Brown Christmas & Brown New Year's

This was our first brown Christmas since 2006. There's talk of snow tonight so we'll see if it turns out to be a brown New Year's as well...

Minnehaha Creek in December

We are experiencing unseasonably warm weather for December. I took a walk down by Minnehaha Creek today and discovered that it was not completely frozen over. The top photo was taken on the north side of the creek at 12th Avenue and the bottom photo on the north side of the creek close to 11th Avenue.

Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire

I remember seeing this on t.v. while we were visiting my Grandmother for Thanksgiving in Two Harbors. 1982 - hard to believe it happened almost 30 years ago.

The following is from Wikipedia:

"The Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed an entire block of Downtown Minneapolis on November 25-26, 1982 including the 16-story headquarters of Northwestern National Bank (now Wells Fargo) and the vacant, partially demolished location formerly occupied by Donaldson's department store, which had recently moved across the street to the new City Center mall. Nobody was injured or killed as a result of the fire."

"The Minneapolis Fire Department quickly determined the cause of the fire as arson. Shortly thereafter, two juveniles were arrested and later convicted of setting the fire, using an acetylene torch found at the partially demolished Donaldson's site."

"In 1988, Northwestern National Bank (then called Norwest Corporation_ constructed a 57-story Cesar Pelli-designed headquarters on the site of the Bank building. The new headquarters is now known as the Wells Fargo Center, after Norwest merged with Wells Fargo. The Donaldson's half of the block is occupied by the Saks Fifth Avenue wing of Gaviidae Common, and upscale shopping mall."

Dale was living in Washington D.C. at this time but was in Minneapolis when this happened to scout out an apartment for his impending move here.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

My friend Noel and I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts today to see the Edo Pop exhibit. This sculpture of a dog greeted us in the lobby.

The Minneapolis Tribune/The Minneapolis Star

Dale and I went to St. Paul today to visit the Minnesota Historical Society and see the 1968 exhibit. Although I was quite young in 1968 I do have memories that I can trace back to that year. The first national event that I have a memory of was the moon landing in 1969. Reprints of the December 24, 1968 edition of the Minneapolis Tribune were being handed out at the Historical Society to go along with the exhibit. When I was little, the morning paper was the Minneapolis Tribune and the evening edition of the paper was the Minneapolis Star. We always got the Minneapolis Star because Dad liked to read the paper when he got home from work in the afternoon. I remember the final edition of the Minneapolis Star in 1982 or 1983. Around this time the two papers merged to become the Star Tribune which we still subscribe to today. My friend Paul and his family lived up the street from our family when I was growing up and his family got the Tribune in the morning while ours got the Star in the afternoon. I used to love reading the Dear Abby advice column and the Peanuts comic strips that were featured in the Star. I was surprised to find out from Paul that the advice columnist in the Tribune was not Abby but Ann Landers and that the Tribune did not carry Peanuts. I couldn't imagine not being able to read about Charlie Brown and Snoopy! Oh well, Paul grew up to be a happy and productive member of society regardless. I especially loved reading the Variety section in the Star. That's were the comics, t.v. listings, Dear Abby, entertainment and special interest stories were.

The above photo is of the December 24, 1968 edition of the Minneapolis Tribune and was taken by me.

First Avenue

Dale and I went downtown today and parked on the street in front of First Avenue. My first experience with First Avenue was seeing Prince's Purple Rain in the 1980's. I never made it there myself until the early 1990's and this was for a DJ dance night and not a concert. My first concert there was in the late 1990's when my friend Noel and I saw the Afro Cuban All Stars. About a year ago Dale and I saw Brandon Flowers of The Killers there. It was a great performance even if it was a little loud for my aging ears.

Cobblestone on Main Street

The cobblestone on Main Street near St. Anthony Main.

St. Anthony Main

The following is from Wikipedia:

"Saint Anthony Main is a shopping and office complex located on Main Street in the Nicollet Island/East Bank neighborhood of Southeast Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Commonly the area is associated with Northeast, Minneapolis as it is actually northeast of downtown on the east side of the Mississippi River. It opened as a festival marketplace in the 1980s. Though initially popular, with many small shops selling tourist items, it had economic troubles after noise restrictions reduced its hours of operation. The area underwent a resurgence during the condominium boom in the early 2000s, and several condo projects started in and around the area; including the adjoining Pillsbury A Mill complex. It is now home to a movie theater, four bars and restaurants, a small cafe, and a Segway tour operator."

