What will I do at your reunion?
Reunion Weekend offers many activities for the spouses, partners or children of our reunion-celebrating alumni to enjoy. But, just in case there are times these guests wish steal away from all of the momentous moments of Macalester memory-making, we provide this brief guide of things to do and places to go.
Museums
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Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum
Named after an art-collecting alumnus from the U. of M. and
designed by architect Frank Gehry, this museum is also a
Twin Cities monument.
333 E. River Rd.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: (612) 625-9494
Web: www.weisman.umn.edu
Historic Fort Snelling
Restored 1820s military outpost.
At Hwys 5 & 55, near airport
St. Paul, MN 55111
Phone: (612) 726-1171
Web: www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling
Intermedia Arts Minnesota
This electric, eclectic gallery is an inspirational
haven for all things hip, urban and creative.
2822 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 871-4444
Web: www.intermediaarts.org
Mill City Museum
Built within the ruins of a National Historic Landmark, the
museum provides a multi-sensory, interactive journey through
Minneapolis history.
704 S. 2nd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55401-2163
Phone: (612) 341-7555
Web: www.millcitymuseum.org
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
An impressive collection of art, from antiquity to the present,
housed in a great, sprawling building.
2400 3rd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: (612) 870-3131 or 888-642-2787
Web: www.artsmia.org
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
The largest urban sculpture garden in the country, featuring more
than 40 sculptures and the Cowles Conservatory.
726 Vineland Place
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: (612) 375-7600
Web: www.minneapolisparks.org
Minnesota Children's Museum
A colorful, five-story indoor playground that educates as it
entertains.
10 W. 7th St.
St. Paul, MN 55102-1104
Phone: (651) 225-6000
Web: www.mcm.org
Minnesota History Center
Glorious architecture and expansive exhibits that are fitting tributes
to the past and present.
345 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102-1903
Phone: (651) 259-3000 or 800-657-3773
Web: www.mnhs.org/historycenter/
Minnesota Museum of American Art
An intimate visual arts space steeped in local history.
50 W. Kellogg Blvd., Suite 742
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 266-1030
Web: www.mmaa.org
Science Museum of Minnesota/Omnitheater
Dazzling riverfront digs that house thumbs-up fun and hands-on
learning. A full-immersion movie experience, with an image 10
times larger than conventional flicks.
120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102-1208
Phone: (651) 221-9444
Web: www.smm.org
SPAM Museum
Museum visitors will be welcomed to the world of SPAM family of
products with a variety of interactive and educational games, fun
exhibits and remarkable video presentations.
1937 SPAM Blvd.
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: 1-800-LUV-SPAM
(1-800-588-7726)
Web: www.spam.com
Click on “SPAM museum” icon.
Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum
Stylized re-creations of Twin Cities railroad history are depicted in
more than 3,500 square feet of model-railroad heaven.
1021 Bandana Blvd. E.
Suite 222
St. Paul, MN 55108-5113
Phone: (651) 647-9628
Web: www.tcmrm.org
The Walker Art Center
This sleek, soothing space houses a stunning collection of
modernist works.
1750 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: (612) 375-7600
Web: www.walkerart.org
Cultural Venues
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Brave New Workshop
Improvisational comedy and topical satire have made this Dudley
Riggs legacy legendary.
2605 Hennepin Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 332-6620
Web: www.bravenewworkshop.com
Children’s Theatre Company
A major regional theater devoted entirely to works for children.
2400 3rd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404-3597
Phone: (612) 874-0500
Web: www.childrenstheatre.org
Guthrie Theater
America’s regional theater movement was born when Sir Tyrone
Guthrie founded this Minneapolis company.
818 S. 2nd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: (877) 447-8243 or (612) 377-2224
Web: www.guthrietheater.org
Penumbra Theatre
This theater has been making art from an African-American perspective
for 28 years, collaborating with such vanguards as August
Wilson and Laurie Carlos.
270 N. Kent St.
St. Paul, MN 55102-1744
Phone: (651) 224-3180
Web: www.penumbratheatre.org
Theater in the Round
The Cities’ oldest amateur theater company has established
a sterling reputation.
245 Cedar Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Phone: (612) 333-3010
Web: www.theatreintheround.org
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Minnesota’s premier performing arts center.
345 Washington St
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 224-4222
Web: www.ordway.org
Attractions
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Padelford Packet Boat Company Inc.
Travel like Mark Twain on an old-fashioned Mississippi riverboat.
Four riverboats provide for an enchanting escape. Two landings,
one on Harriet Island in St. Paul and another on Boom Island in
Minneapolis are the pick-up points for these narrated tours.
Phone: (651) 227-1100 or 800-543-3908
Web: www.riverrides.com
Valley Fair Amusement Park
The closest amusement park to the Twin Cities, just 40 miles
away, has everything: water park, roller coasters, children’s rides,
mini-golf and bumper cars.
One Valleyfair Dr.
Shakopee, MN 55379
Phone: 800-FUN-RIDE
Web: www.valleyfair.com
Down in History Tours
Down in History Tours offers a fresh and unique alternative to
the typical city tour. Tours offered: Historic Cave Tour, St. Paul
Gangster Tour and seasonal tours.
