A Seat at Al’s Breakfast

With most university students gone for the summer, it was finally possible to quickly snag one of the 14 stools at 1950s-era Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown. The corned beef hash with a fried egg on top in the narrowest restaurant in Minneapolis was sublime.

Tired Time Travelers

Problem: Working through a 14-hour time difference, and too lazy/tired to cook dinner. Solution: Walk across Washington Avenue to Maxwell’s.

Cloudburst

Sat in Lunds & Byerly’s, consuming a donut and coffee, and watched as a downpour drowned my bike. A few minutes earlier, the heavens had opened as I was locking up the bike, soaking me to the skin. Back home, a hot shower made everything OK.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

The anonymous industrial buildings may look unassuming, but they house a large Asian supermarket and one of the city’s best seafood markets. I bought vegetables at United Noodles and sea scallops at Coastal Seafoods, taking advantage of their 20% senior discount on Tuesdays.

A Cyclist’s Oasis

Even my phone overheated while cycling through Nordeast Minneapolis. Finding relief, I took a quick break in Surdyk’s walk-in beer cooler. A six-pack of Bauhaus Lounge Wizard in my backpack kept my back cool on the journey home.

Mad Max: Nordeast

While cycling in Nordeast Minneapolis, I was stopped in my tracks by a moving art installation that evoked the Mad Max movies. Nordeast Minneapolis is home to hundreds of artists.

Spring Bike Ride

Cycled a loop via the 28th Street Greenway, Chain of Lakes, Minnehaha Creek, then up the Mississippi. Stopped to view the blossom on this section just before Lake Nokomis. In the final stretch, we were ready for a late lunch at Longfellow Grill.

Finished or in Process?

Today’s cycle ride took me through the workspace of Nordeast Minneapolis sculptor Zoran Mojsilov. This piece looks finished, but maybe I’ll be surprised the next time I pass by.

Wild Turkeys go to College

Spotted on my cycle ride through the University of Minnesota where wild turkeys wander freely around the campus. Here, they’ve apparently torn up protective straw fabric to get at grass seeds.