Leadership and Executive Development for women of all races, cultures and backgrounds
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d i v e r s i t y w o m a n . c o m S u m m e r 2 0 1 5 D I V E R S I T Y W O M A N 45 Minneapolis and St. Paul Stepping Out DW Life > > DW Life By Eddie Lee M inneapolis and St. Paul are commonly referred to as the Twin Cities, and f ttingly so, as their history has often resembled a sib- ling rivalry. During the 1890 U.S. Census, each city was eager to establish its superi- ority over the other. T e competition be- came so heated that census takers from both sides were arrested and accused of padding population numbers. Today, no longer competing, the two cities complement one another. Minne- apolis, boasting new and interesting con- temporary architecture, tends to be the more cosmopolitan city, while St. Paul, full of beautiful old Victorians, is more laid-back. T e Twin Cities have more theater seats per capita than anywhere outside New York City, and you can always f nd an exceptional show to attend. T e Hen- nepin T eatre District in downtown Min- neapolis is home to four historic theaters: the State T eatre, the Orpheum T eatre, the Pantages T eatre, and the Goodale T eater. T e Ordway Center for the Per- forming Arts in downtown St. Paul, one of the country's leading not-for-prof t performing arts centers, is the home of the Minnesota Opera and showcases mu- sical productions of all kinds, including touring Broadway musicals, world music, dance, and new theatrical productions. For devotees of the vi- sual arts, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis houses more than 11,000 pieces and has been recognized by News- week as "possibly the best contemporary art museum in the U.S." T is summer's blockbuster exhibit is International Pop, focusing on the Pop Art movement of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Don't miss the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, whose well-respected permanent collection has a strong Renaissance representation, and also boasts one of the f nest Asian art col- lections in the country. Start your dining adventures at the Eat Street neighborhood in Minneapo- lis. More than 50 restaurants, spread across 17 blocks, span the globe from T ai to Italian to Caribbean cuisine. Not far away, Butcher and the Boar serves up regional American food and was a James Beard Award semif nalist in 2013 for best new restaurant in the country. For an upscale experience, visit Meritage in St. Paul. Named the city's best restaurant in 2015 by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, this French-inf uenced restaurant is known for its fantastic oyster bar. After dinner, stop by the SIX15 Room in the Grand Hotel Minneapolis, whose friendly bar- tenders make impressive cocktails. Or try the Peacock Lounge, which gets rave reviews for its dirty martinis. Want to hit the stores? You're in luck— purchases of clothes and shoes in Min- nesota are tax free! With more than 4.3 miles of storefront footage and over 40 million visitors annually, the Mall of America, located in nearby Bloomington, is the most visited mall in the world. For slightly more subdued shopping, Calhoun Square in the Minneapolis Uptown dis- trict is an active retail destination popu- lar among the locals. Grand Avenue in St. Paul, named one of America's prettiest neighborhoods by Forbes, has the tree- lined streets and numerous local busi- nesses that make for a charming shop- ping experience. With everything the two cities have to of er, you may not be able to do every- thing you want in one trip, but at least you don't have to choose a side. DW Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul (above); Minne- apolis Sculpture Garden and skyline (right).