Brooklyn Park is the 6th largest city in Minnesota with a population of 77,000 people and it is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River. In 1852, the federal government opened the area to settlers. In 1860 two towns of Brooklyn Center and Crystal Lake were formed, and the original area was larger than now.  Brooklyn Park is a great area to live, especially for families since there are so many parks and community centers.

Brooklyn Park has a house that would fit almost any budget. The median home price is around $185,000 and there are about 599 homes for sale. There are so many housing options; you can choose from charming starter homes to new construction in the Shadowbrook  Neighborhood. There are also many new construction homes near Edinburgh Golf Courses.

Brooklyn Park schools belong to three different districts – Osseo Schools, Anoka-Hennepin and Robbinsdale Schools. There is also a number of private schools as well as three colleges – North Hennepin Community College, Hennepin Tech College, and Rasmussen College.

There are many new restaurants opening; here you can find not only great dining options with food from all over the world, but also delicious takeouts any time of the day. One of the popular places is Fiesta Cancun Grill & Bar where you can  enjoy not only authentic Mexican food, but also a fun atmosphere.

Fat Nag’s Eggs is a great place for breakfast and brunch; it is well known for its delicious pancakes and eggs benedict. Another place people seem to love, is Travail Kitchen & Amusement where chefs are cracking jokes and meals are interactive; be prepared to be asked to eat off a hook hanging over your head. For those who are fans of Thai and Vietnam cuisine, Sweet Basil is a great option; here you can enjoy their delicious curry on a nice day sitting on a patio!

Brooklyn Park has over 1,700 acres of park land! In addition to that, there are many environmental areas with a lot of trails. Most of the park have playground and pavilion areas for picnics and entertainment. There are also about 48 tennis courts available, as well as ice rinks.

For the golf fans, Edinburgh Golf Course is a popular and a challenging option; it also has great restaurants on-site and is a popular place for wedding receptions.

If you prefer to live in suburbs but still would like to be close to the city, Brooklyn Park is a great option. Considering overall lower housing prices, and abundance of parks and places for outdoor activities that suit any age, Brooklyn Park might be a great choice for you and your family!

Neighborhood Resources

The Payne-Phalen neighborhood is also known as the “Greater Eastside”. The neighborhood is in a great location and has great parks, lakes, trails, as well as great coffee shops and restaurants. Many Germans, Irish and Italians made it home in early times. It used to be a very industrial area, but many companies closed and then many new Americans and Latin Americans made this neighborhood their home.

The cost of living in Payne-Phalen is cheaper than in other parts of St. Paul, and some properties can be half a cost compared to other parts of the city. While renting a one-bedroom apartment in St Paul costs $839 on average, you can get the same in Payne-Phalen for around $700.

There are many traditional houses in Payne-Phalen. There are a lot of Italiante, Queen Anne and Bungalow style houses built in 1800’s and 1900’s. Parts of the neighborhood, close to Phalen Park, also have rambler and ranch-style homes built in the 1950s and later.

There are a lot of restaurants and bistros in the neighborhood. For those who love spicy foods, check peppery curries at Eastside Thai, spicy fajitas at Taqueria Los Ocampo or hot Szechuan Style Pork at Sui Yep Cafe.

Tongue in Cheek is an East Side bistro where you can try delicious wild salmon or steak. If you want to try a variety of options at once, you can have a seven-course tasting menu.

At Ward 6 East Side you can find an affordable sandwich, cocktails. It is also a place to listen to live music. There are options for nightlife as well. Vogel’s Lounge is a dive bar that has been popular since the 40’s; this is a place to relax, play dart and watch games. You can also check out LoDo,  the Bulldog Lowertown or Kelly’s Depot Bar. If you are a fan of swing dancing, the Wabasha Street Caves would be a great choice for that.

There are not as many places for shopping except floral stores and bookstores, though the neighborhood is close to downtown, which is a popular place for Payne-Phalen residents. If you like small boutiques, head to Grand Avenue that has plenty of those.

There are also a lot of outdoor options if you choose to live in Payne-Phalen. You can go for a walk along the Lake Phalen or take your puppy to the Arlington-Arkwright Dog Park where you furry friend can enjoy some off-leash time.

There are also many parks and trails, and golf courses. In the fall you can go to Payne Arcade Harvest Festival and Parade.

Another great convenience of the neighborhood is that there are public transportation options.Metro Transit route 64 runs through the neighborhood, taking residents to downtown St. Paul or far flung suburbs such as White Bear Lake. Bikers enjoy the safety of bicycle lanes throughout the neighborhood and into downtown.

Many restaurants and shops are opening in the area, which makes Payne-Phalen a vibrant neighborhood!

Neighborhood Resources

Maplewood is located in Ramsey County Minnesota. The history of Maplewood goes back 150 years. It was initially occupied by Dakota Indians. The area was full of lakes and scrub oak trees. Then Dakota Indians were pushed out of the land by Ojibway, who wanted the land for hunting. That’s when the southern Maplewood was being settled as well. Carver Lake was named after Thomas Carver who began farming around the lake. This area later became McLean township.

