On a downtown walk with a friend, we explored the repurposed Dayton’s department store, now a mixed-use building. The first floor hosted Christmas pop-up shops, while the basement showcased exhibits from the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame. My baseball-loving friend got to reminisce and I enjoyed the backstories.
Category: Downtown Minneapolis
A Tale of Two Light Fixtures
On my walk, I dropped off mail at the downtown post office. Here I am looking at one end of the art deco lobby, built in 1933. Behind me stretches a 365-foot bronze light fixture, a full city block long. Recently, Channel 5 local news reported, without attribution, that Joseph Stalin, upon hearing about this, ordered a longer fixture for a Moscow train station. Click through for pictures of the light fixture.
Carefully Curated Christmas Gifts
Today I started my Christmas shopping at the Downtown Target where I purchased a gift card. I’ll pick up the rest of the gifts from an ATM.
Life in a Climate-Controlled World
It was a brisk 12°F when I set out for my walk today. Eventually, I sought refuge in the Skyway system. Here, I’m making my way through the Northstar Center. Once an office tower, the building has been repurposed to include apartments. Given lower office occupancy rates post-pandemic, there’ll be more such conversions. Downtown Minneapolis has emerged as one of the fastest-growing residential neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.
Reflecting on the Past
On my walk, Hubert Humphrey was holding court outside Minneapolis City Hall. He began his political career as mayor of Minneapolis in 1945 and later served as Vice President under Lyndon B. Johnson. Always a champion of civil rights, we could certainly use more leaders like Humphrey today.
Downtown Discoveries
The new-to-us Hotel Ivy was an objective of a Downtown walk with a friend. The modern building incorporates a “mini-skyscraper,” originally an office tower for the Christian Science Church, built in 1930. Today, the old tower houses suites, including a two-story penthouse. Afterward, we recharged with coffee and croissants at a new-to-us coffee shop.
A Fleeting Display
Last weekend there was a street art festival on Nicollet Mall in Downtown. The sidewalk chalk art had survived quite well when I reviewed it today, minus crowds.
Exploring Minneapolis
The plan was to pedal with a friend visiting from the UK, but rain showers and lightning in the forecast threw a wrench in our gears. Instead, we opted for a long walk through Minneapolis. At the offices of Ryan Companies, an architecture, engineering, and construction firm, we reviewed this wooden model of Downtown.
Sunday Afternoon Concert
This afternoon, a relaxed chamber music concert highlighting members of the Minnesota Orchestra in smaller ensembles. The program was a mix of old and new, with a modern socially conscious American piece by Kevin Puts, Credo (new to us), sandwiched between works by Rossini and Brahms.
The Coffees Looked back at Us
On a Downtown walk with friends stopped at Gray Fox Cafe for refreshments. Their cappuccinos looked pretty fine, it almost seemed a shame to drink them.