Transportation and Lodging
Accommodations
Hotel Block
We have a wedding block reserved at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, a 5-minute walk from the Boat Club. The rate for a single or double room is $139/night, and can be booked at this rate for both Friday and Saturday night. Parking is available for $18.
Reservations must be made before July 7, 2015. Call 651-292-1900 (mention the Gustafson-Suter wedding block), or click the online reservations button to the right.
Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront
11 East Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
651-292-1900
Other Nearby Hotels
DoubleTree St. Paul Downtown
(also walking distance to the Boat Club)
411 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
651-291-8800
For those who are partial to Minneapolis (and who could blame you!), we recommend staying anywhere near the METRO Green Line stops downtown - Nicollet Mall, Government Plaza, or Downtown East. There are many great hotels in that area, and you'll get to see both halves of the Twin Cities. See below for more information on getting around.
Local Transportation
Don't Have a Car?
The Cities recently opened up their newest Light Rail route, the Green Line. This is a cheap and easy, if a bit slow way to get between Minneapolis and St. Paul, and we hope our out-of-town guests take advantage of it to see both cities. The closest stop to the Boat Club is Central Station, near the end of the line. Trains runs 24 hours a day, making it very possible to stay in Minneapolis, come to the wedding, and then get back to your hotel afterward. You can find more information on the Green Line at http://www.metrotransit.org/metro-green-line
For those who want to get around a little more quickly, we recommend using the Uber app to get taxis. You can also call Suburban Taxi at 651-222-2222 or Town Taxi at 651-888-8880.
Do Have a Car?
Guests who are driving or staying the night can choose to park at the Crowne Plaza (for $18/night) or can use any of the other nearby parking lots and ramps. You can find locations and rates at saintpaulparking.com
(The Crowne Plaza is #24, for reference).
Because the MN Irish Fest is on the same day as our ceremony, public parking in the area may be hard to find on Saturday. We encourage guests to carpool, walk from the nearby Crowne Plaza Hotel, or use public transportation.
Things to See and Do in the Twin Cities
St. Paul
Minnesota Irish Fair
The nation's largest free Irish fair is taking place the same weekend as our wedding, just down the river. Though neither of us is really Irish, we're happy to have the extra celebration! The event features step dance performances, gaelic sports, a Celtic marketplace, a traditional tea room, Irish food and drink, and local and international bands. Website
West Seventh
For food and drinks near the wedding check out anything on West 7th Street. The Buttered Tin is great for brunch. Cossetta has fantastic Italian food. The Liffey has a great rooftop patio for drinking. Fans of The Mighty Ducks should squeeze into a booth at Mickey's Diner.
Grand Avenue
We lived on Grand Avenue the summer after our college graduation and encourage everyone to check out some of the shops, bars, and restaurants it has to offer. We're particular fans of Cafe Latte, Bravo! Cafe (especially for vegetarians), The Tavern on Grand (try the walleye), Shish, and Grand Ole Creamery.
Cathedral of St. Paul
You'll notice this gorgeous church on the hill right away. Sunday Mass times are 8am, 10am, noon, and 5pm.
Minneapolis
The North Loop
This is our favorite neighborhood in Minneapolis. Take a walk on the Stone Arch Bridge and around Gold Medal Park. Definitely visit the Guthrie Theater: even if you don't get tickets to a show, we highly recommend at least one Instagram session on the Endless Bridge balcony, which overlooks the Mississippi River. Make sure to venture to the Dowling Studio on the top floor as well. If we could recommend one restaurant in the cities, it would be the nearby Bachelor Farmer, although HauteDish is a close runner-up (try the namesake, the Tater Tot Hautedish).
Nicollet Mall
Pizza Luce and the News Room are both good dinner options for those who want something less pricey than the Bachelor Farmer and Hautedish. Those looking for a post-wedding Saturday night or a pre-wedding Friday night should check out some of the bars in the Nicollet Mall/Hennepin Ave area: Brit's Pub, the Pourhouse, and Hell's Kitchen are all fun bets. And be sure to throw your hat in the air with Mary Tyler Moore near Marquette Ave and S 7th St.
Uptown
You could spend Friday night downing drinks on the roof at Stella's and your Sunday afternoon recovering on the beach at Lake Calhoun or catching a movie at the Lagoon Cinema.
Breweries Galore
If one thing has changed in Minneapolis since we left in 2010, it's been the explosion of new breweries around the city. Check out some of the best: Surly, Indeed, Fulton, Dangerous Man, Bauhaus, 612Brew. Seriously- there are dozens more. We think this will give you a good start, though!