Minneapolis
I've lived in Minneapolis for 2 1/2 years now and, although I didn't like it at first, I've really come to love it here. I've become spoiled by the food (both in restaurants and sold at multiple co-ops) and the art (favorites? I saw Hilary Hahn with the Minnesota Orchestra, A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Guthrie Theater, and the Lars Lerin watercolor exhibit at the American Swedish Institute.) I live in a lovely apartment near Lake of the Isles and I work in an awesome elementary school in St. Paul. Since I've done this for every place I've lived, I though I'd compile my traditional list.
Things Minneapolitans Love:
1. Patios (It's the first thing I thought of for a reason.)
2. The Arts
3. "Craft" cocktails, but also dive bars (I think both have an equal following and, ironically, from the same people. That's pretty cool.)
4. Bikes and biking and bike shops
5. Apparently, skateboarding (I just found this out. Supposedly, the market here is second only to Los Angeles.)
6. Lakes (Particularly because of...see 7.)
7. Nature trails (Particularly because of...see 6.)
8. Education (Everyone I've met who is my age or older is in college or has at least a Bachelor's degree.)
9. Beards
10. Movements to the raise the minimum wage (This is something everyone seems to be for)
11. Public transportation (They keep their buses and trains clean and affordable)
12. Supporting the homeless
13. Brownstone apartments with natural wood trim
14. Dogs
15. CSAs and community gardens (but I guess those are pretty big everywhere now)
16. Beer, especially Minnesota brewed beer
17. The Minnesota State Fair (Pretty much everyone I've met does. And, honestly, I do too now! Yes...even more than the Iowa State Fair.)
18. Holidazzle (This was a Christmas parade, turned Winter Market, turned free admission, small scale, Winter Food fair. Practically the entire population of the city left reviews and thoughts and feelings on the event's Facebook page. Holidazzle was clearly the love of this city's life.)
19. Tater tots and cheese curds (They're both at every bar and many upscale restaurants, often served together.)
20. Kimchi (Can't blame them. And, as much as I'd like to deny it, it IS good on pizza.)
21. Caribou Coffee and/or Dunn Brothers (Dunn Brothers is a local chain which seems to have just as strong of a following as Caribou. Both seem to beat out Starbucks.)
22. Juicy Lucy's (a burger with cheese in the middle of the patty. There are at least 3 bars in the city which claim to be the inventor of this burger. They're delicious, but not that much different than a regular burger. imo.) - My boyfriend is now fervently expounding on this issue.
23. Wild rice and veggie burgers made of it.
24. Sorels (a fashionable, heavy-duty winter boot)
25. City name-related play-on-words (Minneapple Pie, Minne-snow-ta)
26. Talking about (and blogging about) food
Things Minneapolitans Love:
1. Patios (It's the first thing I thought of for a reason.)
2. The Arts
3. "Craft" cocktails, but also dive bars (I think both have an equal following and, ironically, from the same people. That's pretty cool.)
4. Bikes and biking and bike shops
5. Apparently, skateboarding (I just found this out. Supposedly, the market here is second only to Los Angeles.)
6. Lakes (Particularly because of...see 7.)
7. Nature trails (Particularly because of...see 6.)
8. Education (Everyone I've met who is my age or older is in college or has at least a Bachelor's degree.)
9. Beards
10. Movements to the raise the minimum wage (This is something everyone seems to be for)
11. Public transportation (They keep their buses and trains clean and affordable)
12. Supporting the homeless
13. Brownstone apartments with natural wood trim
14. Dogs
15. CSAs and community gardens (but I guess those are pretty big everywhere now)
16. Beer, especially Minnesota brewed beer
17. The Minnesota State Fair (Pretty much everyone I've met does. And, honestly, I do too now! Yes...even more than the Iowa State Fair.)
18. Holidazzle (This was a Christmas parade, turned Winter Market, turned free admission, small scale, Winter Food fair. Practically the entire population of the city left reviews and thoughts and feelings on the event's Facebook page. Holidazzle was clearly the love of this city's life.)
19. Tater tots and cheese curds (They're both at every bar and many upscale restaurants, often served together.)
20. Kimchi (Can't blame them. And, as much as I'd like to deny it, it IS good on pizza.)
21. Caribou Coffee and/or Dunn Brothers (Dunn Brothers is a local chain which seems to have just as strong of a following as Caribou. Both seem to beat out Starbucks.)
22. Juicy Lucy's (a burger with cheese in the middle of the patty. There are at least 3 bars in the city which claim to be the inventor of this burger. They're delicious, but not that much different than a regular burger. imo.) - My boyfriend is now fervently expounding on this issue.
23. Wild rice and veggie burgers made of it.
24. Sorels (a fashionable, heavy-duty winter boot)
25. City name-related play-on-words (Minneapple Pie, Minne-snow-ta)
26. Talking about (and blogging about) food