march05b.indd ACRL National Conference Tammy Bobrowsky, Belinda E. Lawrence, and Jim Newsome Shopping and dining in the twin cities There’s something for every palate If you are attending ACRL’s 12th National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 7–10, be sure to take a break and in- dulge in the wide variety of shopping and dining opportunities for all tastes and budgets. From the many stores in exciting down- town Minneapolis to the Mall of America, the nation’s largest shopping mall, one can suc- cessfully shop for just about anything. Feeling hungry? There is a wide variety of places to eat, from the many restaurants within a few blocks of the Convention Center, to unique neighborhood cafes and ethnic eateries throughout the metro area. And remember that on Friday evening, April 8, there will be an opportunity to have dinner with colleagues, where you will be escorted to a local restaurant for great food and conversation with peers. There will be several Dinners with Colleague choices; sign- up sheets and descriptions will be posted at the Local Arrangements/Hospitality Desk on site. Downtown Minneapolis shopping In the heart of downtown Minneapolis is pe- destrian-friendly Nicollet Mall. Just a short walk from the Minneapolis Convention Cen- ter and many downtown hotels, the mall stretches across 11 blocks (Washington Ave- nue to 13th Street) and is rife with shopping opportunities. In case of inclement weather, © The Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association most downtown stores can be navigated by the skyway system. You’ll find many well-known stores down- town and along Nicollet Mall: Saks Fifth Avenue (655 Nicollet Mall), Ann Taylor, Neiman Marcus (505 Nicollet Mall), Target (900 Nicollet Mall), Barnes & Noble (801 Nicollet Mall), and Crate & Barrel (915 Nicollet Mall). If you stop off at the Marshall Field’s (700 Nicollet Mall) building (formerly Dayton’s), make sure you get a glimpse of the Mary Tyler Moore statue in front. Also located on Nicollet Mall is the Minneapolis City Center with over 70 stores (40 South 7th Street and Nicollet). The City Center is currently under renovation, but many stores are still open. Downtown Minneapolis restaurants You don’t have to travel far from the Conven- tion Center to find good eating. Within eight blocks, there are about 75 quality restaurants, with many clustered along the Nicollet Mall. High-quality American food is everywhere downtown, including the long-time stan- dards Manny’s Steakhouse (1300 Nicol- Tammy Bobrowsky is librarian at Bemidji State University, tbobrowsky@bemidjistate.edu; Belinda E. Lawrence is circulation supervisor at the College of St. Catherine Library, belawrence@stkate.edu; and Jim Newsome is head of public services at the College of St. Catherine Library, jmnewsome@stkate.edu © 2005 Tammy Bobrowski, Belinda E. Lawrence, and Jim Newsome March 2005 219 C&RL News mailto:jmnewsome@stkate.edu mailto:belawrence@stkate.edu mailto:tbobrowsky@bemidjistate.edu let Mall, 612-339-9900, www.mannyssteak- house.com) and Ruth’s Chris Steak House (920 2nd Avenue, 612-672-9000, www.ruth- schris.com), or the highly innovative Ocea- naire Seafood Room (1300 Nicollet Mall, 612-333-BASS, www.theoceanaire.com). But try some of the ethnic restaurants, too! Fa- vorites include Pings Szechuan Bar and Grill (1401 Nicollet Avenue, 612-874-9404) for some of the best Chinese downtown; Salsa a la Salsa (1420 Nicollet Avenue, 612- 813-1970), where Mexican seafood and less familiar south-of-the-border fare shares table space with the usual Tex-Mex; Sawatdee (1005 Nicollet Mall, 612-348-2838), part of a long-standing local chain of innovative Thai cookery; or The New Delhi (1400 Nicollet Avenue, 612-813-0000) for Indian food. Want to try Minnesota barbecue? Market Bar-B- Que is your place (1414 Nicollet Avenue, 612-872-1111). Note the names on the wall of many celebrity diners of the past. And for a most entertaining evening, the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant (1010 Nicollet Mall, 612-332-1010, www.dakotacooks.com) draws crowds for the nightly music, and just as much for the food. Uptown Minneapolis shopping Uptown (www.uptownminneapolis.com) is the name for the trendy Minneapolis neigh- borhood located on Lake Calhoun, just a short bus (try the Route 17) or car ride from downtown Minneapolis. Aside from many charming houses and parks, Uptown is home to an array of popular shops, restau- rants, and theaters. Located in the heart of Uptown at the intersection of Hennepin and Lake Street is Calhoun Square (3001 Hennepin Avenue S., www.calhounsquare.com). Calhoun Square is home to Kitchen Window (www. kitchenwindow.com), one of America’s top individual gourmet specialty stores; Borders Bookstore; and many other unique clothing and gift stores. Open 9 a.m. to midnight each day, Cheapo Records (1300 W. Lake Street, 612-827-8238) has a warehouse-sized col- lection of new and used CDs and records of all genres and tastes. It’s also