Nov 14,15,16 2208
Roseville Minnesota
www.CrypticonMinneapolis.com
www.MySpace.com/CrypticonMN
Guests so far:
Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead)
Michael Bailey Smith (Hills Have Eyes re-make)
Doug Jones (Hellboy 1 and 2, PAns Labryinth)
PJ Soles (Halloween)
Tony Moran (Halloween)
Charolette Kemp (Frankenhooker)
FX contest
Costume contest
film screenings
tons of vendors selling tons of horror swag!!!
Tickets now on sale!!
Nov 14,15,16 2208
Roseville Minnesota
www.CrypticonMinneapolis.com
www.MySpace.com/CrypticonMN
Guests so far:
Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead)
Michael Bailey Smith (Hills Have Eyes re-make)
Doug Jones (Hellboy 1 and 2, PAns Labryinth)
PJ Soles (Halloween)
Tony Moran (Halloween)
Charolette Kemp (Frankenhooker)
FX contest
Costume contest
film screenings
tons of vendors selling tons of horror swag!!!
In Minneapolis for the weekend... Wondering where the younger crowds hang out. Bar wise. Will probably spend some of our time downtown. We are in our mid 20%26#39;s and looking to make the most of our weekend. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
maybe check out DrinkBar, SneakyPetes (backard patio, too), and SPIN
all are on 5th street between two blocks
Would depend a bit where you are staying. But if you have easy access to downtown or are staying downtown, then you will find no shortage of bars full of 20-somethings.
Drink is most popular, right in the center of the Warehouse district party scene at 5th Street and 1st Ave, North. From there, just about every place around it will be in that vein. You might have to formulate a plan live, as it%26#39;s often determined by which place has the shortest line. (if the weather is nice,especially).
Are you looking for clubs too? or just bars with people in your age range?
If you have time check out Uptown - it is South of Minneapolis (don%26#39;t ask). There are plenty of bars for the 20 somthing crowd.
Aura
Bar Abilene
Barbette
Liquor Lyle%26#39;s
William%26#39;s Pub %26amp; Peanut Bar
Famous Dave%26#39;s
to name a few.
Plan on hitting the art MIA, what else can I do? Is there a good lounge in the evening that is not crazy loud?
I%26#39;d check out the Mississippi riverfront - Stone Arch Bridge, Nicollet Island, St. Anthony Main, the locks, the new Guthrie %26amp; observation ledge.
For lounges, maybe the top floor of Chambers Hotel, and rooftop outdoor bar at the top of rNormans/Seven, and maybe top of Foshay W hotel.
Here%26#39;s a site page for travel to Minneapolis / St.Paul
travelandleisure.com/cityguides/minneapolis-…
Maybe Brit%26#39;s Pub or Kieren%26#39;s Pub - also a few in the warehouse district or across the river in St. Anthony Main area, that aren%26#39;t too loud and crazy.
Solera is a nice tapas bar in Mpls with a rooftop bar. Walk along Hennipen Ave at night and check out the night life. You can tell which places are loud from the outside. The Bulldog has a huge selection of good tap beers and great kobi beef burgers. I also like Bootleggers Bar in the Warehouse District.
During the day check out areas by the Miss Riv in Mpls. Stillwater is great river town. Summit Ave in Saint Paul is lined with historic victorian homes and you can check out Grand Ave one block south for restaurants and bars. Check out www.citypages.com for what is going on the weekend you are here.
If you%26#39;re into the arts, then I%26#39;d also second the Guthrie Theater - enjoy the overlook and the architecture. Then there%26#39;s the Walker for the exhibits, sculpture garden %26amp; restaurant/view. It%26#39;s across from Loring Park which is basically a nice stroll with some fabulous restaurants - Nick %26amp; Eddies, Joe%26#39;s Garage (rooftop) %26amp; Cafe/Bar Lurcat.
If there%26#39;s a gallery crawl that weekend, don%26#39;t miss it.
Nicollet Mall has great patios for people watching.
And be sure to try and catch some local music - Kierans Irish Pub and 331 Club appear to have some fun shows that weekend.
And pick up that week%26#39;s City Pages magazine, at most restaurants/bars.
Thanks to all of you!
For those planning to visit the area and state, the Interstate Hwy. 35W bridge crossing the Mississippi River in Minneapolis is set to re-open at 5 a.m. Central Daylight Savings Time Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. Routes for getting around and through the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro are now back to pre-8/1/07 options.
…state.mn.us/newsrels/…15-I35wbridge.html
I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis to Re-Open 9/18/08
I%26#39;m really bummed that due to Federal Disaster funds being used for the alternate routes they are forced to revert to the old configuration. The extra lanes on I-94 between 280 and downtown...especially 280 getting its own onramp lane really would help long term congestion. I know the lanes are narrow and there is no shoulder but lots of places on the Interstate system have these restrictions. Same for the two lanes from 280 to North I-35W in Roseville...more than once I%26#39;ve almost been hit there by people in the left lane ignoring the merge right signs - not a problem with two lanes.
Seems a shame and more than a bit wasteful that the sunk costs in these can not continue to be used. Heaven forbid there should be any lasting benefit from the disaster...other than replacing a bad bridge a lot sooner.
Have been to the Birch Terrace a number of times over the years--even when it changes owners it is just not very good. The last time we were there (as a guest) had some very %26#39;fishy%26#39; herring--and was told it is fresh and that is the way fresh fish tasts. NOT!
At the same meal, my spouse had ribs so tough that she gently put them in her napkin so that our hosts would not feel bad.
And, although it is the North Shore, it can be warm and the Birch Terrace is very uncomfortable on those day when it gets toward 70 and there is no breeze.
There are many other great choices: Chez Jude, Crooked Spoon, Angry Trout and The Pie Place.
I%26#39;m staying at the new Aloft Hotel next week for a few nights for work. Would appreciate any recommendations for places to eat/drink in the area.
Thanks
You are staying near the dome. Check out this website: twincities.citysearch.com/roundup/41020/
Grumpy%26#39;s Bar is a local favorite.
It lists many restaurants in the area.
If you can, venture into downtown on Nicollet Mall There are a lot more options like the Newsroom, The Local and Brits Pub. Or farther down Nicollet to Eat Street where you can get some of the most authentic foods around. My favorite is Salsa a la Salsa. twincities.citysearch.com/roundup/39876
Are you looking for somewhere within walking distance? If so, I%26#39;m not familiar with a lot of great restaurants in that area or any of the ones listed on Aloft%26#39;s website. Grumpy%26#39;s is a popular place, but I%26#39;ve only had drinks there.
If you%26#39;re willing to walk, drive or cab it, I%26#39;d recommend heading either towards the Guthrie Theater/St Anthony Main/Northeast or downtown.
What kind of food do you like?
You%26#39;re just on the fringe of downtown - you could walk or quick taxi ride to most anything.
You are right on Washington Ave - there%26#39;s a few places really close virtually across the street. Sawatdee Thai is one of my favourates.
Behind you, towards the river, is the new Guthrie Theater on the banks of the river. You can go in without a ticket and check out the scenic outdoor ledge for great views of the river. There%26#39;s two places to eat in there and Spoonriver across the street.
If you cross over the river there%26#39;s St. Anthony Main with a few places, and Nye%26#39;s Polonaise is an institution, check it out if you can - both sides of the bar/restaurant.
If it%26#39;s nice outside - rNormans/7 Restaurant has new outside - upstairs patio - fun times %26amp; great view in the heart of the city - few dollars taxi ride.
Nextdoor to your hotel is Sorella (sp?) liquor store if you want to stock up for your room.
From the aiport you could take the light rail and get within a few blocks from you hotel - at the Metrodome station.
Your hotel is so new - it might not even be on this map:
minneapolis.org/media/鈥mriverfront.pdf
Here%26#39;s a handy downtown map:
minneapolis.org/media/鈥mdowntown.pdf
Thanks...this is all very helpful! I have a car so sounds like that will give me more options.
Oh well then... since you have a car, here are some must-sees in the area:
*112 Eatery - sit at the bar if a table%26#39;s unavailable
*The Bulldog NE - incredible burgers
Nye%26#39;s Polonaise Room - great dive bar, I hear the food in the dining room is also good
*True Thai
*Hell%26#39;s Kitchen - breakfast or lunch
*Bombay Bistro
*Craftsman or Longfellow - on Lake St near W River Road
*Azia on Eat Street
Guthrie Theater - wonderful atmoshpere, upscale and casual options, outdoor seating, lots of architecture to explore, great view on the balcony
*Rudolph%26#39;s Barbecue
The starred locations are personal favorites, hope that%26#39;s enough to at least start with!
I have lived in MSP for a number of years. I am always looking for new places to eat, drink and have an overall great time. Not really looking for a dive bar or established restaurants, since I know where most of those are from experience. Looking for something that may have slipped under my radar or just something off the wall that I have not heard of before.
I know this is vague, but anything new would be welcome.
I%26#39;ll tell you of a few places that are somewhat new, because I%26#39;ve seen them open in the past 4-5 years.
