America's Healthiest Cities.

"Healthy". That's generally the one-word definition of my dream city. Not necessarily as in fit or active, but overall healthy--culturally active, economically vibrant, bustling city-folk, high-quality of life, etc. That's why I'm obsessed with Minneapolis (and recently Seattle), since they both seem to be consummate examples of the kind of city I want to live in.

Well, Outside Magazine seems to agree with me. They've put together their annual list of the "Best Healthy Towns in 2009", and my favorite cities all seemed to make the list: Charlotte, Seattle, Minneapolis and even Cincinnati! (Don't mock me. I love it there.)

First, we started with the 100 most populated cities in America, using public data to rank them on factors like cost of living, unemployment, nightlife, commute time and access to green space. Then we took the 28 candidates with the highest overall averages and put them through a second round of number crunching, comparing things like the percentage of the population with college degrees, income level in relation to home prices, and weather. The wild card? Our own multisport factor, which rated each of our finalists on a scale of 1 to 5 for quality and proximity to biking, running, paddling, hiking, and skiing. After adding it all up, we had our top ten.

10. Charlotte, North Carolina
9. Cincinnati, Ohio
8. Minneapolis, Minnesota
7. Portland, Oregon
6. Albuquerque, New Mexico
5. Boston, Massachusetts
4. Austin, Texas
3. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Seattle, Washington
1. Colorado Springs, Colorado

The Coolest Photo.

You guys know I love winter. And what better than an eerie photo of downtown Minneapolis in the middle of winter?



*Loves it*

The (Verbose) Update on Minneapolis.

I'm in Minnesota. It's amazing.

I'm not even really sure where to start on why I like it here so much, but I guess I can begin with biking. This city is designed with bikers in mind. Due to the plethora of bike trails, I have literally gone all over St. Paul, Minneapolis and even the suburbs via my bike. Beyond even the myriad designated biking lanes along the major streets, there are actual highways set up for bikers. I've hopped along the Midtown Greenway which connects to the Kenilworth Trail, Cedar Trail and a few others too, which can literally get you as far west as Lake Minnetonka (Like 10-20 miles I guess), and as east as Wisconsin. Along the Midtown Greenway there are exits and entrances just like a regular car highway. It's awesome! And even better, there are places you can store your bike, take a shower, have a cup of coffee and walk to the Uptown Transit station (which will connect you via buses anyway in the city).

Aside from this perk for bikers, both Minneapolis and St. Paul are very densely populated. Everything is very close together, yet it's not difficult at all to escape downtown and suddenly enter a moment of serenity while walking around a tranquil lake. It's really amazing how one moment you can be fighting busy city traffic and the next you can be sitting in the middle of a park and feel like you own it.

On Monday I hung out with some friends at Bryant Lake Bowl, a restaurant-slash-bar-slash-bowling alley. I impressed them with a competitive bowling score of 76 (ha!) and quickly learned that maybe bowling isn't my sport of choice.

Tuesday my friend from Ohio, James, and I explored the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, which was simply amazing. We then dined at Bombay Bistro, which has the absolute greatest Indian food I could have asked for (almost all vegetarian, too!). We then perused around Uptown, which is Minneapolis' trendy arts district. We argued over if it was better than The Short North, which I sat it is, he says it isn't. Regardless, they have a North Face store, Urban Outfitters, tons and tons of original local restaurants and it seems to go on forever. (Unlike the Short North which is a few blocks of galleries/restaurants).

After dropping James off so he could take a nap, I met up with my friend Sean at Chino Latino, an incredible restaurant that serves enormous portions of Mexican and Asian food. The restaurant itself was beautiful! After dining there (for four hours, literally), we explored St. Paul and I'm amazed at how it gets such a bad rap! St. Paul is a beautiful city, and I'm excited to learn more since most of the things I've done have been Minneapolis-based.

Wednesday I hit up the Birchwood Cafe, a great local restaurant that serves vegetarian and vegan food. It was so sweet! It reminded me a lot of North Star Cafe, just far more cheaper. (In a good way. Is it me or is North Star way overpriced?)

After breakfast I did a four-hour bike ride all around town. It was snowing, but luckily it didn't stick so basically the ride was just cold but doable. As previously stated, I did everything via my bike! It was simply fantastic!

