The Wednesday before (and the weekend after) Thanksgiving are HUGE party nights in the Twin Cities, and while there are tons of new shi-shi bars to check out, the good old stand-bys can't be beat.
So, if you've had enough of the family, and want to see who's in town from "back in the day," pop into one of these hometown hot spots.
Did we miss your watering hole? You can always submit a comment, or create your own "Home for the holidays" playlist.
Woodbury isn't exactly known for it's bar scene, but if pressed, we'd say Throwbacks is it.
McKracken, formerly the Black Dawg, is still the place to come for live music in the Southwestern burbs.
The Scoreboard menu offers favorites like burgers and pasta, but there are surprises like fish tacos and lettuce wraps that will make your mouth water.
Whether you are in the mood for bowling, food, drinks, pool, arcade games or darts, Park Tavern has what you crave.
J Cousineau's
The charm of J Cousineau's is that their logo is one of those yard-of-beer mugs rarely found outside of an outdoor country music fest.
In the shadow of the MOA beast is a tiny hole-in-the-wall called Sports Page.
CC Club sets the standards for dive bars in the Twin Cities. The place is edgy, a little grungy, and maybe a bit intimidating…just like its clientele.
Town Hall Brewery
Step back into those bygone days and enjoy a house-brewed mug of beer at this Seven Corners speakeasy.
Not much has changed at Lyle’s since the bar and restaurant opened in 1963, but that’s exactly why it’s so appealing to many.
Bryant Lake Bowl and Cabaret Theater
This Uptown staple houses hippest bowling lanes in town.
Mayslacks features cheap drinks, live music on the weekends, and a superlative roast beef sandwich with garlic and horseradish.
Duffy's Bar & Grill
A person can kick back with a beer and a burger at Duffy’s Bar & Grill until the wee hours of the morning.
A pretty kickin' place considering they're in a Northwest suburb. Check out the Bistro Sports Bar for early or late night happy hours with great drink and appetizer specials, and in the warm months, lounge on their patio. Also, if you're looking for a poker game, they've got a bigg'un.
Sweeney’s Saloon is St. Paul’s quintessential neighborhood bar scene. The worn wood tables are populated with locals enjoying Sweeney’s famous hot wings and a good brew.
If you're into sports and food, Billy's is your place.
Modern-day Beatles would probably hang out in a place like The Muddy Pig.
The big draw for many Chatterbox patrons are the games.
Joe Senser's Bar and Grill
Voted one of the top sports bars in the country by Sports Illustrated, you have to get to Joe Senser's early to reserve a place so you won’t miss a lick of the action.
The Red Dragon is an uncommonly fine spot to catch a buzz. Locals come here to get the biggest buzz in town.
