Minneapolis Information

[MikeVic]

Hey FOFC. I'm going to be heading to Minneapolis at the end of May with some friends, and was wondering if anyone had a recommendation on a hotel/motel. No one that I'm going with wants to spend a lot, so I don't want the Double Tree (which is where I stayed before), or some other expensive place... just something affordable and not grungy. :)

Anyone have good places in mind?

[Karlifornia]

Hey FOFC. I'm going to be heading to Minneapolis at the end of May with some friends, and was wondering if anyone had a recommendation on a hotel/motel. No one that I'm going with wants to spend a lot, so I don't want the Double Tree (which is where I stayed before), or some other expensive place... just something affordable and not grungy. :)

Anyone have good places in mind?

If Doubletree is your idea of an expensive hotel, then I think your best bet would be to hope there isn't fresh cum on the sheets.

[molson]

If price is the most important thing, always check out priceline.com. I'll never, ever, book a hotel through any other source, the deals one can get there are amazing. I very rarely pay more than $40 in any city, and I'm always staying in a Super 8/Extended Stay Ameria type place. (And every once in a while I get bumped up - I've stayed at a Sherton in Calgary for $28, and the Providence Mariott for $40.

[MikeVic]

If Doubletree is your idea of an expensive hotel, then I think your best bet would be to hope there isn't fresh cum on the sheets.

I thought it was expensive... I don't remember how much it was, but I remember it being nice inside. So I filled in the blanks and assumed I paid a lot.

[MrIllini]

I thought it was expensive... I don't remember how much it was, but I remember it being nice inside. So I filled in the blanks and assumed I paid a lot.

Are you the REAL Mike Vick?!?!?!!!! OMGWTFBBQ

can I have some weed?

[MikeVic]

If price is the most important thing, always check out priceline.com. I'll never, ever, book a hotel through any other source, the deals one can get there are amazing. I very rarely pay more than $40 in any city, and I'm always staying in a Super 8/Extended Stay Ameria type place. (And every once in a while I get bumped up - I've stayed at a Sherton in Calgary for $28, and the Providence Mariott for $40.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[MikeVic]

Are you the REAL Mike Vick?!?!?!!!! OMGWTFBBQ

can I have some weed?

One of MikeVic or MikeVick7 is the real Michael Vick.

[MrIllini]

One of MikeVic or MikeVick7 is the real Michael Vick.

I bet it's you.

[molson]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

You'll have to use the "name your own price" feature, and realize that if you have no choice in the actual hotel, and that accepted bids are non-refundable.

And here's my best priceline tip. If you bid a price, and it's rejected, you can't make another bid for the same cities/dates (it's their way of getting people to overbid.) But there's a loophole. If it's a big city like Minneapolis, you'll be given a choice between certain neighborhoods. What I do is pick just one neighborhood, and an obnoxiously low price, (around $28). When a low bid is rejected, you're allowed to bid again if you select one additional neighborhood. Then you raise your bid to say, $30. Keep adding neighborhoods until you get a hit, and you've gotten the best possible deal.

[MikeVic]

So I haven't booked anything yet... we were thinking of just driving around when we get there and stay somewhere on-the-fly... Three of us are for sure going, while 2 or 3 are still contemplating it. I'm hoping getting a room (or rooms) for 3-5 people won't be too difficult on the day of arrival.

Are there any attractions to see in Minneapolis? We'll be going to Albertville for the majority of a day I would think. So that still leaves something like two days and three nights...

Mall of America can take up part of a day I guess, but I didn't find it all that appealing when I went before. What are good pub-type bars and club-type bars? When I went a couple years ago, there was one place with free cover and gave out free drinks until 10PM. That was super sweet.

Thanks. :)

[Hurst2112]

So I haven't booked anything yet... we were thinking of just driving around when we get there and stay somewhere on-the-fly... Three of us are for sure going, while 2 or 3 are still contemplating it. I'm hoping getting a room (or rooms) for 3-5 people won't be too difficult on the day of arrival.

Are there any attractions to see in Minneapolis? We'll be going to Albertville for the majority of a day I would think. So that still leaves something like two days and three nights...

