City: Minneapolis

[Marsupialized]

If you move to Chicago you already have a huge built in friend pool, you know.
We always be hanging out n' shit.

[deep.BTUz]

spent two days there two years ago....not really a city to me.....but all right I guess....like everyone else said real clean....couldn't get a burger cooked medium rare....they said it was against the law.....

[Germ War]

Yes, among a handful of other cities which I am also considering. The Bay Area isn't working out for me for a number of reasons, most importantly the lack of prospective jobs and the cost of living.

That's quite the response! It is pretty great here, but I do know that it's hard to break into a circle of friends and meet people, as generally, Minnesotans tend to stick to people they know and have a hard time accepting outsiders. Something to consider - not to keep you away, but it may impact your decision.

That said, I'd be more than happy to introduce you to some quality folks to get you started, should you decide to take the plunge. For someone not fond of midwestern winters, though, coming here sure is quite the risk.

[D./Eksvplot]

Yes, among a handful of other cities which I am also considering. The Bay Area isn't working out for me for a number of reasons, most importantly the lack of prospective jobs and the cost of living.

That's quite the response! It is pretty great here, but I do know that it's hard to break into a circle of friends and meet people, as generally, Minnesotans tend to stick to people they know and have a hard time accepting outsiders. Something to consider - not to keep you away, but it may impact your decision.

This is true. I've made some very good friends in the Twin Cities, but most of these relationships took several tries, or they developed over fairly long periods of time. There's a certain fear of otherness up there, but a lot of people are all right.

I had a pretty good relationship while living in Minnesota, with a cute and feisty petite brunette who's now doing art restoration. When I think of the Twin Cities it's mostly with fondness.

N/C

[SergioGeorgini]

Still stuck in Tallahassee, FL and really looking at Minneapolis as a city to move to. Looking at Pittsburgh and Chicago as well but keep getting drawn back to the Twin Cities.

Good music scene, greenspace, biking, affordable etc are what I'm looking for. Think I'll plan a visit and use what has been discussed on the forum as starting points to check out.

[zom-zom]

Minneapolis definitely has those things going for it. The music scene here is pretty huge and very diverse, bicycling is hugely popular and the infrastructure is getting better for it.

I've been here since 1981 and still really like it.

[SergioGeorgini]

Minneapolis definitely has those things going for it. The music scene here is pretty huge and very diverse, bicycling is hugely popular and the infrastructure is getting better for it.

I've been here since 1981 and still really like it.

Alright I'm coming!

[zom-zom]

Definitely check it out first. The last few winters were pretty mild but this last one was like what we typically had through most of the '70s and '80s. Lots of snow and cold, the streets get narrow and it can be hard to park and drive if you're not used to it. And they like to tow so you need to know the rules. If you don't have a car, not a problem.

The sprawl still isn't so bad here either, you can drive an hour and be in the sticks.

[SergioGeorgini]

I understand that the affordability comes with the string attached of very cold weather. It's a concern but have spent some winters in Erie, PA which gets dumped on in the 150+ inches of snow range per year and could handle it.

Similar situation here regarding easy access to rural areas, except Tallahassee metro area is only 300k compared to close to 3 million for the TC. That's a really cool benefit.

Another benefit -- getting out of the South. The state legislatures here tend to nationalize things (I guess all do) but to the point where it's crippling our infrastructures in the means for fiscal restraint. It would be nice to live in a spot where cultural services are understood in better context.

[Germ War]

Hard to say whether they're ACTUALLY understood, but I suppose it's still better than the south.

As a native, I didn't think this winter was really that bad. A lot of snow, sure, but I'm pretty sure we could count on just one hand the number of days where the high was below zero. That's nothing compared to some winters in the past.

A lot of people complain about the weather, and eventually some of them leave. The city's not for everybody, but I think those that stay are heavily rewarded with all of the perks that have already been described in this thread.

I'd like to experience another place to live some day, but I know I'll just be missing home the whole time.

[MWilke]

I moved here last summer. The winter is intense, but the expectation of a given day is that it's always going to be really cold. It's not like this place is going to give you expectations and then let you down like how Chicago messes with its citizens in February. From November to March just know you're in for it and you'll be fine.

The biggest downside experience about living here is that people are REALLY hard to get to know. Perhaps this is just a symptom of moving to any city as an adult where people aleady have their networks currently set. However, my parents warned me about this too and they've lived in a few different spots. That phrase 'Minnesota Nice' is actually a back-handed reference to people being polite and kind, but not necessarily friendly and/or welcoming. It's odd, even old family friends and relatives here act so happy to hear from me or see me, but when I try to set up plans with them it's almost always a brush off.

If you're looking for friends here, the people who have lived here a long time are by far tougher nuts to crack. People who have moved here from somewhere else seem to know what you're going through and reach out to you more to compensate (hopefully they don't try to get you to come to their church). No offense to any lifers here, by the way. I still have faith that we'll develop some social in-roads. This is just what I've been perceiving here in year 1.

