As April comes around we start to become hopeful that the tundra we have been immersed in will melt away. It's the time of the year when we see fools in shorts because the thermometer has hit 40°F and people with convertible tops down and the heat on.
It's also a slightly unattractive time of the year. The snow melts away, revealing things frozen in time, well at least for the winter. Bikes locked to street signs last fall finally become visible again, and the streets become fast moving rivers carrying last year's remnants down the block. You never know what you might find as the snow melts. Some people actually find themselves hoping for one last snow fall to make everything sparkly white again. Only to find their hopes realized and buried under a new blanket of snow.
But we all see the light at the end of the tunnel and begin to fine tune our summer whinings. If it's not too cold, it's too hot. Ask any Minnesotan how they feel about Minnesota in general, and they will tell you it's about the best place on earth. I think this is because everyone enjoys one perfect day that lies somewhere between too cold and too hot. To enjoy our last bit of winter, head to the Milwaukee Road Depot (612-339-2253) and go ice skating. Cost is $2.50 to $5.00. It's an old train depot converted into a skating rink with concessions. Once again, don't ask.
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Mia
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The Minneapolis Institute of Arts better known as MIA (2400 3rd Ave, 612-870-3131) was established in 1883. Housed in this really cool building is over 4,000 years of world history. The museum's permanent collection includes 100,000 objects from around the world. Special exhibits sometimes require a small donation, but the majority of the museum is free. The Minneapolis Youth Hostel is conveniently located across the street.
Walker Art Center/Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (725 Vineland Place, 612-375-7622) Here in Minneapolis we tend to be a little snooty about our art. We have the Walker Art Center, one of the country's finest in contemporary art. Even Yoko Ono has been for a visit.
The Walker also boasts the nations largest Outdoor Sculpture Garden. Unfortunately, it's only visible for half the year. In the summer it's a great place to wander and wonder outdoors, not to mention great people watching. Having said that, there is also something very disturbing in the sculpture garden. It's a little embarrassing. This structure is known as the Spoonbridge and Cherry Fountain. It's a huge cherry carefully placed towards the tip of a massive spoon, if that's not weird enough, the cherry spouts water from the top of its stem. I don’t know who's idea this was, nor do I know what it represents. I am a native Minnesotan, and do not remember any cherry and spoon story. Try to ignore it, I do.
The Walker is free every Thursday and the first Saturday of each month. Otherwise: $4 adults, $3 12-18, 12 or younger are free.
The Bakken Library and Museum (3537 Zenith Ave. S, 612-926-3878) is "an Electrifying Experience". Full of electrical gadgets from the 18th and 19th century. The museum is very hands-on with lots of levers to push and pull and knobs to turn. The Bakken museum of electricity and magnetism is located on the West side of Lake Calhoun in a newly expanded mansion known as the West Winds. In the library there is a collection of 11,000 rare books on electricity and magnetism. In the summer there is a beautiful garden full of medicinal herbs to enjoy.
Earl Bakken, who was born in 1924 and is still with us today, is responsible for this fun museum, not to mention the first transistorized pacemaker in 1957. The original pacemaker is on display in the lobby of the museum. This is a good place for children of all ages.
Adults pay $5 to get in, students and seniors $3, and kids under six are free. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Museum of Questionable Medical Devices (201 SE Main St., 612-379-4046) is located mysteriously across the river in no man's land. This museum is really something to see. Crazy medical devices and advertisements for cures from a long time ago. There is a pretty pink machine with a funnel for breast enlargement and my personal favorite, an ad for Sterilized tape worms as a diet aid.
Free; donations accepted. Hours: T,W,TH 5pm-9pm; F,Sat 12pm-9pm; Sun 12pm-5pm; closed on Mondays.
Bar of the Month
It took me 12 years to get here, and I'm wondering why it took me so long. The Turf Club at University and Snelling (651-647-0486) is a small, relaxed music bar. The St. Paul Music Club has adopted this place as a venue to showcase their talent. The Turf Club opened it's doors in the 1940's and was a hot spot for two-stepping before two-stepping was hot. Downstairs is a smaller bar with a few booths known as the clown lounge. To me it looks like a good place to hang out and not be seen. The #16 bus will take you there in a flash, pick the bus up on the Southwestern Corner of 4th and Nicollet downtown.
Questions?
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