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Minneapolis named as one of the country's most literate cities

Central Connecticut State University Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Minneapolis is the third most literate city in the United States, according to a survey done annually by Central Connecticut State University.

The university looks at each city's newspaper and magazine circulation as well as library and Internet resources. The study compared data in cities with populations of 250,000 and larger. Minneapolis has ranked in the top three since the study's start in 2005, and came in in first place in 2007.

This year, Washington, D.C. was ranked first on the list, followed by Seattle. Others in the top five were Atlanta and Boston. The bottom five included Fresno, El Paso and Corpus Christi.

Twin Cities ranks high in national salary survey

Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Among more than 400 metro areas, the Twin Cities ranks 37th for average annual worker pay. The analysis comes via the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which noted that workers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area earn an average of $49,140 annually.

The San Jose metro area ranked first for worker pay, at an average of $67,850, followed by the San Francisco-San Mateo area, where salaries average $63,290.

The rankings were reported in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, which noted that within Minnesota, Rochester ranked second, followed by Duluth, St. Cloud, and Mankato.

USA Today offers top 10 reasons to visit Twin Cities

USA Today Wednesday, February 01, 2012

In a regular column in USA Today called, The Pop Traveler, local writer Amanda Fretheim Gates makes a list of top 10 reasons to visit the Twin Cities.

The iconic First Avenue, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Chain of Lakes, skyways, Hennepin Theatre District, local brews, public art, and Jucy Lucy hamburgers are just some of the things that she enjoys about the area.

From her home, “I'm never more than 15 minutes from a play, museum, park, lake, farm-fresh dining, and tax-free shopping,” she says.

In general, “The people are friendly, the cultural offerings stellar, the sports exciting (if not depressing at times) and the outdoors flourishing all year round,” she writes.

The Atlantic gives Kopplin's Coffee a nod

The Atlantic Wednesday, February 01, 2012

The Atlantic magazine features Kopplin’s Coffee in St. Paul in a compilation of 35 top-notch neighborhood coffeehouses around the country.

The article starts out with a point about coffee trends in the U.S.: “Despite, or perhaps because of, the rapid expansion of Starbucks and other standardized chains, small coffeehouses are flourishing,” and Americans are getting more sophisticated in their coffee tastes.

Kopplin’s Coffee in St. Paul stands out in part because it’s “truly about supporting the local community,” with milk from locally raised grass-fed cows and Fair Trade and organic coffee.

The magazine also suggests stopping by Rustica Bakery in Minneapolis for a pastry.

Reuters traces the history of a fizzy local cocktail

Reuters Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A cocktail pioneered by a Minneapolis country club in the early 20th century got some 21st century attention, in a recent Reuters article on the city's dining-and-cocktail culture.

Dubbed The Bootleg, the drink is a fizzy, sweet-and-sour mix that's similar to a Tom Collins, but features a touch of mint. There doesn't seem to be a standard recipe, the story notes, and some are made with frozen lemonade mix and 7-UP, while others are blended with grenadine and orange juice.

True to its name, The Bootleg isn't on cocktail menus, but the article notes that many Twin Cities bartenders know how to mix them. In the story, a recipe is included from La Belle Vie's bartender, Johnny Michaels, for those who want to shake up some speakeasy glamor at home.

Report predicts Twin Cities restaurant growth

QSR Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Restaurant industry magazine QSR ranked the Twin Cities in the top 10 in its annual "Growth 40" listings.

The list ranks metro areas that are best positioned for more restaurants, particularly those in the quick-service category. The article notes that Minneapolis saw a 25 percent change in spending at these types of restaurants within the past 10 years.

Topping the list were Orlando, Seattle, and Portland, which all had similar numbers in terms of spending increases at quick-service restaurants.

One major contributor to more growth may be the introduction of Chick-fil-A to the area. The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported last year that the fast-food chain is looking toward the Twin Cities for future expansion, and has started to scout for locations for next year.

Minnnesota one of the top 10 states for LEED building

US Green Building Council Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Recently the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released a list of the top 10 states for green building through the internationally recognized LEED standards.

The results are based on U.S. Census data from last year.

Minnesota rounds out the list that’s topped by the District of Columbia.

The LEED Platinum Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis is named in a prepared statement about the list.

St. Paul Winter Carnival ranked 4th in the world by National Geographic

National Geographic Traveler Wednesday, January 25, 2012

For National Geographic Traveler, the St. Paul Winter Carnival takes fourth-place in the world when it comes to wintry festivals.

Anchorage's Fur Rendezvous topped the list.

The Traveler's writeup of the event explains how Winter Carnival began when a reporter wrote that St. Paul was "another Siberia, unfit for human habitation in the winter." Beginning in 1886, St. Paulites asserted their local pride with the winter festivities.

