I finally made it to Turf Club!! Doors were # 7:00 glad i got there @ 6:30 to grab one of the last parking spots in the back lot. The door gal was friendly. The...Stamp(?) person inside the door was friendly too. I really like the digs and the layout. I did not check out downstairs. Music sounded great & its a pretty intimate setting. The back door dude was friendly when i asked if i could leave that way? He said i could, but i couldnt get back in. Then when i went to leave,he held the door as he said: making sure nobody is hanging out back here. I dont know when but definitely looking forward to my next Turf Club gig! read more

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It has been 8-years since I visited this venue. The Turf Club is an established staple to MN as it's part of First Avenue on the Saint Paul side. I was pumped when my upcoming wedding band Clean Plate Club (CPC) got to open here which is my reason for visiting. I'm not much of a concert girly so this was a big step for me. There is a tiny parking lot in the back, otherwise, a few blocks down in the residential streets there is complimentary parking - just ensure you follow the sign rules as it goes by odd and even sides based on the date. To lead with parking confusion is why I'm giving this venue 4 stars. Walking as a single woman for a night show by University is not something I would ever suggest unless you have a buddy with. For this venue, I would recommend the buddy system or Uber. The venue has a normal bouncer, ID check and tickets can be purchased in advance via the AXS app or onsite. Once inside, the venue is breathable and long. The stage sits at the opposite side of entry and there is a long bar on the side wall, a few tables in the back, and then standing room for most concerts. My friend and I ordered a drink from the bar and then weaseled our way to the front to support CPC. The sound, lighting and stage was the best! We had a great time. Looks like there is a basement here (I never visited it) and that food is served. Also can't speak for this but something to look into. Thanks, Turf Club!! read more

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In Saint Paul on University Avenue rocks the little turf club! This fine establishment produces excellent bar, food beverages, and is a great venue for real live music. Parking is not that great . The light rail is really close by . Plan accordingly . read more

Turf Club - Very cool venue in Saint Paul to see small rock 'n' roll and eclectic music. - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I am reserving the 5th star because I didn't get any food the night I was there; it may well earn it on the next visit. Servers and staff were attentive and helpful with all my newbie questions. Most important, it's a great place to rock out with local bands. It has a bit of dive bar atmosphere while avoiding the ick factor some of those have, e.g. I did not step in any puddles and the bathroom was clean. My main purpose was to see Fenix Dion and they killed it! The support bands were all good in their own way, too, would not mind seeing some of them again. I am sure I will be back as it's only a bit farther than downtown Minneapolis and has lots of free parking. read more

Turf Club - Keston Wright of Fenix Dion - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Staff is always great. By far my favorite small cap music venue in the cities. Also has my vote for best Tots in town, pro tip, order them with the dry rub. read more

One of the coolest places to catch a local or national band. This place has been around for what, maybe 80 years? Super cool vibe, and attentive bartenders even on the busiest of evenings, make this place a must-see. Parking can be a pain, but the light rail is nearby, so you can jump on over from MPLS without any worries. Need a break from the noise, amble downstairs to the clown lounge, and eat, drink and be happy. Food is your basic bar fare, but plenty good drunk or sober ;) read more

Turf Club - Clown bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

An excellent no-frills music venue. Went to a show last night and had a great time! Started in the Clown Lounge for dinner and made our way upstairs for the show. Pros: - Parking lot in the back. - Table service during shows in the bar. - Solid food! I had the buffalo chicken sandwich. - Pretty affordable. Cons: - Service downstairs was a little spacey. - Took a bit of time to close out at the end of the night. Tabs from tables don't transfer to the bar. read more

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I'm not a huge concert fan and I'm not the biggest fan of being sardined with so many other people in a small room, soooo, maybe I'm a bit biased in this review? But you know what, when you want to hear a certain band live, you do what you have to do. The Turf Club is pretty well known venue and it is a perfect example of a dive bar. Small, packed, and not much on the aesthetics. Its more about the people and the history. I've had a few drinks here but never the food because trying to wade into the mass of people doesn't seem worth it. You basically find yourself a spot, grab a few beers, and cement yourself to that location. The building is longer than wide so it makes things a little interesting when watching a show. I do have to give the audio crew some credit, the sound is always good. I don't make it a habit, but if someone I like is there live, I might just give them a chance. Just get ready to wade through the people. But I guess that is the glamour of a dive bar to begin with, right? read more

