Minneapolis, MN

Just so’s you know, Friday’s are interesting here in Minnesota, particularly in the city.  All of us city folk long to get out of the ‘rat race’ and usually head to one of our state’s 10,000 lakes.  Many of us have a friend or relative that has a weekend place, someplace by a lake or river that we can get away to.

Referred to as ‘up north’ or ‘at the cabin’ which suggests that we miss the simpler days, when life was less complex and rushed.  At any rate, it’s kind of funny to watch the ‘mass exodus’ that occurs every Friday on the local Interstate and state highways.  Rush hour becomes a slow moving, hot exercise in frustration.  Not exactly the best way to start a relaxing weekend.  Still it’s what many people do instead of stay in the city for the weekend.

So, what’s going on this weekend in Minneapolis?  Well, that’s another post!

Rush Hour, Traffic, Weekend Getaway, Minnesota Lakes

One of the great things about Minneapolis is the number of parks.  My daughter and I have been spending the afternoon near the Mississippi River.

The Minneapolis parks system was originally designed so that no neighborhood was more than ½ mile from a water feature - usually a lake.  Pretty neat and makes for many relaxing spots to unwind.

Minneapolis Parks, City of Lakes

The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission offer 14 free summer walking tours of the city.  Ranging from downtown, to the University, to local parks, there are many tours to choose from.  Here is a list of places the tours visit.

• Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery
• Milwaukee Avenue Historic District
• Warehouse District Tour
• Minneapolis City Hall & Courthouse
• Nicollet Island
• Como Harriet Streetcar Line
• Minneapolis Grain Exchange
• Nokomis Knoll Residential Historic District
• 1893 Lynnhurst Colony
• Hennepin Avenue Theaters
• West 49th Street
• Elliot Park
• Lustron Houses
• University of Minnesota Old Campus

For more information, check out the Summer Walking Tours page at the Heritage Preservation Commission web site.

As one ‘web worker’ to another, there are many places in Minneapolis that you can set up and work from.  From cafes to coffee shops to parks, there are hundreds of places with free or low-cost WiFi.

Another thing that will help the web worker in Minneapolis is the implementation of city-wide WiFi that is starting this year.  While not free, the ubiquitous nature of the service will help more people break free from their cubicles and offices.

Me?  I happen to frequent a Dunn Bros. Coffee a little north of the city in a suburb called Albertville.  With free WiFi, abundant power outlets, and ample seating, it’s my office away from the office.

Web Worker, Dunn Bros

Minneapolis is honored to be among a select group of cities to have had a US Navy submarine named for it.  USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN-708) was deactivated on Friday, June 22nd, 2007 after 23 years in service.

The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul was the 16th Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine built for the US Navy.  Commissioned on March 10th, 1984, the submarine saw action in Operation Desert Shield during the Gulf War.  It was the first submarine to carry Tomahawk missiles designed for use against land targets in Iraq.

It’s recent history had unfortunate circumstances for it’s crew.  Four crew members were washed over the side in heavy seas in December 2006 when leaving HMNB Devonport in England.  This resulted in the death of two crew members, and the dismissal of it’s captain, Edwin Ruff.

Scheduled for decommissioned on September 27th, 2007, the ship is now moored in Norfolk, Virginia.  Unfortunately, there will be no ship named after any city in Minnesota, something that hasn’t happened since 1934.

More Information:

• Wikipedia: USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN-708)
• Stars and Stripes: USS Minneapolis-St. Paul is being decommissioned

Los Angeles-class, USS Minneapolis-St. Paul

Hello from Minneapolis!

Hi, my name is Rick Mahn, and I’m the new author for the Minneapolis blog here at 451 Press and would like to let you know a little about myself.

Originally from Minneapolis, I had spent 10 years in western Wisconsin while growing up. After school and entering the professional world, I found many opportunities in my native city. My job has allowed me to work in nearly all parts of the city at one time or another, and experience many of its varied facets. I’ve spent most of my career in Information Technology, ranging from systems administration to project management and business continuation.

Currently I’ve been pursuing a growing passion for writing, which stems from a longtime interest in communicating and teaching. You can find me on my personal blog as well.

So after this first post, what can you expect? Information and news about what is going on in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. These twin cities of the northland have much to offer and support a diverse and industrious population.

I won’t be covering breaking news, but will cover as much as possible. You can expect posts about cultural and civic events, local personalities, arts and entertainment, fairs and festivals, community concerns, and major happenings. So please follow along and don’t be afraid to post your comments, questions or concerns on any post.

Thank you,

Rick Mahn

Rick Mahn, Minneapolis, St. Paul