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Story Ideas

Home Sweet Downtown

All around the country, people flocking back to city cores. In Minneapolis Saint Paul, this phenomenon is particularly striking. Nearly 40,000 people call downtown Minneapolis home (more than Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis and Sacramento combined). The city’s 80-plus neighborhoods all have unique personalities, interesting stories and popular attractions. Here are a few to explore:

• Minneapolis Riverfront District Idyllic parks and pathways, landmark restaurants and historical attractions line the banks of the Mississippi River, which once fueled Minneapolis’ flour milling boom and now defines downtown’s northern edge. Many milling-era buildings have been reborn as housing, cultural venues and hotels, while concerts and festivals along historic cobblestone Main Street further enliven this ever-evolving neighborhood. Home to: Guthrie Theater, Mill City Museum, Gold Medal Park, St. Anthony Falls, Stone Arch Bridge, Mill Ruins Park, MacPhail Center for Music

• Warehouse District Flush with historic charm, as well as design firms, photo studios and publishers, the Warehouse District reflects the city’s creative streak. Weathered brick buildings that once served a century-old industrial boom now house hip restaurants, wine bars and art galleries. Located on downtown’s northwestern edge, the district is the epicenter of Minneapolis nightlife, offering music venues, comedy clubs, sports bars and martini lounges. Home to: Block E entertainment complex, Target Center, Theatre de la Jeune Lune

• Northeast Minneapolis (“Nordeast”) Ethnic churches and restaurants highlight this long-established, newly imagined neighborhood, located just across the Mississippi River from downtown Minneapolis. New immigrant populations add flavor to the global dining scene, while artists living and working in the area’s brick warehouses shape the city’s visual arts scene. Dance clubs, wine bars and polka lounges create a vibrant, come-one, come-all nightlife scene. Home to: Nye’s Polonaise Room, St. Anthony Main Theater and Riverfront District, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Northrup King Building, Ritz Theater, 13th Avenue Arts District

• Nicollet Mall (Central Business District) The city’s glimmering steel and glass core spans more than 50 square blocks, encompassing the financial, retail and theater districts. Sidewalk cafes, window displays and outdoor concerts have people flocking to the streets, while the city’s second-story skyway system links restaurants, stores, theaters, hotels and the Minneapolis Convention Center. Home to: IDS Building, Nicollet Mall, shopping (Macy’s, Nieman Marcus), Mary Tyler Moore Statue

• Eat Street More than 50 ethnic restaurants, groceries and cafes form the urban buffet known as “Eat Street,” a 17-block stretch of Nicollet Avenue running south from downtown Minneapolis. Asian flavors abound in noodle shops and authentic markets, while German, Greek, African, Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisine awaits as well.

Spokespeople

• Matt Laible, City of Minneapolis Communications
• Sam Grabarski, President, Minneapolis Downtown Council