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Wow, after spending nearly 8 years in Minneapolis I am surprised to see it get this many nods. I loved Minneapolis while living there, but after five years in Seattle and three in SF, Minneapolis is just.....well.....regional. I wouldn't call it that hip at all. There is a certain hipness to it, but it is no where near as hip as SF, NYC, Chicago, Boston, D.C., Seattle, Portland (OR) or LA - all cities I've lived in or spent significant time in. Minneapolis seems so itty-bitty-teeny-weeney when I go back.
Yes, but if you go only to hip cities, you see Minneapolis as being less. Compared to the multitudes of un-hip locales, it's probably pretty cool.
Yes, but if you go only to hip cities, you see Minneapolis as being less. Compared to the multitudes of un-hip locales, it's probably pretty cool.
No no no!!! Minneapolis-the place where there are hordes of bike-o's (you know, those people who ride fixed-gear track bikes, wear those stupid little hats, messenger bags and the same pair of Dickies or Carharts everyday); where there are even more I hang out at a coffee shop all day, then drink PBR at a dive bar all night while listening to a friends weird electronic 'beats' that he made on a converted Game Boy. Oh, and by the way, I know so and so in this band and so and so in that band. Ad naseum. Minneapolis, where if you don't worship T-Rex, or read Mojo then you are a nobody. Minneapolis, where if you don't wear a pair of beat up Asics, then you are not stylish. Minneapolis, a place where people still talk about the Replacements and Husker-Du as if they were the greatest bands to happen to music. Minneapolis, a place where heroin-chic is still chic. Get the point?
I think that by "hip" most people would think hippie, counter-culture, liberal, progressive, free-spirited etc. Or places that have roots with the hippie movement of the sixties. "Hip" doesn't just mean a fun, happening place....
I chose SF, Portland and Seattle. They are historically hip, laid back, artsy, hippie friendly, outdoorsy, marijauna friendly (not Seattle so much), and just good places for a hippie/hipster (SF is on the decline in this respect, but traditionally is extrememly hip). And of course the eco-friendly, green living factor must be considered, which would put SF and Portland at the top. Places where dreadlocks, tattoos, yoga, spiritual goals, progressive ideas and vegan restaurants are the norm. Places where people care about the environment and ride bikes, places where many people live a simple, humble life.
I'm seeing people mention Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and other cities like that????? These cities might be fun, cool, interesting and have other good qualities, but they are far from hip if you ask me. Lots of these places would have you thrown in jail for a little marijauna, have little or no recycling, have materialistic, money-centere cultures and in many other ways are just very unhip. Many of these cities have a big, fake fashion masquerade going on too (Miami), which makes them sink even lower into the world of the unhip. In fact, from what I saw in Miami while I was there, it was very, very far from hip, maybe I misse the good parts?
The west coast and northeast are the two hippest areas of America if you ask me. But these days, most of the TRUELY hip places are not in major cities, but small cities and towns. Like Eugene OR, Eureka CA, Olympia WA, Boulder CO, Austin TX, etc.
Last edited by FunkyMonk; 01-09-2008 at 12:49 PM..
No no no!!! Minneapolis-the place where there are hordes of bike-o's (you know, those people who ride fixed-gear track bikes, wear those stupid little hats, messenger bags and the same pair of Dickies or Carharts everyday); where there are even more I hang out at a coffee shop all day, then drink PBR at a dive bar all night while listening to a friends weird electronic 'beats' that he made on a converted Game Boy. Oh, and by the way, I know so and so in this band and so and so in that band. Ad naseum. Minneapolis, where if you don't worship T-Rex, or read Mojo then you are a nobody. Minneapolis, where if you don't wear a pair of beat up Asics, then you are not stylish. Minneapolis, a place where people still talk about the Replacements and Husker-Du as if they were the greatest bands to happen to music. Minneapolis, a place where heroin-chic is still chic. Get the point?
You missed a few things- girl skinny jeans, old corderoy sport jackets from the thrift store, stud belts......What you have just described is definitely not unique to Minneapolis or any other "cool" city. Come to Capitol Hill in Seattle and you will be able to see the fixed gear bikes parked outside the bike-messenger dive bar where PBR is by far the best selling beer.....You will find these people in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco in copious amounts. I am sure they reside in Minny and every other large, liberal city as well.
I think that by "hip" most people would think hippie, counter-culture, liberal, progressive, free-spirited etc. Or places that have roots with the hippie movement of the sixties. "Hip" doesn't just mean a fun, happening place....
I chose SF, Portland and Seattle. They are historically hip, laid back, artsy, hippie friendly, outdoorsy, marijauna friendly (not Seattle so much), and just good places for a hippie/hipster (SF is on the decline in this respect, but traditionally is extrememly hip). And of course the eco-friendly, green living factor must be considered, which would put SF and Portland at the top. Places where dreadlocks, tattoos, yoga, spiritual goals, progressive ideas and vegan restaurants are the norm. Places where people care about the environment and ride bikes, places where many people live a simple, humble life.
Have you heard of Iniative-75 that was passed a couple of years ago in Seattle, officially making marijuana possession the lowest law enforcement priority? And Hempfest, the largest annual marijuana legalization festival in the world?
You missed a few things- girl skinny jeans, old corderoy sport jackets from the thrift store, stud belts......What you have just described is definitely not unique to Minneapolis or any other "cool" city. Come to Capitol Hill in Seattle and you will be able to see the fixed gear bikes parked outside the bike-messenger dive bar where PBR is by far the best selling beer.....You will find these people in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco in copious amounts. I am sure they reside in Minny and every other large, liberal city as well.
Yes, I know. There is a HUGE triangle between Minneapolis, Seattle and Portland (with a slight spur to Oakland/SF). I am sure that these people are all friends since they constantly travel between the three cities.
According to my view of what "hip" is, I would have to go with San Francisco, Madison, WI, and Berkeley - Though my view of what constitutes hip is generationally constrained and admittedly dated by a few years (decades??). Back in the day, SF was definitely at the top of my list. I still travel there alot and it still has that feel in alot of ways (lots of laid back, liberal people who like to have fun). But it has also gotten very commercialized and EXPENSIVE!! In all fairness though, I have never been to Seattle or Portland. Maybe one or both of those cities should be on this list too.
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