While drinking never gets old, where we do it changed a bit in 2007.
When you look at this year's best new bars, nightclubs didn't dominate as they have in the past. While two newbies stayed busy, the club scene as a whole sagged, according to some club owners. Oversaturation, anyone?
But that's where the year's surprises come in -- and there were several. First off, the gay bar scene, which had seen several closings in the past couple years, was rejuvenated with three new spots. In south Minneapolis, several busy bistros did a good job of keeping the neighborhoods awake on weekends. And in downtown Minneapolis, we saw a new wave of party bars -- those big, beer-swilling joints that run in opposition to VIP nightclubs.
Before we get to this year's crop of great rookies, let's toast two downtown spots for hitting milestones. The Loon Cafe and the Fine Line, both central to the entertainment district's creation, turned 25 and 20, respectively. And since we're getting all nostalgic, how can I fail to mention that a new heavy hitter, Epic, is emerging where the now-defunct Quest once ruled. But with no concert schedule released yet, its impact on downtown remains to be seen.
The following places, however, spent their debut year staking a claim on the Twin Cities nightlife scene.
10 new bars that matter:
AQUA It played nicely to the scene's mainstream tastes with a big dance floor, lots of VIP room and Top 40 club music. Celebs dig it, too: Timbaland and Fabolous partied there recently and celeb-dater DJ AM was a hit in November.
400 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-232-3232. www.aquampls.com
ENVY This slick nightclub was the next step for owner Deepak Nath, who already had a popular club with Fahrenheit. He closed that place, moved down a block and upped his game with a spot that's bigger, sexier and has better bathrooms.
