Burgers and Purple Rain: What MSU fans need to do while at the Final Four in Minneapolis

Lansing State Journal

Minneapolis: There’s more to see in Minnesota than you might expect, and the larger of its Twin Cities beckons beer, music and outdoor lovers for a three-day weekend. Often named the most bike-friendly city in America, Minneapolis can be easily canvassed on two wheels to fit in all its green parks, hip breweries, public art (like the famed Spoonbridge and Cherry at Walker Art Center) and swimmable spots like Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun — this is the City of Lakes, after all. Of course, you’ll need to visit in warmer weather if you want to enjoy all the city’s outdoor adventures. Don’t miss music-famous spots like the First Avenue nightclub and Prince’s home and studios at nearby Paisley Park.

Spartan fans are in for a treat this weekend with Minneapolis as the host for the NCAA Final Four.

As a Golden Gopher and former Minneapolis resident, I can assure you there will be no shortage of things to do, see and eat between games this weekend.

Minneapolis is home to one of the largest urban sculpture gardens in the country, music genius Prince and the world’s first Internet Cat Video Festival. Minneapolis also boasts the oldest sketch comedy theater in the country and 5,000 acres of top-notch parks.

Uff da!

Here's where to go and what to do while you're in the land of 10,000 lakes.

Grab a beer, the iconic Juicy Lucy burger at the 5-8 Club... or is it the Jucy Lucy at Matt's Bar?

Minneapolis' most famous local fare is undeniably the Juicy Lucy.

The Juicy Lucy is two burger patties with cheese stuffed in the middle. Which means your burger has as a melty, cheesy center. It's Midwestern perfection.

Jury's still out as to who made the first Juicy Lucy (also commonly spelled Jucy Lucy). Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club in South Minneapolis both claim to have created the original burger.

No matter who invented it, the Juicy Lucy has cemented itself as a part of the local dining scene. Other local restaurants to try the delicacy at include Blue Door Pub or The Nook in St. Paul.

Just don't forget to wash it down with a Minnesota beer like Surly Brewing's Todd the Axe Man or Grain Belt's Nordeast.

Enjoy free art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art

"Frank" by artist Chuck Close in the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

General admission is free at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. A neoclassical landmark, the museum's collection has more than 89,000 objects.

That means there's something for everyone. The museum has seven curatorial areas: Arts of Africa and the Americas; Contemporary Art; Decorative Arts, Textiles and Sculpture; Asian Art; Paintings; Photography and New Media; and Prints and Drawings.

During your visit you can also check out special galleries like "Beer Before Liquor: Alcohol and Its Pasts" or "Living Clay: Artists Respond to Nature."

The museum's current special exhibit is called "Egypt’s Sunken Cities." The exhibit tells the story of the discovery of two ancient cities were lost to natural disasters and the rising tides of the Mediterranean Sea. General admission for the exhibit is $20.

Where to get breakfast in Minneapolis

Located in the city's Dinkytown neighborhood near the University of Minnesota, Al's Breakfast is a Minnesota institution.

But be warned, the restaurant is small. The breakfast joint is allegedly the narrowest restaurant in Minneapolis (it's built in an alleyway). There will most likely be a line out the door, and you'll have to stand behind other diners while you wait. They also only take cash or check.

But once you've tasted the blueberry pancakes, you'll never be the same. Any wait or last-minute ATM run is well worth it.

Snap a photo for Instagram at Stone Arch Bridge

A cyclist and runners cross the Stone Arch Bridge on the north side of downtown Minneapolis. The former railroad bridge over the Mississippi River has dedicated walking and biking lanes and prohibits motorized vehicles.

Minneapolis' Stone Arch Bridge — which dates back to 1883 — is a former railroad bridge that crosses the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown.

The pedestrian bridge arguably offers the best view of downtown. That makes it a great place to snap a social media-worthy photo to document your trip.

Once you get your photo, swing over to Mill Ruins Park and check out Minneapolis' abandoned flour mills. Or take a stroll to get ice cream at Izzy's nearby.

Honorable mentions for photo spots include the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Guthrie Theater's Amber Box.

Get some fresh air at Minnehaha Park

Minnesota_Minnehaha Falls in winter Minneapolis_credit Jim Hoffman

If you want to spend sometime in the great outdoors during your trip, check out Minnehaha Falls at Minnehaha Park. It's one of Minneapolis' oldest and most popular parks and it features a 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs and Mississippi River overlooks.

Bonus tip: you can get to the falls from downtown via the Metro Transit Blue Line.

Dance, revisit musical history at First Avenue

The exterior of First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.

Nightclub and music venue First Avenue is an undeniable part of rock 'n roll history. A longtime favorite of the late Prince, the venue appeared in the musician's 1984 film Purple Rain.

Saturday night, First Avenue is hosting a Jersey Jam Dance Party, so if you want to blow off some steam after the game, this one's for you.

Reporter Haley Hansen lived in Minneapolis while attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Contact her at (517) 267-1344 or hhansen@lsj.com.Follow her on Twitter @halehansen.