The skyway, named for that place above it all...

The perennial tableau of preoccupation passes on the skyway above, while hardy street souls breast the wind. A solitary patrol car wends down the sinuous mall, a lump of vigilant coal foregrounded against the riot of winter sun burning between the far curbs.

Winter sun assaults innocent bystanders

The sun came out after days of horrendous winter storm stories, meterological analogs to the civil wars in the Mideast. In the city its glare transformed the frozen canyons into salt-crusted stage sets blitzed with light.

Feral Brides in store

Hip. Jaded! Predatory? This is the pose of the modern bride? This makes guys want to grow up and make sure forever is not a lonely place? Maybe this look is more appropriate to the"marriage as a one-night stand" theme park show on cable.
Cupid, just shoot me now.

Sun behind the Capella UFO

A halo. A crown of glory.

The metaphors of modern life

This sculpture looks even more interesting with the snow providing a stage set for the action.

Major Skyway #FAIL in Downtown Minneapolis

It came to my attention today that the library is not on the skyways. Hey, I knew that. But I had to walk over there in -4 degree temperatures, and found out exactly how far off the skyway system it is...the distance it took my knuckle hairs to freeze and fall off my naked fingers. Yikes, get a skyway going to the library, downtown people. Now, before I have to return the books!

Train art in the skyways...see it Thursday Feb. 3rd at Qwest.

John Cartwright simply seems like the happiest person I have met in a long time. He has done hundreds of meticulous drawings of local train stations around Minnesota, many of them of historical interest. He was sitting at a small table drawing when I walked by in the Qwest building today. I chatted a bit and disclosed that I had been, in fact, the last Union brakeman hired by the Great Northern before their merger with Burlington in 1969/70. That certainly broke the ice, and he regaled me with station and train lore. Go see him and buy a drawing of your favorite Minnesota town's station, for a mere $20. Own a wisp of the great fading lore of history. Make a happy man even happier.
His website.

This must be the Burger Place

The Burger Place in the Soo Line Building has arguably the best burgers on the skyway if you like that sort of thing. This antique toy roadster symbolizes the carefree life of the open road that no one around here can imagine anymore.

Images of the underworld, emergence of the new year from the dark

This photo was taken six floors aboveground, but it feels like the exit ramp from Hades, the path that Persephone must have taken in her annual escape from the underworld. The light slants down the walkway at a precise angle parallel to the cement surface, something that happens at this exact time of day only twice yearly, a kind of parking ramp equinox. The day grows longer, even if the distance from hell to spring seems longer yet.

The lonliness of the skyway luncher

In the Northstar Center, there are long counters for the overflow crowds from the Arbys, China Gardens, Loma Tortillas, Walking the Dog...They attract the solitary lunchers, who prefer the company of a book or smart phone browser to more office prattle from their coworkers.

The city emerges from the snow and fog.

I have seen this view of the city too many times this winter. It was evocative the first few times, and now there is a blunted fatigue to the winter mornings that never is resolved by sleep alone.

Three guys

One of the most common complaints about skyways is the tendency for three guys to walk side by side and be the human pace cars for the skyway.

Portrait in motion

Where the skyway from the Gateway Ramp enters the Crossings..one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of skyway, and often empty.

Light Rail Tow Truck

From the power outage on the LRT last week.

An image of peace and compassion from the snowy midwest

Buddha did not need a skyway. He embraced the snow.