Relocating to Minneapolis, Need your Advice to Rent -Female, 28-

[3three3]

While I'm sure there are a number of posters throughout these forums who enjoy the opportunity for intense debate and anonymous insults, I am not one of those people. Suffice it to say that I continue to disagree with Verdian on a number of points.

No two people, regardless of their familiarity with a locale, are going to have identical experiences. I could go point for point and offer my own facts to dispute those used to counterpoint mine, but then we'd just be going back and forth...and that's silly.

I will respect your life experience and knowledge even if it differs from mine and I'd appreciate it if you did the same with me. I'm a native of Minneapolis, born and raised in the south side...more of an inner city gal (as much as one can be in this humble Midwest town), and now very much enjoy living in Southwest Minneapolis. I am walking distance to a Cuban restaurant, blocks away from a largely Chicano business district and very working class areas. I'm also blocks away from one of the chain lakes. While I understand that you are not familiar with these areas that I speak of, I assure you they are here. Minnesota is culturally bland as it is and I would never be able to live in an area greatly lacking of diversity...so yes, I would consider my area of Southwest Minneapolis to be bohemian, diverse, and walkable. And I dispute the counterargument that there are only pockets of this area that fit such a description...because really, name any area of Minneapolis and there are really only pockets within them that meet this criteria. Not even the areas you're mentioning are a perfect match for the OP's criteria, no more a match than those I mentioned. No city in Minneapolis or St. Paul could ever truly compare to the great many qualities that one easily finds in urban East Coast areas such as Washington D.C., which is what the OP is looking for.

The independent businesses you listed for Uptown are not in areas I would consider to be Uptown and for someone who got snide and suggested I drive down the street and 'open my eyes'...doing so along the streets that house the businesses you listed would afford you the opportunity to see the neighborhood signs identifying those areas not as Uptown, but as the Wedge, etc. And the chain businesses you say don't exist in Uptown...try Victoria's Secret, American Apparel, Chino Latino, Figlio, American Eagle, Kinkos, Starbucks, MAC, Drink Bar, Express, Heartbreaker, etc.

If you are old enough to remember what Uptown was like 15-20 years ago, it is irrefutable that Uptown has lost its identity as an independent business-friendly area. Still disagree with me? Go talk to the owners of Magers & Quinn. I'm certain they could succinctly explain how it once was and give you an earful of all the independent businesses they once called neighbors who got pushed out by all the new folks. In their eyes, and many of the neighborhood residents who have fought the changes at city council meetings, it is an area that has all but lost its independent charm.

Your idea of NE Minneapolis and mine seem to be two different things as well. While you presume to know what people are thinking when they refer to NE Minneapolis, I will not pose such a supposition. My friends and acquaintances (and the recently created NE Arts district map) would disagree with your lines, but such is life.

I'm sure that all of our posts have provided the OP with a wealth of information that she previously lacked, which is all she needed. I'm happy we could both help with that and our disagreement only spurred more information (which is good).

[Veridian]

Originally Posted by 3three3

While I'm sure there are a number of posters throughout these forums who enjoy the opportunity for intense debate and anonymous insults, I am not one of those people. Suffice it to say that I continue to disagree with Verdian on a number of points.

I'm flabbergasted that you find anonymous insults in my post...I don't think there was anything insulting at all in it. I merely wrote why I disagree with what you said, and unfortunately a lot of people equate "disagreement" with "insult", whereas the whole point of airing disagreement is because - as you yourself said- it affords the OP more information.

When reading forums/emails/etc., you need to acknowledge that since you cannot take visual cues from your interlocutor, it is very easy to take things in an offensive manner when it was not meant that way. It is necessary to give people the benefit of the doubt.

In any case, how do you read this line: "While you presume to know what people are thinking when they refer to NE Minneapolis, I will not pose such a supposition."? Does it seems at all snarky or sarcastic to you, particularly with the "you presume"? In any case, we all presume- you cannot talk about an area of the city without "presuming" what is meant by it.

[Afrodita]

Wow, Veridian 3thre3, yes your input is helping me a lot. I had no clue of Minneapolis and relocating can be stressful, specially because once you make a lease, you can't change locations.

[Veridian]

Hi again, Afrodita-

Any time you move to a city you're not accustomed to, you take a gamble. As is obvious from our discussion in this forum, different people have different takes on parts of the city. I actually don't think 3three3 and my views are radically different. Perhaps she thinks that NE would be a better fit than the Uptown/Wedge area, and I think the opposite, but I think both of us feel that either neighborhood would likely be a good fit for you.

I almost had the reverse move you are having to do now- for me it would have been Minneapolis to D.C., but my partners' job prospect fell through so we're staying put. Still, Adams Morgan was one of the neighborhoods I was researching the dickens out of, and I think Wedge/Uptown or NE would both be as near to an Adams/Morgan area as any in the Twin Cities are likely to be.

I really like the Twin Cities a lot...some people don't. You never know, however, until you try it out!

Good luck with the move and feel free to ask questions whenever they come to you.

[iamthepowerhouse]

Afrodita,

My wife and I are about to move to the twin cities also, from DC....well sort of. We were in the Silver Spring area for a long time and my wife got transfered to Tennessee. But im taking a better job in the Twin Cities. Love Adams Morgan!!! Great area. I hope there are areas like Adams Morgan, Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, and Union Station area in the Twin Cities. But i can already tell that Twin Cities transit are going to be nothing like the METRO. They have one train that only goes from Mall of America to Downtown Minneapolis....it looks like the rest are bus routes . Oh well.....Anyhow I do miss DC, but im glad to be moving back to City life in the Twin Cities!

[uptown_urbanist]

I am familiar with Adams Morgan. I think OP would like Whittier, both the area along Eat Street or the area towards Lyn-Lake.

To me Uptown is sort of like Dupont Circle, while Whittier/Lyn-Lake is more like Adams Morgan. (and Linden Hills a little like the DC 'hood Cleveland Park).