What do people of Minneapolis think of Chicago and Chicagoans? (St. Paul: home, neighborhoods)

[Yamato2]

What do people of Minneapolis think of Chicago and Chicagoans?

[MPLSMINN]

Speaking for myself, Chicago is my favorite city and I've been to a quite a number. The people are a big part of it. Very friendly. Love all the festivals. Love downtown, the lake, and the north neighborhoods. The friendly neighborhood bar on every corner. Other than seeing the White Sox I haven't spent alot of time in the south side so I can't speak to that. The traffic, which I've only experienced once or twice....is something to behold however.

Speaking for others....I don't think I've heard a bad word about it...most folks have a good story about visiting and seeing a Cubs game, seeing one of the great museums, or walking the Miracle Mile.

Then there's the occasional sports trash talking but that's mostly in good fun.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

I have a ton of family there so it's always been like a second home to me. I've probably made the drive over 100 times in my lifetime. I've also lived there briefly.

The gist I get from most people here is that there is a healthy respect for Chicago, but there isn't any envy. People recognize Chicago is the draw in the Midwest and don't contend that, but also don't mind being different than Chicago. Some snobs will point to Chicago's crime, corruption, or traffic as reasons why they'd never consider stepping foot in the city. Others blame the city for sending its "riff raff" here (referencing the strong migration of inner-city black Chicagoans to the Twin Cities), but that's the minority and their dismissive, racist attitude isn't the norm (I hope!).

All in all most people here like a lot of things about Chicago.

[rcsteiner]

I like Chicago. It's a little far for a day trip at 400 miles plus, but it s a good place to visit from the Twin Cities. It has a lot more to offer than any other city within driving range of the Twin Cities, I think. And it has da Cubbies. We won't talk about the other team.

[Grizzly Addams]

They drive like turds and honk for no reason.

[Ursicinus]

Their interstates are somehow more horrible than ours, and their hockey team is the Great Satan. Other than that, I don't mind the place

In full disclosure though, I've only been a tourist there like once, and it was 20 years ago. I'm not totally opposed to visiting, but I've just never felt a strong reason to do so.

One interesting (to me) distinction between "us and them" though: I've noticed that if you meet someone from northern Illinois, they'll almost always say "I'm from Chicago", even if they're from some suburb like an hour away from Wrigley Field. On the flip side, if you meet someone from Minnesota, they tend to say "I'm from Minnesota" unless they physically live in (or were born in) Minneapolis or St. Paul, in which case they'll probably say they're from the Twin Cities. You'll never see a person from, say, Minnetonka claiming to be from Minneapolis

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Ursicinus

One interesting (to me) distinction between "us and them" though: I've noticed that if you meet someone from northern Illinois, they'll almost always say "I'm from Chicago", even if they're from some suburb like an hour away from Wrigley Field. On the flip side, if you meet someone from Minnesota, they tend to say "I'm from Minnesota" unless they physically live in (or were born in) Minneapolis or St. Paul, in which case they'll probably say they're from the Twin Cities. You'll never see a person from, say, Minnetonka claiming to be from Minneapolis

Ironically, as a Minnetonka native, I've done that a lot (said I was from Minneapolis) because folks outside of the US don't always know what the Twin Cities is.

I've even run into people in Georgia who had no idea about the Twin Cities, but they'd heard of Minneapolis.

[Ursicinus]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Ironically, as a Minnetonka native, I've done that a lot (said I was from Minneapolis) because folks outside of the US don't always know what the Twin Cities is.

I've even run into people in Georgia who had no idea about the Twin Cities, but they'd heard of Minneapolis.

Way to prove me wrong!

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Ursicinus

Way to prove me wrong!

Hehe. Besides, St. Paul is just a suburb with its own suburbs, right?

[pete6032]

People don't talk about Chicago much other than as a tourist destination. It's just on the cusp of being too far away.