Regional Profiles - Mid West - Minneapolis - Cold Has Never Been So Hot
Kristen Forecki, NC, Contributing Writer
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Features
To the east, across the river, the warehouse district has a slightly more grown-up feel as more and more river view condos overlook the skyline. This area combines historic streets with upscale grocery stores and a plethora of new development. In St. Louis Park, to the south, residents can find many pockets of up-and-coming development, such as the apartment and lifestyle complex at Excelsior and Grand. And an abundance of suburbs to the north and the west offer affordable living with close proximity to downtown.
If outdoor activities are your passion, Minneapolis offers miles and miles of trails for running, biking, or rollerblading. On warm days, thousands flock to the paths and beaches around Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet, or stroll to Loring Green Park downtown. Several companies observe summer hours, giving their employees extra time on Fridays to enjoy the gorgeous Minnesota summers; many take advantage of that time to travel to their lakeside cabins in northern Minnesota or nearby Wisconsin. In cold weather, outdoor enthusiasts switch to cross-country skiing or hockey-a Minnesota obsession- while the rest take it inside to the "MOA," or Mall of America, the nation's largest mall located just 15 minutes from downtown.
Beyond sports and shopping, the city's entertainment options are wide and varied. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to many major and minor sports teams, including the Vikings, the Twins, the Timberwolves, and the Wild. St. Paul offers Opera, Ballet, touring Broadway musicals, and every mainstream concert. In Minneapolis residents can find both favorite and original works at the new, space-age looking Guthrie Theatre, or have a laugh at one of the many comedy clubs or independent theatres throughout the city. The Minneapolis Institute of Art showcases pieces from the classical periods while the renowned Walker Art centre, a modern art museum on the western edge of downtown, boasts a fantastic outdoor sculpture garden with a great view of the skyline and the Catholic Basilica.
Education is also a priority in Minneapolis. The University of Minnesota and the St. Thomas campuses, located nearby, provide opportunities for continuing education as well as fascinating seminar series for professionals of every age. For those looking to recapture a bit of their youth, thriving campus neighborhoods featuring bars with $1 drink specials surround both campuses.
Although arts, professional opportunities, and education all make Minneapolis a fantastic place to live, the most unique feature of Minneapolis is what residents affectionately refer to as the "Minnesota nice" attitude. In Minnesota, people still smile at each other and hold open doors for strangers. This small-town feel, combined with big-city amenities, will continue to bring young professionals, families, and visitors to Minneapolis for years to come.
If outdoor activities are your passion, Minneapolis offers miles and miles of trails for running, biking, or rollerblading. On warm days, thousands flock to the paths and beaches around Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet, or stroll to Loring Green Park downtown. Several companies observe summer hours, giving their employees extra time on Fridays to enjoy the gorgeous Minnesota summers; many take advantage of that time to travel to their lakeside cabins in northern Minnesota or nearby Wisconsin. In cold weather, outdoor enthusiasts switch to cross-country skiing or hockey-a Minnesota obsession- while the rest take it inside to the "MOA," or Mall of America, the nation's largest mall located just 15 minutes from downtown.
Beyond sports and shopping, the city's entertainment options are wide and varied. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to many major and minor sports teams, including the Vikings, the Twins, the Timberwolves, and the Wild. St. Paul offers Opera, Ballet, touring Broadway musicals, and every mainstream concert. In Minneapolis residents can find both favorite and original works at the new, space-age looking Guthrie Theatre, or have a laugh at one of the many comedy clubs or independent theatres throughout the city. The Minneapolis Institute of Art showcases pieces from the classical periods while the renowned Walker Art centre, a modern art museum on the western edge of downtown, boasts a fantastic outdoor sculpture garden with a great view of the skyline and the Catholic Basilica.
Education is also a priority in Minneapolis. The University of Minnesota and the St. Thomas campuses, located nearby, provide opportunities for continuing education as well as fascinating seminar series for professionals of every age. For those looking to recapture a bit of their youth, thriving campus neighborhoods featuring bars with $1 drink specials surround both campuses.
Although arts, professional opportunities, and education all make Minneapolis a fantastic place to live, the most unique feature of Minneapolis is what residents affectionately refer to as the "Minnesota nice" attitude. In Minnesota, people still smile at each other and hold open doors for strangers. This small-town feel, combined with big-city amenities, will continue to bring young professionals, families, and visitors to Minneapolis for years to come.
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Bert Sletten
posted 2/18/09 @ 11:12 PM EST
Nice article, but living here, I might mention a couple suggestions on directions, which the way you have them, seem like you have never been here.
1. (Continued…)
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