 Wed, Nov 24, 2004 |
 Wed, Nov 24, 2004 |
 Wed, Nov 24, 2004 |
| Snow was falling as we left Chicago. These are some snow-covered leaves in our front yard. | Stopped for fuel at the Edgerton Oasis, a favorite truckstop of mine not far into Wisconsin. Tried to be sneaky and take a photo of the restaurant, but the goddamn flash was on so we had to high-tail it out after this shot. They have guns on the walls. | Across from Edgerton Oasis is this place. Used to be a gaudy fireworks place (mid-90s?), now it sells Mini Golf carts and stuff. |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
| Vanessa and her mom Sally. | Same subject, different angle. | Vegan Thanksgiving dinner consisted of Tofurky, Minnesota Wild Rice, yams, green beans, and my mashed potatoes. It was all fantastic. |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
| Here's a shot of my plate. It was all damn good. | Got a chance to visit old MCAD friends Kiyo and Ulli, who I'd last seen at their wedding in Brooklyn, NY. They moved back to Mpls so Ulli could teach 3D and sculpture at MCAD. | Kiyo and Ulli Matsumoto |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
 Thu, Nov 25, 2004 |
| Kiyo and Ulli again. | I had Kiyo model this fantastic coat that Ulli was making for him. Not finished yet, but you get the idea. Nice modern Western interpretation. | The back of the Western coat with yoke. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| The Harris' barn is a subject that I could shoot 5 times a day for years and never tire of. I love it. Afton, MN. | Took a driving and walking tour of my old stomping grounds, down Nicollet between 24th and 27th Streets or so. Some things have changed in the neighborhood, a lot has stayed the same. Johnson Meat Co. | Franklin-Nicollet Liquor. Liquor stores have some of the best old signs. They don't have liquor stores in Virginia, they have "ABC" instead, Alcoholic Beverage Control, owned by the state I think. In Michigan they're called "Party Stores." |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| View of part of the courtyard, 2515 Blaisdell Ave, Minneapolis. I lived here for a few months with Eric Ogaz before going to Japan. Our room was the far left window, second down. | Looking down the alley parallel to Nicollet, towards 25th St. Ghost sign says "Cedar Lake Fuel Co. Ice. Coal. Coke. Oil. Ice Plant No. 1" | Front of 2515 Blaisdell. Our apartment had no front view. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| Front lobby entrance to 2515 Blaisdell. I remembered this gaudy carpet, had to take a photo. | In a bold stroke of risk-taking, precedent-setting history, the building was named "Blaisdell Court." | Rear of "Blaisdell Court" again. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| Okay, now we're back on Nicollet, looking southeast towards the corner of Nicollet and 26th. They tore down an old recording studio (and I don't recall what else) to build some shitty-looking new condos. See artist's rendering later on. | Butler Drug on the corner. A weird drugstore with a restaurant component that has changed several times. I think in the late 90s it was a greasy spoon, now it's Vietnamese. | I was saddened to see that the Strudel & Nudel had closed its doors. I had a special connection to it, as it was the first place I ate in Minneapolis when visiting MCAD as a prospective student. Shots of the interior follow later. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| This sign was remarkable to me in that it was painted inversely, with paint all around the letters rather than AS the letters. Looks like the lettering of Kevin, a signpainter I took photos of in 1997. | Dai Nam grocery always appealed to me with its chimney beckoning from a few blocks away. Never bought a whole lot there, but I'm glad it's still around. | Siskatet's Furniture and Asian Market. I recall these places being a little strange and forboding, but don't take my word for it. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| Back at the Strudel & Nudel, looking in the window. I took some good meals at this place. I remember eating pancakes there in 1994 or so, just a dork kid of 17, thumbing-through the cool local papers (previously unheard-of in my life).... | Listening to Minnesota Public Radio (or something), overhearing crusty intellectuals debate the politics of the day, glancing at the cute girls working there, and thinking "yeah, I could really live in this place, I love it here." | And I did love it there, and still miss it. Great neighborhood, great years at MCAD, amazing friendships, good food and shopping, and so much more. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| So reminiscing on that first taste of Minneapolis, I got a little sad. Still a lot of great spots in the neighborhood though. | Here's a shot of the Black Forest Inn on the corner of Nicollet and 26th. The Strudel & Nudel was an offshoot of this place, I guess it wasn't busy enough to justify keeping it open. | Across 26th from the Black Forest is the construction site for the "Arts Quarter Lofts." Gotta love those fabricated placenames to sell the latest hot poperty. Hopefully they won't be as ugly as a lot of the shit they build in Chicago. Time will tell... |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| Here's the opposite side of that Cedar Lake Fuel building from earlier, seen from the southeast, as well as a parking lot with new awnings. Nicollet near 26th. | I used to rent VHS at Saigon Video. Lots of kungfu dubbed into Vietnamese, sometimes w/ subtitles, sometimes not. Tried in vain to buy One-Armed Boxer, but they never sold. No matter, got my own copy now! Sindbad's has a smaller new sign. | Pho 79 and Caravelle Restaurant don't appear to have changed. Don't recall eating at 79, but probably at Caravelle at least once. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| Troung Thanh was my favorite asian market in the area, maybe because of the beautiful young girl who worked there. Each market has its own smell, I like theirs. They have an ancient herbalist, I was touched to see his desk and photo still there. | This is about the third incarnation of this place in the time I've known the street. 2515 Nicollet. Now it's called Bubble Delite, but it was a "new" asian market in around 1998. | Took this photo because the building looks a little rough and I wouldn't be surprised if it's torn down before my next visit, maybe in favor of some shitfaced condo. 2511 Nicollet Ave. S. |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| A view east down 25th St. towards MCAD. I didn't visit the campus, a little sad on that grey day. On this corner there's now a great coffeeshop called Spyhouse where there was once a run-down corner store with two sleazy brothers. They sold Pussy incense. | These two houses looked like possible "hot properties" too. We'll see if they get fixed up, knocked down, or stay the same. | This building used to be a Police station, until 1997 or so(?). It sat vacant for a while, I think there was some kind of computer or design office in it, now it's an asian market plaza! I think maybe the one from across the street moved here? |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
 Fri, Nov 26, 2004 |
| Entrance to "Evergreen," a veg-friendly restaurant selling fake meats. It's in one of my favorite spaces, the old basement Quang Noodle restaurant. Sad to see them go, but glad it got replaced with something decent. Bought a great fake ham here. | Pizza Luce's excellent vegan "cheeze toast" stuff. Really good, really garlicky. My friend Andy Hefner from Paw Paw works here, and my friend Brent from Paw Paw owns Cafetto coffeeshop near the Wedge. How cool is that! Represent. | "Mufoletta" or something sandwich, Pizza Luce. This is a very tasty sandwich with BBQ mock duck and some delicious spices. |