Greetings, all, and welcome to 2009 — where changes are afoot, a restless sense of possibility fills the land, and you’re all destined to attend the new and improved version of Art Happy Hour!

As you may (or may not know), Art Happy Hour! was birthed — by mild-mannered art critic, art lover and all-around nice guy Michael Fallon — in a dark time during what turned out to be a dark year, January of 2008. Over the course of the year, as moods deteriorated as quickly as the economy, Art Happy Hour! took place four times — in four different venues and at four different times of the week. The idea for the first year was, in order to optimize the eventual convenience and appeal of the event to everyone, experimentation — trying different things to see what worked best for the most people. The results, even discounting the fact that AHH!3 took place while severe storms, tornadoes, and flash floods ripped through the Cities, were admittedly uneven, although the events were always fun.

And we kept trying.

And with that I’d like to offer a hearty thank you to all of you who voted in the latest poll and who sent your helpful suggestions about the AHH!’s format. We here at AHH!HQ have taken into account all of your suggestions and have come to the several conclusions, which will have a bearing on the format of AHH!5 (scheduled to take place some time in the next 2-3 months or so):

1. Most people favor a more regular time and venue for their (art) happy hours.
2. Most people seem really to dislike the poll function on this site.
3. Most people like the idea of including, as part of Art Happy Hour, some sort of extra bonus material/event.

So there you have it, the results in a nut-shell. I’m going to get to work to try to find a venue for our little social experiment, and once I do I’ll get back to you with all the juicy, Art-Happy details. Until then, keep in touch!

All righty! All you Joe Plumbers and Jane Sixpacks, it’s AHH!fficial:

Art Happy Hour! 4 will take place this Sunday, October 19, at 9 pm at the Red Stag Supper Club in NE Mpls. In the best tradition of happy hour, our event coincides with the Red Stag’s Artist Industry Night (two-for-one rails, taps, and select wine).

Here’s a map to the joint:

I’ll be there a little early–before 9 pm–wearing my traditional Art Happy Hour garb (to help folks find the group), the Wally the Walnut hat.

See you there!

Tired of elections? Voting? Empty campaign promises? Being call “my friend” over and over and over?

Well, your frustrations are soon at an end, my friend. That’s because the crucial polls mounted just to the right of here (>>>>)–which will determine the date for the next ART HAPPY HOUR!–are fast coming to a close.

With just over one week remaining (polls close midnight on Oct 17), now is your chance to vote for AHH!4, and to know the results of your vote.

So do it! Vote for AHH!4! You won’t be regretful.

See you at the polls (and at the next Art Happy Hour!). 

Or at least it could be.

In case you happen to roll that way, Art Happy Hour! is now on Facebook. Here, you can meet your fellow Happy Hourians, both local and nation-wide. You can follow the on-going saga that is the AHH! poll, and gain access to every Art Happy Hour! blog post. And you can send l’admin d’AHH! plenty of snippy and/or sexy messages. (Your choice!)

Plus, the first five people who sign up as Facebook Friends of Art Happy Hour! will receive a free first-round drink at the upcoming AHH!3. WHICH, by the way, is very soon to be decided (only two days left in the currently too-close-to-call poll).

Vote vote vote! Face Face Face! Happy happy happy! Drinks drinks drinks!

 I just can’t contain my excitement! Can you?! 

!!!

• Clubhouse Jaeger - Thursday, June 5, 4 to 8 pm (29%, 8 Votes)
• The Lexington in St. Paul - Thursday, June 5, 4 to 8 pm (29%, 8 Votes)
• Nick and Eddie - Friday, June 6, 3 to 7 pm (25%, 7 Votes)

And the 331 Club is not far behind!!! (And just about a week left to go!!!)

Don’t just sit there, find someone to vote for your favorite AHH! horse!

In lieu of the tragic events that occurred this past Saturday at Churchill Downs, the L’admin d’AHH! thought he’d share a little happy news about the ongoing Art Happy Hour!3 poll: We have a horse race on our hands!

As of this morning, 10 a.m. on May 6–with just two-and-a-half weeks remaining–the poll results show a neck-and-neck-and-neck battle between three AHH!3 venue contenders.

With 20 votes cast to date, Clubhouse Jaeger is just two lengths ahead, while Nick and Eddie and Lexington are dead even and coming strong along the outside. 331 Club, Buster’s, and Eli’s Bar are well back of the pack, but at this point it could be anyone’s race.

Tell your friends, relatives, studio-mates, and local art historians to get online and vote for their favorite horse in this race. Polls close at midnight on May 25.

Madness takes its toll…

So, not a moment too soon: a new poll is running for the next Art Happy Hour! (AHH!3).

Please, everyone, it’s just a step to the right. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It doesn’t take any time at all!

With your hands on your mouse,
You bring your knees in tight—
You can help us decide! (On a time and place for your very own Time Warp—a.k.a., Art Happy Hour!)

VOTE FOR ART HAPPY HOUR!

I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The blackness would hit me and the void would be calling
Let’s do the time warp again…

With just under 10 days remaining in the Art Happy Hour! 2 poll, it appears that one choice, Grumpy’s, has a rather insurmountable lead–with 67% of the cast vote (compared to the only 25% of its closest rival).

But, do you know what? They counted out John McCain in 2007, and they wrote off Richard Nixon in 1960. They thought Eli Manning was only half the player of his brother Peyton, and he’d never win it all. They even, after 1992, thought the Bush family was doomed for the political dustheap.

And look where this sort of thinking got them!

So I guess the point is, don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. When it seems like all the chips are against you, and your favorite venue will never be chosen for an Art Happy Hour! — d o n ‘ t    g i v e    u p ! ! ! !

There is still plenty of time to rally your hombres, go to every available library internet connection, pad the polls, game the system, and win the day!

Vote for the venue. Vote for the fun. Vote Art Happy Hour! (Polls close at midnight on March 17.)

Hey Happy AHH!sters!

Your suggestions have been tallied. Preliminary research (of suitable happy hours) completed. And the nominees for the AHH! 2 locale are…

Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Ave N
Minneapolis

Grumpy’s (included as runner up from previous poll)
1111 Washington Ave S
Minneapolis

331 Club
331 13th Ave NE
Minneapolis

Town Hall Brewery
1430 Washington Ave S
Minneapolis

Alary’s (the token St. Paul venue)
139 7th St. East
St. Paul

In a day or two we’ll post a new poll just to the EAST of here>>>>>>
with these choices (for you to vote on the venue and time).

Stay tuned.

The Art Happy Hour! humbly solicits you to send in ideas, suggestions, and all manner of artsy thought to include on this blog, and at the next AHH! event. In particular, we’re looking for the following input:

1. What should be the venue for the next Art Happy Hour! (AHH!2)?

*Note: Suggestions on this issue were made at the Inaugural Art Happy Hour!, and those venues will be researched for suitable happy hour policies. Still, we’d welcome any other suggestions. Please send them to the AHH! Admin at admin(at)arthappyhour.com (or send via the comment function on the blog post) by February 22. We’ll post the final five potential venues in a AHH! poll that will run into early March.

2. What makes you (artistically) happy?

The Art Happy Hour! team would love to share stories about happy artists and why their artistic practice makes them happy.

Why are you happy to be an artist?

Send us a note to admin(at)arthappyhour.com (or via the comment function on the blog post).