Glanced out the window toward Gold Medal Park. Cyclists, out for a group ride, were relaxing in the fading afternoon sun atop the mound with the spiral path. I smile when I think of my nephews running up that hill, then rolling down the spiral path on their scooters, again and again. They were so young then. Now, at 16 and 17, they’d rather drive their cars.
Category: Twin Cities
Neighborhood Gems
After school, I enjoyed a delicious, runny fried egg sandwich for lunch at Mill City Museum. In the winter, this lobby of the former 1890s flour mill hosts our local farmers market. Next door, hundreds of school kids poured out of the Guthrie Theater after a special performance of A Christmas Carol. I asked a teacher about it. “It was awesome, awesome!” she exclaimed, her arms raised in a celebratory gesture.
When Labor Resists
During my walk through the North Loop/Warehouse District, I discovered a new mural hidden in an alleyway. It depicts a general strike in Minneapolis in 1934. The phrase “One day in July” is a reminder of the violent clash between armed law enforcement and unarmed strikers. According to the Teamsters Union, this strike marked a significant turning point for both the union and the entire labor movement.
Where the Children Play
Near the end of my bike ride, I passed by Gold Medal Park where school kids on a field trip to the Mill City Museum were letting off steam during their lunch break.
Minneapolis Day Out
Took the LRT to Minnehaha Park with a friend visiting from the UK, then walked back along the Mississippi, stopping for lunch. As always, I took a picture of Minnehaha Falls. Each time there’s something different: today the waterfall was throwing off a mist and the flow was enhanced by yesterday’s heavy rain and melting snow.
Signs of Fall
It felt brisk this morning as I set off for my walk. Passing the university’s steam plant, I could hear its gentle roar as it warmed much of the Minneapolis campus and generated 20% of its electricity. Changing leaves were another sure sign that fall had arrived.
Day Dream
From the 3rd Avenue Bridge, the Mississippi and the Falls looked rather trippy today. The reflected sunlight was purplish above the Falls and earthy below. Weeks of drought had calmed the water; the whirlpools I’d seen earlier in the summer were gone. I used a slow shutter on my phone and cropped, but no other… Continue reading Day Dream
View from Plymouth Avenue Bridge
At roughly the midpoint of our Sunday walk, we cross the Mississippi River on the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, enjoying the downstream view towards Downtown. The distinctive Boom Island ‘Lighthouse’ is an addition to the park, built in 1987 by the Minneapolis Park Board.
View From Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9
At the start of my walk, I paused to observe the Saturday scene from a bridge. University students were practicing sculling, guided by a coach shouting encouragement from a chase boat. On land, two teams were warming up for a friendly volleyball match. Colorful kayaks were lined up, ready for use, and a couple runners… Continue reading View From Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9
View From Lake Street Bridge
Beautiful day for a bike ride! Paused on the Lake Street Bridge to enjoy this Minneapolis vista with Fall colors starting to sneak in. On the left, the IDS Tower, designed by Philip Johnson, stands tall as the city’s tallest building. To the right, the University of Minnesota Medical Center, where I receive excellent care.… Continue reading View From Lake Street Bridge