And they%26#39;re near me, meaning I%26#39;ve been to all of them often.
Two of them are pretty low-key, casual palces.
Riverview Wine Bar
I love it there. Relaxing (esp. when it%26#39;s walking distance from your house!) with a great selection of wines, tasting flights and a small but excellent menu for pizza, salads and deserts (and cheese plates and apps). The people who run it there are the hardest working people in the biz, I%26#39;m sure of it. They%26#39;re there every night, it seems. They will take the time to make you familiar with everything on site. And they%26#39;re not stingy with their wines.
Sea Salt
At Minnehaha Park. Mostly sea food (crab cake sandwiches, Po%26#39; Boys, calimari, fish tacos, walleye, clam fries, etc) but they do sell beer and wine. It really is nice to sit out in such a beautiful area (near the falls, under those massive oaks) and munch on sea food and sip a beer. The scenery is amazing. And you can hear the falls from the patio. They also have ice cream, btw.
The third place is a little nicer, more of a place you could go for a nice dinner.
Al Vento
50th Street and 34th Ave. S, Mpls.
Before 6 you can get half-price bottles of wine (or martinis that my wife likes, but I don%26#39;t). The pasta dishes are great, as are the entrees (lamb, chicken, pork, etc). Interesting how they turned such an ordinary building into an intimate setting. Although the deck seating is pretty nice too if it%26#39;s sunny.
Take a cooking class at Cooks Of Crocus Hill.
http://www.cooksofcrocushill.com/
The one I took was not at all hands on, in fact it was more like a glorified dinners out, similar to sitting at a ';chef%26#39;s table'; many restaurants now have. I took the Steak %26amp; Scotch class earlier this year and loved it, really good time.
Disclosure: My brother-in-law is the Scotch part of the above class so I have some built in bias.
Hmmm, sounds interesting... what about the restaurant at Intelligent Nutrients? Looks like somewhere out of Europe. And St Paul has a ton of places to try around downtown up Cathedral Hill and around the Summit/Selby area. Also, check out the best of restaurants on TwinCities.Citysearch.com - there appear to lots of new places listed.
Wow, these are some great selections. We have meant to go to the Riverview Wine Bar for some time now and after mntoathens recommendation, we need to go there. Al Vento, Cooks of Crocus Hill and Intelligent Nutrients sound like great options also.
Thanks so much.
Up for a drive? Harbor View Cafe in Pepin WI is outstanding.
http://www.harborviewpepin.com/
With the leaves soon changing it%26#39;s a spectacular drive for a great meal. Make sure you look at their hours, don%26#39;t assume they will be open.
jemanep,
A few things about Riverview Wine Bar:
1. Parking is tough if it%26#39;s peak time (after work, weekend night, etc.) because it gets pretty busy and the budget theater (Riverview Theater) is across the intersection. But don%26#39;t be deterred. You can always park a block or two away -- nice neighborhood for walking. Also, even if it%26#39;s busy they will let you wait for a table in the connected cafe and let you order a glass of wine from there to wait. It%26#39;s a nice place as well, although not quite the same. And the wait usually isn%26#39;t long.
2. Someone in the group should order a pizza. They%26#39;re handmade crust pizzas in the Italian (thin. crispy crust) style. I%26#39;ve tried them all and I like the Corleone the best.
3. Dessert there is always great and changes weekly if not daily.
4. You could combine your visit with a visit to the theater. It%26#39;s a budget theater showing movies already out of the main theaters and it%26#39;s a beautiful facility -- retro. It is a gem of a theater built back in the %26#39;40s and maintained in that era%26#39;s style. Good popcorn too.
Cafe Twenty-Eight, Linden Hills area of Mpls. Great bistro w/Surly on tap. Perfect spot to anchor Linden Hills-area shopping and/or Lake Harriet walking trips.
http://www.cafetwentyeight.com/
Bahn mi Vietnamese sandwiches from places along the University Ave. strip, Frogtown area of St Paul. My favorites are from Saigon Restaurant (on N side of Univeristy just E of Dale) and Trung Nam French Bakery (N side of University Ave, near intersection of Grotto). French bread, cilantro, carrots, daikon, meat of choice (incl. some not for faint-of-heart), and spicy mayo. Beats any chain sub, and is a good value (used to be a true bargain until recent run-ups in food prices).
Chatterbox Cafe (Mpls. midtown and Ford Pkwy St Paul locations) Decent homestyle food, several beers on tap (incl. a house brew) and, best of all, early-generation video games.
Centennial Lakes area of Edina-- think ';what Arbor Lakes area of Maple Grove wants to be when/if it grows up.'; Zamboni-maintained ice in winter, warming house w/skate rental, walking paths all around, plentiful benches, maze, paddle boat rental, place to run your radio-controlled boats, fishing (annually stocked by DNR), tough mini-golf, manicured croquet pitch, and several restaurant options (sadly, stuff higher-end than Macoroni Grill hasn%26#39;t done well).
I%26#39;m hoping to score some info on trendy, high end, or unusual grocery stores (not necessarily a single ethnicity), ala Obel %26amp; Fox in Chicago. Any ideas? Thanks!
where are you looking?
I am not familiar with Obel and Fox, but I wonder if you are familiar with some of the co-ops in Minneapolis.
The Wedge at 22nd and Lyndale. Certainly unusual compared with the mainstream grocers in town. Many organic and unusual products, for sure.
Also there is Mississippi Market on Randolph in St. Paul. There has been a big trend especially lately toward organic and homegrown foods, so you might consider those.
Also, there is Trader Joe%26#39;s. Probably the trendiest place to go around here these days. Lots of organic and unusual things there, and cheap.
Holyland Deli on Central Ave. Middle-eastern and most unusual.
Excellent food and groceries.
El Burrito Mercado on East Lyndale. Eat in or shop. Not fancy, but good and interesting shopping.
Some of the Byerly%26#39;s/ Lunds stores are fabulous. The one at Excelsior and #100 is outstanding!
oooh. I second Holyland Deli. Good call.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! I appreciate your input and will be taking you up on some of these ideas.
I%26#39;m looking for a hotel within driving distance of the mall...doesn%26#39;t need to be right on top of it. From what I hear, the hotels near the Mall cater more towards families and can be a bit run down. I%26#39;m not familiar with the surronding area and would love to find a good hotel in possibly a close suburb, maybe 15 minutes or so away. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!!
Mall of America Hotel...No kids
The MOA is near the airport too so there are hotels that cater to families and the business traveler. I haven%26#39;t been in any of the hotels in the area so I cannot comment directly. Personally, I would stay downtown and take the light rail to the big mall - but I prefer to stay ';in town'; when I visit an area.
Mall of America Hotel...No kidsI also am not too familiar with that area, but there should be lots to choose from. How much would you like to spend? I would check the South or West Metro region on ExploreMinnesota.com, or the section on TripAdvisor.com to that goes to Bloomington Hotels.
Aero Suites, Hotel Sofitel or Cambria Suites look good to me.
There are a couple Marriott chain hotels just across the Minnesota River in Mendota Heights via I-494 near Pilot Knob Rd. No more than five minutes from MOA. These definitely cater more to business travelers and would not be attractive to families with kids.
Check: marriott.com/hotel-search/… and pick the ones that say Mpls/St. Paul Airport. Only hitch is a 1 in 5 chance of an east wind having planes taking off fairly low overhead. Usually wind is westerly and they only land (much quieter) from east. Not sure how sound proof these places are. Check for TA reviews.
Try the Crowne Plaza in Bloomington, it is about 6 miles from the Mall, but has shuttle service. look at their web site at www.cpmsp.com
I really like the Country Inn and Suites Bloomington West. It is maybe about 10 minutes or less from the Mall of America. And there is a shuttle that runs to the mall. I have stayed there many times, for weekends away and before flying out. The hotel has a great bar and bistro. The food is excellent. Even when the hotel has been full, we haven%26#39;t ever been bothered by any noise. There are also restaurants nearby, and Southdale Mall in Edina is just down the road on France Avenue.
I find the Marriott full service hotel in Bloomington to be mostly adult friendly; rates are generally higher, which keeps some families away, I%26#39;m sure. The Courtyard down the street is quiet, although it%26#39;s closer to the water park. Another Marriott that is nice and usually quiet on the weekends, is the Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka (about 13 miles from the MOA). I am a Marriott person and have stayed at several in the area, I would stay away from the one in Mendota Heights on the weekends.
Looking for cool/unusual stuff to see or do this weekend in the Twin Cites. Any ideas?
It%26#39;s a great time to be in Mpls. The leaves will be changing color so any bike ride, hike or boat ride near the Mississippi River or St. Croix would be beautiful. Check www.exploreminnesota.com for tons of ideas. A few other unusual things would be the opening weekend of Scream Town a scary Halloween attraction. Sever%26#39;s corn maze is also very cool. They make a huge maze in a corn field and you have to find your way out. An hour drive you can see the worlds larges ball of twine in Darwin, Minnesota. Make sure to drive over the new I35 bridge that just reopened today. If the weather is not great there are tons of museums, theatre, bars, restaurants and always Mystic Lake Casino. Have a great time!
