minneapolis accommodation

Hi,

I%26#39;m travelling to minneapolis mid-late march 08.

Can anyone recommend budget/inexpensive accommodation in the city in a good area and near to attractions/nightlife.

Thanks in advance.

minneapolis accommodation

looks like good fare at the Marquette - per Expedia -- March 21 - 23 example -

The Marquette by Hilton Lowest avg rate $109.00

Contemporary high-rise in downtown Minneapolis

Located within the IDS Center, this 19-story hotel is adjacent to Nicollet Mall, three blocks from Target Center, and six blocks from the Metrodome and the ...

Room type Fri Sat Avg rate (per night)

Standard Two Doubles $109 $109

- Millennium would be ok too -

Millennium Hotel Minneapolis Lowest avg rate $99.00

Contemporary downtown hotel adjacent to Nicollet Mall

Linked by skyway to the convention center, this hotel is adjacent to Nicollet Mall, downtown%26#39;s main shopping artery, and 9 blocks from the Warehouse ...

Room type Fri Sat Avg rate (per night)

Standard room $99 $99

minneapolis accommodation

Good suggestions. If you can get anything downtown Minneapolis for $100 or less, you should snap it up. Marquette is a very good hotel in a good location, always seems priced well for what you get in return.

With the exchange rate you%26#39;ll enjoy, think you%26#39;ll get excellent value. It won%26#39;t feel budget, but the price is good if you can get $109 or $99. Not much else down there cheaper without getting a ways away from nightlife.

Thanks - I%26#39;ll look into those suggestions.

what brings you to Minneapolis ?

There is a convention going on March 25-29 and double rooms are a bit scarce and priced high. You might want to avoid those dates.

Unfortunately it looks like I%26#39;ll be there on those dates, so I better book now by the looks of it.

what a difference a week makes -

most everything downtown is sky high or sold out

this one is NOT too far from the core of downtown - and it%26#39;s fairly new

TownePlace Suites Minneapolis Downtown by Marriott Lowest avg rate $171.00

This hotel in downtown Minneapolis鈥?Warehouse District is 8 blocks from Target Center and just over a mile from the Metrodome.

There%26#39;s a bunch of spots by the MegaMall - and you can take the new light rail line up downtown.

If you want something in a good neighborhood, I%26#39;d recommend the Hampton Inn in Woodbury. It%26#39;s an eastern suburb adjacent to St. Paul. Good breakfast, comfy mattresses. I%26#39;ve stayed there three times and have never had a problem. Request a room on the second floor on the back side. There%26#39;s no parking lot on that side, and it%26#39;s quiet. Getting to the downtown area is easy. Just take interstate 494 north a short distance to interstate 94. Head west, and you%26#39;re in downtown St. Paul within minutes. Prices at this motel have ranged from$69 a night to $109, so I%26#39;m not sure what price they will quote you.

Thanks for those suggestions. I%26#39;ve stayed in Hampton Inns before and found them fine so I might go with that option as downtown minneapolis is totally booked out.

In Woodbury, you%26#39;re a long ways away from nightlife. About 30 minutes drive. If you%26#39;re willing to stay outside of downtown, consider the dozens of hotels near the Mall of America (Bloomington). Much closer AND along the light-rail train line so you don%26#39;t need to take a cab home. Just consult the schedule for the last train out of downtown Minneapolis. I believe it%26#39;s 1:13 a.m. Taxi would be about $30-35.

metrotransit.org/rail/Hiawatha_map_freq.pdf

I think that%26#39;s your best option if downtown hotels are booked up and you want Minneapolis nightlife. Woodbury is nice but it%26#39;s soooo far. Probably a $50 taxi or more.

hand cream

xp

Grand Rapids wedding

My wife%26#39;s grnephew marries in Grand Rapids in late June. She spent her early life in Miin, still has a brother there, but the 4 siblings who came west may go to wedding

Any suggestions where we might stay?

We have been back a couple of times, but just wife and I, stayed with brother then. He can%26#39;t handle whole group.

Grand Rapids wedding

Hi

I live in Grand Rapids, MN and my family owns the Super 8 Motel here. It is a very nice hotel. We recently remodeled the rooms, breakfast area and exterior. Check us out on www.super8.com. There are lots of photos to view.

We are also building a brand new hotel in town called the Timberlake Lodge hotel. This will be a 84 room hotel in Northwoods theme with a water park and event center. It is scheduled to open late May or first part of June. Please check out our website at: www.timberlakelodgehotel.com This will be fabulous when complete.

