Transplants, What Surprised You About the Twin Cities? (Minneapolis, St. Paul: construction, schools)

[Steve Bowen]

For those of you on this forum that moved to the Twin Cities, has there been anything you experienced that was unexpected despite the research that you did prior to moving and/or visiting?

To put it another way, what things should someone considering moving to Twin Cities be aware of, but perhaps not know to ask about?

[Glenfield]

I was surprised at how clean the place is, especially the downtown streets.

[sandlapper]

How diverse it is, I did not expect so many ethnicities in the area. It was a pleasant surprise!

[wushuliu]

Food

I just moved back after 8 years in Los Angeles and I have to say how AMAZING it was that my gf and I found 7 favorite places to eat in just 4 weeks including:

French bakery
Ethiopian
Chinese/Vietnamese
Burgers
Southern Creole
Ice Cream

MSP was great for food before I left but it seems like there's a whole other level now of quality and variety. And ALL of these places we found are better than most of the places we've eaten in L.A. I'm not talking $$$$ places mind you. I'm talking affordable for us regular folks. I've tried telling Angelenos and others that Minneapolis has really great food but they just don't believe it. Ironically I think LA has way better burger places while MSP has way better ethnic food. Seriously.

4 weeks to find 7 places in the Twin Cities.

It took me 7 years in LA to find 4!!!!

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by wushuliu

Food

I just moved back after 8 years in Los Angeles and I have to say how AMAZING it was that my gf and I found 7 favorite places to eat in just 4 weeks including:

French bakery
Ethiopian
Chinese/Vietnamese
Burgers
Southern Creole
Ice Cream

MSP was great for food before I left but it seems like there's a whole other level now of quality and variety. And ALL of these places we found are better than most of the places we've eaten in L.A. I'm not talking $$$$ places mind you. I'm talking affordable for us regular folks. I've tried telling Angelenos and others that Minneapolis has really great food but they just don't believe it. Ironically I think LA has way better burger places while MSP has way better ethnic food. Seriously.

4 weeks to find 7 places in the Twin Cities.

It took me 7 years in LA to find 4!!!!

University Avenue in St. Paul has some amazing finds, plus some great markets.

But I want to know about the southern Creole place you found ... please share!

[wushuliu]

Originally Posted by WoodburyWoody

University Avenue in St. Paul has some amazing finds, plus some great markets.

But I want to know about the southern Creole place you found ... please share!

Brasa...

[Old Prospector]

What surprised me the most is how slow traffic moves. Drivers are definitely more "cautious" here compared to some of the larger markets that I've lived. The speed limits are usually slower as well. I've noticed a lot of people driving under the speed limit in the passing lanes. Merging is more difficult since people often don't slow down or speed up to let you in. And what's with all of the cloverleaf interchanges here? Talk about a dangerous design. Add the summer construction (169 being closed) and all of the freeways with only two lanes has made me very frustrated during my commute.

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by Old Prospector

What surprised me the most is how slow traffic moves. Drivers are definitely more "cautious" here compared to some of the larger markets that I've lived. The speed limits are usually slower as well. I've noticed a lot of people driving under the speed limit in the passing lanes. Merging is more difficult since people often don't slow down or speed up to let you in. And what's with all of the cloverleaf interchanges here? Talk about a dangerous design. Add the summer construction (169 being closed) and all of the freeways with only two lanes has made me very frustrated during my commute.

Minnesota drivers:
Yield sign = pretend it's a stop sign
Stop sign = pretend it's a yield sign

Outstate, few seem to understand the need to keep to the right unless passing. In the suburbs, it is the four-way stops at intersections that confounds many.

Don't get me started on how poorly designed the highways and interstates are in the Twin Cities.

[Old Prospector]

Originally Posted by WoodburyWoody

Minnesota drivers:
Yield sign = pretend it's a stop sign
Stop sign = pretend it's a yield sign

Outstate, few seem to understand the need to keep to the right unless passing. In the suburbs, it is the four-way stops at intersections that confounds many.

Don't get me started on how poorly designed the highways and interstates are in the Twin Cities.

I've been taking 494 east to 35W north for my commute in the morning since I moved here. The cloverleaf by the BMW dealership in Bloomington is so dangerous. I don't understand why they designed these things. Makes no sense to have vehicles enter and exit in the exact same spot.

And what's with everyone freaking out when there's a slight curve on the freeway? I've had a lot of close calls because everyone gets scared and slams on their breaks ahead of me.

Ah, and tapping the breaks constantly. Speed up to the car in front of you, then tap the breaks. This cycle repeats and causes everything to get backed up. You're better off just keeping your distance and coasting (without hitting the breaks) as much as possible.

[wamer27]

Originally Posted by Old Prospector

I've been taking 494 east to 35W north for my commute in the morning since I moved here. The cloverleaf by the BMW dealership in Bloomington is so dangerous. I don't understand why they designed these things. Makes no sense to have vehicles enter and exit in the exact same spot.

And what's with everyone freaking out when there's a slight curve on the freeway? I've had a lot of close calls because everyone gets scared and slams on their breaks ahead of me.

Ah, and tapping the breaks constantly. Speed up to the car in front of you, then tap the breaks. This cycle repeats and causes everything to get backed up. You're better off just keeping your distance and coasting (without hitting the breaks) as much as possible.

I don't understand the hitting the brakes constantly either, it drives me nuts. My car downshifts when I take my foot off gas slowing me down instead of tapping brakes non stop (wearing them out). It's not hard to feather the throttle so you use less brake. Cloverleafs are terrible design, but they're the cheapest to make work. Seems we spend more on schools then roads, which overall is a better thing.