Where Should You Stay for Neil deGrasse Tyson and the Sabrina Cast Reunion in Minneapolis? Two Hennepin Avenue Shows on Sunday, Nov. 8

Sunday, Nov. 8 is a rare double-header on Hennepin Avenue: two big evening shows in two historic theatres, a block or so apart in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. If you are building a weekend around either one, 300 Clifton, the historic Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion in Loring Park, is a quiet, romantic place to land before and after the curtain.

What is happening on Hennepin Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 8?

At the State Theatre, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson brings “Science as a Way of Knowing,” which Hennepin Arts describes as a new lecture never before presented in Minneapolis. It starts at 7:30 PM. The talk covers what science is, how and why it works, and what social, cultural and political forces help or hinder it. The event is presented by Seattle Theatre Group.

Across the way at the Pantages Theatre, Melissa Joan Hart leads the Sabrina Cast Reunion 30 Year Anniversary Live! at 7 PM. The listing names David Lascher, Nate Richert, Jenna Leigh Green, Beth Broderick and Elisa Donovan as confirmed for Minneapolis, and promises skits, songs and bloopers with the audience playing along.

Two crowds, two very different evenings, one stretch of Hennepin. That is exactly the kind of night when it pays to book a room early and skip the scramble.

Warm lights glowing along the columned veranda of the 300 Clifton mansion in Loring Park, a cozy return after an evening show on Hennepin Avenue — The veranda at 300 Clifton, a calm place to come back to after a show.

Why stay at 300 Clifton for a Hennepin Avenue night out?

300 Clifton is a boutique bed and breakfast in a National Register mansion on the edge of downtown, in Loring Park. Guests choose from distinct rooms, including the Crystal Mansion, the Georgian Room and the Grand Edwardian, and the house has carved fireplaces, hand-painted murals and English gardens.

The nicest part of a show weekend is the return trip. After a 7 PM curtain you can be back at the mansion, soaking in the four-season garden hot tub under the stars in November, or settling into the haunted video lounge in Gertrude’s Cistern, described on our movie room page as having heated reclining seats. A Sabrina reunion crowd may well enjoy the haunted hotel page too, since it is the right season for it.

Aerial view of the 300 Clifton mansion and its gardens in Loring Park, a short trip from Hennepin Avenue theatres in downtown Minneapolis — 300 Clifton and its gardens from above, on the edge of downtown in Loring Park.

How do you get from Loring Park to the State and Pantages theatres?

Loring Park sits at the edge of downtown Minneapolis, and the two theatres are both on Hennepin Avenue, so most guests take a short rideshare or plan a route with the Metro Transit trip planner. Check the Hennepin Arts event pages for doors, ticket limits and venue policies before you go. The State Theatre box office is at 805 Hennepin Ave. and is open Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Central.

If you arrive early, the Loring Park pond and paths are right outside the mansion for a pre-show stroll.

Are there perks for booking direct?

Yes. Direct bookings with 300 Clifton include a $20 Pillsbury Club dining voucher per stay and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher per stay. Details are on the vouchers page. Breakfast is not served on site, but complimentary coffee is in the common area.

What else is happening on Hennepin this month?

Sunday is only one night. Our November guide to shows on Hennepin Avenue in November lists the rest, and our post on Brandi Carlile at the State Theatre covers the following week.

The formal English gardens and reflecting pool at 300 Clifton, the historic mansion bed and breakfast in downtown Minneapolis — The formal gardens at 300 Clifton.

Planning ahead? Book your night at 300 Clifton and make Sunday, Nov. 8 a weekend to remember. Tickets for both shows are through Hennepin Arts, so confirm availability before you reserve.

Keep reading: Where Should You Stay for Saturday, Nov. 21 on Hennepin Avenue? Maybe Happy Ending, Marc Maron and The Jayhawks