That evening I met up with my friend Kevin for dinner at Spill the Wine, which was a beautiful restaurant with delicious food. They even had a great happy hour--$15 bottles of wine! After a great dinner, we headed over to the world-renowned Guthrie Theatre, which was awe-inspiring to say the least. We saw The Gentlemen of Verona and what a perfect performance it was. I absolutely loved it.

The interesting thing about The Guthrie is not only its three theatres, numerous restaurants and countless bars, but actually the massive structure that makes up the building. The architecture is just breath-taking! And to make it more impressive, there is a bridge called "The Bridge to Nowhere" which lets visitors view the St. Anthony Falls. Although I had heard of them, I had no idea what I was in for. I can't even begin to describe what a site it is--simply incredible. I was astounded by the falls!

After dinner we met up with Kevin's boyfriend, Kareem, and had drinks at the Minneapolis Eagle. It was great-- 3-for-1 special! Talk about a cheap night out!

That's been the trip so far. I think the world of this city and I can't wait til I'm packing my bags and moving out here! :-)

Oh, and PS, can we talk about Galactic Pizza, the pizza joint that delivers pizza in waay coolz space gear? Seriously. I couldn't make it up.

Cleveland: Most Sustainable City in Ohio.

Cleveland won for the most sustainable city in Ohio. Of the 50 named cities, it was a full 14 spots ahead of Columbus, the only other city in Ohio earning a rank. Portland, no surprise, was first; Minneapolis, also no surprise, was seventh. Cleveland ranked 16th, and Columbus 30th.

I usually think of Cleveland's skyline as rather uninspired, especially considering how many offices are empty downtown. However, the photo they caught was rather becoming.



I've always enjoyed visiting Cleveland, but I just could never live there. However, for a weekend trip it's a wonderful trip. Its rich history, fun city layout, beautiful location along the Lake and fantastic local restaurants all contribute for a great getaway from Columbus.

Three Weeks Away!

Continuing with my tradition of wasting time and forgoing schoolwork, Greg Benz has new photos of Minneapolis. Great work, as always.



This next photo is so warm, even though it was taken in the middle of winter. The colors are so tranquil and inviting.



My Minnesota Spring Break is just a bit away! Can't wait! :-)

I've Finally Figured it Out.

Yes, it's 3:33 am. No, I haven't been drinking. Sorry. No drunk blog posts today! :-P

It's no secret that I want to leave Ohio. One visit to this site and you'll know that I am indubitably obsessed with Minneapolis. To friends I have lamented that in lieu of my disdain towards Ohio I wish I could make myself enjoy it here. I've even asked for suggestions from many different people on how to like Ohio better, all whom had no idea how to help. However, I think I've figured it out.

I was reading an article today about a successful marketer. When asked what his greatest mistake was, he said that he wished he had fully experienced some of his earlier jobs instead of focusing all of his efforts towards a promotion. He said that many of the mistakes he made as a manager could have been avoided if he had spent more time learning as a regular associate, instead of making that big promotion his every yearning goal and purpose.

Here in Columbus, I am working towards that promotion. Every day I slash a number off my countdown to the day I leave Ohio, which has been going since it was in the 700-days number. I focus hard on school, but I'm only doing it so that I can prepare myself for Minnesota and for grad school. Essentially I am doing exactly what this marketer did; instead of maximizing my time here in Ohio, I only have the end in mind. It's like a race and I'm focused solely on mile 25, not caring about the first 24 that I need to go through to get there.

Clearly this isn't a revelation; I think anyone with a brain knows that focusing on the end goal while forgoing the steps to get there isn't a winning strategy. But, that's how I have been operating for basically the past two years. Reading this article made me realize that Minneapolis is the promotion I want, but I currently do not have the skills to maintain that job. I need one more year (385 days) to get those skills. So instead of whining and complaining that "Oh, I wish I lived in a real city", my new outlook is that I am simply not ready for that real city. I am not good enough. I do not have the skills, but I'm on my way there. And when March 21st, 2010 comes along, I'll finally the get the promotion I've worked for (then) 4 years for.

