Watch out Peter Lik, there's a new gallery in town and the kid is good!…read more Obviously John Knopf is no kid. In fact before even entering this gallery, one can tell by the facade and front display that he is experienced beyond his years. As with most high quality fine art, just a quick glance at a any piece in Knopf Gallery will pull you in and keep you studying it until you realize it's actually taken you to a different place. As stated on his website www.jknopf.com, John spans the globe in search of "The Perfect Shot" and brings it to intense life in his Gallery. All the while accompanied by his trusted companion Rylee both on photo excursions, and sitting quietly in the Gallery from time to time. John has had a camera in his hand since he was a young boy growing up in Arizona where he started with landscapes, foliage, and skylines. Although nature remains his first love, John has found himself to be the go to photographer for several Las Vegas entertainers. He walks freely on stage and around the showroom, as well as private engagements as photo journalist for Entertainers including Carrot Top, Frankie Marino, and Lorena Peril just to name a few. Have any questions for John? He is as approachable as he is talented and humble. You can find him at the Gallery during open hours daily. Unless of course he's off on another "hunt" for more. Aside from John's unique and diverse collection his Gallery goes a step further. Is that a baby grand piano? Sure is. you never know when a Las Vegas favorite on the keys will stop in and play for a bit. Cats like Patrick Sieben, Marcel East, and The Stratosphere's own Frankie Marino. You might even be able to talk John in to playing a quick ditty. Downtown Las Vegas has begun to boast a true art district. Make no mistake, it actually starts just north of Sahara on LVB at the Stratosphere in this must see Gallery. Don't leave empty handed. "It's not about the photo, it's about the hunt. Getting the shot, no matter what obstacles are in the way, make it worth it." - John Knopf

This is a must see gallery if you visit Las Vegas. John is a very talented photographer and the…read morephotos are spectacular. Do not miss this place!

Beautiful museum and lives up to its name : American Art!…read more Nicely curated objects representing people of all colors and different heritages - from native Americans to new Asian immigrants, and many more! From big names like Paul Manship (he did the Prometheus in front of the Rockefeller Center) and Grant Wood, to local artists like George Morrison, to new Hmong artists who are eager to make their works seen, this museum has a great collection and the juxtaposition of their works present a scene none less amazing than the American culture today! FREE!

Absolutely wonderful museum in an historical building with free admission. The staff were friendly…read moreand informative. The museum tour was excellent and the art collection wonderful. It was a great way to spend a winter day! Highly recommended!

A really phenomenal informative museum with gorgeous pieces and well worth a visit! The front desk…read morestaff was very welcoming.

The gallery has a top-notch selection of iconic works from the last several decades of studio…read morewoodturning, all well-lit and thoughtfully displayed. I was lucky enough to be there during a rare moment when the donor of the restored great wheel lathe was putting the lathe into action, with the help of a crowd of visiting woodturners. I visit the Gallery every time I'm in the area and it's always worthwhile.

Dropped in last night for their free Thursday evening admission. All I had to do was check-in at…read morethe front desk and receive a small medallion to wear. They even had a fun free craft going on in the basement, all supplies included and snacks! Yay! I just took an explore at my own pace through a couple of exhibits. The docents are a little creepy... I know they're just doing their job by standing there staring at you or following you around (probably because guests are bad at respecting the rules), but yeah, I found them a little distracting/detracting from the experience. Oh well. I just tried to ignore it and focus on the art as best I could. Moving from room to room and spiralling up gradual stairways will kind of get you lost inside the building. It's large and has multiple floors. The space will shift from cozy to grandiose at a moment's notice. If you don't like being lost, grab a map before you go in. If getting lost is a fun part of the experience for you, then by all means, just enjoy following your nose like I did, haha! I happened to be there on opening night for the new kid's exhibit they added, where you are encouraged to touch as part of exploration. It's not terribly large, but I like things that encourage imaginative play. Shame I saw one lady just staring at her cell phone like a drone while her kid played beside her. There are all-gender bathrooms on the ground floor by the lobby, and additional restrooms scattered throughout the center (when you stumble across them, lol). There are also coat closets for you to hang your coat if you don't need it; they keep the center nice and warm inside! There is an occasional water fountain as well, which is a godsend since they do not allow you to carry ANY drinks (even recloseable water bottles like Hydroflasks) into the exhibit spaces. There are also a couple of gift shops. The one in the lobby has affordable things, the one deeper in on the second floor is like modern art for your home + a wall of books. There are a couple of theatres inside, along with a full restaurant (y'know, if you have money for fancy-schmancy things like eating, oops). For parking you have a couple options: you can utilize the surface lot for $5 and it'll last you until midnight, or you can use the underground lot for $8. Depending on the weather conditions, that extra $3 might make it worth it to you to choose the underground space. On a chilly Thursday November evening, I still chose the outdoor lot and there were plenty of parking spaces available. There is also the option of squeezing into parallel parking along Vineland and using the meters. Obviously, the sculpture garden is also right next door to explore at any time of day for free. I highly recommend it, if only to take a quick selfie with the Cherry & Spoon or blue Cock.

