Holiday Gift Card Cheer

Greetings fellow happy hour fans,

We thought it was time to share with you a little tip for getting the most of your drinking budget in 2013 with a little gift guide of our own...
With all the "Perfect Gift Guides" and "Black Friday" promos, we thought we'd share a gift-giving plan of the Thrifty-Hipster kind.... And it's great too! Get a gift card for your girl at the place you went for your first date, or help your parents bring a little spark back to their marriage with something romantic. And the best part, you get one too!

A TRUE Thrifty Hipster would consider spending now and saving later. PLUS, it really helps the local businesses, rather than giving half of their money to Groupon or something, buy it now, use it later, and get a huge return!  (I'll admit, I just bought a $50 gift card for a wedding gift... Then bought another $50 for me AND got the $25 for me at Zen Box:)

Top Holiday Picks

yummy Kogi Beef Tacos @ Crave

20% @ Crave

Buy $100, Get $20 (details)
I like this one because a gift card bought here is good at ALL Craves, which is never a bad thing to have when you find yourself downtown needing a place for drinks or at the MOA too early for your movie. It's a solid buy. Or, get really in to the holiday spirit by donating your $20 to the Second Harvest Heartland. - View Happy Hours

25% @ Pizza Luce

Buy $100, Get $25 (details)

This is a clear favorite here! When are you NOT going to need a little free pizza anyway?  You're guaranteed to need a late-night slice and a much under-appreciated, but super-great brunch and happy hour. PLUS, they're good at all locations and have lots of gluten-free options, so all your friends benefit, so you've got that going too:)

25% @ Zen Box Izakaya

Buy $100, Get $25 (details)
This made our top picks because, A. it's 25% bonus, B. It's a great place, and C. We just bought one there so we really want to have fun people to drink sake with:)  Really though, if you haven't been here yet, it's amazing and any friends living near the Dome will love you profusely for getting them a gift card here. - View Happy Hours

100% (sort of) @ The Lowry

Buy $100, get $100 (in 20, $5's) (details)
Good at all Blue Plate Restaurants (The Lowry, Scusi, Groveland Tap, etc..)  When you buy $100 worth of gift cards they will give you 20, $5 gift cards to be used for you. So, basically, buy a good gift for your parents and get 2 free pints a month. Not a bad gig. Plus, they're good at all locations and the 1/2 priced pizzas at Scusi... Yes Please.

30% @ Kinsen

Buy $50, get $15
Yummy delicious noodles... Just $50 gets you a free curry & a beer! I just love Kinsen; great food and a cool staff make it a top pick for anyone in Uptown. Add a free gift card to a great happy hour, and you're in holiday spirit mode!

Season's Gift Cards

Looking for fun...? 

• The Guthrie is running a great ticket package! These gifts include food and shows, so choose your gift level and let the good times roll... (details)
• And stay close by! Aloft is running a holiday rate...pre-buy your room as a gift card. If you use it before the end of the year, it's another 40% off too! That's just $119/night.
• If the Guthrie isn't your thing, the Timberwolves are giving you a deal on ticket packages + a $20 Gift Card for their Pro Shop; a great gift for any sports fan! (plus they're real good this year:)
• Give the gift of a stellar New Year's Eve... "FUN1" gives you 15% off your ticket to "Imagine" New Year's 2013 Party at International Market Square.

Out of the Ordinary...?

• Check out Lost & Found on Eat Street. A great thrift store; every hipster friend will love you! Bonus-up your gift... $50 get $60, $100 get $120, 150, get $180.  Good on clothing or custom tailoring!
• The Wedge is offering 8 shares for just $80! You get a little gift card to give as the gift, then the recipient comes in to claim their coop share.

Extra Good will...?

• As we grow up, we find it's more fun to give than receive... So this holiday, make sure to give to the Emergency Food Shelf and help families in need! Barbette, Red Stag, Pat's Tap, & GiGi's... They are all giving 15% of any gift card purchases to charity which will go to feed a lot of families. $10 provides 20 meals to families in need. (details)

Restaurants upon Restaurants!

