Plan to pack your walking shoes because the local arrangements committee has lined up an array of Minneapolis-St. Paul activities that will link the conference theme with notable historic places in this vibrant urban community.
Immigrant Stories: A walking tour of Eat Street
In 1997, a one-mile stretch Nicollet Avenue south of downtown Minneapolis became known as “Eat Street” in recognition of its diverse ethnic restaurants and markets. These immigrant-owned businesses served as engines of revitalization in an area of the city that had been plagued by problems stemming from the closing of Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street, declining property values and street crime.
On this walking tour, you will learn about the history of Eat Street through the stories of immigrant business owners who have participated in the Eat Street Oral History Project. Tour stops include a Mexican bakery, a Vietnamese market, the site of a former Middle Eastern café, and German, Greek, Chinese, and Vietnamese restaurants.
Historic St. Paul pub crawl
Seek out new go-to brews and learn about St. Paul’s hoppy past on this three-hour tour with samples, conversations and hidden gems along the way. The tour includes a behind-the-scenes look at the Schmidt Brewery Complex, now Schmidt Artist Lofts, with one of Schmidt’s last brewmasters, Phil Gagne, as well as tours and tastings at Flat Earth Brewing and Summit Brewing.
On the Ave
Explore Franklin Avenue, backbone of Minneapolis’ Native American Cultural Corridor, with several local Natives who will share history, culture and personal narratives on this two-hour amble of “The Ave.” Stops include Powwow Grounds coffee shop, All My Relations art gallery, the Minneapolis American Indian Center, the Franklin Library with its mural “Red Lake” by Robert Desjarlait, Northland Visions gift shop, and the AIM Interpretive Center.
The tour will be led by Colleen Casey and Thomas LaBlanc. Casey (Mdewakanton Dakota descent) will share an overview of the neighborhood and LaBlanc (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota elder) will chronicle some of the neighborhood’s seamier “unholy” aspects. LaBlanc will also describe the birth and growth of the American Indian Movement as it relates to the history of the neighborhood and his own story.
And if you’re a Prince fan…
When you arrive at the conference, look for information in your packets about sites related to the life and work of Prince, the wildly popular musician who died April 21, 2016, of an accidental opioid overdose. He was 57.
You’ll find names of some of Prince’s favorite area performing venues along with websites to guide your visits to the sites. We’ve also included information about Paisley Park, located about 20 miles from downtown Minneapolis in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