It's funny how perspective really changes everything. Someone I admire once said to me, "Perception is reality", and I've always liked that. (Philosophically speaking this is entirely wrong, but it's true to a certain degree of one's outlook on things). By this new perspective, the "I'm not ready" perspective, I really think I can do the next year.

Finally.

Minneapolis Art Sled Rally.

(Click here if video does not show)

There are so many interesting things going on in Minneapolis, and this Art Sled Rally is no difference. Seriously. We need to do this in Columbus!

(Thanks Bill for the link!)

A Certain Plan.

On a certain night in a certain city, I will be going to a certain place...



...to see a certain show!



It's called The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and it's a rendition of an early Shakespeare play. Placed in the 1950's on the set of a TV show, the musical is literally in the process of being filmed as the story unfolds. (Can you see the black and white in the background of the photo?) Beyond this I have no idea what it's about, but I'm sure I'll be delighted either way. I can't wait!

Fattest and Fittest.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, but does the same go for Miami, New York and Las Vegas? According to an article by Men's Fitness, everything is bigger in those cities--and unfortunately it's not big where it counts.

Sure, obesity is a problem in this country, but when you think fat, you probably don't think Miami. So you may be surprised to find Men's Fitness magazine ranks Miami as the nation's fattest city in its annual survey.

The fittest? Salt Lake City.So what about the South Beach Diet... and all those buff bodies you always see in the ocean-side metropolis? Even though Miami has a high number of health-food stores per capita, Men's Fitness found it also has nearly three times the fast-food restaurants as the average city. And while there are 79 percent more gyms and health clubs than average, residents are less likely to regularly use their memberships. Not many residents take advantage of outdoor activities, either.

On the other end of the spectrum... Salt Lake City got top marks for being the fittest city because of its abundance of park space, athletically motivated residents, and below- average obesity rates. It ranks highest in the survey in the number of people who take part in activities like beach volleyball, racquetball, aerobics, hiking, basketball, yoga, tai chi, swimming, cycling, running, and kickboxing.

As for the rest of the country, here are the top 25 fittest and fattest
cities according to Men's Fitness:

Top Fittest Cities
1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. Colorado Springs, CO
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Denver, CO
5. Albuquerque, NM
6. Portland, OR
7. Honolulu, HI
8. Seattle, WA
9. Omaha, NE
10. Virginia Beach, VA
11. Milwaukee, WI
12. San Francisco, CA
13. Tucson, AZ
14. Boston, MA
15. Cleveland, OH

Top Fattest Cities
1. Miami, FL
2. Oklahoma City, OK
3. San Antonio, TX
4. Las Vegas, NV
5. New York, NY
6. Houston, TX
7. El Paso, TX
8. Jacksonville, FL
9. Charlotte, NC
10. Louisville-Jefferson, KY
11. Memphis, TN
12. Detroit, MI
13. Chicago, IL
14. Dallas-Fort
Worth, TX
15. San Jose, CA
16. Tulsa, OK
17. Baltimore, MD
18. Columbus, OH
19. Raleigh, NC
20. Philadelphia, PA

Well, of course Minneapolis is the fittest large city in America (Colorado Springs and Salt Lake City don't count for major metropolitans, in my opinion). Because, well, it's amazing (and during the winter they're doing ANYTHING to make it seem like it's warmer outside!) I was surprised, however, to see Columbus as one of the fatter cities. I would think with Ohio State and the large youth/biking community it would be considered a fitter city. I'm shocked Cleveland is considered the fit city in Ohio, too! Maybe it's because there is nothing else to do in Cleveland? :-)

A Trip to America's Siberia.

In 423 days I will be moving to Minneapolis. Between now and then I have three breaks: This upcoming spring, Summer break and then Christmas. After that, it's time to move! However, a few problems arise: during the summer I will be taking an internship that is 12 weeks long. I simply cannot request time off for a week-long vacation. The other problem is that during Christmas I am working relentlessly at the restaurant since it's our busiest time of the year (plus, do I want to visit Minnesota at the coldest time of the year?!). So that means...

I'm going to Minneapolis for Spring Break!!! While everyone else on Spring Break will be basking on some beach, I'll be traveling up to the land of 10,000 Lakes to spend quality vacation in 30 degree weather. Whoo-hoo!

