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Landmark Lunches Top Twin Cities architects share their favorite buildings and offer their suggestions for a leisurely lunch nearby.

By Melinda Nelson The Memorial Chapel at Lakewood Cemetery was modeled after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

Rosemary McMonigal, AIA Lakewood Cemetery, but upon entering optimism of urban design and high- Barnstables—they’re as divine as the McMonigal Architects the diminutive stone building, I was density housing. The project is not just basilica.” instantly transported to another world. an object—it’s both urban space and State Capitol It was reminiscent of Byzantium, bold architecture. Thus inspired, head Basilica of St. Mary 88 N. 17th St., “If you haven’t been on a tour of our [and had] Arts and Crafts tile mosaics over to Republic at Seven Corners for a , 612-333-1381, mary.org iconic state Capitol building since a covering every surface. It was both Thousand Hills Chicago dog with fries The Oceanaire Seafood Room school bus drove you, it’s time breathtaking and unexpected. The and a pint of locally brewed 50 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis, 612-333- to visit and appreciate chapel was designed in 1910 by Harriet West Side IPA, 2277, theoceanaire.com this rare architectural architect Harry Wild Jones, who and toast to the spirit of treasure, designed in modeled it after the Hagia Sofia in Rapson.” Steve Nordgaard, AIA 1905 by architect Cass Istanbul. While you’re at the cemetery, TEA2 Architects Gilbert. See the visit the new, equally fantastic Garden 1610 beautiful and Mausoleum and Reception Center S. Sixth St., Minneapolis, Foshay Tower historic spaces, designed by Joan Soranno and John 612-338-8925, sherman “I’ve always had a soft spot for the materials, Cook of HGA Architects and Engineers. associates.com/riversideplaza Foshay Tower. One of my early child- ornamentation, Afterward, have lunch at Republic 221 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis, hood memories is of driving with my and vast art the Tin Fish in the Lake 612-338-6146, republicmn.com parents while listening to WCCO as collection. Once Calhoun Pavilion, where the announcer broadcast the weather you leave the you can enjoy mahi- from ‘the top of the Foshay.’ Designed Capitol, stroll mahi tacos or fish and Andrea Swan, AIA by Magney & Tusler for Wilbur B. to Meritage, one chips, plus a cold beer, Swan Architecture Foshay in 1929, the Foshay was the first of my favorite on the patio overlooking west of the Mississippi and restaurants. Enter the lake.” Basilica of St. Mary the tallest building in Minnesota from through the 1915 “The Basilica of St. Mary moves and 1929 to 1971. From a contemporary The Minnesota Hamm Building, Lakewood Memorial Chapel 3600 inspires me. I respect its architectural perspective, the tower’s reincarnation State Capitol and stop to Hennepin Ave., S., Minneapolis, 612- and historical relevance: It was the first as the home of the W Hotel is a nice admire one of 822-2171, lakewoodcemetery.com basilica in the , designed example of adaptive reuse. Who doesn’t Minnesota’s Tin Fish 3000 Calhoun Pkwy. E., Min- by French architect Emmanuel love an iconic building paired with a finest lobbies, with its fantastic original neapolis, 612-823-5840, thetinfish.net Masqueray in the Beaux Arts style. I’m great steakhouse? Visit the 30th-floor terra-cotta detail. I love the corner always awed by its scale—large enough observation deck and then window table in the bar, where you can to host many, yet still intimate, like indulge yourself, Wilbur watch the street action, see crepes being Tim Alt, AIA a house. I love the basilica’s urban Foshay style, with a made, and enjoy the crowd of business Altus Architecture + Design context, nestled adjacent to one of delicious, bone-in folk, visitors, actors, and musicians from the city’s busiest intersections, and tenderloin at Manny’s.” the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.” Riverside Plaza a stone’s throw away from vibrant “Ralph Rapson’s 1973 Riverside Plaza parks and restaurants. I also appreciate W Minneapolis– 75 Rev. Dr. is a work of architecture that evokes how the basilica has become a center The Foshay, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, strong opinions, both positive and for cultural events. The annual Basilica 821 Marquette 651-296-2881, mnhs.org negative. I like it and encourage others Block Party draws people Ave. S., Minne- Meritage 410 St. Peter St., St. Paul, 651- to look at it more closely, now that it’s from all walks of life apolis, 612-215- 222-5670, meritage-stpaul.com going through a significant restoration to join and celebrate 3700, starwood effort. As a complex of buildings, it’s current music. After hotels.com a composition of sculptural archi- visiting the basilica, Manny’s Tim Quigley, AIA tecture and woven urban spaces. The head north to the new Steakhouse 825 Quigley Architects variety of scale and form of the build- Oceanaire on Nicollet Marquette Ave. ings create a collage that’s reinforced by Mall. I’m rather in love S., Minneapolis, Lakewood Memorial Chapel the dynamic colors as a bold expression with it—the decor, the ambiance, the 612-339-9900, The Foshay “Until about 15 years ago, I’d never of De Stijl architecture animating the service, and, of course, the food. For mannyssteak Tower been inside the Memorial Chapel at skyline. Riverside Plaza represents the anyone who loves oysters, I suggest the house.com

25 TWIN CITIES BUSINESS tcbmag.com AUGUST 2012