SperlingViews - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis is what I call a very negotiable city. It is very easy to get around by car. If you need to get to one extreme end of the metro area to the other, it is possible to do without taking the whole day. Taking the bus however possible will take more time. This is a great city to bike! It is beautiful with 4 distinct seasons. Tree lined streets in the summer, beautiful swimming lakes right in the city. Great arts, including visual, theatre and music and museums. Many options for schools, great summer programs for kids. In the winter we do get snow!! It can be a game changer to drive in the snow, transportation will take longer. But then again we have winter sports! City skating rinks, hockey, cross country skiing right in the city. [read more...]

Worst place to live ever! People are so rude! Jobs are plentiful if you dont mind working amongst complete jerks. Most are crazy liberal, vegan, and snobby. So pathetically self righteous. And of course their opinions are the only correct ones. Save yourself the aggravation and move somwhere else. The winters are almost as miserable as the people.[read more...]

Here in Portland Oregon I can not complain even though I haven't stayed long enough other states but still I think it's one of The best places to live.[read more...]

Yes- You are mad because somebody finally admitted the Emperor has no clothes. MN is a declining culture (statistics show people are leaving- more than coming there) of old school, Scandinavian, want to be's who will never expand to other areas of the globe. You are chained to your mental/emotional suffering of a hard-scrabble existence of 7 month's plus per year of arctic level temperatures. I am going to write a big, smelly book about this stinky place and it's stinker's which will be a bestseller on the NYT and make a million dollars off my suffering. Ex-Sheep-[read more...]

Never been but may be moving ot the area ( currently unknown) - what type of televison and internet services are available? I have Charter know and like it - I do not have HD so I do not loose TV when it storms. How are utilities in general? Thanks [read more...]

It can get darn right cold. I love it. Love the 4 seasons.[read more...]

Mpls is still so overrated. Most people here have had the same group of friends for their entire life. There is no room for newcomers, (this coming from friends who were newcomers) or finding new friends after a certain age, if you moved or got divorced. The people are generally very reserved and emotionless, (I know, I grew up here-and left after 40 years). If you're not married with kids, you will not fit in. If you don’t attend church regularly you will not fit in. The taxes are really high, public transportation is almost non-existent; the weather is COLD for 7 months a year- every year- by cold I mean well below zero for up to a month at a time. Duck's freeze to the lakes cold. Faces freeze, cars turn into blocks of ice. In summer it's humid and sticky, and crowded everywhere in the MN frenzy to enjoy the short summers. The mosquitoes are as big as Volkswagens. Traffic gets worse each year- locals joke and says “there are two seasons in MN, winter and road construction”. Housing is old and expensive in the "good” areas (Kenwood, Uptown, lakes area, SW Mpls area). If you move out further to a suburb to afford a home, you will spend your entire life driving to and from work. In my favorite uptown (Mpls) area, the cities idea of "progress" was to mow down a 60 year old (well loved) historical bar/restaurant and build an I pod store in it's place.(RIP Uptown Bar and Grill) . The entertainment favored, is to walk around a frozen lake in the winter with a $5 dollar coffee gossiping, or the same lake in summer with a $5 iced coffee gossiping, only to be almost run down by a biker or balder. This place is LAME compared to other places. If you were not sentenced to prison time in this place, then you can leave ( I know most MN think that is not possible), if you can avoid moving here I would advise you to steer clear. Better places for your money. [read more...]

The Minneapolis-Twin Cities area is a great place to attend college. Students have many colleges to choose from within a 10 mile radius, from public to private schools![read more...]

Minneapolis is a wonderful city to live in. We have all kinds of cultural events and over 1000 theatre companies. Very open & liberal to all minorites. Within 6 blocks where every people live you will find lakes & Parks. [read more...]

The unemployement rates are low for white minorities, but very high for african-americans, asians, and other races. Discrimination there is worst than many places in the South. Please, refer to the census bureau website.[read more...]

