Planners' GUIDE
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Planners’ GUIDE On behalf of the Planners’ Guide Subcommittee, most of the references are within a few miles of the conference we hope you have a great conference and have headquarters. For most sites noted in the Guide, you can also fun exploring springtime in this beautiful region. jump in a cab and get there a bit faster. Minneapolis is a walk- We hope you can take a day or two before or after able, safe city. However, use caution at night and go in pairs or the conference to travel around to see why this is groups. one of the best places in the country to live and Minneapolis is a diverse community that has a vibrant din- recreate! Rent a bike, car or canoe to see our beau- ing, nightlife and arts environment. As an example, Nicollet tiful landscape and better understand our history. Ave. just west of the Convention Center has been co-named We encourage you to visit the State of Minnesota’s “Eat Street” because of the number and variety of restaurants exploreminnesota.com website to get all the infor- located along this street south of downtown. If you love the mation you need for a day trip or vacation to any arts and music, this is a great place to be. Pick up a free copy of part of Minnesota. We Minnesotans are proud of Vita.Mn or City Pages at your hotel to see the long list of night our state so just stop one of us if you have ques- life, music and arts events. Minneapolis is home of the world tions. We promise to display the principles of Min- famous Guthrie Theater that recently relocated to a unique fa- nesota Nice and say “you betcha” at least once cility along the Mississippi River. If you are a sports fan, the Twin when we talk to you. Cities has each of the major league sports along with the Uni- The “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are versity of Minnesota teams. The Minnesota Twins are in town home to over 3 million people spread over seven during the convention so stop in a see them play during their counties. There are hundreds of sites to see of his- last season in the Metrodome where two World Series were toric and planning interest, not to mention thou- won in 1987 and 1991. sands of interesting places to get a bite to eat or In closing, here are a few tips. Most bars stop serving alcohol quench one’s thirst. That being said . at 2 am. The only place that packaged liquor, strong beer and The Planners’ Guide Subcommittee has worked wine can be purchased is in liquor stores and liquor stores are hard to create a Guide that balances the best sites closed on Sunday. So if you want some wine, liquor or strong of interest to planners with decent places to grab beer, stock up on Saturday. (You can still buy alcohol by the a bite or have a drink with friends. We did not drink in restaurants after 10 am on Sunday. Before 10 am in map everything or try to duplicate the Chamber Minnesota you should be in church not thinking about booze). of Commerce’s list of restaurants and shops. What And remember, soda is “pop” in Minnesota. you will find in the Guide are primarily places that Welcome to Minnesota! are unique to the Twin Cities. Also, the Guide is oriented to neighborhoods within a short walk or Patrick Boylan and Mark Grimes Welcome to the Twin Cities! bus ride of the Minneapolis Convention Center; Planners’ Guide Chairpersons photo by Bobak Ha’Eri 2 3 MINNEAPOLIS ‘09 MINNEAPOLIS ‘09 Washington 5th St We have amazing sites to see and two great Ramp Wyman Bldg 3rd St Marquette ways to visit them: Metro Transit buses and light- Warehouse District/ Hennepin Plaza Hennepin Avenue rail trains. They’re a fast, stress-free way to get 2nd Ave N Station Butler 4th St around town. Even better —they’re easy to use! Square Nicollet 5th St Target Center Nicollet Mall Let Metro Transit take you where you want to Station go. You can easily begin your tour just steps 1st AveGraves N 7th St 601 Hotel away from the Minneapolis Convention Center. Ramp Hop on any Nicollet Mall bus to enjoy shopping 6th St Gaviidae Pantages Common or dining along Nicollet Mall. Or board the Hia- Theater Westin Marriott Hotel Transit Hawthorne watha light-rail on 5th Street in downtown Min- Transportation Hotel Center Hennepin 7th St Nicollet Wells neapolis and head to Mall of America. If you’re Gaviidae Radisson CommonFargo State Plaza Hotel Center going to places in downtown St. Paul, hop on any