I'm working on a short story about a criminal who, in the first scene, travels to St. Paul, MN. (I just sort of picked it out of the atlas; that, and I've heard nice things about it as a place to live!). The story is set in late winter.

Wikipedia gives me a list of neighborhoods, but they're very politically correct, referring to this area and that as "more diverse." In what area, for example, would it be fairly easy to steal a car with little chance of cops coming across you at, say, 5 a.m.? In my experience, urban areas near railroad tracks are usually pretty rundown. Would East Minnehaha Ave. be a good setting? What are the buildings like?

Also, in my experience, suburbs set around small lakes are usually pretty upscale. My atlas shows an area by Pleasant Lake called Shoreview and another called North Oaks. What're they like?

Finally, where are the largest and most expensive homes in the area? Near other lakes, I'd bet?

Not all of the detail can wind up in a short story, of course, but if I can find one or two details that make the scene come alive, it'll work for a reader, too. Thanks in advance!
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