June 29, 2008

Xcel Energy Smoke Stack Falls

St Paul, Xcel Energy smokestack is demolished on June 28, 2008 Live, from St Paul, Xcel Energy smokestack is demolished as it is no longer needed. This contribution photo from Claydough shows the 570 foot, highbridge tower as it falls to the ground. Explosives were used for the initial blast, then gravity took care of the rest as the tower fell leaving a great big cloud of dust. Claydough took over 100 photos of the day's event. To see the rest of the photo set, you can visit his flicker website.

Photo contribution from Clay Johnson Photography

June 28, 2008

High Bridge Smoke Stack

Saturday, June 28, 2008 will see the St Paul High Bridge smoke stack fall to explosives as the plant converts from coal to a new form of energy This morning at 7:30 am, St Paul will lose another piece of it's skyline. The old NSP plant, now the Xcel Energy Plant, which is no longer a coal burning power plant will demolish it's 570 foot smoke stack. This will wake the neighborhood. I know the plant is being converted to a different type of energy plant, but I cannot recall exactly what type at the moment. Whatever is to become of the energy plant, the smokestack is useless for the future. Down it will go with 200 pounds of explosives. I unfortunately will not be able to attend the demolishion. This is my busy season at work and I must pass up this event. Though, I do have several photos of the smokestack, I will take some photos after the event has taken place with the new void in the skyline.

June 27, 2008

Where Are The Details

One thing I've always enjoyed about old style buildings is the details and craftsmanship that went into a building like this. They just don't make them like they used too. I seriously doubt that we'll ever see buildings made in similar to designs like this.

June 26, 2008

This Is Bear Country

a black bear strolls into a backyard in northern Minnesota I had a customer, a few weeks ago, that I was giving some technical support. He had taken some photos earlier in the morning of a black bear and it's baby cub. He asked if I wanted to see them, I couldn't pass them up. I know he was about two hours north of the Twin Cities where one could find a bear in their backyard. Finding one in the Twin Cities area can only be found in a zoo.
a black bear strolls into a backyard in northern Minnesota a black bear strolls into a backyard in northern Minnesota a black bear strolls into a backyard in northern Minnesota

June 25, 2008

Bridge Art Is How I See It

A photo of some strange bridge art on the Wabasha Street Bridge in St Paul. This odd looking contraption can be found on the Wabasha Street Bridge as you enter downtown St Paul from the West Side neighborhood. To me, these are some strange looking contraptions that have been added into the bridge design. It blends well with the rest of the bridge, but strange non the less.

June 24, 2008

Graffiti Under The Bridge

Some local graffiti artist handy work or to the rest of us, a wall that was vandalized by someone with a spray paint can This vandalized wall, I mean, this artistic graffiti can be found in St Paul, under highway 61 at a roadside park which leads into Battle Creek Park. Whomever tagged this wall, had an issue with their black spray paint can. The paint was too thin, or they over sprayed. There are some serious drips with the blank spray paint. See all of the runs now when you look close? This is a terrible job by the vandal who wrote their name on the all. Blah! The white shading effect around the lettering, another terrible job I must say. Very uneven, double sprayed, plus a few places where you went WAY off track of the letter. Perhaps someone finished this for you at a later date? If you're going to vandalize a wall, and then later on have my tax payer dollars clean it up, at least make it look outstanding.

June 23, 2008

Seven Corners Hardware

The famous Seven Corners Hardware store, hardware since 1933. Seven Corners Hardware, since 1933. Oddly enough, it's on the corner of Seventh Street and Chestnut Street in St Paul. Just on the fringe of downtown. To be fair, the landscape has changed quite a bit since it's opening, plus I do believe the intersection it gets it's name from is just out of frame to the left. That end of the block is home to many intersections coming together.

From what I hear, the floors creek when you walk on them, the aisles are very narrow. If you're looking for something uncommon, it's probably 10 feet high on a shelf, so it's best to ask for help. They pretty much will have everything you need, plus they are an authorized service center for many tool manufacturers.

June 22, 2008

Good Night BWCA

One final shot from Ima Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, taken from our base camp on the camp sight before you enter Alworth Lake. We say good night to the BWCA photos, or at least for a while. One final shot from Ima Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, taken from our base camp on the camp sight before you enter Alworth Lake.

June 21, 2008

Dancing In The Moonlight

The moonlight dances on the waters in the BWCA Another photo from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area set. I've featured the BWCA for a good portion of this week. This one is a 6 second photo capture and was taken well after the sun had set for the evening.

