Ex-Brooklynite in Minneapolis? Neigborhoods? (Nicollet: safe area, school, living)

[gaucho25]

Hi everyone?

I'm a 20 something native Brooklynite about to go to grad school at the U of M. I'm pretty new to MSP so any advice on neighborhoods would be much appreciated.
Basically, I'm looking for reasonably priced apt prices (I'll be a student!) in an active diverse neighborhood (if anyone has been to Brooklyn, some place like Park Slope, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Prospect Heights etc would be ideal). I'm looking for a place that has a sense of community but not a sleepy area. An artsy diverse international neighborhood with good parks for running and biking would be ideal. I won't have a car so an area with good public transportation and amenities are impt. Any thoughts on Uptown vs Northeast vs Loring Park vs Whittier, etc?

Thanks so much!!!! I appreciate it.

[The Icy River Vagabond]

Uptown wins in my opinion. Thats where I live and I love it. Can walk about everywhere, lots of places to run in the area.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Uptown - Nice, good transit, convenient, walkable, pretty gentrified.
Loring Park - Trad. gay area. Close to downtown, Nice old buildings. The actual park is lovely. One of my personal favorites
Whittier - Rougher around the edges, but generally safe. Greatest restuarants in the cities, Mpls. Inst. of Arts. Nicollet bus line is easy.
Northeast - A broad area that has different parts. Alot is old SFH. Priced well, safe area. Closer to downtown is more lively. Decent transportation closer to downtown.
IMO, Anyplace except Northeast is a good option.

[nick is rulz]

Uptown - overhyped/overpriced right in the heart of the region...great to barhop and visit, but living there is obnoxious...think Astoria in Queens done incorrectly and slightly more irritating and you've got Uptowns number...its actually four separate neighborhoods...Carag being the most reasonably priced.

Loring Park - close to downtown, easy to get to if you dont drive. Pretty pricey overall though.

Whittier - As referenced above, a decent spot but some blocks are patchy as it edges closer to Stevens Square and Phillips. A lot of the benefits of living directly in Uptown are easily accessible from Whittier without actually living right in Uptown since they border each other.

Northeast - Great area in the "short" northeast spots (Sheridan, Logan Park)...a little too spread out the further north you travel. Marcy Holmes is hit and miss, but definetly close to the U.

[Lindenin]

There is a thread that was active a couple months ago on the "Minnesota" board titled something like "neighborhoods with character" or similar. Search it -- it had alot of great ideas.

I've spent alot of time in NY and know what you are describing. There are several nice, "real" neighborhoods in Minneapolis and nearby villages.