215 Wabasha St. S.
St. Paul, MN 5107-1805
Phone: (651) 292-1220
Web: www.wabashastreetcaves.com
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota’s major league baseball team
Web: www.twins.mlb.com
Saint Paul Saints
St. Paul’s minor league baseball team
Web: www.saintsbaseball.com
Neighborhoods, Pedestrian Areas and Shopping
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Dinkytown, Minneapolis
A colorful, diverse, funky neighborhood adjacent to the University
of Minnesota campus around 4th St. and 14th Ave.
Grand Avenue
A charming and vibrant 25-block avenue, stretching from the
river to downtown St. Paul, with diverse restaurants and one of-
a-kind shops. Called “best mix of local and national [stores]
along one strip” by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Dec. 2004.
Lowertown
An historic neighborhood rich with artists’ studios and galleries,
restaurants, parks, coffee shops, churches and the 150-year-old
St. Paul Farmer’s Market—downtown St. Paul, near the corner
of 5th and Wall.
Mall of America
This cement-and-plastic behemoth is the largest shopping and
entertainment complex in the U.S. At 4.2 million square feet, it’s
the size of seven Yankee Stadiums and home to more than 500
stores, 60 eateries, a 14-screen movie theater, an indoor amusement
park and an aquarium.
8100 24th Ave. S.
Bloomington, MN 55425
Phone: (952) 883-8800
Web: www.mallofamerica.com
Midtown Global Market
A Latin American mini-mall with one-stop shopping for everything
south of the border. The shopping heart of Minneapolis’
Latin American community can be found at 1515 E. Lake
Street, Minneapolis.
Mississippi River Boulevard
Just over a mile west of Macalester down Summit Avenue,
explore 72 miles of trails with a scenic view of the river.
Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
This 12-block pedestrian shopping mall is home to shops,
theaters, department stores, and restaurants. On Nicollet Ave.,
between Washington Ave. S. and 13th Street S. in downtown
Minneapolis.
Summit Avenue
Longest uninterrupted stretch of Victorian homes in America.
Once home to F. Scott Fitzgerald (559 Summit Ave) and Sinclair
Lewis. One block north of Macalester.
Uptown, Minneapolis
Young and hip, this city neighborhood offers great shopping
along lively sidewalks. The neighborhood is dotted with coffee
shops, European-style bakeries, delis and three independent movie
theaters.
Parks
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Como Park, St. Paul
This 450-acre park includes an 18-hole golf course, zoo, conservatory,
the historic Cafesjian’s Carousel, Como Lake, Japanese
gardens and Como Lakeside Pavilion. There are amusement rides,
paddleboat rentals, a mini-golf course, pony rides and an outdoor
pool.
Chain of Lakes, Minneapolis & W. Suburbs
The Chain of Lakes, both a part of the Grand Rounds and one
of Minneapolis’ most highly visited locations, is comprised of a
number of parks along a chain of connecting lakes. A 13.3-mile
biking/walking/jogging path encircles the entire chain, providing a
beautiful setting for activity.
Harriet Island Park, St. Paul
A grand green space down by the riverside including steps leading
down to the Mississippi River, an expanded and renovated pavilion,
the 12-acre Great Lawn, a 20-foot-wide riverside walkway and
a new gateway to the West Side.
Indian Mounds Regional Park, St. Paul
Built to enshrine seven 2,000-year-old Hopewell Indian burial
mounds, this historic park has nice skyline views and quiet, shady
spots to rest.
Minnehaha Park and Falls, Minneapolis
A 171-acre regional park best known for its massive and
impressive falls.
Fun Facts
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Minnesota Inventions
Masking and Scotch tape, Wheaties cereal, Bisquick, HMOs, the
Bundt© pan, Aveda beauty products, Spam® and Green Giant
vegetables…
By any other name…
The original name of the settlement that became St. Paul was Pig’s
Eye Landing, named for the French-Canadian whiskey trader,
Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant, who had led squatters to the settlement.
The Skyways
Minneapolis’ famed skyway system connecting 52 blocks (nearly
five miles) of downtown makes it possible to live, eat, work and
shop without going outside.
You want beaches? We’ve got beaches!
Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California,
Florida and Hawaii combined. And, Minnesota has one recreational
boat per every six people, more than any other state.
We’ve got culture, too
Minneapolis is home to the oldest continuously running theater
(Old Log Theater) and the largest dinner theater (Chanhassan
Dinner Theater) in the country. And the Guthrie Theater is the
largest regional playhouse in the country. Not to mention, the
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the largest urban sculpture
garden in the country.
Toast anyone?
The first automatic pop-up toaster was marketed in June 1926 by
McGraw Electric Co. in Minneapolis under the name Toastmaster.
The retail price was $13.50.
More Minnesotan Ingenuity
Rollerblades were the first commercially successful in-line roller
skates. Minnesota students Scott and Brennan Olson invented
them in 1980 when they were looking for a way to practice hockey
during the off-season. Their design was an ice hockey boot with
three inline wheels instead of a blade.
Gangsters in sedate St. Paul?
In the 1920s and 1930s, St. Paul was known as a safe haven for
many of the country’s most notorious hoodlums. As long as a
gangster didn’t commit any crimes in St. Paul, he or she was free
to come and go as they pleased.