Sell Minneapolis to my GF

[MillerTime]

So I am planning on a trip up to the Twin Cities for just over a week. I will be threre from October 9th,2009 to october 19th, 2009. I bought tickets to see the gophers homecoming game on the 10th as well as tickets to a vikings game the next weekend on the 18th. I'll be brinking my gf this time and am really excited to show her around the area since shes never been. She is a Texan born and raised. We have been together for 2 years now and I want to sell her on moving up to Minneapolis. Which i know is going to be hard to do.

So my question is, are there any other fun events or places i should take her this time of year that would be cool? Ive been removed fromt he cities for 2 years now so im really drawing blanks as to what to show her and what not.
So any ideas would be great.

Hopefully this trip goes well for me since I've been thinking about getting my masters degree in urban planning and would love to do so at the University of Minnesota. I loved the two years i spent in Minneapolis and have missed it every day ive been gone. So any thounghts on how to sell the city to her would be great thanks again!

[srsmn]

What's she into? You'll be too late for lake season, I'd suspect, which I think is most folks' big selling point.

See if they're doing Oktoberfest down in New Ulm that week that you're up here, but I'm thinking you might be too late. Bike the Grand Rounds?

I don't know...again, what does she like to do? We've got it all....

[EastSider]

When ever I try to sell someone on Milwaukee, I just take them out. Epic Saturday night usually does the trick, and I hear Minneapolis is no exception.

[MillerTime]

I guess a good night out on the town could help. Shes like every other woman. She likes to shop and go out. She claims to enjoy the arts, so maybe some museums, shows, or concerts? She already wants to see the mall of america, but are there any other areas for good or better shopping that might impress her?

The biggest problem I have is that shes only ever lived here in Texas and she honestly thinks that the Dallas area is the best place in the world to live. This being a problem because i dont really enjoy living here at all. So i just need to prove to her that some of these other place are just a great a place to live if not better. And being that I enjoyed living in Minneapolis so much i would love to get back there.

[srsmn]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

I guess a good night out on the town could help. Shes like every other woman. She likes to shop and go out. She claims to enjoy the arts, so maybe some museums, shows, or concerts? She already wants to see the mall of america, but are there any other areas for good or better shopping that might impress her?

The biggest problem I have is that shes only ever lived here in Texas and she honestly thinks that the Dallas area is the best place in the world to live. This being a problem because i dont really enjoy living here at all. So i just need to prove to her that some of these other place are just a great a place to live if not better. And being that I enjoyed living in Minneapolis so much i would love to get back there.

Well, seeing as you've lived here before, I don't know how much of this is new to you, but in addition to the Mall, you could hit up Southdale and the Galleria, Nicollet Mall, and Uptown. Museums shows and concerts shouldn't be a big issue, seeing as we have some of the best....see who's playing First Ave or the State or the Orpheum (depending on what type of music you like) or maybe there's a comedian in town. Try Acme Comedy Club, even if it's just for their open mic nights on Monday. Museums are a no brainer--- the MIA, or the Walker (which has been expanded since you were probably last here) are two of the nation's best, and the Weisman's not bad either. Get her out to a show at the Guthrie (or Theater in the Round, or Jungle, or the Fitzgerald, or anywhere) and that should hook her on the idea that there's art and nightlife up here in one fell swoop...

Whatever you do, good luck. As I'm sure you know, it's a wonderful town and the locals take a great amount of (well-earned) pride in it.

[Paule]

Selling the north to a southerner is always tough, especially from October on. However what I bet would make her forget about the cold is a show or museum. The Twin Cities are known throughout the nation as being real big in the arts and having some of the best venues in the country, take advantage of that! And since she likes to shop the mall of America will be a huge treat for her.

Plus, in Oct the fall colors will be at it's peak so take her for walks along the lakesides and the river, especially along the ruins and the stone bridge! How could anyone not fall in love with the beauty?

Please avoid the metrodome! It's one of the worst venues for sports. The Gopher game should be a big hit though in that new stadium!

[Nordeaster]

50th and France is a great area for shopping.
Also don't forget about NE Minneapolis for going out. I believe Oktoberfest will be going on at Gasthoff's. They set up a huge circus tent and have live music many nights as well as German food and the boot.
October 10th is also the Zombie Pub Crawl. 3,000 people dressed as zombies and bar hopping all around the West Bank.

www.zombiepubcrawl.com

[MilwaukeeMark]

Point 1:


Point 2:


The end.

[ClarkWGriswald]

Damn, now I'm thinking about moving to Minny!

[MplsTodd]

If the weather is nice (and in mid-October we can either be sunny and warm or rainy and cool), I'd recommend biking or roller blading around the Lakes--I'm sure you can find a rental place somewhere in Uptown. If you're ambitious you can bike the Grand Rounds (as someone else suggested): which includes the lakes district to Minnehaha Parkway (show her the falls) up the Mississippi River parkway to the Stone Arch Bridge/Guthrie theater endless bridge/Gold medal park area then wind you way to the twins Stadium and Kennilworth parkway back to Lake calhoun.

The Farmers Market should still be going on then--try the one along Nicollet Mall (Thursday only) or the Mill District (Chicago Ave at Mississippi River (Sat Morning), or the main one other times (Glenwood and Lyndale). St. paul also has a nice Farmers market in Lowertown.

For shopping, you can take her to MOA, but also The Galleria (not as nice as the one in Dallas or Houston, but definitely upscale), 50th & France & Grand Avenue also have cool shopping. Downtown Mpls has ok shopping for a downtown (Macy's is a classic dept store (for lunch check out the huge salad bar in the SkyRoom restaurant on the 12th floor--with a decent view of Downtown), plus Target, Niemans & Off Saks).

See if Prairie Home Companion will be in town then (in Dwtn St. paul and the Fitzgerald Theater)

Here are a few sites with details on things going on:

http://www.thriftyhipster.com/minneapolis/

http://www.citypages.com/calendar

Hope you have a great visit!

[Mplsuptown]

I suggest a trip to Stillwater and then cross over and go to Hudson. Go antiquing! I was just in Stillwater a few weeks ago and hit all the antique shops downtown. Who knows maybe you'll find some things there that are unique enough you might want to buy something as well....not to mention the river valley should have plenty of color left.

[SMSC1]

Tell her, "Hey, it's not as cold as Duluth!"

That should sell her on it.

[MilwaukeeMark]

Originally Posted by SMSC1

Tell her, "Hey, it's not as cold as Duluth!"

That should sell her on it.

lol.

[Jennifat]

Originally Posted by SMSC1

Tell her, "Hey, it's not as cold as Duluth!"

That should sell her on it.

That, and winter is about a month shorter down here.

[minneapolis-uptown]

If she enjoys rides and/or haunted houses you could take her to ValleyScare, which i am sure you are aware of, is located at ValleyFair in Shakopee

[Manitopiaaa]

One word-Mall of America. Actually that's three but whatever.

[612Buddha]

ummm...how about NO SALES TAX ON CLOTHES!