Charlottesville is great
Granted, I've only been to Minneapolis once (in December for a Vikings game), but I'd say this is comparing apples to oranges. Charlottesville isn't a large metropolitan area, but there's quite a bit going on. Restaurants in Charlottesville are absolutely top notch as they competitively have to be. There are more per capita than almost anywhere. The new arena holds a number of great concerts and Charlottesville has seen acts from Phish, to U2 (this Fall), to Springsteen. The paramount theater has more of your "cultured" entertainment like travelling plays, opera, classical orchestra. There's access to the Appalachain Trail close-by, Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks just a few hours away, and DC is less than 2 hours. Finally, according to Money Magazine and USA Today, Charlottesville is the #1 place to live in the country. You guys may love Minneapolis, but C'Ville ain't too shabby.