Laughter, Falling Water and Time
Smoky Point began somewhere in up in old Nordeast, probably on East Hennepin. The owner, Aleck “Smoky” Ellis immigrated to Minnesota from Greece in 1915. I suspect another branch of the family opened a restaurant near Robbinsdale called the Log Cabin. Eventually Ellis moved his operations away to the south where he built the iconic … Read more
In 1954, Matt Bristol took over a dark, 24-by-55-foot 3.2 joint he bought from a guy named Nibs Martin. The bar could hold 78 thirsty patrons. A couple month’s after he changed the name of the place to Matt’s, a cook was flipping hamburgers on a two-foot-wide grill at the end of the bar and … Read more
The Lake Nokomis bath house and beach were completed early in July, and the official opening took place in July. Some changes were made in the proposed arrangements of dressers and lockers, and the ground plan herein reproduced shows the present very satisfactory arrangement. The building presents a very attractive appearance, is commodious and practical … Read more
I have to admit, I’ve been driving right by this remarkable little church for years without ever once pausing to appreciate Ralph Rapson’s humble work. Until recently I would not have considered myself one of Rapson’s fans. Those awful Brasillia like towers on the West Bank have always irritated me. I can’t believe Mary Tyler … Read more
I never thought I would be the sort of blogger that blogs about what they had for lunch. I never imagined myself typing slowly, thinking about food. The rain drove me out of the swamps today and I settled in for brunch at Stabby’s Cafe on Cedar and 42nd. I’ve been eating at Stabby’s on … Read more