Is minneapolis sprawled? (St. Paul, Plymouth, Eden Prairie: cul-de-sac, transplants, cheap house)

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Slig

I decided to test this statement out. I went to google maps and found Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rosemount and then searched for food, this is what I came up with:

Minneapolis (hundreds found but I'll just list the first 10)
1. Hell's Kitchen
2. Pizza Luce' Downtown
3. Minneapolis Grand Hotel
4. Chino Latino
5. Nicollet Island Inn
6. Oceanaire Seafood Room
7. Manny's Steakhouse
8. Brit's Pub
9. Solera Restaurant
10. 112 Eatery

St. Paul (hundreds found but I'll just list the first 10)
1. City Center Hotel - St. Paul
2. St Paul Grill
3. Cafe Latte
4. Sakura Restaurant & Sushi Bar
5. W a Frost & Co
6. Forepaugh's
7. Cossetta Italian Market
8. Boca Chica Restaurant
9. Trattoria Da Vinci
10. Red's Savoy Pizza

Rosemount (of 10 found in search, only 2 were actually in Rosemount)
4. Pizza Hut
8. McDonalds

I'm not making this up...

That's right, we can only eat at Pizza Hut and McDonald's here because Google knows all . Again, you are comparing a town of 20,000 to a town of 400,000, of course you are going to find more in Minneapolis. The funny thing is if we want to eat at Manny's, we can actually drive there, just like we could if we lived in Minneapolis, amazing how that works.

[Thedosius]

Originally Posted by akronbball

There are some independent stores in the suburbs, but I still think there are far more even off of percentages in the cities.

Truth.

I'm not talking about total sums, I'm talking about percentages. This isn't really debatable, other than from golf gal's sheer stubbornness. Honestly, it's not like I'm saying the suburbs are the anti-christ. There are real differences between the suburbs and the cities, otherwise people wouldn't consciously prefer one to the other. One of those differences is if you like a significantly greater proportion of independent to chain businesses, you live in the city. If that doesn't matter as much to you- and things such as having more quiet and space- you live in the suburbs. Different does not equal bad (or good).

In any case, debating this is absurd. I doubt one out of 100 people would debate this point, because it is so transparently true.

[kuan]

Originally Posted by Thedosius

Truth.

In any case, debating this is absurd. I doubt one out of 100 people would debate this point, because it is so transparently true.

Unless it's Wayzata or Edina where you have places like Black's Ford or Pierre's Bistro. The most visible non-chain restaurants in the suburbs are Chinese or Indian restaurants, each with their own subtle differences but never venturing far from the mainstream ideal.

Other types of businesses that manage to survive in the suburbs are musical instrument stores, specialty gift shops, specialty sporting goods, specialty clothing, ie., specialty something, just like in the good old days. The writing's on the wall. Specialize to stay alive.

[Slig]

I passed Rosemount yesterday on the way to visit a cousin and her boyfriend's farm. Wow, you talk about a one horse town. It looked like if you tripped you'd miss Rosemount and land in a haystack. The next time I want McDonalds or Pizza Hut I'll drive 25 miles out in the country to Rosemount, because walking three blocks to Lake Street would be too easy.

Alright, I've had my fun. I actually have no problem with Rosemount. I'm sure it's a fine small town/outer tier St. Paul suburb to live in. I'm just sick of overly biased opinions. If these posted biases end, my Rosemount and suburb bashing ends. End of story.

[Astron1000]

I've spent significant time in about 12 large metros across the country in my lifetime so far. What strikes me is the sameness of suburbs no matter where they are in the US. What I don't get is, why would you live in, say, Eden Prairie, when you could live in a nearly identical city outside of San Diego and enjoy 72-degree temperatures year-round? Why stay in such an extreme climate if all you do is shop at the mall and eat fast food? I'm not saying every suburbanite does this by any means. But life in US suburbs is surprisingly similar no matter where you go.

So why not go somewhere where the weather isn't out to kill you?

[Slig]

Originally Posted by Astron1000

I've spent significant time in about 12 large metros across the country in my lifetime so far. What strikes me is the sameness of suburbs no matter where they are in the US. What I don't get is, why would you live in, say, Eden Prairie, when you could live in a nearly identical city outside of San Diego and enjoy 72-degree temperatures year-round? Why stay in such an extreme climate if all you do is shop at the mall and eat fast food? I'm not saying every suburbanite does this by any means. But life in US suburbs is surprisingly similar no matter where you go.

So why not go somewhere where the weather isn't out to kill you?

Let's see, high cost of living, earthquakes? Every place has their pros and cons. There are actually alot of pros to live in the twin cities, although I think most people live here because of their job, their family, or because it is where they grew up and they are comfortable here. That isn't to say that I wouldn't be living in Mexico right now if I could make a living wage there. I can't, so here I am

[Alt Dach]

DUH -in the last 20 years the TC's have added as many people as live in metro Milwaukee.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by Slig

I passed Rosemount yesterday on the way to visit a cousin and her boyfriend's farm. Wow, you talk about a one horse town. It looked like if you tripped you'd miss Rosemount and land in a haystack. The next time I want McDonalds or Pizza Hut I'll drive 25 miles out in the country to Rosemount, because walking three blocks to Lake Street would be too easy.

Alright, I've had my fun. I actually have no problem with Rosemount. I'm sure it's a fine small town/outer tier St. Paul suburb to live in. I'm just sick of overly biased opinions. If these posted biases end, my Rosemount and suburb bashing ends. End of story.

I doubt you will see the end of this. People tend to love where they live, and for some reason, think everyone else should love it as much as they do. That goes for urban and suburban zealots. Human nature? probably so.

[kuan]

Originally Posted by Astron1000

I've spent significant time in about 12 large metros across the country in my lifetime so far. What strikes me is the sameness of suburbs no matter where they are in the US. What I don't get is, why would you live in, say, Eden Prairie, when you could live in a nearly identical city outside of San Diego and enjoy 72-degree temperatures year-round? Why stay in such an extreme climate if all you do is shop at the mall and eat fast food? I'm not saying every suburbanite does this by any means. But life in US suburbs is surprisingly similar no matter where you go.

So why not go somewhere where the weather isn't out to kill you?

No kidding. Can you believe it got to 91F yesterday? I'd gladly take 72 degrees year round, except that I need a good winter.

[Alt Dach]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

I doubt you will see the end of this. People tend to love where they live, and for some reason, think everyone else should love it as much as they do. That goes for urban and suburban zealots. Human nature? probably so.

Young middle class americans tend to move where they think its "cool".
The perception of what is cool is a highly manipulative thing, the "human
nature" is that the young are gullible and acutrly sensitive to peer pressure.