Minneapolis

[[file:Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge banner.jpg|1280px|The Stone Arch Bridge, spanning the Mississippi River}}

Minneapolis is a city of about 400,000 people and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region and the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit].

Districts

Districts of Minneapolis

Minneapolis/Downtown The central business neighborhood, major sports and theater venues and the city's main clubbing area in the Warehouse District, Loring Park, Elliot Park, and the historic mill ruins along the Mississippi River.

Minneapolis/South West Bank, Seward, Midtown, Nokomis, Longfellow, and Minnehaha Park

Minneapolis/Southwest Uptown, Lyn-Lake, Linden Hills, Eat Street, and the Chain of Lakes

Minneapolis/North Near North, Camden, Bryn Mawr and Theodore Wirth Park

Minneapolis/Northeast The birthplace of Minneapolis in Old Saint Anthony, old victorian houses on Nicollet Island, and further north the old working class enclaves of Northeast that are now home to a growing artist community.

Minneapolis/Southeast Dinkytown, Prospect Park, Como, and the University of Minnesota

Minneapolis Halal Explorer

Minneapolis on Mississippi River - Downtown Minneapolis from across the Mississippi River

Minneapolis was destined to be a center of commerce due to its location at the Falls of St. Anthony, which was named by the French explorer Fr. Louis Hennepin in 1680. St. Anthony Falls is by far the largest source of water power on the Mississippi River. The falls were harnessed to power lumber mills in the 1840s and later for flour milling. By 1870, Minneapolis on the west bank and St. Anthony on the east bank formed the largest flour producing center in the world. In 1872, Minneapolis absorbed its older neighbor. Most of the old Street Anthony township is now known as Northeast Minneapolis. A small part of the old township comprises most of the current suburb of St. Anthony.

The name "Minneapolis", meaning "The City of Lakes" in a mash-up of the Dakota word minne and the Ancient Greek word polis, refers to the city's 22 natural lakes. The local jewels are the "Chain of Lakes": Cedar, Isles, Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun), Harriet, Nokomis, each 3-4 miles around. The city's excellent parks department maintains walking and biking paths around the lakes, offering residents a place to exercise or stroll. The Lake Harriet Bandshell is a popular summertime event host often featuring the renowned Minnesota Orchestra. Don't miss a ride on the restored trolley between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet operated by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum.

The city has done an excellent job fostering developed neighborhoods, each with a distinctive feel. Downtown is the visual anchor featuring the high-rise suites, sporting events (the Timberwolves, Twins and Vikings play downtown), and nightclub scene. Northeast is the oldest part of the city, showing off its working-class and immigrant roots in great ethnic food, neighborhood bars, and social clubs, and more recently home to an arts and riverfront redevelopment movement. Uptown historically has been one of the city's youth centers featuring funky food, drink and theater, and plenty of tattoos and mohawks, but is orienting more towards yuppies and young families as real estate anywhere near the lakes becomes an ever more prized commodity. Uptown and the Lakes area dissolves into quiet, tucked-away Linden Hills (a one-time bedroom community) to the south and Lyn-Lake, home to many indie stages, music-oriented cafes and boozers, and alternative lifestyles and hangouts of all sorts, to the east. The University of Minnesota's main campus straddles the Mississippi River in the southeast surrounded by the usual college campus environs.

How is the Climate in Minneapolis

Next stop, Cedar/Riverside. If you walk a few blocks east to Cedar Avenue and there's a vibrant, diverse and sometimes dangerous neighborhood known, coincidentally, as Cedar-Riverside or the West Bank. In terms of danger, it's a neighborhood where you should stay in well-lit areas and cab home if you have a few too many or stay a little too late. (Bars are open until 2AM) Before you are frightened away and there's much this neighborhood has to offer that shouldn't be missed.

East on Riverside Avenue is the Hard Times Cafe. Hard Times is only closed for two hours every day, from 4AM to 6AM. The food can vary widely depending on who is on duty. They offer good Coffee, (often) loud music, games, etc. The Nomad is a little further south on Cedar Ave. It has a nice outdoor patio for smoking and inside a stage where you can see a variety of local rock or jazz shows. Across the street from The Nomad, is Palmers. Palmers gets a little rough if you don't know how to behave yourself while drinking. Not for the weak of heart or mind. Mind your own business if you go there.

