Posted May 1, 200817 yr More from my fall '07 work tour. St. Paul is an underrated city with a very different (more blue-collar, neighborhood-oriented) personality than Minneapolis. It has great urban spaces (Rice Park and Lowertown), wonderful examples of downtown Romanesque and Art Deco architecture, a commanding cathedral on a hill, a beautiful State Capitol designed by an Ohioan (Zanesville's Cass Gilbert) and, in Mickey's, perhaps the quintessential urban diner. Plus the Mississippi River. A mix of architectural styles downtown Some fine Art Deco, next to the library, across the street from the Mississippi River bluff Art Deco City Hall. The lobby also is a monument to Art Deco beauty More Art Deco -- the landmark 1st National Bank The Mighty Missississipppi, below downtown Downtown streetscape, looking up at St. Paul Hotel Nice Romanesque, and the aforementioned hotel Landmark Center -- former Post Office/federal courthouse, now a civic monument used for meetings, receptions, offices. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had a reception here when I was at the conference. ... ... But this is where I had my lunches. "So, yer stickin' with the water then?" asked the waitress, sounding like somebody in a Prairie Home Companion skit. Century-old Cass Gilbert statehouse Old Landmark, and a new landmark Landmark Center and Rice Park 1st National Bank from my hotel window St. Paul Hotel Peanuts characters (St. Paul is Charles Schultz's hometown) in Rice Park; hotel in background Looking out over Rice Park at Landmark and St. Paul Hotel from Ordway theater just before Garrison Keillor's keynote Entering reception at the Landmark I was still hungry after the reception Hungry for classic urban character. And characters. Capitol at night Gopher Bar, near Lowertown. "Best Coneys in Town,'' said the sign. That and a bottle of Grain Belt. The bartender reminded me of Steve Buscemi in "Fargo." The Cathedral of St. Paul. For contrast.
May 1, 200817 yr Looks like a solid Downtown. I wouldn't have guessed it was more blue-collar, I was thinking kinda snobby and old school.
May 1, 200817 yr nice job on these. looks fine. ... But this is where I had my lunches. "So, yer stickin' with the water then?" asked the waitress, sounding like somebody in a Prairie Home Companion skit. so did you respond "yaw?" after all, when in rome.... :laugh: *** excellent diner, but it'll never steal my heart for the kewpie in lima :wink:
May 1, 200817 yr Looks great. I've only seen a little bit of Minneapolis, and barely a glimpse of St. Paul. Looks worth a visit.
May 1, 200817 yr I prefer St. Paul too. Those two cities are fascinating how they work together. They're SO different. Minneapolis being the yuppie oriented business capital that's always modifying and is jam packed with energy. And then St. Paul is the stately, classically refined capitol with beautiful parks, bridges, and civic structures. Both are important in their own way. St. Paul is more my style though.
May 1, 200817 yr Cool! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 1, 200817 yr I just got off the phone with my friend from Minnesota, where he currently just moved to Fargo. I've never heard "yaw know" so much in my life. I think it's a rule you have to say it after every other sentence! Great pics by the way!
May 1, 200817 yr That is a great shot of the Mississippi River...definitely one of the most charming Miss. River shots I've ever seen.
May 10, 200817 yr And then St. Paul is the stately, classically refined capitol with beautiful parks, bridges, and civic structures. Both are important in their own way. St. Paul is more my style though. So which is it? Or is it that and blue-collar? I bet St. Paul has some great residential neighborhoods.
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