Doubletake Gallery is a fine art brokerage service that offers artists a secure way to sell their artwork. It works on a consignment basis and a classified ad program. Visit the online gallery to view available artwork.
Art Resources Gallery is one of many Twin Cities stores with unique textiles, glass, sculptures, paintings and more. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and its main-floor location is easily accessible.
Simply Jane Studio, which recently moved to this location, is an open art studio started by local resident Jane Elias. The studio is kid-friendly, has Wi-Fi and for a small fee anyone can use the space and its high-quality art supplies. The studio can be rented for events and there are a variety of classes and camps throughout the year.
The Lake Harriet Bandshell is located on 67 acres of land and offers a place for summer concerts as well as a beautiful backdrop for weddings and special events. The band shell is available for wedding ceremonies from May until September and offers great views of the lake as well as plenty of room for parking and seating for guests and spectators.
Orchestra Hall is home to the internationally renowned Minnesota Orchestra. The hall's unique acoustic features, designed by Cyril M. Harris, provide a perfect venue for any kind of musical performance. Besides the Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall hosts a wide variety of other guests each year, including classical, jazz, and pop music performers as well as comedians and speakers. A recent renovation has greatly improved the hall's public spaces.
Parking and public transportation to Orchestra Hall
There is metered parking on the adjacent streets and a pay parking ramp attached to the hall. Metro Transit has several bus lines that stop nearby.
Best and worst time to go to Orchestra Hall
Friday nights when the Minnesota Orchestra is in season can be very busy at Orchestra Hall, and extra time should be allowed for getting there and finding a place to park. Weeknight performances are likely to be less crowded and more easily accessible. During the summer, the orchestra hosts Sommerfest, which is a hugely popular four-week fest that draws even larger crowds.
Admission to Orchestra Hall
Pricing for performances varies anywhere from $10 and up.
Must see/do at Orchestra Hall
The excellent acoustics in the performance hall are also visually stunning. There are more than 100 large cubs that create a falling rock pattern that's striking to see. Outside of Orchestra Hall is Peavey Plaza, a public gathering area that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other places to visit near Orchestra Hall
There are several excellent restaurants near Orchestra Hall. Vincent is right across the street, offering contemporary French food (and one of the city's best burgers); near Vincent is Brit's Pub, a casual British eatery with the bonus of having a rooftop bowling green; Manny's Steakhouse is within three blocks, as is the tiny but excellent La Belle Crepe. Orchestra Hall's location on Nicollet Mall provided a great opportunity to explore the main part of downtown by taking a stroll on Nicollet in either direction; one way takes you to the iconic IDS Center, and the other takes you to Loring Park.
Insider tip for visitors to Orchestra Hall
Minnesota has a somewhat casual approach to dressing for orchestra events. At any given performance, you might see people dressed in anything from black tie to jeans. While some people frown at the casual approach, others point out that they're more likely to enjoy an orchestra performance if they're dressed comfortably. So dress as casually as you wish (or dare).
Author's bio: Amy C. Rea is the author of Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes: an Explorer's Guide, and Backroads & Byways of Minnesota. Her third book, Camping Minnesota, will be published in 2016.
Jerry O'Hagan & His Orchestra is a 14-piece big band that plays every Sunday at the Cinema Ballroom in St. Paul. It is also available for weddings, parties and special events. O'Hagan, in addition to leading the band, plays swing clarinet in the style of Benny Goodman. His home office is located in Richfield and gigs can be booked by phone.
Located in a building that was once a covenant of Incarnation Catholic Church, The Center for Performing Arts became an arts center in 1995. Currently the center offers numerous youth and adult dance classes. Students can take piano, cello, guitar, percussion and strings lessons. There are a number of health arts practitioners in the building who offer classes in Tai Chi, body work, yoga, movement integration and more. The Center for Performing Arts also rents space to artists for rehearsal.
On the north side of the building, The Center for Performing Arts is home to the Kingfield Community Garden, where 35 people from the surrounding area garden the 12 raised beds.
Edina Cinema is a four-screen movie theatre that can seat up to 1,300 people. The theatre specializes in smaller movies, showing many documentaries, independent, and foreign films. Call for movie information.
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts has an art gallery featuring local, metro and state-wide artists, a gift shop selling locally based works, art and writing classes for all ages, special events, writing groups and and more. The Banfill-Locke Center is nonprofit and visits to the gallery as well as most events are free, but certain groups require membership. Come and enjoy the art as well as the surrounding Manomin County Park, which is full of flowers in spring and summer. A full listing of events and classes is available on the Web site and also on the center's Facebook page.
Zinnia Folk Arts is a Mexican folk art import shop. It sells all handmade items including jewelry, masks, textiles, religious items, items for Day of the Dead and items featuring Frida Kahlo.
