Pam

Coming to the Ridder this weekend for the D-III Men's Finals.  Anything for 
me?  Staying in Roseville.

Joe

-----Original Message----- 
From: Pamela Sweeney
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 05:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Hints for St. Paul Visitors

Saint Paul Convention & Visitors Authority website:

http://www.visitsaintpaul.com/



Terminology:

Xcel Center ("the X") is part of River Centre (which also includes the Roy
Wilkins Auditorium and the Ordway Theater) so some signs may say "River
Centre".

"Ramp" = Minnesotan for "above ground parking garage"



Skyways:

You can walk to Xcel Center from the Hilton Garden Inn, Crowne Plaza or the
Saint Paul hotels via skyways and tunnel without going outdoors.  Indeed, it
may be preferable, as many sidewalks are closed due to utility work
(especially around Cedar St.)  The skyway is run by the City of St. Paul and
generally quite safe (monitored by security cameras.)



Businesses:

Many of the restaurants in the center of the skyway system cater to downtown
lunch crowd and may not be open evenings and weekends.  In general, those
West of Wabasha (ie. near Xcel) and in Lowertown (by Mears Park/Cray Plaza)
are open nights and weekends.



Good breakfast spot:  Four Inns Restaurant (skyway level, US Bank Bldg. 101
E. Fifth St.) or Keys Café (Robert at 10th) for those in the Embassy Suites.



There are a Walgreens drugstore and a small grocery store (Rivertown Market)
on Wabasha St. at 7th Place (across from Macy's/Wells Fargo building). 
There
are also many convenience-type stores in the Skyway system open during the
workweek.



Public Transportation:

The airport is on the Light Rail (as is the Mall of America); worth looking
at if you're staying in Minneapolis, but it doesn't yet serve St.
Paul.  (Hence,
the utility-line work mentioned above.)



Buses:  ($1.75/$2.25 peak times)

Bus 54- Limited Stop between Downtown St. Paul and MSP Airport/Mall of
America

Bus 16 /50 -  Regular (16) and limited stop (50) between downtown St. Paul &
Downtown Minneapolis via U of M campus.

Bus 94 – Express bus bet. downtown St.Paul & downtown Mpls. (via I-94, much
faster but more expensive: $2.25/$3.00)



If driving to Xcel Center:

Flood threats have caused the City of St. Paul to close Shepard/Warner Rd
from Hwy 61 to Eagle St (essentially, the river-level access to the
RiverCentre ramp from the east.)   The Kellogg Blvd upper entrance is not
affected by flooding.  If flooding reaches record levels (about a 50-50
chance sometime this spring according to NWS), it's possible they might need
to close Shepard Rd west of the lower entrance, also.



City of St. Paul Flood Preparations

http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?nid=3742

(scroll down to "Expected Closures")



Construction closures (mostly lane closures):

http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/construction/overview.asp

(Downtown St. Paul map at bottom of Construction Updates is updated weekly,
but unfortunately doesn't note one-ways on alternative routes.)


-Pam Sweeney