Zombie Bar

[mekender]

http://www.startribune.com/entertainmen ... DUiacyKUUr

When one of the Twin Cities' most notorious bars, Stand Up Frank's, closed earlier this year, I wouldn't have believed in a million years it would be reopened and reimagined as something called Donny Dirk's Zombie Den. Real zombies could dig themselves out of the ground and eat my brains before that would happen, because that would be crazy.

But crazy has happened.

The buzz roaring throughout the local blogosphere last week centered on this reopening (better yet: resurrection) of a north Minneapolis bar infamous for its stiff drinks and scary shootouts.

The new owner, Leslie Bock, of Psycho Suzi's and Saint Sabrina's, has totally transformed the tiny bar into something best described as classy kitsch.

The stunning new interior comes straight out of a 1950s Las Vegas lounge (the classic part). The zombie stuff (i.e. the kitsch) is hilarious, and more nuanced than you'd expect from a bar named Donny Dirk's Zombie Den. In the corner, a small chainsaw sits inside a glass case that reads "In case of zombie attack, break glass." The bartenders all dress like Simon Pegg in "Shaun of the Dead" -- white button-up, red tie and blood stains. The friendly female servers wear long black gowns. Again: This is a classy zombie joint.

All in the family

The bar's name falls right in line with Bock's other businesses. She said she's just adding another member to the messed-up family (Get it? Suzi, Sabrina and now Dirk).

"Donny Dirk is the rebel that just got out of jail and he's just trying to straighten his life out," Bock said.

All jokes aside, Bock said she took the closing of Stand Up Frank's very seriously.

"It's really painful for me to see institutions like this shut down," Bock said. "I didn't want to see its history destroyed. There were a couple of bad years. But if you talk to people around here, there were a lot of good memories, too."

Go read the whole thing...

[princewally]

It's a small bar that only serves frozen pizza, but you can order from Psycho Suzi's down the street.

I haven't been to either, but I have friends who frequent PS's. Fun places to go.

I have been to Saint Sabrina's. They are a fetish/club-wear store with a tat shop and the best piercers in the state. Also a fun place to spend time and money.