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localguide |
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- How to Get Around
- Delicious Places: Food on Campus
- Delicious Places: Food Further Out
- Beautiful Places
- Books!
- Records!
- Movies!
- Museums and Art!
- Live Music!
- Festivals and Events!
- Fun for Kids!
- Just Because…
- Day Trips!
- More Lists!
There are two train lines in the Twin Cities. One runs through Minneapolis and the other runs from Minneapolis to St. Paul. Mercifully, they are connected. The MetroTransit trip planner is a reliable way to determine if your destination is near a train stop. Many of the places listed here are. Metro Transit, the agency that runs buses and trains in Minneapolis, has an app (iOS and Android) so you can buy fares right on your phone (buses and train stations also take cash, but have exact change).
There is also a bike sharing system called Nice Ride that has over 100 stations throughout the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Stations are usually pretty close to many of the attractions listed below, including right behind the McNamara Center. Passes are $6 for 24 hours or $15 for a month, you get bikes for 60 minutes at a time before additional fees accrue.
http://www.punchpizza.com
0.1 mile (visible from McNamara)
802 Washington Ave SE
or
2.1 miles
210 East Hennepin Avenue
Fabulous pizzas cooked in a wood-burning oven at 800 degrees for about 90 seconds.
http://www.barluchador.com/
0.1 miles
825 Washington Ave SE
A small restaurant and bar with great tacos. And wrestling on TV.
http://www.haikujapanese.com
0.2 miles
620 Washington Avenue Southeast
http://www.afrodeli.com/
0.2 miles
720 SE Washington Ave
African and Middle Eastern Cuisine
https://www.dayblockbrewing.com
0.3 miles
1105 Washington Ave SE
Reasonable beer and food—also, on occasion, live music.
http://www.viewmenu.com/caspian-bistro-and-marketplace/menu
0.3 miles
2418 University Ave SE
Persian market and Middle Eastern cafe. Has great service, is delicious.
http://www.northrop.umn.edu/visit/surdyks-caf-northrop
0.5 miles
84 Church Street Southeast
If you can't get to the full-stack Surdyk's (vast liquor and cheese selections with fantastic sandwiches), their Northrup cafe will do just fine. Good coffee, too!
https://www.facebook.com/pg/himalayandinkytown/
Review: http://heavytable.com/himalayan-dinkytown/
0.6 miles
1415 4th St SE
Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian food on campus in a fast-casual setting.
https://www.facebook.com/dinkytownannies
0.6 miles
313 14th Ave SE
Malts! Malts! Malts! Also... Burgers! Burgers! Burgers!
https://www.alsbreakfastmpls.com/
0.7 miles
413 14th Ave SE
A teeny tiny institution! And actually great food.
http://www.thepurpleonioncafe.com
0.7 miles
1301 University Ave SE
A great place to set up shop with a laptop, coffee, and something eggy.
http://www.shuangchengrestaurant.com
0.7 miles
1320 4th Street South East Minneapolis
You love Cantonese food and you just need somebody to point you to the good stuff. Right over here, stranger.
http://surlybrewing.com
1.0 miles
520 Malcolm Avenue Southeast
Surly makes really good beer right here in Minnesota. Really good. Unlike many breweries in town, they also have a full restaurant menu.
https://www.almampls.com/
1.2 miles
528 University Ave SE
Half of the building is dedicated to a fine-dining-ish restaurant, but in the last year a more casual cafe opened in the other half of the building. Great coffee and sandwiches during the day, and cocktails and a dinner menu at night.
http://kramarczuks.com/
1.7 miles
215 E Hennepin Ave
Old school Eastern European deli. We never sausage a fine place to dine!
http://foxyfalafel.com/
1.8 miles
791 Raymond Ave, St. Paul
Just off the Raymond Avenue stop on the Green Line (3 stops east of Stadium Village). Excellent falafel and shwarma. Lots of vegan, vegetarian and organic options. Great gluten-free cookies. Serves alcohol.
http://www.norsemandistillery.com/
1.9 miles
451 Taft St NE #19
Distillery with a seasonal cocktail list whose cocktail room doubles as an art gallery. They recently introduced a short new-Nordic inspired food menu.
http://www.brasa.us
1.9 miles
600 East Hennepin Avenue
Lip smacking, finger dripping Southern cooking.
http://blacksheeppizza.com/
Multiple locations
Coal-fired pizza. (It's super good.)
http://surdyks.com
1.9 miles
303 East hennepin Avenue
Select a picnic place (Gold Medal Park? The Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden?) and head to Surdyk's to pick up cheese, crackers, sandwiches, fancy fizzy drinks, and desserts. You'll never forget Minneapolis.
http://izzysicecream.com/locations/minneapolis/
2.1 miles
1100 South 2nd Street
Izzy's ice cream is so, so, so good. And it's right next to Gold Medal Park and the Guthrie Theater.
http://www.urbangrowlerbrewing.com
2.4 miles
2325 Endicott Street, St. Paul
This is a 10-15 minute walk from the Raymond Avenue stop (3 stops east of Stadium Village). It’s a little off the beaten path and surrounded by warehouses but worth a visit.
