Joe Curry – Minneapolis

Pianos on Parade

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I did a double take the other day, after noticing an upright piano on the sidewalk next to the Dakota jazz club. That afternoon, I found another decorated piano in City Center. Was it a case of orphaned pianos? No. Turns out, it’s part of Pianos on Parade, a project that places ‘artistically transformed’ pianos around the Twin Cities in outdoor locations for all to play and enjoy. Isn’t that nifty?

Pianos on Parade is spearheaded by Keys 4/4 Kids, a local nonprofit that refurbishes and sells donated pianos. Through mid-September, the Twin Cities will host 20 unique and colorful pianos, inviting people to spontaneously engage with art, music, and one another. But wait, there’s more. As an added bonus, open the piano bench to participate in the free music exchange. You might find a booklet of music by Minnesota composers (as I did), or someone’s gently used sheet music donation.

August 1st, 2012|Minneapolis, Music, St. Paul|Comments Off

Basilica of St. Mary

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There was a quiet serenity to Minneapolis’ Basilica of St. Mary as the sun faded, and I walked around the building on a weeknight post-rush hour. Constructed between 1907 and 1915 and designed by the same architect of the St. Paul Cathedral, it’s hard to imagine the contrast in activity in 1908 when 30,000 Catholics, 20 bishops, and 300 priests celebrated laying the cornerstone. The basilica is an example of Beaux-Arts architecture, a style likely most recognized in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal.

Built with Bethel White Granite from Vermont, the Basilica of St. Mary overlooks Loring Park and is located on a main thoroughfare, Hennepin Avenue. The street, the bridge crossing the Mississippi and our county are named after a Catholic priest, Father Louis Hennepin, who in the 1680’s brought the world’s attention to St. Anthony Falls, the only waterfall on the Mississippi River. I’ve lived in Minneapolis a combined seven years, and this is the first time I’ve learned this history. Thanks 365 blogging project.

Originally known as the Pro-Cathedral of Minneapolis, the church cost $1 million dollars to build and held its first Mass in 1914. In 1926, the Catholic Church designated the pro-cathedral the Basilica of Saint Mary, making it the first basilica in the United States.

August 1st, 2012|Minneapolis, Photography|Comments Off

Coming and Going

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A look down the street near where I live. (LaSalle Ave from 12th Street looking south.) I thought the sign was appropriate, since there will be many comings and goings over the next week.

July 25th, 2012|Minneapolis|Comments Off

Pillars

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I like how the afternoon sun created shadows and accentuated the pillars circling LaSalle Plaza. And, it’s a different view than the Stripes.

July 21st, 2012|Minneapolis, Photography|Comments Off

Hennepin Theatre District

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I love magic, and I love the arts. So, it’s probably no surprise that I love the magic of the theater. Hennepin Theatre Trust, which manages the Orpheum, Pantages, State and New Century Theatres, offers tours on the 2nd Saturday and last Monday of the month. You’ll be able to see whatever theaters aren’t currently featuring a production. Summers have a slower schedule, so I was excited to see the big three on Hennepin Ave.

The Pantages–which now seats 1,014–opened in 1916 as a vaudeville house and part of Greek immigrant Alexander Pantages’ renowned consortia of theatres. The Pantages’ first show was a vaudeville lineup that included singers, comedians and a banjo player.

The State Theatre–which seats 2,181–opened in 1921 and was then considered the most technologically advanced and elaborate U.S. theater. The opening night program included a silent film, newsreel and travelogue.

The Orpheum Theatre, originally known as the Hennepin, opened in 1921 and seats 2,579. Its first performers included the Marx Brothers with more than 70,000 guests attending the opening week run. The largest vaudeville house in the country when opened, the Orpheum was major outlet for entertainers like Jack Benny, George Burns and Fanny Brice and big bands including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Count Basie.

Pantages Theatre
Historic State Theatre
Historic State Theatre
Orpheum Theatre

Lighting and rigging, Orpheum Theatre

July 19th, 2012|Minneapolis, Music|2 Comments

Loring Corners

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I’m not exactly sure what she’s looking for, because I didn’t find the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles there either. #TurtlePower

July 13th, 2012|Minneapolis, People|Comments Off

Metro Transit

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Several months ago, I was walking down Marquette Avenue with my iPhone and was startled by the imminent possibility that I was about to be hit by a bus…on the sidewalk. Turns out it was just a clever piece of architecture. I haven’t had an opportunity to ride the bus lately, but remember my college years of taking the 16A along campus, downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul’s Midway, as well as the 6 to Uptown.

I was quite proud of my first Metro Transit ride on my own, from Minneapolis to suburban Wayzata (13 miles). Most often, I’d head to the Target on University Avenue and the Rainbow or Cub Foods grocery store. Fortunately, I had a 21 meal/week plan in the residence hall, since I could only buy as much as I could carry. Other Metro Transit adventures my freshman year of college involved spontaneous trips to Uptown, where we’d enjoy frugal fun nights walking along Lake Calhoun, flipping through racks of used CDs at Cheapo, browsing the shelves of the nearby used bookstore, and eating a midnight snack at McDonald’s.

July 5th, 2012|Minneapolis|Comments Off

Midtown Greenway

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It was great to be back in the saddle. A buddy and I hit the bike paths this morning in Minneapolis, named the #2 bike friendly city in Bicycling‘s July 2012 magazine. We traced several of my familiar running routes, though the Midtown Greenway was a new connector between Lake Calhoun and West River Parkway.

For readers in the Twin Cities, what bike paths should I ride next?

July 1st, 2012|General, Minneapolis|Comments Off

Twins in lights

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I went to the Twins vs. White Sox game, and I wasn’t at all conflicted on who to root for compared to when the Twins played the Cubs earlier this month. Of course, I found the Minneapple pies. Saw two runs from the Twins finally in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough to win. If nothing else, it was perfect weather to be at the ballpark with friends.

June 29th, 2012|Minneapolis|Comments Off

Stone Arch Night

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Sometimes my plan for the daily photo doesn’t pan out, which is how I ended up trekking through Mill Ruins Park at 10:15pm Sunday night with my camera and tripod to capture the Stone Arch Bridge. (Also seen here.) Surprisingly, there were a couple dozen people milling around (no pun intended) and even 6-7 runners, who appeared to appreciate the cooler night air.

June 27th, 2012|Minneapolis, Photography|Comments Off

Minneapolis

Pianos on Parade

Basilica of St. Mary

Coming and Going

Pillars

Hennepin Theatre District

Loring Corners

Metro Transit

Midtown Greenway

Twins in lights

Stone Arch Night

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