Minneapolis Days Four & Five

{this post contains fifty-two photos. I'll try to use less words (:}

5 March 2014

Today started out earlier than my other days, and I went out to get a doughnut for breakfast!

I went to Glam Doll Donuts, which has a vintage pin-up theme, and it seriously the cutest place! It reminded me of home.

They have a ton of vintage furniture and knick-knacks, (the straws are in a vintage Swiss Miss can!) and some pin-up artwork.

I had their Calendar Girl doughnut, which is chocolate salted caramel. It wasn't messy until I got to the salted caramel center! My hot chocolate mug had a star at the bottom, and I thought that was pretty cute. My camera wouldn't focus on the star though.

Before I left, I took a walk around and looked at the rest of their vintage furniture and decorations. I just noticed the tiny white table and chairs in this picture!

The other place I considered going for breakfast was right across the street: The Bad Waitress. They have some cool neon.

I took a walk around the block and saw this interesting church.

I went over to the Basilica of St. Mary, but I didn't have a five dollar bill for parking, so I had to leave. I ended up driving to St. Paul to go to the cathedral there.

I found this street sign on the way there and had to laugh.

The Cathedral of St. Paul is such a huge and beautiful church. Those center doors are only used on special occasions, according to the sign on the door.

I walked around inside the church for a little while, and then I walked around the outside of the church. Both the inside and the outside are so beautiful.

After I left the cathedral, I went to Electric Fetus, which I thought was a pretty funny transition. Electric Fetus has a ton of cool gifts and things in addition to lots of music. I bought some postcards for my dad and the motel.

I ended up back over at the Bad Waitress for lunch. Not only did they have red plastic cups and formica tables, but they also had the same sugar shaker that we have at the motel, so I knew that I was in the right place. They have notepads and pencils at the tables because you write down what you want to eat and drink, and then you bring it up to the counter and pay, and then they bring your food out for you. I had the grilled three cheese, which came with tortilla chips.

I took a walk around the block and went to a thrift shop, but I didn't find anything that I liked. (I did a lot of walking while I was in Minneapolis, but I forgot to use Nike+ to track my walks.)

I drove over to the sculpture garden next, and parked at the Walker Gallery.

One of the first sculptures I saw was this blue snowman thing. I managed to grab the last brochure about the garden, so I'll have to read it and figure out what I saw while I was there!

Of course I had to see spoonbridge and cherry as well. My manager called this Claus, and I have no idea why. Like I said, I'll have to take a look at that brochure. I was expecting this to be much bigger than it was. Also, can someone maybe explain to me why this is a symbol of Minneapolis?

I loved seeing all of the paths through the snow.

There was a walkway over I-94 to Hennepin Avenue, so I took that and went to visit the basilica and a few cathedrals.

There were some pretty sights on the way to the Basilica of St. Mary.

What a huge, beautiful church.

The inside was gorgeous as well. They were preparing for the Ash Wednesday evening service.

 I love the sunflares in this picture of the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church.

I walked around the building trying to find a way in, but all of the doors were locked. Pretty funny because that sign states that this is a fallout shelter.

I also walked around outside Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, but I didn't try to go inside this one.

I walked back over to the sculpture garden and I made another loop there before I went back to the parking garage. I was going to go to the Galleria in Edina, but I must have had the wrong address, so I ended up going back to the hotel because I was tired.

I relaxed in the room for a little bit, and then I went downstairs to Manny's Steakhouse for dinner. I had the tomato and mozzarella salad (I didn't really like the red wine vinaigrette) and the salmon.

I went back to the room and relaxed and watched the sunset!

6 March 2014

I had started packing the night before, so I finished that up and took some last photos of the skyline. I hung out at the hotel until about ten, when I went over to IKEA.

I had breakfast there (cinnamon roll and milk!), and then I walked around the showroom to look at desks, which I totally forgot to do on Monday.

When I got downstairs, I picked up the dishes and silverware that I wanted, and I also got a pillow. After I got checked out, I went outside and buckled the dishes in. I did not want those to slide around while I was driving.

I started my drive east, and I stopped to get gas before I left Minnesota. It was such a boring drive. I stopped in Green Bay for Sam's Club and gas, and I got home around five.

xoxo.