June 20, 2008

Small Things Growing In Nature

A mushroom grows in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and captured using a macro shot. This is one of my favorite daytime shots I took using the macro setting. How large is this mushroom? About an inch to an inch and a half wide. There were many signs of growing mushrooms in the heavily moisture of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. There has been quite a bit of rain in the midwest as many of you are aware of. I was surprised when I returned from my week in the BWCA to find so much rain and flooding in many of the midwestern states.

June 19, 2008

Boundary Waters

a BWCAW lake reflection shot. The lake is called Ima Lake. I wanted to answer Dusty Lens of the North Metro Minneapolis Photo Blog, his question was what lakes do we travel to. We usually enter the BWCAW around the city of Ely. The access lake we enter is Snowbank, then into Disappointment Lake. Once through these two lakes, which are the longest two lakes we have to paddle, the rest are fairly small. Adventure, Jitterbug, Cantyman, Asaub, Jordan, and we either end up on Ima or Alworth Lake. We like to make a base camp and then take day trips from there. We like to stay on Ima to fish for Lake Trout, plus we caught some Northern Pike in the range of 40-43 inches on this lake in the past. It's lowest point is 140 feet and typically has a 40 foot average depth about 20 feet from shore.

June 18, 2008

I See Skies Of Blue, Clouds Of White

A reflection photo into a small pool of water in the BWCA. From my 2008 BWCA trip that I just returned from. This one I sort of need to explain the shot. I'm sitting on a rock, a very large rock. I'm about 10 feet above the water level from the lake in the background. There was a small pool of water that I took this shot into. It may look a bit strange, but there is a large lake behind the rock near the top portion. In reality, the rock is only about an inch in height, it just looks large in the photo.

June 17, 2008

BWCA Trip 2008

A nighttime photo of the moonlight dancing on the waters in the BWCA, Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I've made my 11th or 12th trip into the BWCA [Boundary Waters Canoe Area] last week. Thanks to Blogger for adding scheduling posts, my site updated successfully while I was away! So bare with me for a couple days as I post some of my favorite trip photos. This is a night time photo from our camp site. The light reflection in the water is the moonlight. Camera settings: 15 seconds, ISO 80, f/2.8. I used my Joby flexable Tripod, was perfect for the rocky and uneven surface.

June 16, 2008

How To Derail A Train

Hummm, it's either the Hayes Model EB device attached to the train track or it's the bird seed sprinkled on the side. Take your pick.

June 15, 2008

Focal Point

lower perspective from the top of the hockey rink boards From the boards that surround the hockey rink located in my neighborhood.

June 14, 2008

The Eagle Has Landed

a building painted with eagles I really don't have any information about this eagle building, but it caught my eye the other day as I drove past it. I had to turn around and get a shot or two of it. It's located south of downtown St Paul between Wabasha Street and Robert Street. I think the street I was driving on is Plato Boulevard if I'm not mistaken. It's located right next to the railroad tracks that cross the street. As a child, I remember being stopped at this railroad section at times one the way to pick up my dad from his work at the American Hoist Building.

June 13, 2008

West Side Grocery

I would be safe to assume that this mural of an eagle landing on a cactus was planned and not the work of a graffiti vandalism/artist like I posted in yesterday's photo. I do wish I would have come back earlier in the day to catch the sun on the side of the mural instead of the face of the building. The contrast between the two sides was really tough to photograph.

June 12, 2008

Mission Accomplished Sir

some graffiti found under the higway 61 overpass in the tunnel One thing I've always had trouble with about graffiti, aside from it being vandalism, is the meaning of some of the messages. Does anyone, but the author of this act of vandalism understand the message? "Another solo mission X-Mas eve in MN" signed "BOS ONE". See, what does it mean?

June 11, 2008

Boat Lift

a boat suspended in the air via a crain Just your typical 'boat lift' one could find in the Twin Cities area.

June 10, 2008

Do They Build Houses Like This Any More?

What I can tell you about this home is it's location and the approximate build date. It is located in St Paul in the West Side neighborhood. I would figure the house was built somewhere between 1910 and 1930 as were many of the homes in this neighborhood. It does look like it is made with brick, obviously painted over. But wow, the detail painting someone has taken on this home. Plus the brass roof on the left tower and in two other areas as you progress down to the ground level. I'm not sure what the 'fruit salad' like thing above the two side by side windows is suppose to be, hummmm. That's odd to me. Someone put a lot of time into restoring this home. Unfortunately this is the only photo I took of the home so far. The lower half is covered quite a bit with trees and shrubs, so it was tougher to photograph from the street. I'll make a return visit in the winter when all of the leaves are off of the trees.

