weCare BIG 10 HOCKEY Spring in the Twin Cities
Twin Cities
in 48 Hours “The World’s Biggest Hotel FamilySM” “Each Best Western® branded hotel is independently owned and operated.”
Feb / Mar
Feb / Mar
in this issue
Big 10 Hockey
04
48 Hours in the Twin Cities
06
Spring In the Cities
14
Good Deals
17
Waiting Room Lounge
18
Meetings & Banquets Footer
19 20
www.bestwesternsaintpaul.com
Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
BIG 10 Hockey Big Ten Men’s Hockey will debut with the start of the 2013 -2014 Division I Men’s College Hockey Season and feature member teams from Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. ICulminating this inaugural season will be the first Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament Presented by Polaris RZR® to be held at Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center March 20 – 22, 2014. The BEST WESTERN Bandana Square was built as the
Como Paint Shop addition in 1911 to better streamline the maintenance of there passenger cars. The original building was constructed of Little Falls cream colored brick with Mankato lime- Check stone trimmings, and St. Cloud granite out more informasills.
tions on The tournament will feature all six teams website!
in a single-elimination format. The tournament will consist of five games (two games on Thursday, March 20; two games on Friday, March 21 and the championship game on Saturday, March 22). All-Session Ticket Packages include one ticket to each of the five games of the tournament. Thursday’s quarterfinals will feature the No. 3 seed facing the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed battling the No. 5 seed. The top two seeds will open Check tournament play in the Friday semifinals, out more with the No. 1 seed against either the No. informa- 4 or 5 seed and the No. 2 seed facing the tions on No. 3 or 6 seed. The championship game website! will be played on Saturday.
48 Hours in the Cities
as you dodge the wicked What is America’s greatest cold if you are not into double act? Fred Astaire winter sports. and Ginger Rogers? The Blues Brothers? Reuters correspondents with local knowledge For residents of the U.S. help visitors get the most midwestern state of Minout of a weekend trip in nesota, there is an easy the area. answer - the “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and St. FRIDAY Paul. 5 p.m. - Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Relatively low crime rates, which even has tornado a plethora of lakes and shelters in the restrooms, picnic spots, interesting is to the south of both citarchitecture and top-class ies. sports teams make the pair a desirable place to 7 p.m. - Dining options live and to visit - as long abound in downtown Minneapolis, which is dominated by skyscrapers and old warehouses turned into atmospheric bars and restaurants. The Capital Grille on Hennepin Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares, is an excellent option if you like steaks (here).
FRIDAY (cont’d) 8.p.m. - This area is also theaterland in Minnesota, with experts saying there are more shows on per week in the Twin Cities than anywhere else in the United States except New York. The beautifully restored Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue has a broad range of plays, musicals and events, while the Skyway Theater or the Target Center (normally home of the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team) just down the road offers alternatives. Cinema is also king with the Coen brothers, the well-known U.S. directing duo, hailing from the city. 11.p.m. - A couple of usually packed Irish bars are located nearby to end the evening. Minnesota is also famous for music with Prince and Bob Dylan among those born here. SATURDAY 10 a.m. - Eat breakfast at the Potbelly Sandwich Shop at the IDS Center on Eighth Street in Minneapolis, which many see as the center of town given the indoor foyer acts as a perfect shelter from the winter cold. Potbelly has a remarkable selection of bacon, sausage and egg combos, hence the name. (www.potbelly.com). If you are there in winter, the IDS Center links to the Skyway system of raised walkways which criss-cross the city and eliminate the need to go out into the cold when shopping or moving around town. The same system is used in St. Paul.
11.a.m. - A short walk away is the Mississippi River, which defines much of the Twin Cities as it snakes between the two. Riverside attractions are few and far between so take a summer picnic trip to one of the many picturesque lakes which surround Minneapolis such as Hiawatha Lake or Lake Cornelia Park. 2 p.m. - As lovely as nature is, there is nothing like a big shopping spree and the Twin Cities boast the Mall of America, which opened in 1992 as the biggest in the United States. There are 500 stores, a cinema, bars, restaurants, a sea life centre and a sizeable theme park for children in the middle of the giant indoor complex (www.mallofamerica.com/). The Mall is the last stop on the tram from downtown Minneapolis. 6 p.m. - After your shopping bonanza head to the other end of the tram line and catch a game of baseball at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins Major League team (minnesota. twins.mlb.com/). Check on ticket availability and fixtures before going. This modern baseball park, host of the All-Star game in 2014, has a family atmosphere and superb sightlines and a vast range of fast food and drink outlets for dinner. Try a delicious corn dog. If you want a beer, make sure you have ID as even 30-somethings are challenged.
Capital building in St. Paul with Cathederial in the back ground Matches normally last three-and-a-half hours but the possibility of overtime can mean a late finish. Remember to take your camera. A shot of the game with the stadium and the skyscrapers of Minneapolis right behind as the sun sets is breathtaking. SUNDAY 9 a.m. - Grab some breakfast at your hotel and head to St. Paul to experience what the second twin has to offer. An extension of the Minneapolis tram is being built so take a taxi, bus or your rental car (although parking can be tricky in the center of both cities). Start off at St. Paul’s State Capitol building, adorned with a golden dome, spy the stylish cathedral on your right and head down the hill and pop into the engaging Minnesota History Center, arguably the state’s best museum (here). 11 a.m. - From the History Center head west along Summit Avenue, Minnesota’s most exclusive and one of its oldest streets. It is where the governor’s mansion and many elegant buildings associated with St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald are situated.
Turn back along Grand Avenue towards downtown and you will pass a number of excellent restaurants for lunch such as Cafe Latte, which has a huge selection of desserts (www. cafelatte.com/). 2 p.m. - Once back in downtown St. Paul, check out the glorious interior of the Landmark Center, completed in 1902 and used as a federal courthouse and post office. It is now a cultural center.
h the d
3 p.m. - The excellent Science Museum of Minnesota is nearby on the other side of Rice Park, above the large drop down to the Mississippi below. The museum (www.smm.org/) boasts varying special exhibitions and an omnitheater with a 27-meter domed screen. 5 p.m - If you have time for an early dinner before departing then Red’s Savoy Pizza house on Seventh Street (here) is a an experience. There are no windows and the decor fails to brighten up the place but that is half the charm. (Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
Minnesota, there is an easy answer - the “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Future is TODAY! Renovation PLUS!
“We believe that with our new renovations we will exceed the expectations of travellers and our local friends with our beautiful hotel.” The BEST WESTERN Bandana Square is excited for our upcoming renovations and up grade to the ! We are glad to announce the addition of a new elevator and updated lobby, meeting space, fitness centre.
We have added enhanced guest experience, while creating a unique hotel
Each room will include a 40 inch television, upgraded room furniture, refrigerator, microwave and single cup coffee makers with, upgraded bath amenities, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel’s pool area will have new upgraded soft furnishings manicured grounds and are a mainstay of the property and why guests return year after year. In addition, the hotel’s brand new beautifully appointed Breakfast room offers a full complimentary breakfast including hot eggs, waffles, breakfast , pastries and breads, a full assortment of cereals, a variety of milk products, plus yogurt, coffee, and a variety of juices
The BEST WESTERN Bandana Square will undergo a truly exceptional renovation. Not only have we included the standards required to become a BEST WESTERN PLUS hotel, but have gone beyond to provide an enhanced guest experience, while creating a unique hotel that embraces its location in the history of the Northern Pacific Como Shops
Spring in
The Twin Cities
For over 100 years, Como Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota has charmed millions
The snow is melting, the days are getting longer, and the temperature is getting warmer – it can only mean that spring is here in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Looking for ideas for things to do in the spring in Minneapolis? Here’s some spring activities in Minneapolis and St. Paul. •Splash in puddles with your kids. •Go skiing or snowboarding for cheap – local ski
hills usually slash lift ticket prices at the end of the season until their snow finally melts. •See one of 170+ independent movies at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Independent Film Festival, held at the of April. •Go maple syruping. •Attend a Minnesota Fashion Week runway show, party or boutique event – usually the second week of April. •Take your kids on an Easter Egg hunt. •Get a carwash and blast the salt and road crud off your car. •Catch a St. Paul Saints Game •Celebrate Earth Day at a fair, festival or help clean up a local park at an Earth Day cleanup event. Earth Day is April 22, Earth Day events are held on the closest weekends. Wear shorts.
Affordable tickets and the Saints entertainment team make for great family fun •Go for a hike and look for signs of spring – birdsong, green shoots, rushing streams and creeks. •Yard sale season is here – spring clean your house and hold your own garage sale, or go shopping for bargains. •Visit the Como Zoo and Conservitory - awww, fluffy chicks and little lambs!
•It’s warm enough to wear The state of Minnesota is a a kilt! Attend, or spectate at great destination. Unuthe annual Minnesota Tartan sual and historic sites are Day celebration at the Minlocated throughout the nesota State Capitol. On or state and offer a little around April 9. bit of everything to those •Appreciate the lack of mosthat travel within her quitoes… the peace won’t borders. The only queslast long. tion that remains is, Where •Admire Minnehaha Falls – to begin? the falls are at their strongest in the spring with the water •Dress as the Borg or from melting snow. Princess Leia at Minicon, the Midwest’s longest running •SciFi convention. Easter Weekend. •Head up to the North Shore and go agate hunting – the winter storms have likely washed plenty of Lake Superior agates onto the beaches. •Plan your garden – how about constructing a rain garden?
good deals for
Meetings & Rooms 01 7 DAY ADVANCE purchase: Book 7 days in advance and save. Available to all travellers. No cancellations or changes. FULL PAYMENT REQUIRED AT TIME OF BOOKING, NONREFUNDABLE.Taxes may apply. A credit card is required at check-in. 02 MEETING & EVENTS: Soo Line, Milwaukee and Northern Pacific Conference Rooms,Our 3 Meeting Rooms provides an atmosphere for productive business discussions. Comfortable tables and chairs, and available AV equipment and catering
service make this room a perfect spot to accomplish your business meeting objectives. 03 GREAT GROUP DEALS: Treat your group to a memorable and practical meeting place that brings business and casual together.
the Waiting
Room
Welcome Located in the common area of the BEST WESTERN Bandana Square. This is a great place to grab some slidders a pizza and a few drinks. Why brave the cold when you can walk down to the lobby have a few drinks, watch a good game and enjoy all the hotel has to offer. Treat your attendies to a relaxing social hour at our Waiting Room Lounge. With Seating of up to 30 it provides a fun relaxing break from the day and a chance to network with others from your event. Let us help you come up with an amazing way to treat your guests to something special.
meeting & banquet space
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footer Hotel Assistance info@bestwesternsaintpaul.com Hotel Management Feel free to contact management: gm@bwbandanasquare.net General Information 1010 Bandana Blvd W. Saint Paul, MN. 55108 Phone: (651) 647-1637 Fax: (651) 647-0244 Submissions Editorial Submissions: editorial@bestwesternsaintpaul.com