Being born and raised in the Twin Cities area (mostly in Minneapolis), Todd's post on 1/10/2010 captures my thoughts about the city, area, state. Having lived about 10 years of my adult life in IA, WI, and TX, and having traveled to all but about 8 of the US States, I am by no means isolated from the world. Emplyoment, income, satisfaction, school quality, cost of living, and taxes are relatively high, but not sky high as some of the posts suggest. After returning to MN from TX, a relatively low tax state, I would say that I get more in return for my tax dollar in MN with all the public parks, trails, lakes, etc. MN does have a long, cold, and dark winter. It takes some effort to get out and enjoy the good days, but it's more of a mindset. You see it in the kid as they run out the door on even the worst days...you just have to get out and enjoy all the seasons (and learn to dress for it). As for Minnesotans, it is true that many are standoffish at first, but you will make connections through work, school, church, or other leisure activities. Frankly this is true everywhere I've lived. The Twin Cities area has a relatively high percentage of transplants from other areas (because of the large number of Fortune 500 companies and the large University campus) so there is almost always an alumi association from your home state school. If you're eager to meet people, consider living in Uptown or Downtown Minneapolis along Grand Ave in St Paul, spend time at the lakes in the summer, join a winter season sports league, etc...these were the things that I needed to do when I lived away from "home" too.[read more...]

I will keep this short and sweet. High taxes, high property taxes, high business taxes, high state taxes, high income taxes, high gas taxes... we are drowning in high taxes that will continue to climb as the years go up. Food is off the charts expensive here. True, they do not charge you taxes on food, but the actual food costs are crazy expensive. They also do not charge you taxes on medication, but the double edged sword on this is the way over priced health care and insurance. They do not charge you taxes on clothes either, but you already know... there is an extreme mark up on the clothes. Shop at the famous MOA (Mall of America)? Yeah, bring your paycheck. Everything there has it's own special little mark up too. I am very disappointed at the summers here. They are hot and humid, granted they are not like Texas, but uncomfortable to say the least. If you think you are going to go out and play in the summer and play at Valley Fair or take a sweet trip to Duluth (why is beyond me anyway being that this city is really just an industrial town) forget about it! People here worship summer and everything is super crowded to where you cannot enjoy the time you have there and if you think that it's cheap... tickets at Valley Fair were $40 a person for an all day pass that you get to stand an hour for in line per ride... yeah, fun woohoo. Want to stay the night in Duluth.. lol good luck with finding a hotel there that has a vacancy that wasn't booked a year in advanced. Want to buy a house? I would really think twice about it before you did. Minneapolis/St Paul have many old homes that are made of stucco and have more of a mold problem than homes in New Orleans after Katrina. The term Ice Dam strikes fear in every home owner here and if you have a stucco home with a bad ice dam problem.. look out baby, you are going to get ripped! Expect to invest at least $2000 a year in ice dam removal along with you guessed it, HIGH HIGH HIGH Property Taxes. Schools here... what a joke! These people let the kids run the school. My child decided that she didn't want to turn the assignments in anymore and when I spoke to the teacher about why they didn't push the child for the assignments (as well as I did. I am very involved with my child's education and make sure they do as they are supposed to in school, which is why I know that they are not turning in the assignments), they simply stated that they feel that when the child decides to finish the work and turn it in, they will then grade it. I asked what about if they decide not to ever turn the assignment in. The response was they would not grade it, but give them another assignment that is related and go off of that grade... what? If I neglected to finish an assignment, I got a big fat 0. These kids get a second, third, forth or fifth chance to do it. Ugh! I don't care a thing in the world about the scores... I've noticed that my child has no structure and no incentive to do any of their work in school. My child states that the teachers will not do anything about it and they don't feel like trying. I hit the floor in shock! Minnesota is for some people and it's not for others. It's not for me. I come from a completely different culture and that Minnesota's political views clashes with everything that I grew up believing. I do not believe in spreading of the wealth. I work really hard for what I have and I do not find it fair to have to give it to people who wish to sit on their butts all day and collect. If you are thinking of moving here and you are successful in life, you will be drained of everything you make and save... fair warning.[read more...]

