• Anti-Homo Pol Behind in Polls. [Minnesota Star Tribune]

• Gay Murder Mystery Continues... [Life Style Extra]

• Activist to Nepal: 'Don't Forget The Gays'! [Pink News UK]

• Joan Rivers Wants Mel Gibson's Head. (No, not his penis.) [Star Magazine]

• HIV Treatment Database? [The Advocate ]

• Artist Paints Cheaper Pictures. [Daily Telegraph]

Since today was a perfect sunny day, we were happy to take a walk around the Walker Art Center's gorgeous sculpture garden. Even though it is located only yards from the highway, the high, manicured hedges make it a peaceful, even romantic, place to stroll or picnic. We loved the "Spoonbridge and Cherry" sculpture/fountain by husband-and-wife artist team Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

The greenhouse that abuts the garden is also a must-see, as it is filled with many varieties of flowering plants and what we believe to be the largest plexiglass fish sculpture in all of Minnesota.

We have had a great time in Minneapolis and hope that all this sunshine follows us up to Winnipeg, the next stop on our trip. There are supposedly some nice beaches.

See more sculpture garden and greenhouse pics after the jump.

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Today we had a free afternoon and wanted to go see the new addition to the Walker Art Center designed by Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron. The outside strikes quite a silhouette and the inside seems confusing at first but cunningly leads you from room to room in a very intuitive way. The rule is "photograph the building, not the art," but the building has so many pretty design elements that we sometimes couldn't tell the difference.

We took some interior shots that you can see after the jump.

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In Minneapolis you don't have to order grits to have a gritty breakfast. Just go to Hard Times, the anarchist vegan cafe where you write your order down on a slip of paper and wait for the cook to yell your name out. Did we mention the cook is a very cute scruffy tattooed guy wearing an apron? Hot.

We ordered the "helter skelter" breakfast, which had scalloped potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and other veggies underneath some cheesy scrambled eggs with a homemade buttermilk biscuit. The decor of the cafe is love-worn and the boy baristas are just as yummy as the omelettes.

The building is bright green, so you can't miss it the next time you pass through the Twin Cities. See some food and interior shots after the jump.

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Without question, Sex World is the hugest sex emporium we have ever visited. There is an elevator that takes you to its different levels, which are both vast and cater to different clientele. There are video booths, racks of porn, more fake butts and vaginas than you could ever dream of, and that seedy vibe in the air that is missing from so many newer, politically correct sex stores. We weren't allowed to take photos inside, so you'll have to take our word for it that this place is BIG, and if they don't have what you need, then you might have to make it yourself. Make sure to stop in the next time you're in the Twin Cities. They're open 24 hours.

Sex World [Official Site]

Visit the Minneapolis city guide provided by GayCities.com , the sponsor of Queerty's Big Gay Road Trip: Northern Edition.

After the concert we hurried over to the Brass Rail for Bango, the gay bingo night hosted by Mother Pearl, who reader Cody described as "a dirty old guy dressed up as a pink nun." After meeting her, we found the description pretty accurate, but Mother also was very friendly and loved a good Scotch.

She has been hosting the bingo night every Tuesday for six years now, and in doing so has raised more than $23,000 for the Aliveness Project, which is a community center here in Minneapolis that provides services for people living with HIV.

Read her full interview after the jump. There are some great stories.

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With our stomachs still protesting over all the Wis-Mex that we ate earlier in the afternoon, we arrived in Minneapolis ready to go see some music at the legendary venue First Avenue, where the documentary Purple Rain immortalized one of Prince's most awesome concerts.

The lineup last night included a few indie bands, but our favorite was Sunset Rubdown, from Montreal. It is a new project for frontman Spencer Krug of the popular Canadian band Wolf Parade. Spencer plays a mean piano, writes songs with a perfect dramatic arc, and emotes the hell out of every note with his nasal, on-the-verge-of-breaking vocals. Plus he sweats a lot. In fact he sweated through his thin cotton t-shirt within the first five minutes of the set, and we did not complain. See more photos of the band plus a very special commemorative photo after the jump.

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• The Vatican will finally release that long-awaited gay-banning document tomorrow. The Human Rights Campaign is calling on all Catholics to speak out against the document. You go, HRC! And while you're at it, take a minute to voice your objection to the drab robes those closeted priests are forced to wear.

• Too bad the FDA won't approve the do-it-yourself H.I.V. test in time for Christmas. They would have made perfect stocking stuffers.

• Washington State could soon follow in Massachusetts' footsteps and legalize same-sex marriage. But the people of New Hampshire want to go in the other direction.

• A lesbian has been Minneapolis' fire chief for almost a year and can apparently handle a hose like a pro. Who knew?

• We'd be remiss in neglecting to acknowledge last week's announcement that Ambassador Elton John and his long term partner will be getting hitched in England next month once gay unions become legal. We think it's safe to say flamboyant blushing bride Elton won't be wearing white.