Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau

A world of offerings at Midtown Global Market
Got the munchies in the Mill District?
Minneapolis Institute of Arts unveils expansion
It’s showtime for new Guthrie Theater complex
New building boom: sports stadiums
Valleyfair celebrates 30 “Xtreme” years
Minneapolis summer celebrations calendar
Also worth noting …

Lake Street makes a comeback as a 21st century urban corridor with redevelopment continuing on the mammoth former Sears Building, The first floor of the $130 million Midtown Exchange project houses the Midtown Global Market, offering a feast of ethnic foods in a mix of stalls, restaurants and specialty grocery stores. Reflective of the city’s diverse population, the 60 businesses include recent immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Asia; older immigrant groups from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; and African American and Native American business owners. Visit www.ndc-mn.org.

Taking color and design cues from its Jean Nouvel home, the sleek and dramatic interior of Cue at the Guthrie Theater takes preshow dining to the next level. A 16-foot-high island thrusts into the center of the dining room, where chefs prepare meals on-exhibition, turning the art of cooking into a live performance. Visit www.guthrietheater.org.
The Mill City Farmers Market 2008 – open Saturdays (May 10 – Oct. 18) on Chicago Ave. and 2nd St. S. between the Mill City Museum and new Guthrie Theater – features local and organic foods, tastings and performing artists. Visit www.millcityfarmersmarket.org.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA), one of the nation’s leading encyclopedic art museums, opens its major expansion and renovation to the public on Sunday, June 11. The re-imagined MIA includes a new 113,000 square-foot Michael Graves-designed wing, and 49,000 square feet of building renovations, which together add 34 new galleries and nearly 40 percent new exhibition space to the MIA. Admission to the special exhibition The Surreal Calder is free during the opening celebration. Visit arts.minneapolis.org or www.artsmia.org.

The Riverfront district rolls out the welcome mat for its new neighbor. The Guthrie Theater opens the doors to its new Jean Nouvel-designed three-theater complex on Sunday, June 25, with a free, community-wide celebration. The day’s events include tours, a public lecture series on the Thrust Stage, world music on the Proscenium Stage, and family activities in the Studio Theater and Guthrie Learning Center. Explore the building, learn about its inaugural season, and sample some of the acclaimed community programs. Unwind with a glass of wine or a latte and wander through stunning public spaces with spectacular views of the Mississippi River. Visit arts.minneapolis.org or www.guthrietheater.org.

With construction concluding on $500 million in new cultural facilities this June, Minneapolis’ sights are now set on the city’s next big building boom.

Having battled with local politicians for nearly 11 years, the Minnesota Twins can finally celebrate, planning to usher in their 50th season taking swings from a new $522 million ballpark. Set for a 2010 unveiling in the city’s historic Warehouse District, the 42,000-seat open-air facility will become one of America’s premiere urban sports venues.

After years as the only Big 10 school without an on-campus football stadium, the University of Minnesota is slated to mark 2009 with a new 50,000-seat open-air facility. Estimated to cost $248 million, construction begins this summer on the $248 million TCF Bank Stadium.

Twists, turns, speed and the Old West are top features of Renegade – a new world-class wooden roller coaster to debut at Valleyfair in 2007. Guests will experience a two minute adventurous ride including a never-before-experienced twisting first drop, a low-to-the-ground high-speed S-turn and a high-speed station fly-by.
Visit www.valleyfair.com.

Stewart Woodman, chef/owner of Five Restaurant & Street Lounge, was recently named one of the “Best New Chefs” for 2006 by Food & Wine magazine.
Minneapolis’ Chain of Lakes was named as one of the country’s “10 great places to have fun afoot” by USA Today.
Homestore.com named Minneapolis as one of the “Top 10 Greenest Cities in America.”
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked Minneapolis-St. Paul #2 on its list of the “50 Smartest Places to Live.”
Men’s Journal named Minneapolis as one of the “50 Best Places to Live.”
AutoVantage, an automobile membership club offering travel services and roadside assistance, rated Minneapolis as one of the cities with the most courteous drivers.