I think I’ll get myself a ticket to see “Paul Westerberg and the Painkillers” at the Pantages Theater on Nov. 5. Are there any not too outrageously expensive hotels within walking distance of there? Anything else I should know about that area of town? Pre/post-show bars, etc?
The Pantages is on 7th and Hennepin in downtown Minneapolis. Here’s a good map of the immediate area. I’ve never stayed in a hotel downtown, but there is a Radisson on 35 S 7th Street - a stone’s throw away. I didn’t dig too deeply on their site, but it seems to be in the range of $150-250/night.
A little further away (about 3 blocks from Pantages) is the Grand Hotel. Prices appear to be $150-400, give or take. This is on Marquette between 6th and 7th. On the linked map, that’s right where it says “US Bank” on the right side.
Other than that, I’m a bit stymied for downtown Mpls hotels. Anyone else?
For pre/post-event entertainment within walking distance, there’s Rock Bottom Brewery which is at 9th and Hennepin, Brit’s Pub on Nicollet and 11th, The Local on Nicollet and … 8th-ish, and my recommendation, Kieran’s Irish Pub at 2nd Avenue S and 4th Street. That’s six blocks from Pantages.
Other Mpls dopers, please chime in - hey, maybe we can treat AllShookDown to a drink or two. 
Upon further review, Turf Briquettes Assoc. is playing at Kieran’s from 6pm-10pm that night, and The Tim Malloys from 10pm-2am.
It’s a little bit more of a walk, maybe (I’d say it was an easy one, but I’m a walker) to the Hyatt, at the south end of Nicollet - it run you probably about the same as the Radisson. There’s also the Mariott at City Center, maybe 3? blocks from the Pantages, which would also have comparable prices. Plus the Mariott’s right in the center of things - close to the Hard Rock, block E, the Target Center, all those good things.
I know there’s a Best Western downtown (my sister parks in their ramp for Vikings games), but I think that that’s going to be a hike to the Pantages.
It’s not marked clearly on the map, but “the south end of Nicollet” would be the intersection of the continuation of the “street” marked “Gaviidae Commons” (like the weird curvyness - Nicollet doesn’t really do that, does it?) and 10th. In that area, Nicollet is a pedestrian Mall. The pedestrian mall-ness ends at the Hyatt. There’s a lot of shops, pubs, and restaurants on Nicollet, so you should find something to satisfy.
C’mon, Snicks, let’s be helpful here. Some links:
Mariott --> http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage.mi?marshaCode=MSPCC
Hyatt --> http://minneapolis.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml
Well, this is probably a moot point now. I got up bright and early because pre-sale tickets through Drive 105 were supposed to go on sale at 6:00. After refreshing the ticketmaster screen for an hour and a half and never getting the option to purchase pre-sale tickets I gave up and went back to sleep. I checked again at 10:00 and they’re sold out. I’ll check again at noon when tickets are supposed to go on sale to the masses but I have a feeling the whole theater is sold out. Rats.
Thanks anyway for the suggestions. Sorry I wasted your time.
In my mispent youth, I used to go see Paul and the boys play at the Seventh Street Entry. Why not catch and live, young, up and coming act at the Entry and get the feel of Paul’s roots? I wouldn’t be suprised if Paul popped in either (though the chances would be greater that he would go to see his friends at the 400 bar, where there’s a history of unannounced sets. The 400 is not within stumbling distance of the Pantages.)
Thanks for the suggestion NurseCarmen. I decided to check again and they added a Saturday show for which I have a ticket now. Yay! Not a great seat but at least I’m in the door. Too bad it’s not general admission. Is this the type of theater where people can gather in front of the stage or anything? I bet a Sunday show gets added too. He did three shows at the Guthrie in 2002 on a Fri, Sat, Sun. I’m happy to be going to the Saturday show and not have to face driving in downtown mpls on a Friday afternoon.
I’ll check out the hotel suggestions thoroughtly later tonight. It also looks like there’s a Residence Inn, Ramada, Crowne Plaza & The Marquette somewhere in that area.
I got a wild hair and checked TM for Friday tickets again and I’ve upgraded to main floor row C on Friday as opposed to balcony row K on Saturday. I may or may not go to the Saturday show. Anybody know what the law is regarding selling tickets for face value in front of a theater in Minneapolis is?
Face value, you should be okay.
Although there was a poor sap who sold State Fair tickets for $7 outside the front gate (general admission: $8), and fell afoul of the ticket-scalping law since he bought them in advance in bulk for $6 apiece…
Thanks for the info, lno. I’ll remember not to try to recoup the service charges if I do that. After giving it some more thought, I think I’m going to go to both shows and spend that Saturday hanging out in Minneapolis.
How is “Pantages” pronounced? I don’t want to sound like an idiot if I have to say it out loud.
I’ve researched the places mentioned above (thanks again for the suggestions, everyone) plus a few others and here’s what I’ve tentatively decided on. The Crowne Plaza at 618 2nd Ave S (corner of 6th & 2nd) on the other side of the Target Center from Hennepin. About 3 blocks to the Pantages and 3 blocks in the other direction to Kieran’s. Good reviews on TripAdvisor. My second choice is the Marriott which is across from the Radisson on 7th.
Will I be safe walking alone at night in these areas?
Is there any road construction in the area I should be aware of that will still be going on Nov. 5?
**Crowne Plaza ** - $95 per night + $17 per night parking
**Marriott ** - About a block from the theater but (including parking) $40 more per night. But maybe it’s worth the extra bucks to be on the other side of Hennepin? Any opinions on that?
**Residence Inn ** - Ok location & a price similar to Marriott but apparently doesn’t have any smoking rooms at all.
**Radisson ** - Too expensive if I’ll be there two nights. ($190 per night + parking)
**Best Western ** - Decent rate, cheap parking, but a little farther out of the way at 4th Ave & 8th St.
**Ramada Inn ** - 10th & Hennepin. 4 out of 5 travelers said this place is a DUMP.
Painkillers? Paul formed a new band, did he? I hope he records his next album with this new band instead of continuing his I-play-all-the-instruments approach. I mean, as much as I find his clumsy drumming rather charming, it would be nice to have a professional doing it. And, heck, it would be nice if there were someone else around to encourage him to, say, try a second take of a song every now and then.
I think it’s just a temporary band.
According to the Star-Tribune (registration required):