i may be in chicago today but d*s is all about the twin cities today! writer alyssa ford of midwest home magazine wrote one heck of a guide to minneapolis and st. paul, arranged by city and neighborhood. i’ve added in some of my favorites (and reader suggestions) at the bottom, as well as some local letterpress artists from the d*s letterpress guide. and as always, feel free to suggest your favorites in the comment section. thanks again to alyssa for all of her hard work, we hope you enjoy the guide! click here for the full guide or just click “read more” below.
MINNEAPOLIS NEIGHBORHOODS
Linden Hills
- Victory Antiques & Gifts: A browse through the whitewashed shop is like digging through the boudoir of a stylish maven from the 1920s—there’s plenty of old romance, but nothing feels mothy. Pick up a crystalline chandelier, a cashmere shawl, a mother-of-pearl handled cake knife, or a diffuser from the local company, Alora Ambiance.
- Wild Rumpus: this is the kind of children’s bookstore that will make you want to stock up for all your nieces and nephews. An independent shop going strong since 1992, Rumpus has a phenomenal selection of kid’s books, a super-friendly staff, and a mélange of pet “co-workers” that live in the store full-time, including Harry the tarantula, Elvis the chicken, and parakeets Tony, Orlando, and Dawn.
- Kiddywampus: a quirky, interactive toy store inspiring for both parents and children- and anyone for that matter needing to buy a sweet gift for a kid. impressive selection of pretty items from books to lighting, furniture, wooden toys and art. as if it couldn’t get any better, all after-tax profits are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged children and families! (via Emily Saunders)
MAKE AN AFTERNOON OF IT: Stop in at Café 28, housed in an old firehouse, to sample a pint of CynicAle, from St. Paul’s Surly Brewing. If you make it on a Friday, you can treat yourself to the Great Northern Fish Fry, starring battered filets of our own state fish, the Walleye. Or, wander down the street to Rice Paper, for a appetizer of fried Tofu Puffs, rolled in green onion oil, and topped with peanuts, crisp shallots, and a drizzle of Thai sauce.
Tangletown
- Tangletown Gardens: What was once a Pure Oil gas station, circa 1939, and then an abandoned building, is now Tangletown Gardens, a true oasis in the city, filled with garden art, unusual windchimes, local artisan jewelry, ergonomic tools, and piles of surprising garden gifts. Of course there are also plants: unusual varieties of woody shrubs, and heirloom veggies galore, plus more than 3,000 perennials.
- Nola Home: Globally inspired Bryn Mawr shop Nola Home is all about the unexpected, from massive wooden frames that could have come straight from Marrakech, to waste paper baskets made from Japanese newspapers. Owner Kelly Dorsey is also gearing her store in a green direction, with a big selection of sheets and blankets made from bamboo fiber.
Northeast
- Pacifier: features duds and designer furniture for the modern babe from the likes of Nurseryworks, Monte Design, Oeuf, and Bugaboo.
- Bone Adventure: this shop is where high-design pups and kitties get their gear, from candy-colored dog bowls, to beds with fun, mod patterns. The well-stocked bakery stands ready for impromptu spoiling.
- Patina: Patina is the gold standard for girlfriend gifts, with a jam-packed array at every turn, from Ibride gothic trays to photo frames, key chains, chic letterpress cards, and more.
- The Northrup King Building: this building acts as a low-rent host to more than 130 artists, so there’s much to see, especially on the first Thursday of every month, when the enormous complex hosts its “First Thursday” open house. Don’t miss the studio of Kelly Marshall who makes fabulous loom-woven textiles with a distinct Scandinavian look. Ditto that for Thomas Oliphant, a first-class contemporary furniture designer, who even casts his own screws and bolts. Take a browse through Blue Sky Gallery for work by the region’s best woodturners and carvers, and browse through Art Andes, where owner Melanie Ebertz shows off the work of Peruvian weavers, and is always willing to offer up a steaming cup of coca-leaf tea.
