>”Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different than you and me” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Twin Cities have neither the old money of the East nor the new glitz of the West, but St. Paul did produce F. Scott Fitzgerald, who wrote one of the most well-known critiques of the American wealthy elite in “The Great Gatsby.”
While there’s always been a Midwest modesty ’round these parts, the Cities’ past is not all farming, blue collar and mill workers. Big money, from James J. Hill’s railroads to 3M’s Post-its, has helped institute a class of luxury, bringing to life such places as the Ordway Theater and Lake Minnetonka. While A&E is not encouraging a celebration of all things gaudy, materialistic and pointlessly extravagant, there are some benefits of the upper-class lifestyle. They sure know how to drink.
For most of us, our drinking comes with a budget, and for cheap rail vodka and beer, this town is not so bad – dive bars we know how to do. But every so often it’s nice to indulge in somethin’ a little sweeter that won’t leave you dry-heaving and begging for Advil in the morning. Drinking, as many hoity-toity establishments prove, can be an art all its own. And this season, when perhaps you have some extra cash from Grandma in your pocket, try livin’ it up. The Twin Cities has plenty of joints that would meet Mr. Gatsby’s standards.
La Belle Vie 510 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis (612) 874-6440 | W.A. Frost and Company 374 Selby Ave., St. Paul (651) 224-5715 |
The Peacock Lounge 1304 University Ave. N.E., Minneapolis (612) 623-4211 | The King and I Thai 1346 LaSalle Ave., Minneapolis (612) 332-6928 |
The Lexington 1096 Grand Ave., St. Paul (651) 222-5878 | Kitty Cat Klub 315 14th Ave. S.E., Minneapolis (612) 331-9800 |
-Sara Miller and Keri Carlson contributed to this report
