What is hidden to some may be obvious to others, so here is a list of things I
like about my neighborhood that some may not know about.
For preschoolers? ECFE - Early Childhood Family Education. I think this
program is a part of Mpls Public Schools. I know Sullivan has ECFE; we did
ours at Pratt, over in Prospect Park. No matter. The classes are for you to
attend with your child, you have together time, and then time apart time.
You'll be with other adults with kids the same age. It's educational,
cathartic, you'll make new friends, and discover you're not the only one with
the child obsessed with X. This is a hugely successful program, and was
immeasurably helpful for us as parents. I can't recommend this enough.
Guitar player? Hoffman Guitars, on Franklin, just west of Milwaukee Ave.
hoffmanguitars.com Charlie Hoffman has been making guitars since roughly 1970.
He is one of the better luthiers in the country, and his repair staff is the
best in the Upper Midwest. They sell some used stuff, but mainly it's about
the repairs and Charlie's guitars. I had a very pleasant chat with Leo Kottke
one day in Hoffman, and that should tell you everything you need to know about
this easily missed jewel on Franklin Avenue.
The other good guitar shop is The Podium, over in Dinkytown. Best selection of
acoustics in town, knowledgable, honest. Good place.
The Midtown Global Market, on Chicago and Lake, is a great place to get out for
supper. It's a food court with real food! All sorts of food! All good,
affordable, interesting, different. Everyone, even the pickiest eater, can get
what they want, and they do lots of activities over the course of the year.
Izzy's Ice Cream, just across the river on Marshall Ave, is a bit spendy but
worth it. World class ice cream. It's also close to Bob's Choo Choo Shop, a
fun place to mess around. Also next door to Kim's Chow Mein, a small
restaurant that has good Chinese, including things not on the menu but
available if you ask.
Coffeeshops: there are several, but two stand out: The Riverview Cafe,
kitty-corner from the theater (42nd Ave and 38th St), and The Fireroast
Mountain, on 38th, a couple of blocks east of Minnehaha. The Riverview has a
kids' area, and is a good place for Mom or Dad to get out of the house with
junior.
El Norteno, on 40th and E. Lake, has affordable Mexican food, run by three
lovely sisters. Great patio in back for the whole family.
Pineda is a Mexican restaurant just west of Hiawatha, in the Hi-Lake shopping
center. It's easily missed--it faces Aldi's. It has absolutely no
atmosphere--flourescent lights and formica tables--with excellent food at great
prices. The burritos put Chipotles to shame. If you don't like the
atmosphere, get it to go! Highly recommended, a nice little slice of the
city.
River-Lake Hardware, at 36th and Lake, has been around for a long time. It's
an old-fashioned hardware store, the kind of place you can go with your
inarticulate gibberish about plumbing/electrical/old house stuff and they'll
translate it into what you need. They are the real deal, and deserve the
neighborhood's support.
Further afield, Grand Ole Creamery, on both Grand Avenue in St Paul, and 48th
and Cedar in Minneapolis, serve good quality homemade ice cream. As does
Pumphouse Creamery on 48th and Chicago. Really, any ice cream made on the
premises is worth buying. More than once.
My wife likes Riverstone Salon, at 42nd Ave and 34th St. Her nails look nice.
It's kind of a mystery to me, but, well, isn't all that stuff?
The Midtown Farmer's Market, just east of the YWCA, is open on Tuesday's from
4-7:30 (although lots shuts down at 7, go earlier). Hilltop Pastures, a
purveyor of meats, has grilled 1/2 pound hamburgers for $5. This may be the
best deal in town. This is the Platonic essence of hamburger. Really, how can
you resist?
The Seward Garage Sale is the first weekend in May (I think). Don't miss it!
It's a garage sale cornucopia, extravaganza, copiousness itself!
Okay, I have to cut myself off. This is an interesting place, Longfellow.