a great place to explore Minnesota’s vibrant local music scene. If you’re looking for good buys on books, try local favorite BookSmart (2914 Hennepin Avenue S., 612-823-5612), which has a large collection of used and new books. Check out the basement for good bargains. Magers & Quinn (3038 Hennepin Avenue S., 612-822- 4611, www.magersandquinn.com) also carry many used and new books but specialize in unusual and hard-to-fi nd editions. Sinus sufferers beware! Walking into P e n z e y ’ s ( 3 0 2 8 H e n n e p i n Av e n u e , 612-824-9777, www.penzeys.com) is like walking into a cloud of curry. Still, food lovers will enjoy the popular spice purveyors. The fashion-conscious may enjoy check- ing out Urban Outfi tters (3006 Hennipin Avenue S., www.urbanoutfi tters.com) and Ragstock (1433 West Lake Street, www. ragstock.com). Both stores feature new and vintage clothing. Uptown Minneapolis restaurants Don’t let the fact that it’s a chain scare you away. Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues (Cal- houn Square, 3001 Hennepin Avenue, 612- 822-9900, www.famousdaves.com) not only has won awards for its food but also for music. The blues are played at this Famous Dave’s location most every night. In the same complex you will fi nd Figlio’s (Cal- houn Square, 3001 Hennepin Avenue, 612- 822-1688, www.figlio.com). Figlio’s offers a diverse daily menu including many Italian favorites and standard American fare with a twist. On the corner of Franklin and Lyndale stands Rudolph’s Bar-B-Que (1933 Lyndale Avenue S., 612-871-8969), an award-winning restaurant. Rudolph’s has been a landmark in the Twin Cities for 28 years. Newly opened is The IN (983 Hennepin Avenue, 612-617- 2000) offering all-organic dishes with many vegetarian and vegan options. It also houses an on-site chocolatier. One of the fi rst Viet- namese restaurants to open in the Twin Cities, the Lotus (3037 Hennepin Avenue, 220C&RL News March 2005 http:www.figlio.com http:www.famousdaves.com http:ragstock.com http:tters.com www.urbanoutfi http:www.penzeys.com http:www.magersandquinn.com http:kitchenwindow.com http:www.calhounsquare.com http:www.uptownminneapolis.com http:www.dakotacooks.com http:www.theoceanaire.com http:schris.com www.ruth http:house.com www.mannyssteak Minneapolis-St. Paul Maps and transportation www.metrotransit.org www.mplsconvctr.org www.downtownmpls.com www.downtownstpaul.com Local Information The Rake Magazine (www.rakemag.com) City Pages (www.citypages.com) Minneapolis St.Paul Magazine (www.mspmag.com) 612-825-2263) is famous for its mock duck and tofu dishes. If you are in the mood for sushi, Sushi Tango (Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Avenue, 612-822-7787, www.su- shitango.com) has a large menu and a dis- tinct atmosphere. The Bryant-Lake Bowl (810 W. Lake Street, 612-825-3737, www. bryantlakebowl.com) includes something for everyone: bar, restaurant, bowling alley, and theatre. Try their Philly sandwich made with sliced bison. One of the best Indian restaurants found in the Twin Cities is the intimate Passage to India (1401 W. Lake Street, 612-827-7518). The restaurant has won numerous local awards and boasts a massive selection of tasty Indian breads. For a taste sensation, visit the French Meadow Bakery and Café (2610 Lyndale Avenue S., 612-870-7855, www.frenchmeadow.com/ cafe.htm). The French Meadow offers all-or- ganic yeast-free breads to be eaten alone or along with its large menu of vegan and veg- etarian dishes. They also offer great wines and coffees. If you like spicy, make a visit to Chino Latino (2916 Hennepin Avenue S., 612-824-7878). Chino Latino specializes in cuisines from the equatorial regions of Asia, Central America, and South America, served in a breathtaking, sumptuous atmosphere. St. Paul shopping St. Paul is located 13 miles east of Min- neapolis. Don’t let the distance deter you from visiting this charming and his- toric city. The best shopping in St. Paul can be found along Grand Avenue (www. grandave.com). The avenue, spanning from the banks of the Mississippi River to downtown St. Paul, has a unique blend of shops, galleries, restaurants, and local character. A great place to start is Victoria Crossing, which is located at the intersec- tion of Grand and Victoria Avenues. Well- known stores in the Victoria Crossing area include Birkenstock (1917 Grand Ave- nue), Aveda (857 Grand Avenue), Pottery Barn (870 Grand Avenue), and J. Crew (870 Grand Avenue). Lesser known stores, but gems in their own right, include: Bound to Be Read (870 Grand Avenue, 651-646-2665, www.bound- toberead.com), an independent store with a wide selection, café, and frequent musical performances or author readings; Bibilot (1082 Grand Avenue, 651-222-0321, www. bibelotshops.com), a charming store that car- ries clothing, jewelry, stationery, and all kinds of things you never knew you needed; and Cooks of Crocus Hill (877 Grand Avenue, 651-292-0949, www.cooksofcrocushill.com), a wonderful store for cooking equipment, supplies, and