Still further down Cedar Avenue are the Whiskey Junction and The Cabooze. Whiskey Junction is a favorite hang out for bikers, but a good number of those are the suburban type with expensive Harley Davidsons. The crowd and atmosphere at the Cabooze varies widely, depending at least in part on who is doing their best interpretation of blues that night - from all those people who disappeared from campus freshman year to long-haired exurbans with Polaris ballcaps. Both venues offer live music most nights. If you make it to the Cabooze, you're already near the Franklin Avenue Light Rail stop. Get back on and head down to Lake Street.

Lake Street/Midtown has a lot to offer on weekend days in the spring and summer. Namely an outdoor market with lots of good food and locally made goodies. The neighborhood has become a center for Mexican and Central American immigrants, and hence the food of those regions, in Minneapolis. See the Minneapolis#Areas_For_Dining|Eat section for more information. Worth a stop for sure. You can also catch a 21 bus from here to Uptown (make sure the bus is going west).

The next few stops take you to mostly residential neighborhoods. While there are things to do along them and they're not easily accessible on foot, so we'll skip ahead to 50th Street/Minnehaha Park. The Minnehaha Park station is adjacent to a park and Minnehaha Falls. You can see the 53 foot falls and walk along the creek on its way to the Mississippi River.

The Fort Snelling station is after the VA Medical Center station. Fort Snelling makes a great day trip. It's the original settlement in Minnesota and an early wilderness outpost.

Next is the Airport and then the Mall of America and the gargantuan monument to advanced capitalism. The MOA is sparkling as it was on its opening over two decades ago, but it is still the largest mall around and by some accounts the leading tourist destination in the United States. Tour operators from as far away as Japan organize charter flights and hotel bookings for the single purpose of experiencing "The Mall". It offers an indoor amusement park, movies, restaurants and more shopping than is comprehensible. It's a day trip in itself, but not for the thrifty. Food, shopping and the Camp Formerly Known as Snoopy (now Nickelodeon Universe) can burn through your wallet fast. Not for those with poor impulse control. For the tourist in you, check out local souvenirs such as the Lake Wobegon Store.

The return trip: by disembarking at the Lake Street Station and catching a #21 Bus going west, or by returning to the LRT headwaters at Hennepin Avenue and catching a #6 Bus bearing south, one can end up at Uptown and the jewel of Minneapolis and the gorgeous Chain of Lakes. If you're here between Memorial Day and Labor Day, rent a canoe at Bde Maka Ska (stop at the nearby Lunds grocery on Lake Street for picnic materials) and see four lakes, three enchanting sheltered canals, two islands, and one classic creosote-tastic railroad trestle from a duck's eye view.

The 21 brings you past the Midtown Market and Lyn-Lake on the way, while the 6 takes you through downtown and past the gleaming Loring Park area, featuring the spectacular Basilica of St. Mary and the infamous Spoon and Cherry, and the shiny metal Rock 'Em-Sock 'Em Robot head that is the Walker Art Center expansion. Heading north on the 6 will take you across Nicollet Island, another of Minneapolis' abundant urban havens, and through the original Minneapolis/St. Anthony milling neighborhood and a touch of the ethnic food haven that is Northeast Minneapolis on the way to Dinkytown and the University of Minnesota (including an old campus neighborhood which is on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as some of the top libraries in the world).

NiceRide bike sharing lets you jump on a bike in downtown and take it anywhere. The cost is minimal but the convenience isn't!

By bike

Nice Ride Bike Kiosk - Nice Ride bike-share kiosk

Biking in Minneapolis is a big deal. Over the years the city has invested heavily in bike trails, lanes and "bicycle boulevards," and a good chunk of its population uses the man-powered two-wheeler to get around. The larger Twin Cities area also offers a good mix of off-road bike trails; for example one can bike from Chaska to St. Paul using only bike trails, some thirty miles. A variety of [https://e10b1466498/?vgnextoid=6e0907df789fc010VgnVCM1000000f094689RCRD&vgnextfmt=default maps show the web of on and off-road routes that span the greater metropolitan area. During the winter, major bike trails such as the Midtown Greenway are plowed at the same time as major streets. In some neighborhoods like Downtown, Dinkytown, Uptown, and near the University of Minnesota campus, bikes are seen almost as often as cars.