"Saint Anthony Main sits on the other side of Central Avenue from Riverplace, a housing and office complex. It fronts the river at Saint Anthony Fall, the only waterfall on the Mississippi River, and sits next to the Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant, host of the Water Power Park, which opened in Spring 2007."

"Some of the buildings in the complex date from the 1850s when the Village of Saint Anthony on the northeast side of the Mississippi River was still separate from Minneapolis itself. Several are contributing properties to the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District."

St. Anthony Main

I remember when St. Anthony Main opened as a shopping and entertainment complex. It was the early 1980's and it was quite a novelty. It was a hopping place in it's time and has become rather deserted as of late.  Photo taken 2011.

St. Anthony Main

Dale ran in the Big Gay 5K this morning. The starting point was Wilde Roast Coffee at St. Anthony Main.  Photo taken 2011.

Fall In Minneapolis

I have vivid memories of Fall in Minneapolis. I love so much about Fall - the bright colors of the leaves against a bright blue sky, the dead leaves and how they crunch when you step on them and how they smell when you rake and bag them, the warm glow cast by the October sun and much more. I remember Sam, Pete and I helping rake leaves into big piles and then getting a ladder so we could jump in them.

The above photo taken near 12th Avenue and 44th Street in Minneapolis on Sunday October 2, 2011.

2011 Minnesota State Fair

I took this picture from the Skyride at the Minnesota State Fair. In the distance you can see the Minneapolis skyline.

Accenture Tower

Another photo from a 1990 trip to the observation deck of the Foshay Tower with my friend David. The 33-floor building you see here is called Accenture Tower and was built in 1987. I thought it used to be called Lincoln Center but I can't find any information online to verify that.

The IDS Center and Norwest Center

This photo is from the same roll as the picture in my last post. Here you can see part of the IDS Tower and most of Norwest Center which is now officially called Wells Fargo Center. Photos taken during a 1990 trip to the observation deck of the Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis with my friend David.

The IDS Center - Photo from a Pleasant Day

My last post included a picture of the IDS Center on a rainy day. Here is a photo I took of the building in 1990 from the observation deck of the Foshay Tower. Obviously it was a much nicer day! I like how the clouds reflected on the tower look as though they are passing right through it.

The IDS Center - Another Rainy Day Photo

This photo of the IDS Center was taken in 1980 on the same day I took The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day. Rather gloomy I'd say.

The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day Part 2

Here's another I photoshopped version of my 1980 photo The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day that I tried to make look like a painting. My inspiration was Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue, 1902, by Robert Koehler which hangs in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. You should be able to click on it to enlarge it.

The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day Part 1

I took the above photo in 1980 and titled it The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day. As a kid I had a bubble umbrella just like the woman in the foreground to the left.

One of my favorite paintings from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts has always been Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue. I think I've loved this painting by Robert Koehler since childhood because it really captures a mood and also because it's a window into the past of Minneapolis. Hennepin Avenue looks nothing like this and hasn't for quite a long time. I like how the people are walking toward you in the painting. In my photo the people are walking away.

I recently photoshopped the photo I took more than 30 years ago to make it look a bit more like a painting. You should be able to click on it to enlarge it.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 8

Photo taken August 2, 2011.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 7

One of the private family mausoleums at St. Mary's cemetery. Photo taken 8-11-11.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 6

I walked over to the cemetery to visit Dad today. This mausoleum is his resting place. Photos taken 8-11-11.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 5

The cemetery has beautiful gently rolling hills. The mausoleum in the above picture opened in 1994. It is where Dad is buried. Photos taken 8-11-11.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 4

Marker at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Minneapolis. Photo taken 8-2-11.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 3

When Becky was living here with my nephews between 2007 and 2009 she would take them to the cemetery to visit Dad's grave. She would sometimes stop by the statue pictured above.

More from The Catholic Cemeteries web site:

"The 65-acre property was originally opened as a parish cemetery in 1873 by the Church of the Immaculate Conception (now the Basilica of St. Mary). In 1887, it became an Archdiocesan-wide cemetery." Photo taken 8-2-11.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 2

The following is from The Catholic Cemeteries web site:

"Located in the heart of south Minneapolis, St. Mary's cemetery is a historic cemetery characterized by gentle hills, towering trees and majestic monuments and family mausoleums."  Photo taken 2011.

St. Mary's Cemetery Part 1

Dad died in 2007 and is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Minneapolis. The cemetery is located at 4403 Chicago Avenue South.

