cool and interesting dude. Before becoming a restaurateur, he was a punk rock drummer, formerly playing in the band The Birthday Suits. He also owns a burger place next door called Tokidoki. (Also next door is Ichigo’s Tokyo Crepes, which makes the most amazing mille crepes, just the thing to top off a bowl of ramen.)
Other suggestions: The Hi-Lo is a 1950s-themed diner that is quite cozy and Queer-friendly. Dave the Pie Guy serves diner food and some of the best pies in the state. Pho 79 is a staple location for Vietnamese food. Pimento Jamaican Kitchen & Rum Bar has excellent Jamaican food. Mama Sheila’s is a go-to spot for delicious soul food, but I wouldn’t suggest going there on Sunday if you have religious trauma, as they play nonstop gospel music.
Ice cream is something Minnesota does well, as a dairy-country state. Milkjam Creamery offers unique flavors, giving patrons something new and a range of vegan options. The Waffle Bar serves Hong Kong-style ice cream in a bubble-style waffle cone made with an egg custard base.
Whether you’re visiting Minneapolis and St. Paul for the food, the events, or sightseeing, you will find that, despite its cold exterior, it has a warm heart.
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