I think this thread is great! I believe some of my fondness for Minneapolis stems from spending time downtown as a kid with my grandmother, who lived and worked at the Minneapolis Club. I thought her little apartment there was so cool, especially all the sirens that woke me up at night when I slept over. Sadly, some of the things that engendered my fondest memories are bygones -- eating at the Forum cafeteria (all those cool little portions and I could make my own choices), the Nankin with it's exotic (to a small child) decor, Dayton's Skyroom before or after an afternoon movie, the elevator operators in the Medical Arts building, two train stations, . . .
Some things still exist, like walking over big, scary sidewalk grates, the Aquatennial parade, swans in the Loring Park pond, St. Anthony's Falls, the top of the Foshay Tower, the MN Orchestra's young people concerts (it was the Minneapolis Symphony back then (I think) and it played at Northrup Auditorium). In addition to these, my own kids enjoyed the crowds and foods at Sommerfest, and their daycare, when giving lessons in restaurant manners, made reservations at the restaurant at the top of the IDS Tower (the Orion room) for the middle of the afternoon (the kids could order soda and/or ice cream). That way the kids all got to look out the windows and get that great view. Here's an idea for kids downtown -- how about getting their shoes shined at one of the shoe shine stands? I remember the first time I did that -- it was a big thrill. I think Russ' idea of fountains downtown is a great one -- I would like to know where the fountains are myself. Can we start a thread identifying them (and maybe the shoe shine stands too)? Barbara Nelson Burnsville Russell W Peterson wrote: > One of the best things to do with your kids in downtown > Minneapolis is to go on a fountain tour. There are a host > of indoor and outdoor fountains all over downtown that my > kids find just a blast to see - everything from the rolling > ball at the Radisson to the falling water in the Crystal > Court - there are also some secret hidden fountains that you > have to look for. Maybe the city should put together a > family guid for downtown with creative ideas like a fountain > tour, or a sculpture tour. Maybe even start a sidewalk > chalk art gallery for kids. I've always wanted downtown > Minneapolis to be more family friendly, perhaps with a new > administration that can happen. > > Russ > > R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n > > Saint Michael, Minnesota > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ____________________________________ > "You can only fly if you stretch your wings." > > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls -- Barbara Nelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] "We have to do the best we can. This is our sacred human responsibility." - Albert Einstein, Physicist _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