Feel free to contact me for more information at my email: michrossi@yahoo.com. Certainly hope you arrive safely from Oregon and enjoy our town of Grand Rapids. Happy to give you ideas for restaurants and fun places to check out while you are here.

Michelle

4 days in Minneapolis

Looking to come at end of July for approx 4 days. With 1 day spent in the Mall. What do you suggest for the other 3. Are there any car shows last week in July or 1st week in August. We like art, music: rockabilly, punk, rock, garage. Retro things. Vintage and thrift shopping. Any suggestions would be good.

4 days in Minneapolis

Where will you be staying.

Minneapolis has vintage clothes shopping -- the ones I can think of right off are Via%26#39;s Vintage at 24th and Hennepin (mostly formalwear) and Tatters at 29th and Lyndale.

There are several interesting old-style record stores about if that interests you: Electric Fetus at 35W and Franklin. Carries some vinyl but has all kinds of unique music-related stuff and tons of info on upcoming shows. The other one%26#39;s name is escaping me -- it%26#39;s on Franklin and maybe 22nd -- has a big rainbow over the top of it.

The only car show I know of is the custom car show in St. Paul in June (at least it was June the past couple years).

You might look at O%26#39;Gara%26#39;s Garage for shows. They do all kinds of stuff. Fine Line downtown for something spendier in a nicer venue.

Check out citypages.com. Has a music/events calendar that is well-kept.

4 days in Minneapolis

And how could i forget?

Hymie%26#39;s Vintage Records at 33rd and East Lake. Not the prettiest part of town, but it%26#39;s a great place.

In regards to rockabilly, you might want to check out either Lee%26#39;s Liquor Lounge (regularly have those kinds of bands) and Nye%26#39;s Polonaise Room - they are often the favorite haunt of Brian Setzer, who%26#39;s rumored to sometimes play incognito or impromptu jam sessions.

I also remember a few years back that there would always be a strip show for all the cars on University Ave in the St Paul Midway area. Historic %26amp; custom cars parade up and down, many stop at the drive-ins, many set up their chairs %26amp; coolers on the side of the street just to watch the ';parade';. It%26#39;s nothing official, just a traditional night of cruising on the ave. There%26#39;s also lots of eccletic shops %26amp; restaurants to check out on that street.

Thank you for your help.

We are not sure where we are staying yet.

Just trying to plan whats happening and where.

So any more ideas let me know.

But you all have great advise.

Before I even read the other replies, I thought of Nye%26#39;s Polonais (go on a Fri or Sat), and then Lee%26#39;s Liquor Lounge.

One band in particular you%26#39;d want to check out for that ';rockabilly'; style - is Trailer Trash. They%26#39;ve been known to play the first Fri of each month at Lee%26#39;s - but check out their site here:

http://www.trailertrashmusic.com/

Here%26#39;s the Equire Mag article on Nye%26#39;s - voted America%26#39;s Best Bar -

www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1006BESTBARS_147

esquire.com/bestbars/bb-NyesPolonaiseRoom_

I would also check out the Minneapolis Riverfront -

start with a trip up the new Guthrie Theater and check out the ledge overlooking the river - free %26amp; open to public

walk the Hennepin Bridge, over to Nicollet Island, maybe get a drink there -

then along old St. Anthony Main, and the new power plant park, then across the old Stone Arch Bridge to see lock %26amp; dam

here%26#39;s a link of the area

http://www.minneapolis-riverfront.com/

as you get closer to your trip -

check out the local weekly mag - for the music scene dates

http://www.citypages.com/

Those are great suggestions for the music scene. One question - why do you want to spend so much time in the mall? Unless there isn%26#39;t a normal mall near where you live, you might want to consider less time there. There are a few good shops and things to see, but I don%26#39;t think you need an entire day. There are a ton of chain stores and the same things you see in every other mall across the country.

So I think there are a lot of other better things that Minneapolis has to offer that you might consider. Here is a unique guide I found recently: designspongeonline.com/2007/11/twin-cities-d…

Also, if you%26#39;re into the retro/vintage look - make sure to spend some time on Grand Avenue in St Paul. There are great shops that are totally unique and have this type of thing.

Also, there are usually some good art fairs and festivals in the summer - so check to see if the Uptown Art Fair is going on. If you like people watching and crazy concepts in food, the Minnesota State Fair is excellent.

