Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Weather? any/all of the above, plus a chance of snow that melts fast still in April.

Your LM keycard is good for free admission to the Walker, under the LM brand unlock art program, so try to go there after you check in at LM. Another unique art museum if the (private) Museum of Russian Art, located in a residential neighborhood between downtown Minneapolis and the airport. There's also the Swedish Institute (in a historic mansion not far from the Minneapolis Institute of Art) which is more decorative arts than actual art, but their current show is about the Nobel Prize.

In addition to the Guthrie, the Twin Cities area has lots of live theater performances of all types. Many Broadway shows do an early tryout here, plus there are some smaller venues that offer more experimental theater performances. There are several large theaters very close to LM, including the historic State Theater (gorgeous restored old building, but also check out the Art Deco mall attached to it) and one right across the street from LM.

Unfortunately Solara closed its doors for good last month. It was a very stylish martini bar and upscale tapas restaurant on the corner across from LM.

Some of the trendy/top rates restaurants (that haven't been mentioned above) include The Bachelor Farmer (fine dining from local ingredients, owners have political connections so Obama had a very well publicized meal here, also a fashionable bar in the basement), 112 Eatery (Italian peasant, many chefs go here for food after work as it stays open late--the same people do Bar La Grassa restaurant in the north loop warehouse district), Hell's Kitchen (a breakfast and cheap/casual place, almost in the basement of the W), Alma (James Beard fame, fixed price four seasonal course menu with about five choices for each course and an Iberian-emphasis wine list), La Belle Vie (nouvelle French style, including fois gras preparations, modern restaurant in a historic coop apartment building), the place in the Guthrie (IIRC called Sea Change now for fish and seafood, including raw bar stuff served at the bar but sadly their good Spanish wine list is gone), Masa (nouvelle Mexican?), Porter & Frye in the Ivy (SPG LC) Hotel (but watch out for all of the tables in the basement), Vincent (French). For fish and seafood, I like Blue Point Oyster House in Wayzata (far western suburb). Some like the casual Stella's Fis Cafe on "Eat Street" (a neighborhood with lots of casual restaurants and bars). There are also the downtown fish and seafood chains McCormick and Schmicks and Oceanaire. We also have the obligatory Ruth Chris, Capital Grille, and Fogo de Chao.

Originally Posted by writerguyfl

I worked briefly for the non-profit side of the Historic State and Orpheum Theatres. Both theatres are beautiful and Minneapolis is lucky that they were saved and restored. The nearby Pantages Theatre was renovated after I left.

It looks like Annie will be playing at the Orpheum Theatre (3/31-4/5) while you are there, khabah. That's the original musical...not the recent movie mess.

http://www.hennepintheatretrust.org/

Random fact: With the exception of New York City, the Twin Cities have more theatre seats per capita than any city in the US.