One of the nation's largest urban bike rental programs, Nice Ride Minnesota, offers two-wheelers for rent at 150 locations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Rides are priced at $3 per half-hour, or you can buy a day pass for $6 which allows for unlimited free rides in 30 minutes increments; extra charges can be avoided if you simply return the bike to a station and hop on a new one. If staying in town a bit longer, you can get a 30-day pass for $18, which has the extra benefit of allowing you to use a bike for one full hour without extra charges. You need a credit card to rent a bike or purchase a day pass at a station; 30-day passes can only be purchased online.

The Twin Cities also offer a big variety of cycling shops from very race oriented ones (e.g Grand Performance in St. Paul and Flanders Bros in Minneapolis) to more consumer oriented shops (e.g. Penn Cycle, Erik's, Boehm's) to the most women-friendly worker cooperative bike shop, The Hub Bike Co-op.

A very useful cycling shop for visitors and tourists is Perennial Cycle, which offers, among other services, offers bike rental (both regular and tandem bikes).

For additional cycling information in the Twin Cities area please visit the Twin Cities Bicycling Club.

Skyway

No discussion of getting around Minneapolis would be complete without mention of the Skyway. Covering most of an approximate 7x7 block region of central downtown and the Skyway is a series of public pedestrian spaces on the 2nd floor of downtown buildings connected by enclosed bridges between buildings. It is feasible to walk through most of downtown and never go outdoors, a real advantage during winter.Additionally and the Skyway allows you to bypass stoplights and quickly move through the city. Beyond the core region and the Skyway reaches about 12 blocks in the north/south direction and 8 blocks east/west. The Skyway is home to multiple restaurants, stores, shops and malls. If visiting downtown Minneapolis during the winter, using a parking deck or staying at a hotel on or very near the Skyway is well worth the investment. Hours vary slightly, but most buildings are open Monday to Friday 6:30AM Monday - 9PM or 10PM, Saturday 9:30AM Monday - 8PM, and Sunday noon-6PM.

What to see in Minneapolis

The museums, natural parks and waterfronts, malls, shopping neighborhoods, and dining zones should give you several options no matter what your age.

Museums

• The major fine art museum in town is the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis/Southwest|Whittier, which covers 5,000 years of art and has a particularly strong collection of Asian art. Not too far away is the Walker Art Center near Minneapolis/Downtown|Loring Park, one of the big five modern art museums in the U.S. Another (mostly) contemporary art museum is the Weisman Art Museum on the Minneapolis/Southeast|U of Monday East Bank campus; it tends to be more known for its Frank Gehry-designed building than any of the art collections inside. A more recent addition to the collection of art museums in Minneapolis is The Museum of Russian Art, housed in a former church in Minneapolis/Southwest|Southwest Minneapolis; its focus is on 20th-century Russian art which naturally means there is also a strong collection of Soviet art.
• For history buffs and there's the Mill City Museum near the Minneapolis/Downtown|Downtown riverfront, housed in the former Washburn "A" Mill. The museum chronicles the development of the flour milling industry in Minneapolis; the city was the world's leading producer of flour around the turn of the 20th century. Down in Minneapolis/Southwest|Whittier near the MIA is the Hennepin History Museum, a somewhat low-key museum with permanent and rotating exhibits covering the history of Minneapolis and Hennepin County. They also have an archival library (free and open to the public) covering local history.

Theater

Large theaters are clustered in Minneapolis/Downtown|Downtown and the Minneapolis/South|West Bank, and Minneapolis/Southwest|Uptown, with smaller venues dotting the rest of the city. The city has a vibrant theater scene that incorporates all levels of theatrical engagement. The Guthrie Theater is the regional theater for the state of Minnesota, crafting high-quality productions with local talent, as well as bringing in artists from the wider professional theater circuit. Organizations like wcenter.org/ The Playwrights' Center have made the Twin Cities a nationally-renowned center for new work, while companies like Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Jungle Theater, / Penumbra Theatre, and Ten Thousand Things Theater, Theater in the Round,among others, have created a local theater scene with diverse, high-quality offerings.

Lake Street is also home to the Heart of the Beast Puppet theater, which offers family friendly shows Saturday mornings, and a variety of other unique puppet shows through the year. They also host the Mayday Parade the first Sunday in May. If you want to see the community feel of Minneapolis, it's a great event!

Music

The Twin Cities has a great and diverse local music scene- punk, folk, club, jazz, classical, house, reggae, hip-hop, etc. Check out CityPages for listings throughout the cities.

