Southwest Richfield - Richfield, MN

Richfield began as a small farming community known for its abundance of rich farmland and officially became a city in 1908. In the 1850s, one of Richfield's first and most famous settlers, Riley Bartholomew, built a house on Wood Lake near the border of Southwest Richfield. The Richfield Historic Society formed in 1967 to preserve the historic integrity of this house, which operates as the Bartholomew House Museum under the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, Richfield hosts many annual community events, including a popular Fourth of July celebration. New Year's Eve festivities, such as a skating party and a candlelit program, take place at the Wood Lake Nature Center (right on the neighborhood border between Northwest and Southwest Richfield). Finally, partake in the Walking Public Art Tour presented by the Richfield Arts Commission to enjoy an abundance of local and regional art and sculptures constantly on display.

In addition to a multitude of staple chain restaurants, Southwest Richfield offers a variety of quality ethnic food venues. When you need a bite to eat, your first stop should be the restaurants on Lyndale Avenue, especially those clustered in the south of the neighborhood. Visit Joy's Pattaya Thai Restaurant for a delightful array of well-made Thai food. Try the drunken noodles and the spring rolls, and wash it down with the iced Thai tea.

For authentic Mexican fare of the finest quality, go a little east, and drop by Andale Taqueria y Mercado on Nicollet Avenue. Don't let the humble location next to a gas station keep you from the best street-style tacos in the Twin Cities. Start with the taco al pastor (pork) and try the lengua or tripas (tongue and tripe) when you're feeling a little adventurous. Round out your meal with the vegetarian tamales.

To the north, Lyn 65 Kitchen and Bar embodies a comforting neighborhood bar with a classy atmosphere. Enjoy thoughtfully crafted cocktails and moist, flavorful burgers, as well as some higher-end food options. Take a leap of faith with whatever seasonal cocktail is on the menu, and order the pork torta for a tasty and satisfying meal in a warm environment.

When you are in the mood for a wild night out, make the 15-minute trip to downtown Minneapolis. Get your laughs at Acme Comedy Club, or dance the night away at the nationally famous music venue First Avenue.

With Interstate 494 forming the southern border and Interstate 35W dividing the neighborhood in half, Southwest Richfield deeply benefits from its prime access to the Twin Cities as well as neighboring suburbs. Shops and restaurants clustered around key intersections make certain areas very walkable (south Lyndale Avenue; Nicollet Avenue; Penn Ave & 76th Street), but for the most part, residents prefer a more convenient mode of transport. Enjoy ample street parking as well as the occasional parking garage, and be prepared to occasionally pay a few bucks for public parking.

If you prefer to leave your car behind, Metro Transit offers limited transportation around the city and to popular neighboring suburbs, such as Bloomington, as well as express access to downtown Minneapolis via the Orange Line rapid transit bus service. As throughout the Twin Cities metro, bikers are also a familiar sight in the streets of Richfield, including during the winter months and even on streets without biking lanes.

Instead of waiting to hail a cab in Southwest Richfield, register with Uber, and enjoy a classier ride with the added convenience of ordering and paying from your smartphone.

In a city named for its rich land and green spaces, Southwest Richfield is home to one-half of Richfield's largest park reserve. With 3 miles of walking trails and landscapes ranging from young forests, hills and marshlands to prairies and a big lake, the Wood Lake Nature Center provides a full range of seasonal recreational activities and a reliable destination for community members wishing to get away for a while.

The Center also hosts annual events, such as the New Year's Eve Candlelight and Ice program on Wood Lake, as well as regular family and educational activities. In addition to equipment rental costs for cross-country skiing or snowboarding, a $2 to $4 admission fee for special events and programs usually applies. Please leave your bikes, rollerblades and all pets at home in order to protect and preserve the natural landscape.

For a free day of winter fun, bring your sled to Adam's Hill Park, and take advantage of the steep sledding hill. Alternatively, visit in the summer to enjoy walking paths, a pretty pond, athletic courts and a playground for the kids. Dogs are welcome too.

The cost of living in Southwest Richfield is two percent lower than that of Minneapolis but six percent higher than Richfield's cost of living. A one-bedroom residence in Southwest Richfield rents for an average of $800 compared to the Minneapolis median rent of $900. As such, this neighborhood offers an affordable option to those wishing to call the Twin Cities metro area home while also wanting to maintain a great standard of living.

You can get to Minneapolis's city center via the great metro transit system for just $1.75, while a beer at a neighborhood bar costs you around $4. Local gas prices hover about six percent lower than the national average.

Although primarily a neighborhood of big commercial businesses, Southwest Richfield also enjoys prime access to several major shopping areas.

Along the west border of the neighborhood, the Edina Galleria Shops of Distinction present over 70 upscale boutiques and specialty stores for a shopping experience like none other. From apothecary boutiques, such as Origins, Ampersand and L'Occitane, to home decor stores, such as Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel, and too many clothing stores to list, the Galleria offers the ultimate destination for high-end shopping. Across the street, the Southdale Center is an affordable option for those wishing to save their pennies.

In addition, the Mall of America waits just five minutes away on Interstate 494, while the independent shops of uptown Minneapolis are a mere 10 minutes away via 35W North.

When you want to stay truly local, don't forget that independent stores and shops are also scattered throughout Richfield. Get your best haircut ever at Cheveux Supplies & Salon. Head just west of the neighborhood to discover Southdale Center, where you can visit MAC Cosmetics, Maurices, and Gordmans. Nearby, Galleria Edina provides stores like Pottery Barn, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Cole Haan, Coach, Crate and Barrel, and Arhaus Furniture. Richfield Hub and West Shopping Center contains a Michaels, Rainbow Foods, Marshalls, and Walgreens.

Neighborhood grocery stores include Lund's Market and Cub Foods, as well as the Asian Direct Oriental Market. In the summertime, a city-wide farmers market takes place on Saturdays at the Veteran's Memorial Park, which is located a few minutes north of the neighborhood.