Back to Minneapolis!! (spring break, apartment, to rent)

[texmpls]

Hey everyone!
Well, I'm new on this forum, but I already read some threads. I grew up in Minneapolis and always loved the place, but right after graduating from High School I got pregnant and married and followed my husband to his hometown Port Arthur, TX. That was in 1988. Since then I haven't been back, but always dreamt of returning. Texas was nothing for me. Port Arthur is a dangerous, dirty, conservative refinery town that always stinks (because of the refineries). I never had a problem with Minnesota winters, but Texas summers are killing me. 90 degrees plus from April until october!!!!! Well, I got divorced, but my daughter was alreay in High School, so I didn't want to uproot her. Now she's in college and I'll return here as soon as I sold our house. However an old friend of mine told me that Minneapolis changd so much for the worse since '88. Is that true? She said public transportation deterriorated, people became more conservative, downtown lost its old vibrancy and everything got extremely expensive. Is she right? I can't imagine so, because even in PortArthur things have changed for the better since '88, and I'm actually looking forward t find things different than I left them. What I saw fom photos our skyline must have grown extremely! Well what I wanted to ask actually was, how has Minneapolis changed since 1988, and where would today be a good neighborhood to rent for a single woman in her late 30s (when did I get so old?). I'd love an apartment, I'm sick of gardening and somewhere with good public transport (after driving everywhere in Texas that would be great relief). Light rail would be the bomb In '88 I'd have said that was Uptown or somewhere like Dinkytown, but I'vegot no idea about today. Oh yes, I work in a bookshop, so rents should be cheap too. Thanks everybody!

[Lillietta]

Most people who were born in Minnesota and left do return at some point. It's interesting.

Actually, since 1988 Minneapolis has become more conservative,which is not to say ultra conservative. My goodness we elected Pawlenty (not me personally)! There are many decent neighborhoods - just stay away from Frogtown and North Mpls. (that hasn't changed).

Both downtowns have lost their vibrancy.

[youngurbanprofessional]

Originally Posted by Lillietta

Most people who were born in Minnesota and left do return at some point. It's interesting.

Not this guy

[Lillietta]

Not my one son, either, lol, but the other one!

[Slig]

Representing PA, I like it. RIP Pimp C.

[nick is rulz]

^ that'll go over 98% of the board patrons heads.

[Minneapolitan]

I'm 26, liberal, gay, VERY well-traveled, and love exciting cities. Although I moved here from out of state 8 years ago, and don't have any way of comparing what MPLS was like then to what it is now, I DO NOT consider MPLS conservative by ANY means what-so-ever. Maybe it's the people I know, or maybe I don't know what true liberalism is (which I don't think is the case). I think you'll LOVE it here. Don't expect the same city, though. DO, however, expect a better, more refined and respected one. I think the people on here who say it's gone downhill, only see that it has changed, and any kind of change=bad to them. Well, hell yeah, I HOPE it's changed since the 80's! Change is not always (or even often) bad.

I love it here and will be here for probably the rest of my life.

[Lillietta]

I haven't read any post here that derided change in Mpls.

[lalife]

I have lived here for almost 25 years. Minneapolis is MUCH better than it used to be when I first came. It is very diverse now with tons of great ethnic restaurants and ethnic people.

Lots of new developments everywhere. Sometimes when I drive around I am just amazed at all of the new stuff. It has a much bigger city feel nowadays.

With your income, you may want to consider getting a studio apartment. Those can be had for $550 +. One bedrooms are usually closer to $700, but deal can be found. I live in a 1 bedroom in a great neighborhood and pay less than $600, so.......like I said. There are deals out there.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Slig

Representing PA, I like it. RIP Pimp C.

I'm reppin' PA too, and from everything I've heard Minneapolis is a wonderful city! I truly need to visit sometime---perhaps next Spring Break?