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MINNESOTA — The Twin Cities metro area is among the 2023-2024 Best Places to Live in the country, according to a ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News and World Report.

The new list evaluates the 150 biggest U.S. metropolitan areas based on value, competitiveness of the job market, and quality of life.

The Twin Cities ranks no. 35, impressive, but down from no. 27 last year.

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For the first time this year, U.S. News added methodology to measure a place’s strengths and weaknesses. The desirability index takes into consideration the number of days a year the temperature falls from 33 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit, and an establishment-to-population ratio, which assesses the number of restaurants, bars and activities per 1,000 people.

Also this year, U.S. News moved its net migration category to the desirability index. And the value index, which previously focused only on housing affordability, now includes price parity — a U.S. Census data point on the general cost of goods within an area.

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“This year’s rankings are a reflection of the current economic, social and natural factors that impact a place’s livability for its residents,” Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S. News, said in a news release.

“People are considering more than housing when they look at an area’s affordability — they want to know how much goods cost in that area,” Thorsby said. “The ever-present risk for severe weather and a community’s ability to recover — coupled with the area’s opportunities for social activities — are also taken into account when evaluating a best place to live."

This year, Green Bay, Wisconsin, moved up two positions in the ranking to No. 1, due to its strong value and quality of life scores. Huntsville, Alabama, moved down to No. 2. At No.8, Charlotte, North Carolina, moved up 20 spots, and No. 6 Naples, Florida, re-entered the Top 10 after falling off last year.

Some places saw double-digit drops and fell out of the top 50. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, fell a steep 81 spots this year, coming in at 113 from 32, with lower scores across the index.

Seattle, Washington, saw an increase in its job market score, but declines in its quality of life, desirability and value scores resulted in a 45-spot drop in this year's ranking. Consequently, Seattle came in at No. 81, down from No. 36 last year. Kalamazoo, Michigan, saw a sharp drop, falling 40 spots from No. 50 to No. 90. While it only slightly decreased in value, it scored on the moderate/lower end of desirability and job market.

U.S. News based its ranking on data from the National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Census Bureau, the FBI, the Labor Bureau, Sharecare, and its own rankings on the nation’s best high schools and best hospitals.

There are plenty of excellent Chinese restaurants around the Twin Cities, from dim sum institutions like Mandarin Kitchen and Yangtze Restaurant to beloved Cantonese staples like Shuang Cheng. For hand-pulled noodles, Sichuan fare shimmering with chili oil, or Anhui-style braised whole walleye, look no further than these Chinese restaurants around Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

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Though Yangtze has a full menu, it’s best-known for its weekend dim sum, served every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spare ribs arrive in a rich black bean sauce; golden-seared shrimp and chive dumplings are packed with sharp allium flavor. Round out the meal with sweet bites of egg custard pie.

Situated on Eat Street’s main drag, chef Tammy Wong’s Rainbow Chinese has been churning out excellent Chinese-American fare since the late 1980s. (In fact, it recently received a “historic small restaurants” grant.) At the moment, it’s operating as takeout only Wednesday through Sunday, but dining room service is returning soon. Wander down Eat Street for plates of sauteed green beans and ma po tofu, simmered with Sichuan peppercorns.

Tucked away off Lake Street and Nicollet in south Minneapolis, Cheng’s has a variety of Szechuan and Hunan specials, from double-sauteed pork to hot and spicy shrimp. The mai fun — a pan-fried thin noodle dish that’s especially popular in southern China — is a great bet, as is the classic, comforting fried rice. Cheng’s has been a local favorite for years.

Find some of the Cities’ best dim sum at Mandarin Kitchen. On weekends, this spot is packed with families, and the line often wraps out the door. Start with dishes like pan-fried turnip cakes, and add pillowy steamed chicken buns, crispy egg custards, and steamed pork dumplings. (Mandarin Kitchen has a vast menu of entrees, too, and hot pot.) At peak meal times, small parties of diners can expect to share tables — an arrangement that only adds to the bustling, convivial atmosphere.

