365 Things To Do In The Twin Cities

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40 Inspiring Things to Do In and Around Minneapolis

List Compiled by UCDA Members
Illustration by Powerchild Creative


UCDA will celebrate its 40th UCDA Design Conference in 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Plan now for an extra day or two to experience these Minneapolis must-sees.



THE SIGHTS
The American Swedish Institute
www.americanswedishinst.org
Step into the heart of Swedish America. The American Swedish Institute is a historic house, museum, and cultural center located near downtown Minneapolis.

Mill City Museum
www.millcitymuseum.org
Built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, Mill City Museum is located on the historic Mississippi Riverfront. Here, learn about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the river, and the city of Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
garden.walkerart.org
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is one of Minnesota’s crown jewels and its centerpiece, the Spoonbridge and Cherry, has become a Minnesota icon. The Sculpture Garden is essentially a free museum in a park.

Walker Art Center
www.walkerart.org
The Walker Art Center is a catalyst for the creative expression of artists and the active engagement of audiences. Focusing on the visual, performing, and media arts of our time, the Walker takes a global, multidisciplinary, and diverse approach to the creation, presentation, interpretation, collection, and preservation of art. Walker programs examine the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts
www.artsmia.org
Inspiring wonder through the power of art.

Guthrie Theater
www.guthrietheater.org
Called “a 21st century dream factory” by Time Magazine, the new Guthrie boasts three stages, a full-service restaurant, pre-show dining, numerous bars and some of the best views of Minneapolis to be found in the city.

Uptown Theater
www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Minneapolis/uptowntheatre.htm
Watch a classic movie—from the 40s or the 80s—at midnight on Saturdays.

Mary Tyler Moore Statue
In downtown Minneapolis there is a statue to honor the news girl (Mary Richards) from the Mary Tyler Moore show. Statue has her throwing her hat, made famous from the opening titles of the show.

Weisman Art Museum
www.weisman.umn.edu
The country’s only art museum by visionary Frank Gehry will undertake an 11,000-square-foot expansion designed by Gehry himself.

The Basilica of St. Mary
First Basilica in the US. Gorgeous downtown Basilica, near the Sculpture Garden.

Lakewood Cemetery
www.lakewoodcemetery.com/History_Chapel.html
Huge, beautiful memorial park. Uptown location. Mosaic-lined chapel is an architectural gem and on the National Historic Register. Famous people buried there include Hubert Humphrey, Pillsburys, Paul Wellstone.

The Star Tribune
www.startribune.com
See it while they’re still printing newspapers!

Northern Clay Center
www.northernclaycenter.org
Gorgeous pottery work on exhibit and for sale. A couple miles from downtown, but worth the trip.

Minneapolis Photo Center
www.mplsphotocenter.com
Weekly lectures, usually free.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts
www.mnbookarts.org
Downtown. Has a gift shop and coffee shop. Often has a public exhibit.

The Fitzgerald Theatre
fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org
OK, it’s in St. Paul. Home of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.

THE SOUNDS
The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant
www.dakotacooks.com
The Dakota serves up great food and awesome jazz, with local musicians and big names like Boz Scaggs and Shawn Colvin.

First Avenue
Immortalized by Prince in the movie Purple Rain, this now-iconic club has a storied history. In addition to launching “His Royal Purpleness,” First Avenue served as the hub of the Minneapolis punk scene. Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum, and the Replacements regularly packed the house.

THE TASTES
Al’s Breakfast
From Michael Stern (Roadfood): “Al’s is Nirvana for those of us who spend our lives in search of great diner breakfast. It is smaller than small, wedged perpendicular to 14th Avenue among the shops of Dinkytown, near the University of Minnesota. Customers waiting for one of the fourteen stools at the counter stand hovering just above and behind those who are seated and eating.”

Hell’s Kitchen
www.hellskitcheninc.com
In their own words: “In the heart of downtown, you’ll discover Hell’s Kitchen serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks 7 days a week. Rather than over-the-top fancy food, we just serve real food, carefully prepared from scratch. Food writers have best described our offerings as “unique but not fancy; interesting but not fussy.” We follow no trends, we don’t chase awards (but we ARE proud that customers have given us over 67 “best” awards since 2002.) We just crank out damn good food.”