The median home price in Maplewood is $190,700, which is higher than the national median. There are 15,934 housing units in Maplewood. Approximately 11,029 are owner-occupied and 4,210 are occupied by renters. The median household income in Maplewood, Minnesota is $57,822. The median household income for the surrounding county is $53,152 compared to the national median of $53,046.

When parents consider where to live, one of the important factors is the quality of a school district. Maplewood schools belong to St.Paul Public School District, North St.Paul – Maplewood School District, and Mounds View School District. There are 119 elementary schools, 72 high schools and 132 middle schools in Maplewood. In addition, Maplewood is considered to be better educated than the typical community in the nation – more than 52% have high school diplomas and 20% with college degree and 9% with post-graduate degree.

Maplewood is home to the corporate headquarters and main campus of 3M Corporation. Thus, it is considered a neighborhood of office workers, administrative support, and sales professionals. It is also home to the Maplewood Mall. Maplewood mall was open in 1974 . Since then the mall was renovated and a Metro Transit hub was open bringing more visitors. So, if you are up for shopping, dining and entertainment, visit the mall which has stores like Macy’s, Kohl’s, H&M and many others.

For those who like to explore dining options, there are plenty of places to try. Some of the popular places are Wild Orchid, 5-8 Tavern & Grill, Jake’s City Grille. For those who love Mexican cuisine, Catrinas Mexican restaurant is a great place to check out. For evening entertainment options, you can visit Music Mix Entertainment, live music venue. There is another venue called “Myth” where you can enjoy a variety of concerts.

For those who enjoy outdoors, there are plenty of parks and trails. Battle Creek Regional Park is a great place for walking, biking, and picnics. It is a beautiful park with many water streams. Also, one part of it is a off leash dog park with plenty of ponds.

There is Keller Golf Course for those who like to spend time golfing. It has been updated recently with the new grassing and plenty of challenging holes. Also, you can enjoy brunch and lunch there with great food and cost.

As you can see, Maplewood is a great city to live in an there is so many things to do! Come check it out, it may be a town for you!

Neighborhood Resources

History:
Phillips community is located south of downtown Minneapolis and it is subdivided into 4 neighborhoods: Phillips West, Midtown Phillips, East Phillips, and Ventura Village.  Due to the new streetcar routes,  Phillips neighborhood started to develop quickly. More residential areas led to many business developments; there are industrial and commercial buildings as well. The name comes from Wendell Phillips, who was a 19th century abolitionist. Phillips neighborhood is very diverse; it has many people of different nationalities. There are also several large companies in the area, such as Wells Fargo Mortgage, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health Care Services, and Honeywell International headquarters. Phillips neighborhood is a home of Minneapolis Pioneer and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. It is considered the oldest existing cemetery in Minneapolis, the first burial happened in 1853! Over 180 veterans who fought in the War of 1812 and World War I are buried there.

Housing:
Houses in Phillips are as diverse as its residents. The styles range from historic Victorian homes to smaller homes, duplexes, and apartments. There are a number of new condominiums and apartments along the Greenway. According to City-Data, the population of Phillips is about 19,273; the median age for females is 29.5, and males 29.3; there are 9,875 males and 9,397 females. The average household income is $29,974; the average value of a detached house is around $165, 567, and the median rent is $585.

Restaurants/Bars:
The most popular place to try ethnic food in the area is Midtown Global Market. It is an indoor marketplace that offers a great cultural experience and has a variety of Thai, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Italian restaurants. One of the highly rated restaurants is The Rabbit Hole, Korean style bar and restaurant, great place to have some kimchi, phan noodles, and much more. If you are craving some delicious tamales, stop by La Loma Tamales. Another popular place is Safari Express, where you can enjoy classic East African dishes. In addition to restaurants, there are many small grocery shops to browse around for some unique foods and spices.

If you are looking for a good Chinese buffet, then Teppanyaki Grill & Supreme Buffet is the place to go; it has a great variety of hot and fresh Asian food. Seafood to Go is another place worth stopping by if you have sudden seafood cravings; it is a take out only though.

Entertainment: 
American Swedish Institute (ASI) is a museum and a cultural center featuring Swedish history exhibits. ASI is housed in a Turnblad mansion, built in in 1910 for Swedish immigrants Swan and  Christina Turnblad. This is a place to learn about Swedish history. All My Relations Gallery is a small art gallery that features contemporary Native arts; it presents workshops and events in community through organizing tours, classes, and interviews with artists. There is also a puppet and a mask theater right on E Lake Street, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. This is a great place to enjoy puppet and mask plays, circuses; they also participate in May Day parades.

Parks:

Midtown Greenway is a 5.5 mile trail and it connects the CHain of Lakes with Mississippi River. According to CBS Local, Midtown Greenway was named top bike path in the U.S. There is a Freewheel Bike Center that includes a bike store and repair shop. East Phillips Park is a perfect place for family picnics and other outdoor activities such as baseball, softball, and basketball.

With both, residential and commercial areas, Phillips is a great place to raise a family or start a business. Check it out!

Neighborhood Resources