foods. Other shops of interest include: The Bead Monkey (867 Grand Av- enue, 651-222-7729, www.thebeadmonkey. com), a jewelry-making store with a wide variety of beads and fi xings; The Yarnery (840 Grand Avenue 651-222-5793), carry- ing yarns and knitting supplies; Lagos Hill (867 Grand Avenue, 651-224-6644) carrying artwork, furniture, and jewelry. St. Paul restaurants Aside from the many shopping venues, Grand Avenue is also home to many restau- rants where local residents and shoppers eat and converse in relaxed surroundings. Fa- vorites along Grand Ave (from west to east) are Sidney’s (917 Grand Avenue, 651-227- 5000, www.sidneysrestaurant.com), with an eclectic menu to please all tastes, includ- ing scrumptious wood-roasted chicken and pizza; Café Latte (850 Grand Avenue, 651- 224-5687, www.cafelatte.com), a shopper’s March 2005 221 C&RL News http:www.cafelatte.com http:www.sidneysrestaurant.com www.thebeadmonkey http:www.cooksofcrocushill.com http:bibelotshops.com http:toberead.com www.bound http:grandave.com http:www.frenchmeadow.com http:bryantlakebowl.com http:shitango.com http:www.mspmag.com http:www.citypages.com http:www.rakemag.com http:www.downtownstpaul.com http:www.downtownmpls.com http:www.mplsconvctr.org http:www.metrotransit.org retreat known especially for fi lling salads, sandwiches, and tasty desserts; Dixie’s on Grand (695 Grand Avenue, 651-222-7345, www.dixiesongrand.com), headquarters for Southern cooking of all types; and Saji-Ya (695 Grand Avenue, 651-292-0444, www. sajiya.com), with its sushi bar, tempanyaki tables, and a wide variety of other hearty Japanese cuisine. If you take the trip to downtown St. Paul, try the St. Paul Grill (St. Paul Hotel, 350 Market Street, 651-224-455, www.stpaulgrill. com) which some consider the fi nest restau- rant in the area. The hotel is located in Rice Park, so if you eat there, plan to cross the park and visit the newly remodeled St. Paul Public Library, a major urban treasure. For a one-of-a-kind eating experience, Babani’s Kurdish Restaurant (544 St. Peter Street, 651-602-9964) makes excellent meals and will introduce you to a new cuisine in a quiet atmosphere. Other metro area shopping For some serious shopping, jump on the light rail from downtown Minneapolis and take a trip to the Mall of America (MOA) (www.mallofamerica.com) located at the crossroads of Interstate 494 and Highway 77, in Bloomington. Touted as the “nation’s largest retail and entertainment complex,” the MOA has over 500 shops; Camp Snoopy, the indoor family theme park; Underwater Adventures, the world’s largest underground aquarium; and the LEGO Imagination Center, a four-story LEGO showplace There’s also a 14-screen theater, bowling lanes, nightclubs, and much, much more. If that’s not enough, © The Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association C&RL News March 2005 just north of the Mall is the Ikea furniture store (800 Ikea Way, www.ikea.com). Sound overwhelming? It is, but many can’t resist a visit, even if it’s just to be able to say they’ve been there. ACRL is sponsoring a trip to the MOA during the conference. Information can be found on the conference Web site (www.acrl. org/minneapolis, click on “Overview”). Other metro area restaurants Besides offering the standard food court fare (and lots of it), the MOA has a diversity of sit-down, full-service restaurants. If you are in the mood to eat during an indoor rain shower, you’ll love the Rainforest Café (MOA, 102 South Avenue, 952-854- 7500, www.rainforestcafe.com). Their menu is inspired by the cuisines of Mexico, Asia and the Caribbean. Or if you wish for an escape to a tropical island, try Kokomo’s Island Café (MOA, 319 South Avenue, 952-698-3072). Order the fish tacos or the Luau Feast. The California Café (MOA, 368 South Avenue, 952-854-2233, www. californiacafe.com), voted “best appetiz- ers” by the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine , offers a varied multicultural cuisine and includes an award-winning wine list. For a rustic Ital- ian countryside experience, there’s Tucci Benucch (MOA, 114 West Market, 952-853- 0200) with its provincial Italian fare includ- ing fresh fish, veal, and pastas. A must for wine lovers is the Napa Valley Grill (MOA, 220 West Market, 952-858-9934). The Grill offers a menu of renowned California wine country cuisine, and a wine list of over 450 wines. Looking for a taste of the Twin Cities? Try the Twin Cities Grill (MOA, 130 North Garden, 952-854-0200), a ’40s-style dinner house. The menu includes aged steaks, prime rib, and fresh fi sh fl own-in daily. Just north of the Mall, the Ikea Restaurant (8000 Ikea Way, 952-858-8088) serves in- expensive Swedish and American food in a cafeteria-style environment. But don’t let that fool you; the Swedish meatballs with lingonberries are always a must. 222 http:californiacafe.com http:www.rainforestcafe.com www.acrl http:www.ikea.com http:www.mallofamerica.com www.stpaulgrill http:sajiya.com http:www.dixiesongrand.com