The Red Stag Supperclub
www.redstagsupperclub.com
The Red Stag Supperclub strives to be a good local and world citizen by serving local and organic foods as much as possible, conserving resources and composting waste, and by always being on the lookout as to how to better its business practices.

Rustica Bakery
Absolutely divine baked goods. French style pastries.

MASA
www.masa-restaurant.com
Contemporary Mexican cuisine.

“Eat Street”
For a culinary tickle, stop on Nicollet Avenue between Grant and 29th Street. Nicknamed “Eat Street,” the Avenue offers dozens and dozens of ways to entertain your palate. You’ll find some of the best Vietnamese and Mexican eateries in town, along with other Asian, Greek, German, and American specialties.

Pancho Villa
www.panchovillasgrill.com
Great authentic Mexican restaurant in the Eat Street area.

Barbette
barbette.com
Uptown, owned/run by the same person as Red Stag. Smaller, funkier, Frenchier.

First Course
firstcoursebistro.com
Small, intimate neighborhood restaurant a couple miles south of downtown. Menu changes weekly, but is never disappointing. Reservations needed.

Ichiban Japanese Steak House
www.ichiban.ca
Teppanyaki cooking in a Japanese garden atmosphere. All meals prepared tableside by knife-flashing chefs. Largest sushi bar in town. Tempura also available.

THE OTHER
Minneapolis Light Rail
www.visitingdc.com/airports/minneapolis-light-rail-map.asp
Light rail stop just blocks from the UCDA Conference hotel. Can’t beat it for $2!

Skyways
Seem a little quiet on the street? Minneapolis and Saint Paul are both home to a unique system of glass “tunnels” located one story above ground. They call them skyways-—you can just call them convenient. Downtown Minneapolis’ 8-mile system will get you almost anywhere in climate-controlled bliss.

Ditch the coat in the hotel room and go exploring in this lively thoroughfare filled with specialty shops, restaurants, and services.

The Depot Rink
www.thedepotminneapolis.com/icerink
Named one of the top ten best places in the United States to ice skate by the USA Today and MSNBC, The Depot Rink is a historic downtown Minneapolis train shed that now houses a modern-day, indoor rink with floor-to-ceiling glass walls showcasing views of the downtown
city skyline.

Minnesota RollerGirls
www.mnrollergirls.com
Amateur roller derby with a charitable bent.

Wabasha Street Caves
www.wabashastreetcaves.com
Experience gangsters, ghosts, or maybe just fun night out.

THE RETAIL Surdyk’s
www.surdyks.com
Discover vintage wines and hundreds of regional artisan cheeses at the Midwest’s largest liquor store. Founded in 1934, Surdyk’s offers everything from beer and wine to a legendary deli.

Nicollet Mall
In the heart of the city, this pedestrian mall is host to the upscale boutiques of Gaviidae Common, sidewalk cafes, cozy book stores, Target, Neiman Marcus, and more.

Byerly’s
www.lundsandbyerlys.com
Push a smooth grocery cart through ridiculously wide earth-toned carpeted aisles lit by throngs of crystal chandeliers. Hungry folk can enjoy hearty meals in the attached diner, read the in-house publication and enjoy regional signature specialties like Byerly’s Wild Rice soup.

Warehouse District
This historic area is home to an emerging “design district” with hip lofts and show rooms for home-decor and artistic pieces.

Midtown Global Market
www.midtownglobalmarket.org
Internationally themed public market featuring fresh and prepared foods, restaurants, and a selection of arts and crafts from around the world.

Wild Rumpus Bookstore
www.wildrumpusbooks.com
Extensive collection of children’s books, plus tailless Many cats and a chicken for good measure.

Ingebretsens
www.ingebretsens.com
Midtown—on Lake Street. The Scandinavian store in Minneapolis. Gift shop and small grocery. Fresh meats and cheeses. Yup, they sell lutefisk and lefse.