Halloween flamingo

A new twist to the old yard kitsch from Mother Earth Gardens in Minneapolis. Hope all American visitors to this blog are ready for tonight's mobs.

Shadow play

Time for a drink at Palmer's Bar which has been on Cedar near Riverside for over 100 years. Though a 10th anniversary of sorts was recently celebrated.

I need caffeine!

The Black Dog Coffee Shop near the Farmers Market in St. Paul fits right into the artsy neighborhood.

Did you get last week's theme? Monday was the church tower (cone), Tuesday was the railing on the High Bridge overlooking the brewery (squares and triangles), Wednesday was the stop sign (octagon), Thursday the lamp at the Riverview Theatre (can't remember the name of the shape except that it's a quadrilateral), Friday the Sinclair sign (rectangle). Congratulations!

Stop for gas

Out along the I-494 commercial strip there are plenty of neon signs advertising everything commuters and travelers need, but I like this unlit filling station sign. Final post for this week's theme. What's your guess?

50s chic

The lobby of the Riverview Theater in south Minneapolis hasn't changed much in sixty years. By now you should know what this week's theme is although there is still one more post. 

O is for octagon

It's ABC Wednesday and time to stop and enjoy the fall colors in my neighborhood. See more "o" words here. And, remember this is the next post for this week's theme which should be evident after today.

Brewery on the bluff

Post number 2 for this week's theme takes us back to the High Bridge in St. Paul looking north and west along the river to the old Schmidt brewery.

Church tower

Hard to believe this tower belongs to Central Presbyterian Church in downtown St. Paul. It looks like it should be part of a Summit Avenue mansion. Anyway, it's the first post for this week's theme.

Yellow 'snow'

What are these trees that carpet the streets with a golden glow?

Harbinger

Extending the week's theme - back alleys - by a day and letting everyone know that these beautiful days are numbered.

Children needed

Children were playing in the first post for this week. Now, they're not to be seen. But hopefully you've figured out the theme by now.

Last tomato

The fourth post for this week's theme - the final tomato of the season? We're getting close to our first frost so these won't last much longer.

N is for Narrow

And the third post for this week's theme. For more words beginning with "n" visit the ABC Wednesday site.

Behind the scenes

The backside of a couple of my favorite shops (Sweets Bakeshop and Izzy's Ice Cream) on Marshall Avenue. Post # 2 for this week's theme.

Slow down

Old St Paul has an entire behind-the-scenes life. Here's one example from the Merriam Park neighborhood. This is the first post for this week's theme. Stay tuned for more.

1968

A new exhibit has opened at the Minnesota History Center - 1968 - and the first thing visitors see is news images of the Tet offensive in Viet Nam. History many of us can remember.

Tap your toes

More fun at the Farmers Market.

Last week's theme was... (check out yesterday's updated post).

Double challenge

?

I've found photos from earlier posts that would fit this week's theme - in September, in August, in June, in April, and in January of this year. Can you find at least one that would fit the bill? I'll change this post tomorrow to link to each of the photos. Good luck.


Here's the September photo that fits the theme. And the photo in August. And the ones from June, April, and January. Got the theme now?

St. Paddy's for breakfast

Claddagh's is a new coffee shop on West 7th near downtown St. Paul with cleverly-named coffee drinks like St. Paddy's, seen here, or the Black and Tan. And the sun pours in the windows on these shortening days. I'll be back. Don't forget the theme for the week. Do you know now what it is?

M is for Morning Glory

My dad was recently relating a story about the morning glories his grandmother grew to shelter her front porch. Look what I found as I was biking to my hair appointment one glorious fall morning. To see more photos of M, click here.

Last night's scores

Monday night football - the morning after - at Nina's coffee shop. Post 2 for this week's theme.

Off to school

The later sunrises make it easier to get up to take photos like this one from Summit Lookout Park at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Ramsay Hill.

This photo starts a new theme today. Remember to check in tomorrow for the next image.

S is for Soulful

The garage punk band L'Assassin (what does that name mean?) lead singer and lead guitarist at the 7th Street Entry at First Avenue this fine weekend.

This is an entry for ABC Wednesday. To see more, visit their website.

Autumn splendor

This is the weekend to be along the Mississippi. Look at that color on this sweep of the river looking up toward downtown Minneapolis. The river has dominated much of this blog. To see more shots from all seasons, go here.

Last week's theme - words. Did you guess it correctly?

Kome in for a kone

With our recent summery weather I can't help longing for a night at the State Fair. This is the last photo for this week's theme. Did you guess what it is? All will be revealed tomorrow.

Breaking news 2

Remember the "breaking news" banner from the Minneapolis Open Book Center? Here's another one. Post 4 for this week's theme.

L is for library book

Post three for the theme this week and my contribution to ABC Wednesday is taken at the Rondo Community Library in St. Paul. To see more "L" photos click here.

This page is also dedicated to a good friend who has an important milestone birthday today and couldn't live without books!  CB, happy birthday.

Good advice

Second post for this week's theme and something to ponder as you choose your candidates over the next year.

Crushers

I may have forgotten to reveal last week's theme (softball, biking, kayaking, canoeing, marathon running). You got it now - sports.

Today starts a new theme. This photo was taken in a kind of no man's land just north of University Avenue near the U of M campus where there are a lot of grain elevators/silos/warehouses. Not really sure what they are there for but maybe they have something to do with the St. Paul ag campus.

Stay in your lane

The Twin Cities regularly ranks in the top five "best biking" cities in the U.S. It helps to have so many dedicated bike lanes along city streets including this one on a one-way thoroughfare near the University of Minnesota.

Theme day: Mystery object

This goofy veggie mural is one of the exterior facades of Whole Foods in St. Paul. To see thumbnails for other theme days, click here.

And here's how the whole (no pun intended) wall looks: