Minneapolis from Prospect Park

December 30, 2016 @ 7:43 a.m. The building in the foreground is Pratt Community School, which opened way back in 1898 as Sidney Pratt Elementary.

Headfirst

Graffiti in an abandoned building in the SEMI area, Minneapolis, MN. One interesting thing I've realized is that the higher you go, the better the work gets.

Spaces between

Between structures, between sunlight and shadow, between ground and sky.

Dazzle

Minneapolis skyline and a late afternoon sun from a window in the SEMI area.

Rail box, September 2016

Late afternoon September sun shining down on a rail car in the SEMI area, Minneapolis, MN. This whole area is cordoned off now and owned by the University of Minnesota. Signs of construction going are all around; the United Crushers structure appears to be in the initial stages of demolition or conversion. In October 2016, the U of M regents voted to tear them down, stating that no other viable plan had been put forward. More info here.

And now a brief warning from the skulls

Graffiti in an abandoned building in the SEMI area, Minneapolis, MN.

Sunset over the Centennial Showboat

A riverboat with a theater in it. I'm serious! Find it docked at Harriet Island Regional Park on the Mississippi River, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Dream of spring

Garden hose with snow, Saint Paul, MN.

70 Years of Helping You Keep Clean.

Early morning, Needels Company Janitor Supplies and Equipment, Waucota St., Saint Paul, MN.

Go

Detail from The Golden Gate Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sculpture bust

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada. The sculpture is titled "Big Rig Jig" by artist Mike Ross.

Air it out

The Ramsey County Government Center West complex, formerly known as West Publishing headquarters, getting the knock-down treatment courtesy of Ramsey County, with the goal of making the site more attractive to developers and getting it back on the tax rolls after more than 20 years.

Table for one

A bit of R&R at Atomic Liquors, the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas. Originally opened in 1945 as "Virginia's Cafe", renamed to "Atomic Liquors" in 1952 in honor of the bomb testing going on out in the desert and the high-powered cocktails one of the owners was known to make. Barbara Streisand has an honorary stool there.

Legasea

One of the few remaining boats at the Saint Paul Yacht Club.

Saint Paul Blue

Sitting on a dock on the Mississippi River, watching the Saint Paul skyline during the blue hour.

Marginal

Mississippi River at Hidden Falls Park, Saint Paul, MN. Shot this on a recent walk there while the weather was still temperate. Looks like today we finally get the big turn and dip into a more winter-like climate, with a bit of snow predicted later in the afternoon.

Jammin' me

Downtown Las Vegas.

Ugh the Tug

On the Mississippi River, Saint Paul, MN: Ugh the Tug sitting in front of the Jonathan Padelford. Ugh's vital stats: 26 tons, 14 meters in length, 6 meters in breadth, 450 horsepower, built in 1972.

Last round

Sunrise and a bit of low-lying fog and so why the heck not take a picture of it? Hole #8, 515 yards, Como Park Golf Course, Saint Paul, MN.

Just stop

At the edge of some woods in the vast wilderness of Eden Prairie, MN.

There's a light

Warehouse facade at sunrise, Eden Prairie, MN.
Happy Halloween, everybody!

Boards

Late fall/early morning in the wilderness of Eden Prairie, MN.

October

Peaceful evening along the Mississippi River.
Hidden Falls Park, Saint Paul, MN.

Across the river and into the trees

Finally managed to get out tonight and gawk at some of the fall colors, which, depending where you look, or either magnificent, fading fast, or a little bit of both. Shot this at Hidden Falls Park along the Mississippi River as the sun was going down.

5 on the line

Street crossing, downtown Las Vegas.

Fortress

View from beneath the Short Line Bridge, Minneapolis, MN.

Winged

Shot this in Red Rock Canyon, geographically near Las Vegas, NV, but mentally a world away from the full-on sensory assault of Sin City.

Noose

Minneapolis, MN.

Cuidado! Alpacas!

From the 2016 Minnesota State Fair.

One last ride

Trains and puddles and one fine Minneapolis sunset.

Waves

Mural in a Loring Park alley, Minneapolis, MN.

Crow

Grand Rapids, MN.

Minnesota 260

Because the first two hundred and fifty-nine just weren't that great.

The morning crunch

Let's hope things get straightened out.
Minneapolis, MN.

Whoa is me

The horse’s name is Jack. He’s twenty-one, but his rider said he looks no more than fifteen.
Minnesota State Fair.
 

 

Is there a doctor in the house?

Getting it all in order at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell, Minnesota State Fair.

Super shot

On the midway at the Steele County Free Fair, Owatonna, MN.

Ready for the Big Boom

David Smith, Jr., Human Cannonball, at the Steele County Free Fair in Owatonna, MN. Sounded a bit cheesy at first, but after watching the man in action, there is no way for me to describe how awesome it was. Quite simply one of the best things I’ve ever seen.

So?

Because sometimes you just need an introspective penguin.

Onward

Another cracking good sunset in the SEMI area, Minneapolis, MN.

Feelings

Nothing more than feelings...
Red Wing Farmers Market.

Night falls on Minneapolis

Some more lurking about the SEMI area.
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High water

Decided to point my camera at something other than the lift bridge while wandering in and around Canal Park in Duluth, MN.

Disappear

Car park shadow world, Duluth, MN.

Moooove on up

Another visit with our cow friends from the University of Minnesota: Big Bossy and her #1 backup, just in case the shiz git realz.

Private parking

Grand Rapids, MN.

Blandin Dam

The Blandin Paper Mill (currently owned by UPM), Grand Rapids, MN. Dam construction began in May, 1901; the mill began operating in 1902.

Popcorn!

Serving it up at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Say it with flowers

Alley near Loring Park, Minneapolis.

Minneapolis slice

Looking down on the Grain Belt sign and the Hennepin Avenue Bridge from somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be.