Mpls Art: Sunday walk with Graffti under a Bridge

As you wait for my computer to be fixed, please enjoy old posts that I never blogged about art in Minneapolis...

The train bridge over head, the Mississippi below, Willa on David's shoulders, me taking deep breaths. I don't like cliffs. Heights are fine, until you get to a cliff.

The "art" we found. It was unexpected which made it even better.

Vibrant colors, bold lines, we'll take art wherever it is.

Other beautiful sights along the walk.

Down on the Mississippi.

We'll also give time outs, anywhere and anytime they're needed.

Climbing.

Holy Jeans Emma!

Mpls Art: bike ride and Bronze Shoes

Along the Midtown Greenway there is a series of benches with bronzed shoes stuck on them. The official theme of the public art project by Greg Ingraham and Teri Kwant is Personal Journeys. Each pair of shoes come with a question and represent a theme. We didn't know about the themes or even ponder the questions much. We just wanted to know, will they fit?

Taran and the Work Boots

Answer: These did not fit. They are half filled with bronze on the inside. However, someone did plant a pretty little flower in one boot. It was not doing well on this day.

Calvin with Clogs

Answer: They fit perfect! He's ready for tulips and windmills and lederhosen!

Enoch in Moccasins

Answer: They only half fit. No dancing with wolves for Enoch.

Great Graffiti Wall

Along the ride is a large building the has obviously allowed graffiti artists to practice their craft. The picture is lousy because I took it while pedaling/pulling three children down the bike way but it's quite a site in person.

Me in High Heels

Answer: Art imitates life. I don't wear them in real life, they don't fit in art.

Willa in High Heels

Answer: In a few more years.

Willa and the Button Up Heels

Answer: Darling! How do we get them home?

Emma in Birkenstock Clogs

Answer: They're okay. Honestly, birks are ugly even in bronze, but without the hippie comfort.

Taran trying on High Tops

Answer: Not at all!

Emma in the Flip Flops and the end

Answer: Just Right!

Mpls Art: sunday walk Nordeast

Another Sunday walk took us up to the north east of Minneapolis, pronounced: Nord-East, which doesn't so much stand for the location (which is in north east Mpls), but more for the northern and eastern European immigrants that settled the area and their way of pronouncing "NorthEast".

While there we saw the iconic Grain Belt Beer sign.

Computer Kaput! so, Minneapolis Art

My computer's broken! For two weeks David has been on again, off again trying to fix it. Tonight he finally gave it up. It'll be in the shop for at least another week. I'll admit it, life without a computer is sad. Sad for what I want to do and can't (pay bills, send emails, waste copious amounts of time, etc.) and sad for the dependence I have on a box plugged into my wall.

But never fear! I have some back logged posts that I never did put up. Why didn't I ever post them if they were all ready and waiting. Laziness? Forgetfulness? Wander lust? I guess I'm just a very complicated person and you'll never really know.

Without further ado, I give you the first in a series: Minneapolis Art

Minneapolis is not only a city of lakes it is also a city of art. There is art in every form everywhere. Even our neighborhood association promotes murals on garages and fences to deter tagging--and let's not forgot art cars.
Not long ago they installed a beautiful drinking fountain a few blocks away. We took a walk just to see it, drink from it and enjoy art. It was fun and gave us a purpose for our Sunday walk, which got me thinking. Let's do this more often!
Following this post is the little bit of art we visited and photoed (I'm always remembering to take pictures after I get home) over the warm months of Minnesota.

We begin with The YWCA Water Fountain...
7/25?/10

Close up of a duckie.

Taran getting a drink.

Close up of a trilobite.

Willa and Mommy. (I got an interesting hair cut this summer that occasionally required interesting hats.)

Willa drinking.

This drinking fountain was designed by the students of South High School. It was meant to be one of many all over the city of Minneapolis... City of Lakes... City of Water... City of Artistic Drinking Fountains! Get it? It didn't fly well with politicians during a recession. Only three or four of the initial dozen got made. The classic art vs. funding battle played out right in front of our Y.

Valentine's Day

As we celebrated New Year's Eve on Sunday, I thought I'd catch us up with Valentine's day today. That way I won't have to post again until May where you'll get to see how our St. Patrick's Day went. Such is life for us, we get there, just late.

As for the day of L'Amour...

We had all the traditional candy hearts and school age valentines, but for dinner we ate fondue by candle light. Oh la la!

And David bought me those pretty tulips.

How to Survive a Minneapolis Winter

You can't deny that Minneapolis is a winter wonderland. There are at least two wonderful weeks of brisk weather and fluffy white snow. Unfortunately, a Minnesota winter lasts about 27 weeks longer than those magical, nonconsecutive 14 days have to offer.
So, if you don't want to find yourself going crazy trying to obliterate the snow with a bic lighter and ice pick you need to find ways to leave your house.

However, for a large family with a small budget, it isn't easy to find ways out. I tried looking for some good ideas on the internet but couldn't find much that would keep us in food and still allow us some fun. So I have created my own list out of the things that we have done in the past. I put it up here on my blog for anyone who might be searching and just in case someone has something to add as I'm always looking for ideas.

And so without further ado, I give you...

Martin Approved Winter Activities
(You're very welcome)

• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

This is for those people who long for green and flowers. There are some animals that you can still see in the winter, but it's the flowers that cheer our souls. Cost: It's FREE, but donations are appreciated. We usually pool all our change and have fun stuffing it in the boxes by the security guard.

