The Twin Cities music scene is one especially notable area in the arts where this place has made a huge name for itself. In the early eighties, the Minnesota music scene was brought to worldwide attention by such famous personalities as Bob Dylan and Prince, and to this day continues to generate new artists that have a huge impact on the music industry.

One of the theaters in the Twin Cities that has single handedly led the rise to fame of Minnesota’s music industry is the First Avenue and Seventh Street Entry. Known simply to most people as First Avenue, it is one of the major landmarks of Minneapolis.

It’s beginnings were inauspicious, starting off as as the Greyhound Bus Depot back in the 1930’s. Even back then, the place was a venue for musicians in the area, and live band performances in the depot were an attraction to the locals. The design of the building was, for it’s time, quite modern and the featured lounges placed a premium on customer comfort.

The 70s were a major time of upheaval for the place, as the establishment was officially changed into a rock music club and featured alcohol, something which was a rarity at the time. Over the course of that decade, the club would change owners and names frequently, but the spirit remained the same. Musical acts such as Tina Turner, Rod Steward, BB King, Pat Benetar, the Ramones, and U2 played at the venue, inspiring future generations of musicians and artists.

The 80s saw the greatest impact of the club, as it’s name changed into First Avenue, a name which persists to this day and age and has established itself as an official landmark in the Twin Cities. First Avenue booking included top acts like New Order, Culture Club, de Barge, REM, and Run DMC, bands whose musical influence extends until today. However, the biggest contributor to the club’s musical force in the 80s was Prince, who made First Avenue not only a place for his regular gigs, but a testing ground for new material he was fielding as well as the venue for his movie, Purple Rain.

The 90s saw First Avenue keeping pace with the times, as the club consistently featured hard core punk rock acts back to back with R & B and hip hop acts. Keeping on the edge of modern music, First Avenue also introduced the DJ culture to the Twin Cities, a trend that spread like wildfire to other clubs in the area.

Despite – or perhaps because of – it’s distinguished musical history background, the club remains committed to hosting world class acts featuring the best of modern music, with the ultimate end goal in mind of continually fostering the development of arts in general and music in particular.

To this day, the club runs gigs for both famous acts, and underground bands that have their own small but ultimately loyal fan followings. It is this kind of commitment to their patrons and to the industry that has kept First Avenue alive since it’s humble beginnings, and promises to see it well into the future.

The fledgling United States first came into control of the vast forested area that is now Minnesota after the Revolutionary War and the Louisiana Purchase.  The early inhabitants of the region were made up mostly of fur trappers and Native Americans who remained loyal to the British crown.  For a number of years after acquiring the territory, the American government, more interested in securing the frontier and dealing with the still very real threat posed by British naval forces, left the land to its pre-existing inhabitants.  However, after the War of 1812, it was decided that America should exert its national identity by restricting commercial access to the regions waterways for American citizens only.  Such a feat, of course, required a military presence.  Fort Snelling was founded to serve that purpose.

For years, Fort Snelling remained a meeting place between an increasing American population and existing natives.  As the frontier moved westward, Fort Snelling became less useful as a military outpost.  It served for some time as a training facility, seeing a great deal of use during the civil war.  Today, the Fort serves in a civilian capacity as a nature and history facility.

The Mall of America currently sits on 230 thousand sq. meters of retail store space.  The mall has four floors with over 520 specialty stores plus various entertainment, educational, and don’t for get the food courts, sure to suit anyone’s taste.

But one the major attraction that keep me coming back time and time again is Underwater Adventures.  Mall of America’s Underwater Adventures is considered the largest underground aquarium in the world, with no less than 4,500 water creatures.  The aquarium has grown from 17 sharks when it first opened to 47 sharks in all.

Discovery Channel has dubbed the underground aquarium as the best in the world in terms of shark encounter.  It has even been called the best exhibit of sharks by the Animal Planet.

The aquarium is home to over 4,500 water creatures, I have to say the one that I find most interesting is the Glofish.  The Glofish is a genetically modified fish originally intended to warn scientists of water pollutants.  It however has become a hit among consumers who love the fluorescent glow.

The GloFish at the Mall of America Aquarium emit a pink glow, but scientists are still looking at the possibility of having the fish emit different colors depending on the pollutants that it encounters.

Want to save some money on your trip to Underwater Adventures.  Go to there website and print out coupons where you can save anywhere from $1-$2 off the regular ticket price.  You can even print out tickets online.

The Underwater Adventures at the Mall of America has proven to be a source of education and fun for children and adults.  Field trips and birthday parties are often scheduled, but are subject to prior arrangements.

The Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining audiences all over the world for over 80 years, but who are they? What are they? Why are they so popular, having entertained people from U.S. Presidents to Pope John Paul II?

