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Minneapolis has bounced back after the
tragic collapse of the road bridge over the Mississippi at the beginning of August 2007
and the tourists are returning. OutUK's Adrian Gillan has been sampling
the MidWest hospitality.
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Roll over Chicago! You'll love the people, culture, lakes, skyline, restaurants
and general buzz of this unpretentious yet highly stylish city.
Twin Cities Pride brings ten days of events climaxing in the Parade & Festival here every June. But any time's good to visit - outside of the mid-winter November-March freeze, perhaps, that is! WHAT TO DOQueer culture vultures, get your skates on! A Top 10 US art museum, the newly-expanded Minneapolis Institute of Arts represents over 5,000 years of world history, with an especially fine Asian collection. The Walker Art Center boasts stunning, expanded, modern art galleries, adjoining the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. And the Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum also offers a small collection - amidst the priceless Minnesota Uni campus cute-fest!The $125 million Guthrie Theater is home to three state-of-the-art stages, stunning public spaces and breathtaking views of the still-mini-yet-mighty Mississippi, which starts in Minnesota; and which is best explored on a Segway Magical History Tour, gliding along on a NASA-technology two-wheeler as you enjoy the history of the Minneapolis Riverfront area, from 10,000 BC to the present, in just 2½ hours - no sweat! |
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Take an interactive ride on the 8-story "Flour Tower" at the Mill City Museum,
set in the ruins of a century-old mill and documenting
Minneapolis' rise via "Flour Power".
Like the whole of Minnesota, Minneapolis is blessed with much greenery, plus its "Chain of Lakes" - just south of Uptown and great for a stroll or drive. Also venture, out-of-city, to Minneapolis' neighbour twin-cum-rival, St.Paul - home to huge churches, government buildings and historic residences; to the Science Museum of Minnesota - a highly-interactive, buzzing and educational place, great for kids of all ages, offering "surround movies" on its gigantic Omnitheater screen. |
Mall Of America.
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| To spend those dollars don't miss the Mall of America - the largest (and expanding) US retail and entertainment complex, boasting 520 stores, 60 restaurants, seven nightclubs, the Underwater Adventures aquarium and the US's largest indoor family theme park. | |
WHERE TO EATYou'll never be at a loss to find great places to quell those hunger pangs at all price levels. Don't miss out on two gay-run café-cum-eateries - popular, cosy Riverside hangout, Wilde Roast Café; and quaint, casual, candle-lit Barbette, serving French fodder avec local organic ingredients. |
 Dean & Tom owners of the Wilde Roast Cafe. |
| Minneapolis is also blessed with some of America's finest eateries. Try Hell's Kitchen for a heavenly breakfast, brunch or lunch; 20.21, at the Walker Art Center, for an Asian-influenced menu of California cuisine, competing only with skyline views; Chambers Kitchen, a fab basement eatery in the new, art-brimming boutique hotel on main thoroughfare, Hennepin Avenue; Azia for a hybrid of tastes where "Asian spice meets Minnesota nice"; Cosmos at Graves 601 Hotel - perfect for a relaxed breakfast, high-powered lunch munch or launch pad into town; modern, energetic, imaginative and healthy Spoonriver, next to the Guthrie Theater; or award-winning contemporary tapas haunt, Solera, amidst the Downtown scene. | |
WHERE TO BOOZE & DANCETime to imbibe and jive? Don't miss the regular "Box in the Box" amateur nude showering competitions at Saloon - crowded Downtown gay dance club and video bar on Hennepin Avenue. Just along the road, Gay90s is still deemed the "mega mall" of gay clubs, featuring drag shows and two levels of dancing, despite attracting its fair share of the straight crowd.For a change of scene, make the short trek to hip Midtown Manhattan-style bar, Jetset, in the Warehouse District; or to Minneapolis' oldest gay bar, 19, featuring darts and pool, near Loring Park. |
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Up by the Guthrie, on Washington Avenue South, dip into a right cruisy duo - Bolt and neighbour
Eagle - mainly for an older gay crowd, more into dress code, and with an
"industrial" feel. To "take airs": tour the Lakes.
WHERE TO STAYTwo of the best located and classiest places to stay in Minneapolis are Graves 601, a stunningly stylish Downtown hotel, rising 20 floors over the city, boasting amazing views, sumptuous beds and mind-blowing showers; and Chambers, a genuinely unique Downtown hotel-cum-gallery, brimming with contemporary art, not least from Britain - everything from Emin to Hurst and Hume - like a hip art gallery you sleep in! Check out its Red, White & Fucking Blue bar too!GETTING THEREIcelandair flies daily to Minneapolis-St.Paul from the UK with flights from London Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow, via Iceland, from just £500 including all taxes. Visit www.icelandair.co.uk or call 0870 787 4020. Also check low online fates at eBookers.
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