Join us for Art 4 Change!

We want to support your work/music at this community event in NE Minneapolis May 19-21! Sign up to sell your work, perform, or volunteer by filling out this volunteer form.

Even if you aren't performing or selling your work, please stop by between 5 pm and 8 pm Friday, or from 2 to 8 pm Saturday and Sunday to see us at Northeast Social in Minneapolis.

Here is the official announcement:

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Be the Change: Photos pop-up exhibition, which will take place on May 19th, 20th, and 21st at Northeast Social in Minneapolis. This event is particularly special for us, as we will be previewing Imani C. McCray's photo series "Love thy Neighbor", which will be shown at the American Swedish Institute in 2025.

In collaboration with other local Minneapolis artists, we have put together a pop-up exhibition titled "Art 4 Change" to bring awareness to Imani's upcoming trip to document the plight of the Palestinians under occupation in Jerusalem. As you may know, Jerusalem has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, with many Palestinians living under oppressive conditions. Through Imani's lens, we hope to shed light on the struggles of these people and inspire change.

We would like to invite you, your friends, and your family to take part in our Art 4 Change pop-up and enjoy live music, art, food, and artist talks. All are welcome!

Green Room Rules

Minneapolis! You have a brand new music venue. And it pretty much rocks.

As part of our work to get to know more local artists, Rachel and I have been going to as many shows at the Green Room as humanly possible. Check out the fruits of our labor here.

Some highlights include The Current’s Micro Show with Sports Team, local band The Foxgloves opening for Fimone, and our hometown heroes The Confused with their release show with Space Monkey Mafia and Scalise.

The Confused ft. Saxton

Tanner opened the Green Room in Uptown Minneapolis in early 2023 in the space that was formerly Pourhouse and previously Coup D’Etat. The venue is serving mini-Fillmore vibes with its lovely second tier of seating, as well as serving delicious buffalo cauliflower (and a full kitchen). The bar features pre-mixed cocktails. I recommend the lime-forward Limesayer if you’re a citrus fan who isn’t afraid of a little acid-forward flavor. Delicious. The small beer and wine selection is serviceable as well, and self-serve water is always available at each bar.

The venue can hold 450 people but only needs 200 or so to reach peak party vibes. The sight lines are sweet from all angles, including from the staircases that border the stage on both sides. The lighting is well thought out and effective. They really know how to set a mood and make good use of the natural light that streams into the venue for most of the day. If I had one suggestion, it would be that the music is LOUD. Like very loud. Many people look for this in their musical outings, but I prefer to be able to hear my friends (I know, hot take). Luckily for me, there is a lovely balcony/patio on the second floor that offers auditory relief.

Grab your friends, your dancing shoes, and some earplugs, and make your way to the Green Room for your next local night out. For a truly exceptional night out, get dinner at Boludo next door before the show.

For more great music outside of your standard First Ave fair, I recommend Sociable Cider Werks (find The Foxgloves there Wednesdays in April!), Aster Cafe, Curioso Coffee, Caydence Records, The Armory, IceHouse, and the upcoming revitalized Uptown Theater.

1. Tabby (@averypalehipster)

2. The Green Room stage

3 & 4. The Foxgloves at Green Room in March 2023.

5. Scalise

6. buckra's nightmare (@ghaisguevara)

Peace, love and dancing,

Sarah

P.S. What Sarah to review your music venue or upcoming show? Reach out to sarah@sarahmsteffen.com.

P.P.S. If you’re interested in booking a show at the Green Room, reach out to info@greenroommn.com.

DancingFish Events is Born

Everyone comes into our lives for a reason or a season. This week was a big week for forming new friendships and rethinking old ones.

I first heard about Mount Inspiration from another passenger who was also delayed 16 hours on our Allegiant flight from Minneapolis to Asheville on Sunday (well, Monday, in the end). She told me about a quintessentially Asheville establishment where the beer is always free and the dogs are always excited to have company. Kate and I entered the store on Monday and were almost knocked over by five overly enthusiastic slobbering puppers. We met Evans, the perpetually in motion Gemini behind the successful apparel brand called Mount Inspiration.

Evans took us under his wing this week. He told us where to get pizza and beers, and invited us to community nights at the store, which are held every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night. At tie-dye night on Wednesday, I met three other amazing members of the Asheville community and started to feel like I had a sense for the place that I hope to one day call home.

Evans implements a pay-what-you-can model in his store - you are welcome (and pretty much required) to pay what you think an item is worth, although there a suggested retail price is listed to help you out with the decision.

Learn more about Mount Inspiration

As a nonprofit fundraiser and natural networker with an excess of mental energy, I started brainstorming ways to make Evans’s community nights even more successful and well-attended. The result is an idea for a new small business, which I am calling DancingFish (the name came to me during a massage at Urban Exhale Massage). DancingFish is here to help businesses and nonprofits spice up their events and fundraising events. I am proud to have adopted Mount Inspiration’s pay-what-you-can ethos.

If you or your business are looking for a little extra help planning your next community event or fundraiser, please reach out. I would love to support you in making your community feel as loved and supported as possible.

Peace, love and dancing,

Sarah