Through The Fog

Time for a capture from another photographer in the family. Today's photo is the first from my daughter. She has captured downtown St Paul through the fog, smoke and everything else in between.

Stairs Closed

B&W Downtown St Paul

Taken from the east side neighborhood.

Partial St Paul Skyline

A partial view of the downtown St Paul skyline from the Wabasha Street Bridge.

Key Stone

More Rooftops

Shadow Painting

The shadow of the temple caught my eye.

Ladies And Gentleman....

The Tubes!

These tubes can be found outside of Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis. And yes, that is me in the reflection.

Gopher Liquors Sign

This is an interesting signs that I'd be interested in finding out about that is located on 7th Street in downtown St Paul. What I can tell you, really only based on my visual detective work, though I'm sure there is a lot more history involved with this location. The sign is a mix of a few different ownerships or partners. The Gopher Liqours sign looks like it was added to the Coney Islands sign with your Hosts: George-Cheri-Keith. Though there is a sign added under it reading: Andy-Phyllis-George. Are these new hosts? Is this the same George from the original grouping of names? Or are there now six different hosts [or owners]. What is the most current name of this business as there are several signs saying there could be many: Gopher Bar, Gopher Liquor, Coney Islands? Or is it several business in the same location? Too many questions right?

Incidentally, a couple blocks and around the corner sits a vacated restaurant called Original Coney Island Cafe which I featured a photo of back in January 2008, are these two locations owned by the same group?

Three Year Mile Stone

April 23, 2006 was day one of the Twin Cities Daily Photo blog. [Take a peek back at the first post here] The photo I've chosen for today's photo is one that was taken back in the first couple of months of the blog, while driving along Interstate 94, crossing the Minnesota River, looking north into downtown Minneapolis. Spring was in full bloom at this point, sunny as can be and warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt.

Thank you to all who stop by on a regular basis. Looking at the stats for the website, I can tell there is quite a bit of regular traffic during the work week.

Smallsville Stikes Back

If you have not heard of the photo technique called 'Tilt Shift' do a google search for it to find some more examples. You do have to have the correct type of photo, one with a lot of depth. Plus it needs from the right angle, typically higher vantage point, for it to look miniature as I've been experiencing.

Spot The Differences - #2

If you scroll down to yesterday's daily photo and compare today's daily photo, there is a major contrast between the two downtown photos. Today's photo is of the historic downtown Hastings. The two downtown cities [Minneapolis and Hastings] are not very far from each other, about a 30 to 35 minute drive. Yet, they are night and day to each other in all shapes, sizes and anything architectural. Also, which downtown you would prefer to live by or visit says a lot about one's personality. Can you visit both? Sure, I'm sure we all do at times, but I'd be willing to bet, you prefer one over the other.

Down On The Corner

The corner of 5th and St Peter, plus a side entrance to The Saint Paul Hotel in downtown St Paul.

West Side Downtown View

There is a great view of the taller downtown St Paul buildings from the top of the hill on Bidwell Street. My location for this photo is the West Side Neighborhood.

Into Downtown St Paul

The view as you make your way into downtown St Paul via the Wabasha Street Bridge.

Till I Reach The Highest Ground

I found this fantastic view of the rooftops in downtown St Paul last week while walking around during the RNC 2008. One could return here at different times of the day, capturing different sun light variations and get a new shot each time. I will revisit this spot in the near future. For the locals, how many buildings can you recognize?

Down The Alleyway

Looking down the alley on a downtown St Paul road. I believe I was on Sixth Street with St Peter as the cross street I just passed.

Lines And Distance

Looking up on the Yorktown building in downtown St Paul.

Downtown St Paul Icon

I've featured the 1st National Bank building in a few shots during the past couple of years of the Twin Cities Daily Photo blog. For the city of St Paul, it is one of a few major, visual landmarks it offers.

Two Years Of Twin Cities Daily Photo

I'm a day late, but the Twin Cities Daily Photo has been active for two full years now. What started as a way to learn about my new digital camera has completed it's second year. Honestly my starting date had slipped my mind and I don't really have any special montage of my photos, but the photo I've chosen for this occasion is still one of my favorite photos I've taken so far. I am standing in Mounds Park in East St Paul overlooking downtown St Paul. There was a storm rolling in to the right of the frame at the time of the photo. This was also my first attempt at nighttime photography.

Close Up On The High Sky Way

Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche Update Series: Colorado win series 4-2

Look, Up In The Sky, It's A Skyway

A skyway? Way up there? Kind of odd, don't you think?

The North Counterweight

The rail road counterweight mechanism as seen from the Robert Street Bridge.

My Daily Photo Favorites: returning soon....

Interesting Links Of the Day: March Madness | Blank Bracket | Printable Bracket

Where The Sidewalk Ends

Looks a bit deserted on the Saturday I took this photo. I'm looking west on Kellogg Boulevard.

This is also my 600th post.

