They have small shops in here with American Indian necklaces and sculptures. they also host a lot…read moreof pow wows here which is great. This place is a big apart of the Native american culture!

What a beautiful museum!! The volunteers they had were so…read morelovely, especially the 90 year-old lady named Edna Irma!! So fun at Christmas time!!

First of all there are a lot of people (staff and volunteers) to walk with you and engage with you…read moreto talk about the history of the building, architecture, history of the family, where some of these furniture acquired and more. It is breathtaking woodwork and plaster work. According to staff they are all hand carved and painted. They also have a small gift shop and a cafeteria to enjoy. You can walk through quickly if you want to see something that is intriguing or you can spend hours admiring the woodwork, stonework, masonry as well as the furniture...

A must see if you are in the Twin Cities and the whole region. This cultural center serves as a…read moremuseum and a community center for the nation. The gift shop has art and other products all from small businesses. Once you arrive there is a small introduction from the staff and you are allow to learn at your leisure. There is a free parking lot but you can also take a ride share, just be mindful of surge pricing.

This cultural center is a sight to behold! I love the architecture- both the exterior and interior…read moreare modern and flowing, yet so thoughtful in how it connects with the greater meaning of the Dakota people (who find symbolism in circles and cycles). The sky-light in the ceiling mirrors the tribe's logo. The lower level is specifically members-only, so if you are visiting, you will not be able to view the lower level. We discovered that there was a fun masquerade happening after-hours the day we visited; it's nice to know there is involvement all the time from community members! The upper level is where visitors can come to explore the museum and learn about this region's specific segment of the Dakota tribe and the dialect they speak. You will get to see authentic and historic pieces that were unearthed in the burial mounds right here in the Shakopee area! Wow! Also many outfits worn by men and women. Two painted murals are very impressive as well. There are many exhibits to read from and interact with, many of which also include Dakota language read aloud so you can listen along. I especially liked learning that the tribe had specific words for older and younger brothers/sisters. My favorite exhibit was the teepee lined with real buffalo skins that you could sit inside and listen to recordings of oral history stories that might've been told back in the day while pretending to be next to a warm bonfire! Very immersive. I also really liked the origin story told at the beginning of the self-guided tour; the video played in 360 degrees as well as directly above you as if you were looking up at the sky/stars. It really made it special and memorable. Another fun experience for younger visitors is the bead stringing simulation with colored wooden blocks- choose a fun pattern and assemble like a puzzle! You will also be exposed to the tragedies that befell the tribe with the invasion of European settlers and learn the harsh struggles the community had in retaining its culture during that time. Further, there are exhibits of more contemporary times as the community has been able to secure more land, grow, and look toward providing for its future generations. Really remarkable the strength and hope showcased at the end of the tour and really wraps up the experience nicely. The rate for adults/general admission is $8. Seniors, educators, and students get a discount for $5. There is an occupancy limit of fifty individuals at a time. Be sure to stop at the giftshop to purchase unique gifts that benefit the community and the artists themselves that create the crafts. You'll find lotions, balms, incense, food items, maple syrup, incredible quilts, blankets, plushies, keychains, beanies, jewelry, pins, postcards, decorative pieces, books, and more. There is also a library full of great literature to learn even more if you choose, free of charge. Honestly, if you are in the area, this place is a must-go! Wonderful experience, and the employees are very friendly and knowledgeable too.

This is an excellent venue for folks who are either into tattoos or want to learn more. I must…read moreadmit that it's a bit tough being a "virgin" at the event. You can come and go with an armband, which was nice, My daughter got a tattoo at the event and it's pretty nice. If you are a skin virgin and unsure of whether you want to get a tattoo, keep that to yourself. There was a bit of shaming about my not having or getting a tattoo. I donate blood, so I don't know if the waiting period before being able to donate again is worth it to me.

People who like tattoos, people with tattoos, people getting tattoos, people getting tattoos of…read morepeople getting tattoos... Jasmine B won some free tickets to this event and I was the lucky friend who got to be her +1. Well I am hoping to get a new tattoo soon, and I really respect the talented artists, and there were some features and mini shows going on at the convention that I was looking forward to seeing. The Dangerous Fun Show was not very dangerous and was just fun. His "tricks" were pretty obvious but his mustache was cool. Marlo Marquise was a huge feature and the announcer boasted that she's a big success and toured with Jane's Addiction, and I felt by the look on her face that she might have felt that the MN convention room was kinda below her. But she was entertaining and hot, so thanks for eating fire half-naked for us. I think Black Heart Burlesque was the best part, the costumes and ladies were really beautiful! And the woman who organizes the group was so classy, ya know, in a stripping-in-public kind of way. The Enigma (the guy tattooed and modified from eyeballs to toes) was very funny and entertaining, when I was able to understand what he was saying. And finally, the human suspension evoked mixed reactions in me like, "holy hell that's interesting" and "holy hell that's disgusting", which would dub it a success. The girl who swung by her elbows was having a tough time though and is probably now scarred for life both figuratively and literally. Overall it's worth checking out!

Very cool venue for special events. We had an event here one evening - and the old school nature of…read morethe building is very interesting! Old exposed brick, stone, mortarwork! The upstairs rooms that overlook the main room are kind of cool and interesting! We did not use that area, but it's kind of hilarious! Hope to visit Aria again!

Aria is an amazing venue!…read more Gorgeous, first of all! We got married here this past August. All of our guests commented on the space and still do! After we booked they added more and more chandeliers, which became the centerpiece for our wedding ceremony! The people at Aria were all about trying new things and creating interesting spaces. I never met any opposition to my ideas. Just support! We ended up doing our ceremony in the round in the lobby under the gorgeous chandeliers and it was perfect! Jessica was our primary contact throughout and we loved working with her! She was very accommodating, relaxed and friendly. We live out of state and she even stayed late to let us show our family the venue during the holiday season. In fact, she was always open to let us come by and look around when we were in town. She was very flexible and helpful in making our vision happen. Plus she genuinely was excited about our ideas! I loved her laidback attitude. Even though she must be incredibly busy, she came across as relaxed which let us know she had everything under control! It was incredibly easy to talk to her! The other staff we met were fantastic too! Michelle, who we booked with was very nice, Eyob the facility manager who was so kind and friendly and Kelly, the bar manager, was very helpful meeting with us to figure out the drinks. The day of the wedding was fantastic! We loved it. Our families loved it. And our guests loved it. We couldn't have picked a better space for us! Thank you Aria, we are so happy to have our memories here! Great space, great people, great day!!!

Great people who take care of their community. Can't say enough about this place. They really…read morehelped others during the pandemic as well.

A great place for community classes or a weekend group to get your Spanish on. They also have…read moreenjoyable events that they have every so often like movies and such.

Convention Center Plaza is a green, grassy oasis in an otherwise concrete downtown. The plaza has…read morefeatured a number of art installations (most notably, MIMMI) that seem to rotate with the summer. It's a quiet, safe, and clean park that has just enough bike and foot traffic to make it interesting, but enough privacy to bring a blanket and book, or, to just stare up at the sky. There are benches all over if you prefer sitting and the park is very well-cared for with it's lush gardens. Great place to bring your pet and spend 20 minutes or 2 hours.

A ok EXCEPT, a cord was taped across the walkway and I fell and cracked my elbow. Yes I know…read moreaccidents happen but they can also be prevented. Perhaps a sawhorse could be centered over the tape with down arrows on both sides to bring better awareness to the tape, or better still, put up poles to run the cord overhead. When you host over 3,300 older women, one should know not to have obstacles on the floor. Sincerely. Linda Shisler