The Harlem Globetrotters were formed in 1926 in Chicago, Illinois by a man named Abe Silperstein and a group of basketball players that played at Wendell Phillips High School — he referred to his team as “Harlem”. Over the next two years, several players would leave the team and in 1928, Tommy Brookins got several of the players together and called them the “Globe Trotters”. By 1929, Silperstein referred to them as the “New York Harlem Globe Trotters”. He chose Harlem as their home team to add to the mystery and because Harlem was the in place for African-American culture. They would not play in Harlem until 1968, however.

The theme song, Sweet Georgia Brown, was a 1949 instrumental done by Brother Bones and His Shadows and has been used for the theme song since 1952.

Contrary to popular belief, the Harlem Globetrotters do not always focus on comedic plays and will only do so when they are comfortably in the lead. They were a serious team that brought forth many star players over the years, including Meadowlark Lemon, Wilt Chamberlain, Reese Tatum and Curly Neal. It was also believed that the Globetrotters helped break the color barrier in basketball as in 1950, the NBA drafted their first African-American player, Chuck Cooper.

Nearly all the players have been African-American, although Silperstein, who was white, would sometimes suit up for an injured player. In 1985, the Globetrotters first allowed women to play and in 1995, the first Hispanic player, Orlando Antigua, was made a player.

Some people have even been made honorary Globetrotters, including Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and Whoopi Goldberg.

In conclusion, the Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining audiences for four generations and as long as people like their basketball mixed in with some laughs, the Harlem Globetrotters are sure to be a hit!

The Guthrie Theater was named after Sir Tyrone Guthrie, a lover of everything related to the theater.  He was known as a stage director who was passionate about bringing theater people together to stage great works of literature at the highest artistic level possible.

Its doors were opened to the public in May 7, 1963 with Hamlet, directed by no other than Sir Guthrie himself, as its initial production.  The $2 million raised by the Tyrone Guthrie Theater Foundation went to the construction of the new Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis which was finished 1963.  From its first Hamlet production until two years before his death, Sir Guthrie has been very active in producing and in directing stage plays for the Guthrie Theater,

Among the productions staged at the Guthrie Theater are Henry V, The House of Atreus, A Streetcar Named Desire, Oedipus the King, Three Sisters and St. Joan.  Its production of The House of Atreus was so notable it went on a national tour in 1968.

For most of its existence, the theater’s artistic directors were all protégés and colleagues of its founder Sir Guthrie until 1977 when American Alvin Epstein was named Artistic Director.

The new Guthrie Theater, estimated at $125 million, is one among the three great structures that has made Minneapolis famous.  The new theater, which sits on a 250 thousand square foot of land, now overlooks the Mississippi River.

Just like the smaller and older theater, the new Guthrie Theater can accommodate 1,100 people but this time there will be more legroom and very good sightlines for visitors.  It will also have a proscenium theater with as much as 700 seats and a studio with 250 seats for new productions.

The new Guthrie Theater is expected to be a better venue for stage plays, with a greater capacity for hosting more than three times the number of plays or concerts originally hosted by the old theater.  Aside from the theaters, the Guthrie Theater also boasts of restaurants and bookstores for its clients.

Despite improvements and the seemingly good intentions of the people behind the completion of the new Guthrie Theater, there are sectors that are not happy with the demolition of the old Guthrie Theater and the building of the Theater overlooking the Mississippi River.

Protesting sectors claim that the destruction of the old Guthrie Theater is tantamount to the destruction of the most historic piece of art in the area and that is the auditorium which was earlier designed by Ralph Rapson according to the specifications of Sir Guthrie himself.

Those who oppose the new Guthrie Theater said the demolition of the old theater is a betrayal of the old philosophy espoused by Sir Guthrie and that is to have a theater that joined all sectors of society, without bias for those who can and cannot afford expensive seats with better view of the stage.

Among the notable performers that have staged their appearances at the old Guthrie Theater are Duke Ellington in 1965, Ella Fitzgerald in 1966,  Janis Joplin and Judy Collins in 1968, Led Zeppelin, B.B. King and Joe Cocker in 1969, James Taylor and Elton John in 1970, Neil Young, the Beach Boys and Cat Stevens in 1971, Boz Scaggs and Bill Withers  in 1972, the Pointer Sisters in 1973, the Boss himself Bruce Springsteen in 1975, Al Jarreau and Patti Smith in 1976, Chuck Mangione in 1977 and a lot of old and new artists.

Even Bruce Springsteen supported the move to save the old Guthrie Theater from being demolished, saying that old buildings build the culture of any place.  It is almost sacrilegious to replace old and historical buildings with more comfortable and newer architectural designs.

