Minnesota Star Tribune

The List of Lists '08: Neighborhoods

August 17, 2012 at 9:44PM

Best U of M off-campus hangouts

The Kitty Cat Klub is a jewel of the U of M's Dinkytown neighborhood - sure, everything over there got better after we graduated. Photo by Jerry Holt. 1. Triple Rock

"The place is great if owner Erik Funk is running the bar..." --janekelly

2. Kitty Cat Klub

"Something magic is in the air. It's the place for people-watching." --FrankViolet

3. Varsity Theater

"So nice and warming, it's the kind of place where I could curl up and take a nap." --seafen

4. Dinkytowner

"It's dark and it feels like a place you can go to get away from people, or bring a date." --tusk612

5. Town Hall Brewery

"Based on the beer, this is the best brewhouse in town." --PeterHDK

6. Nomad World Pub

"When it's cold, the outdoor fireplace with friends and smokes is neat-o!" --Vieno66

7. Al's Breakfast

"Quintessential greasy spoon with tasty foodage." --wr3n

8. Hard Times Cafe

"For the broke and tea snobs." --MakingTimeforwords

9. Cedar Cultural Center

Venerable auditorium for international music and hippie folk.

10. Loring Pasta Bar

"Better than it needs to be, given the University crowd and swanky atmosphere." --gregrmurphy

Least favorite downtown eyesores

  1. Drunk Nicollet Mall panhandlers
    1. Obnoxious a-holes hanging around bus stops
      1. Block E
        1. City Center
          1. Construction
            1. Drunk college girls lying on the ground
              1. Deja Vu

                Best spots to grab a drink before a First Ave. show

                1. O'Donovan's
                  1. Solera
                    1. Gluek's
                      1. Imperial Room
                        1. The Loon
                          1. First Ave.
                            1. Rosen's
                              1. Pizza Luce
                                1. Ike's Food & Cocktails
                                  1. Rock Bottom Brewery


                                    Chipotle burrito. Photo by David Brewster. Best Mpls. skyway lunch spots

                                    1. Chipotle
                                      1. Potbelly
                                        1. Zen Box
                                          1. Good-to-Go
                                            1. Brothers Deli
                                              1. Greek Grill
                                                1. The Burger Place
                                                  1. Marketplace
                                                    1. Turtle Bread Co.
                                                      1. D'Amico

                                                        5 things I hate about Uptown

                                                        1. Parking
                                                          1. Yuppies/hippies/trendies
                                                            1. Driving in general
                                                              1. Drink The Original Fun Bar
                                                                1. One-way streets
                                                                  1. People who take a left on Hennepin

                                                                    10 things I love about Uptown

                                                                    1. The lakes
                                                                      1. People-watching
                                                                        1. Happy hour
                                                                          1. Lagoon Cinema
                                                                            1. Coffee shops
                                                                              1. Uptown Bar
                                                                                1. The diners
                                                                                  1. It's photogenic
                                                                                    1. The LIBRARY sign
                                                                                      1. The "scenic" walks


                                                                                        Cocktails at Azia. Photo by Tom Wallace. Best places for dinner on Eat Street

                                                                                        1. Azia
                                                                                          1. Bad Waitress
                                                                                            1. Black Forest
                                                                                              1. Rainbow
                                                                                                1. Quang
                                                                                                  1. Salsa a la Salsa
                                                                                                    1. Taco Morelos
                                                                                                      1. Jasmine Deli
                                                                                                        1. Peninsula
                                                                                                          1. Pancho Villa

                                                                                                            Best bars in northeast Mpls.

                                                                                                            1. Nye's Polonaise Room
                                                                                                              1. Psycho Suzi's
                                                                                                                1. Mayslacks
                                                                                                                  1. 331 Club
                                                                                                                    1. The Bulldog
                                                                                                                      1. Grumpy's
                                                                                                                        1. Elsie's
                                                                                                                          1. The Times
                                                                                                                            1. Whitey's
                                                                                                                              1. The Sample Room

                                                                                                                                Best Twin Cities suburb

                                                                                                                                1. Edina
                                                                                                                                  1. St. Louis Park
                                                                                                                                    1. Minnetonka
                                                                                                                                      1. St. Paul
                                                                                                                                        1. Chanhassen
                                                                                                                                          1. Hopkins
                                                                                                                                            1. Roseville
                                                                                                                                              1. Eagan
                                                                                                                                                1. Eden Prairie
                                                                                                                                                  1. Richfield


                                                                                                                                                    Uptown Minneapolis. Photo by Joel Koyama. Favorite Twin Cities neighborhood

                                                                                                                                                    1. Uptown
                                                                                                                                                      1. Loring Park
                                                                                                                                                        1. Seward
                                                                                                                                                          1. Northeast
                                                                                                                                                            1. Lowry Hill East
                                                                                                                                                              1. Downtown Minneapolis
                                                                                                                                                                1. Longfellow
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Whittier
                                                                                                                                                                    1. North Loop
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Highland Park

                                                                                                                                                                        Worst Twin Cities suburb

                                                                                                                                                                        1. Brooklyn Center
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Coon Rapids
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Brooklyn Park
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Blaine
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Fridley
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Anoka
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Burnsville
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Eagan
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Woodbury
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Lakeville

                                                                                                                                                                                            The List of Lists '08...

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