As a Student Representative (SR), one of the perks of the job is going out on a field assignment to gather information about local stops of interest to you, the future attendees of the Sigma Tau Delta 2016 International Convention. As the convention starts in just days and you are making your final travel arrangements, it is time to start thinking about what you will do in Minneapolis. Here is a summary of the Student Leaders’ findings to help you plan how you will fill your downtime this week while at convention—their complete reports can be found on the WORDY by Nature blog.

An Evening at the Guthrie Theater

by Amber Jurgensen, Southern Region SR

Guthrie TheaterThis fall, the student leaders had the chance to attend a production of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Wurtele Thrust Stage of the Guthrie Theater, an important cultural and historical landmark of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Based on this incredible performance, a visit to the Guthrie is highly recommended during your stay in Minneapolis.

Read More

.

.

Guthrie Theatre Discount

The Guthrie has made available to us a discount code for the 7:30 p.m. production of “The Critic” and “The Real Inspector Hound” on Friday, March 4. The code is only valid for this show and is only to be used by Sigma Tau Delta. Convention attendees, please check your email for the discount code.

Bookstores and Coffee Shops: An English Major Finds Home

Sara Stammer, Eastern Region SR

Does a better combination exist for English majors than local bookstores and good coffee? Both are readily available in Minneapolis, and I have traveled the city high and low to bring you their definitive ranking! After setting out on the light rail toward St. Paul with one destination in mind, Common Good Books, a group of Student Leaders and I also stumbled upon Midway Books. Depending on what you are looking for, both bookstores have something to offer. But before heading out to find these two treasures, or between sessions at the convention, grab a cup of coffee from one of Minneapolis’ best coffee shops, including Misfit Coffee Co.Hyatt Regency’s Marketplace, Caribou Coffee, and Dunn Bros. Coffee!

Read More

 

Places to Visit: The Science Museum of Minnesota

Shelly Romero, Midwestern Region SR

Science MuseumAs a first-time visitor to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, I was excited to explore both cities and learn what they had to offer. Along with two other Student Representatives, I explored one of the best locations in Downtown St. Paul, The Science Museum of Minnesota. To me, the museum gave the opportunity to revert to a child-like state full of wonder and intrigue. Unlike other museums where the policy is “look, but don’t touch,” the Science Museum of Minnesota encourages guests not only to look, but also to touch, feel, smell, and learn about the wonders science has uncovered.

Read More

.

Additional Information

The Minnesota Historical Society Tour

gov_mn-history-01Lori Williamson will be leading a tour of The Minnesota Historical Society on Friday afternoon, March 4, from 3-5 (do note that you will have to miss both the E (2:30) and F (4:00) concurrent sessions on Friday afternoon if you choose to do the tour). We will meet in the lobby at 2:15 to depart at 2:30 (or earlier, if we are all together). We will be traveling by the light rail system and walking a short distance from there (about 4 blocks). There is only room for 20 on the tour, but if you are not in the top 20 and wish to go, please meet us anyway, and if anyone doesn’t show up, you can join the group. If not, you can still attend the session at 2:30.

Sign up for the tour here.

 

What to do in Minneapolis

Light RailFor a comprehensive list of where to eat or grab a drink, what to do, and what to see while in Minneapolis, check out Sigma Tau Delta President Gloria Hochstein’s write-up of the city, posted on the City Highlights page under Venue on the convention website. The Venue tab also offers a Transportation guide with maps covering the shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels, as well as the light rail trains and Amtrak—Sigma Tau Delta has established for you discounts with both the shuttle service and Amtrak.

.