Mall of America can take up part of a day I guess, but I didn't find it all that appealing when I went before. What are good pub-type bars and club-type bars? When I went a couple years ago, there was one place with free cover and gave out free drinks until 10PM. That was super sweet.

Thanks. :)

Ha!!! I wasn't gonna post until I saw the request for bar suggestions.

As far as hotels, you are going to pay less in the burbs than downtown. Drive from MOA to downtown Minneapolis is about 15 minutes. It could save you some cash over the course of 3 nights. In town, I would say that you should stay away from the Ramada. Trust me. There is a Hilton downtown, Mariot, Radisson, and some other, more expensive places. In Dinkytown (where the U is, there are more choices. That's about a 5 minute ride to the center of downtown. There is an independent hotel that my parents stayed at across from the Hyatt. We put up Dave Ellefson (bass player for Megadeth) there too. Not a bad place.

I would do the priceline thing for sure.

Things to do downtown...drink. The art museum is free. I would spend at least 1 night downtown. Check out The Fine Line and 1st Ave if you want to see shows. I can see what is playing during the week you are here.

Downtown bars you should go to:

Britts
The Local
Azia
Kerians Irish Pub
The Monte Carlo (my fav old school 40s/50s place)
Club Escape (if you are into that 'club thumpin' stuff)
Gleuk's (German Bar)

OR...you could do the 2 for 1 uptown adventure:

Liquor Lyle's has 2 for 1s from 9-11. Rudolphs, which is down the hill, has 2 for 1s from 10 til 2.

Rudolphs is a great BBQ/Chop House. Cheap as hell. Close to downtown. I would suggest eating there at least once. Gene Kadie (sp? Purdue BB coach) used to bring the team there all the time. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis would come in with Janet Jackson a lot. Prince rented the dining area for him and Mai Tai (or however you say it) once.

Other good eats...

Brits
The Dakota (Jazz Club)
Eli's (smaller bar that has great food)
Joe's Garage (good breakfast)
Murry's steak house (awesome)
Manny's steak house (awesome too...can be expensive)

There are tons more to choose from. It all depends what you like.

If you are going to Albertville, feel free to stop up and check out the studio I work at. It's on the way. :P

And, if you want a tour guide for a night out, lemme know.

PM me if you want more info. I've been here 7 years and know all the 'not lame' places to have a good time.

[Scholes]

Don't forget about the light rail from the MOA to downtown... cheap and can get you to hotels by the mall and such.

I second Brit's and the Local, but I'm more of a St. Paul guy.

Alary's is a Chicago Bears bar with *very* scantily clad waitresses.

McGovern's for good bar type atmosphere.

The Liffey for a more authentic Irish vibe.

Cossetta's for excellent and affordable pizza/Italian

For better drink deals, Grand Ave in St. Paul is the spot.

[Joe]

I would recommend Nye's or Gastoff's. You might see me drunk there, so... bonus.

[Godzilla Blitz]

I've married and have little kids now, so I'm useless for info about Minneapolis bars.

If you're looking for restaurants that have free balloons, I'm your man though.

[Hurst2112]

Don't forget about the light rail from the MOA to downtown... cheap and can get you to hotels by the mall and such.

I second Brit's and the Local, but I'm more of a St. Paul guy.

Alary's is a Chicago Bears bar with *very* scantily clad waitresses.

McGovern's for good bar type atmosphere.

The Liffey for a more authentic Irish vibe.

Cossetta's for excellent and affordable pizza/Italian

For better drink deals, Grand Ave in St. Paul is the spot.


The guy wants to have fun, why go to St. Paul?

:D

Liffey is only more authentic Irish when it come to food.

[Hurst2112]

I would recommend Nye's or Gastoff's. You might see me drunk there, so... bonus.

I forgot Nye's. I was going to mention St. Anthony main area but forgot.

Good call.

[MikeVic]

Thanks for the listing of places to eat and drink. I know a couple of buddies want to check out Popeye's and White Castle while we're there too. I ate at White Castle a couple of years ago, but never at Popeye's.

What other things are there to do? We're thinking Friday will be Albertville, and Saturday evening will be club and bar. Saturday might be partly Mall of America too. But that still leaves Friday evening (I guess we can go drinking then too), part of Saturday, and all of Sunday.