What sorts of events are you seeking? Do you enjoy?
Hi, I%26#39;m hoping to score some info on unusual, trendy, or high end (not necessarily ethnic, but maybe) grocery stores, ala Obel %26amp; Fox in Chicago. Thanks!!
Forgot--- there are several Whole Foods in the and around the city. Great shopping!
Two outstanding local chains. I%26#39;ve never been to the store you mentioned so I cannot compare. Hope this works for you. :)
http://www.lundsandbyerlys.com/
http://www.kowalskis.com/
I would agree with the suggestions: Lunds, Byerly%26#39;s, Kowalskis, Mississippi Market, The Wedge and Holy Land - all great local places. However, one of my absolute favorites for deli/cheese/specialty beverage is Surdyks - my mouth is watering now thinking of their Sankaeter aged gouda!
good call on Surdyk%26#39;s, creason! Can%26#39;t believe I spaced it!
Ditto - Great suggestion.
There%26#39;s a Speedy Mart in North St. Anthony Park (right on Como maybe a mile east of HWY 280) that has a fantastic butcher shop. I love going there on weekends to grab something to grill %26amp; make a salad or something. I would highly recommend their homemade wild rice brats.
It%26#39;s nothing like Lunds or Kowalski%26#39;s, it%26#39;s just a little neighborhood grocery that has a good thing going there - and you can get in and out on a weekend afternoon in 15 minutes. :)
From traveling around the country a lot I have to say that Lunds, Byerleys and Kowalskis are really unique. Only rarely have I run into anything even close and we have THREE such small chains in one metropolitan area. Of course with the domination of Cub and Rainbow perhaps this is only fair. ;)
THANK YOU EVERYONE ! ! ! I will be taking you up on some of these suggestions.
I know you said not necessarily ethnic but I find the Midtown Global Market interesting and fun.
http://www.midtownglobalmarket.org/
I am thinking of surprising my 27 year old daughter (who lives in Minneapolis) with a mother/daughter getaway in early December. She%26#39;s always wanted to do this...so it would be a good surprise. :)
Any suggestions for spas/getaways/outdoorsy places not too long of a drive from Minneapolis?
Thanks!!
I%26#39;ve always wanted to check out the Kohler Resort %26amp; Spa in Wisconsin.
http://www.destinationkohler.com/
Otherwise the North Shore - from Duluth to the Canadian border is filled with state parks, water falls, rivers, hiking trails, and spots to get massages - outdoor pools, hot tubs, lake views.
You might want to check out BlueFin Bay.
http://www.bluefinbay.com/
Thanks for the suggestions. The first place looks very nice, but a little over our price range I think.
I%26#39;m looking into The Rosewood Inn in Hastings....anyone been there?
http://www.thorwoodinn.com/index.html
Have not spent much time in Hastings.
Stillwater MN is pretty nice too - right on the St. Croix River separating MN from WI.
Maybe a B%26amp;B, and then a Spa?
www.stillwatertourism.com/ie/index.html
http://www.sauntrymansion.com/
http://www.justformespa.com/
There are several MN wineries in the area - maybe tour.
http://mngrapes.org/
Here are some great things we%26#39;ve enjoyed:
Had a great girls weekend at Sundara Spa in the WI Dells. However, I%26#39;d plan to hole up at the spa much of the weekend, as the area is a little dead in the winter. They do have trails on the grounds, and a couple state parks nearby. There is also a casino in the area, and the cool town of Madison is just down the road. Sign up for specials on their Web site and you%26#39;ll probably receive reduced rates around then. (3.5 hrs away)
I would second Stillwater, really lots of everything to choose from in a beautiful, old town (40-60 minutes away). They have great state parks all over that area.
Any of the big lodges up north (within 3 hours) are great getaways now. Many of them offer up great dining along with on-site spas and reduced winter rates. I personally loved Grandview Lodge in Nisswa. You could find out more on ExploreMinnesota.com and check out the northern regions.
Have fun and let us know if you need more help as the date approaches.
Next month, October, we plan on a few days in MN -- with probably one full day at MOA.
My 10yo and 13yo will be out of school on break, and I wonder if it will be worthwhile to buy the unlimited ride wristbands for them?
The park website says %26lt;%26lt;At various times of the year we rotate the operation of rides%26gt;%26gt; -- I guess that means if it%26#39;s not busy, they shut down some rides and save the payroll?
During weekdays is it typically running with less rides, until local kids are out of school? Do local schools have a break in the middle of October?
TIA
Wendy
The Minnesota Education Association (MEA) meetings are October 16 %26amp; 17, all MN students are off school those two days and I would imagine the big mall gets pretty crowded.
I am looking for really INEXPENSIVE things to do in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. I have been to Mall of America, and don%26#39;t really care to do that again.
Inexpensive things to do in Minneapolis for a 2 day stayHere are a couple of my favorite free activities
The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory are free and worth several hours. The Japanese garden there is lovely.
Walk around Lake Calhoun or down Summit Avenue.
Visit the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. It%26#39;s free.
Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden
Stone Arch Bridge
Ice Cream at the Grand Old Creamery
Breakfast at Al%26#39;s Breakfast in Dinkytown
Inexpensive things to do in Minneapolis for a 2 day stayI should correct my first post, not all of the activites are free but they are cheap.
I enjoy the St. Paul Farmer%26#39;s market too. There are two farmer%26#39;s markets in Mpls you could check out as well.
What days will you be in town and what do you enjoy doing? Will you have a car?
traveling to Minneapolis for a conference with the work gang in 5 days..Two have birthdays,we are the other 35 bunch so want to have fun but no need to be ';seen '; or in the ';scene';.Staying at Hyatt downtown....ideas for entertainment/dinner combo?
We would want to be out Saturday night.
Hey after53
You could choose from a huge list of dinner options- but if you like live music later, a great option at the funky Cabooze Bar ( cab ride from Hyatt is maybe 10 minutes ) go and see the White Iron Band. Big local following, and very good live act. Cheers!
If you are on an expense account for business travel the Melting Pot (fondue place) is an interesting and fun dinner.
I think you guys should hit Nye%26#39;s. Bar for all ages. Lots of fun on either side. It%26#39;s an institution here. You%26#39;re sure to come home with a few stories.
It%26#39;s called Nye%26#39;s Polonaise, on Hennepin across the river from downtown. Would be about $7-$8 in cab fare tops. Worth every penny.
You could have dinner at Cafe Havana on Washiington or at Monte Carlo and make the walk across Hennepin Bridge. Walking distance from those dinner spots.
Cab to the restaurant, walk to Nye%26#39;s (sizable walk but nice views), then taxi back to the hotel. I wouldn%26#39;t walk across the bridge after midnight. I%26#39;ve done it many times but I%26#39;d stick to making that walk earlier -- just to be on the ubersafe side.
We have 2 full days and 2 1/2 days to spend in St. Paul (and area) -- my 10yo and 13yo are in charge of the money and itinerary for this trip --
so far we have --
Science Museum (free with membership @ home)
Minnesota Zoo ( '; '; '; '; )
Mall of America for LEGO area and Apple store - not to buy, just to play.
Rainforest Cafe (have a $50 gift card already)
also pencilled in --
Lock %26amp; dam
Wabasha Street Cave tour
Great Waters(?) for a meal
We%26#39;ve been to St. Paul and Minneapolis several times before - we miss the Peanuts events! - but I%26#39;m sure there are all kinds of cool things that we%26#39;d enjoy, but we don%26#39;t know about yet!
The trip will be in October and hotel(s) will be determined by $$ and proximity to what they decide we%26#39;ll visit. I like an included breakfast, so that%26#39;s one less deicision to make (and I need my coffee in the morning)
So -- what else should we do? The boys are both into music, rather than sports and would happily spend ALL DAY in a museum ...
10yo has been researching the Nickelodeon Park at MOA, but I don%26#39;t see that being in the budget.
TIA
Wendy
Como zoo %26amp; conservatory:
http://www.comozooconservatory.org/
Minnehaha falls:
www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp…
Rent a canoe on Lake Calhoun:
www.wheelfunrentals.com/listlocations/97
Hike or canoe at Interstate State Park:
…state.mn.us/state_parks/…index.html
Minnesota History Center - The Vatican Splendor exhibit looks to be outstanding plus you can tour the MN state capital, Mill City Museum, Fort Snelling, and the MN history center itself: http://www.mnhs.org/index.htm
If I think of more I will post here....good luck %26amp; have fun.
What a great idea to put them in charge!
Re: the lock %26amp; dam, do you mean the St. Anthony Falls? If so, that%26#39;s good as there are lots of things they%26#39;d enjoy there. Mill City Museum is very cool. And if you bring your bikes, river road is a great ride all the way down to Minnehaha Park %26amp; Falls. There%26#39;s a great little cafe in the park. It will be beautiful that time of day.
For whatever reason, my little sister LOVED riding light rail. That goes from downtown Minenapolis to Minnehaha Park to Mall of America. You can also bring your bikes on board.