Return in the Rain

Just got back from a trip to Colorado today. We ran into a huge storm just south of the city and it was still raining when we pulled in the driveway. I like this photo I took in 1980 of the Nicollet Mall on a rainy day. Wow. Thirty-one years ago.

Minneapolis City Hall

Another old photo I found recently. The shot is of Minneapolis City Hall and was taken from the Hennepin County Government Center which is just next door. I love how the Government Center windows frame City Hall. Too bad it was such a dark rainy day.

Minneapolis 1981 Part 3

Yet another shot of the yellow ribbon around the Foshay Tower in January of 1981. This shot was taken near the stage door of Orchestra Hall just off 11th and Marquette.

Minneapolis 1981 Part 2

Another shot of the yellow ribbon around the Foshay Tower in January of 1981.

Minneapolis 1981

Found this old photo recently. The yellow ribbon tied around the Foshay Tower was to welcome home the 52 American hostages that had been held in Iran. I took the photo in January of 1981.

Minneapolis 1986 Part 3

Another shot from the roof of the Nicollet Center which was located between 6th and 7th Streets on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The old J.C. Penney building is across the street in the lower left corner of the picture. On the bottom right side you can see where one part of Gaviidae Common was later built. The top of the Foshay Tower is peeking out from behind the building in the top right quadrant of the photo and the Campbell Mithun Tower is in the upper left quadrant of the photo.

Minneapolis 1986 Part 2

Another photo I took from the roof of the Nicollet Center. The building in the middle of the photograph is the Rand Tower (formerly Dain Tower).

Minneapolis 1986

In the summer of 1986 I was working as a security guard at a building called The Nicollet Center. I don't believe it's there anymore. Anyway, because I was the guard I could get up on the roof of the building. Here's a photo I took from the roof. I like it because of the clouds reflected on the IDS Tower (now the American Express Tower). You can see the top of the Foshay Tower, for a number of years the tallest building in Minneapolis, peeking up from behind one of the other buildings that's part of the IDS complex at the left of the photo.

Boulevard Theater Part 4 - More Photos

Supposedly the Boulevard Theater is featured in the song Eiffel Tower High by Minneapolis band Husker Du. The lyrics describe a gal "Walking towards the Boulevard", buying a ticket and some Junior Mints and then sitting down to watch a movie.

The Boulevard Theater Part 3

During my time growing up in the Tangletown (formerly Fuller) neighborhood in Minneapolis the Boulevard Theater was was a second-run theater known for it's cheap seats. Because it only charged 99 cents to see film that had already been in wide release, many neighborhood folks called it the "99 cent-er". I remember seeing a lot of movies there including A Christmas Story, Star Wars, Reds, The Verdict, The Breakfast Club, Peggy Sue Got Married, Moonstruck, and more.

Dad took me to see Paul Newman in The Verdict in 1982. I remember it was the first movie that just the two of us went to alone since a re-release of Disney's The Jungle Book in the early 1970's. I remember a couple of women sitting behind us going nuts over Paul Newman's blue eyes during a close-up of him.

Sam, Pete and I went to see Star Wars when it was re-released in the late 1970's and Sam and I hiked over to see A Christmas Story during Christmas break of 1982/83.

I have early memories of seeing Saturday matinees for kids in the early 1970's. The Pippi Longstocking films from Scandanavia were my favorites although I also had a good time seeing those Disney nature movies as well.

The above photo is my own that I took on July 17, 2011. Although the theater is no longer there, the marquee remains.

Boulevard Theater Part 2

I found the above photo, dated 1974, online. I remember the theater from this time but have no recollection of the structure on top of the theater. I'm guessing it was taken down when the theater was remodeled and divided into two theaters from one in the late 1970's. The Boulevard Theater closed sometime in the 1990's. The building now holds a restaurant named Prima, a Caribou Coffee shop, Anytime Fitness, Nokomis Chiropractic and a Subway sandwich shop. The Red Owl grocery store just to the left of the theater is now a grocery store named Kowalski's.

Boulevard Theater

The local neighborhood theater that we frequented when growing up in the Tangletown neighborhood (formerly named the Fuller neighborhood) of Minneapolis was the Boulevard Theater. I just did a web search for it and a website named cinematreasures.org came up. This is what they had to say about it:

"Designed by Perry E. Crosier in 1933 in Art Deco style and seating about 1,000, this theater opened as the Boulevard Twins, not beause it had two screens (though it was later twinned in the late-1970's), but because it was partly a movie house and part restaurant, a format it retained into the 1960's."

