by Jessica Seaberg '00 and Kristen Olson Lahner '73
Perhaps the most obvious reason that the Twin Cities metro area is special is that it is made up of TWO cities, each with its own distinctive personality. As you enter the Twin Cities metro area from the east on Interstate 94, you can see both skylines, St. Paul in the foreground and looming in the distance, Minneapolis. A distance of 10 miles separates the two city centers, with much of the space between the two taken up by the University of Minnesota campuses gracing each side of the Mississippi River.
Although the populations of Minneapolis (400,000) and St Paul (300,000) are not overly large, the entire seven county metro area is home to over 2.5 million people, and still growing. The economy of the region is strong and stable.
What else makes the Twin Cities special? The seasons! If you can survive the sweltering humidity of summer and the bone chilling winter, nothing can compete with Minnesota's spring and fall. Also, if you are an outdoorsy type, you will appreciate that Minnesotans tend to take good advantage of our weather: when it is nice out, the streets and parks are packed with people out walking, running, biking, rollerblading, or just sitting outside with an iced tea and good book.
The lakes are truly unique. You can walk around one of them in 45 minutes, or you can bike all three for a great workout. Each lake has its own "flavor," with Harriet being mostly parents and young children, Calhoun being the Uptown/artsy crowd, and Isles has more of a baby boomer vibe.
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul have much to offer visitors and residents: fine dining, superb shopping, sightseeing, year-round recreation, and a variety of cultural activities to suit all tastes. Here you find two separate cities, each with its own personality. There are many Lawrence alumni in the area, so do not hesitate to contact one of us if you are visiting or moving here and need more information!
People flying into the area for the first time are taken aback by all the lakes and rivers seen from the plane: bodies of water dominate the landscape and offer many recreational opportunities to residents and visitors alike.
One of the most spectacular lakes is the huge Lake Minnetonka, on the west side of the metro area, which offers miles of water for recreational sailing, boating, and fishing. Its many bays and coves provide a very long shoreline for those who can afford the best in waterfront property. It is a beautiful drive around the lake by car. Wayzata and Excelsior are the two town centers on the lake, with town-and-country homes and communities in between. Both Wayzata and Excelsior offer fine shops and interesting restaurants.
Another fantastic lake, which can be found to the north of St. Paul, is White Bear Lake. Not as large as Lake Minnetonka, it offers some of the same beautiful vistas and coves, and is dotted with lovely home sites. The private Manitou Island was once the summer address of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his Zelda. The town of White Bear Lake skirts the northwest corner of the lake and has a charming town center with good shops and restaurants.
A remarkable chain of lakes is located just south of downtown Minneapolis. Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet are the three largest of these lakes. This area provides miles of biking and walking paths along the shorelines, where one is never far away from trendy shops in quaint neighborhood centers and acres and acres of beautiful real estate. No motorized boating is allowed on these lakes; however, spring, summer, and fall afternoons find the lakes full of small sailboats and windsurfers, with the Lake Harriet paddlewheeler taking visitors across the southernmost of these lakes. Summertime is beach time, and several great swimming beaches are available here. The water is crystal clear and the swimming areas have sandy bottoms. Lake Harriet has a spectacular band shell on its northwest shore, where many free concerts are offered throughout the warm summer months.
A Sampling of Interesting Neighborhoods
Near the lakes area in Minneapolis is the Uptown neighborhood, a fun stop for young and
old alike and one of the cultural centers for younger citizens and visitors. The
intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street marks the heart of this dynamic
neighborhood. There is shopping galore, plus many fine bistros and restaurants. For night owls,
the Uptown Theater features classics from the past at midnight. Not far away is the
Lagoon Theater, headquarters for indy films and new classics.
Further south in Minneapolis is 50th Street, the main artery from 135W into downtown Edina. Along 50th are several trendy restaurants and a few eclectic shops. Once 50th hits the Edina border, a very beautiful town center emerges. The intersection of 50th and France Avenue marks the hub of what is known by locals simply as "50th and France," a synonym for great food and fun shopping.
Another area just outside of downtown Minneapolis which draws people of all ages and incomes is Northeast, a historic neighborhood filled with Eastern Orthodox churches, venerable diners, restored homes, delis, and an old-fashioned urban neighborhood feel. Its proximity to downtown Minneapolis and to the University of Minnesota makes this area a smart choice for young adults working or going to school in the city.
St. Paul's Mac-Groveland neighborhood, on the west side of the city, is home to several colleges, including Macalester. The entire area has a "college town" feel to it, with charming older neighborhoods, numerous bistros and coffee shops, plenty of good shopping, and a constant hum of activity, both on and off the neighborhood's many campuses. The main artery from Mac-Groveland to downtown St. Paul is the beloved Grand Avenue, burgeoning with wonderful shops, delis, bars, and bakeries. Just north of the east end of Grand Avenue is Cathedral Hill, an historic area filled with charming restaurants and beautiful vistas of downtown St. Paul and St. Paul's largest cathedral.
