i've been there

The pics from my San Francisco post a while ago can now be found on the Guardian's I've Been There website. Check it out!

Around 26th and Lyndale, Mpls (II)

I found some pretty cool stuff around 26th and Lyndale today, above average I would say...


'i wish i could respect things' - me too...


someone went giant sticker crazy...


i don't think this phone is supposed to be yellow...



'kiss my fist' - that's pretty hardcore girls, nice!


if only i had enough dollars to get what i want politically...

Cedar-Riverside, Mpls (II)

More from Cedar-Riverside...once one of the main landing points for Scandinavian immigrants, a mini Haight-Ashbury in the 60s and 70s, now the main landing point for East African immigrants...

OK, what's the deal with this? City workers find a broken access panel on a street light and fix it with duct tape? And when that doesn't work, tie it up with a wire? Nice:


One of the many interesting doorways:


I love the 400 Bar! Saw the Walkmen there not too long ago, they rocked as usual! It'll be a sad day when I drive down Cedar and don't see this sign:


While my dad was in college he lived above the infamous Cesar's Bar, which is now the Red Sea (you can see some glimpses of the awesome architecture in the neighborhood):



My mom tells me it was a real crap hole back then, well ma here's the door to the upstairs apartments today:


Words of wisdom from the staff at the Hard Times, one of my favorite lunch spots:

Dinkytown, Mpls

The neighborhood that spreads out from the main entrance to the U of MN, Dinkytown really means a lot to me. I worked on the East Bank for a couple of years and ate lunch somewhere in the area almost everyday and would go to Cheapo every other week or so (it has since been replaced by a big chain that I won't name here). My mom and her sisters also grew up very near by and so I've known the area as long as I can remember.


In case you are completely ignorant of Mpls history, Bob Dylan wrote the song about this 4th Street. He was at the U for a year, but lived in the area for a little while before heading off for the Village. My dad always said he knew a bar owner in Duluth who fired a young Dylan because he was "absolutely terrible."


It's so awesome to see The Varsity re-opened, it gives me hope...


This was one of the most tagged doors I have ever seen...


The Hair Shaft? Well, at least its upstairs. Lots of Dinkytown businesses are upstairs.


I loved this half-assed attempt to advertise the fax at a copy shop...


The Dinkydale Mall is like this old London arcade, pretty cool...


Mmm, Annie's. Decent burgers and good malts. Has been here as long as I can remember. Mpls natives might remember that there was once one in Uptown, too...


Kinda wondering why this old gas range is in the alley behind the Loring's kitchen...


I died a little inside when, on this 95 degree day (yes it gets that hot in Minnesota), I headed to the Purple Onion for an iced coffee, only to find it closed with the big chains moving in! Screw "progress" and screw you developers! But, my anger subsided when, with a little research, I learned that they have found a new home! Unfortunately it is in a new overpriced apartment complex and will have none of the old atmosphere...

Milwaukee Ave, Mpls

Milwaukee Ave is a very cool little slice of history in Seward. Built as housing for railroad workers, mostly Scandinavians, the houses all have a similar mail-order design. The area was almost leveled by the city in the 70s, but was saved by preservationist residents.


The original houses all have a bit of Tudor style decoration:



I thought it was classic that the house below had the traditional red "Post" box. Is this a Minnesota thing or can you see it elsewere (Chicago and Seattle don't count as they have just as many scandinavians)? You probably have to blow this one up to see what I'm talking about...


On a lot of these houses they had to strip off the original brick and then use reclaimed industrial brick: