Neighborhood highlight: St. Louis Park

As the birthplace of the Coen Brothers, Al Franken and Thomas Friedman, St. Louis Park has a rich history of arts and culture, nature and recreation, and strong neighborhoods. In addition to offering intellectual, cinematic and comedic (& political?) brilliance, St. Louis Park also offers conveniently-located neighborhoods and great schools. With home prices ranging from starter homes to million dollar properties, St. Louis Park offers something for everyone.

The Best of St. Louis Park
Favorite bakery: Yum!
Favorite grocery: Trader Joes
Best Dive Bar: Al’s Liquors
Favorite space for kids: The Children’s Nest Egg
Runs/bike rides we love : Cedar Lake Trail

Neighborhood highlight: King Field

This south Minneapolis neighborhood is named after Martin Luther King Jr. The neighborhood, sometimes spelled as one word (Kingfield), is located between Lyndale Avenue to the west and Interstate 35W to the east, 36th Street to the north and 46th Street to the south.

Very centrally located, this neighborhood offers a strong sense of community, easy access to Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, and extremely convenient freeway access. In the heart of the neighborhood is Martin Luther King Jr. Park. During the summer you can find the park full of neighborhood kids and families playing pick-up games on the basketball courts, softball fields, tennis courts or in the wading pool.

Follow the link to view a few available properties in the King Field neighborhood. Please contact us if you would like to schedule a showing.

The best of King Field:
Restaurants we love: Victor’s 1959 Café, Tacos Blass, Corner Table
Best fried chicken: Shorty & Wags
Favorite coffee shop: Anodyne Coffee House
Best sausage biscuit sandwich: Butter Bakery Cafe
Art center we love: Center for Performing Arts
Runs we love: Lake Harriet

Neighborhood highlight: Mac-Groveland, Saint Paul

Every time we visit the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood in Saint Paul there is one thing we notice: people. It doesn’t matter what day of the week, time of day, or time of year. People working in their yards, kids biking, parents pushing strollers, students with backpacks full of books – you see it all. Why do we love this? Because it’s so darn neighborly. As a neighborhood within a large metropolitan area, the Mac-Groveland neighborhood has the feeling of a small town. Just check out the website for the Macalester-Groveland Community Council if you need further evidence: www.macgrove.org. Gardening and garage sales – that pretty much sums it up!

The best of Mac-Groveland:
Restaurants we love: Puerta Azul, St. Clair Broiler
Best grocery: Mississippi Market (1810 Randolph)
Favorite shops: Lula’s Vintage, Peapods
Best gym: The SweatShop
Best day to live in Mac-Groveland: Marathon Sunday
Runs we love: Summit Avenue to River Road

Neighborhood highlight: North Loop (Warehouse district)

The historic Warehouse district provides the perfect combination of old and new. Located just a few blocks north and west of the central business district, the Warehouse district was the heart of the milling and manufacturing area in the early to mid-twentieth century. Much of the warehouse district (very roughly bounded by Second Street North, First Avenue North, Sixth Street North, and the BNSF Railway tracks) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the mid-century, the Warehouse district became the center of the Minneapolis art scene. Old industrial buildings were converted into raw artist spaces, creating a uniquely affordable backdrop. In the late 1990’s, the area began to rapidly gentrify as warehouses were converted into apartment and condominium buildings. Condo’s continue to be built in the area as the neighborhood spans southwest.

For those who live in the North Loop and work downtown, the commute is short (and much of it is accessible via skyway during winter months). With the grand Mississippi River running through your front yard, the North Loop provides the perfect mix of urban and scenic.

Neighborhood bonus – future home of the Minnesota Twin’s stadium!

The best of the Warehouse district:
Restaurants we love: Moose and Sadie’s, 112 Eatery, Babalu
Best theater: Theatre de la Jeune Lune
Shops we love: Mitrebox, Target Salvation Army
Favorite coffee shops: Java J’s, Janine’s Coffeehouse
Runs we love: River Road to Hennepin/Stone Arch Bridge loop

Neighborhood highlight: Longfellow

The Longfellow neighborhood in Minneapolis is one that we are deeply enamored with. Bounded by the Mississippi River on the East, Minnehaha Park on the South, Hiawatha Avenue on the West, and the 27th street railroad tracks on the North, it’s a neighborhood being revitalized by first-time homebuyers building sweat equity. The mix of starter homes alongside million dollar properties is somewhat unique to the area and contributes to the eclectic feel of the neighborhood. The fact that Longfellow is so conveniently located and accessible by foot to the Light Rail makes it that much more desirable.

The rich history of the neighborhood is exemplified through the Longfellow Bungalow. Bungalow restoration is an important issue within the Longfellow neighborhood. Those interested in housing restoration should check out the Longfellow Planbook (available through the Longfellow Community Council), which highlights how to update old homes in a historically sensitive manner.

The best of the Longfellow neighborhood:
Restaurants we love: The Craftsman, The Riverview Wine Bar and Cafe, Manny’s Tortas.
Best movie theater: Riverview Theater ($2-3 movies!)
Shops we love: Re-Gifts, 42nd Street Gifts
Favorite coffee shop: Blue Moon Coffee Cafe
Runs we love: River Road to Ford/Lake Street Bridge loop