Category Archives: Twin Cities

Twin Cities, World News

I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis Collapses into Mississippi River

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Wow. Breaking news as the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed during rush hour, sending as many as 20 cars into the Mississippi River below. From the pictures it looks like the entire length of the bridge fell, not just one section, with parts of the destroyed bridge submerged and parts above the water.

A few concerned relatives called to make sure we were OK, and we’re fine. We hadn’t even heard about it until we got the call. It’s actually pretty rare that we take I-35W, even more rare that we’d take that bridge. Though ironically, Lexi and I took that bridge on Tuesday and were in the area near the river on Monday (see a pic with a vague view of the bridge).

Update:

Continue reading I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis Collapses into Mississippi River →

Twin Cities

Best Tacos Ever: Los Cabos in West St. Paul

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My wife has already mentioned it, but there’s no reason I can’t second her: Los Cabos in West St. Paul, Minn. has some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. It’s a tiny little restaurant but it oozes authenticity, especially with the chairs and tables made from leather and branches (you really have to see it).

My favorite (so far) has to be their hardshell tacos, hands down. And it doesn’t hurt that they serve Coke and Pepsi in glass bottles.

Twin Cities

Como Park Flickr Group

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I’ve started a Flickr group for Como Park Zoo & Conservatory pictures. So far I’m the only member and we have over 100 photos. Kind of freaky, but I like Como Park and have lots of pictures.

Plus we just went there with the grandparents and that trip alone probably accounts for three-fourths of the pics. I also beefed it up with a few historic photos I found around the net (not sure how kosher that is with Flickr, but oh well).

So I’m kind of obsessed with certain locations. Como Park is one of them. Raymond, Kansas is another. The High Bridge in St. Paul is a recent obsession that’s starting to take root. Sometimes it’s neighborhoods I’ve lived in or just locations that have a history. I especially love digging up the history. Like this pic of the Como Zoo building in 1936 compared to 2006. It gets even more fun when you zoom in on the group map to see photos scattered across the park.

Web 2.0 is only fueling my obsession. It’s everything I can do to keep from filling in Wikipedia entries, forming Flickr groups and writing Squidoo entries (too late for Raymond, Kansas on that last one) on my latest obsessions. I just have visions of lame groups of one and hap-hazzard contributions scattered across the web for all to see (Squidoo already has a nice collection of those). But maybe I should just give in and ride the web 2.0 wave, embrace my geekiness–at least more than I already have.

Twin Cities

Abandoned Buildings in St. Paul

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I’ve always had an obsession with abandoned buildings. Lately I’ve come across a number of them in St. Paul along or near the Mississippi River that seem to be failed condo projects.

Head House Grain ElevatorThere’s the six-story Head House Grain Elevator that’s sandwiched between the river and a row of swanky new condos and apartments. It’s falling apart and plans to turn it into a restaurant or something haven’t happened yet. Meanwhile it’s looking more and more out of place and dangerous surrounded by all the newly finished construction and a split pedestrian/bike path right next to it.

There’s the former Island Station Power Plant that was supposed to become its own swanky riverfront condo but still sits as an empty shell of a decommissioned power plant. (I haven’t taken pictures of it, but you can check out this entire set of photos.)

Lowertown DepotAnd there’s the Lowertown Depot (pictured here), which was slated to become an earth-friendly condo and sustainable community. It’s still sitting there empty without even a fence dividing it from the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary. (And I can’t seem to find any history on the Lowertown Depot–speak up and share if you know some.)

That’s a lot of buildings with some grand plans that are going nowhere. I love the grand plans, but they need to go somewhere. I guess all the projects can’t be the Mill City Museum (they didn’t even need a roof to make their abandoned building usable). Some day I’d love to the be the man with the grand plans and the money to back it up. Monkey Outta Nowhere could use a cool headquarters. But I don’t see that day coming any time soon (plus I don’t make a very good real estate tycoon).

Society, Twin Cities

Panhandling is Big Business in Twin Cities

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Apparently panhandling is big business in the Twin Cities:

  • Some people can make $80-100/hour
  • Hot corners are being bought and sold
  • Tips on best practices can be found online

That should help assuage the guilt I feel every time I pass by someone begging on the corner. Instead the article encourages giving to organizations that can actually help people, which is a good start.

Continue reading Panhandling is Big Business in Twin Cities →

Society, Twin Cities

Human Trafficking in My Town

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Yesterday there was a big story in the Star Tribune about a prostitution bust. The bust included eight brothels across Minnesota that were bringing in women from Mexico and Central America and forcing them into prostitution. And the scary part? One of the brothels was in my tiny suburb of less than 20,000 people. Human trafficking in my own backyard.

Today the Star Trib talked to neighbors who were shocked at the news, despite the odd things they saw:

“Every 10 minutes there’d be a car going in or out,” said Mangan. “It would start in the morning and go until all hours of the night. But it was very quiet. And the yard was always clean. It looked just like a regular house.”

So if you’re an international criminal wanting to exploit and enslave women all you need to do to keep the neighbors off your back is mow the lawn. If you see something suspicious you can report suspected human trafficking to the Polaris Project: 1-866-US-TIPLINE

(Unfortunately, this one was another chance to do some overlapping coverage with the Foursquare NextGen Summit ’07. Twice.)

Transportation, Twin Cities

Typical Three-Car Family in the Twin Cities

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This morning the Star Tribune is reporting on a transportation bill passed by the legislature. What seems wrong with this description?

Minnesota legislators set the course Monday for a historic showdown with Gov. Tim Pawlenty, approving a transportation bill that features a gas-tax increase and other revenue hikes that would cost a typical three-car family in the Twin Cities between $250 and $500 a year.

“A typical three-car family”? Since when is a three-car family typical?

Apparently since at least 2005, according to this random data I found. The average number of vehicles per household in the Twin Cities was 2.6, compared to a national average of 2.0. Ouch. No wonder the average Twin Cities household spends more on transportation than housing.

Health, Society, Twin Cities

Minnesota Goes Smoke-Free on October 1, 2007

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The Minnesota Legislature passed a bill that will ban indoor smoking, including all bars and restaurants, effective October 1, 2007. It’s about time. I think this is a simple public health issue. I just don’t get these kind of complaints:

“I don’t smoke, but I’m a small-business owner and this is a huge violation of personal choice. It is a simple violation of people’s rights,” said Sue Minehart, owner of the Main Street Grill in Alden, Minn.

Personal rights end when they infringe on the rights of others. My right to healthy lungs trumps your right to destroy your lungs. And frankly, I don’t see why we shouldn’t ban smoking entirely. We ban other harmful substances regardless of personal choice, why not cigarettes? It’s not like they offer a shred of benefit or even illusory medicinal value. They just kill people.

Health, Twin Cities

Minnesota to Ban Smoking

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I hope the state of Minnesota will soon be going smoke free. Ramsey County passed a smoking ban two years ago when St. Paul couldn’t get one passed (thank you very much former Mayor Randy Kelly–I voted against you based on this issue) and I think it’s the right move for public health.

Now that we’re moving out of Ramsey County I’m not eager to return to smoke-filled restaurants, so I hope the state-wide ban is passed. I just e-mailed my state representative urging him to support the bill (find yours and do the same).