Loring Park - Minneapolis, MN

The history of this tree-lined neighborhood remains intricately tied with Loring Pond and its surrounding park, once known as Central Park. In the late 19th century, the city's wealthy upper-class moved to this quiet neighborhood and built fine brick homes and mansions. A housing shortage after World War II transformed these elegant homes into smaller apartments and condos where a modern mix of economically diverse residents enjoy the neighborhood's inclusive and social nature.

Loring Park lies close to Minneapolis's renowned theater district and contemporary art galleries. Discover the latest in modern art at the internationally acclaimed Walker Art Center. This multidisciplinary contemporary art center stands as one of the top five modern art museums in the United States. After checking out world-class chamber music concerts and watching a historic visual classic from Salvador Dali or Marcel Duchamp, make sure to check out its education and community programs.

The theater district remains the most prominent in Loring Park, and with Hennepin Avenue often hosting Broadway-quality productions in a variety of historic theaters, there is no need to travel to Manhattan. Catch the famous Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker every December in the beautiful Orpheum Theater, or keep in touch with the Broadway greats as the hottest Tony-award-winning shows pay visit to the Orpheum and State Theaters.

During the summer months, Loring Park proudly hosts the biggest art and music festivals in Minneapolis. Discover an urban oasis of art and culture every August at the Loring Park Art Festival, where 140 visual artists display their works, while stage performers and strolling musicians keep everyone entertained.

Also in August, the Chipotle Cultivate Food, Ideas & Music Festival stands as the go-to music and food event of the year. This festival occurs on only one day in late August, and it features nationally acclaimed musical acts and outstanding chef demonstrations from such culinary giants as Andrew Zimmern and Amanda Freitag.

Nearby Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Avenue provide Loring residents with a combination of quick eateries and high-end restaurants along every block, and everything can be reached within a 15-minute walk.

Nightlife abounds just outside the Loring Park area, and with the epicenter of the Minneapolis party scene minutes away, your weekends can be as wild or low-key as you like. Located across from Orchestra Hall on Nicollet Mall, Brit's Pub has remained as Minneapolis's small corner of the U.K. for over 20 years. Tip a pint with friends and watch the Twins or the Vikings play on a flat-screen television, or cozy up in front of the fireplace in the winter with a glass of aged whiskey. When the sun comes out, Brit's Pub caters to hundreds of lawn bowling enthusiasts who enjoy open bowling on Saturdays and Sundays.

Travel by car remains necessary for enjoying all the wonders that the Minnesota countryside has to offer, and access is easy on the I-94. However, finding permanent parking in the area can be quite difficult and expensive.

Most residents prefer to get around the neighborhood and the city by bicycle. Spacious bike lines and abundant bike parking encourage an environmentally friendly culture dependent on bicycles. Nice Ride provides a comprehensive bike sharing service in the area as well.

Don't feel like walking or riding a bike? Cab services abound in the greater Minneapolis area, but you may have an easier time hailing a taxi closer to Downtown West and along Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Avenue. Uber and Lyft provide alternative options when looking for a quick ride.

The METRO system connects Minneapolis residents with the Mall of America, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and 18 other stations. Located about a mile north of Loring Park, you can hop on the Blue Line and the Green Line at the Warehouse-Hennepin Avenue Station & Platform.

Metro Transit, one of the largest bus systems in the United States, serves as a comprehensive alternative to the rail lines. Although fares remain low among the 74 bus lines passing through this neighborhood, free-ride buses boarding along Nicollet Mall and the Minneapolis Convention Center offer a convenient way to get around the downtown area.

Extending outwards from Loring Pond like an arm, the Loring Greenway provides an exceptional example of the natural beauty of this area. This heavily used pedestrian walkway connects the central Loring Park to Nicollet Mall, and you can bike or jog your way along the 1,600-foot pathway lined with trees and park benches. Make sure to check out Greenway Gardening Days between May and October for some community gardening.

The aptly named Loring Park remains as the true jewel of this neighborhood. Dip your legs in the quaint Loring Pond when the summer heat rolls around, and during the notorious winter months, make sure to bring a pair of skates. An intricate network of paved paths throughout this park serves many of the area's joggers who are looking for a safe, visually appealing place to get some exercise. Featuring paved basketball courts and abundant green space ideal for kicking back with a good book or even for a picnic, this park makes the ideal refuge.

In the northeast section of the park near the college, you can take your dog's leash off and watch your beloved pet freely run about. This off-leash dog park allows local dog owners to get together and socialize while their furry friends enjoy a quarter-acre of running space.

Nearby universities provide a continuous influx of students looking for reasonable rents for homes and apartments. Along Nicollet Mall, for instance, rental costs for a two-bedroom apartment hover around $1,200 a month. You can look closer to the Minneapolis Community & Technical College for more affordable options, where median rental rates are closer to $600 a month.

Overall, Loring Park makes for a fairly affordable area of the city, but expect to pay higher rates for entertainment and dining closer to the major theaters along Hennepin Avenue. Common staples such as groceries and home furnishings cost about the same as in the rest of the city.

Beginning on the north end of Loring Park off East 12th Street, Nicollet Mall remains Minneapolis' go-to shopping oasis. Try on a new outfit at Macy's or Sak's Fifth Avenue Off 5th, grab a locally-made dream catcher at the Love From Minnesota boutique, and take home the latest novel from Barnes & Noble, all while passing street musicians and delectable restaurants on this outdoor pedestrian mall.

When it comes to bicycles, Cherry Cycles on Harmon Place stands as the foremost bicycle repair and sales shop in the entire Loring Park area. In fact, most of the bicycles you see cruising around Loring Pond and through the downtown area come from this shop. Even if you know absolutely nothing about bicycles, the knowledgeable and friendly staff at Cherry Cycles will work with you to find a new or used bicycle based on your needs. The guys and gals at this bike store not only help you fix up a bike, but they also enjoy teaching customers how to make their own bike repairs.

The Target on Nicollet Mall rests across the street from its corporate headquarters, and it towers over any other Target in the nation in terms of prices, customer service and variety. For these reasons and many others, Loring Park residents often use this Target for their groceries and home furnishing needs. After picking up common kitchen staples from renowned organic producers, you can get an eye exam and pick up your prescriptions as well.

When looking to get the freshest foods and meats around, Loring Park residents only need to head up East Lyndale Avenue to discover the Minneapolis Farmers Market. This farmers market remains open seven days a week between mid-April and mid-November, allowing residents to stock up on the highest-quality seasonal goods. Many vendors continue selling in the winter months, and you can always expect to find a beautiful Christmas tree in December.