The Turf Club is one of my favorite venues in The Cities; it's small enough to feel like it's an intimate concert but big enough to have some space if you need to. The raised stage usually provides a good view from anywhere in the venue (unless you get stuck behind some tall folks). We'll usually arrive early enough to snag a table, which means we'll have a server for the evening. Everyone we've ever had has been so great, they're attentive enough without interrupting the show too often. The Turf also has good food! Their fries and tater tots are so, so tasty. The other bar fare has been pretty standard (a 'normal' burger, etc.). We tried the cheese curds last time, which were also decent but not mind-blowing (my fault for trying them after waiting too long). I really appreciate the variety of shows as well; there are all genres, as well as local bands and larger (but not huge) artists. We live close enough that we'll look up a performer day-of and just walk over for the show, since tickets are always reasonably priced. The Clown Lounge also provides a nice escape if you need to step away from the crowd for a bit. There are tables and a full bar, along with their food options. My only complaints: I'm almost always cold inside. Knowing that ahead of time, I definitely add layers (even in the summer). I know it's a concert venue, but it's also REALLY loud, so I would recommend bringing or buying ear plugs. That being said, this place rocks :) read more

Turf Club - Runnner at the Turf (view from a table midway back) - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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This is a fabulous music venue, as seen dozens of shows here. It's an old dive bar, literally been around for decades. Easy to find, light rail will take you to the front door or there is parking in the back. Food is always good, big portions, menu is limited to apps and handheld sandwiches, but has a fair amount of options to please everyone. Love the servers, bartenders and door staff as well. They all appear to be happy when at work and are certainly friendly and helpful. Make sure you check out the clown bar in the basement! read more

I love Turf Club. This is a classic music venue with great service. I have been there a few times now and have never had a bad experience. The stage is elevated a bit so even if you're in the back, you can see the performance. This place isn't huge, so you get a very intimate setting. Great options at the bar for drinks and they have food, even though I haven't tried anything yet. Looks good though! I could not believe the service we got the last time we were there. We had a table and our server was so on top of everything. Never had to wait long for a drink refill. He was so nice and funny. Really added to the whole experience! I always keep an eye out for events at Turf Club because I'll take any excuse to visit here! read more

This was my first time visiting the Turf Club. The Main Squeeze was playing on a Wednesday night and I couldn't wait! Doors opened at seven, the opener played at eight and the main act played about an hour and a half later. We got there around 8:20 and it was pretty busy already. There is free parking behind the venue but it fills up fast. The venue itself is pretty small but that's what gives it character. It's longer then it is wide, with the stage set at the very back on the left side. The bar runs the length of the right side. There is limited seating and most were standing for the show. I'd recommend getting there early if you want a seat. My only dislike was the location of the bathrooms. They were behind the stage so everyone has to walk in front of the stage to get there. Sort of an inconvenience for spectators I think. The sound was surprisingly impressive throughout the bar. I really enjoyed this little music venue for smaller, unique shows! read more

Love it. I know it's considered a dive bar, but it's not some dump. I've had good service every time I've been there and it's cool to see a show in a smaller setting. The neighborhood is a little gritty for some, but I've never had a problem either at night or in the day time. read more

The Turf is among the best and most legendary bars/music venues in Minnesota! Love everything about this place.

The Turf Club has been on my venue bucket list for a while. Got the chance to see Jeremy Enigk here and it was a phenomenal show. When we showed up there was a little kerfuffle happening at the door. Not sure what was happening there, but we were finally directed to go around the disgruntled gentleman. We grabbed a high top and ordered a couple of Mexican Cokes and some fries. Our server was friendly and attentive, even after the crowd picked up. There's limited seating so if you're wanting to sit for the show you'll need to show up early. Otherwise, you can stand up front or right next to people that are seated, which was kinda weird. The layout itself just seems weird, but it works I suppose. Parking wasn't an issue and it's right off the light rail so getting here is pretty convenient. Would love to catch another show here. read more

Turf Club - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I've seen some pretty awesome shows here. This is where The Current and New Belgium host a lot of their Microshows, and I've been to both The Head and the Heart and Spoon here -- both amazing! Great sound quality. The set-up is kind of funny--really long instead of wide, so there's like 30 stools to belly up to the bar, but only like 6 people can be "front row" for the concert. This can give it a really intimate vibe while still making it look like the place is jam packed--the crowd goes on and on into the back of the bar! I've never eaten here, but drinks are your run of the mill options and good service. I do like that there is a long row of high top seating adjacent to the bar that looks on to the stage. This is prime seating because you can sit down, put your beer on the ledge, but still be basically third row. Check out some music here! read more

Turf Club - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Cool spot for shows. Door guy gave me a smoke when I was browning out great service he really brought me back from the edge

We had such a fun night at the Turf Club in April! We loved going down stairs to the clown lounge and eating before the show. This was a smaller venue, but it was such a great intimate atmosphere for the artist we were seeing. Look forward to seeing more show here soon. read more

Turf! Nothing like it... some things are a little weird but, if you're at the Turf, you like it a little weird...

