About Minneapolis' Loring Park

Loring Greenway is an urban walkway that connects Nicollet Mall with Loring Park, the city park that gives its name to the Minneapolis neighborhood ranked 2nd most livable by Twin Cities METRO magazine. If you aren't familiar with it you might not even realize it's there... but this urban walkway gets heavy use by thousands of people every day.

One entrance is across the street from the Berger dandelion fountain on the western edge of Loring Park. It meanders past condos, townhouses and apartments as it makes it way through gardens, fountains, and a playground on its way to Nicollet Mall... across the street from Westminster Presbyterian Church where a Paul Granlund sculpture bursts forth.

Designed by noted landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg, it is very fitting that Peavey Plaza, which he also designed, is on the corner less than a block away. The design creates a plaza parkway over LaSalle Avenue. I love the bustle of the city contrasted with the peaceful canopy of trees and a quiet residential feel. Many people may not even realize this part of the city is even here... quiet, shaded townhomes just steps from Nicollet Mall?!

It makes me wonder if this walkway might have been part of the inspiration for the Edina Promenade. Both are wonderfully walkable, passing by condos and townhomes as they connect a city park with commercial districts.Both are also areas that appeal to young buyers and Baby Boomers alike.

Not surprisingly, many of the homes for sale in the Loring Park neighborhood are concentrated in the area around the Loring Greenway, currently ranging in price from $119,900 to $595,000. The other high concentration of Loring Park neighborhood condos is along Groveland Avenue on the south side of Loring Park, not far from Walker Art Center.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Loring Park Realtor

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My favorite summertime restaurant is Joe's Garage Restaurant & Bar in Minneapolis, MN

I love, love, love Joe's and here is why:

1) It's hip, it's eclectic, it's fun.

2) They have the best burgers in the world.

3) They have the BEST mash potatoes that are a meal in and of themselves....REALLY!

4) They have the best roof top patio with views of The Basilica Cathedral and the Minneapolis skyline.

Now more about the potatoes. You can build your own Mash Potatoes and here is my favorite:

Two Scoops of Mash Potatoes with Red Thai Sauce and Broccoli.

It just doesn't get any better. The spiciness of the Thai sauce, the crunchiness of the perfectly done broccoli, the yummy potatoes...need I say more.

I know I should branch out more but here is what my husband and I do almost every time we go there:

He orders the burger. I order the potatoes. We share. THEN we order dessert.

If you live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and haven't tried Joe's Garage Restaurant & Bar you are missing out!!

Photos supplied by Joe Kaplan, owner of Joe's Garage Restaurant and Bar

Two weeks ago I visited Loring Park in Minneapolis to take some photos for one of my listings that is two blocks away. It was a great afternoon, and I got some wonderful shots.

I didn't arrive until 2 pm, so I had to work around the sun. An easy way to do this, I have found, is to take photos from under trees, so that the sun is blocked out by the leaves and branches. Your own natural camera hood if you like. Each of these photos was taken under a tree...the second photo I let the tree branches become a natural border, which frames Saint Mark's in the background.