St. Paul, Minnesota

See

• Summit Avenue - Noted for its historic mansions. This neighborhood is also remarkable in its connection to the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was born in Saint Paul.
  • James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave (near the Saint Paul Cathedral), +1 651 297-2555. The house is open W-Sa 10:00AM-3:30PM, Su1:00PM-3:30PM. The art gallery is open W-Sa 10:00AM-4:00PM, Su 1:00PM-4:00PM. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children ages 6-17, and free for children under 6 years. If you just want to visit the art gallery, admission is only $2.

• Grand Avenue - Runs parallel to Summit one block to the south. Noted for its multitudes of shops, although chain stores are increasing their presence at an alarming rate.

• Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, +1-(651)-296-2881 (statecapitol@mnhs.org). Open M-F 9:00AM-4:00PM, Sa 10:00AM-3:00PM, Su 1:00PM-4:00PM. Groups of ten or more need to reserve tours two weeks in advance. General tours are free..

• Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Drive, +1-(651)-487-8200. Winter hours (October - March): 10 - 16:00, Summer hours (April - September): 10 - 18:00. The zoo ''may'' occasionally close earlier. The zoo does not close on any holidays.. Admission: Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are free, but the zoo asks that visitors consider making a voluntary donation of $2 for an adult and $1 for a child..

Do

Music and Performing Arts

• A Prairie Home Companion Radio Show, 10 East Exchange Street (Fitzgerald Theater), +1-(651)-290-1200 (fitzgerald@mpr.org, fax: fax). A dedicated piece of Americana A Prairie Home Companion is the brainchild of American humorist Garrison Keillor. The radio show calls the Fitzgerald Theater home, but the show can often be found on the road too. Contact information is for the Fitzgerald Theater.

• The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

• Minnesota Orchestra, 1111 Nicollet Mall, +1-(612)-371-5656 (tickets@mnorch.org).

• Minnesota Opera, 620 North First Street, +1-(612)-333-2700 (fax: +1-(612)-333-0869).

Festivals

• Saint Paul Winter Carnival, +1-(651)-223.4700 (info@winter-carnival.com), Takes place in January. Events take place in Downtown and Como Park. Noted for the annual Ice Palace.

• Grand Old Day, Grand Avenue, Takes place along Grand Avenue on the first Sunday in June. Free parking is available at the University of St. Thomas north and south lots located on Summit and Cretin or Grand and Cretin. Free shuttle buses are available to event visitors.

• Irish Fair of Minnesota (Harriet Island, Cross over Wabasha Street bridge and you’ll see the park on your right.) (info@irishfair.com), Takes place in August at Harriet Island, just south of Downtown.

• Minnesota State Fair, Address, +1-(651)-288-4400. Takes place from mid-August through Labor Day and is one of the largest state fairs in the US. The main entrance to the State Fairgrounds is located at 1265 Snelling Avenue N., but you will first have to drive to one of the lots outside of the fairgrounds. As an alternative, you could take a bus. Metro Transit routes 3 and 84 stop near the fairgrounds, and they also operate shuttles during the fair that offer non-stop service to the fairgrounds from various park-and-ride lots located throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Admission: Adults (13-64): $9; Seniors (65 & over): $8; Children (5-12): $8. Children (under 5): Free. Parking costs $9.

Learn

Private

• Macalester College
• University of St. Thomas
• Hamline University
• College of St. Catherine

Public

• Metropolitan State University
• Saint Paul College

Buy

• Eclipse Records, 1922 University Ave W (east of Prior), +1 651 645-7724. Saint Paul's only independent record store.

Eat

• Fasika Restaurant, 510 Snelling Ave N (one block north of University), +1 651 646-4747. This is an Ethiopian wonder. You can get spicy lentil or lamb dishes served without utensils on top of a very edible sponge bread. A sure destination for an adventurous, spice-friendly diner. It is open late. $6-$11.

• Black Sea Restaurant, 737 Snelling Ave N, +1 651 917-8832. Cheap Turkish food. It's about three blocks north of nearby Hamline University. Most of the non-combination entrees, $6-$11.

• Khyber Pass, 1571 Grand Ave, +1 651 690-0505.

• Green Mill Restaurant & Bar, 57 Hamline Ave S (at Grand Ave), +1 651 698-0353, - There are many locations in the Twin Cities as well as some throughout Minnesota and surrounding states, but it all started here. They tout themselves as "Minnesota's most awarded pizza". Order your deep-dish Il Primo with the Walleye Strips and a pitcher of fresh beer right when you sit down because the pizza take 30+ minutes to cook. Family-friendly. $7-$17 per entree.

• Pizza Lucé, 1183 Selby Ave, +1 651 288-0186. The famed Minneapolis pizza mini-chain has now come to the capital city.

Drink

• The Artists' Quarter, 408 Saint Peter Street (in the Hamm Building on the corner of St Peter and 7th Place Mall), +1 651 292-1359. A nice jazz place in downtown.

• Turf Club, 1601 University Avenue W. (a few steps west of Snelling in the Midway district), +1 651 647-0486. The Turf is one of the better venues in the Twin Cities to see local bands, and sometimes the occasional touring band. Cover charges on live music nights are usually no more than $5.

• Big V's, 1567 University Avenue W. (just east of Snelling in the Midway), +1 651 645-8472. This is a dive bar a block east of the Turf Club. Attracts many local bands. Probably only worth going to if you really want to see a band that is playing there.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

• Holiday Inn, 175 W 7th St, +1 651 225-1515.

• Holiday Inn, 2201 Burns Ave., +1 651 731-2220.

• Holiday Inn Express, 1010 Bandana Blvd West, +1 651 647-1637.

Splurge

The Saint Paul Hotel is swank but expensive. There really are not many low cost options in the capital city.

• Crowne Plaza Hotel, 11 East Kellogg Boulevard, +1 651 292-1900.