I had not intended on writing a blogpost about the Turf Club, but I did just go there and it is smack dab next to a future stop. It is a quintessential rock club with the long bar on one side of the club, a smattering of tables and smallish booths, and a great malange of framed posters from the many great shows they have had over the years. If you like hearing live music, then even if you haven’t been in the Turf Club, once you walk in you’ll think to yourself, “I’ve been here before.”
Sadly, as I have gained children and the requisite fatigue, I have often left before the band I want to see gets onstage. As the kids know, bands won’t play until midnight sometimes (the nerve!) I’ve had going to see the Cactus Blossoms during their Monday evening residency for a while now, and I finally motivated Monday night joined by a good friend. The Cactus Blossoms are a great Twin Cities-based country band, which is fitting as the Turf Club began as a two-steppin’ club in the 1940′s. They were great, and it was everything a neighborhood bar should be: cheap, easy to get a seat, pool table, good music. (And they started at 9:15!) Obviously there are times when it is crowded and hard to get a seat, but Monday was perfect.
It’s on a fascinating block between Snelling and Fry. The block includes Ax-Man Surplus (where to start?), the sublime On’s Thai Kitchen, The Love Doctor (apparently not medical professionals), and a work uniform cleaning store. All this faces the verdantly green Spruce Tree Centre, which I presume must be British because of the spelling.
Top photo: Your humble author outside the Turf Club.
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