In the summers the Mpls Park and Rec sponsors music in the parks: a variety of local music groups, family friendly.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Minneapolis

Minneapolis on the surface seems like a pretty but rather quiet tourist destination. If you properly do your research though and there is plenty to do.

• As mentioned earlier above, Minneapolis has beautiful lakes and riverfronts that the local residents work hard to keep clean. It is also easy with a vehicle and the proper permits, and necessary equipment to go camping as close as twenty miles east on the St. Croix River, or as far as seven hours north on the Canadian border.And it can be delightfully cheap.
• Biking.An old freight train railway has been converted into the Midtown Greenway, [https://, which cuts through the middle of South Minneapolis beginning on the West Bank and crossing west all the way to the Bde Maka Ska area and meeting up with the Kenworth Trail, which in turn connects with the Cedar Lake Trail,

Lakes and parks

• Walk, bike, drive, swim or paddle around the chain of lakes running north to south along the western side of Minneapolis proper. Some are connected by lagoons and creeks which eventually spill into the Mississippi River at the famed Minnehaha Falls, inspiration of Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha". These are all part of the Minneapolis Grand Rounds, a 40-mile loop around the city begun over a century ago during the nation's first grand movement to toss the "Keep Off the Grass!" signs into the dustbin of history. Each of the Chain of Lakes has a walking path and a one-way biking/skating path. At least one path is kept clear even during snowy winter month, and it is feasible to use the paths almost every day of the year.
• Cedar Lake. Cedar Lake has three public beaches, and is accessible by canoe, rowboat, or kayak by its connecting lagoon to Lake of the Isles and, by extension, Bde Maka Ska. It is also the only one of the Chain of Lakes where private property actually fronts the lake.
• Lake of the Isles. Lake of the Isles has bird sanctuaries on its (officially off-limits) islands, and a public skating rink, with a warming house, is groomed in the winter months. Check the newspaper; you may get lucky and catch a world-class speed-skating competition here. Its shores also feature some of the best climbing trees in the city, particularly for those who carry a short rope ladder in their pack. Although residents can lease rack space for their rowboats, canoes, or kayaks and there is no public boat rental. Boats rented or launched from Lake Calhoun can access Lake of the Isles via the lagoon which flows under Lake Street. There are also no public swimming beaches.
• Bde Maka Ska. Bde Maka Ska (formerly 'Lake Calhoun') has several public beaches, including volleyball nets on the South beaches. It also has rowboat and canoe rentals (and lessons) and sailboat lessons. There is an active yacht club that sponsors several races weekly. Also and the surface conditions on Bde Maka Ska make this lake most popular among sailboarders, often well into the Fall. While sails can't pass the low street crossings above the lagoons, paddlers can easily reach Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake. The commissary is an affordable fish restaurant that's well rated by local residents and guides.
• Lake Harriet. Lake Harriet also has boat rentals. Lake Harriet's features include a bandshell at which numerous local and regional talent perform, and has included the Minnesota Orchestra, among others. It has several public swimming beaches, a marina, and is arguably the most popular and crowded lake among local residents for swimming, boating, walking, biking, and organized family and group celebrations.
• Lake Nokomis. Lake Nokomis has several beaches. In Minneapolis, a public swimming beach is identified by at least a small stretch of sand, and at least one lifeguard during midday hours. Lake Nokomis qualifies. It also has public boat access for canoes, kayaks and sail boats. Several convenience stores and a grocery store are nearby on Cedar Avenue if you need to make a run for that item you forgot on your picnic.
• Minnehaha Creek. Minnehaha Creek connects Lake Minnetonka in the far west suburbs with the Mississippi river, running through Lake Nokomis and other small lakes along the way. A short tributary connects it to the southeast corner of Lake Harriet, but it is not navigable directly from any of the lakes..

Fluid Landscapes|The face of Minneapolis' lakes and creeks has been ever-changing since the Industrial Age began. Each of the chain of lakes has been dredged repeatedly, shifting the shores and in the case of Isles accidentally submerging a long-lost third island. Basset Creek once connected the northwest section of the Grand Rounds—including Wirth Lake and points north and west—with the Mississippi before being diverted and buried to serve as storm drainage. Large stretches of swampy wetlands once made for a makable, if buggy, passage from the north and west suburbs through all of the Lakes to the river. Now this is feasible only for those willing to brave manholes, raccoons, and the law in a descent below the city.

