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Great Escapes
Discover Minneapolis
By Pam Froman
Known as one half of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis is filled to the brim with yummy eateries, famous places to shop and explore, and a theatre district that rivals any other city in the U.S.
Whether your stay is during the winter (and it gets cold….negative 20 degrees!) or the dead of summer, there are many luxury accommodations and things to do right in the thick of things.
Radisson Hotel Minneapolis
The Radisson offers a prime location just steps away from shopping and entertainment. The rooms are spacious and luxurious and this four star hotel pampers guests with services such as the complimentary health club, whirlpool, high-speed internet and a 24-hour business center. I especially enjoyed the Sleep Number Beds available in each room. With the push of a button, change your mattress from plush to firm.
35 S 7th St, Minneapolis.
(612) 337-9766
www.radisson.com
Best Western the Normandy Inn & Suites
This hotel is five blocks from the Metrodome Stadium (Twins & Vikings), and the Minneapolis Convention Center. Government, bank and commercial buildings are an easy walk as are Orchestra Hall, the Orpheum and State Theatres, the Warehouse District and other entertainment venues. Guest rooms and suites are spacious, clean and very comfortable, with large work tables and free wireless Internet.
Are you hungry? There are so many choices of scrumptious foods throughout the city. Here are a few delectable morsels to choose from.
Hell's Kitchen
This is no ordinary breakfast place. It's "damn" fine food! Located within the heart of downtown, you'll discover a beautifully renovated historical building with old brick archways, a spirited and helpful wait staff, original art depicting a gothic theme over the fireplace by world-renowned artist Ralph Steadman, and the best breakfast and lunch in town. The restaurant's unusual moniker is a reference to how hot it gets in the kitchen and the style and charm of the restaurant is as great as its food. Not one to be missed! 89 S 10th St., Minneapolis
www.hellskitcheninc.com
(612) 332-4700
Brasa
Brasa is located at 600 E. Hennepin, Minneapolis. Brasa bills itself as a premium rotisserie and serves only two dishes: Marinated & Spice Rubbed Rotisserie Chicken ($11.50-$14) and Slow Roasted Berkshire Pork Shoulder ($11.50-$14), with a combo plate for $14.50. But there are generous sides to add on to any choice. I tried the creamed spinach with jalapeno, which had just enough kick without burning my throat. Try Brasa's cabbage salad: it's not your typical coleslaw. White cabbage is portioned into fine pieces, coated with a tangy salad dressing, and grouped with parsley and mint. Other sides: Marinated chickpea and barley salad, grits, rice and pigeon peas with local smoked ham, chive-flecked potato salad; plantains; collard greens; fried yucca sticks; pickled garden vegetables; yellow rice with stewed rosada beans; garnet yams with andouille sausage; and plain black-eyed peas with Berkshire bacon. Any of these sides can be had in a combo plate of four for $11 (for you vegetarians), or on its own in a takeout portion sized to serve four for $7.
http://www.brasa.us
Oceanaire
If you're looking for an elegant seafood restaurant, the Oceanaire is the place for you. Fish in any form is their specialty. Nestled in the Hyatt Hotel, the restaurant is steps from downtown and offers scrumptious choices like Ultra-Fresh fish, including steak-cut Alaskan halibut, seasonal favorites like fresh Copper River salmon or hard-to-find delicacies like true Dover sole or bluefin tuna.
1300 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis.
Prices: $31 to $50
http://www.theoceanaire.com
(612) 333-2277
What to do:
Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden
Gallery Admission $10 adults; $8 seniors (65+); $6 students/teens (with ID)
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a joint project of the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
The Mississippi once flowed through this site, resulting in an abundance of peaty soils perfect for gardening. In 1988 the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the Walker collaborated to turn a section of the grounds into the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. In 1992 it was expanded from 7½ to 11 acres, making it the largest urban sculpture garden in the country. There are more then 40 works on permanent view, in addition to temporary installations that keep the Garden experience fresh.
