10Best's Minneapolis Nightlife
-- Kim Goodin, 10Best Travel Editor
It's not overstating when somebody discusses how influential and impactful Minneapolis has been to the evolution of American music over the last three decades. After all, Minneapolis music venues were the first to lend their ears to alt-rock legends like The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Soul Asylum as well as the groundbreaking R&B sounds of Prince and Morris Day & the Time. Even the immortal Bob Dylan has ties to the Minneapolis scene, as the native Minnesotan often played at area bars during the year or so he was enrolled at the U of M. Live music continues to be a major component of the nightlife equation here, but it's safe to say that the scope of the Minneapolis nightlife slate runs deep and wide these days. Indeed, it's possible to spend time listening to fabulous jazz at a place like Dakotas, relax with pint in cozy environs at Brits or one of the many Irish pubs, show off those well-rehearsed moves at Ground Zero, and savor the expert mixology at Ike's all in one weekend.