The Museum Adventure Pass is a good value if there are more museums you%26#39;d like to see. You%26#39;d have to join the free public library, but the downtown branch is pretty cool to check out. If you like any of what you see, call ahead to ensure the library has passes (different libraries have different tix available based on popularity):
http://www.melsa.org/MuseumAdventurePass/
And instead of Great Waters (are the boys interested in the brew pub atmosphere?), I might instead suggest Cosetta%26#39;s (hustling bustling pizza institution) or Mickey%26#39;s Diner (greasy spoon located in a street car that was featured in Arnold Schwartzegers movie ';Jingle All The Way';). ALSO, the Science Museum has a pretty cool cafe where you can sit on their patio that overlooks the river - best downtown view by far!
%26lt;%26lt; And instead of Great Waters (are the boys interested in the brew pub atmosphere?) %26gt;%26gt;
LOL!! :-) We happened upon Great waters on a Sunday evening staying at the Crowne Plaza and it was one of the few places we found still open ... the boys enjoyed the food, and on previous trips we sat outside or we%26#39;ve eaten early, after calling ahead to check on kid-friendliness!
I am intrigued by Mickey%26#39;s Diner though ...
... the lock and dam ... I remember %26#39;something%26#39; from a DH and me trip 15+ years ago ... can%26#39;t remember details, so I%26#39;ll check into it more.
Thanks!
Wendy
I was afraid my comment would come off wrong, but it makes sense to return there if you%26#39;ve been before. I guess I wouldn%26#39;t think of it as a destination restaurant, but haven%26#39;t heard anything bad about it.
My 15 year old is a big fan of Great Waters. He %26amp; I have eaten there several times before/after going to hockey games at the X.
If you%26#39;re looking for something interesting take the Wabasha bridge south across the river. Where Wabasha starts to go straigh the main road curves to the left and becomes Cesar Chevez. Right at the corner is a place called the Taco House, it%26#39;s run by the same people who run Boca Chica - one of the Twin Cities premier authentic Mexican restaurants.
Give it a try, my kids love it....especially their fried tacos. It%26#39;s a fast food type place with very, very good food. They also make their own salsa - it%26#39;s kind of hidden on the room adjacent to the main dining room.
If you stay on Cesar Chavez Boca Chica will be on your left and El Burrito Mercado - which is outstanding! - will be near the corner of Chavez %26amp; Robert
Can%26#39;t go wrong with any of them!
I am going to Minnesota next week for 5 days on business and staying in Eagan and wondering if there were any cool sports bars in the area. Also looking for any places that would be considered must sees during my limited time there. I would like to check out as much as I can every day/night after work. Unfortunately, for a sports junkie like myself, I will miss the chance to catch a Twins or Vikings game.
You%26#39;re coming at the best time of the year, with the leaves changing.
I assume, as it%26#39;s a biz trip, you%26#39;ll have a car. Otherwise, based in Eagan, you%26#39;ll have difficulty getting around.
If you could reply and let us know what you like to do (other than sports), we can be more specific with recommendations.
But with how spectacular the leaves will be, any drive on a road outside the concrete jungle (95 up to Stillwater -- even farther up for views of the St. Croix Valley -- comes to mind. Stillwater is a beautiful town with a historic main street feel and lots of photo ops (bluffs, lift bridge, etc). Couple of nice places for a beer, too, like the Mad Capper. And if you%26#39;re here try our local product, Summit EPA. Delicious pale ale, a little like Sierra Nevada.
From Eagan, Stillwater would be 30 minutes or so. Really nice in the fall over there.
Also, I think the crown jewel of this city is its parks system. If you could find a bike to rent or borrow, do it. I would suggest looping around the Chain of Lakes in south Minneapolis. If you don%26#39;t do them all, make sure you get to Calhoun and the prettiest of them all -- Harriet. Gorgeous in the fall. Then, if you are a little ambitious. Ride the path (part of the park system, a trail that runs along Minnehaha Parkway and Minnehaha Creek) that takes you from Lake Harriet to the Mississippi River. It%26#39;s a beautiful ride with plenty of time to stop and rest and take in the scenery. It%26#39;s why the park system is a crown jewel -- all that well kept green space in a major city, surrounded by gorgeous, historic homes.
That path (part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway -- planty of google-able info on that) takes you to Minnehaha Park, which contains the famous Minnehaha Falls and a nice limestone bluff park. follow the creek downstream from the falls to get to the river -- about a mile, little more.
It%26#39;s a rewarding ride, taking you part Lake Nokomis as well. I believe you can download a map on the park system site if you search Grand Rounds Scenic Byway.
Otherwise, check out the downtown riverfront and learn about how this city got itself on the map, There is a short walking circuit with plenty of information on its flour mill history, and now there%26#39;s Mill City Museum down there too. Stone Arch bridge in itself is worth seeng. Refreshments at Pracna on Main.
That%26#39;s all for now. If you have any things you specifically like to do, let us know!
if you get really ambitious on that drive on Highway 95 up through Stillwater, you could take it all the way to Taylor%26#39;s Falls. Talk about your picturesque settings. Interstate State Park and the Dalles would be like a calendar in the fall.
You%26#39;d have to get an early start though, given how light isn%26#39;t lasting as long as it used to.
Besides watching/playing sports, I always enjoy cold adult beverages in a friendly and casual setting. I also like the great outdoors and cold weather doesn%26#39;t bother me (anything under 60 is considered cold in sunny SoCal). Basically, there are three things I would like to do before I head home-#1 enjoy some good beer/food and chill at a sports bar-#2 shop for some local souvenirs for the wife %26amp; kids back home-#3 take some cool pictures of your great state to show to the family and employees.
Sorry, I should have replied about the car. Yes, I will have a rental car and would like to sightsee as much as possible. Unfortunately, I will only be there from Sunday evening until Friday morning, and am only free to explore each day after 5p. I know it%26#39;s a crammed schedule, but something is better than nothing. I will hopefully get a chance to return before the end of the year.
Hubert%26#39;s is the best sports bar in this town, mostly for its proxomity to the Dome and its collection of memorabilia. It%26#39;s downtown, waklable from the light rail Downtown East/Metrodome stop if you decide to take the light rail from the MOA, which might be the way to go to avoid parking and driving downtown, which can be hectic. From Hubert%26#39;s, you%26#39;re not all that far from the riverfront. Really depends on how much you like to walk.
More on Stillwater -- that place is full of small shops (boutique and souvenirs). I think it%26#39;s something to put on the list. And definitely prime photo area showing a nice part of Minnesota. Grab an adult beverage at the Mad Capper or a few other places down there on the main drag.
There are a couple of places I%26#39;ve either heard of or read about and would like to hear your thoughts/opinions. The Mall of America, Minnehaha Falls, and Fort Snelling. Yes, I like to hike/walk, so getting around on foot is not a problem. I%26#39;m not really in to museums and such unless I%26#39;m with the family. I know this sounds corny, but I would just like to soak up as much of Minnesota that I can, while I can. It%26#39;s all about life experiences, even the short ones.
I suggest a visit to Minnehaha Falls/Park for everyone who comes here. It%26#39;s justa spectacular place, especially after a rain to get the falls roaring. Wonderful walk from the falls down the stairs and following the creek down to the Mississippi River. And you can enjoy a cold beer up on the patio of Sea Salt.
The Mall of America? Personal preference here, but I can%26#39;t stand the place. Some people love it, though. I just find it to be a larger version of a mall -- big and sterile with no good palce for a beer and a good meal (again, all in my opinion.).
If you%26#39;re looking for a little nightlife, the new hotspots in Minneapolis are the hotel bars (I know, I know .. hear me out). These aren%26#39;t your ordinary hotel bars -- they are lounges designed to attract more than the customers of the hotel and they are packing them in. Check out the top of the Chambers and the ice bar. Check out the W hotel bar in the Foshay Tower. And of course aloft, the newest.
As for Fort Snelling, it%26#39;s just downriver from Minnehaha Park, but if you%26#39;re limited to after 5 p.m. on weekdays, you might be short on time to properly see both on the same day.
I like Fort Snelling, interesting history, but I think it will be closed after 5 on a weekday. Gets busy on weekends.
Joe Senser%26#39;s Sports Bar in Eagan would be close and has great food and sports atmosphere. Can%26#39;t beat the number of large screens. www.sensers.com
Hard to find too many ';sights'; to see in terms of outside things given it is starting to get dark by 7-7:30. Of course Mall of America is inside and good for at least one evening. Lots of places to eat. Also for trips downtown park at MOA and take the light rail....beats driving in a strange city.
The MN Wild NHL team in St. Paul have games next week on Tue and Wed for which tickets may still be available...and always available via scalpers outside on the Kellogg St. entrance side. 鈥hl.com/schedule/schedule_download_0809.htm Excel Energy Center (recent RNC venue) or ';The X'; can%26#39;t be beat as a place to watch great hockey.
