Wandering the Cities 2

Today I was near a part of the cities that I spent most of 10 years working in, and decided to revisit some old haunts. The initial area is near the 494/100 intersection. After that, it just turned into wandering, eventually circling back toward my place in Richfield.

When I was doing business as Southpaw GraphicStudio, I had a great office in this building, with a whole window wall on the west. We always called it the building on stilts. There's an identical building on Excelsior.	This is the back side of what used to be the Delta Dental building. I worked here on contract for 4 years, and smokers always gathered back here, which wasn't bad because to the right is a wooded area with a creek. Delta maintained a deer feeder here.	Believe it or not, this is a small smoking area, out of the wind, covered, with a bench and ashtrays. Too bad more companies aren't this considerate.
A view of the creek from the back of the building. Many of the offices have this view.	Another view down to the creek. It's not unusual to see a variety of animals here. I enjoyed watching the tiny, frenetic red squirrels race through the trees.	WHAT THE...???? At first encounter, this looks like something from a sci-fi movie, but I think it's just an enclosed golf driving range, part of Edina's Braemar complex.
This formal-looking structure houses something I was shocked to find Edina supporting. I knew it existed because I answered a job ad to work here. WHAT IS IT?	The small sign says "South Metro Public Safety Training Facility". What that means in English is a GUN RANGE (shocking in politically correct Edina, huh?)	This big metal building has a rather unusual window. Look familiar?
Hey... it's Winter Park, home of the Minnesota Vikings.	Some misguided Viking obviously got beached here	Up close, the Viking ship looks similar to the ending of numerous Vikings seasons.
Another view of the Vikings offices. To the left and below are two outdoor football fields.	A view looking northeast from an overpass on Shady Oak road.	Notice that there is a bike trail alongside the tracks.
Looking southwest from the other side. The track runs through Shady Oak Lake and alongside the park.	This is Linden Hills Field, at 43rd and Xerxes, an example of what was once an interesting and fun park.	We used to call this "Rocket Park", for the tall rocket-shaped climbing tower. Evidently some idiot kid finally got hurt and the climbing tower was removed and replaced with boring plastic stuff, making it the same as all other parks.
Isn't it nice that two religious groups can share a building?	I've long admired these lovely little courtyard homes on 44th street.	A great example of the diversity that occurs when government isn't controlling. I love it!
Meandering through south Minneapolis, Minnehaha Creek.	More meandering, alongside 54th just east of Xerxes.	This little lady was quite tame. Maybe she knows how well camoflaged she is.
A nice old bridge over the creek at Upton Ave. plus a big stump.	There's an interesting story about this short private street lined with identical trees of a particular species... but I've forgotten the story. Notice how everything placed by the city stands out like pimples on a lovely face?
I took this Oak Hill cemetery (on 59th) shot because of what is visible in the distance. The angular white object is part of the concrete factory on 61st, and the Crosstown freeway, and the Holy Angels Academy on 66th.	This is now a halfway house, at 58th and Lyndale, but old-timers may remember it as the rather famed Cross Keys Motel	The array of air conditioners from the Cross Keys remain in place. Suppose any of them still work?