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[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.

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.

I was there not too long ago and the Hungry Mind is now a Patagonia.  $50 socks.  What a waste of space.  And it looks completely different--far too much drywall for my tastes.  Apparently Macalester students are far more wealthy now than I was back then.  But Grand Avenue still looks great.  There is a wonderful little store that has been there for at least 20 years--Coat of Many Colors--selling fair trade ethnic clothing, jewelry, ties, and accessories (interthreaduality).

But, yes, I agree--Hungry Mind IMHO tried to do too much and was undercapitalized for all they tried to do.  Plus they began to have problems with textbook selling.  That's what really put them in major trouble.  (I stayed in touch...)

[sibyl]

Shucks, there have been so many good suggestions that I just have a couple others.

If your husband is a hockey fan, send him over to watch the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Center in St. Paul.  March is also playoff time for the U of M Golden Gophers, so much depends on when in March you go.

I like driving around St. Paul and parts of Minneapolis to look at beautiful architecture.  Plus, if you're in St. Paul, you can go eat at Mickey's Dining Car, where they serve great diner food in a great art-deco-style diner.  If you are PHC fans, you will recognize Mickey's as the place where they end up after the show.  (Don't tell your cardiologist.)

Have fun.

[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.

I was there not too long ago and the Hungry Mind is now a Patagonia.  $50 socks.  What a waste of space.  And it looks completely different--far too much drywall for my tastes.  Apparently Macalester students are far more wealthy now than I was back then.  But Grand Avenue still looks great.  There is a wonderful little store that has been there for at least 20 years--Coat of Many Colors--selling fair trade ethnic clothing, jewelry, ties, and accessories (interthreaduality).

But, yes, I agree--Hungry Mind IMHO tried to do too much and was undercapitalized for all they tried to do.  Plus they began to have problems with textbook selling.  That's what really put them in major trouble.  (I stayed in touch...)

Weren't the textbooks supposed to *help*? You know, come to think of it, every town I've lived in has lost its awesome independent bookstore. I know this is not actually my fault but, uh...hmm.

Well, I'm glad Coat of Many Colors is still there. I spent some quality time poking around in there, back in the day.

[aandsdean]

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.

I was there not too long ago and the Hungry Mind is now a Patagonia.  $50 socks.  What a waste of space.  And it looks completely different--far too much drywall for my tastes.  Apparently Macalester students are far more wealthy now than I was back then.  But Grand Avenue still looks great.  There is a wonderful little store that has been there for at least 20 years--Coat of Many Colors--selling fair trade ethnic clothing, jewelry, ties, and accessories (interthreaduality).

But, yes, I agree--Hungry Mind IMHO tried to do too much and was undercapitalized for all they tried to do.  Plus they began to have problems with textbook selling.  That's what really put them in major trouble.  (I stayed in touch...)

My pal anthroid probably knows this, but for those who don't, the Hungry Mind bookstore became the Ruminator when they sold the trademark "Hungry Mind" to some web company during the dot.com bubble.  It appears they made a mistake--the brand was very valuable (Hungry Mind Review, etc.) and it must have had something to do with the decline.

(How do I know?  Professora Aands's best friend from grad school's daughter worked there when all this happened, and said best friend taught at Mac.  Present at the event.)

[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.

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.

I was there not too long ago and the Hungry Mind is now a Patagonia.  $50 socks.  What a waste of space.  And it looks completely different--far too much drywall for my tastes.  Apparently Macalester students are far more wealthy now than I was back then.  But Grand Avenue still looks great.  There is a wonderful little store that has been there for at least 20 years--Coat of Many Colors--selling fair trade ethnic clothing, jewelry, ties, and accessories (interthreaduality).

But, yes, I agree--Hungry Mind IMHO tried to do too much and was undercapitalized for all they tried to do.  Plus they began to have problems with textbook selling.  That's what really put them in major trouble.  (I stayed in touch...)

My pal anthroid probably knows this, but for those who don't, the Hungry Mind bookstore became the Ruminator when they sold the trademark "Hungry Mind" to some web company during the dot.com bubble.  It appears they made a mistake--the brand was very valuable (Hungry Mind Review, etc.) and it must have had something to do with the decline.

(How do I know?  Professora Aands's best friend from grad school's daughter worked there when all this happened, and said best friend taught at Mac.  Present at the event.)

Yes, this is right, now that I think about it.  But the textbook problems really got in the way, and there was a particular Macalester president who really screwed the place up for a while, and he helped to sink Hungry Mind/Ruminator IMHO as he tried to implement business models for a college and for a just-barely-profitable bookstore.

I did not give any money to Macalester until that particular guy was gone.  What an idiot.  Since him, though, there have been 2 fabulous prezzies.  The current guy, Brian Rosenberg, seems to be an effective intellectual who also can manage well.  At least IMHO.

[madhatter]

Yes, this is right, now that I think about it.  But the textbook problems really got in the way, and there was a particular Macalester president who really screwed the place up for a while, and he helped to sink Hungry Mind/Ruminator IMHO as he tried to implement business models for a college and for a just-barely-profitable bookstore.

Did the restaurants they opened have anything to do with this?

[anthroid]

Yes, this is right, now that I think about it.  But the textbook problems really got in the way, and there was a particular Macalester president who really screwed the place up for a while, and he helped to sink Hungry Mind/Ruminator IMHO as he tried to implement business models for a college and for a just-barely-profitable bookstore.

Did the restaurants they opened have anything to do with this?

The Phoenix wasn't theirs.  However, that coffeeshop or whatever it was may have been a loss leader--that was after my time.  When I was there we had the Phoenix and the yarn shop (and I still have a muffler I made bought with yarn from that shop [I can only knit straight]) and the Mind.  Having thriving separate shops was probably a better business plan than the Mind trying to handle that ginormous space on its own.

