OT: Moving to the Twin Cities

JohnnytheSkin · Post by **JohnnytheSkin** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:50 am

Hey, I'm not sure if this is an appropriate topic, and if not, I'm sorry.

Anyway, my family has an opportunity to move to the Twin Cities (specifically the St. Paul side) and I'm wondering if anyone here on DSP has lived in the area and can give some advice or suggestions about neighborhoods, school districts, etc.

We are pretty comfortable monetarily, have a young son and need recreational opportunities for him and good schools, and we also need to be as convenient as possible to downtown as my wife's job will be as a contractor with the Department of Revenue.

Again, not sure if folks ask for moving advice (and I've found that Google isn't your friend with moving as you can never find what you want, IMO) so any help, web sites, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

JohnnytheSkin · Post by **JohnnytheSkin** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:36 pm

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:09 pm

Purchase several heavy heavy winter coats.

JohnnytheSkin · Post by **JohnnytheSkin** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:24 pm

We grew up in Colorado...the winter coats, driving, shoveling, etc. are the least of our worries.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:04 pm

Right move - the Cities are one of the happenin'est spots around these days. I'm still acclimating myself to the area so am probably not the best one to ask. I can say first thing to do is see a show at First Avenue, and yes, dress warmly.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:10 pm

Shoot me an email and we can discuss this in more detail. I grew up in the suburb of Bloomington (south of Minneapolis), went to a private high school in St. Paul, lived in St. Paul proper after college and now live in pristing White Bear Lake (north of St. Paul by about 20 minutes. I should have you covered here.

JohnnytheSkin · Post by **JohnnytheSkin** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:59 pm

PM sent, Badger Fan...and blubblub, I'm eager for any help you can provide as well.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:25 am

umm, cold and their bridges aren't worth s***.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:28 am

JohnnytheSkin wrote:PM sent, Badger Fan...and blubblub, I'm eager for any help you can provide as well.

Sorry it took so long. I didn't check my PMs. Sent you a PM back. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with.

Mike

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:29 am

fsquid wrote:umm, cold and their bridges aren't worth s***.

Come on. It was one bridge out of like...a bunch. That's not so bad, is it?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:37 am

Badger_Fan wrote:
fsquid wrote:umm, cold and their bridges aren't worth s***.
Come on. It was one bridge out of like...a bunch. That's not so bad, is it?

It's the only thing I could come up with. It was a nice place when I visited. My uncle pitched for the Twins in 88

JohnnytheSkin · Post by **JohnnytheSkin** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:36 pm

Thanks guys...we're pretty eager about this move, since it'll likely set us up for a long while. We're just hoping the state and my wife's company agree on the funds!

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:58 pm

fsquid wrote:
Badger_Fan wrote:
fsquid wrote:umm, cold and their bridges aren't worth s***.
Come on. It was one bridge out of like...a bunch. That's not so bad, is it?
It's the only thing I could come up with. It was a nice place when I visited. My uncle pitched for the Twins in 88

Who was that?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:25 pm

Charlie Lea, he pitched in 1988 and then retired the next year during Spring Training. Rotator Cuff never full healed.

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:01 pm

Mn is alright, but there are some drawbacks.. That "Minnesota nice" you hear about is BS... People here are as arrogant and self centered as in Boston or Ny... Also, I really hope you don't own a Honda Civic, as those cars are stolen in St Paul on a daily basis... You will like it here from May to November, but winters here are not great... It's not as terrible as you hear, but the cold gets very old and when the snow is brown and crunchy in January you'll just hope spring comes... x2 for First Avenue, it's an awesome venue especially if an act you like is playing there. Great atmosphere. If you like hockey at all you owe it to yourself to attend a Wild game. The Xcel Energy Center is one of the best places I've ever seen a sporting event at. Overall I'd give MN a 7.5/10. It could be a lot worse. Most people who have never been here think that everyone lives on a farm and has cows. They are shocked to hear that Minneapolis/St Paul and the surrounding subburbs are just like other big cities. Also, of the 15 or so states I've been in, MN by far has the worst driving. No one uses their signals, everyone talks on their phones as they drive, and road rage is abundant. You will be very surprised to see the number of different races that live here as well. St Paul has one of the highest number of Asians (especially Hmongs) in the country, which is odd seeing as those people come from warm climates and then come here and endure our winters. Once spring hits, you'll love walking/running around the lakes and being outside. Good luck and I hope you enjoy it here.