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[madhatter]

Unless global warming has totally changed winters in MN, do be aware that it is seriously cold there.  Make sure you bring appropriate winter wear, and know that, if you're planning on driving, car batteries can die within a few hours of being left in the cold.

It's not the Moon, Hestia. A stretch of super-subzero weather in March is highly unlikely, and that's about all that will affect a decent car battery.

[socsci]

Wow, all these suggestions have me wanting to go visit again! But let me chime in with a few things as a southern midwesterner myself.

A couple of food omissions in all of the above: Hmong and Sri Lankan. When I lived in Los Angeles I fell in love with Sri Lankan, which I am sure does not exist in St. Louis. It is most similar to Indian and Thai, but very different. Haven't actually tried Hmong, but I know MSP has a big Hmong population.

Weather: Minneapolis is COLD. It is colder than Chicago. You really need to dress properly to go outdoors. Specifically, you'll need boots, long underwear, scarf, and a heavy coat or parka. But it could be worse--Winnipeg in March is FREEZING, and the above clothes were only barely adequate when it hit -30F with a strong wind (never found out what the wind chill was).

Have a great time!

[madhatter]

A couple of food omissions in all of the above: Hmong and Sri Lankan. When I lived in Los Angeles I fell in love with Sri Lankan, which I am sure does not exist in St. Louis. It is most similar to Indian and Thai, but very different. Haven't actually tried Hmong, but I know MSP has a big Hmong population.

Not a lot of Hmong-only restaurants, but you'll find them running quite a few of the Vietnamese places.

Weather: Minneapolis is COLD. It is colder than Chicago. You really need to dress properly to go outdoors. Specifically, you'll need boots, long underwear, scarf, and a heavy coat or parka.

For March, this is really overdoing it. For a typical March, you'll be fine with a warm winter coat, a hat, and gloves. If you're going to be doing a lot of walking outside, you might want a scarf, but unless you're going hiking, boots are unnecessary. There might be snow in March, but it will be plowed and shoveled fairly quickly.

[socsci]

Weather: Minneapolis is COLD. It is colder than Chicago. You really need to dress properly to go outdoors. Specifically, you'll need boots, long underwear, scarf, and a heavy coat or parka.

For March, this is really overdoing it. For a typical March, you'll be fine with a warm winter coat, a hat, and gloves. If you're going to be doing a lot of walking outside, you might want a scarf, but unless you're going hiking, boots are unnecessary. There might be snow in March, but it will be plowed and shoveled fairly quickly.

Plowed or not, snow is still wet. I argue for boots just to cross the street. And remember that what seems not-so-cold to you might seem very cold to a St. Louisan.

And if you find you're overdressed, you can take things off. Moreover, OP is staying for a week, so the weather can change.

[madhatter]

Weather: Minneapolis is COLD. It is colder than Chicago. You really need to dress properly to go outdoors. Specifically, you'll need boots, long underwear, scarf, and a heavy coat or parka.

For March, this is really overdoing it. For a typical March, you'll be fine with a warm winter coat, a hat, and gloves. If you're going to be doing a lot of walking outside, you might want a scarf, but unless you're going hiking, boots are unnecessary. There might be snow in March, but it will be plowed and shoveled fairly quickly.

Plowed or not, snow is still wet. I argue for boots just to cross the street. And remember that what seems not-so-cold to you might seem very cold to a St. Louisan.

Ah, yes, I forgot about the frail Southern constitution!

[aandsdean]

Yes, driving in Minneapolis is easier once you bring GPS and realize two oddities.  Sometimes things aren't well-signed because they assume everyone is local and knows without a sign, and sometimes freeway exits go off in the opposite direction from the one you expect - for instance, you might exit in what seems a southerly direction to get going north on a connecting freeway.  This is perhaps a bad description, but in other words, use a map or GPS, and read signs carefully.

One other tip if you have never made the drive north.  There are very few places to get gas just off the freeway between Iowa and the Minnesota line.  Why this is, only Iowans know.  You must drive into towns and many of the towns are so small there will be no gas station.  Gas up and drive early in daylight.

