shopping, sightseeing for a few hours

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.

shopping, sightseeing for a few hours

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.

shopping, sightseeing for a few hours

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.