Moving to Minneapolis

We will be moving to Minneapolis Jan 1. My husband will be working in Wayzata and we are looking to rent a townhome in a nice city/town within walking distance to the town center that may have a few restaurants and cafe%26#39;s and is also within walking distance to the train station to get into the twin cities. Any suggestions? We are relocating from England although originally from WI.

Moving to Minneapolis

Hi there! Wayzata is kind of drive as it lays outside of downtown Minneapolis by like 10 miles or so. Though, you can take Hwy 12 and it turns into 394 which goes directly to Minneapolis. Sadly there are no trains that connect these 2 cities (or most cities in MN) but the bus system does. You might want to consider living downtown and then having your husband drive to work in Wayzata every day as he would always drive against rush hour traffic and then you could be downtown and able to walk/bus anywhere you want. Wayzata is a nice suburb but, it almost seems like you need to have a car most places in the burbs because everything is so spread out compared to Europe. I would consider renting downtown and getting a car to drive to Wayzata and all around the cities. But, that is me. I love having a car and downtown so I might be biased. If you end up in Wayzata I am sure you could make it work. To check places out to rent I would go to rent.com I used them once and it was nice to have someone helping me set up appointments to check out places (and they gave me maps and phone numbers to those apartments as well).

Moving to Minneapolis

Until this thread gets removed for being relocation related.....

Living downtown Mpls and commuting to Wayzata might be an option for providing the ';town center'; feel yet a fairly easy driving counter-commute (opposite of main flow) via I-394. On the other hand Wayzata is on Lake Minnetonka and there are some fairly nice areas in which to rent. It does have a fairly charming but small downtown area with a few restaurants....like Sunsets...but definitely no train station.

Another rental option is the glut of homes for rent due to owners who can%26#39;t sell in this market. Some very good bargains can be had. One agency specilaizing in this (including townhouses) is Metro Resource Group ( http://www.metrorentalsonline.com/ ).

If you really want a pedestrian lifestyle, locate close to the downtowns. I would consider N Hennepin, St Anthony Main or near one of the Lakes (there are 3 of them) in Minneapolis. In St Paul, I would consider the Grand Ave, Highland and Cathedral Hill.

Working in Wayzata will mean you%26#39;ll need a car to get around, regardless of where you settle. Wayzata %26amp; Excelsior have great pedestrian malls, but I don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;s that urban, community feel you%26#39;re seeking. My coworker grew up / lives in Excelsior and drives to a bus stop when coming downtown.

there%26#39;s a fairly newer development in downtown along the river - between Hennepin Avenue %26amp; Plymouth Avenue NE, tucked behind the new Federal Reserve.

A few new co-workers ended up buying there and seem to enjoy it and location.

Definitely live downtown Minneapolis! There are a variety of housing options. Also, despite no train from Minneapolis to Wayzata, there is excellent express bus service that could get your husband into Wayzata no problem, if he should choose not to drive daily.

If you%26#39;re looking for something less urban, the cities along the 394 corridor---Golden Valley and Minnetonka, both have some very nice neighborhoods and are only 10 minutes from the heart of town. I think living in Wayzata would be wonderful. It%26#39;s a bit quiet, but pretty %26amp; quaint with restaurants %26amp; shops. It, too, is maybe 15 or 20 mins from downtwon. I wish you well!

I%26#39;ll take a crack at answering for you, but more information is needed to make a good recommendation (ie. age, kids, interests, etc.). A lot of people seem to recommend downtown living, but it%26#39;s only right if that%26#39;s your thing, because in many ways it%26#39;s more expensive to live in the downtown area. Based on my own interests, I would consider the uptown/Lakes area and St. Louis Park/Golden Valley as in-between places with a good balance.

Definitely tour the areas and walk/drive around.

I work in downtown Wayzata. I recommend you live and work in Wayzata. You can walk anywhere you want in the town. You will only need one car and can take a bus downtown if you want.

Craig Beal - owner Travel Beyond

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Newlyweds in Minneapolis -- hotels?

My husband%26#39;s boss gave us an overnight trip to Minneapolis as a wedding gift. We%26#39;ve never been to The Cities (just moved to Duluth from Florida) and will be staying -- on the boss%26#39; dime -- at the Chambers Hotel, which looks nice, next Saturday night. Friday night we%26#39;re going to be staying on our own and haven%26#39;t selected a hotel yet. Being near The Chambers wouldn%26#39;t be bad but it%26#39;s not essential, especially considering I have no idea what that neighborhood is like anyway. We like neighborhoods with bars, record stores, and good vegetarian grub.

