Located in the heart of the Fulton neighborhood, but serving a larger area of the city of Minneapolis, Southwest High School opened for its first school year in 1940, serving students from Edina, Richfield and the Washburn area. Currently, it is ranked highly in the state, and on a national level, due in part to its IB programming (International Baccalaureate (IB) school with Middle Years Programme (MYP). In a nutshell, the program is based around five ‘areas of interaction’: approaches to learning, community and service, human ingenuity, environments, and health and social education.The Washington Post ranked Southwest the best high school in Minnesota in 2011, with a four year graduation rate of 96%. Southwest High School is a neighborhood school to root for! (According to Wikopedia, Southwest High School also is known for the amount of hipsters that attend the school. They recently were the subject of an episode of EpicLloyd Alqhuist’s youtube rap series ‘dis raps for hire’. COOL.
Southwest High School for Hipsters and great education
Valentine’s Day…a reason to check out Bibelot in Linden Hills
Saint Valentine’s Day, a one day “holiday” originating from the celebration of the martyr (s) Saint Valentine by the Roman Catholic Church beginning in 496 AD, and celebrating romantic love since the middle ages and Chaucer. Today it is a much needed beacon for retailers and winter dwellers alike to find something to celebrate and a reason to spend money. Oh, the pressure to find the perfect gift of love. And if you don’t have a Valentine…it is a very long day (and night) to endure alone. The funny thing is, most of us have someone we cherish and an excuse to send a little heart in the mail. For the true romantic out there, answers to the Valentine dilemma can be found at our very own Bibelot in Linden Hills. Many, many, many valentine options…just click and done. From cards, to cooking, to home decor, to jewelry, to clothing…you’ll find your Valentine something special (or useful or romantic or beautiful) here!
Wild Rumpus…more than a A Linden Hills Bookstore
If you have young children (or the spirit of a young child’s heart) you must visit Wild Rumpus in Linden Hills, a true neighborhood treasure. From its tiny door made just for little ones, to the live animals roaming freely among the shelves, this is a fairy tale bookstore come to life. Actually this store was built upon ideas in the book, The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer. (And here I thought it was inspired by Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and the line “Let the Wild Rumpus begin.”) Either way, this place is magical. Walk through its tiny purple door and be transplanted and transformed…a perfect spot on a winter afternoon.
Linden Hills Development…It takes a village
The best neighborhood newspaper around, the Southwest Journal” chronicles the news and stories that make our corner of the Twin Cities so special. Of note in Linden Hills of late are the ”It takes a village to save a village” signs that have been lining the streets of Linden Hills for months. The slogan is the hallmark of the neighborhood council (Linden Hills Residents for Responsible Development) opposed to the proposed development at the corner of Upton Avenue South and 43rd Street. A five story condominium/retail development planned for this corner is two stories higher than current zoning allows, and there are some environmental concerns from residents as well. The Minneapolis Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the development at its January 23rd meeting. The dissent, and a petition signed by over 2000 residents opposed to the project, holds no legal weight, but the neighborhood council is hoping that the city really listens to the ”lack of community support.” We’ll keep you posted on the fate of the Famous Dave’s corner in Linden Hills…
Our home Minneapolis and Edina…launch of a new site for neighborhood information and news
Our Home Minneapolis is a website dedicated to the neighborhoods of Southwest Minneapolis and Edina…our neck of the woods that is so near and dear to our hearts. It was created to chronicle real life places and events in the neighborhoods of Linden Hills, Lynnhurst, Fulton, East Edina …There you will find posts and reviews, tidbits and funnies on items of importance to any neighborhood (schools, establishments,parks, news and events) and real estate news about the changing market in our neighborhood…Check it out and let us know what you think!
Linden Hills’ Beard’s Plaisance, but where is winter?
This was a lovely wintry, snowy day in the winter of 2010-2011…a white wonderland and a very fast sledding hill at Linden Hill’s Beard’s Plaisance overlooking the shores of Lake Harriet. Plaisance is a french word meaning “pleasure” and the park is aptly named. A beautiful old-school picnic pavilion : This lovely park also has a playground, tennis courts, spectacular view of the Lake, and a very long, very steep hill with lots of shade trees in the summer.This makes for a somewhat dangerous, but always exhilarating sledding hill in the winter. This year the neighborhood is without the wild screams and hysterical laughing of kids, young and old, flying down the hill at top speed…at least not yet.
Secret Footbridge over Minnehaha Creek: Fulton to Edina
We wanted to share a little neighborhood secret about our meandering Minnehaha Creek. In our neck of the woods,this lovely, flowing stream winds through the Lynnhurst and Fulton neighborhoods in Minneapolis, as well as the, as of yet un-named, Eastern corner of Edina. The Creek as we call it, cuts through backyards and parks, flows under bridges and streets, curving back and forth between 56th and 51st Streets as it heads from West to East. There is a secret footbridge that crosses the creek at Beard Avenue just North of 56th Street, and allows walkers and bikers a scenic short-cut between Fulton and Edina…Hope you love it like we do!
Great Harvest Bakery in Linden Hills…a worthy treat!
Just had to share this important, and potentially life-changing discovery. January is Derby Cookie month, among other things, at the Linden Hills Great Harvest Bakery. These delicious cookies are only available during certain months of the year. Tom and Sally at Great Harvest have chosen to feature the Derby cookie during the month of January wisely…these cookies warm your soul, blending melty chocolate, butterscotchy chewiness, and other mood-altering ingredients to really take the sting out of a January day in Minnesota.
Minnehaha Falls
This year’s Minneapolis rainfall has made the Minnehaha Creek and Falls about a full as they’ve been in a long time. In addition to the splendor of the falls, the scenic trail to the mighty Mississippi makes Minnehaha Park one of the best in all of Minneapolis. Watch this VIDEO of our latest adventure at the Minnehaha Falls.
Hometown Minneapolis:Luminary Loppet – an evening of fire and ice
The Luminary Loppet is quickly becoming the highlight of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Loppet cross-country skiing festival. Hundreds of ice lanterns light a path around the Lake of the Isles, bringing you to stations of ice sculptures, pyramids, camp fires, hot chocolate and crowd favorite fire dancers. The whole event is a true celebration of winter in Minnesota.