Not sure if they'd be up for an art museum. Is there a nice casino somewhere? I'm just looking for some more suggestions on what we can actually do here. :)

edit: Oh, and thanks for the tour guide offer. I'll bring it up, but am fairly sure we're just going to go around on our own.

[Ryche]

White Castle? Ugh, their hamburgers are called gut bombs for a reason.

You could check out Canterbury, the local horse racing track. They have a poker room too. And there is a casino near that.

Granite City is a good bar/restaurant if you want to hit one with good food and beer at a pretty reasonable price. You'll pass one going to and from Albertville.

[MikeVic]

Are there addresses with these places that you guys know off the top of your head?

[MikeVic]

Does anyone know if you can use a Canadian debit card (ATM card) on any U.S. ATM? I'm assuming yes... (and of course there will be some fee... like $2.50 per transaction).

[nilodor]

Does anyone know if you can use a Canadian debit card (ATM card) on any U.S. ATM? I'm assuming yes... (and of course there will be some fee... like $2.50 per transaction).

You might want to check with your bank but I found it cheaper to put money on my credit card and use that in the atm instead of using my debit card.

[Joe]

Are there addresses with these places that you guys know off the top of your head?

Nye's is 112 E Hennepin Ave

[mckerney]

Not sure if they'd be up for an art museum. Is there a nice casino somewhere? I'm just looking for some more suggestions on what we can actually do here. :)

I'm not sure about a nice casino, you'd probably be best off going to the canterbury card club as Ryche mentioned. It's at 1100 Canterbury Rd S, Shakopee, MN, about half an hour outside of Minneapolis.

[Ragone]

Wife and i stayed at mystic lake casino/hotel.. it was really quite nice.. however it is alcohol free

[Fidatelo]

Does anyone know if you can use a Canadian debit card (ATM card) on any U.S. ATM? I'm assuming yes... (and of course there will be some fee... like $2.50 per transaction).

I think the answer is generally yes. Look at the little symbols on your card and compare to the ones on the bank machine, you're looking for Interac or more likely the PLUS* symbol.

I would agree with nilodor though, its probably cheaper to use your credit card or take cash beforehand then to pull from US ATM's.

[Ryche]

You would pass by Granite City going to and from Albertville. It's at the intersection of Hemlock and Interstate 94. Address is 11909 Main Street, Maple Grove, MN

[mckerney]

You would pass by Granite City going to and from Albertville. It's at the intersection of Hemlock and Interstate 94. Address is 11909 Main Street, Maple Grove, MN

I ate there last week, excellent choice for food. It's not expensive like Murray's or Manny's would be, and is far better than getting terrible food at White Castle. Plus they have several good beers there.

[Ryche]

I ate there last week, excellent choice for food. It's not expensive like Murray's or Manny's would be, and is far better than getting terrible food at White Castle. Plus they have several good beers there.

Mug Club. 25 oz mugs of very good beer for 3.25 normal price can't be beat. Great bartenders as well, my wife and I always sit at the bar, even for dinner.

[Cards4ever]

Don't forget about the light rail from the MOA to downtown... cheap and can get you to hotels by the mall and such.

I second Brit's and the Local, but I'm more of a St. Paul guy.

Alary's is a Chicago Bears bar with *very* scantily clad waitresses.

McGovern's for good bar type atmosphere.

The Liffey for a more authentic Irish vibe.

Cossetta's for excellent and affordable pizza/Italian

For better drink deals, Grand Ave in St. Paul is the spot.

Ack, you are going to send him to Cossetta's?! If you are going to St Paul for Pizza, go to Savoy, much better pizza!

Canterbury might be a great suggestion, they have daily promotions, looks like Friday night is $2 Miller night and bands. Horses and cards, probably something for everyone.

http://www.canterburypark.com/Promotions.aspx?id=449

[MikeVic]

Well, came back.

Friday night was cool. Downtown was very lively; had a lot of people walking around. Some bar/club called Spin was the coolest bar/club I've been to. I liked it there.

Ate at Granite City on Saturday night. Thanks for the recommendation. Very good BBQ boneless pork chops. :)

Did a lot of shopping, and had a very good time.