Journeys 3.1

Coastal Seafoods is probably the best seafood store in the Twin Cities, and it was conveniently on my walk home from my gig at the library this morning. Tonight’s menu: seafood stew with cod, halibut, peppers, onion, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, saffron, coconut milk, squeezes of lime, and anything else I can think of to round it out.

A table displays a spread of food, including fruit platters, fruit skewers, sambusas, bur (beignets), and small tarts, along with chocolate milk, Coca Cola cans, disposable plates, and cutlery,.

School’s out for summer

June 4, 2026

One class marked the end of the school year with a potluck, featuring a generous supply of the ubiquitous and delicious Somali bur (beignets) and sambusas (samosas) on the right.

A wall or board is densely covered with numerous handwritten notes and drawings on white paper, many contributing to a prominent question at the top center asking what was learned in the last year, all framed by a red and white checkered ribbon and with a white cup visible at the bottom right.

What we learned in the last year

June 3, 2026

It was a cycle ride in honor of our umpteenth anniversary with a stop for a late lunch at Longfellow’s washed down with beer. Next door at Loons Cafe, we picked up some recently roasted beans and reviewed what people learned in the last (presumably school) year. A lot of us learned to resist the federal government, a force that attacked our values and caused serious damage to our local economy.

A person cycles across a pedestrian bridge above multiple train tracks, leading toward a large building under construction where a red crane operates, with a water tower standing in the distance under a clear blue sky.

Density, transit, and trails

June 2, 2026

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.

Several people are seated at tables and a counter in a spacious, brightly lit room with white walls, a light colored floor, and exposed pipes and fluorescent lights on the ceiling.

Hidden grounds

June 1, 2026

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.

From a glass enclosed vantage point, a rainy city street stretches between tall buildings, its wet pavement reflecting vehicles and pedestrians carrying umbrellas under an overcast sky.

Spotlighting the orchestra

May 31, 2026

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.

A cyclist rides on a paved path marked with yellow dashes, surrounded by lush green trees and a series of catenary masts running alongside train tracks.

Squeezing it in all in

May 30, 2026

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.