Around the turn of the nineteenth century, movers and shakers built some standout homes on Lowry Hill, Minneapolis. Last week I decided to get to know part of the neighborhood a little better. I’d had surgery the previous week, and the chosen day promised to be the hottest in four years. This would be my shortest urban hike,…… Continue reading My Shortest Urban Hike Ever
Category: Urban Hike and Bike
Urban Bike: Purple Rain Tour
As I get older, I find it’s best to focus on one task at a time. In fact, a task can become so engrossing it pushes out thoughts of everything else. Some would call this a deficiency of aging, I call it an advantage. Last Wednesday, it was time for a bike ride with purpose.…… Continue reading Urban Bike: Purple Rain Tour
Urban Hike: Early Nordeast Houses
If I didn’t know better I would walk right past this unassuming house. It looks to be about the right size and style for Nordeast (Northeast Minneapolis), and it’s in a typical neighborhood.A typical Nordeast neighborhood has a bunch of churches and bars. There’s five churches within a couple blocks of this house, and plenty…… Continue reading Urban Hike: Early Nordeast Houses
Urban Hike and Bike: All Over the Nordeast Map
Nordeast (Northeast Minneapolis) encapsulates much of the early working class history of Minneapolis, but it gets short shrift in guide books.Recently I’ve been exploring Nordeast, trying to decode it’s history and culture. Later in this post I’ll introduce some tools I’ve developed, including an interactive map and a feature to customize and print Nordeast guides.But…… Continue reading Urban Hike and Bike: All Over the Nordeast Map
In Search of Traces of 1861 Minneapolis
Tested a walk I’m developing on a friend: it explores Henry David Thoreau’s little-known 1861 visit to Minneapolis.
Urban Bike: Mill City
Much of the early wealth of Minneapolis came from grain. This grain legacy translates into locally headquartered companies like Cargill and General Mills.Cargill, the largest privately held company in the country, manages 25% of US grain exports. General Mills manages ubiquitous brands like Betty Crocker and Pillsbury.The first flour mill in what is now Minneapolis…… Continue reading Urban Bike: Mill City
Atlanta Bike Ride
Explored on rented bikes.
Urban Bike: City of Lakes
Today I’m off on my bicycle to visit every lake in Minneapolis, City of Lakes. It took some effort to draw up a list of 16 Minneapolis lakes, or, to be more precise, lakes and other notable bodies of water. The Minnesota DNR (Department of Natural Resources) defines a lake as follows: A lake…… Continue reading Urban Bike: City of Lakes
City Of Lakes
Posted Urban Bike, City of Lakes. My explorations of every lake in Minneapolis.
Urban Bike: Yard Art in a Civil Society
I see things from my bicycle I don’t see from a bus or car. It might be an old guy on his bicycle, stovepipe hat, bushy beard, archaic black clothes, a character from a Dickens novel. Or a bearded guy cycling the Midtown Greenway in a girlie dress. They seek attention, or inhabit an alternate reality, or…… Continue reading Urban Bike: Yard Art in a Civil Society