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Minneapolis

Unless you're native to the region or geographically inclined, you might expect to find the mouth of the Mississippi closer to Jackson than Minneapolis. But the opposite is true. (Remember that in case Regis should ever ask you.)

Minneapolis is, of course, more widely known as the "City of Lakes" and rightly so—inland water accounts for five of its 59 square miles. In fact, the "minne" in Minneapolis is the Dakota Indian word for water.

In perfect contrast to its natural beauty is Minneapolis' dramatic skyline featuring the 57-story Norwest Center, the 51-story IDS Building, and the Foshay Tower, the city's first skyscraper.

From every vantage point, Minneapolis clearly is as dynamic and progressive as it is scenic and charming.

The Employment Outlook

Minneapolis is headquarters for Pillsbury, General Mills, and Cargill, corporations that originated as mills established along the river to process grain.

Citywide, career opportunities also are available in computers, electronics, graphic arts, medical instruments, and machine manufacturing.

With unemployment rates at an historic low—2 percent in Minneapolis and its twin city, St. Paul—many businesses are scrambling to fill positions from a shrinking candidate pool. Demand currently exceeds supply in community and social services, construction, food service, and healthcare support.

At the same time, a few market sectors appear to be well-supplied with qualified workers, accounting for low job vacancy rates in science and social science, business and financial operations, and office support occupations.

Education

As you work toward your degree, continuing your education beyond that point may be the furthest thing from your mind.

However, if you plan or decide to earn an advanced degree, you can achieve your academic goals in any of Minneapolis' institutions of higher learning.

The main campus of the University of Minnesota is situated on the banks of the Mississippi near downtown Minneapolis. A major research institution that ranks among the top 20 universities in the country, it is also one of the largest. Other institutions of higher education in Minneapolis include Augsburg College, Metropolitan State University, the Minneapolis Community and Technology College, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the University of St. Thomas.

Sports and Recreation

If you enjoy sports and recreation as a spectator or a more active participant, Minneapolis has much to offer.

When the Minnesota Twins or Vikings are in town, you can catch them in action at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Downtown, the Minnesota Timberwolves take to the court at the Target Center.

Many popular pastimes in Minneapolis center around the city's lakes and include boating, fishing, and swimming in the summertime, and ice skating, skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter. Residents also enjoy softball, golfing, jogging, and in-line skating in the parks surrounding the lakes. In fact, there is one acre of parkland for every 57 residents in Minneapolis.

Arts and Entertainment

Before opening on Broadway, productions such as Disney's The Lion King and Victor/Victoria play to audiences at the Historic State and Orpheum Theatres in downtown Minneapolis. Meanwhile, the city's regional theater, the Guthrie Theater, consistently presents acclaimed contemporary productions, ranging from comedies to cabaret.

Minneapolis also boasts two world-class art museums. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts displays more than 80,000 works of art from every age and culture, including French Impressionism and rare Chinese jade. The Walker Art Center houses an outstanding collection of 20th-century American and European sculpture, prints, and photography, as well as traveling exhibits. (Adjacent to the museum is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the nation's largest outdoor urban sculpture garden.)

Two other Minneapolis museums are based at the University of Minnesota. The James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History has dioramas of Minnesota wildlife and an art gallery of wildlife paintings, while the Weisman Art Museum, designed by noted avant-garde architect Frank Gehry, features a permanent collection of 1900-1950 American art.

The Minnesota Orchestra, hailed by The New York Times as "an international orchestra of real accomplishment," is based at the landmark Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis. The hall is noted for the acoustic cubes on its ceiling and stage wall that deflect the sound so effectively.

Activities and Attractions

Nicollet Mall is the retail heart of Minneapolis, a mile-long pedestrian mall closed to automobile traffic. Where the mall is dominated by department stores, the historic Warehouse District is bursting with art galleries, antique and gift shops, and coffee houses. Uptown is an even funkier alternative with its one-of-a-kind stores.
Nightlife in Minneapolis is exciting and diverse. In the downtown alone, there are more than 275 restaurants of all ethnic varieties, plus clubs featuring live music. · The American Swedish Institute, housed in a 33-room Romanesque chateau displays art, pioneer items, Swedish glass, ceramics, and furniture related to the area's Swedish heritage. ·
The Mississippi River's Falls of St. Anthony come crashing down at the eastern edge of downtown. Minnehaha Park, on the Mississippi near the airport, is the site of Minnehaha Falls, the inspiration for Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha. Another site worth seeing, and one that can be viewed from an observation deck, is the Upper St. Anthony Lock, which allows river traffic to reach industrial sections of Minneapolis. The nearby Stone Arch Bridge, a restored 19th century railroad bridge spanning the river, is open to foot and bicycle traffic. ·
The Minnesota Zoo, in Minneapolis's Apple Valley suburb, houses 1,700 animals in natural settings.

Generally Speaking

Among Minneapolis' unique features are its miles-long skyway systems, which help to take the sting out of the most bitter winter weather. Via the skyways, residents can drive downtown, park, walk to work, shop, see a show, and return to their cars without having to set a foot outdoors.

Cooler heads typically prevail in Minneapolis, where the average annual temperature is 45 F. Although summer heats up somewhat—to a high of 84 F in July—it remains comfortable thanks to the natural air conditioning provided by lakes and trees.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is home to nearly 3 million people and is the eighth fastest growing area in the United States. Among the 20 largest cities in the country, it has one of the lowest costs of living—105.4 based on a nationwide average of 100.

Its architecture and economy offer further proof that Minneapolis is more than a city of lakes. It is a land of opportunity.