• The Chain of Lakes is not a continuous navigable waterway by any means, although the bike and walking paths, and auto parkways, connect parks and waterways from North Minneapolis almost without interruption to the Mississippi River. Minnehaha Creek is a shallow creek that allows canoeing or inflatables' traffic for only a couple months of the year. It ends into the Mississippi, just after the dramatic Minnehaha Falls, a popular family park destination.
• Minneapolis features many other parks with recreational, natural, and historical merit in various degrees. Boom Island Park, just North of Nicollet Island and most easily accessible from the Stone Arch Bridge, features nice fishing on side channels and some of the most unique skyline views in the United States, as well as a look at the century-old remains of massive brickworks and water-power tailrace tunnels of the Pillsbury A Mill. The Mill was the last functioning reminder of Minneapolis' boomtown heyday to shut down in 2005, and is slated to become yet another retail/restaurant/condo building lining the redbrick St. Anthony Main.
• Directly across the river is the Mill Ruins Park and Mill City Museum, next to the St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam—the final lock on the journey up the Mississippi. The Mill Ruins was the site of the Washburn A Mill among others, host of an infamous explosion and fire in the 19th century. And the 20th. And the 20th again. Oh, and there were two more in the 19th. Eventually and the burnt shells were given up on and left standing, and much of the canal and tunnel system which provided water power was covered with earth and paved over to form West River Road. The park features excavations of quite a bit of these early stoneworks from an age when very rich men prided themselves on the quality of even the most mundane, invisible, underground works; as well as the outfall of Basset Creek, buried for the last 1.5 miles of its run beneath downtown.

• Tower Hill Park - In Southeast Minneapolis is home to the venerable Witch's Hat and the Prospect Park neighborhood's 1914 water tower. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, and offers maybe the best (if not the broadest) view in the city on the one day per year that its observation deck is open.

Sports

• Minneapolis is home to the Minnesota Twins (Baseball in the United States|Major League Baseball), Minnesota Vikings (American football|National Football League), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA basketball), and Minnesota Lynx (WNBA basketball). The Twins play at Target Field and the Timberwolves and Lynx at Target Center, both of which are located in Minneapolis/Downtown|Downtown Minneapolis. The Vikings moved into their new U.S. Bank Stadium, also in Downtown Minneapolis and occupying the site of the team's former home of the Metrodome, for the 2016 season.
• The Twin Cities have an NHL hockey team and the Minnesota Wild, but they play next door in Saint Paul at the Xcel Energy Center. The Lynx played here in 2017 during the latest renovations to Target Center.
• Minnesota United FC is a professional soccer team that began playing in Major League Soccer in 2017, replacing a team of the same name that played in the second North American Soccer League. The team was to build a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis, but those plans fell through, and the new stadium, to be known as Allianz Field, is nearing completion in St. Paul, with United moving in for the 2019 season and beyond. The games can be very exciting and the team has a strong group of supporters at each match.
• The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports teams for the University of Minnesota, and their venues are naturally near the U of Monday campus in Minneapolis/Southeast|Southeast Minneapolis. The Gophers football team plays at TCF Bank Stadium, where the Vikings played while U.S. Bank Stadium was being built.

Study in Minneapolis

• University of Minnesota.
• Augsburg College.
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
• Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Minneapolis

Shopping Districts

• Uptown area, centered on Minneapolis/Southwest|Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street, south of Downtown Minneapolis and extending East to the Lake/Lyndale avant-garde theatre neighborhood. In this area you'll find all kinds of retailers.
• Nicollet Mall is a pedestrian mall right in the heart of Minneapolis/Downtown|downtown.

Clothes

Clothing boutiques tend to be clustered near Minneapolis/Southwest|Uptown and Lyn-Lake. There are also boutiques in the 50th and France area.

Bookstores

The Twin Cities are a hotbed of independent presses and bookstores. Specialty and used bookstores can be found scattered across the city.

Record stores

Minneapolis/Southwest|Southwest is home to the bulk of record stores in Minneapolis, including the Electric Fetus, Roadrunner Records, Extreme Noise Records (specializing in punk), Fifth Element (specializing in hip-hop), and Cheapo. Minneapolis/South|South is home to Hymie's Vintage Records.

