Walking along, I came across a former inauthentic Japanese structure and restaurant, now reskinned and reinvented as a drag cabaret and 24-hour diner. The metamorphosis sparked a question in my mind as I continued my walk: what would my drag name be?
Category: Place
New Tools for an Old Bridge
While walking with a friend across Stone Arch Bridge, we paused to watch workers maneuvering themselves on an articulated boom. They were about to measure individual stones that need replacement. Previously, I’ve seen a drone being used for inspections.
Winter Commute
A bicycle commuter seemed unfazed it was 2°F (-17°C) as I waited for the bus this morning.
Mistaken Identity
Nodded to the hostess as I sat at The News Room bar where Dwight would join me after his Y laps. Surly Furious in hand, I noticed the hostess hadn’t budged. Ah, a mermaid, should’ve worn glasses. Lunch, then down to the heated garage and home.
Beyond the Storefront
It may look like a fast food restaurant and it’s not in the prettiest part of St. Paul but Trung Nam French Bakery, operated by immigrants from Vietnam, bakes the best almond croissants. So that’s where I got with a friend for coffee and flakey perfection this morning.
The House That Paint Built
Three blocks from our home, on a snowy walk, paused at Sherwin Williams’ Applied Science and Technology building. Built in 1905 as the headquarters of the Minnesota Linseed Oil Paint Company, the company later merged with Valspar. The combined company remained headquartered in Minneapolis. Finally, it was acquired by Sherwin Williams.
Fueling Up After a Busy Day
Exhausted from our busy day, and uninspired by the fridge, we walked out for a revitalizing dinner at Maxwell’s.
From Factory to Chic Hotel
Included the Canopy by Hilton Hotel on a downtown walk with a friend. This lovely building was originally a factory for steam-powered wheat threshers and farming implements. An art-filled atrium has been carved out to bring light and drama to interior spaces.
Japan Plan 2024
Posted Japan 2024: Plan for a Plan. Travel is iterative: each journey is a prototype for the next time I visit an area; there’s no pressure to tick off all the boxes.
Japan 2024: Plan for a Plan
I don’t do bucket lists or trips of a lifetime. Places are not to be consumed like products; the journey is not an inconvenience. Travel is iterative: each trip is a prototype for the next time I visit an area; there’s no pressure to tick off all the boxes.