Chef Luo Guanghe’s dishes, shimmering with chili oil and studded with peppercorns, hit all the hot, sour, mouth-numbing notes of classic Sichuan cuisine. Try the beef and tofu in peppercorn broth, or the spicy lotus roots as an appetizer.

Part of the storied Fong legacy, D. Fong’s Chinese Cuisine is well worth the drive south to Savage. The entire Chinese American menu is reliably tasty, from the hot and sour soup to the hearty pork egg foo young.

This 31-year Dinkytown staple is known for its top-notch Cantonese menu. It specializes in seafood dishes, like crab with ginger and scallions and baked lobster in a five-spice salt. (For holidays and celebrations, the Peking-style roast duck is a great choice.) Shuang Cheng has great hot pot, too.

Also near the University of Minnesota campus, Lao Sze Chuan is a great place to share food: A plate of chilled, tangy Szechuan noodles, tea-smoked duck, and steaming beef soup, infused with spicy chili oil. Lao Sze Chuan’s appetizer list is notable, too — order some green bean jelly and spicy and sour squid for the table.

Legendary Spice — formerly of the Lao Sze Chuan restaurant group, now linked to a Chengdu, China-based restaurant — focuses on classic Sichuan cuisine. The vast menu spans seafood, pork, beef, chicken, and vegetarian dishes, but the highlights are among the Sichuan cold appetizers (preserved duck egg with chili pepper, sliced beef and maw, etc.) and the Chengdu local favorites (spicy mao cai, tea-smoked duck, Sichuan crawfish, etc.).

After more than a decade on University Avenue, Tea House remains a staple for excellent Chinese fare — Szechuan in particular. It’s a great place to dine family-style: Pair a steaming bowl of thick, supple kudai lamb noodles with the whole braised walleye or the classic kung pao chicken, peppered with crispy peanuts. On the weekend, come for a dim sum brunch.

Master Noodle (formerly Magic Noodle) makes fresh, hand-pulled noodle dishes daily in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood. There are few better places for tender, springy dan dan noodles, hot sour noodle soup, and Mongolian beef fried noodles. Master Noodle also serves an excellent Taiwanese tomato beef brisket soup.

Peking Garden is a casual, family-oriented spot on St. Paul’s University Avenue, where it’s been serving Cantonese fare since 1991. Come for the excellent hospitality, the Dungeness crab in black bean sauce, and the sizzling beef brisket hot pot.

Though Yangtze has a full menu, it’s best-known for its weekend dim sum, served every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spare ribs arrive in a rich black bean sauce; golden-seared shrimp and chive dumplings are packed with sharp allium flavor. Round out the meal with sweet bites of egg custard pie.

Situated on Eat Street’s main drag, chef Tammy Wong’s Rainbow Chinese has been churning out excellent Chinese-American fare since the late 1980s. (In fact, it recently received a “historic small restaurants” grant.) At the moment, it’s operating as takeout only Wednesday through Sunday, but dining room service is returning soon. Wander down Eat Street for plates of sauteed green beans and ma po tofu, simmered with Sichuan peppercorns.

Tucked away off Lake Street and Nicollet in south Minneapolis, Cheng’s has a variety of Szechuan and Hunan specials, from double-sauteed pork to hot and spicy shrimp. The mai fun — a pan-fried thin noodle dish that’s especially popular in southern China — is a great bet, as is the classic, comforting fried rice. Cheng’s has been a local favorite for years.

Find some of the Cities’ best dim sum at Mandarin Kitchen. On weekends, this spot is packed with families, and the line often wraps out the door. Start with dishes like pan-fried turnip cakes, and add pillowy steamed chicken buns, crispy egg custards, and steamed pork dumplings. (Mandarin Kitchen has a vast menu of entrees, too, and hot pot.) At peak meal times, small parties of diners can expect to share tables — an arrangement that only adds to the bustling, convivial atmosphere.

Chef Luo Guanghe’s dishes, shimmering with chili oil and studded with peppercorns, hit all the hot, sour, mouth-numbing notes of classic Sichuan cuisine. Try the beef and tofu in peppercorn broth, or the spicy lotus roots as an appetizer.