Halal Food

JucyLucyMatt'sMinneapolis - Jucy Lucy from Matt's Bar in South Minneapolis

• Don't miss Nicollet Avenue's Minneapolis/Southwest|Eat Street for a variety of ethnic fare; it is particularly heavy on Southeast Asian options. Options include Quang and Jasmine Deli for Vietnamese and the Black Forest Inn for German cuisine. Little Tijuana is a nice stop for alluring punk/goth waitresses and inauthentic Mexican plates. The Vietnamese restaurants are incredibly affordable ($5-10 per person) and have received consistently exuberant reviews since their openings.
• The Minneapolis/Southeast|Dinkytown and Stadium Village areas near the University of Minnesota have great offerings mostly catering to the collegiate crowd. Plenty of Americanized Chinese and affordable burgers-and-fries joints.
• Minneapolis/South|Midtown is home to the Midtown Global Market, operating on the first floor of what used to be a large Sears store. It is now home to a variety of cafes and restaurants from all around the world. Favorites like Holy Land Deli and Bakery, Andy's Garage, and several restaurants from around the city have opened satellite locations here. Mercado Central is another indoor market featuring several Mexican eateries. Outside of the markets, plenty of Mexican and other Latin restaurants dot the Lake Street strip.
• Minneapolis/Northeast|Northeast contains a wide variety of establishments. Old Saint Anthony is home to decades-old Eastern European mainstays like Kramarczuk's Deli and newer favorites like Pizza Nea and Red Stag. Closer to Central and Lowry you can find well-regarded Middle Eastern eateries like Holy Land and Crescent Moon and Mexican restaurants such as Taco Riendo and Adelita's.

Food trucks have also become very popular throughout the twin cities. On weekends during the summers (approx. May- Oct) they can be found at the variety of neighborhood farmer's markets, including Midtown, Kingsfield, Linden Hills, and Northeast.

Local dishes

Traditional foods associated with Minnesota, including hotdish (casserole) and lutefisk (a Norwegian fish delicacy) are rarely found in restaurants. However, one uniquely Minneapolitan item that can be easily located is the Juicy Lucy (sometimes spelled Jucy Lucy), a cheeseburger variation in which the Cheese is cooked inside two molded-together Meat patties rather than on top. The Cheese inside the Burgers is gooey and piping hot. While the origin, and spelling, of the Juicy Lucy is disputed, popular places to order a Juicy Lucy include Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club in Minneapolis/South|South Minneapolis, and a short distance across the river in Saint Paul at the Nook, among others.

Music

Minneapolis has one of the most vibrant and independent music scenes in the nation. The city is probably most famous for its purple pop wonder, Prince, but also has bands such as Soul Asylum, The Replacements, The Jayhawks, Atmosphere and Hüsker Dü. Several clubs in town play host to shows by local bands and your chances of finding a good one are better than average.

• Minneapolis/Downtown|Downtown is home to the internationally renowned First Avenue. First Avenue is famous as setting for the film Purple Rain and for the silver stars that cover the outside of the building. The venue is split into three: the Mainroom which hosts national and international touring bands (usually of the punk, indie, and hip-hop variety) and the smaller 7th Street Entry which hosts local and less-known touring bands, and the Record Room a small dance lounge primarily used for DJ's and smaller dance nights. Also in the area are the Fine Line Music Cafe and the Dakota Jazz Club, Grumpy's, Lee's Liquor Lounge, and Bunkers.
• The Minneapolis/South|West Bank contains the Cabooze, a biker bar featuring mostly classic rock-type music. Other venues include the Nomad and the Red Sea, and in the nearby Seward neighborhood and the Hexagon Bar.
• Minneapolis/Southwest|Uptown and Lyn-Lake have places like Famous Dave's for local and national blues acts and Dulono's for bluegrass and folk nights.
• Minneapolis/Northeast|Northeast has some venues scattered around like the Terminal Bar and the 331 Club. In nearby Minneapolis/Southeast|Dinkytown, don't miss the elegantly decorated Varsity Theater and college band favorite and the Kitty Cat Klub.

Alcohol

The nightlife in general can be vibrant in several areas. The Minneapolis/Downtown|Warehouse District is great for clubbers, Minneapolis/Southeast|Dinkytown is good for college party-goers, Minneapolis/Southwest|Uptown is good for those with a bit more money, and Minneapolis/Northeast|Northeast is great for dive bar aficionados. Minneapolis is not the 24-hour city that New York is, but bars close at 2AM so that is still plenty of time, especially if you find a party to go to afterwards.