So in my planning process, I had a serious problem to consider: the weather. I plan on driving so I'll have my car, and I'm a bit nervous about the amount of snow that could accumulate. However, since there is ample amount of studies available on Minnesota weather, turns out I'll be just fine. Look at what I found!



Minneapolis is, as shown, in the middle/southern part of the state. According to this chart of past weather predictions, by the last week in March most of the snow has already melted away. This is great news!


Now since that map is kind of confusing, I'll give a little explanation.

Daily non-zero values of snowfall and liquid water equivalent within a given month were ratioed based on the entire length of record for each station (which is variable between stations). An average was then computed from the individual daily values to obtain a snow water equivalent for each station. The ratios were then gridded using a kriging technique. Higher ratios indicate wetter snow events (high liquid water content) while lower ratios represent drier snow events (low liquid water content). Quality control was performed to eliminate sources of error, such as days with a mixed precipitation type (yielding anomalously high ratio), or stations with very few daily observations.

Err, yeah, whatever they said. Here is another map of Minnesota weather stating the end of the snow season.



So this means that I should make it to the good state with very little chance of snow. Plus, with that whole "Global Warming" thing kicking in, these statistics are bound to be a bit dated. Score for me!

So the boyfriend and I will have one week to find out all the important stuff involved in a move: what neighborhood to choose, what amenities are important in selecting a home (in regards to the weather), where are the best places to hang out, etc. It's going to be a fun trip!

I know for a fact we'll check out the Guthrie, The Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Minnesota Museum of Science, The Walker Arts Center and University of Minnesota. Of course we'll have to hit up Lake Calhoun and Lake Minnetonka. Without question we'll ride the Light Rail to Minnehaha Falls and Mall of America. The St. Paul Capital will need to be visited, and the downtown Warehouse district will certainly be a night spot we'll explore.

We'll also try to explore some fun things outside of the Twin Cities. What those are, well, I'm not too sure since most of my research has been on Minneapolis and Saint Paul. However, I'm sure our adventure will lead us to some great and exciting things.

Hey, any Minnesotans out there? What do you suggest we explore?

Yes, I Know.

One of the stranger things about me is how much I love Winter. If I were stuck in Winter 6 months out of the year I'd have no complaints at all. And people call me crazy for this! But to clarify, I love Winter for these reasons.

First off, I love winter fashion. Call me a fag (ha! that's original), but I love to see scarfs and gloves and coats and boots and everything else that makes up winter gear. It's a drastic change and I enjoy the variety that winter fashion brings.

Second, I'm enthralled by every sensory function involved in winter. I love the feeling of the cold on my cheeks, I like watching the snow fall, I find it fun to barrel through the heaps of snow. The taste of hot chocolate or hot coffee in the wintertime is so appealing and almost healing. I like to make snow angels, to go sledding, I love watching Hockey...Gah! I could just on about it forever.

Lastly, Winter makes people truly appreciate the other seasons. If I lived in a place where it was always hot, I don't think I'd be as active as I am. Because of the cold I tend to spend a lot of time outside during spring and summer because I'm taking advantage of the good weather! In other places, I'd only take it for granted.

So, there you have it. Why I love winter so much. It's the best time of the year! :-)

Minneapolis--No Caffeine!

So I'm addicted to coffee. So much that I take my little green cup everywhere with me. So today, for the first time in my life, I found out something negative about Minneapolis--they don't like Caffeine!

The second annual HealthSaver Caffeinated Cities Survey, commissioned by HealthSaver, a national emerging health care discount service, found that Minneapolis/St. Paul is the fourth least caffeinated metro area in the country, compared to 19 other major American cities. Tampa ranked No.1 as the most caffeinated city, while Riverside/San Bernardino was the least caffeinated.

The article tries to say this is a bad thing. But to me, it seems that those who rely on caffeine (me included) are very busy and very stressed. So, maybe it's not such a negative thing...

Top Cities for Business.

The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch released it's annual report of the Best and Worst Cities to do business in. The number one spot? Oh, come on guys, you should know this by now...Minneapolis!