My wife and I had a $30 Groupon, so we had to use it up on a Sunday before it expired. It is kind of divey looking inside with a small stage inside which is pretty awesome on the weekend, but this was for food and drinks. I ordered an Indeed IPA to start out as we perused the big menu. I went for the veggie burger with a fried egg on top. Spectacular. I love fresh made veggie burgers and the egg juice that exploded on top was a great touch. The bun was fresh and perfectly toasted as I ordered a bloody mary and a Surly Furious to finish off the Groupon value. All of it was fantastic. The Bloody Mary wasn't too spicy, but pretty light on the booze, and of course the Surly Furious was A+ as always. The service was pretty slow, but if it wasn't for that, the food was by far a 4 star place and the beer selection was solid. My wife and I had lots of laughs, and it was a nice brunch on a lazy Sunday. read more

Turf Club - Veggie burger with egg - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I've been going to shows for years and I don't know why I haven't been here sooner! We saw a live show of one of our fave bands from London, England last weds night. It was perfect. The staff was VERY friendly at the door, which is unusual for a lot of big clubs in the cities. The bar staff was phenomenal and made a good drink for very inexpensive. The sound quality wAs superb and that is something that I hold in high regard having grown up in a highly musical family. It was not overcrowded and we were able to get to the squeaky clean bathrooms and close to the stage with ease! I felt like a VIP! We were in such a laid back environment for a band that sells out shows in Europe that we even got to meet some band me members casually hanging right outside the front door! Can't wait to see more shows here! Ya baby! read more

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Decent bar and location. The workers generally are nice but seem very overworked and busy. Would've given 4 stars if it weren't for the fact they mislead me on a ticket refund issue where they blamed the ticket company but turns out it was their issue the whole time. It took weeks for them to respond. Overall experience not worth the "not my problem" business practices and duping of customers. read more

Saw kraus and lo moon here. Took uber down to find an easy drop off and was the first to walk in. Made it down to the downstairs bar and had a ok burger and some good pretzels. A couple of beers and it was time to head up and grab a seat and watch the bands. Wait staff were very attentive and the club is unpretentious and perfect to hear some good music. The crowd as mellow and in spirit with the acts. Kraus was a cool percussion focused band who offered ear plugs but there music was deep and you could feel there intensity in what they wrote. Would hear them again! Lo moon out of LA was a creative awesome group with an amazing vibe. I bought their record on iTunes after the concert. They are a great band. I met Matt the lead and he was a cool and chill guy. Great voice and great music makes for a band that I hope hits it big! The club is a great place and I would come back again! read more

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It's Friday night and The Turf Club is that typical, dingy bar that you and your cool friends ironically make a trip to for its unglamorous, but interestingly sketchy appeal. You'll walk in and first note that it is very dark inside. You and your friends will maybe score a seat at a table or campfire-hover around a nearby stool, and patiently wait for your server to come by. She does, and then you will all order Grainbelt Nordeasts. Then, a random "indie" or "garage" band will appear on stage and start playing an "original" song that you probably never heard of - regardless, you will be compelled to bob your head along the music in hopes that you won't draw attention to the fact that you don't belong. Also, you will 100% find someone smoking outside the front entrance. The Turf Club receives a four star rating for its venue. It's small, intimate, and has pretty good acoustics. I love that they feature an array of local artists. However, bar food was bland, greasy and heavy - but, duh. We ordered the tots, fries and cheese curds. Tots were greasy and heavy. Fries were bland. Cheese curds were okay. I hear that their breakfast/brunch food is good though. I also heard that there is a clown lounge downstairs, so I will never be going downstairs. There is a huge parking lot in the back, but keep in mind that it is not located in the best part of Snelling and University. read more

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My friend bought tickets to show for magic sword, waste of money. I never got to see the show because the smoking bouncer was such a dick in line asking me if I was homeless and degrading me. I won't set foot in a place that is a so rude out of the gate. You shouldn't either, you deserve customer respect. read more