This is a lot better than it used to be--especially north of the border.  There's even a Dunn Bros. coffee place in, I think, Owatonna.  (I could drive right to it, but am not sure which of those little towns it's in. However, it's across the parking lot from a Lowe's.)

I lived in Iowa for 10 years with my parents in MSP, and made this drive a lot more times than I'd care to count.

Amlithist, you'll find the MSP area to be completely splendid.  If you were going later in the year, I'd recommend an al fresco dinner at W.A. Frost in St. Paul (I think it's on Grand, but maybe it's on Selby--once again, could drive right to it but not sure about the name of the street--this is the problem of being a congenital navigator-by-landmarks-rather-than-street names).

I second the Surdyk's recommendation for cheese.  It's on Hennepin a block east of the bridge over the river near the Grain Belt sign.  Another great deli/wine shop is France44, which is, as suggested, located at the corner of France and 44th in Edina.  It's maybe 3 miles from Lake Harriet, to the SW.

One of the really great local/seasonal restaurants is Lucia's (http://www.lucias.com/), which has been there for some time and is never disappointing.  Their brunches are spectacular.  Not far from downtown.

Have a great trip. 

[anthroid]

My friends in the Cities tell me how disappointed they are that, lately, winters are milder than they were when we were in college in St. Paul.  Only several, instead of many, below zero days and no big 2 foot snowstorms.  By comparison, my first January in St. Paul, in 1977, involved one morning when it was about -25 F with a windchill of -80.  Breakfast was so totally not worth the short walk from the dorm that day.  By March, things really have warmed up, though boots are a good idea as there will be some melting snow.

I echo the Lake Harriet walk--my mother grew up near Lake Harriet and, when I was in college, I frequently rode my bike over to Harriet and just enjoyed so thoroughly.  You could also think about driving down Mississippi River Blvd in St. Paul--amazing houses (but no sidewalks).  Walking up and down Summit in St. Paul can be a fascinating experience as well, particularly if you are an architecture fan.

[sikora]

In the winter, I do use my car as a food freezer, but yeah, Anthroid is right.  Minnesota is feeling the effects of global warming, and it is actually causing some changes in bird migration behavior.  And changing fish behavior and shortening the length of the ice fishing season  (my brother is quite the fisherman, but he doesn't shoot birds.  He just chats up the hunters when he's out). 

However, last year, there were a couple of nights  in January it got down to nearly 20 below. March 12 it was 5 degrees above zero, and my family and I went to FL. for my mother's wedding.  We weren't wearing our long underwear on trip to airport, and the drive was miserable. 

Oh, and actually, two kind people have bought me wonderful meals in Minneapolis. :)

[alleyoxenfree]

First the ice fishing goes, then the chainsaw ice sculpture contest.

Damn global warming.

[hestia]

Unless global warming has totally changed winters in MN, do be aware that it is seriously cold there.  Make sure you bring appropriate winter wear, and know that, if you're planning on driving, car batteries can die within a few hours of being left in the cold.

It's not the Moon, Hestia. A stretch of super-subzero weather in March is highly unlikely, and that's about all that will affect a decent car battery.

I spent my adolescence in MSP, and it was indeed the Moon.  I can't tell you how many nights we had to wait around for a jump in the days before cell phones.  Evidently global warming has indeed changed the winters if subzero weather in March is unlikely.  And in those days ethnic food was limited to the French restaurant in the Radisson hotel, the Swedish restaurant, and the Magic Pan Creperie.  I remember when the first Vietnamese restaurant opened in St. Paul.

[madhatter]

Unless global warming has totally changed winters in MN, do be aware that it is seriously cold there.  Make sure you bring appropriate winter wear, and know that, if you're planning on driving, car batteries can die within a few hours of being left in the cold.

It's not the Moon, Hestia. A stretch of super-subzero weather in March is highly unlikely, and that's about all that will affect a decent car battery.

