Can we talk more about Minneapolis?

[Bernadine]

Tell me everything!  It's official, I'm going.  I think I'll be near Target stadium.  Is the area safe?  How is public transportation?  What are some must see/do activities?  And most importantly, when is the gtg?

Bonus to anyone who can give me tips on packing for a 4 week business trip. 

ETA- and RESTAURANTS.  Where can I eat some good food?

[Deleted]

If you're staying near Target Field you'll be downtown or in the warehouse district. Both are awesome areas but they can get a bit dicey on weekend late nights. Just rowdy bar crowd stuff though.

There is a light rail train you can take from downtown to the Mall of America or into St. Paul.

I always recommend the Walker Art Center and the Guttrie. Both would be easy to get to from where you are. If you're feeling adventurous you could go to the State Fair!

[Deleted]

My favorite restaurants in no particular order:

Bryant Lake Bowl
Bar La Grasa
Brasa
Pizzaria Lola
Punch Pizza
Fuji-Ya
Salut
Broder's Pasta Bar
The Loon
Bachelor Farmer
Hell's Kitchen

I hear the bar at the W Foshay is awesome- I believe it's called Prohibition

[glitzy07]

Have breakfast at Key's Cafe or Hell's Kitchen.

Do you like live music? Depending on when you're coming, there is a fantastic band called Root City that has a Wednesday night residency at Gluek's, which is right down the street from Target Field/Target Center. www.glueks.com/live-music.html

[Bernadine]

I plan on spending most of this time getting lots and lots of uninterrupted sleep, so I don't expect to be out for the rowdy bar crowd, lol. Except for the gtg, of course.

[wino]

Depending on what your schedule for what you are doing, there are some great food trucks during the week. If you check out www.citypages.com/microsites/food-truck-map/ they can usually direct you to where they are parked. My top food truck suggestion is Butcher Salt.

[btay]

Apple farms are a must. There are a bunch of them in the area but my favorite is Aamodts.

[5hole]

I haven't lived there in a long time, but I imagine Totino's is still a staple, yes? Times Cafe? I used to love both of those.

[wino]

If you're looking to order in, I recommend Pizza Luce. They would be close to where you are staying. Love their pizza.

[alzi]

It has tunnels for people to get around the city in when it's cold. I thought that was cool.

[gummy]

I'm going to ditto Amoosed's restaurant recs. Brasa and Fuji-Ya in particular.

[Bernadine]

Aug 21, 2014 8:55:47 GMT -5 alzi said:

It has tunnels for people to get around the city in when it's cold. I thought that was cool.

I just saw that, that's awesome!  Not that it will be too cold in September, but it's such a great idea.

[julez]

Aug 21, 2014 8:59:50 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Aug 21, 2014 8:55:47 GMT -5 alzi said:

It has tunnels for people to get around the city in when it's cold. I thought that was cool.

I just saw that, that's awesome!  Not that it will be too cold in September, but it's such a great idea.

Skyways, above ground.  Tunnels sound kind of creepy.    But yes - I think it's something like 100 miles of skyways in Minneapolis.  If you live in a condo in DT Mpls and work in DT Mpls, you'd almost never have to go outside in the winter.  Which, I think would be kind of a travesty, but I know that not everyone is a fan of winter the way I am. 

[btay]

Aug 21, 2014 9:18:05 GMT -5 julez said:

Aug 21, 2014 8:59:50 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

I just saw that, that's awesome!  Not that it will be too cold in September, but it's such a great idea.

Skyways, above ground.  Tunnels sound kind of creepy.    But yes - I think it's something like 100 miles of skyways in Minneapolis.  If you live in a condo in DT Mpls and work in DT Mpls, you'd almost never have to go outside in the winter.  Which, I think would be kind of a travesty, but I know that not everyone is a fan of winter the way I am. 

 I live and work in the St. Paul skyways and I go days without going outside.  It's amazing

[miesl]

The U of MN does have tunnels (amusingly named "The Gopher Way"). DT Mpls is all skyway. The food trucks are a definite must-do. There are some amazing ones. Butcher Salt, Brava, Moral Omnivore, Get Sauced, Potter's Pasties, House of Hunger (ZUCCHINI FRIES!!!). Usually on either Marquette or 2nd St.

[mellymel]

If you're there during the State Fair, GO! Best state fair ever. Seriously.

The bar at the W Foshay, Prohibition, is really fun.

@amoosed restaurant recs are good. I definitely agree with Punch Pizza, Broder's Pasta Bar, Salut. The Local is a fun bar downtown. I also like Brit's downtown because you can do lawn bowling on the roof and eat/drink up there.

The Happy Gnome is a cute bar in St. Paul with good burgers. Lots of great restaurants in St. Paul, too.

Basically, I miss the hell out of Minneapolis. Have fun!

[nahoku]

The uptown area also has lots of restaurants and shopping and is probably a little but more hopping during weekend days than dt minneapolis. There's also the chain of lakes there that you could walk around.

Other things to see: the sculpture garden, minnehaha falls. We have several theaters in the area - you could see if there are any good shows passing through. You could see the Vikings or gophers at tcf stadium and check out the u of mn minneapolis campus/dinkytown.

