…then Minneapolis would have twice as many people. It is a gem of a small city. We lived there for years before the winters got the best of us (and the taxes too). We try to get back often – just in the summer.
There are over 20 colleges and universities in the metro area and they bring a younger vibe to the city. And a diverse culture. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus is host to over 50,000 students, many of them from international climates, especially China. It surprised me when I moved there from Austin, TX. I walked out of the Sons of Norway bank building in Uptown, where I lived, and was surrounded by not Scandinavians but a real mix of people, many of Asian descent. It makes for a culturally rich city. The wealth of dogs everywhere just makes it that much better. Minnesotans love their dogs.
There’re treats in that bakery
Minneapolis is called the City of Lakes. On the edge of the downtown area lie a series of four small lakes flanked by parks that appeal to a wide variety of folks. Sail boats only, sorry. Friends sit on the benches catching up. Runner and bikers circle around. Dogs are everywhere and picnics dot the lawns. In the winter ice hockey takes over, along with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The locals do not stay indoors in the cold. You cannot go to Minneapolis without visiting the lakes – Harriet, Calhoun (aka Bde Maka Ska), Cedar and Lake of the Isles. Just south lie Lake Hiawatha and Lake Nokomis while few miles west of the city you’ll find Lake Minnetonka.
Lake of the Isles sunset
Music. Coming from the self-acclaimed live music capital of the world, I was intent on finding good music. Easily done. The symphony is world class, the opera company is growing fast, all manner of rock and folk bands play in venues across the city and the Dakota Jazz Club downtown offers more than jazz in an intimate setting. Recent performers include Jane Monheit and Chris Botti. Two of my favorites were the late Leon Russell and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
Southside Johnny plays the Dakota
Perched on the Mississippi River, Minneapolis early on was a center of grain production and shipping. The striking Stone Arch Bridge originally carried railroad traffic across the river and is now a pedestrian walkway. This city has history.
Stone Arch bridge spans the Mississippi
I would not call Jane and I foodies but we do enjoy good cuisine and there is lots to choose from in Minneapolis. It’s not just tater tots and hot dish (that’s Minnesotan for casserole). In the Linden Hills neighborhood, you’ll find Martina, where Chef Daniel del Prado, born in Argentina of Italian and Spanish descent, creates some of the finest food in the city and the region. Think swordfish punttanesca. Shortly after bringing us Martina, del Prado opened the Oaxacan Mexican-influenced Colita just down the road a few miles in the Armitage neighborhood. Creative cuisine. Just around the corner from Colita you’ll find the best pizza this side of NYC at Lola. Owner and James Beard Award winner Ann Kim started with pizza and has since launched additional acclaimed eateries such as Young Joni. You’ll need more than a weekend to sample the best Minneapolis has to offer.
Colita latte
When you live in a city you tend to not visit its hotels. Our experience is limited to the city’s grand dame The Marquette, which has become a Hilton property and the Chambers, both smaller properties with a lot of style. If you collect points there are Marriotts, Hiltons and Hyatts everywhere and recently the list has been augmented by Hotel Ivy, The W (Westin property) and a new Four Seasons. All located in or around downtown. There are lots of options.
For years I stopped in to the Minneapolis St Paul International airport on the way to somewhere else. With what I know now, a layover of a couple days would make a lot of sense. Minneapolis is truly a jewel. See it sometime. Just not in winter.