Other top cities include Boston, Denver, Columbus and Washington D.C.. A mixed economy will always thrive in a city over a concentrated one. Look at Detriot (and no, that's not a misspelling): the entire city is based on cars, and it's facing 10% unemployment even with the possibility of a bailout. On the flip side, Columbus' main industries are healthcare, education, Government and insurance, four staples that aren't going anywhere. The same can be said for Minneapolis:

The [Twin Cities] area has managed to attract enough talent to support [UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), the country's biggest health insurer], as well as such legacy companies as industrial conglomerate 3M Co. (MMM) , food heavyweight General Mills Inc. (GIS) , insurer Travelers Cos. (TRV) and financial powerhouse U.S. Bancorp. (USB)

The Twin Cities are also home to retail giants Target Corp. (TGT) and Best Buy Co. (BBY), medical-device makers Medtronic Inc. (MDT) and St. Jude Medical (STJ), and big private firms Cargill and CHS. Cargill has replaced Kansas chemical maker Koch Industries at the very top of Forbes' rankings of the nation's biggest private firms.

Many of the region's companies are home-grown and have thrived in the environment. UnitedHealth, for example, was started in 1974 and now boasts $80 billion in annual sales.

Other companies have deeper roots, such as Traveler's in St. Paul, which got its start in 1853. It's been sustained in part by a highly ranked school system and the network of higher-education providers in the region.

"It's a very educated workforce," said Andy Bessette, Traveler's chief administrative officer. "The people here, the school systems, are very good."

Much like Columbus, Minneapolis has a wide array of industries that aren't going anywhere (unless people stop eating.)

Bike Sharing Program in The US.

Remember when I lamented that bike sharing programs could never come to America? Well, I was wrong. And take a guess where it's coming...?

The mayor of Minneapolis is looking to join [European] cities' ranks and embrace [Minneapolis'] rising status as a bike-commuting town by dropping 1,000 bicycles into Downtown, Uptown and the University of Minnesota campus next spring.

Industry experts say technological advances have paved the way to make bike-sharing programs a reality. In Minneapolis, bikes would be secured in solar-powered docks, and bikes would be unlocked by a subscriber's key card.

The bikes Minneapolis would use were designed by Stationnement de Montréal, which, oddly enough, is Montreal's parking authority. The agency manages Montreal's paid on-street parking and public parking lots, and the company designed a bike-sharing program inspired by European programs already in place. Time magazine ranked Montreal's "Bixi" bike one of the 50 best inventions of 2008, and Montreal's program will also roll out next spring.

The Minneapolis bikes would have covered chains and gears internal to the hubs, so it's less easy for bikers to damage the three-speed mechanics. The broad frame is designed to be easy to clean and it has a large adjustable seat, a basket and a unisex design. Electric generation powered by movement of the front wheel would automatically light up rear lights on the bike.

Riders could take out the bikes for a half-hour at no extra charge. Annual subscriptions would cost $50–$75. The bike program is designed for quick one-way trips that are about one to three miles. Riders could check online to make sure bikes are available at the nearest dock, and when they arrive at their destinations, 1,500 more dock points than bikes should ensure there is space for bike returns. (In Barcelona, trucks redistribute bikes throughout the day to ensure adequate supplies.) Stations would be positioned about 400–500 meters apart so people theoretically wouldn't walk too far to reach their destinations.

The cost to install 1,000 bikes at 75 docks is estimated to be $3 million, and city officials have applied for a series of grants to pay startup costs. The City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation, the organization that runs the annual Loppet skiing event around the Minneapolis lakes, developed a nonprofit model that Minneapolis could use for its bike-sharing program.

Exact locations for bike docks aren't yet determined, but they would be movable. Consultants on the project say that will make our bike-sharing system a lot less expensive than the one in Paris, which has bike stations permanently entrenched in the ground. Minneapolis' bike stations would be removed during the winter.

I don't think I've ever been so happy to have been wrong.

America's Best Cities for Cyclists.

I've previously commented on this site that I hate city lists. It just seems like certain magazines throw together a trite method to rank cities for unquantifiable things mainly just to get site traffic to click on their ads. (See: Forbes Magazine). However, Bicycle Monthly has announced their annual "best cities for bikers", and I think something like this is a bit more exciting than say, "best city to not have to wait too long in line for a sandwich". Instead of simply ranking cities by number of doctors offices, this article reviews national policy and how it affects bikers.

