# The Definitive Minneapolis Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549 "2005-08-04T12:45:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/41 "2005-08-05T21:27:59Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > And AFAIK the skyways are open all night. And there are lots of them. [Not all of them](http://minneapolis.about.com/cs/shoppingservice/a/skyways.htm): > [@](#): > > With the benefits of the skyways comes a certain dependency. Skyways open and close at hours based on the needs of the owners of buildings on either end of each skyway. While most of the skyways close late at night and open early in the morning, not all open early on weekends and most close ridiculously early on Sunday. It is possible to go through several blocks of second floors and skyways only to realize the only way out is the way you got in. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/42 "2005-08-05T21:32:39Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > Spooky, I work for OIT too. Maybe we’ll keep getting closer and closer until we realize we’re two ends of a split personality. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/43 "2005-08-05T23:36:55Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > The Mpls/St. Paul thing is just odd to me. There’s a huge rivalry between the two for reasons that escape me. Most of the animosity is from the St. Paul side. I used to live there and when I mentioned to someone I was leaving for the western part of town I swear her jaw just dropped in astonishment. “Can I ask why you would move over _there_?” My cousin’s husband (who lives in White Bear) once told he hadn’t been in Minneapolis in the past fifteen years. Yes, as an outsider, I still don’t really “get” why there are two “major” cities in such close proximity (adjacent) in the first place. It seems like an historical accident that should have been repaired by now. ---
**Author:** ![jweb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@jweb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jweb)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/44 "2005-08-06T00:45:48Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Yeah, especially since **emacknight** isn’t too far from the light rail on down there. The light rail runs from downtown Minneapolis, (mostly) along Hiawatha Ave, and goes to the airport and the Mall of America. If you don’t have a car, your best bet for grocery shopping might be to take the Light Rail to the Lake Street/Midtown station, as there are Cub and Rainbow Foods grocery stores within a couple of blocks of that station. Plus, it’s only about 2 blocks from my house. 🙂 > [@](#): > > The “lakes”: Lake Calhoun is the busiest, Lake Harriet, and Lake of the Isles are the main three city lakes with walking/bike paths all the way around. Good for people watching. Also, these lakes are accessible, by bicycle, from downtown via the Cedar Lake trail (starts downtown just west of the Target Center) and the Kennilworth Trail. No worries about bicycling on busy surface streets. There is also a the Minnehaha trail which runs from the southeast corner of Lake Harriet past Lake Nokomis to Minnehaha falls. And from the falls you can follow a trail along the river back to downtown. About a 20 mile loop, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/45 "2005-08-06T02:02:16Z")
So much has been said, and so well! I’m actually getting a little homesick. May have something to do with the fact our A/C went our for 2 days and it’s been 96 degrees here in North Carolina. There are a few other good foods to keep an eye out for. Maybe the folks in the Cities won’t eat these, but their relatives “Up North” will. Lefse - kind of like tortillas made with potatoes Yulecake (yoo-la-ca-ca) a Christmas cake with candied fruit Rollapolsa - a spiced pork roll Wild rice - especially good in Byerly’s Wild Rice Soup Jello as a salad (complete with a mayo and mustard dressing for authenticity) Rosettes - deep fried crispy powdered sugary goodness Try to make some friends with a cabin “Up North” by next summer. A lot of people will escape to the cabin for summer weekends. Cabins are usually on one of the 10,000 lakes. Lake Superior in Duluth is also a beautiful sight on the occasional hot summer day. The lakes within the city of Minneapolis (Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, etc. see above) are my absolute favorite part. Really makes the city special! ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/46 "2005-08-06T21:44:09Z")
> [@lno](#): > > In the southwest suburbs, my choice is Time Warner, or … Time Warner. Roadrunner’s out there as well, and if you’re looking for DSL, your choices are a little broader. Isn’t Roadrunner just the name for Time Warner’s broadband service? > [@Kakofonus](#): > > Interesting. I’ve never known anyone that lived downtown and, perhaps sadly, my guess is that that’s pretty normal. Downtown is for work, sporting events and … ummmm … bus connections. I moved to N 4th St a week ago, and prior to that, I lived near Loring Park. Quite a few people live downtown–at nearly 30,000 people, downtown Minneapolis has a larger population than the downtowns of Dallas, Houston, Denver, and Indianapolis, _combined_ [cite](http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/archives/2004/10/the_lights_are.phtml). > [@SlyFrog](#): > > Yes, as an outsider, I still don’t really “get” why there are two “major” cities in such close proximity (adjacent) in the first place. It seems like an historical accident that should have been repaired by now. Long story short–St. Paul started out as a city back when the western side of the Mississippi was closed to settlement. It had a head start and has been the capitol since Minnesota was made a territory in 1849. Minneapolis started as a center for industry, due to the St. Anthony Falls, which were used to power many, many flour mills. > [@emacknight](#): > > Are there any weird local customs that I should be aware of. I remember after moving to Toronto I saw a local morning show go through a list of stuff that blew my mind?escalator courtesy usually tops the list (walk left stand right). As someone who’s not from the area, one thing I’ve found is that it can be hard to meet people. So many people in the area are from the Cities or their suburbs. They all went to the University of Minnesota together, and they still hang out with their friends from high school and college. Then again, I’m not the world’s most gregarious person, so YMMV. I love living downtown, and feel free to email me if you have more questions. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/47 "2005-08-06T21:50:06Z")
