Happening now in Uptown

Explore before the season.

Name: The First Draft Spoken Word Open Mic
Start: 2026-12-21T01:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-12-21T03:00:00.000Z
Location: 2827 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Uptown isn’t waiting for Black Friday. Catch a show, a tasting or a night out in the neighborhood before the holiday rush.

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19 events

The First Draft Spoken Word Open Mic

Sun, Nov 8 · 7 PM – 9 PM

2827 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Minneapolis' most immersive spoken word open mic. A gathering to build community: welcoming poetry, personal stories, and other storytelling art forms. First-time readers share the mic with seasoned performers in a space that values honesty over polish. This is a space for connection over performance.

Uptown Movie Club November Screening

Wed, Nov 18 · 5 PM – 10 PM

Mari’s Watch Bar & Landmark’s Lagoon Cinema

All are welcome to help support local cinema and Uptown Businesses! Please sign up for email updates on our website and/or follow us on Instagram and Facebook (uptownmovieclub) for the most up to date details!

The First Draft Spoken Word Open Mic

Sun, Nov 22 · 7 PM – 9 PM

2827 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

The First Draft MPLS is an immersive spoken-word open mic. A gathering to build community: welcoming poetry, personal stories, spoken word and all forms of artistic storytelling. First-time readers share the mic with seasoned performers in a space that values honesty and vulnerability. This is a gathering to connect and be moved through story.

Uptown Winter Wonderland Holiday Market

Sat, Nov 28 · 10 AM – 3 PM

HENNEPIN AVENUE BETWEEN LAKE & 31st (at Queermunity, True North Studio, and Zoma House)

Join us on Small Business Saturday! Shop small & peruse goods from local makers in storefronts off Hennepin Avenue...and enjoy crafting, photo-ops, and merriment along the way! This year, the Holiday Market will be hosted at Queermunity, True North Studio, and Zoma House, and explore the whole block for fun happenings at all small businesses. Special thanks to event supporters: ARTrageous Adventures, City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department, Curioso Coffee Bar, Hill & Lake Press, Holidays on Hennepin, Lucent Blue Events + Design, Queermunity, The UPS Store, True North Studio, Uptown Association, and Zoma House.

Barbara Bow at The K Café

Fri, Dec 4 · 5 PM – 8 PM

Kowalski's Uptown · 2440 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis

Singer/songwriter Barbara Bow just loves to play country, folk and pop – picture Chappell Roan and Dolly Parton mixed together. Guest artist Kira Dawn joins in too. Come to The K Café for a little bit of country meets contemporary.

Prints on Ice

Fri, Dec 4 · 6:30 PM – 4 PM

Highpoint Center for Printmaking · 912 W. Lake Street

Prints on Ice is Highpoint’s annual winter co-op exhibition, featuring work from 40 members of our artist cooperative. An opening reception for the exhibition will take place on Friday, December 4 from 6:30 - 9pm. During the opening weekend (Friday, Dec 4 and Saturday, Dec 5), there will be a 20% discount on all co-op member work - the perfect opportunity to find a special gift for the holidays. We will also host a free, artist-led exhibition walkthrough on Saturday, December 12 at 2pm.

Holiday Hoopla at Old School!

Sat, Dec 5 · 11 AM – 2 PM

Old School by Steeple People · 2728 Lyndale Ave. S

Old School's Holiday Hoopla is always a blast! Join us from 11-2 on December 5 to celebrate with cake, a raffle, and 30% off everything in store! Have you ever thrift shopped to live music? We'll have a woodwind quintet providing tunes until noon!

Kelz Musik at The K Café

Sat, Dec 5 · 12 PM – 3 PM

Kowalski's Uptown · 2440 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

Kelz is back at The K Café, bringing his rich, soulful sound to seasonal favorites and feel-good tunes. Kelz blends R&B, soul, pop, and jazz in his fan fave polished and emotive performance.

Holiday Treats with Boris - our Prehistoric Cave Bear Skeleton

Sat, Dec 5 · 1 PM – 5 PM

ZRS Fossils and Gifts / 3018 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis

Unearth the perfect holiday treasure with Boris, our 50,000-year-old Cave Bear! Join our resident ZRS Paleontologist on the first Saturday in December for a festive afternoon of discovery. Explore a unique selection of fossiliferous delights and natural stone gift items perfect for holiday shopping. Plus, enjoy special holiday treats and warm cider all afternoon long! 🎄✨

Gingerbread spectacular

Sat, Dec 5 · 4 PM – 6 PM

Uptown Balloons · 2455 Hennepin ave

Stop by for this amazing photo opportunity for all ages! We will have hot chocolate and a station for making your own gingerbread man!