"Today, the former Boulevard Theater houses a video and DVD rental store, in a touch of irony. However, its beautiful Art Deco style marquee is still intact and still used by the store."

Actually, in a case of reverse irony, the video rental store has closed since that posting on cinematreasures.org. As far as I can tell the space is vacant.

I took the above photo on July 17, 2011.

Nicollet Park, Martin Luther King Park and the Nicollet Field Mural

On the block just north of Curran's is Martin Luther King Park. On the north side of the park building is this mural of Nicollet Field. There may have been a park called Nicollet Field on the MLK Park site but I think this mural is actually referring to Nicollet Park which was a ball park on the west side of Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street (30th Street) and 31st Street. The mural shows what looks to be a wading pool so maybe it is something altogether different than Nicollet Park. Regardless, I remember Father Wirth at Annunciation telling me that, as a kid, he used to take the bus to Nicollet Park to watch baseball games. The park was built in 1896 and was home to the Minneapolis Millers baseball team. The Millers moved to Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington in 1956. I'm not sure what happened to the Millers baseball team but the Minnesota Twins came along in the early 1960's and played at Metropolitan Stadium until the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome was built in Minneapolis in the early 1980's. Nicollet Park is no longer there and I couldn't find any information about when it was torn down. The block is now the site a Wells Fargo Bank branch, a condo building and a Hennepin County Medical Center clinic.

Top photo shows the mural Nicollet Field 1920 on the park building at MLK Park at 41st and Nicollet. The bottom photo shows Nicollet Park at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue.

Curran's Part 2

More from the Curran's website: "Changes in the restaurant business prompted Mike to build an 84-seat dining room and coffee shop with expanded menu in 1974. Four years later, [a] 30-year era ended when we discontinued the drive-in service and removed the speaker system. In 1977, Mike's son, Dennis M. Curran, joined him as a partner in the business. In 1981, Curran's added another 60-seat dining room and continued to expand its menu, remodel, and update. In 1985 the complete dining area was decorated and a small dining and meeting room was added. The most recent remodeling and decorating [occurred] in the winter of 2001, [which] brings us to the present."

Curran's Restaurant

More often than not our family would go to breakfast after Sunday mass. Curran's Family Restaurant got a lot of our business. I loved getting omlettes with cheddar cheese and pancakes on the side. Dad usually got the now infamous (at least in our own family lore) Cakes and Eggs which I think was either number 7 or 8 on the regular breakfast specials menu.

The following is from the Curran's website:

"The Curran name has occupied the corner of 42nd and Nicollet since 1948. That name, however, has lived on through centuries in another part of the world. The Curran family name can be traced back to seventeenth century Ireland when it was the most popular name in Tipperary. By 1901, the Irish census had counted 142 Curran families in County Kerry alone."

"The Minneapolis Currans were part of that 142. Dennis Curran was born in County Kerry in 1861; he immigrated to the United States, landing in New York City. There he met and married Honora Sullivan, an Irish nanny. They left New York and began a journey that led them to the copper mines of Michigan and eventually to Green Isle, Minnesota, where they homesteaded a farm in 1870."

"Dennis and Honora had six children - one of whom was John Curran. The fifth of six children, hohn farmed with his family until his marriage to Katie Morrin. In time John married Katie Morrin and they bought their own farm and raised six children of their own."

"Their fourth child, Mike, decided that farming wasn't his vocation in life. Instead, he operated grocery stores and meat markets. During World War II, he managed the officer's club on Waikiki Beach. Upon his return in 1948, Make and his father, John, built a 14' by 14' drive-in restaurant at 42nd and Nicollet. Curran's opened for business on May 17, 1948, and Mike operated it as a carhop drive-in until 1954. That year he added a counter with nine stools inside the restaurant building. On year later, Curran's boasted the first electronic two-way car-to-kitchen ordering system in the Twin Cities."

Curran's is located at 4201 Nicollet Avenue South.

Bridgeman's Ice Cream and Restaurants Part 3

Another Bridge-

man's restau-

rant is located at 4757 Hia-

watha Avenue in Minne-

apolis. This one is still in business. Mom and I went about a year ago. I hadn't been to a Bridgeman's in ages so it was quite a trip walking in. It smelled exactly the same and looked somewhat like the old Richfield restaurant. I got a burger and chocolate malt and Mom got a tulip sundae.