Minneapolis help....

[HONUS]

I've just landed a great job located in Downtown Minneapolis and I would really appreciate anyone's help who is very familiar with the city.

Here are the questions I have...so far:

1. Where should I live and why? (Working downtown and the family is NOT joining me on the move)

2. Favorite restaurants (type of food, cost, etc)?

3. Favorite bar?

4. Casinos/Poker rooms and how far from the city?

5. What else should I know about the city?


Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[djv]

Honus are you out of your mind. Milwaukee to Minneapolis. Don't tell nobody that in a bar there. You won't leave a live. BahamMama may see this and answer you. Mama lives there. Nice Gal.

 

[BahamaMama]

Honus....my mail addy is in my profile....drop me a line

 

[HONUS]

Actually djv, don't live in Milwaukee at the moment; it's an inside joke (for another time).

BahamaMama, I will email you. thanks,

 

[BahamaMama]

1. Where should I live and why? (Working downtown and the family is NOT joining me on the move)

if you're really Brad Pitt....... with ME

whatcha looking for? house, apartment, townhome?

2. Favorite restaurants (type of food, cost, etc)?

every type of food imaginable is available up here, just like in any other major metro area. the cost of living kinda bites. one of my personal favorite places is outback steakhouse, but only got there on special occasions.....there is a pizza bar in downtown st. paul that absolutely can NOT be beat for pizza quality

3. Favorite bar?

can't help ya much here.....not one to journey to the *city*

4. Casinos/Poker rooms and how far from the city?

there are a few casinos in the area.....one is probably 30 mins from MSP, another about 45, and one in WI, probably about 90 mins.....don't know about the poker rooms, but i could find out

5. What else should I know about the city?

the weather SUCKS.....'nuf said

 

[pepin46]

honus

if you have a family, if you don't mind the 11 months winter, and if you make enough money, it is a great place to live. if you are single and can't stand the real, and i mean, real cold weather, you are going to the wrong place. heck, you can always say you thought it was "sarasota", not "minnesota".

i favor the west/s.w. for housing and schools, but mama probably knows more about that. i lived in minnetonka, but there are many mini-cities all around minneapolis, fairly close, and mostly very nice.

the biggest casino is about 30 minutes south/s.w. of minneapolis, but there are others i think mama missed, though smaller. there are 3 that i know of, within a half hour or so of downtown or the near west/s.w.

just re-read your post: no family. i would go for an nice apt/condo in downtown if you can swing it, and walk to work.

bring this thread up after you move and tell us how it went.


pep


pep

 

[MGDguy]

Honus.....even though I have cut down on my "contributions" to the forum, I would be more than happy to help you out in any way I could. I have lived in the area virtually my entire life and, unlike others who have responded to you, I know these cities inside and out.

If you can afford it, live downtown. It's an absolute mess trying to commute to a downtown job in Minneapolis. Depending on your needs, expect to spend at least $1000 a month on rent/mortgage....possibly $2000. If you are looking for the "suburban" atmosphere the best bet is to look into the western suburbs. Although I mentioned commuting is a bitch, it's easiest from the west. Plymouth, Minnetonka, Robbinsdale, New Hope are just a few of the cities to consider.

Restaurants and Bars are abundant throughout the metro. All of the major "chains" have numerous locations in all parts of the area. Champp's is one of the better sports bars and they have fantastic food and service with maybe 10 locations in the area. Downtown is loaded with great bars and night clubs in the Warehouse District along 1st avenue north of the Target Center. The Mall of America is another topic in itself. It is flat out a full blown city inside of a mall. Virtually every city in the metro has their own mom and pop type place or hidden hole in the wall that is unique to that area.Plenty of wonderful places to dine whatever the occasion may be.

As to the gambling needs of a new resident, Shakopee is the place to go. About 40 or so miles southwest of downtown you'll find Mystic Lake, an indian run casino that is the "flashiest" casino around. 5 or so miles north of Mystic is Canterbury Park where the horses run 4 or 5 days a week in the summer, simulcasting is daily throughout the year, and they recently opened up a card room which is getting rave reviews. There are a few scattered, smaller casinos within a couple hours drive as well.

As to what else we have here....bottom line is what don't we have here! (besides a new stadium for the Twins) Minneapolis is very diverse depending on what "neighborhood" you happen to be in. Nord'east and Dinkytown (both near the U of M campus) are very much blue collar areas with older folks who just don't want to leave the city limts. Uptown (which is actually south of downtown) is a very culturally active area with a strong arts background. The Lakes are a great summer hangout for any type of activity and are always bustling with folks young and old every weekend.

St. Paul has many things to offer as well but my knowledge on the "other" Twin City is not near as broad as it is on Minneapolis.

Hope i've been able to help a bit and good luck with the new job.