June 9, 2008

Look What I Found!

just some graffiti in a tunnel under highway 61 in st paul I was thinking of making this a guessing game for the locals. But I've decided against it, though I am curious if anyone has visited this location. I am standing under Highway 61, [click here for an aerial shot] in St Paul. I stopped at the roadside park, which I believe leads into Battle Creek Park, and was surprised to find this tunnel filled with spray paintings of all sorts.

June 8, 2008

Wakota Bridge Progress

progress of the wakota bride crossing the mississippi river After too long of a delay over funding, the Wakota Bridge replacement project is back in full action. While originally scheduled to complete in 2007, the south bridge is scheduled for completion in the year 2010. Yeah, that's a very long delay don't you think for road construction? The big square is where the foundation will be formed. If you look closely, you can see the other side where the bridge will connect.

June 7, 2008

Poo Removal Mitt

the poop removal dispenser machine on a walking path Best of all, the poo pick-up mitt is degradable.

June 6, 2008

The Witches Tower

The 'witches tower' in prospect park or a really cool way to hide a water tower A quick shot from my car window as I wait for the red light to turn green. This odd looking tower, also called the 'Witches Hat' located in Prospect Park is actually a water tower. What you might not know is, this water tower was also designed as a bandstand. Constructed back in 1913, the bandstand, incidentally, only held one concert. Carrying musical instruments to the top of the sixty foot climb proved to be quite difficult for the musicians. I must admit, this is one really cool way to hide a water tower.

June 5, 2008

State Pinewood Derby 2008

2008 minnesota state pinewood derby race at the mall of america An audience of over 550 gathered at the Mall of America in Bloomington to watch the 2008 Northern Star Council Pinewood Derby. The event—which is the largest Pinewood Derby in the country—was held on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 2.

Saturday’s race featured 212 of the fastest cars representing over 38,000 Tiger, Cub and Webelos Scouts that were eligible to compete this year. All of Saturday’s racers won at both the Pack and District levels. This was the 12th Council-wide Pinewood Derby, since it was first organized in 1997.

This was my son's first time making it to the State Pinewood Derby race. We finished 67th in contest. 67th out of over 38,000 cars state wide, I'm very happy with the results. It was quite the experience for my son making it that far, plus Grandpa and myself who helped out with making the derby car.

2008 minnesota state pinewood derby race at the mall of america 2008 minnesota state pinewood derby race at the mall of america 2008 minnesota state pinewood derby race with lots of car ideas

June 4, 2008

Indiana Jones Movie At The Drive In

The big screen at Cottage View Drive-In theater in Cottage Grove. Well, we made our first trip to the Cottage View Drive-In theater in Cottage Grove off of Highway 61. We saw the new 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skulls' movie as the feature movie. This was followed up by 'Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian'. Having seen the previous three Indiana Jones movies when I was much younger, I was looking forward to the latest release. Well, while it did keep up with the action from the previous movies, I was a bit taken back by the story line. I won't give the plot away, but it was easy to figure out where the story was going. Some of the other Indiana Jones movies, sure, there is a lot to believe for the viewer. This was a bit over the top for me. My kids enjoyed the movie and want to see the first three movies now. I can easily sit through them. As for the second Chronicles Of Narnia movie....having not seen the previous movie, I was unsure of any of the characters or what had taken place previously. I was able to follow the story line and if you have not seen the first movie, this one is has a decent enough story line for the viewer.

June 3, 2008

Keep Out!

A sign found near the construction zone for the Wakota Bridge. See it, say it, fix it! Got it?

June 2, 2008

Now That's What I Call Green

This photo is my version of going green. Normally shooting photos directly in the direction of the sun is not a good thing. For this shot however, not sure why or how it happened, but the green is extremely brilliant in this photo. Perhaps the sun is reflecting off of the leafy greens, I just don't know. The location for this shot I will be returning to at night. I can envision some great nighttime photos from this higher vantage point. For those of you familiar with St Paul, this intersection is Highway 61 from left to right in the photo. The street making an upside down 'T' would be the beginning of Sheppard Road as you head into downtown from the East Side of St Paul.