MAKE A DAY OF IT: Stop in at Punch Neapolitan Pizza, a member of Vera Pizza Neapoletana, for a taste of authentic Neapolitan-style thin crust, San Marzano tomato sauce, and the freshest toppings around. The rum-raisin bread pudding, served in a sizzling skillet, is a not-to-be-missed encore.
South Minneapolis – Far and Wide
- Inizio Gifts: Inizio keeps a well-balanced mix of accessories, jewelry and random goodness. Shop for lavender sachets, Botanicus diffusers, security blankets by Tat’r Tots, Zazou shawls, and boxed notes by Letter Space Paper all in one well-merchandised space.
- The Northern Clay Center Sales Gallery: is the only brick and mortar place in the U.S. to buy pots by studio artist, Regis Master, and state treasure, Warren Mackenzie. Many other talented potters also show their work here, including Maren Kloppmann and Jan McKeachie Johnston.
North Loop
- Mitrebox Framing: is the go-to place for custom framing in Minneapolis, but don’t miss the gift section, with clever letterpress cards, bound journals, photo frames, and arty tabletop items
- Minnesota Center for Book Arts: Bibliophiles and graphic artists will love the Minnesota Center for Book Arts for its handcrafted appeal and edgy selection of posters and journals, including work from local rock band designers Aesthetic Apparatus.
- Poliform: If back-painted cabinets, steel finishes, and glossy lacquered folding doors are your style, than Poliform is your place, featuring high-end and high-priced Italian design from Varenna, Flexform, and Kuppersbusch.
- ID: Inside Design, owned and operated by interior designer Greg Walsh, is one of the hot spots for design in the Twin Cities, with plenty of eye candy for all modern tastes, from clean-lined furniture to funky vases. Be sure to check out the in-store Martin Patrick 3 boutique, for all manner of manly gifts.
- Odegard at Michael Sydney: has the corner on colorful, fair-trade rugs by Stephanie Odegard, as well as a respectable showcase of Aqua Creations Lighting and silk shades hand-painted in Venice.
Corazon: Corazon takes boutique shopping to a fresh, arty level with its inspired selection of creative gifts and accessories, including elegant tea towels and table runners by local designer Sarah Kusa, Minnesota winter-proof mittens made from old sweaters, and cards by Minneapolis’ cheeky Zeichen Press.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Sapor Café has won raves from local foodies for its emphasis on local and seasonal fare. On the autumn menu: pan-fried zucchini cakes with pea shoots, cashew aioli, and red onion jam.
East Bank
- Weisman Art Museum Store: matches the verve of the museum itself, featuring unique handcrafts made by young, contemporary artists, such as local potter Monica Rudquist.
Loring Park
- Walker Art Center Shop: is the place to buy a Michael Graves teapot, a Chilewich table runner, an antler wall sconce, a Harry Allen-designed fruit bowl, or a cool art photography coffee table book. The store also features a full selection of creative and clever gifts for college-prep toddlers.
- Lunalux: Lunalux is one of the most delightful shops in the Twin Cities, where owner Jenni Undis can be found assembling antique lead type for her line of inspired cards, or making pinhole perforations with a Reliance 25-inch guillotine cutter, circa 1900. Pick up a Lunalux card, or browse the shop’s other paper indulgences, such as Kaweco German fountain pens, Cavallini file folders printed in Italy, and Pancake & Franks letterpress.
ON A WARM DAY: Grab a table at Bar Lurcat, overlooking Loring Park, and order the decadent mini burgers, topped with red wine shallot butter, and served on tiny, toasted potato rolls.
International Market Square
- Chicagoans would be unimpressed with IMS, writing it off as merely a miniature version of their own Merchandise Mart. But there are some unique gems to be found here, including Wisteria, the fabulous studio of local floral designer Russell Toscano, Art Resources Gallery with its emphasis on local artists such as Dick Huss, and Superior Woods, which offers reclaimed wood from the Minnesota Iron Range Railroad, bridge beams, barns, and the very depths of the Mississippi River. If you’re in the mood for high-end shopping, Artemide, Fantasia, Holly Hunt, Kravet, and Lee Jofa are just a few of the names represented here.