That said, I love the landscape. Aside from the fact that the city primarily makes you dependent on a car, I love that from where I live in 10 minutes I can be in a city, a park, a farm, or some wilderness.

[zom-zom]

My experience has been completely different, but I've been here a while.

I immediately met a ton of great people within weeks of moving here, and I'm still friends with all of them. The "scene" was much smaller then I suppose but everybody was incredibly friendly and supportive, much more so than I encountered anywhere else.

Myself and my circle of friends are certainly very open and friendly to everyone, all have been here for a long time or are natives. I don't want to argue but I have a ton of friends who don't own cars, including band members, and they get around fine all year. They're not kids either, 40+ all-year bicycle commuters. And they're building more light rail which is cool.

[Germ War]

In contrary to Zom, I've heard a lot of similar comments from people who have moved here about it being difficult to make friends (in fact, I think I talked about that a bit earlier in the thread). I'm sure that I am equally guilty of this behavior, and I'm sure many others like me don't intend to be that way. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something in our DNA that makes it hard to open up.

So, kudos to anyone who moves here and gives it their best shot. I think those who are perserverent are the ones who will do will. MWilke, I'm sure we haven't met, but perhaps I'll see you out and about at some event down the line this year, and we can have a beer and exchange stories.

[zom-zom]

Yeah I don't know.. maybe it's a generational thing.

Then again, I haven't lived here my whole life.

[MWilke]

Full disclosure, I have a one year old son at home with my wife. So it's not exactly like I can prioritize my social life because my home life requires a lot from me. My primary social interaction comes with co-workers. And there's a significant difference between the locals and those who have come her from other cities. The latter tend to invite me out places, the former are much more esoteric. Also, I'm living in St. Louis Park so I'm sure the experience is different in the neighborhood parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Germ, I appreciate the sentiment and yes we'll have that Summit sometime. Keep me posted on shows you may be going to at or are involved in. I mentioned in another thread I went to that Gang of Four show a month ago and wound up hanging out with a blackjack dealer from Shakopee the whole time. Apparently a lot of dads had their night out alone at that show.

Zom, I'm sure it's possible to be without a car it's just really inconvenient compared to bigger cities like Chicago because the public transportation infrastructure isn't nearly as comprehensive. I've seen people on bicycles in the 0 degree weather and/or even in snowstorms though. More power to them, but I'm not that hardcore.

[Trad]

I just applied for a job in St. Paul working for the gov'ment doing what I do.


If, by some slim chance, I get the job, where the fuck should I live? Here are my requirements or constraints:

- I need a house that is big enough for me, a wife, two kids, and two Huskies. No ghetto living, but not insane yuppie neighborhood either

- Near decent schools.

- I can't stand the yellow or tan homogeneous factory neighborhoods. I like older neighborhoods with character.

- It would be great to be within walking distance of a tavern/restaurants and near public transportation

- Drummer, guitarist, keys, etc. willing to rock on a regular basis.

[Mark Hansen]

In contrary to Zom, I've heard a lot of similar comments from people who have moved here about it being difficult to make friends (in fact, I think I talked about that a bit earlier in the thread). I'm sure that I am equally guilty of this behavior, and I'm sure many others like me don't intend to be that way. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something in our DNA that makes it hard to open up.

There's a phrase for it: "Minnesota Nice".

I had a friend who lived there for school for a while, she really ended up hating it there. Now, she's in England (at Oxford) and doing fine.

[zom-zom]

Well, you live in the suburbs.. St. Louis Park, though first-ring is still a 'burb and not Minneapolis proper, really. It's much different than the city to live in and for transportation. I thought you lived in Minneapolis. You don't, so your experience is going to be different.


Trad.. St. Paul has many neighborhoods with housing like you describe.. it's still a good bargain to buy if you're so inclined. Most of St. Paul is "older with character" and many neighborhoods have what you're looking for. In general, St. Paul is the "older" style city compared to Minneapolis.

And this "Minnesota Nice" shit is a media-created myth. And the more people believe it, the more you hear about it.

[MWilke]

Trad, if you were going to work in Minneapolis, the two towns that nail every bit of your criteria are St. Louis Park and Hopkins. I'm confident St. Paul has similar towns though like St. Paul park. Is my perception that St. Paul schools are more solid than Minneapolis schools true?

[Mark Hansen]

Well, you live in the suburbs.. St. Louis Park, though first-ring is still a 'burb and not Minneapolis proper, really. It's much different than the city to live in and for transportation. I thought you lived in Minneapolis. You don't, so your experience is going to be different.


Trad.. St. Paul has many neighborhoods with housing like you describe.. it's still a good bargain to buy if you're so inclined. Most of St. Paul is "older with character" and many neighborhoods have what you're looking for. In general, St. Paul is the "older" style city compared to Minneapolis.

And this "Minnesota Nice" shit is a media-created myth. And the more people believe it, the more you hear about it.

I was just relating what my friend told me; I had never heard the phrase before that.

I probably wouldn't mind MPLS myself, although if I moved up there, I think I'd prefer to live in a more rural area. I've had enough of city life in my time.