The Loring features Hip-Hop one tuesday a month, and they get a big crowd.

Kudos to the council for recognizing there are limits to their power and additional kudos for not adding an additional level of complexity/restriction to liquor licenses.

Boo to Hofstede for even flotaing this nonsense. Is this another moment where we say, "She sounded so reasonable during the election, but I guess she's another neighborhood activist/liberal wingnut?"

Paul Zerbt redux?

To the rest of the City Council & assorted policy wonks:

This case, and the issue of Music at the 331, both speak to the need for Mpls to resolve some of the inconsistencies in our live music regulations.

First, pick a vision and stick to it. Are we a 24 hour city, an arts mecca, an entertainment destination? If indeed, we are, or aspire to be, then live music venues are critical to that type of development. Joe and Jane on the street want to hear that music!

If you aspire to be Richfield-North, then by all means, restrict away. Like I always say, there's nothing like a patchwork of reguations today to satisfy the whiners , and create a hell of a mess for the leaders & citizens of tommorrow.

Also, the classifications of entertainment licenses themselves are too complex. Here are my suggestions:

Class D: No entertainment.

Class C: Karaoke, Spoken Word, Stand-Up Comedy, Bands with 3 performers or fewer(amplification allowed for vocals, and acoustic instruments. No electronic instruments.)

Class B: Bands of any size or instrumentation. Theatrical performances.

Class A: Adult entertainment.

Licenses should be granted based on the size of th commercial parcel, and proximity to residences, churches, communitty centers, and schools.

And of course, active enforement of the noise ordinance would be expected.