Category: Minnesota

National Guard in Minneapolis

Greeted National Guardsmen on my walk through the Minneapolis North Loop to a block where, in 1934, strikers were shot at by the police. Most were shot in the back, 67 were injured, two died. Martial law was declared, and the National Guard was deployed.

Lizard Lounge

I always smile when I cycle past “Lizard Lounge” on the grounds of a social services organization in northeast Minneapolis. The sculptor, Mary Johnson, was inspired by 1950s roadside attractions, and used materials authentic to that genre.

Former Instant Coffee Factory

On a Minneapolis North Loop walk, gave this apartment/retail building a second look. Recently learned 100 years ago this was an instant coffee factory that was claimed to be the largest in the world.

Cut and Cover

Cycled rail trails. At one point a trench was being cut to house a tunnel for the Green Line LRT extension. Once the trench is covered, this area will revert to parkland and trails.

Bacon Sausages

Cycled right up to the counter of Sunshine Harvest Farm at the local farmers market to pick up a guilty pleasure: bacon sausages.

Large Timber Construction

Wandered around the Minneapolis North Loop with a friend, staring at repurposed industrial buildings. Many of the modern buildings draw upon the ethos of the area. When this building (T3 Building) opened in 2016, it was the largest mass (laminated) timber building in the country.

School of Bartending

Walked as far as the Minnesota School of Bartending. Learned that in this time of Covid, it’s holding one-on-one classes. Rode the rails back.

What is an Eruv?

Wandered with a friend in an historically Jewish neighborhood, St. Paul’s Highland Park, with a map of their eruv. An eruv is a wire on posts to define an area where it’s OK to carry stuff on the Sabbath. It turned out most of the eruv consists of existin