Artist Daisy Giles on Eat Street (Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis).
The Twin Cities are what I like to think of as a hidden gem. A very well-kept, tucked away secret.
Because it seems that when I mention to folks I’m from there, I either get blank stares or raised eyebrows. “Oh it’s cold!” I hear. Other times, there are no comments. So I often now ask, “what runs across your mind when I mention ‘Minnesota?’” And plenty have no concrete idea of what is going in that land of 10,000 lakes.
Here’s my small stab at providing a bit of insight.
Upon visiting my hometown last week, I noticed instantly how things are changing at a steady and consistent pace. And it was a pleasant sight to behold. The Twin Cities metropolitan area is expanding culturally, artistically and sustainably. Public art like murals tinged with social justice rhetoric abounds (that means creativity is welcome). More construction abounds (that means they’re doing things). Bicycles and recycling bins as far as the eye could see. And of course, the ubiquitous coffeehouses, in which I found a new one to crash at every day.
Totally unsurprisingly though, I was greeted with the familiar ‘Minnesota-nice’ behavior when a complete stranger shouted out to me from his car window what a beautiful day it was.
If you’ve never been, I kindly suggest you visit once.
A long time ago, Minneapolis residents were what I described as ‘curious.’ St. Paul residents were what I described as ‘intentional.’ And after revisiting my hometown last week, I would still use those terms to describe the sister-city folks. But what I like best about the Twin Cities? It was home.
Lake Nokomis
Visiting sister.
Nice beard. (Uptown Minneapolis)
Afro Deli & Coffee (Cedar Ave, Minneapolis).
Light Rail Corridor expansion construction. (University Ave on the St. Paul/Minneapolis border)