The First Draft MPLS

Sun, Dec 6 · 7 PM – 9 PM

2827 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

The First Draft MPLS brings poetry, storytelling, and spoken word into an intimate, welcoming open mic. New voices and seasoned performers share the stage, creating an evening where laughter, vulnerability, and unexpected connections remind us how much we have to learn from one another. This is a gathering built on connection and community.

Music Mondays at Morrissey's!

Mon, Dec 7 · 7 PM – 9 PM

913 W Lake St

Kick off your month with Music Mondays, an open jam session happening every first Monday at Morrissey’s. Guest hosted by Sue's daughter Bridget, these sessions are open to everyone—whether you’re learning, rocking out, or classically trained. Bring your instrument, your voice, or just your love of music, and join a welcoming, collaborative night where musicians of all levels come together to share tunes, try new ideas, and have fun.

Zachary Scot Johnson at The K Café

Fri, Dec 11 · 5 PM – 8 PM

Kowalski's Uptown · 2440 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

Zachary Scot Johnson is a well-traveled singer /songwriter touring nationally, performing over 100 days each year. He brings his wide range of styles - folk, jazz and pop to The K Café to celebrate the season.

Drink and Demo

Fri, Dec 11 · 6 PM – 9 PM

Highpoint Center for Printmaking · 912 W. Lake Street

Enjoy expert demonstrations from Highpoint co-op members, holiday-inspired cocktails and mocktails, and light bites while mingling with artists, collectors, and print lovers. Get an inside look at different printmaking processes and meet the artists who make it happen. Each of the four major printmaking techniques—screenprinting, intaglio, lithography, and relief—will be demonstrated by Highpoint co-op members, including artists featured in our winter co-op exhibition, Prints on Ice.

Holiday Sing-A-Long with Drew & Isaac at The K Café

Sat, Dec 12 · 12 PM – 3 PM

Kowalski's Uptown · 2440 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

Drew Schufman and Isaac Quiroga are back leading a rousing Holiday Sing-A-Long, accompanied by the multi-talented Brenda Varda. A host of holiday classics with lyrics provided – so you’ll just have to sing a long!

Uptown Movie Club December Screening

Wed, Dec 16 · 5 PM – 10 PM

Mari’s Watch Bar & Landmark’s Lagoon Cinema

Please sign up for email updates on our website and/or follow us on Instagram and Facebook (uptownmovieclub) for the most up to date details!

Brenda & Friends at The K Café

Fri, Dec 18 · 5 PM – 8 PM

Kowalski's Uptown · 2440 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

Multi-talented musician, songwriter and singer Brenda Varda graces The K Café again this year, performing many original and holiday songs. A bunch of her besties will be on hand to share their own special song stylings too.

Johnnie Brown at The K Café

Sat, Dec 19 · 12 PM – 3 PM

Kowalski's Uptown · 2440 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

A soulful Saturday awaits you with the incomparable Johnnie Brown, performing a blend of holiday faves plus R&B and soul classics. Stop and vibe with the band in the The K Café or maybe we’ll see you dancing in the aisles while doing your holiday shopping!

The First Draft Spoken Word Open Mic

Sun, Dec 20 · 7 PM – 9 PM

2827 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

The First Draft MPLS is a spoken-word open mic featuring poetry, personal essays, and storytelling. First-time readers and experienced writers/performers share original work with an attentive audience in an intimate setting. Come to read, or settle in with a glass of wine and listen. This is a gathering built on vulnerability, community, and connection; this gathering is comes to practice the art of listening.

Explore before the season.

Calendar of Events

The First Draft Spoken Word Open Mic

Uptown Movie Club November Screening

The First Draft Spoken Word Open Mic

Uptown Winter Wonderland Holiday Market

Barbara Bow at The K Café

Prints on Ice

Holiday Hoopla at Old School!

Kelz Musik at The K Café

Holiday Treats with Boris - our Prehistoric Cave Bear Skeleton

Gingerbread spectacular

The First Draft MPLS

Music Mondays at Morrissey's!

Zachary Scot Johnson at The K Café

Drink and Demo

Holiday Sing-A-Long with Drew & Isaac at The K Café

Uptown Movie Club December Screening

Brenda & Friends at The K Café

Johnnie Brown at The K Café

The First Draft Spoken Word Open Mic