My Daily Photo Favorites: returning soon....

All Day On Sundays

Park Free 4:30 PM to 8:00 AM Daily and all day on Sunday's and Holidays. Now that's a bargain. At least it is if your parking downtown St Paul.

Things Are Looking Up

I'm standing on the sidewalk of 4th Street and Minnesota Street in downtown St Paul. As I look up, I see the 1st National Bank building. If you look in my logo I created at the top of this website, that building with the large "1" on it is the building I'm talking about. From this vantage point, it's all but gone. I'm really curious why they built this building with the large center piece missing? Was it build this way to use more natural light for those with inside office rooms? Was it a cost savings thing? Was it one of the towers added at a later date? The other side of the building is completely flat and does not mirror this side of the unique look.

My Daily Photo Favorites: Terrell, Texas | Stayton, Oregon | Mazatlan, Mexico | Regina, Canada | St Barthélemy, France | Paris, France

View From The Green Stairs Revisited

Back in April of 2007, I posted a daytime photo from this very location. I never thought it would make for a night time location to take a photo from. After looking at the results, I'm more than pleased with the results. The downtown you are looking at is St Paul. Not sure if you can make it out, but if you follow the street, across the bridge, you'll see a small white pointed dome, that is our State Capital Building. These green stairs are on the bluff of the West Side neighborhood.

 

Landmark Sighting

The world famous, Mickey's Diner in downtown St Paul.

Change Directions

They turned part of the road in downtown St Paul into a skating rink. I was very surprised to see this when I took a walk downtown over the weekend. To my right is Land Mark Center. The brick building in straight ahead is The St Paul Hotel, straight down the sidewalk you would run into Rice Park and then the library to give the locals an idea where this is if you haven't seen it. It was a bit chaotic watch everyone skate. There were couples skating in opposite directions, people spinning in circles, people standing still just talking, and a couple kids chasing each other. I was waiting around waiting for people to crash into each other, but it never happened while I was there. If you're going to be nearby, throw your skates in the car.

  

My Daily Photo Favorites: Quincy, Massachusetts | Barton, Vermont | St Paul, Minnesota

Interesting Links Of the Day: The Best Notable Quotables of 2007 - The 20th Annual Awards for the Year's Worst Reporting | Mother Nature At It's Finest | Japanese IQ Test

December's Drive By Shooting

Whole City On Fire

I was reading the comments left by Fenix of Boston Daily Photo and had to laugh. He said yesterdays photo looks like the whole city was on fire. Throw in the smoke, I understand exactly what he is talking about. Today's photo is no different. It's from the same location as yesterdays and was actually my intended bridge that I was going to post a photo of. My intent was to take a photo of the Wabasha Street Bridge, from the High Bridge looking over the Mississippi River and getting a great reflection from the bridge lights. Well, the river was partly frozen and I thought I was dressed warm enough, but I was not and had to leave the High Bridge sooner than I wanted to because of the winds blowing across the bridge.

As I left the High Bridge, I took a quick photo of the bridge I left and that became my daily photo selection. I took this photo of the Wabasha Bridge from the bluff, but didn't use it as a bridge photo because will all of the scenery, I thought the bridge became lost in all of the city lights.

Too much information?

Cold And Windy Night

Another photo from my cold Friday evening series, about a mile from the theme day bridge photo, I snapped this photo of the "smoke factory". Actually it's an energy producing plant that spews non-toxic steam. The steam is there all year round, even on warm days, thus it's known as the "smoke factory". f/5.6 - 4.0 sec - iso 400

My Daily Photo Favorites: New York, New York | Montreal, Canada | Selma, North Carolina

Interesting Links Of the Day: Space Weather | Uranium Ore from Amazon [you have to read the comments] | Congratulations, you've made it

Broken Glass, Every Where

Okay, glass isn't everywhere, but there is a pile of it there in the parking lot. $7.00 dollars for all day parking. Why does this seam very low priced for downtown parking in Minneapolis?

Minneapolis Squares

I'm not exactly sure which building this is in downtown Minneapolis, but I really liked all of the squares in the building. I didn't realize it at the time, but the antennas you can see in the bottom left corner belong to a local television station.

My Daily Photo Favorites: Minneapolis, Minnesota | Montego Bay, Jamaica | New York, New York

Interesting Links Of the Day: What Happens Behind The Scenes | Eye Trickery | Flat 360 degree panoramic photos

Lines And Angles And Sky, Oh My

I really like this photo, the contrasting colors, the building detail. Mainly I like that the two roof lines of the buildings in the background have the exact same roof angle as the green roof does. Your thoughts?

My 3 Daily Photo Favorites:
Zurich, Switzerland - a must see!
New York, New York
Kyle, Texas

New And Old

Just before I posted today's photo taken near the farmers market in downtown St Paul, something stood out to me that hadn't occurred to me when I took the photo, nor when I processed it for adding to the site today. The front of the brick building is complete newer than the rear portion of the building. Which then brings to question, was the front of the building was refaced with the newer brick, or was it a completely new addition to the building? The brick color obviously doesn't even come close to a match.

