i couldnt think of a more appropriate end to the twin cities threads than a walk around the minneapolis skyway

(stick around for the bonus afterwards – a few historical pop music sites of ”the minneapolis sound”)

 

for mood music, you can play the replacements classic skyway theme song here:

The Replacements-Skyway

 

You take the skyway, high above the busy little one-way

In my stupid hat and gloves, at night I lie awake

Wonderin' if I'll sleep

Wonderin' if we'll meet out in the street

 

But you take the skyway

It don't move at all like a subway

It's got bums when it's cold like any other place

It's warm up inside

Sittin' down and waitin' for a ride

Beneath the skyway

 

Oh, then one day, I saw you walkin' down that little one-way

Where, the place I'd catch my ride most everyday

There wasn't a damn thing I could do or say

Up in the skyway

 

Skyway

Skyway

 

 

the interior ‘crystal court’ of philip johnson’s wonderful IDS Center tower  :clap:

 

“…wasn’t a damn thing I could do or say…up in the skyway…”  :wink:

 

*** although the 60’s-70’s skyway trend failed elsewhere, it continues to thrive in the twin cities ***

 

 

bonus:  a few local historic music sites that spawned the minneapolis sound.

more info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Minnesota

 

the mack daddy of minny music, first avenue & 7th st entry, a former greyhound bus station

probably the most famous pop music club in the usa and still going strong, but….

 

….to get in you got to know the password

Purple Rain - PASSWORD

 

***Purple Rain "Original Movie edit" ***

 

this is a fantastic article re prince’s early years:

http://www.pepemusic.com/web2002/symbolicbeg02.htm

 

other prince pilgrimage sites I didn’t get to include:  cookman studios (94 east),  sound 80 studio (demos), the capri theater (1st show) and of course childhood sites & his purple house – next time- ha!

 

i think this was once jays longhorn punk bar? not sure – if so  the 1st replacements show

 

anyway that was just an excuse to show this cute pic of teenage bob stinson at the longhorn – ha!

 

next to the west bank of u of m campus, cabooze held early punk shows, ‘mat’s, etc.

 

70’s era west bank u of m theater, site of another early replacements show

 

gray’s drug in dinkytown, robert zimmerman lived above here and played out front on the street,

this is where he took the name bob dylan

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/carls064/freealonzo/2006/09/bob_dylans_dinkytown.html

 

i looove the twin cities music dinosaur in st paul – hilarious!  :laugh:

 

buried in snow!

" Tender Love " Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Interview

 

the last site is back in downtown mpls, it’s 9th & hennepin, a familiar corner to tom waits fans

 

 

now u know:  the highest charting tongans in pop history are from minny – the jets!

 

get yr earplugs on -- husker du at the 1st ave in 1985

 

finally, the best song ever to come out of the twin cities? ha. one hit disco wonders

Lipps Inc - Funky Town (1980)

 

 

*** i hope you enjoyed a stroll in the skyway along with a few historic sites

& some of the sounds of the funkytown twin cities rich pop music history ***

 

Well done.

Wow, fantastic thread.  I have no clue why it's called "the minneapolis skyway" because it's so much more than that but I'm glad I clicked on it regardless.

While some cities like Minneapolis, Louisville, Indianapolis are adding skyway, it seems others, like Cincy, are taking them down. I guess I am a huge skywalk fan, and knowing Cincy was once second only to Minneapolis in this regard, is the right decision to tear them down instaed of revamping them? Is it the way of yesterday or the wave of the future?

Is it the way of yesterday or the wave of the future?

 

Yesterday.

Skyways unfortunately kill foot traffic on the sidewalks that downtown businesses need to thrive.  In a city that gets as cold as Minneapolis though, they become a bit of a necessity regardless.  Cincinnati, I wouldn't say is as extreme with regards to weather so skyways aren't necessary.

Skyways unfortunately kill foot traffic on the sidewalks that downtown businesses need to thrive. In a city that gets as cold as Minneapolis though, they become a bit of a necessity regardless.

 

That's pretty much what I was thinking: necessity, comfort, and convenience.

I think it's great that Minneapolis has identified itself as a cold-weather city, and have made changes accordingly.  They've put the skyway system into both downtown Minneapolis and Downtown St Paul, they've got heat lamps at almost all of their major bus and rail stops, they've got heated areas of refuge along Nicolette Mall, and they advertise and sell fashion forward winter garments.  Here in Milwaukee, you'll see plenty of people who wear really "fashionable" skimpy skirts and low-rise tops when it's 20 degrees outside and then they'll walk around without a coat because coats are ugly.  My family in Minneapolis, however, wears "fashionable" full length outfits, and they've got endless collections of winter parkas, practically one in every color to go with any outfit.  It's just a different attitude.  Instead of fighting the cold, they work with it.

 

And so, I have no problem with cities like Minneapolis, St Paul, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal having climate controlled connections in downtown.  I would argue that Buffalo would be a good candidate as well, but they need to beef up their business climate before they can think of investing in skywalks.

Just a quick question -

 

Does anybody know of a city that was hurt by having a upkept, nice skywalk system?

Not that I'm aware of...both 2nd level cities and subterranean cities.  But consider this.  Most of these systems are found in large financial districts where office towers dominate.  The lobbies take up most of the ground square footage leaving restaurants and retail to be underground or on the mezzanine levels of buildings.  Such is the case here in Chicago's loop where a 41 block underground and above ground pedway systems weaves between office buildings full of restaurants and stores.  Ground level space is all leased out where available, but most of the good stuff I've found in Chicago's loop was below or up above street level.

 

  Thanks NorthAndre, you made a god point.

 

What are the most common excess points to this? I never knew it existed. I have been to the shopping sector on N. Michigan and do not remember seeing such a thing. Is it south of the river? I would love to check it out!