It reminds me a little of growing up in Mauldin, and also of Chicago, where I went to high school. They're like two totally different cities - small and big. Minneapolis is a nice cross between the two of them. It's got aspects of both a small town and a big city. A lot of Fortune 500 companies and top-rate entertainers - like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and people like Prince - live near Minneapolis. But it still has the feel, the pace, of a small city.

Where do you usually take friends visiting from out of town?
There are certain places people want to see. Like Lake Minnetonka, because it's a beautiful landmark area. Once they're there, they often get fascinated by the huge homes on the lake. It's very scenic. But they also want to see the area because of Prince's movie Purple Rain - you know, there's that scene in the movie where Prince, as The Kid, makes his girl [skinny-dip] in the lake.

Visitors also always want to go see the Mall of America. They say it's like the country's largest retail and entertainment complex. It's got everything for out-of-towners to check out. Or they want to see the Metrodome, where the Vikings and Twins play. There are a lot of sports teams here. It's very rich that way, so you've got a wide selection. As much as I can, I like to take my friends to other local pro sporting events. I'm a huge NFL fan, and I'm friends with Vikings receiver Randy Moss. But I also like checking out the Twins and even the hockey team, the Minnesota Wild [at press time, the NHL's 2004-'05 season had yet to begin due to a work stoppage]. They've got a real intense atmosphere and great fans.

What hotels do you recommend?