Windom - Minneapolis, MN

Like other neighborhoods in the area, Windom grew in the 1900s with the expanded routes of the city’s streetcar. The neighborhood name is derived from state senator William Windom, who later became Secretary of the U.S. Treasury – and the only Minnesotan to get his face on U.S. currency.

Windom encourages a growing arts scene, though most of the galleries and theaters in southwest Minneapolis are located to the neighborhoods immediately north, or south of Highway 52, in Richfield.

The Museum of Russian Art brings culture and art to Windom, with rotating exhibits from the Russian masters. Admission costs $9, but the museum offers concession prices for students. Concerts, painting courses and educational nights complete its calendar of events.

Just across Diamond Lake Road, in Lynhurst, the Simply Jane Art Studio holds group painting courses. These relaxed DIY lessons are popular with kids birthdays, date nights and bachelorette parties.

Residents looking for a night of DJs and dancing should head north to the city's downtown. But if a relaxing evening sounds like its more your style, stick around Windom for ethnic takeout and casual entertainment. At Scott Ja-Mama's, bring cash for some of the city's best bbq ribs and chicken. Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday-Saturday, the tiny kitchen features a simple menu made for delivery and takeout. If you choose to dine in, snag one of the two tables and prepare with a stack of napkins. All meals come with a twice baked potato, slaw and dinner roll. Cathay Chow Mein has been a local institution for 65 years. Serving massive portions of Cantonese-style chow mein and traditional egg rolls, this Chinese joint is takeout only. For a sit-in dinner, drop by Ari's Best Steak House. Opened in 1973 by Greek immigrant, Ari, this restaurant challenges the idea of typical table service. Patrons order their meat and watch it grilled, then they build their own salad and pay at the counter. The Texas toast, a favorite side dish, accompanies each meal, along with a baked potato. The neighborhoods above Windom house American-style pubs and grills, plus two wine bars. In Windom, you can grab a beer at the Tailgate Sport Cafe. TVs show the latest sports match and sponsored weekly events include karaoke. Eat here on Tuesdays for half-price burgers. Other area entertainments include live music at Driftwood Char Bar, in Kingfield - north of Windom.

Metro Transit busses run along Lyndale and Nicollet Avenues, carrying residents to all parts of the city. Downtown Minneapolis is easily reached with a ride on the 4P, transferring to the Blue Line Light Rail at the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue Station. A journey from Windom to downtown using public transportation takes about 35 minutes. The Blue Line also connects passengers with the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and Bloomington’s Mall of America.

When driving, I-35 drops you downtown in 13 minutes, with light traffic. Highway 62 runs east-west to the surrounding suburban areas. Or, avoid the traffic and book a cab with area business Edina Taxi Service. The ride sharing service Uber operates around greater Minneapolis, and the service’s convenient app allows you to access potential lifts around the city from your phone.

While pedestrians and cyclists should feel welcome and safe here, Windom does not currently have authorized bike lanes.

Windom’s park is small but pleasant, providing the neighborhood with green space to picnic, walk, play sports and enjoy Minnesota’s dramatic seasons.

Windom South Park has a basketball court, garden and playground for children. Dogs are not allowed off-leash in unmarked areas.

A larger outdoor area exists south of Windom in Richfield. Here, the 150-acre Wood Lake Nature Center showcases the wetland environment around Wood Lake. Several wildlife viewing areas and three miles of trails and a floating boardwalk allow visitors to observe native plants, birds and animals. In the winter, you can move through the snow on groomed cross-country ski trails. For conservation purposes, no dogs, bikes or rollerblades are permitted in the park.

The cost of living in Windom is 2.5% higher than the average cost of living in Minneapolis. While groceries, services and healthcare cost roughly the same here as in other parts of the city, the cost of housing is significantly higher. This increased average pertains to home ownership; the median rental rate in Windom is only.7% higher than the median rental rate in Minneapolis.

The median cost of a one-unit rental here hovers between $700 - $1200. The price of gas is approximately 1% less than the national average. If you're in the mood to grab an after work pint at the local pub and expect to pay $6-8.

Windom's collection of small businesses, family-run stores and national chains reflect the needs of its diverse community. You can find everything from pet supplies and tires to kids clothing and stationery, an assortment that makes the neighborhood livable.

Boutiques and speciality stores make up the neighborhood's overall shopping opportunities. This happens to be one of the most charming facets of the area, keeping that small town feel alive. Since the early 1980s, Frank's Shoe Repair has been gracing locals with its ability to repair your favorite shoes. The shop also sells shoes, while the experienced staff members assist you in your purchase, even offering their customers a fitting.

Carpenter's Cupboard on 10th Street provides the community with a wide variety of antiques and home furnishings. This shop holds anything that you could possibly imagine. The owners take great pride in refurbishing any item that needs a little TLC and selling it to customers looking for one-of-a-kind pieces for their home.

Your creative streak continues at Beadhive, a craft and jewelry-making store. Compared to other craft stores, Beadhive sells some of the cheapest beads in Minneapolis. Eager staff fix broken jewelry, teach multi-level courses and even welcome your dogs inside the shop.

For groceries, the Cub Foods on Nicollet Avenue is a Minnesota franchise selling the usual selection of produce and packaged foodstuffs. On Diamond Lake Avenue, the up-scale chain Kowalski's has a popular store brand of generic items, as well as fresh sushi and baked goods. Purchase your fresh produce at the Richfield Farmers Market in neighboring Richfield. Twenty to 30 vendors gather every Saturday from morning until noon. Cheap, fresh-cut flowers are a popular item, but the limited number of stalls makes it difficult to find organic and specialty items.