Part of the storied Fong legacy, D. Fong’s Chinese Cuisine is well worth the drive south to Savage. The entire Chinese American menu is reliably tasty, from the hot and sour soup to the hearty pork egg foo young.

This 31-year Dinkytown staple is known for its top-notch Cantonese menu. It specializes in seafood dishes, like crab with ginger and scallions and baked lobster in a five-spice salt. (For holidays and celebrations, the Peking-style roast duck is a great choice.) Shuang Cheng has great hot pot, too.

Also near the University of Minnesota campus, Lao Sze Chuan is a great place to share food: A plate of chilled, tangy Szechuan noodles, tea-smoked duck, and steaming beef soup, infused with spicy chili oil. Lao Sze Chuan’s appetizer list is notable, too — order some green bean jelly and spicy and sour squid for the table.

Legendary Spice — formerly of the Lao Sze Chuan restaurant group, now linked to a Chengdu, China-based restaurant — focuses on classic Sichuan cuisine. The vast menu spans seafood, pork, beef, chicken, and vegetarian dishes, but the highlights are among the Sichuan cold appetizers (preserved duck egg with chili pepper, sliced beef and maw, etc.) and the Chengdu local favorites (spicy mao cai, tea-smoked duck, Sichuan crawfish, etc.).

After more than a decade on University Avenue, Tea House remains a staple for excellent Chinese fare — Szechuan in particular. It’s a great place to dine family-style: Pair a steaming bowl of thick, supple kudai lamb noodles with the whole braised walleye or the classic kung pao chicken, peppered with crispy peanuts. On the weekend, come for a dim sum brunch.

Master Noodle (formerly Magic Noodle) makes fresh, hand-pulled noodle dishes daily in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood. There are few better places for tender, springy dan dan noodles, hot sour noodle soup, and Mongolian beef fried noodles. Master Noodle also serves an excellent Taiwanese tomato beef brisket soup.

Peking Garden is a casual, family-oriented spot on St. Paul’s University Avenue, where it’s been serving Cantonese fare since 1991. Come for the excellent hospitality, the Dungeness crab in black bean sauce, and the sizzling beef brisket hot pot.

Food trucks returning for the season to downtown Minneapolis are seeing an improvement from 2022, but the weekday lunch crowd still hasn't reached 2019 levels.

At the corner of Sixth Street and Second Avenue, outside Capella Tower, a small group of food trucks consistently gathers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the most common days for office employees to work downtown instead of remotely. Among them are Hibachi Daruma, Jamo's New Zealand Pie Co. and Thai Thai Street Food.

Before the pandemic, a larger number of food trucks could be found Monday through Friday during lunchtime at the same corner in downtown Minneapolis, and now a determined few are adjusting their operations to fit hybrid work schedules.

Hibachi Daruma has been serving downtown Minneapolis workers for a decade. It was the first Twin Cities-based Japanese hibachi-style food truck when it launched in 2013.

Hibachi Daruma co-owner Miguel Alvarez recalls a time when as many as 20 food trucks would park in the heart of downtown Minneapolis ,and workers would form long lines to order from them. A few weeks into the 2023 season, he's noticed more activity from office workers, with both new and returning customers purchasing food from Hibachi Daruma, but Alvarez wants to see additional food trucks and people return.

By March, almost 65% of workers had returned in some capacity to downtown Minneapolis' largest buildings, according to the Minneapolis Downtown Council, which expects the figure to keep climbing.

The Commons across from U.S. Bank Stadium is another popular spot in downtown Minneapolis for food trucks. But it's much harder to find a place to park in that area later in the morning, requiring an earlier arrival.

Plus, the small but mighty group of food trucks frequenting Sixth Street and Second Avenue is intentionally rallying there in hopes of reestablishing the corner as a lunchtime hotspot, with an "if you build it, they will come" mentality.

"We have a team of trucks that are trying to rebuild this," said Thai Thai owner Kou Moua. "When it gets busy again, then everyone will start to show up."

Business is already "starting to pick up," Moua said, estimating that it's rebounded to about 70% of 2019 levels so far.

