Date With A Bunny
Schedule
Thu Feb 05 2026 at 04:00 pm to 08:00 pm
UTC-06:00Location
2605 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408-1150, United States | Minneapolis, MN
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We’re doing something BIG. And I can’t do it without you.My partner Chris and I are putting together a healing event for our Minneapolis community and The Bushy Tail is officially stepping up to fight back against ICE in the only way we know how: with love, connection, and bunnies.
You’ve likely heard about what’s been happening in our city. Families are being torn apart, communities are scared, and the emotional toll is weighing heavily on so many of our friends and neighbors.
But I believe in the power of animals. I believe in the joy and comfort they bring. And I believe in us, the incredible bunny community we’ve built together over the last 10 years.
What’s Happening?
We are partnering with The Bond Between to provide emergency boarding for small pets whose families have been detained or affected by ICE.
But we want to do even more.
So, we’re creating a one-of-a-kind event to bring some relief and hope to our neighbors. Something soft, safe, and full of joy.
The Bushy Tail’s First Ever “Date With A Bunny” - Community Event
Date: Thursday, February 5th 2026
Time: 4pm - 8pm
Price: FREE
Location: The Phoenix Theater
2605 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Guests will be invited to sit quietly with a bunny for a scheduled 15-minute “bunny date.” Children are welcome to read to them. Adults can decompress and enjoy gentle companionship.
We encourage people to come before their bunny date and stay after their bunny date! The Phoenix Theater has graciously invited us to have free use of their lobby area while we are here as well as free access to their board game library. Our bunnies Pesto and Leo will be personally greeting and hanging out with our guests in the lobby, for even MORE bunny time for our Minnesota friends.
Sign up here if you’re interested!
https://forms.gle/BBSbUfkvBR4go7LE8
Every visitor will sign up and reserve a 15 minute time slot for themselves. That way we can have you come at a time that works for you and so that we can space out our visitors to have stress free bunnies.
We will be warm and bathrooms will be easily accessible!
Everyone (except ICE) are welcome here. The Bushy Tail and The Phoenix Theater welcome members of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities! We request everybody be friendly and respect everyone (and the bunnies). To quote Bill and Ted - “Be Excellent To Each Other”.
We can build so much community here!!
But We Can’t Do This Alone.
We need you, our bunny lovers and kind-hearted community, to help us bring this idea to life.
This is a heavily volunteer-based event, and it will only happen if we gather enough support.
Here’s how you can help:
Volunteer with Your Bunny
Bring your social, calm bunny to be part of our healing experience! You’ll sit in your own cozy enclosure with your bunny while individuals (or small families) take turns visiting. You can chat with them about bunny life, or just enjoy the moment.
• Volunteer shifts are flexible. Sign up for 1 hour, 2 hours, or the full event.
• You’ll be assigned a private bunny condo with opaque walls to keep your bunny calm.
• We’ll provide assistance with setup, support during the event, and cleanup.
Other Ways to Volunteer
• Set up / tear down
• Bunny bouncers to monitor the space and make sure volunteers feel safe and supported
• Greeters to help in the lobby, keep the vibe warm and welcoming, or assist with light logistics
• Transport helpers to help guests carry bunnies and supplies inside, especially in the cold!
• The Community Table Hosts to help unpack and organize donated goodies (More on the community table below.)
• Floating helpers who are just present, social, and happy to jump in where needed!
Sign up here to join us!! : https://forms.gle/ZihgKMtSVV4QbJbs8
Donate Supplies or Goodies
We’ll need basic cleaning supplies (paper towels, wipes, broom, trash bags, etc.), bunny hay, litter boxes, healthy treats, veggies, and any fun extras. If you’re able to donate anything, thank you! Borrowed items will be returned after the event.
We’re also accepting snacks and beverages for guests, and small gifts for our Community Table, more on that below.
Also, if you have some extra children’s books lying around. Feel free to lend them to the children who visit! We would love to encourage kids to read to the bunnies.
The Community Table - Share Joy - Support Local Businesses
At the heart of this event is the idea of healing through connection, and one way we’re creating that is through a Community Table. A cozy space filled with FREE, small gifts, surprises, and goodies that anyone can take home to feel a little more joy after their time with us. Take a pick me up - leave a pick me up. :)
There is absolutely no pressure to contribute to this. It is completely optional! I thought it would be a fun experiment to see if we can make this event even better for everyone.
We’d love for this table to be filled with things that brighten someone’s day, whether that’s:
• A sweet treat for later
• A little self-care item
• A warm reminder that someone cares
But here’s the twist: as an added bonus, we’d love for many of these items to come from our local small businesses, especially those that have been directly impacted by ICE or by the January 23rd Blackout, when many immigrant and BIPOC-owned businesses bravely closed in protest and are now struggling to make rent.
We’re inviting you to shop small with intention and bring what you find to share with the community at the table.
Here are some specific ideas of how you can contribute:
• Pick up a dozen cookies or pastries from your favorite local bakery
• Grab a bouquet of flowers from a neighborhood florist
• Bring candles, lotions, or bath bombs from a local maker
• Stop by the balloon store down the road and grab a cheerful bunch to add color to the room
• Bring a lightly used board game someone could take home to play that evening
• Donate an activity kit or small craft for a kid too scared to return to school
• Bring unopened snacks, candy, tea, or drinks. Things that feel comforting and special.
We want everyone who walks into this event to feel loved, and to leave feeling a little lighter than when they came in, maybe with a bunny in their heart and a small gift in their hands.
If you’d like ideas for local shops to support, stay tuned. I’ll be compiling a list of nearby small businesses (especially ones close to the Phoenix Theater) that would be thrilled to have you stop by before your bunny date. Grab something for the Community Table, or even just grab something for yourself and tell them The Bushy Tail sent you.
Let’s uplift our neighbors. Let’s share joy. Let’s make this event feel like hope.
Help Us Fund the Space
We were originally going to fund this event ourselves, but unexpected personal costs came up, and now we need a little help.
We need to raise at least $100–$200 to rent the theater space. Additional donations will go toward supplies for the event, and if it goes well, they’ll help us fund future healing events too.
If you’d like to donate or contribute in any way, please reach out or you can send your donation through our Venmo. We truly appreciate it.
Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Brenda_Jorgensen
(Our profile photo is a little brown bunny with bright green grass in the background!)
Quick Notes:
• There are stairs at this venue. If you have medical limitations or trouble with stairs, you might want to volunteer in a non-bunny role.
• There are always risks with animals in public settings. We are doing everything we can to ensure safety, but by participating, you acknowledge personal responsibility and understand that The Bushy Tail cannot be held liable.
Spread The Word!
Please help us spread the word as much as possible. Tag & share our Facebook posts. Re-post our event updates on our Tik-Tok! Share with Reddit. Tell your child’s teacher. Share our event on your local Buy-Nothing group. Spread this around to your community, friends, neighbors. Whomever you think may benefit this, we want them to join us!
Final Thoughts (From Me to You)
I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m nervous. But also so incredibly hopeful. I know this can help.
Whether 5 people show up or 50, it’s worth doing. This may be a one-time thing, or it might become something more. That all depends on you, on what we build together.
If you have questions, ideas, or want to help in any way, please reach out to me through Facebook, or message us directly at:
(http://mailto:[email protected]/)[email protected]
We will be posting visual updates on our Bushy Tail Tik-Tok page:(https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bushy_tail) as well: @the_bushy_tail
Thank you so much. The Bushy Tail wouldn’t be possible without you. Let’s create something beautiful together.
With love,
Brenda
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Where is it happening?
2605 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408-1150, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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