Deep Ellum Embrace

August 10, 2021

I found the Sartorialist and Last Night’s Party blogs pretty early in college. Before decent phone cameras and the rise of fashion influencers, these photo blogs were revolutionary. I was less interested in the clothes or party shots than the lack of detail about the subjects — you could spin endless stories about their pasts and current lives.

That’s one thing that I really love about this photo, taken in Deep Ellum, Dallas. We know the guy in the photo from the gayborhood, but I can’t quite remember the story about the woman — was she a longtime friend or someone he met that night?

This shot can tell both stories (and more) which is the what made visiting the early photo blogs of the aughts so special. 📷

Dallas / DJI Drone Photography

That Texas Heat

July 3, 2021

It’s time for the annual “it’s so hot in Texas and I’m shook!” post. Even though I’ve experienced this nonsense many times before, each summer feels like a new affront.

Work is busier than ever this summer, so I’m not spending a lot of time outside anyway. However, one exception has been the weekends, where I am playing around with a new toy — a DJI drone! This is my first picture with it, taken along the Trinity River.

We are still figuring out the capabilities of the drone, but haven’t managed to crash it or get a ticket yet. The new perspective that a drone offers is a game changer, and I’m excited to see what we can do with it! 💃

dogs / Take Three

The Shelties

December 13, 2020

Dogs spotted during a weekend walk near downtown Dallas.

I spotted these guys on a dog walk near downtown Dallas. Not sure whether these are actually Shetland Sheepdogs or some other mix, but they were cute either way.

Not pictured — Gunter glaring at them from my side.

Oak Lawn / the details

The Pigeons of Oak Lawn

December 12, 2020

A close-up of pigeons in Oak Lawn, Dallas.

It’s usually a good idea to look up when walking on Cedar Springs Road — there’s often a crew hanging out on the powerlines and I’ve seen unwary bargoers torpedoed.

Deep Ellum / Portraits

The Deep Ellum Flagpoles

December 10, 2020

We came across a little forest of flagpoles while exploring Deep Ellum recently.

The poles are in front of the Casa Stellina event space near the intersection of Main and Walton streets. I am not sure whether this qualifies as eccentric landscaping, public art, or just clutter — but it was a very fun backdrop.

Dallas / Landscape / Take Three

Ingrid and downtown Dallas

December 4, 2020

Ingrid the labradoodle with downtown Dallas in the background.

Ingrid the Labradoodle blending in with the skyscrapers of downtown Dallas.

Dallas / Portraits

Holiday Lights

December 1, 2020

Now that we are done with Thanksgiving, holiday lights are going up throughout downtown Dallas.

We decided to take some headshots by some of the new lights to play around with the bokeh possibilities. These are the best shots!

Dallas / Take Three

Morning Jog

November 30, 2020

A woman jogs along the Trinity River trail in Dallas, with downtown in the background.

I recently bought a new lens for my camera and decided to test it out along the Trinity River. These are the first shots.

Shooting along the Trinity River is interesting because you have a gorgeous view of downtown crisscrossed with powerlines. The powerlines don’t necessarily “ruin” the view, but rather complicate it and make for interesting photos.

Life / Lowertown Apartment / picture of the day

The Flood

January 21, 2015

I knew something was wrong because of the smell.

It hit me when I unlocked my apartment door one evening.

The smell was not “dog shat the rug” foul, nor was it “old food in the garbage” foul… it was … just foul.

Sewage foul.

And this what I found in the bathroom:

My sink exploded while I was at work. Water and pools of sludge were everywhere.

I think the proper term is “backed up.”

2014 Winter / Lowertown / Minneapolis-St. Paul / pictures / Take Three / Thomson Reuters

Saint Paul in Fog

December 2, 2014

A recent warm-up brought some pretty dramatic fog to downtown St. Paul.

Fog flowing over the Mississippi River, by the High Bridge.

A view of St. Paul in fog, with a shot of the Cathedral.

Downtown St. Paul, Minnesota in fog.

The temperatures still climb above 20 degrees at least once a week. Anything above 15 degrees means that it is warm enough for a long walk with Hugo. I’m cherishing these walks while we can still make them.

Things don’t look good for this winter.