A woman-owned and operated craft brewery that makes damn good beer and features a small but strong food menu. Two taprooms and a nice patio.
http://acadiapub.com
2.2 miles
329 Cedar Avenue
A bazillion beers (er, 28) on tap + great food.
http://bauhausbrewlabs.com/
2.7 miles
1315 Tyler Street Northeast
There are in Minneapolis, but this one is perhaps the most picturesuqe. Great german-inspired beer, outdoor games, music, and usually have food trucks.
http://www.peacecoffee.com/locations/wonderland-park
2.8 miles
3262 Minnehaha Avenue
If going out of your way for good coffee is a thing you do, it's worth doing it for this place. The specialty drinks are bananas.
http://sociablecider.com/
2.8 miles
1500 Fillmore St NE
It’s hard to throw a growler in NE Minneapolis without hitting a brewery, but if you’re looking for cider (or just gluten free options) Sociable is your place.
https://www.youngjoni.com/
2.8 miles
165 13th Ave NE
One of the more buzzed about restaurants to open recently, featuring pizzas and Asian-influenced sides and salads. You probably need a reservation to get in the dining room, but there’s also a back bar with a more limited menu (expect a line).
http://www.112eatery.com
2.9 miles
112 North 3rd Street
Oh crap. This place is a supernatural kind of good.
http://tattersalldistilling.com/
2.9 miles
1620 Central Ave NE
Arguably the best cocktails in the Twin Cities, in a beautiful space. Can get busy on weekend nights. No food, but there’s usually a food truck parked outside.
http://www.fasika.com/welcome.html
3.4 miles
510 N Snelling Ave
There is no shortage of Ethiopian options in the Twin Cities, but there is an emerging concensus around the greatness of Fasika.
https://fairstate.coop/
3.4 miles
2506 Central Ave NE
Cooperative brewery with a penchant for sour beers. Great food options abound in the neighborhood; feel free to bring in your take out.
http://pimentokitchen.com/
3.5 miles
2524 Nicollet Ave
Casual Jamaican. This concept was a one-time winner of "Food Court Wars," but don’t let that deter you — it’s good.
http://chimborazorestaurant.com/
3.8 miles
2851 Central Avenue NE
Excellent Ecuadorean food on Central Ave, which is a great eating street in general.
http://mattsbar.com
3.9 miles
3500 Cedar Avenue
This is the place you go for the local novelty food: The Jucy Lucy (yes, that is how they spell it). It's also where, not too long ago, POTUS went for the local novelty food. Here's the thing: This novelty is also a legitimately great burger. And Matt's a legitimately great dive. (The other claimant to the "Jucy Lucy" title is the 5-8 Club, a restaurant and bar on the same road but farther south, near the airport.)
http://holaarepa.com/
4.6 miles
3501 Nicollet Ave
Food-truck turned brick and mortar focusing on Venezuelan-style arepa sandwiches and a creative cocktail list.
http://khyberpasscafe.com
4.9 miles
1571 Grand Avenue
The chutney sampler--oh my. And anything with lamb in it.
http://angrycatfishbicycle.com
5.4 miles
4208 South 28th Avenue
If you like your coffee snobs humble, this is your place. This is fussy coffee at its fussiest, and it is a beautiful thing.
http://www.bryantlakebowl.com/
5.25 miles
810 West Lake St.
At the heart of the walkable LynLake area—food, drink, bowling, and shows.
https://seasalteatery.wordpress.com
6.4 miles
4825 Minnehaha Avenue
Let's be honest—this is Minnesota, so we are also talking lake food. But you know what? Lake food is delicious and you'll be eating it at an outdoor table within earshot (and from some tables within eyeshot) of Minnehaha Falls. And the whole thing is just a short walk from a lightrail stop.
