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. :)