Mall of America
Mall of America is the nation's largest retail and entertainment complex. The 4.2 million square foot compound is home to more than 520 world-class shops; Nickelodeon Universe® the nation's first Nick theme park; Underwater Adventures® Aquarium, a 1.2 million gallon walk-through aquarium; a 14-screen movie theater and more. The Mall is located in Bloomington, Minn., just minutes from downtown.
Guthrie Center
The Guthrie boasts three stages, a full-service restaurant, pre-show dining, numerous bars and some of the best views of Minneapolis to be found in the city. (612) 377-2224.
Hennepin Theatre District
Minneapolis has one of the most influential theatre districts in the nation. Take a tour to learn this extensive theatre localities' lush history. Visit a playhouse, including exclusive access to the theatre interiors. It's a side of the theatre the general public seldom gets to see.
The tour is designed to give an up-close and personal introduction to the theatres, focusing on the stars that have played in each venue and the history of the buildings. Guides spotlight architectural details of these landmark edifices, providing an insider's perspective on how a theatrical production is put together. $5. (612) 373-5696
University of Minnesota
Art galleries, museums, concerts, and theater productions are found side by side with lectures, seminars, and other learning experiences at the University to create a community rich with opportunities and activities. Some of the things to do on campus are:
wBell Museum of Natural History - Connecting people with the natural world through art and science exhibits, hands-on activities, and renowned wildlife dioramas.
Warehouse District
There's no better place to escape to than the historic Minneapolis Warehouse District. You'll find lots of cool clubs with hot music. If you want something a bit more relaxing, visit a sidewalk cafe, a great place to relax, have a bite, and watch the world go by. Or take a break with a stop in a gallery or shop. Take advantage of the Hiawatha Line and see the Twins play or just take a ride! Hit the spot, the pulse of downtown Minneapolis (612) 334-3131
So forget about the weather! Minneapolis offers tons of options. Enjoy this vibrant, pulsing metropolis for what it really is: a Mecca of culture, activities, fun and food.
Hidden Away & Fancy Free: The Heart of Spokane Washington
By Tim Wassberg
The sloping land of Spokane, Washington (www.visitspokane.com) has the ability to quell the thirst of the explorer with culinary tastes and wisps of adventure. The mill and factory history of the city becomes clear from the luxury suite at The Davenport Hotel (thedavenporthotel.com). But, make no mistake; the cosmopolitan nature of this quiet Northwest city is just waiting to peek out.
Overlooking the rushing waters permeating through the heart of the metro area, the Clinkerdagger Restaurant (clinkerdagger.com) offers a breathtaking view of the falls as a motley salad of peas; potatoes and greens twirl the vision followed by filet mignon topped with a garnish of dunganees crab. Martinis follow at Bistango (www.bistangolounge.com), hidden away bathed in dark orange, as the owner mixes a heavily tasteful "Firecracker" that tempts with flame. Bluefish (www.bluefishspokane.com) changes the pace as a caramel-fueled mixer heightens the spinning spicy tuna hand roll with a specialty order integrating albacore, avocado and eel into a taste of perfection.
The following morning, the calming and manicured fairways stretch out into the distance at the Meadowood Golf Course (meadowwoodgolf.com). Still a beginner where the club is concerned, time on the driving range was needed before the carts headed out for the first par. The driver worked pretty well hitting a 400-footer but, on the green, with the exception of a bogie and a near birdie, the balls tended to go into the rough. However, dexterity is the sign of a true golfer.
The pub crawl began with the Steam Plant Grill (www.steamplantgrill.com) providing tastes across the board with the Pullman Porter and the Huckleberry Ale loving the palette heightened by salmon wraps and small bites of cordon bleu paradise. O'Doherty's (odohertys-pub.com) offered the opportunity to jump up on top of the bar after a couple Guinness shots and sing "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" with a house of 30 bounding. Baseball was the name of the game that evening with the Spokane Indians (www.spokaneindiansbaseball.com) cracking the bats as we watched from seats behind home plate while kettle corn and cold drafts kissed the sunset. The late night belonged to Raw (spokanesushi.com) as delicious poke, spicy tuna and warm bottles of sake painted the candlelight.