> [@easy e](#): > > As someone who’s not from the area, one thing I’ve found is that it can be hard to meet people. So many people in the area are from the Cities or their suburbs. They all went to the University of Minnesota together, and they still hang out with their friends from high school and college. Then again, I’m not the world’s most gregarious person, so YMMV. I agree with this. I am also not the most socially adept human, and I know that it is easy to blame others for lack of friends and acquaintences. I do, however, think there is something to the “slightly cold Scandanavian” image that some have of Minnesotans. It does seem to be pretty insular at times. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Is\_Schwa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8baadc/32.png) [@What\_Is\_Schwa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Is_Schwa)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/48 "2005-08-06T23:35:28Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > 3 words. House of Balls. It is my biggest regret that I didn’t buy anything there before I moved away. Yeah… I lived next to the insane owner of that place… feel like seeing a bowling ball graveyard and jello molds in place of siding? Follow that crazy fuckin’ truck home… ---
**Author:** ![Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kneepants_Erasmus_the_Humanist)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/49 "2005-08-07T00:26:36Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > The Mpls/St. Paul thing is just odd to me. There’s a huge rivalry between the two for reasons that escape me. Most of the animosity is from the St. Paul side. Oh _I_ know why. Apparently to people not from here, Minneapolis=“The Twin Cities”. Holy hell, that’s annoying. I have heard people, when talking about an event that really happened in Saint Paul, mention the great time they had in Minneapolis. IT IS NOT THE SAME THING ASSHOLES!!! (the ones who say such things. Not you guys 🙂 ) I hate Minneapolis and won’t go there unless I have to. Ick. (alphabetical ordered streets, notwithstanding) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/50 "2005-08-07T00:45:51Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > Yes, as an outsider, I still don’t really “get” why there are two “major” cities in such close proximity (adjacent) in the first place. It seems like an historical accident that should have been repaired by now. umm… one big settlement on each side of a major river crossing? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/51 "2005-08-07T00:51:29Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > **Snickers** mentioned bike trails and Minnesota has the most in the US (and I’ve heard we’re second only to Japan). There aren’t that many areas that aren’t accessible one way or another via bike here. Even more than just bike trails, there are bike-only paths that lead into and out of downtown, so you don’t have to compete with rush-hour traffic the entire way. Not going to make too much difference for you, since you’re way downtown, but still, helpful. Oh, and there’s a Target on the downtown skyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/52 "2005-08-07T01:24:12Z")
There are also a ton of golf courses per capita. Other places have more (Hilton Head), but most of them are tourist destinations for golfers. No one vacations in Minnesota to play golf (well, except maybe Minnesotans). We are also high on the list of theatre seats per capita. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/53 "2005-08-07T04:54:45Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > umm… one big settlement on each side of a major river crossing? There’s a lot of other places with large settlements on either side of a river. Eventually they tend to make the logical decision to unify, if for nothing else to not have two separate civic and government administrations, and the costs attendent therewith. Of course, we like our high taxes generally in Minnesota, so that’s probably not the problem here that it is in most normal states. 🙂 It makes sense to insiders; most outsiders I’ve spoken with believe it’s fairly stupid pigheadedness. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/54 "2005-08-16T16:28:40Z")
First, thanks to everyone for the great responses. Now for a couple of followup questons: 1. Is anything open past 5:30? For those that work a 9-5 job, how do you get anything done? I’m asking this in all seriousness. Imagine right now you had the normal job where you leave for work before anything opens, and you get off work after everything closes. How would you go about opening a bank account, getting a cell phone, getting a driver’s licence and a SSN? 2. Is anything open on Sunday? 3. Does anyone know off hand what is required to get either a SSN or a Tax Identification Number, and where one goes about getting that? I’m about to google but I was curious if anyone hear knows first hand. Thanks again. And with regards to the cross-river rivalry you’ll find it everywhere, it just seems to happen. I grew up on the Dartmouth side of Halifax, NS and there was a bit stupid rivalry between cities on either side of a harbour. I’m currently in Ottawa where there is the same rivalry with Hull on the other side of the river. I think its something to do with human nature and water… ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/55 "2005-08-16T17:32:23Z")
Sundays and after 5:30. Not downtown. Some bars. Not a whole lot else. For the most part the Twin Cities are commuter city centers. The 'burbs tend to be open later. St Paul in particular rolls up the sidewalks at 5:30. You get things done by taking a long lunch at going to the Hennepin Cty Government Center. Start your lunch at 10:45 or the lines get really long. A few days later, the same deal with the bank. Or skip lunch at get there at 3:30. Or take an afternoon off. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/56 "2005-08-16T17:44:26Z")
I don’t know about applying for a SSN, but the process of applying for an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) took about eight weeks. That was done as part of a federal tax return mailed on April 15th, though, so there may have been a paperwork backlog there. I work a block away from both the Wells Fargo building and the Hennepin County Government Center, so I can easily take care of anything that needs to be done there during the day. There are [a half dozen](http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/vgn/portal/internet/hclocationmaster/0,2302,1273_1716_100130490,00.html) government service centers where you can process pretty much any license, certificate, or registration for personal, vehicle, or business needs. The downtown service center is open 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday. Convenient. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/57 "2005-08-16T18:05:30Z")
Your condo is two blocks away from the government center if you take the skyway, kitty corner if you walk outside. So at least that part would be convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549/58 "2005-08-16T18:47:34Z")
The downtown skyway level is a town itself. But not much open past 5. Post office, banking, government services are all going to have to be done over the lunch hour. Or early on Saturday mornings. Major retail is done out in the burbs with more convenient hours being open til 9 or 10 or even 24 hours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-minneapolis-thread/315549.md?page=2)