Recently in Minneapolis Category

Aquatic Adventures in Minneapolis

Wednesday June 30, 2010

Lake Harriet Photo 1.jpgMinnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes, and one of the best is located right in Minneapolis. Lake Harriet is an absolute paradise in the summer, with beaches for swimming, plenty of boating activities, and picnic areas where you can dine with a view of the water. Beach bums looking for a relaxing scene congregate at Southeast Beach, where the only sounds are the wind in the trees and waves lapping against the shore. Lyndale Park Gardens is located on the northeast shore, offering visitors a rose garden, a perennial garden, a rock garden, and even a hummingbird and butterfly garden for your summer strolling pleasure. And if you're an amateur ornithologist, the Roberts Bird Sanctuary is next door. North Beach is known for a bit more action, with a lively beach and picnic area, boat rentals, and a concession stand. As it's summer, it's also hosting a series of live music events with the 2010 Lake Harriet Concert Series, which features entertainment on its castle-shaped band shell every single day through September 11. Independence Day revelers can enjoy the sounds of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, while the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra and Jill Holly perform on August 15. Who needs the ocean when you've got such a great waterfront scene right here? Starwood has several hotels in Minneapolis, including the stylish W Minneapolis - The Foshay and the new Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis.

[image via minneapolisparks.org]

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prohibition_foshay.jpgIt's no surprise that cocktail culture is strong in Minneapolis — the long winters call for strong and well-made drinks. On the 27th floor of the W Minneapolis in the landmark Foshay Tower is home to one of the bars on the forefront of the movement: Prohibition. It has a cool, swanky vibe to match the drinks. For a more modern look, head to the W's lobby and hang out in The Living Room.

Not far away, the Bradstreet Crafthouse mixes carefully crafted cocktails with a warm atmosphere, and the result is a packed room. Honey, a lounge downstairs from the pan-Asian restaurant Ginger Hop in Northeast Minneapolis, slings classics like the Sazerac alongside its own inventions, such as the thyme-tinged Volstead. The room is dark, perfect for a sultry evening's indulgence.

Moving away from cocktails for a moment, moto-i claims to be the only sake brewpub outside of Japan. True or not, the sake is high quality, and the izikaya-stle menu helps soak it up.

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Le Meridien Chambers Intro.jpgWith several renowned museums and galleries, Minneapolis is an art lover's town, and now it has a new hotel befitting its cultural status. Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis is now open, welcoming its first guests to an oasis of comfort and style just steps from the city's Hennepin Theater District. The hotel spans two landmark buildings in the heart of the city, and its 60 spacious guest rooms are filled with the latest amenities, from pillow-top mattresses with 400 thread count sheets and flat screen TVs to walk-in rain showers. So spend your day at the Walker Art Center, one of the nation's "big five" modern art museums, which is filled with masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, and Edward Hopper. Then head back to browse the hotel's own art collection, which includes the work of the Young British Artist movement, with more than 250 works by artists such as Damien Hirst, Gavin Turk, and Tracey Emin. As night falls upon the city, make your way to D'Amico Kitchen, where you can enjoy a succulent meal of Italian specialties in an atmosphere of casual elegance. Discuss your favorite artwork over a bottle of fine wine and start making plans for your next cultural getaway. Visit here for more information or to make a reservation at this stylish new destination.

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she1493ex.70349.jpgMinneapolis is a great town for shopping, with everything from tiny storefront boutiques to major department stores catering to every taste and budget. This winter is an excellent time for a Minneapolis shopping getaway, with a couple of special offers that make it easier than ever to scour the town for bargains. With the Holiday Gift offer, guests at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South, Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel, and Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel will receive a $100 Macy's gift card and a 10% Macy's Discount Visitor Coupon for each night of their stay. The offer is good now through March 31, 2010, perfect for pre- or post-holiday shopping. With the American Girl offer, you and your special girl can enjoy an exclusive overnight package at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South, which is just minutes from the newest American Girl store at Mall of America. Deluxe indoor poolside rooms with cabana start from $149 per night and come with a special check-in welcome letter to your girl and her doll, one American Girl doll-sized travel bed to keep, a chocolate bear delivered to the room, a complimentary American Girl in-room movie, a special good night message, and breakfast for two adults, girl, and doll in the Nine Mile Grill. Whichever offer you choose, you'll find Minneapolis to be the ultimate shopping city.

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minnesota_vintage.jpgThe Twin Cities really know how to do retro. From rockabilly wear to Eames-inspired furniture, you'll find everything you need to recreate the era of your choice, from the 1950s through the 1980s, in Minneapolis and St. Paul's myriad cool, independently owned boutiques. One region with a particularly concentrated cluster is the St. Paul Retro Loop, a group of five shops in the Merriam Park East neighborhood.

Beginning with Up Six, the loop's southernmost stop housed in a row of brick storefronts at 157 Snelling Ave. N, you'll find a mix of vintage clothing, furniture, records, shoes, and accessories. Just around the corner at 1287 Selby, Lula is a treasure trove of crinoline ball gowns, flirty cocktail dresses, pill box hats, fur-trimmed coats, and colorful printed scarves. Stock up on a suitcase's worth, and then head up to University Avenue, where at number 1910 you'll hit the jackpot for Mod Squad era stuff at Swank. Space-age finds straight out of The Jetsons overflow onto the sidewalk. A half mile up the road, there's a den of art deco to Danish modern delights at Classic Retro @ Pete's, and a bit further on, more Scandinavian treasures, including a range of glassware and pottery, and a well-selected mix of furniture fill Succotash.

