Journeys 3.1

On a bike ride to Hopkins with a friend, we stopped to take in this view. The cycle path has been seriously upgraded, separated in this case from the new LRT line, a freight line, and, just beyond, a busy road that crosses the tracks. A dense development is going in, including a commuter parking ramp, commercial space, and a mix of market-rate and affordable apartments. It may not be pretty, but we need more of these dense, brownfield developments near transit.

​I always award myself an achievement unlocked if I find a new coffee shop while cycling. My method is to pull over and Google my immediate surroundings. Today, in an industrial area of St. Paul, I came across Port 2050 Coffee hidden inside a large, repurposed industrial building. Some serious art books that I’d normally expect to see in a library were spread out on the community table.

The rain had started as we walked into Orchestra Hall for an afternoon chamber music concert featuring smaller groups from the Minnesota Orchestra. I particularly enjoy how younger members of the orchestra get to show their exceptional talents.

Cycled a loop along mostly rail trails today. The Kenilworth Corridor, shown here, had been closed for several years during the construction of the Green Line light rail. I’ve really missed this connector between two other rail trails. From left to right, there’s a pedestrian path, a two-lane cycle path, the LRT, and just enough room to squeeze in a freight line.

Spotted this mural as I walked through the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on my way home from a tutoring session at the Franklin Library. In the late 19th century, this neighborhood was home to Scandinavian immigrants; several waves of immigration later, it is now home to a vibrant Somali community. Today, 54% of the population speaks a language other than English at home. Learning English plays a vital role in lifting these families up.

​Washington Avenue is the main drag near our home. On Thursdays, it’s where I pick up coffee at FRGMNT before catching the bus to school. Today, a QR code on a flyer intentionally stuck to the sidewalk caught my attention. I scanned the code and learned the county plans to make this section of road safer, including physically separating the bike lane at the top of the photo from traffic. An interactive map is collecting pinned comments, all of them highly constructive. I give the plan 👍👍.

On the way home from the dentist after a cleaning and an all-clear checkup, I rewarded myself with lunch at Bde Maka Ska (lake). The vegetable curry, fried plantains, and dirty rice nicely suited the steaming hot day. The Park Board recently built this new pavilion after a fire and contracted the catering to a local vendor who specializes in Jamaican cuisine.