Those are great suggestions for the music scene. One question - why do you want to spend so much time in the mall? Unless there isn%26#39;t a normal mall near where you live, you might want to consider less time there. There are a few good shops and things to see, but I don%26#39;t think you need an entire day. There are a ton of chain stores and the same things you see in every other mall across the country.

So I think there are a lot of other better things that Minneapolis has to offer that you might consider. Here is a unique guide I found recently: designspongeonline.com/2007/11/twin-cities-d…

Also, if you%26#39;re into the retro/vintage look - make sure to spend some time on Grand Avenue in St Paul. There are great shops that are totally unique and have this type of thing.

Also, there are usually some good art fairs and festivals in the summer - so check to see if the Uptown Art Fair is going on. If you like people watching and crazy concepts in food, the Minnesota State Fair is excellent.

University Ave in St. Paul is still a big draw for street rods, customs, and classics on weekend evenings and Pork%26#39;s Drive in remains the epicenter of the festivities.

For music if you%26#39;re in the University Ave area I would check out the Turf Club for more cutting edge music (just west of Snelling on the north side of University) and The Dubliner for Irish music (on the corner of Vandalia %26amp; University), much of it acoustic, and is a very fun bar.

Listings for both cand be found in the City Pages link provided in an early post. :)

Looking for a great German restaurant

We are looking for a great German restaurant to enjoy this weekend. Does anyone know if the Redwing restaurant called Bierstube is any good? How about other German restaurants in the Twin Cities area? Love good German food.

Danke!

Looking for a great German restaurant

In Minneapolis there are two popular ones -

one for the food

one for the food AND the lively atmosphere

http://www.blackforestinnmpls.com/

http://www.gasthofzg.com/

The Gasthof has a very popular basement area to check out after eating, below the main for dining rooms - with big boots of beer served, roaming waitresses with the ';snuff/snapper'; to inhale, also carrying boards of schnapps, and great band.

While dining upstairs, tip the accordian player, and have him sing a few tunes for your table.

The Black Forest is more low key, and in season, has and awesome outside/secluded dining area.

Looking for a great German restaurant

I would also recommend the Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter near Stillwater (about 15-20 miles east-northeast of St. Paul), I%26#39;ve been there several times and it%26#39;s always very good.

http://www.gasthausbavarianhunter.com/

I%26#39;ve been to the Bierstube%26#39;s in Oakdale %26amp; Hastings and they are good, but probably the least ';German'; of the places listed so far.

http://www.thebierstube.com/

I also would recommend Black Forest Inn for the food.

Gasthoff for the beer and the rowdiness. Food isn%26#39;t as good there, though, IMO

The Bierstubes I%26#39;ve been to have been more ';towny bar'; than ';German restaurant';. They are cheap but I wouldn%26#39;t recommend them for good German food I would recommend Gasthof zu Gemutlichkeit in Mpls or Glockenspiel in St. Paul for good German food. The Black Forest in S. Mpls is fun too but not as authentic.

Thanks everyone f.or your suggestions. We ended up eating at the Black Forest Inn in Minneapolis on Saturday and at the Bierstube in RedWing on Sunday. The BlackForest Inn had nice authentic german food available and the paintings in the restaurant were fabulous. We had the Wienerschnitzel with red cabbage and semmelknodel. It was good. The Bierstube was horible in comparison. Only the name of the bar was German. I would not recommend this bar to anyone unless you want a burger and a beer. The Stillwater German restaurant is good...we have just gone there a few more times and wanted to branch out. Thanks for all the suggestions.

If you ever want to check out a fun German Store...I would suggest Ruth%26#39;s German Haus in Redwing. It was great fun and had some unique offerings.

Danke zum alle!

Michelle

Need help identifying a resturaunt

Hi there,

There is a resturant in the cities I%26#39;m trying to remember. It was Itailian, and it was on France north of Bloomington. They also had big pieces of paper they put on your table, and they wrote their name on it. If you can help me remember it, it would be great. Thanks

~JS

Need help identifying a resturaunt

Macaroni Grill?

Need help identifying a resturaunt

I think you mean Arezzo in Edina. It%26#39;s on France Avenue. And Edina is the next city north of Bloomington.

(Romano%26#39;s) Macaroni Grill on France between 494 %26amp; Southdale-- a chain. Arrezo doesn%26#39;t have that gimmick and has a much classier atmosphere %26amp; higher prices. Definitely not as family friendly.

Two Guys from Italy?

