A little fishy

Not sure what this graffiti is doing on an annex to the old 'A' mill in Minneapolis. Are they swimming toward the door?

Creamy coffee

Kopplin's has moved from a tiny hole-in-the-wall on Hamline to more spacious quarters on Marshall at Cleveland in St. Paul. Stop in for luscious caffe latte or cappuccino and pastries (chocolate pistachio danish is my fave). And then pick up some cupcakes at Sweets down the street. Tis the season!

Swan sighting

Trumpeter swans have arrived in White Bear Lake and are taking advantage of the fine weather.

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.

Lighting up the brewery

Along the backside of the brewery (see yesterday's post) the streetlamp hints at tomorrow's ABC Wednesday post.

Schmidt's or Landmark?

Whatever you call it, the brewery on West 7th in St. Paul takes on a glow in the winter dusk.

Low lake level

I've been hearing about the changing shoreline on White Bear Lake due to lower water levels, but had not seen it for myself until recently. The walk out to the lake from the shore is getting longer as are the docks. Apparently this is causing some problems in the 'hood.

Goodnight, moon

I confess. This photo was not taken in the Twin Cities because I don't believe this morning's lunar eclipse, nearly 50% covered here, could be seen from the Midwest. Question for you photographers (or astronomers) out there. Where does the ghost moon come from? I could not see it with the naked eye, but a 1-second exposure revealed this phantom orb. A reflection from a cloud?

Walk along the river

Still in the neighborhood of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge (this time the upstream side) where a walking path gets you right down by the Mississippi.

Lennon tribute

It's the annual tribute to John Lennon tonight at First Avenue and I won't be there for the first time in a while. The crowd is enthusiastic and the music is big.

U is for under the bridge

The Father Hennepin Bridge is the fourth bridge to span the Mississippi at this location (connecting downtown Minneapolis with Nicollet Island), but it is the first point anywhere on the river to be traversed by a permanent structure. The first bridge was opened in 1855. For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here.

Minneapolis icon

Aren't we glad this sign, overlooking the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, never got torn down? Besides Grain Belt Beer we had Schmidt once, too.

Postcard picture

A recent walk around the St. Anthony Main neighborhood ended with this postcard view of downtown Minneapolis (covered in snow as of this past weekend).

It's back

We made it later than last year (aside from a dusting in mid-November) but now it's shovel-able. Sigh!

Perspective

I just visited the renovated Weisman over Thanksgiving weekend, but was glad to see this monumental study of perspective (aka chicken coop) still has pride of place on one of the main walls. I love standing near this painting as people walk up and realize what it is.

Fanning

It was a hot day back in July when I took this photo at a motorcycle street rally. We have moved on (or, more accurately, down) since then, but it rounds out the T theme this week.

Theme day: Action shot

It is theme day at the City Daily Photo project and the December 1st theme is action. These geese coming in for a landing on the lake at Loring Park in Minneapolis were only a few of many who are congregating. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

T is for teddy bear

Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater (30 minutes east of St. Paul) is closed for the winter, but come back in April for a teddy bear picnic. For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here.

Alley graffiti

A little preview of tomorrow's post - this funny stencil appears on an electrical box in an alleyway in my neighborhood. Wonder of Excel Energy knows about this or maybe they did it!

Through the woods

Are these over the river? Near Grandma's house? They're in suburban St. Paul, that much I know.