The St. Paul Retro Loop is just six miles from Aloft Minneapolis, so after a full day of shopping you can sink a few balls, like a 1960s pool shark at the re:mix(SM) lounge.

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Gourmet Street Food in the USA

Tuesday September 8, 2009

As I've mentioned, there's lots of great food to be had from food trucks these days. It's not just greasy burgers and post-bar food, either. Here are a couple gourmet options on wheels around the country.

Before you explore the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, stop at the Chef Shack for a gourmet snack at the Mill City Farmers Market, two blocks from the Aloft Minneapolis.

In New Orleans, be on the lookout for a big purple truck. That's Que Crawl, the traveling home of Chef Nathaniel Zimet; it's usually outside Tipitina's on weekends, and near Mimi's on the Marigny on Monday nights& a leisurely walk up Decatur from the W New Orleans - French Quarter. The truck was so popular that Zimet opened a stationary restaurant for his gourmet creations, Boucherie, earlier this year.

In San Francisco, it worked the other direction for Chef Laurent Katgely: he opened his Spencer on the Go truck long after his Chez Spencer was established as a top destination for French. Now for a few bucks you can pick up late-night grilled sweetbreads or ratatouille in a cup in the parking lot of a SoMa oil change shop before heading back to the W San Francisco.

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Walking Food at the Minnesota State Fair

Friday September 4, 2009

Heading up to Minneapolis for the Minnesota State Fair this weekend? If so, prepare yourself — and especially your stomach — for some of the most amazing collection of foods on sticks ever assembled. If it can be skewered and it's edible, there's a good chance you'll find it here and at a reasonable price; it's a good thing there's lots of walking involved or you might hit a food coma wall before noon.

Before noon? Sure -- there's plenty of breakfast to be had at the fair. So head over from the Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel for a stick-based buffet. Get a full meal in one Scotch egg, or maybe hit the Spam counter for a breakfast sandwich. Even your morning coffee can be on a stick, if you don't mind it being frozen.

For lunch, you might seek out some tasty deep-fried pickles or cheese curds to go with your third-pound slab of bacon or turkey leg. Or for something healthier, seek out a wild rice burger in the Food Building (yes, there's a Food Building — but there's food everywhere at this fair.) And don't forget the roasted corn.

For dessert, go with the traditional bucket(!) of Sweet Martha's cookies — and the $1 all-you-can-drink glass of fresh milk.

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Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Night.jpgIf you've got a meeting, reunion, or family event to plan this summer, consider hosting it in one of Starwood's ten hotels in Minnesota. The weather in Minnesota is absolutely gorgeous in the summer, and whether you're looking for a stylish hotel in an urban setting or a quiet retreat for a social gathering, you'll find everything you need to make your event a smashing success. The Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South (pictured), for example, features 564 recently renovated guest rooms and suites, four restaurants and lounges, a state-of-the-art fitness center and pool, and 38 meeting rooms totaling 70,000 square feet. Spend your day with the people who matter to you, and then retreat to your spacious room to rest up for the next morning's activities. Planning an event couldn't be easier. With online tools to create a proposal and budget, you'll be ready for your big event before you know it. For more information, visit Starwood Meetings & Events, Minnesota and make your dream event into a reality.

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2009 Beard Award Winners Tour

Thursday May 7, 2009

amadatapas.jpgThe James Beard Foundation Awards were this week, so I thought it might be fun to highlight some of this year's award-winning regional chefs for you to check out on your travels. While there were many winners in New York, we'll save those for another post.

Should you find yourself at the aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center, be sure to make the trek into town to visit FIG, where Chef Mike Lata cooks with seasonal and locally grown ingredients in a relaxed, contemporary "neighborhood restaurant" atmosphere. FIG stands for "Food is Good," and it lives up to its name.

Amada is a 3-minute walk from the Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia, and brings a little Old World Spain to the birthplace of our nation with chef Jose Garces' authentic tapas. If the idea of salad wrapped in Serrano ham sets your mouth watering, you have something to look forward to in Philly.

La Belle Vie matches the hip sophistication of Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis. Chef Tim McKee's kitchen produces lovely continental cuisine for the theater crowd, as well as five- and eight-course tasting menus for those for whom dinner is theater. The lounge has developed a reputation for some of the most innovative cocktails in the Twin Cities — including the Montgomery Burns, made with prune-infused gin and fresh lemon sweet-and-sour.

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Starpick the Hotel Ivy, Minneapolis

Wednesday May 6, 2009

Hotel Ivy Exterior Dusk.jpgWith longer days and warmer weather, Minneapolis is bursting with springtime activities, from a stroll along the tree-lined walkways of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to a picnic by the waterfalls of Minnehaha Park. If you've never had the pleasure of exploring this vibrant city - or you just need to be reacquainted - here's a great opportunity. The Hotel Ivy, Minneapolis is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. This Luxury Collection property occupies the historic Ivy Tower in downtown Minneapolis, just steps from Orchestra Hall and some of the city's finest shops and restaurants. While you'll want to take in the sights of the city, be sure to spend some time exploring the hotel itself. Go for a workout in the state-of-the-art fitness center, followed by a visit to the Ivy Spa Club, which provides a range of modern and traditional massage treatments in 14 treatment rooms. The cuisine reigns supreme at Porter & Frye, the hotel's signature restaurant, while classic cocktails are king at Porter & Frye Lounge, the perfect place to toast this fair city and dream up your next great getaway. Of course, the Hotel Ivy is just one of dozens of Starpicks properties this week, so check the list to find the destination of your dreams.

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