I spent my adolescence in MSP, and it was indeed the Moon.  I can't tell you how many nights we had to wait around for a jump in the days before cell phones.  Evidently global warming has indeed changed the winters if subzero weather in March is unlikely.  And in those days ethnic food was limited to the French restaurant in the Radisson hotel, the Swedish restaurant, and the Magic Pan Creperie.  I remember when the first Vietnamese restaurant opened in St. Paul.

A long time ago, those markers. This is a public thread, so I won't put a year to it. ;)

[hestia]

Unless global warming has totally changed winters in MN, do be aware that it is seriously cold there.  Make sure you bring appropriate winter wear, and know that, if you're planning on driving, car batteries can die within a few hours of being left in the cold.

It's not the Moon, Hestia. A stretch of super-subzero weather in March is highly unlikely, and that's about all that will affect a decent car battery.

I spent my adolescence in MSP, and it was indeed the Moon.  I can't tell you how many nights we had to wait around for a jump in the days before cell phones.  Evidently global warming has indeed changed the winters if subzero weather in March is unlikely.  And in those days ethnic food was limited to the French restaurant in the Radisson hotel, the Swedish restaurant, and the Magic Pan Creperie.  I remember when the first Vietnamese restaurant opened in St. Paul.

A long time ago, those markers. This is a public thread, so I won't put a year to it. ;)

Thank you!  Time hasn't dulled the memories of those weeks where one just could never get warm, though.  And where just getting out of the shower was torture.  <Shudder.>

[anthroid]

Unless global warming has totally changed winters in MN, do be aware that it is seriously cold there.  Make sure you bring appropriate winter wear, and know that, if you're planning on driving, car batteries can die within a few hours of being left in the cold.

It's not the Moon, Hestia. A stretch of super-subzero weather in March is highly unlikely, and that's about all that will affect a decent car battery.

I spent my adolescence in MSP, and it was indeed the Moon.  I can't tell you how many nights we had to wait around for a jump in the days before cell phones.  Evidently global warming has indeed changed the winters if subzero weather in March is unlikely.  And in those days ethnic food was limited to the French restaurant in the Radisson hotel, the Swedish restaurant, and the Magic Pan Creperie.  I remember when the first Vietnamese restaurant opened in St. Paul.

Me too.  I was working at the Hungry Mind (it of gentle memory) when that happened.

[sikora]

The midtown area of Minneapolis used to be known as one of the most dangerous, drug and crime infested areas in the Twin Cities area.  It continues to have its problems, but immigrant communities, mainly Somali and Mexican, and really turned the area around.  It's fun walk down Lake Street and see stores that sell Halal meats and have signs that read "hablamos español."  Within two blocks of each other, there are two beauty salons both named El Milagro, and another that specializes in African braiding. 

[corny]

Unless global warming has totally changed winters in MN, do be aware that it is seriously cold there.  Make sure you bring appropriate winter wear, and know that, if you're planning on driving, car batteries can die within a few hours of being left in the cold.

It's not the Moon, Hestia. A stretch of super-subzero weather in March is highly unlikely, and that's about all that will affect a decent car battery.

I spent my adolescence in MSP, and it was indeed the Moon.  I can't tell you how many nights we had to wait around for a jump in the days before cell phones.  Evidently global warming has indeed changed the winters if subzero weather in March is unlikely.  And in those days ethnic food was limited to the French restaurant in the Radisson hotel, the Swedish restaurant, and the Magic Pan Creperie.  I remember when the first Vietnamese restaurant opened in St. Paul.

Me too.  I was working at the Hungry Mind (it of gentle memory) when that happened.

Anthroid, you used to work at the Hungry Mind? Oh, I still can't believe it's gone...somehow everything started to go downhill once they changed their name to "Ruminator." Well, it probably started before that, but I was just a customer, so I didn't know what was going on. Somewhere I still have a Hungry Mind t-shirt with a Dan Quayle quote on the back ("What a waste it it to lose one's mind..." I can't remember the whole rambling thing now). Which puts me in St. Paul a while after hestia, I guess - but still more years ago than seems right.