7.4 miles
353 University Avenue West, St. Paul
Just off the Western Ave station on the Green line. This has the best banh mi, the other one is good but this is better, and it’s a full Vietnamese grocery as well.
http://www.guthrietheater.org
2.2 miles
818 South 2nd Street
The Guthrie was built for plays, but anybody can walk in anytime. Their "Endless Bridge" overlooks the Mississippi River and the ruins of the city's flour milling industry, but it may still be closed for repairs during SRCCON.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Medal_Park
2.2 miles
Gold Medal Park is a lovely picnic spot. Its right next to the Guthrie, which means you can also get in on the magic of the Endless Bridge. It's also right by Izzy's Ice Cream (see above). Seriously--it is your destiny.
http://paddleshare.org/
Kayak sharing (and all the other gear, like lifejackets paddles & more)! You don't need any of your own equipment, just make an online reservation and off you go. Along the Mississippi River, kayakers will pass natural sights like the heron rookery and other islands amid industrial yards and city infrastructure on a transitioning Minneapolis waterfront. They can also stop for dockside dining at places like Sample Room and Psycho Suzi's.
http://www.comozooconservatory.org/
(Minneapolis) 5.8 miles
200 SE Oak
A beautiful spot in Como Park with some amazing plant displays—while there, stop around to the lakeside—specifically Spring Café or Sweet Science ice cream at the Como Park Pavilion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnehaha_Park
(Minneapolis) 5.2 miles
4825 Minnehaha Avenue
A waterfall, hiking trails, and a great seafood restauraunt. Oh, and you can rent those crazy four-person bikes and pretend you are in the things-are'splendid montage of a romantic comedy!
https://www.walkerart.org/garden/#map-overview/
4.5 miles
1750 Hennepin Avenue
You know that giant spoon with a giant cherry in it that appears on postcards and special broadcasts from Minneapolis? This is where it lives. And that is fine—it's kind of cool. But there is so much more at the Walker Art Center's sculpture garden.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Landscape_Arboretum
26.4 miles
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN
If you need a quiet place for a stroll, or just want to sit and think while surrounded by pretty growy things, you might think about the arboretum. It's a rental-car thing for sure, but there's also a Prince perk: To get there you drive by Paisley Park.
http://www.riverrides.com/
Dr Justus Ohage Blvd, St Paul
9.7 miles
A river boat ride on the Mississippi between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
http://www.wheelfunrentals.com/Locations/Minneapolis
3000 E. Calhoun Pkwy
5.7 miles
Fittingly enough, the biggest city in the Land of 10,000 Lakes features quite a few lakes of its own. Four of them — Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake — are connected by continuous parkland and feature pedestrian and bike trails. You can also rent bikes, pedal boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards for lake-splashing enjoyment.
These bookstores are vetted. There are plenty more that could (and maybe should) be on the list, but you can't go wrong with any of these (unless, of course, if you hate science fiction and decide to truck it out to Uncle Hugo's). Worth noting: Wild Rumpus is a bookstore for kids that has LIVE ANIMALS running around. And we're not just talking about bookstore cats. There are chickens!
http://www.bookhouseindinkytown.com
0.7 miles
1316 4th Street Southeast #201
http://www.midwaybook.com
3.6 miles
1579 University Avenue West
http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/index.shtml
3.9 miles
2864 Chicago Avenue South
http://www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
4.8 miles
604 West 26th Street
http://www.commongoodbooks.com
4.9 miles
38 Snelling Avenue South
http://dreamhavenbooks.com
5.2 miles
2301 East 38th Street
http://www.magersandquinn.com
5.4 miles
3038 Hennepin Avenue
http://www.wildrumpusbooks.com
7.6 miles
2720 West 43rd Street
Children’s books only, and featuring a rotating cast of live animals roaming the store.
Like the bookstores, these record stores are vetted! Three things worth noting: Fifth Element is the record store of the Minneapolis Hip Hop collective Rhymesayers (Atmosphere, Brother Ali, P.O.S.), Electric Fetus is a super gross name and a really great store, and Treehouse used to be called Oar Folkjokeopus and was sort of the uniffial HQ of Twin/Tone records, early home to Minneapolis bands like The Replacements, Babes in Toyland, Soul Asylum, and The Jayhawks. It's also where the guys from Husker Du met.
http://www.barelybrothersrecords.com
1.8 miles
783 Raymond Avenue
https://www.facebook.com/aghartarecords
2.3 miles
2512 University Avenue
http://hymiesrecords.com
2.7 miles
3820 East Lake Street
http://www.electricfetus.com
3.4 miles
2000 4th Avenue South
http://treehouserecords.blogspot.com
4.8 miles
2557 Lyndale Avenue South
http://fifthelementonline.com
4.6 miles
2411 Hennepin Avenue South
You can find the multiplexes easy enough. These are the special theaters. Oh, and the Riverview puts real butter on your popcorn!
