Editor’s Note: In honor of the end of the year, each week in
December editors Amanda Fretheim Gates, Ellie Bayrd and Marni Ginther will provide some of our top hospitality-related picks
of 2008. We don't have any special alliances with these
products/places/things; we've formed the lists around our own personal opinions.
+ W Minneapolis--The Foshay On Sept. 18, 2008, The W celebrated its grand opening in style and we were there. At their swank event it became clear that the W is keeping its promise to be a hot spot and to pay homage to the '20s era of the building. (We saw flapper girls doing the Charleston on the bar!) The living room bar is certain to be a nightlife destination and the relocated Manny's will continue to be a great place to splurge in Minneapolis. The W also fit into our fall cover story, "The Value of History." The attention paid to restoring its historic architecture helps tell the story of the historic Foshay--there's even a museum and observation deck up top. The W brand offers a unique twist to events, with fun games and activities. The 229-room W Minneapolis has 6,700 square feet of event space.
+ Westin Edina Galleria If you haven't checked out the new Westin in Edina, you'll have a chance to do so when our magazine hosts its annual State of the Industry event there on Feb. 3, 2009. (Register now!) In August, we were there to watch the ribbon cutting celebration as the 225-room hotel opened its doors. Not only does the hotel have 5,200 square feet of meeting space, the Westin also features an attached McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant. The hotel boasts a very modern feel and cozy rooms. It doesn't hurt that the property is just next door to the Galleria and across the street from Southdale.
+ aloft Minneapolis While it may have slipped in under the radar,
the aloft picked the righ
t time for its brand of budget luxury. The
"Ikea chic" style of the hotel puts it in a higher class, but its
limited service keeps its price point down (just when we are all
looking closer at the bottom line). Located near the Metrodome, the Mill City Museum and the Guthrie Theater
the aloft is in the thick of the action without being in the center of
downtown. Much like the W (its brand cousin), the aloft has quite the
bar. Pull up a seat at the colorful wxyz and
you'll get to pick from an expanding bar menu of favorite treats (tater
tots are just the beginning we've been told) and signature drinks. Get
in on the action and play Hungry Hungry Hippos or a game of giant
Jenga. The aloft features three meeting rooms, the largest reaching 1,548 square feet.
+ Chase on the Lake In our fall issue, we profiled this northern Minnesota escape in our Location, Location
department. By now, both renovation phases of the Chase on the
Lake property are close to complete. The resort, located on Leech Lake
in Walker, Minn. features 70 luxury hotel suites. The reborn resort
also holds more than 36 "condotels" (condo units available to buy or
rent). If you take over the property for an event, you'll have more
than 2,800 square feet of event space and access to their bowling alley and restaurant. This month the spa and event space will reach completion.
+ The Hotel Minneapolis Another hotel on our radar this year was The Hotel Minneapolis (THM), which slipped in 
at the same time as the W Minneapolis. Located in the Midland Building, THM joined the ranks of others in our feature on "The Value of History" because of the hints of its past as a bank that still remain. The 222-room hotel features 3,000 square feet of meeting space. We got a sneak at the hotel in April, a look at the lobby as it toured during the summer and then we got the full experience when attending Minnesota Monthly's Best of the Cities party in September. It's a nice, modern space. Besides a fun, open lobby, the hotel features the new restaurant Max, which boasts staff that are "very knowledgeable and super friendly," according to Assistant Editor Marni Ginther's preview experience.
What are your picks?
-- Ellie M. Bayrd
Associate Editor
[PHOTOS: Top Foshay image by Elizabeth Fraiberg Photography; middle wxyz bar at aloft photo courtesy of Starwood Hotels/Bruce Buck; bottom Hotel Minneapolis photo courtesy of The Hotel Minneapolis]
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://www.my-foreclosures.info
Posted by: Betty | December 16, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Does any resort allow a small dog? dog may bark once a day to stay in practice. Will lick you do death rather than bite. Well mannered.
Posted by: Jim Tabel | May 05, 2011 at 10:33 AM