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| UPA Conference 2004 | |||
About Minneapolis
Where the heck is Minneapolis, and why is UPA 2004 being held there? The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is a lively and vibrant community, with a robust usability and user-centered design community, and one of the oldest UPA chapters. And, Minneapolis was recently rated the "most fun city" in the USA.
What to do in MinneapolisWe don't promise daily postings, but here are some ideas for things to do in the area from fellow UPA members. The Minneapolis Institute of Art has an impressive collection of art from antiquity to the present, and free general admission every day (special exhibits may charge a fee). For modern art, check out the stunning Walker Art Center, then make sure to go across the street and visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden! There's also the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Contemporary Art, a metallic Minnesota landmark built by architect Frank Gehry at the University of Minnesota. Be
part of a live radio show Catch a Show Check out the Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis to get the schedules for the State, Orpheoum, and Pantages Theaters. Or try Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre, the longest running satirical theater in the country. The Guthrie Theatre will be performing two shows during the conference, The Pirates of Penzance and Blue/Orange. Eat Block E contains a huge entertainment center that covers a full city block between Hennepin and First Avenues. In addition to lots of restaurants like the Applebee's and the Hard Rock Cafe, there's a movie theater, bowling, and a Cold Stone Creamery. For great ethnic food, Eat Street, on Nicollet Ave. is the place to go. |
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Go to a baseball game
The Minneapolis Twins are in town June 6-13, with games every day except Monday.
Play!
There are lots of things to do with kids in the
Twin Cities area. In St. Paul, check out the Children's
Museum, Science Museum, Como
Zoo, or the Minnesota History Center. In
downtown Minneapolis, try Gameworks,
the Waterpark
at the Depot, or the Mill
City Museum. For a real treat, check out "The Magic Mrs.
Piggle-Wiggle" playing during conference week at the Children's
Theater.
Further afield, kids enjoy Valleyfair,
the Minnesota Zoo, Camp
Snoopy, and Underwater World.
Ride a Trolley
Rivercity Trolley offers tours through the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes (Twin Cities Best Human Scenery) as well as through Downtown and River Park. You can get on and off the trolleys as often as you like, so it is also a fun way to get around.
In the 1920s and 1930s, St. Paul was a haven for John Dillinger, Ma Barker, and the like. Take a tour of the shadier side of Minnesota nice with the St. Paul Gangster and Wabasha Street Caves tours.
Shop
Nicollet Mall in the Downtown area boasts some of the best shopping in the Twin Cities, and is also the site where Mary Tyler Moore threw her famous hat. If that isn't enough for your, the Mall of America is large enough to satisfy any shopping needs.
Do you have a favorite thing to do in Minneapolis or the surrounding area? Let us know.
| Comments, suggestions, or problems? Please contact the UPA webmaster at webmaster@upassoc.org Copyright © 2003 Usability Professionals'  |
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Usability Professionals'
Association 140 N. Bloomingdale Road Bloomingdale, IL 60108-1017 Tel: +1.630.980.4997 Fax: +1.630.351.8490 UPA: office@upassoc.org |