Under $100 a night would be fine, it doesn%26#39;t have to be fancy (that%26#39;s Saturday!), and it definitely doesn%26#39;t need to be a chain hotel. Bonus points for big neon signs. Any ideas?

Newlyweds in Minneapolis -- hotels?

You%26#39;ll like Chambers -

check out the roof top bar, as well as across the street - the rooftop bar at Seven.

Close to Chambers, you might be able to get decent rates, depending on what else is going on in town at the time. Try Expedia for downtown Minneapolis - try

Westin

W-Foshay

Marquette

Radisson

Marriot CityCenter

The Hotel Minneapolis

Minneapolis Grand

Crowne Plaza.

We have an Electric Fetus, like Duluth.

Even a Hell%26#39;s Kitchen.

Try Cafe Brenda for Vegetarian.

All else fails, try Priceline. Most likely you%26#39;ll get the Hyatt or Millenium.

Newlyweds in Minneapolis -- hotels?

I think your budget number of $100 is a little low for a weekend rate in downtown, so I would echo the recommendation of Priceline (there are a couple boards that people use to guide them with bids, betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com).

I reassessed our needs and ended up booking us, thanks to recommendations of betterbidding and Priceline a $67 room, taxes included, at the Hilton Bloomington on American Blvd West.

My husband gets in late from a West Coast flight that evening and I think our priorities will be comfort and room service, so we%26#39;ll save heading out on the town for Saturday!

I second using priceline.

I did that and got the Hilton by the convention center for $75 I think.

Just say 3 stars downtown Minneapolis.

I do like The Grand Hotel for fancy romantic stuff and The Graves for fun.

Fun and or fetish clubs????

Traveling to Minni Nov14th for a long weekend and looking for something a little daring and alot of fun?? Any advise for more adventursome activity in and around this area????

Fun and or fetish clubs????

Maybe check out Bongage-A-Go-Go at Ground Zero - Thurs %26amp; Sat nights.

…citysearch.com/profile/5587489/minneapolis_…

Ground Zero

15 NE Fourth St

Minneapolis, MN 55413

Phone: (612) 378-5115

Editorial Review for Ground Zero – by Citysearch Editors

Music is the order of the evening at this cavernous, industrial-chic space in northeast Minneapolis. National tours and DJs also occasionally hit the stage, playing anything from alternative to classics from the 1950s and %26#39;60s. Themes are anything but routine--Thursdays and Saturdays feature voyeuristic ';Bondage a Go-Go'; parties. Expect to see a young-ish, fashionable crowd enjoying reasonably priced stiff drinks and a constantly hopping dance floor.

Here%26#39;s another site description:

http://www.vamp.org/Gothic/Club/116.html

Fun and or fetish clubs????

My fiend has been to ground zero. I guess it is pretty fun.

There is also Sex World, a Minneapolis institution, and the burlesque shows at the 331 Club and the Kitty Kat Klub. Google ';burlesque in Minneapolis';. If you%26#39;re interested in strip clubs, the Seville is upscale and pretty nice.

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Hard Rock Cafe

We have a three and a half hour stopover before our connecting flight to London and are big H.R.C.fans ,how far away is the H.R.C.is it possible to get there and back in a couple of hours and how much would a cab cost roughly.Thanks very much ..Rich

Hard Rock Cafe

It would be about 11 miles to downtown / Block E location of Hard Rock Cafe.

Could probably do it in 25 - 30 min.

I%26#39;d do it, as long as it%26#39;s not around afternoon traffic - between 3:30 - 6:30.

Probably $30 cab ride each way.

Hard Rock Cafe

Thanks for your reply,very helpful,I appreciate it, thankyou....Rich

I would say that as long as all your bags are checked through to the final destination and you have boarding passes, this is doable. But, if you are coming in from overseas and need to clear customs, it will reduce your 3-1/2 hours. I would plan that it could take up to 2 hours for the entire journey (to, from, possible traffic, and 1/2 hour stay). I would take Hwy 55 and stay away from I35 and make sure the cab driver doesn%26#39;t take a ';long'; route. Cost will be pricey, probably $100 with rountrip and wait times.

Seems like an unnecessary layer of stress. And spendy too, considering to maximize your time you%26#39;ll want to have the taxi wait outside for you, which will be costly. I think it will be tighter than others are imagining. The trip there by taxi will take 30 minutes minimum. Hiawatha is the best route but it is bogged down these days with stoplights that turn red every time a light-rail train is in the vicinity. And it could take much longer depending on whether it%26#39;s rush hour. (yes, you could take the light rail, which is cheaper but slower than a taxi, and would require a two-block walk to and from the station to Hard Rock)

The timing of it would worry me. Seems like you%26#39;d have to leave as soon as you got there.