Uptown
- Kitchen Window: is an independent kitchen store and cooking class emporium with all the lines you’d expect: Le Creuset, Mauviel, Chantal, plus some unexpected delights, like a stand-alone freezer filled with Vosges Exotic Ice Cream, including a flavor swirled with sweet Indian curry.
- Letterbox: Letterbox is a gem of a shop, filled with decorative accents from Roost, French Bull, and Not Neutral, sumptuous letterpress, and other lovely finds, such as sweet almond soaps in sophisticated packaging. On Saturdays from noon to six, Letterbox plays host to a local caterer and her Miel y Leche cupcakes in such grown-up flavors as Mexican hot chocolate, limoncello, and rosewater with pistachio buttercream.
- Go Home: Go Home makes for an over-the-top shopping experience, with wild clocks, surrealistic furniture, and in-your-face greeting cards. A place you’ll either love for boldness or hate for its brazenness.
- Design Collective: features the work of local jewelry, accessory and clothing designers. the space is clean and well thought out and the merchandise cleverly curated. when you’re done shopping there stop next store for the cities best bubble tea at The Tea Garden! - my personal favorite, the chocolate coconut shake with pearls. (via Emily Saunders)
Downtown
- Finnstyle: FinnStyle dukes it out with Saga Living to claim the prize for abundant Marimekko, from shower curtains, to towels, place settings, and bolts and bolts of the Finnish-designed fabric. There’a also a healthy collection of Iittala glass birds, delightful mobiles from Aarikka, sushi plates from Tonfisk, and purses made from recycled car tire inner tubes. Plus: they do online shopping.
- Chambers: this is not your average hotel, and neither is its gift shop. Among the museum-quality art collection, (featuring the likes of bad boy artist Damien Hirst, among others) is a tucked away area next to the Art-O-Mat machine with fun, artist-made, clever, or otherwise outrageous gifts, including a cast-pewter robot by local designers Sean Tubridy and Karin Jacobsen, a shopping bag made from men’s underwear, and Japanese manga figurines. Not a postcard or key chain to be found.
South Minneapolis – Far and Wide
- Xylos Gallery: The beauty and grain of wood in all its forms is celebrated at Xylos Gallery, a cooperative run by the local woodworkers who showcase there.
- Russell and Hazel: Now with an expanded showroom space, Russell & Hazel is the place to for all manner of stylish organization wares, from three-ring binders in such delicious shades as lime, espresso, and orchid, and expandable file folders with leather handles.
- Gallery 360: is a perfect browsing destination, with found-object sculpture by Minneapolis artist Al Wadzinski, collages by Jennifer Davis, and mosaic mirrors and switchplates by Sharra Frank. There’s also an unbeatable selection of artisan-made jewelry.
- The museum store at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts offers one of the best overall shopping experiences; there’s something sophisticated for every taste and inclination, from paper goods, to fancy soaps and teas, to art books, and Dia de los Muertos figurines and papier mache skulls.
SAINT PAUL
Downtown (St. Paul)
- Artist Mercantile: Tucked into a pedestrian walkway, strollers will be delighted to discover Artist Mercantile, a gift shop featuring the work of mostly Minnesota artists, including woodworker Joe Maccanelli, potter Ernest Miller, and glass blower Todd Cameron.
- Heimie’s Haberdashery: Leatherworker and retailer Anthony Andler started up Heimie’s Haberdashery in the Hamm Building a few years back, in honor of his grandfather’s turn-of-the-last-century clothier. The shop’s new incarnation is stepping into the past: fedoras line the wall up to the ceiling, attendants with thin, waxes mustaches fetch cashmere scarves, and glass cases are filled with gold pocket watches. There are also hand-carved walking sticks, Perdomo cigars, and monogrammed handkerchiefs to be had.
Cathedral Hill
- Fivetwosix: In the back space of the trendy Fivetwosix hair salon is an interesting gallery filled with art by such local luminaries as Ingrid Restemayer and furniture by Scott McGlasson.
