Doooode! I was at that show!
ZJ
So, what did you end up doing?
Oh, since this thread got the bump, I’ll put out the Happy Happy Joy Joy that First Ave is back up and running!
By the way, First Ave. is back in business.
Pity - I thought it was kind of pretty and impressive.
Of course, I was married there, so my associations are going to be much different from yours. 
Regards,
Shodan
How the hell did I miss this? We shoulda had a dope lunch for ya AG. Sorry. I hope you enjoyed our sleepy little burg.
Thanks for bumping the thread, Ass/Hat, because I meant to respond back.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Unfortunately, I found that without a car, it was very difficult to get around (I took the bus once but generally found the mass transit particularly non-visitor-friendly), so a number of the intriguing suggestions fell by the wayside. It also didn’t help that I was in part of downtown that had very little nearby (and the closest thing, the Walker Art Center, was closed).
I tried Let It Be records but found the soundtrack selection very thin. By far a much better store for my needs was Cheapo Records on W. Lake (picked up quite a few used jazz and soundtrack albums). That also happened to be near the Landmark theatre chains (in Uptown), where I spent the day watching movies. Good burrito place across from the McDonalds, too.
I walked a little looking at shops there and another district a bit west of my hotel (there’s a movie theater next to a Borders; don’t know what that area’s called), but the definite highlight of my trip, Minnesota-speaking, was something I’m surprised nobody mentioned:
I saw a performance of A Prairie Home Companion! I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me earlier, and though the Saturday night broadcast performance was sold out (I couldn’t attend that night anyway), the “dress rehearsal” performance the night before still had seats. I bought the ticket at the box office an hour before the show started and got in without a problem. I enjoy the radio program though I don’t listen to the radio very often (don’t have one in my car), but I had a lot of fun at the show and it will definitely be the thing I remember most about my Minnesota trip (even though the cab expense was a bit of a killer).
I heard plenty of bad things about the mall but a good friend really enjoyed the Mill City Museum, so I regret not making it there. Still, I’ll remember this thread, so if I’m in the twin cities in the future (and have a card), I have a future To Do list to refer to.
So thanks again, everybody, for the suggestions. Next year’s conference is in Austin–also unknown to me–so I’ll be posting in another 11 months or so.
I wish I would’ve seen this. I live 2 blocks from Nicollet (near Loring Park) and would’ve been happy to show you around.
D’oh!