MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prince's hometown of Minneapolis offers many places where fans can pay homage on the anniversary of his death, from his favorite record store to the humble house used in his Oscar-winning "Purple Rain" film.

Paisley Park, his massive, gleaming white studio and performance complex, was turned into a museum soon after his death on April 21, 2016. A "celebration" planned there for April 20-23 with panel discussions, concerts and tours is mostly sold out. But don't worry, there's plenty more to see.

___

PAISLEY PARK

This is a must, even if it's just a drive-by to see the sprawling place rise up from the flatlands in Chanhassen, an easy 20-mile drive from downtown Minneapolis. Guided tours average 70 minutes and include rooms where Prince created some of his biggest hits. The museum is a work in progress, with a recently added room displaying costumes and other artifacts from his "Lovesexy" album and tour.

Optional add-ons include a VIP tour of extra rooms, a photo opportunity, Friday night dance party and Sunday brunch featuring some of his favorite foods.

Much has been made of Prince's Paisley Park-shaped urn. It was moved from the main atrium at the family's request to a frosted high-walled fixture above a little kitchen where he sometimes watched TV.

Photos and video are strictly prohibited on all tours.

___

FIRST AVENUE & 7TH ST. ENTRY

This downtown club in a former Greyhound bus depot remains a mecca for Prince fans and an indie rock hot spot. There are guided tours, though most were sold out ahead of the April 21st anniversary. A separate entrance and fee gets you inside the club where Prince played several times, including his first time in 1981 when it was called Sam's and in 1983 when he unveiled a longer version of his ballad "Purple Rain." That gig was recorded, including the mega-hit that became his signature and other songs used in the film.

Brick walls outside are adorned with painted, white stars for other artists who played there. Prince's star stands out in gold.

___

ELECTRIC FETUS

Prince frequented the Electric Fetus record store. He visited just days before he died, on Record Store Day, April 16, tweeting: "FETUS, THANX 4 THE TUNES! ROCKED STEVIE'S TALKING BOOK ALL THE WAY HOME! #RecordStoreDay," to which Electric Fetus replied: "Thanks 4 coming in today and for supporting indie record stores year-round!"

His final tweet, April 18, was another nod to Electric Fetus, promoting the written program for his "Piano & Microphone" tour. The tweet displayed the program's cover and said, simply: "electricfetus.com."

When the store opened in 1968, National Lampoon magazine singled it out for the worst name of a business. But it remains an indie mecca for audiophiles — including vinyl-lovers — and drew grieving fans when Prince died.

___

PRINCE MURALS

There are some beauties.

Downtown near 10th Street and Marquette Avenue, a five-story, white-painted wall of musical notes is where Prince shot some of his first publicity photos at age 18. At the time, it was home to Schmitt Music Company, which sold sheet music, pianos and organs. The musical notes are from a piece for piano by French composer Maurice Ravel.

Not far from Paisley Park, at Chanhassen Cinema, 570 Market St., is a huge purple portrait of Prince by muralist Graham Hoete. He told WCCO-TV he did it at the request of Minnesotans who saw photos of a Prince mural he painted in Sydney, Australia, where he lived.

Another purple portrait, complete with a white dove like the ones Prince kept at Paisley, was created by Bloomington, Minnesota, graffiti artist Rock "Cyfi" Martinez. It's in an alley on one wall of the Sencha Tea Bar, 2601 Hennepin Ave. S., in the funky Uptown district Prince shouted out in song.

___

PURPLE RAIN HOUSE

Prince's famous Purple House residence in the woods of Lake Riley in Chanhassen was bulldozed more than a decade ago, but the simple "Purple Rain" home used in the movie stands, empty and a bit worse for wear. Head to 3420 Snelling Ave. in Minneapolis' Longfellow neighborhood for a look at the outside. Prince never lived here but his character "The Kid" came of age within its walls in the 1984 film. Some purple flowers were tucked into the mailbox on a recent visit.

Other Prince-related houses are around, as are some of his old schools, studios where he recorded and other hangouts. The Minnesota History Center will display one of Prince's purple outfits from "Purple Rain" and handwritten lyrics to an unreleased song during the anniversary week. The city's visitor's bureau has compiled a map.

https://www.yahoo.com/new...49923.html

^^^ Lake Minnetonka was mentioned, but it wasn't where they filmed. It's a big ass lake, too. I'm not sure if it's really a specific point of interest. I mean, he had a bag of Doritos in the movie - is that the go-to snack in the car during this excursion?

