Is Minneapolis anything like Portland/Seattle? (St. Paul, Wells: neighborhood, college, gated)

[MSPLove]

I've never been to Portland, but I don't find Seattle and Minneapolis are very similar to one another... although they're both nice places.

[MN55]

Yes there are some similar aspects between Minneapolis and Seattle (not really Portland), but I wouldn't say they're alike. Denver is probably the most similar city in terms of size and demographics, but still much more Western and much more transient than the Twin Cities. Culturally, Minneapolis is midwestern with some "western" aspects to it. Minneapolis itself is similar Denver, but St Paul seems like a smaller version of St Louis or Cincinnati and the suburbs are typical midwestern burbs.

I definitely prefer the Twin Cities to any western city.

[MSMCGirl]

Originally Posted by audadvnc

That's why there aren't any Democrats in Minneapolis...

Okay...Minneapolis has no Democrats??? I guess all the folks that still have Wellstone and Obama stickers on their cars are Republican. Where do you live? Clearly nowhere NEAR Minneapolis.

[travelingrl]

I'm from Minnesota, spent 5 years living in Portland and am now back in Minneapolis. I couldn't agree more with EVERYTHING Jimrob1 said. Portland/Oregon are beautiful, I would go back for a vacation but never to live. The Portland "entitled" employee attitude (i.e. being absent from work for 3 days, never calling in, then returning as if nothing happened...and still have a job) does not fly here. You will get handed a pink slip! And rightfully so. We like to work hard juusssst because...and we are DARN proud of it! Secondly, the "No, no, no.... you need to be taught a lesson" attitude of the "progressive" set in Portland would also be met with intolerance here. We have seen tattoos, piercing, bad fashion, dreads, alternative lifestyles, green/organic living or anything else you want to throw at us just to get a reaction. When the motive is to cause emotional or mental discomfort in another individual that's called immaturity not modeling a "live and let live" philosophy. That's acting bad to get attention, this type of behavior is for teenagers. Don't come to Minneapolis expecting to act like this, we will literally turn our backs on you...and scoff over our shoulder, murmuring that maybe you need to resolve some anger issues with your supposedly overbearing parents which you still seem to be rebelling against and projecting onto complete strangers. As for my last point, it dovetails perfectly with the previous two. If you are going to work with the public in Minneapolis, customers will expect to be tended to promptly, with excellent customer service skills. Leave that "Well, Mr. Customer aren't you pushy...expecting service" Portland c**p attitude at home. You will be handed a pink slip and the aforementioned scoffing will begin.

Minneapolis and Minnesotans are great..not perfect but we try to get along, work hard, learn a little something along the way, keep a worldly perspective and help the next guy in a small way. I experienced very few similarities between Minneapolis and Portland in some very fundamental ways.

Jimrob1, Wow...your post hit my "Portland Sucks" button tonight. Had myself a little melt down,digressed into a fantasy smack down on a Portlander. I don't even know if the original poster is from Portland! lol.

Wheeeew, but that sure felt good to get off my chest. Apparently I have a touch of Post Traumatic Stress due to the sh*t I experience while in P-town. Man, I hate Portland.

Don't bother flaming me back, I've already seen the irony of my repressed anger/projection accusation. This is but a small portion of what I should have said to Portlanders while I lived there. Jimrob1 may be one of a few individuals who might understand. If you think like us while in Portland, and decide to say something....it's like fighting city hall. Do what you will with our opinions but you may want to remember my post as an example of the frustration that some transplants experience while living in Portland.

[MSPLove]

Originally Posted by travelingrl

I'm from Minnesota, spent 5 years living in Portland and am now back in Minneapolis. I couldn't agree more with EVERYTHING Jimrob1 said. Portland/Oregon are beautiful, I would go back for a vacation but never to live. The Portland "entitled" employee attitude (i.e. being absent from work for 3 days, never calling in, then returning as if nothing happened...and still have a job) does not fly here. You will get handed a pink slip! And rightfully so. We like to work hard juusssst because...and we are DARN proud of it! Secondly, the "No, no, no.... you need to be taught a lesson" attitude of the "progressive" set in Portland would also be met with intolerance here. We have seen tattoos, piercing, bad fashion, dreads, alternative lifestyles, green/organic living or anything else you want to throw at us just to get a reaction. When the motive is to cause emotional or mental discomfort in another individual that's called immaturity not modeling a "live and let live" philosophy. That's acting bad to get attention, this type of behavior is for teenagers. Don't come to Minneapolis expecting to act like this, we will literally turn our backs on you...and scoff over our shoulder, murmuring that maybe you need to resolve some anger issues with your supposedly overbearing parents which you still seem to be rebelling against and projecting onto complete strangers. As for my last point, it dovetails perfectly with the previous two. If you are going to work with the public in Minneapolis, customers will expect to be tended to promptly, with excellent customer service skills. Leave that "Well, Mr. Customer aren't you pushy...expecting service" Portland c**p attitude at home. You will be handed a pink slip and the aforementioned scoffing will begin.

