Theme day: Street lamps

The railroad tracks run along the river below the bluff in downtown St. Paul where they are lit by these old-fashioned street lamps. Other Theme Days entries from the City Daily Photo project can be see here.

V is for Victorian

Two examples of residential Victorian architecture side by side in my St. Paul neighborhood - a brownstone next door to a stately clapboard. Fortunately, the glory days of these wonderful homes are back after some pretty grim days in the 60s and 70s. For more V words, visit the ABC Wednesday site here.

Nina's columns

I'm collecting columns around town. These are on the corner of Selby and Western and belong to a favorite coffee shop.

Ramsey House

Yesterday's view of the Alexander Ramsey House was pretty limited. I was more interested in the melting snow on the lacy wrought-iron fence surrounding the property. Here's a more complete view - dirty snow not withstanding.

Apt

A lovely colorful apartment building on Laurel Ave. Garrison Keillor lives in this neighborhood.

Thingy

I have no idea what it means when a house has this kind of pointy bit that sticks out of the roof...but I like it. I know it's not a dormer, but that's the only word I can think of. Anyone an architecture major out there?

Nice paint job

I've always liked the colors on this Victorian house. They have a weird modern extension at the back, though, which always looks very incongruous.

Painting job

This house has been half-painted for months now. I think they must have given up over the winter. Maybe now that it's warmer, they'll finally finish the job...

Turret

No doubt some Victorian damsel is quietly reading a book, a cat nuzzled on her knee, peering out the window of this beautiful painted turret. Oh wait, that's just what I'd like to be doing in that turret. One can dream.

redbrick of drowsy lazy afternoons

My cat woke me up at 1:30 this morning as he was chasing around a sewer rat that had gotten into my bedroom. Spent the next four and a half hours trying to get it out before a professional rat catcher finally managed it in ten minutes flat. If you ever need 24 hour pest control, call Falls Creek Animal and Pest Control. I was hugely impressed. Needless to say, I slept late and didn't have time to go "picturing" before my evening work shift started at 3, so I give you this picture that I took yesterday. I've always thought this house on Summit was one of the darkest and most austere of the lot--I think it's that deep red brick that is so hard to brighten up. But with the bright green spring foliage and a splash of afternoon sun through the clouds, it's actually quite romantic looking. Doncha think?

Lincoln Ave.

Saint Paul is home to the longest uninterrupted stretch of Victorian houses in the country. This is one of them.