East Harriet Farmstead is one of Minneapolis' best-loved secrets. Encompassing everything from Jazz Age rental apartments to condos, duplexes, bungalows and lakefront mansions, this neighborhood probably has a place you can afford, as well as one to envy. Home to the Rose Garden, the Peace Garden and Roberts Bird Sanctuary (on the shores of Lake Harriet), it's a great escape. But, when you do want to go elsewhere, East Harriet is just about the perfect starting point. Ten minutes north on Lyndale Ave. and you're downtown. Uptown, with its hot eateries and nightlife, is just 5 minutes up the street. Venture 10 minutes south, you're at the shopping hub around Southdale. 50th and France is about 10 minutes to the west; the airport is 20 minutes, in traffic, to the southeast. You can hop on your bike and hit the parkway system; four of Minneapolis' lakes are within a half hour ride. Great public and private schools are in and around the immediate area, and there is bus service to the University of Minnesota. Feeling communal? Try Java Jack’s for coffee and conversation. Or take the dog for a walk around the lake. You’ll see most of your neighbors there at some point. Need time away from the kids? Stroll on over to Agri for a quiet dinner and a bottle of wine. You can leave the car at home. Need time with the kids? Farmstead Park has a new playground, tennis courts and ball fields.

Yes, we’re spoiled, but nothing is perfect. Farmstead does have an airport noise problem, particularly when the north-south runway is closed. Most of the lots are small and most garages are detached. The two-car variety, usually built well after the house, is a yard-eater. The homes here are old enough to need lots of TLC. We're also in the midst of major road and sewer reconstruction-- a seemingly never-ending process! But these are minor annoyances. The proof of the neighborhood is how seldom the homes change hands. Seeing a house go on the market for only the second or third time in sixty years is commonplace. Our house is now on its fourth owner, and after 20 years, we’re planning on staying for at least 20 more!