Comedy Central's Indecision 2008

On Friday when I was driving around looking for RNC protesters, which I only found one person [see yesterday's post], I stumbled upon this banner hanging promoting Comedy Central's Indecision 2008 television program. What's strange is, I had no idea they were coming to town to broadcast here in downtown St Paul at the History Theatre. My only question is, where they in Denver during the DNC?

My First Encounter Of The RNC

And there he was, protest sign and all, about a block away from the Xcel Energy Center where the Republicans will host the Republican National Convention September 1-4, my first protester sighting of the RNC. While I am not a protester of any kind, nor am I promoting any protest group, I am only posting photos as it relates to the Twin Cities and what's going on around town. The stir in town is huge. Traffic into and around the Xcel Energy Center has been severely altered until 6:00 AM, Sept 5.

To Go Or Not To Go

Monday in St Paul, there is going to be a protest march were they are expecting 50,000 people. This is unbelievable to me. Mind you, I will not be protesting, I only want photos for this daily photo site. But my thoughts are....where are all of these people going to be staying for the next week or so? Those are the protesters, 50,000 people, we not even counting the real reason for next week when the Republican National Convention gets underway. How many people will be involved with just that? What an economic boom for the Twin Cities areas.

So keep in mind, tropical storm Gustav [as of 11:00 PM Thursday] and currently located over Jamaica [hang in there Jamaica] could make landfall sometime during next weeks RNC. So there is talk of delaying the convention a couple of days to make sure we have everything in order where ever the potential hurricane makes landfall. What does that do to all of these protesters plans? I would imagine many are flying into the Twin Cities just for the RNC and have a schedule time to leave, but if the convention is delayed, will the protesters just go away?

Also keep in mind, people have been arested/detained for taking photos before the convention has even started. Fox 9 News Report

Republican National Convention Sept 1-4

The big news in the Twin Cities happens next week from September 1-4 when the Republican National Convention moves into the Xcel Energy Center. Right now, the Democrats are having their turn in Denver. I've been following the protests outside of the convention in Denver mainly. I do plan on taking photos during the RNC, but I'm starting to worry about being around the negative environment. It's a rare photo event and I'm finding myself losing confidence in getting out there.

I was reading a local Twin Cities blog about taking photos at the RNC, this reply is what has me worried. Keep in mind, this is worst case scenario

1. stay close to the cops (even in this day and age, you're safer around them than in the crowd)
2. if you have goggles, take them. if not, consider getting some
3. take a water bottle and a couple of rags... not for drinking, but for soaking the rag in case the tear gas starts flying
4. try to have someone go with you to watch your back... when you've got your face pressed against the back of the camera, it's not easy to see the bottle flying your way
5. know your exits
6. be prepared to lose your equipment (one tv cameraman got between the kkk and a group of protestors and had to use the camera as a shield)

this is all worst case scenario kind of stuff, but it's better to be prepared.

So do I still go? Do I need to worry?

I Stopped And Paused

I was walking on the second or third floor of the Landmark Center in downtown St Paul when I passed this stairwell. It was an unexpected location for a reflection photo.

The Two Balcony's

The building on the right is The Saint Paul Hotel. Most photos you'll find of this great historic hotel are from the other side from where I am standing and the main lobby. It's quite the view from the other side as I've posted it here a couple of times on the Twin Cities Daily Photo. Today I'm on the East side of the building, and what has me puzzled is the two balcony's on what looks like the 5th floor. Why are they there and why are there only two of them? Was there more at one time in the buildings past?

Something Old, Something New

The historic Hamm Building meets the newly built Lawson building. Quite the different styles in building. While each is unique, which style do you prefer?

Spiral Staircase

Looking up in the East spiral staircase at the Landmark Center.

Castle Like Structure

The immense, castle-like structure with two massive towers and a fanciful array of small towers, windows, and dormers became an immediate landmark. It had taken ten years to complete, covered an entire city block, cost more than $2.5 million dollars, and at the time of its completion was the largest building in the city. The exterior design incorporated two contemporary styles, Richardsonian Romanesque and Chatequesque, executed in St. Cloud pink granite.

Federal Building, Built In 1902

Continuing on from yesterday's photo. I mentioned congress approved funding for a new Federal Building in 1891. Actually there were 33 Federal Buildings that were approved funding throughout the country. All 33 buildings authorized were designed in the office of the Supervisory Architect of the Treasury Department. Although the Supervisory Architect signed all plans, the designs were actually collaborations among the more than 500 employees in his office; architects, engineers, draftsmen, specification writers, and cost estimators. Architects in private practice caled the office a "plan factory," referring to its practice of cranking out the design piecmeal and only a step ahead of the construction process. Others criticized the office for the standardized appearance and floor plans of the 33 buildings. Judging by the photos I've seen of some of the Federal Buildings, many of you have a building similar to the St Paul building, which is now known as 'Landmark Center'.