A Visit to the Minneapple

Walker Art Center

Claes Oldenburg, Soft Toilet, 1966

Claes Oldenburg, Spoonbridge and Cherry, 1988

The Basilica of St. Mary, the first Basilica in the U.S.

In front of St. Anthony Main Theater wearing Bar III coat, Black Crane Wide dress, C & C California tuxedo leggings, vintage boots, and Zara bag 

Nye's Polonaise Room

  Last weekend I had a chance to tag along with Bryan on a long layover to Minneapolis. We arrived late on Friday night and left Saturday afternoon. Bryan's layovers rarely fall perfectly on a weekend, so I jumped at the opportunity to check out a part of the country I had yet to venture out to.    When we arrived that rainy Friday evening, we started off our weekend with a little bar hopping that began at The Local, a hip pub in the area of downtown that we were staying in.  Saturday cleared up enough for us to enjoy a nice walk across the city with our start off points at Walker Art Center and the adjoining sculpture garden as well as the Basilica of St. Mary.  We walked across the river to the northeast side of town and watched Ron Howard's Rush at the St. Anthony Main Theater, which I highly recommend!  Going into the evening, we snacked on pierogis at Kramarczuk's (must return here!) before heading to our dinner reservation at The Butcher Block.  After a satisfying Italian dinner, we stumbled across the retro piano bar, Nye's Polonaise Room, which I just found out was named the Best Bar in America in 2008 by Esquire.  I think that headline still rings true.  With the main act being a pianist who can accompany you on any tune (think karaoke with a live musician backing you), the lively atmosphere is filled with the young and the old and has plush booths for eating some of the best prime rib in the city.    I really got a great vibe from the town with all its pretty parks, niche neighborhoods, and well-groomed hipsters.  I'll be back Minneapolis, and I'll be riding those bikes you have conveniently lying around the city, hoping the weather permits.