Local.

Minnesota is BIG into locally owned businesses.  (Dairy Queen, Caribou and Target are a few of our biggies.) In fact, one summer I watched as a new Ben and Jerry's sat deserted while there was a huge line outside Grand Old Creamery.  I don't think Ben and Jerry's was on Grand Avenue for even a year.  We showed them.  Here's another local company.  60 years in business.  Rock on.

Wow Mother Nature. Just Wow.

Luck, Wisconsin.

I-35 W Memorial

Visited it for the first time last week.  Near Gold Medal Park.

Veggie Day

Thursdays are known in my neighborhood as "Veggie Day", for that is the day that my neighbors walk half a block away to pick up their farm share....a bin filled with bounty from local farms.  What's in the bins changes depending on what is currently being harvested.  Many of my neighbors split their farm shares.  I may have to get in on this action next year.

Did You Know.....

.....that you can ride your bicycle directly underneath Twins Stadium???

Further proof that the twin cities area is the most bicycle friendly place in the U.S.......as if you needed any!

House of Hope Presbyterian Church

The steeple of this church catches the sunset so nicely!  Summit Avenue.

First Avenue

Technically in Minneapolis, First Avenue is an icon in the twin cities areas.  Best known as the club where Prince rose to fame, First Avenue is host to an insane amount of talent.  They occasionally also provide a venue in which you can dance your ass off.  I should know.  I woke up this morning without mine.

It's Wabbit Season.....It's Duck Season.....It's Wabbit Season....It's Duck Season.....

.....it's MOTH season!  There seem to be large moths all over the place right now.  I found this whopper on my front door. 

This door ROCKS!

In fact, the whole building kind of does.  Selby Avenue just east of Snelling.

Baby's 1st Mud Puddle

National Night Out.  Laurel Avenue.

Something Stinks..........

Onsite Sanitation Shitter Parking Lot, Little Canada.

Hidden Spaces

There are not a TON of outdoor patios here in the Twin Cities, given the climate.  But I LOVE dining outdoors.  Here's a little gem of a patio wedged between two buildings.  It is a shared patio for both Cahoots and The Neighborhood Cafe.  The brick walls, mismatched furniture, plants and hanging lights lend lots of charm to the space.  Selby Avenue just east of Snelling.

Who WOULDN'T.......

.....want a wigwam in their yard????  Corner of Portland and Lexington.

Don't you threaten me!

Sometimes church marquees are funny, sometimes they are even punny, this one just kind of pissed me off.
Summit Avenue.

The Dog Days of Summer

It is UNUSUALLY humid in the Twin Cities right now and people are just wilting.  And I know some very dedicated boys who actually played a double header at this ball field yesterday.  And God Bless their poor overheated parents for sitting through both games. 

Midway Ball Field behind Central High School.

Hot!

It's supposed to be hot enough to start a fire here today.  Not much looking forward to it despite my intense love of summer.  Randolph and South Chatsworth.

Holy Roses!

The sign says it all folks.  5 dozen limit, through tomorrow.
I'll take 5 dozen thank you very much!
A. Johnson and Sons, Grand and Wheeler

Genius

Because sometimes......that's just the TRUTH!  Target Parking Lot, University and Hamline.

What a Zoo!

Snelling and University should be avoided like the plague right now.  I feel sorry for all the businesses along University right now taking a HUGE hit so the light rail can be expanded.  In fact, there is more construction right now in Saint Paul than I ever recall in my 8+ years here.  I kinda sorta don't like it at all!

Weather vain?

Do you think this weather vane is embarrassed at its current condition?  I mean......how do you point the way effectively when you are all slumped over to the side?  Summit Avenue

Steppingstone Theater

This building used to be all white and in a pretty sad state of disrepair.  Now it's a theater with this sassy gal out front watching over things.  I dig her.  Victoria and Portland

Sweet Anticipation

Sometimes there are long lines outside Grand Old Creamery. But it's ALWAYS worth the wait.

Hmong Independance Day

Given that we have one of the largest populations of Hmong in the United States, it is no surprise that there is a large festival every year celebrating their culture and independence. I've never been to it but Como Park is always VERY crowded and busy.  And they seem very partial to their bright umbrellas protecting them from the sun.  Seriously, EVERYONE had umbrellas.

Bock Bock

Summer just calls for Fried Chicken and the chicken at Roosters on Randolph is completely up to the task.  Ohmylanta is it delicious!  2 Booths and Barbecue?  I WILL be back!

Summer

Great time for bringing the freshness of the outdoors, in.  Selby Avenue.
P.S.  It was so gorgeous outside last night I almost wept.

Happy Day.

Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis.

This time last year.....

.....Pops......

Pick Yer Poison

There's lots of ways to celebrate the 4th.  What's yours?  Kowalski's Market.  Grand Avenue.

Red Skies at Night

After a stiflingly hot and sticky day, the temps suddenly dropped 20 degrees and the evening was perfect for porch settin'.  Then the winds picked up and a mighty storm blew through and when it was over, the sky exploded with color.  God I love summer.  Laurel Avenue.  Saint Paul

Pile of Poop

In the wintertime, this would be piles of rock salt for melting snow and ice.  In the summertime, it's fertilizer.

Or as I like to think of it, a giant pile of poop. 

I will say this, their customer service totally rocks. I LOVE this place!

Frattallone's Ace Hardware, Grand Avenue and Cambridge.