Last winter was the 9th coldest on record for the state, and we missed the global warming train:

And yet I live here on purpose…

The cold is less relevant this year.

I discovered that there is an express bus that takes me directly from downtown St. Paul to Thomson Reuters campus in the suburbs.

The cold is less bothersome now that I no longer have to sit in a frozen car twice a day. There is something strange about spending 95% of my time indoors. I hear that this is only surpassed by hoarders and the people who work in the Minneapolis skyway.

2014 Winter / Dallas / Instagram / Minneapolis-St. Paul / pictures / Thomson Reuters

Waking up in Dallas

November 17, 2014

A massive snow storm pelted the metro area, which made me extremely grateful for the timing of my work trip to Texas.
I have never given Dallas much thought, so I was surprised by how massive and beautiful the city is.

We spent most of our time in Downtown Dallas and Uptown Dallas, which is where my client’s office is located.

My cab driver called Uptown Dallas the home of “$30,000 millionaires” – implying that it is full of young people who live beyond their means.

Ironically, this description would work quite well for Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood as well. I also visited Oak Lawn, the metroplex’s gayborhood. I managed to find busy bars and a drag show despite it being a Tuesday.

Traveling for work is a strange experience.

There’s the excitement of a new city and actually working with my clients in person. There’s also the crush of emails and awkwardness of managing conference calls via cellphone.

The rest of the work week flew by, which is typical for me. I’ve been in my new job for about four months now, and (I think) I’ve gained a baseline level of competence.

Each promotion I receive seems to involve less formal training and more “figuring shit out,” which I think law school prepared me well for.

My prior positions involved a lot of remote working, whereas now I’m in the office from 6 or 7 a.m. to around 4 or 5 p.m. The volume and variety of work means that I’m never bored, and even a 10 or 11 hour day feels way too short.
The speed of which my weeks go by presents interesting challenges however – it’s easy to fly through an entire week without working out or going to the grocery store.
My challenge this week is figuring out what processes and routines I need to put in place so I don’t become thoroughly decrepit in 4 more months.

Perhaps keeping my waistline in check is as important as maintaining my inbox.

2014 Summer / Architecture / Life / Lowertown / Minneapolis-St. Paul / pictures

A year in St. Paul

September 30, 2014

I’ve lived in downtown St. Paul for over a year now.

Things in my second year look dramatically different – I have a boyfriend, a new dog, and a promotion at work – the Lowertown life is great.

: Immediately inside the Union Depot train station in Lowertown, Saint Paul.

: The sign of the Bedlam Theater in Lowertown. It’s a bar/restaurant that hosts a different event almost every night.

: The building that houses the Bedlam Theater and the CoCo Coworking Space. It’s right across the street from the Green Line station and is constantly vibrating with loud rock music from practicing bands.

: This is the only historic building of the Galtier Towers / Cray Plaza block. It’s gorgeous and appears to house mostly professional firms like law offices.

: The mural in front of the abandoned Station 4 Club in Lowertown, St. Paul. It was a heavy metal club that closed around 2013.

: Mitchell at Hunan Garden on a Saturday night. They are drinking a Volcano Drink, which is mostly pineapple juice and rail vodka.

I also discovered that there is an express bus that is actually quicker than driving to the office, so I rarely use my gas guzzler anymore.

I couldn’t have fathomed bus commuting to work even one year ago.

The faux-car-less life is amazing.

It is going to be even better during winter because 1) driving in the suburbs with snow is terrifying, and 2) the office campus is so huge that the walk to the front of the building can take 15 minutes, which is brutal in -20 degrees.

Plus, the bus pass is only $85 for 31 days. (Way cheaper than gas.)

I’m also able to buy new passes at the office, which is insanely convenient. I’m smitten.

The Scenery

Transportation aside, I love living on Mears Park, the Farmers’ Market, the restaurant options, the Cathedral, and all of the gorgeous architecture:

A shot of downtown St. Paul overlooking the ghetto Walgreens and Bruegger’s Bagels. It’s a beautiful area but usually crawling with creeps.

The Green Line station in front of the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. It is in front of the Bedlam Theater and the CoCo Coworking Space.

The Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. It’s run by Minnesota Public Radio and hosts shows like A Prairie Home Companion.

Winter is also more bearable in St. Paul.

