All MPLS natives, please reply.

I remember seeing a few pictures of Uptown recently and it looks like any other corporate invaded "Ex-hip" place with Starbucks and "normal" squares in shades.

Is it different place from the place Prince sang about?

Sounded like a great, unique place! Much like Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in the 70's and early 80's through '91.

Now it's pretentious, lot's of corporate businesses mixed with cheap clothing stores. I think even Bleeker Bobs is out.

So has this also happened to Uptown?

Is Uptown still the Uptown Prince sang about in Uptown?

Share photos and observations. I'm sure many other Prince fams/fans haven't been to Minneapolis, so we Wonder U.






...
[This message was edited Wed Feb 5 20:54:12 PST 2003 by FlyingCloudPassenger]

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

Uptown is nothing like it was back then. I wish I had some photos... but I'll have to rely solely on memories.

I was only 6 when Dirty Mind came out, but I remember Uptown growing up... it was a hella cool place. By the time I went to college in '92... it had been reduced to the place you traveled when you wanted to buy some "designer" alternative clothing at Urban Outfitters... you know the routine.

BanishedBrian said:

Yeah man, Melrose in LA is just like that now. Even another cool part of town, Los Feliz/Vermont Blvd.

Everytime something becomes cool, companies try to get in and join the "fun". But they end up diluting the culture.

Even the hipsters are pretentious. Like they all live there to be "hip" and "in". It sucks.

According to prince (in a 81 interview): "Uptown is a state of mind, and not a real place"

BUT THE UPTOWN SIGN FROM WAY BACK IN THE DAY IS STILL THERE!!!I THINK ITS STILL A FUN PART OF TOWN,KINDA YUPPIE THOU.

Uptown still kinna has it's charm. Sister Fun is one of my favorite stores, and there's A LOT of good food up there. All in all, though, it is a much different place now. It's been invaded by Corporations. I just feel we're lucky that we don't have an Applebees there yet. LynLake (kinna in Uptown but about 6 blocks away) is a MUCH more unique area now. Independent stores, good food, theater, etc...it's a place I end up a lot these days.

NE Mpls now has an "Uptown" flare to it as well...