My 3 Daily Photo Favorites:
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Port Angeles, Washington
San Diego, California

I've Been Tagged

Another fun view of the Farmers Market in Downtown St Paul.

I've been TAGGED by Rambling Round of Selma, Alabama this past lazy Sunday. I've been asked to list eight random things about myself that you do not know and in turn, tag eight others to do the same.

My 8 Random Facts:
1. I've been out of the United States only two times. Both times to visit the country of Jamaica.
2. I will be traveling to Irving, Texas very soon.
3. I watch the TV show 'Survivor' with my wife and kids.
4. My senior year in high school, I received an A- in Chemistry, and a D+ in Algebra 2/Trig
5. I have been married for 13 years and loving everyday of it.
6. I work in the computer field.
7. My first car was a 1976 Mercury Cougar.
8. I like to dance with my wife.

I am tagging these 8 City Daily Photo Bloggers. [skip this if you've been tagged already]
1. Ann of Montego Bay, Jamaica
2. Chandlermom of Chandler, Arizona
3. Ben & Meg of Nelson, New Zealand
4. fenix of Boston, Massachusetts
5. Ming the Merciless of New York, New York
6. Bill of Delta, Colorado
7. Victoria of Joplin, Missouri
8. bwide of River Falls, Wisconsin

These are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.

Hot Banana Peppers - $2.00 Per Tray

The other weekend we made a trip to the Farmers Market located in downtown St Paul. It was semi rainy day and couldn't do much photo taking. I had to limit the photos to under the shelter of the rain. Though we didn't purchase any of the peppers, the colors stood out for this photo. We did however buy some broccoli. My goodness it was delicious! I'd never tasted broccoli that tasted this good in my life, EVER! I'm not sure if it was a different kind of broccoli or that it was frozen, or bundled and sitting on a shelf in a grocery store. We'll be making another trip back just for some more broccoli.

If you read yesterday's comments, I was asked to give 8 random facts about myself from 'rambling round' of Selma, Alabama. I will honor this, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow evening as it's getting late tonight.

Windows Galore

Not The Red Roof In

This is historic Landmark Center, downtown St Paul. Believe it or not, over 18 years ago, I was dancing inside this building at a prom. It was my soon to be wife's prom at the time. Considering what this building was originally, for it to be used to host a prom many years later is, well, laughable.

I Want A Redo

I had hoped this photo would have turned out a tad better, or I'm being to critical today. I was waiting for a car to drive past me so I could get the lights in the photo. Back up on the river bridge, I waited, and waited, and waited. If you've been following along the past few days, the streets looked and were very deserted. Finally a car passed, I wasn't fully prepared. I set the camera down on my camera case, pressed the button and the two second delay had to elapse before the photo took. The photo is a bit crooked, if I straighten it, the tail lights go out of the picture. The photo is out of focus a bit because of the cars on the bridge shaking the camera, the tail lights are almost out of frame, the lighting is to bright in areas.

Straight Out Of A Hollywood Movie Set

From the same night I took the September Theme Day photo in Hastings, I walked a bit down the road and took this one using a garbage can as a tripod! Many of the comments mentioned the street looked deserted, [take another look at the September 1 photo and you'll see blurs of people on the sidewalks]. When I took this today's photo, there were no people in the shot and it looks even more deserted with very little cars in the photo.

He's Going The Distance

Can you see it? Way, way, way off in the distance....it is there....you may have to click the photo to make it larger, but it is there. See it now? Right there in the center? It's downtown Minneapolis and I'm headed north on Nicollet Avenue.

My 3 Daily Photo Favorites:

This Is Not An Exit

I've always liked this entrance to this building located in downtown St Paul. The pillars, just huge, massive, strength. When I took this photo some time ago, I never noticed the sign that says "Lofts" there in the bottom left corner. This used to be a restaurant called Leeann Chins, a very popular Twin Cities Asian food chain. I'd have to say they are not at this location any longer. I'll have to investigate it because I'm just not sure. The building was completed in 1923 and was originally the St Paul Union Depot. [photo of the building as it appeared in 1925] I'll have to do a follow up on this in the future....unless one of the local daily photo bloggers know of it's current status.

My 5 Daily Photo Favorites:
Kyoto, Japan
Newcastle, UK
Kajang, Malaysia
Nantes, France
Moscow, Russia

All Those Balconies, Not One In Use

It's shame, all of those great balconies on the Galtier Plaza Building and not one of them is being used. Granted, the sun is setting, but it is on the opposite side of the building. The people who live in this high rise must be visiting their neighbors on the west side of the building who face the sunset. That has to be the answer.

My 3 Daily Photo Favorites:
Riga, Latvia
Madison, Wisconsin
Guelph, Ontario