🍻 Pour one out for Bauhaus

The uncertain future of Northeast breweries

Northeast Minneapolis birthed breweries before the boom, but now its taprooms are in the bust era. Davis Steen of the Northeaster joins us for our first live show at Pilllar Forum to talk about the future of an industry that’s become synonymous with Northeast. According to Steen, there’s about five breweries per capita across the U.S. Locally, it’s closer to 15 per capita. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

• Rewind: Still, Steen had a positive outlook on an industry that’s undoubtedly shrinking. According to his research, Minnesota has had breweries before it became a state. In 2011, the “Surly bill” legalized the sale of alcohol in breweries. At the time, Surly Brewing’s plan to open a sprawling brewery and restaurant threatened the state’s firewall between distributors and taprooms. “I think beer just goes in and out of style,” Steen said. [MPR News]
• Hard goodbye: If you’re looking for a temp check, a stalwart of the industry is closing this weekend. In May, Bauhaus Brew Labs announced they were at the financial brink. Brewery reps tell Steen that January and March are usually low-sales months, but Operation Metro Surge worsened the situation. You can say farewell at their party this Saturday.

Clock in: Members of the St. Paul City Council only work part-time, but one policymaker wants to change that. Council member Nelsie Yang proposed turning council member jobs into full-time gigs, like their colleagues across the river. The proposal also includes a corresponding 40% salary increase. [Pioneer Press]

Bathhouse ban: The Minneapolis City Council repealed its ban on businesses where people can have sex. Known as the "bathhouse ban,” council members sought to rectify a long-standing ordinance that activists say is rooted in homophobia. Don’t expect bathhouses to open tomorrow; the repeal just opens the door for the city to consider permits for such businesses. [MPR News]

Save the trees: A city law protecting St. Paul’s trees has moved at a snail’s pace through the Council. The ordinance originally required a new tree planted for every tree cut down in the city. That was introduced in January 2025, and since then it’s garnered an unexpected amount of controversy, mostly from the residents around Summit Avenue. The kerfuffle seems to be an outgrowth of tensions between Summit neighbors and the city over a planned bike path along the historic street. [Star Tribune]

Another goodbye: Sorry to everyone who got Naz Reid tattoos; the Timberwolves traded Reid to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green. The team is positioning Ball as one of their star players paired with Anthony Edwards. Personally, I’m a bit concerned about our streets considering he crashed his custom camo-colored Hummer back in February and the police investigation is still shrouded in mystery. [ESPN]

Concealed: The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is hiding body-cam footage from the public by classifying officers as “undercover,” even when cops are doing things like pulling people over for traffic violations. Under state law, law enforcement has the power to decide when an officer is undercover and judges defer to their judgment, the Minnesota Reformer reports. Public defenders say there are at least 66 cases where the sheriff’s office has used the law to circumvent the release of body-cam footage. [Minnesota Reformer]

Friday, June 26

• 🆓 Free Coffee Courtesy of City Cast | Pilllar Forum
• 🆓 TC Pride Youth Night | Loring Park
• 🏳️‍🌈 14th Annual Pride Beer Dabbler | Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
• 😂 Sam Schedler Presents: Pride Weekend Comedy | Sisyphus Brewing
• 🏳️‍🌈 Sips & Slays | Sociable Cider Werks
• 🏳️‍🌈 Country Queers Make Do (Emmy Woods / Lake Davi / TOMBOYY / Pine & Fire) | Turf Club
• 💃 DJ Keezy: The Klituation Pride Party | First Avenue

Saturday, June 27

• 🆓 54th Annual TC Pride Festival | Loring Park
• 🆓 Minneapolis People's Pride | Powderhorn Park
• 🎉Hmong International Freedom Festival | Como Park (McMurray Field)
• 🆓 Somali Independence Day Festival | W. Lake St.
• 🆓 Pop-Up Vintage Sale | Find GOOD Studio
• 🎸 Toilet Rats Album Release Show | Zhora Darling
• 🎤 GR3G | 7th St Entry
• 🫦 Rocky Horror Picture Show (shadow cast) | Parkway Theater

Sunday, June 28

• 🆓 54th Annual TC Pride Festival | Loring Park
• 🆓 Taking Back Pride March | 6th St between Hennepin & 1st Ave
• 🆓 Hmong International Freedom Festival | Como Park (McMurray Field)
• 🆓 Pilllar Group Bike Ride (with free coffee) | Pilllar Forum
• 🏳️‍🌈 Pride Patio Party | Icehouse
• 🎸 Kurt Vile and The Violators | Palace Theatre
• 🤘 WOLFMOTHER 20th Anniversary | First Avenue
• 🎹 Dr Mambo's Combo | Bunkers Music Bar & Grill

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