By Graydon Royce
We're slipping.
Two years ago Travel + Leisure magazine ranked the Twin Cities as the second best theater destination in the country. This year's list has us third, behind New York and Chicago. We had bested the Windy City in the earlier rating. The Twin Cities finished 8th in live music/bands, 9th in classical music and 10th in museums /galleries — all above our overall rank (13th) among the 30 metropolitan areas on the list.
The only slip in the cultural rankings was in historical sites/monuments (22nd). So apparently, the Mary Tyler Moore statue on Nicollet Mall isn't impressing too many people.
The rankings are based on votes from Travel + Leisure readers. No criteria, no rhyme or reason. Two years ago, they might have been wowed by the new Guthrie. Has that building already gotten old? Regardless, it's still a reflection of the disporportionate value of the performing arts — particularly theater — in the Twin Cities.
