Chris and Rob's Pullman Restaurant

Although I ordinarily do not eat  hot dogs, several days ago I mentioned to my son that I was hungry for a real traditional Chicago Hot Dog that I used to enjoy when living in Hyde Park, Illinois, during my single days. Son pointed me to this little gem of a neighborhood restaurant on west 7th Street in St. Paul. In 1949 an authentic pullman train was brought to this very spot and the first of many subsequent restaurants to follow was named "The Diner."  Two brothers from Chicago now own this popular neighborhood restaurant, which is filled with sports memorabilia from the Windy City.  Come back Tuesday, December 3rd, and I'll show you some of the decorations.

F Scott and Another Friend

F Scott is always glad to see me; note the slight smile on his face!  On an earlier post I indicated how I had introduced my granddaughter to him  and convinced her that Fitzgerald appreciates it when people familiar with his literature stop to pass the time of day with him, however briefly!

(Is it obvious that my archive is being scoured for photos during this holiday season when time is limited for photoshoots?)

May y'all have  a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! 

Credit: NewYorker cartoon

Terrific Summit Avenue Door #3

Because I posted this door years ago on CDP and many of you have not seen it since you have subscribed to this wonderful group more recently, I decided to add it to my current door theme.  The door is in an Victorian building on the corner of Dale and Summit Avenue.  It's not only beautiful during the day, but at night the door sparkles like jewels.

Linking to ABC Wednesday 

Tower-ABC WEDNESDAY "T"

THE HIGHLAND PARK WATER TOWER

The tower, which was designed by Clarence Wigington, was completed in 1928. Wigington, a city of Saint Paul architect from 1915 to 1949, The construction of the Highland Water Tower includes facings of Kasota and Bedford stone and a riveted steel-plate tank with a capacity of 200,000 gallons. The 127-foot tower is still used today to help supply water in the Highland area. A collection of several original Highland Tower blueprints, many of which bear Wigington’s signature on display inside the tower, which is opened to the public once a year.

On a clear day during the fall open house, visitors can see airplanes lifting off from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport to the south. The scene stretches from the Saint Paul city skyline on the east to the Minneapolis skyline on the west. The event provides an excellent opportunity for photographs and is a fun family outing. (Credit: City of St. Paul website)

Go here to see two more modern water towers across a parking lot from this Highland Park landmark water tower.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Delightful Desserts

When Jim and I want a light meal at a reasonable price we invariably go to Cafe Latte on Grand Avenue where the menu includes nourishing and healthy sandwiches, salads, and soups.  Before making our selection we have to pass by the showcase that displays delicious cakes and pastries. Most patrons have very good intentions but very weak resolve!! 

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Friend

 

Much to my husband's dismay, I never pass the statue of F. Scott Fitzgerald in Rice Park in downtown St. Paul without greeting him.  This summer I convinced my granddaughter that F. Scott would love to make her acquaintance, too.  I hope that they will become fast friends!
Sculpture Michael Price created this statue of F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1996 as St. Paul celebrated Fitzgerald’s centennial birthday.

Water Towers

I assume that these two towers are part of the St. Paul city water system.  I researched sites to discover what they are and their function, but could find nothing that identified them or any facts about them.  Because they are located across a parking lot from the old landmark brick water tower (which I'll show you next week) I assumed, hopefully accurately, that these two also are part of the system.

Can you tell how bleak and wintery the day was when I photographed them?

Summit Avenue Door #2

Yesterday I posted doors that I found attractive from two different houses on Summit Avenue.  The shape of this door with the arched brickwork above it repeats the brick pattern on the structure of the house. The windows in the door offered a hint of the interior hall as well as a reflection of the trees on the boulevard.

Symmetrical

I decided that I would post doors as a new theme and drove down Summit Avenue to see what I could find.  I immediately noticed how the facades of some houses were very symmetrical in style. So I might as well extend this post as an "S" as I did on the last two days.

The weather is so gray and dreary that it is difficult to get motivated for any kind of photo shoot.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Swooning-ABC WEDNESDAY "S"

Lucy Van Pelt with Schroeder, a sculpture that aptly demonstrates Lucy's unrequited love.  Since cartoonist and illustrator Charles Schultz was "one of our boys," Rice Park in downtown St. Paul has a number of his figures immortalized in sculptures that are scattered around the park.

Linked to ABC WEDNESDAY

Sleek Swimmer ABC WEDNESDAY "S"

Going to the ophthalmologist isn't too bad if you can observe a sleek swimmer such as this one.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

The Burley

Sometimes it is hard to get rid of something that has given pleasure.  When they were young I had  biked my grandkids around our neighborhood for short pleasurable outings on sunny days.  After they had grown out of the Burley, I sometimes used it for grocery shopping, but it's too cumbersome for that task.  It's time to give it up.  Why is it difficult to give up an object that holds memories?

Lake Superior Driftwood

Title:	Collage IX: Landscape
Artist:	George Morrison 1919-2000
Date:	1974
Location:	Minneapolis Institute of Arts

This is just a small portion of a collage which is exhibited at the art institute. The artist, now deceased, was the former husband of Hazel Belvo, an artist and teaching colleague of mine at St. Paul Academy, a school in which we both used to teach.

Minnesota artist, and a member of the Anishinabe from the Grand Portage Reservation, George Morrison, who for many years belonged to a circle of Abstract Expressionist painters in New York, explored the medium of sculpture using traditional materials. For this driftwood collage, he drew both the material and the imagery, with its subtle horizon line, from the shore of Lake Superior.  (Credit: ArtsConnected)

To learn more about this talented and prolific artist, go here.

