Looking for a spot to honor Mary Tyler Moore, who died Wednesday at age 80? Head to the IDS Center in Minneapolis.
A plaque still marks the location where Mary was seen dining in the opening credits to "The Mary Tyler Moore" show, her 1970s sitcom. She was seated at what was then The Gallery Restaurant (which later became the Jolliet, and from 1994 has been Basil's Restaurant ). Find it on the third floor of the Marquette Hotel, which overlooks the Crystal Court in the IDS Center. The staff refer to it as Table 5.
The famous image caught Mary chatting with Grant Tinker, her then husband and the producer of the show (see photo above).
In 2006, then manager Dan Meador of Basil's told the Star Tribune, "It's the most requested table in the city."
The show ran from 1970-1977, and by March 1977, city boosters were calling for a plaque at the site of her table. Columnist Larry Batson of the Minneapolis Tribune noted its placement in an October 1978 article. He also pointed out that many visitors were curious about the IDS escalator from the ground floor to second floor, which appears in the credits, too. (Grab a potted plant and ride the escalator, if you're looking for more MTM memories.)
It should be noted -- and don't take this too badly if you're a serious fan -- that the table is not the actual piece of furniture where Mary sat. Only the location remains the same. The original table has been gone at least since the hotel was renovated in 1989, when the furniture was replaced. The plaque has changed, too, over the years.
