One of the advantages of being a senior is that the consequences of being arrested are far less severe than they were when I was young. I no longer have an employer to fire me, and I can comfortably afford a lawyer or a fine. Besides, I look harmless. With that in mind, I secured my bicycle and clambered up a railroad embankment. I carefully crossed two live tracks to get a closer look at a dozen vintage coaches, including these from the North Pole Express. And nobody stopped me.
Category: Nordeast Minneapolis
A favorite perch
Cycled with a friend to a favorite perch overlooking BNSF’s Northtown Yard. It’s huge: 105 miles of track processing 1,500 railcars every day.
Finding anti-fascism in a Minneapolis park
After giving up on finding a local or national Antifa office, I cycled in search of something tangible about the anti-fascist cause. Flags were at full staff at Sheridan Memorial Park when I paused at this sign commemorating American anti-fascist fighters of World War II. I appreciate how this park honors ordinary, working-class people, like Howard Weller (mask, complete with oxygen tubes) from Northeast Minneapolis, without glorifying war.
Praise the Lard: church, flag, and meat pie
Popped into the rectory office of Our Lady of Lourdes, the oldest church in Minneapolis. They have a great side hustle: not only do they dispense religious services, but they also sell French meat pies, handmade by parishioners. I was reminded of this decades-old tradition today while looking for inspiration on the Atlas Obscura website.
Urban safari
On today’s cycle ride with a friend, we were glad to see these Nordeast beauties are still in residence, nicely complementing the carved giraffe we found last week. Next, I need to investigate if a zebra, clearly visible on Google Street View, is still hanging out in the yard of a south Minneapolis home.
“Shop and swap wishing well of free sh*t”
My goals on two wheels today were to 1) photograph an eagle (FAILED) and 2) find new potatoes (FAILED). However, my ride in Nordeast Minneapolis did lead to an interesting discovery: a wishing well outside a home containing a “Chrono Decoder” (a 60-minute countdown timer for a board game), books, a ball of string, and (drum roll, please) a package of fresh bratwurst.
Where do I put my eyes?
Clearly, I tried to fit a lot into this photo today: the modern Pierre Bottineau Library in the foreground, with the former Grain Belt Brewery (now offices) behind it. I do like the ghost staircase. Next is my old hoss taking a breather, and across the road, the former brewery office, now apartments.
Walking Between Raindrops
Walked in a general northeast direction until rain started, as forecast. Took a bus back.
Train and Smoke
While cycling past the BNSF Northtown Yard today, watched a freight train roll by. The air quality is noticeably poor due to wildfires in the West and Canada.
A Night at the Ritz
I’ve cycled past the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis many times, but had never been inside. Tonight, we saw Johnny Skeeky, a modern interpretation by Theater Latte Da of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. Comic elements included greedy relatives, a corpse, and rewriting a will post mortem. Earlier this week we streamed Puccini’s short comic opera, performed…… Continue reading A Night at the Ritz