Atlantica - 01.09.2000, Side 31

preoccupied with photographing a
female lifeguard in her red swim suit
who looked like a Baywatch star. There
are various closed-off swimming areas
in the lakes, and white sand beaches,
that make this mid-western city seem
like California.
I also spotted a number of people
fishing off the pier. One guy said he
was fishing for panfish, which I assume
either to be a species or just any fish
you can throw in a pan.
“It’s delicious,” he assured me, and
told me that he also went ice fishing in
the winter. When I asked him how he
liked Minneapolis, he said he missed
the countryside, that he preferred it to
city living. “Wow,” I thought, “here is
someone fishing at two in the after-
noon surrounded by a beautiful green
forest and he calls this city living.”
HIP HANGOUTS
Further north lies Loring Park and lake,
where local celebrities, young bohemi-
ans and artsy students live. Check out
the Loring Playhouse, an avant garde
theatre, and the near by Loring Bar and
Café. This fashionable venue has an
eclectic interior, a mishmash of antique
interiors and rummage sale finds, and
outdoor seating overlooking the park.
Just next door to the café you will be
able to experience the thriving
Minneapolis grunge-rock scene, where
various outdoor concerts are held. On
the other side of Hennepin avenue is the
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the
largest urban sculpture garden in the
US. Its 11 acres has more than 40 mod-
ern sculptures, including the signature
Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes
Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen. The
glass Cowles Conservatory on the gar-
den’s western side is filled with tropical
plants, and features an immense, trans-
parent fish sculpture by Frank Gehry.
THE TWIN CITIES
Tucking into a fashionable feed at the Loring Café.
White sand beaches make this mid-western city seem like California.
Kitsch but Cool
NYE’s Polonaise Room makes for a weird but wonderful night out. The amazingly
unfashionable decor includes gold plastic sofas, red velvet walls and oil paintings of
Chopin. Go for the Polish Plate, a variety of pickled beets, potato salad, Polish sausage,
pierogi and sauerkraut, or a Chicken Kiev that may be lighter on the stomach. In the
evening an eclectic crowd enjoys the polka band next door at the bar, or sits around
Lou Snider’s piano and sings along with him to those song’n’dance classics.
Open daily 11a.m.–1 a.m., 112 East Hennepin Avenue, tel. (612) 379-2021.
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