In a brief departure from my studied objectivity:
I would like to acknowledge and thank the founders of this venue, who took an old bus station and made it into a place to “get down” instead of “get out of town” (gee that’s corny): Mr. Danny Stevens and Mr. Allan Fingerhut. Without their vision in 1970 we would have no First Avenue today.
I believe that Allan and Danny should have permanent stars on First Avenue. Each of them would like to have that honor and recognition, and I believe they more than deserve it. It is part of their personal legacies and part of Minneapolis history.
Also, Danny Stevens was more than Allan’s nameless “Partner with a liquor license,” as referred to on First Avenue’s website. This is a travesty that could easily be changed.
And Steve McClellan, who gave 33 years of blood, sweat, and tears, to the entertainment mecca in three of its phases, should have a statue. A big statue. Which iteration of Steve, I don’t know. Maybe one with what he calls his “porn star mustache.” He was pretty cute then! Let’s get on that, shall we?