Help! I%26#39;ve read the reviews of the Black Bear Casino Resort, and seeing as the ';bad reviews'; are running 2 to 1, as opposed to the ';good reviews';....anyone on this board have any opinions about the place? I%26#39;ve booked 2 nights for next week (Friday and Saturday),and what I%26#39;m wondering is, did I make a mistake in doing so?! I%26#39;d hate to waste my hard earned money.Is the place worth it,or not? Should I change the reservation to one night,and pick somewhere else in Duluth for the second night. Any and all opinions are welcome,and thanks. I%26#39;ll check back tomorrow. We%26#39;re just hoping the place is ';clean,comfy,and enjoyable';,and that I haven%26#39;t made a huge mistake in talking my husband into going to this place.
Hey snowy62
We have stayed a few times there, not for two years. I guess I would just say..it%26#39;s a room to sleep in. If your going to gamble and eat / drink...I would stay. I don%26#39;t remember the rooms being dirty or anything, just nothing special. If you have a chance to check in a bit early- and don%26#39;t like the looks of the room you can always demand a different one -and to look at them first. Have fun..
Thanks for the advice,Dano72. My husband and I don%26#39;t travel a great deal, that%26#39;s the main reason I asked about the place. I was getting nightmares,after reading some of the reviews......
we%26#39;ve stayed at Grand Portage(Lodge and Casino) a few times,and in the past few years,they%26#39;ve come a long way in improving the place--loved the room on our last visit, but the Casino-with it%26#39;s mostly penny and nickel machines,and smoking, made us think there must be a different casino to try,if we%26#39;re going to drive all that way.I have nothing good to say about the Thunder Bay Charity Casino.....
We%26#39;re not planning to spend a whole bunch of money at Black Bear,just looking for a weekend away,and something new to look at.That%26#39;s why I thought of Black Bear----never been there,and what the hey,it%26#39;s like you mentioned,if there%26#39;s something DRASTICALLY wrong with the room,etc., we%26#39;ll simply cancel our reservation for the second night(before the check-in time of 4 p.m.),and drive back to Duluth.We love Duluth--there%26#39;s so much to do and see....the ?Inn on Superior?, really caught my eye.The only question I forgot to ask---should I ask/request,upon check-in, if our room is in the ';newer'; part of BlackBear?Thanx-Snowy
Snowy-
It may not hurt to request the newer section now, either by phone or e-mail. While your in that area- if you want to check out a nice park- Jay Cooke State park is just east of the casino about 15 (?) miles or so. Vey scenic, but I%26#39;m sure notavailable, Ontario is as well.....( ha ha ? )
Thanks,Dano72---I did finally get around to calling Black Bear to make sure we%26#39;re booked into the newer part of the resort, and the helpful front desk person assured me that our reservation is for the new tower. Whoever ';Amanada'; is,that answered my question(s) when I phoned,was cheerful,pleasant,and helpful.The first time I called, I got the distinct impression that the person answering the reservation line was ';less than helpful';---meaning I felt like I was being a pain-in-the-butt by asking more than 1 question..........
I will certainly post something after our stay at Black Bear.I%26#39;m sure there%26#39;s more folk like me,out there,that have more questions than answers about some of the places in Northern Minnesoda.We have stayed at Superior Shores(nearer Grand Marais)---nice place,great rooms,BUT, there seem to be something lacking when we stayed there last.....can%26#39;t put my finger on it,but something was missing from the place.
When you%26#39;re from the North Shore,with all the sleepy towns and villages,you appreciate mother nature at it%26#39;s best,and sometimes lament the lack of ';things to do';.That%26#39;s why I mentioned that Duluth is an ideal get-away.To the East, Sault Ste. Marie pretty much covers ';what to do';.Honestly,I would take the Soo over Thunder Bay,any day.Thunder Bay,is ';ok';,and with the exception of a few ';attractions';,it doesn%26#39;t really have much to offer--they can dish it out,but they can%26#39;t take it.
As I mentioned,we%26#39;d take Minnesoda over ';our neck of the woods';,anyday. The Magazine....Lake Superior Magazine, is the BEST...love it,subscribe to it,and read it!
Well there, I%26#39;ve finally remembered to post something,about our stay at Black Bear.
Our room was good-up on the 6th floor-quiet,clean and comfortable.The only minor inconvience was having to go to the 5th floor in order to get a bucket of ice--ice machines are only available on every other floor....weird. Even thou our confirmation number had been lost,somewhere along the line,we still managed to get a better rate for 2 nights.Again...weird. We booked a King,for 2 nights, Friday and Saturday, perhaps if there%26#39;s a next time,we%26#39;ll try to book for 2 nights during the week.Cheaper rates during the week,as opposed to weekends.
Why do parents bring their little kids to Casino ';resorts';? Besides the pool and arcade area,there%26#39;s really nothing for wee folk to do at Black Bear. DH and I ventured into the pool area twice,and both times we turned around and walked out.Upon anticipating going for a swim,we took the elevator down to the ';pool'; level,only to discover about 6,000 kids and their parents overloading the pool area---thanks,but no thanks.The Chlorine levels were at an all time high---can you say,';red eyes?';.
And even though the resort advertised an ';adults only'; swim from 11 p.m. to midnight,somehow I couldn%26#39;t see us swimming at midnight.....
The food was ';okay';,even though we didn%26#39;t partake of the dining room.Stay away from the ';24/7'; Deli.Trust me on this one. The Buffet is pretty much what you%26#39;d expect--a ton of average food for one price.As DH commented,';I%26#39;ve never processed food quite that fast';......you get my drift.The selection of food at the Buffet was varied,and we didn%26#39;t have to wait long for a table, but just remember,';you get what you pay for';, type of scenario.
The actual Casino part of Black Bear was good--lots of machines,and tables--something for everyone.I give Black Bear ';thumbs up'; for the variety and selection of games, and I%26#39;d go back for another visit.During my stay, the Staff was friendly,helpful,and offered answers to my questions,and I never had any concerns as far as that went....I don%26#39;t have any really horrific complaints about the resort,for us the 5-6 hour drive to get to Black Bear was ';half the fun';.Duluth is always a treat,and the Fall colours really made the journey interesting.It%26#39;s nice to know there%26#39;s something else besides ';Grand Portage Lodge and Casino'; within driving distance,and I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll stop for a visit in Duluth next time we decide to head across the border.
Sorry to have rambled on.....hope this helps someone out there.
We%26#39;ll be staying at the Dolce-Oak Ridge Hotel in Chaska for the weekend and will be going to the Renaissance Fest on Saturday. Any comments on this Hotel and the hotel restaurant would be appreciated. I was thinking about driving to the MOA and taking the train downtown. Is there parking right where the train stops at the Mall area?
I thought there must be some good restaurants and bars on the train line as I see people do train pub crawls. Does this sound like an ok plan or more of a pain than what it might be worth? We%26#39;re not looking for the loud high energy dance clubs. Thanks in advance for any advice. Fred
Train, Dolce Oak Ridge, and other questions-this weekend.I think a pub crawl on light rail is a great idea for out-of-towners. Yes, there is tons of parking as the train goes right into the mall, near Underwater World. Plan to spend a whole if not half day - you can explore downtown and also relax in Minnehaha Park if you%26#39;d like.
Train, Dolce Oak Ridge, and other questions-this weekend.I%26#39;ve been to a few conventions at that Chaska facility. Meals were buffet for us - so we%26#39;ve never ordered off the menu if there is one. It%26#39;s pretty remote. Have a good map, or you might miss the sign to turn in.
Breakfasts were excellent - made to order omlettes and lots of fresh fruits.
Rooms %26amp; beds were comfie. I think they completely remodled a few years back.
There are walking trails, and even a lake in the back.
There%26#39;s one restaurant I%26#39;d HIGHLY recommend of the ones on the light rail line -
Get off at Lake Street Station - and walk EAST a few blocks to TownTalk Diner. It has earned rave reviews for their food %26amp; infused drink creations.
http://www.towntalkdiner.com/
There%26#39;s a map on their web site to give you an idea where it%26#39;s at. Save room for thier ';adult malts';.
There are two huge parking ramps at the mall. You can park there and take the light rail from there (below main level). If you park in the east side ramp, that will be closer for you.
You%26#39;ve already gotten great advice. I can%26#39;t help with Oak Ridge or the light rail.
But I would suggest that you get to the Renaissance Festival early (gates open at 9:00). There is typically a long line of cars trying to get in, but it does move pretty fast. And make an effort to remember where you parked. Look back before you enter the gate, and picture where your car is.
And take plenty of $$.
There is some online literature these days on the light rail pub crawl, but the ones I see and hear about miss so many great spots.
For example, the Schooner at the Lake Street stop. One of the best bars in town, a true original.
And you can now get a beer at the Minnehaha Park stop -- at Sea Salt (in the park).
Sunrise Inn and 46th Street stop.
Some of them you have to walk a few blocks, but by about Cedar Riverside you really need the time off and the exercise.
As for restaurants along the light rail, Town Talk is a good suggestion. Not the prettiest part of town but the diner makes up for it big time.