• Roat Osha - who has the best Thai in Uptown? These guys. Good for your spicy-food-beer-loving friend. Buy $100, get $25 free.
• Moto-i - Buy $75, get $25 worth of great Japanese food and homemade sake.
• Rudolph's BBQ - Buy $100, get $25 to spend on that full rack of ribs you've been wanting.
• Sancturary - Buy $100, get $25 and show your recipient how cool you are.
• Spoonriver - Buy $100, get $20, which is great especially if you're planning a trip to the Guthrie or area farmers market.
• Bar Lurcat - Buy $100, get $25 and be extra cool.
• Barrio - Buy $100, get $25 and use it at all locations, for happy hour, and some of the best salsa the world has ever seen.
• Cafe Maude at Loring Park - Buy $100, get $25 is a good investment for a great spot.
• D'Amico Kitchen in Chambers Hotel - is offering $100 for $25
• Hell's Kitchen - Buy $100, get $25, or choose $50 get $10 = a lot of gooey cinnamon rolls:)
• Stanley's Bar - in NE, get yourself $10 free for every $50 you spend. Same goes at the Railstation
• Fuji Ya - have a friend that loves sushi? Then give $100 and get $20 for you. More than enough for a full sushi meal during happy hour.
• Parasole Restaurants - (Chino, Living Room, etc) is offering $25 for every $100 spent. We suggest using it on $25 tacos during Chino's late night happy hour - good at all locations
• 508 Bar & the Loop are both offering an extra $5 for every $25 spent.
• French Meadow - has "Dinner for 2 and lunch for you" - Buy $50, get $10
• Buffalo Wild Wings - is for you gamblers out there. For every $25 you buy, you get a bonus card worth a hidden amount ($5-100)
• Kincaids - is offering 20% bonus add on to your card, good for all locations
• Cafe Ena - Buy $100, get $20
• Christo's - Buy $100, get $20 and remind your friends what great Greek food is all about
• Bennet's Chop House - Buy $50, Get $10, or bonus, $25 free when you get $100
• Alex's Bonfire - gift card is good at all locations, $20 free for every $100 spent
• Social House and Uptown Tavern are giving you $25 for every $100 spent
• Loring Kitchen is doing the same, might we recommend using your $25 free on 3 happy hour pizzas? You won't be disappointed.
• Black Dog Cafe - has $5 gift card for every $25 increment
• Northbound Smokehouse - $20 free for every $100 spent; means a lot of free homebrew and smoked meats:)

Well, that concludes the list! We hope you find something to your liking. 

Happy Holidays!

Your Friends at Thrifty Hipster

Happy 25 Rainbow

Happy birthday to our friends down the street, Rainbow Chinese!  25 Years at serving phenomenal homemade Chinese food!

Don't miss their celebration all weekend! There will be menu specials, prizes, and a special keg of Surly on tap created for the occasion.

From the Chef and Owner, Tammy Wong, "Twenty-five years ago, I knew how much I loved cooking, and how much I hoped to open a restaurant that would become a part of Minneapolis life. I’ll be forever grateful to those who have helped me make my dream come true."

Red Stag... Happy 5 Year Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!!! Thanks for making the Twin Cities foodie scene so much better! You are one of our favorite restaurants, really!

The Red Stag is a pioneer. The first restaurant to do the "Upscale Meat" thing that everyone is talking about (yes, you Eat Street Social, Butcher Boar, Haute Dish, and the rest...).  But they were also the first LEED Certified restaurant in the area as well.

Here is a list of 8 reasons why we love the Red Stag:

1. Regular nightly specials that include $3 local tap beers
2. Block party!
3. Brunch. It may be overlooked some time, but it is amazing
4. Truffle Kettle Corn... One of the top menu items in all of the Twin Cities ($3)
5. Free live shows nearly every night; and lots of great bands have played here!
6. Smelt Fries
7. Awesome happy hour day and night
8. Support local charities all the time

Anyway, they'll be celebrating all week with a special menu, and all day, $3 specialty cocktail (Lemon Basil Martini) if you wish them "happy birthday". 

King & I Closing... December 17th

Sadly, the best Thai Restaurant in the Twin Cities is closing. The King & I was around for 32 years, and for 12 in it's most recent downtown Minneapolis location off Nicollet Mall.

It was amazing to see the outpouring of support for the place (see fb post), but again, landlords have determined not to renew a lease.

The King & I was a family owned restaurant, fronted by an owner and his wife the chef.  Want a recipe? Too bad, the meals all live in her head.

It was one of the first bars in the Twin Cities to do the craft cocktail thing, it is one of the only lounge's left to open every night with free DJ's... And not newbies, but seasoned pros with deep crates of music; people that love to play for the art and love and not just the hype of some of the other local night clubs.

Closing 12/17/12, but not before a Scotch Tasting November 28th with DJ Espada (wants vs needs)

Don't miss your chance to dine here before the close on December 17th! They'll be having nightly DJ's, a Scotch Tasting on the 28th with Balvenie, and we're sure, a HUGE party on the 15th.

Happy Hour and Event Calendar at the King & I

Rouge Valley Vinyl Release and Party Time!

For those of you invested in the local Twin Cities Rock Scene, you'll know we've got a good thing going. For me, I love the way musicians here combine art, music, and all-around talent. And no band really does it better than Rouge Valley.

In a single year, they have written, recorded, and successfully released four full length albums, each one sonically steeped in the season of its creation. Together, the four albums tell a sweeping story of love, loss, regret and hope that is inseparable from the geography of classic American wanderlust. The 46 songs act as chapters, standing strongly on their own, yet creating an undeniably rich experience when taken as a whole. Few bands are so productive in an entire career, yet Rogue Valley and songwriter Chris Koza have realized a breadth of ambition that is beyond simple prolificacy – the entire series stands out for its dynamism, craft, impeccable production and fantastic songwriting.

