The Crawl: News and notes from the scene
In defense of the Lyndale Tap House...
Expectations were high for the Lyndale Tap House, the new bar in a location most recently occupied by JP's American Bistro. So, of course, the Twin Cities blogosphere took aim at the new spot a few weeks after its late-September opening. Online chatterers called the decor sexist, the room loud and the food in need of work.
But on any given weekend, the bar is buzzing with business, which made me think: This place can't be half-bad, right? Affirmative. Yeah, it could use some tweaks. But the bar is bringing crowds to the resurgent corner of Lake and Lyndale, and for good reason.
The concept: Some people are confused about what exactly the Lyndale is trying to be. Is it a bar? A restaurant? A gastropub? Its focus seems pretty obvious to me: It's a bar with decent food. And how about those sexist photographs? Hmm ... seems more like harmless kitsch than anything else. The decor in question is basically artsy, pinup-style portraits of busty women posing with livestock on a central Minnesota farm. Moo.
At the end of the day, this is a neighborhood bar that reminds me of the Bulldog. Any good neighborhood bar needs only to follow these simple guidelines.
Good food: While the pit grill meat is interesting, make sure you try the beer mussels and the handmade pretzels.
Good beer: The 18 taps aren't revolutionary, but there's a healthy mix of American craft brands (Tyranena, Victory, Founders, etc.).
A good, lively crowd: On weekdays, the Tap House draws a fun, relaxed neighborhood crowd for happy hour. On weekends, it starts out as a dinner destination and then transforms late-night into Lyn-Lake's version of a party bar. While this isn't everyone's cup of tea, the cross-section of jocks and hipsters makes for some fascinating people-watching. The place also has a working photo booth.
Needs work: If you're going to call yourself a Tap House, your draft selection should be on par with such beer bars as the Bulldog or the Muddy Pig. "We will be adding more and more taps to the point where we will be competing with some of those places," owner Gene Suh said.
The place also needs a DJ to go along with the jukebox. Suh said the city wouldn't grant the bar the appropriate license for a DJ. He said he'll revisit the issue with the city.
Impact: The bar's addition to Lyn-Lake almost makes you think a little renaissance is happening at this corner (after what seems like years of road construction). A growing number of bars and restaurants -- including sake brewpub moto-i and the rock club Sauce -- have made this a nightlife destination to watch. Add the Lyndale Tap House to that list.
- Tom Horgen
Straub leaves the 'Runway'
Hopes that a Minnesotan would win the current season of "Project Runway" were crushed when Christopher Straub was eliminated in the final challenge last week. After former Minneapolitan Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman got the boot in week six, Straub became the one to root for. The designer, who has been a fixture at the weekly viewing parties at Hell's Kitchen, was in New York doing press last week; he watched Thursday's episode with fellow contestant Carol Hannah Whitfield and a couple of friends in a hotel. "I would have rather been in Minneapolis, but this was a great substitute," Straub said over the phone on Friday.
"The thing I was really happy with was the editing. They really treated me with a lot of respect last night," he added. "People had been calling me delusional. What's nice is in this episode, there was me saying I was very aware of being the kooky designer in the show."
Straub clearly has more to come. His accessories line has been well-received (Rachael Ray even bought a piece) and the designer plans to launch an accessories line with "a major retailer" yet to be announced. He will also appear at JB Hudson Jewelers on Thursday with his collection of handbags, wallets and accessories (5-9 p.m. Thu. 901 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.)
- Jahna Peloquin
XOXO, local bands on 'Gossip Girl'
Who knew Midwestern pop would make such a good soundtrack to a prime-time show about East Coast private school brats? Chop Shop, the music supervisors behind the CW teen drama "Gossip Girl," must think so. Chop Shop featured indie popsters One for the Team's "Questions & Panthers" on the show last Monday, and electro duo Estate's "Take You Out" the week before that. Ian Anderson of One for the Team (which recently wrapped recording on its third album "Ghosts" for a February release) said he'd been pitching the band's songs directly to Chop Shop "for a while." As for Estate, they were contacted via MySpace by a Los Angeles talent agency that managed to place its songs on a few other shows prior to "Gossip Girl." "Nothing came out of it for the longest time and we had all but forgotten about our deal," Estate's Dan Kramer said about the recent burst of activity, which includes yet another of its tracks on "Gossip Girl" next Monday. "We'll see where this all ends, but it's been fun," Kramer said.
- Jahna Peloquin
Moon Goons return
Their Honeymoon nights at First Avenue might be over, but the Moon Goons carry on. The DJ duo (Jonathan Ackerman and Josh Clancy) has a new monthly night called Forever Young, which launches Friday. Ackerman said Forever Young will be a roving party, moving to a different space each month. Friday's debut will take place in the old To Soho store front, next to Bar-Fly and the Skyway Lounge. The party will feature the usual Moon Goons festivities -- intense decorations, cutting-edge dance music and a bar. The duo has invited New York DJ Cousin Cole to perform, as well as the Get Cryphy DJs and Gary Slam. Arrive early, because they will let only 150 to 200 people into the intimate space. (9 p.m. Fri. 715 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $5 with RSVP/$7 without. Ages 18 and older. ww.myspace.com/themoongoons)
- Tom Horgen