If you%26#39;re just looking for a greasy burger, then you can walk the 75 yards to the Cardinal from the 38th Street stop.
I%26#39;ve been on the x-mas light rail crawls before.
The schooner was on the list but is was so cold and windy that Dec eve, we weren%26#39;t up for the long walk so we made a group decision to skip it.
we thought about adding sunrise, but were told that they only serve 3.2 beer... true?
I am a first time visitor to Minnesota coming out next week for 5 days on business to Eagan. Just wondering if there are cool sports bars around or anything in particular I should check out in my limited time there. Unfortunately, for a sports freak like me, I will miss the chance to catch a Twins or Vikings game.
I think that THE sports bar in town is Majors. Not in Eagan, but some locations will be close:
www.majorssportscafe.com/locations.aspx
How about a Twin%26#39;s plaoff game? We can dream.
I prefer ';Time Out'; to Joe Sensor%26#39;s or Majors. Here%26#39;s a link to their website: http://www.timeoutrestaurant.com/
It%26#39;s a little nicer and their menu has more variety. There isn%26#39;t a ton to see or do in Eagan itself but it is convenient to Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Champps isn%26#39;t bad either.
champps.com/Locations/tabid/157/Default.aspx
This is an interesting list.
twincities.citysearch.com/roundup/40688
Here are some off the wall suggestions if you%26#39;re willing to drive for something more %26#39;local%26#39;. You could head to the UoM campus and give Stub %26amp; Herbs (see list in the link) a shot. It%26#39;s a campus tradition and a great place. Sally%26#39;s is another place on campus that is fun.
Another neat sport that I haven%26#39;t been to in a while is the 5-8 Club (58th %26amp; Cedar, near the airport right of Hwy 62/The Crosstown), they used to have a bunch of TVs and you can get a local burger legend - a Juicy Lucy. Matt%26#39;s Bar has the best Jucy Lucy with the 5-8 being (IMHO) a close second. The Shamrock Nook also has a lot of TVs and a pretty good menu.
http://www.stubandherbsbar.com/
http://www.sallyssaloon.net/
http://www.5-8club.com/
http://www.mattsbar.com/
profile.myspace.com/index.cfm…
To be warned, I would guess the 5-8 %26amp; Matt%26#39;s will probably have only local games on but are neat places.
Bless me St. Paul for I have sinned......I forgot Tom Reid%26#39;s Hockey City Pub - about 3 blocks west of the X on West 7th. Patrick McGovern%26#39;s is across the street and is another great place but I cannot find it%26#39;s website - though it%26#39;s not so much a sports bar.
http://www.tomreidshockeycitypub.com/
I got a chuckle when I saw ';Eagan'; and ';must sees'; together in a post.
I lived there for 9 months before my place was ready in Minneapolis. You may want to head to downtown - Mpls or St. Paul for some nightlife.
You can drive or taxi to Mall of America fairly close to Eagan, and take the light rail line to downtown Minneapolis if you don%26#39;t want to deal with traffic or parking downtown.
We have a anniversary comming up and have been searching for hotels and things in Twin Cities. I want to spice up the Marriage which has been great for alot of years. I am looking for something Sexy or Naughty for us to do or Places to stay etc. I am planning this for a suprise so Please if you have idea%26#39;s of any Really Romanitc, Sexy or even Naughty things let me know.
Missy
I am slightly embarrassed to answer this one but, here are 2 naughty, fun things to do: First, Sex World is an adult superstore that my husband and I bring friends to see because we think it%26#39;s funny and raunchy. It%26#39;s located downtown at 241 2nd Ave. North and they do have a website, (hope I don%26#39;t get a weird virus from checking it!) The second thing is also naughty, but fun. The Gay Nineties has female impersonator shows that plenty of straight people go to see. They%26#39;re also located downtown at 408 Hennipen Ave. Both very entertaining definitely not for the prudish.
Hey, don%26#39;t be embarassed, they%26#39;re Twin Cities landmarks! Just don%26#39;t sit in the front row of the drag show, they%26#39;re prettier from a distance ;-)
Both great recommendations... I%26#39;d also add Ground Zero and their Saturday night bondage show. I%26#39;ve been a couple times and it%26#39;s a great little mood setter. And if that%26#39;s a little too much for you, next door is The Front, a great little dance bar.
On a little more tame yet romatic/sexy note....
For a place to stay the Rosewood Inn %26amp; Spa in Hastings, MN has some very nice rooms with double whirlpool baths. They also offer a number of romatic packages including massage services for two. Our son and duaghter-in-law very much enjoyed it a year or two ago for a special night out.
http://www.thorwoodinn.com/
Hastings is very convenient to St. Paul as well as to interesting shops %26amp; such in Red Wing...also close to Treasure Is. Casino near Red Wing.
Unfortunately I can%26#39;t factor in with anything that could be seen as middle ground between the raunchier suggestions and the tamer ones. A cabaret comes to mind, but I have neither been to one here nor am I aware of one running here.
I have been to the raunchfest that is Ground Zero, though it was years ago. Let me just be clear, it was (at least when I saw it) full-on raunchy. But then again, maybe that is for you.
Sex World fits the bill for some people, although there is a certain unwanted element in there that might kill the mood.
I wonder if one of the more upscale ';gentleman%26#39;s clubs'; might be of interest. I of course have no idea how someone I%26#39;ve never met (much less his wife) would see that, but I have been to Seville with my wife and we both enjoyed it. (perhaps I did more than she did, but hey!!).
I would just focus on the more upscale places with good seating, like Seville or Sheiks. Definitely avoid the warehouse-type places like Deja Vu. And try to go at times you%26#39;ll miss the bachelor party crowd or the post-bar crowd. That would definitely kill the mood.
Oh, and I%26#39;d have to say that if I were looking for somewhere romantic to stay, I%26#39;ve heard the Nicollet Island Inn fits the bill. The St Paul Hotel is quite the special occasion place. And Graves 601 is described as ';sleek and sexy';.
How far are you willing to travel? Appx. 2 hr north is the Viking Inn in Crosby, in the Brainerd Lakes area.
http://www.vikinginn.com
Perhaps you could make this a part of your weekend in and around Minnesota.
My in-town suggestion: sandwich-and-brew meal at the Chatterbox, midtown Minneapolis
2229 E 35th Street (612)728-9871, followed by a stop next door at the Smitten Kitten ';adult toy'; store.
This was the place to stay several years back, can%26#39;t say if it%26#39;s been kept up well. 23 themed fantasy suites.
tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g42915-d2171鈥?/a>
Adding to Creason%26#39;s post above I would also suggest the Water Street Inn in Stillwater. Very romantic place for an anniversary.
http://www.waterstreetinn.us/index.html
Thanks everyone for all those great Great suggestions. I am amazed at how giving people are Thanks..
Missy
Hi, I%26#39;m coming in for a conference Oct 1-5 and have most of Thursday and Saturday for sightseeing. Staying at Holiday Inn RiverCentre/St Paul. Have shopped at Nicolette Mall before (great) wondering about another shopping area besides the mall of America, which I may check out on my way to the airport on Sat.
Any good (inexpensive) restaurants around my hotel area?
Really loved the Walker Art Centre and U of M campus last time.
What luck....one of the better (non-mall) shopping areas in St. Paul...Grand Ave... is having their ';Taste of Grand'; on Oct. 2nd. But at $50 it%26#39;s a bit pricey for the whole thing but there is a free part from 4-7pm. A great area to shop and lots of places to eat. Also lots of historic houses and such. This week should be cool/dry perfect fall weather.
http://www.grandave.com/
30 blocks of unique shops and restaurants.
For shopping, Grand Ave is great on a nice day, as is the 50th %26amp; France area which is south of Mpls, yet not too far from the airport.
As far as inexpensive, good restaurants around your hotel:
Woodfire GrillRuam Mit Thai
Savoy (dive pizza place, yummy)
The Liffey for good pub fare
Tanpopo Noodle Shop
Saji-ya
University Ave has a ton of places - all authentic ethnic food. Some that come to mind include Mai Village and Krua Thailand.
While these are closeby, you may want to take a cab (University). And there are also some great eats on Grand Ave:
Axels Bonfire Grill
Tavern on the Ave
Barbary Fig
Salut
Caffe Latte
Dixie%26#39;s
Everest on Grand
Khyber Pass
Wuollet%26#39;s Bakery
Welcome back!
This is just great- thanks so much.
Follow up question- Any nice green spaces in my hotel area (or by public transit) to see the fall colours?
Some nearby green areas:
Across Kellogg you will have a beautiful view of the Mississippi and there is some greens space along there.
I would also recommend Rice Park - between the Ordway, Library, Landmark, %26amp; St. Paul Hotel. Great little park.
A little further West on W. 7th, past the Xcel Energy Center, is Irvine Park, which is another great little park. Forpaugh%26#39;s restaurant is right there too, a great old (haunted!) Mansion turned into a fantastic restaurant.