I would tend to agree with mntoathens: Given your time constraints it%26#39;s a long %26amp; expensive trip for a short amount of time.

If you%26#39;re looking for someplace to visit during your layover I would suggest the Mall Of America. It%26#39;s closer to the airport and significantly easier to get to the big mall from the airport than a trip downtown would be. More importantly, it%26#39;s much easier to get back to the airport from the MOM.

Regardless, have a great trip and good luck!

Thanks everybody for your replies ,we will give it a miss this time and hopefully go there when we do Minneapolis properly....Cheers...Rich

Check out Ike%26#39;s in the airport. You won%26#39;t have to leave and go through security again and it is one of my local favorites. The Original is downtown Minneapolis.

Just a late note to other Minneapolis natives for the future: don%26#39;t forget about light rail. Trains run from the Lindbergh terminal to 5th and Nicollet about every 8 minutes during rush hours, 10-15 minutes in off times, and the trip takes 20-25 minutes. Lindbergh to the MOA is an 11-minute trip. Non-rush is $1.75, rush is $2.25, and one fare lasts 2.5 hours. Another option besides cabbing it for folks wanting to get to downtown from the airport--it%26#39;s cheaper and takes the traffic factor out of the equation.

Nice dinner around 4pm downtown

My wife and I are going to a concert in St. Paul at 6pm November 1st, but are staying at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. I was hoping to hit up one of the nicer restaurants/steakhouses before the concert for a treat, but it looks like most don%26#39;t open until 5pm or later on the weekends.

Any suggestions on someplace good to eat around the hotel? She loves lobster and I was hoping to get her one a step up from our local Red Lobster, but that%26#39;s not looking hopeful. So any other suggestions? Price range would probably be around $80 for the two of us.

Any other sites that might be a little romantic would be nice too. She likes photography, so I figured we%26#39;d check out the falls and the stone bridge in the afternoon.

Nice dinner around 4pm downtown

I knew that date rang a bell.....there are two college hockey games at the Xcel Energy Center beginning at 4PM adn then 7PM Parking will be a nightmare.

I will leave restaurant recommendations in Mpls to those more qualified.

Good luck.

www.xcelenergycenter.com/events/detail.jsp…

Nice dinner around 4pm downtown

I checked www.opentable.com and there are a few places downtown that are open at 4pm. Rock Bottom Brewery, McCormick and Schmicks to name a couple. Go to the website put in Minneapolis, the date and time and you can actually make a reservation. They give descriptions, menus, pricing etc... very useful. Good luck.

From what I could find that fit your bill, I would recommend Mannys %26amp; the Monte Carlo.

Also, in regards to romantic, scenic locations, try Loring Park/Walker Sculpture Garden, E %26amp; W River Parkway, Theodore Wirth Parkway and any of the lakes in the city. Colors are peaking right now, you may luck out and catch the tail end.

BTW, if you go to St Anthony Main, be sure to explore the Guthrie. It%26#39;s free to just explore and has a great bar/resaurant. The cantilever balcony is a great romantic view, esp at night. And you really shouldn%26#39;t miss Nyes and the world%26#39;s most dangerous polka band.

Attached to the Radisson, is a nice restaurant called Firelake.

The lunch menu runs til 5 p.m., then turns to dinner menu. I%26#39;ve eaten their before for Christmas, as they are one of the few places open that day.

I would go back.

www.firelakerestaurant.com/directions.php

also -

Dinner starts at 4 p.m. at Manhattans in LaSalle Plaza. It%26#39;s fairly new - never tried it yet, but I do want to. I%26#39;ve heard good reviews. Basically, around the corner from Radisson, south on Hennepin a block.

http://www.manhattansmpls.com/

I was looking at the calendars for downtown St. Paul and wow, it%26#39;s going to be really busy. The two (possibly) sold out hockey games at the X I mentioned earlier, a concert at Roy Wilkens, and an opera at the Ordway. I would suggest checking if your hotel or restaurant runs a shuttle to the St. Paul.

Not sure what venu you%26#39;re heading toward so I%26#39;m using the X as the center point.

