What is dwn town minneapolis area like?

a group of friends and i want to go clubbing in minneapolis for my 21st at clubs like envy, aqua, ect. but my dad seems to think it is a really bad part of town (he lives 2hrs north of the cities) he says there are prostitutes on hennepin and dont want me down there. so for the people who actually know, what is it really like dwn there?