That sounds very much like Two Guys from Italy, as already mentioned. That location has closed, but the owner has opened a new version in Apple Valley, a suburb south of Saint Paul:

http://www.twoguysfromitalymn.com/

Hope this helps.

You%26#39;re thinking of the Macaroni Grill. It%26#39;s about 4 blocks north of 494 on France Ave.

Yep, it was Macaroni Grill. I went there this weekend. I don%26#39;t know why I was thinking against it. Thanks everyone.

~JS

Airport hotels with park & fly rates

We are flying out of Minneapolis in February and am looking for a hotel near the airport with Park %26amp; Fly rates. Any suggestions??

Airport hotels with park %26amp; fly rates

Rates vary on what day you stay and how many days you%26#39;ll be away. The usual is 7 days with a extra fee per day after that. www.eaganmn.com has some special rates. Holiday inn express, the hampton%26#39;s, just to name a few have park and fly rates.

~JS

Airport hotels with park %26amp; fly rates

My parents do this frequently and they usually stay at the Best Western Yankee Square Inn. I believe it%26#39;s in Bloomington, the same suburb as the airport. They have good things to say about it. It does not have a pool, if that is a concern.

Bloomington-Airport-Mall of America

1601 American Blvd E

Bloomington

Park up to 7 days, they have a free shuttle that goes to the airport.

Take a look at the Comfort Inn Bloomington that is attached to the Outback Steakhouse -- on 12th Avenue I believe.

oops - forgot to put the name of the hotel - Holiday Inn Express in Bloomington-Mall of America-Airport

xp

how cold

how cold is it today

how cold

minus-17 degrees Celsius, to do the conversion for ya.

Colder than average, although it has warmed up since the morning.

Unfortunately the wind chill makes it feel -27 C -- according to our weather site.

how cold

When I get up tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (I believe that is Noon in the UK) the ambient temperature is supposed to be -17F. That would be -27.2C. With the wind chill factored in, it will feel like around -30F or -34C.

Too bad the wind isn%26#39;t really howling; we could the wind chill down to close to -50F, or -45C!

It%26#39;s perfect weeather for St. Paul%26#39;s Winter Carnvival!

I just got home from playing hockey, it actually felt good when I left the arena.

-14F air temp

don%26#39;t know about wind chill

as of 6 a.m. Thurs

Wow! We will be over there in less than two weeks. At the moment we are sweltering in about 40 degree celcius (104 F)...going to be a bit of a shock to the system!

Cold snap should end by then.

Where are you staying? What are you doing?

Right now the long term forecast says it should reach a high of about 25F on Sunday, 3 February, with possible snow. Of course, that could change considerably between now and then, but our recent cold snap is a little bit unusual. It doesn%26#39;t normally get this cold for an extended period of time around here. However, it is January, and this is Minnesota, so you kind of have to expect that.

Don%26#39;t worry, though, we have great heating systems here, and no sales tax on clothing if you need to buy a sweater or coat. And I can guarantee it won%26#39;t be 40C when you arrive!

Well it will be a relief to get out of the heat anyway!

We are staying three nights at The Marquette and the last night at the Holiday Inn Express near the Mall of America. We are going to a Timberwolves game (the highlight of my husband%26#39;s trip), shopping, and would like to go snow tubing. Not sure what else we will be doing, possibly the Science museum in St Paul? Can%26#39;t wait though, it should be great!

The Science Museum is really for children, unless you are interested in their temporary exhibit.

http://www.smm.org/visit/

If you want to go to a museum, I recommend the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

For snow tubing, there is Afton Alps. You need a car to get there.

I think the Science Museum is great, and I%26#39;m 50 years old! I disagree with the statement that it is just for children.

There is also tubing available in Wirth Park, part of the Minneapolis Park system. It would be a fairly quick cab ride from downtown Minneapolis if you don%26#39;t have a car:

www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp鈥?/a>

Another interesting museum in Saint Paul is the Minnesota History Center.

http://www.mnhs.org/index.htm

They also run the Mill City Museum in downtown Minneapolis, which is built on top of an old flour mill. From around 1880 to 1930, Minneapolis produced more flour than any other city in the country, hence the old name of Mill City.

Another interesting building in Minneapolis (down the street from the Mill City Museum) is the new Guthrie Theater, known for its ';Endless Bridge'; that soars out toward the Mississippi River. Visiting the Guthrie to just look around is free!

http://www.guthrietheater.org/

Just a couple of ideas...

hand cream