Vending Times recognizes local vending machines for bike repair

Vending Times Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Vending machine industry publication Vending Times profiled two Minneapolis entrepreneurs who are boosting the robust local biking scene. The pair, Chad DeBaker and Alex Anderson, have launched Bike Fixtation, which combines a large vending machine with a standalone bike repair rack.

The machine vends bicycle repair products such as tubes, lights, tools, and patch kits, as well as refreshments like energy bars and water bottles.

The article notes that the bicycle service stand allows patrons to perform repairs at the site, and includes an assortment of tools like Allen hex keys and wrenches.

DeBaker says in the feature that the company sees the potential for expansion to college campuses, bike trails, and any public location that attracts bicycle ridership.

Minneapolis named a top city for charitable giving

Scarborough Research Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Minneapolis is among the top cities in the nation when it comes to charitable giving and volunteering, according to Scarborough Research.

The firm measures numerous trends throughout the year, including shopping patterns and media behaviors, and ranks the results by city.

For its charitable giving study, it tracked donations and volunteer work from the past year.

Minneapolis was ranked second, after Salt Lake City, in both charitable giving and volunteerism. In a previous Scarborough study, done in 2008, Minneapolis was ranked third in the nation for charitable donations.

Huffington Post highlights historic election in Minnesota

Huffington Post Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Huffington Post recently highlighted the historic election of Democrat Susan Allen, an openly lesbian Native American, to the Minnesota legislature.

While campaigning, Allen had publicly stated, "I reflect the great diversity of our district, as a Native American woman and a member of the LGBT community, and hope to bring this important voice to the state capital to offer more balanced, representative contributions and input," according to the story.

Tiffany Muller, who led political operations for Allen, is quoted, saying, ”This is our first win of 2012, and it’s a fantastic way to start off what will be a very exciting year for LGBT candidates.”

St. Paul ice rink chosen by NBC for live coverage of 'Hockey Day in America'

Pioneer Press Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Downtown St. Paul’s Wells Fargo WinterSkate rink will serve as the backdrop for NBC's live coverage of “Hockey Day in America,” the Pioneer Press reports.

The broadcast features four National Hockey League games on Feb. 19, including the Minnesota Wild vs. the Boston Bruins at the Xcel Energy Center.

“With ice at many lakes too soft to skate on, and temperatures unseasonably pleasant, more than 20,000 skaters have headed to downtown St. Paul for free ice time,” the story states.

The choice of the rink as a broadcast backdrop means that it will be open an extra two weeks this year.

Business site ranks Minnesota fourth best-run state

24/7 Wall St. Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Business website 24/7 Wall St. issued its annual report on how well America's 50 states are run, and Minnesota came in fourth, just behind Wyoming, Nebraska, and North Dakota.

The site reviewed data on financial health, standard of living, and government services to determine how well each state is managed. Based on that information, 24/7 ranked the states from best to worst.

Minnesota moved up one place in this year's rankings due to improvement in several categories, including violent crime rate and health insurance coverage.

Admitting that the comparison was a challenge because of the unique characteristics of each state, the site did note that, even given the differences, states can do a great deal to control their fate. The editors write, "Well-run states have a great deal in common with well-run corporations. Books are kept balanced. Investment is prudent. Debt is sustainable. Innovation is prized."

Women's Health calls Minneapolis a top city for women's fitness

Women's Health Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Fitness magazine Women's Health took a look at top cities for health and happiness, and recognized Minneapolis as one of the top 10 cities for women.

The city has the fourth-highest number of female joggers, as well as one of the lowest breast cancer death rates, the article noted. Women's Health praised the number of lakes and paved shoreline paths in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, since that amount of recreation space makes it easier for women to increase their fitness levels.

"Preliminary research suggests that women who are physically active may have a 30 to 40 percent lower chance of developing breast cancer," says Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, an oncologist at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in the article.

Huffington Post cites Minneapolis lessons in biking and walking

Huffington Post Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The Huffington Post recently featured a story by local writer Jay Walljasper titled, “How to Boost Biking and Walking in Your Town: Lessons From Minneapolis.”

Walljasper cites numerous reports that show Minneapolis has become a top biking city.

He attributes it in part to various street improvements “including more bike lanes and special bicycle-and-pedestrian boulevards -- installed around town in the past year as part of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Project.”

Joan Pasiuk, who heads Bike Walk Twin Cities, is quoted, saying, "The goal of this project from Congress was to shift some trips, and this data shows it is happening," adding, "The implications for overall health and transportation access are outcomes the community will realize from the numbers we're reporting."

Getting accurate bike and pedestrian counts is critical in terms of influencing transportation policies, according to Pasiuk.