[madhatter]

Yes, this is right, now that I think about it.  But the textbook problems really got in the way, and there was a particular Macalester president who really screwed the place up for a while, and he helped to sink Hungry Mind/Ruminator IMHO as he tried to implement business models for a college and for a just-barely-profitable bookstore.

Did the restaurants they opened have anything to do with this?

The Phoenix wasn't theirs.  However, that coffeeshop or whatever it was may have been a loss leader--that was after my time.  When I was there we had the Phoenix and the yarn shop (and I still have a muffler I made bought with yarn from that shop [I can only knit straight]) and the Mind.  Having thriving separate shops was probably a better business plan than the Mind trying to handle that ginormous space on its own.

I'm not familiar with the Phoenix, but they opened a restaurant next door called "Table of Contents." (Get it?) Which then expanded into a fine-dining restaurant near downtown Minneapolis. I think both closed in the mid-90s.

[aandsdean]

Yes, this is right, now that I think about it.  But the textbook problems really got in the way, and there was a particular Macalester president who really screwed the place up for a while, and he helped to sink Hungry Mind/Ruminator IMHO as he tried to implement business models for a college and for a just-barely-profitable bookstore.

Did the restaurants they opened have anything to do with this?

The Phoenix wasn't theirs.  However, that coffeeshop or whatever it was may have been a loss leader--that was after my time.  When I was there we had the Phoenix and the yarn shop (and I still have a muffler I made bought with yarn from that shop [I can only knit straight]) and the Mind.  Having thriving separate shops was probably a better business plan than the Mind trying to handle that ginormous space on its own.

I'm not familiar with the Phoenix, but they opened a restaurant next door called "Table of Contents." (Get it?) Which then expanded into a fine-dining restaurant near downtown Minneapolis. I think both closed in the mid-90s.

The downtown Table of Contents was a really nice restaurant.  My wife gave a talk at the Art Institute and they took us there afterward.  It was memorable.  I didn't know it had a Hungry Mind connection, but given the propensities of the folks at the MIA, it would make sense that they'd support it.

All a shame.

[schoolmarm]

If you are driving from St. Louis, take the Avenue of the Saints"!  There is only a little bit of 2-lane near Hannibal, but the rest (at least up through Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa) is great. Get gas in Missouri where it is cheaper.  Since the road is new in Iowa, there aren't gas stations nearby until you get on the Interstate heading towards Cedar Rapids.

The Red Balloon is an excellent children's book store in St. Paul. 

If you are staying in the downtown area, go to church at Central Lutheran (the "Mother Church" where the music is to die for!) Actually, the church music is great throughout the Twin Cities.  The classical music offerings are also outstanding.

And there is a polka bar/piano bar north of downtown on Hennepin, I believe.

I could live and die happy in the Twin Cities.  Don't let those parking spaces with the outlets for your engine heater scare you off!

[anthroid]

Yes, this is right, now that I think about it.  But the textbook problems really got in the way, and there was a particular Macalester president who really screwed the place up for a while, and he helped to sink Hungry Mind/Ruminator IMHO as he tried to implement business models for a college and for a just-barely-profitable bookstore.

Did the restaurants they opened have anything to do with this?

The Phoenix wasn't theirs.  However, that coffeeshop or whatever it was may have been a loss leader--that was after my time.  When I was there we had the Phoenix and the yarn shop (and I still have a muffler I made bought with yarn from that shop [I can only knit straight]) and the Mind.  Having thriving separate shops was probably a better business plan than the Mind trying to handle that ginormous space on its own.

I'm not familiar with the Phoenix, but they opened a restaurant next door called "Table of Contents." (Get it?) Which then expanded into a fine-dining restaurant near downtown Minneapolis. I think both closed in the mid-90s.

The Phoneix was in the space that Table of Contents later occupied.

[amlithist]

Thanks, all--had a great trip to/time in Mpls!  The weather was OK (though apparently fabulous by local standards:  50 degrees during the week, and folks were out in shorts!) and the city was really nice.  It's especially easy to navigate and clearly marked, something I really appreciated.

Someone suggested the "avenue of the Saints" through Iowa--I did drive on this but wondered:  why the name?  (I was busy watching the rivers and looking at snowdrifts, so it may have been obvious and I just missed it!)

Thanks again, and I can add my endorsement for Minneapolis:  it's a nice place (though I'm not sure I could live through their winters)!

[aandsdean]

Thanks, all--had a great trip to/time in Mpls!  The weather was OK (though apparently fabulous by local standards:  50 degrees during the week, and folks were out in shorts!) and the city was really nice.  It's especially easy to navigate and clearly marked, something I really appreciated.

Someone suggested the "avenue of the Saints" through Iowa--I did drive on this but wondered:  why the name?  (I was busy watching the rivers and looking at snowdrifts, so it may have been obvious and I just missed it!)

Thanks again, and I can add my endorsement for Minneapolis:  it's a nice place (though I'm not sure I could live through their winters)!

The road runs from St. Louis to St. Paul....

[amlithist]

Thanks, all--had a great trip to/time in Mpls!  The weather was OK (though apparently fabulous by local standards:  50 degrees during the week, and folks were out in shorts!) and the city was really nice.  It's especially easy to navigate and clearly marked, something I really appreciated.

Someone suggested the "avenue of the Saints" through Iowa--I did drive on this but wondered:  why the name?  (I was busy watching the rivers and looking at snowdrifts, so it may have been obvious and I just missed it!)

Thanks again, and I can add my endorsement for Minneapolis:  it's a nice place (though I'm not sure I could live through their winters)!

The road runs from St. Louis to St. Paul....

D'oh!  :p  (Wasn't sure if there was some other reason I'd missed, though, too!)