Restaurants: my favorite is bar la grassa. It's always good. If you're a foodie/adventurous, go to travail/the rookery in robbinsdale. If you're slightly adventurous but want some more traditional offerings or want to try a less expensive but still delish tasting menu, go to pig ate my pizza (also in robbinsdale and probably a tie with blg as my current favorite restaurant).

I'd love to do a gtg while you're here!

[nahoku]

Ooh, I also like butcher and the boar and the blue door pub for restaurants. Or go to matts and try a jucy Lucy!

[thedutchgirl]

Definitely find out whether you will be by Target Field, where the Twins play, or Target Center, where the Timberwolves play. Very different areas of downtown.

I agree with the restaurant recommendations of others, although I confess the love of Keys has always baffled me.

[miesl]

Aug 21, 2014 9:31:49 GMT -5 nahoku said:

Ooh, I also like butcher and the boar and the blue door pub for restaurants. Or go to matts and try a jucy Lucy!

Or go to all the places (Matt's, 5-8, Blue Door, the Nook) for juicy lucys.

[wino]

Aug 21, 2014 9:34:33 GMT -5 miesl said:

Aug 21, 2014 9:31:49 GMT -5 nahoku said:

Ooh, I also like butcher and the boar and the blue door pub for restaurants. Or go to matts and try a jucy Lucy!

Or go to all the places (Matt's, 5-8, Blue Door, the Nook) for juicy lucys.

I love The Nook! It's in St. Paul and usually you have to be prepped to wait for a table, but it is totally worth every minute of the wait. 

[bbaggins]

Welcome! You'll love it here and will soon complain about the weather 350 days of the year.

Pizza Luce is quite tasty and I also enjoy Davanni's another local chain.

It'll be easy to spot the less than desirable areas some of which are near Target Field but if you're in the Warehouse or Northeast then you should be a-ok!

The Guthrie is a beautiful theatre and located in a pretty area by the river. I like to take scenic boat rides on the Mississippi in the fall because it's so beautiful.

Hope you enjoy your time here. I quite like it!

[julez]

Ok, so who is going to spearhead this GTG? When do you arrive, rak? Let's get something on the calendar!

I'm happy to plan/help plan, so long as everyone is cool with me popping on and offline and going missing for perhaps a day or two at a time. Ha. But it will get done.

[cinderbella]

My nephew is a cook at the Nook It's good shit.

Also - Barrio in Minneapolis. Especially if you like tequila.

[julez]

I'm in agreement with nugget, especially about Cosettas. But I have to respectfully disagree with MOA. There are ways to shop our tax-free clothes without going to MOA.

[gummy]

Aug 21, 2014 10:24:43 GMT -5 julez said:

I'm in agreement with nugget, especially about Cosettas. But I have to respectfully disagree with MOA. There are ways to shop our tax-free clothes without going to MOA.

Am I the only native Minnesotan that freaking loves MOA?  I love it man.  Everything all in one place.  I'd even go on a Saturday before Christmas

[spindle92]

Aug 21, 2014 10:28:09 GMT -5 gummy said:

Aug 21, 2014 10:24:43 GMT -5 julez said:

I'm in agreement with nugget, especially about Cosettas. But I have to respectfully disagree with MOA. There are ways to shop our tax-free clothes without going to MOA.

Am I the only native Minnesotan that freaking loves MOA?  I love it man.  Everything all in one place.  I'd even go on a Saturday before Christmas

I think so.
That place is hell on earth.

[cinderbella]

Aug 21, 2014 10:28:09 GMT -5 gummy said:

Aug 21, 2014 10:24:43 GMT -5 julez said:

I'm in agreement with nugget, especially about Cosettas. But I have to respectfully disagree with MOA. There are ways to shop our tax-free clothes without going to MOA.

Am I the only native Minnesotan that freaking loves MOA?  I love it man.  Everything all in one place.  I'd even go on a Saturday before Christmas

Nope - I actually really enjoy it, too. Even during the holiday season. We're having dinner there at Benihana tonight

[btay]

Aug 21, 2014 10:28:09 GMT -5 gummy said:

Aug 21, 2014 10:24:43 GMT -5 julez said:

I'm in agreement with nugget, especially about Cosettas. But I have to respectfully disagree with MOA. There are ways to shop our tax-free clothes without going to MOA.

Am I the only native Minnesotan that freaking loves MOA?  I love it man.  Everything all in one place.  I'd even go on a Saturday before Christmas

 I like it on a normal day, but no way in heck am I setting foot in that place on a Saturday before Christmas. 

[wino]

Aug 21, 2014 10:28:09 GMT -5 gummy said:

Aug 21, 2014 10:24:43 GMT -5 julez said:

I'm in agreement with nugget, especially about Cosettas. But I have to respectfully disagree with MOA. There are ways to shop our tax-free clothes without going to MOA.

Am I the only native Minnesotan that freaking loves MOA?  I love it man.  Everything all in one place.  I'd even go on a Saturday before Christmas

I like going out there.