Theatre Crowne Orpheum 8th St Theatre Plaza northbound bus on Nicollet Mall at 6th Street Marquette Northstar Hotel Mpls Grand Chambers YMCA IDS Center and transfer to a Route 94 bus direct to St. Paul. Hotel US Bancorp Metro Hotel Center Transit University of 9th St Store St. Thomas We’ll help plan your trip Nicollet Mall has frequent service For instant help in finding the transit route that fits your LaSalle approximately every 6-10 minutes during weekday midday hours University of 10th St needs, use the interactive Trip Planner at metrotransit.org. St. Thomas Nicollet W Hotel Just enter a starting point, destination and time of travel. Target Plaza In seconds, you’ll have route options, fare information and 11th St Marquette links to maps. Doubletree WCCO-TV 9th St Guest Suites 2nd Ave Mpls Hilton 10th St YWCA Hotel & Towers 12th St Once you have your route information, use your mobile Orchestra 3rd Ave S Hall device, cell phone or computer to check NexTrip, a system LaSalle Hotel Ivy Holiday 4th Ave S that gives you real-time information about when your bus Inn Express 11th St or train will leave. NexTrip is available at metrotransit.org Nicollet 13th St and at 612-341-4297. Hyatt 12th St Regency Marquette Century Hotel Millennium Plaza Hotel We also have transit experts ready to lend their assistance. Hilton Garden Call 612-373-3333 and get a personalized itinerary to your Grant Hotel destination. Minneapolis Convention Center 1st Ave S Ave 1st 3rd Ave S Ave 3rd 4th Ave S Ave 4th Fares Fares range from $1.75 to $3, depending on change isn’t available). To transfer to another bus or time of travel and type of service. train, ask for a transfer, which is valid for unlimited rides for 2½ hours. On trains, buy a ticket at vending machines on rail plat- forms. Tickets are valid for bus and train rides for 2½ hours. Note: You can ride within the Minneapolis or St. Paul Downtown Credit cards are accepted, and change is available. Zones for only 50 cents at any time (transfers are not available). If you’re planning on riding a lot, consider a Day Pass. For just $6, On buses, place dollar bills or coins in the farebox (sorry, you’ll get unlimited rides on the bus and train, anywhere in Min- neapolis or St. Paul for a full 24 hours. 4 5 MINNEAPOLIS ‘09 MINNEAPOLIS ‘09 Tallest buildings in Minneapolis DID YOU KNOW? Mpls. and St. Paul make up what is know as the Twin Cities — the 16th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. The two cities directly Height Year border each other and their downtown districts are about 9 miles apart. Name (ft) Stories completed 1 IDS Center 792 55 1973 Tallest buildings in 2 225 South Sixth 776 56 1992 St. Paul Height Year 3 Wells Fargo Center 775 56 1989 Name (ft) Stories completed 4 33 South Sixth 668 52 1982 1 Wells Fargo Place 471 37 1987 Jackson Tower – Campbell Mithun Tower 581 42 1985 443 46 1986 5 2 Galtier Plaza First National Bank 6 US Bank Plaza 561 41 1981 417 32 1931 3 Building 7 RBC Plaza 538 40 1992 Kellogg Square 366 32 1972 4 Apartments 8 Fifth Street Towers 504 36 1988 5 The Pointe of St. Paul 340 33 1988 Ameriprise Financial 9 498 31 2000 Center 6 US Bank Center 338 26 1975 10 Target Plaza 492 33 2001 7 Travelers Building 330 17 1991 11 Plaza VII 475 36 1987 8 Bremer Tower 328 27 1980 12 The Carlyle 469 41 2007 9 The 400 Building 327 21 1982 13 US Bancorp Center 467 32 2000 10 Landmark Towers 327 25 1983 14 AT&T Tower 464 34 1991 Sibley Tower– 314 33 1986 11 Galtier Plaza 15 Accenture Tower 455 33 1987 12 The Cathedral of St. Paul 306 2 1915 16 Foshay Tower 448 32 1929 13 UBS Plaza 305 25 1980 17 Qwest Building 416 26 1932 14 Ecolab Corporate Center 305 22 1968 18 Fifty South Sixth 404 30 2001 Eugene McCarthy US Post 15 274 15 1934 Hennepin Cty Office 403 24 1977 19 Government Center Crowne Plaza St. Paul– 16 268 23 1966 20 LaSalle Plaza 386 28 1991 Riverfront City Hall and County photo by Bobak Ha’Eri 261 21 1932 17 Courthouse 18 The 401 Building 256 13 2000 19 Ecolab University Center 254 17 1973 20 Qwest Tower 2 243 16 1976 Source: www.emporis.com 6 7 MINNEAPOLIS ‘09 MINNEAPOLIS ‘09 photo by Bobak Ha’Eri DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS is the economic and cultural hub of the Upper Midwest, with approximately 150,000 employees, 30,000 residents, and 900,000 annual visitors. Nicollet Mall is the main retail spine, while Marquette Avenue is home to many large financial institutions.