I had the pleasure of attending the performance of Shamel Pitts - Tribe: Marks of Red on Saturday…read moreand it was interesting. I was very entertained as the performers were absolutely AMAZING. I enjoyed the space and I will be back another show and all of the other art parts that offer because I really love the arts. Go and be inspired.

James J. Fiorentino Museum is an amazing one of a kind place filled with unique and historical…read moreitems. You won't find this listed very easily on the MN. museums list as it's a private collection and showings are by appointment only. I took a chance and sent an email to Rob Andres; Operations Manager of the collection. He responded right away and was lucky enough to get a time slot. The majority of the huge collection are genuine hand carved beautiful cuckoo clocks dating back decades that were from Germany and made with wood from the Black Foredt. Some have been restored and repaired to bring them back to their glory. They feature many different motifs of animals, instruments and fauna (leaves). The woodwork on these clocks is ornate and extraordinary! The delicate intricate wood work on the cuckoo's is really neat to see. Rob gave a private tour where there were soo many additional non clock items in the collection that were historic and fascinating in nature. There were many exhibits and well worthwhile seeing. Many items brought back memories of time past. It was both fun and enjoyable seeing all the variety of cuckoo clocks in working order. This is truly a one of a kind museum collection. I'm so glad I had the privilege of going here. Rob shares some really unique stories behind the pieces and you'll not see anything like this amazing collection at a museum stateside. I have put only a few pictures of some of the items as I don't want to spoil or giveaway some of the choice masterpieces! You'll have to go see them for yourself! contact@clocksandstuff.org

This by appointment-only museum is a trip back in time. Sometimes called the Cuckoo Clock Museum,…read morethey have tons of beautifully crafted cuckoo clocks but so much more. The old telephones caught my eye as we were here with the Urban Sketching group. When you make an appointment to tour the museum, you will be treated to the history and craftsmanship of the many items. The garage turned museum was a labor of love for Mr Fiorentino and it's a gift to be able to share with many others. On street parking is available. Head to the north loop to check this place out.

Grey sky, feeling blue...I happened upon Mosaic on a Stick! Walking into the the Stick I was…read moreimmediately met with a dazzle of bright color and a table full of people hunched over tables intently working on their mosaic projects and laughing. Mosaic Artist and Owner, Lori Greene, invited me in and asked if I was ready to get started! This creative mecca is not just for mosaic experts. The studio is open to the public for classes and affordable studio space for more self assured aspiring mosaic artists. I took a popular "Trash to Treasure" class to learn the basics and got to work making some holiday gifts for friends and family. It 's a unique creative experience for all ages. I felt comfortable going it alone, but groups are welcome too. The place has a great vibe !

We took our granddaughter to the Mn History Center thinking that it would be fun. We were right…read more The exhibits are interactive enough to keep her entertained and informative enough to keep our attention. My favorite exhibit was a reenactment of the 1965 Fridley Tornado with radio coverage from WCCO's Boone and Erickson. You get to sit in a "basement" and feel what they felt...it was a lot of fun.

- Minnesota History Center…read more The Minnesota History Center was an interesting and worthwhile stop, especially for anyone who enjoys learning about state and regional history. Most of the main exhibits were located on the third floor, and I believe there were around five in total during my visit. The exhibits appealed to a wide range of ages, with some sections designed for children, others for young adults, and plenty of material that adults would appreciate as well. The museum covers a broad range of Minnesota history, including major weather events, the Greatest Generation, and different decades from the 1920s through the modern era. There was a good balance of historical information, artifacts, and interactive displays. Some of the more memorable items included a pair of the first original water skis ever invented and the steering wheel from the USS Minnesota. There were many other artifacts throughout the museum that helped connect Minnesota's history to larger events in American history. Overall, there is a lot to see and learn here. I would highly recommend the Minnesota History Center to anyone interested in history or wanting to better understand the people, events, and innovations that shaped the state.

Such a great experience checking out the Foshay Museum and Observatory!…read more It was a bit confusing to find since access is only available through the Marriott hotel, but the staff was super friendly and gave great directions. It was fun to learn about the history of Foshay. It was a bright a d clear day and we were able to clearly see spectacular views of the airport and downtown St Paul.

I used to work across the street from the Foshay - was there about ~9yrs and never checked out this…read moregem. I did go during Doors Open which is probably the busiest time to go. They have 1 elevator that goes straight up to the 30th floor. The details on the doors and around the building were amazing. Once you get up to the 30th floor there's a small museum where you can learn more about the tower. Then you take a few stairs up to get out to the observation deck. I will say it's pretty tight up there. Not ideal for big groups that can't separate. Each direction has a look out otherwise you can just look through the bars. For sure a cool place to visit at least once.