Grand Avenue's Best Side Street: Dale Street, St. Paul

St. Paul's Grand Avenue is a shopping and entertainment destination for locals and lures out-of-town visitors away from the Mall of America. Not all the good stuff is on Grand Avenue: within blocks of Grand Avenue are some hidden gems. Turn north on Dale Street, at the east end of Grand Avenue, for art stores and bars, and a great Mexican restaurant.

• Grand Hand Gallery all the pieces in this store are from Midwestern artists. There is something for every budget. Ceramics and decorative trinkets start at a few dollars, there is jewelry and limited edition prints, and dramatic larger sculptures and original paintings from well-known regional artists.
• Evla Pottery ceramics from local artists.
• La Cucaracha Mexican Restaurante has a very popular happy hour, and very good Mexican food all day.
• Sweeny's Saloon above average bar food, a fine selection of beers, and a nice outdoor summer patio at this large, family-friendly neighborhood bar.
• Muddy Pig is a beer-lovers heaven, with brews from around the world. Regular events at this cozy pub celebrate other drinks, such as brandy appreciation and whiskey tasting.