Thinking about moving to Minneapolis from Arizona (St. Paul, Walker: neighborhoods, construction)

[raszz19]

Ok, I moved to AZ from OH in 2007. Arizona is not what it's cracked up to be, at least it's not for me. I'm looking to be part of a community. I am a writer who would like to connect with other artists and intellects. I've been told that Minneapolis has a great art scene. I began researching the area, but I would like to hear from the people.

1) How are the people? Friendly? Standoffish?
2) What's the economy like? I know.
3) Where do the artists/writers/intellects hang out?
4) How is the nightlife?
5) How are the bookstores? Mom and pop or chain stores. Both?
6) How are the drivers? Crazy like Arizona drivers?
7) What is the commute time?
8) What is MN doing to embrace "green" living?

I have many questions, but I would like to avoid making a mistake. I hate to use the word "mistake," but I feel like my move to Arizona was based on a mirage. Let me know is Minneapolis is as "vibrant" as people make it out to be.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by raszz19

1) How are the people? Friendly? Standoffish?

If 1 is Very standoffish and 10 is very friendly I'd say the Twin Cities is about a 3.5

2) What's the economy like? I know.

I give the current economy here a C+ when compared nationally.

3) Where do the artists/writers/intellects hang out?

Popular artist areas are Northeast Minneapolis, Uptown/Walker area of South Minneapolis. Intellects can be found in most areas in Minneapolis proper, I tend to run into alot in the Uptown area and in the West Bank U of M area.

4) How is the nightlife?

Downtown Minneapolis = B+
Uptown Minneapolis = B
South Minneapolis = B-
Northeast Minneapolis/University = B
Downtown St. Paul = B-
Suburbs = D-

5) How are the bookstores? Mom and pop or chain stores. Both?

I don't know much about bookstores beyond big chains like Borders. In Minneaoplis and St. Paul proper you'll find a mix of chains and independantly owned stores, in the suburbs it is almost exclusively chains with mom and pop stores few and far between.

6) How are the drivers? Crazy like Arizona drivers?

I think the drivers are below average here. Minnesotan drivers are passive aggressive and don't know how to merge. We just can't grasp the concept of merging.

7) What is the commute time?

Totally depends where you live and where you commute to. I live in the city and commute to the suburbs and my commute time is under 20 mins. I bike to work when it's warm out.

8) What is MN doing to embrace "green" living?

Minneapolis has alot of initiatives to promote green living by promoting biking, community gardens, farmers' markets, recycling, etc. We have a few freeways with MN Pass/carpool lanes to promote ridesharing. We're starting to build up our metro infrastructure with one light rail line, another one in the early construction phase and several other in the developmental stages. This month a heavy commuter rail is being opened which connects the northwestern suburbs with Downtown Minneapolis.

[uptown_urbanist]

Uptown's Magers and Quinn is the largest independent bookstore in the Twin Cities. I think Booksmart, also in Uptown, is also an independent. You definitely want to live in the city (or maybe in a few select suburbs) if you value independent stores over chains.

Minneapolis is a pretty green city; biking is a huge thing, even in the winter, and it's second only to Portland in number of bike commuters. Public transportation is decent in most city neighborhoods, and adequate in some suburbs. It's easy to live in neighborhoods like Uptown without a car; certain neighborhoods also have shared cars available now (like Zipcar, although the local version is called HOURCAR).

The economy is pretty good compared to much of the nation, but of course that's all relative and doesn't mean that it's doing well.

People can be very friendly, but it can also be tough to break in socially. I think it's easier if you live in the city and if you're younger (and are willing to make an effort), but admittedly that's one of the things that newcomers complain about.

Artists/writers are all over; Slig's list is pretty good.

[Camden Northsider]

1) How are the people? Friendly? Standoffish?
I think people are very friendly here but not so much annoyingly so. There is a big cultural difference between the core cities and the suburbs.

2) What's the economy like? I know.
Meh. Some areas are better than others, but not too great right now- supposedly some recent positive however. My nonprofit org's been hiring a fair amount recently, in part due to stimulus $ (still a pretty tough sector to crack into however).

3) Where do the artists/writers/intellects hang out?
Places mentioned above, and some addtl areas would be downtown Mpls and North Mpls is getting more of an arts scene. You'd probably like this place downtown: Open Book Home

4) How is the nightlife?
I'm ambivalent on this one, not too big on the nightlife scene and never really was.

5) How are the bookstores? Mom and pop or chain stores. Both?
Both, more independent in core cities.

6) How are the drivers? Crazy like Arizona drivers?
Fine, can be fairly aggravating at times but usually due to over-cautiousness vs. recklessness.

7) What is the commute time?
Live in a core city and it's nothing if you work in the core city.

8) What is MN doing to embrace "green" living?
Mpls is known as being one of the frontrunners in the nation to embrace 'green' initiatives.

[raszz19]

Thanks for all of the feedback, I really appreciate. Maybe I should just go back to my hometown of Cleveland, OH and say the heck with moving anywhere or just leave the country.

I recently volunteered at an event for the AZ Humane Society and it was the first time in two years that I met warm and friendly Arizonians. I was in shock! Arizona has sunshine throughout the year, but people have "sourpuss" faces. I haven't made any friends in AZ because the social circles seem to be closed up for some reason. The people are like desert animals: pickup a rock and the insects and animals scurry away and do not come back until you put the rock down. Perhaps it's not the U.S. states but our culture that has become standoffish and closed. Hmmm....