1. It Rains Purple In Minneapolis
Okay, not really. But it might as well. If you don’t already know, Prince is a Minneapolis native and local. Everyone has a Prince story. Seriously, everyone.
2. People Here Eat Hot Dish And Tater Tots Like It’s Going Out Of Style
But let’s be real, hot dish and tater tots will never go out of style. At least not in Minneapolis. And especially when we’re talking about a hot dish made with tater tots. You’ll find a hot dish at every potluck, party, and family get together from now until forever. And if you don’t love tater tots, then you don’t belong here.
3. They Have A Superhuman Resistance To Cold
There are quite a few people in Minneapolis who will swear to their grave that the cold doesn’t bother them. And to prove it, they’ll walk around in cargo shorts and slides in the middle of January or even run around in a blizzard wearing nothing but their bathing suits. The latter is usually an attempt at going viral on social media.
And even if they weren’t born yet, people still somehow seem to remember when it got down to -41 degrees in January 1988.
4. State Politics Have Locals Apologizing A Lot
Minnesota has their share of polarizing politicians – just mention the names Michelle Bachman and Jesse Ventura to anyone and you’ll see what I mean. But Minneapolis has very little to do with which way the state swings. They’re mostly liberal and proud. And yes, usually pretty embarrassed by the crazy side of politics.
5. The Kind People Of Minneapolis Have Taken The Hipsters In
Find them in the North Loop, or the Warehouse District, along with a ton of restaurants with trendy food and bars overflowing with Pabst Blue Ribbon. Let the wild rumpus begin!
6. Fargo Jokes? Not Funny Here.
Yes, Minnesota has long-been associated with *that* accent. But Fargo is not real life. Besides, you’ll find more people in Minneapolis who don’t have the accent than people who do. So, be advised that Fargo jokes aren’t the best icebreaker.
7. Is The Jucy Lucy Really As Juicy As It Claims, You Ask?
Even juicier. This hamburger stuffed with cheese inside of it (seriously, why isn’t this a thing everywhere) is a local legend and you need to go to Matt’s for the best one.
8. It’s Too Hip For Starbucks
While you can find a Starbucks in Minneapolis, you won’t find the crazy lines there like you find everywhere else in the country. That’s because those lines are all at Caribou Coffee, the local coffee chain. They have more chains here than Starbucks does, along with better business. And, many would argue, better coffee.
9. No Booze On Sundays
Sorry. State law declares Sunday as the day of no imbibing, or at least purchasing alcohol. Bars are open but you won’t be able to buy your appletini unless you head on over to...
10. Wisconsin: Minnesota’s Mortal Enemy Monday Through Saturday And BFF On Sundays
Wisconsin and Minnesota have a rivalry, but on Sunday? No hard feelings from Minneapolis residents. Clever locals head across the Wisconsin border and buy their beer on Sunday along with everybody else who forgot to stock up on Saturday.
11. Pick A Name, Any Name
Depending on who you talk to or what shirt you’re reading, you’ll find names varying from The Mill City, MPLS, The City Of Lakes, Pickleville, Prince Town, Miniature-polis, The Mini Apple, and more.
12. But No One Actually Says The Twin Cities
Living in Minneapolis or St. Paul might make you part of the Twin Cities, but no one actually says that here. Refer to the above.
13. You Survived A Minneapolis Winter And All You Got Are These Jumper Cables
Don’t pay attention to the cold deniers—it definitely gets cold. Why else do you think people have to plug their cars in at night? So their batteries don’t freeze.
14. You Don’t Actually Have To Go Outside Unless You Want To
All this talk about cold probably has Minneapolis seeming pretty off-putting now, right? But it’s not. The famous skyway system gives you the ability to walk upwards of five miles around the city, connecting to offices, storefronts, and restaurants without ever having to step outdoors.
15. It Might Seem A Little Clique-y
Folks who have lived in Minneapolis their whole lives tend to stick with the other natives—whom they also probably went to school with. And there are a ton of transplant locals who have moved in over the course of recent years. It’s not that you can’t make any new friends when you’re a transplant—it’ll just probably going to be with another transplant.
16. Minneapolis Will Always Be Superior, No Matter What St. Paul Thinks
One thing you just have to get used to is that the people in Minneapolis will always look down their noses at the people in St. Paul. Think of Minneapolis as Marcia Brady and St. Paul as Jan.
17. People From Minneapolis Have An In With The Tambourine Man
Musical legend Bob Dylan is from Minneapolis. He doesn’t live here now to give everyone an awesome Facebook status sighting, so it’s not as big of a deal. But it’s impressive to everyone, nonetheless.
18. Good Grief Isn’t Part Of The Minnesota Accent
Okay, so some folks in Minneapolis do say “good grief!” Quite a bit. But it’s not part of the stereotypical Minnesota accent, don’tchaknow? It’s because Peanuts creator Charles Schulz is a Minneapolis boy. Apparently his influence goes beyond a dog that sleeps on his roof.
19. It’s The Birthplace Of Target
Does anything else really have to be said? Except maybe a “you’re welcome.”
20. Don’t Be Fooled By Hot Dish—People In Minneapolis Are Healthy
Casseroles and tater tots might fill dinner tables across the city, but Minneapolis is a super healthy place to live. The healthiest, in fact. Forbes listed it as the country’s healthiest city overall.
21. Mall Of America’s A’ight, But Natives Tend To Avoid It
Is it cool? Yes. Is putting a roller coaster in a mall the best idea ever? Also yes. But you will probably never go more than once. It’s a tourist thing.
22. They Do It For The Love Of Theat-ah
Bet you didn’t know that Minneapolis has one of the biggest theater scenes in the country, did you? It’s part of where the nickname The Mini Apple comes from. The local favorite is the Guthrie Theater, but you can also find the largest dinner theater in the country at Chanhassen.
23. Galactic Pizza Saves The World One Slice At A Time
People delivering your pizzas while dressed up as super heroes is pretty cool, but Galactic Pizza is all about saving the world in real life, too. They’re an unbelievably sustainable and energy-efficient company, using only electric vehicles and sustainable agriculture practices. So, when that superhero shows up at your door, you really can feel impressed.
24. Minneapolis Loves Parks. A Lot.
Do you want to know why Minneapolis is ranked number one in the country for its park system? That’s because it has nearly 200 parks. 94 percent of the people who live here in Minneapolis live within 10 minutes of a public park, so you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a couch potato here.
25. Minneapolis Locals Love The Grain Belt Sign
Shut up, it’s not an eyesore. Grain Belt beer has serious roots in the city and will always be a household name. There are a ton of other awesome beers that locals love, too, like Surly’s. But that famous Grain Belt sign will be a part of the Minneapolis skyline forever, whether it’s actually there or not.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Minneapolis? Tell us in the comments below! 
