[Updated July 2015]
I spend a lot of time looking for good, inexpensive places to have meetings and workshops in the Twin Cities. I'd like to let you know some of my favorite places to host community meetings. I'd love to know your favorites.
Libraries: Almost all libraries in the Twin Cities have free meeting space for nonprofit uses. My favorites are the Community Program Room at the Roseville Library (lots of natural light, seats 125 theater style, nice A/V setup), the Rondo Multipurpose Room in St. Paul (up to 80, nice light, pretty new), and the Meeting Room at the North Regional Library in Minneapolis (up to 108, using both sides of the room). There are lots of other good options. The hours are limited, and you can't charge money to participants for events held at the libraries.
St. Jane House: A beautiful, welcoming space for small meetings and retreats in North Minneapolis. Gatherings that fit with their mission can use the space in exchange for a donation.
Carondolet Retreat Center: Located next to St. Kate's University in St. Paul, Carondolet has many sizes of rooms for reasonable prices. I've had many events there and found them easy to work with and hospitable. If you have any food, you need to use their in-house catering company.
Neighborhood House/Wellstone Center: This community center on St. Paul's west side has many nice spaces for rent and is an active communtiy hub. It is a little more expensive than the Carondolet Center, but not much.
The Hill Ballroom at Macalester College: I've looked into many of the larger ballrooms in the Twin Cities, and found this one to be a great combination of affordability and good support. The ballroom is in the Kagin Commons building, in a beautiful room full of windows. For food, you need to use their catering company.
Common Roots Cafe: This restaurant in Minneapolis has a community room that is free for community use, if your meeting participants buy food there. There is space for up to 25 people. The cafe is open a lot, but the calendar for the room fills up quickly.
Como Dockside: Several meeting spaces in Como Park, St. Paul. The rooms are connected with this restaurant. The rooms used to be free for nonprofit use. I'm not sure about now.
Boneshaker Books: Free meeting room for up to 20 people, in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Urban Research and Outreach-Engaement Center (UROC): A U of M center in North Minneapolis that has 3 rooms available for community use.
Minneapolis Urban League: Their North Minneapolis center has 2 large meeting rooms that are often available for community meetings, at a reasonable cost.
Wedge Table: They have a meeting room that fits 25 people is free for nonprofits, and cheap for others.
What other good communtiy meeting spots do you know about?
