I didn't claim biggest. (Heather, I keep thinking about that, too. I just had to bail on a trip to Houston because it's right about the time I'm going to close on the house. So no LotR concert for me, and no Dana. *sigh*)

Remember, I grew up in AZ, and I've spent plenty of time in California. I'm always surprised back East by how close things are in reality.

I still haven't lived down the fact that I was consulting in PA for half a year and didn't realize how close my cousin was because her address was in MD.

I didn't claim biggest.

No, no, I didn't say you had. But talking about the size of Texas always brings that song to mind. Because it's perfect. And Shocked is a West Texas girl.

Okay, here goes:

A preliminary proposal for Minneapolis

Local point – I, juliana

Hotels – Millenium Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Sofitel, Hilton, Marriott, Best Western

Hotel rates – range from $85 to $119 per night. The four-star hotel I’m working with for the wedding is right downtown, very luxurious, and is willing to work with us – they’ve already offered a price of $99/night (which is better than the wedding party rates, may I say).

Pros –
A lot of theater
More restaurants than you can shake a stick at.
Decent nightlife
The Quest – which used to be Glam Slam, Prince’s club
The short purple one himself, possibly
Goth/punk/queer/BDSM club
Guthrie/Walker/Minneapolis Institute of Arts/The Wiesman
Good public transport system, including a Light Rail system that goes down to Fort Snelling, the Mall of America, and the airport (not done yet, will be done by December 2004)
The skyway system
Weather – average high is 72, average low is 52. Generally mild and sunny.
St. Paul has some amazing architecture from the WPA period and earlier, as well as caves and gangster tours.
Hub city, so prices flying in tend to be decent.
Mall Of America and other shopping extravaganzas.
Amusement park in the MoA and also Valleyfair! not too far away.

Cons –
Weather – can be stormy and generally April-like in May
Allergies – one of the worst states for hay fever and plant-allergic people.
Again, hub city, so Northwest will occasionally screw people over.
Confusing highway system.
7.25% sales tax in downtown. 13% for hotels.

I can’t think of another pros or cons. Anyone else want to chime in?

I'll get into specific cool clubs/restaurants/whathaveyou later....

juliana, add what is, I think, the only branch of Last Call - Neiman Marcus' outlet store, where you can everything from Badgeley Mischka evening gowns to 18th century pottery from China at prices reminiscent of Target - in that entire time zone.

Shopping in general is another plus for Minneapolis, especially with Juliana to show you around to the good places.

Not that I spent a boatload of money there or anything.

That bookstore that Neil Gaiman deals with. DreamHaven?

And I haven't been to Minnesota. I'm on the Minneapolis train! Woot!

...And your zoo has a spotted skunk! And a siberian tiger and a takin and a musk ox and a moose and pronghorn and Przewalski's horse and Rothschild's mynah! Oh, Lordy, and a clouded leopard.

I'm sold.

billytea, are you into fish too? Amphibians? Albino alligators?

And more shopping, of the kind one appreciates after getting completely into the "oh my dear whatever on a pogo stick, please be kidding me" headspace:

The Mall of America.

billytea, are you into fish too? Amphibians? Albino alligators?

I've checked through the Louisiana zoo and aquarium websites already. The white alligators (IIRC, it's not an albino, it's leucistic - blue eyes instead of pink - and once appeared on the Jeff Corwin Experience) is a drawcard. But I think I'm going to plump for Minneapolis. To me, the selection is more exotic.