Twin Cities spots: What's open, what will close for the RNC?

Article by: BILL WARD , Star Tribune
Updated: July 11, 2008 - 2:18 PM

As GOP convention fever mounts, Twin Citians have to wonder: Which local restaurants, clubs and attractions will be open?

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has booked a 1,000-guest party on Sept. 2 at the Guthrie Theater, while "Little House on the Prairie" parks the covered wagon. CNN has taken over the Eagle Street Grille for the duration of the Sept. 1-4 Republican National Convention.

Two daily Chris Matthews broadcasts and concerts that might find the likes of Leann Rimes crooning onstage will keep the Dakota Bar & Grill shuttered to the public for the entire week.

Restaurateur/provocateur Phil Roberts summed it up best: "Too many butts and not enough seats."

Wondering if you'll be able to eat out, go clubbing or hit our local attractions? You might have to get out of town instead. The Minnesota History Center and Science Museum in St. Paul and Minneapolis hot spots Epic, Karma and Brit's Pub are among the sites that will be closed for private events during convention week.

Surprisingly, though, less than two months out, many places are in flux or in the dark, having agreements in principle with sundry organizers to be available, but nothing nailed down. Officials at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, across the street from the two-block security corridor around Xcel Center, said they have no idea whether they will be open to the public or even able to come to work themselves.

Some venues are open some or all of the time, and still others are wide open, often to their surprise. "We're available," offered Michelle Furrer of the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

Perhaps if they brought in an elephant or two.

Here is the status of some of the major spots in town. Many venues are negotiating with potential private-event coordinators, so it's best to call ahead as the convention gets closer.

RESTAURANTS

ST. PAUL

Eagle Street Grille: Booked for the entire convention.

Heartland: Open usual hours.

I Nonni (Lilydale): Open usual hours; has a private facility if it does get a private function.

Il Vesco Vino: Closed Sept. 1, open Sept. 2-4, but call ahead.

Kincaid's: "Wide open" as of now, staying open until 2 a.m.; might add breakfast if there appears to be a call for it.

Mancini's: Might be booked one night, but open all week as of now.

Meritage: Heavily booked already, with most lunches sold out; in negotiations on dinners; considering adding breakfast.

Mickey's Diner: Open usual hours.

Patrick McGovern's: Open for lunch, booked at night.

Pazzaluna: Booked for the entire convention, but might be open for public dining on certain nights; call ahead.

St. Paul Grill: Open all week as of now, but no online reservations (only by phone with credit-card confirmation); private parties can be handled elsewhere in the hotel.

Strip Club: Open usual hours, adding dinner service on Aug. 31; has a 2 a.m. license and will stay open if it has customers.

W.A. Frost: Open usual hours.

MINNEAPOLIS

Capital Grille: Open usual hours.

Cosmos: Open usual hours.

Cue: Open usual hours.

Dakota: Booked for the entire convention.

Fogo de Chao: Open usual hours.

La Belle Vie: Booked for most of convention; call ahead.

Manny's: Booked for parties several nights, but holding back some seating for regulars.

Mission American Kitchen: Sept. 1 in flux, booked the nights of Sept. 2-4, open for lunch.

Morton's: Open usual hours.

Murray's: Booked for lunch Sept. 1 and 2, otherwise open.

Oceanaire: Open usual hours.

112 Eatery: Second floor likely to be booked all week, first floor should be open.

Solera: Booked for most of convention; call ahead.

20/21: Open usual hours.

Vincent A Restaurant: Open usual hours.

Zelo: Open usual hours.

BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS

ST. PAUL AND SUBURBS

The Liffey: Open usual hours.

Myth (Maplewood): Booked most, if not all, nights.

Valentino's (South St. Paul): Open usual hours.

Minneapolis

Aqua: In talks for certain nights.

Azia: Open usual hours.

Bellanotte: Booked from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 1 and 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Sept. 2; otherwise open.

Brit's Pub: Booked for the entire convention.

Chino Latino: Closed for several late-night parties; call ahead.

Envy: Closed Sept. 2 for a private party, otherwise open usual hours.

Epic and Karma: Booked for the entire convention.

Fine Line: Booked for most or all of convention; call ahead.

414 Soundbar: Open usual hours.

The Local: Open usual hours.

The Loop: Open usual hours.

Loring Pasta Bar: Booked during happy hour on Sept. 1, otherwise open.

The Lounge: Open usual hours.

Monte Carlo: Open usual hours.

Spin: Open usual hours.

Seven Sushi/r.Norman: Open usual hours.

Stella's: Some spaces booked daily, otherwise open.

ATTRACTIONS

ST. PAUL

Alexander Ramsey House: Booked for the entire convention.

Children's Museum: Closed Sept. 1 and has reduced hours (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) Sept. 2-4.

Como Conservatory: Open usual hours.

Como Zoo: Open usual hours.

James J. Hill House: Booked for the entire convention.

James J. Hill Reference Library: Closed to walk-in patrons.

Minnesota History Center: Booked for the entire convention.

Minnesota Museum of American Art: Uncertain whether it will be open.

Raspberry Island: Booked for the entire convention.

Rice Park: Likely to be reserved for media usage for the entire convention.

St. Paul Public Library: Open.

Science Museum of Minnesota: Booked for the entire convention.

State Capitol: Open during usual tour hours.

Wabasha Caves: In flux; won't know status until August.

MINNEAPOLIS AND SUBURBS

American Swedish Institute: Open usual hours.

Bakken Museum: Open usual hours.

Bell Museum of Natural History: Open usual hours.

Fort Snelling: Open usual hours.

Guthrie Theater: Booked for most of the convention.

Mill City Museum: Open usual hours.

Minneapolis Institute of Art: Open usual hours.

Museum of Russian Art: Open usual hours.

Underwater Adventures (Mall of America): Open usual hours.

Walk er Art Center: Open usual hours.

Weisman Art Museum: Open usual hours.

Compiled by Bill Ward. Staff writers Mary Abbe, Jon Bream, John Ewoldt, Tom Horgen, Rick Nelson, Kim Ode, Rohan Preston, Chris Riemenschneider, Gail Rosenblum and Karen Youso contributed to this report.

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