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    Varsity Theater

    4.2 (162 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Services - Varsity Theater

    Bartending services

    Event lighting services

    On-site management services

    3 More Services

    Post-event cleaning services

    Venue rental

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    Recommended Reviews - Varsity Theater

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    Reviews With Photos

    the marquee for the concert
    Dani G.

    First time coming here and as a solo women I felt comfortable! The interior is gorgeous even though you can't really see it during the show. The bathrooms threw me off a bit but I don't mind sharing the sink with the males. There's parking about two blocks away so not too far! Would love to visit back for another concert or event.

    the marquee for the bourquins and souls sold out 6pm
    Brad L.

    I've come to many concerts here and it is great for a smaller venue and lots of restaurants/bars in the surrounding area. It gets pretty packed in here on a sold out show. I was able to upgrade to the balcony chairs at a show last minute and if you have the opportunity you should do it. Great view!!!

    a band performing on stage at a concert
    Kevin S.

    Really nice music venue. The acoustics here are amazing! You get a real intimate performance with artist you're seeing. It's a definitely a hidden gem in the booming Twin Cities live music scene.

    So vars so good
    Fox E.

    Not to be confused with Mental Sparsity, which is when you're dumb AF and believe Fox News crap. One of those beautiful old theatres that dominates the area and is spectacular on the outside and spectacular on the inside. I only wish that I could play my Minneapolis concerts here instead of some of the Suburban crappy places that I have performed. But I don't have enough fans in Minneapolis to warrant that I guess. Nevertheless this is one of those gorgeous theatres and could not be more perfect. It's been well preserved and yet they kept it looking old which I guess isn't really a choice considering how howling and severe the cold weather is around here. You could jazz up the outside and after two winters it would look 27 years old again or something.

    Business card of GM from varsity theatre.

    Beautiful music watching Citizen Cope. But I am reviewing the venue and NOT the music or artists that preform there. We were waiting for our Uber to arrive at the entrance inside the venue as it was snowing heavily, and the venue staff began to get aggressive and demand that unless we were in line to purchase merch we had to wait outside. Half our group didn't have coats and I started to converse with Heidi Harren (general manager at varsity theatre) who was talking to me and I asked for a business card, which she gave me and was reasonable and nice to me. But Minneapolis police interrupted the exchange and put their hands on my chest and began to force me out of the door whilst personally insulting me. Maybe that is how it is done here, but I completely disagree with it.

    The sink area in the crazy cool bathroom.
    Sue S.

    I think that the Varsity Theater is a very cool venue for some types of events. It is really unique and funky looking, and I could see how it would be an awesome place to host a wedding reception or private party. It could also be a cool place to see a comedy show or a play or even some kind of acoustic music. But my No. 1 complaint was that the particular event we were attending (a very electric guitar driven event) seemed to be a bit too much for the acoustics system. That said, that was just my perception, and we were seated up in the upstairs mezzanine area and not down on the floor. We had friends who were down on the floor that said they thought the sound was fine, so I guess take it for what it is. Beverage-wise, the selection was good and prices are pretty par for the course. Since we were upstairs, there were fewer people, and we even had a friendly bar host named Todd who brought our first few rounds to us before things got too busy. I will say that if you're going to offer table service, that's awesome, but if the person upstairs is working solo and becomes too busy to continue table service as the show progresses, I'm not sure it's a great idea. Or you should at least warn people that they will probably have to come to the bar for their later rounds. Whatever. I was very pleased with the entrance staff. Unlike so many venues, people were actually using their brains. As doors open time approached, a gentleman came down the line carding folks and handing out wristbands to speed up the entry process. He was very helpful answering questions and exercised a lot more patience than I would have facing some of our more unruly and indecisive fellow concert-goers. They were very vigilant about making sure you had a mezzanine pass to gain entrance upstairs as well. And of course the bathroom -- what a crazy bathroom! It was kind of like stepping into Alice and Wonderland. I almost expected a talking caterpillar. As many have said, the boys and girls rooms are together in the same place, though once you enter, it's boys on one side and girls on the other, so it's not like you are "going" in a true co-ed environment. Even if you don't have to go, you should go check out the bathroom anyway. It's that cool. Parking in Dinkytown was a nightmare and it was a Tuesday! Be sure to leave yourself extra time.

    The view from the "Ada section"

    I have been to this venue twice. The first time I went was about 2 years ago. It's was really good staff was amazing but the second the show ended they immediately kicked everybody out. After the shows they don't let you use the bathroom so you have to go across the street to "Frank & Andrea's restaurant". The second time I was there was last night. Now I'm on a knee scooter because I broke my ankle. They told me, the person I was with and another man in a wheel chair that we will be moved to the front of the line and we will be brought to the "Ada section". There was no Ada section. It was right next to the barricade. We were placed against the barricade and we had to be in a single file line. They did give us chairs but we couldn't see due to the pit being directly to the right of us. I was in the front and had to lean forward to see. I don't know if the man behind me could see or not but the venue is not good for people with mobility problems. This is the view I got from leaning forward.

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    1 year ago

    what the hell; why are you being cheap about everything these days. entry is already 30 fucking dollars

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    4 years ago

    What a little gem. Intimate venue. First time at this spot seeing Wild Rivers. Huge fan of absolutely everything. Get there.

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    3 years ago

    Venue staff was a letdown for me. Had us outside in hail and downpour for over 40minutes.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Varsity Theater

    Do they iD for concerts? It doesn't say anything on their website

    Yes they did for us

    What kind of security do they have? Is it a metal detector you walk through or a wand? Thanks!

    Will, you're scaring me. Let us know when you plan to go and I will stay home that night. LOL

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Varsity Theater

    It's the only thing keeping me coming back to Dinkytown (unless Kitty Cat Klub is cover-free).