• Bachman's Floral Gift and Garden
  

This is a store, but a big one! Lots of greenery and flowers and hope for spring in this store. Not as nice as Como Park, but closer and easier to find off the freeway. It also fits into other errands well. Cost: FREE. Unless you end up buying something because it was so pretty and you couldn't resist.

• Minneapolis Institute of Art

Not technically, "Martin Approved" because it is a horrible place to take children between the ages of happy-to-be-strapped-in-a-stroller and can-keep-their-hands-to-themselves. But we have made a trip before and some of us loved it. The art is awesome, just so touchable. Cost: This is why it's included on this list... FREE! Parking is free too!

• Mall of America

Another place to just get out of the house and walk. It's technically free. But I've never made it out without buying anything. I usually avoid this place unless one of my children has gotten a free ticket for the indoor amusement park through some school program. It is a good destination if you want to ride the light rail. But a better place is...

• The Minneapolis Skyways

These are climate-controlled, elevated walkways. They take you through down town and link city blocks together. You don't even need a coat inside them!
We take the light rail downtown (the opposite way of MOA for us) and find a building that will let us enter. Most public shops allow you in and the owners are happy to direct you. However, technically, the only public access to the skyways (that I know of) is in the Downtown Market building at 150 2nd Ave S. But it is NOT close to light rail and that 1/2 mile walk matters when it's -2, believe me, it matters!
Once in, the skyways have shops and art and lots of business people who are shocked to run into a family on a school release day afternoon. Just be forewarned, many skyway entrances are closed evenings and weekends.
Cost: FREE, expect for parking or light rail or the hot chocolate you have to buy to say sorry because it wasn't "Just a short walk 'til we're there. I know it's cold, stop complaining!"

• Hennepin County Library

The only reason this isn't very first on the list is because it isn't an anytime-you're-feeling-the-crazies activity. Of course, you can go to the library anytime it's open and it's always time well spent, but their children's events and classes are wonderful! Look up what they have to offer for you and yours! Cost: FREE!

• Museum Adventure Pass, Hennepin County Library

Another reason to go to your library... These are great! if you can get them. Sometimes if you can't find the museum that you're looking for, you can convince a librarian to look up if it's available at another library. Because a pass only admits a limited number of people, and because we always have more than that number, we check out more than one pass with our multiple cards. It takes a lot of planning, and just a little fudging of the rules. But because of the cost, it's worth the work. Cost: FREE!

• Inner City Tennis

A Saturday only program, but what a program! Taking children ages 3-18, the good people of the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center will teach your children sports skills and specifically tennis skills for an hour and a half. It's an excellent program with professional people who get your children moving on a snowy Saturday. Sign up on the spot. Cost: FREE!

• Riverview Theater

This fun costs, but not much. This is a beautiful, tiny, old, art-deco theater. It shows late run movies that will soon be coming to DVD on one huge screen. Beware the popcorn is to die for! and will add 3.50 to your expense. The staff is very used to young children and don't mind you walking the old timey lobby when the fight scenes get intense (How to Train your Dragon is what we consider intense.) Cost: $2 for a matinee ticket.

• Edinborough Park

We're getting into the expensive fun now. Edinborough Park costs for all children. The park is amazing though and there are trees inside! This is an option I use for my younger children when the others are in school. Cost: $6 per child, parents free (socks required).

(For a cheaper, dirtier Edinborough Park knock-off don't forget your local McDonald's. Not as classy, but you can get some fries to go with it.)

• Minnesota Children's Museum
  

This museum is absolute fun! It's great for children ages 0-7, but still has fun things to offer older kids. Right now they are doing a Lego theme in one of their changing exhibits. It's awesome. The one drawback, it's pricey and you have to pay for parking too. There are discounts available for low income families (Hooray for grad school!), but if you're a Twin Cities native I'd still suggest a family pass. It's a great way to get out of the house. COST: 9! dollars for everyone over 1 year. $4 for parking.

• Science Museum of Minnesota

This museum is really cool too. It's hard to justify for the Martin family, however, because of the price. But the things they have are just right for the older children and entertaining for the younger ones as well. They also have discounts, just not as nice as the Children's Museum. They are doing a King Tut exhibit now and they charge extra for special exhibits. I'm considering biting the bullet and taking the family because it's cheaper (and safer) than going to Egypt! COST: $8.50 for children, $11.00 for adults. Parking costs as well, depending on the hours you are there.

Well there you have it, what the Martins do when we're going crazy over the endless snow and ice.
But now that I reflect on it, I'm not sure if this list will be helpful to anyone here in Minneapolis, as I'm the only family I know with more than 3 kids as young as mine. Perhaps this might draw some of you far flung family and friends out here! We have a lot to offer, so move your little, big families out north and let us show you a good time!

The Official Martin 2011 Celebration

It's not too late to post this because it's snowing out there. Snowing a lot. Winter is still in full swing here and I'm starting to go a little nuts. So let's go back to a time when it was colder and darker to give me perspective: Dec. 31st 2010...

We started our night by making paper crowns. And waited for midnight.

Then decorated the semi-traditional gingerbread house. And waited for midnight.

While waiting for midnight, we cut up paper to use as confetti.

And waited.

Some of us didn't make it.

It was getting closer, so we set the table with goodies.

While daddy "put Willa to bed."

Calvin tried to pass the time by coloring.

Finally! Happy New Year! to the two (and me, three) who made it all the way to 2011!

In the morning we cracked open the gingerbread house and shared the goodness.

May your year be blessed.