June 1, 2008

Theme Day: My Favorite Corner Store

June's theme day in the City Daily Photo community was a bit different for me. My favorite local corner store is the theme, but I found myself in search of a favorite. There was a couple I visited growing up as a child, but nothing really stood out to me as a favorite. Or the ones I do remember are no longer a corner store or have been torn down. This posed a challenge. I was passing through the East Side neighborhood last month when this place caught my eye. I made several visits here when I was over at my cousin's house, which is on the same block as this corner store. The very aged sign says the name of the store is called 'Blue' for some reason that name doesn't ring a bell. It may have been called something else when I was much younger, or my cousin called it something else. I just can't recall right now.

Stop by the other cities participating in the June theme day via the links below the photo. Do remember that there are timezone differences between the other cities. Or you can head over to the portal page to see a thumbnail view of blogs that have posted their corner store photo.


Adelaide, Australia, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, Albuquerque (NM), American Fork (UT), Anderson (SC), Ararat, Australia, Arradon, France, Ashton under Lyne, UK, Aspen (CO), Athens, Greece, Auckland, New Zealand, Austin (TX), Avignon, France, Barrow-in-Furness, UK, Barton (VT), Belgrade, Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Bellefonte (PA), Bicheno, Australia, Bogor, Indonesia, Boston (MA), Brookville (OH), Bucharest, Romania, Budapest, Hungary, Budapest, Hungary, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Canterbury, UK, Cape Town, South Africa, Cavite, Philippines, Chandler (AZ), Château-Gontier, France, Chateaubriant, France, Cheltenham, UK, Chennai, India, Chennai, India, Chicago (IL), Cleveland (OH), Coral Gables (FL), Corsicana (TX), Durban, South Africa, Edinburgh, UK, Evry, France, Folkestone, UK, Forks (WA), Fort Lauderdale (FL), Gainesville (FL), Geneva (IL), Glasgow, Scotland, Greenville (SC), Gun Barrel City (TX), Hamilton, New Zealand, Hangzhou, China, Haninge, Sweden, Helsinki, Finland, Hobart, Australia, Hyde, UK, Hyde, UK, Jackson (MS), Jefferson City (MO), Jogjakarta, Indonesia, Katonah (NY), Knoxville (TN), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Kyoto, Japan, Larchmont (NY), Las Vegas (NV), Le Guilvinec, France, Lisbon, Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal, Lodz, Poland, London, UK, London, UK, Los Angeles (CA), Mainz, Germany, Manila, Philippines, Melbourne, Australia, Memphis (TN), Menton, France, Mexico City, Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, Minneapolis (MN), Minneapolis (MN), Misawa, Japan, Monroe (GA), Monte Carlo, Monaco, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Monterrey, Mexico, Moscow, Russia, Mumbai, India, Mumbai, India, Nancy, France, Nashville (TN), Nelson, New Zealand, New Delhi, India, New Orleans (LA), New York City (NY), New York City (NY), Norwich, UK, Oklahoma City (OK), Orlando (FL), Oslo, Norway, Owasso (OK), Paderborn, Germany, Paris, France, Pasadena (CA), Pasadena (CA), Perth, Australia, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Petoskey (MI), Pilisvörösvár, Hungary, Port Angeles (WA), Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Port Townsend (WA), Portland (ME), Posadas, Argentina, Prague, Czech Republic, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, Ramsey, Isle of Man, Reykjavik, Iceland, Riga, Latvia, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Rouen, France, Saarbrücken, Germany, Saigon, Vietnam, Saint Louis (MO), Saint Paul (MN), Salt Lake City (UT), San Antonio (TX), San Diego (CA), San Francisco (CA), San Francisco (CA), Seattle (WA), Seattle (WA), Selma (AL), Seoul, South Korea, Sequim (WA), Sesimbra, Portugal, Setúbal, Portugal, Singapore, Singapore, Sofia, Bulgaria, Springfield (IL), Stavanger, Norway, Stayton (OR), Stockholm, Sweden, Stouffville, Canada, Subang Jaya, Malaysia, Sunshine Coast, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, Tacloban City, Philippines, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Terrell (TX), Terrell (TX), The Hague, Netherlands, Tokyo, Japan, Torino, Italy, Torun, Poland, Torun, Poland, Toulouse, France, Turin, Italy, Twin Cities (MN), Urayasu, Japan, Victoria, Canada, Vienna, Austria, Wailea (HI), Wassenaar, Netherlands, Wellington, New Zealand, West Paris (ME), West Sacramento (CA), Weston (FL), Willits (CA), Yardley (PA)