WOW!!! MPLS-SP has it going on!!! (Crystal, Rockford: middle-class, living in, suburbs)

[rwocmo]

I was in your fair city this weekend and was absolutely BLOWN AWAY. This has to be the cleanest, friendliest, most attractive city in the US. The upbeat quality, the smiles, the intelligence and articulateness of the people I spoke to, the tidiness of the small surrounding towns were all incredibly impressive. Unfortunately my job interview did not land me anything. You guys are extremely fortunate to be living in such a fine area. Keep up the good work, and keep up the biking.

[Glenfield]

Thank you. This was all very nice of you to say, and is much appreciated.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Yeah...thanks! May I ask where you come from?

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job you wanted -- I've been there before, MANY times! Hopefully you can gather yourself and reload and find something here that you love! Good luck!!

[turkeyjerky]

Originally Posted by rwocmo

I was in your fair city this weekend and was absolutely BLOWN AWAY. This has to be the cleanest, friendliest, most attractive city in the US. The upbeat quality, the smiles, the intelligence and articulateness of the people I spoke to, the tidiness of the small surrounding towns were all incredibly impressive. Unfortunately my job interview did not land me anything. You guys are extremely fortunate to be living in such a fine area. Keep up the good work, and keep up the biking.

QFT

I've been to most of the large cities in this country and I've never experienced such a suburb oriented community. I'm thrilled to be leaving minneapolis for a real city (chicago).

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by turkeyjerky

QFT

I've been to most of the large cities in this country and I've never experienced such a suburb oriented community. I'm thrilled to be leaving minneapolis for a real city (chicago).

be sure to stop by the front desk for your parting gift on your way out.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by turkeyjerky

QFT

I've been to most of the large cities in this country and I've never experienced such a suburb oriented community. I'm thrilled to be leaving minneapolis for a real city (chicago).

What exactly do you know about Chicago, because the Chicagoans I know (who've lived there for generations) do NOT live in the city and are suburban dwellers. It's the quentessential city for "White Flight", even though it applies to anyone/everyone who's lived there long enough to get tired of city living and politics. Anyone who denies this likely does NOT have strong family roots in Chicago, because the # of people who grew up in the city and STILL live there is unbelievably low compared to most other cities. But why ruin your fun -- just enjoy how you feel now, right? Why add the negavity to such a positive thread? It won't make you feel better, I promise.

[tijlover]

I've run into all kinds of people, over the years, who have been to MPS, and have praised it to the skies, but when I offer them a free round trip ticket to go there in January, no one has taken me up on that offer yet!

I fell in love with Pittsburgh on a visit there in May one time and almost moved there, until I learned it's in a cloud belt, slightly fewer cloudier days than Seattle. No-no-no-thanks!

[yoyoma02]

You clearly weren't visiting in the winter.

[Mason3000]

Originally Posted by Min-Chi-Cbus

What exactly do you know about Chicago, because the Chicagoans I know (who've lived there for generations) do NOT live in the city and are suburban dwellers. It's the quentessential city for "White Flight", even though it applies to anyone/everyone who's lived there long enough to get tired of city living and politics. Anyone who denies this likely does NOT have strong family roots in Chicago, because the # of people who grew up in the city and STILL live there is unbelievably low compared to most other cities. But why ruin your fun -- just enjoy how you feel now, right? Why add the negavity to such a positive thread? It won't make you feel better, I promise.

The Chicago suburbs are so vast that they span North all the way into Wisconsin & don't stop until you hit Milwaukee. Ever drive Milwaukee to Chicago at rush hour?

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by Mason3000

The Chicago suburbs are so vast that they span North all the way into Wisconsin & don't stop until you hit Milwaukee. Ever drive Milwaukee to Chicago at rush hour?

No kidding....not to mention South WELL past Gary, IN and into Merrillville, IN and beyond, and West past the Fox River to Geneva, Aurora, Elgin, St. Charles, Batavia, etc....Southwest to Joliet and Northwest PAST Elgin to Crystal Lake and even Rockford is essentially a commuter town to Chicago. Chicago -- REAL Chicago -- IS the suburbs, just as much as it is the city. I've always said that you don't ever really truly understand how big and complex Chicago is until you visit the suburbs. It's very polarized though: between city and suburb. After the cutesy city areas like River North, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, etc. is a VAST stretch of ghettos and middle-class communities most people never step foot in (this is where lots of my family lives/grew up). It's about 20-25 miles beyond that where you start to see true suburbia, as most people know it.