A Fleeting Display

Last weekend there was a street art festival on Nicollet Mall in Downtown. The sidewalk chalk art had survived quite well when I reviewed it today, minus crowds.

Concrete Calm

Cycled through this calm place on my random steamy ride. Industrial areas like this one in St. Paul are best explored on weekends, away from the hustle of weekday truck traffic.

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.

Bridge 9 Pause

Gave my bike a break on Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9 to take in this hazy view. Four bridges in sight: two now reopened after years of restoration work, one currently under restoration, and one newer bridge opened in 2008 after its predecessor’s dramatic collapse during rush hour in 2007.

Turrell’s Light

Imagine my delight finding Sky Pesher, a permanent James Turrell installation, open to the sky, right here in Minneapolis. I first learned about his work while staying on Naoshima Island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea where several pieces by this American artist are on display. My room even had a signed Turrell print on the… Continue reading Turrell’s Light

Riding Above Floodwaters

Today we explored beyond the Twin Cities. Took a bike ride on the Cannon Valley Trail from Cannon Falls to Welch and back. This well-maintained rail trail offers scenic views of the Cannon River, which is currently overflowing its banks. Impressive embankments, built in 1882, kept us safely above the floodwaters and ensured gentle gradients.

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

Raging Waters

A break in the rain was an opportunity to walk over to Surdyk’s to pick up some crusty bread. On the 3rd Avenue Bridge, I peered down at the rapids raging after the recent downpours.