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    What do you do when you can't decide where to go for dinner?…read more You go to @malcolmyardsmarket in Minneapolis (nestled close to Roseville just off of University and 280) This is such a different experience where you have so many options to order from with major ease. Check in and get a Market Card then walk around to find what sounds good. I've always thought this is the perfect place to go when you... -can't figure out what you want to eat -when you're meeting up with friends or coworkers -going on a first date -want adult food but also have a kiddo along. The Market has a beer wall, a full bar and multiple food vendors to order from. Over time new vendors take residence of the spots though there are some that have been around a long time. It's fun to get favorites and try new things. I'd suggest you go with the mindset to try different things and share with who you're with to find your favorites. They also have many areas to grab a seat and visit inside and outside. As well as special event space to rent. There is often activities at the Market so make sure to check them out if you're looking for more than a meal. Favorites Pictured food: Beef Bulgogi Egg Flip Sandwich (@eggflip.usa ) Red Curry Burrito (@eatwsk1 ) Additional Favorite spots and recommendations: @wrecktanglepizzamn - The Shredder @delsurempanadasmn - The Empanadas @kinsleys_deli - The Ruben @bebe.zito - The Cheeseburgers This is a fun spot regardless of the season or type of event. Essentially a one size fits all type of place. Enjoy! For more awesome food spots check out the account mallorymademetryitmn on Instagram!

    I love a good food hall! I've been to Malcolm Yards years ago and I see that they've had some…read moreturnover since I last visited. I met up with a group of my cousins right as it opened and it's nice because they have a big parking lot in the back and everyone can get what they want. I went to WSK, Bebe Zito & Boxcar bar for a drink. My cousins visited some of the other booths. The food was good overall. They do use a card system where you have to link a card to a market card and then when you leave you drop it in a box or you can close out. There's plenty of seating. They keep the tables clean! Overall we had a great experience.

    Photos
    The Market at Malcolm Yards - Self pour beer, wine and cocktail station

    Self pour beer, wine and cocktail station

    The Market at Malcolm Yards - Korean Short Ribs with hummus base - delicious! Some carmakized brussel sprouts these had a hint of spice overall super yummy.

    Korean Short Ribs with hummus base - delicious! Some carmakized brussel sprouts these had a hint of spice overall super yummy.

    The Market at Malcolm Yards - Taco salad and mimosa

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    The B Suite

    The B Suite

    5.0(1 review)
    1.9 miDowntown Minneapolis

    B Suite is rapidly becomin the Premier Community for Black professionals in the Twin Cities!…read more Located in the heart of Downtown Mpls across from Hell's Kitchen with plenty of ramp ($5) and side street parking on non-event days. Ambiance 5/5 Massive ceilings with spacious décor, grand staircase and great event space from business parties, birthday celebrations, New Years Eve events to dinner parties. Great space for the DJ, stocked bar, Movie screen, food stations. They have two unisex restrooms which are spacious w/beautiful décor and always smells good. Events/ Owner 5/5 Jaelynn is such a sweetheart, down to earth, and presently involved at the events. She's such a gem! I frequent the BSuite at least 2x a month. My past events have been A Seat at Her Table - Breast Cancer awareness dinner | Girls Movie Night $35| Bsuite Focus Group | Networking and mimosa | Paint and Sip $35 | Corporate event panels and many more! This is a great co-working spot and just chill and mingle. Its a vibe. Overall 5/5 Its a place where real connections can be made. The place is refreshingly needed within the Twin Cities. Its great for young adults to the seasoned professional and entrepreneur from every walk of life. There are always a nice mix of familiar yet new people every time! Its a vibe

    From the owner: The B Suite is a modern, versatile event space that embodies the perfect blend of sophistication…read moreand functionality. This sprawling, open-concept venue is characterized by its chic, minimalist aesthetic, accentuated by warm, natural lighting and sleek, contemporary furnishings. With a capacity to comfortably accommodate up to 100 guests, The B Suite is adaptable to any event - from intimate dinner parties to larger panel discussions or networking events.

    Photos
    The B Suite
    The B Suite
    The B Suite - Pant and Sip Christmas soiree

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    Puttshack

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    4.4(7 reviews)
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    I was not expecting to have as wonderful of an experience here as I did. From being met at the door…read moreby such a kind smile and great service from an employee named Cyree to delicious food variety and a unique take on mini golf, me and my family had a wonderful time. We got the margarita flatbread, pad thai chopped salad, and shiitake mushroom potstickers all of which were so delicious. They have a variety of different cuisines on the menu which I usually get nervous about at restaurants as to meaning they're not experts of anything but everything we got was so well done I was so impressed and really enjoyed it. There's not a tone of vegetarian options but the ones we got that they had were so good. The mini golf was fun but because it's all technology managed, it was hard for my dad to understand, and he was the reason we came, so it was a bummer that it wasn't super accessible to older folks. That said, it was cool the holes had interactive components and that there's drink service as you play and it's a nice environment . We just did the 9-hole which was fun but went really quick, but everything is just expensive which is why we didn't do anything else.

    10/10 loved my experience at Puttshack North Loop! I had been to the Edina location before, but was…read morevery impressed with the set up for the North Loop location. Parking was hard to find, but there is a parking garage right next door which made it more convenient. We had a larger group so we all chose to split a bunch of appetizers before we golfed and they were all so good! I would recommend the flatbread and the birria tacos! So tasty. The mini golf was a lot of fun! Each course was very user friendly and interactive. It was such a fun activity with friends. I will be back!

    Photos
    Puttshack - Inside (amber course and emerald course)

    Inside (amber course and emerald course)

    Puttshack
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    Varsity Theater - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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