 

[pepin46]

mgd guy/honus

mgd, obviously you were referring to mama.

what did i say? minnetonka, downtown for singles. a smaller casino southeast of downtown, actually closer than mystic lake, but a full one, with table games. another one due west, actually about 40 min from minnetonka.
another big one about 1 to 1 1/2 hours north. dog track or ex-dog track just crossing the wisc. border. if it is gambling, i knew them all a few years ago. matter of fact, i heard they erected a statue of me just at the main entrance to mystic lake. yeah, shakoppe, they were building a hotel there when i left.

you forgot to mention visiting stillwater; a very well known english pub/restaurant in the s.w. where they make their own beers. this was one of my all-time favorites. also red whatever, by the river, where they supposedly make the famous, but expensive shoes, along with a very decent 7 day a week flea market.

plus, you can finally get to know fargo, duluth, davenport, even international falls. how many people outside the area know these places?


pep

 

[pepin46]

did i mention lacrosse?


pep

 

[BahamaMama]

ya, pepin...... pete jr. was talking about me.

 

[djv]

Pep its called Red Wing. About 45 mins to a hour south of the big city. Heck of a big casino there. Of course little La Crosse. Just 2.5 hours if that south. If you have time to stay a fun town. Sorry to see you got shot at Mama.

 

[dogface]

I am very familiar with the night life, gambling life you name it, and I can answer it.

I'm 31 and not to far out of the bar scene. I frequent downtown MPLS, and believe it or not the Mega Mall. It's great to watch sports in America's Orginal Sports Bar, pretty much everygame, and the regional games are on large projections screens.

Gambling was already mentioned, Mystic Lake nice casino, great redesigned buffet if your into food. The Grand Casino chain, another Indian owned Casino however further away. As for Canterbury Park, it is a great place to play cards. It is a card room with different variants of Poker, and then they have a seperate room called California games: Pai Gow, Carribean Stud, War (can you believe it), 3-Card poker (you'll fall in love with that! Best odds anywhere)etc.
My buddy is also the Paddock announcer out at Canterbury and does the nightly recap shows along with our radio celebrity Jeff Allen.

I know all of the exclusive fine dining restaurants, cheap but good eats, dancing/night clubs, gentleman's clubs, etc.

I grew up on the West side of the cities in Plymouth, upscale neighborhood avg income per household is $59,800. Maple Grove is a little further North but has grown unbelievably and is a beautiful suburb. Pricier than Plymouth.

Living in downtown will definitely be more than $1000 a month. But it really depends on what your looking for? If you are working in downtown MPLS I might suggest a St. Paul suburb near where I live. Roseville, New Brighton, Mounds View, Shoreview, Arden Hills, the make entering the east side of the city easier than all of the traffic coming in from the west.

If this didn't help or you are in need of more info, let me know. Jack can give you my e-mail. Just identify yourself!

dogface

 

[BahamaMama]

i spent six years getting *shot at* by that one, djv.....what's one more, that was a minor shot in comparison, tho, and of course he knows this area better than i do....sooooooo.......


but i still didn't mind taking a *shot* back, since he took one first....... my shot was very minor, too, and he would be the only one to understand it in here, although he probably thinks it's about the worst name he could be called, but,if the shoe fits.........(and right now, it fits like a slipper

)

 

[djv]

Amen as they say. Or some one always said tomorrow, thank god for tomorrow.

 

[HONUS]

You guys (and this forum) are awesome!

Thanks for all the info so far. I hope there will be more to come.

Today we agreed on all the T&C's and it's a done deal. My new boss wants me there in 4 weeks, so I'm hoping that happens, if not sooner.

I'll be staying in a hotel at first (They recommended the Marquette)until the "re-location department" can show me around to select where I want to live. It sounds like downtown is the place to be, given my situation. My housing is going to be subsidized so $2,000 a month is doable.

I'm heading out there for a meeting on Wednesday and to have dinner with my new colleagues.

Keep the info coming. I'll keep everyone here updated as well.

Thanks,

 

[redsfann]

Dogface--

Grew up in Plymouth, huh? My Aunt and Uncle live in Plymouth. My cousins are just a couple of years older than you-- 35 and 33. Did you attend the public schools in Plymouth? My aunt and uncle live on 40th Ave N....
Any chance you know my relatives?......

 

[dogface]

Redsfann-

I did attend the public schools. I graduated from Robbinsdale Armstrong Sr. High. If the lived on the west side of 494, they may have went to Wayzata High School. My sister is three years older, so if I didn't know them there is a chance my sister did. All depends on the groups they hung out with, ya know.

I lived off of Cty Rd 9 by Schmidt Lake, and Medicine Lake now known as French Park.

Small world!

dogface

 

[pepin46]

2,000 a month will probably get you a real nice apt., garage, and an enclosed walkway. go for it!!


pep

 

[HONUS]

My "adventure" began today. Arrived in Mpls last night and had my first official day at the office today. Tough day but nice dinner (and wine) at the end.

I like what I see of the city, so far.

Haven't found a place to live yet; I'm staying at the Marquette. It's ok. The description makes it sound a whole lot nicer than it is.

Decided to look for a place downtown, within walking distance to work. Haven't found anything yet.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[djv]

Look out for some those hookers down town. Maybe you better have the Mama come show you safe places to go.