GUIDED MEDIA TOURS 2008

Minneapolis Arts Explosion/ Design City
Explore Minneapolis Saint Paul varied arts & culture scene
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2 – 6 pm
Departure point: Guthrie Theater
Recently, Minneapolis experienced unprecedented growth in our already rich cultural landscape. The infusion of $500 million dollars of new arts infrastructure created an arts boom that few communities ever experience. Commentary will be provided by an architectural expert (Tom Fisher, Dean of the University of Minnesota School of Design and Architecture has been invited but not confirmed.)

Farm to Table
Minneapolis Saint Paul and its "Culture of Cuisine"
Sunday, Aug. 31, 9 am – 2 pm
Departure point: Crowne Plaza Saint Paul
James Beard Award nominees, national award-winning wines, a surprising food variety mixed with traditional Scandanavian favorites. Minneapolis Saint Paul’s culture of cuisine is authentic. It’s real. It’s locally grown and globally inspired. Discover the area’s farm-to-table food culture in the beautiful St. Croix River Valley, known for its abundance of organic and local producers and practice of taking what’s fresh, what’s available and bringing it to the restaurant table.

Let Us Take You to Funkytown
Minneapolis makes its own kind of music
Saturday, Aug. 30, 8:30 pm – midnight
Departure point: Guthrie Theater
Ever since Bob Dylan broke onto the folk-rock scene, Minneapolis Saint Paul clubs have nurtured some of the world’s most respected artists and a burgeoning nightlife scene. Rock out with Steven Greenberg (who penned that disco favorite, "Funkytown") as you discover the famous venues responsible for the "Minneapolis Sound," including Prince, Hüsker Dü, the Replacements, Soul Asylum and Semisonic.

Go Green (and Blue)
Cities of Parks and Lakes
Saturday, Aug. 30, 1:15 – 6 pm
Departure point: Guthrie Theater
Minneapolis is an urban forest. Lush green spaces and blue lakes in Minneapolis Saint Paul – with 929 metro area lakes, 170+ parks in Minneapolis alone and the Mississippi River running through both cities, it doesn’t get much greener than this. On this bus and boat tour, experience our urban forest, an unexpected abundance of parks, lakes and natural spaces, where we place a high value on the landscape we enjoy.

Register:
Media must preregister for tours. Registration deadline is 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30.

To register email Meet Minneapolis Public Relations at pr@meetminneapolis.com.

For more information, contact Matt Beh at 612.767.8034

To view RNC media tour itineraries and check out a tour schedule and more information on area events, attractions, arts & culture activities, interactive maps, b-roll and photos visit www.mspnewsroom.com