Recreation and Entertainment

Memorial Union | Athletics & Intramural Sports | Outdoors |

Theaters | Movies | Restaurants | North Dakota Museum of Art |

Shopping | Coffee | Food Shopping

Memorial Student Union
The Memorial Union is a large center for recreation, studying, and other activities.

In the lower level are billiard tables, a computer center with MACs and PCs, televisions, a rental center for canoes, tents and other outdoor items. This area of the Memorial Union is known as the Lifetime Sports Center. Also located in the lower level is the Terrace Dining Center, the Post Office, Parking Office, Great Clips, and a Barber Shop.

On the main level, you will find the Info Center, Union Services, and the Sign & Design Studio. Along with the Center for Student Involvement and Student Leadership, Student Government, and the University Federal Credit Union. Lounge areas with a big screen tv, a Convenience Store, and a variety of other food options in the Old Main Marketplace Food Court. Also, tucked back in the west end is the Loading Dock, (which houses comedians, and other musical events as scheduled), Stomping Grounds Coffee Shop, and the Internet Cafe.

The second level houses the Ballroom, (which is used for concerts and other events), and many meeting rooms for student organizations and studying. The University Learning Center is also located on this level and is a place to receive free tutoring and help with different academic needs. For example: Study skills, college reading, time management, discover learning styles, critical thinking strategies and test anxiety, just to name a few.

The third level is where our Administrative Offices are located, along with the Adult Re-Entry Center. There are also some study areas also on the third level.

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Athletics & Intramural Sports
All students may join an intramural sports team, such as basketball, hockey, volleyball, soccer and many others. The International Centre usually has a soccer team and practice times will be posted at the Centre.

All of the sports facilities are available to students, faculty and staff with a valid UND Identification card. There are racquetball and squash courts, a 50-meter pool, basketball courts, an indoor running track, and a dance studio at the Hyslop Sports Center, and an indoor ice skating rink, Englestad Arena, and more. You will also find tennis courts on campus.

The city of Grand Forks has many health clubs and sports facilities as well. The Alerus Center and Ralph Engelstad Area are the newest arrivals and will offer various sporting activities from football to hockey. Check the Yellow pages of the phone book.

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Outdoors
The Turtle River State Park, the Larimore Dam and the Turtle River Riding Ranch are located not far from each other at about 25 miles west of Grand Forks on Highway 2.

There are many state parks and lakes in the state of Minnesota as well for hiking, camping and fishing. Old Mill State Park is about one hour away and has many trails for walking.

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Theatres
The UND Drama department presents several plays and musicals throughout the year at the Burtness Theater located on campus.

The Chester Fritz Auditorium presents musicals and many internationally known musical artists and groups, comedians, ballets, symphonies and more.

Grand Forks has a Community Theater that performs at the Firehall Theater in downtown Grand Forks.

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Movies
There are two Carmike movie theaters in Grand Forks. A ticket costs $7.50 for the evening shows and $4.50 for the matinees or afternoon shows. Students can buy reduced price ticket passes for $5.00 from the Memorial Union.

The University Programming Council often shows free movies in the Memorial Union.

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Restaurants
There is a large variety of restaurants in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, with a number of restaurants that serve Chinese, Mexican and American food. Some restaurants, like Perkins, Village Inn and the Big Sioux Truck Stop are open 24 hours a day. For addresses and hours, consult the Yellow Pages of the phone book.

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The North Dakota Museum of Art
The Museum is located on campus across from Twamley Hall, and is free and open to the public, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

You will find a variety of exhibits throughout the year, some from as far away as China. There is a gift shop with novelty items and a charming coffee bar in the basement.

The Museum also has a concert series during the school year and host many events, such as performances by Tibetan Monks.

Grand Forks Parks & Bike Trails
University Park is a great place for sitting, walking, running and having picnics. There is a bike trail that crosses campus, and another one that follows the Red River downtown. You may also explore along the river on foot, through Lincoln Park and Central Park.

For further Grand Forks Park and Recreation information, contact:

Grand Forks Park District
1210 7th Avenue South
PO Box 248
(701) 746-2750

These are only a few of the things to do in Grand Forks. For Arts and Entertainment activities, consult the Friday edition of the Grand Forks Herald . It publishes a list of everything that is happening in the area.

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Shopping
There are two indoor shopping malls in Grand Forks.  The Columbia Mall is located at the junction of Columbia Road and 32nd Avenue South. The South Forks Plaza Mall
at 1726 South Washington Street

There is also a large strip mall along 32nd avenue in Grand Forks, offering a variety of stores including a Super Target store, Old Navy, Michaels Craft Store and Gordmans.

There are other stores all along the major streets, and many second-hand stores in town.

Prices vary from store to store so you may want to compare prices. A seven percent sales tax is added when you pay, so if an item is marked $10, you will actually pay $10.70 at the register.

It is wise to keep your sales receipt as you may wish to return an item. Some stores will not accept the merchandise unless you have a receipt, and some may require you to exchange the item for something else in the store.

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Coffee
A few years ago, it was impossible to find a latte or an espresso in this city, but now Grand Forks has a number of great coffee places: Tabula and Stomping Grounds are both located on the University campus, Urban Stampede which has coffee, tea, Italian sodas, gifts, cards and more (downtown), and The Coffee Company on South Columbia Road. You will find Starbucks located in the University Bookstore on campus, at Super Target on 32nd Avenue and at its drive-thru location on 32nd Avenue. Smaller, drive through coffee huts are becoming increasingly common around Grand Forks.

Tabula and the Urban Stampede often host poetry readings and musical groups and are interesting places for students to hang out. The North Dakota Museum of Art on campus also has a fun coffee shop on the lower level.

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Food Shopping
There are several large grocery stores with a wide variety of food items in Grand Forks. Students can often get rides from someone at the International Centre.

For items that may not be too common in the U.S., such as certain spices, some types of grains and rice, and vegetarian foods, there are three specialty-type stores. Amazing Grains is located at 1602 9th Ave. North, not far from campus, Mandarin Import Distributors for Oriental Groceries is located in the South Forks Plaza Mall and the Toucan International Market is located on Columbia Road in the Southtown Square.