Category: Twin Cities

Min Hi Line

Pushed my bike alongside railroad tracks, following the route of a proposed cycle path, the Min Hi Line. These tracks once served several flour mills. Just one mill is still operating, producing one million pounds of flour every day.

Brewery in a Bin

Cycled around an industrial area of St. Paul’s Midway. Spotted Bang Brewery, housed in a grain bin. Peered through the door at vats biding their time.

Convenient Ice Cream

It’s a little too convenient living one block from an excellent ice cream store. “Existential Crunch” (dark brown sugar, Jameson whiskey, creme fraiche, praline pecan, and cashew brittle) topped with a small scoop of “Umeshu Chocolate” (dark chocolate and Japanese plum wine).

In Pursuit of Fire Stations

Cycled with a friend past eight former St. Paul fire stations, and a monument in Oakland Cemetery to firefighters who lost their lives while on duty. This fire station, built in 1872, was St. Paul’s first.

Lamplighter

Cycled through St. Paul with a friend looking for vestiges of the past. Spotted this lamplighter, frozen in time, on a residential street.

Up Next: Fireworks

Watched the riverfront Red, White and Boom fireworks display from our balcony. Over several hours, thousands gathered below.

East Side Freedom Library

Cycled over to St. Paul’s East Side with a friend to visit another Carnegie Library: East Side Freedom Library. Formerly a public library, this institution is a nonprofit with a mission to “inspire solidarity, advocate for justice and work toward equity for all.”