Christmas in ... October?
With the opening of a yuletide-themed pop-up bar at Psycho Suzi's, the zany northeast Minneapolis tiki lounge gets into the holiday spirit early this year. Three months early, in fact.
Mary's Christmas Palace, which opened Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, indulges in the kitschy side of Christmases past. Imagine mismatched vintage ornaments, glowing Nativity scenes, nonstop blinking lights, miles of tube-sock garland and even a metaphorical tipsy uncle to embarrass the whole family. There's a food and drink menu to match, with plenty of winking double entendres and puns galore.
Think of it as your raunchiest office holiday party, which, let's face it, you're not having this year.
"Restaurant comedians are a rare breed," said Psycho Suzi's general manager Donny Nelson. "We think that's who we are."
The transformation from tropical tiki to nippy North Pole takes about three days, but "we never stop adding to it," Nelson said. "People will bring stuff in, like, 'I found this old blow mold.' "
It's a delight for staffers as much as it is for guests.
"The small details are what I like," said Cassie Scheele, general manager at sister restaurant Betty Danger's Country Club, as she strung ornaments onto a net of lights. "They create the Christmas chaos."
