Revelers take advantage of 4 a.m. bar closing

Party-goers
Many venues across the Twin Cities were busy until the extended 4 a.m. bar closing for the Republican National Convention. Hurricane Gustav may have damped the festivities inside the convention hall, but it didn't stop some from partying Sunday night.
MPR Photo/Chris Roberts

Bars in the metro were given the option of staying open until 4 a.m. this week because of the Republican National Convention, but in St. Paul only around 10 had signed up, as of late last week.

Al Baisi, a manager at Alary's Bar in St. Paul said it was crowded Monday morning, but there's still no telling whether staying open later will end up being the right choice.

"You know, were they here from the convention or were they here because they're locals and they're not working tomorrow?" he said. "(We) still don't know what to expect the rest of the week."

There were also private parties held for Republican delegates and other convention-goers, including at First Avenue in Minneapolis, where Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar played to a crowd of about 500 people.