The whole city seems to be going thru a gentrification period right now. You will have to bring alot of money if you want to live uptown minneapolis. What uni/college are you attending? Try finding a place on grand ave or near grand ave. As for biking east and west river road along the mississippi road. There are also 3 lakes in minneapolis (harriet, isle, cant think of last one) but you should definitly ride around them all in one ride. The U of M seems to have a cult following to fixie.