Pre-Fair
Went to the Minnesota State Fair Friday and it was not bad. Actually we haven’t gone yet, so the above echo of Mrs. Sundberg is premature. We’ll be heading for the grounds in the afternoon to … ‣ more…
Plates
Today I put the Minnesota license plates on Maxie the Ford C‑MAX Energi. Goodbye, Massachusetts EV. Hello, plain vanilla Minnesota vehicle. The occasion does feel just slightly momentous. It’s not that I have been avoiding … ‣ more…
LANline
When the telephone meets the Internet, local loses out. We moved to Minnesota and didn’t immediately install a land-line telephone, with copper to the premises and powered from the central office (i.e., not on the electric … ‣ more…
Parade
The Twin Cities love a parade. For a few more days we will have Pianos on Parade around the metro area. Most of the pianos aren’t in fact moving around, as “parade” might suggest: Pianos … ‣ more…
Driver
I went downtown yesterday and took the test for my Minnesota driver’s license. The experience was not the trial by fire that it notoriously is in Massachusetts. Katharyn and I took the bus, which stops … ‣ more…
Luce
Finally made it to Pizza Luce tonight. Spectacular. In comments elsewhere on this blog at least two people have recommended Luce in the most glowing terms. Luce has been going for 22 years in the Twin … ‣ more…
Library
[Note added 2018-10-19] Todd Bol, the founder of the Little Free Library movement, died this week of pancreatic cancer at his home in Wisconsin. He was 62. Here is the Star Trib’s obituary. Minnesotans love … ‣ more…
Craft
If Groton was pasta and wine, St. Paul may turn out to be burgers and beer. And ice cream. And pizza. The local zeitgeist, and the dominant styles of food being served, will exert their influence … ‣ more…
Graceful
Here are a few photos captured on a walk around Mac-Groveland this noon: three sidewalk poems, several stop-sign posts that are more beautiful than they need to be, and a reminder of where stormwater ends up. … ‣ more…
Venerable
Lots of businesses in St. Paul are capital "O" old. They may not be old by the standards of the East Coast’s settlement, 400 years ago; but they are venerable for businesses. Examples: In this neighborhood, … ‣ more…