A little further down west 7th would take you near the High Bridge (Smith Ave) which leads to what St. Paulites call the lower west side. The views are wonderful from the bridge and Cherokee park, on the south side of the river, has some great walking paths. Mancini%26#39;s Char House - a local legend - is about a mile from the X on West Seventh and the Cherokee Sirloin room is about 6-7 blocks south of the Bridge on Smith.
I would highly suggest a walk down Summit Ave. for the colors and the great old houses. Grand is one block south if you%26#39;re interested in any of those places.
At its west side Summit Ave ends at River Road, there is a great walking path along the bluff and it%26#39;s beautiful.
If you need a break between sessions or had a rough night the night before, stroll west down West 7th to Cossetta%26#39;s Italian buffet and deli. If you like
olives, their olive pizza is spectacular.
Hi,
My sisters and mom and myself will be going to Bloomington Nov 14-16. I have been TripAdvisor under Minneapolis and Bloomington and searching for things to do, but thought I would just start a topic.
Are their any recommendations of things to do besides MOA for a girls weekend?
Also, any good AFFORDABLE restaurants than anyone would recommend...with maybe a fun atmosphere? One of my sisters and my mom would probably both have a bit of sticker shock over spending $40-50 per person on a meal and a glass of wine....from some other recommendations I have seen. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated! THANK YOU!!!
I grew up in Bloomington, and I know it well. There%26#39;s a reason I live in Minneapolis (and have for many years now), let%26#39;s just say that!
Not much to do there. Akin to maybe Brookfield, WI, in terms of suburbia with the standard chain options for bars and restaurants (a few exceptions, of course).
I really think you%26#39;d be best served hopping the train and heading into Minneapolis. The train is easily and cheap but make sure you get a ticket -- it is the honor system but people do get checked occassionally and you don%26#39;t want to pay the fine.
You can drive, too, of course, which opens up your options to south minneapolis, which will be cheaper than downtown but more spread out.
Downtown is spendier but has a far greater range of places to eat and drink -- options for all tastes. But I think you%26#39;d have to go pretty upscale to find a place that will set you back $40 for a meal and a glass of wine.
I really think Solera sounds like a good spot. Wine will cost about $7 a glass, unfortunately, but the selection is great. Where you can make up your cash is the a la carte ordering (tapas style) that lets you order as much or as little as you want so you don%26#39;t pay for what you won%26#39;t eat. And it qualifies as a fun environment in a fun area to walk around -- near the State and Pantages theater and near a good nightlife area for any age. The bar is usually pretty well attended at Solera -- you could even hang out there a bit.
If you give a little info on what kinid of nightlife you like or what%26#39;s a fun environment to you, we can provide more options.
(If you do choose Solera, I would call for reservations; and you would get off at the end of the line on the train. Go to Hennepin Avenue, which will be the last street the train crosses before making its final stop (Warehouse District) and turning around. Walk back to Hennepin, turn right and walk 4 blocks or so. Solera will be on your right.
I can think of a myriad of things to do for girls weekend, but what do you like to do? And it sounds like you have a car, is that correct?
As far as inexpensive restaurants with fun atmospheres:
Downtown, unfortunately, not many inexpensive supper options, better for lunch or happy hour:
112 Eatery - this is by far one of the top restaurants in town with really good prices, call now for reservations.
Solera - The tapas are excellent, but it can get pricey. Don%26#39;t order the paella, really disappointing. Last week, I paid $90 for 2 of us with tapas, paella %26amp; cocktails. Might not be in your supper budget, but I%26#39;d stop there for a drink.
Palomino - if you%26#39;re eating early (4-6) this place has the best happy hour in town. Special price wine/beer/mojito/margarita, and all half price appetizers. Their mushroom salad, pizzas and shrimp are killer, we often do this for supper.
Joes Garage - great burgers, but this is really a great place on a warm day, so you can sit on the rooftop.
The Guthrie or The Walker - both of these places have less formal/expensive cafes onsite. The Walker is a world famous modern art museum/sculpture garden. The Guthrie is a world famous theater and in a cool area for walking if you%26#39;d like (St Anthony Bridge, riverfront, Mill City Museum)
Dinkytown area near the U
Loring Pasta Bar - I think I%26#39;ve taken all my visitors here - really fun, unique atmosphere. It%26#39;s not known for the food, but I%26#39;ve never had a bad meal there. Often some fun event happening later in the evening. (I always go to the Refinery Spa next door, the Kitty Kat Club and Varsity Theater have great live music)
Kafe 421 - this place is small %26amp; quaint, serving Eastern European, often has flamenco guitar for supper
Uptown, just south of downtown
Chino Latino - fun place, good people watching, served family-style. I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ve ever paid over $30 pp with a group, including a drink.
Famous Daves - local BBQ chain with live music at night, best brisket I%26#39;ve ever had.
Chaing Mai Thai - dark %26amp; romantic, very yummy
Town Talk Diner - down the street a ways on Lake, it%26#39;s a loud old fashioned diner know for it%26#39;s ice cream cocktails, kitchen sink burger, great people watching
Northeast - north of downtown
Nye%26#39;s Polonaise Room - this is a Mpls institution. The dining room serves Polish food and has live piano: the bar has the worlds most dangerous polka band, riot!
Bulldog NE - this is newer but has a really proven bar menu, their burgers are killer
The Sample Room - small plates, great food, more affordable than Solera but nothing else nearby within walking distance.
Erte - our favorite, kitschy and affordable steak place, love going here. 331 Club across the st has fun live music.
Modern Cafe - little diner serving comfort food, basic and good, also next to 331 Club. The area galleries might have shows up, as the gallery crawl will have just occurred a week prior.
Intelligent Nutrients - travel a ways up Hennepin and you%26#39;ll find Horst Rechelbacher%26#39;s latest incarnation (he invented Aveda). Not only is it an alternative food/supplement store, but also an organic cafe and a fancy funky restaurant, like a scene out of Europe.
WHEW - hope that gets you started... and give us some ideas of what you like to do as a group.
Hi, there -
Our family will be in Northfield, MN on Oct. 16-17 so our daughter can visit both colleges. We%26#39;re flying into Minneapolis/St. Paul the night of Oct. 15 and I%26#39;m wondering if we should plan to drive to Northfield that night (our plane lands at 7:45 PM) or if we%26#39;d be better off staying in Minneapolis since there would be more hotels/restaurants and heading to Northfield the next day. And along those lines, knowing what our plans are, any suggestions for restaurants and hotels in Minneapolis or Northfield? We look forward to hearing back from some of you who really know this area and can give us some good feedback!
Becky in CO
Visiting Northfield - Carleton and St. Olaf in October -How exciting is that, both excellent colleges at the most beautiful time of the year. I hope she%26#39;s ready for the winters if she does come here - which are cold but can be very fun if you%26#39;re dressed right.
Northfield is literally just down the road, an hour or less. You%26#39;ll definitely want to spend one complete day in Northfield. Since you%26#39;re touring both colleges, I%26#39;d suggest staying there - only because you should take your time AND Northfield is a really great little town to explore, really out of a picture book. Plus, I would not recommend dealing with our rush hour if you need to be at school early in the a.m.
I enjoyed The Tavern and it%26#39;s atmosphere. Fermentations (in Dundas) gets good reviews, but we ended up missing our reservation in lieu of biking the Cannon Valley Trail. The TA forum for Northfield, MN has lots of restaurant ratings to check out.
If you%26#39;d prefer more information on Mpls, let us know. But I%26#39;d first recommend immersing yourself in Northfield for your short but important trip. Then if you choose one of the schools, there will always be lots to explore in the cities when you come visit.
Visiting Northfield - Carleton and St. Olaf in October -Thanks for your quick response! I should have clarified that we%26#39;ll be spending two days in Northfield - one at Carleton and one at St. Olaf. I%26#39;m selfishly hoping we%26#39;ll have time to check out the Mall of America before we head back home, though :-)
Any further thoughts knowing our timeline? We leave Minneapolis on Friday around 4:00PM, so I guess in actuality, we%26#39;ll only have a half day at St. Olaf, but that should be long enough for her to get a flavor of the school.
Becky
I think I understood you correctly. I%26#39;m assuming your college visits will each take one-half day? And are you doing one per day? That would affect your Mpls time and my response to your questions.
If you really want to do MOA, then I%26#39;d suggest allotting at least a couple hours. And they do have some really good restaurants - Napa Valley Grille, California Cafe, Tucci Benucch in order of personal preference. You could visit before your flight leaves, since it%26#39;s pretty close to MOA.
Well, actually, we%26#39;ll be driving into Northfield either Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. We%26#39;ll be spending all day at Carleton and then most of Friday at St. Olaf. Does that help? Thanks a bunch!
Becky
Hi, again!
We have our travel plans in place - we%26#39;ll arrive in Minneapolis on Oct. 15 and will spend the 16th at Carleton College, and the 17th at St. Olaf. The hotels in Northfield are pretty full, but they look pretty unimpressive, based on TripAdvisor, so I%26#39;m wondering about a couple of other cities. How far is Apple Valley, MN? There is a new hotel there called GrandStay Residential Inn and Suites that looks nice, but would it be too much of a stretch to stay there and then drive to the colleges? And if Apple Valley is too far to drive, what about Lakeville? Any other thoughts?
