Rockin' New Years Eve

I recently saw the Black Tibetans who had a rockin' show. Hope you have a similarly flashy New Years Eve.

X is for Xcel

Can't wait to see what others do with "x." Luckily, we have this big entertainment venue right in downtown St. Paul that makes it easy for me to come up with a word for today's ABC Wednesday. To see more, click here.

Better watch out

They're on their way! Don't forget the cookies and milk... and a lawn chair.

Take me to your leader

Another view from Highland Park though these are the modern water towers sharing space in the park with the tower from yesterday's post. This view, taken at sunset, makes them appear slightly extra-terrestial.

The images this week complete my 365 days of posting on this blog. It has been a challenge to find something representing the Twin Cities to post every day for a year. I will continue to post periodically notably for ABC Wednesday and the monthly theme days, but the bulk of my photo work will be devoted to other projects.

Late season golf

Though this photo of Highland Park in St. Paul was taken in November, it could've been a scene from much of December, too. We are not going to have a white Christmas. Whatever your opinion is about that, winter will eventually catch up with us. The water tower, built in 1928, is one of the iconic images of the urban Twin Cities much like the one I posted on Tuesday from Minneapolis.

W is for the water tower in Woodbury

Continuing in the water tower theme for this weeks ABC Wednesday... For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here.

Along the watch tower

The Prospect Park water tower, built in 1913, is on the highest point of land in Minneapolis and thus visible from many points in the Twin Cities. Rumor has it that Dylan's song title refers to the tower which can be seen from the U of M. You can go up to the look out level but only once a year around Memorial Day when the neighborhood holds an ice cream social.

Silhouettes

I am inspired by the art of Michael Schmidt who paints a lot of urban landscapes with telephone wires and water towers.

Chilly day

It was a frosty, icy, evening down by the tracks.

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.

Coal barges

Waiting to be shipped downstream, I suspect, from their collection point at Upper Landing in St. Paul.

Uh-oh...

Watch out for the mounted police in my neighborhood.

Morning walk

We have been having some unexpectedly pleasant weather for the end of November and Twin Citians are quick to take advantage of this. Thanksgiving morning on the Stone Arch Bridge was breathtaking.

Thanksgiving: Minnesota style

Did you know that Minnesota produces more turkeys than any other state in the union? Here's how we celebrate in the Twin Cities. Happy Thanksgiving!

S is for satellite dish

The local ABC affiliate on University Avenue has multiple dishes (the better to serve up all that news and entertainment). For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here.

Thanksgiving bounty

The decorative stack of squash outside Forepaugh's restaurant in St. Paul would make a lot of pies for the Thanksgiving table.

Ready for roasting

I love garlic mashed potatoes. There's enough here (on display at the Farmers Market) for multiple Thanksgiving dinners.

Up the hill

I was out in Stillwater recently, a 30-minute drive from St. Paul, to do some early holiday shopping and saw this great "ghost sign" as a visitor to this blog called them a couple of weeks ago.

Composting

This will be one of the last weekends to get those leaves to the compost. This site is off St. Clair near 35E in St. Paul and is jam-packed with cars and trucks on the weekends.

Did you get this week's theme? It was pretty easy, no? Birds - live or otherwise (see Monday or Thursday).

Downy

Last post for this week's theme and it should be more than evident today. This photo was taken along the Mississippi.

Park here

If you've been to the State Fair you may recognize one of the signs that help you find your way back to your car. It's not an easy job. Post #4 for this week's theme. You probably have it by now.

R is for robin

If the robins know what's good for them they'll be heading south about now (this was taken last spring in Fort Snelling State Park). For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here. And, remember, this is the third post for this week's theme.

Night heron

Post 2 for this week's theme is this night heron perched along the shores of Como Lake.

Banksy in St. Paul?

Just discovered on the back side of an apartment building along Grand Avenue. Looks a lot like our very own Banksy wannabe. First post for this week's theme.

Empty vines

On last weekend's trip down the Mississippi, I wandered through this vineyard behind the river bluffs. Long past grape season and ready for the first snows to arrive (though we've had two lovely weekends in row now - holding off the inevitable...). Here's what I found here one spring.

Dinkytown to downtown

We've been having some pretty fine fall days here in the Twin Cities and this view of downtown Minneapolis from Dinkytown (the commercial area near the U of M campus) is proof of that. More university views here.

Small town commerce

You get two for the price of one on this last day of photos from places within 100 miles of the Twin Cities. The top one is in Decorah, Iowa and the bottom one in Winona, Minnesota. Both show typical commercial properties in the Midwest from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with just a hint of what the buildings once contained. Here's a previous post from St. Paul, too.

Wind farm

Back to our theme for the week - places within about 100 miles of the Twin Cities. Today's location is somewhere on the southwestern plains of the state where the wind whips through summer or winter and the turbines stretch for as far as the eye can see - which is pretty far!

Q is for queue

We would say "line" in the U.S. but since we speak a form of British English (Britican? Amerish?) in our household this will do nicely for today. However, the location does not make it a candidate for this week's theme. These students are boarding a bus right in the middle of the U of M campus - not some 100 miles from the Twin Cities.

To see more ABC Wednesday entries, click here.

Spider Lake Lodge

Another Wisconsin locale about 100 miles from the Twin Cities - this time heading northeast into the woods near Hayward.  The former resort is now really a B&B since the cabins have been sold off to individuals and the lodge remains with its cozy rooms and stone fireplaces.