Secrets of the City

You know that 93X plays rock music!
You read the Pioneer Press and/or the Star Tribune.
You’ve seen a head made out of… wait for it… butter!

I couldn’t make it through this list without…wait for it… vomiting! Don’t fail us, MNspeakoftheCity – you can do better.

Per their prior postings “the Deets” consider Woodbury the mecca of Minnesota – their opinion is worthless.

Okay, I’ll try a couple…dang it’s harder than it looks:

Your previous governor hunted man.

The Hamm’s Beer theme stirs in you a deep, nostalgic pride.

For some reason you secretly care what Prince is doing.

I have a few.

You know you’re from Minnesota:

If you hear certain people or things and feel the need to point out the local connection (Amy Adams? She used to act in plays locally; Cheerios? Invented locally!)

If you know that North Minneapolis is west of Minneapolis, Northeast Minneapolis is North of Minneapolis, and South St. Paul is a different city than St. Paul (and is Southeast of St. Paul.)

You can’t go to the Mall of America without sampling the free cheese (and you know the cheese store I am talking about).

You don’t think Fargo is a very good representation of Minnesota but have a pretty good idea where all the scenes were filmed.

You moved away to a bigger city but moved back.

You have or have heard stories about Dave Moore getting drunk.

You know why someone might throw a bagel on the ice at a St. Louis Park hockey game, know why it’s not funny, but still find it kind of funny anyway.

You frequently find yourself reminding people that “Drew Pearson pushed off,” over thirty years later.

You speak of Minnesota lakes in the singular, as in “are you going up to the lake this weekend?”

You know who “The Placemats” are.

You’ve been an extra in one or more Mighty Ducks movies.

You enjoy listing ways that Twincians are special.

If….

You buy your toiletries and tissues at Target.

Clearly you would be from Minneapolis if you abbreviate it properly as MPLS…

If you know what a cake eater is.

You consider anywhere north of Anoka as “Up North.”

@maxsparber: Even more confusing is the suburb of West St. Paul, which is located … south of St. Paul, and northwest of South St. Paul.

For a real Minnesotan tongue-tier, ask a non-local to pronounce Koochiching County.

A Twin Citian should also recognize that “Lake Mille Lacs” is redundant.

A Minneapolitan knows just what you mean when you say “Al’s Diner.”

You know how to pronounce “Mahtomedi” and “Kandiyohi.”

You still think “Norm Green sucks.”

You know how to pronounce Faribault.

From the list:

“You think the Renaissance Festival is a pretty awesome festival.”

No one thinks this.

The Holidazzle Parade is like the “coolest” parade ever!!!

I’m having trouble picking up the sarcasm in this one…

You know what DFL means/stands for.

or IR…(no longer used, BTW)

You still hate the REM song “Its…the end of teh world…..”

for one very particualar reason.

Max, I thought the same thing about Dave Moore!

More:

You understand the reference: The KITN that roars! (channel 23, ca. 1980s)

You know who Bud Kraehling (sp?)is.

You know/remember Casey Jones, and/or know one of his kids.

You know where Mary Tyler Moore’s house is and what it used to look like.

And you know where Andrew Cunanan started his cross-country carnage.

Also, several things on that list were funny and spot-on, but several others were dumb/pointless as hell.

Ryanol, I don’t get the REM reference!

Me neither, but I’m still not afraid.

Love it or hate it, you’ve debated the term “Twincian.”

The REM reference is about a station (93.7 I think) when they changed formats played It’s the end of the world as we know it…. on a loop the last day the station was in existence. I think it was 8 or 9 years ago…

The problem I have with lists like this is that they are not very discriminating. They might as well say, You know you’re from the Twin Cities if you have driven on I35.

There are plenty of non-cities people who have been to Valley Fair. There are lots of people who drink “pop” and not “soda” — many of those have never even been to Minnesota.

When 93.3 was purchased by Clear Channel and became 93.X (which plays rock music) their last day they played the aforementioned REM song on loop.

Knowing how to pronounce Mahtomedi is a good one. However, knowing how to pronounce Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Lake Calhoun make you able to read. These are all phonetic. Knowing how to pronounce Plymouth makes you from any state in America, from Britain. an owner of an American car, or at least someone who watches television and sees car adds.

My contribution to this list:

Two words: MEAT RAFFLE

The REM reference was re: REV 105, Revolution Radio, a bright star on the radio dial that shone so bright it’s life was cut short. They did play that song straight for the last (day? 2 days?). I’m sure it’s been properly eulogized elsewhere.

Jane, I don’t get any of your references aside from the KITN.

I’ll add a some:

You remember Rogers Cable Network, and could kind of recognize Roger today if he were talking about what movies were on when.

When you travel, people think it’s weird how much you like your home cities.

You feel strangely jealous when somebody from outside Minnesota speaks knowledgeably about loons.

Having the Mississippi River go through your town is an afterthought.

Oh, damn, it’s 2 to 1 Edge vs. REV 105. Stupid memory. Edge was probably right.

Then let me add to the list:

You remember Revolution Radio (but not very well).

You know who Bud Kraehling (sp?)is.

Longtime weather guy on channel four. Was really old when I was young.

You know/remember Casey Jones, and/or know one of his kids.

