Hygge was clearly a theme as we walked into Orchestra Hall for a Nordic chamber music concert performed by members of the Minnesota Orchestra. The program featured works by three Scandinavian composers: Valborg Aulin, Otto Mortensen (I had to Google both), and Jean Sibelius. The current music director, Thomas Søndergård, is from Denmark and his predecessor, Osmo Vänskä, is from Finland, reflecting the Nordic roots of many Minnesotans.
Category: Downtown Minneapolis
Elevator doors and a secret passage
The theme of a downtown walk with a friend was elevator doors. The building guards were friendly; at the former Minneapolis Grain Exchange, a guard even directed us to a ‘secret’ underground passage. Lined with vault doors more than a century old, it connects with a building across the road. Click through for a photo.
You’re gonna make it after all!*
Went on a Target run, or rather a walk, to the downtown store. En route, I passed Mary Tyler Moore/Mary Richards eternally throwing her tam in the air in front of the Dayton’s building, oblivious to the traces of yesterday’s snow on her head and shoulders. Back in the 1980s, her thirty-year-old character had moved to Minneapolis and was making a fresh start, as had I. (*Line from the show’s theme song.)
Discovering Fawkes Alley Cafe
Discovered Fawkes Alley Cafe, hiding at the end of an alley. I learned it’s located in a building that originally housed the Fawkes Auto Company car salesroom when it opened in 1911. The cafe is a nonprofit that supports the community by mentoring its employees and funding youth soccer for underrepresented communities. My Americano, served in a ceramic cup, was near-enough perfect.
Relaxed and spontaneous at the Dakota
Tonight, two accomplished artists we’ve seen before at the Dakota: Dee Dee Bridgewater accompanied by Bill Charlap. Their performances were relaxed, low-key, and wonderfully spontaneous. They focused on The American Songbook with no set list, leaning heavily on scat and improvisation.
Reaching for the sky
The rain decided it was a day for a skyway walk. With almost 10 miles of these elevated pathways, I find it best not to plan a specific route. Instead, I set a target: today, the convention center. But the circuitous skyway system had other plans, offering me my city from many different angles.
No kings
Joined a huge crowd in downtown Minneapolis to assert government is for the people and must adhere to the law. (Over 100,000 attended the Minneapolis rally. Nationwide there were more than 2,700 rallies with over 7 million attendees.)
A day for indoor activities
This morning, woke up to a smoke-filled view of Downtown. When I stepped outside, I could taste and smell the wildfires in Manitoba. Definitely a day for indoor activities.
What’s 365 Feet Long and Hangs in the Post Office?
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned this impressive light fixture, but didn’t include a photo. Today, I happened to walk past our post office and snapped this picture. This 365-foot-long fixture was installed when the lobby was built in 1933, and it was reportedly the longest in the world at the time. I’m a big fan of indirect lighting, so I really appreciate this fixture.
On My Foraging Walk…
My walk took me to three supermarkets: Seward Co-op, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. Along the way, caught a glimpse of these unique buildings. On the left, built in 1965 for Northwestern National Life, the building is sheathed with beautifully matched-up marble. On the right, built in 1972 for the Federal Reserve, the building hangs from 24 cables connecting two concrete towers, much like a suspension bridge.