Thankfully, I’m far more active in St. Paul during the winter than I used to live in Minneapolis, even without having to rely on a car.

Last time I was in Miami, it was February and miserably cold in Minnesota. I realized that I spent minimal time outside because being outside felt extremely weird.

The Galtier Towers and Mears Park in downtown St. Paul during winter.

The Saint Paul skyway system seems more comprehensive than the one across the river.

It’s also open until 2 a.m., which is highly convenient for wintertime bar hopping if you don’t piss off the cops.

We are in downtown St. Paul for at least another year, and then may try something else. But for now it’s a great life choice.

: The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ve lived in the Lowertown Historic District for a year now, and I love it.

: The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota from Harriet Island Park. Kellogg Square Apartments and First National Bank visible.

: The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ve lived in the Lowertown Historic District for a year now, and I love it.

: The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota from Harriet Island Park. Kellogg Square Apartments and First National Bank visible.

: The skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota from Harriet Island Park. Kellogg Square Apartments and First National Bank visible.

dogs / pictures / the details

The Reluctant Walker

September 24, 2014

I have to coax Gunter out of bed in the mornings.

It’s exhausting. He wouldn’t be so reluctant to go outside if I still put him in a kennel – then shitting in the closet wouldn’t be an option.

Gunter is a Chihuahua Dachshund mix that is extremely lazy.

2014 Summer / Lowertown / pictures / Take Three

The First Bank Building

September 23, 2014

The First Bank skyscraper is one of those building that I wish was a condo.

It’s a few blocks from my house, and one of those buildings that has an inordinate presence on my Instagram account.

A picture of the neon sign atop the First National Bank Building in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

The First National Bank Building as seen from the Robert Street Bridge.

A picture of the First National Bank Building from Kellogg Boulevard.

2014 Summer / Life / pictures / Take Three

Boaters on the River

September 22, 2014

There are a tons of boaters on the Mississippi River this summer.

Boaters on the Mississippi River outside of downtown St. Paul.

A close up of boaters on the Mississippi River outside of downtown St. Paul.

I’d own a boat if I wasn’t so price sensitive and grossed out by non-chlorinated fresh water.

So I wouldn’t own a boat.

art / Minneapolis-St. Paul / Take Three / the details

Graffiti Outside the Holy Mackerel

September 21, 2014

I pass the Holy Mackerel tattoo parlor on most of my dog walks, and I love the mural on the side of the building.
The mural reminds me a lot of the Wynwood District of Miami, and I wish more businesses in town did this.

Graffiti Outside the Holy Mackerel

2014 Summer / Architecture / Minneapolis-St. Paul / pictures

The Mansions on the Hill

September 21, 2014

I’m a huge Bravo TV fan, especially of the Real Housewives franchise.

There’s an episode of the Real Housewives of New Jersey where Teresa Giudice moves into a new mansion styled after a French Chateau. I remember being appalled by how large and gaudy the mansion was.

The James J. Hill House is one of the mansions that I routinely pass during my dog walks by the Cathedral of St. Paul. This Gilded Age mansion was built by railroad magnate James Hill and features 36,000 square feet of livable space.
I’m not sure why I consider Teresa Guidice’s mansion tacky but remain impressed by the mansions on Summit Avenue.

The James J. Hill House in Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul.

: A mansion on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. The neighborhood is near the Cathedral of St. Paul and known for its large historic homes.

: The Germanic-American Institute purchased the Summit Avenue Haus in 1965, and refurbished it to suit the needs of a Kulturhaus for social and cultural gatherings.

: Flowers and landscaping in front of a mansion on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Perhaps the age of the mansions makes them respectable.

Not all of the mansions are old, or architecturally noteworthy. For example, there’s a fairly new mansion near the James J. Hill House which looks just like a medical office building.

This house has more in common with a medical office than a mansion.

The Summit Hill mansions are part of a fairly densely-packed community, which is probably why they don’t seem as tacky as the Guidice mansion (or Minnesota’s other BFE palaces).

I doubt that I’ll ever be able to afford a house on Summit Hill, and even if I could, I think a Horst condo is more my style.

2014 Summer / Architecture / art / Minneapolis-St. Paul / pictures / the details

The Cathedral of St. Paul

September 17, 2014

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is one of my favorite buildings in town.