Columbus was ranked as the best future cities for bikers. The biking community is growing here, and our green mayor, Michael Coleman, is certainly working to expand bike and pedestrian transportation. Especially considering projects like The Scioto Mile, things are looking good for Columbus. Ever since I have lived here I have noticed more and more bikers on the road, as well as improvements along our bike paths. With everything being so close together, I think Columbus is one of the best cities in America to live/walk/bike in.

Minneapolis was ranked as the second highest percentage of people who commute to work by bike and a runner-up for most improved. (Portland, Oregon took the number one spot with 3.5% of their work force commuting by bike.) Minneapolis has an incredible system called The Greenway, which is set up like a highway for bikes. Although I haven't spent much time on it, my friend Lindsey has and she swears by it.

The cities named the best for bikers were Portland, Seattle, Chicago, San Franisco and Boulder. Among the most improved were Boston, New York and Washington D.C.. Across the board there has never been a better time to be a biker!

Today's Photo Tour.

Guess where today's photos come from? Yeah, I know. You're getting sick of Minneapolis. Get over it! :-P

These photos come from Greg Benz. He is incredibly talented! Check out his site for photos from not only Minneapolis but from around the world. You can even buy prints if you'd like! (They're really that good). This first photo seems appropriate--Minneapolis in the morning. (Even though it's almost 2 in the morning for me. Hmph).

Here is an incredible shot of the interior of the central downtown library, designed by world famous architect Cesar Pelli. You may be familiar with his work on the one of the tallest structures in the world, Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers, Bank of America's world headquarters in Charlotte, the Key Bank building in Cleveland, The World Financial Center in New York, The Cleveland Clinic, The Schuster Center in Dayton, the Cira Center in Philidelphia, The Wells Fargo building in Minneapolis, The Aronoff Center in Cincinnati...the list is endless. I have no idea how this one man has seemed to design so many incredible buildings throughout the world. The man is everywhere.

Next is a photo of the incredible Walker Arts Center. I visited it for the first time on my last visit and without question it is the finest art museum I have ever been to. Absolutely stunning.

According to Greg, Red Bull installed these on the Stone Arch Bridge for about a month over the summer. Regardless, it provides a beautiful photo of downtown in Minneapolis.

I've been strolling through his blog for hours. It's addicting. But, here is one last photo. One that makes me smile. A lot.

New Skyscraper in Minneapolis?

The Nicollet on the Mall. It would be one of the tallest skyscraper in Minneapolis. Mixed-use with residential, commercial and retail space. It would be in the heart of the city, center of the city, middle of everything. Only question is...is it actually coming?



From my understanding, ground has not been broken for it. Also, on the skyscraper's website, there hasn't been a "news" update in nearly two years--same thing for the blog. So I e-mailed the sales associate and I'll hopefully find out the info. But until then, enjoy their website! :-)



*UPDATE* So I heard back from the Sales associate. The Nicollet is going through a redesign and it should break ground in 2010. Considering the market, 2013 is a reasonably expectation for this skyscraper.

All in the Family.

Woman waiting for coffee: You know my sister is a Playboy model?
Friend: (blank stare)
Woman waiting for coffee: Yeah! She sends me the pictures. I mean, she’s beautiful but I don’t wanna see that. And my brother, HE looks at those!
Friend: (blank stare)

(Via Overheard in Minneapolis)

Uptown Minneapolis.

So I woke up at 6 am today to write a paper, and I got a bit distracted by Uptown Mpls Blog, a photo blog. Regardless, I came across a few fun photos of Uptown...











Minneapolis' Uptown is kind of like Columbus' Short North: a small yet bustling area for artists, students and young professionals to hang out. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, yet it still has a rather subdued aura to it. I haven't spent much time in Uptown, but I have dined at The Uptown Diner--and boy is it good. Get the Tex Mex--I got three meals out of it!



(All Photos from Uptown Mpls Blog -- Thank you!)

Norm Coleman Wins Minnesota.

As of about three minutes ago, the Associated Press is reporting that Al Franken did not win the Minnesota Senate Seat. Out of 2.9 Million votes cast, it appears Norm Coleman has won by a few hundred. However, with such a close race, it's inevitable that there will be a recount.

Also, Prop 8 has passed.