Joe Cobb of Jamo's New Zealand Pie Co. offered a similar assessment. "We're doing 25% more this year than we did last year ... but right now, we're around half of 2019."

Some food truck operators have since called it quits, either throwing in the towel altogether or pivoting to brick-and-mortar or catering.

Alvarez and his wife, Ying, opened two restaurants – in Mound, where the company is based, and in downtown Minneapolis, not far from Capella Tower – but decided to keep using the food truck because customers asked them to do so.

Thai Thai is back by request, too. Its two food trucks are often stationed outside of Capella Tower and near The Commons.

"I've heard some people say, 'Yes, finally, we have other options. We've been eating the same thing in the skyway for over two years, three years, or all winter,'" Moua said. "They want to come out and soak up the sun."

Evening and weekend business helps many food trucks stay afloat.

After the downtown lunch rush, Jamo's packs up, restocks and heads to a brewery in another part of Minneapolis or the metro. Its two food trucks are usually posted outside of separate taprooms every night.

"There's more of a reliable customer base" at breweries since many beer drinkers want food and most breweries don't serve their own, Cobb said.

Thai Thai also travels to corporate campuses, including 3M and Medtronic, where it's guaranteed to reach hundreds of mouths.

Ranked by Outdoor seating capacity

A chromium plating company in St. Louis Park has agreed to pay $1.375 million in damages after the state said it polluted three metro area lakes with PFAS.

State regulators first focused in on Douglas Corp., a plater on Xenwood Avenue, as a potential source of the chemicals in 2008. The company is accused of releasing both PFAS and hexavalent chromium into a stormwater system that contaminated Bass Lake in St. Louis Park, and Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, according to the settlement agreement.

In the agreement, the state asserts that Douglas is responsible for damaging the environment with pollution, while Douglas maintains it's not liable. The settlement amount is the fourth largest reached in the state since a program to collect money for damage to natural resources began in 1995.

Jess Richards, an assistant commissioner with the Department of Natural Resources, said in an interview that the money from the settlement would be available for projects to improve the watershed where the contaminants were released. The cities of St. Louis Park and Minneapolis and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District could all propose uses for the funds, he said.

John Fudala, a spokesman for Douglas, wrote in an email that the company has complied with regulations from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and that it is working to eliminate the use of all PFAS chemicals, of which there are thousands of formulations.

Douglas was already bound by a 2016 agreement with MPCA that required the company to make several changes to cut down on releases of the chemicals. State investigators found that PFAS fumes had been vented to the company's roof, where the chemicals collected and then ran off with rain or snow melt.

One of the changes included replacing the roof, where so many chemicals had collected it "was acting as a secondary source," according to Kirk Koudelka, assistant commissioner with the MPCA.

PFAS chemicals, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, build up in the bodies of animals and humans that ingest them and are linked to certain cancers and developmental problems.

PFOS, one of the original PFAS formulations, was first detected in Bde Maka Ska by University of Minnesota researchers in 2004. MPCA later tested fish tissue and found the chemical there, too.

Douglas stopped using that particular compound in 2010, and the levels of the chemical found in fish in the lake subsequently fell, according to a news release from MPCA.

Fudala wrote that Douglas found out only after it started using certain products that they contained PFOS.

Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen that causes lung cancer if inhaled, according to the National Institutes of Health. Platers have traditionally used PFAS chemicals to suppress the release of chromium into the air.

"Douglas is a case of why we need to stop using PFAS," Koudelka said. The company may have reduced the amount of the chemicals that escaped, but "it's important for us to prevent these releases in the first place."

Minnesota is quickly moving towards such a prohibition, as lawmakers reached a historic agreement on environmental legislation Wednesday that includes a broad ban on products that contain PFAS.

PFAS chemicals are also decreasing over time as officials test fish in Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet, according to Angela Preimesberger, a research scientist at the Minnesota Department of Health.

But there are still strict fish consumption guidelines for several species in both lakes, including a recommendation that most people do not eat more than one meal of them a month.