Mindo-Camera Critters

I met Mindo on my daily walk recently. This canine is a beautiful example of a Shiba Inu  Our rescue dog, Lexie, is part Shiba Inu and looks like the one below that I found on the internet.  Lexie is terribly afraid of a camera so I'm not able to get really good photos of her.

The smallest of the Japanese native breeds, the Shiba was originally developed for hunting in the dense undergrowth of Japan's mountainous areas. Alert and agile with keen senses, he is also an excellent watchdog and companion. His frame is compact with well-developed muscles and he possesses a double coat that can be black and tan, red or red sesame. (Credit: American Kennel Club)

The Citadel Graduate

If you are a fan of Pat Conroy who recently visited the Twin Cities for Talking Volumes (see yesterday's post), you'll recognize The Citadel as the setting for his novel, The Lords of Discipline.  In the audience Tuesday night at the Fitzgerald Theatre was Bob Redall and his wife Mary Ann. When I saw his sweatshirt I knew I had to talk to him because I don't know too many Minnesotans who have chosen to attend that military school, which made me quite curious. Redall, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel now living in Burnsvlle, Minnesota, attended the Citadel and graduated in 1964, three years before Conroy did.   Neither a Southern boy nor a Midwesterner, Redall originally is from New York. Although I didn't find out why he chose to attend the Citadel, I learned that he was not totally enamoured of the rigid discipline that is maintained there.  The program started too soon for me to explore his background any further. One of those short term encounters that leaves one wanting more!

Pat Conroy

The Talking Volumes website described the writer Pat Conroy, the fourth writer on its program this year, by explaining that he "will discuss his new book, The Death of Santini, a memoir that is hotly anticipated by fans of The Great Santini. Conroy said his father “loathed my depiction of him in the The Great Santini, and he set out to prove me wrong by turning himself into something that was recognizably human. It’s the great surprise of my life that I ended up loving him so much.”

After he and Kerri Miller charmed a sold-out crowd of faithful readers at the Fitzgerald Theatre in downtown St. Paul on Tuesday night, Conroy signed books for hundreds of people who stood in line for his autograph. We all got our money's worth and then some!

Remembering Veterans-ABC WEDNESDAY "R"

I should have posted this on Veterans' Day on November 11, but better late than never.  When I was a child, paper poppies were sold on Armistice Day (the former label) and were commonplace on everyone's lapel.  It is hardly done anymore, but I wish that it still was a tradition, as it seems to be in other countries on their Remembrance Day.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Recreation -ABC Wednesday "R"

On one of the interior  walls of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts are some of the ways we Minnesotans spend out winters.  Not bad, but certainly a little more sunshine and higher temperatures would be welcomed for these events.
****************************
Music is my religion.
Jimi Hendrix 
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Linked to ABC WEDNESDAY and SIGNS

Late autumn

It's a very strange autumn; the leaves just are not dropping!

The Brooks Building

The Brooks Building completed in 1892 in Lowertown St Paul is probably my favorite downtown building.   It is a Romanesque Revival style at  59.96 feet tall, with four above ground floors and one below ground.  I love the warm sandstone facade with the arched windows, columns, and carved window frames. It is solely commercial use, but I would love to see it converted to condos and lofts with  the third floor reserved for me!!

Chanticleer? - Camera Critters

For a few years now I have been biking, driving, and walking by one of the more interesting homes in our neighborhood.  It often has some whimsical decorations on the front lawn or porch, frequently coordinated with the seasons and holidays.  Recently I hopped out of my car to capture this painted metal sculpture, and finally I met the owner, who is a kindergarten teacher in our neighborhood school.  Figures!  People who work with kids often have a playful streak of their own.

Linked to Camera Critters

Canine Mischief

This is what our darlings do when we leave them alone for too long!!

They may look innocent but these two are the culprits. 

Sleepy Maggi on the left, and Lexie on the right.

Landmark Center

The reflection of part of The Landmark Center in downtown St. Park is quite clear on a building across from it.  The small bottom photo is a partial view of the building itself.  The Landmark Center was saved from the wrecking ball in 1972 by determined citizens. To learn more about this remarkable building, go here.

The Cathedral

Recently I posted a photo of St. Paul and the Capitol building, and our well-travelled friend from Phoenix,  Sharon, mentioned that " there is a beautiful cathedral not far away," so here it is!

Quintessential French Restaurant-ABC WEDNESDAY "Q"

Meritage is the quintessential French restaurant in downtown 

St. Paul.

Linking to ABC Wednesday and Signs

Monday Mural

Linking to Monday Mural

Cafe Latte

Cafe Latté on Grand Avenue has delicious food, delectable desserts and displays art work by local artists

A Memorable Meeting-Camera Critters

On a previous post I included a photo and explanation of a Monday morning activity when a friend and I pick up bread and pastries from Turtle Bakery in Minneapolis that are then delivered to St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral by my friend  to add to the church's free Monday Night Supper for the homeless, heavily attended by young adults. On a recent morning we noticed a beautiful dog outside, patiently waiting for Glenn, who as a friendly dog-lover often takes Dear Abby, his neighbor's dog, with him when he goes to the restaurant where the dog is spoiled with treats by the staff.

Of course we went outside to visit with both of them so I could take some photos.  Shortly after this snap was taken my friend tripped on the pavement and fell flat on her face.  Glenn and I took her to a near-by clinic where she was treated and other than a few embarrassing and painful moments, she is well on her way to recovery.  I told her to remember that "no good deed goes unpunished!"

Link to Camera Critters

Theme Day-HEIGHTS-November 1, 2013

Stand Tall!!

To see more CDP contributions for November's Theme of "Heights" go here.