They love the music, and are giving it away, Pay What You Can, or download it for free. It's really up to you, but this is an album you MUST HEAR!

Next week, they release an album for the masses at the Cedar Cultural Center.  Don't miss out! Joey Ryan will be there to help.

Rouge Valley Vinyl Release Party
Saturday, Novemeber 24 @ The Cedar Cultural Center
With Joey Ryan and the Inks and Meredith Fierke
All Ages, 7:30PM, $10adv/$12door... and pick up the Vinyl for whatever you've got!

OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS GETTING FRIGHTFUL

Bryant Lake Bowl's Hot Teddy

OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS GETTING FRIGHTFUL
Robyn Schindeldecker

As the temperature continues its steady march toward icy paralysis, you’re going to need more than a few layers of clothing to completely stave off the cold. Fortify yourself with one of these seasonal libations that will both warm your body and lift your spirits.

Bryant Lake Bowl’s Hot Teddy
In an attempt to up the ABV of this throat-soothing elixir, the BLB eschews traditional honey for Bärenjäger, a German honey liqueur. While it’s not as thick as your average hot toddy, it certainly packs more punch. This spin on the seasonal staple makes a dismal winter day not only bearable, but borderline enjoyable.
(810 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408)

King and I Thai’s Bloody “Hot” Mary
Living up to its name, this fiery rendition of the common hangover remedy isn’t for the feint of heart. Made with Thai chili sauce, roasted garlic, and an array of spices, heat will instantly shoot through your viscera. Fortunately, the drink is adorned with a small meal of garnishes if and when you choose to extinguish the blaze.
(1346 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403)

Kopplin’s Coffee’s Hot Chocolate
Need to defrost after prolonged exposure to the elements? Look no further than this charming Merriam Park café. The sophisticated blend of steamed organic milk, cocoa powder, and 70-percent-cacao bars will slowly tease your senses into sweet, sweet submission. Your body will be blissfully thawed in no time.   
(2038 Marshall Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104)

La Belle Vie’s Taking It to the House
Don’t merely survive the cruel conditions, indulge in them with this crisp bourbon-based cocktail. Infused with apple, ginger, and citrus, it attacks your palate with piquant authority. The fresh apple slices balanced on the rim of the glass put this drool-worthy delight in the running for best accessorized beverage.
(510 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403)

La Belle Vie's Taking It to the House

The Local’s Irish Coffee
Seek refuge from the winter winds at this downtown pub, which offers a staggering one-two punch of caffeination and intoxication. Made with 2 Gingers Whiskey, Guinness simple syrup, and coffee, and topped with silky homemade whipped cream, you will be swept away from the doldrums of winter as soon as the brew touches your lips.
(931 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402)

KEEP ON DRINKING IN THE FREE WORLD

KEEP ON DRINKING IN THE FREE WORLD
Robyn Schindeldecker

Whether you’re celebrating your candidate’s victory or commiserating with other backers of the also-ran, it’s time to toast the end of the election season. After all, irrespective of your partisanship, you deserve a reward after enduring months of mudslinging and muckraking.

(s)Election Night No-Parties Party
Behold the quadrennial election spectacle through jaded eyes at the party that eschews all political parties. Watch up-to-the-minute election coverage and enjoy snacks and hot chocolate until you’re consumed by the one-two punch of exhaustion and ennui. Cheering permitted, jeering preferred.
(6:30pm, Minnehaha Free Space, 3747 Minnehaha Ave S, Minneapolis)

Election Night Trivia
Alternate between rounds of pub trivia and keeping an eye on the clubhouse’s big screens as the returns are announced. From 10 to midnight, drink away any lingering memory of scathing attack ads with $4 select pints and wines and $7 Bootlegs (Brit’s signature blend of mint leaves, lemonade, and vodka or gin).
(7:30pm, Brit’s Pub & Eating Establishment, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403)

Pat’s Tap and Bryant Lake Bowl
Watch the results pour in while you pour a few back as prolific restaurateur Kim Bartmann offers port-balloting bashes at two of her establishments. Satisfy your thirst with $3 Bell’s taps and watch democratic process unfold with live election coverage all night long.
(Pat’s Tap, 3510 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 and Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408)

A Night of No
After voting against the Marriage and Voter ID Amendments, let DJ Jake Rudh amplify your double negative with a catalogue of songs in the Key of No. Whether the negation is found in the title or laced throughout the verses, the songs will reinforce the message that bigotry has no place in our state constitution.
(9pm, Kings Wine Bar, 4555 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419)

Curious about the political inclinations of your fellow imbibers? Let the beverage of their choice act as a liquid litmus test as to how they voted. According to statistics from the National Journal, liberals are more likely to reach for a Heineken, Guinness, or Michelob, while those who skew right prefer a pint of Samuel Adams, Rolling Rock, and Coors Light.