Anubis Arrives in St. Paul

Anubis arrived at the Landmark Plaza Park across from the St Paul Hotel last week as an advertisement for the upcoming King Tut attraction that will begin in February at the nearby Science Museum. The Pioneer Press said it was 26 feet high and when I first saw it in the evening light it seemed huge. I recognized the jackal headed god from a college course on ancient Egypt but didn't remember his history or purpose. It seems that he was the god of the underworld and embalming, a guide for the newly dead to the afterlife, the first mortician if you like. How does one decide to study mortuary science? Is the pay good? Are you always on call for nights and weekends? What would Anubis think about the green embalming movement? I heard that the state of Texas is allowing people to be buried naturally without the use of chemicals and concrete in state parks....dust to dust. In return Texas will use the money to add land to the state parks system. Do we have that here in Minnesota? I might like to end up in Banning State Park. I remember a walk down to the river there one summer was beautiful even though the mosquitoes were fierce. One of Anubis's main jobs was to preside over the weighing of the heart. If your heart was light as a feather you could have eternal life, if not then well I believe there was a crocodile god that got into the act and things went downhill from there.

Winter Bridges

Looking east from the Wabasha Bridge, the Union Pacific Railroad Vertical Lift Bridge sits in front of the rainbow arch of the Robert Street Bridge connecting downtown to the Westside. On a warmer day of the year, M and I had walked to the bridge and were perhaps looking at the debris of trees that the summer flood had left, when a bride and groom darted out to the middle of the bridge. Encouraged by their photographer and the momentary lack of traffic, the wedding photo was snapped. You never know what will be witnessed or what will be found on a good walk. Earlier in the week, on an evening walk through the snowy downtown streets I looked down at the right moment and found a diamond ring on the sidewalk. An engagement ring I thought. Had it slipped off her finger when she removed her glove to put change in the parking meter or had she tossed it out of her car window after a heated argument? It fit me perfectly. I pondered the karma of wearing it. I sought opinions from others....keep it, wear it, you'll never find the owner, turn it over to the police, post it on Craig's list. I liked that last idea and went to the lost and found section. No lost ring there that fit the description of my ring. Someone on Craig's list is looking for their mood ring. I don't think I need a ring to tell me what kind of mood I'm in. I was agitated that the ring monkey was on my back and I needed to get it off. I took the ring to a jeweler at the mall...base metal and fake stones....costume jewelry. Maybe that's why it ended up in the snow.

Twins

It's here! The first snowfall in the Twin Cities arrived this morning. This may be alarming to some, but living in downtown means not having to shovel. The obvious topic of moving to Florida is discussed briefly. We change the discussion to supplies. Have we have laid in supplies (food and beer) to get us through the weekend? We review the stock pile of chicken and chops in the freezer. Yes, I believe we will make it but a tomato would be nice. Perhaps I will join the others I see out my window blowing their way down the street and make my way to Eisenberg's Market for that tomato. Eisenberg's has been at the corner of Jackson and 10th Street since the 1930's and sells overstocks, near date and slightly damaged products. The vine ripe tomatoes are a product I know they always have in stock at a great price. The rest of the day, well, it is a perfect day to turn the music up (how many snow-themed songs will The Current 89.3 play today?), clean out the toaster crumbs, recycle the mail, make banana bread, and yes think about a winter vacation to somewhere warm.

Landmark Center

Saved from the wrecking ball in the 70's, The Landmark Center, one time serving as post office and courthouse, is now home to a variety of arts and cultural organizations. Sundays at Landmark activities began in September and will continue into the spring. This Sunday's event is hosted by the German American Institute and celebrates St. Martin's Day. Last year we arrived late but still had time to make our paper lanterns and take them across to Rice Park at dusk. We watched the arrival of St Martin by horseback and listened to the story of the cloak and the needy beggar. (Last year's paper lantern....not so great looking....how can I do better I wondered.....must compete with 10 year olds....lantern making ideas abound on the internet....I could make a star lantern or a lantern made out of a beer can, or perhaps recycled milk containers!)

'Til Death Do Us Part

Halloween used to be about getting candy ready for the trick or treaters that would begin ringing the doorbell right before dark. Not much of that going on in downtown and I have to admit I enjoy not having to get up to answer the door...if I'm home. The weekend will give way to the traditional Mexican Day of the Dead celebration on the first and second days of November, the celebration of death as a continuation of life....sugar skeletons, parades, and an all night party at the cemetery. Sounds like fun, but I would have to drive an hour north to visit the graves of grandparents and I'm not sure they would understand if I left a bottle of tequila on their tombstones. So instead we will go to St. Paul's historic Oakland Cemetery in the daylight hours with neighbors and visit some well known figures, governors, civil war generals and even a member of John Dillinger's gang.

Ax Man

The Ax Man stands at the window, looking out at the alley behind Station 4 Bar near Wacouta Street between 4th and 5th Streets. I don't remember when I first noticed him, is he a guard or cheap bouncer for bands like Through the Eyes of the Dead that will be performing there tonight. Do you need to have a name like that to perform during Halloween week? The yellow brick building to the right is the back side of the Straus Lofts renovated in 2005 from what once housed the Straus Knitting Company. Several years ago close to Halloween I saw a small notice in the paper inviting the public to come and explore the empty Palace Theater (once called the Orpheum?) in downtown at 7th Place. The folks like us who showed up were given a flashlight and and hardhat and could enter once we had signed a release to hold no one accountable for anything that might occur while inside. Our hosts included members of a local ghost hunting group who gave us the short story of who had performed in the theater during the vaudeville years of the 20's and who we might meet...those not wanting to leave the theater even though they were long dead. M and I made our way up the dark staircase to the balcony and hid in the projectionist room and waited for something to happen. Nothing did, but what I noticed in the dark and cold is that although in need of a good dusting, the theater was beautiful and seemed mostly in good shape. I heard about some efforts a few years ago to renovate it to its former glory, but that takes $$$. What the status of it is now I don't know.

Hidden Entrance

Sometimes you just want to get into the skyway fast and you have to know where the nearest entrance is located. That entrance just might be through a parking or loading dock. St Paul's skyway system is convenient for getting around in downtown when you want to avoid the heat or the cold, although you might not be able to get to your final destination without going outside at some point. Too bad we can't tunnel our way to some of the buildings that are not connected to the system. Last week while continuing my read of John Dillinger Slept Here, I found myself wanting to know the exact location of Nina Clifford's brothel (1880s to the 1920's) and the supposed tunnel that ran from her backyard to the basement of the Minnesota Club on Washington Street. M and I walked over to one of the upper levels of the parking ramp that fits into the hill and looked over the side. The loading entrance for the Excel Center is tucked into the cliff and nearby are patched up tunnel entrances to who knows where. The remains of a street and sidewalk hangs in the air over the cliff. Is this the old Hill Street? If you want a better understanding of the complexity of the tunnels and caves under St Paul, read the adventures of the ActionSquad and in particular their adventures in the tunnels of St Paul at http://www.actionsquad.org/labyrinth.htm. Maybe they know about the Minnesota Club tunnel?