He had a kids’ tv show that ran for years. It was filmed in the Calhoun Beach Club. They had local boy and girl scout troops on bleachers in the background. My older sister and brother got to go, and they got in a fist fight on TV! Casey Jones’ real name was Roger Awsumb and his kids went to local public schools. I graduated w/his youngest daughter.

You know where Mary Tyler Moore’s house is and what it used to look like.

It is about 1/2 block off western Lake of the Isles. It used to be white, but they painted it brown many years ago.

And you know where Andrew Cunanan started his cross-country carnage.

At the Harmony Lofts (sign now removed) a building right by Choice and Sex World.

You remember Revolution Radio (but not very well).

I still occasionally wear my REV 105 shirt that I got at the Lyn-Lake Street Fair (remember those?)

Doesn’t anyone remember the first "alternative" station, KJ104?

@kattywompas: The station was an alt-rock variation that was on 104.1 (KJJO) prior to their switch to Smooth Jazz ca. 1992.

I also believe the same song was used when REV105 was dumped after the station was sold to ABC/Disney.

Coincidentally, Brian Turner worked at both stations during their (relatively) short-lived reigns.

Is that KJ104 reference an official “jinx,” noodleman?

Uptown, Dinkytown, Midtown, Frogtown.

You recognize the names of all the major characters in an epic poem you never read.

You’ve sat or slouched on the patio at the Uptown Bar (a patio that is in danger of moving to the alley) at least once.

I’m looking at the Andrew Cunanan lofts right now!

(Or am I looking at Choice…hmmmm….my office window oversees Harmony Lofts and the MPLS sex district.)

http://www.twitpic.com/1285m

As the snow gently falls upon the roofs of The Choice and Deja Vu…Yup. This is my world.

Doesn’t anyone remember the first “alternative” station, KJ104?

Does anyone else remember I-95, or KRSI 950 AM? I think it was around in the late 1970s, because I remember them played artists like Lene Lovich, DEVO, The Sinceros, and Tim Curry’s “I Do The Rock”.

Aekelund, what a lovely view!

Didn’t First Bank have some rockin’ jingles back in the late 70s or thereabout?

Which I remember not from the 70s but from someone playing an album of TV jingles at a party a couple years ago.

’nuff said

Yoshi, I think your mistaken believe that I’m pro-Woodbury was based on this post from Juny 2007 where I was jokingly discussing to Woodbury’s awesomeness.

Don’t try and skirt your Woodbury love, ed!

As the snow gently falls upon the roofs of The Choice and Deja Vu…Yup. This is my world.

Almost makes me miss the period that I lived in Fridley, and commuted to work at the U by bus:  My evening downtown transfer pickeup was the Federal building, and I usually had to wait a spell in that foyer. A steady stream of dancers heading in to work at Rick’s after parking in the ramp there made the wait more bearable.

@spells: If only the walls could talk re: K-Jo 104.

Hey guys, thanks so much for mentioning my post. I just wanted to let you know I really appreciate it. I’ll be sure to email you guys tomorrow.

Another two words:

LET’S BOWL!

No mention of the ‘CCO Weatherball or the rhymes involved with it, Daytons and Donaldsons, when Downtown actually was important, “….From the land of sky blue waters” before Bloomington was the MOA mecca, outdoor baseball and KICKS soccer, tailgating, South MPLS before sound-proofing, that Ragstock was a used clothing store once where everything was in barrels, when the Foshay was the tallest building, Walker Art Center before the Sculpture garden, Parade Stadium, when Uptown was funky and chic…….

uh, hmmmmm…..I just totally dated myself with all these, didn’t I?

Kayte_01: yes.

I was thinking this thread was turning into a “You know you’re old and from the TC if…”

Here is the weatherball jingle for you old timers. I don’t get most of those references.  However I do know that Casey Jones is equivalent to Duane Ellett and Floppy.

We haven’t even started to touch on what old people would remember. No Miller Stadium references yet, or that amusement park that used to be on Lake Street. Heck, if you’re old enough, you remember a certain local poet and U of M teacher who committed suicide, and I am not talking about Berryman.

I vividly remember the Northwest Orient Airlines jingle being played on WCCO while I ate oatmeal at the breakfast table.

Northwest Orient …GONG!… Airlines.

And what was that Dog Barking thing they used to always play on the Good Neighbor in the mornings?

Love the NW Orient gong.

Wonder if anyone outside of MN knows what is meant by “Don’t blame me, I’m from Minnesota!”

(Reference to MN being the only state poor Walter Mondale took against that old coot Reagan.)

I’ll see your Let’s Bowl and raise you MST3K on broadcast TV!

Ronald, Ronald, Ronald.

Here’s my first shot at posting…

you use the word “deal” as both a noun and a verb, and it often does pertain to money, or even a transaction…

Technically, Zenmama, this is a comment rather than a post, but we can “deal” with it.

Deal?

Jeeze, where are these people coming from?

I have an idea, aliecat, but it’s (not verified)…

I just assumed it is either the UK or WIspeak.

They’re Maz’s Minions. He’s sitting up in Ely giving marching orders and chortling his Maz chortle.

“You know you’re old and from the TC if…”

You remember when Rondo was an oasis of multi-racial peace and harmony.

I think of his minions as being more like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz.

Maybe. He could probably get by paying the monkeys below-market wages.

The REM reference was from 93X changing to the Edge in 1994
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KXXR

You were offended by Fargo.