Becky in CO
Hi, again!
We have our travel plans in place - we%26#39;ll arrive in Minneapolis on Oct. 15 and will spend the 16th at Carleton College, and the 17th at St. Olaf. The hotels in Northfield are pretty full, but they look pretty unimpressive, based on TripAdvisor, so I%26#39;m wondering about a couple of other cities. How far is Apple Valley, MN? There is a new hotel there called GrandStay Residential Inn and Suites that looks nice, but would it be too much of a stretch to stay there and then drive to the colleges? And if Apple Valley is too far to drive, what about Lakeville? Any other thoughts?
Becky in CO
Yes, the hotels may be unimpressive, but I would never pass up a chance to stay in Northfield. If you choose to stay in one of the southern suburbs. I can%26#39;t really help you on that - check out the hotel reviews for those towns, they%26#39;re pretty spot on. Grand Stay gets good reviews as does the Lakeville Holiday Inn %26amp; Suites. Did you have a problem with the Country Inn by Carlson? Gets good reviews and has availability.
Hi again!
Thanks for your feedback. I actually called the Country Inn last night and got a grumpy clerk who curtly told me there was no availability...but - just called again and there was a family suite available for us for the two nights! So I went ahead and booked it on the spot and now we%26#39;re set. Sounds like we%26#39;re lucky to be getting a room, since it%26#39;s Minnesota Days at the colleges and I%26#39;m imagining there will be a lot of locals who are not within driving distance looking to stay the night. I%26#39;m happy we can be right in Northfield, since we%26#39;ll be trying to divide up our time between the schools and perhaps doing some back and forth depending on how each school strikes our daughter. Any other thoughts on Northfield or Minneapolis? Things to do, places to see, etc.?
Becky in CO
Oh that%26#39;s great. For the little time you%26#39;re spending here, it would be sad to spend a lot of it commuting.
Colors are supposed to be spectacular this year, and probably peaking around that time. I would be outside if it%26#39;s not raining, exploring country roads or main streets, shopping %26amp; eating. Check out this link and scroll down to Northfield%26#39;s monthly calendar publication:
http://northfieldguide.com/
I have been to Cannon Falls, which has a winery and great trail along the water if you feel like walking. It%26#39;s also en route to Red Wing if you%26#39;d like to take the long way back to the airport. Explore their main st, then drive north on Hwy 61 along the river... or cross over to Hwy 35 N on the Wisconsin side, which is also a beautiful drive - should be gorgeous.
I%26#39;m not big on city shopping, so that%26#39;s how I%26#39;d spend my time.
Might be a perfect time to visit local State Park--Nerstrand Woods
…state.mn.us/state_parks/…index.html
I would like to know of a good hotel/motel in Bloomington, MN that would accept 3 small dogs.
As well have some grassy areas out side to take the dogs out to do their bathroom business?
Thanks
I remember a website for searching hotels that allow pets - I read about it about a year ago
there may be other sites like it - I found it via google
Pet Friendly Hotels
www.OfficialPetHotels.com
Official Pet Friendly Hotel Site.
Pets Are Welcome At Our Hotels
Extended Stay America Minneapolis - Bloomington
7956 Lyndale Avenue South 路 Bloomington MN 55420
**Extended Stay America Minneapolis-Bloomington is designed specifically for people who need more than just a room while away from home.
Days Inn Bloomington
7851 Normandale Blvd. 路 Bloomington MN 55435
Conveniently Located Off Interstate 494 %26amp;amp Highway 100 Wireless High Speed Internet Access Free Deluxe Continental Breakfast Free shuttle to Mall
THE scariest haunted house will be up and running again starting 10/17++.
The Haunted Basement in an old factory that%26#39;s now an art museum on the main floor (aka the Soap Factory).
Tix sell OUT FAST - but you can buy online in advance.
Check this out --
www.soapfactory.org/exhibit.php鈥?/a>
It%26#39;s just off St. Anthony Main a few blocks south from Nye%26#39;s near the Mississippi River.
We went twice last year.
The 4th Annual of the ever popular Zombie Pub Crawl will take place close to downtown Minneapolis.
Sat afternoon - Oct 18th.
Gathering at Gold Medal Park, then starting at Seven Corners.
Details here -
http://zombiepubcrawl.com/_2008/
Hi!
I was hoping someone may be able to provide me with driving directions to Albertville? I used Map Quest in the past and the directions were awful (they took us down country roads). We are travelling from Duluth and than will be heading to Saint Paul after our shopping trip. Thanks for your help!
Katie
I would use Google maps, much more accurate.
I have not checked any of the mapping services but personally I would be taking I-35 south to just past Hinkley, then 23 to Milaca to catch 169 south to 101 (Main Street) and the bridge over the river to I-94 at Rogers. Then north just a bit on I-94. I know this is a little less direct than cross country from 101 to Albertville via Otsego but it would be a lot less confusing for someone not from the area.
Comining from the south on I-94 it is probably easiest to exit just before Albertville (60th St. or 61st. St.) and turn left across the freeway...follow it around to Labeaux Ave. and turn right to cross back over the freeway and directly into the outlet stores area.
From Albertville to St. Paul go back south on I-94 (reverse Labeaux route to 61st to get to I-94 south) and at Maple Grove take I-694 (keep leftat the split) around the north side of the Twin Cities to I-35E (not 35W! which you would pass first). From there it is a straight shot into downtown St. Paul. On I-694 be sure to be in the left lane where US 10 intersects because the right lane there is forced to exit at US 51 about a quarter mile further along.
It might be easier to take I-35 all the way down (stay to the right to stay West as it forks to 35W West vs 35E East).
When you get to 694, head right to the west to stay on 696/94.
When you get to 494/94, keep to the right to stay on 94, and take that all the way to Albertville. You can see the shops from the freeway.
at www.Maps.Google.com for ';Get Directions';, I typed in Starting in Duluth MN, stopping at Albertville MN, and that%26#39;s the route it recommended.
http://maps.google.com/
You might want to not hit the metro area between 4 and 6:30 p.m.
After shopping, you might want to stay in Albertville til after traffic dies down to get to St. Paul.
Note - you will be passing another outlet strip mall on the way down from Duluth. It%26#39;s just a fraction of what you%26#39;ll see in Albertville, but it%26#39;s right next to the freeway, in North Branch MN.
http://www.northbranchoutlets.com/centers.htm
I would agree with Downtown Mpls%26#39; route, much easier to navigate.
The best route from Albertville to St. Paul really depends upon what day, the time of day, and where you are going in St. Paul.
Thanks Everyone!
Simple is better! So I appreciate your responses. We are travelling on the weekend (Saturday later afternoon). So I don%26#39;t think traffic to Saint Paul should be too bad. We are staying at the Embassy Suites in Saint Paul. I actually have one other question. We are heading home Monday, when does rush hour traffic end?
Thanks again!
Katie
Ditto on the 2 previous posts - those are the results that come up when you Google map Duluth to Albertville. It%26#39;s not the most direct, but it is likely the fastest.
Rush hour is basically any time between 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. It can vary widely but the congestion in the cities can be trying at times. And if necessary, I suggest using the carpool lane if there%26#39;s more than 1 person in your car.
When you drive from Albertville to downtown on a Saturday you can take one of two routes. You will start on I-94 eastbound on both and in the NW suburbs I94 will merge with I694.
Just west of the Mississippi river I94 will split south and head into Minneapolis, once downtown I94 will turn east and take you to St. Paul. From there I would use google maps to get you to the Embassy Suites. This is the route recommended by Google Maps.
Your other option is to stay on I694 from the split at the river. Stay on I694 for several miles to the I35E junction and take 35E south into downtown St. Paul. Make sure you take 35E, the exit from 35W will be first and take you into downtown Minneapolis.
To be honest, it%26#39;s probably a wash either way. I live in St. Paul%26#39;s midway (halfway between the downtowns, look for Hamline U on a map) area and almost always take the I94 route home when traveling from that area - mainly because I love the views of downtown Mpls. %26amp; I like to monitor the progress of the new Twins Stadium (from afar) while driving on I94.
I would be aware of two things when planning your route: The MN wild schedule %26amp; road construction. The Wild play in downtown St. Paul and if they have a home game the 5th street %26amp; Kellogg exits from 94 into downtown St. Paul can have major backups the hour or so before puck meets ice. I would also suggest checking the MNDOT website to see if any roads will be closed - the I694-I35E interchange reconstruction is nearing completion and it%26#39;s possible there could be road closures as this project wraps up.
http://wild.nhl.com/
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/
When you%26#39;re heading home on Monday I assume you will head north on 35E toward Duluth %26amp; Ontario? If so morning rush hour will not have a significant impact on you as you%26#39;ll be going against traffic. If you leave later in the day rush hour north in the evening on 35E will start around 3:30 and stays pretty backed up until 6PMish.
Let me know if you have any questions about downtown St. Paul - places to eat, etc. Would love to help.
