Locations of opening scenes
I've always wondered if the opening scenes of the show, where she walks downtown and throws her hat, were actually filmed in Minneapolis, or was NYC used as a stand-in?
shareThey were indeed shot in Minneapolis. MTM throws her hat into the air at what I believe is the intersection of Nicolette Mall and 7th Street South, at least that's where there is a statue commemorating the moment in front of the Macy's store. In the opening, Mary is actually shown standing on the north corner of intersection heading towards the current location of statue (the west corner).
The "WJM Building" is one block to the southwest, at the corner of Nicolette Mall and South 8th Street. It is currently known as "McGladrey Plaza," but it was known as the "Midwest Plaza" before that.