The rolling hills give breath to a place called Green Bluff where the need to spit cherry pits or "spit pitting" becomes competition. At Walter's Fruit Ranch (www.appleranch.com), lucid colors speak to the mind as a strawberry is eaten directly from the vine. On the other end of the spectrum, Cat Tales (www.cattales.org), a wildlife rescue facility, offers up-close visions of everything from bobcats to Bengal tigers. In a rare instance while one of the young Bengalis was feeding on a milk bottle, we were able to pet his fur. A man eater with no cages between makes for an intense meeting. A beer was needed.
Red Lion (redlionbarbeque.com) offered hot rib bits with a frothy Guinness while Fast Eddie's open-air swill rocked the heart with a mural sure to get a second glance. But it was Domini's with a sandwich stacked high with pepperoni and cheddar that satisfied. As the cool evening air continued, Latah Bistro (latahbistro.com) offered soft but intrepid music and a tender and succulent pork osso bucco that inspired with its richness. After sipping a tart Graham's 20-year port with some great chocolates, the late night began again in earnest first with a stop at Zola's (myspace.com /zola_spokane_booking), a new industrial strength hotspot where beers with names like Irish Death go down smooth and the view from the bar stirs necessity as high heels prance. The Riff on Main, small by comparison but with just as much character, welcomed with Pabst Blue Ribbon and Satan's Kiss shots as Bad Religion pumped from the juke.
The next day began early with breakfast at the Wall Street Diner where an omelet mixed with spinach and mushrooms gave strength for the river to come. Embarking on the Little Spokane River inside Riverside State Park (parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Riverside) in top kayaks, the beauty allowed one to relax as the river pushed the boats forward at a leisurely pace. A flip into the brisk and refreshing water heightened the pleasure. Upon drying, the Downriver Grill (www.thedownrivergrill.com) offered solace in a green heavy Cobb salad, some nasty good gorgonzola fries and smoothly encrusted ahi tuna that melted in the mouth. The afternoon became a tasting tour melding the palettes of all worlds. The Cour d'Alene Olive Oil Company (cdaoliveoil.com) with its beautifully transported Southern California sensibilities wowed with a garlic dipping sauce and a parmesan asiano spread that loved the tongue. The Saunders Cheese Market (www.saunderscheesemarket.com), by comparison, imbued with a sense of knowing as the goat cheese tang aftertaste within its samples brought back visions of lost days. Last but not least The Chocolate Apothecary (chocolateapothecary.com) allowed one to witness firsthand the female obsession with the sweet in a most wonderful way. Their Columbian dark chocolate bar with its 86% cacao content raptured with a rich ecstasy.
As classic cars lined the downtown streets and the rev of engines purred, a limo brings
us to Churchill's Steakhouse (www.churchillssteakhouse.com). Just prior at the Wild Sage American Bistro (www.wildsagebistro.com), the Yukon Taquitos were so scrumptious that the hunger was questing for more. The wonderfully concocted drinks in the form of a Hibiscus Mojito and a smooth Cucumber Martini make troubles float away. Nearby, in the comfort of the plush seats of Churchill's, the red wine perfectly complements a tender filet mignon melded with the rich creamy texture of a lobster tail bathed in garlic butter. Moxie's finishes the love with a beautiful crème brulee that gives credence to the city that is Spokane.
This growing metropolis in Washington State is a hidden gem with some great food and a nightlife arena that has the potential to become the next happening "diamond-in-the-rough". And, with beautiful tee times and kayaking within minutes of town, Spokane has a diversity of life that will continue to blossom.