Minneapolis - USA

[ArchMadness]

Here are a few more...




Toggie: The first pano you posted above^...was that taken from atop a parking garage on Stinson? Either way I've been meaning to get up there and check out the view.

[Mortar & Pestle]

I don't wish to taint and tarnish this beautiful thread with non-picture related matters, but I am wondering if Toggie, ArchMadness and the others who live/haved lived in the Twin Cities can offer me some information on city life: culture, entertainment, recreation, weather, attractions to visit if I have a week free before law school begins. What are some practical pointers, sales tax (none on clothing, I hear!), reasonable one- or two-bedroom rents around the campus? Do you know of any good bars, restaurants, discotheques. What is the infrastructure and public transit like? And how expensive are the buses or trains? What big cities are within weekend travel distance??

Any help would be very greatly appreciated!

P.S. - and if there's anything you'd like to know about the Bay Area, I'd be happy to help you. I've been here now for 6 years!

LET'S MAKE THIS THE GREATEST AND MOST INFORMATIVE TWIN CITIES THREAD EVER POSTED ON SCITY!

I dont dislike anything i see here. im not impressed though. the skyline hasnt changed since i saw it last like a few other cities ... but its a nice skyline just nothing to write home about when you look around. i would like to visit this city and maybe i will have a different opinion , one of few cities ive not visited. i know it wont be winter that wins this city any brownie points.

[Mr.Skyscraper]

8/10
Nice skyline, but its a little too small.

[BrainWashington]

i dont get why so many people give this great skyline 3 or less pf...
its cool, really like it 8,5/10

[Rickster885]

This skyline is very nice looking with some cool looking buildings. It also looks very nice at night for an American city. I give it a 9/10.

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Mortar & Pestle

I don't wish to taint and tarnish this beautiful thread with non-picture related matters, but I am wondering if Toggie, ArchMadness and the others who live/haved lived in the Twin Cities can offer me some information on city life: culture, entertainment, recreation, weather, attractions to visit if I have a week free before law school begins. What are some practical pointers, sales tax (none on clothing, I hear!), reasonable one- or two-bedroom rents around the campus? Do you know of any good bars, restaurants, discotheques. What is the infrastructure and public transit like? And how expensive are the buses or trains? What big cities are within weekend travel distance??

Any help would be very greatly appreciated!

P.S. - and if there's anything you'd like to know about the Bay Area, I'd be happy to help you. I've been here now for 6 years!

LET'S MAKE THIS THE GREATEST AND MOST INFORMATIVE TWIN CITIES THREAD EVER POSTED ON SCITY!

Entertainment? The warehouse district in downtown mpls is pretty fun. There are a bunch of bars and clubs in the mall of america in bloomington too. In December, you'll be able to take the light rail train from the warehouse district in downtown all the way to the mall of america. Dinkytown by the U of M is where a lot of the college kids hang out.

The bus system is actually pretty good. The rush hour fares are $1.75 local and $2.50 express, all other times are $1.25 local and $1.75 express. It's the same for the light rail. If you stay in downtown mpls, it's 50 cents. Right now, the light rail only goes from downtown to fort snelling, but in december, you'll be able to take it to the airport and the mall of america.

Don't know much about rents. Sorry.

A big city weekend trip? About the only places I think worth driving to would be Chicago or Duluth. Chicago is about 5-6 hours away and Duluth is about 3 hours. Duluth isn't really a big city, but it's cool because it's on Lake Superior. It's like the ocean in the middle of Minnesota.

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Mortar & Pestle

What big cities are within weekend travel distance??

Any help would be very greatly appreciated!

P.S. - and if there's anything you'd like to know about the Bay Area, I'd be happy to help you. I've been here now for 6 years!

LET'S MAKE THIS THE GREATEST AND MOST INFORMATIVE TWIN CITIES THREAD EVER POSTED ON SCITY!

Everyone knows what Chicago looks like, but this is about 5 hours away from Minneapolis also:

[Mortar & Pestle]

OH WÖW!!!

Thanks, The anti-cheesehead, for your informative response and also the stunningly gorgeous photos. I am certainly looking forward to my sojourn there. Whereabouts do you live in Minneapolis?

[flex]

amazing skyline 8,5/10

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Mortar & Pestle

OH WÖW!!!

Thanks, The anti-cheesehead, for your informative response and also the stunningly gorgeous photos. I am certainly looking forward to my sojourn there. Whereabouts do you live in Minneapolis?

No problem. I live in Hopkins, which is a western suburb of Minneapolis. I happen to live on the eastern side of Hopkins, so I'm not far at all from Minneapolis city limits. I can ride my bike there in 15 minutes. I can also see the skyline out of my apartment window.

[Jules]

Very nice. I love the skyline. 9.0.

[Mortar & Pestle]

Perhaps we could arrange for an SCITY meet-up when I'm out there in early September. We can perhaps take a tour of the downtown and admire the beautiful skyscrapers.

[stephenapolis]

Originally Posted by shibbie

Nice skyline, I'm alittle biased though since i used to live there. I will post a pic i took in 1979 when the only thing of interest was the IDS, Foshay and the old Northwestern National Bank sign and weatherball. Anyone out there remember that Minneapolis icon. I know that bank became Wells Fargo but did they ever salvage that sign. It was so cool. Cannot remember what the colors meant as far as forecasting the weather though. 9.5/10 needs one tall focal point

Yes they did salvage the old sign and weatherball. They stood at the State Fair for a few years. I do not know what its final fate ever was. I probably don't want to know either. But I do know the old jingle.
"When the Weatherball is glowing red
warmer weather is just ahead.
When the Weatherball is shining white
colder weather is in sight.
When the Weatherball is wearing green
no weather changes are forseen.
Colors blinking by night and day
say precipitation's on the way."
I love the skyline but it needs a 900-1000 footer and it also needs a tall tower or two that has a spire to help break up the flat roofs.

[twincities03]

Originally Posted by ATLANTATOPS

I dont dislike anything i see here. im not impressed though. the skyline hasnt changed since i saw it last like a few other cities

When was the last time you were in Minneapolis?

[jimm]

Nice town 8/10

[Jules]

I like this skyline. Minny is awesome. 9.0.

[The anti-cheesehead]

Geez, I haven't even voted for my own city.

I'd have to give it an 8.5.

I know it's no New York or Chicago, but I'm surprised by the amount of votes for 3 or less and the amount of votes for 10. Minneapolis's skyline seems to be quite polarizing. I wouldn't give Minneapolis a 10, but at the same time, I wouldn't be giving it a 3 or less either. I wouldn't even give Des Moines a 3 or less.

[Toggie]

people vote 3 or less to bring down other cities on the rankings.

[The anti-cheesehead]

New Skyline pics: