What to Do on a Music-Oriented Trip to Minneapolis

The wall of fame outside First Avenue reflects all the major local (Soul Asylum, Hüsker Dü, Atmosphere) and international (Radiohead, Iggy Pop, Metallica) artists that have played the iconic venue and its comparatively cozy side room (7th St. Entry) over the past 40-plus years. (While First Avenue fits around 2,550 gregarious concertgoers, 7th St. Entry has room for just 200 revelers.)

And then there’s Prince, the otherworldly figure who put the former bus depot on the pop cultural map with his smash movie/soundtrack “Purple Rain.” Its world premiere was given a separate purple star and storied time stamp (“7/27/84”) inside. Prince’s influence on downtown Minneapolis’ most impactful corner was immortalized in 2022 with a “Prince Rogers Nelson Way” sign and a towering mural near the Target Center by street artist Hiero Veiga. (Bob Dylan — another former Minnesotan — also pops up on a sprawling wall a short drive away.) 

“The stamp of music history that this city has on the world is very rich,” says Alexis. “You can definitely feel that history [here].”

The small but mighty vinyl selection at Disco Death is bound to impress even the most discerning record collector. Some mint sleeves that were spotted during Kristen and Alexis’ crate digging included a signed copy of Tame Impala’s breakthrough album, three different eras of Radiohead, the raucous indie rock of Sonic Youth, and the spry emo of Saves the Day.

The store is also a standout within Minneapolis’ strong coffee scene. Its playful specialty drinks include the Hayl Satan (Earl Grey tea, horchata, maple syrup and cinnamon), Daemon (cherry, cardamon and pistachio orgeat) and Never Fernet (espresso, Mexican coke, and a simple syrup made with Amaro-inspired spices). They even brew pumpkin butter, cinnamon and spices in a tongue-in-cheek take on a certain Starbucks staple.

Cultural interpreters like Michael Kurtz lead insightful tours of Hoċokata Ṫi Cultural Center and its central 3,805-square-foot exhibit (“Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake”) every Wednesday at 1 p.m. They address a wide range of revelatory topics, including the original meaning of Minnesota (its Dakota spelling, “mní šota,” translates to “clear water”); the trials, tribulations and lingering implications of the US-Dakota War and boarding schools; and the creation story that forms the foundational values of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

“It was incredible to see the power of cultural preservation and the interconnectedness of the Minnesota tribes,” Alexis says after her own walk through the meticulously designed space, which also relates back to the roots of Tribal music at public gatherings like the annual Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi.

“The drum itself has its own spirit,” explains Kurtz. “You can feel the earth, or the heartbeat, of [it].”

The sign near Bde Maka Ska says it all — “You Are On DAKOTA LAND” — as does a mural that shows Native people on a bike and in a canoe along the lake. Be sure to breathe in the fresh air as you walk around Minneapolis’ popular Chain of Lakes, or rent a kayak, canoe or standup paddleboard from Wheel Fun.

“It’s really restorative to tap into nature,” says Alexis. “[The fact that] you can be within a metropolitan city and still have access to that is very special.”

Chef Diane Moua — the longtime leader of the pastry program at revered Gavin Kaysen restaurants like Spoon and Stable — now has a reservation-worthy spot of her own in Northeast Minneapolis. Aptly dubbed Diane’s Place, the deeply personal all-day affair offers everything from croissants made with Thai tea, coconut pandan, and tropical fruit to dynamite composed dishes like beef laab carpaccio, sour pork short ribs, and house-made Hmong sausage.

Not to mention a masterful egg sandwich rounded out by nori, chili crisp aioli and Minnesotan lunchmeat (Spam, glorious Spam!), and cutting-edge cocktails along the lines of the She-Eye 2.0 (rum, hibiscus, red apertivo, lemon), Double Dragon (vodka, jackfruit, papaya, Thai chili, fish sauce), and Tom Khallins (gin, sweetened condensed milk, lime leaf, coconut).

Anyone wondering how Prince ended up in Minnesota should listen to Paisley Park guide Nnamdi Darlington: “He said, ‘When I stay in Minnesota, I can be me.’”

No kidding. Outside of Graceland, there’s nothing quite like the mythic complex Prince called home for nearly 30 years. Superfans are encouraged to book The Ultimate Experience for a three-hour look at rare artifacts (e.g., so many splendid outfits and shoes), several recording studios, the concert hall/club where Prince hosted impromptu concerts and parties, and such exclusive add-ons as a private video screening and special audio playback session.

You may even be asked to slip on white gloves and hold a heaven-sent guitar for a one-of-a-kind photo op.

“I can’t think of a tour that really touched and excited me like that did,” Kristen said after fulfilling her own lifelong dream.

Diane Moua isn’t the only Minneapolis chef earning national accolades and headlines right now. Christina Nguyen won the James Beard award for Best Chef: Midwest in 2024 due to Hai Hai's transportive riffs on Southeast Asian recipes like Sri Lankan-style beef rendang, Balinese chicken thigh, Hanoi sticky rice, and Malaysian fried shrimp. The bold craft cocktail background of her business partner/husband Birk Grudem also pops up in top-notch tipples that weave in many house-made ingredients, including rice-washed rum, green “Haitreuse”, lemongrass falernum, cranberry-lychee shrub, and tropical black tea syrup.

Tandem Vintage is one of the many beloved small businesses that make up Minneapolis-St. Paul’s thriving community of pop-up markets and brick-and-mortar stores that fill their hangers with highly sought-after clothing and accessories from nearly every decade imaginable. Be sure to swing by Amanda Baumann’s radiant store for choice selections from her growing “vintage and modern second-hand” collection, and check out our complete roundup of fit-elevating local finds here.

Between its surreal film screenings, daring music and dance performances, and ever-evolving calendar of MoMA-caliber exhibitions, the Walker Art Center is undoubtedly one of the country’s most crucial museums for contemporary art. In fact, you don’t even have to step inside to see world-renowned work here. Iranian sculptor/architect Siah Armajani designed the painted-steel, 375-foot Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge that connects the nearby Loring Park to Walker’s selfie-generating Sculpture Garden. It’s the home of such heavyweights as Katharina Fritsch’s “Hahn/Cock” and the one-and-only “Spoonbridge and Cherry” collab between Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg.

The massive headquarters of Minneapolis’ biggest craft brewery doubles as a two-story destination for charred and chewy New Haven-style pizza, elevated bar food, and exclusive beer hall beverages like a light rice lager (My Last Grain Cell), spicy pastry stout (Full Metal Bakesale), and tart pineapple and dragon fruit teamup (Neon Icon).

Surly is also known for free outdoor shows and festivals during the warm summer months and ticketed concerts headlined by the likes of Lupe Fiasco, The National, Black Pumas, and rising local band Hippo Campus.

Read about some of the city's most exciting upcoming concerts.