This is slightly embarrassing to admit, but I had actually never been to the Turf Club before First Ave took it over. So I can't really comment on its pre-renovated state or compare the difference between the pre and post states. But in its current state, it's a really fun place to see a show. So first downstairs, there's the bathroom, the coat check and the Clown Lounge, which can be a cool spot to chill a bit before, after or during the show. If you aren't scared of clowns. Upstairs in the main room, there are some tables in the back, an open dancing area up front by the stage and the bar that runs the length of the room. Service is generally pretty decent. Show up early if you want a good table. But one thing I like about this spot especially is that it's never so packed that you feel like you can't walk around or get to where you want to go. There are some good acts that come through here, and also some acts that set up weekly residencies. So it's worth keeping an eye on the schedule to see who's coming up. It's a really intimate place to see a show where you can hear and see the music up close or hang in the back and talk if you want. It's a great little spot. Parking in the back and/or usually the neighborhood streets behind the bar. The only real complaint I have about it is that security sometimes could be a little more on top of things. I was once at a show where a kid took a pint glass and threw it up in the air as high as he could and then let it smash into a million pieces on the floor. No one was injured but he could have seriously hurt someone if the glass came down on their head. Security didn't seem to notice or care. My husband wound up saying something to the kid because no one else did. read more

Went to catch one of my favorite bands last night, La Femme, and the show was phenomenal. Aside from La Femme and their opener Jacques putting on an fantastic preformance, the venue was rad! This was my first time visiting the Turf Club and I really enjoyed it! It's been a venue I've always wanted to visit in the Twin Cities area because its been around for ages and has some great shows from what I've heard. Although its located in Midway which isnt the safest area, I felt safe and comfortable at the venue. Good security there. For parking, my friend and I just parked in the large lot by the mcdonalds across the road. Keep in mind, the lot closes at 1 am. Inside is a nice one room set up with plenty of high top and low tables and a full length bar. The staff all seemed professional and friendly. The stage was elevated about waist high. The set up was just right. Big enough to support a band and move around but small enough to where it felt initmate. I've always had a soft spot for venues with an intimate setting. The sound guy and his set up sounded great here. Bathrooms were nice and clean. La Femme came all the way from Paris to preform here last night, packed the house and made it a fun night! What a great venue with alot of history! I'm glad I can check this one off on venues I've been to and will certainly be back for more shows! read more

Turf Club - rad custom ceramic tile in the bathroom - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This is a review of the new remodel that was obviously pulled off by someone with bad taste. First the positives: the bathrooms are nice, beer selection good, able to handle bigger crowds. The bad: a corporation came in and stripped the Turf club of nearly all its rare old retro character. They left the iconic ceiling fixtures (not backlit like they always were) , but tore up the flat ceiling, which must be part of the horrible acoustics I heard last night (maybe the speakers too?). The clown lounge is a disgrace - they left the wood paneling and put up some generic clown pictures on the wall. Pretty sad if you remember how incredibly unique the "clown lounge" once was, even the last "up-north" cabin theme had heaps more character, why they even bothered to change is beyond me. Upstairs, every inch of the place is flooded with generic can lights. Please.... I felt like I was getting an FBI interrogation upstairs. I'm starting to think the retro character has no place in the future after seeing this and Bedlam's new theater. They have the huge sign on the wall "Best remnant of the 40's" - seriously, after this remodel, you put that front and center? I hope someone from First Avenue (new owner), with taste and class, at least changes the lighting, works on the acoustics, and gets the basement lounge back to the funky place it used to. read more

Turf Club - Bye-bye character remodel - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

It doesn't get better than this for St. Paul music venues. I come here for shows once every couple of months, but mostly to support a couple of friends of mine who are in bands. It's definitely worth checking the music calendar regularly, because they have great local, national and international acts coming through all the time (Zoo Animal, Wye Oak, Sissy Wish, etc.). As far as non-music amenities go, they have pinball, an ATM, an old photo booth, slightly overpriced drinks, slightly overpriced cover charge, sidewalk full of smokers (hold your breath as you enter and exit the building) and framed music artwork and posters kindly smothering the walls. They also have a few non-music events too, like Trash Film Debauchery. The bartenders are very nice, the booth vinyl is ripped to shreds and they finally take credit cards. Can you believe it?! Though the acoustics upstairs are great, I prefer the quieter Clown Lounge when I have a chance to sneak away. It's so cozy and warm down there with vintage beer signs, wood paneling and mood lighting, like somebody's parent's basement. read more