Minneapolis certainly accommodates those seeking a good drink, a tendency which certainly compliments the alcohol culture endemic to the Upper Midwest. There are over a dozen Irish, (German), or British pubs, such as The Local, Black Forest Inn, Brit's Pub, Gastoff's, O'Donovan's or Kieran's. Local dining, clubs, pubs, and bars in general compete for the best Happy Hour specials. It's a good idea to pick up a City Pages or to do an internet search to find the best deals.

Coffee and tea

The Scandinavian and north African influence can be seen quite clearly in the ubiquitous access to coffee shops in Minneapolis. This is a place where important things are discussed over a cup of Coffee. Caribou is a locally-based national chain that actually outnumbers and Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) in Minnesota and has a similar feel and quality in the drinks, except the shots are 1.5 oz compared to and Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) 1.0 ounce, and they usually offer free WiFi. Dunn Brothers is also locally-based and is third in chains for number of locations, and their coffee is fresh-ground daily in the shop but somewhat stronger than most places in town. Their fantastic brewed coffee is a little more impressive than the espresso, but their shots are at least a mighty 3.0 oz. Dunn Brothers also excels at offering free WiFi access and (often) free Internet terminals. If you're looking for something a little less corporate, you can be rest assured that there will be a coffee shop nearby in most parts of town, as Minneapolis' independent spirit has yielded good cups of coffee in so many places that one can hardly throw a rock without it landing in a latte. The number of independent coffee shops per block reaches critical mass near Minneapolis/Southwest|Uptown and Lyn-Lake and around the Minneapolis/Southeast|University of Minnesota neighborhoods. The density of coffee shops isn't quite as great in Minneapolis/South|South and Minneapolis/Northeast|Northeast Minneapolis, but there will still be enough options to keep you satisfied. Comparatively speaking, Minneapolis/North|North Minneapolis is somewhat of a coffee desert, but there will still be a couple options to which local residents are fiercely loyal. There is also a growing specialty coffee shop movement in Minneapolis if you're willing to pay an extra dollar (or three) for a better cup.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Minneapolis

Minneapolis - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Minneapolis, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Minneapolis. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Minneapolis and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Minneapolis. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Minneapolis. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inMinneapolis: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Minneapolis.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Minneapolis: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Minneapolis, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Minneapolis.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Minneapolis, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Minneapolis, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Minneapolis and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Minneapolis, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Minneapolis, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Minneapolis without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Minneapolis is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Minneapolis.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Minneapolis is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Minneapolis, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Minneapolis Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There is a good variety of hotels. Minneapolis/Downtown|Downtown hosts many independent and international hotel chains from the mid-range to the high-end. Minneapolis/Southeast|The University of Minnesota campus, not too far from downtown, has many mid-range options. Minneapolis/South|South Minneapolis has limited options but they are also close to downtown. The Twin Cities' only Hostels|backpackers hostel is Minneapolis/Southwest|near Eat Street and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Travellers getting by without a vehicle will want to avoid staying in a hotel outside the city.

Stay Safe

Dial 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.

As with any major American city, keep your eyes open and your wits about you. Crime is relatively low in most parts of Minneapolis that you're likely to visit, but is not unknown. Crime in the U.S. in general while being notably more common than in most of Europe has been steadily decreasing in recent decades and is notably lower than in e.g. most of Latin America.

Be wary of the Near North, Camden, and Phillips communities, particularly at night. Violent crimes can occur and unfortunately have occurred in all parts of the city.

As in all other cities these crimes receive a disproportionate amount of attention from local media. These tragic events, however, are typically not random so they will probably not impact your visit. You are more likely to be a victim of crimes of opportunity.

When traveling, do not leave any items that can be quickly converted to cash in plain view in cars or unattended at restaurants and other public areas. These crimes can and do occur in all areas, especially where you would have your guard down.

When you take in the great park system or travel to the unique urban shopping destinations ensure that all valuables remain with you or are secured out-of-view in your vehicle.

Also if you are going to secure your valuables in a vehicle, make sure you store them prior to arriving at your destination. Thieves are experts at watching people store valuables in the trunk and then striking when they leave.