http://www.stanthonymaintheatre.com
1.9 miles
115 Southeast Main Street
http://take-up.org
2.7 miles
3258 Minnehaha Avenue
http://www.riverviewtheater.com
4.1 miles
3800 42nd Avenue South
http://www.weisman.umn.edu
0.7 miles
333 East River Parkway
http://www.walkerart.org
4.5 miles
1750 Hennepin Avenue
http://new.artsmia.org
3.5 miles
2400 3rd Avenue South
http://www.millcitymuseum.org/
1.9 miles
704 S 2nd St.
Does a really great job of telling some of the key history of Minnesota—the flour industry. Plus you can get a great view of the city, St. Anthony Falls ,and the Mississippi River from the top of the museum. Also great for children!
https://www.northernclaycenter.org/
1.6 miles
2424 Franklin Ave. E.
http://intermediaarts.org/
5 miles
2822 Lyndale Avenue S
http://www.soovac.org/
5.2 miles
2909 Bryant Avenue S Suite 101
http://highpointprintmaking.org/
5.4 miles
912 W Lake St
http://www.thecedar.org
2.1 miles
416 Cedar Avenue
http://www.patrickscabaret.org
2.8 miles
3010 Minnehaha Avenue
http://turfclub.net
2.4 miles
1601 University Avenue West
http://first-avenue.com/calendar
4.2 miles
701 North 1st Avenue
http://khyberpasscafe.com
4.9 miles
1571 Grand Avenue
http://www.icehousempls.com
4.3 miles
2528 Nicollet Avenue South
http://www.thewarminghouse.net/
5.9 miles
4001 Bryant Ave S
The Twin Cities’ only "listening room," the Warming House is a forty-seat venue below a bike shop. There’s no booze on sale, which has the advantage of people coming to actually listen to the mostly acoustic and Americana focused acts.
http://www.mcm.org/
7.5 miles
10 7th St. W., St. Paul
Essential, especially because they just re-opened June 2017 after a massive renovation and expansion. Ideal for toddlers to age 8, but we’re hearing that some of the new exhibits will cater to kids even a little older than that.
http://www.comozooconservatory.org/
5.9 miles
1225 Estabrook Drive, St Paul
Small, but really nice, zoo; a conservatory; a really cool historical carousel (to ride!); and an amusement park called Como Town that has rides and a splash pad. The rides are geared toward younger kids (toddler through middle school). Como Town and the carousel cost money, but the zoo is free (they ask for donations, however).
https://www.theworks.org/
14 miles
9740 Grand Ave S., Bloomington
http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
16.8 miles
http://www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu/
4.5 miles
1920 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul
https://parks.co.ramsey.mn.us/tamarack/Pages/tamarack.aspx
20 miles
5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Township
http://www.ax-man.com
3.2 miles
1639 University Avenue West
The most freakishly delightful surplus store this side of the Mississippi. Not military surplus, but everything surplus. People walk through the aisles making joyful sounds. For real.
http://houseofballs.com
2.2 miles
1504 South 7th Street
Just trust...
http://www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-ideas/prince-tour-of-minneapolis/
Since the death of Prince in April 2016, a sort of "tour" of key sites has developed. The biggest destination is Paisley Park, which offers daily tours. Paisely Park is located in a suburb south of Minneapolis called Chanhassen. (Sorry the trains don’t run that far). The link above has details and a list of other sites that Prince fans have been visiting.
http://www.cancanwonderland.com/
Located in St. Paul, right on the border with Minneapolis, this is a new venue for adults to be more like kids. Mini golf, amusements, bar and restaurant, arts-based flora and fauna. Unfortunately it’s not close to the train line, but would be a short cab or Uber ride from the conference hotel.
http://www.franconia.org
47.5 miles
29836 Saint Croix Trail, Shafer, MN
There is a house suspended from wires, a sculpture made of boom boxes that reaches towards the heavens... Many of the sculptures are welded, formed, and banged together on site. It's sprawling and it's amazing.
150 miles
It's a 2.5-hour drive, but it's a great little city on a really big lake. If you are a Dylan person, he was born in Duluth and lived there at 519 N. 3rd Ave. E. until he was six. Or maybe you are a Prince person...
http://www.citypages.com/best-of/2018
This covers a lot of other ground, especially in food and entertainment.