I thought the real graffiti bridge has been torn down long ago. If they built another bridge in the same place, it's a newer one but not the one we see in photos.

I'm not even sure the Electric Fetus is a place to go per se, because it's just a record store. He went to many in his life. It just doesn't seem that significant.

People should go to Uptown area. And while his NPG Store isn't there anymore, the building is, and it's on the corner of West Lake and Hennepin, as is Calhoun Square, a small inner-city shopping mall (there's a great BBQ place in there!)

The Kiowa Trail property (purple house) and Galpin property (yellow house near Paisley Park) are places you won't be past the gate with, but they're there.

There's also Prince's childhood home. The PR house is rather run down, but standing.

I'd really like to know where they filmed that shot of Prince coming down a fire escape in the alley. It's used at the beginning of the "Let's Go Crazy" video I think, but it's also when he debates with her about going to her place or his place. It's obviously not behind First Avenue. A lot of shots were done in L.A. (including the hotel Apollonia came out of when Morris tells her about his group).

Thank you Yoda - not sure when I can come but love to think about it! There was that place where they filmed too - near a little town. A journalist wrote a great piece about going there that was posted here.

PurpleDiamonds1 said:

Thanks for sharing...I hope people do support the Electric Fetus he also mentioned to buy his Hit and Run CDs from them...

My suggestions were based on time constraints and level of relevance. However, people should go where they wish of course, and just to support a local record store is cool beans anyway.

There used to be a record shop right on Hennepin & West Lake St called Disc-Go-Round. You'd go in and find the just-in CDs. It was like 3 long sections of rows and rows of CDs. You'd just sorta get in line (like merging into traffic) and flip through the CDs, then move to the next row or two as everyone else moved. haha It was an assembly line of sorts, but it worked.

There was another place on or around Nicolett (sp) Avenue downtown that had cool shit. I think I bought "The Holy River" CDs there. I remember seeing Exodus but had no idea what it was, and ignored it. Of course, I wish now I had gotten it then. It would have been cheaper.

Minneapolis is a beautiful town with a rich culture of entertainment, music, theater, and art. Downtown St. Paul used to die after 5pm, but downtown Mpls was alive with clubs, restaurants, and theater. Enjoy it all.

TrivialPursuit said:

PurpleDiamonds1 said:

it's all good...I was not referring to your post sorry if you took it that way. I have never been to Minnisota not sure if I will visit anytime soon I remembered hearing of Electric Fetus from Prince. Like all of your additional suggestions and supporting local record stores etc is a good thing

Not at all. I just didn't want anyone thinking I was disparaging their journey. Having lived there, it's such a great place to visit. I've always said one of the most beautiful summers I ever had was in Minneapolis. Everything gets so green and pretty, and the men......my God the men! GORG!

TrivialPursuit said:

PurpleDiamonds1 said:

You are one of the lucky ones!

A couple of the coolest things I did there was go to First Avenue to see Greasy Spoon. It was a band Tommy Barbarella was in after the NPG. They did this hybrid of rock, funk, and Funkadelic meets Exodus inspired trip-ery. It was such a great show.

I went to see Morris Day & The Time at The Quest. The Quest was the club formerly known as Glam Slam. (I had already been to it when it was Glam Slam about 5 years prior.) Terry Lewis sat in on bass that night, so it was extra special.

I used to go buy marked down book at Barnes & Noble on Nicollet & 8th, then go read in a park area on Nicollet & 11th Street. I had a horrible roommate at the time, so anytime out of the house was a plus.

Nicollet is a street that's blocked off downtown to traffic, so it's a pedestrian mall. Restaurants, businesses, a couple of park areas. Loring Park (Prince had a rehearsal space somewhere around there) is on the south end of Nicolett. It's a bigger park, lots of walking paths - and of course a pond in the middle of it.

Sounds like fun. Wish I could be there.

TrivialPursuit said:

http://www.mankatofreepre...db18b.html

Henderson, MN (the REAL Lake Minnetonka)

and I woud definitely go to the Electric Fetus!