From its vibrant arts scene to its towering skyline, Minneapolis presents itself as a booming city stamping its mark on the plains and prairies of Minnesota. Along with St. Paul, the two make up the “Twin Cities,” a name suggesting double the excitement. Minneapolis, only twice. With all its avid popularity and cultural diversity, I expected a city full of animated excitement. But truthfully, my time spent in Minneapolis was actually quite underwhelming.
This isn’t to say that Minneapolis doesn’t offer plenty of opportunities for dynamic dining or outdoor recreation. But coming into it with the expectation of vibrancy under the cover of bright lights and constant movement does a disservice to the city as a whole. Because at the end of the day, city or not, Minneapolis is irrefutably and undeniably “Midwest.” Not just the location, in this case, but the vibe.
There are a few things that rightly represent Midwest culture — community gatherings, comfort foods, a slower pace. And Minneapolis. Take the Mall of America for example, the crown jewel of the city. With over 500 retail stores, 50 dining and drink options, and its very own amusement park, it’s no wonder why people flock through its doors. It’s the epitome of stimulation in the form of a sprawling indoor playground. And yet, it’s a mall. It’s not a hot new club or a sunbathing beach. It’s a mall.
Places in Minneapolis cater to the community, the large groups of friends and family. Meals served are seated and no one is in a rush to leave for the next new thing. People smile politely when you walk by. They hold open doors. Attempts to leave a New York dinner party are one and done. Try that here and expect wounded passivity in reply.
I’ve always associated city life and city travel to crowded streets, rooftop bars, and hidden music venues. So naturally I expected all of these things out of Minneapolis. Only to come up incredibly weary of the lack of public transportation or my third visit to the Mall of America. But Minneapolis did nothing wrong. Other than portray the picture of Midwest life, just in a bigger city.
Minneapolis gives the Midwest a sweeping city to call its own. And it’s about time this region of the country have the opportunity to size up against the Los Angeleses of the world.
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