Even though the amounts of chemicals have gone down, "the risk associated with PFAS exposure has been going up," Preimesberger said

Edina Art Fair

For some, this local-fave event is the true marker that summer has arrived. Celebrate in style by shopping local artists and vintage sellers, checking out food vendors, listening to music, creating art right onsite with your kids, and more. June 2–4, 50th & France, 50thandfrance.com

St. Anthony Park Art Festival

Get to know your neighbors—or simply explore a lovely St. Paul neighborhood—at this annual early-summer festival. Find 60-plus juried artists, plus a community area, plant sale, a gigantic used book sale, family activities, food, and music for a full day of fun. June 3, Como and Carter Aves., St. Paul, sapfest.org

Stone Arch Bridge Festival

Local artisans, musicians, and community members have been coming together near our iconic landmark for nearly 30 years. This year, shop more than 200 artists and vendors, run a 5K, find snacks from local food vendors, check out special vintage and vinyl collections, meet BIPOC artists, watch live performances, look at vintage cars at the annual car show, and so much more. June 18–19, W. River Pkwy., from 11th Ave. S. to 4th Ave. N., Mpls., stonearchbridgefestival.com

Wayzata Art Experience

Want to add a little culture into your lakeside days? Hop over to the Wayzata Art Experience to shop more than 150 fine art vendors, listen to live music, enjoy sips and snacks from food trucks and chefs, take a free sailboat ride, check out kids’ activities, and more. June 23–25, E. Lake St., Wayzata, artexperience.wayzatachamber.com

Eagan Art Festival

Shop artists of all specialties, taste treats from a variety of food vendors, watch art demos, listen to live performances, mingle with your artsiest neighbors, and more at Eagan’s annual fest.

June 24–25, Eagan Central Park, 1501 Central Pkwy., eaganartfestival.org

Art at St. Kate’s

We hardly need to give you an excuse to stroll the stunning St. Kate’s campus on a summer Saturday—but the annual art fair is a pretty convincing reason. Check out more than 100 juried artists, listen to musicians, find a new-fave food truck, and more during this one-day event. July 8, St. Catherine University, Randolph and Cleveland Aves., St. Paul, artistscircle.org

Minnehaha Falls Art Fair

Plan your perfect summer day: a trip to Minnehaha Falls, a po’boy from Sea Salt, and a chance to shop local artists, all in one afternoon. Discover artwork from dozens of artisans (all will have some items under $30), check out live music, and find a food vendor if the Sea Salt line tests your patience. July 14–16, Minnehaha Falls Park, Mpls., minnehahafallsartfair.org

Arbor Lakes Art Fair

Maple Grove’s art event of the season turns 21 this year, and is celebrating with 45-plus artists and artisans selling fine art, ceramics, jewelry, photography, leather goods, fiber art, paintings, and more. July 15–16, The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, Maple Grove, maplegroveartscenter.org

Loring Park Art Festival

Celebrate art in the park by shopping some 140 artists, listening to strolling-about musicians, taking in stage performances, checking out kids’ activities, and finding treats from over a dozen local food vendors. July 29–30, Loring Park, Mpls., loringparkartfestival.com

Uptown Art Fair

One of the Cities’ oldest and most-attended art festivals returns to Lake and Hennepin this year, complete with a juried art show, hundreds of vendors, dining options, and so, so much more. August 4–6, Lake St. and Hennepin Ave., Mpls., uptownminneapolis.com

Powderhorn Art Fair

South Minneapolis’s 32nd-annual event will include 150-plus artists, food trucks, immersive installations, and more. August 5–6, Powderhorn Park, Mpls., powderhornartfair.com

Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival

This isn’t your typical art fair: Check out all forms of street art, from spray art to chalk designs to murals. And, of course, don’t miss the performances, food vendors, shop opps, and more. August 12–13, Nicollet Mall, Mpls., mplsstreetartfest.com

Art in the Gardens

Local art and artisans make the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum even more beautiful for one weekend every August. Discover fine art, jewelry, food vendors, apothecary goods, and more, plus live music and a food tent, in the heart of the Arb. August 18–20, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, arb.umn.edu