Summary
Get to Know the Most Vibrant and Historic Neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Grab your walking shoes and become an urban adventurer. Holly Day and Sherman Wick guide you through 35 unique walking tours in this comprehensive guidebook. Explore the urban epicenter of the Upper Midwest, from the heart of downtown Minneapolis to Minnehaha Falls, from St. Paul's Hidden Falls Park to historic Irvine Park--and hundreds of points of interest in between. Stroll along Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, Nicollet Avenue's Eat Street, and the revitalized Mill District. Go beyond the obvious with tours that showcase world-class museums and theaters, the area's extensive greenbelt, and even eight miles of climate-controlled skyways to avoid winter's chill.
Each self-guided tour includes full-color photographs, a map, and need-to-know details like distance, difficulty, points of interest, and more. You'll soak up history, backstories, architectural trivia, and fun facts to share with others while on your way to the best cafes, bars, and nightlife in Minnesota. So find a route that appeals to you, and walk the Twin Cities!
Author Notes
Holly Day's writing has appeared in more than 3,500 publications internationally, including Computer Music Journal , ROCKRGRL , Music Alive! , Guitar One , Brutarian Magazine , Interface Technology , and Mixdown Magazine . Over the past couple of decades, she has received an Isaac Asimov Award, a National Magazine Award, and two Midwest Writer's Grants for her work. Her books include The Insider's Guide to the Twin Cities and Music Theory for Dummies .
Sherman Wick is a native of the Twin Cities. Since receiving a history degree at the University of Minnesota, he has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, focusing on music, film, and Minnesota's rich cultural and historical offerings.
Holly and Sherman started writing their first book together, The Insider's Guide to the Twin Cities , one week after marrying and have since written Nordeast Minneapolis: A History , A Brief History of Stillwater Minnesota and the forthcoming History Lovers' Guide to Minneapolis . They live near downtown Minneapolis with their daughter, Astrid.
Excerpts
Uptown: Cool Place for Fun in the Hot Summer Sun Uptown is the Twin Cities' place for fun--especially during summertime. It's not officially recognized as a neighborhood by the City of Minneapolis, and it's actually composed of sections of the Calhoun, East Calhoun, East Isles, and Lowry East neighborhoods. It became a de facto second downtown after Calhoun Square opened in 1983, combining extant buildings and new constructions to create an urban shopping center. With its almost endless array of entertainment options--including bars, coffee shops, restaurants, music clubs, comedy clubs, movie theaters, art galleries, shopping, and tattoo parlors--the area attracts hip, young crowds. The proximity to Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles only heightens the cachet of the area during warm weather, when, after a day at the beach, locals enjoy the neighborhoodamenities. Put all these together and it makes for a fun and often playfully raucous neighborhood-- and a great place for a walk. Begin at the west corner of Uptown Station (bus stop) and turn left heading north on Hennepin Ave. S. As you follow the gradual slope downhill, notice the funky grandeur of this stretch of Uptown, an often incongruent combination of architectural styles where beautifully restored storefronts sit uneasily beside cookie-cutter strip mall buildings. In recent years, more national chain businesses have appeared Turn right on 26th St. W. and immediately turn right again going south on Hennepin Ave. S. Continue south on Hennepin as the avenue cuts through the grid at Girard Ave. S., passing the Mount Royal Apartments. On the left is Saint Sabrina's, the professional tattooing and ear- and body-piercing parlor. After opening in 1993, the parlor moved to the new location in 2006 and slightly de-emphasized the purgatory and hell themes. Free coffee, tea, and movies are offered to customers in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Cross 28th St. W. On the left, as you continue on the east side of the street, the Tibet Store sells the best from the spiritual homeland of the Dalai Lama. The store stocks reasonably priced clothing, as well as jewelry and Tibetan Buddhist books. Just ahead down the hill is the Williams Uptown Pub & Peanut Bar. This popular hangout serves 300 different bottled brews and 70 different draft beers with good bar food upstairs. Free popcorn, peanuts, games, and darts are available in the basement. Kitty-corner on Lagoon Ave. is the marquee of the recently renovated Moderne-style Landmark's Uptown Theatre, a gateway to the business district since 1939. Turn left on Lagoon Ave. At the corner of Girard Ave. S. is the Uptown's sister theater--Landmark Theatres' Lagoon Cinema, with five screens specializing in art house, indie, and foreign films. Turn right on Fremont Ave. S. To the left is the oddball color scheme of the New Traditionalist-style Uptown City Apartments. Turn right on Lake St. W. Kitty-corner is Tum Rup Thai, a perennially award-winning restaurant with all the Thai standards such as spring rolls, pad Thai, and curries, plus numerous fresh seafood and vegetarian items. Adventurous lovers of seafood need to try the Bangkok Sea Breeze, a mountain of fresh shrimp, scallops, squid, and mussels in a spicy sauce--enormous enough to feed two, and even better with a beer or a mixed drink. Cross Girard Ave. S. and go straight to get to Stella's Fish Café & Prestige Oyster Bar. There you'll get fresh seafood and plenty of alcohol in this lovely renovated restaurant with rooftop dining and lots of hip, young things in the summer. Turn left on Hennepin Ave. S. where Calhoun Square is located. Uptown became an essential shopping destination after this retail center opened. Unfortunately, in recent years business has waned, and it has gone through a succession of ownership groups which have tried to reinvent the center. Turn right on 31st St. W. and right again on Hennepin Ave. S. Just past the stunning and unusual Spanish Churrigueresque Revival façade of the now-closed Suburban World Theatre (1927) is the former site of the Uptown Bar and Café, once a popular performance space for local and national bands and now a big-box store. Turn left on Lake St. W. after passing a half block of invading national chains. On the right is Mesa Pizza, a satellite of the popular pizza place in Dinkytown, selling cheap pizza by the slice until the late-night hours. Turn right on Irving Ave. S. On the northwest corner of Lake St. is Barbette--fine dining for cool folks. Turn right on Lagoon Ave. Turn left on Hennepin Ave. S. and finish the walk at Uptown Station. Excerpted from Walking Twin Cities: 35 Tours Exploring Parks, Landmarks, Neighborhoods, and Cultural Centers of Minneapolis and St. Paul by Holly Day, Sherman Wick All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
