Even though I’m a resident of the Twin Cities, there’s a lot I don’t know about either Minneapolis or St. Paul. It’s my duty to get to know the area better. After all, I live here and from time to time, people ask me about details that I have no clue about.
Tonight I explored St. Paul a little bit.
My first stop was Nina’s Coffee Cafe. Nina’s sits on a corner in the Catherdral Hill historic area of St. Paul. The St. Paul Cathedral is within eyesight of Nina’s front door, which overlooks the intersection of Selby and Western. Inside Nina’s rests dozens of small tables along with some overstuffed chairs and sofas. At 5 p.m. on a Friday, the place was buzzing with people – students, transients, locals, and professionals ending their day with a latte. I liked Nina’s atmosphere with the sky high ceilings and huge windows facing the street. It’s a great place to people watch.
Just below Nina’s sits Common Sense Books, a bookstore owned by Garrison Keillor. I’m not Keillor’s biggest fan, but if you live in Minnesota, you have to at least try to appreciate his Prairie Home Companion show. His bookstore, however, is a thing of beauty. It’s located in the basement of a historic, refurbished building (a beautiful location) and the shelves upon shelves of books would make any bibliophile drool.
My last stop of the evening was at the Happy Gnome bar and restaurant. This privately owned establishment not only has 100s of beers and wines on the menu, they also have a great food menu. I ordered the salmon cake followed by sea scallops and was thoroughly impressed with the food. Enough so, that I’d go back. Soon. Of course the Gnomes are a little freaky, scattered around the restaurant watching patrons eat and drink…smiling as if they know something.
St. Paul, Minnesota – specifically this historic district in old St. Paul – is a great place to spend a Friday evening. Who knew?!!
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Land of 10,000 Perspectives 
Now that’s a perfect date night! Coffee, books, food & gnomes! Can’t wait to read about your next discovery. But take some pics next time, I’d love to see the inside of Nina’s!
I love both Nina’s and the Happy Gnome. Though I frequent neither. It’s amazing how little is thought of as far as night life in this city. I think it’s just opposite of the type of place to “be seen” which could be why I love it so much.