Telecommunications in Minneapolis

Telephones

Minneapolis, along with the airport and the suburbs of Richfield and St. Anthony, and the entire University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus is in the 612 area code. From 612, it is not necessary to dial a 1 before the area code when calling numbers in the 651 (Saint Paul and east suburbs), 763 (northwest suburbs), or 952 (southwest suburbs) area codes.

Internet Cafe's in Minneapolis

Internet cafes are nonexistent in Minneapolis. Many coffeeshops offer free wifi, but very few will have computer terminals.

The Hennepin County Library has computer workstations with internet access at all of their locations. Access to a computer is on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations can only be made in person. Out-of-town visitors will need to obtain a temporary internet pass from a librarian. The library also offers unlimited wireless internet access (no pass needed). See neighborhood articles for specific locations.

The city of Minneapolis maintains a number of free wifi hotspots throughout the city.

Cope in Minneapolis

Newspapers in Minneapolis

• Star Tribune. Minneapolis' daily newspaper. $1 daily, $2 Sunday.
• Pioneer Press. Daily newspaper based across the river in Saint Paul, but still available in Minneapolis and around the Twin Cities. $0.50 daily, $1 Sunday.
• City Pages. Free alternative weekly (owned by the Star Tribune since 2023) that comes out every Wednesday with theatre and music listings, and an annual "best of" issue well worth checking out.
• Lavender. Free biweekly magazine.

Muslim Friendly Hospitals

• Hennepin County Medical Center - HCMC - 7th Street between Park and Chicago - Occupies five city blocks on the east side of Downtown, near U.S. Bank Stadium. Has a Level I trauma center.

• Abbott Northwestern Hospital - Chicago Ave between 26th and 28th Sts

Consulates in Minneapolis

{{flag|Canada

• Canada - 701 4th Ave S, Suite 901 ☎ +1 612 333-4641 +1 612 332-4061

{{flag|Mexico

• Mexico - 797 E 7th St, Saint Paul ☎ +1 651 771-5494 +1 651 772-4419
• Finland (Honorary) ntentlan=2&culture=en-US 2429 Girard Ave South ☎ +1 612 374-2718 +1 612 374-2718
• Germany (Honorary) - Honorary@ 60 South 6th St, Suite 2800 ☎ +1 612 342-9899 +1 612 596-3899

{{flag|Netherlands

• Netherlands (Honorary) | 33 South 6th St, Suite 4200 ☎ +1 612 373-8801 +1 612 373-8881

{{flag|Norway

• Norway (Honorary) - 11100 Bren Road W, Minnetonka ☎ +1 612 332-3338 +1 612 332-1386 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8AM Monday - 4PM

{{flag|Switzerland

• Switzerland (Honorary) - rep_292 18250 39th Ave N, Plymouth ☎ +1 763 478-3018 +1 763 478-3018
• United Kingdom (Honorary) - 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 2600 ☎ +1 612 338-2525 +1 612 339-2386

Travel Next

There are several day or overnight destinations near the city.

In the Twin Cities metro

• Mall of America in nearby Bloomington. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
• Valleyfair is an amusement park that's within an hour's drive in nearby Shakopee.
• Minnesota Zoo is in nearby Apple Valley (Minnesota) | Apple Valley.
• Stillwater (Minnesota) | Stillwater is a beautiful, historic town about an hour away that has the highest number of celebrity sightings per capita in the state.
• Chaska(Minnesota) | Chaska is home to the Minnesota Arboretum. There are events and nature explorations year round. The third Monday of the month is free. Other days admission is $15 for anyone over the age of 15. Free for ages 15 and under. www.arboretum.umn.edu

Greater Minnesota

• Lutsen has what may be the best skiing in the state (or a few states, given the otherwise flat geography) with affordable ski/stay packages. At 5 hours from Minneapolis, this is not exactly a day trip but worth the drive if you are a gravity addict!
• Lake Mille Lacs offers good fishing, boat rentals and fishing guides.
• New Ulm (Minnesota) | New Ulm is famous for its German German festivals, and amateur baseball tradition.
• Pine City is north, nice and close, just an hour's drive from downtown. It's a great glimpse of small-town Minnesota life.
• State Parks. The state has many well-kept state parks for those who like to camp and fish.
• Duluth and the gateway to the North Shore, is 155 miles north on I-35, and is great for an overnight trip.

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