Category: Place

Unforgiven

Watched “Yurusarezaru mono” (“Unforgiven”) set in Japan’s brutal 19th century frontier, Hokkaido. It parallels America’s West: settlers (from Honshu), indigenous people (Ainu), and destitute Samurai rather than washed-up gunslingers. In 2013 I visited this 1870’s frontier home.

Hearing Native Voices

Scaffold In May 2017, I stood behind a chain link fence that was covered with protest notices. “Shame on you””Take it down””There is no art in genocide””Not art, not a game, not experience, not your story, not your family” Behind the fence, in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, workers were putting the finishing touches to a…… Continue reading Hearing Native Voices

Transit Apps for a Short Trip

We’re just back from a few days in Chicago. Smartphone apps made travel by train, plane, and bike a breeze. I was able to purchase all transit using my phone. AppExample Transit Use CasesMetro Transit–Buy tickets for light rail from home to MSP (Minneapolis airport).Fly Delta–Check in for flight.–Display boarding passes.–Display membership cards.–Check departure time.–Check…… Continue reading Transit Apps for a Short Trip

Tangletowns

Explored Tangletowns in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, where the streets wind and ignore the grid. Found this 1887 Cass Gilbert home in St. Paul’s Tangletown. Later, Gilbert was the architect for the MInnesota Capitol, the Woolworth Building in New York, and the US Supreme Court.

Cycling The 606

Explored Chicago’s North Side on shared bicycles. Cycled The 606, a trail on a former “L” line elevated on berms and bridges. This former Playskool factory once produced Lincoln Logs and Tyke Bikes.

Louis Sullivan Ironwork

Paused at this ironwork above the entrance to a Target store in Chicago’s loop. Legendary architect, Louis Sullivan, created this for the Carson Pirie Scott department store which originally occupied this building.