Great places to live
The Uptown/Lakes area is sort of the "Soho" of Minneapolis. There are lots of unique, funky,
creative stores, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, comedy galleries, and other entertainment.
The area is surrounded by what Minneapolitans refer to as "the lakes," a chain of three
city lakes (Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles), that are each approximately
three miles around and are paved with paths perfect for walking, running, biking, and
rollerblading.
The Nokomis/Longfellow neighborhood is the "up-and-comer" for young homebuyers and new families. Famed poet Longfellow once lived in this area. Hiawatha public golf course and Lake Nokomis are part of what make this area so great. The new light rail, which will begin operations in late April 2004, runs from the Mall of America/Airport through this area and into downtown.
Minneapolis and St. Paul Downtown Areas
Both downtown areas offer much to visitors and residents alike.
Minneapolis, the financial center for the Upper Midwest, is home to many banks and finance-related companies. The skyline is filled with new buildings, many with interesting architecture, and all connected by a massive skyway system. There are historic buildings of interest here, but the visual impression is one of a new and vibrant city center, often still under construction. Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis's pride and joy, is one of the first totally pedestrian main streets in the country. The Mall is about 13 blocks long and is lined with shops, department stores like Marshall Field's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus, office towers, and restaurants.
St. Paul has its share of beautiful new buildings and an extensive skyway system, but has the aura of a historic city, somewhat European in character. The center of the city has undergone incredible facelifting and beautification in the last 20 years, and it has paid off. The downtown area is a true feast for the eyes. The crown jewel of downtown St. Paul is Rice Park, a square block of green space surrounded by the Landmark Center, The St. Paul Hotel, The Ordway Theater, and other major St. Paul buildings. This is where the Winter Carnival ice sculptures are displayed in winter; the rest of the year, Rice Park is a gathering place for concert-goers, diners, and office workers alike.
Is it necessary to have a car?
Unfortunately, yes. Urban sprawl is wide in the Twin Cities and public transportation
isn't great. There is a Metro Transit bus network which is quite extensive, but with
few express routes. It is affordable and fairly reliable (although right now they are
striking), but if you are in the suburbs, busses are scarce. Metro Transit runs bus lines
throughout Minneapolis and a few of the neighboring suburbs, though many (for example, the
SW burbs) have chosen to "opt out" of Minneapolis transit and form their own private
transit agencies. These usually offer nicer and more convenient transportation.
At this writing, the Twin Cities area remains almost exclusively reliant on expressways and automobiles for moving people from one point to the next. A light rail system is emerging, with the first tracks running from downtown Minneapolis to the airport to ... The Mall of America (see below). The new light rail will launch in late April of 2004 and although only one line is planned for right now, hopefully its success will spawn the creation of many other lines.
While the expressway system is extensive and roads are generally well cared for, the increase in traffic is outpacing what the expressways can handle with ease and rush hours are increasingly problematic all over the region, particularly on the west side where there is the highest density of population.
The area is serviced by Amtrak and air travel, most of which enters the Twin Cities at the MSP International Airport's Lindbergh Terminal. Charter flights use the airport's Humphrey Terminal, a short shuttle ride from the Lindbergh Terminal. Minneapolis/St. Paul airport (MSP) is located in Bloomington, Minnesota -- just southeast of Minneapolis. It is a big airport and Northwest airlines "hub," so there are lots of flights available at all times. It also has direct international flights to many cities.
The MSP area offers a surprising variety of dining experiences for a metro area its size. Visitors will recognize all the usual offerings seen around the nation along the expressways and in shopping malls and centers, so if chain restaurants are your thing, you will feel right at home.
But, digging a little deeper into the landscape is well worth your time if you seek premier dining with depth and variety, in all price ranges.
There are many hot neighborhoods for dining, too numerous to list in a quick guide. For complete listings, pick up a copy of Minnesota Monthly's TC Magazine (published by Minnesota Public Radio), which gives full listings at the back of each month's edition. Another good resource for visitors is Mpls.St.Paul magazine, which features area restaurants and also highlights "what's happening" in MSP.
Dining and entertainment website
citypages.com (alternative press of the Twin Cities;
owned by Village Voice)
Here are but a few of the neighborhoods with a concentration of good restaurants:
Some predominant cuisines: Thai, Japanese, Sri Lankan, Chinese, Ethiopian, Indian, French, Vietnamese, fusion, continental traditional American, Italian
Recommendations
Ethnic foods
Cultural life in the Twin Cities is rich. Two good guides for what is happening in the area during your visit are TC Magazine, published by Minnesota Public Radio as part of Minnesota Monthly publications, and Mpls.St.Paul magazine. Each offers fairly complete listings of a variety of events in town. The two large area newspapers, The Star Tribune and The Pioneer Press are also good resources.
