Midway Magic

The magic of the midway is that so many otherwise intelligent people, shell out big bucks to play rigged games that give away crappy prizes. Awww, I just sucked all the fun out of it! Actually, I would squeal and hug my big strong guy if he won me a giant stuffed bear after spending $30 on a ridiculous game, but he would never do that. And I still love him anyway! :)

Rubber Ducky, you're the one!

I don't know the object of this game. I don't even know the prize you win for playing. But I loved watching all these duckies swirl around in the tank. Quack.

The Mighty Midway

Carnival rides are fun. But the carney folks that run them are better!

Seed Jesus

You wouldn't know it just by a quick glance, but this portrait of Jesus is made entirely from seeds. You know, seeds from plants like mustard seeds and sunflower seeds, etc. Yes, seed art is an actual display at the MN State Fair. While this portrait is indeed impressive, the winner was a portrait done of Lucille Ball. I didn't take a picture of it but I was suprised at how good it was. It looked almost like a painting and had lots of depth and dimension. The gal that did it lives in some tiny town in the middle of nowhere and also submitted a portrait of Ricky Ricardo. I deemed that she was definately talented, but that perhaps she had a bit too much time on her hands to be able to submit not one, but two time consuming, painstaking entries in one year. I wonder if Jesus was upset that he didn't win? Ah well, he probably just turned the other cheek, right?

Award Winning Corn

At first I wasn't sure exactly how one judged corn. What makes one ear better than another? Taste would be my way of choosing, but that's not an option at the fair. So I asked a few questions. These ears are being judged in groups. The closer they are in symmetry; size and shape, the more likely they are to win the prize. You learn something new everyday.

Sweet as honey!

The Agriculture building is always one of my favorite stops at the fair. I love seeing all the products lined up with their award ribbons being proudly displayed.

12 days of fun

Sorry to all, I was busy at a national meeting and had to take some time off. I am back now. In lieu of Summit Avenue, we will spend the next week or so at the Minnesota State Fair. One of my all time favorite activities. Hope you enjoy the Fair as I've seen it.


Tickets Please:

I snapped this beauty in the parking lot of the local Targhetto. Interesting wheels, wouldn't you say?

On a separate note, our stroll down Summit Avenue will have to be postponed. So sorry dear readers.

Last stop on Ramsey Hill

Across the street from The University Club lives this lovely lady. I enjoy her often. And thus concludes our tour of the Ramsey Hill Neighborhood. Next stop.............. Summit Avenue!!!!!

Still at the top of Ramsey Hill

This is Lookout Park. It has a great view of downtown St. Paul. In the late 1850's Carpenter Hotel was built on this site. The hotel had a mansard roof with a balustraded captain's walk on it so patrons could take in the view. The hotel is rumored to have burned down in the 1880's but no one is 100% sure if it burned or was razed but it's been a park ever since.

At the top of Ramsey Hill..............

and sitting just on the edge of the bluff is The University Club. Sort of a country club but without all the rolling hills and golf courses. I've never been inside but perhaps someday I'll be invited to an event there.

And right next door..................

is this charming home! It is so lovely and well kept. I couldn't tell if it was in the shape of a hexagon or an octagon but either way it was really cool.


And I LOVE the twisty chimney. What a whimsical touch to add.

At the bottom of Ramsey Hill..........

is this marvelous professional building. It used to be a church but I'm not sure of what demononation. It's lovely inside and out. I went there once for a massage.

Ramsey Hill Part 2

Here is one of the homes carved into the Ramsey hillside.


This one looks like an Italian villa. Who knew such wonderful homes were hidden among the trees and tucked into the hillside?

Ramsey Hill

The fastest way to get from the waters edge of downtown St. Paul up to the bluff of the Summit Avenue neighborhood is Ramsey Hill. Perhaps the steepest hill in St. Paul, it would be dwarfed by the hills of San Francisco, but still I always get a kick out of it. It's really fun to ride my motorcycle up it! What many people may not know is that there is a little neighborhood tucked along the bluff. For the next few days, Picture St. Paul will explore this tiny unique neighborhood. Enjoy!

