UPCOMING EVENTS
We also partner with Avant Garden Bookstore for all of their events as well. Click here to visit their events page!
Queer Connect & Create Patches
Ages: 13 and older
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Cost: Pay What You Can/Suggested $10 Donation (No one turned away for lack of funds)
Location: Metta Coffee inside Avant Garden located at 215 E Main St, Anoka, MN 55303
Join Rum River Art Center at Metta Coffee located inside Avant Garden for an evening of optional and casual art making, coffee, queer conversation, and community building. This community event is designated for LGBTQ+ folks of all identities, gender expressions, and orientations so they can get together to create art, build community, and have a safe space in which they can express themselves.
If folks choose to participate in art making, at no additional cost, an instructor will be there to guide participants and help answer any questions. Additionally, this is a sober event and to further foster an open and supportive space the instructor and coffee barista both identify as queer.
We will also have some free yarn at all of the events if folks would like to crochet or knit, but please bring your own knitting needles or crochet hooks!
We are able to hold these events for free due to the extremely generous donation from Metta Coffee allowing us use of their café space for no cost.
Registration is not required, but can help us with planning. Please click here to register.
Anoka Pride 2025 Planning Meeting
Wednesday, April 16th
5:15pm
Join us for a fun, informal meeting on April 16th from 5:15 to 6:15 PM at Metta Coffee inside Avant Garden in Anoka to chat about ways you can get involved with Anoka Pride 2025. Enjoy a coffee from the coffee bar 5:15–5:30 PM, share your ideas, and learn how you can help make Anoka Pride 2025 unforgettable! This meeting is open to anyone who wants to support and grow Anoka Pride, and is focused on volunteers and committees, not vendors.
Game night
FRIDAY, May 9, 2025
SPECIAL HOURS
6PM - ?
The coffee bar will be open until 8:30pm.
(No purchase necessary)
We will have Game Masters, Amy & Ben, teaching/leading a game of some sort.
We will have a variety of games for you to play provided by Highlander Games..
-or-
Bring your own game, puzzle, craft, book or whatever.
Hang out and chat.
Just a fun night to build community and play games!
No need to register, just show up!
Wandering Spirit Henna Pop-up
Saturday, May 10th
9am - 4pm
We are excited to have Wandering Spirit Henna back in the shop Saturday, May 10th!
Prices vary per design, starting at just $10. First come, first serve. Come early to get on the list, it’ll be a busy day!
Queer Connect & Create Tissue Paper Lanterns
Tuesday, May 20th
6:00 PM
Ages: 13 and older 215 E. Main St, Anoka, MN 55303
Create a Tissue Paper Lantern
Join Rum River Art Center at Metta Coffee located inside Avant Garden for an evening of optional and casual art making, coffee, queer conversation, and community building. This community event is designated for LGBTQ+ folks of all identities, gender expressions, and orientations so they can get together to create art, build community, and have a safe space in which they can express themselves.
If folks choose to participate in art making, at no additional cost, an instructor will be there to guide participants and help answer any questions. Additionally, this is a sober event and to further foster an open and supportive space the instructor and coffee barista both identify as queer.
We will also have some free yarn at all of the events if folks would like to crochet or knit, but please bring your own knitting needles or crochet hooks!
We are able to hold these events for free due to the extremely generous donation from Metta Coffee allowing us use of their café space for no cost.
There is no need to register, but it does help us plan. Click here to register.
Hand-built Pottery Mug Class
Ages: 13 and older
Date: Thursday, May 22nd
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm
Cost: $47/person
Location: Metta Coffee in Avant Garden Bookstore, 215 E Main St, Anoka, MN 55303
Instructor: Madison Nelmark
Click here to purchase tickets and register
Join Rum River Art Center at Metta Coffee located inside Avant Garden Bookstore to create a handbuilt clay mug, using a slab building technique. With your registration, you will get a free small beverage from Metta Coffee.
The instructor will guide participants through the creation process on how to build the body of the vessel, add a handle and use underglaze to decorate their mugs. No prior experience is required!
We can hold these events due to the extremely generous donation from Metta Coffee allowing us to use their cafe space to make art.
Your work will be ready for pickup in about 2-3 weeks. You will receive an email notifying you when your work is ready for pick-up. It is your responsibility to retrieve your pieces within 14 days after they are fired at Rumriver Art Center. This class is great for kids, great for adults, great for the whole family!