I spent summers in Germany growing up, and I love having this building so close because it reminds me a lot of Trier.

I haven’t seen many other comparable cathedrals in the U.S. and the building commands my attention anytime that I venture to that side of downtown St. Paul.

An exterior view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota.

A long-stance view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota.

An exterior view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota.

Interior Shots

The interior of the church is on par with anything that I’ve seen in Germany. My mother recently visited and said that it was impressive as the Kölner Dom.

: An interior view of the Cathedral of St. Paul.

: An interior view of the Cathedral of St. Paul.

: An interior view of the Cathedral of St. Paul.

An exterior view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota.

Exterior Shots

The outside of the cathedral almost looks like a European church, minus the lack of dirt and acid rain stains.

: An exterior detail view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota. The cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1907 and the first liturgy was held on Palm Sunday, March 28, 1915. The exterior is made out of granite from Saint Cloud.

: An exterior detail view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota. The cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1907 and the first liturgy was held on Palm Sunday, March 28, 1915. The exterior is made out of granite from Saint Cloud.

: An exterior detail view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota. The cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1907 and the first liturgy was held on Palm Sunday, March 28, 1915. The exterior is made out of granite from Saint Cloud.

: An exterior detail view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota. The cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1907 and the first liturgy was held on Palm Sunday, March 28, 1915. The exterior is made out of granite from Saint Cloud.

: An exterior detail view of the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Minnesota. The cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1907 and the first liturgy was held on Palm Sunday, March 28, 1915. The exterior is made out of granite from Saint Cloud.

I’ve never been to the church for a service, but I enjoy It as a free museum (and dog walk restroom.)

2014 Summer / Minneapolis-St. Paul / pictures / the details

The St. Paul Civil War Monument

September 16, 2014

There’s a Civil War statue near the Cathedral of St. Paul.

I completely ignored the statue the first few times because I was too busy staring at the church, but one day I stopped to take pictures.

2014 Summer / Architecture / Lowertown / Lowertown Apartment / Minneapolis-St. Paul / pictures

Boom Times

September 8, 2014

There’s a housing boom going on in the Twin Cities.

Every time I venture into Uptown, I see another new vaguely-industrial loft building. There are also a few going up in St. Paul.

Generic condos outside of downtown St. Paul

Most of the stylized faux-factory developments look the same, and I don’t really understand the architectural style.

These buildings are trendy, but boring. Most of these developments will also look ridiculous in 10 years.

Do you know how we roll our eyes at those 80’s brick skyscrapers? That’s what’s going to happen with the fake factory loft buildings.

The particular “loft” building in the picture is called West Side Flats. It’s on the opposite side of the river from downtown St. Paul, and despite having a few Hour Cars, it must be terribly isolated in the winter.

West Side Flats is a few hundred dollars cheaper per month than the core Lowertown buildings, but it’s far enough away from everything that it doesn’t make sense to live there unless you live at the US Bank or Comcast buildings on that side of the river.

The Rayette is a new condo building going up in St. Paul.

There’s also a new apartment building coming to Lowertown.

The building is called the Rayette Lofts, and it’s in a former parking garage right across the street from the downtown St. Paul Farmer’s Market.

The Rayette’s leasing office is near my building and the leasing company is extremely aggressive (much to the annoyance of my building management.)

The rival building kept putting sandwich boards in front of our building until our management started stealing them.

I went to see the Rayette show unit out of curiosity. The charming sales agent couldn’t make the mock apartment less underwhelming. The unit was smaller than my current apartment and far more expensive. (One bedrooms top $2,000k/month)

The Rayette show unit also didn’t have the same specs as the real building (flooring, windows, ceiling height, cabinets) so only information that I got from the staged unit that the Rayette is another spendy, generic luxury building.

I don’t know whether downtown St. Paul really has the demand to support all of the new apartment units.

The prices for rentals in Lowertown are beginning to rival Uptown and the Warehouse District, and we have a dramatically smaller social/bar scene.

Another problem is that the condos in downtown St. Paul are relatively cheap, so people who have the means to spend $2,000 on rent will either buy (or rent) a condo instead of opting for the spendy building next door.

But who knows, perhaps I’m wrong about people’s tolerance for high rents in fake factories.