​MINNEAPOLIS AREA ATTRACTIONS Spring Market in Minneapolis is here! Whether you’re planning to spend some extra time in the Twin Cities area before or after the show, or are just looking for a way to wind down at the end of a long day on the show floor, here are a few of the places you should check out during your time in the City of Lakes. ​ Minneapolis Institute of Arts2400 Third Ave. SouthMinneapolis, MN888-MIA-ARTSwww.artsmia.org Its permanent collection boasts approximately 80,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years and representing cultures from every part of the world. The MIA hosts an especially strong collection of works from Africa, Oceania, and Asia. Other artworks housed at the MIA include paintings and modern sculpture, photographs, prints and drawings, architecture, design, decorative arts, and craft, and—a medium close to all of our hearts—textiles. The best part—general admission is free every day! Selected exhibits on view
during Market: The Nature of NatureThis exhibit examines the natural world through art assembled from every corner of the museum. Each installation takes a different angle, from nature’s fierce and brutal power to humanity’s attempts to control it. American Modernisms: Selections from the Kunin CollectionOver four decades, Myron Kunin assembled one of the most important private collections of American Modernism. The artworks on display span the diverse artistic styles and movements of the early 20th century, from abstraction to American realism.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walker Art Center1750 Hennepin Ave.Minneapolis, MN612-375-7600www.walkerart.org Regarded as one of the country’s “big five” modern art museums, the Walker Art Center is home to an impressive collection of more than 11,000 modern and contemporary artworks representing a diverse media—painting, sculpture, photography, video, and film. The Walker places a particular emphasis on public interaction and education, and on spotlighting the work of emerging artists in the visual, film, and performing art fields. The highly popular Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (a must-see), is located adjacent to the museum. Selected exhibits on view during Market: International PopThis exhibit of  global emergence of Pop art from the 1950s through the early 1970s. While other exhibitions and prevailing scholarship have primarily focused on the dominance of Pop activity in New York and London during this time, this exhibition examines work from artists across the globe. 75 Gifts for 75 YearsThis exhibit features recent gifts to the Museum in the areas of painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, video, and prints. Some of these include works by artists such as Siah Armajani, Claes Oldenburg, and Kara Walker.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden726 Vineland Pl. (at Lyndale Ave.)Minneapolis, MN612-230-6400www.walkerart.org/garden/ One of the largest of its kind in the U.S., this 11-acre sculpture garden contains more than 40 permanent installations, as well as a revolving mix of temporary works. Among these, the garden’s centerpiece and most famous work, Spoonbridge and Cherry—designed by husband and wife Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen—has become one of Minneapolis’s most celebrated landmarks. Also located within the park is the Cowles Conservatory, which houses additional sculptures alongside seasonal floral and plant displays.   ​ Mall of America60 East BroadwayBloomington, MN 55425(5 minutes from MSP airport)952-883-8800www.mallofamerica.com Spanning 4.2 million square feet and housing more than 520 retail stores—of every imaginable type—the Mall of America is truly like a city within a city. Aside from the abundance of great shopping and dining options, the mall is also home to a number of other attractions including Nickelodeon Universe, and indoor theme park with roller coasters and other fun rides; Underwater Adventures Aquarium, the largest underground aquarium in the country, with more than 4,500 aquatic animals; the 14-screen Theatres at Mall of America; “Star Trek: The Exhibition,” and “C.S.I.: The Experience. Stores added recently include the Hard Rock Café, L.L. Bean, and Michael Hill .----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warehouse District322 First Ave. NorthMinneapolis, MN612-334-3131www.mplswarehouse.com As its name suggests, this Minneapolis district (also referred to as The North Loop Neighborhood) served as an industrial center and commercial hub in its former life. Since its revitalization in the 1980s and ‘90s, most of the area’s factories and warehouses have been converted to residential and commercial space housing locally owned and eclectic restaurants, coffee shops, nightclubs, retail stores, and galleries. Much of the district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and with so many great examples of early 20th-century commercial architecture, it’s an ideal location for those looking to stroll and take photos.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicollet MallDowntown(Between Washington Ave. South and 13th Street South)Minneapolis, MN This 11-block pedestrian and transit thoroughfare—a portion of Nicollet Avenue—serves as an upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment district in the heart of Minneapolis. The street is probably best recognized as the location of fictional television character Mary Richards’ iconic hat toss in the opening credits to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” (In fact, today a statue of the character—mid toss—stands at the corner of 7th Street and Nicollet Mall). Nicollet Mall is also home to several well-known and loved bars, including Brit’s Pub, the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, and The Local. ​ Chain of Lakes(locations vary)Minneapolis, MN612-230-6400www.minneapolisparks.org Referred to by locals as simply “the Lakes,” this series of four lakes—Harriet, Cedar, Calhoun, and Lake of the Isles–are all connected by Minnehaha Creek and completely surrounded by public parkland. Visitors can rent a canoe or kayak, walk, skate, or bike along 13 miles of paved shoreline trails, or enjoy other outdoor activities. Lake Harriet is also host to a bandshell and the beautiful Lyndale Park, which contains a bird sanctuary, peace gardens, and rose gardens.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minnehaha ParkSouth Minnehaha Park Dr.Minneapolis, MN612-230-6400www.minneapolisparks.org One of Minneapolis’s oldest and most beloved parks, this 193-acre area features a beautiful variety of trees, limestone bluffs and river overlooks, and the popular tourist attraction, Minnehaha Falls. The park is divided into two main sections—the upper section above the falls, which is kept in a well-manicured, park-like condition, and the lower section, which is left largely in a natural state. The park also contains the home of John H. Stevens, built around 1850 and later relocated, as well as Minnehaha Depot, a small train station built in 1875. Today, the restored station is owned by the Minnesota Historical Society and is open from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. each Sunday. For additional information on these or other Minneapolis-area attractions, visit www.minneapolis.org;klj;k