The Guthrie Theater has moved to its new location and new building.  Whether or not this is favorable to the Mississippi culture and history is something that will be judged by the next generations.

The Foshay Tower represent a classical example of the art deco style of architecture that was popular in the early years of the last century.  Modeled loosely on the Washington Monument, the Foshay tower resemble that great obelisk in its slightly inward sloping design.  The design and construction of the tower represented several technological milestones, and some of the techniques used in their construction were patented by their businessman namesake, Wilbur Foshay.

The story of the Foshay Tower took a dark turn not long after it was opened in 1929.  The opening of the tower was a grand event, and Mr. Foshay even commissioned a special march by the famous march master John Philip Sousa to commemorate the occasion.  Unfortunately Foshay, like so many others of the day, lost his fortune when the stock market crashed only a few weeks after the opening.  The check that Foshay wrote to Mr. Sousa was not honored by the bank, so Sousa withdrew the rights to the march, and it was never again heard in Foshay’s lifetime.  In 1999, several Minneapolis investors repaid the Sousa estate, so now the March can once more be heard.

A Guide to Paying for Minneapolis Light Rail (Metro Transit) Passage

Expect superb quality of service for affordable rates at the Hiawatha Line. Here’s how much you should expect to pay.

ABSENCE OF FARE BOXES – You need to prepay beforehand if you wish to take the train to your office or school. Hence, you need a valid ticket before boarding. Don’t even think of slipping on without paying your fare, because the Metro Police and inspectors are lurking – err.  You will find them standing on the platform or on the train asking for proof of fare payment.

RUSH HOUR STILL MATTERS – Just like the bus, you will pay a little extra to ride doing rush hour.  Expect to pay $1.75 during non-rush hours.  During rush hours 6:00 to 9:00 in the morning and 3:00 to 6:30 during the evenings Monday thru Friday, be prepared to pay $2:25.

THE USUAL EXCEPTIONS STILL APPLY – If you’re a student, Medicare cardholder, or disabled, you are automatically eligible for fare reduction. Age also matters: kids aged 5 to 13 and the elderly who are over 65 are qualified for fare reduction. These exceptions to the rule do not apply during rush hour.

WHERE TO BUY – You can purchase all the types of passes offered by the Minneapolis Light Rail from ticket vending machines strategically located at various rail stations statewide.  Forgot to bring cash?  The vending machines accept credit cards as well as cash. Certain passes are also available in select stores and sold online.

HOW TO BUY FROM A TICKET VENDING MACHINE – If it’s your first time buying from a ticket vending machine, don’t panic, because the instructions are on the screen and are easy to follow. First, just push the appropriate buttons then pay according to your preference. Be warned, the machine can only dispense $10 in change.

TYPES OF RAIL PASSES – Rail Tickets – The standard ticket can be used for 2 ½ hours from the time of the initial purchase.  The ticket may also be used for local bus service also.

6-Hour Passes – Do you have time to take in sporting event?  Maybe you just want to have dinner and a movie at Block E in downtown. If so, the best solution for you is a 6-hour pass, which costs only $3.50

Day Passes – Have you ever been to an amusement park where you pay a onetime fee and you ride all day long?  Guess what? You can buy something like that as well for the Minneapolis Light Rail (Metro Transit). With a day pass, you can explore Minneapolis to your heart’s content. Just think of the train as your personal limousine! Day passes are only $6.

Safety Tips

A fitting end to this article would be to share with you even a few important safety reminders regarding train rides:
Don’t try to beat the trains at crossing; always wait behind the yellow lane, and lastly, always keep an eye on your kids. It’s all common sense stuff, but sometimes, stress makes us forget ourselves.

Have fun on the ride!

Minnehaha Park is the 193 acre intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway in Minneapolis.  The natural beauty of the park includes oak, elm, silver maple, basswood, hackberry and cottonwood trees.  The park is sacred ground for the American Indians.  There is a mask of Chief Little Crow near the falls that pays tribute to a chief who was lost during the Dakota conflict in 1862.  The park has went through an array of changes since it was first purchased in 1889.  It has been a zoo, a tourist camp and home to a refectory.  One of the main attractions at Minnehaha Park is the Minnehaha Falls.  These natural falls are fed by the Minnehaha Creek.  The waters flow into a white foam at the bottom.  The park also has many trails for both biking and hiking that lead around the park, including scenic walks near the falls.

Minnehaha Park is a vast land of beauty.  It offers a quiet get away in the midst of a busy atmosphere.  The park is open daily from sunrise to 10pm and admission is always free.  Any trip to Minnesota should be highlighted with a visit to Minnehaha Park.

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