Most people think Minneapolis is nice and wholesome--and some of it is.

Well, it certainly appears to be more invigorating than Milton Keynes.

The flaming umbrella in the first vid is a direct steal from Samuel Beckett's stage play "Happy Days" (O, Les Beaux Jours!), the influence of Kathleen Brennan, no doubt.

Thanks for those, Pinhedz.

9th and Hennepin was the location of the old Fairmont hotel in Minneapolis (it's gone now, and the neighborhood has been cleaned up).

When men who'd spent the night in the drunk tank or served time in the work house were released, they were dropped off in front of The Fairmont.

I thought St. Paul was nicer.

Uncle Carnie said Minneapolis started to go downhill when all the blacks started moving there. But they did give us Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and the Prince.

From what I can see, it's all spiffied up. The lower loop where Hennepin Ave loops around and turns into Nicollet Ave used to be a real skid row. Now it's tres chic.

Not Tom Waits territory any more, clearly.

Here's a view of Hennepin avenue by day, with the new construction in the background, bearing down on the old landmarks.

I was under strict orders to stay out of the Wabasha book, magazine and movies store.


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6th and Hennepin looking toward 9th. A little before my time, but I see the familiar "Moby Dick's" sign back there.


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Same view, more recent, but still with Moby Dick's pre-demolition. "Reasonable rates" at the Rand Hotel, and they really were very reasonable--single figures.

Both sides of the street now:

The Rand Hotel - hot mattress or flophouse?

I'm guessing, you understand, but I think the flophouses were below 5th street.