This is a really great venue for a variety of reasons - there's free parking out back, the acoustics are pretty great, the food is delicious, and there's actual seating during the show. My roommate and I went here to see Communist Daughter recently. Our waiter was pretty great, but when time came to order at the bar, one of the bartender's was not giving the best customer service - not only to me, but also to two ladies up at the bar. After overhearing the way he addressed me, they told me he was rude to them the entire evening as well. This is my only reason for not giving Turf Club 5 stars. read more

I have heard so many good things about this venue over the years from various sources. Somehow between busy schedules and finding the right show it took me until last week to finally go. The show - J. Boog, Jesse Royal, and Etana - and the club were both great! It's a shame it took me so long to get here and I will make a point of checking their events calendar regularly from now on. My boyfriend and I went an hour early to grab dinner and a drink before the show. I'm glad we did because it was nice to get a feel for the space with less people around and the food was actually SO good. In general, the main room strikes a nice balance in terms of size - big enough to fit a lot of people and achieve a certain energy and small enough where the show still feels intimate. You can see the stage from pretty much anywhere, which is great. We were also able to snag a high top for the show which, in hindsight, was ideal. We were able to keep our drinks/my purse/coats here - preferable in the middle of February - and sit OR hover nearby once the show was underway. There are maybe 10-15 high tops, otherwise the rest of the space is standing room, which totally has it's own appeal depending on the show. What we didn't realize but turned out to be AMAZING was that the waiter/waitress continues to serve these tables throughout the show. It was a Monday night show, but the crowd was impressive - apparently there is a larger reggae following in the Twin Cities than I realized? Haha who knew!! Just when I think I know this city...Anyways, so table service saved us a lot of time struggling through the crowd/waiting for service at the bar and gave us more time watching the show. And our server was phenomenal! Very attentive and efficient. Now food. Yes, it was SO good. Nothing fancy, more or less a menu of classic bar food options, e.g. burgers, wings, fries, cheese curds, etc., but fitting for this type of establishment and done very well. And of course, Turf Club keeps it hip, progressive, and local by offering an herbivorous butcher brat and bacon among their vegetarian offerings which I thought was awesome. I'm not vegetarian but tend to eat a more plant-based diet so this was appreciated. On this night, however, I was feening for a burger as I tend to do when out so I went with the classic burger + fries. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I honestly think this burger could compete in the larger arena of best burgers in the cities. It is humble and simple but SO satisfying. And the "turf sauce" is crazy good! I have no idea what it is, probably some combo of ketchup, mayo, and one or two other condiments, but it definitely makes this burger. If you consider yourself a burger connoisseur, you need to give this burger a try. As for drinks, I can't speak beyond their beer list because this is generally where I live, but this was very good. Tons of variety with mostly local and regional craft offerings on tap and even more to choose from by the bottle/can. Thanks for a great night Turf Club! You met and exceeded any expectations I had given your long hyped St. Paul institution status. I will definitely be back for next year's reggae night and hopefully several times before that. read more

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I love the Turf Club, I have played here 5 times in the past 10 years and I have been here a couple other times just to have a brew or watch a show! It's such a fantastic place to watch a show cause the sight lines are great. The stage is high enough where you can see the band from where ever you sit or stand in the club! I don't usually like a high stage when I'm playing as it's sometimes hard to connect with the audience but, here it's never really been a problem! The sound is always great. Every time I have been here they have a great sound engineer, who is personable and works hard! I dig that as a musician. They also treat the bands good, giving you discount food and drink tickets and usually have some PBR's down in the green room for the bands too! They have a downstairs basement bar filled with cool old clown paintings that verges on Twin Peaks like bar that is kinda spooky but totally rad! They also have music downstairs as well! Bartenders are always kind as are the folks running the door! This is the size of place where lots of up and coming national and touring acts have played over the years and I'm happy to have gotten to play with them and or see them in a nice spot in St. Paul... ps PRO TIP, the parking lot behind the club is open at night to park in and there is also street parking behind the club, a short walk! read more

Turf Club - Even the poles dont get in the way of the music here! - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

