City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Address: 333 East River Pkwy.
77. The Minneapolis Institute Of Arts
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 870-3131 or (888) MIA-AR
Address: 2400 Third Ave. South
Description: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, one of the outstanding art museums in the country, features art and artifacts from around the world, from ancient sculptures to photography and film. Housed in a 1915 Beaux-Arts marble building designed by McKim, Mead, and White near downtown Minneapolis, the museum contains a world-class collection of nearly 100,000 objects representing artistic traditions and treasures spanning 5,000 years. Unlike many big-city art museums, which have the tendency to overwhelm casual visitors, the MIA can be easily explored in a few hours—and, unlike many big-city museums, no admission fee is charged.
78. Museum Of Russian Art
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 821-9045
Address: 5500 Stevens Ave. South
Description: The Museum of Russian Art is the only museum in North America exclusively dedicated to Russian art, but even many locals haven’t heard of it. The museum, a building in the Spanish revival style that was incongruously appropriated by the museum in 2005, is perched high above I-35W, where almost since its inception it’s suffered through the construction meant to detangle that interstate and the Crosstown Highway. It’s worth picking your way through the orange cones to see the museum’s fine collection of historic treasures and contemporary works, with special exhibits highlighting everything from nesting dolls to landscape paintings to traditional textiles. A regular series of musical performances spotlights—what else?—the Russian classics.
79. Schubert Club Museum Of Musical Instruments
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (651) 292-3267
Description: Considering how small this museum is, its collection of keyboards, phonographs, and musical instruments is amazingly complete. Owned and operated by the Schubert Club, this museum is a popular stomping ground for music aficionados of all types, local and otherwise.
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Address: 1750 Hennepin Ave.
81. James Sewell Ballet
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 672-0480
Address: 528 Hennepin Ave., Suite 205
Description: Founded in New York City in 1990 by James Sewell, the James Sewell Ballet relocated to Minnesota in 1993. The ballet specializes in original contemporary ballet, and the beautiful performances run the gamut from classical choreography to improvisation of entire movements. In the Twin Cities, the James Sewell Ballet performs at the O’Shaughnessy on St. Catherine University’s campus in St. Paul.
82. Ragamala Music And Dance Theater
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 824-1968
Address: 711 West Lake St., Suite 309
Description: Ragamala presents original works of dance, music, and poetry based on the ancient classical dance of southern India, Bharatanatyam. The cross-cultural performances of the company have developed a strong reputation for innovation, and the company’s school offers classes from introductory to advanced levels. Ragamala performs at the O’Shaughnessy on St. Catherine University’s Campus in St. Paul and at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis.
83. Zenon Dance Company
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 338-1101
Address: 528 Hennepin Ave., Suite 400
Description: Zenon commissions original works of modern and jazz dance from emerging choreographers in Minnesota as well as established masters. The high-energy performances of the company appeal to communities not regularly reached by dance troupes. Zenon performs regularly at venues across the Twin Cities, and operates a school teaching modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, breakdancing, and yoga.
84. Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (Gtcys)
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 870-7611
Address: 528 Hennepin Ave., Suite 404
Description: GTCYS boasts six youth orchestras and a student body with 600-plus members. While pursuing its mission of educating future musicians, it presents fall, winter, and spring concerts and the Young Soloists’ Concerto Showcase. GTCYS sponsors a summer orchestra program as well.
85. Minnesota Chorale
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 333-4866
Address: 528 Hennepin Ave., Suite 211
Description: Under the artistic direction of Kathy Saltzman Romey, the Minnesota Chorale has become the state’s preeminent symphonic chorus and ranks among the best in the nation. At around 150 voices, the chorale is the principal chorus for the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Its nationally recognized Bridges series seeks to build musical and social bridges through artistic collaboration.
86. The Minnesota Opera
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 333-2700
Address: 620 North First St.
Description: The Minnesota Opera, founded in 1963, stages performances at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul from November through May. An anchor tenant at the Ordway, the Minnesota Opera also offers classes at its Minnesota Opera Center in the Minneapolis Warehouse District. Walk-ins are welcome.
87. The Minnesota Orchestra
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 371-5656 or (800) 292-41
Address: 1111 Nicollet Mall
Description: The Minnesota Orchestra—founded in 1903 as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra—has long been one of America’s top orchestras. The orchestra performs nearly 200 concerts each year ranging from classical to pops. Performances are scheduled in Minneapolis’s Orchestra Hall. The orchestra’s award-winning concert broadcasts, produced by Minnesota Public Radio and distributed by American Public Media to more than 120 radio stations nationwide, reach approximately 200,000 people each week.
88. The Minnesota Youth Symphonies
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (651) 699-5811
Address: 790 Cleveland Ave. South, Suite 203,
Description: The Minnesota Youth Symphonies are open to students from elementary school through high school. Co–music directors Claudette and Manny Laureano oversee four advanced orchestras. The MYS presents major concerts at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Auditions are held at the end of August of each year.
89. The Schubert Club
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (651) 292-3267
Description: The Schubert Club is Minnesota’s oldest arts organization, presenting world-renowned artists and local and regional musicians to Twin Cities audiences through various grants and private funding. The Schubert Club Museum of Musical Instruments is located in Landmark Center as well. The club’s saddlelike Heilmaier Memorial Bandstand, built in 2002 on Raspberry Island in the Mississippi River, has been hailed as one of the most beautiful structures built in Minnesota in recent memory.
90. Vocalessence
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (612) 547-1451
Address: 1900 Nicollet Ave.
Description: VocalEssence is one of America’s premier choral arts organizations. The chorus offers innovative programming under the direction of founder Philip Brunelle.