Uptown has an outdoor art fair every August (first weekend), and Edina's art fair is in July. Both are great for local and national artists alike. There are tons of great art galleries in the warehouse district of Minneapolis; you can find out what is showing in the City Pages. Most are free.
Major venues for events are: The Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis), Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis), The Ordway (St. Paul), Excel Center (St. Paul), Target Center (Minneapolis), Northrop Auditorium (U of MN campus), and the Humphrey Metrodome.
There are many small theater companies in the area. One to consider visiting is Illusion Theater, created by Lawrence alumna Bonnie Morris, '72. Illusion Theater offers productions with emphasis on social messages, ranging from wrenching drama to lighter musicals. You will not leave an Illusion production unchanged and you will be proud to know that one of your co-alumni is responsible for your experience there!
The Minnesota Orchestra performs at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis; the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's home is the Ordway Theater in St. Paul. Either ensemble will delight you with premier musicianship. Minnesota Opera productions usually occur at the Ordway in St. Paul as well.
The Minneapolis Institute of Art, just south of downtown Minneapolis, is home to a very impressive collection, with many special exhibits throughout the year. Adjacent to MIA is the Children's Theater, an award-winning theater company offering the finest in children's theater throughout the year. There are also the Walker Art Museum and Weisman Art Museum.
Southdale Mall is in Edina and (fun fact) is the first covered mall in the nation! It has pretty much everything you could need/want, including a Marshall Field's, nearby Target, JC Penny, Mervyn's, etc. The Mall of America is in Bloomington, near the airport. It features Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdales, and Sears, in addition to an indoor amusement park, and a fourth level "entertainment hub," consisting of bars, clubs, comedy galleries, movie theatre, etc., plus more retail stores than you can imagine.
Mall of America
The Mall of America opened its doors in 1992 as the largest shopping mall in the
country. Its size may have been surpassed in the meantime, but this mall still seems
huge to the first-time visitor. It is well laid out, however, and easy to navigate,
and a very enjoyable place to spend a full day of shopping and playing at Camp Snoopy,
or just a quick shopping trip to get errands done. The trick is to visit the Mall on a
weekday, preferably in the morning, when it is rarely busy (unlike the weekends when
it is overcrowded). Parking is readily available in the ramps on two ends of the Mall.
MOA is located just east of the International Airport, off I-494.
Where to buy furniture
Five Day Furniture in Bloomington is a great place for furniture -- cheap prices and awesome
service. They are only open five days a week and change their entire sales floor around
every five days so you never see the same things twice!
Professional Sports
Golf - Minnesota has one of the highest per-capita golf populations in the country (some reports say THE highest), and the huge variety and number of area courses backs that up. Many quality public courses, including links courses, are available to the visitor.
Skiing - The Twin Cities has several metro area alpine ski parks: Alpine Valley, Trollhaugen, Welch Village, and Wild Mountain are all within an hour of the metro center, on the east side of the greater Twin Cities area. Ski hills "in town" are Buck Hill and Highland. Cross-country skiing trails can be found all over the area.
Biking - There are many options for biking enthusiasts. Check out the bike trails along the lakes and parkways in South Minneapolis. Another good option is biking in the St. Croix Valley, east of St. Paul along the St. Croix River.
Yoga - Yoga Studio of Minneapolis on Excelsior Boulevard is considered the best. Many of the athletic clubs will offer in-house classes at no additional charge.
Northwest Athletic Club is great and joining one gives you access to all the clubs in the area. We also have Bally's and Lifetime.
Sculpture Garden - The sculpture garden is very "uniquely Minnesota." It is adjacent to the Walker Art Center and Guthrie Theatre and has the famous "Spoonbridge with Cherry" sculpture that so many people associate with Minneapolis.
Minnesota Zoo - Apple Valley (south of Mall of America); zoological gardens with natural settings for a wide variety of animals.
Como Zoo - St. Paul's venerable zoo in the midst of beautiful Como Park and Conservatory; natural settings for the animals. Como Park Conservatory offers year-round indoor gardens under glass domes.
Stillwater - Minnesota's oldest town, located east of St. Paul on the St. Croix River. Offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants, and paddlewheel cruises up and down the St. Croix River. A trolley tour highlights the history (and steep hills) of the area.
Wayzata - west of Minneapolis, on Lake Minnetonka. Lovely lakeside town center with many interesting shops and a few good cafes and restaurants.