- Paper Patisserie: this is the place in St. Paul to indulge your weakness for ladylike paper goods: hand-bound journals, monogrammed stationary, and note cards with vintage illustrations. Also find decadent bath products and psychedelic gift wrap by Trimorphos.
Grand Avenue
- Cooks of Crocus Hill: Pick up a high-design Francis!Francis! espresso maker, a screenprinted table runner, a steel-blade knife, or a crop-shared heritage turkey at this mainstay shop for gourmets. Cooks also offers a full range of classes at its second-floor culinary studio.
- Just behind Café Latte (where you can buy a mean piece of cheesecake), sits an unexpected gift and accessory shop, Quince, brimming with clever children’s gifts, artisan-made jewelry and chocolate from the likes of Galler.
- Artful Belongings: packs a ton of great finds, including lamps by sister-in-law team Kinzig Design www.kinzigdesign.com and art tiles by Sid Dickens, into a tiny storefront space.
- Grand Hand Gallery: is one of the preeminent retailers of fine American craft, showcasing the work of some 200 artists, including glassblower Thomas Maras, and Art Nouveau-inspired blacksmith Lisa Elias. Watch for online shopping soon.
- Danish Bohemia: was started up by Lisbet Franc, a former Target buyer, who wanted to capture the romantic, dreamy side of her native Denmark. In addition to designing and sewing ethereal wedding dresses, Franc sells En Gry & Sif throw pillows, adorable Mulle Moth ceramics, and wool jackets by Mio My Mio.
- Bibelot: Possibly the best place to buy a hostess gift in the metro, Bibelot offers plenty of craveable items at every turn, from Paper Ink hand-silkscreened cards, to Koziol lamps, and sweets by local chocolatier B.T. McElrath.
- Saga Living: Saga Living is St. Paul’s answer to Finnstyle, a Marimekko retailer with plenty of Iittala glassware, Design House Stockholm accessories, and a terrific clearance section for design buffs on a tight budget.
MAKE AN AFTERNOON OF IT: Stop by Everest on Grand, a fantastic Tibetan and Nepali restaurant, for steaming chai and crispy samosas filled with spiced peas and potatoes.
EXTRAS
- Danish Teak Classics: offers an enormous showroom space just down the hall from Blue Sky, with wide variety of vintage modern and new production furniture from the likes of Nils Thorssen, Hans Wegner, and Borge Mogensen.
- Spinario Design: mid-century modern furniture, lighting, artwork and accessories
- Open Book: book/paper arts, letterpress classes (via Jane)
- Tank Goodness: delicious cookies delivered in a Mini Cooper by the Tank Family (via Jane)
- Ampersand: home furnishings including a good amount of John Derian. (via Jane)
- Dwelling Designs: is an all-around modern shop, with clean-lined furniture designed by Breuer, Saarinen, and Le Corbusier and other big-hitters, plus accessories from Cole River Company and Gus Design. Interior design services are all also available.
- Redlurered: architecture and interiors
- The American Swedish Institute: This really is one of the best places to shop for Nordic/Scandinavian designs (via Alyssa)
- Axman Surplus: a St. Paul store like no other and defies an adequate description. They serve the needs of the creative and practical communities of the twin cities. there you’ll find quite the surprising range of goods- yards and yards of different materials, all kinds of weird hardware parts, porcelain and plastic body parts, bizarre millitary odds ‘n’ ends like gas masks and dummy rounds, capacitors and power supplies, art
materials, office products, and coffee pots! (via Emily Saunders) - Robot Love: a design store with Japanese otaku toys like Gloomy, a pink, bloodthirsty teddy bear with claws, or Andy Mouse, a bright green gansta collectible with money on the mind. Also to be found: hipster magazines, posters, and CDs.
- City Salvage: great antiques
- Art + Architecture: antiques, hardware and collectibles
LOCAL LETTERPRESS/ STATIONERY ARTISTS
