Panera Bread Uptown

I’ve always thought the area along side Panera Bread would make a good painting. Not necessarily from this view but more from the street with all the tables and what have u.



Lamps look nice with inverted color.



Reflection is a good thing.

Screamin Fire Truck

Go fire truck, go.

Uptown Marquee

Uptown Mpls Blog Archives:

January '05
February '05
March '05
Arpil '05
May '05

Storm Damage Off Lake Calhoun

Lot of wind and rain around the lakes yesterday. I find it hard to take good photos when its overcast and everything is so green.

Stella’s Fish Cafe

Stella’s Fish Cafe is now open for business, or should I say they have a bar on the roof and it’s finally open. Yeah, that’s what I meant to say. I was thirsty last weekend so I went to check it out. The general layout of the bar and dining area is about the same. I don’t necessarily think it looks bad, it just doesn’t look as nice as the Tonic did. The elevator was slow so I took the stairs three flights to the roof.

Stella’s has the only patio in Uptown with a nice view of the DT skyline. Unfortunately those seats are supposed to be reserved for dining only, which only makes sense I guess. Trust me, there’s way$ around that though. I didn’t order any food because like I said I was thirsty not hungry. The menu was priced about right for a seafood place. Overall the service was good except they screwed up on a round of shots. If you ask for Crown and you get Vodka instead don’t be shocked. Just drink it, that’s what I did.

Girl Friday has typed up a much better and more accurate review of Stella’s if you’re interested. Below are some shots I took of the building.

Nothing to do With Uptown

This post has nothing to do with Uptown what so ever but I recently took a trip up north (way, way, way, up north past any civilization) and took some nice pics. I decided some of them were blog worthy. So here they are... If you’ve ever seen anything similar to the first picture in real life and or know the name of the object in view, you are a true Minnesotan in my book. mad props. Clicking any photo should take you to my flickr page with a whole grip of other shots to browse if you like that sort a thing.

Eggs Hatch Off Lake Street

Ducklings recently hatched at the corner of Lake St and Holmes. My roommate stumbled upon the site and took some nice photos. It looks like some kind person built a make shift shelter for this mother of many eggs. It's hard to believe how close the eggs are to Lake Street. You can actually see Lake off to the right in the first photo and the white structure is the large Sons of Norway Wells Fargo building. Apparently financial investors, bankers, and ducks alike believe Wells Fargo is a great location for a nest egg.







Later when my roommate informed me of this bazaar situation, I had to see it with my own eyes. Unfortunately by the time I arrived the ducks were all gone. All I saw was broken egg shells, feathers, lots of bird pooh and a sign. The sign read “All ducklings arrived safely at the lake”. It looks as though this brave mother successfully guarded her eggs until they hatched, then left for a better location. Good call mother duck.

Angry Sky Over Calhoun

UptownCalhoun_4_30_05_1967, originally uploaded by Black Java.

The sky was angry that day over Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. Some image manipulation below.

Uptown Theater Lights

Holiday 25th and Hennepin.

Brave New Workshop

Driving Around Uptown April Night

I love Uptown Minneapolis at night.

"Armed Robbery" All the Talk in Uptown

Armed robbery seems to be the talk of the town here. Three suspects armed with a silver semi-automatic handgun and a black 6” revolver are striking in and around the Calhoun Square area, which is right where I live. Needless to say, I’m pissed. At first I didn’t think much of it, but when I found out they were striking groups of up to three people I got a little spooked. Now many are wondering what’s going on around here? The suspects have struck at least 12 times after 11:00 p.m. but I heard it was more like 19 times in the last three weeks. Please click here Police Crime Alerts for more information, especially if you are an Uptown resident. Is anyone gonna grow a pair and stop these guys or what?

Grand Rounds Sign

Uptown_4_05_Lakes_Sign_1963, originally uploaded by Black Java.

Just like the sign from this angle for some reason. Lake of the Isles, Arpil 2005.

Little Wooden Box of Mystery

Uptown_4_05_Bench_BW_1945, originally uploaded by Black Java.

I was walking the shoreline down by Lake of the Isles the other day on a mission to take some photos and do some thinking. While heading back towards the path I discovered this box on a bench that faced out over the lake. The bench was old but not in a bad way, but rather in a good way as if it had weathered many storms and somehow looked natural in it surroundings. This made the old bench appealing especially with the freshly cut grass surrounding it.


Immediately I sat down on the bench next to the box, for this box had no doubt captured my attention as well. It was a wooden box, small in size with gold hinges and a black ink stamp ran half way across the top. It appeared to be a cigar box of some kind but it didn't give off the impression that cigars were inside. Cigars kept in boxes usually are expensive and who would leave those behind? Maybe it was a bomb and I was about to become the victim of a random act of violence. No, I thought, my life isn't that interesting. Maybe it was full of money or maybe it was nothing. I made the conclusion that it was probably art supplies and someone had been drawing near the lake or something.

I continued to sit next to the box wondering what could be inside. Rather than opening the box though, I opened a book "All the President's Men"€ instead. I sat there for a half hour or so reading and waiting for someone to come by to claim the box/bomb and reassure me that my life wasn't that interesting. But no one came.


In the end I decided to leave the box just as I had found it, pressed up against the side of the bench, untouched and unopened. What could be more interesting than that? Some things are best left a mystery I guess.

Bridges N' Water, Plus a Lil' Urban Wildlife

Uptown_4_05_Bridge_BW_1936, originally uploaded by Black Java.

Photos taken between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. Uptown Minneapolis Arpril 20, 2005.

Nice Day in Uptown

Uptown_4_05_1896, originally uploaded by Black Java.

It was so nice in Uptown this weekend that I had to go out and take some pictures. Most of the photos I took were lousy. What are ya gonna do. Heres one of the better ones.

No Smoking in Uptown Blows

Uptown Smokin Ban, originally uploaded by Black Java.

No smoking in Minneapolis! The first thing that popped in my head when I heard there was gonna be a smoking ban in Uptown was Liquor Lyle’s. I would guess 90% of people that go to that bar smoke. This ban is gonna effect their business big time. Some other Smoky Uptown bars that come to mind are the Red Dragon (try their punch bowl thing) and Mortimer’s. They will also be greatly effected by this and probably lose business too.

I’m not a smoker but I do believe in small government, less laws the better, etc., so I’m not happy with this at all. What other rights are in jeopardy, blah blah blah, you get the drift. Next thing you know people are going to complain about the smoke outside near the entrance to bars/restaurants. Black Java is not happy.

Lake Calhoun Snowman and Company

Uptown_Calhoun_Snowman_1854, originally uploaded by Black Java.

This shot was taken March 20th @ 6:30 or so. I decided to post it because to me it just screams Minnesota. I haven't checked but I'm sure frosty is swimmin' with the fishes by now. Here's another image Zoomed and Cropped below. click here for more photos around the lakes

Four more ways to STOP Bush

Uptown_Stop_Bush_1853, originally uploaded by Black Java.

Four more ways to STOP Bush. This Is the second stop sign in Uptown I've stumbled across with Bush underneath. It was located at the same intersection as the previous one and It wouldn't surprise me if there were more out there.

If every Uptown resident that disagreed with Bush's policies was given one stop sign to tag the city would have to create a 4-way intersection every couple feet or so. Surely this would generate tons of construction jobs for the state. Could this be the economic boom Minnesota has been looking for? Would both sides of the isle be happy? Am I onto something here...click hear for more photos with reference to Uptown Politics