Looking for Places/Stores of Interest in Twin Cities, MN

Me and the family are taking a trip to the Twin Cities Wednesday thru Sunday. Does anyone have any info on any of the following stuff???

-Speed Shops.
-Points of interest, Museums etc.
-Cruiz-ins/Car Shows
-Clothing or Shops that specialize in Kustom/Hot Rod stuff.

Just looking to break out of the normal "family" attractions (MOA, Valleyfair, MN Zoo).

Thanks for the help!!!

 

The Anoka Cruise In is on Saturday nights, starts around 5pm and runs till dusk. Usually draws a couple hundred or more cars. Anoka is a northern suburb. http://www.anokaclassiccarshow.org/

The annual Pan Towners Car Club Car Show and Swap Meet in St Cloud (90 miles up I-94 is on Sunday, it is one of the bigger one day events around here. http://www.pantowners.org/

On Friday night the North St Paul History Cruze happens. A long running event. http://www.historycruzer.com/

The Ellingson Car Museum is on I-94 in Rogers, another northern suburb. Maybe 100 cars. It's a dealer/museum type place. http://ellingsoncarmuseum.com/

 

Little Dearborn.
Parts store.



I forget the name but we went to a cool art gallery/magazine shop in NE by Gabbys bar.

See the link in a later post

 

Here is a thread with a few ideas
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362380&highlight=gabbys+art

 

Thanks Ken!!

A friend of mine loaned one of his "scuptures" to Ellingson's. It is a full size replica of a Model T with hand carved Laurel and Hardy statues. He is a HUGE fan of L&H. His "scuptures" are full size replicas of cars made out of wood. Amazing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/olliealso/3221192366/

 

The Minnesota SRA Membership Meeting is the second Thursday (Aug 12) at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall, 1681 Cope Ave., Maplewood, MN (Hwy 36 & White Bear Ave.), doors open at 7:30pm, meeting starts at 8pm. Always a good turnout and a chance to meet fellow street rodders. It is a fun way to spend an evening and see some of the MSRA rides. You would be welcome at the meeting. JJ

 

Elko Speedway races on Saturday nights, Raceway Park is on Sunday nights. It's NASCAR, circle track stuff...

 

holy crap, that is coming up fast. it's always the 3rd Sunday in August , and with the 1st being a Sunday it's early this year. thanks for reminding me

 

this place might be a little far its just north of the citys. pretty cool place

http://ellingsoncarmuseum.com/

 

I'll be in the area for a "family" wedding, I asked another HAMBer the very same question. As of right now I am planning an escape for a couple hours to a Friday night cruise in Champlin MN. The info came with no references on how good it is, it could be a complete bust with mini-trucks and mullet-maros but it should be better than the hotel lobby.

 

If that's the Cruise-In at the Champlin Plaza Shopping Center (HWY 169 and Hayden Lake Rd) you probably won't see many if any, mini trucks there. There are usually a few pony cars every week, but they have been out numbered by 40's, 50's and early 60's cars and trucks, at least when I've gone by. I've seen some newer late 60s early 70s trucks on hand.

This is a new location this year and it seems to be growing each week. Not a big event yet, but a nice gathering working on growing.

 

Ken,

Thanks for the heads up, sounds like just the break I need.

 

Seven Corners Hardware is THE most amazing hardware store I have ever been in. They had everything:
http://www.7corners.com/

And, while not auto related, I found the Mill City Museum to be absolutely fascinating -the machinery, the amount of flour produced and loaded by hand and the relationship to the development of the city.
http://www.millcitymuseum.org/museum-minneapolis-riverfront

 

Thursday nights at the Minnetonka Drive-In is a cruise night, great burger joint, great cars and great people...

 

Two great choices. Seven Corners is what every hardware store should be.

 

Awesome Ideas!! Thanks. May have to try to check them out if we have time. That cruise in Champlin sounds interesting.

 

University Ave in St paul

 

Porky's!!!!!!!!!! would be a great place to stop Friday or Saturday night, down on University. It's pretty much legendary around here.

Another one not to miss is the car show in "North St. Paul"...it's weekly and only Friday nights.

 

Big car show swap meet Sunday morning in St. Cloud. Well worth the trip up. One of the biggest swaps in Minnesota.


http://www.pantowners.org/carshow.html

 

How about the Mall of America

Largest Mall in North America.
Has a amusement park and a water park inside the mall it is so large.
Three stories high.



http://www.mallofamerica.com/#/visit/home/maps-and-directions

The wife and I went there a few weeks ago, on our trip to Canada.
Big place, lots to look at and plenty of eating places. Most of the Motels around it have a shuttle service to it. Lots of chartered buses stop there ( as a destination point ) .

The family ( wife ) will most likely like it.
For guys ... well ... I enjoyed the Harley shop and watching all the folks walking around.

Saw a few REAL HOT looking honeys

 

Come to the Pair A Dice cruisers car show in Delano City park Saturday 8:00am to 3:00pm usually over 200 cars, lots of activities : creeper races, slow drags, muffler raping, ect.
Breakfast and lunch served on the grounds.
Last years best of show was a restored Olds J2 voted on by only the entrants.

Jim H

 

Bluecat Motors in St. Paul is a rad bike/scooter shop and hosts an event every third Thursday with bands,food & booze, which usually attracts some cool cars as well!! My band played there (The Violent Shifters) which was awesome, but not exactly a family event! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141420702547188

 

Yeah, we hit the MOA, twice... Wed. night for a couple of hours and then ALLDAY ON Friday... Holy crap that place is big!!! Me and my boys were flying solo thru the mall on Friday, we were pretty disappointed in 99.9% of the stores. The only highlights were the Harley Store, Minnesota Hockey and Famous Daves. The "model" store was a MAJOR LET-DOWN!! Nothing but crap in there. My 9yr old son kept counting the Mall Cops he seen, 12.


Thanks for the invite, Moriarity!!! Sorry we didn't have time to stop in, wound up visiting with family on Sat nite and Sunday.


We seen quite a few nice cars (some possible HAMBers) in the metro area and along the way home. A couple really stood out, sighted Sunday morning a blue 32 Ford Highboy sporting a SBC with a blower and couple of carbs. Seen it in my rear view mirror and slowed down to let it catch up, I loved to hear that blower whine! If you are on here sorry for gawking...

Then on Hwy 23 there was a really nice White lead sled called "The Tub" pulling a matching trailer, I didn't get too good of a look at it. My daughter pointed it out as we were going by.


Thanks to everyone for all the info!!! Have enough ideas and info for ANOTHER weekend outing!!!