North Shore

I've been having a lot of trouble posting photos so I tried a bunch of random photos and this one actually worked! While it's technically not in St. Paul, it is in Minnesota on the North Shore of Lake Superior and it was taken this past spring. Enjoy and hopefully we'll get back to St. Paul pics soon.

Why, blogger? Why?
I want to post pictures.
But you won't let me.
Do you hate me?
Have I done something wrong?
Please help me understand
why you are being so wretched!

Everest on Grand

We enjoyed a delightful supper there last night. I highly recommend it. YUM! Next time maybe I'll be brave enough to try the yak!

The Jackson Street Roundhouse

"I'm bored." He said.
"Find something for us to do." I said. "I'll go wherever you want to go."
This is where we ended up. Very, very cool!

The Cups

Because of the karoke, which I loathe with great gusto, I don't frequent this bar often. However, I love that they serve beer in cans and have fantastic people watching. High caliber folks there. Or maybe just high folks there.

Kessler's Maguire Funeral Home on West 7th. I love this building and find it regal enough for its designated purpose.

I love Cossetta's. Not just because it's been around since 1911 and there are tons of photos from the old days hanging up, but because everytime I go in there, I feel like I've just stepped into a bustling NYC eatery. Not only is the restaurant good, but the grocery provides a HUGE variety of pastas, sauces, breads and fresh Italian ingrediants that would rival any market in Little Italy.

Here's what Citysearch had to say about it:
There is some method to this lovably Italian madness. To the right, the line for a whopping piece of pizza . To the left, a queue for salads, entrees and pasta. Upstairs, diners squeeze into tables and get friendly. Event nights at the nearby Xcel Energy Center are mildly chaotic. The pizzas--made and thrown by hand for the entertainment of all--is famous. Other choices include mostaccioli in the tongue-tingling marinara, near-perfect lasagna and saucy meatball sandwiches

Yarusso's

Yarusso's is an Italian restaurant on Payne Avenue near Swede Hollow. This was taken the day we entered our Ural in the annual bike show they have there.



On top of Yarusso's is this miniature Statue of Liberty. I shot this from the back parking lot.

Red's Savoy Pizza

Perhaps St. Pauls' most famous pizza is the pizza at Red's. Best visual description I can think of is that it reminds me of a very fat man floating on a very thin raft. Thin crust piled high with toppings served in a crowded environment by somewhat surley waitresses who are always in a hurry. Yummy.

I'm sure I have walked down this street before, but I never noticed these concrete heads jutting out of the building before. Interesting little touch although I wish I knew more about the building and why the heads are there.

I love this huge old house. It's located at Shepard and Chestnut, I think. It's near the rivers edge and has been undergoing restoration for quite some time. It's enormous and I'd love to see the inside of it someday. I'm fairly sure it will end up being several duplexes.

The crowd that attends Taste has totally changed since they moved the festival from Cap Square to Harriet Island, but this sign is still on display.

Kellogg Park

This long and narrow park runs between Kellogg and the Mississippi River. It's quite lovely. This faithful fountain makes its home there.

Taste of Minnesota

This is as close to Taste of Minnesota as I care to get. According to the organizers of this festival, Minnesota tastes like cheap carnival food served out of greasy roach coaches. I know for a fact Minnesota has many wonderful restaurants which serve delicious dishes. Some of them are even healthy and made without grease. Too bad this festival can't recognize these local business owners and help promote their restaurants. The best thing about Taste are the nightly fireworks they shoot off of a tiny island in the Mississippi. You can see thme for miles around and I don't have to get anywhere near the festival to see them. I love watching fireworks almost as much as I love good Minnesota food.

Ok Ok

AGAIN.............. Technically, it's Minneapolis, but I highly recommend the Mill City Museum. Informative and fascinating. I highly recommend it. Did I say that already???????????