McDonalds Playland In West St Paul

I made a quick stop at the McDonalds in West St Paul, a place I used to visit when I was younger. Often my mom and dad would take me to the playland here. It was just a simple playground with McDonalds characters as parts of the rides. The best part of it was the tram that would take you from the bottom of the hill to the top of the hill where the playground was located. Looking back at what they used to do for the kids was amazing. No one today would ever do anything like this at a fast food restaurant. All that remains in the path up the hill, which is located near the current drive through road, plus the artwork on the cement wall.

 

The Eagle Has Landed

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.

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.

Minnesota Taxes

Yesterday was tax day in the United States. Minnesota's personal income tax system consists of three separate brackets. Here is the breakdown for the 2008 tax year for a married couple filing jointly:

5.35% $0 to $31,860
7.05% $31,861 to $126,580
7.85% $126,580 and greater

Among states levying personal income taxes, Minnesota's top rate ranks 10th highest nationally. Minnesota's 2005 individual income tax collections were $1,237 per person, which ranked 6th highest nationally.

Interesting Links Of the Day: Minnesota Income Tax Rates

Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche Update Series: The series is tied 2-2
Game 5: Thursday, April 17 @ 8:00 [CT]
Game 6: Saturday, April 19 @ TBA [CT]

St Paul Athletic Club

Yesterday marks my final photo from the St Paul Winter Carnival. I am however, still posting a photo from the St Paul area. The build your see with the mural on the side is the St Paul Athletic Club building. It was finished being built in 1917, it has 14 floors and is mainly residential from what I've been reading. Though this is a distance photo and I can't really tell for sure, but it appears that some of the windows on the top floors are broken. It could be reflection shadows, but if they are broken, this photo was taken in the winter and I couldn't imagine those floors are in use.

Excluding the mural, do you see the smiling face somewhere in the photo?