Through a Glass Fabulously

Pride … just the word conjures up images of rainbows and confetti, balloons, floats, drag queens, music and dancing. Parades. Happiness. Fun. Celebrating the diversity of our community with laughter and joy and the knowledge that this is our month to show the world who we are and how we fit into every aspect of society.

This year, Lavender launches the Pride season with our annual Summer of Pride Kickoff Party which will undoubtedly be every bit the extravaganza that our readers have come to expect.

Lavender’s 2025 Kickoff Party is slated to be held June 5 at the elegant and inviting Glass House, a unique venue that promises to be different from anything Lavender has used before, perfect for celebrating the 30th anniversary of the very existence of the magazine itself.

Glass House is appropriately named since glass is the heart, soul and foundation of the building, which was built in 1955. The Ford McNutt Company needed a new building to house its glass warehouse and mirror manufacturing plant and decided to hire the same architectural firm that designed the Foshay Tower in 1929. The 30,000-square-foot building was later sold to Brin Northwestern Glass and used as a manufacturing facility until 2016 when it was sold to Hennepin Made. Subsequently, the space became half glass-blowing studio with the other half dedicated to showcasing the studio’s creations.

The building has since seen a renaissance as a retreat for artists, a center for cultural exploration, and a unique and elegant venue for special events, lectures and various celebrations.

Located in the up-and-coming Root District situated on the fringes of Minneapolis’s North Loop, Glass House offers four different venues — Holden Room, Café Room, Glass Room and The Courtyard — that can accommodate events both intimate and expansive. Lavender’s Summer of Pride Kickoff Party will be held in Holden Room, which will welcome attendees into a wide-open, contemporary space filled with natural light that is just right for a fête that celebrates 30 years of being the premiere LGBTQ+ publication in the Twin Cities as well as the beginning of Pride month.

Elegant glass pendant lighting, handblown by Hennepin Made’s own glassblowers, twinkles overhead, suspended from the soaring ceiling and setting the mood for a truly memorable summer evening with friends and the community. Complimentary appetizers will be provided by Chowgirls Catering (@chowgirlscatering) and Green Mangos Catering (@greenmangoscatering), and a cash bar with Lavender-themed drink specials will keep guests feeling festive throughout the evening.

Attendees will be able to register for awesome prizes at the Lavender welcome table before stepping into the elegantly spacious event space where they’ll be welcomed by multitudes of vendor tables representing many businesses, organizations, and nonprofits that support, welcome, and serve our community. Numerous local LGBTQ+ sports leagues will also be in attendance, welcoming your questions on how to come out to support their games or, better yet, to sign up to be part of their teams. Several of the Twin Cities’ professional teams will also be on hand with representatives eager to talk about how they appreciate our community coming out to cheer the players on at games and matches.

Be prepared to enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, chances to register to win great prizes, pick up fun swag and promotions, and peruse the information and offerings from a dazzling array of tables staffed by representatives from local LGBTQ+ nonprofits, LGBTQ+ sports teams and organizations and Minnesota’s professional sports teams.

There is onsite parking available along with several other options on city streets as well as at the nearby Minneapolis Farmer’s Market. Attendees are also encouraged to bike or consider the use of rideshare options.

Lavender’s Summer of Pride Kickoff Party
June 5 • 5:30-8 p.m.

Glass House
145 Holden St. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
glasshousemn.com