Difference between revisions of "Camp Bar"
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<small>'''Trixx Bar Advertisement. From [[Lavender Magazine]], 2002'''</small> | <small>'''Trixx Bar Advertisement. From [[Lavender Magazine]], 2002'''</small> | ||
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− | | Gay bars use the Rossmor Building in downtown St. Paul like a revolving | + | | Gay bars use the Rossmor Building in downtown St. Paul like a revolving door—[[The Grand Finale]], [[Rumours and Innuendo]], Club Vogue, Rocky’s on 10th, and Trixx compose an almost-continuous list of queer use in the building since 1977. A former shoe factory, the structure’s attraction may be the result of queer migration. |
− | Gay and bisexual men first frequented the Golden Rule/Emporium Department Stores and the Bremer Arcade at Robert Street and 7th. gay activity relocated just two blocks to the northwest when the department stores closed in the late 1970s and cruising took on a public visibility. The Rossmor has witnessed considerable change as well; beginning as a bohemian artist commune, it underwent a renovation and is now the home to scores of upscale condominium lofts. | + | Gay and bisexual men first frequented the [[Golden Rule/Emporium Department Stores]] and the [[Bremer Arcade]] at Robert Street and 7th. gay activity relocated just two blocks to the northwest when the department stores closed in the late 1970s and cruising took on a public visibility. The Rossmor has witnessed considerable change as well; beginning as a bohemian artist commune, it underwent a renovation and is now the home to scores of upscale condominium lofts. |
− | The space formerly occupied by Trixx “quietly” changed to camp in 2007. It is indicative of the changing tastes in Minnesota’s queer community—gone is the era when a dance floor, liquor, and mere gay ownership was sufficient to keep a queer night spot afloat. Instead, bar owners must attract their patrons with cutting-edge décor, “handcrafted drinks,” and plush VIP lounges—the Brass Rail Bar and Happy Hour (part of the Gay 90s Complex) underwent similar renovations in the late 2000s. | + | The space formerly occupied by Trixx “quietly” changed to camp in 2007. It is indicative of the changing tastes in Minnesota’s queer community—gone is the era when a dance floor, liquor, and mere gay ownership was sufficient to keep a queer night spot afloat. Instead, bar owners must attract their patrons with cutting-edge décor, “handcrafted drinks,” and plush VIP lounges—the [[Brass Rail Bar]] and Happy Hour (part of the [[Gay 90s Complex]]) underwent similar renovations in the late 2000s. |
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Revision as of 19:27, 21 March 2010
490 N Robert St, St Paul, MN
Trixx Bar Advertisement. From Lavender Magazine, 2002 |
Gay bars use the Rossmor Building in downtown St. Paul like a revolving door—The Grand Finale, Rumours and Innuendo, Club Vogue, Rocky’s on 10th, and Trixx compose an almost-continuous list of queer use in the building since 1977. A former shoe factory, the structure’s attraction may be the result of queer migration.
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In part, these changes accompany an evolving self-perception of gay and bisexual men.
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Camp advertisement in Lavender Magazine, shortly after opening in 2007. |
(1) "Take Back the Nightlife: The GLBT Bar scene is Experiencing a Renaissance -Just in Time for Pride." The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, special "PRIDE 2007" Issue. 6/21/2007
This page is still under construction. -SVC
Part of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: 100 Queer Places in Minnesota History, (1860-1969), (1969-2010)