Minnesota Monthly's Best of the Twin Cities Party at Machine Shop December 1

When you take one of the hottest new venues in town (Machine Shop) and bring in one of the hottest local musicians (Chastity Brown) and DJs (DJ Lenka Paris), then add in excellent food and beverage samples, what you get is a party.

Or—to be more exact—what you get is Minnesota Monthly’s Best of the Twin Cities party Thursday, December 1 from 7-10 p.m. at Machine Shop in the heart of Minneapolis’ St. Anthony neighborhood. 

The venue: Machine Shop, located in northeast Minneapolis, was once a machinery shop of the Pillbury Mill, the largest flour mill in the world back in the early 1900s. The space was recently renovated as a hip event venue. Careful historic renovations included refurbishing many of the floor-to-ceiling windows and salvaging an antique overhead crane. The result? A venue that could best be described as “industrial lux,” with exposed brick, beautiful hardwood floors, soaring ceilings, in-house sound, dynamic lighting, two levels, a funky lounge area (aka The Break Room), and room for up to 1,200 guests (300 seated).    

• The entertainment: With roots in the Deep South, Chastity Brown has, according to The Current, the “ability to distill Southern blues and plaintive North Country prairie influences into expansive, alluring folk songs.” She was selected as Minneapolis’ “Best Folk Artist” in 2012, and received “Best Album” recognition from the Star Tribune, City Pages, Lavender Magazine, and The Current. In July of 2016, this talented artist signed with Red House Records. Just recently, Chastity was included in Minnesota Monthly’s list of “The Next Best Things for 2017 and Beyond.” (Minnesota Monthly November 2016 “Best of the Cities” issue.)

• DJ Lenka Paris spins funk, hip hop, pop, nu disco, house, and elektro at some of the hottest spots in the metro, including Living Room W Minneapolis – the Foshay, Lush, Club Jäger, Rouge at The Lounge, and Crave’s rooftop. A huge Prince fan born in Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia), she learned English through popular 80s songs—MJ, Madonna, Salt-N-Pepa, Janet, Prince—and got her first taste of DJing while still in high school. Once she realized she could entertain people out on the dance floor with music she loved, she was hooked. She moved to the U.S. and lived in L.A., Boise, Dallas, and New York before moving to Minneapolis in 2003. Her funky, upbeat mixes are so good, they’ve been recorded for 89.3 The Current.

• The VIP area: Limited tickets are available for the VIP experience, including early admission, a gift bag, and exclusive access to the VIP Lounge.

• Giving back: Bring in a non-perishable food item for Second Harvest Heartland and help us stock the shelves for our friends and family in need. Helpful items include:

  • Meats, fish and protein – canned tuna, ham or chicken, beef stew, chili, peanut butter, canned/dried beans
  • Fruits and vegetables – 100 percent fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables, instant potatoes
  • Complete meals – pasta and canned sauce, boxed meals, hearty soups
  • Grains – cereal, rice
  • Special diet foods – gluten-free, low-sugar, low-sodium
  • Personal care products* – shampoo, deodorant, soap, diapers, toilet paper, feminine hygiene, toothpaste
  • Cleaning supplies* – laundry detergent, paper towels, kitchen and bathroom cleaners

For food safety reasons, personal care items and cleaning supplies need to be kept separate from food items. No glass containers, perishable items, or home-canned foods can be accepted.

Tickets to the Best of the Twin Cities party are $60 for VIP; $50 for general admission. The event is 21+. For tickets, click here. To receive $10 off general admission only, enter Bestof10 as the promotional code.