Being downtown was, for me, a very unique experience this time. It has been five years since I was last there. I was always busily scurrying from place to place, never stopping to really look at the town. It was always in a mode of change as new buildings went up all around. And I never even noticed. This time around I did.
This is the Lumber Exchange Building on Hennepin Avenue.
Part of the LRT train that now runs from downtown to Mall of America, among other places. This wasn't even started yet when I left.
The flat topped building in the middle is the IDS Tower. I remember when it was the only skyscraper downtown. Our skyline looked like somebody giving the finger!
The atrium of the IDS Tower is the Crystal Court. This has seen many changes over the years, but always an interesting place. (the restaurant at the top with the banners is where MTM had dinner once!)
Another view.
A downtown sculpture. No idea how old it is, but not more than five!
The old fashioned street lights are in stark contrast to most of the builings. Everywhere you look is one building reflected in another.
Several years ago the city built nests on top of buildings for Perigrin falcons. The idea was to control the pigeon population naturally. For the most part, it worked. Unbeknownst to me, I captured one in this photo!
Minneapolis' famous Skyways. Great in the winter. You never have to go outside!
I love this building. Also new to me. The tiles are captivating. This is a Brazilian Meat restaurant.
Another view of the Lumber Exchange Building.
There you have it. A little taste of where I used to work....and party!
14 comments:
I am wondering if you had any "culture shock" moments?
Thanks for the tour. Even though I would attend the fair quite often in the past, I would usually arrive at the airport, drive across the river, and spend all of my visit in St Paul. I just realized how long it has been since i have been down town.
Thanks for the tour. I've been to the Mall of America and the airport several times, but never visited the city. Love the architecture of the Lumbar bldg.
KW from Michigan
nancy: are you a mind reader? The culture shock post is coming up soon!
steve: why would you come to Mn for the fair? I wondered how you knew so much about it in your comments.
kw: you can take the LRT from the mall or airport to downtown. Tour around a bit and hop back on. It is worth the trip.
I have friends in South Dakota and Wisconsin. When I would head back that way in August, we would all meet up at the fair.
Well, leave it to a non-Minnesotoan to say, "hmmmm .... why did he mispell "Lumber" as "Lumbar" .... is the building REALLY named after the lower back??"
Robert
robert: and I did it twice! Years spent in a personal injury law firm I guess.
Great tour of Minneapolis-you pay way more attention to the details than I ever have. But, what I really am dying to know is....what did you eat at the state fair????
Oh, my GOD, did that bring back memories!!! When I got accepted to the U of M in 1974, I was going to BE Mary Tyler Moore...especially since I was majoring in journalism. I ate in that cafe in the IDS Tower many times...took in plays at the Guthrie Theatre...and walked from the East Bank to the West Bank and back many times on snowy cold days. I loved it...and I miss it. Thanks for that little trip to the past.
I always laugh when people refer to the skyways at the gerbil tunnel.
I'm with ninjamom...what did you eat at the state fair??
It's amazing that I live just a little over an hour South of Minneapolis, but never have walked the downtown. I don't even like going to downtown Rochester. Traffic, parking, etc...drives me nuts. Guess I've become a country girl.
Wayne,
Thanks for the beautiful photos. I love your photography style, and I think it just keeps getting better all the time.
Great pictures Wayne!!!
Enjoyed your pictures. Much has changed since my visit some 30 years ago. I stayed at an old hotel between freeway and convention center. Only 3 or 4 stories, but took up an entire block. As I recall, it was like two separate buildings with the only connection on the ground level. I've tried to find it on aerial photos with no luck. Maybe it was razed for one of those new buildings. I think it may have been across the street from the Tribune building.
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