I have lived here for over twenty years and I hope to give you a small description of Minnesota winters and summers with a short note about "Minnesota Nice." 1) It's true, Minnesota winters are not for everyone. They are dark, long, snowy, and deathly cold. It is usually too cold for rain December-February. A few things that help us get through: a handsome wool or leather coat (you don't have to look like a marshmallow to be warm!), a good pair of boots, and a beautiful white Christmas/Hanukkah/Winter Solstice/winter-holiday-of-choice every year. If you are worried about winter travel be aware that our snow removal professionals have had a lot of practice and are ready at a moment's notice. A snowstorm will slow down traffic, but the city is prepared to make travel relatively safe in a matter of hours. Only a truly remarkable storm will catch this city off guard. Keep an ice scraper/snow brush and a pair of gloves in your car during the winter just in case. 2) Minnesota summers are lovely. They are warm, sunny and rarely very hot or horribly humid. Many families (those who can afford it) spend summer weekends at a lake cabin. We do not get as many violent storms or tornados as other states like Kansas or Oklahoma. Additionally, the fall colors rival those of New England. 3) An unrelated, but important point: You may have heard the phrase "Minnesota Nice" and you may also have heard that Minnesotans are cold and unfriendly. To clarify, we are nice but often shy. The people of this state are still often influenced by the Scandinavians and Germans (generally a reserved bunch) who settled here in large numbers over the past century and a half. The stereotypical Minnesotan is slightly shy and definitely non-confrontational. Many families consider controversial issues such as politics and religion to be relatively taboo, especially with new friends, because of the possibility of confrontation. We will be polite (some call cold) and will not engage strangers in spontaneous conversations in most cases. If you start talking to us on the street about a random topic, we may consider that strange. Please understand that our less-than-super-friendly reaction has nothing to do with you as a person, you as an outsider (how could we tell?), or you as a minority in most cases. We are just shy. Please give us time and you will find us to be kind, loyal, and fun friends. I can see how this trait would lead to perceptions of "cold and unfriendly" if you are from the South or other areas where people are more outgoing. Disclaimer: the above stereotype does not apply to every citizen in this diverse area any many people do not act this way at all. I hope this sheds some light on a few issues. If you visit, avoid January like the plague unless you are truly prepared for it and aim for May-September. If you live here, good luck and stay warm, my friends![read more...]

Hello I am searching for the best doctors in my area and I would prefer a Hebrew doctor Also the best schools for my children. Thank you[read more...]

Hello I am searching for the best doctors in my area and I would prefer a Hebrew doctor Also the best schools for my children. Thank you[read more...]

I think of Minneapolis as one of those best kept secret because all that people know about Minneapolis and the State of Minnesota is that it's cold up here. I'm a transplant from California and i think i've acclimated (and adjusted quite well). Minneapolis, or the Twin Cities area, has a little bit of everything for everyone: great venues for concerts, good sport teams, culture and arts (all kinds!), good housing options, great biking/walking paths, all the perks of an urban lifestyle with access to the comfort of rural escapism. It's a great place to raise kids, offering all the four seasons to be experienced.[read more...]

The climate data is not correct. It says Minneapolis gets 0 snowfall and the precipitation is 34.2 inches per year. Cities in the upper Midwest do not average that much precip. Rick[read more...]

0 inches annual average snowfall for Minneapolis MN???? This is clearly an error; it snows here every year guaranteed. Sometimes as early as October & I've seen snow fall in May more than once.[read more...]

For couples with young children, Minneapolis is hard to beat. Cost of living is relatively low but amenities (parks, schools, transit, A&E) are top-notch.[read more...]

My family and I visited the Twin Cities area from May 28 - June 5, 2009. We currently live in Alaska (since 2003) but we are originally from the East Coast (my wife is from Baltimore and I'm from Philly). We had never been to MSP before and quite frankly we didn't know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprise at the friendliness and openness of the people. Being an interracial couple with biracial children, we will occasionally encounter racial animosity (from both blacks and whites). However, with one exception, everywhere we went in the Twin Cities area, we were made to feel welcome and appreciated for our patronage. In fact, we had such a positive experience that we planning to return sometime this summer (probably late June or early July) for another visit. If this trip is as enjoyable as the first trip, we are seriously considering relocating to the Twin Cities area. If you are currently living or have previously lived in the Twin Cities area, please feel free to share your experiences and insight.[read more...]