100 Strangers Project-#2

On Wednesday morning a friend and I went to Hell! A downtown Minneapolis restaurant, Hell's Kitchen, got some good press recently so we decided to check it out. While there we met Robin, one of their many charming staff members. When I asked where she is from, she responded, "From lots of different places." Robin grew up in the Chicago area and went to college in Arizona. While attending a friend's wedding, she meet this young man from Minnesota. The rest is history. Going to Hell and back and meeting Robin was a great experience! Those Minnesota boys have really good taste!

"A stranger is just a friend I haven't met yet." Will Rogers

Back in St. Paul

Salut is a restaurant that opened on Grand Avenue about two years ago. I had a delicious lunch there on Thursday, and although claiming to be French, it's a far cry from a truly French bistro. I was amused by the quote painted on one of the walls.

Cultural Heritage

There are all kinds of Sven and Ole jokes in Minnesota. This sign hangs above a popular local restaurant in Grand Marais on the North Shore. A little bit of Minnesota culture for you to enjoy!

National Register of Historical Places

"Mickey’s Diner was prefabricated in New Jersey, shipped to St. Paul by rail and installed in the heart of downtown [60 years ago]. Despite the proliferation in recent years of fast-food chains and franchised restaurants, the diner remains a successful business, in part due to its unique atmosphere. Inspired by streamlined railroad dining cars, Mickey’s sports a symmetrical facade clad with yellow and red porcelain steel panels, a horizontal band of plate glass windows and a projecting neon sign with Art Deco lettering. The interior of the diner features stainless steel, mahogany and mirrored fixtures. A glass vestibule, added when the diner was installed, protects patrons from harsh Minnesota winters." (Mn. Historical Society) For more information, click here and enjoy the pictures, too! The diner was added to the National Register of Historial Places on February 24, 1983.