In St. Paul a place like Mancini%26#39;s usually runs a shuttle to the X. Far from elegant but a local landmark and very good steaks (they have lobster).

http://www.mancinis.com/

Another St. Paul landmark is the Lexington, though I doubt they run a shuttle.

http://www.the-lexington.com/

Another place in St. Paul I really like is the Downtowner Woodfire Grill. It%26#39;s an easy 4-5 block walk to the River Center/Xcel center and has a wonderful atmosphere.

http://www.downtownerwoodfire.com/

I think sully brings up a good point. You might want to take measures not to have to drive downtown. You could, for example, drive to St. Paul (outside of downtown) to have dinner and arrange a taxi to take you to the show and back from the restaurant in St. Paul, which will be no more cost than the parking would be. (certainly don%26#39;t take a cab from Minneapolis -- way too spendy)

I think Mancini%26#39;s is a good suggestion. It%26#39;s just outside downtown on West Seventh, which you%26#39;d follow to get downtown.

It%26#39;s a little kitschy, but it%26#39;s an old-fashioned char house that is a bit of a neighborhood inistitution (I work about 12 blocks from it). And I know they open at 4:30. And I know they have lobster. I like the place because it%26#39;s old-fashioned. But if you%26#39;re looking for the new-age elegance, probably want another spot.

Have a look at the web site, which has pictures to show you the decor and menu.

http://mancinis.com/

If Mancini%26#39;s doesn%26#39;t fit what you%26#39;re looking for, a step up in style is the Lexington (which sully also mentioned -- we must think alike), which is gorgeous (altho spendy). It%26#39;s in St. Paul, just farther away. Certainly not walking distance to downtown. But an option nonetheless, as it opens at 4:30. Also, you could park and eat there and drive close to downtown following the gorgous route from Grand to Summit Hill to West Seventh.

I%26#39;m just really coming up with restaurants in downtown Mpls that open before 6 or 7 except for a few spots along Nicollet Mall that don%26#39;t seem to fit a nice dinner theme. Just trying to broaden the options.

For a downtown St. Paul location, Kincaid%26#39;s might fit your bill.

http://www.kincaids.com/index.php?locations=St.+Paul

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I%26#39;ve got a lot to choose from now. And thanks for mentioning how busy it%26#39;s going to be in St. Paul that day. We%26#39;re going to the Roy for the Rock the Vote show there, so the warning is appreciated. I think we%26#39;re going to the MN Music Cafe afterwards to see a friend%26#39;s band (Hairball), so maybe we%26#39;ll just park there and catch a taxi to the Roy, then back to the cafe after the show.

MN Music Cafe is near one of my favourate pizza places in the Twin Cities -

Red%26#39;s Savoy Pizza - just off 94 - to the north

http://www.theoriginalredssavoypizza.com/

Iowa Hawkeye Fans - Hawk friendly bar

We were unable to get tickets to the Hawkeye/Gopher game in November. A friend told me there is a Hawkeye fan bar he thought in the Burnsville area, but did not know the name of it. Does anyone have any idea what it may be? And where? Thank you!

Iowa Hawkeye Fans - Hawk friendly bar

I believe there%26#39;s one in Iowa City.

Maybe more

Iowa Hawkeye Fans - Hawk friendly bar

I can%26#39;t think of a Hawkeye bar up here. That said, given the number of Iowa alums and Iowa transplants living up here, you can%26#39;t really go wrong finding a bar that is Hawkeye FRIENDLY -- unless you went near campus or something. You%26#39;ll be fine most places. Iowa fans are pretty common around here.

Major%26#39;s in Bloomington and Gabe%26#39;s in St. Paul are where the Minneapolis Alumni Association host parties for every game.

The last respondant has it right: Majors in Bloominton and Gabes are the best places.

There are several Majors, the Bloomington location is where fans/alums gather. Some of the other locations carry the Hawks on a couple of their screens periodically too.

I know this is old. Google pop you up when I was searching for a twin cities hawkeye bar. I found this.

iowa.rivals.com/content.asp…

It has locations all over the country.

I%26#39;m from Ft. Dodge too. Class of 81.

did you try gopherspaorts.com i also found this flyer

%26lt;a href=';http://imageshack.us';%26gt;%26lt;img src=';…imageshack.us/img216/…tailgate20partyys0.jpg'; border=';0'; alt=';Image Hosted by ImageShack.us';/%26gt;%26lt;/a%26gt;%26lt;br/%26gt;%26lt;a href=';…imageshack.us/img216/…';%26gt;%26lt;img src=';…imageshack.us/img216/…w431.png'; border=';0';%26gt;%26lt;/a%26gt;

i also fund this hope it helps

http://www.iowalum.com/twincities/events.html

Duluth restaurant for Thanksgiving meal?

Any locals that can tell me of restaurants with a Thanksgiving buffet/brunch/prix fixe offering?

Thanks.

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