Off-roadworks

Clearly some road works had been happening on 12th Avenue, by the side of Stewart Field, but they had been moved off the road and neatly piled to the side. As the lights were still on they were a thing of beauty.

Photo: Michael Wright   

Before and After

Pinwheel at the Soo Line Community Garden, reminds me of the State Fair.  And it's on a stick.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Baby Rhino

Photo: Marz Haney

Soccer/Fútbol

Whittier Park

Soccer is very big around here.
The other day a friend and I kicked a soccer ball a couple blocks down the alley to McDonalds, and along the way several different guys engaged with us. A little kid called out, "I play soccer." An older man gestured us to kick the ball to him, saying, "Here! Here!" Then at McDonald's, a manager showed us where his leg had been so badly injured playing fútbol he'd had to miss a couple weeks of work.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

sidewalk

We are marking our territory.

Photo: Michael Wright  

To Be Or Not

The Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. South,  does Shakesphere's Hamlet.  The lobby and bar are an experience in themselves.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Dunn Bros +

The new Dunn Bros Coffee +
26th and Nicollet Ave. S.
"Plus" means provisions. In my case, French fries and frozen coffee ... for breakfast. 

(Soon you'll be able to use that breakfast as fuel at a Vertical Endeavors climbing wall, currently going up in the historic Ice House on the alley behind Dunn's.)

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Stained Glass Window

▼Iglesia De Dios Montes Sin, just behind the heart of the beast.

Photo: Michael Wright    Address:

Small World

A complete little garden world within a garden (the Soo Line Community Garden between Harriet and Garfield on the Greenway).  To think this community garden could have been turned into a multiuse building, except for the testimony of residents who appreciated it's importance as a community amenity.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Rooftop Corn

From inside the new Dunn Bros on Nicollet & 26th, my friend spotted corn growing on the roof across the street.

Photo: Marz Haney

Morning Glory

A starfish galaxy irradiates my alley,
right next to the dumpster.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

purple

I love the hope of the just opening flower.

Photo: Michael Wright  

Whittier Alliance Staff and Office

Jen Wendland (left), Community Orgnizer, and Marian Biehn, Executive Director of the Whittier Alliance, find a few minutes to laugh while they break from work on very serious issues.  I've attended meetings in that tiny office around the corner from Spyhouse, on 25th Street, where we worked on the the design guidelines for redevelopment along the Nicollet and other major streets. (http://www.whittieralliance.org/Whittier%20Design%20Guidelines_7-10.pdf)

I think you will be amazed at what goes on in that small space: http://www.whittieralliance.org.

Composite photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Parking Lot

________________________
Wouldn't it be great if this parking lot were landscaped, like Whittier Clinic's (a couple blocks away)?
Until they (who?) removed the benches under the trees around this K-Mart lot--on Lake Street, between 1st Ave. & Blaisdell--it was kinda nice to sit here with an Icee or a bag of something from White Castle across the street.
At least it's some open space in an otherwise jam-packed urban environment.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

(I need to learn Photoshop or GIMP, "a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring".
But until I do, it's weirdly fun trying to manipulate photos in Blogger's composition box.)

The sun is out, the sky is blue, there's not a cloud to spoil the view...

Today was a good day for the sky.

Photo: Michael Wright  

The Faces of Rocks

According to Japanese landscaping tradition, each individual rock has a face you want to find and put that towards the viewer.  It seems this landscaper had that goal in mind when placing these interesting rocks and stones.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Red

Photo: Marz Haney

Peace Games

Jeff, Moni, and family make their way home from the  Peace Games (held every August in Washburn Fair Oaks Park to celebrate Minneapolis's diverse cultures).
Their daughter wears a headband on which she has painted her name in Japanese.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Tour Guide

Let's start with the bird seed stash, then to the nesting materials.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

numia

on lake st.

Photo: Michael Wright  

Still Life: Summer Kitchen

On Thursdays, I often shop at the Farmers Market on Nicollet Mall, downtown. This is today's haul. The luminous basil is soon to be pesto.
Pesto Recipe
1 bunch basil
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2-4 cloves garlic (to your taste)

Grind to a fine paste in food processor or blender... or even by knife.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home

These pedal powered art shack/anarcho band exuberance/display of creativity that I enjoy on Mayday is currently resting on Bloomington Ave and 28th.

Photo: Michael Wright  

Meadow in the Sky

A green roof, literally a meadow in the sky, with native plants, on the roof of the former Green Institute.  From this position, you can see the Hiawatha Light Rail train go by at eye level.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

cherries.

Ripening sweetness.

Photo: Michael Wright  

Picnic Ants

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Beast!

It is my birthday today and this seemed appropriate.

Photo: Michael Wright  

Two Frogs In Conversation

Yard decor on First Ave.  Conversation is fantasy.
Boy frog: You going to the Uptown Art Fair this weekend?  Girl frog: Are you kidding?  All those feet, and people are looking up at the art work--fat chance of surviving un-flattened; I prefer the habitat at Powderhorn.

Photo:  Jo Ann Musumeci

Spyhouse, 9:30 a.m.

Spyhouse Coffee Shop
2451 Nicollet Avenue

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

CARNITAS

Sign seen on Lake St, near Bloomington.


Photo: Michael Wright  

National Night Out in Whittier

Whittier residents at 27th and Pleasant paint the town on National Night Out.  Some have lived in the neighborhood for a many years, others are brand new.  We talked about previous owners of houses (some are quite old) and how some folks are fixing up their houses.  This is the coolest block!

Photo composite: Jo Ann Musumeci

lily

Photo: Michael Wright