Minneapolis and Minnesotans are great..not perfect but we try to get along, work hard, learn a little something along the way, keep a worldly perspective and help the next guy in a small way. I experienced very few similarities between Minneapolis and Portland in some very fundamental ways.

Jimrob1, Wow...your post hit my "Portland Sucks" button tonight. Had myself a little melt down,digressed into a fantasy smack down on a Portlander. I don't even know if the original poster is from Portland! lol.

Wheeeew, but that sure felt good to get off my chest. Apparently I have a touch of Post Traumatic Stress due to the sh*t I experience while in P-town. Man, I hate Portland.

Don't bother flaming me back, I've already seen the irony of my repressed anger/projection accusation. This is but a small portion of what I should have said to Portlanders while I lived there. Jimrob1 may be one of a few individuals who might understand. If you think like us while in Portland, and decide to say something....it's like fighting city hall. Do what you will with our opinions but you may want to remember my post as an example of the frustration that some transplants experience while living in Portland.

LOL! I hear ya. We need to vent about these things sometimes. Yes, I'm proud of our work ethic as well. The same can be said for Wisconsinites.

I just moved from Northcentral Montana. That's not exactly near Portland, but it's out west. I've noticed a lack of work ethic there in comparison to around here as well. (Work ethic and basic everyday civility... but that's another post for another time. )

[Pillage Your Village]

Originally Posted by audadvnc

That's why there aren't any Democrats in Minneapolis...

Two words. Al Franken.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Are those words?

[MN55]

two words. Al franken.

x(

[mnmike]

Yeah, was whoever said Mpls has no democrats kidding? I think it was sarcasm maybe. The city went for Obama in the last election by like 88%. Very heavily democrat and liberal. A large gay population too...these are things Minneapolis and Seattle have in common. I have always found Minneapolis and Seattle to be pretty similar...though Seattle has a bigger more touristy downtown of course. Being a tourist destination really helps out their downtown.

[futureperfect5]

If you want a rundown from someone who has lived in boths cities and is NOT emotionally invested in either ...

I could tell you that:

"Liberal/Conservative" or "Republican/Democratic" will not get you anywhere in understanding the local character of these cities (or, any other city ... these days).

BOTH cities have a fairly large transient (and newcomer) population from migrations and immigrations connected to family history and economic dynamics going back centuries.

THE DIFFERENCE (despite Minneapolis location on a major waterway, the Mississippi River) is that Minnesota is land-locked (as is Germany and Central Europe) and Portland in coastal.

Coastal areas generally, draw and allow more individuality and diversity: Minneapolis is grudgingly diverse, yet quite segregated (mentally): meaning that there is a lot of THEM talk versus US.

In Portland and California, you will hear more WE talk (even if distinctions are made). Minnesota is an agribusiness or post-agricultural society. Strangers or strangeness are frowned upon, discouraged, and distrusted. People don't offer favors, they wait to be asked. People are expected to be "normal" in the way the they dress and act. If there is a new trend, someone popular has made it acceptable before the others follow as it is supposed to be done. In Minnesota, people get jobs through their church groups and they expect everyone to be like them before they can relate, especially socially.

Portland on the other hand, has more openness and influence from eastern cultures. The Native American communities on the West Coast and people of that heritage are visible (at least) in society and the workplace. [In Minnesota, people are supposed to assimilate quickly and downplay any unfortunately differences from the presumed "norm"] Portland gets more international traffic beyond tourism. The weather is milder, the winter is shorter and warmer, and the people go out of their way to be friendly and generally kind.

Minnesota still has its "life on the Plains" austerity and provincialism, despite having a rather large gay community -- mostly people who have fled to the "big Midwest city" from the Dakotas, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Minneapolis is still a corporate town where people think of themselves as "blue-collar" or "white-collar" or even as "classed" by their parents "status" in life.

Whereas Portland, due to the University and high technology influences in its economy, is more fluid. The people, especially the recent grads, have more courage and hope ... they know that it is the 21st century and are making strides to tap into it. Minneapolis is (literally) saddled with the old ways ... despite efforts to break into technology. Finance/banking and healthcare (notoriously lacking in progressive initiative) are the dominate industries. [Remember: Jefferson Ariplane CHANGED to Jefferson Starship ... Wells Fargo still has its stagecoach.]

Think about it ...