First time here, came for 8:00 show early. Sent to Clown Lounge in basement. Major staffing issues. 1 waitress with no expressive demenor and 1 bartender for at least 12 tables. The waitress seemed overworked and was so dull. Not welcoming. Ordered burger and fries and shared cheese curds. Cheese curds came without ranch as listed on menu. Peanut butter also forgotten. Asked for water, just put at edge of table. Burger overcooked and burnt tasting, needed gum after eating. Clean your grill please. The fresh hand cut fries were awesome. They were crispy and not soggy. Cheese curds with dry rub and ranch ok. Concert upstairs was awesome with Brent Cobb and bar tenders rocked. I can't get over the black toilets and sinks in bathroom. How is one to know it's clean? Suggestion hire more waitresses with personable skills in Clown Lounge. Maybe I'll return just not eat in basement. read more

Went to the cartoon brunch Jan 9th late morning. Full house. They had a terrible time finding the tables the orders went to. I got my order waaaaay before the rest of my table did. Found out they brought the wrong order to our table. They seemed to just wander around asking who ordered what. They may want to number their tables for reference. I ordered the huevos rancheros which were pretty tasty. The coffee was nice and strong. The cartoons were an after thought on screens to the left side of the room, not sure what I expected, but wasn't impressed. Will probably just stick to music here. read more

This is my favorite venues in St. Paul. This might just be a nostalgic pick but I've seen a lot of shows here. I had my 21st Birthday here on a Monday night clown lounge back in 2001. They have a good beer selection. The food has gotten really good in recent years. You will see smaller or up and coming acts here. The cartoon brunch is a pretty fun time! read more

I've never experienced the main stage in full blast, just the Clown Lounge in the basement during Happy Hour. The thumping of the band upstairs, tuning their instruments, gave me some feel for what that would be like. But I was pleasantly surprised by the food that emerged from a dive bar. I was wowed by actual potato fries instead of french fries. The waitress resembled the "love coach" Miss Bubbly of YouTube fame. Definitely worth another visit. read more

Turf Club - Dive Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Depends on your taste in music and atmosphere but I quickly figured out this was not a place for me to hang out due to the music and tv selections that were playing. First of all I thought they were watching camel racing on the Tele only to find out later after complaining to my drinking companions and found out it was the movie Lawrence of Arabia! hahahaha who knew? Very alternative crowd. The freaking music drove me nuts as it was like flute and sitar. I just want to hear some good old rock or country when I'm out day drinking. read more

Great little music venue. I like the setup for music. The drinks were good and the waitress was awesome. Now, if they would get rid of the tattooed little turd that works at the front.. This guy was a complete moron that would have turned me around if I wasn't there to see an awesome band. Attention management! This guy needs a job cutting onions in the back room or something. He tried to force us to go downstairs even though our friends were already sitting upstairs. I asked if the upstairs opened at 8, which it does, and he looks at me and say's, "We'll let you know when it's open". At which point the upstairs manager said come on in. Bad apple in a great place. read more

Dear Turf Club, I love you. Here is why: You have welcomed me with open arms. You have welcomed many of my favorite bands with open arms. You embrace the dirty hippies.. and you embrace us hard! Dead Man Winter has played here many many times, and I am eternally grateful for this. Charlie Parr will be playing here every Tuesday in July.. and this makes me so happy, I almost can't contain myself (seriously, I just peed a little because I was thinking about this). I have seen so many amazing shows at your venue.. Bear In Heaven (oh-my-gosh!!!), Mountain Man, Freelance Whales, Erik Koskinen.. and so on.. and so on... What I am saying is this: I freaking love you, Turf Club!!! You supply me with tables and booths-aplenty if I need to sit down, and there is ample standing room - the sound is superb no matter where I find myself in the joint. The door & bar staff is always friendly to me.. and they have a lot of great brews on tap (local stuff too)... I just really dig you.. the only downfall.. is that you are in St. Paul. Don't worry Turf Club, it's not you, it's me... I'm a Minneapolis girl.. and I tend to feel a bit uncomfortable crossing that river.. but for you, Turf Club... I will come visit you anytime... Love, your BFF, hether read more

Such a cozy little dive. Well, is it a dive? Too clean and well lit. Great place to see smaller bands like the Orange Mighty Trio, Peter Wolf Crier, No Bird Sing, Bon Iver (!) and on and on. The Clown Lounge is great. Everybody is nice. It's like you walk in here and it feels good. Like we are all on this little island so why ruin it by being assholes to one another? Bathrooms are a little scary, but that comes with the territory, right? Lots of dirty hippies. Heather S is right. Many beards and freaky tight pants. But very neighborhoody feeling. Love coming to shows here, but hitting Fasika for dinner first. Yum. read more