Phantom riders

The carousel at Como Park is pretty busy now that school is out. 

Metering

For a little different view of the Landmark Center poke your nose through the parking meters across the street. 

House columns

Back to photographing columns - these are down the street from me. The house on the left is a typical turn-of-the-20th c. four-square with graceful turned woodwork. The house on the right was built a few years ago and its porch, while fitting the general style of the neighborhood, just somehow doesn't live up to the elegance of the old house. What do you think?

Nymphaea gigantea

I was at Como Park on a blustery summer day - though I usually think of winter days as being blustery - and the waterlilies in the pond outside the Conservatory were battling the breezes.

River serenity

The Mississippi further upstream by St. Cloud is calm, narrow, and, in summer, can be pretty low (except this summer so far). For other views of the river at other times of year, click here.

Bronze shoes

Biking along the eastern most end of the Greenway cyclists pass a series of bronzed shoes. I've often wondered how they got there. They are apparently part of a public art project (a lot of that here in the Twin Cities) which is not readily documented via google though I like this announcement from the City of Minneapolis for donated shoes.

More bronze art can be found over in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood.

River crossings

Are you walking, driving, or handling that coal train? Multiple ways to cross the river from downtown St. Paul (toward the left) to St. Paul's West side (toward the right) which is really south of downtown but on the west side of the Mississippi. Got that?

Old and new

The lamppost isn't really old, I don't think, but it is a tribute to St. Paul that the city has installed many variations on these globe streetlights instead of those sweeping modern things. Even with the World Trade tower in the background, St. Paul lives up to its reputation as the older, staider of the Twin Cities.

Night play

When the little ones are away, the big ones will play (at Linwood playground).

Busy day on Lake Street

They're probably trying to beat the stop lights which seem inordinately long (on the red) on this stretch of Lake Street.

Lunch on the Mall

It's the last week of noontime music at Peavey Plaza next to Orchestra Hall. Come for lunch (bring your own or pick up some fish and chips from Brit's across Nicollet Mall - the food at the stalls is over-priced and mediocre) and sit by the fountains to cool off.

Happy Father's Day

Dad and daughter (1984)

Grandma's aerial bridge

Duluth-bound marathoners and spectators should make some time for the Skyline Drive. If you're lucky you'll see a ship passing under the aerial bridge that leads into the harbor.

One solution for the budget gap

That's what our Democratic governor wants to do, but the Republican legislature won't touch it with a 10-foot pole so the whole government will probably be shutting down in a couple of weeks ; - (

Shelter from the storm

It's been a rainy month so bike riders need to find whatever shelter they can while out on the trails. This bridge is in Mendota along the Big Rivers Trail. There's lots of great biking in the Twin Cities.

Girl or boy?

A little pink, a little blue, tea for me and coffee for you (sitting in the garden at Swede Hollow). Dedicated to the regulars who never - or almost never - miss a Monday.

Flag Day

Our birthday may be July 4 but the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes is June 14, 1777. The flag is nearly as old as we are and these soldiers at Fort Snelling are taking great care with it.

Dusk on Grand Avenue

Loving these long summer days and the light at sunset.

A sense of place

Twin Citians take day trips to Stockholm, Wisconsin (an hour or so from Mpls-St. Paul) for art, river vistas, and pie (see the Visual St. Paul blog). Check out the Spring Street Inn if you want to stay overnight.

Pushing daisies

For a  brief few days, downtown St. Paul boasted a gigantic pinwheel in a little square in front of the Travelers building. Too bad it's not there anymore. A lovely bit of whimsy.

Krazy Kat

I pass this locksmith on my way to coffee with friends every week and have always loved seeing the Krazy Kat figure surfing on the giant key. The lady paying her parking fee doesn't seem so impressed as I am.

Got milk?

This dairy barn in Hanover, just west of Minneapolis, doesn't seem to be functioning anymore in its original capacity but someone has lovingly maintained the ventilation cupolas which stand like armored knights on the rooftop.

Demise of winter

Okay, you heard it right. As of yesterday evening when the outdoor temperature was still hovering around 100 degrees the remains of a gargantuan snow pile in the St. Paul Sears parking lot was finally coming to its messy end. It took record heat to get rid of near-record snowfall. What a great climate!

Directing trafaig

Where else but at Macalester College during reunion weekend!

Learn to row

At the St. Paul Yacht Club (though what is it with the guy in the motor boat, then?).

Defying gravity

No, don't turn the photo around. They are indeed dancing on the side of a building. Project Bandaloop is in town for the Flint Hills International Children's Festival. Only one day left - today. Don't miss these dancers! They'll be doing it again at 11AM and 1PM off the west side of the Lawson Building. More photos on my Facebook page.

Wind power

North St. Paul has installed a wind turbine as part of the Hometown Windpower Program. There's a cool link to a live feed of the wind speed and the kilowatt output of the turbine.

Painting alfresco

A group from a drawing and painting club were in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood recently sketching and painting the local architecture and street scenes. Finally, a day to be an outdoor artist.

Biking the Greenway

I love the biking the Greenway in Minneapolis. No streets to cross (there they are up above) and no stop signs. All along the corridor gardens have been planted, picnic tables installed, historical markers set up, restaurants and even a bike shop have opened. I rode to a movie and back over Memorial Day weekend. Got so much exercise I treated myself to popcorn at the movie and rhubarb pie when I got home!

Theme day: Under construction

This section of University Avenue between Fairview and Raymond in St. Paul is the longest stretch without a light rail stop. The Central Corridor project will connect downtown St. Paul with downtown Minneapolis via the University of Minnesota. It'll be a while though so pedestrians need to find alternate street crossings.
To see other theme day contributors, click here.